Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 385 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

<“? ~~ «ae he : 10 Fae moran you had gone for good,” he de- clared, ‘‘l suppose you intend to go, how- ever?” **Not if I know anything about it!” and the villain showed his teeth in a diabolical smile. ‘Do you think I would sneak away from Red Nose through fear of that mongrel cur, Yreka Jim?” * Yet you areafraid of him!” **T am not!” ‘‘Bah! have I not eyes?” “It matters not. Iam not afraid of Yreka Jim, as you will find out before 1 am through with my dealings with him. I intend to chal- ee him to meet me in duel and then kill im!” ‘You are a fool!” the judge declared. ‘‘ He would kill you instead. He is a desperate char- acter, and his presence here in Red Nose is an omen of evil to me and my interests.” “So yow’re afraid of him, too, are you?” and St. Maur laughed, tauntingly. ‘Yes, ’ll admit lam afraid of him, Did ye hear him sic the brute at me?” ‘‘No, no! The bear singled you out of his own choice. Tbe bay-window on you probably took his eye!” ‘*T’ll bave the infernal brute poisoned,” the judge blustered. ‘‘ He is a dangerous nuisance.” ‘*Oht you furnish the poison, and I'll attend to the rest directly,” St. Maur replied, ‘* And now, let’s have some more wine, [ feel like drinking a whole case, in orderto get warmed up for my revenge!” ‘It won’t do, sir—it won’t do. You must keep perfectly sober while in Red Nose, or you will blast all my prospects, I think it will be safer for you to take Yreka’s advice, and skip ‘‘Bab! Ill do nothing of the sort. How is it that you are so anxious to have me go?” ‘‘T am not anxious, but I don’t see as you have been or can be of any particular good to my interests. I have given you several thou- sand dollars to expend, and shall not see a dol- lar’s worth of benefit. I don’t believe a dozen men have been secured for me from the opposi- tion. ‘Who do you puppets they have been influ- enced for, then?” St. Maur snarled. ‘‘ D'ye mean to insinuate that I have been misappro- priating the money, sir?’ and an ugly glare entered his eyes. “I did not imply any such thing, that I am aware of,” the mine-owner responded, nervous- ly. ‘*In fact, your words are the foundation of any suspicion I may have in that line here- after.” ‘You hadn’t better suspect me of anything like that, if you know when you are well off!” St. Maur gritted. ‘‘ Iam not one of the mild- est tempered men, and never fail to retaliate for an insult!” ** No one has insulted you, and let the matter drop, If you have expended the money, so be it. At any rate, I am satis- fied that it is useless to expend any morein a like manner, as | can see no prospect of getting many votes of the street loafers, And, now, as regards yourself, what do you propose to do?’ ‘Remain here, in disguise, and watch a fa- vorable opportunity to ring in a dead deal on Yreka Jim!” The judge regarded the man keenly for a mo- ment. ‘*Have you fellows ever met before your meeting here, in Red Nose?’ he demanded, at length, ‘* Not to my knowledge,” St. Maur declared. ‘* And yet you are implacable foes!” ** Correct!’ ‘One, if not both of you, have some more important reason for this enmity than the sim- ple trouble since your arrival in Red Nose.” The judge spoke far more positively than in- terrogatively now. ‘*How do you know?” St. Maur demanded, quickly. ‘*T do not know for a certainty, but I surmise that such is the case,” ‘*Ob! well, as far as thatis concerned, you may or may not be right; | am sure I am not disposed to say whether you ure or not. J] dare say our antipathy toward one anotber is more ei to involuntary aversion than anything else. “1 doubt it. of my business,” “Certainly not. Whatever may be between Yreka Jim and I, we will settle to suit cur own notion,” A bottle of wine was nearly emptied during this conversation, and so the judge arose and procured another, Be sensible, now, However, I suppose it is none we 4) ek: Yreka Jim’s Joker. ‘*T like you, St Maur,” he said as he returned to the table—‘‘not because I think you are smart, but because you think so.” St. Maur flushed and his eyes glittered dan- gerously. ‘*‘ What do you mean?” be hissed. ‘*T mean that you are, somehow or other, playing for big stakes. In just what way I do not clearly see at present, but I am