Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 523 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 The Dandv Sport. mob massed themselves and rushed upon their victim in an irresistible body. ‘* Down with ther ’tarnal hound!” they yelled. ‘Kill him! String him ter ther nearest tree!” Firmly clutching his trusty weapon, Algernon Arnold braced himself to meet the terrible on- set. But it came not! At this critical period, be- fore his finger could press the trigger, the door flew open, and in rushed Cool Carl. sé Hold 1"? 1 As though by magic, every man paused, as the stern voice of the gambler rung through the room. ‘‘ What the deuce does this fandango mean?” demanded Cool Carl, angrily. ‘‘ You, Sandy Sam, hurry up an’ explain. What’s this poor devil been doing, that you should turn my es- tablishment into a slaughter-house?” ‘* Wal, sir, the facts are this,” the miner in- dicated hastened to explain. ‘‘ This feller drove ther stage inter camp last night, an’ said as how they had been tipped over, an’ Rocky Tom ’d gone over inter Satan’s Kettle. Waal, we tuk a notion ter go.an’ find Tom, an’ give his cadaver a sorter Christian-like burial, so we sot out early this mornin.’ ‘We found Rocky Tom at last, pretty well broke up; but we bolstered him up with bug- juice, an’ kept life in him ontil be told us how it happened. e said es how a ’tarnal whipper- snapper ov er dood, which same is ther cuss over yonder, was a-ridin’ on ther box with him. The chap war mad ’cause Tom wouldn’t drive to suit him, an’ pushed him off ther seat when he warn’t a-lookin’. ‘“ Thai’s what Rocky Tom tole us, an’ he begged us with his dyin’ breath to avenge his death. An’ we wuz just a-goin’ ter do it when youcum’in. Eh, boys?” “Ay! He killed Rocky Tom, an’ he must swing for it,” said a voice; and a threatening murmur arose from the eager mob. But, with a wave of his hand, Cool Carl quelled the rising tumult. ‘* Silence!” be commanded, ‘‘ Now, then,” turning to Arnold, ‘‘ what is your answer to this accusation?” ‘‘ Simply that it is a villainous lie,” cried the young man, panos ** The accident occurred precisely as I have related; and if Rocky Tom made that statement, he did so out of pure malice, and with the knowledge that every word was false.” ‘* Well, boys,” said the gambler, once more addressing the crowd, ‘‘ you hear the stranger’s denial. ocky Tom accuses and the other de- nies, and thus the matter stands. It is simply one man’s word egainst another’s—one of them has lied. Which? It is your business to find that out first, not to jump at conclusions, and string up a perhaps innocent man. ** Now, let’s proceed sensibly with this affair. Let twelve good men be selected as jurors, to discuss this case and decide it on its merits. If the young man be found guilty, let him hang; if, on the contrary, the court decides him inno- cent, then he shall go free, Fair play is my motto, and every man shall have it as long as I’m boss of the camp. ‘‘ Are you in accordance with my idea?” For a moment there was silence: then arose a mighty yell that nearly raised the roof off the building. is Coal Carl is boss—hooray for the King-Pin of Canyon City!” Great indeed was the gambler’s influence over that wild western rabble. By a few words he had accomplished what half a hundred armed men might have tried in vain, and Algernon Arnold could but feel that he owed his life to the interference of Cool Carl. True, there were some of the more belligerent who were dissatisfied at the result; but not a dissenting murmur was heard, for the gambler’s word was lav. ‘¢Tn the mean time,” went on the latter, now addressing the cause of the disturbance, ‘‘ vou will please consider yourself a prisoner. You shall be treated well, you have my word for that; and, as for the final result, if you are in- nocent you need have no fear.” Arnold was fully alive to the embarrassing situation in which he was placed. It wassim- ply foolhardiness to attempt to resist the entire town’s population; while if he surrendered, with the leading spirit of the camp on hand to see fair play, be had no doubt of his ability to clear himself of the crime of which he was so wrong- fully accused. Prudence urged the latter