Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 708 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ks ay f — - 7 ‘ > ~" s - = 5 eee ad ~ 2 he ey TT , yt 7 i * ‘ Se % ” - ‘ * te. a> -, oe © ~ x. Gxt And if we can’t win it in one way, Can’t you see, ** Just so. we've got to hatch up another, that, dear?” ‘“Then—there was nothing found on—Elton pre's carry any such clew about with him, oe? ‘* Not a sign—curse the luck!” with an ugly frown contracting his finely arched brows, ‘J hoped for better luck, though, of course, it was all achance. Carrying sucha clew, to such a secret, would be a risky thing to do; yet I never before meta man who owned a bonanza wno didn’t commit just that very folly!” ‘** You looked, then?” slowly asked the woman. ** You searched him with your own hands, Joe?” ‘** Didn’t I say there was no clew found on the old rascal?” impatiently growled the gambler, his eyes shifting quickly. ‘* Joe—tell me—you didn’t do the job with your own hands?” persisted Roxy, strangely nervous on that one point, as it seemed, ‘ Tell me you didn’t do it yourself, dear?” “Of course I didn’t do it,” growled Hoover, turning abruptly away to gaze out at the still open door; only to shrink back with a low, scared cry as he caught sight of an approaching gure, ‘* That devil—here! And now!” CHAPTER IX, DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. It was the face of a craven cur that turned toward the startled woman, and Showy Joe Hoover trembled in every limb, like one under an ague spell, ‘Who is it? Not—not Elton?” The wild fancy paled her own cheeks a bit, but Roxy Ringgold—to give her the name un- der which she was best known—proved berself far better a man than the rascal she loved with all the ardor of her fiery, untamed nature, Where Hoover retreated, she advanced, one hana seeking a weapon as she cast a keen look through the open door, ‘*Stop ’em! Don’s let that devil inside!” hoarsely panted the terrified gambler, shrink- ing from the hand which Koxy stretched out in his direction, protectingly, as a mother migbt try to guard and reassure a frightened child. ‘‘Who is he?’ hurriedly muttered the wo- man, standing like ove whom idle curiosity has drawn to the door. ‘‘There’stwo, Which one: black or white?” ** White—devil roast him!” ** You can drop him from cover, if—” **T can’t—you don’t—” ‘* Back—other room—lay low, then!” swiftly breathed his guardian, but without perceptibly moving her lips as she gazed forth upon the ee now only a short distance from the cabin, She heard Hoover creep across to the cham- ber, the door of which he closed behind him, and despite the mad passion she felt for the knave, something like pitying scorn curled her red lips for an instant, ‘* Lost his sand, poor devil! But I've got enough for both, and— Hellow, thar, stran- ge ~ The alteration was marvelous, not alone in voice, but in looks and carriage as well. The first was barsh and coarse. Instead of her erect, graceful, almost queenly carriage, Roxy Ann half-filled the doorway, leaning against one side, her figure that of a perfect ; slouch. Nor was the alteration in face hardly less complete; by some strange power she hid her claims to beauty, marring the regularity of her features without any visible attempt at dis- tortion, through which suspicion might be wak- ened rather than lulled. Still, in spite of all this, she formed a rather striking picture, just then, being a woman such as a stranger would hardly expect to see in such a desolate region. Then, too, Light-heart Lute was expecting to meet quite another sort of be- ing. For he was the person whose totally unex- pected appearance had so completely unmanned the gambler, and close at his heels shuffled Lemuel Claybank, bis lips rolled back and his enormous mouth gaping widely with delight at his perfect success as guide. ‘Fo’ dar she ani, ,» Sho’ly!” he declared, at their first glimpse of the vine-wreathed cabin, ‘**T kin smell de hunk o’ bread what he didn’t fin’ my to gib me—cl’ar dis yer fur, so I kin, “ All right, Lem, Only, you want to mind this: button up that lip, and let it stay so! J’U do the talking, and if you drop even the ghost ofa hint— Well, heart disease isn’t a patching Light-heart Lute’s Legacy. to