Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 498 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

- ease dnd confidence. first the tray of spades. then the queen of diamonds, his white face bore a perplexed look, while through his brain ran strange, wild thoughts. “Did hl ‘ear some ’un mention Dame Fortune's fickle smile, hor did my hears deceive me?” ex- claimed the hunchback, complacently, as Elegaut Fitz Jim with a series of graceful motions swept down the golden stake and Gacepes upon the queen a double stack of yellow checks. *Honly ha turn hout hof der box, han’ hup comes der Dame hof 5 teehee hotherwise Fortune, peart ban’ chip- per rs Ot stuff! let ‘er roll, me noble Bob-royal—let ‘er roll!’ His aLPOng, white teeth biting savagely into his nether lip; his long fingers poised over the silver box, in readiness to make the turn; his face set with savage determination, Elegant kitz Jim sat bolt upright in his chair, his madly -glowing eyes sweeping restlessly over the lay-out, then up into the faces of the surroundipvg throng, and on beyond, to meet the dark orbs of no less a personage than Idaho, the giant proprietor of the Eldorado. A magnetic look, fraught with intense signifi- cance, And that exchange of glances, though of the priefest duration, seemed to imbue the dealer with Again, in the same dead monotone, his voice rung out: ‘* Once more, to win or lose, gentlemen! O your weasel-skins and roll out the dust! you is the royal road to—”’ ‘*You are wanted at the bar, Jim—at once,”’ in- terpolated a deep base voice, as the heavy hand of Idaho ei ge upon the sboulder of the dashing sport, ‘Til handle the tiger for the boys until you return,”’ A bitter imprecation from the bunchback, as Elegant Fitz Jim arose—a look of blackest maligni- ty, flashed into the face of Idaho, then—bhow was it accomplished? In the hands of Diamond Dick were a brace of revolvers—thoroughly elegant and re- liable tools, gold-mounted, and cf the double-action patent—the frowning muzzles covering the banker and his deal r! ‘*Don't move, gents, or attempt to draw—you'll sleep side by side to-morrow in the Nabob’s Bar necropolis, if you do!” fiercely enunciated the mad- dened hunchback, his eyes assuming a dead, glass loo< in his extreme rage, his elbows sinking until they rested upon the green cloth of the table, and the hammers of his weapons springing back and trembling on a poise, from the reckless pressure of his fingers against t!e triggers. * Well! well! well!’ slowly ejaculated Idaho, the giant gambler, arching bis black brows in simulated astonishment, ‘‘ What is the matter with yuu son- ny ?—found a bent pin in your seat, or is it only a sudden attack of colic? Barkeep’—” raising his voice, “a lump of sugar and some paregoric!"" A ripple of laughter from the crowd; then a sud- n up efore , den parting, right and left, leaving the three men in in undisputed possession of the field. ‘*Matter henough!” savagely gritted Diamond Dick, a dull red gleam intensifying the glassy ap- pearance of his eyes. “lf Nabob’s Bar can show nothing better hin der shape hof men than you, Sbanghai, han’ your puppet, Elegant Fiz Jim; she "ad best ‘aul down ‘er colors, has ba bang-hup camp! Bah! ’e ’u'd run from ‘is shadow, hof ha moonlit night!” with a swift inclination of his had toward the dealer. “Tf you have reference to my leaving the table—" “ Struck 'er plumb-center, didn’t you?” interrup:- ed the hunchback, with a sneer. “Man hagainst man—cards first, then weapons—was der hagree- ment, n’ai—” ‘It will be kept, to the letter!” broke in Elegant Fitz Jim, impatiently. ‘* Have the kinaness to keep your eyes upon the Soa until my return, and—yoy shall have your fill, never fear, in any way you want it. I presume that our mutual friend, Idaho, will stand good for my return,”’ ‘* Till the heavens fall,”’ quoth the giant. “Satisfactory,” cuitly u'tered the hunchback, lowering his weapons, With a bow of mock courtesy, Elegant Fitz Jim turned and strode away, followed by the eyes of Idaho and