Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 378 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ere * ~ fF . = we . - - eT > i ae “. os a me eee ee - - - ee ee Nabob Ned. and shrewdly. No professional detective could | have a divorce from you. Do vot utter a word have filled your place better. Shake!” The Mexican seemed overjoyed, and the two shook bands, heartily. ‘*The matter ends to-night. Thetrapis ready for springing, thanks to Nabob Nea’s confidence in you,” ** Have the Secret Service agents arrived?” “Yes. They came on to-nigbt’s stage, and I have only to make the arrest. Now, let’s go back and find Big Boots, and then scoop in the two counterfeiters.” Of course the counterfeiters got ‘* scooped!” CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION, FEELING jubilant over the prospective suc- cess of his plans, Nabob Ned sougit the Bung- Kye, and approached a table where two well- dressed, decidedly Eastern-looking gentlemen were playing a social game of poker. **Do you object to a third party, gentlemen?” he asked, when the band was over, ‘I have a few minutes and a few dollars to throw away.” ‘Certainly not,” the elder of the two an- swered. ‘‘ Anything to make it interesting; although, in poker, we don’t usually play to any particular limit.” **On, I’m not particular, erate bluff.” The first game was dull; the stake of thirty dollars was raised ten. and taken in by the younger gent from the East. The next deal, each man discarded two and took two, Their bands now appeared to give them satis- faction. | ‘*T think I see a hundred dollars in this hand!” Nabob Ned said triumphantly. ‘‘Do you?” replied the younger Easterner, whom his companion called Johnson, ** Well, I'l! have tosee you and go you a hun- dred better!” Both stakes went bang down upon the table, ‘Now, Packard,” said Johnson, ‘‘we will hear from you.” ‘‘I drop out!” Packard answered, throwing down his hand. ‘* You gents can fight it out.” There was now, altogether, three hundred and thirty dollars in the pot. Nabob Ned laid his cards, face down, upon the table, and drew from bis vest pocket, a roil of crisp new one-bundred-dollar bills. While he was engaged in counting the amount the two Easterners exchanged significant glances, “IT have here twenty-two hundred dollars upon the pot,” be said, tossing the bi.ls upon the table. ‘* Do you raise it?” **No! but I cover it,’ Johnson said, throwing down a wad of notes, the outer one being a five- hundred dollar-note. ‘‘Now, sir, what have you got?” ‘Hour kings!” Nabob cried, triumphantly turning up his hand, and reaching for the stakes, ‘** But, hold!” Johnson cried, thrusting a re- volver before the villain’s eves. ‘I bappen to hold four little one-spots, you know,” and he laid down four aces sure enough! Nabob arose from the table with a growl. ‘Then, you've won,” he said. ‘* The devil al- ways favors his own,” ? And he stalked off. ‘‘The devil has been favoring that rascal a long time,” Packard remarked, “but he won’t favor him, after to-night, I judge.” At eight o’clock, the saloon was well filled, and Hille, Pauline made her appearance, Eagle City Ed was not with her, and mur- + ey" of disappointment were heard on either hand, Nor did the little songstress look vivacious, as on the previous night. She was pale, and there was noticeably not the same spirit in her I can stand a mod- S. abob Ned occupied the same position, as on the previous night, but Polly did not look at im. Her gaze roved over the sea of faces, in quest of the face of Eagle City Ed. ut he was not present. Immediately atter Pauline had retired from the stage, there was a surging of the crowd, and almost before he was aware of it Nabob Ned found bimself confronted by Harold Hen- shaw and his daughter. Henshaw, too, grasped a cocked revolver. ‘¢ Hdward Landis!” the man from Silver Cliff cried, ‘I have come to you to force you to make reparation for the wrong you did my daughter. Helen bas refused to act out the lie shé attempted to-day, and as soon as she is law- fully married, even though vou be a criminal, we are going back to Silver Cliff and she sball 3 i’ .¥ ‘ Se M a at - 0 . : Se? 7% «pat . «..- Ate Lk LS ee : 2 "a sx ad “4 L ; r of protest. Instead of being Eagle City Ed’s wife, as you plotted to have ber represent her- self, she shall become your wife, You married her falsely once!” ‘This is false! This is an outrage!” Nabob Ned protested. ‘' You tried to foist this woman off on one man and failed, and now you think to make me your victim? Never!” ‘Then, you die!” Henshaw declared, with emphasis. ‘* Hither you marry my daughter whom you wronged or you die where you stand.” ‘* Listen, gentlemen!’’ Helen Henshaw cried, turning appealinzly to the crowd, ‘ This is no attempt at blackmail. <A year ago, this man, Kd ward Landis, won my affection, and we were, as I believed, married, during my father’s ab- sence, The marriage, however, turned out to be asham, but Landis bad fled and deserted me. We pursued him here, when be promised to marry me if I would become a party to his vile schem- ing, At first I was weak enough to consent; but now that L have got my senses, I refuse to do bis will. The girl who sings here is the real heiress of John Smith, yet this man proposed to defraud her by substituting me in her place, Iie also caused me to perpetrate the falsehood, this morniny, of declaring Eagle City Ed to be my husbard, I swear to you | never saw the man before,” At this a ringing cheer of ‘‘ bravo!” went up, and Polly, behind the curtain, trembled with joy as she heard the calumny raised from the eport’s name and character, ‘‘Now, gentlemen, all that we want is that this man be forced to remarry me, and lift dis- honor from my name. Then he can go whither he pleases,” ‘*Hurra! Boyees, et’s a go!” a miner cried. ‘‘Form a big ring, and trot the Nabob inter it, He hes got ter do ther squar’ thing, or we'll skin him alive,” The ring was formed, and the villain, seeing taat sentiment was strong against him, dared not refuse to enter it and take his place beside Helen, His face was very pale; but bis inward rage was terrible, | Slab City happened to boast of a lawyer, and this worthy was called upon and the legal knot was tied. Then Harold Henshaw said: ‘* Now, sir, you are at liberty to go whither you please. e return to Silver Cliff by next stage.” Then he and Helen left the ring. As they did so, four other persons stepped into it, and three pairs of revolvers, were level- ed at the schemer and scamp. The party were, respectively, Eagle City Ed, Hoare Sperra, and Messrs. Johnson and Pack- ard. ‘*Kdward de Wolf, alias Landis, alias Hea- ven only knows how many other names, I ar- rest you by authority of the law of this Terri- tory, coupled with that of the United States,” the sport cried. ‘‘ Do not attempt to resist, or von will be shot down like a dog, for we are ere to take you, dead or alive!” The villain uttered a fearful curse, and stag- ered back against the wall, white as deaib. | that retribution had overtaken him at ast. ‘*On what charge, and by what power do you arrest me?” he gasped, seeing no avenue of er: “On the charge of counterf-iting money in half a dozen States and Territories. Sperra and myself have beev on your trail for a year, and at last we have got you. I arrest you on the authority of being a detective in the employ of the Government. Throw down your weapons an’? surrender peaceably!” There was nothing else to do and the crest- fallen Nabob permitted himself to be made a prisoner, then was taken in charge by Messrs. Packerd and Johnson, and removed from the Bung-Eye. Mile. Pauline did not reappear that night, re- alizing by the noise that Eagle City Ed was quite the hero of the hour, The next day, at her request, they had a pri- vate interview, and Ed was prevailed upon to remain in Slab City long enough to arrange her business affairs, This he succeeded in doing in a week’s time, ' and Polly found herself a rich and much ad- mired heiress instead of a saloon-singer. Every one liked her and not one objection was raised to her taking possession of John Smith’s prosperous estate, which was daily increasing in value, When she was securely installed, Eagle City Ed announced bis intention of going South. cd ° » 7 ~ 4 a . ; uy oak bi Ne eines vs We . . , ; r Ie sa fie «i - i ? , PT. 12 As yet, no word of Jove had passed betweem them; but when he bad made known bis pur- pose to depart, woman-like sbe was the weaker aes two, and begged of him to stay; and he id so. This marriage, too, was one of the events of Slab Ci'y life, and there was a big demonstra- tion in honor of it. Nubob Ned and his two confederates received long and severe sentences, The Hensbaws returned to Silver C.iff, and were heard of no more, As for Sperra, he and Big Boots are now full- fledged detectives, and doing some good work, Meanwhile, Ed and Polly live in Slab City, as. happy as the day is long! THE END. eatles Week The Best Weekly of Popular, Entertain= ing and Useful Literature Pub- lished in America! Its Unrivaled Corps of Contributors, almost a!l of whom write ewclusinety for its publishers —embraces tha following authors of world wide repute— Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Albert W. Aiken, Capt. Fred. Whittaker, Capt. Mark Wilton, Joseph E. Badger, Jr.. Edward L. Wheeler, Charles Morris, Oll Coomes, C. Dunning Clark, Buffalo Bill, White Beaver, Buckskin Sam, Major Dangerfield Burr, T. C. Harbaugh, Philip 8. Warne, Williain R. Ryster, Anthony P. 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