Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 659 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

er, iavitin’ everybody ter knock it off? ou be I want ter know it, that’s all,” ‘I am called Cibuta John,” was the answer, ‘but I have no recollection of the performance you speak of ” ‘‘Oh, you ain’t, eh? Well, J have, an’I am goin’ ter let ye know it, too. 1am th’ Jim Jones what kem heur ter ’venge my brother, an’ what got done up by you.- I have come ag’in fer th’ same purpose.” * To get ‘done up’ again?” Cibuta coolly asked. A howl of laughter greeted this, and the fighter glared around as though he would like to sail in and do up the whole crowd, ‘* No,” he retorted hotly, ‘‘ but ter do you up; an’Iam goin’ terdo it, too,so you kin make ' up yer mind to that.” “When are you going to begin?” Cibuta asked, TI] do it now, an’ right heur, onless you are willin’ ter meet me in th’ ring in th’ true gentle- man style. You’ve got to fight, an’ that is all there is about it. What d’ye say?” ‘*T certainly will not accept your proposal,” was theanswer. ‘‘I do not lay any claims to being a gentleman, and would no doubt be out of place in the prize ring. I have no quarrel with you anyhow, and you will oblige me if you will step out of my way.” ‘*Ho, ho, ho!” the fighter laughed, ‘‘d’ye hear what he says? He’s skarta’ready, an wants ter slink out of it, If youain’t got no quarrel with me I have got one with you, an’ you have got ter defend yerself. [ won’t git outof yer way, an’ that settles that.” ibuta stepped to the other side and tried again to pass, His manner was cool, but those who knew him well saw that there was mischief in his eye. \ Again his way was blocked, and then a sud- den and surprising thing happened. Cibuta’s right * flew up with the quickness of thought, his heel was planted against the bully’s breast with great force, and the fellow was sent spin- ning away out into the middle of the street, ric he landed upon his back in the dust and irt. ** Now, sir,” said Cibuta to the inspector, as f, | though nothing had occurred, ‘* we will go on.” 4) The inspector could but admire the man’s _ coolness, “He will shoot you in the back, if you don’t ~--fifish bim and lock him up,” he warned. q ‘*My men will take care of him for the pres- ent,” was the easy .and confident response, and : as he said it the sheriff gave his lieutenant a r. quiet signal what to do in the matter, | | ee es art tg .--- “**- oa ee. ia a =... Cibuta and the inspector went on and the _ lieutenant turned and gave some orders to the - other men, and when the disgraced prize-fighter - serambled to bis feet, bellowing like a bull, he _. found himself covered by several revolvers. He eut a sorry figure. His high hat was _. jammed down to his ears, and was broken in at _ the top and crushedin at the sides. He was _ covered with dust, and his pretty suit was no longer a thing of beauty. Added to all the rest, the crowd was laughing heartily over his in- glorious mishap. ‘*Great bellowin’ billers!” he screamed, ‘‘ but ‘you Shell pay fer this! You ain’t no entleman, you ain’t, ter fight that way. Come back heur, y2 coward, or I'll send a chunk o’ lead—” $o far he got, and. was reaching for bis wea- _ pons, when the lieutenant deputy called out: ei y “Hold on there! don’t you draw that pop, or _ down you go!” Then it was that the bully found the fix he __ svas in, and was forced to yield to the inevitable, _ It was that or arrest, and he had no desire for _ the latter. He was “ mad clear through,” how- ever, and was now even more bent upon revenge than he had been before, What came of it all remains to be shown. * CHAPTER V. i 3 A STRANGER IN DISTRESS. _ UncitE DAN DERRICK was the happiest man Restored to his old post, he took hold with a __ im and proceeded to ‘‘hustle ’round” and get _ things strai htened out. - He found the office in a terrible condition. The further be investigated, the worse he found it. It was so far different from the orderly manner in which be had always kept it, that it made him feel sick at heart. __ The sympathy of the whole town was with him, altogether regardless of party differences. ‘Dishonesty in the post-office would not be toler- ated by either side, if known, and the very men oi * in ‘ Tee ee Pet ae ara, nie .