Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 486 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

7 —< Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. a + ee ee wa ee er er ee | OOOO eee agely. sive.” ‘On! it’s nothing more than the fact that I saw an exchange of admiring glances between ee Ce ‘* De debbil. He’s stan’in’ yander, down de gulch!” ‘*Got oud! You vos tryin’ to foolish me!” ‘* No—hope dis nigger nebber go ober Jordan, The only furniture of the apartment was a ‘Your knowledge must be very exclu- | long, rough table and a dozen or more rudely constructed, stools. | Stout hardwood doors opened from several rts of this room, but into what was not visi- le. Eleven men sat about the table, engaged in | drinking or smoking, as the case might be. Each was dressed alike, in coarse black suits, | and all had precisely the same appearance, be- | ing the owners of immense black beards that so covered their faces as to completely disguise them. The beards were evidently false. Each man was armed, and each one wore a slouched sombrero, pinned up at the left side. Finally one of the men, glancing at bis watch, spoke up, addressing his companions: ‘‘ Well, fellows,if there’s any business to be transacted to-night, let’s get at it, as the hour of dawn is not far off. I suppose the main thing to be done is to consider the case of our deceas- ed member, Billy Ashcroft. Letter B, I believe to you belongs the credit of having prevented the informer from uttering my name,” ‘*T had the honor of shutting off his wind, captain!” was the grim response. ‘I felt sure he war goin’ to squeal, an’ made up my mind I’d settle his hash, if it cost me my life the next minute, I shot through an open window from the outside, an’ no one war quick enough to de- tect from whence came the bullet!” ‘‘ Letter H, you can draw up a resolution, thanking Letter B for his admirable act, in be- half of this tribunal,” the captain said, address- ing one of the outlaws, who had pen, ink and paper before him. ‘*' Now, fellows, the next thing on the books is to consider the probability of young Ashcroft’s having taken the precau- tion to betray us prior to his attempted suicide, It appears to have been his intention to depart for home at once, only for his loss at the gaming- table. Might he not have given us up to some one in the camp for a consideration, with the understanding that no move was to be made against us until he was safe out of the reach of our vengeance?” ‘‘Hardly probable,” Letter B said. ‘‘If he had done this, would he have attempted to give us away, as he did, at the Cremonia?” ‘Perhaps approaching death made his con- science smite him,” Captain A chuckled, strok- ing his false beard. ‘‘I have always regarded him as being none too reliable.” ‘*T don"t believe he would have squealed had he not lost at cards and despaired. More likely he would have been sure to put himself at a safe distance, had he won before betraying us, had it been his intention of doing so.” ‘‘ Well, we hope he didn’t dous any more harm than is at present known,” the captain said, ‘‘ Now let me see—what else of import- ance is there to do?” ; “T reckon there’s a lot,” Letter C said, omi- nously. ‘ Ain’t nothin’ ter be done about that . feller, Sealskin Sam?” ** Ah! yes. { hardly know what to say about his case.’ ‘‘T doubt if his presence in Hunki-Dori will prove favorable to our interests,” Letter B said. * Ah! then you regard him with suspicion?” “Tl do, most assuredly. He’s a sport, out and out, and I should judge him to bea bad enemy to have. I’ve known these dashing, devil-may- care sports to turn out to be very shrewd and successful man-hunters.” “That may all be, but you know of the fate of the detectives who have attempted to nose us out,” ‘‘T am not forgetful. They, however, were mere boys aS compared with this Sealskin Sam, 1 tell you, captain, he is a dangerous chap to be let loose around Hunki-Dori.” ‘‘Mabe so,” the captain said, meditatively. ‘¢ He struck me, though, as being too fine a spe- cimen of manhood to become a victim of the lynch law.” ‘* We've too much at stake to risk being nosed out by such a sleuth-hound!” cried B, MVS kin bet we hev!” chimed in C, ‘But we might be able to add him to our