Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 378 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

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Eagle City Ed emptied his hat of the dona- vion that had been given him, ‘‘T am werry much oblige to all who have résponded so sigs oka to my appeal!” he said, bowing; ‘‘an’ now, ef you’ve got any ghost rackets hyer in Slab City, an’I kin rope in a roof, by sittin’ up an’ talkin’ politics wi’ ther hosts, that hits me acrack right whar [ live. as, sir, me noble bud, ef ye hev a cabin as won’t hold me till mornin’, why ther quicker we get down ter bizness the better. 1 hain't had a good scrap wi’a thoroughbred ghost since Mary come home!” ‘*Verv well, sir; I am as good as my word,” Nabob Ned said, a twinkle in hiseye. ‘‘Come along!” And the entire crowd were soon on their way toward Jobn Smith’s cabin. CHAPTER IV. THE ARCH PLOTTER. It was not such a night as ghost-hunters migbt be expected to favor. The wind blew fiercely through the gulch, the lightning flasbed spitefully from crag to crag, and the thunder pounded away at the gates of beaven with sul- en roar. As for the rain, it fell in volumes, the wind whirling and twisting it into fury, as it beat against all obstacles. If there were any ghosts in Slab City, such a night they might choose for their revels. The crowd that left the Bung-Eve for John Smith’s cabin, numbered fully two-score. with Eagle City Ed, Big Boots, and Nabob Ned in the lead. The former seemed to pay little attention to the warring of the elements, but strode along with a quick step. ‘‘Ugh! Darn my bosiery ef this hyer ain’t a blizzardous night!” Big Boots grunted. ‘‘It beats ther Dutch how she do pour,” ‘It’s such nights as this that supernatural visitants hold their fandangoes, I reckon!” Na- bh Ned suggested, with a shrug of his sboul- ers. ‘You bet!” the young man from Eagle City replied. ‘‘ It was such a nigbt as this thet I got locked in a house down in Mexico and had the SBP, of seeing a ghost-dance. Thar were thirty on ’em, and every one bed evident- ly been a young senorita in her time. Talk about ther artistic dancin’ o’ yer Saratogy gals —why et waran’tacircumstance. Ther ghost- esses war gliders, you bet, wi’? now and then a high-kicker, who would kindly kick my hat off wi’ the toe of ber golden slipper. Et war a hot pvight, but them floaters kept waltzin’ around till et war cooler’n an automatic fan could make it.” ‘‘*Spect ye must hev hed a tech of the bug, eh?’ Big Boots suggested. / ‘‘Nary! Hadn’t touched a drap fer a month. Ob! they were ther genywine article, they war done dancin’, ye orter seen ’em. set out ther lunch. We had quail on toast, oysters an’ champagne—an’ ye jest orter see em open champagne! Every durn cork tuk me plum on ther end o’ my proboscis, ontil et got us red as a blushin’ lob—” ‘** Look! look!” Nabob Ned fairly screamed, pointing ahead, There was a vivid glare of lightning, that seemed to last for several seconds—long enough at any rate for the crowd to behold a sight that startled them, and caused them to stop in their tracks. _. It was a sight, too, calculated to startle those even of the strongest nerves, Just ahead of them, not over a dozen yards, stood the cabin of the late lamented John Smith. The door was wide open, and standing u right and erect in the doorway, without visible _ support, was the ghastly-faced corpse of Smith _ himself, with the sign ‘‘ For Rent,” affixed to a ve i. : : P . ; afi wy ’ 2 id oh *' 4’5 me te ow . Pai 7 z ¥ ve 4 . ; - i 4 we ar 7 - — sha ‘ id bis, om y aa Arter’ This much the crowd saw in that vivid glare of heaven’s pyrotechnics; then, all was blank, intense darkness. Motionless and speechless the miners waited for a repetition of the lightning-flash, and after a lapse of several minutes they were rewarded. Toey plainly saw the cabin; but the door was closed as usual, and the sign nailed upon it. A dry laugh burst from the lips of Eagle City Ei, as the flash expired, leaving naught but blankness again, ‘* What are you Jaughing at?” Nabob Ned de- manded, fiercely. ‘*Why, at you galoots gettin’ skeered at sight o’ an ordinary good-natured lookin’ cabin!” Ed replied, dryly. ‘* Cabin?’ Naubob echoed, ‘‘ D’ye mean to tell us you didn’t see old Smitb’s corpse standin’ in ther doorway, at ther firs: flash o’ lightnin’?” ‘*Nothip’ o’ the sort, You fellers must have been optically deluded, or else bad whisky is gittin’ in its work on you!” ‘*'You’re a liar if you say ye didn’t see ther cadaver in ther doorway!’ a miner boldly as- serted, and the others of the crowd gave audi- ble approval to bis declarativn. But, Eagle City Ed only laugbed again. ‘‘Say what you like, gents. This ’ere felier ye call Nabob Ned seemed desirous of testing my nerve, and I accepted his proposal. If he will kindly give me the key to the cabin, I’]] go over and turn in for the night, for I am slight- ly subject to malaria, and this rain ain’t wery pleasant!” Nobby Ned sneered. ‘*Talk is cheap!” be declared. ‘‘ You know money couldn’t hire you to sleepin the place,” ‘Not? Why, I am surprised at yer opine about me. udge you would be afeard to, from what you say.” Nabob bit bis lip, and remained silent, ‘*Ob! of course I understand * yas failing,” Ed said, dryly. ‘‘ But, you see, 1 was built of different timber. I’m goin’ ter rest my weary shanks in thet aire shebang, you bet—not only fer ter-night but fer gud. Give us ther key!” ‘“‘The door is not locked,” Nabob growled, ‘‘ Go ahead wi’ yer ark, an’ ye can bet we’ll see thet ye stay in thar till morning, too, If you attempt to sneak out you'll get filled with five pounds of cold lead.” ‘ All right. Hot lead would kinder work in better sech a wet night as this, but suit yerself. Won't I laugh at vou guys out byer in ther raic, while I, like a king in my castle, am bein’ entertained by white winged cherubs! By-by! See you later!” And the man from Eagle City strode toward the cabin, over which bung a pall of supersti- tious dread, Eagerly the men of Slab City craned their heads, and endeavored to follow the outlines of his figure, with their gize; but the darkness was so intense that when but a few feet away they entirely lost sight of him. For only a moment, however. A flash of lightning again lit up the scene. Eagle City Ed was within five feet of the cabin, the door of which stood wide open, and the cadaver of John Smith occupied the aper- ture as before! A second flash, almost immediately afterward, revealed the cadaver as having disappeared, and Eagie City Ed standing in the doorway, tri- umphbantly waving bis bat. Altbongh a man seldom given to profanity, Nuabob Ned now uttered a fierce malediction. ‘‘ Curse the fellow!” he gritted; ‘‘ he’s got the nerve of a boa-constrictor!” ‘‘ An’, by ther cavortin’ cats o’ Charleston, yer’ out a cabin!” declared the mule-driver from Mariposa. ‘‘I ked hev told ye the chap war no slouch fer ter bluff. You bet he re- mains in thet rench all night, an’ ef thar’s any disembodied stiffs cuttin’ up monkey-shines he’ll join in the racket!” Nabob urtered something that sounded suspi- ciously like a chuckle. A Maybe he said. “If you men want to stay here and keep watch till mornin’, I'll give you five dollars apiece when you come off duty. | I’m goin’ back to the Bung-Eye, where it is dryer.” About a dozen of the crowd accepted the offer—roughs, who realized with satisfaction just how much “ bug-juice,” or chance at tha taro-bank, the little five would give them. The remainder accompanied Nabob Ned back to the saloon. Nabob was plainly in a bad humor. Usually gay and full of spirit, he now appeared surly and ill-tempered. Before going to the hotel, he disappeared in the darkness; but when he seated bimself in A “eo 2) n" i RES a rs 7 - ct at ? st ae ot — a a ee ‘ . > : ’ ‘ , : s P 4 - Cc 0 m Se ee eas) ee ee the brilliantly-lighted saloon, and