Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 378 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

. + ; J po ” a “t, - “ " Y # : ” & , ca * ~ ve ? & . ®% BE Bas Op & 4 a eae ie — ee oe em ee _—— ris a fraud, without a doubt, and if she goes to _tryiog any funny business around here, she’ll wake up some morning with her throat cut.” ‘*Good! Don’t you let ’em bamboozle you, if you want any help, I’m the man for schem- ing and working.” **How do you mean?” ‘“‘As I said. This Eagle City Ed is manag- ing the girl’s business, and if 1 do say it, there’s but one man in Slab City able to cope with him, by power of possessing a knowledge of bim that no one else possesses or even surmises,” ‘*Do I understand that you would hire out to me, to serve my interests, for a stipulated sum of money?’ ! ‘*No, [ would not work for money, but for revenge!” ‘*Ah! bow is that, when you told me that you would protect, rather than harm, this Eagle City Ed?” ‘* I was wild then, because I hated you. But time brought back my reason. I have a mis- sion of vengeance to perform, and it must be performed soon.” “I don’t know of any employment for you. You Mexicans are as treacherous as adders, anyhow,” ‘*T am not treacherous, except to enemies, You have employment for me, and it will re- quire but the telling of a single fact to convince you. ‘Well, out with it!” “It is this: Tho girl whom Eagle City Ed has in his charge is the true and genuine daugh- ter of the John Smith, who was bung here, in Slab City!” ‘*Bah! Don’t try to lie to me!” ‘* Nor do I, for I saw her in Spokane Falls be- fore ever I came here, or her father either, She has come here, undoubtedly, to claim her own! or several minutes Nabob Ned gave ventila- tion to his rage, through the medium of curses and wishes for vengeance; then turning fiercely upon the Mexican he demanded: **How much money do you want to become my spy, assistaut schemer and aid in this mat- ter? ‘*No money. Counsel with me, before each and every act, and I will give you such advice as will be prudent, and will help you to win.” ‘*Upon your honor, as a Mexican?” ‘¢ Upon the sacred honor of a Mexican,” ‘‘Thnen listen: As you say, there may be a fight, but the two of us united, and with such material as I can collect, we ought to win, without a doubt. If we do win, [ll make you my half-partner in all there is belong- ing to the John Smith estate. And, ’sh! mind you, not that alone: there are secrets lurking in Slab City. Serve me faithfully, and you shall not miss them.” “‘[assent. Hereismyhand. Now we must lie in wait and watch the very first develop- ments. They are liable to come, at any time,” Just then, Eagle City Ed was seen coming to- ward them. / ‘‘He’s coming for the deed to the haunted cabin!” Sperra explained. ‘‘ You'll bave to give it to him. He’s too much at the fighting business for us. We must at present do the best we can and not get hurt.” CHAPTER X. PLOTTING, ‘““Goop-pay, gentlemen!” Eagle City Ed sa- luted, inclining bis head particularly to Nabob ashecameup, ‘Have you been down to the cabin to see if I bad slaughtered any ghosts, 79? ¢ “No,” Nabob replied, coldly. ‘* There areno such a thing as ghosts, else you would not have remained ijn that cabin all nigbt.” ‘‘T would have remained in that place all night if there had been ten thousand full-fledged members of Satan’s cabinet there!’ “ Large words, but nothing more, This gen- tleman and f{ were having a little private con- versation. If you will be brief in stating your business we will excuse you.” ‘That I can do without much trouble. I came for the transfer of the cabin property to my name and possession,” *““You came to no purpose, then, No amount of money could buy that property!” Nakob sul- lenly declared. ‘Yet you bargained with me for it.” ‘Bah! I was only fooling.” ‘““Twasnot, You made mea fair and square offer, which I accepted and carried out. [ ex- pect you to hold good to Mie promise,” ‘‘T won't doit! Isball bold the cabin by all means, for nothing goes in this camp except it is put down on paper in black and white.” \ / f A ' * .