* 4 : aA) Moonlight Morgan. who had been most instrumentul in putting Underweed into the office were now the stanch- est, if possible, in support of the old post- master. Proof was soon forthcoming to show that the ex-postinaster had stolen everything of value that bad come into his hands, Registered let- ters had been pilfered and destroyed, and all complaints made had met the same fate. The ostmaster had the game right in his own hands, hen he dared not steal from the office, or had no opportunity to do so, then it was easy for him to don his highwayman disguise and over- take and rob the carrier before he could reach the railroad, which was twenty miles distant, When the old ‘“‘ poet” had done the best he could, and had got the office into runnin condition once more, he sat down in his ol chair, heaved a sigh, and expressed his senti- ments thus: ** Of all mean men beneath the sun, the mean- est, I allow, is the man who robs the U, 8. mail; there’ll be no robbing now!” The day was drawing toaclose when a lady eutered the post-office and inquired: ‘* Ts there a letter here for Azora Warrick?” The woman was a stranger in the place, and the postmaster had never seen her hefore. After a glance at the ‘‘W” box, Uncle Dan replied: ‘* No, ma’am, it gives me nothing here for you to-day. ‘Are you quite sure?” the woman persisted, in a tone of commingled surprise and alarm, The ‘* W” box was entirely empty, and point- ing to it, the postmaster replied: ‘‘T'm just as sure as sure can be; there’s noth- ing there, as you can see,” ‘It is very strange,” the woman observed, ‘*T am looking for a letter that should have been here a week ago at latest, The letter I expected to get would no doubt be registered, sir.” he postmaster sighed. ‘*Tf that’s the case, ma’am,” he said, ‘‘ then I fear your letter has been stolen here. You see, I’ve just come in to-day, and the other man has run away. He isa rascal, through and through; who stole some letters from me, too; and thus your letter, if so be it, it came to him, you'll never see it,” The woman’s face had grown pale while the postmaster was speaking, and when he finished she gasped: “Good heavens! what shall I do? I am al- most out of money, as it took nearly all I had to reach here. I expected to find my letter here sure, as it has never failed before, but now I am all but penniless in a strange town, and it will take at least two weeks for me to order and get another remittance from the East.” Uncle Dan looked at her pityingly, and said: “Tf what yon say is all true blue, then Ante-Bar will see you through till you can write Kast to your friend, and fet the money he will send. e’re not the folks to brag and boast, but in good deeds we’re just a host. You see that white house over there? There lives the sheriff of Ante-Bar. You just go there and oo your tale; his wife will help you without ai pain to say; there’s The woman brightened up immediately. ** How can I thank you!” she exclaimed, “TI can assure you, sir, that what I say is strictly true. As soon as I can get word to my friends, they will help me out. I will write immediately. Please give me ‘paper and envelope, and a stamp.” - These were furnished and paid for, andina few minutes the woman had written a brief let- ter, **-You will oblige me if you will read this, sir,” she then said, offering the sheet to the postmaster before folding it; ‘it will show you that lam not an impostor.” | Uncle Dan declined to take it, saying: ‘I’m satisfied with what I’ve heard; your honest face backs up your word,” ‘*T thank you for your good opinion,” returned the woman, ‘‘ but you will do me a favor if you will read it. I really desire you to do so.” The old postmaster further protested, but finally took the letter and read it. It was as follows: * AnTE-BAR, N. M., Nov. 26, 1889. *“ Henry Hountine, Esq, “ At’y at Law, New York City :— | m pos y 5 ‘‘This letter is less proof to me that you are what you claim to be, than is the evidence of sight, which sums you up as straight and right.” ‘“T assure you that you are not mistaken,” respcnded the woman, as she received the letter from his hand, ‘and I must thank you again for your good opinion. I only hope that the lady to whom you have directed me will see me in the same light.” The old