Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 378 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a in, r ‘ - “faa > & a ¢ + a ‘ve 10, perienced or dreamed of and she felt only too pleased to respond to the encore, She then sung a plaintive home ballad which was listened to with rapt attention, bringing moisture to the eyes of more than one veteran and tenderfoot, as the words brought back to them recollections of the past. Among the spectators nearest the stage was Nabob Ned, attired in the highest of fashion, and appearing at bisease. His garments were of the best material and fit, and a big diamond glittered upon bis spotless shirt-front, while a huge cable gold-chain was worn about his neck, and attached to his watch. : From the moment of Polly’s first appearance, his eyes hardly once left her face, and by intui- tion, she was forced to glance at him several ite only to find his steadfast gaze fixed upon er. She scarcely knew whether to feel pleased or offended, but made up her mind to call EHigle City Ed’s attention to the matter after the per- formance. At the end of the second ballad the Chinese waiter presented Polly with a handsomely- arranged basket of wiid flowers, which had been formed in colors to represent a star. Altbough Polly felt almost certain that Nabob Ned was the donor, she gave him no Jook to in- dicate that she thought so; but, on receiving the flowers, courtesied, placed them upon a stand between her and Ed, and immediately sung the third number of her programme, Ed then arose and announced that there would be an intermission of ten minutes, to give the audience an opportunity to ‘foil up,” and he and Polly retired bebind a curtained space that had been provided as a retiring room—Polly taking along the basket. ‘*Oh! haven’t I had a nice reception!” she said, inhaling the fragrant odor of the flowers. ‘“*T am so delighted, and I am so much indebted to you, sir, for you have been the direct cause of it, ‘*By no means. You have done splendidly, I will admit. What with the seat rent and volun- aoe donations, I have over a hundred and eighty dollars, and a few more songs will, no doubt swell the amount to over two bundred dollars.” ** And oh! look here, Mr. Ed—a hundred dol- lar bill hidden among these flowers!” It was, true enough—a new crisp hundred dollar note that had hitherto received but little, if any usage. She handed it to Ed, who without a word, gave it a minute examination. While he was thus engaged, Polly slyly ex- tracted a written note, from among the flowers, and slipped it into her pocket, Looking toward Eagle City Ed, she found him regarding her, amusedly. “Oh! you need not besosly. I have no de- sire to see that note,” he flaughed. ‘‘I’d advise you to avoid the man who sent it, as much as possible.” ‘‘Thank you, I do not yet know the contents, and so cannot say what I willdo. Who was the gentleman, who sent the flowers?” ‘‘The swell who attracted your attention. If you had looked sharp, you might have noticed a little discoloration under his left eye, aithough he had it well painted over. I had occasion to do, to-day, what I may do again, if he gets too fresh!” He then turned his attention to counting the money over again. She had a woman’s intuitive shrewdness, and quickness of perception; so stepped to his side, and Jaid one hand upon his shoulder, ‘* Now, Mr. Ed, you are not jealous, are you? I don’t want you to be, I am sure.” ‘* Jealous?” and he looked up at ber in sur- prise. ‘‘ Why, believe me, thatis'a thing fur- thest from my thoughts, Here is the money. Now, excuse me a moment, please. I will be back before you go on again.” And he stepped out among the audience, leav-_ ing a little unpleasant feeling tugging at her heart. It wasn’t exactly a, pain, but a sort of awing sensation, that caused her to wonder if it would not be herself who would be jealous, had she any cause to be. If so, she must like bim very mucb! During his absence, she read the note, if oc- curring to her that he had absented himself, in order to give her the opportunity to peruse it. It was as follows: “ Miss SmrrTH:— “Dear Lapy:—Learning, by chance, that you claim to be the daughter of John Smith. mF de- vas ceased, whose appointed representative I am, I take >, the