Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 708 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

~ 5 ef ie : - ews 7 oo wn 7 Lat ra? ig = — throat teeth, effectual gag out of his bandkercbief, this in place, he drew back to his former posi- and with his other, aided by bis strong Huck Shaw quickly fasbioned a rude but tion, taking up tbe thread where he bad been | forced to drop it a few moments before, ‘**AsIset out to say, pritty, we mean pure business from this hour on! e know yer pap hes some sort o’ bonanza up this way, fer ef he hedn’t, whar’d be git all that dust to blow in? ‘* Roxy Ann wasted a sight o’ good wind over it, but the ’count sbe give ye was straight— Elton did run off ‘long’ith Laury, an’ he did sign over all his other b’longin’s to us both, jest as we proved up. ‘* Now we paid a powerful big price fer that secret you hev the keepin’ of, Grace Elton. Paid a powerful price in good dust, never mentionin’ the gal he tuck as make-weight! An’ hevin’ paid that price, you kin bet yer socks we’re dead-bent on hevin’ the goods! **Roxy Ann give ye a weenty taste o’ her metal, back yen’. From the way she lashed ye with her tongue, mebbe you kin makea guess what'd it be to hev her ten claws j’ine in the music, An’ thar’s jest the one way fer you to git shet o’ both—by trustin’ me as a fri’nd, an’ follerin’ the d’rections giv’ by your pap in that letter! ‘* Show me whar that bonanzy lays; treat me white an’ (ll come back at ye’lonzg the same route, I'll stan’ yer fri’nd ag’inst Roxy Ann, an’ never let her lay the weight of a single fin- ger onto ye, no matter how hot she may grow over thinkin’ o’ Laury. Till give yea honest share o’ the dingbats, ef the bonanzy pans out anythin’ nigh the figger Adam set her at, An’ I'll see ye safe on the road to yer old bome, ef so be ye want to turn yer face that way. Now— which?” Leaning forward, he removed the gag, wait- ing for her answer. [t came, promptly enough, though bardly in the shape he wisbed. ‘ Even if I possessed the knowledge you say, I’d rather die than betray the trust my father— what have you done to him, you demon?” ‘‘Not a dug-gun thing, wuss then to send a few hot cusses lookin’ fer the critter—an’ what he toted off ‘long ’ith the gal!” grimly retorted the human bull-dog, ‘Shell I go over it all, agin? Shell I git down on my marrer-bones an’ sw’ar that Adam Elton run off with Roxy Ann’s sister?” “Swearing toa foul lie can’t make it truth, you villain!’ * An’ talking toa crazy fool caia’t turn her into a wise woman!” growled Huck Sbavw, ris- ing to his feet. ** Roxy Ann kin mebbe make a better show of it, but I hate the idee o’ turnin’ ye over toher! Ef Ihev to—an’I will, ef you don’t grow wiser, gal—she’ll make you suffer heap sight wuss then a common death! ‘“Think that over, ag’inst I come ag’in, Grace Elton!” CHAPTER VIII. A DELECTABLE PAIR. Not a word was spoken by the woman, or the man who bad come so suddenly to ber rescue, after Huck Shaw took command, until he had lifted the unfortunate girl and borne her in bis muscular arms out of the house, Mrs. Shaw moved to the door, watching them until they were hidden behind the mass of rocks; nor did she turn, even then, until the man back of ber pronounced her name: ‘*Roxy! Haven’t you a word to throw at— am I a dog, then?” ‘‘ Something marvelously like a poodle caught in mischief, Showy Joe, when you put on that sickly look!” laughed the woman, turning to gaze goebe rye into that bandsome face, For it was handsome, after its fashion, though only an evil-hearted woman could have viewed it with anything like love. ‘* Showy Joe” Hoover, he was called, there in the mining country, and right desperately he strove to deserve that title. He was tall, rather slender in build, though his movements betrayed no lack of muscular power, combined with an activity and pet OF ness such as very few athletes have been gifted with. With equal courage to back this up, Joseph Hoover would have proven an awkward customer for the best of men to tackle. He was a blonde, of the purest type. Hus hair, worn long, in curled locks that brushed his shoulders, was fine as silk, of a flaxen hue, as tg the well-kept mustaches shading his full, His evvh were of fair size, deep blue in color, _ but set too closely together for honest beauty. At most times, too, they