Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 659 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

_— sm ' ce ee, ee er ei ee gh standing against the wali, and taking hold of it to see if it was movable the inspector found that it was on hinges and swung outward, He swung it out, and a hole in the floor was re- vealed that led to the space beneath the floor and the ground, This space was about four feet deep. ** Did you ever kaow that this cupboard moves in this way?” the inspector asked, ‘* No, sir,” Uncle Dan answered, “‘ it is a thing quita new; as strange to me as it is to you.” ‘* Tt helps to account for the manner in which Moonlight Morgan tricked us so long and so suc- cessfully,” observed Cibuta. ‘In his triple character he had us ata very great disad- vantage.” ** Yes, I can readily see that,” ** When we would set out after Morgan, then Driftabout would soon appear in town, and in turn he would disappear and the postmaster would be at his post laughing to himself at the neat manner iu which he had tricked us,” “That is the true explanation of it, beyond doubt, But, come, let’s examine this hole,” As he spoke, the inspector stuck in his legs and _ let himself down, asking for alight when bis feet were on the bottom. A lamp was handed to him, and he disappear- ed and began looking around the dismal hole, ‘* What do you discover?” Cibuta asked. “Why,” was the response, ‘‘ here is another door, at the rear of tbe building, showing the way he has got out and in. It is cut through the boards, and is hinged about as the cupboard is, “He is a crafty rascal,” was the comment, ** but we shall have him yet, cunning as he is,” The inspector returned to the hole, handed out the lamp and got out himself, and the cupboard = put back into its place.and securely nailed there, ** We will see that he does not come in the same Way any more, anyhow,” the inspector ob- served as that was being done. Some further remarks were exchanged, and Cibuta and the inspector left the office and went op their way. When they reached the house, Cibuta led the way into a little room that he used partly asa private office, and there they sat down to talk the matter over at leisure. ** What is your opinion regarding the fellow’s probable next move?” the inspector asked. ‘*T believe that he will appear as Moonlight Morgan, next,” was the answer; ‘*' you see he has taken pains to get hold of his disguise,” ** Quite true. And how are we to trap him?” ‘*That remains to be seen. We do not know when or how he will appear. We are sure that ' he cannot elude us in the same manner as before, however.” Baas there is little that we can arrange, after all. ‘*On the contrary, there is much tha arranged, now, so that we will be pre act promptly and at short notice,” ‘* Well, let me hear your plans, then.” About an hour was passed in conversation, and at the end of that time the inspector set out to return to the hotel. When he had gone Cibuta’s wife entered the little room, and at sight of her husband’s unique attire she could not help laughing. ‘* When did you turn tramp?” she asked. * ‘* A few hours ago,” was the reply, ‘I shall appear as nly former self to-morrow, kowever.” “It is to be ped fhat you will. But, sit down again, for I have something to tell you.” They sat down, and Nettie told him all about Azora Warrick, and her strange story, ‘Where is she now?” Cibuta asked, when she bad done. j ‘* She has retired,” answered Nettie. ** And you fully believe that she has told you a truthful story” ** Yes, I believe she has,” ‘Very well, then, she can remain here, I know that your judgment is to be trusted in such matters,” At that moment they were startled to hear a scream, seemingly overhead, or at any rate some- where up-stairs, — Both started to their feet, and the scream was repeated. ‘It is the strange woman!” Nettie cried; and in the same instant Cibuta jerked his revolver from his pocket and flung open the door. Up the stairs he pee t steps at a time, and just as he reached the top the woman met him, assbe wasrunning from her room to the head of the stairs to come down. appearance so startled her that, with an- *scream, she threw up her arms and fell