Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 523 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

$$ vile tobaceo, and coarse oaths and jests re- sounded on every hand, The Dandy Sport. ery, and for the next minute naught was heard save the clinking of glasses and the gurgle of It was a scene wild and picturesque, yet one | liquor down thirsty throats. to be seen in any mining-town; but to Algernon Arnold fresh from the polished society of the | East, it was fraught with much that was strange and interesting. . As Algernon Arnold and Tommy the Kid en- tered the Miners’ Home, they were met by a per af son inthe act of leaving the place. The touched the arm of his com ion, ““That’s him—that’s Cool Carl,” he whis- pered. Our friend regarded the gambler with con- siderable interest, He was a tall, muscular man of five-and- forty, with the frame of a gladiator, and a face whose expression resembled that of a sleepin tiger, indicative of the most malignant hatre when once aroused to anger, A mass of long, jetty hair fell from beneath his jaunty slouch hat and hung about his neck; a pair of piercing eyes twinkled shrewdly from under shaggy brows, while a piratical mus- tache, long and sweeping, went to increase the fierce expression of his swarthy countenance. He was attired in new and expensive garments, and a small fortune in the shape of jewelry flashed in the brilliant licht. Cool Carl came down the floor with the haughty bearing of one Gonscious of his own su- remacy, and passed through the door, bestow- ing as he did so, a half-curious, bhalf-contemp- eu glance upon the young dandy from the ast. The latter, not in the least abashed, returned the stare with interest. . “So that is Cool Carleton, the King-Pin of Canyon City!” be thought. ‘‘ Surely, Reginald Ray can be noanyel if he has relations with a man of his stamp. One look into the gambler’s face tells me that he is capable of almost any crime. But look out, Cool Carl. Be your in- tentions good or ill, Pve got my eye on you!” CHAPTER IV. EXILED. ALGERNON ARNOLD presented an appear- ance the like of which was rarely seen in a Wes- tern camp, and when the young man entered the saloon he immediately became the cyn- osure of alleyes; while at the same time the rough-and-ready crowd assembled there pro- ceeded to make him the target for a running fire of remarks, all of them more or less uncom- plimentary. *¢ What is it?” ** A scarecrow—” “Er a tailor’s dummy—” ** Er maobe it’s er New York alderman in dis- guise.” ' ** Does yer mammy know ye’r’ out?” ** Poke him with a stick, somebody, an’ see if he’ll jump.” ‘*Sa-ay, Tommy, whar’d ye find it, anyway?’ And countless other remarks, all spoken at ones in a manner more forcible than elegant, as- sailed the ears of the Dandy Sport, who, stand- ing in the middle of the floor, careles ly twirled his dainty cane as ho listened to the Babel of face. “Gentlemen,” he said, as soon as the chat- ter had in a@ measure subsided, ‘‘I see by your demonstrations that you are glad to see me, It gives me great pleasure to be so heartily welcomed to your thriving city.” Then, waving his hand toward the bar, Ar- nola concluded: “Friends, I don’t indulge myself; but won’t you condescend to irrigate at my expense?” The Dandy spoke witha nonchalance that was refreshing, and, as he finished, tossed a bill of large denomination at the open-mouthed bar- keeper. For a moment silence reigned so deep that a falling pin might have been plainly heard. The Easterner’s response to their jeers and laughter wa; so strange and unexpected to the Canyon Cityites, that for a space it fairly took their breath away. Nothing can appeal so directly to the better sent in rece TE ell pleased at the result, young Arnold lean- ed against the wall and was complacently re- garding the scene, when suddenly the door flew open with a bang, and a new-comer rushed noisily into the Miners’ Home. Ragged, unshorn .and dirty, he was a good specimen of the genus bummer; but he possessed the frame of a giant, and his arms were like sledge-hammers. He could safely be set down as a tough customer to handle. ‘‘ Jernsalem! Hyar cums Pretty Paul, ther fightin’-cock,” whispered Tommy the Kid, as the ruffian burst into the room like a