Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 669 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

pl ae ' . §.~ u 4 » ’ , +f ve , ¥ 7 . SEL ; en P| Tees Lia, tee Wil ¥ erie ea Sah. . ON aay Pet AL yrs, oN aw i _. around his head and shout ~~ fight,” Skinny commented. responded Billy. - anyhow. band of thirty or forty tramps, all _ €lubs, rushing down upon the Chinamen from Some of the others, who witnessed it, looked on in greatest amazement. **You’re a brick, you are, Sam!” Billy cried, as he shook Sam Foo Chow’s hand vigorously, **an’ I’d like ter drink to yer health, but I never drink at all, so you’ll have ter excuse me. *Low me ter interdoose my shadowy rtner, Mr. Skinny. Skinny, do th’ proper thing an’ shake hands with Mr, Sam,” Skinny timidly put out his hand, and the silk- attired deputy-consulate, or whatever it is proper to call him, shook hands with him also, As the lads had now a chance to take a better look at their heathen friend, they discovered that he was gotten up altogether regardless of expense. A massive gold chain was hanging from his neck, gorgeous and valuable rings were upon his fingers in plenty, and. his garments were of the finest materials, ***Melican boys live in San F’lisco?” the China- man asked. ** Nary time,” Billy answered. ‘ We’re from New York, Sam, an’ we’re proud of th’ fack, mate though, what is all this racket about?” he Chinaman could understand English bet- ter than he could speak it, and he answered by explaining what was going on, though his explanation only partly enlightened his ques- tioners. ‘I thought it must be somethin’ like that,” Billy observed, not wanting to let on how little he had understood; ‘‘ does yer people git tooken this way often?” ‘* Ebely lear,” the Chinaman answered. “Every year, eh? Now, that wouldn't suit me, Sam, if I was a Chinee; I’d want it once a month, at least.” The Chinaman smiled, ** What ’Melican boy’s name is?” he asked. **Want my name, eh? A feller wouldn’t be of much ’count without One, would he, Sam. My name is Billy Weston, though at home they call me Broadway Billy, fer short,” A‘ few. more remarks were exchanged, and Sam Foo Chow turned away then to tuke part in the noisy ceremony once more. Broadway Billy finished what he was eating, and then he, too, joined the dancers. ‘“ Whoop!” he cried, catching up a package of ¢rackers and setting fire to the fuse, ‘‘ we may as well git th’ worth of our money out of this, enaye Come on, my gay an’ festive light- weight pard, an’ show ’em how ter do th’ shad- der dance. Whoop! but this is jest immense!” His crackers began to snap, pod be swung them and and furious as the best of the seemingly crazy Chinaman, 7 ‘ Suddenly, right in the height of the. frolic, shouts of warning were heard from some of the drivers wbo had brought the participants to the place, and the uproar suddenly ceased. : ‘Billy and Skinny looked in the direction in which the drivers were pointing, and beheld a all armed with behind some neighboring dunes. ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy cried, “but there is goin’ ter be a fight, Skinny. Clew my mizzen spanker! but these tramps is goin’ ter try ter drive off th’ Chinees an’ govbie up ther feast! Now is ther time ter crowd on all sail, pardner, an’ let ’em see what we kin do!” His sea voyage had given Billy quitea vocabulary. ** D’ye mean ter run?” Skinny asked.” **Nary a run!” cried Billy. ** What then?” “* Fight.” ‘I didn’t know that crowdin’ op all sail meant “ T took it that you was goin’ ter show ’em a clean pair 0’ heels,” ‘**'You’ve growed smart as you've got thinner,” ‘* You know what I mean now, We can’t afford ter play mean on Sam, after th’ white way he’s treated us, We must take a hand in this racket, too. Heave to, nov, an’ prepare ter meet ’em fer here they are,” The tramps were right at band, and the China- _ men, most of them badly scared, were huddling « ~ — a SI Down upon the oe like sheep. : tram were about the worst-looking specimens of their kind ever banded ether. They were of many nationalities and of all ages, : Chinese they swooped, with yells that would bave done credit to the same _ oumber of the wildest of Indians, Foo Chow was near to where Billy and h y were atesant at my ae and 8 shouting some ctions countrymen, he