Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 705 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

eee | ~~ «Za —— «< Berk elt ae <- oe ~ é has ele - -— ta - in as - = a F- . = ? 4 > > ‘ » oo at oe. S. ek Cee | aie IES i nate Bek af mw . Violet | ne’s Vow. rustle behind him, As he passed out he glanced ‘back, the faint rosy light from the lamp reveal- ing a picture he never forgot. Ounce more the strange, wayward woman had fallen into a chair, and with her face crushed into her hands, her yellow hair falling all about her shoulders, her attitude was one of abject despair, CHAPTER XIII. MISS MIGGLES AND MOLE. BRADFORD DARKE, owner of the Bengal Tiger Mine, bad his spies among the strikers, and the movements and threats of the angry men were reported to him. Darke was not a brave man, althovgh he was naturally arrogant and over- bearing toward those whom he considered his inferiors, and some of the threats made by the strikers terrified him, During the afternoon of the second day of the strike he sought an inter- view with Horatio Duke, but the magnate ab- solutely declinod to see him. At this indignity from his rival Darke became greatly angered, and before an hour had passed it was reported the owner of the Bengal Tiger had decided to continue payment at the old scale, Later the report was confirmed by a notice signed by Darke himself. Great was the delight of the strikers when they found they bad won thea victory in one quarter almost without a struggle, ‘‘Duke will have to give in shouted, A sort of impromptu meeting was held in the Sweet Buttercup Saloon. Speeches were made by some of the leaders among the strikers, and eutbusiasm ran high. A committee of five was appointed to wait on Horatio Duke, and discover if a settlement could not be made without fur- ther delay. The committee was escorted down the street ‘toward Duke’s residence by the entire crowd of laborers, not a few of whom were considerably the worse for the liquor they had absorbed. But they met a repulsion when they reached the magnate’s house, for the door was not opened at their summon, Despite their heavy knocking, no sign of life appeared about the ‘place. The curtains were closely drawn, and the bouse looked deserted, ** Thump harder!” yelled one of the crowd, The committee followed the advice, but still no ope appeared. Angry mutterings ran over the mob of strikers. ‘*He’s thar,” growled one red-whiskered fel- low; ‘‘ but he don’t propose ter pay any "tention ter us.” ‘Counts us below his notice,” observed a second miner. ** [t’s er derned insult!” ** Right vou are, pard.” ** We'll show him if we are wu’th notice,” ** Let’s baul down his shanty.” ‘* Stones, pards, stones!” Before the soberer men of the crowd could prevent, the liquor-maddened miners seized such missiles as their hands could find and began pelting the mine-owner’s house, There was a jingling crash of glass as one after another the windows were shattered, and the excited men whooped forth their delight at the damage they ‘were doing, ** Down with ’ristocrats!” The cry swelled to an appalling roar, and there was great danger that the house would be destroyed. . Suddenly Bayard Swift appeared on the scene, mounted on a white horse, ‘* Hold on, men!” he shouted—‘“‘ bold on, for God’s sake and for your own sakes! Are you mad? It is possible that Mr, Duke is not home, ‘You are injuring your own cause by such reck- less acts,” He bad asplendid manly voice and every man 0 eG There was an instant lull in the tu- ammulf, _“ The battle is already yours, if you do not foolishly destroy your own victory,” continued Bayard, ‘* Darke has given in; you know that, Go a little slow, The best thing you can do now is to keep quiet. Every man who is in favor of order and peace follow me,” He turned up the street and the entire party followed. In the front of the City Hotel he Malted and made a brief speech, which was hailed with some enthusiasm, J. Milton Mole had joined the crowd, and the poet seemed greatly interested in the young superintendent’s talk. Mole tried to force his way through the throng and reach Swift, but before be could succeed the superintendent had finished his remarks and ridden away. ‘* Even though my pulses