Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 453 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 —_— When the night specter reached the grave, it paused, and remained motionless for several ‘minutes. Sunflower Sam crept as near as he dare, and ‘watched with much interest. As the white-draped figure stood there, like “some spectral statue, by the grave, the dense mass of black clouds overhead parted, and the anoon sent down a mellow flood of light into the gulch, seeming to dwell with particular intensity about the grave. A feeling of awe crept over the spy, who was crouching close to the ground. ** By Jove! that strikes me as rather queer!” ‘he mused. ‘‘It makes a feller feel somehow as af that thing in white really was a spook! Ha!” The exclamation was caused by hearing loud ‘yells in the vicinity of the Chinese camp. **Tll bet they’ve discovered the ghost!” Sam muttered, ‘‘ or else why all that yelling?” As he spoke, something whizzed by his ear, and in close proximity to his head, and the next Instant came the report of a rifle. ‘* As I thought; Mora and his party have dis- ecovered the ghost!” Sam concluded, ‘‘and that bullet was meant to down it, or else to plug me I don’t know which. But, I’m goin’ to be ahea of the field, and see whether the thing in white ds really a ghost or not!” He darted toward the grave where the specter had been standing, but only to discover—noth- ing! The mysterious white figure had disap- eared |! Look in whichever direction he would, he : ~could see no signs of the spectral perambulator. ao & ‘What does it mean. That thing could not a Shave got away so quickly, if it was human, I'll awear to that!” He stood by the grave, gazing around him in positive astonishment, when the singing of an- other bullet past his ear, and the report of a rifle warned him to seek a safer locality; so he «strode away toward You Bet. « When he arrived in front of the hotel, he “found a considerable crowd of men congregated there, who were holding” an excited consulta- “tion. Sam’s arrival was hailed with approval. ‘* What was the firing up the gulch?” was the ‘question put to him by a dozen voices simul- taneously. ‘* Who was shootin’?” » “*Some one was firin’ at the ghost,” Sam re- plied, with a laugh. “The ghost?” 7 4 me * * 2) “Yes, the ghost. Didn’t you see it?” *“No! no! Tell us about it!” “Well, I was up scoutin’ near the Beauty “mine, when a ghost came from this direction, 4 - vand went straight to Joseph Mora’s grave. It was a figure all clad in white, and hadn’t any Vy face that was visible. It passed near where 1 u. * was standin’, and so I followed 1t. While I was hi watchin’ it, from the direction of the mine, there 4 ame a shot. I made a rush for the ghost, but aan when I got to the grave, it had disappeared! eaE Another shot from the Chinese camp nigh clip- > fie ‘ped my ear off, and so I concluded to get into 5 te safer quarters, and here I am.” Baar | ‘** The Chinese camp?” echoed a dozen voices. +f aoe ‘Yes, gents. It may b2 an unwelcome sur- 4 a ‘prise to you, buf you are likely to be thrown out wks of work, unless you want to work for rat-eaters’ ie wages. Boss Harkley, of Carterville, has bought e | the Agnes mine, and he and Max Mora have Pty consolidated, and the two mines will henceforth Ai ‘be worked by Chinamen, unless you want to ac- a «, ept Chinese wages. There’s two hundred of Ce ‘the pig-tail cusses on the edge of the camp now, nh - vand. the entrances to both mines are sur- ae 1 rounded |!” a Loud cries of indignation and astonishment oe escaped the crowd at this announcement. A, ** By heaven! If this be true, there’ll be trouble ee ‘in this camp!” cried Joe Colby. ‘‘ Are you not | givin’ us q game, Sunflower?” , Ms ‘¢ Positive!” Sam replied. ‘I followed Max a Mora and Augustin Andre down to the Beauty ) ina : ' tine, There they were, met_by Boss Harkley $3 oa and his band of two hundred Chinamen.” 3 {%: _ “ Jest as I told you!” cried the veteran miner dy Steve Stoddard, who on a previous occasion had x *, << predicted such a thing. ‘‘I told ye, didn’t I, ‘thet ef the mine were left to Max Mora, he’drun ‘in a gang 0’ rat-eaters, an’ shet us out?” For a time the wildest excitement and confu- - sion prevailed. The news spread like wildfire, and the main street in front of the hotel became ;packed with an excited populace. _ -Bonfires were kindled, and weapons gleamed, on every hand, | The crowd were in a frenzy of sudden-wrought rage, to learn that their occupation had been _ usurped by a lot of Chinamen, whom they held jn the utmost contempt, and threats were freely —= + os Ss saat , ’ " * - ‘ . - ~~ & .