Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 544 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 “You lie, blame you! I was not drunk, I was at the theater, and she came out and begun to sing—she—my child—my Stella! She see’d me the same minute I see’d her, and we both gave a cry of recognition. Then, I see’d her throw up her arms and fall, and—I—I guess l collapsed myself!” “That’s precisely what you did, old man, and now if you'll promise to lie here quiet, Vl hasten to the hall and see if I can tind this singer |” * Allright, my boy, only hurry up before she has time to escape!” Vidoeq lost no time in leaving the hotel, and hurrying to the concert hall, which he found just closing up. ‘“*I want to see Edna Earl, the girl that fainted!” he said, collaring the manager, **'W here will I find her?” ** Haven’t the slightest idea, sir.” ** Don’t you know where she lives?” “No! She’s a new hand.” | ** Will she appear again to-morrow night?” ‘*Reckon not. I paid her off, and told her to skip. Iain’t er-goin’ to have no faintin’ busi- ness nor any mystery on my stage, now you can bet!” Vidocg felt at the moment as if he would like to give that noble manager a chance to faint, but wisely concluded to postpone the ceremony until some other time. So nothing was ieft him but to return to the hotel, and break the sad information to Uncle Si, that Edna Earl could not be found, On hearing this the old gent blubbered out- right, and for a time, was inconsolable, but Vidocg finally quieted him down with the doubt- ful probability that he would be able to find the songstress in the morning, as no stage left camp between until then, And so the matter had to rest. CHAPTER VI. THE DWARF’S MISSION, UnciE Srias SLOAT’S visit to the residence of Charles Covington, had: not been productive of any good, evidently, so far as concerned the latter’s peace of mind, for that evening, after the old Vermonter’s departure, Covington sat in the library of his well-furnished house, a scowl upon his face that betokened bad humor. ‘““Yes, the old cuss is here!” he muttered, ‘‘ and something has got to be done. That he is here for a purpose, is beyond question, or else he would not have that nimble-fisted detective in hisemploy. The very fact that my efforts to pump him were unavailing, conclusively proves that the detective has put him on his guard, and learned him the lesson of the wary. ‘* This fellow, Vidocq, is no doubt as sharp as arazor, but if he getsin my way, he will wish he was never born, curse him! It may not be me they are figuring for. Anyhow, I have played my part well, so far, and I don’t believe a suspicion has been aroused against me, [ll continue to soft-soap the old verdant for awhile, until [see what racket the detective is up to; then, I'll put on the thumb-screws! Ha! the deuce!” j The latter exclamation was caused by the discovery that he was not alone. Standing just within the room, was a person whom he appeared to recognize, and yet had not expected to see. This man was Hero Hicks, the dwarf, and there wasa hideous grin upon his ugly coun- tenance as he noted the rich man’s surprise, ‘*No, et ain’t the devil, Mister Covington— tho’ mebbe ['d look like his satanic majesty’s double if I had the horns and tail! You seem surprised to see me!” Covington smothered an imprecation, and drawing a self-cocking revolver, laid it upon the table beside him. ‘*Sit down!” he ordered. here?” **Oh! a force of circumstances over which I had no control. My hand got tangled up in the halter of a hoss, and I couldn’t get it free, and so the hoss and I made it up together to elope. That’s all. Besides, your dutiful brother, in his pilgrimage of over a year, has gathered up some valuable information which you might desire to possess!” Covington turned a shade paler. ‘What do you mean?” he demanded sharply. + Ob! I was simply referring to that robbery ou— Here the dwarf suddenly paused, for the re- volver was outstretched, on a level with his heart, ‘* Satan seize you!” Covington cried. ‘Dare to utter those words again and I'll murder ** What brings you Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocq. a you! DPvea good mind to put a bullet through | your cowarily heart, as it is!” Hicks laughed, defiantly. ‘*Go ahead and do 1t! I dare