Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 481 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

a -- -—-o- - —_ rr - or cs — oe With a sol she sprung out of the carriage , “ b rrying: ‘* Dear uncle Abe! forgive me!” And before he was aware of her purpose, she | raught his gaunt, bony hand, and pressed her virgin lips upon it. It was his right hand. With a gasping cry he snatched it away from her and thrust it behind him, shrinking | back as if in terror. ‘No! no! Oh, God!” Then a blood-curdling shudder passed over him, and he seemed to collapse, his head drop- ping upon his breast, and his arms hanging limp at his sides. The girl stared at him, frightened at the effect of her impulsive act—too much bewildered to feel hurt at its reception. In a low voice, almost like a death-rattle, she heard him mutter: ‘‘It is the vengeance of offended Majesty! Chasten thy servant, oh, God!” In terror the girl cried out: ‘* Uncle Abe!” Yet she dared not touch him again. He recovered himself as with a strong effort, passed his hand across his forehead, and said: ‘*' There! there,mydear! Ihavestartled you. Don’t mind me. Iamas the smoking flax, If you see me sometimes falter beneath the burden of the wrath of the Righteous Judge, learn to yass it by. lis most sinful creatures cannot cloud your oung life, Father, hide her in the hollow of hy hand! Amen!” He took one of her hands in his, and laid his other across her shoulders, and with his fatherly caress bent and touched his lips to her forehead. His hand was cold and clammy. His lips, but for their tremulousness, might have been the lips of a dead man! The girl shuddered in spite of herself, Abednego Swayne then dismissed the hack- man with a silver quarter dollar, known in the West as ‘‘ two bits,” and there held in about the same esteem that a ‘‘ nickel” is in the East. It appeared that he was not the kind of cus- tomer the Jehu cared to have any contention with; for venting his discontent by lashing his horses, he drove off muttering some choice speci- mens of very emphatic “ French,”—with West- ern variations! ‘* Let us not pamper ourselves with sloth and vainglory,” said A ego Swayne to Edith, with a canting drawl]. ‘* Your limbs are young and strong; and we have not far to walk. There is no praise more acceptable to Heaven than a proper use of the powers mercifully vouchsafed to us.” With not a little misgiving did Edith draw his attention to Little Ah Sin, whom he had thus far ignored. She found herself suddenly in doubt as to how so unusual an addition to a young lady’s belongings would be received. Under the penetrating gaze of his inquisitor Little Ah Sin stood with downcast eyes, as placid as the cat thatnever was in the cream-jar. ‘¢ What is this?’ was the slow demand. ‘‘ He is my little servant;” said Edith. ‘Your servant? A strange freak, is it not? He cannot fill the office of a maid.” ‘‘Oh, no! of course not, But he is clever ina hundrei ways. He is so much quicker and neater and handier than half the help one can et, that I thought aunt Mercy would be glad to have him about the house.” At this point Little Ah Sin seemed to think if about time to putin a word for himself; so he said; ‘“‘Ghina boy largee sabe alla house pidgin— washee, cookee, makee bed—alla chop-chop. That mississee Joss pidgin man, he chin-chin mi number-one good chancee,” This, being translated, was an assurance that he could do all kinds of housework well and quickly, and that the minister’s wife would find him a good bargain, Edith smiled in spite of her anxiety. Abednego Swayne’s iron features never re- laxed. He expressed no wish to have what had been said made intelligible to him. Coldly, sternly he said: ‘‘ A worshiper of Belial!