Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 724 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a ho a — - 2 er eee arr NS a an on - — : r Tyee a " ~ s ~ * ) i _ 4 - a eee cae tee. | ee - = —_ ne lk ape pe, Sat yr fi mom — i i ee a ~ . le , Hate = . e ~ ~ 4 >< rhs. - ma. © aed - face for an instant. a eet Be de ee Me tO 10 em ee ee me re = ee te ne le te tte I 9 tt e+ ee, er a det me Violet Vane’s Vengeance. i —— " 1-7 Sar gh SS RE CE a ; A queer look flitted across the vagabond’s ace ‘That was a little after I received tnat note!” said Lone. ‘‘ But he never hed no han’ in thet,” put in the man, quickly. ‘‘ Don’t ye go fer ter git thet inter yer noddle,” ‘© What brought him here?” “TY reckon it wuz er happenstance, same as it wuz with me,” ‘¢ Did he know I was here?” ‘¢ He diskivered it arter he got hyer.” “And he did not stay? What happened? Oh, tell me everything! You are so slow!” ‘*T can’t tell jest w’at happened, but I am satisfied he wuz played foul.” ** What makes you think so?” ‘* He hed no idea o’ leavin’ White Water, but he lef’ ther hotel one night an’ failed ter come back.” ** You are sure he did not go away of his own accord—did not leave White Water quietly for some reason?” ‘“* Sart’in’.” ** You knew all his plans?” “ Yep,” ‘* Have you found no clew to the cause of his sudden vanishing? Has he any enemy in this camp?” ** More’n one.” ‘Then I fear you are right—lI fear he has been treacherously dealt with, I will speak to Frank and he will leave no stone unturned but he will solve the mystery—for me.” Again that queer look crossed Old Sunflower’s face. The baby still laughed ani crowed. 1t seemed to stretch out its arms to the ragged wanderer, and be timidly asked: | ‘*May 1 jest tetch it, leetle woman? I'll be mighty easy.” ‘* She came and laid it in his arms, ‘Oh, great jehocus!” he spluttered, holding the child as if afraid of breaking it. ‘‘ Oh, holy Jinks! Jl drop it! Good Lawd! I’m shore ter drop it!” **Oh, no you will not,” she assured, some- thing like the shadow of a smile touching her ‘You need not be afraid of hurting it,” | “Great gosh! hain’t ita bouncer! An’ it’s so soft an’ smooth like! Whoopee! jest looker them blue eyes! They’re jest like yourn, leetle woman,” The baby clutched one hand upon the old fel- low’s ragged collar and with the soft fist of the other hand struck him fairly on the nose. **Great bhoppin’ cats!” cried Old Sunflower. *‘ Jest looker thet! Uh, he’ll make a man as’ll take keer o’ hisself, bet yer socks! Thet’s right, leetle shaver! bit him erg’in right in ther same ae Whoop! Give it to ther ole varmint, e desarves it! 1t’s er derned wonder his hombly mug don’t scare you ter death ur plum’ inter fits, at least.” For balf an hour the old man was amused and delighted by the pranks of the child. It was a singular thing that when its mother wanted to take it away it clung to Old Sunflower and plainly did not wish to leave him. The touch of the baby, the sounds of its queer crowing and gurgling filled the old fellow with a singular sensation of tenderness, Finally it fell asleep in his arms and be relinguishe’\ it to the mother. **God bless ther leetle shaver!” be said, bis _ voice sounding as soft as a woman’s for a mo- ment—‘‘ God bless him an’ keep him! He has est crep’ clean down inter ther middle o’ my ole eart. I hope thar may never ary bit o’ harm come ter him ur you, leetle woman.” lone thanked him, and a few minutes later he took his leave, ahi to callagain, Outside the cabin he capered laughed like a boy. ‘* Makes me feel ’most as young ez I used ter wuz ter see er leetle teenty-tonty kid like thet. An’ ter hoie it right in these yere ole arms— great jenocus! w’at er treat!” That night Old Sunflower made his way into the saloon of the Columbia Hotel at an early hour. As heentered his attention was attracted by the sound of a loud voice that was saying: ‘lt is plain enough Violet Vane is a coward, If he bad not been a sneak, he would have staid if” White Water and faced me like a man. In- stead of that, he sneaked out to escape my ven- geance. He made «a big spread when he struck this camp, but that was all it amounted to. He proved