Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 684 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle. 9 “It is to your interest to say so, of course,” remarked Dick, The bookkeeper smiled. ‘Fingal McFaddin would say nothing else, sir, even if they were rascals of the woist stamp,” ‘Well, that is right, and I don’t blame you for speaking well of them, no matter whether you believe what you say or not.” ‘Yes, gentlemen they are, and none finer.” “T believe they own that big new hall that is about finished,” ‘* Yes, they put it up.” “What is it to be used for?’ ‘‘ They expect to open a handsome saloon and gambling parlor.” ‘*Do you imagine they would sell it out toa stranger, for instance myself?” ‘“They might, if you bid high enough,” ‘* 1 believe I will try them.” ‘‘ You think of staying here, then?” ‘‘Oh! there’s nothing certain about that. I may pick up and drift out again in less than a week, Nothing keeps me when I make up my mind that I want a change. Have you any idea what that building has cost?” ‘Not a penny less than ten thousand dollars, I should say.” ; ‘That is about what I guessed,” The building in question was a fine one for such a place. It was in the center of the town, only a little distance from the ‘‘ Bumblebee’s Nest,” and was several degrees finer than any other the place could boast. It had been built with the object in view ex- ‘pressed by McFaddin. Not satisfied with the income of the mine, and the rents of their numerous buildings in. the town, the mine-owners wanted to get the lion’s share of the money spent nightly for drink and at the gaming-tables, And this they were likely to do, as soon as their place opened for business, It was ready now, but was waiting for the furniture and fixings that had been ordered, anc were on the way. While Deadwood Dick and the bookkeeper were talking, Mr. Stephen Barnthal came into the office. ‘*‘ A gentleman to see you, sir,” said McF addin, and he turned to his work. ‘*'You want to see me?” Barnthal asked, with a gool deal of pompousness in his manner. ‘You are Mr. Barnthal?” queried Dick, with- out taking the trouble to rise, “That’s my name, sir,” the mine-owner as- sured. ‘*Tben I do want to see you,” said Dick. “I want to buy an interest in your mine here, if I can. ‘You can’t do it,” declared Barnthal, flatly. + core I can, too, if you will sell,” assured ick, me sis we won't Sag Besides, you are not ikely to have enough money to put up, si if we. were inclined to cell? eeem ou don’t kuow anything about that.” turned Dick, ‘* You dow't BS what T er ot, Suppose you did want to sell, what would e your price? “Tt is not necessary to say, sir. We do not want to sell, and will not sell, so there is no need of talking about it further. We have refused heavy offers from moneyed companies, but we are here to stay,” ** Well, no use trying to buy what is not for sale,” Dick finally agreed, “But,” he added, “if you won’t sell your mine, perhaps you will sell something else,” And what is that?’ Barnthal inquired, in some surprise, “ That new building you have just put up,” Just then the door opened, and Samson Crapps entered, He looked at Dick with a questioning stare, and then at Barnthal. Pak My partner, Mr. Crapps,” Barnthal ob- rved, CHAPTER X. MACDUFF MADE HAPPY, Mr, CRapps was a thin man. @ seemed nervous, too, as though he ex- pected to see a ghost the next moment, _put he was well dressed, and put on as many airs as did his partner, though he could not ap- ee quite so important. h A ood Dick inspected him as closely as he ad already inspected Barutbal, and gave him an opportunity to speak first, if be would, This Mr, Crapps did. You are a stranger to me, sir,” be remarked; and then he look around, as if to see if the ghost had appeared. There was something mysterious in his man- ner, hard to describe. What has been said al- ready comes as near a description as anything else could, perhaps. His air was one of con- stant apprebension, ** My name is Golconda,” Dick informed, “I have been trying to buy a share in your mine, but your partner will not hear to such a propo- sition,” Crapps looked from the elegant Golconda to Barnthal, as though for him to say something, ‘* Most decidedly not!” that gentleman cried, ‘‘Of course not,” echoed Crapps, ‘‘ Couldn’t think of it, sir,” ‘Well, that was settled,” remarked Dick, ‘The question now is, Will you sell me that new building you have just put up? I had just asked Mr, Barnthal as you came in, Mr, Crapps.” Again did Crapps look at Barnthal for his opifion. ‘* Certainly not,” that part of the combination cried. 3 ‘* Very assuredly not, sir,” Crapps followed up. ‘‘Oh, yes you will,” Dick opposed, laughing. , Come, set your price on it, and that will set- tle it.” ‘‘ What do you want it for?’ Barnthal in- uired, ‘* Why, Dll open a palace there,” Dick replied. ‘* Just what we are going to do ourselves, sir, You can’t have it. No, it is not for sale, and—” ‘ T know it is for sale,” Dick persisted. ‘* All that is in the way is fixing a price, Come, set a nice round figure that will make you feel good, and Til buy it of you.” ‘* Why, that place has cost us fifteen thousand dollars, already, and it will stand us in ten thousand more before we are done with it. You don’t want it, at any such figures as that.” ‘That is where you make a mistake,” said a Aes | wae give you fifteen thousand for it, just as it stands.” Barnthal looked at him searchingly. ‘* See here, what is your game, anyhow?” he demanded, * It is plain and above-board,” Dick made an- swer, ‘‘ ] have got money to invest, and want to unload some of it. If you make and | lose, so much the better for you and none the worse for me. A fool and his money are soon parted, you know,” Dick lay back in his chair, and puffed idly at his cigar. The two