Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 36 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

———— fo she refused, on. the grounds that she had re- gistered an oath on the dictionary that she wasn’t going to marry until she had seen the biggest dunce in the country.” ‘Well, sir, and do you mean to imply that / am that dunce?” ** Can’t say, precisely; only the other day, you told me to go to the deuce, and then wanted to know why I didn’t come to you when you called,” ‘* You are an aggravating youngster, and your sauciness nearly drives me out of my senses.” ‘** That’s a very short drive, and wouldn’t require a very fast horse to go it with.” ‘‘T tell you what it is, if you use any more of your insults, [ll swallow you alive.” ** You can’t do it.” **Can’t? And why not, pray?” ‘*T’d hold on to your mustache as I was going down, and try to save myself.” “ Pll shave it off.” ‘‘Ther I suppose I must yield to fate; but it will be a benefit to you.” ‘* How so?” ‘* Why, you’d have more brains in your stomach than you ever had in your bead.” It takes but Jittle to make a country au- dience laugh, and, if the clown can but get the best of the ring-master, he is pretty sure of being successful. Another rider now came on the scene, and every one’s gaze was riveted upon him, for he was performing the scene of the ‘Wild Indian ’—a performance which al- _ most always is a “‘ sure card” with the cir- cus. fraternity. While this act was being gone through with, Henry had a chance to look around the vast gathering, and he endeavored to see if there were any faces familiar to him. There was one he knew too well, and, for a moment, the sight almost took away his breath. ‘ It was Murker! He was there for no good, evidently. Yet, was it not akin to putting his neck into a halter to thus place himself in Henry’s power? But, Murker had not come unprepared to make good his cause. No one had seen him cut the rope on that fearful night; only positive proof could convict him, and that they did not have. But the performance is progressing, and Murker’s eyes are fixed steadfastly on Jes- sie, who is again in the ring, leaping over panners, flying like a spirit of the air, and then sitting on her noble steed, while grace- fully acknowledging the applause so lavish- ly bestowed upon her, The entire act over, the Boy Clown is again at his part, jesting and joking, and re- marking on the topics of the day, sometimes in rather a caustic manner, but his hits are well made, and the people take them in good part. With reckless hardihood, Murker had made his way behind the curtain that sepa- rated .he aressing-room from the arena, and just at the proper moment for his designs, for the first person he met was Jessie her- self, Asie young girl caught sight of the Tjowerine egyuntenance of the man she so much dreaded, she started back, with a slight exclamation of alarm. ‘So you seem to remember me,” said Murker, sneeringly. ‘‘ Well, it is a good thing that you do. Ive come for you.” ‘‘ You’ve come for me?” repeated Jessie, as though she had not heard aright. “Yes, come for you. Ain’t the words plain enough? Go an’ get your traps and prepare to leave this place,” said the ruffian, coarsely. “ Never!” replied the girl, with flashing eyes, “Won't you? Well, we'll see about that!” Several of the performers, attracted by the loud talking, now gathered round, and as more than one of them were with the circus when the accident to Henry had oe- curred, Murker found himself surrounded by lowering faces, and heard mutterings that boded no good to himself. ‘‘What is this disturbance?” asked one of the men. ‘‘ And you, sir, how dare you show your face inside the canvas, much less the dressing-room?” Murker shrunk under the keen gaze and stern tones of the actor, but he braced him- self and answered, boldly: ‘‘T’ve come here to claim my daughter,” and he pointed, with outstretched arm, to Jessie. ‘Your daughter! Impossible!” ‘were heard on ever side from the astounded crowd. “Tt is false!” cried Jessie, drawing back with every appearance of disgust and dislike in her manner. “It is false! He once gave the old woman with whom I lived twenty dollars for her consent to take me away. That failing, he now comes with this infamous story,” and the young girl turned away with a visible shudder. ‘““What have you to say to this, sir?” sternly asked the actor who had been spokes- man. ‘‘She denies your claim, and we be- lieve her, and the sooner you—” ‘But I have the proofs! I have the proofs!” eagerly exclaimed Murker. ‘‘ She is my child, and there is no power to pre- vent my taking her from this place.” ‘Then produce your proofs,” said the actor, ‘‘ and see that they are proofs, or it may fare the worse for you. We know you, and I think there is not one present but who would be glad of the chance to give you a sound drubbing.” ‘¢ They shall be forthcoming at the proper moment.” ‘Then, turning to Jessie, Murker continued: ‘‘ It is useless for you to resist. Your mother is dead, and you are left an heiress. Your property will be in my charge.” “The story bears falsehood on its face. But, if it #& true, take the money—all of it— use it as you like; any thing so that you leave me in peace and take your hateful person from my sight.” ‘You go with me,” replied Murker, stoutly. ‘You may as well give in.” Then drawing nearer, so that his words might be heard only by the girl, he hissed in her ear: ‘You want to stay so that you can be near Henry.” “And if I dé? He is my friend, which is far more than I can say for you, even Beadle’s.. Half-Dime , Library. though you are my father,” said Jessie, with infinite scorn. “Tt is to sever you from this love-sick youth that Icame. I hate him! Do you hear? I hate him.” ‘Have you not done him injury enough already ?” ‘Tt matters not. He has wronged me, and I never forget an injury. But, cease this trifling! I have proofs with me that you are my lawful daughter, and the law gives me control of your person. Will you go quietly, or must? I use force? Speak quickly; I have no time to waste,” and the brute glanced triumphantly around the group. At this moment the curtain was drawn aside, and another person appeared upon the scene. It was the Boy Clown. The assassin was again face to face with his intended victim, CHAPTER YV. THE VILLAIN’S TRACKS. Back. into the past we must now fetrace our steps, to where, just one year ago, we left Murker lying, stunned by the unknown’s blow, upon the floor of the old dame’s cot- tage. The stroke, dealt by a strong and willing arm, had fallen upon the villain’s bare head with terrific force, and had hurled him, senseless to the earth. ‘By me sowl, but I belave I’ve kilt the vilPin intirely!”’ were the words that fell upon the wounded man’s ear as he came back to sense and feeling. ‘‘ If ye are dead, why the divil don’t ye say so, and not be throublin’ folks to fetch ye round?” and, for the third or fourth time the speaker, a stout Irish lad, dowsed a tin dipper full of water upon the already saturated victim. Struggling to his feet, Murker glared savagely around, and catching sight of the Irish boy, he made toward him in a hostile attitude. ‘“Oh, be the powers, ain’t ye got enough of it? Well, thin, come on, an’ by St. Pathrick, but I'll feed ye wid me buck-thorn till yer belly’s full. Whoop, now! an’ have at ye!” But Murker fad got enough, and when he saw the shillalah whirling about in the air he quickly retreated behind where the old crone sat, and put up both hands for quar- ter. ‘‘ Hold off, you young devil,” he said. ‘“T want no more thumps on the head. Why did you strike me at all?” ‘* An’ it’s why did I sthrike ye! Well, ‘pon me sowl but ye’re acool one! Wasnt ye a-cavortin’ around jist, and battherin’ the ould woman’s shanty all to smithereens, and warn’t the poor crathur a-yowlin’ bloody murder as’ hard as iver she could pelt? And warn’t your ugly top-knot the first one I see?” ‘And so you struck me simply because my head was the most convenient thing about?” asked Morker, in a rage. “ Jist listen till him! how he guesses. Ye’ve hit it, by Saint Pathrick! But ye’ll betther be a-bathin’ iv it an’ stop waggin’ your jaw while I give the ould dame the bit iv a letther I’ve fetched.” Gomicvooks