Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

—— ee — se back. ‘ Thet’s w’atI call gittin’ settled. Guess I don’t want ter rassil sum more.” ‘“‘Hev ye got enny good men in’ yer dirty camp?” asked the wrestler from Jasper, witha sneer. ‘* You fellers may be able ter play keerds, but it takes a hull man ter down Hick- ory Jimmy. There can’t rone ov yer sweet- scented posy fops in velvet an’ tall hats do thet.” ‘Bet yer two ter one they kin,” shouted Judge lowbugle from among the crowd. ‘¢ Whar’s Violet Vane?” The men of Jasper City sent up a cry of de- rision. ‘‘ Fetch erlong ther leetle runt, an’ I'll break his neck,” shouted Hickory Jimmy. ‘* You’ve contracted er mighty big job, part- ner,” grinned Erastus Wage. ‘* He has downed the best men o’ Jacktown. “That is alll want ter know of your best men,” declared the wrestler. “Waal, Pll go git him,” said Erastus, ** P’r’aps you'll shift yer ’pinion arter he gits holt o’ ye, And with these words, the woolly-headed man moved away toward the spot where Vane, Ned and Laughing Lu were seated beneath the tree which had so nearly served as a gallows. The crowd watched with interest to note the success of Wagg’s mission, and when they saw that Violet Vane did not arise and come forward at once, a hoarse murmur arose. ‘* Ill bet er tenner ther leetle runt won’t cum,” cried Hickory Jimmy. ; = ‘te take ther bet,” shouted Judge Blow- ugle. ut the money was never staked, for at this moment the Velvet Sport was seen to arise and eome forward with Erastus Wagg. ‘* He says he hain’t much onter the rassil,” observed the woolly-headed man, as the two reached the crowd; *‘ but he'll try ye a hustle, ef ye'll ’gree ter handle ’im easy.” Hickory Jimmy laughed manner. “Oh I'll handle *im easy,” replied he—* Pll bandle’im like [ wuz his own mammy.” But to High Card Harry, at his elbow, he muttered: ‘* Ill break ther durned leetle whelp’s neck, see ef I don’t.” Hickory Jimmy was about five feet and ten inches tall, and weighed at least one hundred and eighty pounds, every ounce of which appear- ed. *o be bone and muscle. He was a handsome- built man, and his face would have been call- ed handsome by many, but there wasa certain hard look, concealed by the drooping mustache, and an evil glitter in the eyes which told ofa cruel nature. The wrestler was utterly without a conscience, and had as lief maim or even kill a man to accomplish his own ends, Violet Vam surveyed Hickory Jimmy from head to foot, and at once decided on his char- acter. ‘*T hope to meet one white man among the gang,” thought the Velvet Sport; ‘‘ but I guess they are all toughs of the first water.” ‘* Come,” cried the wrestler, ‘‘if ye are goin’ ter try me er clinch, peel off yer coat, sonny, an’ jump rite inter ther ring.” ‘It will be well enough to make some arrange- ments before the match,” said Vane, coolly. ‘“*Rangements! Match!” sueered Hickory Jimmy. ‘‘ W’at ’rangements ye wantter make? So ye think it ‘ll be er match, do ye? Waal, I reckon it ll be a mighty one-sided one.” ‘*Don’t you go fer ter bet yer clo’se on thet, fer ef ye do, yell go home naked,” declared Erastus Wagg, promptly. ‘‘If [am going to wrestle, I would like to do so in a good-sized ring,” said Vane, quietly. “Unless parties are chosen to keep the crowd back, it is pretty sure to jam toward the center until the wrestlers have no chance atalJl. Now in a malicious __. I propose that six men be chosen to keep the _ City and three from Jacktown. crowd back; three of the six to be from Jasper Do you agree?” ‘Anything to satisfy you,” replied Hickory Jimmy. “Ajl right. Pick your three,and I will choose mine.” Less than half-a-minute was consumed in this matter. Then Vane once more spoke up: ‘‘ Who is to be referee?” ‘‘ Referee!” sneered the wrestler from Jasper City once more. ‘ W’at d’yer want ov er referee? I’m goin’ ter settle yer hash so thet it won’t need no referee.” “Still I insist upon a referee,” said Vane, firmly. ‘“ This is not going to be boys’ play.” “Then pick yer referee,” cried Hickory Jim- ne. “Tl fix this business so’t he can’t decide only one way. or Then,” siniled the little man with the violets, **T shall select