Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

° Se ee . * ae-~ walked around the stranger twice, inspecting him from head to foot, ‘* An’ so you're er big chief, are ye?” asked the judge, ‘*You bet yer dirty socks!” was Wagg’s prompt reply. ‘* Tm er high howler frum Top Notch,” ‘‘1'!m happy ter make yer ’quaintance,” de- clared the judge, extending a fat hand, which Wagg promptly grasped, Then Judge Blowkugle, who was unusually stout in his hands, gave the man from Top Notch a fierce grip, but, to his amazement the squeeze was returned with interest. ‘* Partner,” grinned Wagg, as be vigorously shook the judge’s paw, *“‘ this duz me proud, Northin’ makes my buzzum swell with pride like ther hearty grip o’ an’ hones’ man’s han’,” “Ouch! Oh! Let go!” squawked the judge, “Wat ther blazes— Ouch! Thunder an’ Mars!” With a look of amazement, Erastus Wagg re- leased the hand, and the pompous citizen of Jacktown danced around in a decidedly undig- nified manner, holding up a hand which looked crushed and bloodless, ‘Ding ye!” growled the judge. ‘‘Did ye mean ter squoze 1t off?” The crowd looked a trifle surprised. Perhaps there was more to this bundle of rags than they had suspected. ‘Bog pardon,” he entreated. ‘* But I ’shoor ye thet waz jest er baby grip. I ginerally double ther dose w’en I shake with er man.” Blowbugle was not a courageous person, and did not offer to resent the open insult. Suddenly the stranger jerked out a pair of long-barreled, rusty revolvers, and without a moment’s warning opened fire on a clock which hung against the wall bebind the bar. With remarkable rapidity he emptied both weapons, completely shattering the face of the clock, ‘‘ Whoopee!” he cried, ‘* [’m er terror w’en I let merself looset My name is Wagg, an’ I’m er hard man ter crowd! Stan’ back an’ give me room!’ Jerry Day, the barkeeper, looked startled for a moment, then he flushed with anger, Dandy Dick was not in the room at the time. “You dirty bum!” shouted Jerry. ‘' You shall pay for that!” ‘*T allus settle my bills,” declared Wagg, as he thrust*the revolvers out of sight and strode toward the bar. ‘‘Hyer’s me last red. Give me credit fer thet, an’ charge ther rest.” And he slapped a battered dime upon the bar, Jerry Day uttered an oath and vaulted over the bur. But he returned quite as swiftly, for the vagrant caught him by the collar and a con- venient part of his breeches and tossed bim back, A great crash followed, as the barkeeper landed in the midst of a mass of empty bottles. ‘‘ Yoop!” shouted the new-comer. ‘I’m er b-a-a-d man ter tackle! Clar ther way hyer an’ make room fer Hrastus Wagg.” Blizzard Ben bad seen .enough, and could re- strain himself no longer. With a roar like that of a mad bull he charged upon the intruder. Wage saw him coming, and bolted for the door, through which he swiftly disappeared. At which moment another stranger stepped into the doorway and confronted Ben, who halted with an ejaculation of amazement. CHAPTER ITI. THE DANDY TENDERFOOT, ‘© Goop Lawd! Wi’at is it?” The Blizzard seemed suddenly paralyzed with surprise and astonishment. ss In the doorway stood an individual “the like of which” had never before been seen within the limits of Jacktown. ** A dood!” gasped Ben. The man in the doorway was attired like a dandy from head to foot. He was slightly be- low medium hight, but his perfect-fitting clothes revealed the fact that his build was as near per- fection as @ man of his stature could be. Every limb was rounded, full, and muscular, and ev1- ‘dently was full of suppleness and strength. His appearance, as he surveyed the staring crowd, was that of languid surprise, The dandy’s clothes were of black velvet. His feet were incased in patent-leathers, Upon his head he wore a handsome ‘“‘stovepipe beaver.” The bosom of a handsomely polished and im- maculate ‘ b’iled ” shirt was exposed by the cut- away of the vest. A standing collar and tie of ‘the latest style adorned his neck, and