Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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6 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. ‘‘That’s not the idea. A fence is a place for the reception of stolen goods. Much obliged for your information.” “Not at all. Ppa yee wants some gro- ceries, come around and see me, eh?” “*{ will.” ‘* Don’d you deal mit dot Italian across der way; he skin you oud of all your money.” “All right. Good-by.” ““Good-by. V’en you want any good limburger, you come to me. I haf got some dot vill make your hair got curly.”’ ‘Thank you. The next time I want to go to a fancy ball I will call on you.” Repassing the shuttered house, Dick made a discovery—one of the cellar windows, fronting on the street, was wide open, proba- bly for ventilation. ‘* By Jove! that is a chance,” Dick mut- tered. ‘‘ Most likely a servant has left it open. I'll call around again after a while, when it’s dark. If that window is still open, I’ll know what is going on in that house.” Then he passed on, but he had got only a block away, when he felt a slap on the shoulder. Turning he beheld Josiah Lester! ““Why, darn my skin!” ejaculated the man from Perkinsvi:le, ‘‘ what on ’arth ye doin’ in this make-up?” ‘*Oh! a little skirmishing.” ** After Frank?” ** Yes,” **But you won't find him. I reckon he’s gone up the spout. But, come along; I’ve got something to show you what ain’t to be sg “ What?” ‘*A game they call fan-tan.” “Where?” ‘* Did ye notice a closed house back here, a.few doors?” **T did.” ‘‘ Well, it’s there. I won fifty dollars there, in ten minutes.” : ** And lost a hundred?” ‘* Not much!” ‘*Chinamen run it?” Dick ‘‘ bit at the bait,” with avidity—not that he suspected Josiah of any complicity in the disappearance of Frank, but his offer opened up an opportunity for the detective to get into this Mott street house, without exciting undue suspicion. ‘* No,” the place ain’t run by Chinamen,” -gaid Josiah, ‘‘though there is some that go there, to gamble. There’s a beautiful wo- man runs it. They say she comes from Chicago. I tell ye what ef Samantha war not livin’, I’d pop the question to her!” ‘* And get ‘ popped ’!” | ‘*No, She’s kinder stuck on me.” Dick could not refrain from laughing. ‘*Stuck on your boodle, more likely!” ‘**No she ain’t, Are ye comin’ along?” ‘* Well, to accommodate you, yes.” So they journeyed back toward the closed house—Josiah taking the lead. He evident- _ ly well knew the way. ‘‘Now, if all works well, Ill know if Frank Lester is in this house, or is not, thought the wide-awake detective. On their arrival at the door, Josiah rung the bell three times. The door opened, but no one appeared. Pt walked in, and the door slammed shut, CHAPTER VIII. CIRCE. Tue hall they entered, was, after the door was closed, dark, so they could not see. But, Josiah grasped Dick by the arm, and led him to the second floor, where they entered a large room, or rather, two connect- si * mga with big folding doors between, here were card-tables and easy-chairs scattered about. Several Chinamen were playing at fan- tan. A red-and-black game was in pro- gress, and the woman who ran the place, presided at a faro-table. Several others were engaged in various games of chance. | The proprietress was a beauty. She reminded Dick of a Gypsy. She was quite dark, with perfect features, and black eyes and hair which she wore abandon. She had a graceful, willowy figure, and she dressed magnificently. Her diamonds were simply clegant. Dick and Josiah paused to gaze at her. ‘Mighty fine critter, ain't she?” question- ed Josiah, ‘Very good-looking.” ‘Kin ye beat it, out West?” “Yes.” ‘* Bet yer!” “Why, man, we grow’em out there like you peuple never saw. You come West and gee.” ‘Yas, ef Samantha were to peg out, I would go inter a raffle fer this here gal. Deacon Leeds of Perkinsville would tear his hair to see me fetch sech a gal home, darn me ef he wouldn't, We shined up Samantha, when I was young, but I was the -purtiest of the two, so I got her. Then, he hed ter marry an old maid.” ‘* Just what would do you good. If you hang out around New York long and go bumming about like this you will have neither money, nor your wife.” ‘*Why not?” ‘Because some one will rob you of your money, and you will lose your wife in the bargain.” ‘“Not much. The old woman is home ‘tending to the stock, and don’t ye fergit it, bar ve fool her, you've got to get up afore aylight.” z Better stick to her, then.” se hy?” ‘* Because I’ll guarantee the woman at the table don't arise ’fore