miniature whirlwind. ‘* He’s a holy terror when he once gets started, an’ nobody in camp dares say ‘ boo’ ter him, ‘cept Cool Carl. He’s chock-full o’ tanglefoot, so lay low and look out fer fun.” Pretty Paul pranced over the floor with the air of one who felt his own importance; he had in his naturally quarrelsome nature. ‘* Hooray, boys!” he bellowed. ‘*Hyar I cum, Pretty Paul, the lord high executioner o’ Canyon City, an’-— Hello! Ha, ha, ha! ho, ho! knowed the circus hed cum ter town.” The last of the bully’s speech was caused by ed, with arms akimbo and face indicative of ludicrous astonishment. up; how bad ther ole man must feel ter lose this specimen. Say, sonny,” as the subject of bis discourse, wholly unconcerned, continued to face him with an icy stare, ‘‘ wake up an’ say some- Pretty Paul, ther king-pin o’ this hyar camp, an’ when I condescend ter talk to a kid, he’s gotter answer civil.” A titter ran through the assembled throng. Knowing the ruffian as they did, they antici- pated considerable amusement at the dandy ten- derfoot’s expense. As for Algernon Arnold, he paid not the the fact exasperated Pretty Paul. ‘*Durn yer skin, yer stuck-up corner statue!” he howled. ‘* ll make yer move!” youth from the East. time to prevent the filthy mess from splashing his immaculate shirt-front. There was a flash in the eyes of Algernon that boded ill to the king-pin. Up went his arm, with the supple ratan cane, and the next in- stant the stick, swishing viciously through the nomy. upon his cheek where the stick had struck; and from the crowd went up a murmur of astonish- ment, not unmixed with delight, for there was ; i of | not much love lost for Pretty Paul in that voices with an amused expression upon his | crowd. His ugly, quarrelsome spirit made him disliked as well as feared by many outside his own clique, and these took secret de:ight in his dis- comfiture, With a terrible oath the ruffian rushed for- ward, the devil in his nature aroused, deter- mined to seize the daring youth in his powerful arms and crush out his life. Those who were acquainted with the giant’s tactics, noted the contrast between the two, and | looked for the instant annihilation of the pre- sumptuous Dandy, But the young man with the cane lightly leaped aside, and once more the ratan came down on Pretty Paul’s visage, eliciting another howl. Then ensued ascrimmage that afforded great amusement to the crowd of excited lookers-on. es Time and again did the infuriated king-pin dash blindly at his antagonist, striving to reach him with his long arms; but all his efforts side of a Westerner’s nature as an invitation to: proved fruitless. * drink. non adopted the most fortunate course possible, and instantly the tide of popular sentiment changed from ridicule to admiration. It did not take the Miners Jong to recover from their surprise, and that they had no scru- ples about accepting Arnold’s invitation was Whether by accident or design, Alger- | Every time he was met by a shower of sharp, quick blows upon his head and neck, that stung and smarted as from the lash of a whip, while Algernon danced around him with the agility of | 5. Squirrel, seemingly enjoying his novel exer- i Ie For a few moments the scene was as exciting shown by the alacrity with which the crowd | as the Miners’ Home ever witnessed. Pretty swarmed around the bar. “Hooray for ther dood!” was the universal | Paul yelled and cursed as the blows fel] thicker and faster, the spectators shouted in high glee, sight of the dude, before whom Pretty Paul halt- | while little Tommy the Kid could only stare at his new-made friend in speechless amazement. ‘*Wal, this is jest rich,” the youngster told himself. ‘‘ Hyar’s this feller, a reg’lar, out-an’- out, sickly-looking dood; but now jest gaze on ther beautiful way he’s a-doin’ up ther fightin’ cock! Hang me fer a Chinaman, but I don’t understand it!” Neither did the other on-lookers, but it was plain to the dullest mind, after a minute had elapsed, that the Dandy Sport had his big ad- versary completely at his ae oe Just then, however, a badly-directed blow caught the ruffian upon the elbow, with a force that shattered the cane and left the young man empty-handed, A cry of triumph pealed from the bully’s throat as he saw His foe thus disarmed, and he mado a final effort to improve his advantage; but Arnold had other weapons left, and hs | speedily demonstrated his ability to use them. Ho, | Am I awake or am I dreamin’/—am I | his equilibrium, then fell to the hyar, oram [summers else? Pards, what d’ye | crash that shook the building, lying there breath- call this?