course, and the young man lowered his weapons without further delay. ‘*T surrender to you, sir,” he said, ‘‘ with the request that you put the business through as SSS ‘‘ Gentlemen, I am pleased that you should let looked upon as a murderer, and the sooner my skirts are cleared of suspicion, the better it will suit me.” Acting under orders from Cool Carl, two men disarmed the sport and escorted him from the of the camp. There he was left, the rattle of bolts inform- ing him that he was a close prisoner. Here’s a pretty how-d’ye do!” grumbled Arnold, as he threw himself tpon the floor; but his iron nature was not to be: greatly disturbed by even this dangerous state of affairs, and he proceeded to await the verdict with philosophi- cal indifference. Peering through a chink in the wall, the young men surrounded the hut, ready to frus- trate any attempt he might make to escape. Other buildings obstructed the view of the Miners’ Home, but the subdued hum of excited voices reached his ears, and told him that the Canyon Cityites were having an earnest dis- cussion. At first young Arnold was. inclined to laugh at the wuole affair, regarding it a huge joke, as he thought how ridiculous was the charge against him; but asthe afternoon wore on, he began to grow uneasy in spite of his assurance. He was not wholly ignorant of the uncer- tainty of public sentiment among the mines, nor of the excessively practical ideas of justice in vogue. Therefore, it was with feelings of fast increasing anxiety that the Dandy Sport watched and waited. The afternoon had passed and the shades of night were fast falling, when the tramp of ap- proaching feet informed the impatient prisoner that the time was at hand. The door was unfastened, and a rough voice ordered him to come forth; as he did so, he found himself in the presence of half a dozen miners. ‘*Well, how is it?’ demanded Algernon, eagerly. ‘‘AmI guilty or not guilty?” ‘Dunno! We war app’inted a commitiee ter fetch ye over ter the Miners’ Home. The boys are a-waitin’ fer ye thar. Cum along!” Arnold followed without the least hesitation, and upon re-entering the saloon found the place fairly packed, nearly the entire town’s popula- tion being centered there. Cool Carl had disappeared, and in his place Sandy Sam, the miner, posed as master of ceremonies, As the prisoner made his appearance, Sandy Sam mounted the bar and motioned the noisy crowd to silence. ‘¢ Prisoner at the bar,” he began, impressive- ly, *‘ this hyar body of concentrated intelligence has deliberated upon your case, and is now pre- pared to give its decision. While we cannot fully prove that you caused ther death ov Rocky Tom, yet we know that you hev b’en ther cause OV more rumpus since ye cum ter town, than bez happened before fur a month. Therefore, we hev cum to ther conclusion that you are althogether too rich fer our blood, an’ that Canyon City ‘ll manage ter git along with- out ther pleasure ov yer Company. So, Mister What’s-ye -name, you are hereby acquitted, on condition that you leave the camp at once, never to return toit. If you are found within the limits of Canyon City to-morrow at daybreak, indications p’int to you as an active participant in er necktie picnic. Thar's the door!” Algernon Arnold listened to the verdict with apparent unconcern. Greatly surprised and chagrined, yet he managed to conceal his true feelings most effectually, and as Sandy Sam finished speaking he smiled serenely on the de- lighted assembly. — me cff so easy,” be said, sarcastically, “and I assure you [I shall not forget your kindness. Perchance the time May come when you will be sorry for having turned an inoffensive stranger from your camp; but I bear no malice, and will at once relieve you of my unwelcome pres- ence, Au revoir!” Amid the laughs and jeers of the crowd, the Dandy Sport advanced deliberately to the door, lifted his hat with mock courtesy, then went from the Miners’ Home—an exile. CHAPTER V. COOL CARL’s SCHEME. Ware Algernon Arnold was \languishing in his temporary prison, and the excited citizens diseussing the situation, Cool Carl the gambler quietly stole away from the crowd, and made his way straight to the ‘‘ Pick and Shovel.” A man was seated vpon