Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 544 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

= > > Ee . Me Ms a ry : ~~, wr os Pe @ | what was said, an sur *‘ Now, all you want is to keep a stiff upper lip, uncle,” the detective said, ‘‘ and the battle is half won,” “Oh! I sha’n’t even sneeze, if she don’t!” the old mnan replied, ‘The old man knows a thing ee if he was brought. up among the ’tater- ills, Arriving at the tent, Vidocq rapped upon the door, which was immedciateiy opened by little Fern, and both men entered and took seats. ern then retired, and Mile. Leonora soon emerged from the inner room, and, bowing politely te her visitors, took a seat. Her manner was easy and graceful, and she Was apparently as r:uch composed as though alone in her own parlor. No nervousness—not the slightest show of agitation did she evince. Vidocq was never more puzzled, for he had studied her every action intently, ** Ma’m’selle!” he said, ‘‘ this is my employer of whom I spoke—Mr, Silas Sloat. I have told him the substance of our interview, and he has concluded that he will engage you to locate him. a claim.” ‘* Very well, sir,” Leonorareplied. ‘* You can tell the gentleman, that, for my stipulated price I will endeavor to find him a paying lead. There is far more mineral wealth in this gulch than any one dreams of, and, strangest of all, the veins appear to be non-connecting. With- out doubt, there is plenty of gold for all who are willing to work for it.” Vidocq turned to Uncle Si and performed a series of gymnastics with his fingers, after which the old man said: ** Yes, marm, my friend here has been tellin’ me about ther wonderful things you do, an’ as I ruther believe in the speerits havin’ suthin’ to do wi’ earthly things, I don’t mind riskin’ a few dollars on yer luck. Ye see, Betsy an’ I aire gittin’ too fur along in years to grub our finger- nails out any more on the old farm, an’ as we’ve gota comfortable penay laid up for a rainy day, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try an’ speckilaté a little. Ye see, marm, we hain’t got no children, Betsy an’ I ain’t; no one but our poor old selves!” and her? the old man’s voice trembled with emotion, ‘‘ We had a girl once, an’ she was as pretty an’ bright as any you could find. But, sbe nearly broke our hearts by runnin’ away an’ marryin’ a city chap, an’ that’s the last we have ever heard of her, S'pose she’s some big Shy lady these times, an’ has fer- got all about the lonely old folks at home, But the Lord knows, ef she are poor an’ lonely, she’d be welcome to come back to us, fer she’d be a mighty lot o’ comfort to us. an’ it would seem jes’ like old times up at Perkins’s Cross Roads again, Our Stella was a smart gal, an’ no mis- take, but, that’s the way the world goes. The smartest seem ter be ther weakest to temptation. D’ye say yer price war five hundred dollars, marm?” Mademoiselle Leonora simply nodded. ‘Five hundred, eh? Waal, that’s a purty considerable big sum, but I guess it won’t break Uncle Si, by a long shot!” and the old man chuckled, as he took out bis pocketbook, which Vidocq had previously returned to him, and be- gan to count out the money! And Vidoeq! He sat there as motionless as an image carved of stone, He had listened to old Si’s little story, much moved by the real pathos with which the words were delivered; and he had watched Leonora narrowly, and with what result? None, whatever! She had beard the bereaved father’s recital, as coldly impassive and irresponsive as a block of marble, showing no particular interest in d apparently betraying no emotion, whatever. , Vidocq was puzzled, disappointed. He was tempted to jump up, and clutch the woman by the throat, she was so indifferent to /Si’s heartfelt confession. An hour before, Vidocq would have staked his’ hfe that Leonora and Stella were one and the same person; but now, what was he to think? It this woman was old Sloat’s daughter, the art of a wonderful actress had been combined most perfectly with her early musical training. But her object? Did she write the letter to Perkins’s Cross Roads? f so, its tone was utterly at variance with her present demeanor. Either the latter, or her present coolness, was a lie on its very face. ‘Waal, heer is. the. five hundred dollars,” Uncle Si said, handing a bunch of bills to ‘Count et over, Vidoeq, an’ make eet’s right. I don’t want to cheat the lady, fer et can’t be sed of Si Sloat thet he ever cheat- ed a person, in his life,” , Vidocq counted it, and extended it to Leonora. | S « ’ . , as ed 4 ‘ “ on ae a “% ro . 