—an abomination in the sight of the Lord!” At that Edith sprung to the rescue warmly. ‘*T took him from a rabble of young hoodlums who were abusing him shamelessly!” she cried. ‘‘T'd pit his Paganism against their isti ty, any day!” Abednego Swayne turned his slow eyes fies her face, flushed as it was with generous or, and then despondently shook his head, mutter- The curse that rests upon one of | a i Sin. ‘‘A firebrand in a household of God’s ser- vants!” He made no further opposition to Little Ah Sin, but led the way to a hotel, comfortable, yet far less pretentious than the one Jack would have patronized. stage. She longed to cry out to bim to give up his sacha What was money coniparea with life? But she dared not utter a sound’to attract: tten- tion to herself. She shrunk ffrto the su ailest compass possible, hoping that she might e cape | discovery. From Denver their journey was continued by | ia What was her relief, however, for her ruard- n, to see him with slow, deliberate movements For two days they traversed the crags and | loosen his garments, and draw forth the belt, chasms of the American Wonderland, the jolt- | | far his iron lips had not once unlocked. ing of the coach being compensated by the mag- nificence of the scenery. In the gathering dusk of the second day, Edith was trying to get into a position of a lt- tle less discomfort, to take a nap, if possible, when there came a startling interruption. ‘‘ Halt! Hands up!” cried a voice out in the road. ‘‘T hyear you, boss, Don’t shoot!” came the deep bass, nearer at hand, of the stage-driver. And with a wrench that nearly threw Edith out of her seat, the swaying vehicle was brought to a stand-still. ‘Uncle Abe!” cried the girlin affright, seiz- ey ety by the arm. er guardian sat upright, motionless, and said not a word, Seen in the gloom, his set features looked to her as 1f cast in bronze. Without were the sounds of the restless coach- horses and the thud of other approaching hoofs. A reckless, dare-devil voice said: ‘Ef you hain’t got an insurance policy on the top of your head, Johnny, hold as you are.” ‘Don’t mind me, ’gents,” replied the stage- driver, ‘“*T pass out, an’ leave my ante in the pot! A horseman came to the side of the coach and roughly tore the door open. ‘* Hello, there! you inside!” he cried, with a swagger as if he were under the influence of li- quor. ‘‘Come out o’ that!” Without protest Abednego Swayne rose and alighted. Amazed at his strange demeanor, Edith did pee try to detain him. But she sat and trem- ed, They had had the coach to themselves in the absence of other passengers; and she was now alone with Little Ah Sin, who occupied the front seat, opposite her. But if the strange man who seemed so for- midable to her dared not offer her protection, what could she hope from a mere boy? He leaned forward in his seat, staring through the door in the greatest excitement. His hands were thrust into the folds of his ba BY blouse, Had he grasped some wooden or C ina Joss which served him as a talisman? In the wildest panic ata peril the extent of which she could not measure, yet which her imagination vaguely pictured as horrible be- yond expression, the girl was impelled to lea out of the coach on the side opposite the road- agent, and flee away into the thicket that bor- aed See iid od ye ra bs ut fear paralyzed her, e sat panting like a frightened bird. Either the tongue of the leader of the outlaws was thickened with liquor or he had a ble in his mouth to disguise his voice; or it is possible that both impeded his articulation. ** Hello! at have we got hyar?” he cried, with an interlarding of oaths which we spare the reader. ‘‘ A non-combatant, blast. his eyes! Hang me ef we hain’t bagged the lantern-jawed ranter! He’s fat pickin’s, he is. He didn’t go down to Denver for nothin’—not he! Some sanctimonious swindle, you bet! Come, parson! —plank the loot!” Abednego Swayne fixed his burning eyes up- on the speaker in a steady gaze that would have disconcerted some men, It was not without ef- fect on the outlaw. It increased his reckless swagger. ithout a word a leathern pocket-book was handed forth. ‘‘ Hang your two an’ six-pence, you infernal humbug!” shouted the outlaw, scorning it. ‘‘ Do ou think I’m nibblin’ at such bait? Trot out hat waist-belt o’ yourn; or I'll let a hole into you that you kin drive a gover’ment mule through!” The look on Abednego Swayne’s face became terrible. He uttered nota word. Not a muscle moved, He was trying to cow the robber with the power of his eye. Seen in the falling shadows, he looked like the dark embodiment of some awful curse. The robber only swore with a more abandoned recklessness, brandishing his