Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 486 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

‘smile wi’ yer uncle!” the “of whose nose shall [ tweak the first inspiratin’ anthem uy harmony?” His gaze swept over the sea of faces rapidly, ‘as if he was searching for some particular per- son on whom to swoop down. He had not settled the matter fully in his mind however, when he felt a tap upon his shoulder, and wheeled about to find himself confronted by one of the suave bartenders. ‘You will oblige the proprietress, sir, by making a little less noise,” the mixer of drinks ‘said politely. ‘‘ Wedo notallow any disturbance -here that may annoy our patrons,” ‘* Gh! we don’t, eh?” The giant stared at the man a moment, as if of a laugh. ‘Waal! waall waal!” he snorted. ‘‘ Ef you -ain’t a purty plum, [ll cry pea-knuckle! See hyer, my daisy, who sent ye heer ter breathe thet | waiter-girl upon the floor, | ; amazed—then burst into a coarse, barking sort | Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. **Humph!. who yer torkin’ to?’ the ruffian growled, fiercely. ‘* Made a little mistake in yer man, hain’t ye?” ‘*Not a bit of it! Once more I tell you to place the young lady on the floor!” Dangerous was the light now entering the sport’s eyes, and the giant was not slow to take note of it. ‘* S’posin’ I refuse?” he leered, his face becom- ing uglier in expression. ‘‘S’posin’ I do jest as I please, erbout the matter—what then, me furry friend?” ‘Then, I shall persuade you to obey!” the sport replied, ‘‘and shall not wait more than a couple of seconds more, neither.” ‘Waal, sence ye aire achin’ fer a fu’st-class scrimmage, jest let me apprise yer royal nibs thet I’m open fer engagement!” and, with the words, he placed the alarmed and mortified ‘*T want yer ter -astonishin’ piece 0’ news into my ear? Whosent | know, me noble purp, thet I’m a-howlin’ blood- ye, { say?” ‘** We receive our orders from the proprietress to preserve order, sir. If you know when you are well off you will keep quiet.” “Thunderation! Did mortal “zaloot evyer heer the likes? Me keep quiet? Whoopee! nix cum a rous, Mary Jane! I’m a ssnorter, I am—a reg’lar b’ilin’ blood poodin’ frum Podunk, Me keep still—me, Bollivar Bull- whack? Nary time! Aire ye sure, younker, thet none of these galoots around hyer didn’t sic "ye on—aire ye sure, I say?” ‘*] am sure, sir.” ‘Tt is well. Did ary galoot offer to insinni- wate that my voice was ter be restrained from bein’ heerd, a deluge o’ blud would sweep away every cussed shanty in Hunki-Dori Gulch. Be- gone, my baby, an’ set up the swill fer every fu'st-class hog in the stye, fer Bollivar Bull- whack aire a screamer, an’ every one drinks at his expense. Arise, ye thirsty Bedouins, an’ put yer suspenders to the bar, It’s Bullwhack as aire treatin’—Bollivar Bullwhack, the bumstif- ferous bouncer, an’ he who refuseth to slobber, he’s got ter fight, you bet—f-i-g-h-t, fight!” And, turning to the bar, the ‘‘ holy terror” ‘slapped down a gold piece of large denomina- tion. Nothing more was wanted by the gor ora of the habitues of the Cremonia. If Mr. Bull- pestiverous it surely was becoming in them to have the grace to drink with him, and they forthwith ranged themselves along the bar. But a few failed todo so, and these were most- ly strangers in the town, and the waiter-girls of the place, ‘*Come along up hyer, gals! You’ve got ter iant cried, seizing one ofthem by the arm. ‘‘Nomulishness’ bout this hyer funeral!” ‘¢ Oh, sir, please let me go!” cried the terrified ‘girl, ‘‘I do not drink, sir—really you must ex- ‘cuse me, sir!” ‘Ho! ho! ho! not much, me yaller-spangled canary! You've got ter sip mountain-dew with the beautiful bouncer ©’ Brimstone, an’ ’tain’t no ’arthly use o’ yer sayin’ nay. Here ye go!” And with a dextrous move, the giant seized the girl and sat her upon his left arm, while he stepped to the bar to procure his drink, e had not time to raise it to his lips, how- ever, when he was seized by one ear and wheel- ed abruptly around! ‘Put that young lady on the floor, sir!” a stern, authoritative voice commanded, and Bull- whack found confronting him a man of most ex- traordinary appearance. He stood five feet ten in his boots, and was well formed in every part, His face was a strikingly clear-cut