Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

| | | —_— —- room,” he said. quite as well arranged as they are bere,” ** And whom shall I thank for all this?” ‘‘Noone. The entire town of Jasper united in preparing this place, and our only regret is that it is not more suitable for its new occu- pant.” She appeared somewhat confused. ‘* They shall be paid for their kind.ess,” she declared; ‘‘and I will thank them for being so thoughtful.” ‘* They ask no thanks,” said the sport; ‘‘ and as for taking pay, there is no one who will ac- ceptacent, As long as you desire to remain here, these things are yours, Although Jasper is heaven compared with Jacktown, there are rough men in thiscamp. But even the rudest has a warm spot in his heart for every true wo- man. Jasper will be proud to say that the queen of the camp is the handsomest woman in the State,” She put out one hand protestingly, a reproach- ful smile on her face, ** Don’t!” she exclaimed, and then checked her- self, refraining with difficulty from telling him that his flattery was too open for good taste. Outside the cabin the crowd waited on =A tiently for High Card Harry to reappear. He finally came out, but the beautiful girl preceded him. ‘* Fellow-citizens,” cried the sport, ‘* Miss Howard would like to speak to you.” Instantly silence reigned, Finding herself the target of scores of eyes, Laughing Lu blushed and seemed a trifle con- fused, but this only heightened her charming ap- earance. More than one rough fellow’s heart or wildly as he stared at that beautiful form and face, and more than one were ready to swear that sho was the handsomest creature the sun ever shone upon, ‘** My dear friends,” began the girl, hesitating- ly, ‘‘ Il know not how to thank you for your kindness. Words cannot express my surprise and delight on seeing the interior of this charm- ing little cottage. You have been very thought- ful, and you all have a share of my gratitude. I can say no more.” ‘‘ Great Moses, that’s ernuff!” blurted one rough fellow, ‘I feel now like I c’u’d walk on air an’ not hafe try.” ‘* Pards,” cried High Card Harry, ‘‘ I propose three cheers for the Queen of Jasper.” Then the whole crowd came near splitting their throats. Not knowing what else to do, Laughing Lu bowed her thanks and retreated into the cabin. High Card Harry spoke a few low, sharp words, and the throng rapidly dispersed. An hour later Ned Morris approached Laugh- ing Lu’s cabin and knocked lightly on the door. The girl soon appeared. ‘* Ned!” she almost shrieked, as she saw his face. ‘Is it you?” Hat in hand, he bowed respectfully. ‘* Where did you come from?” she cried, a Glad light in her blue eyes. ‘‘Is it really you? can scarcely believe my eyes!” Then, before he could reply, she seized him by the arm and drew him into the cabin, closing the door behind him, ‘IT am so glad to see yon!” she murmured, be- twixt laughter and tears. ** Are you really glad, Lu?’ he asked, his voice trembling a little, despite his attempt to pre- ‘vent. “Yes; really and truly,” she murmured, her eyes falling before his steady gaze, For a moment botk were silent, then she came toward him, holding out her hands. * Ned,” she faltered, ‘‘l was wrong. Forgive me. He caught her hands with both his own, a gasp of joy escaping his lips. ‘‘I was wrong as well!” be exclaimed. Z who should be forgiven!” ‘**No—no! Do not attempt to take any of the blame upon yourself!” she entreated, ‘‘I alone was to blame. I never cared a fig for—for him, “g Ag. cruel in me to try to make you think did. “Truly you did not care for Harold Man- son?” ‘‘ Truly, Ned.” Then he caught her in his arms and kissed her, and the misunderstanding which had sep- arated them a year before was settled. For a few moments the joy of the young lovers at having met and come to an understanding was too great for words; but their eyes told each other the tale which their lips could not speak, Finally Ned led her to the little sofa, and they sat down together. “*T could not believe my eyes when I saw you “Tt is “You will find things there Violet Vane. in the midst of the crowd returning from Jack- town,” he declared. ‘*So you are the wonder- fully handsome girl of whom we have heard so much?” ‘* And J could not believe my eyes when I saw you at the door, a moment ago. How came you here, Ned?” ‘*‘IT came West immediately after our mis- understanding. I resolved to make a fortune someway, and return as rich as Harold Man- son, ‘* Rieh or poor, you are more to me thana million Harold Mansons!” was her earnest de- claration. He -drew her toward him and kissed her again, ‘* And you are more than all the world to me,” he murmured, For several moments they were silent—that sweet silence so dear to lovers, ‘* But how came you bere alone in this wild country?’ he finally inquired, ‘‘ When I left you, you were at Ashton in school,” ‘** T am searching for my brother,” she replied. ‘Your brother?” he exclaimed, in amazement. ‘*T thought he was employed in the Burnton Bank,” ‘** So he was until a few months ago, when the bank was robbed. There was a terrible time about the robbery, and Philip was accused of having a hand in it. They even shut him in prison, but he escaped and fled. No one knew whither he went, but some time ago I received a letter from him, saying that he was all right. The postmark was either Col. or Cal.; but I could not tell which, Then I resolved to find him. That is why I am here.” Ned Morris looked amazed and alarmed. “This is most astounding news!” he cried. **T never met your brother, but you have told me of himascore of times, and knowing his sister as I do, I am willing to wager my life that he is no thief.” ‘* Thank you, Ned, for your confidence!” she exclaimed, ‘‘ lam glad that some one besides myself believes in him,” ‘* But,” continued the young man,” I am afraid he did a foolish thing in writing to you, and that you made a mistake in coming here in search for him,” ‘* Why—how?” she cried, ‘‘Ashe is charged with robbery, it is quite probable that you have been constantly watched by