Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 659 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

your match in b 1 s rn 2 it were. You will find that I am white clear through, and bound all around with inch-wide binding. Ihave got rocks, and plenty of them, and that’s what gives me my rather odd appel- lation. ‘‘ Come, won’t some of you take another at my expense? Don’t be afraid of it, for it 1s stuff that never kills but once.” The “ hard cases” indulged again, and then to settle the score the stranger pulled out a roll of bills as thick as his wrist and tossed one of the ‘* I,” stump tothe proprietor. ‘* You see I am loaded with it,” he observed in a boasting way, as he displayed hi» money to the crowd, F When he had received his change, he turned again to the crowd, tossed a handful of silver carelessly out upon the floor, and said: ‘* As your town is a little out of the way of general travel, citizens, you may wonder what has brought me here, so I will rise and ex- plain. Iam taking a little run around, to see the sights and to get what excitement out of life I can, and I have just wandered down through California and across Arizona. ‘‘From thereI came on into New Mex., and at the last place I put up, I guess it’s the nearest railroad point from here, I heard that there is an outlaw over here that you want captured, with a big reward offered for the job, That is just the sort of fun thatI liks, not that I care anything for the money, and I thought I’d run up and take a handin the game, I suppose it’s open to all comers, is it not?” ‘* Yes, it’s freeto all,’? answered the proprie- tor. ‘*Good enough. I’m going to try a hack at it, just for luck, and if [ don’t land the rascal into your jug, then you can kick me out of town.” ‘““You are goin’ ter crowd in on my claim, stranger,” protested the old Shanghai. ‘“‘The deuce Iam! Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped, since the field is open to all, so we'll hae to see who is best man at the work in and. ‘By the way, eae which is your best hotel? I have a horse outside there, and as I’m rather fagged out [ guess I'll look for a bed.” _He was directed to one of the two good hotels of the town, and saying a good-night to all he went out and led his horse away toward that establishment, leaving the crowd in the saloon to express et its opinion concerning him, And the general opinion was that he was a royal good fellow. CHAPTER XT. “‘CIBUTA JOHN DOOMED!” In the mean time, Cibuta John and his men had met with another dismal failure, or at any rate were destined to meet with one, for of course their search was not yet over. The night advanced, the saloons closed, and adually the town settled down to quiet and nally slept. i It was about two o’clock in the morning when the sheriff and his party returned. Failure was, indeed, the result of the midnight sortie, ‘ They had ridden a good many miles, not stop- ping to hunt for a direct trail, or clew, which would have been a loss of time under tho cir- cumstances; but had divided and subdivided their men at every junction of the road as far as they had proceeded. At an hour agreed upon they returned, and when they all met again at the point where the first division of their force had been made, the exchange of reports showed that no one had seen anything of the outlaw, . it was that when they rode into town bt a tired and disgusted with their night work. Cibuta John entered the house quietly, not wanting disturb any one, but he found his wife awake and awaiting his return, ** Did you catch him?” she inquired. “No,” was the answer, ‘“‘he gave us the slip again. How is the woman? and what did she have to say when she came to?” ** She is all right, I guess, and probably asleep. She soon came to, and said that she sawa masked man trying to get in at the window from the shed, and that was what caused her to scream; and when she met you at the head of the stairs, in such a hideous rig as this, she touk you for a robber.” ‘“‘That explains it all, then. No doubt the fellow intended robbery, and her screams fright- ened him off. It was lucky that she was here, He might bave given us trouble.” “Yes, that is , I guess you have found Sy air ee 4 ~- ‘tin Moonlight Morgan. ** More than my match, it would seem,” Cibuta responded. ‘‘ But, I will have him yet, and my chances aro better now, since he has been forced out of his hole.” Next morning the town was astir bright and early, and the events of the past twenty-four hours made up the one theme for gossip. Old citizens recalled old times, and told about the advent of Cibuta John and the exciting times that followed, and declared that they had never expected to see anything like it again. Cibuta John and Inspector Riggles were among the early birds, and when they met it was as with a point of interrogation—what was to be done next? They soon heard about the stranger, Ducats Dion, and at first were inclined to think that perhaps he was their man, but when they heard more of his doings they decided that such could not be the case. After breakfast they met again, and happened to be near the post-office when Ducats Dion came out of the hotel and crossed over in that direc- tion. ‘There is that fellow, now,” said Cibuta, call- ing the inspector’s attention to him, ‘So he is; he isnot our man.” ‘‘No, I guess he is going into the post-office; we will go in, too, if be does, and size hm up.” *¢ All right.” They walked on slowly, and when the man reached that side of the street, he went up the steps of the Seniesa and entered, and they went in right behind him, They paid no attention to him, apparently, but proceeded to seal and stamp some letters, which, as it fortunately happened, they desired to post anyhow, , he man paid no attention to them, either, further than a glance, but stepping to the win- dow, asked for somo stamps. “T hear that you have been having trouble here,” the man observed, as he put the stamps on his letters, ‘* Well, yes,” Uncle Dan responded, ‘‘ we’ve had a little row, but that’s about all settled now.” ‘*It seems that the other postmaster was a rascal of the