burn, disappoint- ment waits at every turn,” murmured the poet now!” they sadly. ‘Of all life’s joys I am bereft; I am the man who’s always left. J amin a dejected frame of mind, for there does not seem to be any business in this town. Two deaths since I ar- rived, but friends of the deceased do not appear to care about their obituaries. And that does cause my sober mood, for the lack of. biz is lack of food, I wonder where I could find my friend Fritz. Perchance he could lend ané a quarter,” But noone seemed to have an idea where the little Dutchman could be found, ‘*T have a fear, I do declare, that he has van- ished into air,” sigbed Mole. “I have a fear that I am doomed, doomed! I havea fear that— But never mind. I will not burden the atmos- phere with my fears, [f the worst comes, I will meet my fate likea man,—Ha! Unless I am in abet iP 9 fool, here comes the maid who owns the mule, Miss Mehitable Miggles was indeed approach- ing. She espied the poet and hastened toward kim, ‘*1t’s not often I ask anything of a man,” she sniffed, smoothing out the wrinkles in ber dress with ler hands; “‘but I am not prepelled to stoop to that regredation, Iam nothing buf a poor friendless female woman, and I ‘hope you will have some consideration for my commo- tions. Mole appeared on the alert.as if ready to re- treat at the first sign of danger, but he plecked up courage to reply: ‘* Say on, fair maid; be not afraid.” ** You are a really and truly poet, aren’t you!” smiled the spinster, encouragingly. “I hope you did not take defense at anything I said about poets the first time we met. At that time my nervous system was ina turrible high-strung position, and I scarcely heeded my utterations, I reassure you, sir, if there is anything manual that I do admirate it is a poet,” Mole lifted bis hat and bowed very low, with his hand upon his heart. ** {t gives me unbounded pleasure to hear you say that,” he declared. ‘‘I have always held the fairer sex in the highest esteem, and since meeting you they have risen still higher in my regard, They are the fairest, frailest and most angelic creatures that breathe this common air of earth,” continued the poet, striking a drama- tic attitude as he waxed eloquent, “ Oh woman, woman! what could we do without thee! But for thy divine presence we would become de- generated and civilization would cease to be civilized, Yea, verily! But for thy soft and tender care we'd find no butter in the hair. Ahem! Excuse me! That was not just what lI intended to say, but let it pass.” Miss Miggles giggled and looked coquettish. * Aren’t you funny! Why. I never heard a man talk like that before! But I sought your presence to ask youif you have seen anything of my dear Moses.” ** Moses?” “My mule,” ** Ah-ha! +. My. charming queen I have not seen he beast of which you speak; Iam afraid I cannot aid To find the mule you seek. I assure youl am very sorry. If I knew where the animal is I would gladly give you such in- formation as you desire. But I will say there is a certain Dutchman who has developed a great admiration for your beast of burden, I hope he has not appropriated it, although it might give me a job in the obituary line if he were so reck- less. ‘**T have seen the outdacious scamp,” declared Miss Mehitable,. ‘* He had the buldness to con- found me with the declamation that my dear Moses belonged to him. J] just gave bim a piece of my mind, and if he had not cleared quick, I would have scratched him good! That’s the kind of a maiden I am!” Mole retreated a step in alarm as she became a trifle excited at the remembrance of the Dutchman’s audacity; but Miss Miggles smiled resssuringly on him. **Oh, you needn’t be relarmed!” she hastened to a: ‘*T am not going to touch you.” “Thanks, many thanks!” howed the little poet. “I am of a very mild disposition, and always avoid excitement of any kind,” “You would make an excelling hus—hus- band,” faltered the modest spinster, ‘“*Ah! Do you really think so?” ‘“*T do indeed, for you would not propose your wife’s wishes. In your family there would be peace and harmony. Ob, what a blissful pic- ture arises before my opticel eyesight!” Mr. Mole looked somewhat abashed. He hemmed in an embarrassed manner and kept ‘ ’ ra P ab -% ie iw ‘¥ , ee _ ' rh ‘ 4 es ee nnn a e 4 = * Ss . To) Nw ey ‘ e + . .