Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 489 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

: : a hic! —<$<— $$ ‘‘ Hey?” cried the red-headed man, ‘‘Then— arson—hic!—hey er swig?’ ‘‘N—no,” decided the parson, hesitatingly, *‘T don’t believe I will. I certainly do not rest very well nights, but I do not think | will tcuch Satan’s drink to help even that. {ventured into this den of sin to see if I could not snatch some perishing soul from destruction.” ‘* Parson,” said the red-headed man, slowly, ‘+ just take er swaller—hic!—an’ I will listen ter what you hev ter say. Don’t be afraid, parson, ther—hic!—Sport are treatin’.” ‘- If you will consent to listen to what I have to say, I will for a moment stoop to taste the vile liquid.” ‘‘Korrect, ole gospel! Jist h’ist on er glass, then fire ahead. Ill be all attention.’ The parson accepted the glass, and, with an assumed look of scorn and repugnance, drained it. The liquor had a strange effect upon him. His long face seemed to grow less long; it even broadened out into a smile. ** Struck ther—hic!—right spot, by Jupiter!” cried the red-head. ‘‘I knowed it would. Say, rson—hic!—hey ’nuther snifter? Don’t be ashful. Jist h’ist on ’nuther snifter, an’ ye’ll be able ter enjoy er good night’s rest.” _ The parson consented, and drank again. The eoes. an amused spectator of this little scene, now paid for the liquor and moved away. A short time afterward he felt a touch on the arm and turned to see Ned Cole beside him, For a time he had entirely forgotten the lad, and now he said quickly: ‘‘Hullo! I had forgotten you. Where have you been? Allow me to thank you for your opportune shot. It was put in at about the right point.” ‘Do you believe now that Dashing Dave is bound to kill you?” asked the boy. ‘* That fel- low was one of his agents... He is hot after you. ‘Will you strike back?” ‘‘ Well, if he pushes this funny business too far, I shall be apt to,” Vane replied. ‘‘ Men do not usually submit quietly to be murdered, If he pushes me too far, I shall kick, you bet!” ‘Right! Now the best thing you can do is to join hands with me against the outlaw. While one of his agents attempted to kill you to-night, I am satisfied that Dashing Dave himself was in this very building, deeply disguised, He had to do something when his tool fell into the trap thut he did, so he called up his men, who were lying in wait a short distance away, and in the excitement the would-be assassin escaped.” ‘*| believe youare right. [ have been won- dering what that reckless dash meant. You have explained it. I don't know but I shall have to use vigorous measures of defense, In fact, I believe I will join you against my old chief, for I am now convinced that you, indeed, ow me.’ ‘‘ Good!” cried the boy. ‘Shake! We are ‘pards!” The two shook hands, “You say you have penetrated my disguise— have learned my secret,” said the lad, ‘[ you keep it. AsI am, I can better accompli my purpose. See?” ‘ Certainly,” assented the Sport. ‘** You need not fear, your secret is safe with me,” he added, softly. ‘I would be a miserable creature to re- veal it. We are pards now, and will share each other’s secrets.” For a few moments the boy gazed at the floor with downcast eyes. The Sport watched him ‘closely. Without looking up, he finally said: | ‘‘T must go now, partner. I will see you in the morning and we will complete our plans. Good-night.” With another hand-shake, the two separated, The man in velvet watched the boy till he left the saloon, then he turned away with a half- sigh, and a strange feeling fluttering in his breast. ‘‘Tt has been an almost hopeless search,” he murmured, ‘‘ but success crowned my ef- forts at last, I took despera§~ chances once; I will do so again, if needs be, e are pards!” A short time later be came upon the parson and the red-headed man. Locked, arm-in-arm, this strange couple were sauntering around the room. Both appeared to be considerably the worse for lhquor, ‘*Parshun,” the red-headed man was saying, *¢ sorry—hic!—but I’s been er schinner all mer life. But—hic!—I]] r’form if yer wants me to, parshun. I alwaysh treats—” ‘‘ Friend,” said the parson, whose tongue was also a little thick, ‘‘I was thinking that it was your turn, I'll take whisky, if you please,” ‘‘Scandal’us fact, parshun, but Pm—hic— dead broke. Ain’t got nary red. As I wash shaying—hic!