Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 639 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a 7 ily i es .-_--— —_. * way, ‘‘one o’ his friends—a scoundrel o’ the same dye, but a man [ have no interest in— come along, too. [don’t know what riffle they expected ter make, but you kin be sure thar was deviltry afoot. It war some time afore I learned whar they was, but, when I did, I jest packed my grip an’ jumped this way like a jack- rabbit.” ‘‘ Who was Boyne’s friend?” ‘Piper, his name was, but he changed that when he settled hyar, an’ called himself Brown!” ‘¢ Hardy an’ Brown?’ ‘Them was the names,” And so, too, they were the names given by the irreproachable gentleman from Denver who called upon Ralph Enonbridge two months be- fore. Suul, too, was ready to believe that there was a deep plot in the embezzlement case, In the first place, Emmie had been greatly deceiv- ed, somehow, in regard to the men, Saul was not slow to form a theory as to how this bad happened, o doubt, he thought, Boyne and Piper had known of her acquaintance with a genuine Hardy and Brown, and had cunningly used their names to get into Ralph’s house and _ Ralph’s good graces. - fever. m . ter Certainly, it would not do to ignore the men, if Buck Jockway was sure of all he alleged. The train rolled into the Causeway street depot, but Saul was not ready to leave the miner from Lame Horse, He had more ques- tions to ask. CHAPTER XI, HUNTING DANGEROUS GAME, “Mr. Jockway, I want to talk with you further,” observed Saul, as they left the train. “Allright. I’m told that Hardy ain’t likely ter be in afore eight o’clock, an’ it’s only half- past six, I see,” ; The miner glanced up at the big depot clock as he spoke, “Te’s go ter a saloon an’ set down,” he added. ‘‘ Thank you, but Iam not stuck on saloons. With your permission we'll sit down in the waiting-room.” d ‘Jest as you say. You go in, an’ [ll soon join yer, but I must hev a gallon o’ benzine ter wash my mouth with, first. It’s Western style.” : The last words were put in ob sy ay sapere Buck went out, but soon returned. He liked Saul, and was glad to remain in bis company. ‘* Wal, Sunrise, what is it?” he asked, ‘*T want to talk about Boyne alias Hardy.” “ Blaze away !” **Tell me why you hate him,” Jockway’s face grew dark and frowning, ‘“* B’Judas! I will, old hoss!” he agreed. ‘It’s a tough story, an’ I'll make it short. Might run ’er up ter an evenin’s lay-out, but ’*twon’t pay. Sa-ay, hev you got a bed-rock friend?” ‘IT have a mother and a brother.” ** How’d you feel ef they was done up? But ye can’t reckon on it; ’tain’t a grain o’ use ter wy. Jest you listen ter me. ' * Sunrise, ’m a rough burr, but [ve got ten- der an’ meller spots in my gizzard, Nobody ever got right up an’ grip the better half o’ my heart—not sence I war a kid—as Sammy Dean did. I seen him fu’st when I went ter Lame Horse, fur he had the claim next ter mine, But them two claims was whacked up as one soon after, fur me an’ Sammy got ter be pards »’ the truest sort. ; ‘‘ He wa’n’t a grizzled old pine-knot like me, but a young man wi’ a fine form, han’some face, black eyes, an’ the dandiest black, curly b’ar you ever seen. He was agood’un, Sammy was an’ I come ter like him as David o’ the Bible di Solomon—or was it Jonathan?” The man from Lame Horse paused for a mo- ment to consider this point, and then resumed: ‘Let me git over it quickly. Me an’ Sammy etruck it rich, an’ we decided ter put out all our savin’s in machinery, an’ other things, necessary ter work our claim on Al principles, so off I set fur Denver ter fix things. ‘**T was there two weeks, an’ had jest got all ’rangements made when I was took down with Sunrise, [ bad the most durned close call ye ever heern on; it was two weeks afore I had y senses, an’ four when I got muskle enough o back ter Lame Horse, ‘What d’ye guess I found?” ‘There was a tremor in the big miner’s voice as +? | lke asked the question, and tears actually