Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 659 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

“Sh laid out with even more suddenness than the teamster had been. ‘** Yes, [Pm ready,” declared the old-time Cupid, ‘‘ an’ you'll wish ye never was born afore I’m done with ye.” As he said this he threw himself into the pro- per pose, and the two faced each other. If size went for anything, then the giant had decidedly the advantage, not considering any- thing else; but with the prowess he had already displayed, the chances for the stranger were slim indeed, There was one thing in the stranger’s favor, however, though it was something that nobody noticed. He was perfectly cool, while the fighter was now in a towering passion. No time was lost, and the giant began his at- tack at once; and so over-confident was he that he did not exercise proper caution. He swung bis arms for a moment, and then sent out a blow which, from his point of view, was to settle the matter at once. But he found his mistake, and was brought to his senses in a way he did not greatly relish. The blow was parried easily, and in return the stranger gave bim a tap on the nose with just force enough to start the *‘ claret.” The giant bellowed like an angry bull, and the crowd cheered immensely. it was a sur- prise to all, ‘““T’ll fix ye fer that!” the giant screamed; **Tl) crack yer skull fer yer! I kin doit, an you'll be sorry fer that thump afore you’re done wi’ me.” At the stranger he rushed, with all the force and fury he could summon, and now using all the caution and *‘ science” at his command. It was aterrific attack, and it required all the stranger’s skill to parry the rapid blows, with- out any attempt at returning them. Step by step the stranger was forced back, ducking his head and dodging this way and that, but escaping every blow, though some of them were very close to the target. Back and back he went, but managing to - move in such a way as to keep in the clear part of the room, and the rage of the bully increased with every vain effort to hit kim. ‘Oh! but Pll pulverize ye when I do hit ye!” the giant screamed, ‘ Pll mash yer pate inter jelly! Tl) knock yer teeth clear through ye! Vl jump on ye an’ flatten ye out like a flap- jack! a What do you think of it?’ asked Inspector Riggles of bis man. ‘ f think the old fellow is good for him,” was the answer. ‘“‘He is waiting for him to weaken.” ‘*T believe you are right.” The bully was working away like a steam engine, and he was wasting valuable breath in his brags and threats, At the end of a minute? he was breathing heavily, and suddenly he drew back from his attack to recover his wind. But the stranger allowed him little time to do so. in about five seconds he shouted “ time!” and at him he sprung, forcing the fighter to his work again, By this time the giant had found that he had run against a snag, and wished himself well out of the difficulty. He saw where he bad made his serious mistake. He had forced things too hard. His rage outrode his reason, however, and when he entered upon the second round he fought with even more fury than before. e stranger backed away from him the same as at first, parrying every blow, though some of them were not easy to dodge. This lasted about a minute, and the giant fell back again, this time panting. ‘ “Don't giveitup that way,” called out the stranger; *‘ take all th’ fun out o’ me ye want, It will give ye th’ best o’ practice fer that other feller ye are dyin’ ter meet, Whoop ’em up, *Liza Jane, an’ let’s give th’ boys: ther worth of their money. Come ter time, you mush pated, bone-spavined, yaller-toothed, big-footed, prison- cropped son of a bob-tailed kangaroo! or I'll put a balter on ye and sell ye fer th’ jackass ye are, Come, hussle up, or ’1—” This was too much, and the prize-fighter, the man who, according to his own story, had faced Sullivan, could not stand it. His hand flew behind him and came to the front with a revolver in its grasp. u ‘“*Tll show ye what—” He got no further. He found himself peering into the tube of a revolver in the hand of the stranger. The stranger had made a movement that rivaled the very lightning, and he had the ** drop” ia the good old-fashioned way. Moonlight Morgan. ‘** Drop that shooter, you cur!” he ordered, ‘‘ or [Pll perforate the tabernacle of your earthly walk before you can think Jack Rebinson!” The giant hesitated only for a second, and let the weapon drop to the floor; and at the same time a great cheer went up from the crowd, Many of them had recognized tho weapon in the stranger’s hand, “Rah fer Cibuta John!” was the shout, “Rah fer th’ old Prickly Pear. Ob! but you woke up ther wrong passenger this time, old Shanghai!” Cibuta John it was, and while he still beld the giant covered, he took off the false hair and beard that bad so well disguised him, The giant looked at him in open-mouthed amazement, {nspector Riggles and his man were scarcely less surprised, for while they had thought that perhaps the man might be their escaped pris- oner, they had no idea that it would prove to be the sheriff, J ‘‘ Well, what do you think about it?” Cibuta asked, speaking to the giant. “This is a dirty trick!” the fellow cried; “I didn’t know that I was fightin’ you.” This was greeted with a how! of laughter. What difference did it make whetber he knew it or not? ‘*T suppose your attempt to shoot me was not a trick, eh?” observed Cibuta. ‘** How d’ye know I was goin’ ter shoot?’ was the blusteriug demand, ** ‘We don’t wait to see, out here,” was the an- swer. ‘* When acur like you goes down for his pop we infer right away that he means business, and act accordingly. Are you satisfied, or do you want some more?” The bully saw that bis reputation was at stake, and that it was now or never. He must make a final effort, ‘** Satersfied!” he cried; ‘* not by a good deal I ain’t. D’m goin’ ter lick ye if it takes all night. Put up yer shooter an’ let me git at ye!” Cibuta’s revolver disappeared, and he put up his arms, . At him the giant rushed, and this time the hero of the Bar met him firmly. Not an inch did he back, but fought in the way that gave the ring-bully a surprise. Two things were in Cibuta’sfavor. The bully was already shortof wind, and was panting, and, being a pretty hard drinker, his strength could not hold out. On the other hand, Cibuta was in perfect condition, his wind was good, and his strength did not show any signs of flagging. In such tests of strength and endurance, other conditions being equal, it is the drinking man who must go to the wall every time. For about half a minute Cibuta held the giant | in check, and then he began an attack on his part. He sent in blow for blow, but it wassome time before he could put one in with effect, The bully was certainly ‘‘up” in the ‘“‘art” of the ring, and had he been in perfect training, be sis no doubt have given Cibuta much harder work, Finally the hero of the town sent a telling blow straight home, and the big fellow was sent end over end half-way down the room and de- posited almost senseless under a table. The bat- tle was over, CHAPTER IX. THE DARE DEVIL SEEN, WHAT use trying to describe the excitement that pened in the Pleasant Hour, when the final knock-out was given and the fight brougbt to a close? Three cheers and a rousing “tiger” were given for Cibuta John, and the crowd shouted itself hoarse, When the cheering was about at an end, the self-styled prize-fighter crawled out from under the table. He was considerably tamed. ‘*Have ye had enough, Shanghai?” some one demanded. ‘* Will yer give it up as a bad job?” inquired some one else, ‘Ther Prickly P’ar is jest as full o’ stickers as ever, ain’t he?” chimed in yet another, And so the questions were fired at him thick and fast. “This heur thing ain’t settled yet,” the old- time Cupid avowed. ‘‘ That wasn’t a fair fight anyhow, an’ it don’t count. 1 wasn’t in trim fer it. Wait till I tackle him ag’in, an’ then you'll see ther fur fly.” A howl of laughter greeted him. “Tt will be yer own fur,if we ’ do,” was the general response. ** How about that fifty dollars that’sin Bill’s ee hands,” some one called out. ‘It strikes mé that it is ther Cupid’s treat.” Instantly there was a howl, and the bully had no way out of it except to ‘‘ set ’em up” for the house, In the mean time the inspector had risen and shaken bands with the hero of the hour. ‘‘ Hang me if I suspected who you were,” he declared. ‘* You did that well, and you area terror on wheels.” Cibuta smiled. ‘*T am used to this sort of thing,” he respond- ed. ‘* But,” he asked, ‘‘I hear that your man got away from you a second time.” ** Yes, so be did, and I feel pretty sore over it, I am sorry I did not heed — advice and wait for your help, You see Il underrated him, and had no thought that he could trick me if I once got the drop on him,” ' ‘*T told you that he is a bold and desperate character,” Cibuta reminded. ‘‘T know you did, but it is too late now to mourn over it,” ‘*True enough, and we are all liable to make mistakes. I made a mistake when I did not ar- rest him when I first suspected bim.” ‘*No doubt about that. Well, what is to be the next move in the game? I must not go away from here without seeing bim handed over to the authorities.” ‘“‘T hardly know what move to make now,” Cibuta confessed, ‘‘ But, come,” he added, ~ ‘*let’s go up to the house and talk the matter over there in quiet.” ‘* Just as you say.” They left the saloon, the sheriff acting as \ though nothing of an exciting nature had hap- pened, and proceeded up the street. There was a light in the post-cffice, and no- ticing it, Cibuta observed: ‘*Uncle Dan is in later than usual. By the way, how does he take hold after his four years’ rest? I suppose you have been in to see him ; this afternoon?” ‘Yes, I went in to see how he was getting along, and fi und that he bad got everything into running shape. He is quite a character.” ‘¢'Yes, so he is; be is a fine old man, and as honest as the sun. But,” as they came opposite © the office, and the postmaster was not to be seen, ‘* where can he be? Let’s cross over and . | goin. There may be something wrong.” As a general thing, the postmaster could be seen from the street when there was a light in the office, The two men crossed over and entered the office, and the sheriff called: ** Hello! where are you, Uncle Dan?” A groan was the startling response. ; Cibuta ran around behind the counter and its case of letter-boxes, and there on the floor lay the old postmaster, bound and gagged. : The inspector was right at Cibuta’s heels. ‘*Something out of order has been going on here,” Cibuta remarked, as he made haste to get out his knife and free the old postmaster of his bonds. a =s appearances indicate,” the inspector eed, oe Who did this?” Cibuta asked when be had i helped the old man to his feet. *4 It was some moments before the postmaster af could respond, but after be had got some of the oa stiffiiess out of his jaws, he replied: “That ragged fellow called Driftabout must have got in while I was out, for just as I came 7 in the door he seemed to rise up through tbe ‘ floor, and grabbing me, he threw me down and PX mad e me fast as I was found; and then he went to the closet there, as though he was no stranger iq here, and taking the cloak and things with care ct | a he through the floor did disappear.” , The inspector had to smile as he noted that yy the old postmaster’s adventure had not knocked | any of the rhyme out of him, but Cibuta, who was used to that, paid no attention to it. ‘“You say he disappeared through the flcor,” he repeated. ‘* As sure as I am standing here,” the old man assured, ‘‘that was the way it did appear; to “ahs tell you false I’ve no intent; that was the way ; he came and went,’ * ie ‘‘ There is more of mystery here,” said Cibuta, © turning to the inspector. - So it looks,” the inspector agreed; andturn- r. ing to Uncle Dan he asked: ; 4 Pe mes its part of the floor was it where this took os ce oe ae The postmaster pointed out the place about as <] near as he could, and eee proceeded to examine oe. the floor in that part of They had not looked long when the inspector made a discovery. . ; There was a little cupboard about three feet $5 — me = > ‘ - * » eae ae ‘ 4 ss - er ‘ po a ae hs ig -— ——s- +