to be acommon craven,” The tramp snarled out something that had the distinct flavor of an oath, and immediately push- ed bis way toward the point where the speaker 8 . tood, . “Who's ther rotten, low-down, measly, shift- less cur as durst make sech talk "bout my leetle \ ; . a, € ‘ars. . m {ae vy “ats P 4 : : * ’ athe, Adee Loe mr ee Denver. side-pard?” he roared. ‘‘ Let me git at him, an’ T'll knock all ther crooks an’ angles offen bis figger! Whar is he?” ‘‘Rigkt here! Throw up your bands, you brawling ragamuffin, or I will bore you!” lt was Denver Dave, and he held the drop! CHAPTER XII. STILL LIVING. “Up with your hands!” repeated the gambler, sternly, as Old Sunflower faced him. ‘* You will eat lead if you are not lively about it!” ‘“Up they goes then,” and the tramp lifted them above his head, ‘‘ Under ther present circumstances I'm boun’ ter be mighty ’com- modatin’.” ** And itis well you areso. You will please be accommodating enough to swallow the words you uttered a moment ago.” ‘*'W’at words are ye referrin’ ter?” ‘* Those you repeated about me.” “Wat wuz they?” *“* You know what they were. your knees and ask my pardon.” es Vil be etarnally blowed ter Hel-ena ef I will! ‘* You will be blowed there if you do not,” **Oh, go smother yerself! [ don’t reckon you’re shootin’ fer ennythin’ o’ thet kind,” ** Well, I just am.” ‘* Ther boys’ll hang ye up ter dry ef ye do,” ‘*T will take my chances, Get down or eat lead !” A comical look of despair settled on the vagabond’s face, “You don’t really mean it, pard?” seeching tone—‘‘ you can’t mean it!” ‘You bet your life I do!” The tramp gazed beseechingly at the crowd, but no one seemed inclined to interfere, ‘* Hain’t I got er frien’ in this yere hull blamed town?” be whimpered. ‘If you have, they will know better than to take a hand inthis affair,” said the man from “It would prove mighty unhealthy. This is a self-cocker L hold, and every time it spits out a chunk of lead something drops heavy, It is looking at you now, you loud-mouth raga- muffin, and it will lay you out in about thirteen seconds, if you do not go down on your knees and repeat a few words after me,” ‘““By jehocus!” cried Old Sunflower, *“ Tell ye w’at I'll do—T'll figbt ye fair an’ squar’ ef you'll guv me hafe er show.” **Do you think I would disgrace myself by fighting with such a creature as you? Well, I guess not!” ** Dern ye! ye dassent /” ‘*That is well enough for you to talk. You are hoping to catch me at a disadvantage, Get down !” Sunflower appealed to the crowd, ** Are you galoots goin’ ter see ine knuckled like this ter this yere crook as don’t amount ter shucks? Hain’t none o’ yer got ther sand ter stan’ behin’ er reperesentative citizen o’ yer dad-blamed ole town? Oh, great holy poker! Ef I wuz in ther town o’ Red Hot, all I’d hev ter do’s jest open my mouth an’ let slide one leetle teenty-tonty yoop an’ bafe ther people in ther place’d jump ter back me up. Good Lawd! how hev the mighty fallen!” “And the ‘mighty’ will fall a mighty sight lower in about two shakes, if you do not get down on your marrow-bones. I am going to count five, and if you are nct on your knees when I say the final number, I swear I will pull trigger. One!” “Ob, come now!” protested the wearer of the sunflower. ‘* This hain’t no go, I thought you wuz ther critter as yooped fer fair play? Do you call this fair play? Ef you do, you are er derned sight bigger fool’n [ took ye fer—an thet’s sayin’ erheap, I hain’t goin’ ter—” Get down on “Two !” ‘*Say, hold on! I don’t believe you know bow ter countez high’s five. Don’t keer erdern ef ye do! So long'’s I hev one single breathe in my ole‘body Pll never git down on my shins fer ary livin’ mortal man, you hear me! I hain’t built—” «<“ Three Ih “Paps you think you kin skeer me, but I want ye ter ’stinctly understan’ thet. I’m ther bold man from Bad Bar, an’ I’m in ther habit 0’ makin’ up faces at ole death bhisself, Now jest—” “Four!” “Wait—hole on! Don’t ye say thet other figger! Ef ye do— Please don't say it! Ob, great smoke! Don’t I wish I was dead an’ buried! Kin I endoor sech disgrace? It will kerwhelm me with shame! I'll die fu’st! derned ef I