Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 724 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

, - Violet Vane’s Vengeance, ** Bub-bub-bub-but d-d-don’t you think you will stop in White Water awhile? Perhaps you may cuc-cuc-conclude to stay here after all when you have seen more of us,” ‘* Waal, I may lay roun’ er few days. [ hain’t gotany bit of business on my han’s jest erbout now, so it don’t make er derned bit of diffrunce whar Lam,” The sunflower tramp eyed the man keenly as he followed Charlie into the hotel. When they had disappeared, the vagabond winked know- ingly at empty space, ‘“Dad-blamed ef I bain’t onter thet critter with both feet!” he chuckled, ‘*’Spect I do look like er bloomin’ fool, but then I kin sometimes see er hoe! in a ladder, Ef them whiskers hain’t snide I don’t know beans from hen’s eggs!” He peered back through the open doorway and watched the two ascend the stairs, ‘Goin’ up ter ther room o’ ther feller thet bites bis words up in sich er queer way. Yep, thar’s su’thin’ quare ’bout him, Ho hain’t ther tenderfut he looks, an’ 1 know thet/ He's heur fer some puppose. I wonder w’at it is?” He was still wondering when Frank Stillman passed the hotel. The vagabond watched the mayor closely, a savage gleam in his eyes, ‘’ Singe your hide!” he half growled. “ You’re ther cause o’ it all! You piayed roots on my leetle pard, an’ I more’n hafe believe you know w’at's become o’ him,” Stillman’s appearance had changed remarka- bly. Since his meeting with Violet Vane a hag- gard look had settled on his handsome face and now and then a light of dread and fear flashed from his eyes. .He seemed like a man who was continually troubled by the memory of some fearful deed. Old Sunflower had noted the change, and he was quick to reason out what he more than haif believed was the cause of it. The Velvet Sport had disappeared ‘n a most singular and unac- countable manner, and, knowing what had passed between the two men, the veteran tramp was more than half-inclined to believe Stillman had played some foul game on Vane—had mur- dered him, perhaps, ** Ef ther boy don’t show up afor3 long,” mut- tered Old Sunflower, gazing after Stillman’s re- treating figure, ** I’m jast goin’ ter straddle your neck. Ef you’ve downed bim, Pll down you—or bu'st!” When the mayor had disappeared, the tramp struck his hands together, exclaiming, softly: ‘*T hev wanted ter see ther leetle gal fer some time, an’ now’s my chance, She shook ez white er boy asever drored breath, fer which I hev my "pinion o’ her; but I’d jest like ter sot eyes ou her erg’in. She wuz ’tarnal putty, an’ thet’s right! Sh wuz jest erbout ther peertest sort 0’ er piece o’ calicer I ever sot my ole optical organs on. I wonder ef she’s faded out ary bit sence she wur merried? Vane said she looked puttyer’n ever, but his pinion in sech er case ez this w’u’dn’t ermount ter shucks. I'll bet she’s all washed out,” He set out for Stillman’s cabin, and as he walked along, he continued to mutter: ** Oh, I know she can’t Icok ser all-fired peert es she used ter! But Pll see ther babby, thet’ll be some satisfaction, fer I hain’t seen er right down ginoowine human babby fer derned nigh er hull lifetime o’ Sunda ut ef she says ar thing ter me erbout Violets ”—savagely— Pll tell her jest w’at I think o’ her an’ ther way she acted.” In a short time he approached the cabin. ‘The door was standing open, and he paused outside to listen to a sweet voice crooning a soft cradle song. Forsome reason, the sound of that song affected the old man strangely. He began to tremble and seemed ready to burst into tears. In the moisture gathered so thickly in his - eyes he was obliged to wipe it away with his =e bowing polite Standing before him with her 7 7) & « ond 4 ; =o ae ee beef ; 7 : aS 6 sir .. ; mS " wot = J ot ~~ vied rc * t -" wr gZ - _ e oe & - : i ' . a ify -] ie ’ 74 L.e- Ma ee 3 r » : ‘4 , & a2 ag 4 es r 3 ad ge! ta\ ee = ad . # - Pin 7 ae 7 — - _— os - . . - . coat-sleeve, He was strongly tempted to re- treat without entering the cabin; but bya desperate effort, he mastered’ his emotion and stepped into the doorway. lone gave a little exclamation as the ragged figure appeared, but Sunflower doffed bis hat, and saying: * You hain’t got y bit o’ reason ter be *feared o’ me, leetle