Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 489 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

. Se ——- — ———_- -- ——— | clid so for pleasure, was always lucky, and used | his money as ireely as water. He never sought a quarrel; butit was a rash person who forced one upon him, His advent in Bed-Rock, driving the moun- tain stage, with the dead driver lying in the bout, naturally created quite an excitement, ite hac escaped the inquisitive crowd, and taken refuge yn the Pleasure Parlors, But there were those who knew him there. Vifteen minutes after the fight between the stranger and Roarin’ Bob, there was not a man in the dance room who had not listened to an account of the balking of the road-agents. The man Velvet Vane was fated to become notori- ous, Anadmiring crowd of miners gathered around him wherever he went. finally, he deserted the dance room and made his way into the gambling apartment. rlere he spent half-an-hour at faro. He seem- ed dissatisfied and disinterested in the game, He stopped somewhere near a hundred ahead, cashed his checks and wandered away to an unoccupied deal table, where he seated himself, to idly watch the people as they came and went. <A few bore the flush of eager expectancy or triumph, more were wild-eyed with recklessness and despair. -An airily 5 ppl female occasionally flitted through the room, adding color to the scene. Perhaps the Sport had been seated ten minutes, when a person came along and sat down at the opposite side of the table. The new-comer at once attracted his attention. He seemed to be a mere boy, clad ina suit of brown woolen stuff, with not a weapon visible about him. His wide-brimmed hat was pulled low down over his face, but from beneath it there shone a pair of flashing eyes. The mouth was firm set, and surrounded by deep-cut lines, In fact it appeared as though his lips were tightly compressed over his bhard-set teeth. His face was well-tanned by exposure to all kinds of werther. Vane at once noticed that the youth was re- garding him intently. He nodded in a familiar way, which the new-comer answered in like man- ner. There was a few minutes’ silence, then the youth said: ‘¢T know you.” The Sport smiled. ‘Very likely,” he replied. ‘‘Reckon I’m pretty extensively known west of the Missis- sippi. 4 he boy made an impatient gesture. ‘To-day, you are called Velvet Vane, as I hear say, but once you were known as Reckless Robin.’ For a mo; ient it seemed as though the dandy was a bit surprised, if not confused; but the face that he turned toward the youth seemed as cool and unruffled as a summer sky, ‘Reckless Robin, eh?’ he murmured. “Stranger, you are ahead of me. I have sailed under a good many titles, but I don’t remem- ber the one just named.” The boy laughed scornfully, Although it had a hard ring, there was music in the laugh. “Bah! Don’t try that on me. [ tell you I know you. You can’t deceive me, and an at- tempt will be an effort wasted. Don’t lie, part- ner!” Quick as a flash, a revolver leaped from the Sport’s pocket, and was thrust fairly against the youth’s forehead, An angry fire blazed in the dark eyes, and his voice, although low, was threatening: ‘‘Chain up, there! Don’t carry this thing too far or there’ll be blood shed! Hold your tongue, or you may have the pleasure of attending your own funeral. Do you hear?” The boy displayed wonderfulnerve, Although the revolver was pressed against his forehead and a finger touched the trigger, he never flinched. Instead, he gazed calmly at Vane and ‘coolly replied: ‘‘ Hear?—certainly. You needn’t raise your voice a bit on my account,” The dandy smiled gry. as he drew the wea- pon back a little, still keeping the lad covered. espite his anger, he admired the koy’s nerve. ‘‘ You’re a cool one, my young pilgrim, few men can boast that they ever called Velvet Vane a liar to his face and lived. Certainly your judgment is podr; but you will grow wiser as you grow older,” ‘*** Live and learn,’ is my motto, partner. No offense was intended, and [ beg pardon, [hate to contradict any man, but circumstances forced me to be thus uncivil to you. Iam not talking atrandom. When I say that I know you, I mean just what I say, and nothing less. That The Diamond Sport. The Sport laughed