Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 339 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

sight of these tropbies, while the miners uttered exclamations of delight. “Tsay thar, ye jackanapes! [ll buy all ther stock you’ve gov!” “ Will ye, Lawty? I wouldo’t ef I was you, seein’ as a thousand shares is a limit ter the sale, to one inderwidual! Now, then, galoots, recollect hyer’s yer chance ter strike it rich; so size up yer piles, an’ go inas heavy as ye can Stand!” *7l] take a thousand shares. I'll settle with you after you get through, there!” Leech cried, pompously. “On! will ye? Walk right up here and slap down your collat, or not a share do you get, bet er navigators on that! So, now, who sets the oall a-rolling?” ‘¢P}i take two shares if it bu’sts me!” a miner came to time with, as he handed up bis fifty dollars in gold. ‘“That’s bu-iness! Here’s one man wi’ some sand in bim!” Kit cried. ‘‘ Nothin’ like havin’ plenty o’ sand, gents. Yer name, pardner q”” ‘*‘ Zeb Folks, me boy.” “‘ How are you, Zicbt Here’s yer receipt for two shares of Bricktop Mining Concern stock. May all sech folks as you live long and die happy! Who’s the next lucky man that’s got the tin and wants to chip in?” Another miner took five shares, another one, five others raised a purse and bougbt a fifth, each; and so on, and the more that were sold, the greater appeared to be the demand. Aud it seemed all at once as though the popu- lation of Played-Out camp had suddenly in- ereased. Strangers were seen at every band with fists full of money, and it kept the young financier busy to rake in the cash and make out receipts. ‘‘Recollect, feller citizens,” he would shout every once in a while, ‘‘ thet each man’s shares aire made out in his own name, as his own prop- erty: therefore, accordin’ ter my constertution an’ by-laws, 0 man aire allowed ter dispose uv his stock without a meetin’ o’ the other stock- holders decides that the would-be member is a desirable person to become a member of our compauy. Under no circumstances shall a member be allowcd to sell to another member who has exceeding nine hundred and ninety- nine shares. This is to prevent one hog from ere ee ing all the swill!” Share after share went off, and Kit’s pockets became heavy with money—bills and coin. Many of the miners who bit lightly at first, would buy again, later. It was dela | nigh noon when Kit caught sight of Byron Milton standing amons the crowd. ‘“ Hillo, poet!” be cried. ‘‘ Ain’t yer goin’ ter buy a block o’ ther tartest_minin’ stock ever shoved on ther market? Guarantee thet ten days from now ye can’t tech a share wi’out pay in’ a big premium.” Oh! Faloht risk a hundred shares, I sup- pose!” Milton replied carelessly, as if he were not over-particular whether or no he ever realiz- ed anything from the investment. ‘‘ Here’s your money.” ‘‘ Biled onions an’ Hoboken hash! Sold ag’in, an’ raked in the tin!” yelled Kit, as he banded the artist-author a receipt in exchange for the money. ‘‘Most grub time, gents. You fellers as wants ter inwest, jest amble right up to ther manager, as [ shall sell no more sbares at public sale, Allas don’t git ’em now, will hev to ap- ply at my office, ter-morrer, when, ten ter one, the stock will bev jumped up fifty per cent, or more!” Tbis caused a new rush, and the buying was lively. Two distinguished-looking, well-dressed gen- tlemen, who evidently were new-comers, and Eastern men, stepped up and purchased a thou- sand shares each, “Thet’s ther way ter do it!” Kit cried, “There’s three thousend shares yet unsold. Sale is over fer to-day. Every man put bis corporosity to the bar, and drink to the expense of Kit Bricktop!” Thirsty pilgrims were the men of Played: Out, and had one of their number refused to imbibe, he would have been considered either a fool, or a lunatic, The sale was over, as Kit had announced, and he escaped from tho saloon as soon as possible and sought his room. He had sold five thousand shares, at twenty- five dollars per sharo, and had in his several big pockets, the neat little sum of one hundred and twenty fivo thousand dollars, spot cash! He counted it over, with sparkling eyes. “Christofer Bricktop, you were born fer to Oroville, an ebony box, 8 inches long by 6 wide and 4 deep, containing documents of great value to owner but