Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 534 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

PO STEP SIS ll nde ‘ ’ " 7, , A om => — — — - —-——>——— ee Nevertheless, he did not seem to feel the least disconcerted, for he deliberately removed all the jewelry from bis person, and laid it upon | the table. ‘‘Now, who will make meadecent offer for the lot?” he demanded, in a cool, calculating tone. ‘* The stones are all perfect, and cost me a round sum of money.” The jewelry then underwent the inspection of Lawrence, Audley and Hair Trigger, ‘Pll give you a hundred dollars for the lot!” Lawrence said. ** You are too liberal to live long!” was John- son’s sarcastic retort. “TPll give two hundred!” was Audley’s offer, ** It’s every cent they’re worth!” “What will you give?” Johnson demanded, turning to Hair Trigger. ‘“‘Do you intend to play me with the money you get for them?” ** You bet!” ‘‘ Well, in that case, in order to let you get some of your money back, I can see five hun- dred dollars in them!” Johnson was about to accept the offer, when a hand reached over his shoulder and seized the jewels, ¥. bile a voice exclaimed: ‘‘ Hold yer hosses, partner! Maybe I kin do a little better than that!” The speaker was no one else than Old Sly Slater, the self-declared Premier Sleuth. Jolly Johnson turned upon him angrily. ‘* Well, [ll swear you’ve got a cargo of cheek,’ he declared, evidently not fancying the detec- tive’s external appearance. ‘‘ Give me those jewels!” ‘*Tut! tut! don’t get sassy, young man,” was Slater’s complacent answer. ‘“ | jest want ter appraise the value of these gewgaws, fer I’m aconnoissewer in diamonds. I’ve worn better’n these myself, tho’ [ dosay et. Ill give yer their full value—eight hundred!” ‘“They’re yours,” Johnson said, quickly. ‘* Produce your lucre.” Without further remark the Premier thrust the jewelry into one capacious pocket of his - trowsers, while, from another, he drew a large »wad of greenbacks, and counted out the sum of his offer in one-hundred-dollar bills upon the —— ee — ** None better, with a revolver, around these ‘ere parts!” the gambler replied, proudly. ‘* Thet’s sayin’ a good deal, by thunder. Kin ye snuff a candle?” ‘* Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, at forty paces, sir. Have doneit!” DVve even shot the eye-winkers off a mule, at a hundred yards, and never hurt the mule,” “Phew! That’s the biggest lie I’ve heard since Jonah swallowed the whale. Say, now, supposin’ [ was to stand at fifty—could ye send a bullet plum through the center of my heart, or in other words the spot where the pulsation is always the strongest.” ‘*T reckon I could!” ‘* Tl bet ye can’t!” “ What!” ‘*T say, I bet ye can’t put a bullet plum through my heart, in the center. For instance, I will illustrate: Dll take this ace of hearts from the table, and place it upon my breast, un- derneath my shirt, so that the ace spot rests di- rectly over the pulsating spot of my heart, ‘‘l will then button up my shirt, and give youa chance to put a bullet through my heart, ai fifty paces, and bet you one thousand dollars against what you won from Jolly Johnson, that you can’t do it, In order to win, you must pass the bullet directly through the ace spot in the card, and into is 3 heart. If you lose you must give back to Johnson what you won from him, Now, sir, aire ita bargain, or not?” — ‘*Bah! what are you givin’ me?’ Hair Trig- ger growled. ‘'D’ye think ye can stuff me up wi’ sech a fake that you dare stand the trial?” ‘**[’m you’re man, as soon as ther bet aire set- tled. DVmagamecock from Jumpin’-Off Place, and you kin bet I never purposes anything I’m afeard to back up!” ‘* Well, then, one thing is sure. You've got suthin’ besides the card over yer heart, to pre- vent the bullet from entering it!” ‘* Nothing. As proof of this, after. you have fired, [ will expose my breast so you can all see that I neither wear mail, a shield, or any other protection except the ordinary clothing you see on me at the present minnit!” The crowd which had grown dense, exchanged glances of utter amazement. They were dum- ee ee Deadwood Dick’s Death unt. 3 -— liberately paced off the agreed distance, and turning once more faced, what to