indifferently as he replaced the weapon he had drawn. ‘* | shall not dispute you. grace to canercl with a boy. the troub It would be a dis- [I shall not take e to correct you, either, however wiid you may shoot, Drive ahead. Who was this Reckless Robin?” ‘* He did not follow the profession of an honest miner, by any means, but he was a white man, for all that,” replied the lad. ‘* If fortune threw him among villainous companions, he nobly re- deemed himself.” Vane had relaxed into an idle, wearied atti- tude. He seemed to take little interest in the affair, but noticing that the boy had ceased speaking, he said: ‘* Perhaps it would be well enough to intro- duce ourselves. Iam Velvet Vane, sometimes called the Diamond Sport.” ‘And I am Ned Cole, outlaw-hunter and avenger,” returned the boy. A twinkle of merriment came into Vane’s eyes, a smile wreathed his face, and finally he broke,into a broadlaugh, Thelad’s face flushed with anger. ‘* You may laugh,” he cried, ‘‘ but I speak the truth. I have registered a solemn vow before High Heaven to never rest till I see the man who has so bitterly wronged me lying dead at my feet.” ‘* Hope you'll succeed,” said the other, ‘* pro- viding, of coarse, that J am not the man you are after. That would be unpleasant—for me, ‘‘T shall succeed!—I will succeed!” the boy cried, ‘‘ A just God will not permit sucha wretch to escape punishment. I will track him down if it takes a lifetime to do it.” ‘* But who is the unfortunate gentleman?” ‘¢ Dashing Dave, the outlaw.” Instantly the Sport straightenéd up, a serious look on h's face! Something in the name had touched the right spot: to interest him, ‘*Dashing Dave! You have sworn to hunt down that notorious villain? Iam sorry, but I am afraid you have tackleda heavy job. He has a bad reputation—is said to be one of the most unscrupulous cut-throats in the wild West, You never can succeed without assistance.” ‘* But [I am going to have assistance. will aid me!” You should wish to kill me. I am all adrift.” The boy leaned toward the Sport, and spoke rapidly, but in a low tone: “ Hnough of this! Itis time wasted. I told ‘*Taid you?” ‘* Exactly! As long as Dashing Dave lives you are in danger. pon and will kill you if he lives long enough. ou must strike for your life, or he will throw you cold.” ‘* There is logic in your words,” laughed the Sport. ‘* But, please tell me why Dashing Dave you that I knew you, and I meant what I said. hy should Dashing Dave wish to kill you? For the simple reason that Reckless Robin, his lieutenant, went back on him—betrayed him. Do you understand now? It’s die Dave or die Robin! You probably have no great desire to shuffle off this mortal coil, therefore it is for your interest to lay over Dashing Dave if you can, And Sk really think that I am this wild, un- tamed Robin, ex-robber lieutenant?” questioned the Sport, in a bantering, half-mocking way. **Think—no !” cried the boy, hotly. ‘I don’t think anything about it. I know you are Reck- ess Robin. I know that Dashing Dave waylaid the stage to-day expressly to settle your hash, and, but for your prompt action, he would have succeeded, have got the entire lay of the land.” ‘‘ And who are you, that pretends to know so much? Where did you drop onto all this infor- mation?” “Tam simply Ned Cole, As for the informa- tion, the stars tell secrets sometimes,” It was the boy’s turn to laugh now, ‘‘My tenderfoot friend,” the man in velvet said, slowly, ‘‘ you are’wayoff. You have been shooting at random, and haven’t made a single bull’s-eye. Iam simply Velvet Vane, and noth- ing more. This robber lieutenant business is a el little story, but it don’t fit. Certainly, if ashing Dave has any feelings against me, all he needs do is simply to call on me. He will find me at home and the latch-string hanging out, law down. Business will not allow.” ‘« And so you refuse to aid me?” cried the boy, angrily, “Sorry, but I shall be forced to, Would like He has a grudge against But, as for you, I can’t seem to find it in | my line to join hands with you to hunt this out- | ee me ee eer ee ee _—_—-— = ee ee eee + ‘*T am going to tell you one thing more,” the boy said. ‘ There are agents of Dashing Dave in Bed-Rock; ay, in this very saloon, who are sent here to