you! When I die, you’re doomed! I bave you in my power, beloved brother, an’ ye know et, too, and if it wasn’t fer the bloodhounds of the law I would have had you by the throat, long ere this!” He spoke with the savage earnestness of one who full well knew the mastery he held. And Charles Covington realized the threat implied, for he laid down his revolver. ‘*Oh! well, let it drop,” he growled. ‘‘ I’ve nothing special against you, only don’t talk so loud. You don’t know who may be listening.” ‘*T don’t care much, either,” was the dogged declaration. ‘‘ You’ve got to give in sooner or later, anyhow, and I’m gittin’ tired fightin’ your battles, ’thout gittin’ any pay for it, you ean bet! If it hadn’t been for me, the officers would ’a’ been heer searchin’ for you, a week ago. By a little maneuverin’ i finally got ’em off on another trail. Thar’s a detective hyer in town, what, like enough, has got a warrant for the Honorable—” | ‘* Utter that name and yowre a dead man!” and again Covington had grasped the revolver, and leveled it at the dwarf, while his eyes glowed like balls of fire. ‘*Oh! well, put down that pop!” Hicks said, carelessly. ‘‘ Since you are so sensitive about names, I’!] not mention any.” So Covington laid down the revolver once more, ‘* You’d better not!” he growled. ‘‘I know there’s a detective in camp, but don’t believe he is looking for me, My disguise is so perfect that I'd be willing to stake a good deal my iden- tity wouldn’t be suspected were there a dozen detectives here,” ‘* You don’t know!” Hicks grinned, ‘Them red whiskers of yours may take a drop, some time, and give you away!” ‘* Little danger of that, I guess, Neverthe- less, now that you are here, | want you to be alive to my interests. How much money do you want to keep your mouth shut, and your eyes and wits on the alert?” ‘¢ Wor looking after the one case, I don’t want a cent, but, for another case, it’s a different thing. settle up the other business!” Covington started, violently! ‘* What do you mean?” he savagely demanded, glaring at the dwarf, as if he would like to an- nihilate him. ‘* Speak, before I brain you!” Hicks laughed, sarcastically, ‘* What’s the matter of you, anyhow? You’re as rambunctious as a young billy-goat, and yet you know mighty well you can’t scare me worth acent. What 1 mean is, that, while you have been living here, in fancied security, supposing ou were never to be disturbed, vou have been aboring under a great delusion. She still lives !” * Still lives ?” and Charles Covington sunk back in his arm-chair, as white as a ghost. ‘* Yes, she still lives!” repeated Hicks, *‘ and, what is more, she’s after you, bent upon seeking vengeance)” “Goon! goon! Tell me all!” the discomfited villain faintly commanded, wiping the beads of perspiration from his brow, ‘* Well, the way I come to know what I do, is this,” Hicks answered: ‘* Not havin’ the price of a ride on the stage, a few days ago, I had to hoof it, and one night it come up a thunderin’ big storm, and | had toskurry for shelter. I see’d a jight in the mountain-side,.and made fer it, an’soon found myself in a cave, where a woman was cookin’ somne meat Over a fire. And, may Satan kick me if it wasn’t her! ‘**T couldn’t b’lieve the evidence o’ my senses, at first, but, when she recognized me, an’ ordered me to git, I know’d I was not mistaken, It was her, alive an’ well, an’ the kid was along with her—the very image o’ her. it is, too! ‘*T begged so hard not to be driven out in ther storm, that she finally guv in, an’ let me remain, an’ give me some o’ her supper. Gradually we fell into conversation, an’ the subject turned on you. She said that she had found out that you were living here in Sockdolager, under the as- sumed name of Charles Covington—living here in fancied security, surrounded by wealth and luxury, while, for nearly five years, she had had to undergo a bitter struggle to miserably sup- port her child and herself, ; ‘* She said she was coming to Sockdolager. with but one purpose in view, and that was to be re- verged upon you. You hed rvined her life she said, and forever alienated her from her once happy home, and she had but one object in view, and that was to kill you!” It will require something of a boodle to’ i Covington shuddered, as he heard these words, and grew if anything paler than before, ‘* Well, at first,” continued Hicks, “I stoutly denied that you war here, but she only laughed at me, and told me I was only wasting breath, She knew you were here. “Then [ tried the conciliatory racket. lI spouted about what a terrible thing murder was, an’ asked her ef she didn’t think matters could not be fixed up satisfactorily, on a different basis. 