Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 486 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

i) = — ey . : eet 0 Pepe AARP wart yu, oa | a RT RE ET gree eteten > greed tomes. Sewanee Oe 2 ty 10 —— ee -—”™tO “Ah! Itis he then, you fancy!” and his eyes | flashed across the street, to the office of the | man. Seldens. | ‘*I? Why, I shall stay here in the vicinity of **Oh, no!” she laughed, gayly. ‘‘ Not so bad | Hunki-Dori until the Tribunal of Ten is broken as that! But, your father iscalling you, sir,and | up, and several wrongs are righted—several I will not detain you.” | debts of vengeance paid!” And, nodding, she walked away, while Leroy | He had brought Placer Poll’s lantern with Clarkson entered the office, with a moody brow. | him; be turned on the light, and they all step- ped into the cave. CHAPTER X. It proved to be a dry, warm place, and by A TRAITOR’S DOOM, Sam’s direction a fire was soon burning bright- SEALSKIN Sam had effected his and Placer | ly, the smoke escaping up through the crevices. Poll’s escape in the manner that people natural- Sam threw himself down before the fire, and ly supposed. * | lay gazing thoughtfully into 1t, rev ewing, in He had bribed the two guards. mind, what had already passed since his com- The idea had occurred to him as he and the | ing to Hunki-Dori. girl sport sat in silence on the floor of the Mugegins and Murphy also seated themselves cabin. upon the rocky floor, and producing a pack of He had a considerable sum of money with | ‘cards began to play the game of casino, him—why could he not use it as the key to his The occasional glances at the Sparkler he did liberty ? not notice. Both guards were probably hard-working Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler, Ee $$ A strange sort of laugh escaped the handsome : He felt wearied, not having had any sleep for miners, who could save little or nothing out of | thirty-six hours, and the warmth of the fire their wages. Perhaps a bird in the hand would | soon had the effect of lulling him into a state of be worth two in the bush to them? repose, “Tsay, Murphy!” he called out. Still the miners piven on. ‘** Well, phat is it?” The loud. breathing of the sport finally at- ** Ts it cold out?” tracted their attention. ‘Not a bit! not a bit, me boy!” was the dry He was sleeping soundly, and his face wore a answer. pleasant expression. ** it’s cold here, Murphy looked at Muggins. cise a bit.” ‘Why not nab him ag’in, bedad? There'll ‘It's tight-rope exercise you'll be gittin’ in | be a big reward for the loikes av him.” I'd like to get out and exer- the mornin’, shure.” ‘*T was thinkin’ the same thing, Pat. But, “Ts that so? How would you like to stretch | how would we work it?” hemp, Murphy?” ‘Easy enough. Swear that Placer Poll kiv- " Divil a bit w’u’d I like it!” ered us, an’ forced us to let him out. Thin we gave chase an’ captured him again.” ‘**Good idea! Have ye got any rope?” ‘**Divil/a bit; but I have some wire, an’ it’s better.” He took some serviceable wrapping wire from his pocket and exhibited it in triumph. ‘*That will do! Give me apiece. We shall have to go at this carefully !’’’ Sealskin Sam, however, lay in an admirable position to be captured. His feet were close to- gether and his hands were clasped. « Murphy took the job of fastening his wrists together, )jwhile Muggins attended to the feet. It was a delicate undertaking to accomplish without awakening him, but it was soon mam and the two captors arose and ‘surveyed their work proudly. ‘* A fat raise we'll make!” Muggins chuckled. ‘* Faith, an’ shure we will,” Murphy agreed. ‘* Hi, there! turn yer back forninst me, mon— thaer’s a worrum a-crawlin’ on it!” Muggins quickly obeyed, having a great hor- ror of vermin species. It was a fatal action. Murphy suddenly shoved his revolver against tbe back of his companion’s head and fired, Uttering a piercing cry, Muggins fell forward upon his face—dead! The report and cry awakened Sealskin Sam, and finding himself powerless, a