one; 1 w’n’dn’t hurt ye fer ther bull o’ Kingdum Come.” At first the darkness of the room prevented him from seeing ber, as he had just come out of the bright sunlight, but af, e could see ber by in her arms, It was a picture the old man never forgot. *“ Who are you?” she asked. | “Great Jebocus! It can’t be you’ve forgotten - me, leetle gal? Jest tak? ernother squint at this yere antiquated figger an’ seeefI don’t look natteral’s life an’ twice ez hombly.” Ww > 4 5 yu 7 / Fe : . : f : c ,* ‘7 - . tay. bat :, La Ana 2 as hy rr PL thin + i rz hy 47 d RY ’ * ay mh ud ‘2 _ lone peered into his face, then started back, clasping ber child closer and crying: ‘* Mr. Wagg !” The appearance of the tramp brougbt back the memory of the old days—the days she longed to forget. Then this man had been one of Violet Vane’s most enthusiastic admirers! ‘* Mister Wagg!” repeated Old Sunflower— ‘not by er derned—excuse me!—I mean not by a—a—big figger, Thar hain’t no ‘ mister’ hitched ter ther front o’ my name, beggin’ yer rdon. You used ter know me as Hrastus Vage: but now lsail under the cognomen o’ Ole Sunflower, an’ ’'m er dood by perfession. I’m right glad ter see ye!” Ione still drew back, ‘* Do you come asa friend or an enemy?” she asked, ae vagrant scowled a bit, but quickly re- plied: ‘Kr frien’, in course, I ain’t got northin’ ag’in’ ye, leetle gal—thet is, northin’ thet’d cause me ter harm ye. Idid hope you’d be glad ter see me,” . ‘*] am,” she said, laying the baby in the rude crib its father had made. “ You have fought for me in the past, and I have not forgotten it.” She came forward and placed her small band in his. The old fellow actually blusbed and stammered., ‘*Blame my eyes!” he cried. sumer then ye used ter wuz: I didn’t reckon on thet, You wuz er gal then an’ bed ther form o’ er gal: but you’ve jest blossomed out inter er reg’ler smashin’ woman. Ther bud wuzn’t no more’n er fair promise o’ ther flower.” It was [one’s turn to blush, ** Why, Erastus!” she exclaimed; ‘‘ I did not know you were poetical!” **Oh, I hev lots o’ failin’s you never knew erbout, leetle gal,” “Well, sit down. Let me take your hat.” ‘Oh, no, no! Til jest putt this relic o’ Benja- min Franklin right byer on ther floor aside ther chair, You see it’s so blamed vallyble I don’t ‘low it out o’ my sight fer fear some one’d steal it. Its got dented er leetle, but then I don’t mine thet. It hes er reny swell appearance, as ther feller said o’ ther boil.” ‘‘T cannot see as you bave changed a bit.” “Oh, no; I am not subject to change, fer you see I’m dead broke all ther time. Is thar any danger o’ ther house fallin’ on me ef I try ter make another bad joke like thet?” Ione laughed a littlex ‘* The house is built quite solid.” “Well, ’m glad o’ thet. Blamed ef it don’t look cozy in hyer! This is er reg’ler leetle nest.” ‘*T try to make it as cozy as 1 can, but I have not many things to work with. It issome differ- ent from the old days away back in my Eastern ‘soe There I had everything a girl could ask or. “Then you hain’t jest satisfied?’ came quickly. eagerly, f om old Sunflower’s lips, ’** Ob, yes I am!” she swiftly replied, ‘*I am more than satisfied—I am happy,/happy! This little home is better. than a mansion,” The man seemed disappointed. _ “But—I lowed Icould see er kinder sad look in yer eyes,” @ was right; he did see a sad look there. But, her sadness was overwhelmed by the hap- piness of her present life-—-her sadness was by on3 haunting memory of the past. She was somewhat nervous, too; for the effect of the shock given her by the note that stated Violet Vane lived for vengeance had not entirely worn away. Her husband had assured her many times it was a wretched hoax perpetrated by some dastardly coward, but still the feeling of dread would notentirely leave ber. ** Why should I be sad?” . ‘*Oh, I—I dunno,” he replied, not daring tell her his feeling that sbe had wronged Vane. ‘I thought perbap’ ye wuz.” She looked him straight in the eyes, and sum- moning her courage, said, not without a tremor: ‘I think I understand you, Erastus; but you are wrong. As a girl, I made a serious error; but my woman’s beart revealed it to me in time to prevent a fatal step, I do not deny that the man was worthy of my love or the love of any women living, but I did vot truly love him, I