Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 517 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 say. Both spoke at once, to the effect that some one was coming after her, but that she need have no fears, as the Three Jolly Pards were sworn to stand by her through fire and water. ‘‘TIs it-is it—Meestar—Meestar Keene?” she stammered, blushing rosy red. ‘*Divil a wan of him!” replied Tom. ‘‘ It’s Jim Gladden—no less. But we can’t stand cbin- nin’ here all day.. Mind yer eye!” And with this parting injunction, the signifi- cance of which was not quite clear to the girl, her friends glided away. Wbat was she to make of it? Evidently they were apprehensive of being caught communicat- ing with her. Then it could not be that Jim Gladden was coming in a friendly spirit. Had he too turned against. her? Her heart beat wildly. A moment later she heard his summons at the front door. It was the peremptory knock of an officer of the law, who would brook no denial. Where were her parents? Where was her lover? Must: she meet this terrible marshal alone? With her knees sinking under her, she went down and opened to him. ' CHAPTER XX, SALOMANS ‘‘ DOWN.” DEPRIVED of the disguise in whith she was wont to appear, Miriam had instinctively thrown a heavy vail over her head. The members of the marshal’s posse stared at her shrinking figure with undisguised admira- tion. But Jim Gladden’s heart was touched. ‘* Ye hain’t no call fur to be afeard o’ me, nor of any o’ the boys,” he said, kindly. ‘* We air yer solid friends, ye onderstand. 1 wish I could say the same o’ some 0’ them as is nearest to ye, an’ as is playin’ a low-down game on ye, bein’s as how it’s accordin’ to natur’ that you’d tie to ’em, an’ low as they’d use ye right.” ‘* What would you with me, kint shentleman?” asked Miriam, in a quivering voice, plainly not comprehending his words. ‘‘Waal, we’re ‘lowin’ fur to take ye into court—”’ ‘* Court?” gasped the girl. ‘‘ Ah! kint shentle- man, believe me, I have wronged no one!” ‘* Ye ain’t to consider as you’re under arrest, ye onderstand, Jest furgit as I’m the marshal, an’ reckon me only one o’ the boys whatis sworn fur tosee you through, ag’in’ friends or foes.” ‘* You will protect me ‘*Now you’ve got it, hold on toit! That’s jest what I'm ’lowin’ fur todo. You come along 0’ me; an’ the two-legged critter as da’st to put a finger on ye ag’in’ your Say -SO, will “low as how a cyclone has struck him.’ e held out his hand. The girl put hers in his with a sudden confidence in his hearty assur- ances, The posse fell into the rear, and so they set out for the court. But at this moment a man came tearing out of the Terpsichorean Hall, waving a bit of paper frantically above his head, as he caught sight of the marshal and his squad. ‘** Held on, Jim!” he shouted, as he approached breathlessly. ‘*What’s the row now, Tomkins?” asked the marshal, as he recognized one of bis own men, who had been left with Harry to guard the road- agents. “The thing’s off, The boss told me to stop you, make ur break, an’ hyar’s the dockyment fur it. Jim glanced at the peper which was handed to him. It was a hurried line from Colonel Blood, to this effect: ‘* Let up on the girl. The court has granted the postponement. If you have the defendant out of the house when this reaches you, hurry her back, and don’t give away our flank movement. We can’t afford to make any false play in this game of wits.” Jim fairly snorted with disgust. ‘¢ And this is law!” he growled, crumpling the paper in his hands. ‘‘A game of wits between a couple of pettifogging attorneys! I thought we was goin’ fur to put the camp on a square footin’, but hang me ef Judge Lynch don’t beat this. He don’t go sneakin’ around in an’ out o’ back doors, whatever else he may do,” But the attorney was running thething. Jim *’ obeyed orders, if he broke owners,” ** Miss,” said the honest marshal, turning to Miriam, ‘‘i hope you won’t lay this hyar up ag’in’ yer humble sarvent. I’ve tried to do my duty like a square man, but these hyar chaps gits away with me bad /” Jim Gladden’s Deputy. Miriam was only too glad to be returnea to | her home, without having to undergo the ordeal of being dragged into court. As they saw ber led back, Tom and Dick could not forego the temptation to swing their hats and cheer lustily. ‘‘ Fur unadulterated gall,” observed one of the posse, ‘* recommend me to the Three Jolly Pards!” Of course the triumph of Mr. Midge was with the connivance of his brother attorney. In spite of his great show of opposition, which took in the boys, Colonel Blood was careful to make no point that would weigh with the court, When the decision was rendered, Abraham got up and looked about him like one dazed. Rebecca was weeping spasmodically. ‘‘Come, come, my dear!” he said, with his hand on her shoulder. ‘‘Our darling is safe now.” She rose, and together the two tottered from the room, the boys cheering at their tri- umph. ‘* What is this?” hissed Salomans in the ear of his attorney. ‘‘ It is an infamous imposture!” ‘* But it’s all reg’lar,” responded the colonel, placidly. ‘* But what are we to do?” “Come ag’in!” Salomans ground his teeth in impotent rage. **T can’t hang about here all summer!” he muttered to himself. ‘* This thing will make a noise; and who knows but it will bring those accursed [Irishmen down upon me any day?’ But it was useless to “* kick” against the or- dering of the court. The next case was already being called, and the business of ‘‘ justice” flowed on as smoothly as if Isaac Salomans’s for- tunes were of no consequence whatever. “That old scoundrel has three days in which to give me the slip!” reflected the luckless Isaac. ‘* Well, we'll see who wins!” He set his teeth, and walked out of the court with a determined look. ‘*Ta! ta! Call an’ see us later!” jeered one of the miners as he passed, The boys ‘‘caught on” in an instant, and the baffled Israelite was pelted with a perfect hail of chaff. It would not do to fall out with the crowd, so Salomans turned with a good-natured laugh. ‘“This is only the first hand, boys,” he said. “Wait until we throw ’em around again. Meanwhile, I acknowledge the corn. All that can get up to the bar, come and crook your elbows with me for better luck next time.” All that could get to the bar! Who couldn’t? They solved the problem by circling round the room lke a herd of cattle at around-up! In this maneuver not a few ‘‘ crooked their el- bows” more than once, Isaac had a pretty bill to pay, but he had con- quered the crowd once more, After the adjournment of the court for the day, he saw his lawyer. “Tt is only a scheme to gain time for another attempt to run the girl off,” he declared, ‘* No doubt,” admitted the colonel. ‘What are we to do?” ** Watch them.” ** Tt will take men to do that.” ‘*My dear sir, if you had counseled with me before opening the case, I should have given you the same advice I give to every one on the eve of such a step.” ** And that is?” ** Count the cost before you begin!” ‘Hang the cost!” “Ah! If that’s your spirit—and I admire your pluck—you have but to put down your money, and you'll find men ready enough to pick it up.” ** Pl do it.” ** Go in, sir—and win!” Meanwhile, the old people had plucked up strength and courage, as they issued from the stifling air of the court-room into the free mountain breezes outside. Nearing their home, their steps quickened almost into a run. Miriam opened the door even before they laced a hand upon it, and with a stifled cry ea into their arms. ‘* Back! back!” cautioned Abraham, fearful lest she be seen. But the girl had fainted. The long and terri- ble suspense over, she drooped like a broken flower. Her grandparents carried her into the house, and then, clasping her and each other, mingled their tears of relief. ‘Ab! never, never, never leave me alone again!” she breathed, assoon as she could speak. Then, while she clung to both of them with trembling hands, she told them of the ordeal through which she bad passed in solitude, Abraham was greatly disturbed by the dis- covery of their trick, but Mr. Midge, when he appeared, reassured him. | ‘Oh, that’s nothing,” he said, tlandly. ‘‘That’s all in the way of business, you know. I have no doubt there are tricks 1n your trade as well.” Abraham did not see the quiet joke contained in these words. He poured out his gratitude on the attorney, drew forth a money-bag of goodly proportions, and overrode Mr. Midge’s mild pro- tests as he pressed a very respectable fee upon him. Harry felt bound in honor to have no part in the plot to spirit Miriam off, so, when the mat- ter was opened, he took her into the store, leaving the others to arrange it all, in the living room. At this point there came a cautious knock at the back door. Abraham was alarmed, but reassured when he found that it was Tom and Dick. ‘“ Avy ye pl’aze, sor!” said Tom, taking off his cap, and bowing with a scrape of bis foot, “it’s the likes of us as allowed that the two of us wouldn’t be in the way whin it come to plan- ning to run the colleen out o’ this.” ‘In de vay!” cried Abraham, bustling the boys indoors. ‘‘ You vill nefer be in de vay in dis house!” In the store Harry heard the entrance of his pards with a sigh of regret. ‘* Miriam,” he asked, ‘‘can you forgive me for leaving your safety to others?” Seated beside her on a box of stogie boots, he held her hand in his. She had leaned her head against his shoulder with a trusting dependence that charmed him. ‘* Forgife you!” she breathed, ayes, her eyes to his face so that they gleamed in the light that shone through the open door from the other room, ‘‘ You know that my word is pledged to Jim Gladden.” ** Ah, yes!” she answered. After a momentary pause, she went on: “You were reaty to sacrifice your life for me. You do not think I would ask you to gif your honor too? No! no!” Then she dropped her voice, until, even with her lips close to his ear, he could scarcely make out its tremulous accents, as she whispered: ‘‘T vould not lofe you so, if you did not put your honor before efen your lofe for me!” He could not reply in words. But as he ressed her close to bis heart, he swore within himself that while he lived no act of his should make him unworthy of such a counselor, When he could command himself, he ob- ' served: ‘‘T once beard it said that men are what women make them. If you don’t make a noble man of me, Miriam, I must be of mighty poor stock!” CHAPTER XXII. THE JOLLY PARDS’ TRIUMPH. Two days went by. On the last night that the court was to be in Paddy’s Flat, the boys arranged to celebrate its first session by a grand ** blow-out.” Who was the prime mover in this scheme? The outward suggestion came from Dinny Mc- Gee. The idea originated in a close council consisting of the Honorable Mr. Midge and the equally honorable Colonel Blood. ‘Everything is in readiness?” whispered the colonel, at the last moment. ‘* Your obedient servant has had the manage- ment of the case,” ee Mr. Midge, as if that was assurance enough. ‘“The parties are worth milking,” added the colonel, anxiously. ‘‘If we stave off the case now, it is bound to come up again, and that means a double fee.” ‘‘Meanwhile,” pursued Mr, Midge, disposing of the matter in his summary way, ‘‘I have made a discovery.” ‘“A counterplot? Has the scoundrel] tried to steal a march on me, his counsel?” The colonel spoke indignantly, as if this would be very shabby treatment. ‘Cale Burchard and Bowlegged Banty are in the camp,” said Mr. Midge, quietly. Colonel Blood fairly leaped from his seat. ‘* No!” he almost shouted. Mr. Midge smoked on calmly. “The seamps who made the first assault on the defendant,” continued the colonel. “Tf that were all,” answered Mr. Midge, **[ should say nothing about it.” ‘“* Have nae Ms other interest for us?” ‘‘They are in league with your client.” * What?” micbool ae ee heer » % e a = ¢ ‘=