glance was sufficient to make him understand the situation, Murphy dropped the reyolver and drew a knife, as he stepped toward the sport. e, dead ‘¢Then how d’ye think I’m fixed?” ‘¢ Shure, it’s a bad lookout yez have.” **T should murmur! But, ye see, I don’t in- tend to dang.e. How long have you been work- ing in the mines?” “Thrae months—me an’ Muggins, here,” was the answer. ‘‘And how much have you laid by for a rainv day?” ‘* Waix! divil a cent at all, at all!” ‘‘ And if you were to remain here three more months, you’d not likely be any richer?” ‘‘ Shure, it’s sinsible yer ’re shpakin’ now, me laddy-buck!” ‘*Of course lam. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. You and Muggins release me from here, and Ill give you each a hundred dollars, and you can accompany me into the mountains toa safe place, where you can remain until you get ready to seek another location.” The two guards consulted together in low tones for several moments, Here wasachance to make a “stake” that would help them out of the wild West, which |’ they were in nowise loth to leave. ‘*Make it two hundred apiece; and it’s a go!” Muggins cried. ‘“Very well. Let me out, and the money shall be yours!” the Sparkler answered. To Placer Poll he added: ‘*'You remain here till ’m gone. The door shall be left open. I will see you later.” She put out her hand, but was silent. He fancied a tremor shook it, as he pressed it in his own. ‘*Ther’ ain’t no shenan about this?’ Mug- gins demanded. ‘It’s square, dead open-an’- shet?” **Of course. You have my word of honor!” Sam replied, “Then it’s a bargain, door!” A moment later the door swung open, and Sam stepped into the open air—free! The guardsstarted back in surprise. **How tha divil did yez git loose?” Murphy demanded, suspiciously. ‘Easy enough. It takes more than an or- dinary bed-cord to hold Sealskin Sam, you bet! Here’s your money—four fifties each. Now, follow me, for this camp won’t be healthy for ou!” * The miners obeyed, full well realizing that Sam had spoken the truth, Leaving the mining-camp behind, the Spark- | ler strode rapidly away up the gulch, at a rate of speed that made his followers “ hump” them- ‘*There’s a reward for the loikes av or alive!” he cried, a wolfish glitter in his eyes, ‘‘an’ begorra, it’s not poor I’m goin’ to be all me days. Yowre as slippery as tha divil himsilf, an’ I'll take ye, dead!’ He leaned forward, glaring down into the Sparkler’s face, his murderous blade upraised to strike; but at that instant a tremendous pee dog leaped into the cave with a savage ark, ‘‘ Hero! Thank God!” Sealskin Sam cried. Murphy wheeled around in alarm as the huge mastiff caught him by the throat, knocking the weapon from his hand. It was now “‘ good-by ” Murphy. Murphy, unlock the CHAPTER XT. A STORY OF THE PAST. It now becomes our duty, in the interest: of our romance, to go back toa scene at the Selden mansion, which occurred in the mine-owner’s rivate room after he and Bolivar Bullwhack ad ascended to that cosey apartment from the parlor, as related in a previous chapter. The face of the giant was smiling and tri- umphant; the face of the mine-owner, on the contrary, was scowling and disagreeable, his C7 Ok SCAR: with malignant evil in their epths, Welle he said, pointing out a chair to Bull- whack, and seating himself at a tabie on which a student-lamp reflected a circle of golden light, ‘** You have dared to come here! Wkat now?” selves to keep up with him. Full an hour he continued on, without paus- ing, and then stood before the mouth of a small cavern, far up among pines and jagged rocks of the mountain. ‘‘ Here we are safe!” he said. ‘‘ You fellows had better remain here until the search blows over, and then skip for parts unknown. It will be the healthiest thing you can do!” ‘* How about you?” Muggins asked, OPT PE cower ah eh Gar awe oe, OP ae ree 1 Oe ete ad —, Sell >} ‘ Bullwhack took a greasy pouch from his pocket, and filled his mouth with a huge chew of fine-cut, munched away on it awhile, and then