Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘* How I have loved you! how I have loved you! Merciful heaven! I love you now more than all the world—more than life!” CHAPTER XI. SURE TO ‘‘GIT THAR,” THE Velvet Sport was met by Erastus Wage, shortly after leaving Ione. The eccentric old fellow seized Vane’s hand, and shook it heartily, at the same time saying; ‘ Ding my eyes ef it don’t do me proud ter git holt o’ yer fin! Ye’r’ ther best leetle man I’ve seen fur er right smart time. Fact is, I never did see but one leetle sardine as c’u’d hole er candle ter ye, an’ he war built after your style, ’cept he had yaller ha’r an’ blue eyes. He wore posies, but they wuz gold ones, sot with dimints —gold daisier*-an’ folks called him Daisy Dare. You an’ he w’u’d make a clippin’ span, but ye see he got struck on er black-eyed gal, an’— wa-al, he wuz er goner!” Wageg’s last words were uttered in such a dolorous tone that Vane was forced to smile. ‘Tt wuz hard fer me ter give ’im up,” sighed the tramp; ‘‘ but I reesigned merself inter ther han’s o’ fate. They got hitched, an’ I sloped, fur Le’u’dn’t b’ar ter hang ’round thar arter thet. "Twas allus thus; I never loved er posy dood, but he wuz ther fu’st ter fall—in love. Fortune has ever b’in erg’in’ me, an’ now you see ther wreck o’ er once noble an’ mighty in- terlec’, But life is too short fur pinin’.” The Sport smiled again. ‘‘ My friend,” he said, ‘‘ you have been smell- ing pretty freely of coffin varnish, Look out or you will get off your pins.” Wagg gare Vane a resentful look, ‘‘Pard,” he said, soberly, ‘‘ you don’t know KE. Wage, Esq. I seldom fool with ther stuff w’at biteth like a snake an’ stings wuss’n er bumble- bee; but w’en I do, Iallus go light. No man ever knew Hrastus Wagg to drink more than a 9int an’a half without stoppin’ ter ketch his oreath. It’s erg’in’ my principle ter make er hog o’ merself, but I never c’u’d b’ar fer bad likker ter go beggin’ fur sumboddy ter put it outer its misery.” ‘‘ A pintand a half! Is that what you call going light? What is your stomach made of?” It was Wagg’s turn to laugh. ‘* Wa-al, really I don’t drink offen,” he pro- tested. ‘‘ It’s only on sich geelorious ’casions as ther present thet 1 git fired up. Ive seen ernuff o’ ther durned likker’s work ter wish it never had been invented, Onc’t I swore off, an’ didn’t drink enny fur er right smart time, but all thet while I saw good men killin’ themselves wi’ ther cussed stuff. Then I kinder made up my mind thet I wuz er wu’thless ole sinner, an’ ef I did my best ter drink up ther p’izen an’ keep it frum temptin’ better men, I’d be doin’ er kineness ter humanity.” ‘‘ Which to my mind is very poor logic,” de- clared Vane, who could not help being amused py this strange fellow, who had championed his cause from the pegs, ‘‘ Waal, it may be,” Erastus admitted. “I hain’t much o’ er logicer. But, pard, I want ter tell ye ter look out fur thet dark-faced galoot w’at ye knocked ther spots offen. He’s goin’ ter *member ye, an’ I'll bet he’ll make trubble fur @,’ : ‘‘Thanks. 1 should not be surprised if you were right. Something tells me that he is my foe,” “Tell ye w’at, Sweet Violets, ye kin depen’ on me ef ye git inter er corner. Ill fight fur ye’s long as I kin keep on mer pins. I reckon ye’ve made er few frien’s in this byer camp who are with me in this matter.” ‘‘Tt is often fortunate to have friends, and I assure you that I appreciate your kindness. The time may come when I shall need all the friends that I can make in this place.” “Ther biggest part o’ ther crowd likes yer style, fur all o’ ther fac’ thet they laffed at ye wen ye fu’st showed up. Er galoot w’at kin sling on ther lugs an’ back ’em up is all right in this kentry. Butef he can’t, he’d better wear ole clo’se an’ stogy boots like Ido, W’at keeps me in hot water is mer mouth, as wuz built too large fur mer pluck. I offen make talk w’at ole Sampson bisself c’u’dn’t back up,” ‘That is bad.” ‘‘Oh, well, wen [ git inter er bad scrape, I depen’ on mer legs ter take me out, like they did w’en thet big galoot got after me jest afore you showed up. y gum! you tuck ther wind offen his stummic in large style.” ‘‘ What are they doing in the saloon?” ‘Scussin’ you an’ ther pritty gal as lately struck ther camp. Tell