a first- water diamond gleamed from the midst of the tie. Asmal]) bunch of fresh mountain violets was fastened upon the lapel of his coat. Not a weapon was visible upon his person. The dandy’s face was attractive — almost Violet Vane. handsome, His hair and eyes were dark, and a handsome, pointed mustache shaded his mouth, A phrenologist would have said that he was not aman to be crowded, despite his foppish ap- pearance. There was something strangely at- tractive about his magnetic, piercing eyes. ‘+ Aw—is this the botel?” he drawled, seeming amazed and startled at baving so suddenly at- tracted the attention of the rough crowd, For a few moments there was no reply, then Blizzard Ben grasped the situation and hastened to say: ‘* Yes, pard, this are ther hash-shop o’ this hyer camp. Cum?’ in,” The dandy hesitated a moment, then appa- rently decided to accept the invitation. He walked slowly in, appearing for the time both awkward and frightened. ith nervous haste, he began removing the gloves which concealed his small hands, An audible snicker ran around the room, ‘* W’at hav’ ye foun’, Ben?” inquired one of crowd, Ben turned toward the throng, a look of utter helplessness on bis face. ‘* Pards, I can’t name it,” he declared. Judge Blowbugle came bustling forward, hav- ing rubbed his crushed hand until the blood was circulating freely and it once more felt natural. ‘‘Aht A stranger in camp,” he remarked. “My friend, you are fortunate in findin’ yer way ter our geelorious town. We welcome you, an’ exten’ ther han’ uv hospitality.” Just as Blowbugle extended his hand, the woolly-beaded man stuck his head in at the door and shouted: ‘* Look out fer er squeezer, ole man!” The judge jerked back ,his fat hand, without having touched the aandy’s delicate fingers. He had no care for a repetition of the dose which W agg had given him, The crowd within the saloon gatbered around the velvet dandy and inspected him with great curiosity. They did not attempt to repress their amazement and contempt. “ Whar did it cum frum?” ‘¢Barnum has met wi’ er big loss.” ‘¢ Looker ther Johnny-jump-ups in its button- hoel! Waal, I swear!” ‘¢ Looks like it growed in them clothes,” ‘¢ Shoot ther bat!” ' The stranger seemed to grow more and more alarmed, as he glanced around as if in search of an avenue of escape. His apparent fear amused the crowd, ‘Hi! Head him!” laughed one. him slip ye!” ‘‘ Gentlemen,” faltered the stranger, ‘‘ if this is the—a w—hotel, I would like to be shown toa private room.” His speech and manner created a burst of hoarse laughter. beg he er dew-drop?”’ chuckled the Bliz zard. “Say, sonny, duz yer mammy know ye’r’ out?” inquired Tiger Joe, one of the little ** fire- eaters ” of the camp. ‘Gentlemen, gentlemen,” cried Blowbugle, ‘stan’ back an’ give it air! The poro thing looks reddy ter swoon.” ‘* You better git outer ther ring, jedge,” cried one of the crowd, ‘‘Ther tenderfoot may git riled an’ pall er pop.” ‘‘Pull er pop!” snickered the factotum. ‘‘Wy, he’d be skeered ter handle er toy pis- til!” ‘* Don’t ye be ser shore o’ thet now,” cried an- other. ‘*’Pearances air mighty kinder decep- tive once er twicet iner while. Ye may run erg’in’ a snag ef ye fool ’roun’ ther velvet dandy, Ole Wobblejaw. [m bettin’ he’s wus- sen condensed chain-lightnin’, an’ ‘ny name’s Wage!” The woolly-headed man had ventured back into the room. ‘‘Stranger,” said Blowbugle, planting him- self in front of the dandy, ‘‘whar are ye frum?” ‘* Bawston is my native city,” was the reply, as the little fop lifted his head a trifle proudly, ‘* The Dickens! Ye don’t say!” ejaculated the judge, as if greatly astonished. ‘°‘ Wal, now, Boston must be quite er town—’most as big as this hyer place, eh?” The stranger almost smiled. ‘* Well—aw—it is very neah as large,” he ad- mitted. ‘¢ How'd ye happen ter cum out hyer?” pur- sued the inquisitive judge. ‘¢T came to see the ssa & 6 knaw,” ‘“ Ah, exactly! 