to floor in a faint. ust be red to —— Se a: ——— EEE yEEEnEnESEIEEeeee eee i ———— —— _ ——— ””0”10°”0, Moonlight Morgan, The next moment a wild, ringing laugh was beard without, followed by the beat of hoofs, and springing over the woman’s body Cibuta ran to a window at the end of the hall and look- ed out, The moon was shining, and by its light the sheriff saw a horseman dasting up the valley—a horseman wearing a long, black cloak, and with plumes in his hat, , It was Moonlight Morgan, the daring out- aw, CHAPTER X. DUCATS DION, THE NABOB, CrsuTA JOHN acted upon his first impulse, That impulse was to fire after the retreating rascal, and he emptied his revolver at him, The range was too great, however, and none of the shots took effect, though the firing aroused the town and brought the crowd imme- diately to the street. But by that time the outlaw was gone, and only a few besides Cibuta had caught sight of him, Cibuta’s wife, in the mean time, was caring for the unconscious woman, and was trying to restore her to consciousness. The lady was clad only in her night-robe, and as soon as Cibuta turned from the window he assisted his wife to carry her back to her room, where he left her in his wife’s care while he hurried down to the street. Just as he went out the door he met the post- office inspector and his man. ‘* What is all the shooting about,” the inspec- tor asked. ‘‘Some one has started the story that Moonlight Morgan has been seen, ‘* That story is true,” Cibuta supported, **The dare-devil!” ‘““He is nothing less. But, come, we will chase him again, and this time, perhaps we shall have better success,” The sheriff took a whistle from his pocket and blew an ear-splitting signal to his men. Ina moment that signal was similarly an- swered from various quarters. ‘You and your man had better get your horses out,” Cibuta then said, addressing the in- spector, ‘*for mine will be ready in a very few minutes,” . ** All right, we'll do it.” Away they ran, and ten minutes later the whole party was ready for the trail once more, It had been quick work, considering the hour and the circumstances, and at the word from Cibuta the little cavalcade swept up the valley and disappeared from sizht, For Ante-Bar, it was old times revived, Nothing like this bad taken place in many a day, and the whole town was awake to the im- portance of capturing the daring outlaw. As is generally the case, however, the great majority took it out in talking rather than in active measures, A sample of this was seen in the sant Hour after the sheriff and his men had started off. ‘. Various plans were there set forth for the easy and certain capture of the rascal, and one of the busiest of the talkers was the boasting prize-fighter, the old-time Cupid. He had lost his grip to a great extent, by his defeat at the hands of the sheriff, and he had likewise lost somewhat of his personal beauty by having one of his eyes closed up and swelled out of all proportions; but he had not lost his ability to ‘‘ blow,” and he continued to do that with all vigor. He wag a much sadder, though not any wiser, man than he had been when he arrived in town, and his appearance had depreciated many per cent. His velvet suit was greatly mussed and somewhat torn, his new hat was dirty and wrinkled, and he looked, on the whole, as though he had been through the mill at high pressure, ‘T tell yer, citizens,” he yowled, ‘“ that sheriff o’ yourn ain’t no good! He got away with me, that I admit; but it was more by foul tricks than by fair play. He is no good, I tell yer, an’ he couldn’t ketch Moonlight Morgan in a thousand years. What it wants ter git him is aman of about my caliber an’ heftness,” ‘*Bah! git out!” cried the crowd; ‘* what Cibuta John can’t do there ain’t no use in any- body else tryin’ ter do, an’ sartainly not you,” ‘Is thar ary galoot heur what dare come out here an’ tell me that alone?” the giant chal- lenged, ‘If thar is I kin poke ther words down his neck, an’ don’t you fergit that!” _ It was evident that he was still the best man in the saloon, disabled as he was, so no one took him up. — ** 1 tell yer that Bis sheriff is no good!” he bellowed again. ‘‘He ain’t ther man fer