and handsome one, with a full, pleasant mouth, shaded by a brown mus- tache, waxed straight out from the lip; piercing hazel eyes, and dark-brown hair that waved back from his forehead to helow the shoulders, A round sealskin cap surmounted his head, anda sealskin ulster of the choicest fur reached below his boot-tops, concealing the character of his undergarments. . His hands were small and shapely, and gloved with a faultless nicety in brown kid, and in his right hand he sported a formidable ebony or lignum-vitee walking-stick, headed with a huge nugget of solid gold. | Of a decidedly sportive appearance, he was at the same time a person apt to command respect from the men, and admiration from the ladies, His stern gaze was leveled unflinchingly upon the giant, as\he uttered the command, and it was plain that he was in thorough earnest, ‘“‘ Place that young lady upon her feét, I say)” “he cried, a second time, as Bullwhack glared at him in savage amazement, whack had ‘‘the tin” to pay for the beverage, uddin’, b’ilin’-hot, and my name is Bollivar sullwhack, a biter, a bouncer, an’ a death’s head, all combined inter one!” ‘* It matters not tome if you are the President of the United States, or a dozen Austrian armies, or a twenty-horse power Jesse James!” the sport replied, with composure; *‘ you are a big, overgrown, ranting ruffian, and if ever again I catch you in the act of insulting a wo- man, ll make you regret the act,” “Oho! oho! what kinder dictionary talk d’ ye call that? Mebbe ye better git right onter yer muscle, now! Ye cussed low-lived whiffet, re hev hed the honor uv insultin’ one o’ ther iggest guns o’ modern times. I hain’t goin’ ter palaver wi’ ye much—I’m a red-hot ran- tankerous epidemic, a’ teetotal annihilation, am I, an’ ’'m bizness frum spurs cl’ar up ter teeth, So will ye be kind ernuff ter tell us who ye aire, an’ where ye cum from, so thet we kin hev yer epertaff scratched upon yer tombstone, wi’ a rusty toothpick?” And ye his arms akimbo, the giant squatted, and leered defiantly at his newly-ac- quired enemy. The sealskin sport brushed unmelted snow- flakes of the crisp November night from his coat-sleeves, ere he answered, and at the same time took a first searching glance about the saloon. ** If it concerns you, or any one else you know wholam. Iam best known as Sealskin Sam, or The Sparkler,” and he made a movement to retire to one ofthe tables, but the giant put himself in the way. ‘* No, ye don’t, me Martha!” he cried, with a rin. ‘* You an’ me has got ter hev it out, u’st. I, Bollivar Bullwhack, am here fer blud, an’ blud aire I goin’ ter hev, you know. So the sooner ye name the way ye want ter die ther quicker Pll trim ye out, an’ set em up fer the boys!” ‘Be kind enough to step out of. my path!” Sealskin Sam ordered, the fire once more creep- ing into his eyes, ‘Bah! ’'m hyer ter stay all winter,” Bull- whack replied. “* Ye see me, Martha, I don’t skeer fer a leg 0’ mutton!” Sealskin Sam did not immediately reply, but gazed at the bully a moment; then, with a sud- dep bound, he leaped forward, and dealt the giant a slap over the mouth with the flat of his hand, the report of which could have been heard in any part of the Cremonia. With a gasp Bollivar Bullwhack staggered back and losing his equilibrium fell to the floor, upsetting a table and several chairs. He lay where he had fallen, only for a mo- ment; then he slowly arose to his feet, a sort of bewildered expression upon his ugly counte- nance, ‘¢ That’s enuff!” he said, spitting out a couple of tusk-like teeth, ‘‘The next time I fee} like tacklin’ an ’arthquake, ye can bet yer sw et: life Pll not forgit ye. Good-by! [?’mgoin’. Ill see ye, when I’ve chawed off some other man’s ear an’ whetted up my appetite on b-l-u-d, blood!” And turning, with a sickly smile, he limped out of the gaming-parlor, followed by: a roar of laughter from the spectators, CHAPTER IIil. THE FATAL FINGER, SEALSKIN SAM gazed after him, until he had disappeared, then took a seat at an unocecupie table, and lit a cigar. Of course he was the center of notice of the habitues of the place, and yet was apparently unmindful of the fact, as he seemed lost in rev- erie, as his handsome dark eyes watched the spiral column of smoke that arose from the cigar. _ Three persons