held a crafty, shifting expression; eyes that rarely looked another Binding | eee ee ————S ae Bn ° , — Light-heart Lute’s Legacy, man squarely in the face; eyes that better befitted a treacherous knave than an honest man. His complexion was very fair, his skin smooth and velvety as that of a healthy child, The | sun and weather apparently had no effect upon | it, for his being in this wild region was ample | proof that he could rough it on occasion, | His clothes were of the elegant cut and fit, | of material better fitted to the city than the | desert, though the colors were “ loud,” almost | vulgar, | His slender fingers were fairly burdened with | rings. A beavy chain of gold was around his neck, festooned over his vest, the ends attached | toa pair of watches bidden in pockets on his bosom. His stiff, white shirt-front bore studs and a big cluster-pin of diamonds, while jewel- ed hoops of gold sparkled in each ear! Such was the outward semblance of Showy Joe Hoover, gambler, all~round sport, knave and rascal-in-general; a character only too well known at that date throughout the mining regions. A faint flush came into his face at those mock- ing words, and his shifting eyes drooped: to rest on the pistol which had fallen from the maiden’s hands at his sudden assault. ‘*That might have worked mischief, Roxy, ovly for my coming out of cover!” he ejacu- lated, pointing at the weapon, ‘* How could you, darling? I’m all ashiver, even yet, when I think of your terrible risk!” ** Risk, is it, Joey?” laughed the woman, stoop- ing to lift the weapon, her trained fingers quick- ly releasing the spring and setting the ejector at work, catching the cartridges in one palm as they shot free. ‘*Do you take me for a fool?” ** The little spitfire might bave shot you!” ** With these dummies, Joseph?” sneered Mrs, Shaw, bolding up one of the shells, letting the light fall squarely across it, showing where the primer had already been deeply indented, then deftly twisting the bullet out of place, blowing into the hollow shell, ‘** Doetored!” “Of course, you sweet idiot!” laughed Mrs. Shaw, casting the useless articles out through the open door, ‘1 knew she carried a gun, and 3 watched my chance to fix it, before opening re, sleeping, great tears standing on her baby cheeks, dreaming of ber precious dad, no doubt! And— where is the old codger, Hoover?’ Showy Joe drooped his eyes, one hand quickly rising to smooth his mustache, but his hesitation was barely perceptible; one less thoroughly ac- quainted with him, would never have ncticed it. : " Where he’ll be safe enough, Roxy, never you ear! which could not be mistaken, ‘*] tell you he’s safe; isn’t that sufficient?” ‘** But—how safe?” persisted the woman, with a touch of anger. “Safe as—the grave, if you will have it!” growled Hoover, There was a brief silence, but the woman showed slight traces of being shocked, Instead, one might bave said she was viciously pleased to learn so much! : ‘Did you-—you didn’t do it yourself, Joe, | hope?” she at length murmured, her face grow- ing more feminine, her strong voice almost mu- sical as she gen*ly laid a band on his arm, gaz- ing intently into his face the while. ‘No, I didn’t make the turn, myself, if you must know. Can’t you let it drop? Isn't it enough to know that the old rascal wil] never turn up to dispute our possession of his bo- nanza?’ ‘‘ Then—-there really is one, Joe?” ‘* Is there?” he echoed, with genuine surprise in both face and voice, ‘* What're we bere for, if there isn’t?” “°Twouldn’t be the first wild-goose chase we've taken, but—I’m mighty glad to bear you speak so positively, Joe, old boy! For—do you know—I’d almost come to doubt the existence of any such grand bonanza as we’ve been gloating over—in imagination!” enough? What’s come over you, old girl, all of a suddeu?” “Tt hasn’t seemed sudden to me, Joey,” with ishing, “Will you tell me jast what you mean, rg, ‘That with all my prying and spying and sneaking, I’ve been unable to hit on a single positive clew tosuch a secret,” was the sullen response, her white teeth viciously nipping ber ‘red lip. ‘* Nota hint, even! And to think of I did that last night, while the silly was ‘* Is he—so?” filling the hiatus with a gesture ‘“* Why should you doubt? Haven’t we proofs a short, hard laugh, that brief