ther place, an’ Pll prove it to yer, too, afore I’m done with him, [’m goin’ ter tackle him again, an’ you kin bet that he won’t have no easy job next time. Tll turn bim inside outso quick that he won’t know what’s ther matter, ou hear me yaup!” ‘*You had better go ter bed an’ sleep over that,” some one suggested, ‘‘ Mebby you'll wake up with more sense 1n ther mornin’,” ** Come out here an’ tell me that,” the fighter yelled, ‘‘an’ see what’!l happen! I ain’t got but one workin’ eye, now, but you kin bet that I’m good fer anything ye kin put up afore me, If ye don’t believe it, jest come out an’ try me! ’m a whole team an’ a dog yet, I’m tellin’ ye!” ‘*We know ye’re a good one,” another voice called out, ‘‘ but you'll never see ther day that Cibuta can’t tie you inter a bard knot,” ‘*Give us a rest on Cibuta!” cried the bully. ‘** What [ was tryin’ ter git at is that it will take me ter run in this ouvlaw fer ye. I'll doit, too, jest fer good square revenge, an’ then I’! collar ther rewards that’s offered. Will ye give me fair play, fellers, an’ see that I git ’em?” ‘“*That’s what we will,” was the res ‘‘you capture ther outlaw, an’ you sha every cent that’s put up fer him.” ‘*That’s ther stuff. Dll gofer him, an’if I don’t hand him over you kin use me fer a chim- bley swob, that’s all. “ That’s ther talk, Shanghai,” several voices cried; ‘go fer him, an’ may ye have good luck!” ‘*Thank ’a, fellers, thank ’e,” responded the fighter, in a more amiable tone; ‘‘an’ now come up an’ take another at my expense, an’ drink ter my success,” There were few that did not respond, and the old-time Shanghai felt that he had recovered his lost favor in their sight. Among those who accepted his treat was a stranger who entered the room just as the invi- tation was given. He was a man of forty, evidently, and was well dressed in a business suit of black. He had a full black beard, and wore a rather fancy slouch bat. When all bad been served, and had drank, he turned to the self-styled fighter and said: ‘You see I have taken advantage of your treat, stranger, and now I want to ask you and the crowd to take something at my expense, I am a stranger here, and this is about as good a way as any of iatroducing myself, I ‘guess. Come right up and voice your desires, gentle- men, Many responded, especially the regular “‘rounders” of the place, who felt that they were right in the swim with good fortune. “Kin we ask who you be?” the Shanghai inquired, ‘““Certainly, sir,” was the response; ‘‘I am Ducats Dion, and up in Washington, where lL hail from, I’m called the Yakima Nabob,” Nobody present had ever heard of such a per- son before, but then that was nothing strange, considering the distance of his native stamping- ground from Ante-Bar. ‘““T am glad ter know yer,” cried the old Cupid, extending his hand; ‘‘I am Jim Jones, plain Jim Jones; but Tam a gentleman of ther prize ring, an’ one that has stood up afore ther renowned Sullivan.” ‘*Ts it possible?” exclaimed the stranger with the unique title; ‘‘I bad no idea that Mr, Sulli- van is out in this part of the country.” As be said this he was looking at the Shan hai’s disabled eye, and as soon as the crow nse ; have ’ **caught on” to his meaning, a how] of laughter went be The fighter himself did not see the point, and he demanded: ' ‘* What be ye yowlin’ at, ijjits? D’ye see any- thing ter laugh at? If yer do, yer see more than I kin. Don’t ye know how ter receive a gentleman inter yer town?” ‘Possibly it is my rather uliar title, or nickname, that has excited their risibility,” the stranger suggested, but at the same time he was smiling in a way that proved that be had no such thought at all. ‘We war laffin’ at that black eye, an’ ther. idee ye had that it was Sullivan what made it,” sume one in the crowd came out flatly and ex- lained. pe I'd Sullivan you,” cried the fighter, as he glared around with his available eye, “if I knowed who you was.” a In the mean time the stranger had shaken hands with the Shangaai, and followed it up by king hands with all who stood near. ‘I believe in beginning right at the beginning when I enter a strange town,” to be one of you—a Rom pg Romans, as esaid, “I want a | *