Judge Blowbugle, of Jacktown, cg nes ne eee ee nen ene een eee eee eee ee Se ee ne nT —_—_—_—_—_ + SO Violet Vane. a square and honest man, who will give a just decision, even if it is against himself. Do you accept him as referee?” ‘* He’s good ernuff,” Judge Blowbugle pushed out of the crowd, looking very grave and dignified. Out came his red bandanna, and he blew his nose with re- markable vigor. ‘‘Gentlemen,” he said, flourishing the hand- kerchief, ‘‘I thank you for this great honor, and I promise you a fair decisioa,” Erastus Wagg looked as if his feelings were hurt. Catching Vane by the elbow, he said, re- proachfully: ‘‘Hev ye clean fergct me, leetle pard? Id like ter do suthin’ fur ye, ef ’twa’n’t more’n hole yer hat.” ‘* No, Erastus, I have not forgotten you,” au- swered Vane, witha smile. ‘I don’t forget my friends, old man, You are to be my second.” ‘** Lord love ye, pard!” exclaimed the woolly- headed man, his face suddenly beamwng with joy. ‘‘I thort it e’u’dn’t be, but my heart did git pritty well down inter mer boots, I guess ye know ther ole wool-top is reddy ter stan’ by ye through thick an’ thin.’ Hickory Jimmy chose High Card Harry as his second, , Finally Violet Vane began to strip for the contest. He removed his hat, coat and vest, then off came his collar and necktie, to be fol- lowed by the ‘* b’iled” shirt, leaving him strip- ped to a thin white knit undershirt. With some surprise, many of the crowd noted that the lit- tle man was much better built than they had thought; but in no way did he seen a match for his brawny, muscular antagonist, Hickory Jimmy refused to wrestle by any set rules, It was to be a rough-and-tumble struggle for the mastery, the two best falls out of three deciding who was the victor. When both men were ready, Judge Blowbugle gave the signal: ‘One, two, THREE—CLINCH!” In an instant they were at it, and with a oan of dismay, Erastus Wagg saw that i ee cre Jimmy had secured an advantageous old, ‘*Good Lawd!” he gasped, ‘‘ I’m ’feered he’s er goner this time!” But Violet Vane had failed thus far to display the best mettle there was in him, and the citi- zens of Jacktown had not yet correctly gauged his ability, When he found that the wrestler of Jasper City had secured an advantageous hold, he knew that he would have to do bis level best if he came off the victor on the first round. “Durn ye, down ye go!” gritted Hickory Jimmy, But the Velvet Sport did not go down so easy, and his antagonist soon found that he hada harder job on his hands than he had bargained for. Round and round whirled the two men; back and forward they swayed. The entire crowd scarcely breathed, Suddenly a great shout went up. The first fall had been made, and— Hickory Jimmy was at the bottom! ‘¢ Whoopee /” squealed Erastus Wagg, leaping into the air and waving his old hat over his head. ‘*I knowed it! Hooraw fur Sweet Vio- lets! Jacktown forever!” ‘““Hn’st flop fer Jacktown,” decided Judge Blowbugle. Then the men of Jacktown expressed their delight in aseries of yells which would have done credit to the same number of Indian war- riors. The wrestlers retired to their respective sides. Sitting on High Card Harry’s knee, Hickory Jimmy muttered between his gasps: _ 3 rs Blame his hide! I didn’t believe it wuz in im. ‘* How did he do it?” asked Harry. ‘‘ Don’t ask me. It wuz a new trick w’at I’ve never seen afore. But Ill throw ’im ur kill’im next time!” “That is right, fur you must down him, Break his back if youcan. If you finish him, you will save me the trouble.” ‘* Waal, Pll work er trick onter 'im this time w’at he never see before.” ‘* Time,” cried Judge Blowbugle. Both of the wrestlers came up ‘smiling and clinched in the middle of the ring, but this time Hickory Jimmy did not appear to obtain a su- perior hold. ‘‘Bive thousan’ dollars on Sweet Violets!” roared Erastus Wagg. ‘‘ Five thousan’ erg’in’ er thousan’—five ter one!” But no one paid any attention to the woolly- headed man. Every eye was fastened on the struggling wrestlers, This time the contest was fierce but brief. Suddenly a groan of dismay burst from the a ~ rr TE ee —— le ee ee 1s lips of Violet Vane’s friends