will—” ‘“ FIVE!” in a he- | deserted ropped on Old Sunflower’s courage suddenl him. With a whoop of terror, he his knees, squawking: ** Hole on, pard—hole on! down!” ‘And it is fortunate for you,” declared the gambler, grimly. ‘‘ I was on the verge of touch- ing the trigger. In another second I should have fired, and your soul would bave been on its way to Glory—or the other place,” ‘*Waal, now I’ve tookena slump, w’at is it ye wants?” “IT want you to repeat after me what I say. Repeat it word for word, or I will drill you. Are you ready?” **Let her slide. Don’t keep me down byer long. Some stranger might come in an’ think { wuz prayin’!” ‘All right, now begin. I am a miserable sneak and acoward, Repeat it, hi ba the graveness of a judge the old tramp said: ‘*'You are er miser’ble sneak an’ er coward, Repeat it,” or a moment Denver Dave was too aston- ished to speak, then an ugly light flashed from his eyes, and his face became like a black cloud. ‘“ Look here,” he snarled, ‘‘I am not fooling with you! If you think I am, just you repeat that trick. If you do, I'll be cursed if I do not scatter your brains! You will now re at word for word what Isay. Are you ready?” ** Let her drive.” ‘*T am a miserable sneak and a coward,” Old Sunflower repeated it correctly. “fT humbly ask your pardon for anything offensive I have said about you.” The tramp repeated the words, “You are a gentleman, and not a miserable, cowardly sneak like the dirty little runt who calls himself Violet Vane.” ; But, with a yell, Old Sunflower leaped to his eet. ; ‘“‘T kin stan’ ’most any blamed thing thet is on merself,” he shouted; ‘*but lll be blowed ef I will say thet bout my leetle pard! He’s er white man as is too good ter wipe bis feet on sech er rotten varmint as you be! Now, shoot, dad-burn ye!” At this moment there was a commotion near the door, and a man mounted on a coai-black horse rode into thesaloon, The horseman’s face was concealed by a mask, ‘* Captain Mute!” That was the name that passed from lip to Jip. It was the mysterious Regulator chiet! Don’t shoot! I’m Captain Mute’s eyes rau swiftly over the faces’ _ of the assembled throng, as if he were looking for some one. It was a peculiar fact that more than one man crouched in his tracks, or turned away so his features could not be plainly seen. Deliberately the chief of the Regulators drew a knife from its place of concealment, Then, with a swift motion, be hurled it at the wall, where it struck point first, and remained quiver- ing, a sheet of paper fluttering from the haft, ‘ith a bow and a wave of the hand, the man of mystery rode from the room, and disappeared in the darkness, For a few moments vo one had paid any at- tention to Denver Dave and Old Sunflower, and when Captain Mute had disappeared it was found the gambler from Denver had vanished also. ! ‘* Whoopee!” squealed the mountain vaga- bond, executing a wild dance of delight. ‘‘ Ther o’nery white-livered critter didn’t durst stay an’ hev it out with me, even w’en he bed ther drop! He saw I hed riz right up on my ear, an’ so he slid fer a safer section o’ ther kentry. Oh, he’s er p’izen sneak, an’ don’t ye fergit thet!” ut the interest of nearly every one centered on the sheet of paper that dangled from the baft of the knife Captain Mute bad left in the wall. They crowded around it and found there was writing on the paper. One of ihe party read it aloud. It ran as follows: * WARNING. © In the town of White Water are several men who 3 are tnown to be friends of the outlaw Black Burk and who constantly keep him informed of ev«rything that henpers in the place, In disguise, Black Burk often visits this p'ace and mingles freely with the citizens. The Regulators now give warning to those fellow. who are in sympathy with Burk to get out of ‘White Water immediately, unless they have a burn- ing desire to try the fit of 4 bene necktie. The Regulators have taken an oath wipe out Black Burk’s gang of robbers, and they will keep it, If any remain in White Water after this, they will be liable to awake some Sorry: tage find themselves hanging from the limb of a , f **(Signed,) ** Oh, driver!” ’ ’ —— REGULATORS,” / »