worthless to any one else. The above re Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. luck!” he soliloquized, stroking his chin, com- placently, “Et ye wern’t, Pll ebhew spruce gum all my natteral born days. You've got inter jest ther greatest racket uv yer life, an’ ef ye kin only keep yer brain clear, an’ play yer cards right, ye bev struck a reg’lar Chicago rice puddin’, raisens an’ all, But look ye a little out, my bloomin’ Christofer! Ye've gota bloody lot o’ work ter do, an’ et’s got ter be did as quick, comparatively, as a muel kin paw @ fly off'm his ear. There’s work both broad, shrewd, and delicate, an’ there’s only two ways about it. You've got ther biggest elerfunt on yer hands which a kid of yer statter ever bad. Ef ye succeed, ye’r’ a trump, an’ win a queen. Ef ye fail, ye’r’ gone—higher’n a kite, an’ ther pilgrims of Played-Out will use yer head fer a football!” — as CHAPTER VI. A STRANGE QUEST. THe Leadville Leader, one morning, contain- ed tne following advertisement in one of its business columns, which might have seemed rather out of place in that rough and ready metropolis, for articles of value, if lost, were seldom if ever heard from, while it may be safe to venture that the average finder of any article of value never troubled him or herself to hunt up the rightful owner. The advertisement in question was as fol- lows’ “$500 Rewarp.—Lost, on know but it was stolen,) on t the 20th inst., (don’t he road from Leadville ward will be paid and no questions asked for the re- turn of box and papers intact to owner. ‘* VWortron MILEs, “ Clu. en/on Hoel, Leadville.” It is possible that the attention of the public was attracted to the advertisement, but littie heed was taken of it, and itis safe to say that Morton Miles and his lost box passed quickly out of the minds of Leadville’s busy people. And why should it not be sof One of the two gevtlemen who had bought stock in Kit’s mining concern had given his name us Morton Miles, while the other and younger of the two, by a couple of years, had given his name as Paul Siensby. But one more vacant room had Tim Flannigan over the Shebang, and this the two gentiemen availed themselves of immediately after the sale. Mr. Miles was a man of fifty-five years, al- though his appearance would hardly bave placed him among men of that age. His hair and beard were only sligotly sprinkled with silver threads, and his face was one that wore a kind, noble expression. Mr. Slensby was rather the handsomer of the two—in a figurative sense, more of a ladies’ man, as it were. He wore a handsome mustache and immense, wavy side-whiskers, and bad beautiful eyes of tranquil brown, There were crow’s-tracks about them, however, that a good judge of human character would not have really liked, After making as good a toilet as the con- veniences of their apertment would admit, they seated themselves at the rude table and each lit a cigar. ‘What do you think of our speculation?” Slensby asked, gazing dreamily at his compan- ion through a cloud of smoke. “My opinion 1s that the fellow is a fraud, and we're sold.” “T can’t sav that 1 hardly agree with you on that point. The lad is really ‘most too young to venture into so gigantic a fraud, as it would be in case it does turn out bad. At any rate, we need not growl, for we understood the chances we were taking when we invested, The boy is a genius, and I judge he has happened to discover a good lead, and means to feather his nest, first, and let the others take their chances.” ‘Possibly. Well, here we are in Played- Ont, at Jast, and I’m pretty well played cut, myself, I assure you. Fine-looking town to find our game in, I’]l swear” “Tam not greatly impressed with the place, myself, As likely to be a den of cut-throats as anything elso. Lat me see that letter again, Slensby. You badir last, I believe.” Slensby took an envelope from bis pocket, extracted a letter from it and tossed it to his companion, Mr. Miles spread it out before him on the table, and gave it a careful perusal, while Slensby smoked his cigar, and watched the reader with an indolent expression, — | ty well to pieces. | and believing they had been stolen, | Bey to penetrate my disguise. | —_———_——_— —— — el SI The missive wes pened in a good style of chirograp Y, ana rai Ss follows? “ PLayeD-Ovt, Oct 24, 18—. ‘‘ Hon. Morton MILES:— ‘“Srr:—By merest chance, I saw your ndvertise- ment in a late issue of the Leadvilie Leader, and hasten to answer. “While on my way to this camp, a few nights ago, I was accosted in a lonely spot by a ragged tramp, who asked for money, heing unfavorably impressed with him, 1 refused him alms, when he threatened to shoot me. Being a little sprver than he. | knocked bim over the head, and he fell sense- iess. In falling, an ebony box slipped from under his coat, and struck a rock, and was shattered pret- Seeing thet it con'ained papers, L brought them with me, together with the wreck of the box. “ Natural curiosity prompted me to give them an examindtion, and, of course, you are aware whit f learned, in part. I learned s methbing else of im- por’ ance, hich vou have no idea of. Therefore, I would see you personally, as there are ce rtain things to be understood and considered beiore you receive the documents. When you see me I shall be mask- edand unknown to you, and moreover,I shall be playing a part. But. understand *his—i shall be playing dire tly into your hars, a ad it will be to your interest to treat me gentlemanly, and not at- vou do, the 7 bubble is bursted, and you wil never get whole your papers or gain the point you have in view, I give you my word for this “Come to Played-Out, and bi@e your time. When I find it convenient, I will appoint an interview. if you see avy hing that stariles you, or eny'o-y that recalls a recoilection, be as 1 you were stone, lest you betray yourself. | command this; if you disobey li not do another thing. Keep the hame you now bear. If your enemies were to find you out, I would n't give five cents for your life. Remember, my eyes shall be upon you when least you think of it, ‘Yours very truly, ‘*O_p OXFORD,” Mr. Miles looked up from the letter witha wearied expression. ‘Oh! Heaven, when shall this ever end, S'ensby?” he groaned, ‘“T am getting to de- spair of ever gaining a point toward the culmi- nation,” ‘‘l am truly gratified to hear that. You e°r- tainly haveraced me around the country, uutil I do really believe lam getting gray hairs, and’ shall soon have to walk with a cane,” ‘Nonsense! You are infernally lezy. What care you where you go, as long as you have @ fortune to inberit, when I die, unless—” ‘How many times bave you mentioned that word? I bate it. I don’t expect to succeed you, my beloved cousin—I don’t wantto, Ofa quarter of a million, my beloved mother-in-law left me, I have still a good fifty thousand left, besides the wad I was fool enough todropisto the young vagabond’s bands, a few minutes ago, in exchange for a piece of paper. Bah} I’ve amind to hght a cigar with it!” ‘Don’t! You may realize bandsomely on it. Whattrcubles me are the pavers, and to know who this Old Oxford is. For my part, | am all in the dark.” ‘The fellow isundoubtedly some sharp, who, having gained an inkling of the trutb, meurs to work you for a gold mine, If you let him, you're a fool.” ‘“T am no fool!” “Well, suit yourself about that. Why. if T bothered mvself es much about the trouble I had, as you have, I’ be dead, long ago. You, even, are getting as gray as a badger.” “They are gray hairs cf bonor, though ” Mr. Miles said, proudly, ‘ I suppose there is noth- ing todo, but wait till we bear from this un- known correspondent again.” ‘‘Nothing. We need rest—you, especially. If you will lie Gown, J’)! jnst run below, get @ cocktail, and see if I ean’t induce some one into a game of old slecege |” “Thank you; | believe Iwill take your ad- vice,” So, Slensby wert below. That afterncon’s stage brought down a load of out-of-work pilgrims from Thunderville, Nearly fifty there were, who had heard of the new breeze stirred up at Played-Ouf, and wanted to be on hand to participave ip any bonang2 cxcitement that might take place, Directly after the stege came ten buge wagon- loads of lumber, which Kit had sent a messenger after, to the Thunderville mill. By paying a big price, be bad secured a cood building site, and in ten minutes after the ar- rival of the lumber, all the available belp in the camp were bard at work, ‘‘slasbing” up & frame, or buge shanty, under Kit’s direction. Kit Bricktop was the name on every one’s toneue, He was literally the biggest ‘‘ bug” in Plaved-Out, and was an object of much | curiosity.