Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 499 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

te - Sk a TT POS — er a Single Sight, as the door closed. ‘“ He has his blood up,” and Chickadee walked look. Single Sight watched the boy in silence, and with a good deal of interest, ‘Tf I can’t persuade him,” ran his thoughts, ‘‘ ve got to do another thing—watch him like a hawk, become his body-guard, and stand be- tween him and the silent slayer. Chickadee turned from the window. ‘‘Don’t let me have to repulse your argu- ments, too, Single Sight,” he cried, stepping forward. ‘‘ Leave everything unsaid. Than you I have no better friend in Red Flash, but I am determined to fight the league who has made the ownership of Old Fatality fatal to five men. I believe I found a slight clew to-night.” ‘‘In the camp?” demanded Single Sight. ‘‘Richt here m Red Flash!” Then the boy lowered his voice as his band closed on one of the sport’s arms, ‘‘There is a man lying on the ground at the door. He is playing spy for somebody.” In an instant the One-Eyed Sport’s hand moved to his belt, but Chickadee checked it there. “Let him be!” continued the boy. ‘“ He is only serving his master, and I don’t want him to know that I suspect anything.” ‘‘ Let me see him!” was Single Sight’s demand, and he went to the window. ‘¢ Thar’s nobody thar now,” he answered, com- ing back to the boy. Chickadee went to the window himself. “Tt is true. The spy is gone. Never mind; I bave marked him, I am a boy, the Mine League will discover that it has no boy’s fight on its hands!” % Chickadee seemed to increase in stature in the ‘light of the cabin lamp. ‘Go in!” cried Single Sight. ‘‘ Draw on me for whatever you need—muscle, advice or trig- i, ‘‘T don’t think I’ll need you,” laughed the boy, ‘but if I do, Pll remember.” + A figure glided without noise from the -- . shadow of the cabin; the spy had beard the compact! ¢ CHAPTER IV. - FINETTE SURPRISES RINGBOLT. “WELL, what does he 44 _ * He doesn’t yield an inch.” ** Bound to goahead, eh?” “Yes: he’s in to.:tay until the end comes.” Ringholtand.the giant of Red Flash were the Spes e a ~The aned back in his chair and look- ed his c 5 in the face, fe - T tk ocak tallest ~ is," me 7s S a” Sle im ngle Sight’s eaway, but I guess who is one of the perma- Ae n? What is he like?” like the common run o’ men,” tob, with a smile. ‘* You start want to run across a one-eyed t this fellowt—go on!” with a minute description of t which Ringbolt looked re- ume your one-eyed sport isn’t the : hed gern a ce ‘a “Tl take iIngie the first oppor- pout how many days shall we let ; elapse’ | * Tleave it to you.” “And I am anxious to get down to business, although I’m fixed to stay here any len of time. You see I didn’t expec ed OTE asd ‘Ao ae 6.6 iy oe, to a ae t to reach _. Flash on_the heels of this excitement,” and ean Ringbolt smiled. ‘But, [ can work my Gold Union racket while I wait. Who'd have thought that a boy would step into Babetite’s shoes?’ When does the stage go back to oy 2 oo? a . he 4 _ Dolores?” -—-- ** Not for three days unless on special ser- | ~*Can’t there be a special service? If you | don’t want to go, another passenger can be furnished,” suggested Ringbolt. _ * Would you like to have it go back early as Brit oft ‘to-morrow oe it so.” ss * TF you could arrange it so, cae | Tenedmates later Cai in Ringbolt occupied no 8 eat ry porch of the Beelzebub Hotel. eS He no longer | all | 5 and one of the best cigars a ‘“Rico is on the flare to-night,” remarked | to the window as if to follow the sport with a Babette’s chest,” remarked the girl. full of strange things, and here is a packet marked for you.” and Ringbolt, who was looking, saw him take a small package from the girl’s hand. lamps that lit up the room, and her graceful figure and handsome face were plainly observed by the man on the ejaculation. glided toward the door. Red Flesh!” fastened on the girl. Yuba Monte. with the closest rake in existence, an’ not find her match.” had a group of men about mort Red Flash was sending white Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. ~see es oe smoke-wreaths above his head, and while he puffed away, his heels against one of the square porch pillars, he looked like a person decidedly | at peace with the world. | ‘I'd like to see the girl—Babette’s legacy to To-morrow will do.” At that moment some one stepped upon the porch, and the captain stared in amazement, It was Finette! The girl walked straight into the hotel, and | in a moment the captain heard her voice as she | spoke of Yuba Monte. Captain Ringbolt was all ears in a moment. 7] have just finished looking hee, et eas T ‘For me, Finette?’ exclaimed the landlord, Finette stood in the bright light of the two porch, Captein Ringbolt could not suppress a mental Almost unconsciously he left his chair and — a He saw no one but Finette; Yube Monte and the packet from the dead were already forgot- ten. ‘¢ Mebbe I'd better not open this here,” smiled the landlord, glancing at the package. think I will. “TI don’t Ah! come in, captain!” Yuba Monte had glanced toward the door wh re, as a matter of course, he saw the attrac- tive figure of his est, The captain did not wait for another invita- tion, but came forward, and the next moment doffed his hat cavalierly to Finette. The girl had not seen him since his arrival in Red Fash, but at the first look she recoiled with a s‘art, and her cheeks lost color. ‘*T did not ate to encounter an angel in exclaimed Ringbolt, with his eyes ‘She's the boss one o’ Colorado!” laughed “You might rake this globe ‘“T believe it!” cried Ringbolt, as he took a step toward Finette whose amazement seemed “* They tell me girl. to increase with her inspection. that you were Babette’s ward?” ‘Tam his ward still!” returned the ‘‘T am sorry