Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 570 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ti. * _ a - nae Lo > ~ > Pr — ~ > i . - - a * vee | ne od < s : . 4 7 % Pia -™ —e°r oh ~ Se Ld 6 sure The two shook hands and Kit Curley said: ‘You are a tenderfoot for these parts, pard.” ‘‘T am able to take care of myself,” was the reply, and. half an hour after the youth, who had called himself Kent King, was seated by the side of Kit Curley as the stage rolled rapidly along toward Sports’ Paradise. CHAPTER XVI, KIT CURLEY SURPRISED, THE stage bad not gone far on its way before Kit Curley discovered that he had a very pleas- ' anit companion in young Kent King. The youth seemed to have traveled much, and he was by no means unused to border life. He talked well, told a good story, and whiled away the time most pleasantly for the driver, ‘‘] wished to ask you,” said the young man, after awhile, ‘tif you know one Donald King.” ** Now I do, you bet,” ** Who is he?” ‘* A gambler.” ‘‘He is called by the name of the Card King?” ‘** Yes, and he deserves the name.” “T have heard that he killed some road- agents on this line once?” ‘* He did, and Pll show you where their pards are planted, ‘* He saved the coach from capture, efter poor Doc Dunning got his death wound, and he sentthe team humming along over a road that few men dare drive over, and bis handling of the weer so neatly just woo the heart of a oung lady passenger as was along. me A lad al . . ** Yes, and the prettiest girl I ever saw. ‘* She was so sweet the boys just called her the Angel of Sports’ Paradise, and she could fave had any man in the camps, and one as drives this hearse, too, just for the asking, you bet!” ** What was she doing here?” ‘* Came out to see her father, who was mining away, off to himself to the southward and got sick. ‘*The Card King looked up her father, and found him dying in his cabin with consumption, and he took the girl there. ‘*But the old man had let go the ribbons of life, and was d,and Don King buried him as neatly as an undertaker could have done, ‘*This settled it with the girl, and when he — ght her back to Sports’ Paradise he married er. ‘** Married her?” ‘You are right he did,and such a lay-out was was. never seen afore, or since, in Sports’ Para- ‘*T tell you it was ’way-up, and a pilgrim as came there and chipped in his yawp at the aan was just laid out cold by the Card ing. ** Killed?” **{7 should smile, young mister.” ** And on his wedding day?” ** Why not, for the pilgrim was hunting for blood and he got it. **T tell you it was a day to remember,” ‘** And the young girl?” ** Ah, the angel?” «6 Yes,” ‘“*She married the Card King; but they do say that she did take on sorrowful when she found out that her husband was a gambler.” “Poor girl; but who performed the cere- mony?” ‘* A solemn-faced parson whom the boys call Old Death Head and Cross Bones,” ‘*A real clerzyman?’ . ** He looked it, for a more sorrowful man I never set eyes on.” * And the Card King is in Sports’ Paradise pow?’ ““He was a month ago when I was there; but I’ve been off the line for several .weeks ona little business trip of my own, and this is my first through run o’ Jate; but I guesses he’s there, for why should he leave when he’s fiJling his kets with gold dust and the graveyard with nes 0’ humans who picked a row with him.” ** Ah! he still kills his fellow-men?” ** Well now he does lay one out about month- ly, though he’s as peaceable as a lamb ontil he is picked up by some smarty for a innocent and then gore has to flow, ** Does you know him?” “TIdon’t know Donald King, but I’ve heard much of him, so am anxious to meet him,” ‘You'll find him a terror, and his wife a beauty. ‘I feel sorry for her, for he’s got her into card playing, they say, and she is luck itself in handling the pasteboards, Al Terao ee ES ae a carnnnn nnn SSS Camille, the Card Queen, ‘““The Card King won’t play a game for big money unless she is in the room.” ‘Tt seems a shame that he should have drag- ged her down to his level,” said the youth indig- nantly. ‘*She loved him, pard, and when a woman loves a man she becomes his slave if he says so, ‘I’m sorry for her, as I said, for she doesn’t seem happy; but may I ask what you are going to do in Sports’ Paradise, for you surely don’t look like one who can work hard?” The youth smiled and said: ‘*T am a gambler!” ‘* The deuce you are!” **f am,” ** Well, you'll get wiped out in Sports’ Paradise mighty quick, for they area hard lot there,” ‘*T do not fear them.” ‘‘That may be, but young pard,I give you just one month to live, and that’s being liberal, ‘‘ You bad better go back East on my trip out.” ‘*No, I shall remain in Sports’ Paradise until I accomplish what I have come for,” ‘* That is to make your fortune with cards?" “It is to play a game for big stakes that I in- tend to win.” 66 Maybe,” “T will win, Kit Curley.” ‘*'You’re a dandy for grit; but the town you are going to is red-hot Purgatory, as you'll find out Yet the Card King’s wife is there, and a card-player?” : ‘Yes, but she’s a woman.” ‘‘Can you keep a secret, Kit Curley?” sé I can ” ** Honest?” si a Soughl ** Then [ll trust you. ** Tam also a woman,” At those words Kit Curley uttered a loud cry and nearly sprung off of the box as he gazed up- on the pretended youth by his side, CHAPTER XVII. THE QUEEN OF CARDS. Wuen the passenger on the box with Kit Curley made the startling announcement that she Was a woman, not a youth, the driver gazed at her in amazement. He had not suspected the fact, for the cheat was a Clever one. The hair was cut short, the loose blouse jacket and woolen shirt concealed the graceful form, and the top boots had hidden the small feet. But once he