turned to Bill and said; F : *Melican run; big fi | itee mouch hurt,” | ee eee _“ Nixey McGinnis!” cried Billy; “ we'll stand \ a as loud | e Broadway Billy Abroad. to yer back till yer belly caves in, Sammy, old boy, an’don’t ye fergitit! We ain’t built on th’ runnin’ plan, leastwise I ain’t; an’ as fer Skinny, he’s so thin that they won’t find him, Look out, now, fer here they be!” There they were, sure enough, and many a Chinaman went down under their heavy clubs at the first meeting. The Chinamen had revolvers, itis true, but they had only blank cartridges. None of the drivers of the vehicles that had brought the Chinamen to the place offered any help, most of them having sudden calls to attend to their horses, so the Chinamen were left to face the music alone. They used their revolvers, but the tramps cared nothing for them, and for a few moments it looked as though the tramps would have ax easy victory. The Chinese greatly outnumbered the tramps, but the latter had the advantage, their clubs more than making up for deficiency in numbers, ‘* Go fer ’em, pig-tails!” cried Broadway Billy, as he did not hesitate about jumping right into the melee; ‘‘don’t be afeerd of th’ dirty crit- ters! Close right in on ’em an’ do’em up! Here, you flat-nosed gosliug! lend me that stick!” This was said to one of the attacking party, a fellow who was about to-deal the spirited boy a blow on the head, and with a sudden spring Billy lighted upon him and wrested the club out of his grasp. ‘Thus armed, he ‘‘ waded” right in, and more than one of the tramps went down under his heavy and well.aimed blows, Skinny held back, not being strong enough for such work, and Sam Foo Chow, who had some military knowledge, shouted directions to his countrymen, at the same time taking an ac- tive part in the 3 ie himself. As soon as the first shock of the surprise and attack had passed, the Chinamen made haste to arm themselves with pickets from the near- es fence, and then the fight became hot and eCAVY. As it progressed, the combatants got separ- ated into little groups or knots, where the warfare was carried on till one side or the other had to yield and run, to begin anew at some other point. Billy presently found himself in one of these groups, with four Chinamen as his backers— or he as theirs, while their opponents numbered seven, Taking in the situation, Biily put forth every fort, He was Hebpin in defense of the al upon which Sam Foo Chow had laid his gifts, which was one of the best supplied of all. ‘Sock it to’em!” he yelled, as be plied his club in a lively manner; ‘‘ give ’em rats! Sweet pertaters! but thistsa lively scrimmage! Pelt it to ‘em, Johns, an’show’em no quarter! Whoop! there they go, hcked fair an’ square!” The seven had taken sudden flight, and, just as they did so, Billy heard some one cry out: ‘* Hi! bi! ’Melican boy helpee me!” Wheeling quickly around,Billy saw Sam Foo Chow in the hands of three tramps, at quite a distance from the heart of the fight, and they were trying to rob him of his chain and rings, At them the street scout rushed, his club ready for active business, and as soon as he came to the spot where bis help was needed he sent one of the tramps spinning end over end, But, the other two were determined fellows, power- ful of build, and one of them turned to meet the Broadway expert, while the other still struggled with Sam Foo Chow. Billy aimed another blow, but this time it was dodged, and the next moment he found himself in the tramp’s bear-like embrace, CHAPTER III. RETURNING IN STATE. * _ It was 4 critical moment. Billy had to let fall his club and grapple with the man who had hold of him, and it looked as though both Billy and Sam Foo Chow would get worsted. | Suddenly, though, another person took a hand in the game, and it was none other than Skinny. He had been keeping his eyes on Billy, and the instant he saw his partner in serious trouble he was ready to lend what help he could. is ig this instance was worth everything, It turned the tide of battle. Rushing forw he oe up the club Billy hac just dropped, and swinging it once over his head, brought it down with terrific force upon the back of Billy’s ry causin mi € ground with a groan, ; As soon as Billy was free, botb he and Skinny ran to the help of Sam Foo