1 told her that you were firmly rooted her, with a populace to obey your very wish, and youcould not be supplanted. I told her you were already aware of her coming, and had prepared for it, and that if she came to town she would be quietly put out of existence, an no one would be the wiser for her disappearance. Oh! I tell ye, I talked turkey to her, like a natteral-born lawyer. ‘*'Waal, ye may believe as ye like, but my argument carried weight. She thought the matter over fer awhile, an’ then went an’ kissed her child, an’ remained wi’ it fer awhile. Then, she come back, and said that she didn’t know but my reasonin’ was good, but under no consideration, would she let anything deter her from her purpose, except she were to receive a sum of money sufficient to comfortably sup- port herself and child during life, ‘*T told her, that, to save yerself from the necessity of doing you further injury, you would be willing to make terms, and asked her what she would be willing to settle for. At first, she said not a cent less than twenty thousand dol- lars, but I kept on argyin’, and finally got her down to ten thousand, upon the receipt of which she promises to return eastward, and never bother you. Jf I bring the money to her, within ten days, all right. If I fail to return to her within the specified time, she will at- tempt her vengeance, and strike you when you’re off yer guard, So there you have the facts, just as they are, and you can do as you please |” As he finished speaking, the dwarf leaned back in his chair, and lit bis pipe; while Charles Cov- ington arose and paced to and fro across the room, his brows knitted in an ugly scowl, Suddenly, however, he burst out into a sar- donic laugh. ) ‘Oh! yes; [ll give her ten thousand dollars, I will!” he cried. “If she shows her face in Sockdolager Pll give her ten inches of steel, which will be better. The woman never lived that can bulldoze me! You ought to know it!” ‘* Well, suit yerself, me royal limb!” Hicks retorted, relapsing into his slang way of speak- ing. ‘It’s your funeral, not Mine, You’re an ugly-lookin’ cuss, with a fair degree of common sense. I’m a dandy, when my red whiskers. ain’tso long, and smarter than chain-lightnin’, That's the difference ’twixt us, I know mighty well what I’d do, ef if were my case!” ‘Well, what would ‘you do?” ‘* I'd give her the boodle, and call it quits!” ** Why so, you fool? Do you think, for an in- stant, that I am afraid of that woman?” ‘‘ It’s not the being afraid part, beloved bro- ther, She’s desperate, and desperation breeds cunning. She will come here, on the sly, and, even if she don’t succeed in killing you, she will give you dead’ away, and create a deuce of @ commotion, and the news will spread like wild- fire that you ain’t Charles Covington, but Mr. So & So, and this will get to the ears of the other officers, who ain’t forty miles away, and you'll suddenly find yourself in red-hot water!” Covington took to pacing the floor again. ‘“ Well, ain’t [ right?’ Hicks demanded, in triumph. ‘I don’t know but you are,” was the sullen reply. ‘I can ill-afford to give up all this money to the accursed woman!” ‘* Better so than give ae all your mining in- terests, and vour life in the bargain!” ** True; ow much time have I got to think this matter over?” ‘‘'To reach the cave by the expiration of the tenth day, I must leave here at sunset, to-mor- row night, on a good horse!” : ‘Very well, I will make up my mind how I shall act in the matter by to-morrow noon. Leave me to myself, now!” Hicks departed and the heartless scoundrel was alone, again. CHAPTER VII. A SURPRISE. Uncie Sri SLOAT was so nervous over what. had occurred at the concert hall, that he was afraid to remain alone in his room over-night, and insisted that Vidocq should spend the night. with him, instead of seeking bis own apartment. co nicbooks. m4 | Fe : i* : bat 4 ¥ ‘f+ %. m