Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 486 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

- get . me ae 4s ¢ * ed ' ———— ‘ing iron-gray side-whiskers, and brilliant black eyes. . His son, Leroy, was a’young man of two-and- twenty, and although something of his father’s general appearance, was of a lively disposition, and by no means unattractive, with his clear-cut face, keen blue eyes and light hair and mus- ‘tache. Father and son, in business relations, always worked together harmoniously, and no one * would suspect that everything did not go right x with the Clarksons—for Bertie Clarkson, the iby Miss Selden. -snowy poodle dog on the hearth, ‘‘ You'll ’ t+?) o ‘ venture at the { a ye actooally make yer uncle sick tew his om negro girl marched into the room. She was canal. heavy-weight,” evidently. | tg fo ot, with her rolling orbs of black and =e : “>. | eighteen-year-old sunbeam of the family, was pretty, light-hearted and merry, with never a care upon her girlish mind. With the Seldens, it was not altogether the same as with the Clarksons. Eben was a close-fisted, avaricious, grasping sort of man, in one sense; in another, when the act would multiply the dollars and cents in his pocket, he was helpful and generous—a mer- iit liberality that is ever and always des- picable. He was a little *‘ sawed-off individual”—as the saying is—‘‘ about as long one way, as the other "—with round, fiery-red cheeks, keen, cold, discriminating gray eyes, and a bulging, well- wrinkled forehead. Sardon Selden was a graduate of Harvard— and was the ‘‘dude” of Hunki-Dori, Nothing ‘that money could supply had been spared in his education, and when he returned from college, looking as if he had “‘ stepped out of a band-box,” “5 was set down as the feasted man of Hunki- ori, It did not take the rugged miners of the camp long, however, to ‘“‘inventory” him. He was lazy, affected, overbearing and at times so silly as to be voted a first-class fool, by a large ma- jority of the people. Savoy Selden, was much like her brother, but with a little more genuine refinement, and com- mon sense, and a little lessaffectation. She was passably pretty, proud, arrogant, and at times peevish—such a woman as no honest man, with any self-respect could endure for an hour, much less a life-time, On the evening of Sealskin Sam’s singular ad- remonia, Miss Selden sat in an easy-chair, in the cosily furnished parlor of her father’s residence, reading from a volume of oems. She was richly attired, and could hard- y have appeared to better advantage. Jewels glittered upon her fair hands and at her throat, and she wore a pair of diamond earrings that would have been the envv of a princess. Outside, the shrill winds of the blustering No- vember night made weird music, but did not concern the reader, for she kept closely to her book, until a footstep near at Nand: caused her ‘to raise her eyes. She started to her feet with a cry of alarm, as ‘she beheld a man standing but a few paces away regarding her with sinister admiration. his man was pone other than the redoubtable Bollivar Bullwhack, and a broad grin swept over his face at sight of the terror manifested be skeert, m2 purty goslin’; I ain’t goin’ ter hurt ye, yer know. I jest dropped in ter see how Eben, ther old rascal, aire gittin’ erlong. I heer he’s struck it rich sence he came heer, an’ I'll swan it’s no more’n fair he should zive his duterful brother a lift—what der you x Sir! .I do not understand you. You are an intruder here. Begone, or I will call my ser- vant!” Miss Selden cried, imperiously. ‘Youwll do what?” Bullwhack grinned, aim- ing a squirt of tobacco-juice at a Seal ca yer servant, did ye say?” “Yes, I'll call my servant, and have you ejected from the house!” “Waal, I'll be chawed up an’ spit out; ye ‘wouldn't, would ye, now?” and the giant burst intoan uproarious guffaw. ‘‘ Why, d’ye kno’, yeou do?” cried Miss Selden, sharply, at the e aphragm, ‘Susan! ; same time touching a silver bell, upon table. Sipe ‘¢- Yas, ma’am!” came the answer, and a bux- «+ Dse heah, . maam. at’s de matter, ma’am?” she cried, eying Bullwhack from head te. ‘Why, yer see—” Bullwhack began. ‘* Silence!” cried Miss Selden. ‘‘ Susan, this ‘monster is an intruder here, Put him outof the “house at once!” | fies “Yas, put him j a | right out, kerslap!” assented by mY agente te Se Sr ig a WPMD tach Tat PF Be! Mite EA. ig ART . 1; * # Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. a om the giant with a delighted grin. ‘‘l’m jest as Savoy stood gazing after them with dilated. gentile an’ docile as er spring lamb, an’ | mind | eyes, her cheeks colorless, her lower lip com- ; like a muel, when I’m spoken to!” pressed between her pearly teeth. : iy ‘*Cum, youh jes’ done buckle up an’ git out | A moment she stood thus, a frightened ex-~- | ob dis!” Suse ordered, advancing. ‘* None ob | pression upon her face; then— , “4 youh back-talk, but yo’ jes’ march!” | ** At last—at last!” she murmured, and sink- a ‘*Nary a march, Susy!” Bullwhack replied, | ing upon the luxurious sofa, near which she had = blandly. ‘*Ef yer wanter know et, you blub- | been standing, she buried her face in her hands i ber-lipped black-an’-tan, I’m ther great an’ | and wept as if her heart would break, 2 gelorious Bollivar Bullwhack—a howhn’ six- : iprned hornet—a lively old flea pe Flipville, ‘4 an’ thar’ll be frost on ther whiskers of the moon ere I budge one squar’ inch!” and the ruf- CHAPTER V. * fian drew and cocked a pair of large-caliber re- CABOOSING THE SPARKLER, } volvers, | A GLITTER entered the eyes of Sealskin Sam my ‘* Help—heip!” screamed Miss Savoy, frantic- | as he saw the deadly tubes leveled at him, and : ally. an expression of defiance swept over his face. ‘* Hello! what is all this rumpus about?’ and He did not throw up his hands, but stood lean- Mr. Eben Selden waddled into the room. | ing carelessly with one hand upon a chair-back, ‘* Well, well, I declare! This is a pretty state | and the other resting against bis hip. of affairs!” | His gaze met that of the last speaker, unflinch- ‘** Lor’, boss, ’tain’t no state—et’s a hull wil- | ingly. lage, fo’ suah!” Suse ejaculated. ‘In what respect has my guilt been proyen?” ‘Yas, an’ er hatful o’ mountings an’ volca- | he calmly demanded. ners throw’d in,” added Bullwhack, with a ** Oh, that won’t work!” the spokesman of the J chuckle. ‘‘ My beloved brother Eben, haow | party said. “You can’t play none of your . d’ye do?” innocence off on us, I want yer ter understand ut The capitalist stared aghast. | that ’'m Lion Lije, the Vigilant Chief o’ this ‘ Sir-r-r! Ido not understand you! What do | hyer burg, an’ ’m _ bizness from the wo d ‘go.’ you mean by intruding upon my daughter’s pri- | Thet aire corpus war goin’ ter whoop out who | vacy? Explain yourself at once!” war the capting o’ the Tribunal of Ten. only ‘*Thet’s suthin’ I ken’t do. I never hed my | his breath war shet off, an’ bein’s be couldn't let - intervidual masheeury apart, so as ter be able | us kno’ no other way, his spirit helped him ter te ter explain all ther tecknercal points, Brother | p’int you out!” ; Eben, haow d’ye do?” ‘* This is all utter nonsense, sir. This night is ‘“Man, are you mad? I am no brother of | the first I have ever spent in this onraRs or any- yours!” where near it!” Sealskin sam Seep , quietly, . “Ye ain't? Now, that’s funny. I thort ye | ‘‘I have no knowledge of this Tribunal of Ten, was, chaw me up an’ spit me out, ef I didn’t! | of which the unfortunate young man made 3 You’re Ebenezr Selden, ain’t ye?” mention. I had never met him defore, nor had v “tam,” he me, and I repeat that I know nothing what- | ‘‘Waal, 'm yer genuine prodigal brother, | ever of the alleged party he mentioned as the if Jerrymiaher, more latterly named by Congress, | Tribunal of Ten!” , : Bollivar Bullwhack, the beautiful bouncer, ‘‘ Mighty cute denial, my man, but it won’t from Bungtown—an’ don’t ver fergit it! So ef | work,” the Vigilante replied, “We ain't got : e hev got ary a fattened calf, kill it instanter. | much law hyer in Hunki-Dori, but yer kin bet . f ve hain’t got a calf, kill thet durned blubber- | we allus attend ter sech cases as this, Ef ye ax lipped nigger wench!” all o’ them w’ot’s present, I opine you'll git a a **Oh, jes’ you wait!” Suse cried. ‘“‘If dis | verdict straight from ther shoulder. Eh, boys? te chile don’ get eben wid you, dar’ll be somethin’ | Ther evidence aire too conclusive fer dispute, " funny !” ain’t it?” ‘There is a mistake here!” Eben Selden ‘* Of course!” cried, angrily. ‘‘ You are not my brother, sir! ** Sart’in!” | I never had a brother. You are a coarse, ruf- ‘* Every time!” ye fianly impostor, anc I command you to leave ‘* Dead sure thing!’ were the characteristic | my house!” replies in a chorus. - ‘*Not ef ther legislatur’ knows herself, Eben, ‘You see,” Lion Lije continued, triumphant- , dear. Thar’s no kinder use o’ your trying ter | ly, ‘it’s a clear case ag’in‘ you. Sorry ter hey | I shake me, fer I’m all hyer, tooth an’ toe-nail, an’ | ter arrest ye, but it are my duty.” I don’t shake worth a cent. I did get ruther ‘“You haven’t arrested me yet!” and a deter- so) shook up a while ago, when a nasty sort o' | mined expression came over the Sparkler’s \ galoot_ swi me one in the gob, but thet ain’t | handsome face. ‘‘f came to this camp with , nothin’. am right heer, Eben— yer own | the intention of minding my own affairs, but confiding brother, an’ I am heer ter linger, you ; an unfortunate circumstance has thrown me | bet!” | | into an unenviable situation, However, I do S ‘‘Father, who is this terrible wretch?’ Miss | not see that it is necessary we should have any ; Selden cried, anxiously, ‘‘ Why do you stoop to | trouble about the matter. I am amply able to of have any conversation with him at all? Have! prove that I came directly to this camp from some one come and put him out.” Alaska, where I have been with a prospecting ‘*VYas, do!” the giant chuckled. ‘‘ Fetch in | party for the season—which cortainiy shows about seventy galoots as hey got weary ©’ tray- | that L am in no way connected with any band elin’ through this vale of tears, an’ hey each one | of desperadoes that may infest your neighbor- fetch his own coffin measure with him. That’s | hood,” ’ ther idea!” Lion Lije shook his head ay Stoasly. : Then turning to the mine-owner, Bullwhack **T don’t keer a cuss ef ye war in Yurrop ther ve went on: hull year. It has been proven that you’re our f ‘Brother, dear, perhaps yer darter never | mutton, and we’re goin’ to take you. So sur- . t heard a certain little story o’ ther past, that—” | render like a man, or you'll git yer medicine ' “Stop!” Selden cried, with startling savage- | right whar yestand!” 1 ness. ‘* Enough of this. I know you now, ‘Lije Landers, this ain’t a fair shake!” and i. Savoy, this is your uncle, and you will please | Placer Poll stepped forward. ‘ The stranger y treat him with all due respect hereafter.” says he can prove he has been in Alaska for er Bullwhack turned to the astonished girl with | months past; that Opn to be enough to satisfy . mw) a mocking bow. any one, I’m sure. Ye all know it’s been less | ‘Yas, sissy, ’m yer unkle, an’ any time ye | than a year since ye first heard of he te ' wanter kiss me ye hev ther undisputed prive- ‘You go to thunder!” was the Vigilante’s of lege of doin’ it—it’s all in ther family, yer | savage answer. ‘Yer’ allus stickin’ yer lip in, Pt . know. If ye ever make any mistake betwixt | whar it ain’t wanted, Placer Poll. One 0’ , us, an’ can’t ‘tell ther which frum which, jest | days you'll get run out 0’ camp?” a count ther warts on our noses—Ebenezer’s an’| ‘* Will I?” the girl flashed back, ‘* It will be ts mine.” after your term, you ruffian, : kin, eat Eben Selden stood impatiently waiting for | you stand game, Ef you want backin’, ’m a the giant to retire, a venomous glitter in his | with you, you bet! And the pards of Hunki- van eyes. ' Dori know whether Placer Poll can shoot or a ‘‘Come—come!” he cried, with a scowl at, not!” ad Bullwhack’s speech. ‘I want to see you in my ‘**Thanks! I presume mare will not be a Sate private room.” . need of bloodshed!” Sam remarked, quietly. A al ‘‘AN right, Eby! Lead ther way, and I’m! “‘If there is, the disadvantage will be on the with ye. I s’pose you’ve gotsuthin’ good in ther | side of the assailants. I don’t often indulge i . beck way 0’ moisture, up thar?” a gory racket, but wh en Ido I always make it ‘ey “Certainly! Come!” a point to come out AL.” uate, aie ‘The giant skipped forward with surprising ‘Bully for you! We'll hev a ce on that . “ad a ility, locked arms with the miner, andthe two | arter the funeral is over, Noy then, rer, Leen left the parlor togethez. | you want to distinguish yourself, yer chance ig = \ i ‘ ‘ ; ~*~ ‘ igri 4 sere nn i i yeslay> Pas TS Coes AY ry yoke ; we vy ag, Pte ty ge - ‘i Meee Fast Tae . +3 a Y 1G + ates a Sin esTea ay ty a ‘es 3 al