counted over a roll of bills, he had several thousand dollars. ‘**l am not broke in my own right y:!,” he muttered; ‘‘and if I don’t make Slab City ‘oo hot for this Eagle City Ed, it will be a wonder to me.” ; ‘He sat for some moments in sullen silence, then spying Pedro Sperra across the room, jie beckoned to him. After a moment's hesitation the Mexican ap- proached, his tace bearing none too good natur- ed an expression, ‘* Well,” he demanded, pausing by the table, *“what do you want?” ‘Sit down!” Nabob ordered. talk with you.” * What atout?” ‘That you will learn as we proceed. Sit down!’ The Mexican obeyed, watching the young man as thcugh suspicious of mischief. ‘* Now, then,” Nabob said, ‘to begin with, we wiil draw a vail over what happened this evening, and talk business of a different char- seer: You know this new chap, Hagle City qd? ! ‘* What of it?” ‘*Much, perbaps. You know him, and while you cordially bate him, you also fear him?” Sperra scowled but made no answer. ‘* You see [ have observed that much,” Nabob went on, ‘‘and have deduced therefrom the fact that you would feel more at ease if this. gent from Eagle City were not so numerous,” The Mexican showed his white teeth in a. significant smile. ‘‘Perhaps you are right,” he assented; ‘* but no barm must come to bim. I would pro- a from harm, at the peril of my own ife. The other looked puzzled. The Mexican hated the stranger, and yet stood ready to espouse bis cause! W bat did it mean? ‘** Indeed!” ejaculated the Nabob. ‘‘ Why is it thus? You are enemies, are you not?” ‘If so, it can matter but little to you. If enemies, we will not fight.” ‘‘Excuse me, but Il think you are a crank. Eagle City Ed is a hard customer, and would think no more of cutting your throat than he would that of a bullock, I hate the fellow more than I ever bated any other person in my life, He is a thorn inwmy path, and must be removed,. regardless of cost,” - ‘* Why don’t you remove him, then?” Ana the Mexican smiled, sneeringly. ‘* Because | don’t want to bave anything to- do with him,” ‘- Because, like myself, you are afraid of him!” Sperra declared, with a diabolical grin. ‘No! no! Let Eagle City Ed alone, as long as. he does not molest you. eis a python; if you. arouse him he will crush you!” ‘‘Bah! there are better men than he, and even I do not fear him. AsI said before, he is. in my way, and must be removed. The sooner the better. Do you think he will remain in the haunted cabin all night?” ‘* Without a doubt. He fears neither man nor spirit. You see, I know of him, while to you be is a stranger,” ‘¢ Perbaps be is a stranger!” Nabob Ned re- turned, significantly; ‘‘and perbaps not, Sper- ra, you are a rasca), Don’t feel insulted be- cause I compliment you, for your very looks: give you away, and you ought to feel proud to be so easily distinguished from the common herd, You are here in Slab City to make, not to brenk. Am I not right?” ‘¢-You are.” ‘Of course, the more you make the better it will suit you. If you can earn a thousand dol- lars as easy as by turning over your hand, do you suppose for an instant you will allow the sigd Sadoter phi to pass you by?” he Mexican’s eyes glistened for a minute; then. he laughed, lightly. ‘‘Why, I can sit down at a gambling-table and make more than that in a single night!” be: declared, ‘‘ Hardly!” Nabob Ned replied, compressing bis lips, when he realized only too keenly that he had lost twelve hundred dollars but a short time before. ‘‘ All players are not so tame as | was. Come now, |’]l strike a bargain with you. At daylight, to-morrow morning, this Eagle. — City Ed will leave the cabin. He will be one of the triumphant, and one of the popular, men of Slab City. That must not be—I swear it shall not be! When he leaves tbat cabin, a man concealed in the bushes, some distance away, can drop him, with a rifle, and no one: ~~ will be the wiser as to who did the job, See” — om “T want to eu i oe ~>%