Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 426 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

dashing Gypsy. Gril Guyandotte only smiled, disagreeably. “Oh! put up your weapon!” he said, about to turn back when you saw me,”’ “Then go! and see that you keep wide away from yonder cottage, if you value your personal safety.’’ Guyandotte mace no retort, but turned and walked leisurely toward the camp of his people. Ralph Jamison followed, and passing on through ‘the camp, continued on down the lane. ‘* I don’t like the looks of that Guyandotte a bit!’’ he said as he strode along. ‘ He has an evil eye in his head, and had a motive in seeing where Dolly went. Ihardly think, however, he’d dare make an attempt to kidnap her. Such things used to happen in days gone by, but the law is too wide-awake in these times for such ruffian’s work.” And so he dismissed all thoughts of the matter from his mind. **It would, indeed, have been a bold attempt to make, and there was no probability of its being made. Just before he reached the connection of the lane with the main highway, Ralph was surprised to see his brother step out from behind a tree. There was a wild, unnatural gleam in Frank’s eyes, and he was white with passion. : “Hold up!” he said, grimly, stepping out into the road. ‘So I caught you at it, did 1?” He uttered the interrogatory in a hoarse, unnatur- al tone, which caused Ralph to flush with surprise for he and his brother had always been on goo terms, ‘* Why, caught me at what, Frank?” **In company with Dolly Denning!” ** Yes, I was in her company for a short time, She was afraid of some of the Gypsies, who stared inso- Jently at her, and I offered her my protection.” “Indeed! You took her home, too?” ‘“*Nearly so. Something the Gypsy queen said caused her great agitation, and she was weak and trembling, and asked me to see her home. I am sure there’s no harm in that, Frank.” ‘*Tain’t sosure. I want it understood that no fos- ter father, brother, nor any one else, shall stand be- tween me and that girl.”’ ** Pshaw! Frank, you’re excited. You know I don’t want her. I've enough to do to look after Ralph Jamison, without bothering my brains with a matri- mnial incumbrance.”’ “Allright. [hear, But I want you to hear also. “The first man I catch talking to her dies! She has <leceived me, but she shal] never show favor to an- other. Lhavesworn toit. So beware!” ‘* And as he uttered the words, ina ringing tone, A man came driving into the lane ina handsome car- riage, drawn by a span of high-stepping horses, and overheard the loudly spoken words, thereby causing a dark scowl to darken his brow—a scowl betoken- ing no good to impetuous and jealous Frank Jami- Son, The man, of course, was Judge Jamison. He was attired with scrupulous neatness- and was going to Ivy Cottage to see Dolly Denning. . CHAPTER V, FT.OSS. Sam SLABSIDES had hardly exnected to see a bona fide spook, when he grasped hold of that which had hurried past him, in the darkness; hence, his sur- prise was great, when he beheld a girl of about bis own size and age, in the illumination of the vivid lightning flash. Nor was it this girl from whose lips had pealed the blood-curdiing shriek. That had appeared to come from out in the dense darkness of the night, where the rain was now pour- ing down in torrents. ** Hello, sis, who are you ??’ Sam demanded, keep- ing a firm gripe upon her shoulder. ‘* None 0’ yer squirmin’, now, fer ye can’t git away, till yer give an account of yerself.”’ “Oh! please, sir, let me go. if you don’t!” was the reply. ] I’ll scream for help “Allright! Exercise yer bugle as much as yer like, fer all ther good et'll do yer. 1 ain’t no pirut, so yer needn't be skeered. I’m jest a senator what dropped in heer out o’ the rain, and as the ghosts hev bin raisin’ hob around here, I’m in fer investi- atin’ matters. Did yer hit me a peg ‘longside the jaw. a bit ago?’ ‘*No, I didn’t. Let me go!” * Now, don’t git inahurry. Et is rainin’ like Ju- iter, an’ yer don’t wanter gitwet. Jest be sociable- like, an’ tell me who ye air. an’ I won’t hurt yer. My name is Samuel Slabsides, an’ I’m what ther high-toners call a remy: But, that’s nothin’—I'm as good as they are, What's your hame?” ** Floss!”’ ‘ “Phew! yer don’t say! That’s a crackin’ purty Name. Knocks the tariff all lopsided on Slabsides, don'tit? Ef yer is as purty a8 yer bame, you're a stunner, I'll bet. Ah! l havei! ** What?” ‘‘A match! I want a better look at you;” and as he spoke, he struck the match on the wall, and pro- duced a light that lasted Jong enough for the two to get a good look at each other. The girl was about sixteen, trimly built, and quite pretty, having a brunette complexion, and dark hair flowing over ber shoulders to ber waist. She wore a plain chintz dress, a jaunty straw hat, ‘but no shoes or stockings. To Sam Slabsides’s eye, however, she Was a ver- itable beauty, and he gave a prolonged whistle of surprise. woh ’ y in * i re — > " 4 ~ i~ > ™ a * revolver out of his hip-pocket and leveled it at the ‘“*T was | | ‘Well! Ill be gobbled up by dog-ketchers, ef you ain't a reg’lar daisy \’’ he elaculatod: ‘What d’yer think o’ me fer good looks?” “IT could tell better if your face was clean,’’ was the promre response, ‘Shouldn't wonder a bit. I wears dirt on my face ter keep from gettin’ tanned and freckled. Sure preventitive fer sun-stroke, too. Live ‘round these ’ ‘Ye don’t? Where do yer live, then, and what aire ye doin’ in this ghost-trap?”’ “I belong with the Gypsy camp, below here. I came up here to sell some beads, and found no one at home. So I looked through the house, and it got dark so quick, I nearly lost my way.” ‘*Ye don't say! An’ ye’r’ a Gypsy gal?” +s Yes,”’ ‘*Gosh, that’s nice! D’ye know, I jest dote on Gypsies, I do! Come nigh joinin’ ’em, last year, when [ was on the tramp, jes’ ’cause I fell in luv wi’ a gal ‘bout yer size She was the queen, tho’, and high-toned as a owl on er telegraff pole, an’, so, as I didn’t know how ter steal hosses, the capting allowed I’d better mosey, an’ I did. He wore an or- ful big boot, too. Say, ave fur’s yer camp?” a ™ About a mile distant—in the maple lane, below ere,’ ‘Allright. Mebbe I'll drop down an’ see yer, ter- morrow. Wait. I'll get yer a chair.” ‘*No! no! I must go.” “Nary a time, 'til it stops pourin’. I'll see yer part way hum, then. You’ll wait, won’t ye?” ‘*T-I— I1’m afraid they will be alarmed at the camp.” *Nixee! They'll know you've sense enough to stay under shelter .”’ And so Sam darted into the parlor, snatched up 4 couple of chairs, and got out again, in double-quick order, considering the darkness. ‘* We’)l go out on the veranda,” he said, ‘* My old wei! i Felix, is out there.”’ * Who?” ‘‘Old Felix. He'’sa r old beggar, that’s trav- elin’ ‘round the hemisfeer wi’ me—blind in one eye, and can’t see out o’ t’other. Come on, he won't hurt rou.”’ ; The Gypsy girl seemed to have confidence in the young tramp, for she followed and was soon seated on the veranda of tite lonely house. Sam then began to grope about in quest of Felix. ‘‘Hello! Where air yer, Felix?’ he cried, ** Bet a buttermilk bonbon he’s fast asleep. Hey! Felix!”’ He called loudly but there was no answer, ‘*Drat it, I left him right here a few minutes ago. I sons believe he’d go away. I wish it would light- ning!”’ He got his wish a few seconds later, when there were several vivid and lengthy glares of heaven's pyrotechnics in rapid succession, By this light Sam was ‘able to see that old Felix was not on the front or either side piazza, nor any- where to be seen in front of tho house, * Well, [ll be jiggered! Ain't that queer?’ he said. ‘What d’ye suppose could have become of my old pal?” ‘I’m sure I don’t know,” Floss replied, ‘I heard a shriek when you caught hold of me, Maybe some harm has befallen him.” “That wasn’t his shout. He couldn't raise sech a squeal as that ef he wastertry. He’s too old an’ feeble. Thet was ther ghost as velled.” ‘There are no such things as ghosts!” “Ain't ther’? Waal, now, that idea I’ve always carried, but I’ve found out different. There’s a pre- scription put up in ther parlor as sez as how this house is ha'nted, Some feller committed susanside, an’ I reckon got inter a hot climate an’ is glad ter come back,” ‘saw the notice, but there is no such a thing as a ghost. Perhaps your friend fell off the cliff.” ‘“Mebbe. Ill go reconnoiter. Will you wait for me?”’ Sone “Sure, now” ‘“ Yes,”” “ All right. I won't be long.” Then Sam plunged away in the pouring rain, By the time he reached the verge of the cliff there was more lightning. Thus he was enabled to see below, But no trace of Felix was visible at that point, so Sam moved on through the pouring rain until he bad made an entire circuit of the bluff-top. But all in vain. , a plainly had not fallen over the side of the uff, Where was he, then? Had he wandered into the house at some other point than the main entrance? This seemed the only probable way of accounting for his singular disappe®rance. Sam had not been in the house over fifteen min- utes, at the most. so it would seem that Felix could not have got faraway. Sam went back to the piazza. Floss was still there. ‘Did you find him?” she asked. ‘* No—nary a trace of him.”’ “Very strange; what could have become of him?” " I should smile, Did yer hearany more ghosts?” “é N oO. ’ Then he told her of the mysterious slap he had gotinthe parlor. |. , “Now, ef there ain’t dead ghosts ’round here, there’s line ones,”’ he said, ** an’ I'll bet on it.” ‘* Live ones, more likely, though I was all through the house and didn’t see any one,” “Well, I’m goin’ to investigate, Jf Felix ain't in the place, somethin’ ’sterious has happened to him,” Se SE. ar eee ze a a : Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. Bat OS SE AE aN ED — ee “You're not going to venture into the house is the dark, are you?”’ 9 Not if I can find anything to make a torch ou? oO 7 He once more went around to the rear of the house and made a search in the shed. As luck would have it, he found an old tin Jantern which con- tained both oil and wick. Returning to the piazza, he lit it, and was ready to set out on his tour of investigation, “As it is raining hard yet, I will accompany you,” Floss said. “Allright. Keep yer eyes peeled fer ghosts, and if we kin run one down, we'll have a ghost bar- becue!”’ eee then entered the mansion, Their first investigation was throurch the parlor, where Sam had got the mysterious slap in the face, but nothing new was discovered. The room presented the same’ appearance as be- fore, except that the two chairs were gone. The other rooms of the first floor were next searched, and the plucky couple even ventured down into the cellar. ' Here they found a multitude of bottles, barrels and champagne baskets, which seemed to indicate that the previous owner of the place had been a bibulous individual. Among a lot of rubbish, Sam picked up a letter. The envelope was addressed: ‘*Lennox H. Jamison, R-——, Ky.” Sam thrust it carelessly into his pocket, and they went up-stairs. Their next venture was into the second story where they visited room after room, examined closets, and every cubby-hole that could contain a rson, “What are you going to do,if you fail to find your friend?’ Floss asked, as they pursued their search, “Dunno! Give it up!” wasthe reply. ‘‘There’s somethin’ mighty mysterious about et, or I'll be mistook fer the sident. Ef I can’t find no trace of Felix, he’s been tuk prisoner, an’ hain't fur from this immeget neighborhood, an’ I'll bet the eysters onet. Anyhow, I don’t leave these parts till 1 find out what’s become o’ Felix.”’ He spoke ce pram 6 and as he was the ve sort of a lad who once he had said a thing woul me it, it looked favorable for Felix yet being ound, They next began to explore the third story, but the result was similar to that which had greeted them elsewhere. There was no one in the house, so far as they could find out, nor were there any signs of any one having recently been there. “This ere mystery takes the bunion!"’ Sam com- mented, as they made their way down-stairs. “It looks as if the earth hed opened an’ swallered Felix. Ef it did, et must ’a’ bin hard-up fer suthin’ to eat, fer there weren’t enuff meat on his bones ter satisfy an ordinary Jersey muskeeter.”’ ‘IT am also singularly impressed by his strange disappearance,’’ Floss said. ‘*Some ny eery does seem to hang over this old house. Perbaps in the morning you will find Felix at some neighboring farm-house,”’ ‘Hope so, but don't half expect to!’’ Sam said, grimly. ‘*Ireckon mebbe the spooks collared onto him jest because he was gettin’ old and helpless.” By this time they had got down-stairs, and they went out on the piazza once more, As he did so, Sam pointed to where he had previ- ously placed and left the parlor chairs, at the same time uttering the startled ejaculation: ‘*The chairs are gone!” And it was true; vhe two chairs had been removed from the piazza! Floss turned pale, and Sam's eyes were literally as big as saucers, ‘** Worse, and more of it, by “There's no use of chinnin’! haunted!” The rain had ceasedto fall, the lightning to flash, and the thunder to reverberate. Darkness reigned deep and intense. “I’m going!’ Floss said, with a shiver. ‘* This place is no place for me.” “W ita minute, and 'ilgo part way with you!”* Sam exclaimed. He darted into the hall, and flashed his light into the parlor, ; It took but a glance for him to discern that the chairs had been replaced in the original positiong from which he had taken them, This was enough! He returned to the piazza, “We'll get out of this!” he said. “I'll postjourn my investigation till to-morrow. Then, ef I don't do some big figgerin’, my name ain’t Sam Slabsides, nohow!” “If I can steal away maybe I'll come and help you,” Floss said. Then they left the piazza, and advanced toward the edge of the bluff. As they did so, there issued from the house & series of wild and blood-curdling sbrieks, that were so awful that ey caused the two to quicken their footsteps, while their hair literally had a tendency to rise on end, “Oh! ages away !’ Sam muttered. “EfI dent find out who’s doin’ that catwaulin’, ye can call me a slabsided N. G. chump from Weehawken!” ingo!’* he gasped, he old rat-trap is CHAPTER VI. THE JUDGE GOES CALLING. JupGE JAMISON was seen by Frank and Ralph, al- most as soon as he saw them, but he drove straighe INA cor q|