met another whom I did love with my heart and soul, I could not help it; I tried to crush the passion out of my heart! but it gained the mastery and I became its slave. To-day I do not regret my bondage,” The man was silent. ‘‘T have no doubt you blame me,” she pur- met * but if you knew my feelings, you would not—you could not! Of course I bave suffered. If I bad been a heartless creature my course ** ‘You're han’- 4 i . ed oe Soe OO SF ie ; : _ ’ = LES Ca VIN wird = at, ; - = + Tuk i ” i re Te pd would not have cost me a second thought; but the knowledge of the pain I was giving a true heart was bitter indeed. But that was eclipsed by the knowledge of the terrible thing that fol- lowed,” ‘© Wat wuz thet?” **Oh, do not ask me! How can I speak of it? I tried to forget it, and I almost thought I was partially succeeding till that dreadful note fell into ay hands!” Sunflower was a trifle puzzled, so he once more remained silent. Again she looked bim fairly in the eyes,*speaking slowly: ‘* That note brought a doubt to m I have longed to know the truth. cap aid me?” ‘* Ef I kin I will.” ‘** Do you know my husband and Philip Howard fought a duel?” sé Yep.” ** And do you know Philip fell before Frank’s fire?” ‘* ve heerd so,” ‘‘ Well, itis true. But since that time I have been given reasons to believe Philip was not killed. Can you tell me the truth?” “* Yap.” She sprung forward and caught bim by the arm, trembling in every limb with the intensity of her excitement. ‘* You can—you can?” she almost shrieked. ‘*Then speak—speak! Was he killed?” ‘““Not by er derned sight!” spluttered the tramp. ‘* Fer Heaving’s sake don’t kerflop now!” She reeled back and fell on ber knees beside the crib, clasping the baby to her heart. ‘* Great God, I thank thee!” shecried. ‘‘ Now I can face what may come! I fearitnot! My baby boy is not the son of a man who bas an- other’s blood upon his bands!” CHAPTER XI, THE TRAMP IN TROUBLE, But, Old Sunflower was not so sure of that, However, he did not care to express his views just then, for he saw lone wasina state of intense excitement. Still kolding her baby close, and covering its face with kisses, sbe kept repeating: ‘*Thank God! thank God! thank God!” Tears of joy ran down ber cheeks, and despite himself, Old Sunflower could not keep the moisture out of his own eyes. He half-turned away, dashing one huge hand across bis face in a manner that was little short of savage. ‘**No, don’t go an’ be er derned slobberin’ idjiot!” he muttered to bimseld. ‘‘ W’u’dn’t it look nice fer you ter go ter snifflin’ like er big overgrowed booby! Fer Heaving’s sake, do dry up! | ' The baby laughed and crowed, pounding its mother’s ek with its soft, chubby hands, ap- parently thinking every one was as bappy as it- self, Ione arose, with ber child in her arms, ‘‘He may seek revenge on me, but I do not fear him!” she cried. ‘' The last vestige of a cloud over my life has been removed.” The vagabond choked down the huge lump in his throat and said: , **'You needn’t never fear thet ther lad will harm ye. He hain’t thet kind,” Then she told him of the note threatening vengeance, P “Ther boyee never writ it!” shouted Sun- flower, inarage. ‘Some mis’ble cus-tomer is *sponsible fer thet trick!” mind, and erbaps you e ‘“‘ Frank said it was a hoax, but I feared—I | feared! Still my fear of the man would not have Leen so great as my joy at pti ak really lived. You bave brought mea great hap- piness to-day, Erastus.” ‘* Wal, I’m glad on it, leetle woman,” ‘‘ Do you know where Philip is now?” Sunflower shcok his head, soberly, ‘* What makes you starting forward. ‘* You look as if—as if—” ‘Sif I'd lost er frien’? Waal, perhaps I hev. It is a solemncholly fac’ thet I don’t know whar Violets is, an’--an’—” ‘* And what?” The tramp was greatly embarrassed, but final- ly he burst out: | ' ‘‘ Ter tell ther honest truth, leetle woman, Tn ‘feared he’s bin dealt foul with,” She caught her breath and turned pale. . ** What do you mean?” an’— “sc Here ?” Sunflower nodded, “ Right byer.” ; | ‘* Heavens! And Frank never told mea word about it!” Y \ , des 4 vat 5, oak o 7 : al ad = ny ¢ — : rr _ look that way?’ she asked, ~ “Two weeks ergo he wuz byer in this camp, * 1” * ; }Fi @ ok + Ae M — > “ “. i@ . ois a7”. 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