Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

a a sacrifice himself to save his sweetheart from shame. ’I'was a foolish thing to do, ‘¢ That man with the round shoulders and un- leasant voice is a human sleuth- hound, bent on unting my brother down, His pretension of being an insurance agent was very transparent, and his excuses for inquiring concerning Philip were lame and shallow. He took me by surprise at first, but I do not fancy that he Jearned much that will aid him. I must be constantly on my guard.” Laughing Lu watched the sun sink behind the western range, and the shadows gather in the valley and creep up the mountain-sides. When the shadows grew to darkness, she closed and fastened the cabin door, Then she lighted a lamp and examined the window fastenings, which she found all right, To her surprise and joy, she discovered that one window could be opened a short distance, and fastened securely in that position, thusadmitting fresh air without in any way increasing her danger. The brave girl spent a restless night, and was glad when morning broke. Ske went out for an early walk, and when she returned an hour later, she felt much refreshed. Near the middle of the forenoon Ned Morris appeared. His face wore a troubled look. ““Oh, Ned, lam glad you have come!” cried Lu. ‘I have something to tell you.” He came in and threw himself into a chair. Luona sat down and at once told him of the visit of Solomon Snide. When she had finished, Ned said: ** Yes, I noticed the queer old spectacled chap in camp, and wondered who he was. From what you say, it is evident that heis surely a de- tective. You must be on A teat guard, Lu,” **{ will be, Ned, and I hope and pray that Philip may escape arrest until the charge against him is proven false.” ‘*T hope so, too. But I have come here to tell you that there is trouble brewing in camp, and to warn you to keep close to this cabin to-day.” ** What do you mean?” ** Well, to tell the truth, the roughs and toughs are in possession of thecamp., Some of them were filling up with bad liquor the greater part of the night and only got sleep enough to put them in bad bumor to-day. Thus far, remem- bering your presence, High Card Harry and Hickory Jimmy bave kept them quiet, but there is bound to be an outbreak before the day is over, and a bad one, if [am not mistaken.” ** Oh, what will they do?” cried Lu, in fear, **Tt is hard totell, Just now their attention seoms to he directed toward Jacktown, and they threaten to clean out that camp and burn every building to the ground before sundown, They may do it, too!” The girl was speechJess with surprise. After a time, she faltered: ‘¢ Surely they will not dare,” ‘‘That gang will dare anything when filled with bad liquor. If they start for Jacktown, the citizens of that place must be warned, for blood is sure to flow. There are good men in Jacktown, and it would be a shame for them to lose their lives through lack of a warning to look out for the ruffians of Jasper.” After ten or fifteen minutes more of conversa- tion the young man departed, promising to re- turn ere night and let her know how matters went within the pa A short time after Ned’s departure, a wild yell and a pistol-shot came from the heart of the ‘camp. Several minutes of silence followed, and then the listening girl heard a volley of shots and a chorus of cries. The mob had got beyond High Card Harry’s and Hickory Jimmy’s control. | During the rest of the forenoon Laughing Lu heard shots and yells at irregular intervals. Midday was past when the tumult in the camp reached the highest point. Fusilades of pistol- shots were followed by Pere and shouts, Luona listened, her face white with alarm. She fancied the sounds were ape meg Suddenly a powerful horse dashed up to the cabindoor, Ned Morris was on the animal’s back. ** Lu!” he cried, She came out quickly. ‘* W hat is it, Ned?’ she asked. “The Old Boy’s to pay!” he replied. “ The roughs are mounted and have started for Jack- town. They swear to lay the town in ashes and shoot every person who dares resist. Jack- town must be warned—it would be almost as bad as murder not to tell them of their danger. Tam going to warn