glis- -tened in his eyes. This mood soon passed, and the old, vengesy! leam appeared in his glance, _ “Pard, when 1 got thar Sammy Dean was 3 *f . "2 FERN ty re ar, - ye the same critter. Sunrise Saul. dead! An’ thisis the story: Right after I left Lame Horse a gal came ter the camp—Rosebud, she war called. Sammy, it seems, had met her casually afore, but when she showed up at Lame Horse she jest settled down on him like a burr. ‘* Ter look at, she war as pooty an’ mild’‘as'could be found in womankind, an’ poor Sammy soon thought her an angel, Yes, b’Judas! she be- witched bim, made him b’lieve she loved him, an’ he fell head over heels in love with her, ‘* Poor Sammy! it war bis death-blow. “One mornin’ twas found that Sammy lay dyin’ in our but with a lump o’ lead in him, He had jest life enough ter tell the truth. ‘* The gal was not the meek, nice little mouse she seemed, but she had wormed out o’ him the secret 0’ whar all our money was buried, an’ then a pal o’ hern stepped in an’ shot Sammy. Sam tumbled ter the game afore the drop was onter him, an’ pulled his gun, but the gal held him so he couldn’t use it, an’ then her pal drop- ped my pard., ‘* While he lay trere bleedin’ his lifeaway, the pair dug up the money—Sam’s money an’ mine —an’ the tiger-cat mocked at him, an’ derided him, an’ called him a weak-minded fool!” Buck Jockway paused. The blood rushed to his face until its hue wasared almost purple, and he brushed away the perspiration which profound emotion had called to his face, After another delay he resumed: ‘*Lemme tell it quick. When I got home Sammy was dead an’ buried; our partnership money was gone; an’ gone was the she-fiend an’ her pal. Kin you guess what I did? ‘““T'll tell what I did; [swore revenge, No- body knew whar the pair had gone, an’ all I could learn about the woman was that she war a notorious gambler, confidence-woman, thief an’ criminal in gen’ral. ‘A demon in hyman form; a woman without mercy,’ is what the sheriff at Leadville tol’ me she was. ‘‘Her pard was better known; I'd seen him at Lame Horse, myself, afore 1 went away. Prob’ly he was workin’ the caseup. This man was Arad Boyne, alias Hardy. 3 ‘Wal, you don’t keer ter know how I worked detective-like on the case fur a whole year. But I found out, at last, that him an’ the wo- man had come East. He, sol was told, was livin’ in Somerville as Mr. Hardy. She I ain’t heerd from, an’ ef I was ter see her, | wouldn’t know her, ’cause I ain’t never seen her; but I hev a feelin’ that she’s at the house on Salem street, an’ that I shall see her ter-night!” ‘¢ And then?” Saul asked the question, speaking for the first time in several minutes. There had been a good deal of dramatic force to Buck Jockway’s ar and it bad impressed him strongly. ‘‘ Then,” answered the miner, in a deep voice, ‘* let the two on ’em bewar’ o’ me!” ‘* Does Boyne know you are here?” ** Don’t know.” ‘¢' You think you saw him on the train?” **) know I did!” | ** And he peered into your face?” _ ** Mebbe it was chance, but I suspeck he does know I’m byar, an’ that’s why he skipped from Somerville ter Boston.” ‘* You're going to seek him to-night?” sé Il be ” ** So am I!” se You ?” sé Yes,” **B’ Judas! what fur?” “T think that J want Hardy, too, Crime flows in channels, and a piece of work out in Somerville seems to point to your enemy as the guilty man.” ‘You don’t say so. What's the case?” ** You remember James Enonbridge?” * T do that, an’ a fine man he is.” Jockway spoke with hearty interest, and Saul roceeded to tell the story of Ralph’s trouble, hen he spoke about the Mr. Hardy, from Denver, who had visited the Somerville Enon- bridges, Saul’s speech grew hesitating, but Buck came in promptly, ' ‘¢ Same man!” he declared. ‘* Are you sure?” ‘* No doubt of it, I was told that he had some game here afore I left the West.” _ ** Why should he come all thisdistance to prey upon Ralph Enonbride, a man too poor to yield any income for sharpers?” *¢ Has he ever been West?” és No.” ‘¢Then you've got me, but he’s the man; it’s know it!” ‘‘ Well, Buck, I am going with you to see Hardy.” The miner’s face became troubled ‘* D’ye know what that means?” “S&S ~ — 4 - & et ad = - ~_ oe =~ 2% + » Sa | avenge Sammy Dean! ° ad °F te - ** You may tell me.” ‘We're goin’ awong men who are on the shoot—yes, an’ among women 0’ the same sort, ef Hardy’s female pal is with him, an’ I don’t doubt that she is, It will bea tough crowd, an’ they will know at the start that I’m thar ter What’ll be the result? Why, they’ll empty ev’ry gun they kerry in the laudable intention o’ fillin’ me up a-chock with eee f Reckon you don’t want ter be thar. ey? ‘* ‘Yes, I do.” ‘* B’\ Judas! you don’t mean it!” ‘* Mr, Jockway, I have set out to give the Enonbridges a lift, and [ want to do it. You and I must capture Hardy and take him to Somerville for identification,” ** Alive?” ‘** Certainly.” ‘¢ But I was a-goin’ ter do him up fur keeps,” the miner answered, doubtfully. ‘You must give up youridea, In the first place, human life is held sacred here, as far as man to man is concerned, be the menaced per- son ever so bad, and I would not consent to be the partner of one bent on taking the law into his own hands, In the next place, we must save the Enonbridges before you settle your own score,” Jockway sighed deeply. ‘* T spose I kin put it off a bit,” he responded, reluctantly. ‘* Do it, pard, and you won’t be the loser in the long run,” ' ‘ All right, Wal, le’s hev supper, an’ then amble down ter Salem street an’ buckle on ter Arad Boyne.” They went to a restaurant on Causeway street and ate what was necessary. Then, after Buck had looked to his huge revolver, they set out to hunt for the suspected man. Sunrise Saul was not going into danger blind- ly. He believed that Hardy was a desperate man, but the risk was taken with the coolness of a brave character. CHAPTER XII, THE MINER FINDS HIS FOES. ‘* THs is the house!” Saul Maynard made this announcement as they paused in front of a brick bouse on Salem street, and the miner from Lame Horse prom pt- ly added: “ That’s the number, sure,” ‘‘ Shall we go in?” ** Sartain!” Buck rung the bell. The house was not one to impress a bebolder favorably. Appearances indicated that it was one of the oldest on that ancient street of the North End, and the band of care had never touched up its barren places. It was rusty with age, and had a seedy, run-down appearance, There was but little delay before the door was opened. A boy of about ten years made his appearance and looked at them sleepily. ‘* Hardy in?” questioned Jockway. ‘Dunno. Come in an’ see!” The boy did not appear to bave much inter- est in life, anyway, but he made an open road for them, and they entered, *t Lives on secon’ floor. Come up!” Having closed the door, the boy of few words shuffled up the stairs as though his legs were weighted down, They followed without hesi- tation. The house, seedy as it was, did not look bad inside, and the boy appeared too stupid to Hs evil. He led the way to a door on the second oor. ‘** Rap!” he sleepily directed, and then shuffled away. Jockway ra ‘** Come ~ erected a feminine voice, They entered, : Before them was a room of medium size, com- fortably but cheaply furnished, In a rocking- chair gat a handsome woman of about twenty- five years, There was no sign of any want. She looked up brightly; then appeared to grow doubtful. ‘‘Ob! I thought it was some of the folks,” she explained, in a liquid, melodious voice, ‘‘Marm,” answered Buck, coming to the point. at once, ‘* is Hardy in?” ‘No, sir; but be seated, and wait for bim,” The callers sat down, ‘* So Hardy lives here?” muttered Jockway. ‘¢ He boards with us,” ‘* Be you the keeper 0’ the hash-house?” ‘‘T reckon not; I board here, too.” ‘* Hum!” , Buck let his breath escape in a long-drawn fashion which was half sigh and half exclama- 6 will return shortly. Pray. ~~ A 4 ; * 52-3 ——— sts ’ >, * * a o