Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 672 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

es ee ee es en fal ane pe ge - nal ™= —-- ——) = % oo ae! a ee | - bs , > b : ; “Sonn — _~r a hoe ‘“That’s none of your cursed business, me ' Jarky,” snarled Jackson. ‘‘The old cuss “needed all he got.” ‘**And you will get the same dose, take angel, and you can. bet on it,” ** You seem to take a mighty sight of in- “terest in her!” growled Jackson. “SoLdo. I think she has been outrage- ously imposed upon.”’ ** You do?” , ‘I certainly do, You murdered her Bat father, and-I wouldn’t blame her if she eet slaughtered every mother’s son of you, and if ha needs be, ’'d just as lieve take a hand in it, myself!” This created a sensation. Few men would bave dared venture such a remark in the White Elephant, the scene of many a shocking tragedy; but Dick ‘Bristol did, to the surprise of every man present. } ~ Jim Jackson, blusterer that he was, lke ‘all such was an arrant coward, and not to _ Dick's surprise, the blusterer walked away “as if to recuperate at some other bar. » Mayor Mike Murphy was not noted for ~valliant deeds, and he followed. : — Without a leader, a crowd is nowhere, and fas s0 the whole gang dispersed; whereat. Dick ae _ smoled a smile” that ended in a hearty | laugh. . ~* **f wouldn’t have believed it, had I not “seen it!’ said Walt Wyncham. ‘* Why, a could bluff down a crowd like that.” ‘No? Why, there was no bluff about it. “I meant business, and [ reckon they were ‘aware of that fact.” : ‘‘Blame me if you haven’t got pluck, I thought I had some, but you knock me all to pieces,” - Just then Ned Brandon came rushing into the saloon, evidently in great excitement. ‘‘ Who offered.a reward for Belle Bren- nan?” he cried, ‘‘I can lead a party to the rendezvous of herself, and her gang. Let the man with the reward step forward.” CHAPTER IX. ~ ANOTHER QUEST. Tue idea of giving up the girl wad shock- ing—one, at any rate, that Dick could not . stand, : 1 _ You accursed wretch!” he cried, ‘‘ would a ~you give up the girl you profess to love?” Are . * Yes! Because of you she has refused “me. Now she can pay the penalty!” _ ‘You are a cowardly cur, and a liar!” returned Dick, ‘* You had no idea of mar- “rying ber, urftil you found there was some “money coming to her.” ~ * You are a liar, and a thief,” retorted a}: » Brandon. ae .. The detective’s answer was one sledge-ham- Oe mer blow, which dropped Brandon to the floor, from which he did not attempt to rise. . He was not knocked senseless but had got >> ~~ Dick turned ae and went into the Ea -dining-room, where he indulged in a hearty * ~ ~meal; and then proceeded to the White Ele- -,.- * phant, where he was greeted by anything ‘but friendly glances, but that did not appear to affect him in the least. ' Brandon was not present; neither was ‘a ! Walt Wyndham; but he found Scott there. aa ‘Have you been to Wyndham’s?” he at ey once asked. fr ‘All through his house from top to bot- . Coy ** And found not a clew?” |p Saar _** Not one.” | , “\ +SEE ue scratched his head, and looked at the ae “floor. __.. *** $he’s there!” he declared. ‘I wouldn’t | ys be afraid to bet my life on it.” ~~. © ** Well, Lam of the same opinion, but we were not able to find her. If she is there, ° i” ’ : : Ly w “the is well secreted.” *<T'd like to have a look about that place myself,” | ‘* Do you think you could improve on my search?” my word for it,” replied Dick. ‘‘ You've!|- ‘‘1 might. Two heads are better than one got a girl’ after you now, that ain’t no | if one is asheep’s head, as the saying goes.” ‘* Well, there may be something in that. But, so far as the house is concerned I will take my oath she was not in it while I was there.” ‘* I’ve got an idea that maybe has not oc- curred to you,’. hinted Scott. ‘¢ What is it?” | ‘The house backs against the bluff. May there not be a place in this bluff, where a person could be stowed away. in case of emergency?” ‘Good thought!” assented the detective; ‘““You may have struck the key-note, We must pay another visit to the house.” “'Take Walter with you?” ‘*No. Vl dispense with him, this time. He is all right, no doubt, but we. will work the Chinaman this time. Maybe we will be able to make something out of the Celestial.” ‘* Rather doubtful, I. guess, for old Wynd- ham probably pays bim as much for his silence as for his service!” “Well, we will try, anyhow. You drop around to a drug store, and get a quarter's and that will fix him.” ‘Dunno about that,” demurred the miner. “The durned critters are so used to opium, man never came to Durango before, who | that.a, drug like morphine won’t have a deal of effect on him.” _ ** Well we can but try the racket, and see how it turns out.” “All right. You're the doctor. It is your funeral, not mine.” _ Scott set off after the morphine and Dick procured a flask of whisky at the bur, and when Stott returned with the drug, it was put into the liquor, and well shaken. “There! If I can get acouple of swigs of that down the heathen, I reckon he will repose until we have time to. give the prem- ises a thorough search. I feel sure that we shall have success this time.” So they started for Wyndham’s house. As they neared the residence, Scott said: “The old man may be home, I reckon I’d better go ahead and