the crowd, seemed certain death. He was entirely self-possessed, and seemed to be devoid of fear. As for Hair Trigger, he drew and cocked one of his revolvers, and when Sly upraised his arm, the dead-shot of Red Dog took deliberate aim, He was noted far and wide, as a man of steady nerve, who had made some of the won- drous pistol-shots with which he was ac- credited. But, as he faced Old Slater, the keen-eyed ones of the audience noticed that his band was unsteady, and that fact gave them a thrill of horror |! A strange scene it was—a terrible moment of suspense, during which the crowd scarce drew @& breath, for very fear of diverting the attention of the actors in the singular drama, Then— the detective’s afm dropped quickly to his side! At almost that instant Hair Trigger fired and the report of his weapon rung like a knell of doom, through the room. Every eye centered upon the Premier Sleuth, He was seen to reel and stagger in a vain at- tempt to keep’ his equilibrium. He was seen to thrust his hand into his bosom and draw forth a card, and drop it. Then he fell like a log to the floor, insensible. Among the first to reach his side were Jolly Johnson and Hair Trigger. The former knelt down and tore open the detective’s shirt, while the latter picked up the playing-card, It was the same card he had given the adven- turous Jetective, and, sure enough, the red ace- spot in the center had been punctured by a bul- let or some otber round instrument, As for Sly Slater, no bullet had penetrated his breast, at all, the only sign that he had been hit, being a faint red spot directly over the eart. Nor could any trace be found of any shield or plate that had stayed the force of the bullet. came in a chorus from the crowd, ere. founded, that any man should so foolishly tempt ‘*No! he is not hurt at all—only stunned!” ‘*' There ye aire, young man!” he said, ‘‘an’ ef | certain death, replied Jolly Johnson, ‘‘ Back! Stop crowding you’ve got half ther grit yer dad had before Hair Trigger seemed no less astonished than | around, you fools! Give the man a chance to 7 ee ed & the table, from whic you, you'll sailin and skin the socks off’m the chap wi’ the pop.” “Have a care, sir, how you refer. to me,” Hair Trigger cried, scowlingly. ‘The pop you see here has killed better men than you are. I’m a dead shot, and my name is Hair Trigger,” ‘Sho! ye don’t say,” retorted Slater. ** Why, gol durn it, Mr. Hairy Trigger, I wouldn’t be afeard ter bet ten cents to a tarant’ler, thet ye can’t bit a sheap’s pelt tacked ag’in’ a barn door! Howsomever, go ahead with yer game, an’ if ye beat young Jobnson, Pll give ye a chance to show what kind o’ a shot ye aire, sure’s my name is Old Sly Slater!” Hair Trigger made no response, and the game recommenced, — However, during the turned and addressed O terested looker-on. ‘* Excuse me, sir,” Jolly: said, ‘‘ but you made “rb to my father. What do you know of ‘*More than you do yourself, I opine, me laying, Jolly Johnson ly, who was an in- O aL eCWhen did you see him last?” ‘Less than a month ago. But go on with your keerds, Lots o’ time fer you to talk of the old man arter you win back some of the money you’ve lost.” Jolly nodded, and turned his attention fully Hair Trigger had not yet the audience at large. ‘‘And you mean to tell me you mean busi- ness, and will bet me one thousand to the three I won from Johnson?” he demanded, ‘*That you can’t put a bullet into my heart through the ace-spot of hearts, yes /” ‘*Then, ’m your man, Put up your money in Pat Kelly’s hands!” This was immediately done, after which.the oe ordered that every door and window of the saloon be locked! ' CHAPTER IIL. THE TERRIBLE TEST—OLD SLY UNMASKED, NEVER in the history of Red Dog had a more excited assemblage been packed together, than the audience now assembled within the walls of the Jockey Saloon. While there were plenty who were eager to witness the novel tragedy there were some who were loud in their protests against the act, pro- viding, as he claimed, the Premier detective wore no shield to arrest the deadly bullet, But, Old Sly Slater only laughed, good-natur- | edly, and gave orders that the crowd get to either side of the room, leaving ‘a lane and the ends clear. This was done, and then both the detective and the dead-shot approached the table. ‘* All is in readiness!” Slater said, coolly, Sly replied. air Trigger then made a mark upon the ace breathe, and he will soon be all right!” ‘* But what stopped the bullet?’ urged the crowd, , ‘*That’s more than [can tell you. There is no sign of mail, shield or plate that could have arrested the ball. The only evidence that the man was hit is a red spot over the heart. Blood, even, has not been drawn, nor is the skin abraded.” ‘* Pshaw! et’s all a humbug!” yelled a miner. “ Hair Trigger fired a blank cartridge!” ‘*Yowre a liar!” cried Hair Trigger, holding the punctured card so all could see it. ‘I hit rs mark plum, and heer’s the ticket that proves i 3 While the crowd were staring in amazement at the unmistakable evidence that a bullet really had been fired, Old Sly opened his eyes, and sprung nimbly to bis feet, bis countenance ex- panded into a broad grin. : , ‘* Whew! that air bullet come nigh makin’ me fergit whether [ was afoot or on horseback, darm me ef it didn’t! Wonder whar the pesky thing went to, anyhow?” : He shock his garments several times, when, lo, and behold! the bullet rolled out of one of his trowsers’ legs upon the floor, ‘“ Ha! ha! Thar she am, an’ not even flat- tened!” the Premier cried, holding the leaden death-messenger up in plain view betweem his to the game. “e°9 ‘¢ and there is no use of waiting, or keepin’ our | thumb and forefinger. ‘* Ye see, me gentle _ But ill-fate seemed to hold him in an icy | ristocratik audience in suspense. There is an ace | galoots, ef thar had been anything bu’ my grasp, for he lost pot after pot, until Hair Trig- | of hearts, Take it, and make some plain pecu- | tough old heart to stop the bullet, et would have ger held the whole eight hundred dollars, liar mark upon it, by which you will know it | been flattened like’a pancake. Ah! I see; the w - He then arose from the table, with rather a | when you see it again. I will then place the | keerd here war hit true, sure enuff. Hair oe ghastly attempt at a smile, and was abou to | ace spot directly over my heart, measure off | Trigger, old socks, youre a wc and no mis-. > eave the room, when Old Sly grasped him by | twenty paces, aud count twenty, whereupon I | take. Thar’s no lies on yer aim. I say, boys, oo 4 tne shoulder, and said: am to let my upraised hand fall to my side. At | 8’ we all unite in moistening our meat- ie ‘Hold up, young man! Don’t go off an’ butt | this signal, you are to fire. But it is to be un- | swallowers.” --—s yer brains out. Jest wait a bit, and Ill win | derstood that you are to treat me honorably, The crowd Sb a cheer, and made a precipi- _ your money back for you.” =|. and not attempt to shoot me anywhere else, | tate rush for the bar, to get first place, ‘dt V ‘* You will? Pshaw, no one can win against | than directly through the heart!” It would be a ‘col day” indeed, ‘when *S that devil’s luck.” i eootly. I do not seek esp life, seg 5 they Told ap aes Hee to mete eee ‘a ‘¢ But I kin, ve aD) ier Sleuth de- | YOu bave drawn me into the scrape, I mean _ * Hold air irigger , ~~ ie a rod, “Vou in oat igo and Jt] | See it through, and shall go strictly in accor- | ing close to Old Sly, his face clouded witha ae : th i a mpeg Fl dance with your directions!” sullen expression, ‘‘I acknowledge that you mare POV OU: STE ne ‘“* Very well, sir, that is all I can ask of you!” | did as you bragged, and in some wa . The uncouth str nich E then stepped forward to ak ; us all. How you did it I don’t pretend to know, But, there was some deviltry about it, or you'd. ‘Ts he dead—is he killed?” were the cries that Baan ge eel ‘ oo |, | of Soi after which the detective placed it in | beadead man. There is one you have _--—- ** $0 -you’re some on the shute, aire ye, part- som, and buttoned up his sh mot deceived me in, however, and I think I can w 4 ° ° P . sy ner? Old Sly queried. Bidding Hair Trigger get ready, he then de- | prove it to your satisfaction. ‘ Ls i NA che” ree | Tag ° xy? ae. yay - igre pines ; Fe. by a ale ih a Spee ad 4 Ky Woy ct gee Tits Fo ‘ hdl pect’, es eg Wb) RYE aes iy Ciths ert gay . 0 OAS he ae Ay eA eA nate ys ae es Pec: ' A | O eryexve