Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 570 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

—* 8 “By what right, sir, do you dare intrude yourself here?’ sternly asked Kent Kingdon, in vain trying to recall if he knew the man. ‘‘T’m here for a purpose, pard, and you shall know it, you bet. ‘* Hold on, gents, don’t get excited, for I hasa right to speak, as the parson has got to ask if any man ‘knows cause why this man should not marry this lady,’ and objections 1 have.” Every one heard the words, which were clear- ly uttered, and the eyes of the assemblage were turned now upon Kent Kingdon, ‘Who are you?” calmly asked Kingdon, **One who objects.” ‘*To this marriage?” cs Yes.” ‘* Upon what grounds!” ‘** Pard, 1’m not a man to strike another in the back, and so I'll give you a chance,” << What do you mean?” : ask you do you love this lady?” “*I do “* And I ask her if she loves you?” **T do,” was Isabel’s firm response. ‘* Come, stand aside and interfere no more, or it will be the worst for you,” and there was an unpleasant ring in the voice of Kent Kingdon, ‘You cannot scare me, pard, with threats, for I am here for business,” ‘* Ha! you wish trouble with me?” ‘* You are shouting, pard, for I tell you I ob- ject tothis marriage,” was the bold response, ** And why?” ‘* Well, I love the lady myself.” A. general laugh followed this, while Kent Kingdon asked: 4 fone do you know this man?” ‘*T rode with him in the stage to the station before the one where I met you, ‘* There he left the coach, and I have not seen him since.” ‘* You have keen eyes, miss, to recognize me, for I have changed since then.” ‘*Yes, you have cut off your mustache, and your dress is not the same,” she answered. ** Well, miss, I fell in love with you, and now I know you are going to magry this man I have come to stop it.’ ‘* Stand aside, sir, or it will be the worst for you,” cried Kingdon with angry vehemence, ‘* Keep cool, pard, and listen to my terms,” ** Begone, or—” ‘** No, pard, he must tell all he knows against you, when I ask it, for that is regular,” said the parson, in his sepulchral tones, “ All right, let him speak,” and Kent King- don shewed no sign of emotion, though in his heart he began to fear that the man was a de- tective upon his track. But he knew that wild community too well not to understand that they would never allow an officer to arrest him and carry him back East, because he had killed a man in a duel. ‘** Well, what have you to say?” said Kingdon, impatiently. ** As I said before, pard, I don’t wish to strike aman inthe back, and I can hit you hard if I wish; but I'll offer you terms,” “What terms?” ** Well, I love the lady you wish to marry, and you love her.” ‘* Well?” ‘* She cannot be so desperately in love with ou, as she has known you so short a time, so t won’t break her heart to lose you, while she doubtless knows no more about you than she does about me.” “Will you come to the point at once, sir?” ** Yes, and it is just this: **ITcan break this off between you two, by saying a few words here, and get you ito trouble besides; but I'll give you a chance.” ** Name it,” and ong iingdon was impressed in spite of himself by the man’s manner and words. ‘*T offer to fight you, mounted and with re- volvers, starting at fifty paces apart and spur- ring toward each other, emptying our revolvers as we ride, and the victor to take the bride for his wife.” ‘You are a fool,” said Kent Kingdon. Bat be saw thatthe bold proposition of the stranger found favor in the eyes of the miners. As for Isabel, she shrunk back from the man and clung closer to her lover. **Do you mean this in earnest, pard?” asked Judge Dal. ) **] do,” was the cool response, ‘* And if I refuse?” “Then 1 shall make known what /I know proc, you, and you will certainly not get the v Kingdon was for the once nonplused. He knew that elsewhere the stranger would ; Camille, the Card Queen. og —_ * a, ; , - nN have been quickly thrown out of the way; but there, among those wild spirits, his daring pro- position had already won favor for him. What he knew about bim, he could not guess, but he must find out in some way, and.so he said: vs My friend, a word with you,” “ right, pard, step this way, but no un- derhand work against me.” ‘*T am no assassin.” ‘* Well, what have you to say?: They walked into the hall of the hotel, Isabel remaining with the judge. ‘* You pretend to know me?” said Kingdon. ‘*] do know you.” **'Who am I?’ ‘You go here as Donald King, but whether that is your real name or not you know best,” ** Do you know me by any other?” cé Yes,” ‘ ** Name it,” ‘* Thief!” “Ha! do you dare thus insult me?” ‘* Hold on, for I can draw too, pard,.” ‘* You shall fight me for that word,” ‘“* Just what I want to do, but the young lady must be the stake we fight for.” ** You say you know that about me that will ruin meif you make it known?” “é I do.” ** Out with it?” “Tm a road-agent, pard,” was the low spoken reply of the stranger. ‘*Ab! by your own confession you are a thief?” ‘* Yes, I was the leader of the band of toll- gatherers that stopped the stage in which you and the young lady came to this town.” ‘* And you dare to confess it?” **'Yes, to you.” a And why to me?’ Because, MEM gt I missed getting the gold, you got it and laid it at my door, do you see?” Kent Kingdon started and his face paled. ‘* T have hit you hard, I see, so you will own up tbat I know just reasons why you should not marry that sweet girl,” ‘* It is false.” ‘It is true, for one of my men saw you halt age and go into the woods with the bag of ZO. * ‘*He thought there were others in the coach, so did not go near it, but told me that night, ‘* T looked for the hiding-place of the treasure but could not find it, and I know that you brought it here, ‘‘ Agree to meet me, as [ have said, in a duel, and under the terms I offer, and may the best man win.” ** And if I refuse?” **T shall tell what I know to the miners, and I guess your life will not be worth much then,” ‘** And I could have you hanged too,” ** No, for I would say that you accused me falsely, and I could prove that 1 am an honest miner in another camp.” ‘* Enough, I agree to your terms,” was the hot response, ‘* You are wise,” and the self-confessed road- agent led the way out upon the piazza, while ent Kingdon followed with a smile upon his face to hide bis real feelings, CHAPTER XIII, THE DEATH-SHOT, Wuen Kingdon returned to the piazza, to the surprise of every one, and especially of Isabel Drew, he said: ‘* My friends, this man makesa charge against me of which Iam innocent, and to prove it, I am willing to risk my life in a combat with him, as he demands,” ‘Oh, Donald!” cried Isabel, in great alarm, and she sabe to his side, “My sweet little girl, you need feel no dread, for I fear no man, and it will soon be over,” “No! no! no! You must not fight him!” she cried, clinging to him convulsively. ‘** Ah, Isabel, you do not know that I must do so, for were I to refuse ] could never live a day among these people.” ** But you will be killed,” **'No, for I am a quick and a dead shot.” “Tf he is killed, miss, you are my prize, so be knows what he fights for, and I tell you I will be as good to you as he would ever be, and per- haps a great deal better, ‘I love you, I am free to confess, and I risk my life to win you. ‘Come, pard, yonder is my horse, and I’m ready for the fight!” and the stranger pointed to his horse hitched not far away. : It took no end of argument to convince poor Isabel that be must fight, and Kent Kingdon had to callin the judge and others to prove to her that he, would not be allowed to liye in Sports’ Paradise unless he did fight. ‘*There are scores of young fellows here, m who would be willing to take King’s place for a smile from you,” said the judge, **T only wish that hey would; but I suppose I must yield; but oh, Donald, let us leave this awful country when all is over,” cried Isabel. He bent over and kissed ‘ber, and the judge having sent around after his horse, Kent King- don went out of the hotel and sprung into the saddle, The distance had already been stepped off, and the stranger was at his post. With a fascination she could not resist, Isabel went out upon the piazza and her eyes were . riveted upon the man who had become in so * short a while, all in the world to her. The crowd were wild with delight, at the un- expected “‘ picnic,” as they called it, which they were to witness, They admired the stranger immensely, and wondered what hold it was that he had upon Donald King to force him to fight him and to agree that the victor should marry Isabel Drew, whom they had already given the name to of the Angel of Sports’ Paradise. With no show of emotion Kent Kingdon sina in his horse and rode slowly toward his ition, The crowd had formed in a body at the hotel, and Curley Kit the Overland driver—who, the reader will remember had taken Doc Dun- ning’s place, and who happened to have delayed starting on the out run for a few hours, to attend the wedding—stood ready to give the word. Both borsemen were well-mounted, and their pistols were in their belts, The stranger was perfectly cool, and glanced over to where Isabel Drew stood with a smile of utter indifference at his danger. Kent Kingdon also was cool, and as he reached his position smiled and threw a kiss to Isabel, who, white asa ghost and trembling, yet held by a fascination that kept her spell-bound, stood awaiting the desperate duel. a Kingdon had whispered to her, as he left er: ‘*Feel no anxiety, Isabel, about yourself, for no matter what I have agreed to, the men will not let that man have you, should 1 fall.” ‘* Gents,” called out Curley Kit, and his clear voice was heard by all, ‘* You are to await m order to go, and you have tokeep your hands o of your weapons until I gives the word, “Then spur forward at full speed, drawing your guns and shooting for all you are worth, ‘¢ Does you understand?’ Both men bowed, and then, in a loud voice, spiny single word from Curley Kit: 3) At the word the two men spurred forward, drawing their weapons ag they uid so, while the Angel of Sports’ Paradise gazed at them spell- re from her stand on the piazza of the Flush Otel, Both of the combatants drew their pistols with marvelous quickness, and the two weapons cracked together as one shot, And each bullet found a target, that of the stranger in the head of the gambler’s horse, and the latter’s in the shoulder of his foe, Down went Kent Kingdon’s horse, but the active rider caught on his feet and rusbed: upon his enemy, still firing. The shot in his shoulder had knocked the weapon of the stranger from-his hand; but he quickly drew his second revolver with bis left and fired twice in rapid succession. : But they were his last shots, for Kent King- dn had also fired two shots, both of which had hit their mark. The stranger reeled in his saddle, just as King- don grasped his bridle-rein and fired his fourt shot, the bullet crashing through his brain, silencing the cry ‘upon his lips: “TI cry mercy, pard!” “He shall make no confession here,” hissed the Card King, and as the man fell from his saddle, he sent another shot into his brain to still his tongue forever: Then loud and long were the cheers of the crowd, and forgetting their oath of obedience until after the marriage was over, a general rush was made for the bar of the hotel to drink the health of the Card King. CHAPTER XIV. THE GAMBLER’S WIFE. 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