1 hope it ally meets yer aD- ticipations. You are not disapp’inted?” The dude hesitated. ** Don’t let 3 ‘* Yes, I am somewhat,” he finally confessed. ‘You are?’ thundered the judge, scowling blackly. ‘*Wat’s ther matter with ther ken- try? ‘*Ob, well—er—that is—nothing,” faltered the dandy, trembling visibly and glancing around, ‘* The countwy is all wight—it is the people, ye knaw.” The judge seemed to grow still more furious, ‘*'Ther people!” he roared, ‘ W’at’s ther mat- ter with them?” ‘*T find that they—aw—lack something.” ‘** Lack somethin’—w'at?” ‘* Bwains,” was the astounding reply. For a moment dead silence ensued, then the woolly-headed man squealed: ‘*Whoopee/ Score one fer ther velvet tenderfut! Go bag yer head, Ole Wobblejaw!” Then a scene of wild confusion followed. Some laughed, some were angry, and every one tried to talk at once. A few, whom liquor had made decidedly ugly, drew their weapons and tried to crowd nearer the rash dandy. ‘¢ Shoot him!” yelled one, Then some one emptied a six-shooter into the floor. ‘‘For Heaven’s sake, gentlemen,” gasped the velvet dandy, ‘‘ what have I\done to awouse your anger? Iam suah—’ But his voice was drowned by the tumult, Mr. Wagg looked alarmed, ‘‘ Ther durned critters may take it into their heads’ ter lynch ther posy,” he muttered. ‘‘They’re in an ugly condishun. By gum! There’s goin’ ter be er sarcus!” The woolly-headed man was right. of Jacktown felt themselves insulted. ‘Let me git at im!” howled Tiger Joe, as he pusbed forward with clinched fists, ‘*‘ Pll chaw imup! Clar ther track!” But Blizzard Ben caught the little fire-eater by the collar, ** Hole on, Joe,” he commanded, ‘‘ Ther ten- derfut has ’sulted ther hull camp. He’s got ter ’polergize ter ther crowd, ur settle wi’ me,” ‘** Silence in ther court!” bellowed Blowbugle. After a time, silence was restored. Then the judge turned and faced the stranger, throwing back his shoulders and glaring straight at the cowering tenderfoot. ‘‘ Young man,” he said, impressively, ‘* you hav’ ’sulted ther people of this great an’ geelori- ous kentry, an’ you must ’polergize to ther citi- zens uv Jacktown.” ‘* What have [ done?” stammered the dandy, ‘Oh, heavens! what a dweadful place this is!” ‘“‘ Done?” thundered the judge. ‘* Didn’t ye say as how we lacked brains—hey?” - ‘* Yes: but weally—” “Thar hain’t no weally ‘bout hit. *polergize?” ‘‘Why, surely, I haven’t—” ‘+ Stan’ back, jedge!” commanded the Blizzard, ‘¢D)] bring ’im ter law in double-quick time,” Then the bully seized the velvet dandy by the collar and dragged him through the crowd to- ward the bar, ‘*Clar ther track!” he commanded. ‘ We'll see ef ther dood ’ll ’polergize fer thet insult, Make way ter ther bar!” A moment later the bully of Jacktown lifted the tenderfoot from the floor and stood him up on the bar. ‘‘ Now we'll see if ther galoot ’ll ’polergize,” said Ben, as he faced the crowd for a moment, at the same time drawing a revolver. But, apparently with the intention of making a break for the open door, the dandy sprun from the bar. He landed on Blizzard Ben’s shoulders, fairly astride the bally’s neck, eee eo The men Do ye CHAPTER IV. A BLIZZARD IN MINIATURE. BLIZZARD BEN uttered a shout of amazement, and came near pitching forward upon his face as he felt the full weight of the velvet dandy upon his shoulders. In bis surprise he dropped his revolver, at the same time lunging forward several steps. The dandy quickly locked his feet and grasped the bully’s long hair, in order to keep from falling. ‘‘ Oh, gracious!” gasped the tenderfoot, who appeared almost overcome with terror, “ Jeehocus!” snorted the woolly-headed man. ‘ Tooker thar, now! Beauty an’ ther beast! Say, pard tenderfoot, how d’ye like ridin’ er jackass?” Blizzard Ben uttered a howl. ‘Let go my har!” he bellowed. “ Holy poker! ‘You'll hav’ mer. hull skulp in er jiffy.” The crowd seemed to catch the Comical view of the situation, and nesrly every man burst into a roar of laughter. . . AY +>, ">oe fe | % ae i" s