—I alwaysh treats ther wishes ov EE LL 93 The Diamond Sport. — ee my friends with r’spect. If yer wants me to cipal, ’'m—hic!—jist yer chickin,” In steering, around through the crowd they ran against two men who were earnestly talking together, They were the plotters, Heath and Giles. ‘Careful, you drunken louts!” cried Giles, sharply. ‘Keep your eyes open, so that you can see where you are going!” ‘‘ Scuse me |” said the red-headed man, stop- ping and leering up into the speaker’s face. ‘Do you—hic!—own this shanty?” Giles’s face flushed with anger. ‘* Blame your hide!” he cried, *‘ ’'ll show you if you don’t hold your tongue and move along.” ‘ Friend,” interposed the parson, “hold thy temper. The passion of anger, much indulged in, causes Satan to rejoice. If I was in your place,” he continued, soberly, ‘‘’d go bag my head, Evidently the liquor he had drank was getting the best of the parson’s discretion, He was los- ing control of his tongue. ‘Korrect, parshun!” echoed his companion; “he'd better—hic!—put hish head to shoak! Never see’d such er—hic'—funny-looking head ’s he’s got. Look jes’’s though there wa—hic!]— wash two of ’um, don’t it, parshun?” “The fellow is slinging on a little too much style,” supplemented the parson. ‘‘ Acts just as though he was going to get his fingers on some old codger’s cash, Wish him joy if he is.” ‘*Parsbun,” said the red-headed man, ‘‘ I’m jist—hic!—thunderin’ dry. Shet ’em up, will yer, parshun?” ‘“Hem! [Pm er little dry myself,” was the response. ‘* Perhaps we'd better take a swallow,” and with this, the strange chums staggered away toward the bar, Behind them they left an angry man. ‘*Curse him!” cried Giles, ‘‘ what did he mean? It can’t be that he knows anything!” ‘* What are you driving at?” asked Heath. ‘*What he said about some old codger’s cash. Does the blamed fool know anything of our ame? ‘‘ He? No!” cried Heath. ‘That was only some of his drunken talk. How should he know?” Giles shook his head. ‘‘ He couldn’t have been the spy. But I would give something to know that his words were not an intentional shot. Ah! Isabella is going to sing, at last.” The sharp tinkle of a bell sounded through the room, and simultaneously Cool Kent appeared upon the musicians’ stage at the back of the room. He made a motion commanding silence, and then said: ‘‘Gentlemen, you will now have the pleasure of listening to the ‘ Western Song-Queen,’ Mad- emoiselle Isabella.” He retired, and a moment later a bewitching- ly handseme girl appeared upon the stage. She was attired in a short white dress, and there were flashing jewels upon her bare arms and at her throat. Her long dark hair floated in luxu- riant masses around her shoulders. Her mid- night eyes were alive with emotion, and the ripe red lips slightl rted. When this vision of beauty appeared upon the stage, the Diamond Sport uttered a low cry of astonishment. He could hardly believe his eyes. Can it be?” he muttered. ‘‘ No, no, it can- not! I am deceived! She would not appear thus, andin sucha place. And still the resem- blance is perfect. e is going to sing.” After the burst of applause which greeted her appearance had subsided, she began to sing. The song was a sad, sweet composition that touched the rough miners to the very heart. The handsome song-girl had a wonderfully sweet voice that thrilled every listener, She retired, but was recalled and sung again. This time it was a dancing, airy song, and she kept time to the singing with the graceful mo- tions of her perfect form, At the close the crowd fairly cheered them- selves hoarse, Time after time she was recalled, till at last she refused to appear. ‘‘ Heath,” said Giles, his eyes shining with ad- miration, ‘‘she is a gem of the first water, and no mistake!” ‘Correct you are!” was thereply. ‘‘I told you she was a prize, old man.” Velvet Vane was perplexed. ‘‘Who can she be? She eannot be— No, I am mistaken; I am slightly mixed. She would not appear there unless she wereforced to, to secure bread. It may be—it may be—I will find out to-morrow, anyway. I fell in love with those eyes of hers, and rashly turned against the chief to rescue her from his clutches. I could oo | ———— mmm — ES