what you'll be afflicted with. You under- stand?” ‘* Hope may die, boss, ef I eben fink a word.” But Light-heart Lute was running no chances, just then, and when the cabin was still a number of yards distant, he bade Lemuel stop and wait his word before drawing closer. Hastily as Showy Joe Hoover bad drawn back from the open door at sight of his ancient enemy, the eyes of Light-heart Lute had been still quicker. He had caught a glimpse ofa moving figure, though not with distinctness en to pronounce upon it with certainty. et— ‘**'You’re another, madam!” he inwardly ejac- ulated, as Roxy Ann stepped to the door, ‘**?Ware hawks, old man!” There was nothing of this suspicion visible in his frank, honest, smiling face as Light-heart Lute tipped his bat in answer to that brusque salutation, ‘* Good-afternoon, ma’am!” he cried, bowing as he advanced, hat in hand, ‘Is Mr. Adam Elton at bome?” Although she fancied herself perfectly on her guard, nothing bad been further from Roxy Ringgold’s thoughts or expectations than an ad- dress like this, Sbe gave a start, her superb figure resuming its wonted erectness, her face more nearly like her ordinary self; only for a Single instant, then she slouched over with a shoulder against the other casing, staring stupid- ly into that manly countenance as she drawled; ** Mister—who’s a damn meltin’, critter? Ef you reckon you kin run any o’ them dug-gun fool rigs onto me, jest beca’se [Tm a wimmin critter, why—you’re clean off yer nut, An’ that’s jest what !” It was admirably played, but brief though that slip had been, the harm was wrought. Light-heart Lute recognized Roxy Ringgold, whom be had seen on more than one occasion, and with whose rather shady (to draw it mildly) reputation be was even better acquainted, ut he, too, could play a parton occasion, and nothing of this discovery, or of the serious anx- iety which it wakened in his heart, could be read in that mobile countenance. ‘* Beg pardon, ma’am, but you misunderstood ny meaning,” he said, bowing again, then add- ing slowly, like one desirous of averting another humiliating mistake: ‘I asked for Mr. Elton; first name Adam. Is he at home, at present?” ‘*Oh! is that the how, stranger?” “Just that, ma’am,” bowed Light-heart, smiling but persistent, ‘Js the old gentleman at home—pray ?” Roxy Ann yawned lazily, her lifting hand too slow to hide more than the closing operation; but theu she drawled forth: ‘‘ Not knowin’, cain’t say, stranger.” ‘* But this is his house, surely !” ‘** Reckon ye hain’t got no money that says so, stranger?” “JT never bet with a lady, but—surely Adam Elton lives here?” insisted Larrimer, his brows arching and a treubled, annoyed expression coming into his face. ** Did, but don’t,” drawled Roxy Ann, with a sleepy smile showing her magnificent teeth. **’Tain’t so mighty much in the bigness, stran- ger, but thar’s a powerful sight o’ dif’rence atwixt them two words, a’ter all! Don’t ye reckon?” ** Don’t live— Is that possible?” ‘‘Hes a sort o’ leanin’ that way, fer a fact, Stranger. Any kin to the ole gent? Or—hain’t a sher’f, nur nothin’, don’t reckon? The good land o’ liberty! Fer all his saft words an’ tony a’rs, I never tuck him fer ary much better’n a— What’s he wanted fer, stranger?” ‘‘Nothing—in that line,” Larrimer hastily said, but with that look of puzzled annoyance deepening in his face. ‘‘ I’m not an officer of the law, thank gracious! But—I can’t see through it, at all!” ‘Ef I bed a pa’r o’ specs, stranger, I'd mighty glad lend ye the loan of ’em,” laughed the woman, resuming her Jazy attitude. ‘Gone, you say? May I ask how long since?” ‘** Waal, I don’t know’s I kin jest say, as to that,” with a reflective look at the white-flecked sky. ‘But it’s bin quite a right smart bit, Mebbe I mought hit a weenty mite closer the len’th, ef [ knowed jest the why ye ’pear sO powerful anxious fer to, ketch the ole gent up! ‘‘ A simple matter of business, ma’am, and it’s enough sight more to his interest than to mine that he should keep the appointment made! I was to meet him here, this day, and—” ‘‘ Matter o’—waal, J hain’t the business eend o’ _ outfit, an’ ef it’s business ye want to chin, why— rr rrr sss **My business was with Adam Elton, you un- derstand, ma’am, but