*. 7, 4 ’ ao | 7 his eyes on the ground, without venturing any further remark at that juncture, ‘* Have you never thought of the great actua- tion of putting off single blessedness for double bliss?” asked the little spinster, edging a bit closer to the poet. *¢ Well—ahem!—I do not know as I have,” “It isa vitating problem.” Mole was silent. ‘There are hearts which beat in unison, yet one forced to beat apart,” continued Miss Mig- gles, She cautiously edged still closer, and Mole seemed on the point of bolting, ‘* All my weary resistance have T preambled up and down this wilderness of woe searching, searching for my companion heart, I bave met with disappointments and derivations of soul. I bave come to the consideration that everything of the manuel gender is coarse and unfit fora tender flower hke me, Perbaps 1am in error. Could you give me the insurance that I am?” ‘* ]_-T—T don’t know,” stammered the unfor- tunate rhymester. ‘*TIt would be so soothafying and comforting if you could! You area poet, and you havea better misunderstanding of these things than common people possess,” ¢*T am afraid you give me too much credit,” ‘Oh, no! Lam sureI donot. You are really an extinguished person, and I havea admirality for extinguished people. I feel a yearning to- ward you. You would make an agreeing com- panion for—” But J. Milton Mole waited to hear no more, With an cxclamation of terror, he fled precipi- tately. CHAPTER XIV. THE SPINSTER’S LITTLE GAME—AT SUNSET. Miss MIGGLysS appeared amazed, ‘** Landy sakes!” she ejaculated, As Mole dashed into the City Hotel he cast a hasty look over bis shoulder with the evident object of seeing if he was pursued, ‘“* Well, now, Pd jest like to Lave somebed susplain what bit him,” said the spinster, ‘‘ It’s strange he should take to his heels like that just when I was on the point of giving him an im- portant hint. But it’s just likeaman/ There’s never no suspending on what they’il do next.” A shade of sadness settled on ber face, and she sighed plaintively: ‘It’s plain Iam doomed to travel this mun- dane atmosphere alone. Men are so treacher- ous! They are worse’n eels to ketch. Ab, well! I'll try to be consigned to fate.” A short time later she was asking to be direct- ed to the residence of Horatio Duke, ‘‘T used to know Mr, Duke, if I am not suc- ceedingly mistaken,” she explained, ‘‘I am go- ing to call on him and find out, Anyway, Il am going to give hima slice of my opinion about this cut-down business, I¢% is scandalous for bim to suppress the poor laborers ip such a manner,” Having learned where Mr. Duke lived, Miss Miggles marched upon the stronghold. She bad little trouble in finding the place, for the strikers had left their marks upon it, but it was with no little difficulty she aroused a sign of life. Plain- ly, Mr. Duke’s man-servant peered cautiously forth to see if the rioters had returned and then reported to his master that a solitary woman stood at the door, ‘** Well,” snapped Miss Mehitable, as the door was discreetly opened and the Irishman placed his form as a blockade in the aperture, ‘“‘] have had a time carousing you, hain’t 1? Are you deef?” ** Not ser much but thit Oi kin beur a stame ea ongg whistle ez close ez this, mum,” was Mike’s reply. rc Oh, ye kin! I bad begun to think a thunder- bolt would not start ye. I’ve nigh pounded the skin all off my knuckles. If I was in your place I’d get a hearing horn.” ‘* An’ if Oi wuz in yure place, mum, Oi’d borry a foile an’ foile the sbarrup aige ay me voice.” ‘* None of your insolence, sir!” | ‘‘ Yez kin take it or l’ave it, mum,” ‘* Don’t ‘mum’ me, you parody on humanity! If you do, you may wish you’d kept mum!” and the spinster shook a fist under the Irishman’s nose. ‘* An’ doon’t yez be afther doin’ av the loikes av thit ag’ia!” cried Mike, seizing his nasal or- gan with a thumb and fore-finger, ‘*Oi bad rayther take chloruform!” ‘* Do you mean to consult me?” sduawked the now: thorougbly aroused Miss Mehitable. ‘I will have you interested for your consolence!” ‘*Tbhit w’u’d be a very intheristing pace av business,” ‘“*'You’re a rapscallion!” =, ee § Sip *) ws \ t us comicb * * . » -