satisfied that nothing but big money could keep you in Red Nose, with Yreka Jim bere ready to drop you at sight.” ‘You are? Well, all I bave to say is that you are a big old fool. True, 1 have an ob- ject in remaining, but 1 am not afraid of Yreka Jim, as I told you before. If you tbink I am unwérthy of your friendship and trust, say so at once and have done with it. Iam not very particular whether we hitch issues omnot. My time I can employ profitably elsewhere. In re- maining in Red Nose, my motive is as much to be of what assistance to you I can as it is to ob- tain revenge. If my efforts will not be appre- ciated [ will not make them.” “They will be appreciated, sir, according to their face value. But, excuse me, if it puzzles me why you should take such an unselfish inter- est in my success! However, let that drop, and tell me, candidly, what you think my chances are of election?” St. Maur drummed idly on the table, a mo- ment, and then answered: ‘‘I don’t believe you willstand a ghostofa show, if Yreka Jim is left to cavort around, at his own sweet wil.” ‘¢ And, if he were dead?” ‘‘- You would probably get the office, unless— unless—” ‘What?’ ‘‘ Unless J should step in, and snatch it away from you!” * You ?” ‘‘ Exactly! I've an idea that I could draw as many free and easy votes, as you could tem- perance votes!” ‘‘ Ah! then that is your game, eh?” ‘‘ By no means, If you treat’ me as your right hand man, you can depend upon me as laboring for your interests, I merely made the sugges- tion of what I could do were you inclined to cast me off, without a penny!” ‘‘ Ab! without a penny?’ ‘‘ Judge Alvin, I said without a penny!” The judge looked surprised—startled. His face grew atrifle Jess florid than usual, and be pouar den St. Maur, bis eyes gleaming strange- y: ‘“‘It occurs to me I don’t quite catch your meaning. In what way am [I to understand that you have the claim ofapenny. I believe I have given you money enough, to liquidate all my indebtedness to you.” ‘‘In one sense, yes!” St. Maur returned, coolly knocking off the neck of the fresh bottle of wine. ‘In another sense, no, This world is full of stranger things than that, and if you will grant me your ears T’ll relate to you a little fable, that will make plain to you wby you should take an interest in me, and why IL also am so eager and devoted.in advancing your personal welfare, Shall I have your attention?” Judge Alvin had grown still whiter, and an expression of chagrin was upon his face—a hunted look in his eyes. ‘*Go on!” he ordered buskily. ing!” “T am listen- CHAPTER XII. . THE BULLWHACKER PUT TO TEST. On leaviug the vicinity of the hotel, Yreka Jim was absent for several hours, when he once more returned, and joined the throng in the street, Almost the first man he encountered was the bullwkacker, Mambrinus Maccaw, who was evi- dently on nettles about something, for he was striding about like a fretted bull. The moment hespied Yreka, he made for him, and put out bis band. ‘¢ Yreka, by gracious! Why, they told me ye war ter bed, an’ I war jest feelin’ like kickin’ me- self over t’otherside o’ ther range an’ back. Sil- versand jigs uv old S*. Vitus, but Laire proud sn’ glad ter See ye. Yreeky, yeceviiedduck, Put er thar!” | And the broad hand of the giant was extend- ed, beartily, ‘*T can’t say that. 1 am so particularly glad to see you, thougb!” Yreka replied, not deigning to grasp tbe giant’s band. ‘' Jn truth, it occurs to me, that Lowe you a different kind of a, re- ception, than a band-shake,”’ ‘‘ Now don’t, Yreka, go fer me in ‘het aire on- Christian style, when yer know thet I'm yer friend, frum muzzle tew mud-heel. Dow’t, | mn : = 5 e Sos * wd if . a . 7 * vy, * . * , o 4 ‘ J ‘? ys tr 4 we ; i. a" .. ty 2 . fe . ie acs BAN Ops -8; bg : a, *h ’ - as ~*~ - t , . : , \ * . e ; ' my } ia ; Paha: —- ees 5 J Gs . -~ a taal cles. I ain’t no slouch uv a feller, nohow, an’ am yours trewly, ’wey to bed rock!” : ‘‘Oh! not a doubt of it!’ Yreka replied, hi. voice stern and uncompromising, ‘* You are a tricky, filthy, disgustjng old sardine, whom I wouldn’t trust with the rust off a pin, for fear you'd steal it. Why, some one ought to Lave fed vou to cannibals, yearsago. Friend to me, you say, when you end two others of yourilk, tried to lay me out, up near Wake-Up?” ‘‘T swear by ther.sweat uv old St, Jokn the Baptist, I warn’t ’sponsible fer thet scrape, Yreka. I bed bin on a big spree—durn nigh hed ther hay-fever, ye see, an’ bein’ out o’ scabs ter git a drink o’ sody-water wi’, I Led ter de sutbin’, So, when I war inveigled inter the skeem, I j’ined it fer two-fold objects—ter raise a wafer, an’ save yer life. I did ther one, but didn’t git ther wafer, I plugged my pard, an” then hed ter play off corpus, ter keep from git- tin’ plugged myself.” ‘¢ A plausible lie, you rascal; that for it!’ and the sport soapped his fingers contemptuously, ‘¢ Oh! ye needn’t believe me, ef ye don’t want- er, but yer kin bet I’m yer friend, from muzz'e ter mud-heel, all ther time, Ye neecn’t shake— yekin spit in my face—ye kin tickle me und r ther chin wi’? a cactus, an’ ye kin even offer ter shute me, but I won’t git mad—oh! sno I knows ther right sort o’ men ter pard wi, when a feller wents ter git ter Congress; an’ when I pards wi’ any one, I pards wi’ solid granite, wi’ lode-stone, gritan’ gold in it, an’— that’s you! But lookee hyer, Yreka, et seems ver in defickelty ag’in, an’ bev lost yer wife. Jest tell us all ther sarcumstances, an’ by ther waltz-clog uv old St. Vitus, Pll polish ther seven sides 0’ every rock west o’ the Mississippi, but w’ot Dll find yer red-beaded doxy, an’ re- store her ter yerarms, That’s me, an’ yer can. bet bayonets an’ blizzirds— *1’m Mambrinus Maccaw, From East Saginaw An’ the pride o’ my life Aire the size 0’ me jaw. I never war blessed Wi’ a mither-in-law; I gargles me throat, An’ takes me meat raw; I’m ther he-haw-an’-gee-up Mambrinus Maccaw! And the giant «xecuted an impromptu flip: | flap, an’ seizing Yreka in a bear-like embrace, proceeded in waltz-movement down the middle of the street. ‘ | ‘‘Out o’ ther way, ye durned dilaperdated galoots!” he roared, ‘* Git off frum ther carpet, tor heer comes ther whang-up waltzing-whirli gig from Take-Water! Fiddle up yer music, an’ take parcs fer a hoe-down. ‘Ther howlin’ bydra-Headed he-up-an’-baw aire in town, an’ thar’s blud on ther dial uv ther moon,” Locked in the giant’s grasp, Yreka was whirl- ed along for some distance, ere he could extri- cate himself, the crowd laughing boisterously,. for it was really a ludicrous scene, When he succeeded in freeing himself Yreka, too, was forced to laugh, although he felt pro- voked at the giant, who was in one of his ‘* playful” moods. A a ‘‘Gonfound it! I’ve a mind to punch your ~ head for you!” Yreka said. ‘‘ You try any of your funny antics on me again, and you wiil regret it!” ‘‘ Me—me ? Why, you mek me larf!” and the giant put his arms akimbo, and gave vent to a guffaw. ‘'Why, Yreka, ye leetie pe- ony, yer wouldn’t barm a hair o’ my head fur all the gold in Arizona, An’ now, my derr Yreka, I wanter ax a favor 0’ ye. Ye’r’ a purty man, wi’ eyes like a turtle-dove an’ lips like a pair o’ roses inJuly. Wull ye fergive me fer all I’ve ever did tew yer, an’ seal ther comp: c4 by imprinting a kiss upon my Grecian for— head? Come, Yreka, an’ let ther men o’ Red Nose see thet ye hev gall enuff ter fac five hundred roarin’ cannons, or the furies «~ an enraged mother-in-law.” ‘* Alas! my courage faileth me at this point hel Yreka said, with a wave of his hand, Joker gets awake, and has his breakfast.and 1 cocktail, I presume you ‘might get up an Os, cuwatory set-to with him!” And turning upon his heel, Yreka strode to- ward the hotel. The bullwhacker was not to be put eff. how- ever, but danced forward, locked arms with the sport, and accompanied bim. ‘Ye can’t shake me in thet aire style, me bloomin’ rose,” he averred. ‘‘ J] hev got ter hey a sirtifficut: frum you!” ‘ ! ‘¢ A certificate!’ | ‘“ Yas—thet you'll take me fer w’ot I weigh, an’ count on me as yer por’us plaster.” ae | A Ages ai ih. #2 * , Aah _ -§ 4 fa | Faas Ae e ‘ 1 a ey ! a> | Ww le > , « — a * a (art's , || . “AY w= i. 1 em, ; wd - -f> >. th 4 % ~— | Bee? ae - ¢ a - Zz a * wa = o OWiwt: § fd 47 4, att: Pa er 7 5 rAly wet ¢ f W's * ad » - . § avy es ox Pe ie . 4. \ 174 +e ae ; a, ey : : } ae! 2.) Aetec| FF “ “~~ 6 p -. ~ V | Ld say, fer ther luv o’ all yer aunt-sisters and un-, )% 4 ’ ’ \ d ‘ ; r A ne wy * * d : iy : ¥. wrt wr ¥ P aa 7, LAr my 2 oY. FL 7 2 “ee } 4 . WT, ‘; _ = = 4 ¢ iy 4" 9 he) ey . oe a Py La} ae \ My a | t x any , ta Tag: iw be SN, ‘> os Nee ee? fe 5) , * 1 ae ss ; - * oa) ey v oo