Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 339 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ~ - x tf pe . Ri yee ee — e an ‘ * . ’ eb all * *? . ’ Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. LS TE STS oT AL Sa RE VS SRE STAT A SS SS A RS RE SSE SNES STS ASSL MS SET AES <URSTTT TS ** Kit—can it be possible? Did you give it to Fred to give to me?” ‘** Well, George Washington-like, my dear, I should emphatically confess that 1 did‘” To depict the surprise of Miss Mai Roulere, would be quite impossible, “Oh! Kit! Oh, dear! I don’t know what to say or do, Yes, I do know! This is the first thing [ll do!” and throwing her arms about Kit, she hugged him and kissed him with pas- sionate tenderness. ** Kit, Llove youand ain’tafraidtoownit! If you are half as fond of meas Iam of you, that is all I ask.” ‘“‘Tf I’m not ten times more so, I am not de- serving of youl” Kit answered. ‘‘ Henceforth we will let no one step between us, eh, my beauty ?” ‘** No, indeed! le—”? ‘Don’t! don’t say a word. Promise me, that by neither word nor action you will betray that you know the truth!” “Why, Kit?’ “Because, at the proper moment I'll make him feel so cheap he won’t know which foot his left shoe is worn on!” “ All right, Kit. Pll do just as you say.” “Good! Treat him respectfully, but do not give me any more jealous pangs!” ‘Not a one, Kit! And, now, I want to tell you something. But, first, let’s be sure. You might get jealous again. Are we engaged?” ‘*l am yours, if you are mine!” ‘Then, it is settled, and this is the evidence beyond dispute,” she laughed, as she procured the handsome ring, from the basket. Kit placed it tenderly upon ber finger, and thus their trotb was plizhted. When, a few minutes later, Mai raised her head fromehis shoulder, there were tears in her eyes. if I am very happy, Kit,” she said, ‘‘ but you have taken me as | am, and may regret it. 1 do not know who I am.” ‘“*T do, though. J know all about it. So cheer up. Im afew days, maybe sooner, I will show you your father!’ ‘* My father, Kit? Ob! can it be true?’ ‘**You bet it can! I’ve got the whole case figgered out. And, now, what were you going to tell me?” ‘“ Why, I wanted to tell you that Mr. Milton asked me to become his wife, and promised me, if I would, he would tell me who my parents were, aud said that I would soon have a fortune coming to me,” ‘*Ha! ha! methinks I have at last tumbled onto the missing link! Til do all and more than he can do, my dear, You keep your sweet little mouth as tightly shut as you know how, and if Kangaroo Kit don’t astonish you, it won’t ba because be ain’t goin’ to try. I’ve nailed the racket, once more!” Oh! wait till I see that horri- CHAPTER XI. A SHREWD GUESS. Wer mentioned the fact of Milton’s accom- panying Mr. Slensby Ttes at the hotel. They went direct to Slensby’s room, It was small, but comfortable, and lighting a lamp, the two men sat down at a table, opposite each other. The lamplight shining upon their faces re- ‘vealed a likeness between them, ** Now, to business!” Slensby said. ‘I’ve not had a chance to speak with you before, for Miles has dogged me constantly. How are you making out?” ‘* To tell the truth, dad, ’m making out rather popely. The girl is artfuland unmanageable. think, however, I can see a perceptible weaken- ing to my charms.” “Then burry matters, I[t’s high time some- thing was done!” “Why, is there any danger?” ‘Yes. Miles gives every indication of having quick consumption. He may drop off in a month. As soon as you are married, why, of course we'll contrive to fetch out the girl, an’ see how he makesa will, If all goes to her, so much the better. Her all must be our all!” “Do you think tre od man had any idea that she was his daughter, when she was singing?” ‘* Bah! no! He didn’t evince any interest in her, whatever.” ‘Weill, then, all may turn out well. If that fellow Kit was out of the way, I've no idea but what I could fetch the girl to time very soon.” “T don’t like the scamp myself. Have vou any idea how he persuaded Vermilye to se!]