Chow, who was now faring badly. His adversary had him down, *e break his hold and 3 with a knee upon his breast, and was just about robbing him, ‘* Let up, there!” shouted Billy, ‘‘ or it will be the worse for you. Let up, I say, you. walking pest bouse, or Ij] knock yer head clear over in- ter th’sea! Can’t hear, eh? Well, take that, then!” Catching up the club the tramp himself had used, he dealt the fellow a blow on the head that rolled him over senseless, in short order. As soon as that was done he helped the China- man to arise, ‘You are better’n a dozen dead men yet, Sam,” be declared. ‘‘Glad he didn’t git off with yer vally’bles. We'll give ’em fits afore we're doné with em. Whoop! At’em, ye pig- tailed Sons o’ Sundown, ye! Make ’em think th’ day o' reckonin’ hascome! Over ye go!” knock- ing another end over end; ‘tan’ now who's th’ next? Don’t all speak at once, but step right up and take yer rations.” The fight did not last much longer. Already the sice of the tramps was weakening, for as fast as any of these could Jay hands upon a pig, a fowl, or a jug of saki, he would grab his prize and run, leaving the others to fare the best they could, Finally the Chinamen made a grand charge, and the whole band was put to flight, the fight- ing after that being among themselves over the —— ‘pepe a few of them had managed to lay old cf. ** That’s ther way ter do it!” cried Broadway Billy; ‘that’s ther way ter make ’em sick! Sam, you are a whooper ina fight, you are, and I like you, Let’s shake again! Billy held out his hand to Sam Foo Chow ashe said this, and the Chinaman grasped it warmly, ‘* *Melican buy muchee blave!” he exclaimed, ‘* Fightee like debil! Him save Sam Foo Chow bim’s life; allee same save him chain and lings, Sam Foo Chow neber floget allee same.” ““Thank’e fer that, m,” Billy returned, ‘* but Fey don’t want ter fergit Skinny, here. Only fer him I guess both of us would a’ been gone goslings, He’s so thin that ye wouldn't think it, but he isas brave as a lion when oc- casion requires it of him.” ‘ ‘* Yes, allee same so,” the Chinaman agreed; ‘me see him bleak big tlamp him’s back with club. Blave boy, allee same sick no mattee.” He shook hands again with Skinny. ‘* He ain’t as sick as he looks,” Billy explained, ‘* That is his nat’ral degree o’ fatness, Can’t git | bim no fatter nohow. Ye see he has a mighty big ¥: tite, an’ he eats so much that it makes him thin ter carry it around.” The Chinaman grinned, and saying something in response, turned away to conclude the cere- monies of the occasion. ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, ‘‘ we've tumbled right inter excitement, Skinny, with- out lookin’ fer it at all, It seems strange, but I must be a mascot of th’ ae sort, for no mat- ter where I go it seems ter be the signal fer some sort o’ ruction ter foller, How d’ye feel after th’ battle?” f “Oh, I’m all right,” Skinny averred; “1 didn’t take any hand in it till I seen you was gittin’ inter a tight place, an’ then I thought it .~ was time fer me ter do somethin’.” “You done jest right. You was reservin’ your strength fer jest that’casion. I’m power- ful ’bliged to ye, pordeety as Ill have ter prove to ye some time, Now I opine that we'd better be gettin’ back ter th’ city. ‘Yes, I guess we had, Let’s be goin’, fer if th’ tramps come back with a bigger force we may git th’ worst of it next time.” fs ht ye are, heavy-weight pard; but, here comes Sam Chow-Chow, or whatever his name is; let’s see what he wants.” They tarried, and Sam Foo Chow approached them and said: ' “Sam Foo Chow him goin’ to city back allee same now, ’Melican boys go lide with him allee same?” ‘Well, now, Sam, that is a properzishum worth considerin’,” Billy exclaimed heartily. ‘* What d’ye think about it, Skinny? Which is your turn-out, Sam?” tS “Open calliage down by load,” the Chinamen answered, pointing to an open barouche and team of white horses, and not without some show of pride. : ‘Count us in every time!” Billy exclaimed, tpn for himself and Skinny. ‘I never like ter refuse ter t small favors of this sort, Sam. You kin have the honor of our company, an’ welcome to Come along, Skinny; ye know yer mom said you was ter be uided by me in all things, an’ this issomethin’ at ye mustn’t miss. Ye needn’t be at alb Cboo com |