noon. ‘* Lazy?” ‘Yes, and crooked too,” ** How crooked?” ‘* A thief maybe.” ‘‘No, sir-ee. She’s a born and bred lady. Bet you!” ‘* Perhaps.” Just then there was a commotion. One of the men at the faro table had lost heavily. ‘*C©urse you!” he said, arising and address- ing the lady who was dealing. ‘*‘ Your false dealing has ruined me. None like you shall live to do that.” With that he would have fired, had not Dick sprung forward and grappled with him, bearing him to the floor. Then ensued a struggle. Both men were well matched. If anything, Dick was the lighter of the “wo They rolled over and over in a death-grip. It took all precaution for Dick to keep from losing his di: guise. The crowd looked on with interest. - Even Josiah did not attempt to interfere. Fivally Dick got his right hand free. With one crushing blow, he put his man to sleep; then he arose, and was greeted with applause. ~ ‘* Bravo!” cried the crowd. ‘*Hurray!” yelled old Josiah. The fair proprietress now advanced. at have my life to thank you for,” she said. ‘*Oh! don’t mention it. I’d not see any person harm one so fair as you.” Mademoiselle Circe, as she was generally known, blushed prettily. ‘‘Thank you,” was expressed in her eyes, although she did not utter the words. ‘* You are a stranger?” she said, interroga- ae 3 3 “* Well, yes, rather. I have been in New York before, however, for a short time.” ‘retired from the table. ‘You are not what you seem,” said Circe. ‘You are disguised. Why so?” | ‘‘Oh! a gentleman who is out ora little | racket does not always like to be recognized. But how did you know I was disguised?” | ‘*Oh! I’ve got eyes, Will you come and try your hand at faro?” “Yes, let’s go in fer et,” urged Josiah. ‘*T'll be blarsted ef I don’t believe I kin clean the board. EfI kin, why I'll buy Deacon Grimes’s steers when I get home, and my old woman shall have a span new caliker dress, be gosh!” | ‘Well, if Samantha has to wait for the dress until you clean the board, I'm afraid she wil! have rather a long wait,” said Dick, ‘‘ for I don’t allow it’s a very easy job. Hovw- ate? we can try a few dollars on it, if you ike.” | “All right. But hadn't we better hey , su’thin’ to take, first. They hain’t got no hard cider here, but they hev got some might ) good whisky, I tell ye. And I’m a purt7 | good mage: ‘specially about hayin’ time,” . ‘*Then we give the hired man buttermilk, | and I take hard cider and whisky. They do | say that for a reg’lar chureh-goin’ citizen, | who hires his own pew, and pays five dollarg a year fur it, and furnishes. the preacher with hams, chickens, eggs, and all sorts of farm | produce, that I kin knock the socks off all of "em on drinkin’ hard cider.” Here Josiah was forced to stop for want of breath. | So they adjourned to the faro-table. / Josiah was quite exuberant over his firs | winning, which was fifty dollars. “T’ll have them steers, by thunder!” h ejaculated. ‘‘I kin buy ’em for fifty dolla and a bar’! of hard cider.” i. But Josiah’s fifty soon melted. | Dick began to place his money to effect, and within a few minutes had won over « thousand dollars, Gh.” By this last bet of Dick’s all the player; \- “The bank is broke!” cried Circe. ONG. ok more faro now.” ee ‘*She is weakenin’!” muttered J ola a “She ain’t a bit like Samantha, She was. never known to weaken.” Fal Samantha was evidently what a Western f man would in his vernacular a “rip snorter.” 4 At least so Dick judged. Fortunately Samantha was not present. ‘* Mademoiselle Circe tapped Dick on the * shoulder. 4 ‘‘Oome,” she said, imperiously. ‘I want | to speak to you in private.” eo | Bidding Josiah await his return, Dick ac- eompanied Circe. They went to an adjoining parlor, and be- came seated, ‘ ‘‘ Now,” said Dick, ‘‘ what can I do for | ou?” . ; ‘*You are a detective,” ** You have hit it.” “You have come here to pull my house,” a Vere ‘‘l’m hardly strong enough for that. | would require a big power to do a thin oak o | that.” | ye ‘‘Oh! none of your sarcasm. Whatever brought you here?” mm | se y legs.” ie ‘“[Did the Central send you?” * eo". ‘‘Then why are you here?” | ‘‘ My friend invited me ” | ‘But you were in the neighborhood before that.” | ‘ ‘‘ How do you know?” ‘‘That’s none of your business. I know, and that is enough.” | ‘Well, if I was in the neighborhood, what of that? It does not signify that I came here to pull your place.” ‘Do you aver that you did not?” ‘Except on the witness-stand, ma’m’se ¢ Taver nothing. But, Ill tell you one thi it : you know anything of the whereabouts (Ele) . ae sent