kill you. You may be forced to join me yet. You had better have a care how you go, or they will get in their work on you,” ri Not inafair way. Velvet Vane is general- ly pretty wide awalke,” ‘* But they will not attempt to meet you fair- ly. Their game will be to take you unawares, and freeze you out. You must be on the alert every minute. You are a marked man!” The Diamond Sport had been eagerly scan- ning what could be seen of the boy’s face be- neath the lop-brimmed hat, Suddenly he gave a start, and leaned quickly forward, exclaim- ing’: ‘Ha! I knaw you !” The boy turned pale. ‘‘T have penetrated your disguise—I know your secret,” the Sport a olared: in a low voice, With a sharp cry, the boy snatched out a re- volver and fired, almost in the very face of the unguarded Sport! CHAPTER ITI, A NICE DIAL-PERHAPS, IN an upper room of one of Bed-Rock’s two hotels, two men sat, conversing in low tones. On the table between them burned a lamp, which, however, gave but a dim light, One of these men was short and heavy, with a luxuriant growth of crisp, brown beard. He was flashily dressed, from the black beaver hat upon his head, to the shining boots mpan his feet. His hands were white and shapely, with certain smooth, snaky movements of the long fingers. Strange hands they were for a man of such solid build. They did not seem to cor- respond at all with the rest of the man, but, in- deed, seemed built more to handle the ‘* Devil’s Bible” than anything else, Next to his hands the eyes were the man’s most noticeable fea- tures. They were sharp and piercing, seeming ‘apable of reading one’s very thoughts, ‘he other man was of a more slender build, His features were good, some would say hand- some, but the long, black, pointed mustache and imperial lent an evil look to his whole face. He was dressed in a plain, dark suit. Both men were smoking. ‘* Heath,” the slim man was saying, ‘‘ there’s a heap of money init. It can Le worked like a charm, The girl is the most perfect counter- part of the heiress that can be conceived. At first she deceived me. I could hardly believe that she was not, indeed, Annie Dalton, or rather Annie Maines, the heiress. You well know that it took a good deal to convince me that I was mistaken. I am satisfied now that the real heiress must surely be dead,” “But it’s risky,” replied Heath. ‘** What if the real heiress should turn up after we have won the game?” ‘Then it willbe run. You are used to taking risks, Heath. The prize is well worth the win- ning. Two hundred thousand dollars don’t grow on every bush. A bold strike, well plan- ned, secures the pot. You can’t afford to lose this chance. Here is a fortune within our very grasp. All we need to do is close our fingers on it, and it’s ours,” ‘Tt is a tempting show, Giles,” said Heath, slowly, his eyes shining greedily. ‘* As pan say, two hundred thousand dollars in solid cash don’t blossom on. every bush. I have taken chances in my life, anc if the coast appears clear, am ready to take a hand in this game,” ‘‘ Correct!” cried Giles, triumphantly. ‘ The cash is as good as in your pocket, Yoh sure Isabella can play her part like a charm. lhave every confidence in her,” cs Oh, yes! You'll find her about as sharp as they make them nowadays. She owes me @ debt of gratitude that she will do anything to pay. Just give me the points of this affair, so that I may know about how the land lays.” ‘‘Tt’s a short and simple story,” Giles said, preparing to narrate. ‘‘ It can be told in a few words. Have another cigar, Heath. Fire up, Now for the romance: ‘Jason Dalton was a wealthy Eastern mer- chant. His wife died shortly after the birth of their only child, a girl, This baby-girl grew up to be a handsome and fascinating young lady. Scores of young men of the best stock in the city fell victims to her witching eyes, and paid her persistent court. There is a saying that ‘love will go where it is sent,’ and it may be that this was the way with Annie Dalton’s af- fections, Anyway, sbe passed all her wealthy suitors by, and fell desperately in love with @ * were once known as Reckless Robin, I ow,” to accommodate, but it is impossible,” poor book-keeper. — ~ : ' Ay : aa ; “ tify > pig & * - *. - n . The Ya) he i | . . \ “# P ‘4 Joa 4 , ; “e