“e* a a ~ ~~ <= -_" La vig wee € a z tt - a « z- ey te 56 -9 . © Ea Mer One eae } _ x: j 7 “ 34 31 ry rea aps , Al ~*~, ~“s be P ie Ale ve » ie nies x , AD. 2%. Arh, “ott fins eee en ee “aa eel : . ond 5 % * ae | > a ®% : =f oa i‘."° > “ , -.« 7. * r a. ° ~ te —— ~— ~ Re eet * , Fil ‘ ‘4/ - 4 ‘ : ” be ‘ » ‘ j. 3 ‘ , %. a >, ~¥ Sy js OR On ay eS nee Cts It COCO ee Oe cee 5 ee FP a er * * 7 r | 7 Sunflower sam, of Shasta, ee a made against the lives of the two bosses, Harkley | and Mora, while Augustin Andre also came in for his share of the abuse. ‘* Whar’s Sunflower Sam? We want him!” ‘* Hurrah! A speech from Sunflower Sam!” ‘** Hip! hip! ’rah for the boy from Shasta!” These and other cries of a similar character rung out, and Sunflower Sam was finally found in the bar-room of the hotel, and half dragged upon the veranda by Joe Colby. At which a tremendous yell went up. ‘**Rah fer the Sunflower from Shasta! ther boy as will lead us ag’in’ the heathen Chi- nee! ell wipe ther flat-faced niggers from ther face o’ ther earth!” Another tremendous cheer went up, and it was some time before Joe Colby could make his stentorian voice heard: ‘*Shet up yer noise, boys!” he yelled. ‘* How do you expect Sunflower is to address you, when ye.” kickin’ up sech a racket!” That was sufficient, and the mob in the street became quiet, in a few minutes, Then, Sam cleared his throat, and said: ‘*Gents of You Bet, allow me to thank you for the compliment you have paid me, by call- ing upon me for a speech, inasmuch as I am as yet but a comparative stranger among you. “LT know how you feel about this matter of these Chinamen being run in here, to fill your laces, and I don’t blame you in the least for eing indignant. Ihave no more love for the race than you have, and believe that our Ameri- can people have a right to object to being thrown out of work by a class of people who will work literally for nothing, live on nothing, and grow rich inthe bargain, ‘* However, there is policy in ’most all things, and it is your policy not to be too hasty. ) ‘*[ see that you are all up in arms, and ready at a word, to make an attack upon the invaders camp, but that is not policy. ‘* Bloodshed, in any case, is a thing that does no one any good in the long run, and ofttimes, did we stop to take the second thought, we would not do things that we do without reflec- He’s ion. ‘* These Chinamen are fully armed, and num- ber two hundred strong, not counting four whites who captain them. “Tt heard Boss Harkley say that they all knew how to fight, and presume he is right. They are all camped and by this time pre- pared to resist an attack, which they probably expect, ‘* Hor yeu to make a charge down on them, in this darkness, would be something lke sheer madness as you must see, and the result would be a warm reception, and a loss of life that we cannot afford. . ‘* Therefore, I would argue that the better lain is to wait until morning, and get our sae Bape by the light of day, before we make any precipitate move.” ** Sunflower is right!” declared Joe Colby. ‘‘Tf we hope to get our rights, boys, we can’t afford to make no blunders.” The majority of the crowd agreed to the sport detective’s argument, and so the attack was not made. But there was no sleep in You Bet, for the re- mainder of that night. . All night long, a dozen men paced to and fro across the gulch, to prevent any one from the Chinese camp from getting into town, But, there was little fear of such an attempt being made; for the noisy demonstration of the populace of You Bet, warned Max Moraand Augustin Andre that they had best remain where they were, as it would not be healthy for them, if they were caught. All night long a crowd of excited and revenge- ful miners surged to and fro, on the main street of the town, uttering maledictions and threats against their Celestial foes! CHAPTER XV. A KEEN DISAPPOINTMENT. AS soon as he could slip away from the crowd unnoticed, Sunflower Sam sought his room in the hotel. Here he opened his trunk, and began to haul out a motley assortmentof wigs, false beards and clothing—a complete store of varied disguises, had been prepared for his special use be- fore coming to You Bet. Among thi# assortment were several varieties of female ‘‘ toggery.” He now selected a Chinese outfit, consisting of the usual long overshirt, club shoes, a shaved wig, to which was attached a long queue, and a little round cap. With a little loss of time he donned this dis- guise, touched his face with a sort ef butternut : — 4 “ > A ® en * a 5 om eo = - J % 7 j €. i oe pede Le oR es oy WY wh 4 ; ae % e hy ° = Wl» 7 ‘ . 4 4 ‘ c ae te® b a ? 