Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 339 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- ’ ; : ’ : ’ ~ old. Wouldn’t the money do you more good han the land?” ‘“‘No. EfI1 got the money it would all go for v-whisky !” “‘Oh! well, of course, that’s none of my busi- ess. How many acres is there?” “Twenty.” ‘“*Twenty? It would fetch about two bun red an acre on the market—say, at best five 10usand dollars!” ** Leech couldn’t buy it at that!” ** Well, now, see here. I11 double it—ten 10usand, spot cash!” ‘No. Won’t sell!” ‘‘ But I say you will!” Kit spoke positively. ‘““Humph! Mebbe you know more about it than I do!” “Ido. Tve offered you a big price. You will sell to me!” <t Danged if I do!” ** How old are you, Roulere?” ‘* Sixty-five.” “Good age. A man must have some queer dreams when he gets that old, eh?” R ulere started, *'W aat d’ye mean?” he growled, **On, nothing! The fact is, old man, it’s a pretty hard sight to see the spindling shanks of an aged man like you dangling from the gal- lows!’ The old wretch started, and glared at his tormentor in terror. ‘“ What do you mean?” he gasped again. ‘*] mean, Paul Vermilye, that I ama detec- tive, and you are my prisoner., You are want- ed for wife murder in New Orleans! The tell- tale pillows shall be your bed in a prison-cell until you hang!” The terrified wretch burst into a whining cry. ** Don’t—don’t !” he implored. don’t take me back there, I beg! I am so old! My life is short, at best. Spare me, I pray!” And he sobbed aloud, his hands covering his face. The accusation had struck home! “You deserve hanging!” Kit went on. ‘“‘ You had no mercy on your wife, Ellen, and A were the cause of Miss Mancill’s suicide. ou are a vile wretch, Paul Vermilye!” ‘IT know—I know! But, pray. do not give “Oh, sir! meup! I will do anything for you; I will be your slave, Ill try to induce Mai to marry you,” ‘‘ Bah! she is a coquette. I despise her! See here, Roulere—will you sell me your claim for what I promised, if 1 do not arrest you for murder?’ ‘* Willingly—willingly!” “Where is the deed?” “*T always keep it in my pocket,” ‘‘Then, come. Here is a Leadville stage out- side. We will go, and settle the business at once,” The old man did not object, He seemed palsied with terror. Kit made a fe v preparations, and they en- tered the stage. The next day in Leadville the ownership of the claim changed hands, and Vermilye receiv- ed ten thousand dollars, with the understand- ing that he was to go back to Piayed-Out and give Mai one-half of it. On their return to Played-Out, Kit visited the lucky spot (where, by Martba’s direction, he had found the nugget in the bed of a little creek) with the stockholders, A little digging exposed a valuable vein of quartz rock. Here was where he bad found the nuggets— here was the key to Piayed-Out’s future. Thus, was he cleared of all anxiety in regard to his success—which brivgs us up to the point where we began the retrogression, CHAPTER X. KIT SCORES A DOUBLE, Kit’s hotel bad been named the La Belle. Whether he name! it that because Mai had been called La Belle, or not, he hardly knew, for, in fact, be had seen the little elf of the ulch but three times since Lawton Leech’s ce- eat, and then,.it was simply at nodding dis- tance. He was aware, however, that Byron Milton was very attentive to ber, by an occasional re- mark, he caught from the miners, and con- cluded of course that Mui was receiving his ad- dresses with pleasure, “Why should I care?’ he would reason, when his thoughts reverted to her, and a twinge of i Sst ————EEE —————— rrr rrr nnn ' Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. jealousy would assail him. ‘ Sheisb tter fitted for him than for me, for he has education and culture that lL never was troubled with, Then, too, 1 am young, and by no means poor, and have lots of time to find a wife—perbaps one | could like better,” Yet, try as he would, he could not banish pretty, piquant Mai from his mind. Old Roulere, as we may as well continue to call him, bad told one truth, if he never had told another; he had said he would squander the money on drink, and he was keeping bis word, like a man. As he could not get liquor at the Olympic, he went daily to Thunderville, by stage, and pro- cured the fiery stuff by quarts, Consequently, he was in a beastly state of intoxication, all the time, Kit was no longer the rough appearing fellow that be had been when he first set foot in Play- ed-Out, for, although bis picturesque style of dress was unchanged, every article of his make- up was of the finest material, as became one of bis wealthy position. Mai Roulere was not, now, the only attractive girl in the camp, for many miners bad brought their families, in which were several pretty girls. Several young ladies had also come, with the tide of emigration, to start in different attempts at business, hoping to be able to eke out a liveli- hood, Kit was certainly the big man of the town, and it wasn’t a wonder that he became a target for many a pretty pair of eyes. More out of desperation it was, that he got acquainted with these girls. He wanted Mai to know that she wasn’t the only catch in the world. And the intended shaft evidently reached its mark, for one afternoon, toward sunset, as Kit sat in his pleasant private office, reading an Eastern paper, a boy entered, and gave him a delicately perfumed letter, and then buwed him- self out. Kit at once surmised who it was from, and opened it more out of curiosity than actual in- terest. It was written in a delicate chirography, and ran as follows: ‘Mr. Krr ——:— ‘*DeAR Srr:—I shall be alone this evening, and would very much like to see you. ** Mar.” ‘“‘T wonder if you would?’ Kit muttered. ‘*T’ve half a notion to be ungentlemanly enough to deny you the privilege of my society, Miss Roulere!” Upon further consideration, however, he de- cided to go. ‘I wouder where the poet will be?” he mused. ‘‘Something queer about it, Pil agree. Some- thin’ queer ‘bout thet aire Lawton Leech, too. He's as quiet as a mice since be got his face fixed up and is about again. They say still waters run deep, an’ that’s my opinion of Leechy. He’s layin’ around quiet, waitin’ fer a chance to get square wi’ Milton, Saw Big Black- snake incamp yesterday, talkin’ wi’ Leech, an’ it struck me purty forcibly then that thar was somethin’ up.” About an hour after dark, Kit beheld Byron Milton in the office of the botel engaged in close conversation with the Mr. Slensby who came to Plaved Out with Morton Miles. Kit watched them until they went up-stairs together, then he scratched his head and gave vent toa prolonged whistle. Just what idea occurred to him we will not attempt to guess, but there was rather a wise expression upon his face as he lit a cigar and sauntered toward the Roulere cabin. Mai was sitting in the doorway when he reached it, and at once made room for him be- side her, ‘Tam so glad you came, Mr.—Mr.— Won't you please tell me your real name?” men ae “Bot what else?” * Bricktop.” ‘‘Ob! now, I know better. Whoever heard of such a name as Bricktop? Haven’t you really ano'her name?’ ‘“T don’t know. As my memory sometimes wanders back, it occurs to me that I once was called Lennox; but [ couldn’t be positive.” ‘Well, then Vl call you Mr. Levnox. Iam very glad youcame, I haven’t bad an oppor- tuyity to have a chat with you since—let me see, since— Why, bow forgetful I am—” «“ You probably mean since I offended you, by retiring you from the concert stage, that you might not be subjected almost nightly to insults of a horde of devil-may-care miners! ae LL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL DBL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LL LN owes ee C—O il ‘There, now, don’t! I admit I was offend- ed, a little bit at that, but have since seen how judicious a kindness you did me. Solam nota bit mad, now,am 1?” and the little coquette slippec ner arm around him, as though he were a pert of ber property. ‘**; tudge you must bave fallen out with the romanty ¢hymester!” Kit remarked, dryly. “Oh! no. We've nothing to fal) out about. He knows jest how much I think of him, and conducts himkelf accordingly. Of course I have to treat bim courteously, while he remains bere, butI tell you it was a relief when he said he should be absent this evening.” ‘‘T suppose you will tell him the same about me!’ Kit observed. ‘*Of course not, sickening !” ** Indeed! me?” ‘Yes! yes!” ‘*Because 1 am just silly enough to Jet you make a. fool of me, when it suits your notion, and then patiently wait ‘til you feel like giving me a good soft-soaping, again!” ‘Ob, Mr. Lennox! . It isn’t any such a thing. That weuldn’t look nice, in a young Jady.” ‘*So Miss Carlton says. She says she hasa poor opinion of young ladies who will bave two or three suitors, at once!” Kit gave this as a poser. ‘‘And who is Miss Carlton, pray?” Mai de- manded, quickly. ‘‘Oh! she is an estimable young lady, whose acquaintance I made, the other night.” ‘*Indeed! But, come inside, Mr. Lennox. It is getting chilly out here.” She lita lamp, and Kit entered the cabn andi took a seat, After closing the door and shut- ters, she drew a clair near to him. and Jaid her hand upon his shoulder. “Mr. Lennox, you do not act the same as you did, when I first met you. Has prosperity’s. smile upon you wrought the change?’ ‘*Not that lam aware of. I observe that we all gradually change, in one way or avothe:!” He said it so dryly, that she laughed. ‘‘“You are so queer, I bave not changed, have 1?” ‘* Perbaps not!” Just then his eyes fell upon his floral basket, which stood on the mantle, She saw him Jook at it, end ber eyes grew luminous as she gazed in‘ently into his face, ‘*Kit—pardon me, but Mr. Lennox sounds uppatural—Kit, perbaps my demeanor bas un- dergone a little change, for, to tell the truth, and be a goose in the bargain, I have felt somewhat hurt. That’s why 1 may have seemed distant toward you.” * Hurt?’ ‘Yes, hurt!” “Pray tell me why? Have I done anything wrong?’ **'W ell—well—I felt kind of hurt, anyhow, You see, it wasn’t the pecuniary part of it—it was because J] looked for it; because ] thought you liked me!” ** You talk in riddles. Pease explain!” ‘‘ Why, you see, the last night I sung, every- body just showered presents on me, mn ostly in money. And—and, you see, 1 could have cried when I] found that you had forgotten me!” it was with great effort Kit could keep from betraying his great astonishment, ‘‘ Well! how stupid in me!’ he managed to utter. ‘‘ Really you must forgive me, as 1 am but a great stupid, anybow; and then, too, when you gave me such a withering look, it set my head on my neck upside down,’ ** Well, it’s all over; let it pass. I saw you looking at the beautiful present I received from Mr. Milton. The flowers are faded of course, but do you not think he had rare taste in ar- ranging them?’ ‘* T should judge he had!” ‘Yes, and what do you think? I found in among the flowers, a five bundred dollar note and a solitaire diamond ring--the most beautilu} Tever saw. Shai! I show it to you?” ‘It is hardly worth while, i guess.” ‘Well, anyhow, I wouldn’t wear it, and Mr. Milton said it was awful mean of me!” ‘He did? And you wouldn’t wear it?” “Certainly not. It wouldn't be right.” ‘Maybe. But, somehow Milton seems to have been gittin’ his hooks in purty lively. So he sent you that bouquet, eh?” “Yes!” She gazed at him searchingly. ‘‘ Why, what are you laughing at, Kit.” ‘‘ Well, eat mv ears if that don’t take the cake!” snorted Kif, ‘What? what, sir. do you mean?” ** Why, ther cheek of the thing!” I like you, and I think he is And shall I tell you why you like com (E