liberty of bestowing upon you a token of my esteem for you, from the fact of having been Mr. ees alt 3 : CP (Si 4-< ri Biren oa ee PAS) > *; " > A. a " oe ok ; : ‘s ; ‘ot ¥ or ait NY aa . . Ned. Smith’s friend. I would also respectfully request ee to call upon me at my new office, opposite the otel, at ten, to-morrow, as there are matters of business awaiting the attention of Mr. Smith’s heir- ess, ‘“T also considerit my duty, to advise you to have very little confidence in the man who publicly an- nounces himself as your manager, as, in reality, he is unworthy of your slightest no\ice—is a very dis- reputable character. ‘The charges against him are numerous, to say nothing about his being a moral leper. "Tis said he has two wives living; but, however this may be, I have reasons to believe that one of them is ¢n route for Slab City now, insearch of him. A word to the wise is sufficient, Most respectfully yours, ** NABOB NED, ‘*Conveyancer, Counselor, etc.” SP a Pa * Ps io ve t, abo Polly’s cheeks grew red and white by turns, asshe read the missive, and she was extremely nervous, when Eagle City Ed returned. At first, she was tempted to thrust the letter before his gaze; but. on second thought, she concluded that the denouement resulting from such an act, might detract from the pleasant success Of her first appearance; so she picked up her guitar, with a smile. ‘* Well, is it time, yet?” sbe asked. ‘Yes. Give ’em something serio-comic, this time, to wake ’em up!” They then went upon the stage, and Polly sung serio-comic songs of the day, to hilarious applause, and more showers of gold, On encore, she sung from ‘‘The Barber of Seville” and, to her own surprise, Eagle City Ed joined her, in a rich powerful barytone voice. Tie execution was exceptionally fine, the sport proving, beyond a doubt, tbat bis musical train- .ing, at some timein the misty past, bad not been neglected, while Polly found it a keen pleasure, to sing with bim. At the conclusion they both bowed them- selves off the stage, amid the most deafening applause, after which Ed reappeared, and an- nounced that Mile, Pauline would reappear the next evening. When he returned to the primitive green- room Polly seized his hands in hers impulsively. ‘Ob! wasn’t it glorious!” sbe asked, looking up into his face with her starry eyes. ‘“‘[ could have sung right along all night with you, you sing so nicelv, I see you have been educated in music. Were you ever abroad?” **Oh, no! What smattering of music I have is all self-lenrned. I am glad my effort pleased you. If you desire to retire to your room, there is a back stairway that will lead you to it. Here also is arevolver. In these rough towns a lady should never be without one, nor hesitate to shoot whenever occasion requires, Good- night!” ‘* Good-night!” She threw her arms about bis neck and im- printed a kiss upon bis cheek. Then she was gone, It was done so quickly that it really took him several moments to comprehend what had oc- curred—by which time Polly was up-stairs and in her apartment, ‘‘Stuck!” was the first comment the aston- ished sport made. ‘ Heres a case—a clear trans- lucent case, She’s clear gone on me, and Nabob Ned can send her all, the flowers he wants, for all the good it does ham /” As for Nabob Ned, be left the saloon imme- diately after the performance, gnashing his teeth with rage. The last act on the programme, and the fact that Polly had failed to look at bin at all, after receiving the bouquet, was like gall and wormwood to him, and he left the Bung-Eye in a furious passion, : ‘* Curse the girl! Curse Eagle City Ed! Curse everybody! I'd like to kill every mother’s son of ’em! The girl's a beauty. Egad! I would give a mint to possess ber, and possess her I will, though Satan and his imps may stand in my way! I wonderif she got my letter? Ifso,she disdained to pay any attention to it. Ha, curse her! That tut fires me with greater de- termination to possess her. She may be stuck on him because the devil can sing. I can’t sing, but I can outwit ’em allin scheming. Ah! my brain! [t is in a whirl. I must compose my- self, or 1 shall not be able to do the work ahead of me,” ‘Then you had better take a little liquor as a tonic!” a voice exclaimed, and, like an omen of evil, Sperra, the Mexican, stepped alongside the arch-plotter. “ Ah! you ?” Nabob hissed, his tone not indi- cating whether he was pleased or not, ‘Give me the whisky, if you bave any.” Sperra produced a flask, which his newly- acquired master nearly drained of its contents. 