deepest dye, too. I mean to takea hand in hunting him down.” . ‘“*T am glad to hear you talk that way,” the old postmaster declared, ‘‘for he ought to be in jail this day.” The man looked at the old postmaster in something of surprise.. ‘* You are a natural poet, I see,” he observed. ‘*Do you know that you answered both my re- marks in rhyme?” Uncle Dan smiled, and answered: ‘* They say tbe poet is born, not made; that’s just my case, I am afraid. No matter what I want to say, it will come out in rhyme that way, It is as natural, sir, to me, as eating bread and drinking tea.” ‘ The stranger laughed, and so did Cibuta and the inspector. The postmaster’s answer was rattled off with- out an instant’s hesitation, and its effect was better then than it can be thus at second hand, Ducats Dion turned to the sheriff and Riggles, ** Your postmaster is a character, gentlemen,” he observed. ‘‘ He ought to be poet laureate of the nation.” ‘*The mark of his ambition is not so high,” returned Cibuta; “‘he does not ask anything better than the office he holds.” The man passed out, and when he was gone the inspector stepped to the window and said: ** Just let me see the letters he dropped into the box, will you, please?” ‘*¢ Knowing the office that you hold,” said the stmaster,\“‘ to let you see them I'll make bold; ut to no other in Ante-Bar would I submit them. Here they are.” ; He handed the letters out as he spoke, and the rt inspector looked at the directions on ‘* Where are they directed to?” asked Cibuta. ** To Walla Walla, Washington,” the inspector answered. He handed the letters back to Uncle Dan, Cibuta and the inspector then went out, and as they crossed over toward the hotel, Cibuta ed: : ** Well, do you think he can be our man ina perfect disguise?” ** Did we not both decide that he is not?” the | ee ee ee a* f f , ces" a : ak “ i * : , I know; but we may as well settle the point for good and all. We must suspect every stranger, you know. What points do you a that indicate his being what he sets up to ? | ‘** Why, he came here too soon after the ap- f re aM Ae rene . rs ps 4 » the paper over to his companion, « r s\. S 5 ne “, 2 : ‘ # * . pearance and disappearance of Moonlight Mo gan, for one thing. Then, too, he is undoubted- ly a genuine character. Your postmaster’s rhyming struck him forcibly, as you saw, Then, too, he claims to be from Washington, and we have just seen him post some letters to persons at Walla Walla in that State.” ‘‘That settles it,” agreed Cibuta. ‘‘ I noted the same points,” ‘‘' We shall have to look further for our map. Now if any stranger comes into town to-day, | then I would say look after him closely.” ‘“‘Strangers are coming and going all the time,” said Cibuta, ‘‘and no doubt we shall see some of them before the day is done.” They had reached the hotel door, and en- tered. “* Good-morning, sheriff,” the proprietor greet- ed; ‘‘here is a gentleman who desires to make your acquaintance.” The man he indicated was none other than Ducats Dion. ‘‘Mr. Clearwell,” the proprietor continued waving his hand from Dion to the sheriff an back again as he spoke, ‘‘ allow me to introduce ou to Mr. Jones, sheriff of this county; better tineh as Cibuta John. Sheriff, Mr. Dion Clearwell, from Washington way, where he is known as Ducats Dion.” » The stranger, by the way, had registered as Dion Clearwell. He advanced to Cibuta, held out his hand, and said: ‘‘ Why, I saw you in the post-office just now, but of course had no idea who you were; I am happy to know you, sir.” : Glonta shook hands with him, responding: ‘*Glad to meet you, sir. here, I take it.” | ‘¢-Yes;” and the man went on and told abou or gene story he had told on the previous night, Cibuta passed the introduction along to the inspector, and observed: { “So, you desire to take a hand in the hunt for the outlaw, do you ‘¢ Yes, sir,” affirmed the man, ‘‘ and I thought I would see if you couldn’t let me join your force— Not that either; I mean swear me in as a deputy, so that I may have some an- thority.” Cibuta looked at him keenly. ; ‘¢ You may add your weight to my force,” he said, ‘‘ but I cannot give you any further help, You are a stranger to me, and in picking my men [have taken only such as I have known for ears, ‘6 Well, of course you are right,” the man ad- mitted; ‘*I was too hasty with such a request. Up my way, though, I am used to haying things my own way so much that I did not think any- — thing of it. No barm done,” ‘‘ None at all,” assured Cibuta. ‘‘ You can see how itis.) If 1 were to go up to your county and make the same request, it woul ranted. sds Wy 80, thut’s so; consider it as not asked at all. me, gentlemen, what will you take?’ moving toward the bar. ‘ F ‘‘ Nothing for me,” answered Cibuta; ‘* I never drink.” *¢ You smoke, then?” ‘Nor smoke, either,” ‘‘ Well, you are an exception, age Come, Mr. Riggles, of course you will not. refuse,” The fn took a cigar, and after a little commonplace talk he and Cibuta left the hotel and went to Cibuta’s office at the jail. ‘* What do you think of that fellow’s request?” Cibuta asked, when they were comfortably seated. the ; ‘¢1¢ was certainly a strange one,” was an- pwer, “but I think I can understand and explain it. ** ‘You do?” ce Yes,” 66 Do so,” ‘Well, itis about as he said himself. He is clearly well fixed with wealth, and has been used to having his own way. The request is natural witb him, and he did not think anything of it. The refusal naturally floored him,” ‘¢ No doubt you are right, but he—” There was a sudden and unlooked-for inter- ruption, A stone crashed in at one of the win- dows and went rolling across the floor, Cibuta sprung to the door and ed out to see if he could discover who had t no one was near and he returned and the stone to look at it. Around it wasa paper, and on that was iled: ““CrpuTa J DooMED!” The sheriff read the words, smiled, and + a ; ¢ 3 . a. » pe: La 5 « , a Ce. _ i rf eo " wl i“ , j , ‘ es 7 & ae a a eT ad AY = 0 cific OE You are a stranger not likely that it — wn eg we G Wye f : ; Ss a a >a . j ~ a, a ~ 4 . - 4 o . Ps a x “ ~ ~ > R ™~ wee y Dy 4 fa - 7 f S,