Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 339 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

eT i. ,* a a ‘' “4 .* ¥' > ~ 4 ‘ - - : peg: , 4 “<4 4 al “ | 5 4 i * ‘5 - ~ Q «7 hs £ ~ > ‘ + 7 d ‘ Bets Lia® eo, ‘ -»- . ¥ ry « t bad es ¥ = f. i > — ¥ = F: a + s cae y rs gis * "" Py, . } > y oe 4 ¢ stand. You rescued Miss Mai Roulere from a ruffian’s attempted insult. Therefore, you see, you place me under many obligations to you,” ae. 1 Gor” “Exactly. You see, to make it still plainer toyou, lam Lawton Leech, the wealthiest man in Played-Out, and Miss Mai is my intended wife.” ** Oh, she is ?” “ Certainly !” ** Does she know anything about it?” “To be sure! Why do you ask?” * Well, it kinder struck me as sing’lar, Heerd fer mention ye, but ’twaren’t in a way as would be apt to tickle a mule so he'd laugh his- gelf sick!” **Do ycu mean to intimate she did not speak well of me?” Leech demanded, his eyes flashing. *Reckon that’s bow. She allowed I could Zuess how she despised yer, an’ judgin’ by ther trans-trangullity of her brow, I calkylated she hadn’t no more luv fer you than a mad hornet das fer a man on a mowin’-masheen,” “Bah! She’s a dear little coquette, and de- aights to tantalize me. She’s mine, solid enough.” ** Dunno *bout that, Mister Millionaire.” “Don’t know about it? What do you mean, you rat?” **T mean that I doubt yer word, There ’ap- pens to be, as the Henglishmen say, another candydate in the field—yas,twoot’em. One ov ’em hev got a monop’ly ov tae bull bizness; tother one is workin’ a blind, w’ot he ken’t never git thr’u.” “Huiapbh! Who are these that dare to inter- fere with my game?” ‘* Wull, fustly, tbere’s a feller called Chris- tofer Bricktop, from Bosting. He isa champion bean-eater, hus the head of the field—that is, ipes ther monopoly, and pools aire sellin’ on im fifty per minnit, The vother feller is a great looker, spits out poetry by the yard, a picters, an’ bows ter the name of Byron hakespeare Milton, E-s-q. But he hain’t got a canary-bird’s show, ‘long side of you and I,” * You and I?’ Leech sneered. **No—you and J!” Kit retorted. ‘I’m the Boston bean-bouncer, tho’ ’m dubbed Kangaroo Kit out here, I’ve got thet purty banjo-picker down fine, an’ were goin’ ter get spliced ina day orso. Why, ef you wull apply 8 a nose to my cheek, ye’ll smeil where she kissed me not more’n an hour ago.” ** Nonsense! Enough of this chaffing. I don’t believe a word you say. The girl b’longs to me, and all the imps of Hades can’t take her away from me!” ‘‘Glad ye think so, boss; but you'll get left so bad ye won’t pever be able tu tell where yer right hand is!” ‘Never fear, my little bantam. [ run this town of Played-Out, and I make it a point to have my own way. Now, there’s something I want to know, and if you know when your skin’s on you, you will do well toarswer, What did you come here to this camp for ?” ** Jist drapped down here by chance!” “None of your lying to me. Wuat are you hanging around for ?” - Ohi nothin’ much. Hain’t been here long. Guess, however, l’il lay around fer snaps, an’ court up the banjo- picker, since she’s taken sech a shine to me.” camp, my smart pipin, not if 1 know it!” “ ee d’ye know?” “Til let you know as soon as it comes day- light.” **So, I can’t stay here?” “Not by a long sight. banties around as you.” ‘How you goin’ to help yourself?” _. “Tasily enough. When I say go, you can bet you vamose!” The mine monarch was getting very wroth at Kit’s sang froid. “ 'Who’s goin’ to make me vamose?” he asked, “S$ 'posin’ I won’t go?” We don’t want such Leech was about to make some fierce sort of answer, when a miner came suuntering up to the table, his eyes gleaming greedily. | ee. ; “Tsay, Mister Leech?’ be began. “Well, Bings, what is it?’ Leech demanded, uty. “ ne, neat tell "bout ther big nugget, Mr. h “Ah! yes! yes!” f “Well, this is the young feller w’ot flung it e gon the stage, ye know, an’ it’s we men o’ Piayed- - Out, as wants ter know where he found it?” Lawton Leech instantly turned his gleaming “Tl court ye! You won’t lay around this Mei eyes upon the young sport. ¥ . * 4 Sn) +s * \ : at . Osu - Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 7 Pye CHAPTER V. THE RACKET. Kit returned the sture with interest. Some- how he had a faculty of being looked at, abused, or made fun of, without allowing his composure to be disturbed. ‘Well, dye see anything green?’ he de- manded. ‘‘One would suppose | was a double- action rhinoserious, or a roarin’ African perarie dorg. the way ye look at me.” 4 ‘*Where did you get that nugget of gold, which Bings speaks of?’ Leech demanded, in thunderous tones, ‘*Oh! Jemimy! ye needn’t holler so loud, I ain’t deaf.” ‘‘ Answer me! Where did ye git it?” ‘Where the .woodvine twineth an’ the owl hoots ’til one P. M!” ' Leech uttered a curse, ‘* Are ye goin’ to tell me?” he gritted, his rage growing in intensity all the time. ‘What'll I tell ye fer?’ ‘** Beeause I command you to!” ‘+ Jest "cause ye say so, eh?” ** Certainly.” “Pll be darned ef I will, ’Tain’t none 0’ your business, Mr. Lawtou Leech!” ‘*Satan take your impudence! I'll show you if it ain’t!” and he drew a revolver from his bip holster, and cocked it, “What ye goin’ to do with that?’ Kit de- manded, his composure apparently as perfect as ever. ‘‘TVll show you, you brat! with it, where ye found that nu blow yer brains all over this room!’ Kit burst into a ringing laugh, “Git out! Ye wouldn’t, now, would you?” be asked, with mock earnestness, ‘“‘Why, ’pon my word, thar’s not enuff brains in my bull noddle to cover a common pancake griddle.” ‘*Foronce and the last time, are you going to tell? If you don’t, off goes your head!” **T won't tell ye! Shute me, ef ye want to, but ye'll only lose the secret for good then!” Lawton Leech glared at the boy, his ex- pression a mixture of admiration and anger. ‘By thunder, you’ve nerve!” be growled, while a murmur of assent escaped the miners, who had gathered around the two, ‘*You bet I've nerve! Swallered sixteen bottles of nervine when I was a month old, and was brought up on a suckin’ bottleful of smart- weed!” Kit said, dryly. “Shet up! I’ve a mind to blow your head off, as it is!” ‘*Now, Lawty, dear, you wouldn't be so rash. It would’ be simply ridiculous of you. You are really too smart a villain for that, ain’t you? Ef you was to giton bad terms enuff wi’ me, ter shute me, think of ther piles an’ piles an’ piles of golden nuggets you’d be puttin’ fer- ever out 0’ yer reach,” *“Cuss ye! Why don’t you let us fellows know where they are to be found?” ‘Because ’'m goin’ to work a nice little racket, ye know, what will put me on my pins fer some time to come, Ter-morrer, I’m goin’ ter sell stock on my bonanza, an’ continue ’til I gitallsold. I’m jest goin’ ter make Played-Out this side o’ nowhere ter boom, When ther stock aire all sold, an’ my company formed, [Il show ’em whar ther’s ther biggest vein o’ gold thet war ever struck in these parts. Anuther thing; [’m boss o’ ther consarn, an’ I ain't goin’ ter allow no rich bug to gobble up all ther cream an’ butter. Ther poor, honest miner aire goin’to hey a smell at the soup, or my name ain’t Kangaroo Kit!” ‘“‘ Hurray! that’s ther talk fer ye, boys, every time! Whoop her up, now—long life an’ pros- perity to Kangaroo Kit!” cried a miner, This sentiment seemed infectious, for, to- gether, and with one accord, they gave three hearty cheers, that fairly made the building tremble. With an expression of malignant hatred upon his face, Lawton Leech arose from his seat, and restored bis weapon to its holster. . ‘‘ Blaze away, my young pippin!” he growled. You'll find out how you’il succeed!” He then stalked from the room, He would probably have carried on the quar- rel, but saw that Kit, bad in one minute, gained a solid popularity with the miners,and should he, Leech, injure their new favorite, he would lose his own hold upon the few hardy men who made up the population of Played-Out. To dothis, meant to lose power, and that he could ill-afford, until he had accomplished sev- eral purposes which he had in view; cousequent- ly, he was discreet enough to retire from the saloon, before committing any rash act, that he would have afterward been sorry for. Now do ye out gget—or Pil ‘ 4 o 4 >, * =. : A 4 r -"s : a » iw ~ A . a 7 ‘ we & —- - . Av * ‘ ee ‘ ‘ ~ i 1, ee gdh > - the ‘After he was gove, Kit ordered . bar ae th tender to ‘‘set’em up” for the crowd; then, as (0 ae soon as hecould get away,the