mine-owners looked at each other, as if in doubt what to do about it, Fingal Mcladdin was. working away, but his ears Were open to everything that was said, and he wondered greatly. ‘* What are you willing to give for the build- ing?” Barnthal asked, ‘*T have made an offer,” Dick reminded, ‘* Yes, but we are not selling out at cost. You will have to bid a good deal bigher than that, if you expect to get it.” “*T don’t think that would be selling at cost, not by five thousand dollars,” the cool Richard declared. ‘* But, if my offer don’t suit, set your price. That is all you have got to do.” ** Well, we won’t take a cent less than twenty- five thousand dollars for the building, just as it stands,” ‘**) will give that for it,” said Dick, up a bill of sale, if you please.” He was as cool as a ton of ice. The partners looked at each other amazed. Here was something that they could not easily understand, ‘You don’t mean it!” Barnthal exclaimed, ‘Of course I mean it,” Dick assured, ‘Here is the money, and money talks you know,” As be spoke he ran his hand into a pocket and drew out a wad of bills. It was not a roll, or package, but simply a wad, and carried as carelessly as though its value was nothing, A glance at the bills as he separated them, and smoothed them out, showed that not one of them was less than a thousand in denomination, It was something that made the mine-kings stare more than ever, ‘** There you are, sir,” said Dick, handing over the required sum, ‘‘ and now draw up the hin of sale and let me have it, I have paid you your price, Barnthal hesitated, as though regretting that he had not named a figure yet higher than that, But_ it was too late then, so he called out to McF addin to draw up the paper in proper form, and it was soon done, ‘“‘ There,” remarked Barnthal, as he handed it over, when he and Crapps bad signed, “it is yours, and dirt cheap, too. Now, I would like to know what you are going to do with it,” **And I bave told you already,” reminded . oo Dick. **I may change my mind about it, how- ever, so you will have to wait and see.” ‘‘ Well, as nothing was said to the contrary,” Barnthal went on, ‘* we shall begin tl e erection of another and better building immediately, and whep we opan we will probably hurt your trade,” ‘‘Oh, go right ahead,” Dick invited, ‘“ The more the merrier, you koow. Put up half a dozen, if you want to. No doubt you are well able to do it, and there is notbing like being public spirited.” He rose as he said this, and throwing awa the cigar he had been smoking, lighted*a fres one. ‘You are something of a fancy dresser,” Barnthal observed. Crapps was looking about, as though peering for a baunting shadow. ‘“A mere matter of taste,” Dick responded. ‘‘ And now I will bid you good-morning, gentle- men, if I see anything more I want to buy, I will drop in and see you.” Barnthal made some reply, and Dick left the office and sauntered down the slope to the bot- tom of the gulch, where he soon found himself at the hotel once more. The body of the dead man had been removed, and the crowd was gone, Esmond Earle was on the piazza. ‘* Well, did you find it?” he asked. Yes, and i have made a purchase,” Dick an- swered. ‘* What have you bought?” ‘That new building.” ‘‘ The deuce you have.” ‘‘ Nothing less.” ‘‘ And what are you going to do with it?” ‘*T think I turn it into a play-house; that is, a theater.” “Are you joking? What do you want a theater for? And where would you get your players?” ‘“Why, you bave one right here in town, in Maximilian MacDuff, and if it comes to the worst, Ican let bim train as many more as he wants, out of whatever material he can pick up.” Earle laughed, ‘* That promises rare fun,” he assured. ‘* And it will serve to keep curious ones busy talking,” Dick further said. ‘It will serve a double purpose. But then you cannot under- stand all this now. You will probably see fun around here before I leave town.” ‘*You speak in riddles, Golconda, but I can understaud that there is something of deep im- portance in the wind,” “You guess aright. Here comes MacDuif,” The seedy actor came up, and when he stopped he made a profound bow, reciting a few lines of the immortal bard. ‘¢ You are full of it, I see,” Dick observed. ‘‘Hu)ll to running over!” was the exclaimed return, ‘Oh! that | might once again tread the boards, as in the days of yore.” And then he went off into another fit of ‘‘snouting,” giving them an exhibition of his art. ‘‘ Suppose I give you a chance to strut and fret your hour upon the stage once more,” Dead- wood Dick suggested. “Ah! me soul leaps with gladness at the thought!” ‘‘ Well, sir, I think I can do it,” Dick assured, **The fires of youth burn again in me veins!” ‘‘ But, where will you find your support?’ Dick inquired, ‘* Alack and alas! Ob, why did you raise my fond hopes, only to dash them to fragments against the rocks of despair!” ‘‘Oh, keep up your spirits,” Dick encouraged. ‘‘ We may be able to fix you out yet. Couldn't you take some of the material lying around loose here and train it? You would be the star, of course, and it wouldn’t matter whether your support was first-class or not, we could see your merits.” ‘Tt might be done, I suppose, but the ex- pense—” ‘‘ Oh don’t bother your head about the expense, I will stand all that. Will you undertake it?” ‘7 will, and only be glad to do it.” Again did the stranded ‘actor strut and pose and spout, greatly to the amusement of all who saw and beard, ‘* Well, sir,” said Dick, when the scene ended, “T can fix you out in good shape, and we will have some fun here, and you can have balf of the profits.. I have bought the new building over there, and I will set men at work at once to make a stage and put in seats.” ‘‘Oh! happiness, happiness!” cried MacDuff, But, say no more now, ~COMicboo