if his daughter will con- sent to see me for one minute—” ‘* You don’t reckon he’d leave her ahind, do yer, They both skun out, bag an’ baggage, too ‘* Without—surely he left some sort of word for me? Jobn P, Green, ma’am! If you'd only take the trouble to reflect, perhaps—I can’t really believe he’d go without leaving anyway a word of excuse, if not explanation, for me!” ‘Ef so, be never bothered me with it,” curtly nodded the woman, but turning her head a little and curving a hand at the side of der red lips, she sent forth a stentorian shout, followed by the words: ‘‘Il say, you Huck! O-b-h, Pap!” ‘*QO-h-h, hesh!” came an answering blast, as the burly figure of Huck Shaw came in sight from among the scattered bowlders, ‘‘ Ef ye split that thrapple o’ yours, old gal, billy-be- dug-gun ef J pay fer the patchin’ of it up! Fer —Hellow, stranger!” seemingly just then observ- ing the presence of another. ‘‘ How d’y’?” ““A feller lookin’ for Elton, Pap,” explained Roxy Ann, burriedly. ‘ I tole him the ole gent hed skun out, but—waal, ’pears like he didn’t keer to take the word of a lady, so I yelped fer you, ‘* Beg pardon, ma’am, and yours, sir,” hastily interposed Light-heart Lute, who by no means wisbed to come to blows, just then. ‘*‘ Of course I couldn’t doubt the word of a lady, but I had to blawe Elton for not waiting to keep the appointment he made with me.” ‘“"Pintment, eh?’ growled Shaw, still suspi- ciously eying the young man. ‘* That meansa sort o’ meetin’, don’t it?” ‘Yes, sir. I was to meet Adam Elton at his home—this very spot, if [’'m not greatly mis- tuken—to-day, between noon and dusk, [Pm here, but where is Elton?’ ‘** Mebbe that’s why he skun out in secha hurry, Pap,” suggested the woman, in undertones, as though for bis ears alone, ‘* You’ve got the bill of wo all right, hain’t ye, Huck?” ‘* Bet yer sweet life I jest hev, now!” gruffly growled the human bull-dog, pulling forth the decument and shaking it defiantly before Larri- mer’s face. ‘‘ Thar she am, stranger, straight as a string, an’ drawed up so keerful that ivll hold water ag’inst a bull rijiment o’ dug-gun critters who might be fools ’nough fer to try to pick a hole into it! An’ef so be yow’re one 0’ them—” ‘* No, no, my dear fellow!” ejaculated Lute, falling back a pace with admirably counter- feited alarm. ‘‘ Don’t fly off the handle, 1 beg of you! I bring no claims—I wouldn’t take the place as a gift, for—” ‘* It’s jest low-down ’nough fer the likes o’ us, mebbe?’ Huck Shaw seemed more than eager for a row, but Light-heart Lute showed little disposition to meet him on that basis, and after a forbid- ding wink from Roxy Ann, the bull-dog mod- erated bis tactics. Larrimer assured them that his business had nothing to do with tbe cabin or aught in that vicinity, and after examining the bill of sale, simply to satisfy its present owner, as he took pains to make perfectly clear, he begged pardon tor the trouble be had given them. ‘* After all, Elton’s the biggest loser, though his fool’ trick has brought me far out of my course. Ill give him a bit of my mind, when we next meet up with each other—be sure] Then—he didn’t say just where he was striking out for?” ‘** Back East, I reckon, though I cain’t say jest sure, ’Peared like he wasn’t honin’ fer cluss ques- tionin’, an’ as we’d made a pritty tol’able bar- g’in, it come easy ’nough fer to humor the ole critter,” grinned Sbaw, carefully stowing the paper away in bis bosom, * And—hbis little girl?’ ventured Larrimer. ‘* Of course she went with him? How long since, did you say?” cet 8 ‘Didn't suy, but I kin; jest fo’ days, toa nick, stranger!” ‘*T can’t make out why he didn’t wait, but as he has gone, there’s nothing for me to waste more time over. Good-day, ma’am, and you, sir!” ‘“Gittin’ "long to’rds night, stranger; better stay an’ make a new start in the mornin’, hedn’t ye?” suggested Roxy. ‘We kin eat ye both, an’ make out to sleep ye, too, ef the nigger wouldn’t mind bankin’ in the kitchen, fer once,” ‘‘ 4 thousand thanks, ma’am, but reckon we'll mog along. We've lively legs, and can makea right smart piece before dark. Ive lost too much time over Elton, already | Well it’s his loss, not mine, please the pigs)’ cer -¥, “~ ae - ty. O23 es tee