the hunchback, until his athletic form was lost to view in the darkness without the coor. Then the eyes of the two men met in a look of deep significance, An evil smile wreathed the heavy, sensual lips of the giant gambler, A swift, sweeping glance up and down the long room, until his eyes rested upon two men—one a short, squat, heavily-built fellow, the other tall and lank and both from their faces villains of the mean- est and most despicable type, A word passed between the two, as they noticed Idaho’s eycs tixed upon them, and an expression of expectauvy settled upon their evil faces, “The giant turned bis head and stared out the door. Whether it was a hint to the owo desperadoes that their pres- ence in the Eldorado was not desirable, or a prear- ranged signal, they at once left the place. On emerging from the saloon and gambling-hell. Elegant Fitz Jim had been confronted by atall well- built form, almost the counterpart of himself, but more roughly dressed. “It is you, Hank?’’ cautiously uttered the sport halting in the darkness. ‘Yours. truly, Jim,’ was the response, “ Anything wanting ?”’ “Yes; but let us get out into the open. It has gone into proverb tbat walls have cars—a saw that don’t hold water if it won’: apply to the Eldorado,” Silently the two men withdrew to a safe distance, halting in the bleak shadow of a stunted tree. “You have seen the hunchback stranger, Hank?” the silver box slipped aside the “soda,” revealing | SS See DN eee... — —_ - Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. G * Yes,”? ‘* He came when?” * You have me there. When he came, or whence, I know not,’’ was the reply, with a shrug of the shoulders that was lost in the darkness. “I saw him first in the Eldorado, just now,”’ ‘As did I. He is not what he seems, Hank; he isin deep and artful disguise. Whether his de- formity is real or pretended | can’t say; but that his character—a cockney gambler—is assumed, I am satisfied. Asa general thing, he carries the dialect to a nicety; but at times, when excited, a sentence will slip out as straight as a ramrod, without the slightest mixing of the h’s,”’ * You suspect his object to be—" a Murder parses the victim !" : Elegant Fitz Jim uttered the words carelessly, as if: ot at all troubled or annoyed by the unpleasant suspicion. ‘* A hired assassin?’’ inquired Hank in a startled but guarded voice. ‘‘No—one striking from motives of revenge, I qdse; for he must have come in with Old Buck ridge r to-night, and was therefore ignorant, until a few minutes ago, of my presence in Nabob’s Bar.”’ ‘* You are wrong in the latter part of your surmise, at least; for the hearse from Golconda bas not yet | gled gra made its appearance, late as it is,”’ quickly rejoined Hank, ~-*" f-ll on his way to Limerick’s Palace, pale wit ety.” ° A low whistle escaped Elegant Fitz Jim. anxi- ut a few minutes ago I passed Major Ax- | | ' ' lank, the other heavy and powerful—glided away in the darkness, undetected. “Let us hasten—Diamond Dick will fret himself into a fever of impatience at my absence, brief as it has been,” said Elega .t Fitz Jim, with a care- less laugh, wheretpan they quickened their steps. Arrived at the Eldorado, they crossed the thres- hold, to enter upon the second scene in the mad- dest, wildest night ever known in Nabob’s Bai! CHAPTER X. THE MAN FROM HARD LUCK AGAIN. ‘‘Rosp-aGents! Now don’t mention et—sech gen- try as Bludso’s Band aren't a sarcumstance, I tell ye! Jest wait till I Jubricates!!” é A strange hush followed, holding full sway in the long, rudely-furnished apartment, Tne tables had been de:erted. That portion of the camp’s populace present was literally packed in a dense throng before the bar, confronting a tall, gangling, roughly-clad specimen of humanity stand- ing face outward, his elbows resting carelessly upon the rail ef the bar,a glass of raw whisky in his right hand, his stogy-clad feet planted wide apart, his sombrero pushed well back upon his tan- locks, and his honest weather-beaten face aglow with excitement. ‘Old Buck Kridger, by the Lord Harry!’ ejacu- lated Elegant Fitz Jim, in an undertone, as the high, cracked voice died awayin a hollow gurgle peculiar to the old Overlander’s process of lubri- * He feai's the cause of delay has beenroad-agents | cation."’ or = 99 ‘Foul play from the Darnley crew,” quietly supplied | laigs an’ all! Hank. *‘Rufus Darniey bad cause to suspect that, if Miss Axfell reached Nabob’s Bar in safety, io- morrow would see his last claim upon the Great Mogul! vanish.” “T see! I see!” uttered Elegant Fitz Jim, musing- ly. ‘‘linsisted ail along that it was the hight of folly for the major to send his daughter alone upon so hazardous en errand, * To come back to this other matter, Henk. Since we have no means of determiniag the time of the arrival in camp of this hunchback, Diamond Dick, it is more than likely, as he is in disguise, that one of the principals of the Great Mogul affair has dropped onto our game andset up a job against me. ‘* But, whether the assassin is working for himself or another, be has recognized me, and betrayed the fact that he 1s cognizant of certain thingsin my past —among others, that unfortunate affair in Cincin- nati, in which that dashing adventuress, Lisette Cremola, was & prominent actcr, ‘Indeed, from certain words he let fall, and from his eyes and facial expression, I could for a moment have taken my Bible oath that Lisette Cremola and Diamond Dick were one and the same person!” ‘*Tmpossible!”’ ejaculated Hank, ‘Yes, the idea was most absurd,” admittel the dealer in a tone that almost contradicted his words. ‘But the rascal has spotted me, and in turn I want his every move piped. Given half a chance, he'll block our game. See the lads, Hauk. at once, and set the machine a-going, Then, if the dashing Richard betrays an alarming degree of precocity, he will awake some fine morn to find himself transport- ed, body and boots, over the range into our private Institution of Detention.” Full of grim satisfaction were the tones of Elegant Fitz Jim. ‘*It shall be as you say,”’ said Hank, slowly. “‘ And the surveillance shall begin at once, too; f rif the hunchback is in the pay of a factor in the Great Mo- gul affuir, lam greatly mistaken if the attempt to as- sassinate you is not made during the fight he has challenged: you to make after your sitting at cards. “ And I have a word of advice to offer, Jim. You are the challenged party; and, as such, to you falls the choice of weapons, the naming of place and con- ditions. Let the tools be revolvers; this open, the scene; the conditions such as suit you best.’ “My idea, exactly,’ promptly returned Elegant Fitz Jim, ‘*Of course, the duel will be fought to- night, if the marshal can be gotten ot of the way long enough to prevent his sticking an official finger in the pie. But I shall name the bour when the great harvest moon is at its hight, for by its mellow ratiance I can easily wing {be hunchback at fifty paces, “Then, too. such an arrangement will enable you and the lads to keep your eyes upon the Set and block any attempt at foul play. You ‘* Hark! what is that sound?” _And with the exclamation both men assumed a listening attitude, ‘“‘It is the hearse, rounding up at Limerick’s Palace,’ said Hank, after a moment's silence, ** Per- haps, after all, Old Buck and his precious freight pulled through unmolested,” “TI don’t know,” returned Elegant Fitz Jim. his voice, even more than his words, betraying doubt. “You say Rufus Darnley had an inkling of the nature of Miss Axfell’s errand to Goleonda. If so. the odds are about nine-and-ninety to one that the hearse has be n rifle '.”’ “ Miss Axfell is a shrewd girl,” suggested Hank. “True; but Darnley is no less so, However, an hour will put an end to our doubts, In the mean time, there is much to do.” Moving nearer bis companion and sinking his voice to a whisper, Elegant Fitz Jim spoke rapidly and earnestly. At the expiration of ten minutes, the two men lefc the shadow of the tree, and walked slowly toward the Eldorado. | atchful as they were, two figures—one tall and | | * Barkeep—’nuther ov ther same sort, tarant’ler ‘Ter git back ter ther subjec’ in han’, pards, et aire jest as | tells ye—thar’s toll-takers on ther Gol- conda trail, sich cusses as c’u’d lay Bludso’s Baad | cold an’ not ha’f try, eyther: Dang my regermen- | tal buttons! ef errr I see—”’ ‘*Down brakes. Back—keep your toes on the straight and narrow liné,”’ tersely broke in the deep tones of Idaho, the giant gamb er. This, in view of Buck's well-known tendency to exaggerate, produced a general laugh and at once put the waiting crowd et ease. Deigning Idaho but a freezing stare, the garrulous prince of the ribbons calmiy continued: ‘*Burt I'l asseverate w’at ther galumplin’ cusses did—a‘ter wich overgrown lummoxes in glass houses kin throw their stones— ef they kin!” A significant cough, a Frenchy shrug cf his mas- sive shoulders, and the giant stared hard at Old Buck Bridger, an evil light dancing in bis babitual- ly half-closed black eyes, asmile, half-mocking, half- incredulous, lending an unusually disagreeable ex- pression to his heavily-whiskered face. ‘Wren ther luss was bowlin’ along, ‘tout five mile back,’’ Buck went on, * a Winchester cracked in ther bushes ‘longside, an’ ovt inter ther trail hopped a cur’us critter in black mask. a ‘six’ grabbed in each paw, ore lookin’ powerful anxious ter fix a gen'leman ‘bovt my build fer plantin,”’ t‘other likewise squintin’ up in a way kalkilated ter make ther tenderioot on ther box yearn fer ther land o’ his nativity. **Down Nef as yelled ther feller in ther road— jes’ es you sed it a minute ago, Idaho, on’y more savace-like-—an’ I reckoned es how | hed no time t_r argie ther matter, an’ so jes’ rounded up. “Then out ov ther bresh piled two more ov ther jirates, an’ held ther two ov us on ther box under iver, wile Cap’n Ni e, as ther boss robber told us war his name, sidled up ter ther huss ter tech ther pilgrims inside, ‘* An’ Lordee! w’at # ob he did! ‘“Thar war Major Oxfell’s darter, a gal givin’ ther han’dle ov Priscilla Twoheart, an’ four galoots— Nicholas Jolly, Doctor Skaggs Sweetwater Smith and Peter Peasly—on board, an’I reckon ther toll- taker made a heavy haul from ther row kicked up by sart’in ones ov ther party. ‘* But thet warn’t a sarcumstance ter w'at follered. “‘ A’ter ther pilgrin:s hed bin cleaned out, w’at did this hyar berderned road-agent do, but go ter work an’ han’cuff Jolly an’ Skaggs, an’ Smith an’ Peasly together, an’ then snap a pa’r ov bracelets ov ther same pat’ern onter J/:85 Privctlla Tiveheost |” Delivered with all the unction and impressivenes that Bridger could command, the startling state ment set the listening crowd agape. “The hinfernal villain! ‘E shculd be ’anged without merey!”’ gritted Diamond Lick, the hunch- back, a strange glow in his cead black eycs, This sentiment was instantly seconced by balf a hundred voices, ; ‘P'r'aps,”’ seutentiously uttered Oid Buck Brid- ger, with a dubious tcss of bis grizzled locks, “ Leastwise, "twas a rough deal ter ring in on sech a purty, harmless-lookin’ critter as ther gal. ‘Wal, a’ter_he hed ther five ov ’em securely ironed, Cap’n Noname bundkd’em ell back inter ther huss, an’ closed an’ fastened ther door, Then he out ‘ith a pencil an’ paper, an’ wiit a_ note wich same he passed up ter me, 8a ‘in’ es how f war ter deliver it an‘ ther people inside ter Marshal Saul Temple, byar in Nabob’s Far.”’ A second burst of wondering exclamations; then Idaho. with a palpable sneer, eshed: ‘And did you carry out the irstructions of thig dashing hict. way thief. Ceptein Noneme?”’ Overpowering contempt vicible in every linea- ment of bis bronzed. wrinkled face, Old 1 ock, scort- ing with disgust, retorted: “T hain’t on ther w'tness stand vit, Mr Idaho; an’ I kin unfold any o’ertrue tale *thout help! “ Barkeep—'buther ov ther same sort, on'y & le-tle less corn-juice an’ a bit more terant’ler laig, ef ye please.” en, as if satisfied that the rebuke administered : a2 * °F - ‘ S i 4, ‘ oft -books.com O}e to. y | . a a Se ot : >