Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 705 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

“ * eis % ——— ‘ ee ten” TP — “ me person of whom he was speaking. ‘* But what troubles me now is where my Dutch com- panion can be.” ‘‘ Perhaps you may soon learn. Look there.” In at the open door of the saloon came the tricky mule. There was no one with the beast, but it did not seer in the least concerned on that account. Regardless of the attention it was attracting, it ambled slowly into the room, glancing around as if in search for some one, There was something about the singular beast that set the greater part of the crowd to smiling at once, In front of the bar the mule stopped and tossed its head three times in a nodding fashion, while it seemed to eye the barkeeper in a be- seeching manner. ‘* Begorra! the b’aste is bowing t’ yez, John- ny!” shouted an [rishmanin thecrowd, ‘* Doon’t yez know the relations av ye, marn aloive?” When the merriment caused by this had somewhat abated, another individual cried: **The mule nodded three times, which is a call for three fingers, of course. Set it out, Johnny.” J. Milton Mole approached the animal, Strik- ing an attitude in front of the beast, the poet perpetrated his usual rhyme: **T have a question to propound: Where can thy master now be found?” ** Hee-haw!” brayed the mule, in a manner that would have made a fog-horn turn green with envy. Barely had that fiendish bray escaped from the beast’s throat when in at thedoor rushed a little woman who was attired ina green ging- ham dress and wore an old-fashioned sun-bonnet and a faded crimson shawl, ** Landy sakes to goodness!” she cried, shrilly. “Tf I didn’t think Ll heard the voice of my dear Moses! Can it be I was received? No, no! There is the dear, darling, lovely, blessed creature! Oh, what a moment of joy and ex- huberation!” She made a dash forthe mule and clasped it round the neck, while sbe planted a kiss on the creature’s head fairly between its eyes, ** Oh, Moses, Moses!” she sobbed, chokingly; **how could you have the heart to disbandon me the way you did! Oh, you naughty, naugb- ty thing! When lI beard your sweet voice I run in here so fast that I am all out of breathe,” She produced a handkerchief half as large as a baby’s crib-blanket and rubbed her eyes vigorously with it, sobbing convulsively all the time, **1’'m so recited that I’m on the p’int of going into highsderricks,” she confessed, clinging about the mule’s neck with one arm, ‘I never expected to overcome you no more, Moses, I thought you was gone beyond discovery, for 1 felt sure some horrid man had disappropriated you, We'll never be disbanded any more, will we, darling?’ The mule did not display emotion of any sort, Finally, the little woman glanced around her, ** Goodness sakes to gracious!” she exclaimed, a look of horror settling on her face. ‘If I haven’t meambled right into a whole nest of men! Why, I never saw such a congregather- ing of the masculine generation before! It is a terribly motterfying position for a poor lonely female’ woman to be in, and you are to biame for it all, you horrid bad mule! You just wait till I have the occasional and see if I don’t train you for this!” With the thumb and fore-finger of his left hand touching his chin and his right hand be- hind his back, J. Miltom Mole ventured to ask: ** Are you the owner of this mule, madam?” The littl woman turned on the poet with a snap. ‘*What’s that to you, sir?’ she demanded, shrilly, her eyes flashing. “‘ What right have you to redress any remarks to me? I have never been intreduced to you, and thank good- ness! I have no desire to such an aspiration. You're nothing but a common every-day man, and if there is anything in this round hemmy- I do detest itisa man! So there, now!” Mr, Mole seemed to sbrink several degrees be- neath her withering scorn, but he plucked up courage to falter faintly: ‘* [—I beg your pardon, ma’am, but I am not a common every-day man.” The owner of the mule looked amazed. ‘“What?’ she snapped. ‘‘ You are not a common man? Then, sir, have the