2 Sg gat ye oe *~. be ll Ae ee a ;™ 2¥ “~ \ f * ore Pan ee , r, ‘se iene es “sh It was then returned to the owner, and the Nabob said: ‘‘Tam glad you havecome. I have business for you. ere you at the Bung-Eye to-night?” ** You bet!” ‘* What did you think of her?” ‘‘A rare flower, blooming among cactus- thorns.” ‘¢She is the same you saw in Spokane?’ ‘* Without a doubt.” ‘‘She is a beauty, as you intimated, Pedro Sperra, and I dote on beauty. She shall be mine!” Sperta smiled a- purely Mexican smile—half- satanic, half-derisive. ‘‘Bravely spoken, senor! But I fear that another may have something to say about that.” ‘‘Bah! Curse him! I shall meet him in duel, and take his life, to-morrow at ten o'clock. I am a dead-shot with the revolver. I also meet the girl to-morrow, and propose to give her the estate if she will marry me. If she accepts, all well and done. If she refuses, you are to kidnap her to-morrow night.” ‘*T kidnap her?” ‘‘Bxactly. You can do it easily by following plans I shall arrange.” ‘Where will I take her?” ‘*To a place I will show you, all in good time. Mum’s the word, now, and await the issues of my plots and plans. I’ve much to do before I sleep this night, you can bet!” CHAPTER XII, THE ACCUSATION. THE next day dawned bright and auspicious. The storm of the night before had frerhened up everything, and the warm, bright sunshine seemed to rest on every one and everything with a sense of cheerfulness, The forenoon was one destined to be marked down in the calendar as eventful—at least for Slab City. As early as eight o’clock it was asserted that aman named Cranston had struck it ‘‘ terrific rich,” having located an immense ledge of gold- bearing rock on a claim he had lately purcbased of Nabob Ned, not far in the rear of the ** Bung- Eye,” on the mountain-side. This set the town wild, and a rush was made for a look at the “‘ find.” The report was then confirmed. extensive ledge had been unearthed, and proved to be richly impregnated with gold. The yirld would be fifteen hundred dollars, if a cent, said old and experienced miners, - The future of Slab City was now assured beyond a doubt, and, wild with enthusiasm over his luck, Cranston invited the denizens to drink his success over the Bung-Eye bar. Did they? They did, and without a murmur of dissent, and Cranston’s bill was big enough to make him wince. But what the difference, as long as the future of Slab City as the boss camp of the Coeur d’Alene country was assured? Just opposite the Bung-Eye Nabob Ned had erected a ;one-story shanty office, provided with a desk and safe, and when he took possession, early in the morning, he found plenty of busi- ness on his hands, Not exactly because of the boom created by the new discovery, but from tbe fact that a card in his window bore the following announcement: “GOLD EXCHANGE! ‘* To-day :—$110 in Paper for $100 in Gold,” As paper money was a commodity largely un- known in the young metropolis, those who had a bundred dollars worth of the glittering *‘ root” hastened to convertit into greenbacks, receiving in each instance a bundred-dollar and a ten- dollar note, At about half-past nine, however, Nabob Ned closed the office, and went out upon the rugged street, where he met Harold Henshaw, as if by — appointment, and grasped bis hand warmly. ‘My dear Mr. Henshaw, I am delighted to see you, this morning, I suppose you have heard of the new discovery of gold, and the great excitement that prevails? Why, bless you, sir, Slab City will have ten thousand popu- lation inside of a year. And, just think of the money that goes jingling into our pockets! I dare say you made arrangements with Helen, satisfactorily ?” ‘So far, yes. But what is this I hear ahout sending tbe rival claimant a basket of flow- ers? Nabob laughed merrily. ‘‘How gossip does carry the news! [ / ‘ . - a y: F the ’ = : - i. ay 7 be beh ae te . \ : ' ( faa 7 . — | \ PN , ya ‘ . e ‘a = a | a | a ot meal Sr ee ave Part of an. Ls eae ‘| Ps ? , oan = - % rig hely ~~