in the room watched him with more than ordinary interest, as if to satisfy 3 themselves whether or not they had ever before met the man. One of these was the proprietress of the Cre- monia, Mile, Circe, as she was known—the wo- man who sat in the little open office, and re- ceived the cash from the floor-maids, To everybody, Circe was a puzzle—a human tS fo without solution if such a thing could 1e, To-night she was attired in an elegant maroon- colored silk, set off with laces, and true dia- monds, which adorned her hands, and glittered at her throat and in her carefully arranged wealth of golden-hued hair. Her form was one of exceeding grace, and of that fullness which betokens strong vitality, good health and reserve force. Her face was, seemingly, beautiful, but no correct idea could be formed on that point, for from the middle of her fair forehead, to the tip of her chin, she wore a dark silk illusion mask, which effectually concealed the face. What was known of the woman of queenly bearing, in Hunki-Dori, can be briefly stated. She had come there, a year before, when hunki-Dori boasted of a population of but ten men, in company with a dark, villainous-look- ing man named Jack Dean. fe was rowdyish and a hard-drinker, but had plenty of money, and built the Cremonia, as it now stood, and furnished it with a lavish 1and, Circe was announced as his sister, but the con- trast between their appearance and characters caused more than one to discredit the relation- Hunki-Dori grew, and the Cremonia became the chief place of resort. One night Dean was shot dead, in a dispute overagame of cards, he being a very quarrel- some person. After which event, Circe ran the place for herself, and added many improvements, but after the night of Dean’s death, she was never seen without a mask across her face. Dean’s murderer, who chanced to be a stran- ger, had made good his escape, although stren- uous efforts were made for his capture, Circe had never seemed to mourn for her ‘*brother;” and as to her looks, the few miners who had seen her face unmasked, declared that hers was the most beaufiful face they had ever beheld. She was one of the trio who watched Sealskin Sam, studiously, from her position in her office; but if she recognized him, no act or word be- trayed the fact. he second of the three was a man dressed in citizen’s garments of superior quality, includin overcoat and silk hat. He was a portly indi- vidual of good stature, with restless brown eyes, and a huge iron-gray beard that covered the better share of his countenance, and reached to his breast. He stood leaning against one of the wooden columns that supported the ceiling, and had re- garded the stranger with the keenest interest from the time of his entrance. The third party was one of those peculiar characters, so often described and which is not unfrequently to be met with in towns and Camps in the mining and grazing regions. It was a young woman, or more appropriate- ly a girl, attired in men's clothes; that is, she wore a pair of neatly-fitting gray pants thrust into patent-leather top-boots reaching to the knees, and a hunting-frock of white flannel, the gold-fringed skirts of which reached nearly to the boot-tops, A belt about her waist contained a pair of superior revolvers; the shirt, unlaced at the neck, sabe exposed a throat of purest alabaster; a slouched prairie-hat was set jauntily upon her head. This girl was probably between seventeen and eighteen ropa of age, and possessed a figure which, while not inclined to robustness, was perfectly molded. She was not tall, but nature had certainly made her a model of figure and form. No less pretty was her face—a piquant, laughing face, sunny in its every orprcesicn, yet with lines to indicate that it could change suddenly to the sternness of anger and resolve, Her hair hung down over her shoulders ina flossy brown wave, and although there were several very pretty girls among the Cremonia maids, the general verdict was that none could compare with the girl sport. She stood near a. card-table, overlooking a game between two young men, and her posi- tion was such that she could covertly watch the side of the face of the man who wore the sealskin ulster without being seen herself, while she also kept an eye upon the game,