detectives. That letter, in all likelihood, did not reach your hands without being inspected. If so, you have been followed and, should you find your brother, he might be arrested before your very eyes.” A cry of terror broke from her lips, and she clung convulsively to his arm. ‘Oh, Ned! can it be as bad as that?” He looked into her fear-stricken face and saw that he had made a mistake in speaking so has- tily. With a few brief words, he tried to soothe her fears and reassure her, “It may not be so bad,” he confessed. ‘* We will hope it is not. Have you plenty of money ?” ‘Yes. You know papa left us nearly ten thousand—a small fortune for each. My share was deposited subject to my order, have made a big inroad upon it while attending school, but still have plenty left.” ‘*'That is good. Now let me warn you to be- ware of any one who may attempt to question you closely. Tell no one of your brother, Do not make many intimate friends in this camp, for Jasper City is far froma Paradise, To tell the honest truth, there are more hard characters in this camp than in any other two Western towns I ever saw.” ' ‘‘But they told me that it was a splendid nee and that Jacktown’s inhabitants were all ad men.” ““Then they deceived you,” said the voung man, quietly, ‘‘ There are ten bad men in Jasper to every one in Jacktown,. But, above all others, beware of that two-faced villain and gambler, High Card Harry.” The lovers conversed a few minutes longer, then Ned arose to depart. Luona made him promise to come and see her as often as discreet, and then, with a parting kiss, he left her, As be walked briskly away into Jasper City, he did not see the pale, handsome, sinister face that scowled upon him from behind a huge pow iden, or hear High Card Harry’s fierce words: ‘‘ So, she has found a lover thus soon! But, I have seen her, and fallen madly in love with the peerless creature. She shall be mine—J swear it! No power of Heaven or earth shall stand between us! Woe to the man who gets in my path!” CHAPTER VI, TROUBLE BREWING FOR JACKTOWN, LATE that afternoon, Laugbing Lu had @ visitor, When she answered the knock on the door, she was surprised to see a little round- shouldered, seedy-looking old fellow, who wore a huge pair of spectacles, ** Good-afternoon, miss,” said the stranger in a peculiar, rasping voice, removing bis hat and ducking his head two or three times, ‘* May I come ina moment? f[ wish to speak with you of an important matter,” Before she could decide whether to admit him or not, he pushed forward and entered, Lu was a little frightened by his queer actions, but he hastened to reassure ber, ‘*Don’t be frightened, miss,” he entreated, lowering his unpleasant voice somewhat. ‘‘ Have ou heard the latest news concerming your rother?” The queenign was asked rather abruptly, and startled the girl. ‘* No!” she cried, ‘‘ What is it?” Then you have not heard anything of him since coming West?” and the stranger seemed to peer sharply through his spectacles at ber. ‘‘ Not a word,” she replied. ‘‘Can you tell me anything of him? Do you bring me news?” ‘¢ Well, be hasn’t been captured yet,” was the rded reply. ‘Ts that all you can tell me?” demanded the girl, beginning to suspect that the spectacled stranger might be afoe. ‘*I did not know but you brought a message direct from him.” ‘The man shook his head, ‘‘ Fact is, | don’t know where he is,” he ad- mitted. ‘Do you?” But, Luona was on her guard now, She would answer no more questions for the stranger. ‘** You seem to take quite an interest in my brother, sir,” she said, sbarply. ‘‘ Have you business with him?” The spectacled stranger seemed a bit confused by her sudden change of demeanor, ‘‘Well—ahem!—no, not exactly,” he stam- mered. ‘‘ But I may have.” The girl shivered, for she fancied that she knew quite well what that business would be, ‘‘What is your name and your business?” asked Luona, quietly. ‘*My name?” exclaimed the little man, as he searched hastily through his pockets, ‘ Busi- ness? Why, I’m a life-insurance agent. 1 can give you a policy from one to twenty. Name? Good gracious! I ought to bave a card here,” But, after feeling through every pocket two or three times, he came to the conclusion that he had left his cards somewhere, ‘*My name is Solomon Snide,” he asserted, ‘‘T represent the great Ketchfast and Skinem Death and Accident Endowment Society, sur- plus capital two hundred thousand dollars, The solidest company in the world.” ‘‘ T suppose that you are seeking my brother in order to insure him?” suggested Lu, sarcas- tically. ‘Well, no—that is, not exactly,” faltered Mr. Snide, ‘* You see, my business took me to these parts, and I thought I would inquire about the young man.” “Very thoughtful of yon, Mr. Solomon Snide,” smiled the girl, as she opened the cabin door. ‘ Do you suppose you can find the way out of this cabin witbout assistance?” , Solomon looked surprised, but instantly too the broad hint. ‘Oh, certainly, certainly,” he nodded, ‘*no trouble about that, I guess I will be going, A very pleasant call—very pleasant, indeed.” In the doorway he paused to make a parting bow. ‘‘ Give my respects to your brother when you meet bim,” he said, his rasping voice jarring unpleasantly on the girl’s nerves, and causing her to shiver a bit, ‘I bid you good-day.” She watched him as he walked briskly away into the camp, a troubled light in her eyes, ‘“ He isa detective, Iam sure,” she murmur- ed. ‘Ned was right--I bave been followed, They are determined to recapture poor Philip, and carry bim back to prison, yet I am positive that my brother never committed that robbery, His prospects in life were too good_for him to blight them by such a foolish act. Yet with his own lips he declared that he committed the rob- bery! I did not tell Ned that—/ dared not. It might have made bim doubt Pbhilip’s bonesty. But I fancy I know why he did so strange an act. He was madly in , Be: with Ione Wilson, and suspicion pointed toward her father as the perpetrator of the crime. Mr. Wilson, the bank president, was arrested—then Philip resolved to