tbe rudt yeranda rapidly as possible. ‘T am not used to being saloon to a strongly-built cabin near the center | had given up all hope of secing that was the pride and boast of the establish- ment; it was Reginald Ray, and as the ‘‘ king” of Canyon City approached he started to his feet with a cry of recognition. ** Ah, Reggy, old boy, so you have come at last,” said Cool Carl, suavely. ‘ ‘Pon honor, I ou. ‘* And it seems to me you had but little desire to do so, judging from your punctuality in call- ing. I have been in town since last night, and this is the first I have seen of you.” ‘¢ A million pardons, my dear Reggy. Really, I have been so pres ed with business, that this is the first opportunity I have bad. Hope you will excuse me this time!” ** Well, now that you have come, let us pro- ceed to business at once,” said the New Yorker, eagerly. ‘‘Tinfer from your message that you have wonderful news in store for me.” Cool Carl’s eyes twinkled merrily. ‘* That I have, Reggy,” he replied, ** But first let us seek a spot more adapted to secrecy than this. Whatl have to say is intended for your private ear alone.” The two left the veranda and moved away, finally seating themselves upon a mossy bowlder on the outskirts of the camp. ‘* Now,” said the merchant, ‘‘I am all atten- tion. Whatis the big bonanza of which you hinted? Pray make haste and explain mat- ters.’ ‘““The “boss of the camp” smiled strangely. ‘“Have patience, old pard,” he exclaimed, ‘and you shall know everything in good time, I know you believe there’s something rich in store for you from the alacrity with which you obeyed my summons. You brought the girl, Rachel, I suppose?” ‘* Yes: but what has my niece to do with the matter?” ‘* Everything,” responded the gambler, lacon- ically, anda curious glitter, unobserved by the other, lighted his dark orbs, ‘‘ Everything, my dear Reggy!” ‘7 do not understand you,” declared Ray. ** What mean you?” ‘*Tisten, and I will make everything plain! But first, let it be understood that there shall be no disagreement between us. We know each other well. I am a scoundrel, [ll admit, but you are a greater one, Reginald Ray!” The New Yorker started, and his face grew ashy pale. ‘* What nonsense is this, Carleton?’ he cried. ‘* What on earth are you coming at?” Cool Carleton smiled sardonically. ‘“‘Do you forget the past?’ he demanded, sternly. ‘Listen, then, while I refresh your memory.” | **Go on!” “As you well know, Reggy, this is not the first time you have visited this region. Twent long years ago, or nearly, we stood upon this very spot together, when the land was but a wilderness, and our only companions were the wolves and coyotes. You had a brother then; where is he now? Speak! Where is Robert Ray?” The merchant had buried his head in his hands, and his whole frame was quivering like an aspen. ’ ‘ “Stop, Carleton,” he cried, ‘For Heayen’s sake don’t bring up the awful past. God knows my conscience has troubled me enough since that night. ‘Say no more about it, Carleton.” ‘‘Tet me finish my narrative, Reggy,” con- tinued the gambler, with a fiendish grin. “T see your memory has not failed you ofter all these years, and nothing gives me more pleasure than to talk over the past with the friends of my youth. “To resume: Twenty years 4£0 you, with your brother, came to this country, lured from your Eastern homes by the same prospects of wealth that attracted thousands of others, Your brother, Robert, brought with him his wife and babe. Leaving them at Denver, he accom- panied us on a prospecting trip into the moun- tains. Here, in what 18 now Canyon City, We struck it rich. “You know what followed, One day you quarreled with your brother; soon after, he Was lucky enough to turn up an enormous nugget, worth a fortune. By right of discovery, 1 be- longed to him, only; but filled with a fierce ha- tred, you conspired with me to rob him of his treasure. We set upon him one dark night, down in yonder gulch, and in the scrimmage Robert Ray Was pushed over the precipice. His bones are turned to dust at the bottom of Satan’s Kettle, and yours, Reggy, was the hand that sent him to death!” ‘‘Tt’s false! You pushed him over yourself, Cool Carl.” * comicbool a Fees =