knew that his passenger was a woman Kit Curley wondered why he had not at once discovered her as such, ‘‘ Your name is Kit Curley, sir?” she said with a smile. ‘* Yes, miss, Kit Curley, or Curley Kit, for they calls me both names, and | don’t care which comes first, so call me to suit your own convenience,” ‘* Well, Mister Kit Curley, we are going to be friends, for I like you, and I wish you to take me under the shadow of your wing as it were.” **77j] do it: sir—I mean miss,” ‘‘Now I have come out to this country fot a eer purpose which I cannot now make nown to you; but, after what you tell me about Donald King being called the Card King, it has decided me upon taking a certain course, i t shall come out in my own feminine at- ire,’ ‘*T guess you'd be safer, miss, for the men 0’ Sports Paradise are rough fellows to each other, and asa young man you'd have to suffer too; but they treat a woman like she was made 0’ lass, and you’d be sure of kindness only.” ‘‘ All right, I have in my trunk a complete outfit of clothing, and [lJ get you to help me put in the coach all that I need. ‘*T will dress up before we get to the’camps, and when we arrive there you are to introduce will mg Miss Camille, a lady sport, if so you will. | Curley Kit was in a quandary. He hardly knew what to say or do, and yet he determined to ‘‘ back the pretty girl up for all I’m worth,” as he expressed it mentally. . And he told her s0, and soon after pointed out to her the graves of the road-agents, killed the day that Doc Dunning lost bis life. “Graves will dot that man’s trail until I— But I must not think aloud,” and the face of the woman flushed as she spoke, as though she had half-betrayed herself to the driver. Taking advantage of the stopping of the coach, by the graves, she opened her trunk and lifted from it certain articles of feminine garb, Yt “ : - ; rae; | ei 4 ; a Viel J - ° . al = t) putting them inside the coach, along with @ valise that she also carried. Then Curley Kit drove on, and when he drew rein before the door of the Flush Hotel, he was as starcled, seemingly, at what he beheld as were those gathered about the piazza. The welcome of those around the hotel, to Curley Kit, who bad been absent the past few weeks, was suddenly checked when the eyes of all fell upon a perfect vision of loveliness who suddenly appeared before them, Curley Kit had -sprung from the’'box and stepped to the door, to help out bis protegee, and most proud was he at beholding the one whom he had promised to befriend. The short, black curls had been hidden under’ a wig of red-gold hair, which looked thoroughly natural. She wore a close-fitting dress of blue cloth, trimmed with gold lace, and upon her head was a slouch hat, encircled by a cord of gold, while on the side, fastening up the brim, was a unique pin representing four cards—tbhe queen of hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. Her hands were covered with gauntlet-gloves, upon which the same device was embroidered, and about her slender waist was a gold-lace belt and sasb, and a pairof gold-mounted re- volvers and a jewel-hilted bowie-knife were stuck in them with a look as though they were for use rather than show. | The face of the woman, with her oper cotmes | expressive black eyes, was very beautiful, though the features were bold unto daring. She certainly had made a most remarkable metamorphosis of herself in the stage-coach, and it was not to be wondered at that Curle Kit was taken aback both witb surprise and ad- . miration. As she alighted from the coach the miners all doffed their hats politely, and one eried out: ** Another angel in Sports’ Paradise, pards, so give her a welcome.” Some ringing cheers followed these words,. and turning upon the crowd with the sweetest. of smiles, the fair stranger said: ‘*T thank you, my friends, “ Kit, please take the gentlemen into the bar and treat them at my expense.” In border parlance, this, from such fair lips, fairly ‘‘ paralyzed” the crowd, and the beauti ub. stranger slipped into the hotel and was present~ ed to Judge Dal by Curley Kit. Ina bold hand she wrote her name: ‘‘ CAMILLE, QUERN OF CARDS,” ‘T can give you most delightful quarters, miss, for I have some just vacated two weeks ago by the King of Cards and his wife,” said the judge. “ What, Donald King?” she cried, starting. *¢ Yes, miss.” ‘Ts he not here?” ‘*No; be left two weeks ago.” The judge saw her start at this, and her face pale, so he asked: ; ‘Ts he a relative of yours, miss?” ‘‘ He is one I hoped to have found here, Did his wife go with him?” | ‘* Yes, miss,” “Two weeks ago?” ‘* Just that time.” “ Where did be go?” ‘‘No one knows, miss, for he left no word, and it wouldn’t be healthy for curious people to follow bis trail.” ‘Ts he not to return?” ‘‘T guess not, for he made a great many ene- mies here, and the boys would not have stood him so long but for his wife. ! ‘+ But they gave him a week to light out in, and he lighted.” ‘¢ What had he done?” ‘Well, no one caught him at it, but somehow he always won at cards, so he Was supposed to cheat.” 7) Ah 19 Yes, miss, and when any 9ne hinted it to ~My ah there was a funeral followed mighty quick, ‘* He killed men?” ‘He did for a fact, miss, and though he was: generous enough to bury the dead, and pay all expenses, he began to populate a graveyard of his own, and so the boys told him to git, and he ot,” | a Well, I am sorry he has gone; but I am just in time to reign in his stead as Queen of Cards, where he was the King,” f ‘You pee cards, miss?” “Yes, [am a gambler,” was the smiling re- ply, and a merry laugh followed the look of amazement that came over the face of the judge at her words, Ten minutes more and Camille, the Queen of