* : ° a 4 ‘ : ~ “ > ORG bai ae = ® X F ~ § i : = Pg ae? a ——— “Then you positively refuse to give me the cabin?” ‘* You bet [ do!” “Then, not only will I take the place without your leave, but I'll teach you a lesson!” He bounded forward and struck Ned a ter- rific blow in the face, which knocked the Nabob senseless; then turning, without deigning the Mexican a glance, he strode toward the camp. Fifteen minutes later, Nabob Ned and Sperra in have been seen going in the same direc- ion, The conveyuncer’s face was swollen from the effects of the blow, one eye being nearly closed, There was an expression on his face which boded no good to his assailant and enemy, When the hotel was reached tbe twain sepa- rated, Nabob alone entering. Eagle City Ed was nowhere to be seen, but it was not for him, in particular, that Ned was searching, but for Harold Henshaw, whom be soon found seated at a poker-table, with a pile of chips before bim, having just made a haul. He soon cleaned the board on a big sweep, and then arose, ‘* Did ycu wish to see me, sir?’ he asked, ad- dressing Nabob. ‘* Yes,” the latter replied, leading the way to a quiet corner of the room, ‘I have something important to say to you.” They were soon seated at a table, with a bottle of wine and glasses between them. Then, Henshaw said: ‘* Now, lam ready to bear what that matter of importance is.” The conveyancer forthwith narrated the bis- tory of John Smith, so far as Siab City’ was concerned in it, ‘ ‘*But, what interest is ail this to me?’ the Silver Cliff man demanded, finaily, somewhat impatiently. ‘‘ A great deal, if you listen!” He then proceeded to tell of tbe arrival of Miss Polly Smith, and the probability that she would lay claim to the estate. Henshaw still looked blank. ‘‘fam not particularly brilliant as to what you’re driving at!” be declared. *T will try to enlighten your comprehen- sions,” Nabob went on, with blandness, ‘‘ Now, you will see that l’d be a most consummate fool to allow myself to be ousted from an estate that will be—is now—worth a fine fortune. No! sir-ee, I won’t have nothing like that, you can bet your prettiest. To begin with, Ill tell you something that will surprise you. My real name is De Wolf; nevertheless, | never use it, for reasons best known to myself. Iam, how- ever, the man you first took me for—Edward Landis, but I will remarrv your daughter only under certain conditions. You need not get furi- ous or hasty, as my band here, in my left coat pocket, clutches a cocked revolver, which is aimed toward your beart, So, if you are sensi- ble enough to believe that I have the bulge on you, we will begin to talk business!” Henshaw glared at the good-looking knave, savagely, as if tempted to fly at him, and rend him limb from limb. “So you are the villain who deserted my daughter, are you?” he cried, hoarsely, ** Curses rest upon you! Il’ve a mind to kill you where you sit!” ‘** You couldn’t do it; besides, even if you did, you would gain nothing, as you would be strung up within an hour, So, the most sensible thing for both is to hold our tempers, and see if we cannot come to some satisfactory terms.” ‘Terms! Make terms with a man of your stamp?” ‘Certainly. In order to retain my grip on this property, I have conceived a plan some- thing like the following: This Eagle City Ei is trying to get abead of mein public popularity, and if be succeeds, so many more chances will there be of success for this new claimant,” ‘Very likely!” ‘¢Well, I must manenver to beat them both. Now, sir, since you have been in Slab City have you given your name out, publicly, to any ex- tent?” ‘No, On the contrary I registered as John W. Smith and niece. Idid this for fear that you might be leagued with some desperate gang, and find me, befora I could find you. You, alone know me as Harold Henshaw!” Nabob uttered an exclamation of delight, ‘‘By Jove! Itcouldn’t have been better!” he declared. ‘' The matter will be twice as easy.” ‘¢What matter?” “That of establishing your daughter Helen, as the real heiress. See, now?” ‘Ab! but that—” ** Nonsense! marry Helen. Will she welcome me back?” ‘*T cannot say, as for that. I fancy she is not entirely weaned of her affection for you yet,” ‘‘Well, as soon as I mature my plans, Ill spring the scheme, and declare her to be tho daughter of Jobn Smith deceased, and by a will he left in my possession she becomes his sole legatee. You are her uncle with whom she had been living, during ber father’s absence in the Coeur d’Alenes, See?’ ‘Yes. It is a bold plan!” ‘** But bound to be successful. It makes Helen an heiress, and the property sure of not being snatched away from us. fter she is snug in her position, so that there is no danger of sus- picion being aroused, I will have her sign over the property to me, and then marry her.” Henshaw burst into a sarcastic little laugh, ‘*That would be quite cute, too, now, would- n’tit? You’re a very neat schemer, Nabob Ned as you are called, here, but your cuteness don’t pay. You remarry Helen first, or neither of us will have aught to doin abetting youin your lot.’ ‘*That is impossible. Why, you could force me to marry her under penalty of exposing my fraud, were I inclined not to keep my promise.” ‘‘Perhaps. Well, I will talk it over, with her, and see what she says.” ‘*Do so, and use your influence as much as possible. It would a shame to lose sucha fortune, merely because of personal scruples,” After a few more words, Henshaw sought his apartment, while Nabob Ned, in a cheerful humor hunted up Pedro Sperra, and revealed his plans, even going so far as to trust the Mexi- can with the secret of bis previous sham mar- riage with Helen Henshaw. Sperra listened with rapt attention and signi- fied his approval by frequent head-nods., CHAPTER XI. POLLY’S DEBUT. NIGHT came on, and with it a violent rain- storm,so that by an early hour in the evening,the Bung-Eye saloon was packed as full as it could be—the majority of the crowd being those who were eager to hear the beauteous Mlle, Pauline sing. To those who had not yet seen her, strange stories had gone out, of her wondrous beauty, and the very fact that she ** played on a fiddle,’ as the miners put it, was sufficient to set the town in a state of eager expectancy, There being no stage, a couple of faro tables had been arranged together, at the further end of the faro room. A dozen rows of pans seats had been also put in for the benefit of those who wished to pay a dollar for the privilege of sitting down, profit of nearly a hundred dollars, thanks to Eagle City Ed’s good arrangements, The remainder of the audience was forced to accept accommodations in the rear, and see the best they could, It suited many of the roughs, as they were adjacent to the bar, where they could both hear and drink. Eight o’clock came, Pauline, upon the stage, and promptiv at the appointed time, she and Eagle City Ed made their bow, ‘* Ajlow me, gentlemen,” Ed said, before seat- ing his fair protegee, to introduce to you, Mile, Pauline Smith, the daughter of your former citizen, Jobn Smith, With your kind attention she ‘vill favor you with some instrumental and vocal music, The first will be a selection from that charming opera, ‘ The Bobemian Gir),’” He ani Polly then became seated amid a storm cf applause, and when it bad subsided somewhat, Polly touched the strings in an ex- temporized prelude, bringing forth an exquisite strain that instantly caused an intense and ap preciative silence on the part of the audience, The player then struck into the melody of the opera, giving it in a most exquisitely artistic the room then dying softly away to a faint, weirdly-beautiful tone that seemed to die in the distance, so tumultuous that a repetition of the latter measure of the piece was necessary to secure anything like order, Men, old and young, stamped their heavy- booted feet, yelled and waved their hats high tn the air, while gold coin and little pouches of dust rained upon the stage in a shower! There are no buts about it. T _ These seats were quickly filled, perting Polly a It was the Lour fixed for the arrival of Mlle. manner, the music penetrating to every part of - At the conclusion of the solo the applause was. q * ad It was a reception such as Polly had never eX-, .