them.” * You?” she gasped, ** Yes, I know a short cut by which I can get in ahead of the mob. I can do it all right, ‘* Come here a moment,” Violet Vane. never fear. Keep close to the cabin while I am away. Good-by, darling.” A wave of his hand, a shout, a clatter of hoofs and he was away, sweeping like a whirl- wind into the hills toward Jacktown. CHAPTER VII A GAME OF DRAW POKER, WITHIN the saloon of the Silver Bell Hotel dead silence followed the camp tramp’s startling words. Blizzard Ben lay quite still where he had fallen, and the amazed spectators fairly held their breath as they stared at the victor. Had the little, drawling, insignificant-appear- ing fop really ‘‘downed” the bully of Jack- town? They could not believe the evidence of their eyes. The man in velvet stood with his hands on his hips, gazing at the fallen tough as if amazed that he did not arise and renew the battle. A hard look swept over Dandy Dirk’s face as he surveyed the dude. He realized that he had made a big mistake in deciding that the little man was a cowardly creature, without a spark of genuine grit about him. The dandy’s apparent fright he now realized was assumed, and now believed that the much-dressed stranger had entered the Silver Bell with the intention of pitting his skill against the good men of the camp. A scowl settled on Dandy’s face, for he knew that, when Blizzard Ben fell, the citi- zens would look to him to support the honor of Jacktown. He would be forced to overcome the stranger, in some way. As soon as the crowd fully grasped the situa- tion, a great uproar arose, Every one uttered a shout, but above all the rest could be heard the voice of the eccentric Wage. ** 'W hopee /” he velled, shrilly. ‘* Three cheers an’er youpfur Sweet Violets! I knowed he’d do et! He’s the bloomin’ lily o’ ther valley w’at kin knock ther spots offen yer common hot-house geraniums! I’m bettiu’ mer wealth outer his head every time, an’ my name’s Wag¢g!” Dandy Dirk stepped forward and knelt beside the unlucky bully. A hasty examination con- vineed the proprietor of the Silver Bell that Blizzard Ben was not seriously injured, then he sprung up, motioning for silence. ‘** He is all right,” Dandy announced, as soon as he could make himself heard; ‘‘ or will be, in a short time. The fall sent his senses wool- gathering. He probably was not expecting his antagonist to attempt to escape him by dodging between his legs like a cowardly cur.” Dandy stared straight at the man in velvet as he spoke, but the tenderfoot did not appear to notice the insulting words. He received his hat from the woolly-headed man, uttering a low word of thanks as he did so. Blowbugle pressed forward, extending his hand to the stranger. “Sir, we welcome you ter Jacktown,” cried the judge, with a flourish, ‘* You have shown that vou are able ter look out fer number one, an’ thet is ther kind uv men we're lookin’ fer jest now. W’at might we call yer name?” The stranger touched the judge’s hand, and replied, his voice quite free from the affected drawl: ‘“* In Bitter Root Bend, the place where I last stopped, they called me Violet Vane. My name is Charlie Vane, but I have a habit of wearing fresh violets when I can obtain them, and arti- ficial ones when no others are tobe had. For that reason the men of Bitter Root Bend took a fancy tocall me Violet Vane.” “ Hooraw fur Violet Vane!” roared Erastus Wagg. The crowd seemed suddenly seized by enthu- siasm, and uttered a suppressed cheer, Dandy Dirk turned crimson, and strode forward to confront the fop. ‘* Sir,” said the proprietor of the Si'ver Bell, in a cold, hard tone, ‘‘ are we to understand that you come into this town to set yourself up asa chief?” The little man smiled quietly. *“‘ With the pasteboards only,” he replied. ‘I try to avoid a brawl whenever I can. When forced into one, I do my level best to hold up my end.” ‘Then you pretend to play cards?” ** A little.” ‘*T suppose you came here with the intention “3 ee out the sports of the camp?” sneered andy. ‘* Well, I thought I would try them a whirl,” was the calm reply. There was something in the velvet dandy’s manner that caused the blood to leap quicker in the veins of the