ye, pard, she’s er stun- ‘ner! Didnt see her, did ye?” “a Yes,” Violet Vane. ‘‘'Waal, so ye did. Guess you notissed her fu’st w’en she stud in ther door o’ ther skaloon. They’re torkin’ bout makin’ her queen o’ ther camp, or suthin’ o’ ther sort. Seems they had er queen, but Jasper got her ’way frum ‘em. They say she wuz er luller, but this one is jest er jot ahead o’ her.” Erastus spoke the truth; witbin the saloon the crowd was discussing the appearance of the beautiful girl whom they had seen, and speak- ing of the possibility of ber becoming known as the queen of the camp. Inspired by the liquor which he had imbibed, Judge Blowbugle mount- ed a table and made a speech to the crowd, in which he urged the men of the camp to offer Owen Wilson and his daugter such inducements to remain in Jacktown that nothing would cause them to go away. He concluded by pro- posing that a delegation of the most prominent citizens should be selected to immediately wait on the strangers, learn their business, and pre- sent the prospects of the place in as favorable light as possible, his speech was received with applause, and several of the crowd were immediately chosen to call on Mr, Wilson and lone, Judge Blowbugle being one of the number, of course, The com- mittee were instructed to make Owen Wilson any business proposition that their judgment might think for the best; the camp would stand their talk. They left the room and were shown. up to the Wilsons’ department. The crowd remained in suspense until they finally returned, Once more Blowbugle mounted a table, and drawing the red bandanna from bis pocket, he blew his nose in a business-like manner ere uttering a word, ‘* Feller-citizens uv this hyer geelorious town uv Jacktown,” he cried, pompously, “air ye reddy ter lissen ter ther report uv yer ker- mitty?” ‘* Yas, let er slide,” shouted several. ‘‘’Cordin’ ter deerections we have called on Mr. Owen Wilson and darter,” continued the judge, in an oratorical manner. ‘* We hav’ learned several things uv importance, Fu’st: Mr. Wilson is lookin’ fur er place ter invest er considerable sum uv money. Second: He is oo pleased with ther ’pearance uv Jacktown, hird: Heiser tenderfut, but he’s ez sharp ez chain-lightnin’. ‘Ter be course, citizens uv Jacktown, we pre- sented ther present sitterwation uv this byer camp in ther purtiest culler possible. We tole him thet all Jacktown needed wuz er small ermount uv capital, an’ plenty uv push an’ brains. We tried ter induce him ter make sum deffynite statement as ter whether he thought he w’u’d stay ur not, but he w’u’d not kermit hisself. But let me tell ye, feller-citizens, all thet is needed ter keep him hyer, is ter show him whar he kin putt his money to advantage, ‘*We kin do thet! ‘* Galoots uv Jacktown, it ’pears ter me thet ther dawn uv prosperity is right upon us, [Pm willin’ ter believe thet ther leetle man as wears ther Johnny-jump-ups kin knock out ther best men uv Jasper: an’ as fer ther gal in ther room above us, as queen uv Jacktown, she'll lay ’way over ther queen thet Jasper robbed us uv. ‘*Frien’s an’ neybors, lift up yer heads, fer ther mornin’ light is breakin’, Let yer hearts be full uv thanksgivin’ fer our redemption is at han’. A golden era uv prosperity an’ happiness is knockin’ at ther door, an’ over ther eastern hills ther bright rays uv ther sun uv joy is stealin’. Let hope dwell within yer buzzums, an’ wen ye git a chance, allus bet yer last dollar thet Jacktown will git thar jest ther same!” CHAPTER XII. THE PRICE OF A LIFE, WHEN Dandy Dirk fully recovered from the effect of the final blows which the man in vel- vet had planted beneath his ear and »n his jaw, he found himself lying on a cot-bed in one of the small rooms of the Silver Bell. Tiger Joe was bending over him, holding a bottle of liquor to his lips. ‘Take jest a drap, boss,” urged Joe. “ It'll set yer Slood ter movin’ an’ kinder wake ye up. It must ’a’ bin er reg’ler swynger ter knock ye silly in this ’ere way,” ‘ Swynger!” growled the Blizzard, who sat in a chair near at hand, ‘‘It must ’a’ bin wussen a muel’s kick. It takes a slice uv chain-ligbtnin’ ter send Dandy’s wits wool-gatherin’,” The man on the bed swallowed a little of the fiery liquid, which seemed to arouse him and give him sudden strength, for he