as they saw the Velvet Sport go over backward. Buf the groan turned to a cry of amazement and delight, How wasit done? Barely did the little man strike the ground when his knees were planted against his antagonist’s breast and his toes. touched Hickory Jimmy’s body near the hips. Then the Velvet Sport’s feet shot upward, and the champion wrestler of Jasper City was burl- ed into the air, to turn over and land on bis back afew feet away. The force of the fall knocked the breath from Hickory Jimmy’s . body and nearly deprived him of consciousness, Violet Vane was upon his feet in an instant, and another wild yell went up from the throats of his admirers; but above everything else sounded the cry: ‘Fire! fire! Jacktown is on fire!” CHAPTER XVIII. AWAY IN PURSUIT OF THE KIDNAPPERS. A COLUMN of smoke was rising near the cen- ter of thecamp. In a moment thecrowd around the two wrestlers saw it, and a shout went up from half a hundred pairs of lips. ‘Treachery !” yelled astentorian voice. ‘‘ Ther galoots uv Jasper hev played us foul!” Then two-thirds of the crowd made a break for the camp. Erastus Wage thrust Violet Vane’s clothes and hat into the little sport’s bands, In a mo- ment the velvet dandy slipped on his vest and coat, and clapped the hat upon bis head, ‘** Come on, Waus !” he shouted. “I’m with ye, pard,” answered the woolly- headed man, at his side, ‘*What did you do with our rifles?’ asked Vane, as he ran. ‘“‘ Left ’em at ther fu’st shanty byer.” ‘‘Secure them both and come to the fire,” shouted the Sport; then he shot ahead of his companion, running like the wind, Into the camp dashed the Velvet Sport, in the very van of the crowd. He had noticed that his sister and Ned Morris were no longer be- neath the tree where he left them, and he con- cluded that they were somewhere in the camp, Past the dead horses, which marked the course of the defeated invaders from Jasper City, he dashed, and soon came in sight of the burning cabin. Only one building was on fire, but the flames seemed to have secured a fatal hold on that. However, the men at once went to work to extinguish them if possible, and to protect other buildings in the vicinity. Suddenly Ned Morris appeared at Violet Van’s side, and caught the little Sport by the arm. ‘‘ There has been foul work at the hotel!” cried the young fellow, excitedly. ‘‘ 1 went there with Luona, and, by the merest accident, she discovered a gentleman gagged and bound in one of the upper rooms. She called me, and when the gag was removed, the gentleman said that two masked ruffians bad placed him in that position, and carried away his daughter.” The Velvet Sport waited to hear no more. Like a shot he sped away toward the hotel, fol- lowed by Morris and several] who had heard the young man’s hasty story. Into the Silver Bell, and straight up to Owen Wilson’s room dashed Violet Vane. He found his sister and Mr. Wilson inthe room. The gir} was just releasing the Easterner from the final cords which held him in hischair. Vane was by his side in an instant. ‘““Mr, Wilson,” he cried, ‘‘ what has happened? lone—where is she?”* “They have carried her away!” shouted the nearly distracted father, leaping to his feet and attempting to rush from the room, Vane caught hold of the excited man and fairly lifted him from the floor, as he carried him back to the chair. ‘* Now,” said the Sport, with remarkable cool- ness, as he forced Mr, Wilson iuto the chair, ‘‘ tell me everything that bas occurred, and use as few words as possible. By doing so, you will put us on the track of the kidnappers in the shortest possible time.” But, even in that_ moment of intense excite- ment and agony, Owen Wilson recognized the man in velvet. ‘‘-You are Philip Howard,” he declared. ‘‘T am, but it makes no difference who I am now! Talk lively and straight, if you want to save your daughter,” Mr, Wilson comprehended his meaning. Sev- eral men had followed Vane into the room, and now the door was blocked by others. He spoke to them, instead of the man before bim. ‘We were alone in this room, he said. ‘‘ Nearly all the people had left the place, and the hotel seemed deserted. Suddenly twe / VNOOKS.com