7 io ' . “ - “ . ¥ i‘ % . 4 Uncle Si were paying their respects to. oiselle Leonora, Charles Covington was enter- + ; 5 * < Saal Mert. , ia ~~" 9 .- ice [Pei y * ay in's 4 , . r \ s ; <. « « %, gs Ay Pe a i * . -e ’ “ vy 4 c : “ ; F } : ssc Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg, % ‘* It’s all right,” he said. ‘*Very well,” she responded, quietly; ‘‘ you can call to-morrow forenoon and r will give you a map!” She arose, then, and taking this as a hint that all the business was transacted, Vidocq and Sloat also arose, and took their departure. ** Waal, ’ve went an’ gone and did it!” Uncle Si said, as they made their way leisurely back toward the hotel. ‘‘ Et’s my first speckillation, an’ ef that five hundred dollars don’t fetch me in a gold-mine it'll be my last speckillation!” ‘You're evidently thinking more of your money than of your daughter!” Vidocq ob- served, sarcastically, for the truth be told, he was not in the best of humor. ‘** Pooh! that woman ain’t my Stella no more’n my foot’s your head!" ‘““ How do you know?” ‘* Because, I know she ain’t. D’ye s’pose, if she was my Stella, she’d ’a’ sot thar all thr’u’ my stump speech an’ never sed boo? Not much!” ** Well, I know it seems strange, but did you not detect anything about her or her ways, to remind you of your lost daughter?” Uncle Si reflected a moment. ‘*‘No, I can’t say as I did. Once, when she war tellin’ about ther wealth o’ this gulch, thar war suthin’ about her manner of speech that recalled a memory of my girl; but I can’t jest seem to remember what it was, Ther only thing that caused me ter helieve we were on the right track, I see’d when we went into the tent.” ** And what was that?” ** The purty little gal.” **Ah! I saw you looking at her.” ** Yes, sir, she is the livin’ picter of what my Stella was, eighteen or nineteen year ago!” ‘*Strange—strange! If this be so, then ma’m’- selle must surely be your daughter.” ‘* It can’t be possible, sir—-it can’t be possible. Why, my gal Stella uster have a mighty tender heart, an’ thought the world of us and of the old homestead, for she was never much of a hand to go around a-visitin’ the neighbors; but this critter with the mask on, she’s got a heart as tough as a grind-stun. Why, if that were Stella, when I were speakin’ about the old home an’ about how as I an’ Betsy were gettin’ old, an’ about bow if our daughter were poor an’ lonely we’d welcome her back, an’ she’d be sech a comfort to us—d’ye mean to say if that were Stella she’d sot there like a dutnmy an’ never said I, no or yes? Not much! She’a’ flew to my arms, an’ nigh about cried her eyes out wi’ 1°; No, no, detective; that ain’t my child, an’ egin to fear I shall never find her after all my rip ’way out heer.” ‘Don’t get discouraged, uncle—don’t get dis- couraged!” Vidocq said, consolingly, although, in truth, his words belied his own feelings, ** You don’t know me yet. I’m one of the kind of fellows who don’t give up where there isa ray of hope. The times are not a few when I have stood within hand-shaking distance of grim death. I’ve taken hold of this case of yours more out of iiking for you than for money ; and, mark my word, I’m going to find your daughter if she is alive. I am not quite through with this masked mademoiselle yet!” Uncle Si shrugged bis shoulders. ‘You'll fool away your time botherin’ with her !” he declared. ‘* Maybe so, maybe not,” Vidocg replied. ‘I wouldn’t like to bet a thousand, now, that this Leonora isn’t your daughter, If you saw your daughter at the concert-hall, and you recog- nized each other, the very fact that she di not come in search of you proves that she does not wish to meet you. Either she is ashamed to face you, owing to her folly, or else she dreads lest you should severely censure her. These are the only ways I can look at the matter.” ‘* Well, go ahead and make what you can out of it,” the farmer said, with a ‘ong drawn sigh, as they reached the hotel piazza, ‘‘ As for my part, ’'m cleau tired out and disgusted with the whole business,” Vidocq went to his room for a nap, for it will be remembered he had not slept any the night before. He left Si upon the piazza, but when he came down-stairs, a couple of hours