pert be easily deceived, It may be—but-——I don’t snow.” The Diamond Sport retired to rest that night, the most puzzled man in Bed-Rock Camp, CHAPTER V. AN ASTONISHING UNMASKING. THE next issue of the Bed-Rock Pioneer, the wide-awake little weekly newspaper of the camp, contained the following: * DASHING DAVE AGAIN! ‘Te Atrempts TO STOP THE BONANZA STAGE! * Bur 1s Foriep, ‘*Last Tuesday a desperate attempt was made to rob the mail stage from Bonanza Camp, bound for Bed-Reck. A band of masked borsemen blockaded the trail, some tp or twelve miles cut, end ardered the driver to halt Every one who knew that unfor- tunate man is wll eware that he was no coward, He immediately laid the whip to his horses, + nd at- tempted to dash through the tines of the road- agents. It was a daring act, and the driver paid: dearly for it. When the road-agents saw how the thing was moving, they immediately began firing on the stage. It seems that the driver was struck by almost the first shot, but he held out until his dar- ing attempt was a success, He saw the stige burst through the line of outlaws, then he sunk life- less in the boot, ‘It happenec&that beside the driver there was an equally dari g spirit, a gentleman known in these parts as Velvet Vane. He immediately seized the reins, and soon gained control of the frantic, terri- fled horses, With commendable skill he handled the ribbons, and although the robbers pursued them several miles, they escaped at last. “It is supposed’ that this attempt at stage-tolling was made by that old offender, Dashing Dave. This unscrupulous outlaw is well known in these parts. He leaves bis name written in blood wherever he goes, The ‘Private Vigilance Commit- tes,’ organized by one of our prominent citizens, Colonel Allen, offer the following ** REWARD! **$500 reward is offered for the capture of the notorious outlaw and desperado, Dashing Dave, The reward will be promptly paid over upon his ap- prehension, @¢a¢d or alive, ‘** (Signed) COLONEL CHAS, ALLEN, ‘* Per Allen’s Private Vigilance Com.” The Diamond Sport was highly amused as he perused this account of the attempted stage- robbery. The account, in fact, differed widely from the real facts of the case. | The newspaper man had succeeded in heaping the entire credit upon the driver, making him out a hero, indeed, When the road-agents ordered the halt, the driver had promptly responded by attemptin to pull up. It was Vane’s interference that ha prevented this, aad it was his skill and nerve that had carried them through the robbers’ lines. He laughed softly when he had finished read- ing the account. ‘That is about as near as they usually hit,” he muttered, ‘* These paper-makers can’t get a thing right if they try. They seem to be utter strangers to solid facts,” In another part of the paper was the follow- ing item: ‘‘ PERSONAL:—If the party who overheard the pri- vate conversation between two gentlemen in Room No. 1, Metealf’s Hotel, last " uesday evening, will come to the same room next Saturday at 1 o’clock Pp. M., he will hear something to bh advantage. There is money in +t, 8. H, In the paper there was also a brief account of the reckless night-ride of the somber horsemen through the very midst of the camp, Simon Heath sat in Room No. 1 patiently and hopefully waiting the appearance of the eaves- dropper. ‘¢T don’t believe he’ll come,” he muttered, as he lita fresh cigar. ‘‘I think it was a foolish yiece of business, that tucking an item into the t%oneer. That was al! Giles’s work, Likely as anyway the fellow will never set eyes on one of the papers. We must find him out some way, or the game’s a failure, It’s a wild project, any- way. ‘*T don’t half believe Giles intends to play a square game, There issomething crooked about him, I know that. He intends to freeze me out in some way, but he will have to sharpen up if he gets ahead of Simon Heath. The girl] ig square, atany rate. If there was any way to do it, I should like to leave the scoundre] in the lurch, and play the game out myself, with Isa- bella’s assistance: but I don’t suppose it could be done. We shall have to hang together now.” He drew out his handsome gold watch and lanced at theface. It was time for the eaves- ee to put in an appearance, if he was going to do so. awe