4 7 ee. eRe’ ie 2h a i ? oh Bey oye ‘ Pe AT DEL ae tee Oa toe es ee a paint, and was ready for business—a fine-looking ongolian. Buckling his belt of weapons about his waist beneath the shirt, he descended into the office of the hotel. The moment he was seen, a wild shout went up: Mi A Chinaman! A Chinaman!” ‘Where! Seize him; don’t let him escape!” ‘*Git a rope, quick! We’ll string hina up!” Such and other cries rung out,.and a number of the crowd rushed toward the supposed son of Confucius; but, when they saw a pair of cocked ‘* sixes” leveled at them, they paused. ‘‘T wouldn’t, if I were you, boys!” Sam sug- ‘gested, placidly. ‘‘I ain’t ready to be iyaidholl. yet! | ‘‘By the dragons, boys,” cried Joe Colby. ** Tt’s Sunflower, fixed up as a pig-tail rat-eater, Shoot me for a snipe if he don’t look like one, too! . The miners, satisfied of Sam’s identity, gave vent to cries of admiration,while Colby demand- ed: ‘‘ But what in thunder are you going to do?” ‘Oh! Pm going on a bit of a reconnoissance,” Sam replied. ‘‘If I am seen, 1] be taken for one of the Chinamen. Don’t worry about me, Pll come back soon, with plans of operation ready for to-morrow.” Then, appointing Colby to keep things as quiet as possible, he left the hotel by the rear, and by a detour, made his way toward the Chinese camp. As he came to the Mora dwelling, he found Mrs. Mora standing in the doorway, looking very nervous and worried. ; She recognized Sam, however, the moment the light fell upon his face, “Oh my! Mr. Bristol, is it indeed you?’ she cried. ‘*What a good-looking Chinaman you are, to be sure! But can you tellmewhateveris —— the matter? I have been so worried at all this — yelling and hooting!” Sam explained as briefly as possible, conclud- ing by saying: ‘* But we will beat them. Where is Bly, Mrs, Mora?” ‘‘Oh my! she is in bed long ago, sir. Why do you ask?” ‘** Because I wished to see her.” . ‘* Here [am, mamma,” cried Bly, making her appearance. ‘‘I heard the yelling, and just gct up. Why, Mr. Bristol! Is that you?’ ‘No. I left myself at the hotel!” Sam laughed. ‘This is Ching Chung, washee- washee, allee samee. But, Miss Bly, I want you to be ready to accompany me to the office, by- iand-by. Not now, but after awhile. I shall Lave to scout round a little, first.” ‘* Won’t there be danger of Bly’s going with you?” Mrs. Mora asked, anxiously. , ‘*T think not. I can arrange to keep her out of trouble.” : ‘What are you going to the office for?” | “To get possession of the money that’s in the safe, before it falls into the hands of Max or Andre, for if they should get hold of it, we would have a hard time getting possession of it, again. If I get it, I will place it in your bands, and you and i this then best leave You Be woe Jd 4 BS css ee ee ae Kt me dete 7. . “a —_—_—~ ee ee ee ee a: ets k : > Dy se ee cd 7 oes ~# — ss)“ . : for.awhile, until.this Chinese trouble is settled at least, and you are free to return to your rightful possessions.” ‘Oh! sir, how shall we ever be able to repa you for your kindness?’ Bly and Mrs. Mora bot cried, almost in chorus, , ‘*T do not ask for or expect pay!” Sam re- plied. ‘Il took an interest in your case owing to the mystery surrounding Mr. Mora’s death, and anything I can do for youl do of my own’ | free will, with no expectation of reward.” ‘You shall not go unpaid, if you succeed,” Mrs. Mora said, decidedly. ‘‘And 1 do so hope you will succeed,” Bly murmured. Ts ‘* T am almost positive I will!” Sam declared. “The stand Max Mora and Augustin Andre have taken, in bringing the Chinamen here, will kill their prestige’ so far as the people of You i *. ’ ~~” a ' ae - ; st rae Po ¢ SRS _— ne, Bet are concerned; and then, too, if your hus-- | band left a will, I may possibly get possessionof ~ _ it, yet, as Ihave another working with me in the matter, from whom I expect much. I i re be going now.” ‘ , 4 ‘‘T will be ready to. accompany you when you — call,”’ Bly said. ; ti cot ‘“Very well. Do not venture away from here, however, until you see me again, as some one may be prowling around in hopes ofkidnap- © ping you.” ix ay Sam then took his departure, and stole noise- —_ || lessly and cautiously toward the Chinese camp, € i eM ie cae i mused, ‘‘and Kit only scares up another wil, = | — ny aad : ‘ | 1 ‘ { hrs , z : . ‘ * . 1 : : ° P . a gay Se fp, oe _ mm vig seers re Ip * i ‘ =" bots TY s’ 4 i Shy, é | ~~ ‘<a . te phe as mer white! Ki 1. Sal 4 735. ‘ ro ee ate in a ‘ . | wat wT; oo » ~ » Vie iPde f As ~ © te eS “ae te 4 s ie ie ; "~ of ay z > F oy baie” - ie ee og me. a 4 =o ‘a ~~ —~ re J | OOKS: a) t i \ am | ae | %, =. a 3) ; a Se a “ - St TN —_ -