womanliness van- the sweet silliness [ve plastered all over that little vixen—it mukes me hot, old fellow!” ‘* Did she give you a chance to search this old shack, then?” ‘*Only by snatches, From the very first, she soured on us both, and only while she was sleep- ing, Or when she ventured as far as the turn in the river trail, yonder, to look for her dad, I never had the ghost of a show. But I pumped her pretty dry, for all that!” ‘“Or thought you did!” with a show of his teeth. ‘* Come, the way is open now, and we'll see if there isn’t some sort of a clew to be found by two pair of mighty keen and bungry eyes!” Togetber they searched the cabin, living-room and chamber, even the tiny lean-to in which the cooking was done during warm weather; but all their prying proved labor spent in vain, If the coveted secret was lying beneath that roof, it was hidden too cunningly for their eyes to discover it. ‘* No use, as I warned you, Joe Hoover,” mut- tered the woman, sulkily, ‘'I don’t believe it’s hbere—if anywhere! After all, what is it we're hunting for, anyway?” | ‘*You said it: a clew to tbe bonanza, of course,” ‘‘In what shape is it, then? Tell me that, if you can!” ‘*Wisb I could! Yet—it’s here, in some shape, or—if not, do you know what comes next, Roxy?” ‘* Maybe I will, when you show it up!” ‘*'You’re convinced that you can’t scare or coax the secret out of the girl, aren’t you?” “You were listening. Answer that for your- self, Joe Hoover.” ‘““Well, then it comes to just this: we'll have to fall back on the old game.” “ Explain ycurself.” ‘“‘ What Grace refuses to give an enemy, she may consent to share with—a lover!” slowly said Hoover, flashing a covert glance into the face of his companion; to droop his lids in- stantly as he noted the bot, angry flush that lea ted tite her face at his last words, ‘A lover, is it? And that lover must be— yourself, Joe Hoover?” ‘* Unless you reckon Huck Shaw can fill the role better, Can you imagine that sweet- scented Adonis making sheep’s-eyes, Roxy?” laughed the dashing gambler, but with a faint touch of nervousness in his tones, ‘“‘T can better imagine you, kneeling at her feet, with honey on the tip of your tongue anda love-light in your big eyes, only—you beautiful devil !” ending with a shrill, hissing whisper as her strong hands closed on bis shoulders with a force that made him flinch, her glowing eyes seer ing to fairly scorch his face as she strove to meet those shifting eyes with her own, ‘** Let up, Roxy!” be growled, sulkily, ‘* Will you never learn to trust me as a loya should be trusted?” ‘*You’re mighty anxious to play the part of lover, as you call it, Joe Hoover! Have you fallen in love with that silly fool, so quick? If! thought so—see !”” She snatched a slender-bladed dagger from its sheath in her bosom, flashing the steel back and forth above his heart while adding: ‘Tf you ever try to play me false, Joseph Hoover! If you turn to anotber woman, even in your dreams—l’ll fill ycur heart so full of holes that one might use it as a strainer!” ‘“‘ And Vl fill your sweet mouth so full of kisses that there’ll be no room for such ugly words, m angel!” declared the gambler, clasping ber to his bosom and suiting the action to bis words, Instantly the dagger dropped from ber hands, and she gave embrace for embrace, kiss for kiss, And, man-like, Hoover was first to draw away. ‘ ‘You're my lawfully wedded wife, Roxy, and as such I swear that you are the one ard only worran this wide world contains for me. But— we’ve gone entirely too farin this dangerous game to think of drawing back, now, We must win—don’t you see it, darling?” ‘“‘T know, but—I hate to think of you playing the lover, even in sport, to that nasty vixen!” ““{f you can show me how the game can be won by cther means, I’m more than willing to cut the lovering out, Roxy,” laughed the gam- bler, once more his usual self, ‘* 1’m not hanker- ing after it, lassure you! In some eyes, Grace Elton might pan ont a beauty, but In mine—I want something more than a doll, as I proved when I won you, my beauty!” . ‘She wouldn’t be the first girl you’ve gone astray after, Joe!” ‘‘ Not the first—but that was before I met you, Roxy. Come; I beg of you to i00k at it fn & reasonable light, We wart this bonanza—” ** We must have it, tov, Joey!” husband — ss “~~? ‘ a <—