—a monkey in clothes? Hang me if I | less and half-stunned by the | i thin’, I’d have yer know, young feller, that ['m | Avoiding the bruiser’s rush with difficulty, he been drinking—enough to fully arouse the devil | dashed in and planted his fist under his ear with all the force he could muster. It was a terrific blow, and delivered in the rigbt spot. Pretty Paul staggered, reeled to one side, made an ineffectual attempt to recover oor with a low, To say that the Canyon Cityites were sur- prised at the result of the novel encounter, would be to but inadequately express their feel- ings. But the truth was undeniable. The invincible ‘‘Barnum ougbter keep his curiosities chained | king-pin had met his match at last—completely knocked out by a meek-looking tenderfoot. However, the programme for this eventful day was by no means over; more trouble was in store for the plucky young sport. Scarce'y had Pretty Paul struck the floor, and before any one could speak or move to raise the fallen ruffian, the tramping of heavy feet was | heard outside, and a crowd of miners came surg- ing into the saloon. | | Algernon Arnold, standing near the door, was the first to meet their view. “There he is, boys—that’s him!” shouted the foremost man, a rough and bearded moun- slightest attention to his stalwart interlocutor; ; taineer, as he pointed at the dandy dude, ‘ For- ward, pards, an’ corral ther cowardly skunk!” With a yell the gang rushed toward the sport, who stood irresolute at this new turn of Deliberately the ruftian squirted about half a | affairs, pint of tobacco-juice straight at the head of the | Only for an instant did the young man lose | his self-possession; the next, he had placed him- The latter sprung nimbly back, but not in | self back to the wall, and with a revolver in either band, faced tue threatening mob. | air, fell square upon Pretty Paul’s ugly physiog- | ‘‘Stand back there, gentlemen! Don’t ad- vance another step, or some of you will pay the penalty!” ll His voice rung out clearly and distinctly, and it struck the men who heard it that there was danger in the quiet tenderfoot, who handled | his pair of “sixes” in a way that meant busi- The boss bruiser leaped three feet into the | air, with a loud yell, a livid welt appearing | ness, At the same time, Tommy the Kid placed himself by the side of his friend, valiantly flourishing his pistols, while the other occupants _ of the saloon looked on, too surprised to lift a | | | | hand for either side, The sport’s belligerent attitude was not with- out effect. Death lurked in those grim revol- vers, and, though the cdds were greatly in the assailants’ favor, it. was certain that some of Seen eaner must fall ere the youth was cap- ured. Discreetly they paused half-way, glaring like pemisned wolves at the young Man who stood at ay. Arnold, however, was cool as an iceberg, as he confronted the angry mob, ‘¢ Gentlemen,” he began, and his voice had not the slightest tremor, ‘‘ before you chew me up piecemeal, won’t you please inform me what { have done to warrant this warlike demonstra- ‘tion? If you will kindly condescend to enlighten my mind upon the subject, I will be infinitely | obliged to you.” ‘You'll find it out soon enuff, young feller,” retorted the leader of the party; then turning to the crowd, he continued: . ** Feller-citizens, I, accuse this man ov mur- derin’ our pard, Rocky Tom, an’ I calls on ye ter assist in his captur’.” At this startling announcement, the habitues of the Miner’s Home roused as if they had re- ceived an electric shock. Rocky Tom, the lost stage-driver, was a prime favorite with all, and the words of Sandy Sam had the immediate ef- _ fect of changing their friendly feeling to that of intense hatred to the youth who bad knocked Pretty Paul. Transformed into veritable de- mons by the thirst for vengeance, tho howling” f comicbooks.. we