boy soughthis = = room, which wasimmediately over tbeLarroom, = and not a bad apartment. ea. pe = It was long past supper hour, but he did not at immediately retire. ai He produced a couple of sheets of large paper and a marking pencil, from bis pocket, an spreading the paper upon the table, began to mark out an advertisement, soon proving bim- self to be an adept in the art of lettering. It took some time to complete bis job, but at last he laid the pencil aside. oe The poster bore the following words: | TAKE NOTICE! BIG SCHEME! GUARANTEED! FORTUNE IN IT! GvARrAntTEED! ‘‘T, Kit Bricktop, having located an immense mine, will to-day open a sale of shares of stock, the num- ber of shares limited to ten thousand. No more than one thousand shares sold to one person, or for one person, Mine to be shown to all, as soon as all shares are disposed of. Sale to continue till all are sold. Price, per share, $25. Sold in fifths at $5 each, I reserve two hundred shares, for myself, and am to be president, manager ami cashier. ** Kit BRICKTOP.”’ This was not posted, until the next morning, and really didn’t need posting, then, for it. bad been well advertised by the miners themselves. But it was read, ail the same, and over and over a dozen times. The excitement waxed hot. The miners refused to go to work, and bung about the saloon, upon one side of which the bulletin bad been posted, The name of Kit Bricktop was in every one’s mouth. Kangaroo Kit was the boss boy. He bad brought luck to the camp. Played Out bad a future, Kit was to be her lucky star. She would lav Leadville totally in the shade. Where was Kit? é These, and many other questions and remarks, passed from mouth to mouth, Kit was a much-wantd personage, In bis room, said Fat Fred, in answer to all inquiries. he sun arose, noonward, Kit made his ap- pearance, and when he did, he was regarded — with great curiosity; and many murmurs of wonderment, and some of doubt, were expressed. That one so young, should undertake a great financial enterprise, had a savoring of mystery. Kit had washed his face, combed his hair, and in many other ways added materially to a chenge of appearance for the better, His entrance to the saloon, was but the signal for the eager crowd to follow, and in order to escape being «enveloped in a perf ct jam, be was obliged to mount a card-table, for safety. ‘Take et easy, pilgrims!” he remarked, as ‘ere each man struggled to get a front position. ‘‘One would think I war Petey Barnum or Henery Ward Beecher, ther he ye act, Jest hold yer hosses, an’ ]’}] give ye all a peep at ther elerphant, d’rectly.” e then fished around in his pockets, and broveht forth a package of blank receipts, ‘‘ Now, gents, ye understand, by ther notis I posted, jest what I’m goin’ ter do. 1 am here ter sell stock in ther great Bricktop Minin’ Con- cern, which is yet undeweloped, °Tain’t no we, fraud, ye kin bet, fer here’s a galoot as wouldn't =| cheat an honest workin’man out of a cert!” my iy Enthusiastic cheers. — . ‘Remember, I’m sellin’ stock, calculatin’ther = thing will pan out toour mutual advantage. te Ef it should play out, arter awhile, course ‘tain’t my fault. Now, then, whoever pays in fer stock gits a receipt, entitling him to so many shares of stock, an’ when tbe mine aire open, he gits his share of the dividends declared ’cordin’ ter what stock he has subscribed fer. | S a Diye savy, me daisies?” i gee ‘I reckon as bow we ain’t perzactly dumb!” || one miner allowed. “Buc, ye see, we haimt | got nothin’ more than yer word ferit, that ye on, ain’t shettin’ our eye up wi’? moonshine.” tape ye Ba ** Of course ye ain’t!” growled Lawton Leech VINE who bad made it bis business to be present. | ‘“‘Ef ye hev any faith in what that young ~~ blackleg says, you'll get bit like p’izen, and I’ ee iol not pity ye.” ht eee ‘“Sbet yer vocabulator, Lawton dear!’ Kit | sung out. ‘‘Ef these fellers gits bit’ treat. Them ’aire don’t look much as tho’ were put- tin’ up a job, do they?” | And he took from his pockets a pair of golden Be 4 nuggets, full as large, if notlargerthantheone | ~~ he had tossed upon the stage, the previous == ~~ night, . ¥ howe i A bafiled curse burst from Leech’s lips, a Pe Wok, a5 mi? . ~EGOmicvpooks.cc