weapon and threat- ening instant annihilation in a score of varied forms. Edith’s blood her guardian shot down before her horrified eyes. ~ : . ‘fs > 7 Me, , es ae “ pt Me... ' 4 -* Sa “ 1 = Py F d be s Se base) pony ~— hee ah “7? iy iy t “ - ' ve Ie rear TL a - ran cold. She expected to see LK ttt, XBRL LLL sss ere In silence he handed it to the despoiler. So The belt was received with something like a yell of triumph. The old man dropped his head upon his breast and stood motionless, Was he so parsimonious that the loss of his money had crushed him like that? In all the terror of that situation, Edith felt her respect for him wane. The triumphant road-agent held the money~ belt aloft, and shouted to his comrades. ‘* How’s that, you confounded croakers? Didn’t I tell you we'd raise the rocks? But this ain’t all. Ain’t we to have the girl? Blast yer eyés! what are you infernal cowards skulking off there out of range for, leaving me to do all the work? When it comes tothe divy, you won’t cry so small, curse you!” Thus rallied, the others urged forward their horses, Not waiting for their support, the chief reined his horse close to the coach door, and peering into the darkening interior, cried: ‘‘Come, my beauty! we're wantin’ of you!” Edith gasped in speechless terror. The dread calamity had fallen! Abedne: 0 Swayne started as if suddenly stun by aserpent, He struck an attitude, as if abou Mn spring upon the bandit and tear him from his orse. But the response to the outlaw’s demand did not come from him, From within the coach came a voice, so ex- cited, so high pitched, hurling sucha hail of rapid articulations, that it was almost like the chattering of a frantic monkey. ‘‘Hi yah! Man-man! More better you no makee bobbery ‘long that missee! Galah, no pay he walkee, chop-chop catchee killum! China boy inside muchee hot, alla samee that ’Melican fashion! Plentee fight pidgin! Hecatchee seven iece volvo. Largee sabe makee he shoot so ashion makee finishee! S’pose you no git, num- ber-one foolo!” All of which, being translated, meant: ‘‘Hey, there! Stop! You'd better not trouble that young lady! t her go, I say! or you'll be instantly killed!” etc., etc. The road-agent turned his head so as to look from Edith to her little champion. He saw Little Ab Sin half started from his seat, brandishing in one hand a revolver, and in the other a curiously shaped knife. with a wavy blade, like a Malay creese, The boy’s eyes blazed with excitement, and in a stronger light his face would have been seen to be a sic iy yellow with pallor. But in his half-drunken recklessness, the out- law despised his years. ‘¢- You dirty little whelp of a Pagan!” he cried, with an oath, “who told you it was your put-in?” And disdaining further notice, he reached forth his hand to seize the shrinking Edith’s wrist. Little Ah Sin uttered an inarticulate cry of rage; and the coach rung with the report of his revolver. Edith shrieked and fainted with terror. The outlaw uttered a wild cry, and let go her wrist, With a shrill whinny his horse reared and pivoted round. Abednego Swayne broke stony silence at last and with a scream of mad anguish, as if he had been. pierced to the heart. sprung forward and clutched the bandit’s bridle-rein. As the beast descended to the earth, the man was knocked down, And, lo! the road-agents who bad been ral- lied for their half-bearted support wheeled their horses and took to their heels, leaving their oe to get out of the scrape as best he could alone! ‘‘ Waal, I sw’ar!” was the astonished comment of the stage-driver, CHAPTER IV. A WEIRD HOUSEHOLD. | DESERTED by his followers, the leader of the outlaws made no effort to check the flight of his — frightened horse, but permitted himself to be borne after the cowardly fellows who had ‘‘ taken water” at the first sign of resistance. | Meanwhile he indulged himself in round after 4 7 : : . 7 7 : : < c > * 7 ‘ } 4. ,- 4 ' + . ¥ i» i is », ie i pe ata - * ’ - “ V~ é . . > > d To ae re ns 1 rat & a, t nF ‘4 4, gh iz U A j t- 4 a " Ma) s a ) UY L,. es | <4 8 7 ‘i é é ks.com == - et fo : Pa * ps Cpe oe ys “ » ee EA ae Pretis ! : rN TY re *. Fi Me vas Mis f , we: 1% 44 } aa a a ! a “A i ora! ~- * — a ‘ee w “> : » 2 “|