goodness ‘to susplain what you are. Perhaps you’re an l. Ie . Not quite, ma’am, not quite, Although you may not know it, 1 am a natural poet.” “Oh, that’s it! Well, if there is anything , os, A . , a. 2 ro me * A ah, 4 - - S we in o ; — ; “ fo Qe > wet 2. ya ary : ys 5 co Ee J ‘Lf wee * *. Violet’ Vane’s Vow. meaner and more disgustable than a common man itis a manuel poet who is drozzling and druling over schoolgirl verses all thetime, Such a critter hain’t fit to stand in a corn-field to scare the crows. That’s my idee, and you are welcome to the opinion of Miss Mehitable Anna- ble Miggles. Come, Moses, we will preamble out of this den of unmentionables,” And, followed by the mule, Miss Miggles marched sedately out of the Sweet Buttercup Saloon, CHAPTER VII, ‘“NUMBER TWO ”—‘‘ VIOLET VANE MUST DIE!” As J. Milton Mole was endeavoring to slip quietly out of the saloon, about fifteen minutes after the departure of Miss Miggles and Moses, Fritz Schricker came rushing in atthedoor, The poet and the little Dutchman collided, recoiled, and sat down on the floor with a suddenness and solidness that forced grunts from the lips of both, ** Dunder und blitzens!” gurgled Fritz, ‘*‘ A fall, a crash; we’re down, by gash,” mur- mured Mole. ‘‘And we came down as if we meant to stay,” he added. ** Ah, there!” exclaimed Fritz, in surprise, as he recognized the poet, ‘* Stay there,” returned the rhymester, prompt- ly, as he carefully felt of different parts of his body with his hands as if examining to see if anything was broken, **'Vy you runs me into, don’d id?’ demanded the Dutchman, ‘* | think so myself,” confessed Mole, ** Dot don’d ogsblain my qvestions. I d’inks berhaps I hear somedings drop shust apoud a short dimes ago, und then I finds minseluf down mit der floor mit mein prains almost pu’sted vide opens. I don’d ogsactly unterstands v’at vas der madder mit dot girls calt Hannah.” ‘*) was going out—” ‘¢ Und I vas comin’ in,” ‘* We collided.” *¢ Who vas dot?” ‘*Don’t you understand? We came together forcibly.” ** Vell, I shouldt d’inks so meinseluf,” ‘* And then we sat down,” "Oh, yaw! Berhbabs you vas tiredt, but I don’d know v’at vor I sod down.” ** The shock caused you to fall,” ‘Der shocks? Vell, dot ogsplains him, I d’inks berhabs I vas peen voolin’ mit von eleg- dric patterys, Und dit I bit you?” “You did.” ‘*Tnd you d’inks you vas dryin’ to knock der stuffin’s out uf some elegdric patterys?” ‘The sensation was somewhat like that.” ** Vell, then, I gifes you your abologies, I vas gladt I did nod preak your pack, Dot vas von more narrow esgapes vor Fritz. I vas ‘runnin like dunder to gid avay vrom dot vomans v’at haf dot mules, V’en I glaims dot peast as mein own dot vomans lighd on der scuff uf mein neck on und comes britty near knockin’ uf me der packinsoudt. I vas gladt to gid avay vrom her, don’d id?” ‘* Very likely. female,” ‘Then you haf seen dot vomans?” ‘‘] shouid say so! Figuratively speaking, she gaveme a great going over.” ‘*Tsh dot so?’ grinned Fritz. ‘*Then ve vas bot’ in der same poxes. Shage hants,” Bending forward, without rising, the Dutck- man and the poet clasped bands, “Now,” suggested Fritz, ‘‘you pulls like plazes, und I pulls like plazes, und ve bot’ gids our feedon, Allretty, now. There, dot vasder stuff!” When they were fairly on their feet they con- tinued to shake hands vigorously. ‘‘T dinks ve must haf a peer on dot,” said Fritz. ‘*‘ You must gome ub und dake some- dings mit your uncles,” Locking arms with Mole, the Dutchman led him towerd the bar, ‘*But I never take anything stronger than lemonade,” protested the poet. **Gid oudt! Von leetle peers vill do you some goot,” But the barkeeper informed them he kad noth- ing so mild as beer. ‘*Then gif us visky,” said Fritz, promptly. ‘You pets mein poots I tages somedings ven | vants him.” Despite the poet’s protests, Fritz turned out a glass of whisky for him. ‘* Id vill do you goot. Id vas a gread things vor dose beobles vat invents boetry. Shust gif us von leedle verses on him.” ‘** Well,” sighed Mole, as he lifted the glass, “‘ your ways are so persuasive I