postmaster r nded suitablv, and when the woman had sealed and directed her letter she dropped it into the box and went out. She was a fine-looking woman of about thirty, well-dressed in a suit of strong and serviceable material, Her conversation and manner show- ed her to be educated and refined. When she left the office she went in the direc- tion of Cibuta John’s house, following the post- master’s suggestion and advice, Driftabout, the wretched tramp, happened to be coming in the opposite direction at the time, and the lady had not gone far when she met him, She turned aside to pe him plenty of room not noticing him with more than a casual glance, but as Driftabout looked at her, as she passed him, he turned pale for a moment under his coating of dirt and gave a start of recogni- tion. The woman passed on,and the tramp stocd and stared after her as though he could not be- lieve he had seen aright. ‘* She here!” he exclaimed under his breath; ‘““T must take care to keep out of her sight. Lucky she did not look at me— But, she would never recognize me in such a make-up as this,” Driftabout watched her till he saw where she was going, and then drifted on toward the near- est saloon. Tbe woman entered the yard of the sheriff's house, passed up the walk to the door, and knocked, It was Nettie, Cibuta’s pretty wife, who an- swered the knock, and whenshe opened the door and the caller caught sight of ber face the sirenger had confidence that sbe had founda friend, ‘** Are you the sheriff’s wife? or his daughter?” the stranger asked. ‘*T am his wife,” Nettie answered pleasantly. ‘‘Tam a lady in trouble,” the caller explain- ed, coming at once to the point, ‘“‘and your good-hearted postmaster directed me to come to you, leeding me to hope that you will help me,” ‘‘Tt will give me pleasure to do soif 1 can,” Nettie assured. ‘Come right in and let me hear your story. She threw open the door and the woman en~ tered, and when Nettie had closed the door she conducted her into a neat ‘and tidy sitting- room, When they had taken seats the stranger be- gan her story ee ie ‘‘The name under which I am traveling is Azora Warrick,” she started. ‘‘ That is not my real name, which, for good reasons, I do not care to disclose. I am from New York. When I arrived here to-day I expected to find a regis- tered letter awaiting me at the post-office, tut the tmaster informs me that it is very probable that it has been stolen by his rascally ; redecessor, Be that as it may, the letter is not there, and it. places me in a very embarrassing position, I have less than a dollar in hand, and it will take perhaps two weeks for me to receive another re- mittance from the East,” ‘‘ You are in trouble, true enorvgh,” Nettie re- marked. ‘‘In what way can I be of service to ou? Do you want money to help you to your destination? Where are you traveling to” ‘This is my destination for the present,” was “T intended i Sh here for a week anyhow, but now I shall be obliged to re- main until my money comes, I have written to my lawyer in New York, and a remittance will be sent as soon as my letter reaches him, The greatest favor you can do me is to assist me in finding a place to stop until the money reaches me. I have a watch and some rings that [ can offer as security, and—” Nettie had watched the woman narrowly while she was talking, and had reached the same con- clusion that the old postmaster had arrived at— that she was a lady, and that her story was true. the answer. ‘*Do not mention that,” she hastened to inter- ‘““DEAR Str:—I have just arrived here, but find no : | remittance from you. AS the post-office has recently rupt. ‘“ You may remain right here until my been in the hands of a thief, however, I suppose the | husband comes, and then I will consult with letter has met the fate of many others. Do not fail | him, Whatever his decision is, however, I can to send me five hundred dollars by first return mail. | promise you that you will be Lay aside “Yours truly, _ | your hat and ane | AzorA WARRICE. It may be mentioned, by the way, that Cibuta When he read it, Uncle Dan handed it back, | bad gone out of town. quietly, after his consul rving: tation with the post-office inspector, and that his, — be . j > 1. I « cee Paes We, 2 ae ‘ a = yl Sates , @i 6 if