handsome man who faced him. Indeed, the proprietor of the Silver Bell could scarcely refrain from striking Vane’s smiling Sr rrr mn re tee face. But Dandy held his temper, and bided his time. He was a skillful gambler, and felt confident that he could teach this insignificant fop a thing or two. ‘I will be a first-rate subject to begin upon,” he remarked, grimly. ‘‘ The boysseem to think that I can play a little.” The velvet tenderfoot seemed pleased at the prospect; and arrangements were swiftly made for the game, The unconscious bully was lifted and carried from the room, Dandy giving orders that he should be restored to consciousness and careful- ly attended to. A few minutes later the tenderfoot sport and the handsome, dark-faced proprietor of the Sil- ver Bell sat down to match skill and fortune. Dandy produced a fresh pack and broke the seal. ‘* What shall the limit be?” asked Vane, ‘* Limit!” sneered Dandy Dirk. ‘* Are you going to play with a limit? Is penny-ante the game. you are looking for?” The little man smiled as serenely as ever. ‘*f am a stranger in this place, and therefore unable to borrow enough to call a bigh bet should it exceed my pile. To set a’ reasonable limit will be simply giving me a fair show,” “Oh, well then, name the limit,” said the Dandy, sbortly. ‘* How willa thousand do, with five for the ante?” ‘*Tt will suit me, if it does you,” asserted the proprietor, opening bis eyes a little and staring’ hard at the dude gamester. ‘* That settles it then.” They cut and the deal fell to Dandy. Thelittle sport produced a roll of bills that made his op- ponent’s eyes glisten. ‘*By gum! he’s got ther dosh!” hoarsely whispered the woolly-headed man. Before throwing the cards, Dandy produced a heavy revolver and laid it on the table. He said not a word, but the action was significant enough for the little man to understand his meaning. Vane seemingly took no notice of the act, and as be made no move to produce a weapon, many believed that he was not ‘* heeled.” The game began, and the crowd watched with intense interest. At first the luck varied, but, after a few minutes, it seemed to turn in Dandy Dirk’s direction, and for almost half an hour he took two-thirds of the pots, Vane did not lose his nerve in the least. He played on calmly, even smiling easily as bis an- tagonist raked in the money. He was watch- ing Dandy’s style of playing, and soon discov- ered that the proprietor of the Silver Bell was a great band to bluff. ‘* Bah!” cried Dirk, at last. ‘This is the tamest kind of agame! Iam tired of pulling your money across the board, . Stranger, you can’t play a little bit!” At which Vane’s eyes twinkled. ‘*My friend,” he said, quietly, ‘‘ when you count your money you will find yourself not so very much abead, True, you have taken a majority of the pots, but they have all been small oves, Those which have been of any great value bave come to this side.” ‘*My winnings would bave been larger but for this cursed limit,” growled the tall gambler. ‘*Think so? Well, then, we will raise the limit. How will ten ante and five thousand limit suit?” ‘* That is better.” * All right, we will call it that ” And the game continued, For a time luck fluctuated, but finally Dandy opened a big jack-pot on two small pairs. He opened it for a beavy sum. Vane ‘‘stayed,” and drew four cards, Dandy took one, that dia not better his hand, yet he promptly bet five hundred dollars. The velvet gamester counted out five bundred, and seemed to _ hesitate whether to ‘‘raise” or ‘‘caJ].” Finally he raised the pot a hundred dollars. ‘¢ He basa weak hand,” thought Dandy. ‘I can drive bim out.” Then he raised the pot two thousand dollars, The little man Jaid his cards face down upon the table and coolly counted out seven thousand dollars, raising Dandy the full limit. With a fierce curse Dandy flung down his hand, at the same time Saying: ‘* You must havea fist full, I will give fifty dollars to see your cards, but five thousand is too much.” ‘‘ You are welcome to see them for nothing, if yon pass.” “« Well, I do pass.” . Then Vane turned his cards face upward an@ exposed a pair of four-spots, with a king, ten and six following. a )