started up, glaring wildly around, de tt ete ia ct ee a eee eee ee —s 9 ‘My ‘‘ What has happened?” he muttered, head—it feels dreadful!” ‘‘Don’t ax me w’at’s huppenéd,” rejoined Ben. ‘‘Yecan’t prove nothin’ by me, ’cause wile ye waz rasselin’ with thet leetle sardine, I waz layin’ on thet same bed gittin’ over ther dose he guy me. Hain’t got over it yit.” ‘*T remember!” exclaimed Dandy suddenly. ‘* That cursed tenderfvot!” ‘* Guess thet’s w’at’s ther matter with ye,” grunted the bully.. ‘* He’s left his mark,” ‘* Bring me a glass,” commanded the man on the bed. ‘' 1 want to look at myself.” ‘Ye ain’t ser pretty ez ye uster waz, boss,” observed Ben, who appeared to take a brutal delight in the fact that Dandy bad been used as bad us he had, ‘ Ther leetle rat in velvet dun his best ter sp’ile ver gud looks,” “ Bring me a glass!” thundered Dandy, furi- ously. ‘' A:e you both asleep?” Tiger Joe hastened to take down a small glass from where it hung against the wall and place it in the angry man’s hands. Both of Dandy’s eyes were badly swelled, and his face showed the marks of Violet Vane’s knuckles, For sev- eral moments he gazed in silence at his reflec- tion in the small mirror. Finally he said, in an icy tone: ‘‘Rather a pretty picture! Pleasant to con- template! A fine object to be seen in public!” ‘“‘Your face looks like er map uv Asia,” de- clared the bully. Dandy shot bim a terrible glance. “You dry up!” he said, in a manner which Ben plainly knew meant danger. ‘‘ You are altogether too free with your hp!” And the bully remained silent, ‘‘That cursed little whelp shall pay for this,” asserted Dandy, grimly. ‘“‘ There will be a big settlement in the nea. future.—Joe, bring me some water that I may bathe my face,” The fire-eater hastened to obey, and the un- lucky proprietor of the Silver Bell bathed his biffatgar countenance in the cool liquid. When this was done, he produced a bottle of liniment from the drawer of a small stand and applied some of it to the contusions on his face, Then he bound a handkerchief around his bead in such a. manner that his eyes were partially concealed, but allowing him to peer from beneath the ban- dage. “Now give me a good pull at that bottle,” he said. ‘‘I will be able to get around, I guess.” Joe passed him the bottle, and he took a heavy drink. “There, that puts life into me. Now Mr. Violet Vane had best look out for me! Notbing but his life will satisfy my revenge. He has crossed my path, and must be put out of the way. Something seems to tell me that this little fop is my bitterest and most dangerous enemy. I feel that if he is not downed, he will down ” ‘“T don’t love ther leetle cuss none too much,” asserted Blizzard Ben; ‘* but | bain’t got no rea- son fer ter putt him down fur good an’ all,” Dandy turned toward Ben, suddenly. ‘You have cause to hate this little devil,” gaid he. ‘‘ For that reason I suppose that you could cook his hash without much remorse,” ‘¢Waal, I might—if thar waz an objec’,” ad- mitted the bully, cautiously. ‘* And you, Joe?” But the Tiger shook his head. “Ef ye’ve got enny common obs, ’m yer man; but I hain’t hirin’ as er cut-throat,” ‘* All right,” said Dandy, shortly. ‘‘ Ben and I can attend to him. An even hundred is ready for you, Ben, wheu the Velvet Sport is toes up, if you put him there,” * Nuff sed,” was the short manner in which the bully accepted the cold-blooded offer of a paltry sum for a human life. “ At the same time,” observed Dandy, ‘I shall watch my chance to give him his last sick- ness, I would like to drop him in a fair manner tor the looks ef the thing; but fair or foul, down he goes! It means death to cross Dandy Dirk’s path!” . With these words he left the room, He did not enter the saloon, but proceeded to his own rivate room in the upper part of the building. e did not leave that room for more than an hour, during which time many events already related transpired, When Dandy did come forth aga, he was attracted by the sound of a feminine voice, which proceeded from a room, the door of which was slightly ajar. He paused in such a position that he could peer into the room, and came near uttering a cry of amazement as bis eyes rested on Owen Wilison’s face. For a moment he stared at the man as if fascinated. \ = a Gy 6 } =a \ = :