cannot resist, She is a very dangerous : - - » — > Pg PO: et TO be ee t _ - — Ds a , aula : i to, ; 4 sé ‘ a oe Z "24h - * Here's to the drink that Satan brews,— Bad luck is in the glass,— Who drinks it down will manhood lose, But down it goes—alas!” ** Holt on, holt on)” cried Fritz. ‘Dot vas britty goot, but I dinks I tries him once. I vas nod much uf a boets, bud here coes: “*Here’s to der stuff vat mages you veel You nefer hat some woes; Too much uf him vill mage you reel Und paint quite redt your nose. ‘*How vas dot vor high? Swaller your pit- ters,” ‘* Ah, that warms a man’s stomach!” exclaim- ed the poet, as soon as he could catch his breath after swallowing the fiery liquid, ‘* Und rakes der skin off der whole length uf his throats,” added Fritz, catching bis breath convulsively, ‘1 haf trinked all kindts uf stuff, but I nefer hat von engagements mit der equals uf him. Dot vas somedings like gommitting suicide mit a dull rezors. Berhaps I don’d vant some more uf dot, 1 guesses,” At this moment there was a commotion in the Vicinity of the card tables, causing every one to turn swiftly in that direction, Bayard Swift and the vailed lady had arisen to leave the room when Hank Irons suddenly sprung in front of the girl. ‘This hyer’s gittin’too thin,” cried the ruf- fian. ‘' Thar can’t no pettycoat come inter this town and keep ber face covered so people can’t see it.” Before Swift could make a move to prevent, the cowardly wretch tore the vail from the lady’s face, revealing the pale but handsome countenance of a girl of nineteen or twenty. The next instant the mine superintendent leaped upon the ruffian and a savage struggle ensued, The crowd surged toward the point of excite- ment, Fritz and Mole going with the rest. ‘**T pets zwi tollars I dakes some hands in dot!” exclaimed the little Dutchman. But before Fritz could reach the two men they were torn apart by tie swaying crowd, Suddenly Webb Spotty appeared behind the little Dutchman and aimed a savage blow at his back with a gleaming knife, Then J. Milton Mole proved his usefulness, Out shot the poet’s fist, striking Spotty fairly beneath the ear, It happened that there was a clear space in that vicinity, and the would-be assassin was knocked headlong to the floor. He fell fairly on the knife with which he had sought to end Fritz Schicker’s life. A hollow groan came from his lips and he made no at- tempt to arise, A just and speedy retribution had overtaken him, for the blade had reached a vital spot. As the crowd stood staring stupidly at the fallen man these words were plainly heard: ‘This is number two of the Serpent Sia! There are four more to follow!” It was the voice of Violet Vane!” By the light of some flaring and smokin torches four persons were gathered fin a al cave, All wore masks and were attiredin black, On their breasts were coiled blood-red serpents, £ They were the four survivors of the Serpent ix, ‘*There is but one thing about it,” growled one of the masks, ‘‘ something must be done at once or we are all doomed.” “That’s so,” agreed another, you to propose, captain?” ‘* There is but one thing to be done,” responded the leader. ‘* What is that?” ‘*Our eremies must be exterminated,” ‘* Who are our enemies?” ‘We know one of them, at least.” ‘“* Swift, as he is now called?” ‘Yes, Swift—the Frank Fenton of the old band. Our traitor lieutenant.” ‘** You think he has spotted us?” Certainly; be knew you despite the slight changes you have made in your appearance, [ think he has been keeping quiet to get bis grip on me first. For no other reason can I account for his inaction.” ‘* Do you think he helped ther gal escape from this cave?” ‘* No, it is plain she escaped through Pedro’s negligence. He got beastly full, and amounted to nothing asa guard, How soon Fenton found her after she left this place it is impossible to tell, but it is certain she bas never been able to lead bim bere, I was certain she wus the strange vailed lady eveu before you tore the covering from her face, Hank.” “So wuz I,” declared Irons, ‘‘ What have ‘** But sech as ora! ita = ‘ TN gS ate