?” a **T have had an idea that he might know about Vermilye’s past life,” ‘* Pooh! a boy like him? Nonsense.” ‘* He’s ashrewd one. He worked into a for- tune ‘with remarkable shrewdness, end resur- rected life in this town!” ‘That may be. A little Yankee foresight can accomplish much.” ‘Well, anybow, the boy worked some power- ful spring on the old man, or he never would have got the land.” ‘*Maybe so. Wouldn’t Vermilye tell what it was?” ‘No. He’s been paralyzed drunk ever since, He’)] die of snakes within a week.” ‘‘Hope he does! He never was any good. Keep steadily at the girl. Remember the alter native staring you in face!” The next day dawned bright, warm and clear, and to Kangaroo Kit the morning seemed one of the most beautiful he bad ever seen, And to him, why should it not be? The nigbt before Mai bad promised to become his bride, at any time he might set, and he felt as though he ought to be the happiest of mortals. Everything at the mines was working well, under the direction of au able superintendent and his bosses, and there being nothing particu lar to do, at the office, the boy made up bis mind to pay a visit to old Martha, the moun- tain hermitess. That the strange old woman knew something of his early life, Kit felt sure, and he meant, if possible, to learn what it was. Locking up the office be passed through the hotel, to enter the saloon, when he encountered Mr. Miles. The gentleman was looking haggard, and rather hollow-eyed, as if his peace of mind was seriously disturbed. At sight of Kit he bowed, and beckoned to lim. Rather reluctantly the boy followed him to a seat. ‘Excuse me, if I am interrupting you in your business,” Miles said, ‘‘ but L would like to speak with you a moment.” ‘Tam at your command, sir, so do not hesi- tate to say what you wish!” Kit replied, cour- teously. ‘* Well, it isn’t very much,” Mr. Miles said, with a feeble smile. ‘‘ I have receivea—it was some days ago—a letter, on a matter of impor- tance to me, signed by a person whom I do not know, The letter came from this camp, and I believe the writer signed an anonymous name, to deceive me. Have you ever heard of a per- son, here called ‘ Old Oxford?’” *“No! To tell the truth, sir, 1 don’t know such a person,” ‘Have you heard such a name, or seen such & name, since coming here?” * When I come to think of it, sir, it strikes me [ have seen the name, but in what connec- tion I am hardly prepared to say, for a certain- ty, now!” ‘You have seen the name; of that I feel sure,” was Miles’s confident assertion. * Ah, have I? Perhaps you will explain when and where?” ‘I chanced to see a specimen of your chiro- graphy and compared it with that in the letter. The resemblance was tooclose for there to be any mistake. You wrote that letter. I am satisfied of it.” ‘‘ Well, Mr. Miles, you are right. I did write the letter, and am perfecting the plans for the restoration of your child.” ‘ Boy! what nonsense is this you are telling me?” Mr. Miles had arisen, and was greatly ex- cited. ‘Be calm, sir. It isno nonsense I am telling you. I am doing as I said. To-night, if all works well, you shall see your child.” “Great God be blessed! Can it be possible my long search is to be rewarded?” and the gen- tleman wept. ‘* Be calm, sir, or you will attract attention,” Kit warned, calmly. ‘“ There is one thing you must candidly promise me,” “ What is it?” ‘*You must promise me not to breathe a word or a nint of what bas passed between us to aliv- ing soul, Do you understand?” ‘* Not even to Slensby ?”’ ‘* Not even toSlensby!” ‘*But, my dear boy, Slensby has been my boon companion for years. He is my second cousin,” ‘‘ And, Mr. Mile, take a fool’sadvice: If I ain’t a considerable way off my base, Slensby is TT A —————————————— "00 OOS _ ss ee eee ee 2... SS --_—_._ a sss SSS ae a rascal of the first water who is playing you for all youare worth! Remember, I just give you that as an eye-opener, aud don’t intend it to go any further.” } ‘*T understand, but fe are surely mistaken in your estimation of Slensby. However, as you wish it, I'll keep quiet.” Kit entered the salcon, leaving Morton Miles a very astonished man, and lighting a cigar, he ordered his horse and was soon riding away rapidly. CHAPTER XII. STRANGE REVELATIONS, As he dashed by Lawton Leech’s cabin, that worthy and Big Blacksnake were standing in the doorway. 7 ‘*Carse that young. sesany Leech gritted, “How I hate him! He bas jumped up into riches and popularity in a day, almost. allus did bate fellers wi’ sech cussed luck, Then, too, I’ve got it in fer him, on account of the gal.” ‘Yas, an’ byer’s w’at’s got it in fer ’im, too!” Blecksnake growled. ‘‘ The little scab made me take water like as ef I’d fellin a creek—me ther bristlin’ b’arfaced bouncer o’ Brighamville. But, I sav, ain't it ’most time to ,ikker?” ‘“Not a drop! D’ye hear? There’s work to do to-night, an’ you let liquor be, ’til we get clear!” ‘* All right, boss!”’ In the mean time, Kit continued on his way, his thoughts varying from sweet Mai to the mis- sion before him, In due time he reached the vicinity of the mountain cave, and in view of giving old Martha a surprise, he made bis ap- proach cautiously, and bounded into the cave abruptly. What he saw, however, caused him to pause, in amazement. Upon the bard stone floor of the cave, lay @ man, bound band and foot, and struggling and rolling bis eyes in the throes of a fit. Two women were bending over him, watch ing him with pained expressions of counte nance, Oxe was the hermitess; the other was a wo. man with long heir, of the purest silvery color, worn loose down ber back.’ Her face had once been beautiful, and was not even now homely, although there were lines, here and there, which spoke of past trouble. Her eyes were of a hazel hue but very penetrating in their glance, She was dressed in 8 flowing wrapper, and her neat appearance was strangely in contrast with that of Martha. When she saw Kit, she uttered a strange cry partly as of recognition, and took a step toward him, ‘Your name—your name!” she gasped, clasp- ing her hands in appealing eagesness. — ‘ Christofer Brick op, at yer service, from Boston, B, B!” Kit replied, not knowing whether to grin, or be frig tened. “Jessie! go sit down!” Martha commanded, sharply. ‘fam ashamed of you!” The white-haired woman mechanically obey- ed, but kept staring at Kit in a way that made him feel decidedly nervous, Who was she? Was she crazy? If so, and the man bad fits, Kit judged that the old hermitess must run a sort of an asy- luro, ‘‘-You will excuse ber,” Martha said, address- ing the boy. ‘*Don’t mind anything she says, for I believe ber mind is becoming a little shat- tered. This poor fellow, too, is becoming al- most unmanageable when he has a fit. 1 bave only seen him a couple of times, lately, but I know him well.” Kit stepped forward and took a good look at the man, only to utter an exclamation of as- tonishment as he did so. It was the same man, Mike Malone, whom he had prevented from committing suicide at the Shebang in, Played-Out! “Vou bave seen bim, then?’ Martha asked, eagerly. ‘‘ Wal, I should smile! Wanted ter blow his brains out the other night down in the camp but [ advised him ter bang on to what he had for fear he might need ’em. I took him fer a sort of a crank, you see!” “‘ Well, to tell the truth, he isn’t far short of ” ‘* Who is he?” ‘‘You remember the Mancill girl I told you of? Well, this is her brother, Theodore. He was then a mere child!” Kit whistled. ‘*T see—I see!’ he said, “The fate of hig sister has made him a wreck,” ‘*Exectlv. He has but one object, wher rational. That is revenge.” com * *¢ A | i, oe ae mee” 4, ie ,OOKS con” 4