later, the old gent had disappeare, ‘Gone over to see Covington, I suppose,” the detective commented, and thought nothing more about the matter. CHAPTER X. A CLEAN KNOCK-OUT, AT about the same time that Vidocq and Madem- taining a visitor. . “Sy ity? ‘ ’ . o's - Pai ‘ed ¥ Tae Fe ' é . FP Sad The two were seated at a table in the cosey parlor, and each were supplied with a bottle of wine, and a glass. ‘* Waal, boss!” the visitor was saying, and he was none other than Elepbant Eph, leader of the so-called Executive Committee, ‘‘et ain’t often I set foot in sech quarters as these, but, sence you have sent for me, [ll sample this ere wine. Et’s the furst taste o’ wine Ive had in years. Et’s only you nabobs what kin have wine. We poorer cusses hev ter put up wi’ forty-rod lightnin’, But, go ahead, boss, and spit out what ye want of me, fur, durn my cats ef I wasn’t surprised when I got notiss to pay you a visit!” | Covington lit a cigar, and tipped lazily back in his chair. uph he said, “‘ I hear you’re out of work!” as, Iam, cuss, the luck! I hada row wi’ the mine buss an’ licked him, an’ got dis- charged!” ‘‘Humph! must it come pretty hard on a fel- low who likes his whisky as well as you do, to be without money?” ‘‘Hard? Waal, [ should say so! Every slate in ther camp is broke, so far as Jam concerned, an’ I hev to hustle like hickory to git a drink!” ‘*How would you like to make a few dollars —say enough to keep you in bug-juice from now till snow falls?’ The ruffian brightened up wonderfully, at this evidently unexpected question, ‘* How would I?” he echoed, eagerly. ‘*‘ Waal, ou show me the way to doit an’ see how quick an snap you up!” ‘*T ain’t sure whether you can be trusted?” “Try me an’ see, I never goes back on them as employs me, you het! I ain’t no blab-mouth, an’ ef I tackles a job that’s a little off color, why, I’ra ther boyee as sez nothin’!” **You’re not overburdened, then, with con- scientious scruples?” ‘¢ Not a scruple, ef I knows myself.” “Then, I’m inclined to think you are the manI want. There’s a person in town who is in my way, avd I want him removed. Do you think you can do the job?’ ‘*T reckon I can try. Ain’t werry partick’ler what the job is, so long as it fetches im the rhine, What's the lay, anyhow?” ‘* Well, there’s a fellow in town who calls him- self Vidocq. He is a detective!’ ‘*‘T know him! I know bim!” declared Ele- phant Eph, ‘‘and I’ve got it in for the cuss, too!” ‘“So much the better. I suspect he is here with the intention of making me trouble, and, as [am not in condition or position to experi- ence any trouble, just now, | want. this indi- vidual put out of the way. It must be done quietly and cautiously, so that no blame can ever be attached to me!” ‘Oh! I understand!” Eph declared, ‘‘ an’ ye couldn’t have selected a better man fer the job. Every one knows we're enemies, be and J, an’ so ll get him inter a fight, an’ ef I don't put an rh 3 to his earthly career ye kin call mea liar, You know how I fixed Ike Davis, don’t e? ‘Yes, but this Vidocq I understand is a born thorougbred!” I kin fix him, as an os sé “Don’t keer if he is, ; other galoot that ever sot foot in Sockdolager!” ‘Vd _ prefer you’d do the job in some othe way, where I’d be swre he was dead!” | “ And, I prefer to do et my way!” the ruffian declared. “ [f I war to shute him, or knife him, in cold blood, that would be outright murder! But, if IT get him into a fight and kill bim in that way, I’ll be the hero of the hour, an’ no one can tech me, or at least no one will.” * Dut, how do you expect to do him with simply your fists?” “Leave that to me. I know a few tricks about fighting that you know nothing about, You pay me for the job and your man will bea corpse before sunset!” | ‘“How much do you want?” ‘What will ye give?” Covington reflected. . He stood in constant fear that Vidocq was after him. To have the enemy put out of the way, would at least, as be Vg insure him tepsporary safety, and he could afford to pay well for it, ‘Well, I'll tell you what Ill do, Go ahead and get rid of the fellow, any way you choose, so that I am not implicated, and when © 4 the job is done, come to me, and I will give you — two hundred and fifty dollars!” “Yas, that’s all right, boss, but I can’t tech no sech delicut job'as that onless I git my spon- dulies in advance!” ‘‘Very well, don’t tackle it, then. I never ~ * - . - RS - »s? sai agen. ie