number,” mterrupted the captain, who, it was evident, was anxious to give the Sparkler a show for his life, “We don’t want him here!” Letter H declar- ed vehemently, ‘‘]’]] drop bim myself before anything of that kind shall occur.” he captain looked at the speaker, with a pe- culiar laugh. ‘“‘Valiantly spoken, Letter H!” he said, a twinkle in his eye, ‘‘ Perhaps | can _ suspect why you tlo not favor such an addition; and also why Letter B is so anxious to have the seal- skin sport put out of the way.” 66 What? Letter B demanded, rather sav- i | rr Sealskin Sam and Placer Poll, and I presume you saw the same.” The angry glare in Letter B’s eyes did not | grow less at the captain’s words. ‘* Maybe I did,” he replied. as it’s any one’s business if I did. 1am dead in for a vote to see whether the fine-furred spy dies or not,” ‘* Tt’s fair.” Letter C assented. ‘* You can bet he’s safer dead than livin’, so fur as our personal | ’ interests air concerned,” Just then a door opened, and a grotesque- | looking Chinaman looked into the room. ‘** What’s wanted, Chinny?” the captain of the Tribunal of Ten demanded, while all eyes were | leveled at the son of Confucius, inquiringly, ‘*’Melica lieutenee, second dlivision, wantee see captla’n,” the answer came, in a comical | yolce, ‘Ah! I wonder what can be the matter?” the captain exclaimed anxiously. ‘* Show him in, Chin-Chin.” The Chinaman shuffled from the room. ently there was a heavy footstep, and a man entered the presence of the Tribunal of Ten. The reader will recognize him as Lieutenant Larry Lee, of the U. S. Army. CHAPTER VII. ‘‘A NIGGER, AND A DEVI,” ‘“SHmmMiIny dunder! vot is der matter, mit | you?” ** Jes’ yo’ squat, quicker’n de roll ob Jordan!” | was the low answer, and the second speaker, a lithe young negro, of jetty color, yanked his more ponderous German companion, down be- hind a pile of rocks with a suddenness that near- ly took the latter’s breath away. ‘’Sh! jes’ yo’ done keep dat cheese-hopper of yours close or dar’ll be blood on de face of de moon!” ‘¢T haff a notion to smack you mit der mouth oud!” the Teuton growled. ‘* You vas put von stitch int mine back.” ‘Golly! if yo’ done had sebbril in yo’ mouf we'd git “long heap sight better. We come widin de razzor edge of gittin’ ourselves into heap lot ob trouble. But fo’ dis nigger’s long fo’sightness we’d be in a debbil ob a scrape now.” ‘* Vot you mean?” the other growled. ‘' You pe alvays borrowin’ some droubles, mit your- | self. Vot ish de matter?” “Jakey Schwackhammer, we’se done lost, isn’t we?” **T sospectds ash vot we am,” Jakey replied, dubiously. “I neffer vas in such a schrape, before.” ‘* Nor dis chile, neither, sure’s his apperlation am Nicodemus Slambang. But, we’se lost, an’ dar ain’t no sorter use fo’ to itch our backs ’g’in’ a rock, an’ say ’tain’t so. We’se two lost babes, in de woods.” They were, at any rate, two very lively- looking ‘‘ babes.” The Dutchman was a short, but ponderous fellow, of over thirty-five years, with a red, apoplectic face of Germany’s genuine type, reddish hair, and a big stomach. He was armed with rifle and revolvers, Nicodemus was a lithe ‘‘coon,” more than ten years Jakey’s junior, and being fairly well dressed, was by no means a bad-looking speci- men of the colored race, his features and eyes | being rather attractive. He, too, was well-armed. The strangely contrasted pair had been wan- dering along through a rugged mountain-gulch, until Nick had suddenly jerked Jakey down be- hind a sheltering pile of rocks, as before related. The two had lost their bearing hours before, and also had become separated from a com- panicn, and had no definite idea in what course they were going, although their objective point was nv mining-town of Hunki-Dori. The} prospect of night coming on and being lost in the mountains was in ho wise consoling, and they had been debating upon the situation | up to the point whereat we introduce them. ‘‘ Yas, we’se two bahes in de woods!” Nico- demus continued. ‘* We’se los’ de boss, an’ we'se los’ de dog, an’ we’se done gone los’ ou’- selves, in de bargain. But dat ain’t de wus’ part ob it—we am goners!” -“Exblain vot you mean! You make me sick!” Jakey growled in disgust. ‘* Well, I’be seen de debbil!” ** Der vot?” 4 Pres- | | Gabr’el toots de horn!” he gritted, | dar’s stock DUTCHMAN, AND THE ' bore a hoel froo yo’ as big as a goose-egg. —— got | ‘ef I is!” ‘** Vot does ter tuyfel look like?’ Jakey in- credulously demanded, seeing that Nick was, | apparently. in dead earnest. *T don’t know | ** Jes’ take a peep ober de rock, am’ take care he don’ see yo!” Nick advised, in a solemn tone, ‘*T done expected dat somefin would bappen like dis, De boss he habs«gone up de spout, an’ de debbil hab come fo’ us!” Jakey hesitated a moment, having become perceptibly alarmed. He made several feints to peep over the rock, but dodged back, protest- ing: ‘I don’d vas see noddin’! You vasa shack- ass vot got skeered at your shadow!” ‘* Yo’ anudder!” Nick declared, indignantly. ‘You didn’t look ober dat rock at all. Yo’re de biggest coward I ebber see!” “IT vasno coward! I mind der smack you mit de nose!” Jakey cried, and raising his head he took a hasty glance over the rock, but only | to instantly drop back, with pallid face. ‘** Gott in himmel! id vascoomin’!” he groaned, covering his face with his hand. ‘' Id vas coom- in’, Oh, blitzen, ye shall pe kilt deader’s dot smoked herring in mine bocket,” Nicodemus seized his rifle, with sudden deter- till ole “*I teli yer in de Slambang fambly!” And, cocking the weapon, he sprung to his feet, In the next instant he had covered the object of their terror, and his voice rung out clear and distinct, ‘*Hol’ up, dar, drat yo’ ugly picter, or Pll » / mination. “Dis yar nigger nebber gib up, To his‘infinite relief, the opject in question came promptly to a halt but a few yards away. {[t was a strange-looking being, but whether man or devil, Nicodemus was not prepared to tell, [It wasaman of rather squat figure, with a head seemimegly of enormous proportions, the face being double the size of that of ordinary human beings. There wes a bread, flat nose, a tremendous mouth, and an eye at either side of the nose—or rather en eye-hole, for, as the _ reader must have guessed, the head was a mask of papier mache, and was a marvel of the maskmaker’s art, Weapons he appeared guiltless of wearing— at least in the belt that girdled his waist. He came to an instant halt at sight of bel- ligerent Nicodemus, and threw up bis hands as a warning to the darky not to fire. ** Jes’ you hol up an’ stay dar where yo’ are!” Nick cautioned a second time. ‘‘We doesn’t desire to make yo’re acquaintance at all, sah!” ‘You yust pet your life on dot!” echoed Jakey, venturing to poke his head above the top of the rock, ‘‘ Bedder you keep avay mit us, or we blay der tuyfel mit your pains. Me und mine frient Nicodemus ve vas bad men, so keep avay mit us!” ‘* Yas, you’se a bad man, fo’ shore!” Nico- demus growled, “If it done haben’t been fo’ dis nigger whar would yo’ be now?” This quieted Jakey and gave the apparition a chance to speak, “T say, what’s the matter with you two fools?” the mask demanded. ‘‘I hope you are not scared |” ** Yo’ bet we is, fo’ suah!” Nick replied. ‘* Yo’ jest keep yo’r distance, or I hope Tse flat- futted if I don’ bang away at yo’, fo’ suah!” ‘Oh, go along with your gun! I’m on the square, every day in a week, aud my name aire Thede, the Gnome 0’ the West. So come hyer an’ give us yer flipper!” “Ro, sah! no flip!” Nick announced. ‘' Don’ git dis chile wid de debbil, no. sah! We'se go- in’ to Hunki-Dori, an’ not to dat other place wot begins with H—oh ! no!” “Why, you young imp o’ darkness. J’m no devil! [Uma reg’lar saint on wheels. And, as it happens, rlunki-Dori is my destination, too!” ‘* Den dot settles it!” shouted Jakey, shaking his fist at the odd stranger, ‘ Ve vas go mit a blace called Brimstone—ain’d it, Nick?” ‘No! no! you mean Tombstone!” corrected Nick, with becoming dignity. “You don’t know where you are going, I dare say!” the stranger returned, ‘I’m going to Hunki arter my little gal rests, an’ ef ye don’t want ter join us, ye needn't,” ‘“Yer little gal?’ queried Nick. ‘My little gal Ruth. She's restin’? down the gulch.” *¢ Does she look like yo?” * Well, I should smile, not! JNA She’s as purty he" 4 aH : 3 Sag Pan A PT ae sg a ’ ; | is Oe egaRD te” Perm ee aa ee cE “—- EComicboo - —s awry " . se . / - — mg pare ats "i eo z ~ ’ - —_— Bef = . . 8 / ’ : 4 e ani Pend ,