prospect.” ‘*Not abad idea. You know the China- man, and perhaps you can pave the way a bit.” So Dick waited under the shade of a tree while Scott went on his mission. | Having been in the employ of Wyndham the miner had no hesitation about entering the premises. He went around to the side door, which opened out of the kitchen. There he found Lung Sing engaged in some laundry work. | **Hello, John, how you was!” said Scott. “* Still at the washee?” ‘Allee time washee,” replied Lung. ‘* Have to have clean shirt evly day.” ‘* Who does—old Wyndham?” oy Yes, ‘“Is he home? I want to see him.” *“Not home. No-one home ’cept me,” ** Well, that’s too bad!” ‘* Anythiag you want?” “Well, yes. There’s goin’ to be an in- surance put on this house, and the agent is here to inspect it. We want to have a look over the premises.” ‘*Can’t let in house, till boss comes.” “But, he may not be here until night, and we must attend to this business at once.” ‘‘No help. Boss say lettee no one in house.” ) ‘‘ Now, look here, John, that’s all bosh! Tell you what I’ll do. Let us have a look over the house, and the insurance man will treat you to a bottle of whisky!” The prospect of a flask of the amber- colored juice, looked tempting to him, ‘*Have a big dlunk,” thought he, ‘ Boss Wis —— , a ~F no bao ee 4 il Ait. Sun's . . > : otal > * ~~ x « a A, . i>. 2 ee ee Py worth of morphine, and I'll get a flask of whisky. He won’t refuse a drink I reckon, look up while lam now again here. You ae % of, , away. No one around. Me go on spree, 4 allee samee ’Melican chief!”’ | AE 9) So turning to Scott he said: | ‘* Allee right. _Where’s whisky?” eS ge “Wait and I'll fetch it,” replied the — miner. | Vo He then went back and joined Dick. | ‘‘ [tis all right,” he announced, ‘‘ All you have got to do is to give the heathen the whisky, and we can gain access to the house.” So they went to the side door and Dick made Lung Sing a present of the filled flask, ‘Bully, whisk’,” was the Celestial’s wel- “> come. ciee ‘Well, get outside of some of it, and the let’s into the house,” Dick ordered. 3 Removing the cork, Lung raised the bot- tle to his lips, and allowed full half the con- tents to run down his throat. ‘* Muchee good,” he said. ‘‘ Make Chinee feel belly happy.” ‘Well, then, let us into the house,” said Dick. ‘‘I don’t purpose to wait here all — day.” ‘“‘ Allee right. Come.’ , And extracting a key from under his frock, Lung Sing led the way by unlocking the kitchen door. 4 He bad barely got inside the house, how- tip ever, when he reeled and in a few minutes ‘S 4 was flat on his face insensible, ; ® ‘‘Jemimy! but that took effect on him | durned quick!” said Scott. Re te ~ “Yes, He took a pretty big swig.” “ Hain’t killed him, have you?” . “No fear. He will be all right in an ) Ge hour’s time. It requires a powerful drug to i ae kill one of them chaps. We will bind, and * leave him here while we make the search, =| — See if you can find some rope.” : ban Scott made a search, and finally raked up~ a piece of clothes line, which answered all requirements, ung Sing was then-securely bound, to provide against the possibility of his inter- ference in the search. a, ‘*Now, then, we will give this house a + thorough searching,” Dick decided. | ‘There is more than one thing I wantto, — . _ - knew old Brennan?” pee TS ‘*Did you know he was wealthy?” ‘Well, no. But I’ve often had an idea that his pretended poverty was partly a sham, for they always seemed to get along as well as other folks, and without working.” | ‘‘ Well, Brennan left a million of dollars = to. his daughter, in care of thisman, Wynd- ham, to be invested in good securities. His = last words to me were to get the contract =.» papers away from Wyndham, and make him .. pay over the cash. It appears that he has = been holiing the papers and refused to give = them up unless Belle Brennan would marry = him.” . , * eR + > ‘* Well, this is news to me.” ee ee ‘It was to me until the lynching affair.” RY ‘Then, let’s sail ahead. Ifthe papersare = in the house we will find them, for Calamity = is a good gal. I'd vote for herevery dayin 7 a week, and twice on a Sunday.” ho) ga “‘ Here, too,” replied Pipa earthy “She: :/ ae is one of a hundred, bad as she seems tobe,” The search then began in earnest. aa Every room in the house was explored! Not a nook or corner was left unexamined; but, no trace of Ethel Bly was to be found— not even anyofherclothes. | ° tra, Se ‘Well, I. guess there ain’t no use of look-- ial : ing for her here,” Dick decided. Reet: he ‘Tt don’t seem so,” replied Scott. “Io | pipe maybe the girl got her money and Ry ‘Nonsense! She wouldn’t run away. © Why should she? As I have said, I feel = = = sure Ethel Bly never left this house aftersbe = heard of her good fortune, So we must pro- ie ceed on that ypothesis. I suggest that we it ae try the cellaronce more” ys ee “_ in f rd . * > . . “we a a“ : : f 7 ue ° 7 mL? * , wr ~ ae J 4 \ ™ os Aris) . e° 5 ey e- - ee iP.” ; ; iu T ; Wit Reet " " te 1 a eo ite r Pep Vari» yo ae . ease ‘ ch! » ‘ c MAG ' “A "ite oe he a, - a" pe tse A ye «s i : Jy VP ie? woe ite ” « “yr yr stor oe at pee AN a - * = se t Yea} Me sb el i’ ‘nike ps Be i ae = ty +4 1 iy Hoe . PY th Re, “Eins ¥ a? pte é, cf Paty ‘ hy a% Ps . ; ri : ty Fi as. 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