Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 606 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

se ,2® - te : : ’ > enrages ae ame os oe eee oa sO uf? ~ .t Ne Re eh OE OF 10 and inserted his own ace of diamonds in the pack—the one he had prepared before leaving his room, The cards were then dealt, and, after rather careful betting, won by & man named Shark—a name that fitted him well, for it soon developed that he was an expert with the cards. Shark dealt next. The betting was to the limit, both Shark and Brice staying 1n. Dick won on a straight flush. As yet the ace of diamonds had not appeared —a most singular coincidence, it seemed to Dick. Luck soon began to run one Way, and soon Kelsey and his friend were out of the game, and out a hundred each. Dick still remained in, but his pile of chips were beginning to look ** sick.” Brice and Sbark were having the luck. And still the tampered-with ace of diamonds did not appear! Finally Dick was froze out, also a hundred dollars the loser. lt now remained for Brice and Shark to fight it out, for the consolidated pot of five hundred dollars, and the game promised to be exciting. “‘ Well, I’m glad I’m out of it, for Pve no luck to-night!” Dick declared. ** Ab! there goes my handkerchief on the floor.” He stooped and picked it up, and with it the ace of diamonds he bad discarded, which, un- noticed, he deftly shoved up his sleeve. “ I think I'll get a cigar, watch the game out, and then go to Leadville.” He arose from the table, went to the bar, and ordered a cigar. Here he again dropped his handkerchief, and, in stooping to pick it up, dexterously inserted the card he had up his sleeve, in under the spittoon. Lighting the cigar, he returned to the poker table,.and found that, by mutual agreement, the limit had been removed, and each player was at liberty to bet his pile of chips ona single hand, if he felt so iuclined. But where was the ace of diamonds Dick had inserted in the pack? Was it not to appear, ere one or the other of the cohtestants had come off victorious? Now, seated across the table from Brice, Deadwood Dick waited, anxiously. Brice was holding the hands, and scooping in pot after pot, in spite of Shark’s dextrous ma- nipulation of the cards, when it came bis deal. ‘Oh! Pll soon have you cleaned out!” the former said, with a chuckle, And indeed, it dia look so, for a time; but, as the old saying goes, it is & long lane that has no rm, Another deal, and the aspect of affairs under- went a change. Brice was dealing, and dealt Shark the ace of diamonds, minus the center red spot, which as the reader knows, had been cut out, “Hello!” eried Shark, bolding up his card, ‘‘ what kind of shenannigan is this? Here’s an ace of diamonds with the ace cut out, and no- thing left but a diamond-shaped hole. Now, kin any one 0’ ye tell what that means? Who’s _ bin monkeyin’ wi’ these cards?” ‘¢ Let me see thet,” cried Ben Brice, snatching the card. He placed it upon the table, face up, and stared at it a moment, asif struck dumb with amazement, bis face grown suddenly very pale, and great beads of perspiration standing out upen his forehead. Suddenly he leaped to his feet, with a string of horrible oaths, “Yer right!” his face aflame with rage. “Them thar cards hev been tampered with, An’ now, 1 want ter jest find out which one 0’ ye did it, ’til 1 bore him so full o’ holes he'll an- swer fer a sieve?” And be gla ed from one to the other of those who had been in the game. “It could not possibly have been any one of the players!” Mr. Cushing remarked, “* for what one of us could deliberately pick the ace of dia- monds from the pack, while playing, and in the presence of the others, and cut out the ace, and write on the card, then restore it to the pack, without being discovered? I tell you, gentlemen, ret thing would be the hight of impossibil- ity This wasa poser. None could gainsay the argument, The fault probably lies with the maker of the cards,” suggested Kelsey. “That is not ible,” Dick assumed. ‘¢ These cards were manufactured by Dougherty, of New York, who annually turns out bund- reds of thousands of packs. How could he or any of his employees know that this particular wT)" pack was comi here, and, asa joke, cut out the ace, write *‘Of Leadville” underneath, and be sure the pack containing the card would come here? Again, if you will observe back of the cards, you will see that the cut card belongs to a different pack from those we were playing with. Was it a new pack, Mr Sark?’ | “Yes. I selected and purchased it before the ame began.” “Then, gentlemen, there is but one construc- tion to put upon the matter '? Mr. Cushing de- clared, with utmost coolness. ‘¢ The very fact that the card did not appear when Mr. Kelsey, Mr. Bush and myself were in the game, proves that it must have been slipped into the pack after we were froze out. Therefore, | wash my hands of the whole affair. You two interested parties must settle the matter of the stakes be- tiveen yourselves.” And turning, Dick procured a fresh cigar at the bar, and left the saloon, striking out at once for Leadville. It was not until be was a good distance from the ** Red Flag ” that he burst into a laugh. “Well, I'll be blowed if that card business didn’t rather knock ’em silly!” he soliloquized. “Even the fly Mr. Shark was dumfounded, for I saw bim running the cards over, to make sure they were correct, before we began to play. Well, it cost me a hundred dollars, but what I have learned is worth it. ‘Mrs. Redfern is the moneyed party, and there’s no longer any doubt in my mind that she was concerned in the stage robbery. As for Brice, I’m not so sure whether he had a hand in the robbery or not. At any rate, he has a pull on the Redfern woman, for money, and she dasen't refuse him. Moreover, when he ad- dressed her in German, in reference to the pawn- shop, [ think he told her that I was there, play- ing the role of Jacobs. If so, that jig is up. Well, ve got all day to-morrow before me, to think matters over, and to form my plans. Be- fore arresting Mrs. Redfern, I want to obtain some more positive evidence against her, so that there will be no trouble in securing her abso- lute conviction. I will see her at the Craw- fords’, no doubt, and if I play my cards well, may get her mashed on me. Ha! ha!” CHAPTER X. MICHAELS ‘‘ GIVES IN.” Dick did not go to the pawnshop the next morning, but sent a note by Billy Bucket, re- questing Rachel to meet him at noon, at the res- taurant where they had met when Dick was engaged in her service. ‘ Toward noon he made his toilet, and set out for the place designated. Rachel was already there, at a private table and Dick, taking a seat opposite her, ordered his dinner. , “Well, Mr. Bristol, why did you not come to the store this morving?’ Rachel asked, pleas- antly. ‘* I was quite disappointed not to see you back behind the counter again.” “That game is played out!” Dick replied, ‘and it’s no use for me to twist my tongue out of joint any more, by way of acting the role of Sam’l Jacobs.” ‘* Why not?” ‘Because it won't work. The enemy has un- covered our position.” ‘Have you found them?” ‘‘ Tve located one of them—that is, lam pretty sure I have, but I can’t take action until I have proof convincing. ‘‘ Who is the one suspected?” “A Mrs. Redfern,” and he proceeded to re- late the particulars of the interview with the Crawfords. “Do you suspect any one else?” Rachel asked. ‘‘ Ben Brice knows something about the stage- coach robbery, but just how much I do not know. Tam not of the opinion, however, that he took a band in the attack; but, by playing my cards carefully, I may be able touse him as evidence against the Redfern woman.” ‘+ Well, what are you going to do next?” ‘¢ Collect all the evidence I can. I want you to take me to the pawnbroker who has your fa- ther’s watch.” ‘¢ Oh, Michaels!” j “Yes, I’m going to compel him to tell me who pawned it.” “ T don’t believe you can.” ‘ But I will!” “ He is very stubborn.” ‘85 am I. He will tell me who pawned that watch, or I'll lock him up!” So, dinner finished, they repaired to the wh- shop of Mr. Michaels, and found that gentleman | me ‘* at home.” | . the | Deadwood Dick’s Leadville Lay. | Michaels was a thin, hard-faced man, with restless little eyes. He did not look very much like a Jew, however. ‘Mr. Michaels,” Rachei said, ‘I want to have another look at the watch you showed me 'scme few days ago.” _ Certainly, young lady, certainly. You vant | to buy dot vatch, maybe?’ and the broker gave | Dick an inquiring glance. | The watch was produced, and Rachel banded | it to Dick. | Tt was a massive affair, and worth a good deal | of money, The late Mr. Cohen’s name was ene | raved upon the back case, | Michaels,” said Dick, ‘where did you get this watch?” “Tt vos pawned with me, sare.” “« Who pawned 16?” ‘‘ T don’d remember dot name now, no more, id vas so long ago.” ‘*¢ Do you know this 1s stolen property” °. ‘No, I don’d know dot. Pesides, I cannot helb dot, Peoples come to me and pawn t’ings, und if dey vas stolen I cannot helb dot. I vas not to plame!” ‘¢ Now, look here, Michaels, 1 want to tell you something. I am a detective, and an officer, and I mean business. I want to know who pawned that watch. You had better tell me, and save yourself trouble.” ‘‘ Mine frient, how can I tell you when Thave forgotten?” ‘Go search up your records, then, and find out!” ‘‘ Mine frient, I have no records,” ‘You have norecords? The law requires you to keep u record of your transactions!’ “Dot law vas no goot. I no_ botter mine head vid it. Ven I loans money, I gifs a ticket. Ven dot ticket comes back, vid de money and my brofit added, I returns der goots. No, no! mine frient, I forget who pawns dot vatch, so helb me! Ibaf one very pad memories!” ‘T think myself your memory needs & strengthening poultice,” Dick remarked, taking a pair of handcuffs from bis pocket, ‘* You come along with me to the lock-up, Michaels, and when you are shut up in a nice cool cell, and free frum business cares, Pve no doubt your memory will return to you.” “Not no!” cried the broker, in abject terror “T cannot go to shail—I vil not go to shail! { vil die first. Now, sbust vait--shust vait till f tink, Maype dot name vil come back te me all at vonce!” Dick turned to Rachel with a smile. ‘“ Nothing like a pair of handcuffs to liven up one’s defective memory! Here! you take the watch and keep it. It is yours.” “T haveit! Ibaveit! I have it!” excitoely cried the man of pledges. ‘I have it, so hel me!” “Keep a tight hold of it, and don’t let it get away from you!” urged Dick, ‘No! no! you don’d vas unterstandt me. I haf got dot name !” “Well, what isit? Spit it out.” “Tt vas Redfern—Meesus Redfern dot lif py der bill over yonder!” ‘Correct, Michaels, I could bave told you that long ago. Well, good-by! Much obliged for the information. Come, Miss Cohen.” ‘‘Holdt on! holdt on! De vatch—you have got de vatch!” “Why, of course we have!” Dick returned. ‘The watch belongs to Miss Cohen, and she bas a perfect right to take it with her!” ‘But, mine monish! mine monish! gif me dot. . I pay mine monish on dot vatch, so helb me! _ Ob, you go up your spout! You paid noth- ing! I dia! I did! Ipay mine monish on dot vatch, an’ [ vant it or I sue you!” “Hol, bo! you will, eb? ‘Dot law vas no goot, Michaels—no goot at.all!’—you ‘assured me, Besides, you have no records to prove you ever had such a watch in your possession, Goot-day, Meester Michaels—goot-day!” — And then with a tantalizing laugb, Dick fol- lowed Rachel from the store, leaving the dis- comfited broker in a state bordering on frenzy. “Another clincher against Mrs." Redfern ty Dick remarked. “Oh! Lam’so glad you are succeeding so well, Mr. Bristol. I felt confident you would, in the start. And, now, Mr. Bristol, I want you to accept this watch as @ present from me—not as any part of the proper remuneration for your professional services, but as a testimonial of my esteem. It was my poor father’s, ’tis true, but it is too large for me to wear, and it will please atly if you will accept of it.” will do so, with the keenest pleasure, Misa “ < ) ll - .™. 7 Cy a ad. ‘ e n * = yaa ; by nd , 4 i cbhooks-co! i ) f, hee