squinted one eye and regarded Ebenezer Selden with a speculative stare. ‘*Thet ‘brotherly’ racket war purty good, warn’t it?” he observed. ‘** More clever than the most of your actions. You had to make a blunder toward the last!” ‘** The gal didn’t notice it,” ‘** Of course she did. She’s no blockhead, may bet.” ‘** What does she know?” and the giant grinned good-naturedly. ‘I have given both her and Sardon a hint, and I think they understand.” **Oh! I’ allow thar’ll be some kickin’, but I ken’t help it. The time is come, an’ it hes got ter be done!” Eben compressed his lips grimly. ‘In God’s name why do you not spare them a little longer?” he gritted. ‘*Not much. Et ain’t my natur’!” ** You needn’t tell one of that. Your face be trays your ugliness fast enough.” “If I am any uglier than you I'll eat my shirt. You have grown worse since we met last. Eben, ye,old sucker, I want lucre.” ‘You'll get none from me.” ‘*Oh! won’t I? Neow I ain’t so sart’in sure about it. I hope ye don’t calkylate Ive been as still as mice all these fleetin’ years, months, days, an’ weeks? I’ve found out a few things about you.” ** Bah! what?” ‘‘ First, murder, Second, abduction. Third, theft. Fourth, desertion and corruption. Fifth, robbery, and, lastly, a conglomeration of sins that would fill a caterlogue!” ** Pshaw! you’ve been drinking too much.” ‘Nary: The fact is, Eben, unless your bank- account is rather bulky yer coil o’ cordage aire unwindin’ purty near to the end,” Selden lit a stubby clay pipe, tipped back in his chair, and blew a cloud of smoke ceiling- ward, ‘* Now, look here,” he said. ‘‘I am a rich and influential man, and you are a ruffianly beggar. Supposing, for instance, I was to refuse you one red cent—what would you, or could you do about it, sir?” The same triumphant leer was upon the giant’s face. ** What c’u’d I do?” he repeated, closing one eye, and aiming a squirt of tobacco-juice at the fire-place. ‘‘ Waal, that depends. Will ye listen to me all through, ef I tell ye?” Eben Selden’s mood seemed changing from ill-feeling to good-nature. He arose, went to the door, looked out, ¢ame back, and was seated. ‘Go ahead!” he said, drawing an extra cloud of smoke from his pipe. ‘‘ My ears are not of abnormal size, but they are attentive.” Bolivar Bullwhack evidently did not admire the rather cool way the mine-owner had adopt- ed. He gave a sharp glance around the room, as if tosee if there were convenient places for eavesdroppers; then, after a moment, he spoke: ‘* Well, ye seem desirous 0’ drawin’ me out, an’ I’m goin’ ter let ye draw. Ye needn't inter- rupt me, more’n to say yesor no, when I require. Reckerlect, ’'m goin’ ter tell ye what I know, an’ ye needn’t try no funny bizness on me, sech as killin’ me, fer, I'll tell ye why beforehand. Ye parseeve that ve got my right hand in my right-hand pocket, an’ thet aire hand aire clutchin’ a ‘ bull-dog’ revolver w’ot aire leveled straight at yer heart, as square asa geograffy, Ef ye try any munk’y bizness wi’ yer’s truly, Bolivar Bullwhack, I'll apprise ye aforehand thet ye get beautifully left,” ‘‘Goon!” Selden called out, with a compres- sion of the lips. ‘‘Keerect. Waal, to begin with, it war sev- eral years ago when we first met, Warn’t it?” “Yes,” Selden replied, stolidly. ‘“We war some years younger than now,” Bullwhack pursued, ‘‘ Thar warn’t so many ; you t= '~ 4 crow’s tracks on our Pais SNE a wart on ther $ proboscis 0’ either of us, I reckon we must ha’ stepped on toads when we war young, Eben, — which accounts fer the warts,” ‘*Goon. Come to the head.” ** Like a bile on yer neck, eh! Well, hyer goes: It war years ago. We war both young and purty. I hedn’t drunk so much bug-juice then, and warn’t so big, by long odds. as ye are well aware, war trampin’ along a country road in Pennsyl- vania, when I heerd a carriage a-comin’, So I dodged inter a clump o’ bushes. What did thet. carriage do but come along an’ stop in front 0’ my hidin’-place. Ther’ wasa man sn’ woman Our first acquaintance—let me see—I | boo a