he had to lose his life, but you will never lack for friends. Please number me among them.” ‘‘ Who are you?” ‘“My name is Ringbolt—Ca tain Redfield Ringbolt, of Denver,” and as he uttered the name with a good deal of pomposity, he drew his figure proudly up in & manner that made Finette smile, “Very well; it you want to be my friend 1 cannot prevent you,” asserted the girl. “I did not come hither on a hunt for friends. You can look at oe packet whenever it suits you, Monte. I shall now return home.” Ringbolt step back to let Finette pass out, but in doing so he reached the door. The beauty of Red she stepped upon ‘“Will you permit me to accompany you to your cabin?” he asked litely. | Finette turned upon him with a half-indignant flash in her eyes, but all at ouce it disappeared, and a roguish look took its place. ‘If you wish,” she replied, moving off at the same time, and then she added with a laugh: “Oh! I believe I found something in his chest which concerns you,” The man’s answer was a stare, but his quick wit came to his rescue, and expressing a desire to see that ‘‘ something,” he found himself walk- ing away at Finette’s side. The walk to the gir!’s cabin home did not oc- cupy much time, and Captain Ringbolt thought he had scored the first point in anew game when he found himself beneath the roof. Finette went direct toa rather large chest that stood against the wall, and unlocked it with a key which she took from her pocket. The Denver man watched her with the eye of ahawk. She had’ something to show him; but, what was it? During the next few seconds the captain rapid- R Bile tubes his life; he tried to fix the identity of e man called Babette, but the longer he tried, the deeper grew the mg ee the chest, from the depths out, and as Finette turned from of which she had drawn a little package not larger than her well shaped hand, ! - 7] “~~ o! z ¥ —" Flash the porch he touched her arm, | LL LLL LL LLL ~© el SS — ee Captain Ringbolt’s eyes became fastened on it at once. ‘* This is it, though it may not concern you, after all,” the girl exclaimed, pausing at the table. ‘‘ When youtold me your name was fed- Red Flash!” bis thoughts ran, ‘‘ but itis rather field Ringbolt, | thought of this.” late for a call. The man from Denver was already leaning forward, and Finette’s nimble fingers were re- moving a cord from the packet. ‘¢ In Satan’s name, what is it?” mentally ejacu- lated the now excited man, while the girl work- ed at the cord. . The work was quickly finished, and when she had removed some heavy brown paper, some- thing dropped upon the table. “Tt is a miniature, you see!” the girl cried, looking into the almost colorless face of Ring- bolt. ‘I can’t say that it much resembles you, but a sharp instrument has written something acro:s the top—see!” The Denverite made no reply, for at that mo- ment Finette held the daguerreotype in such a position that he read this inscription: ‘¢¢ ReprreLD ’—My Worst ENEMY!” _The girl could not fail to notice the consterna- tion caused by the old likeness, which represent- eda man in full, mining costume, as if he had stepped from the sbaft into the rooms of a mountain artist. Ringbolt reached out his hand for the picture, but Finette drew.it back. ‘‘It belongs to me since Bahette 'eft me every- thing not addressed to any one,” she exclaimed. ‘*— don’t see much resemblance between you and the picture, but I must keep it.” The man looked disappointed. ‘‘ Where did Babette get that picture?’ he asked. ‘¢T don’t know.” ‘* What good will it ever do you, Finette?” ‘¢ None, perhaps.” ‘‘ Then, let me relieve you of it. It is the like- ness of a man I have been looking for for some time. You do not know that Babette scratched the legend on the tin?” ‘*T do not.” ‘““Who has seen the picture since Babette’s death?” ‘*No person but myself. ‘““Tl] give you twenty dollars for it.” The girl drew back. ‘*T am not at want’s door!” she exclaimed, in- dignantly. ‘‘This picture remains where it is. Five thousand dollars wouldn’t buy it!” “ All right!” cried Ringbelt; ‘‘t > person whe calls me ‘ field’ lies !—lies!—lies! ” CHAPTER V. CHICKADEE ON DEOK. CapraiIn RINGBOLT’sS face was very red; his eyes seemed to blaze with ieee mg Bow glared ti- gerishly at the daguerrotype in Finette’s hand, and for a moment he seemed about to snatch it from her ag i ‘T tell you I am not that ee. he went on, pointing at the picture. ‘* Where is the person who calls me ‘ Redfield?” ’ Finette shook her head. ‘“‘T don’t think anybody has accused you,” she replied. ‘J am not going to make the charge. This picture does not concern me.” ‘Yet you won’t part with it?” “*T will not.” ‘¢ You have nothing else to show me?” _ “ Nothing else,” was the echo, Ringbolt got up and walked backward to the door. His eyes were still fastened on the picture. ; ‘“We may meet again,” he said, at the door. ‘“¢ You will remember that that is the likeness of a man whom I[ have been bunting some time. I orga agoapag ae it being found in Babette’s chest. is is a little mystery which may n be solved. Good-night!” rested ‘*Good-night!” returned Finette, ‘Tt looks like him, for all he said,” she mut- tered. ‘‘ Il am not certain that Babette scratch- ed the name ‘ Redfield’ across the plate: and he told me at the hotel that his name was ‘ Redfield Ringbolt.’” Finette’s home grew silent as she studied the portrait, and was so absorbed in it that the opening of the door did not disturb her. Somebody came in, somebody whom she did not see, for her back was turned toward the en- o Buddenly a hand swooped d h uddenly a hand swooped down over her face like an ona beak. It seized the picture like the talons of the bird of prey, and Finette sprung away with a wild cry, as it was snatched from _ her hands! | “That is my property!” she exclaimed, wheel- nC ON os