Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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is Van Deckers’ eyes glistened. He thought he _ saw a glorious chance, and would bave jumped at it greedily, but Roland was the leader, and, as be well knew, had further plans, ‘* All this has been discussed before,” the. Brown Sport returned, impatiently. ‘** But, surely, you can ask no more than that I forfeit the money I put in the Eldorado.” — ‘“*Tdo want more. I want Irene for my wife.” ** She objects,” **Oh! very well; if sbe prefers that Colonel Elliston should hear the whole story, justlet bim be called in.” ‘* My father is visiting a friend, this evening. But state your position, sir.” * All this is old talk, Why harp on chest- nuts? But, in my plain words, I demand Irene’s hand in marriage, and a good slice of money, For the latter, being modest, and inclined to come down a peg, I'll take a nominal sum— namely, your share in the oil- plant.” ‘* And if I refuse you will tell to Colonel Ellis- ton and the world news that will break my fa- ther’s heart?” ** That’s the plain English of it.” ‘* But it is blackmail.” ‘* Call it what you will; that’s the demand.” ** We're right modest, too, ” added Van Decker. ‘¢ ve sunk all my money in that darned old oil racket at my town, an’ [’m bu’sted all ter smash. You can’t expect a man ter go ter the poor-house when he sees a chance ter fll up his wallet, can you?” “ Mr. Van Decker, what will you take for your share in the oil- -plant, and sell outright?” ‘* A hundred thousan’ dollars.” ** Yet, it is wortbles:?” “Fer oil, it is; but ter bleed you, I guess it’s about as smart a piece o’ property as I need,” ‘““My dear sir, you are hardly ingenuous, You twist and turn laboriously. I have a bet- ter opinion of the Eldorado than you have. In days past, when it was declared worthless, I paid men to look it over and see if there was any goodin it, You were my agent: you said experts really did make examination; unfavor- able reports came to me from men said to be these experts, Lately, I have sent from this city a man I know to be an expert, and honest, and I have his report,” The plotters begun to Jook startled. ‘ He states that the Eldorado is a very promis- ing piece of property; that recent ventures there have demonstrated that it is capable of a rich flow; that he will stake his reputation I can, to- day, ‘sell my shares for double what I paid for them, but advises me to hold on to them, In brief, I have been deceived and lied to by you, a Miston no longer appeared like a sick man, He had started up from the pillows; bis head was held erect, and his eyes were bright aad om- inous, Van Decker’s lower jaw fell. He was dis- mayed and speechless, * Bat,” interposed the Brown Sport, hastily, ** your quarrel with Van don’t apply tome. As I said, 1 want Irene for my wife, or your fath- er—” ‘Mr, Montague, I have to-day negotiated a loan whereby the house of Elliston & Iber is made firm asarock, The money I withdrew to speculate in oil is made good, and no trace of any indiscretion on my part remains, Were the matter to be investigated, now, you could not prove what you allege—” ' ‘I believe this is a bluff!” Montague cried, hotly. ou shall see!” ‘San waved his hand, and from behind the drapery at the end of the room came three rae at sight of whom the conspirators Scat color. One was a stranger; the oth tie and nee Duff, 2d acd a hese men, obert added, ‘‘ are esses to the fact that you tried to blackmail bi ** Yes, an’ a heap more!” added Dennis, “if you had a stylogramic pen you couldn't begin ter tell the whole story, mister, We're on ter them with number a feet!” either of the plotters had anything to sa first, for they were overwhelmed, but it needed ‘no words for the Brown Sport to see that he had been outgeneraled. Dennis would not be there unless he was arrayed with the opposition, and his former employer was shrewd enough to real- ize that the movement against him had been in force more than one day. How is it, gentlemen,” asked Tom Tracer, auietly, ‘do you want to continue the fight?” Mun have you to do with it?” Montague ie represent the law.” \e .] att a meee Se = , Al ve ‘* La é : ¥ es eS AA Et tc EIA SA SE Nace DA Scheie ba a oe ‘*T bave not broken it.” ** You have tried blackmail. Do you want to keep it up?” ‘““T shall learn whether Elliston has fortified his position as he says, before I answer,” ‘*And you?” added Tracer, addressing Van Decker, ‘‘Pve got enough!” cried the Pennsylvanian, in a fright, ‘‘ Montague led me inter this, or I wouldn’t ’a’ done a thing, I wouldn’t!” ‘** Coward!” the BroWn Sport muttered, “What is the Eldorado worth?” continued Tracer. ‘*A heap o’ money. Oil was reelly struck, there, a monta ago, It’s goin’ ter be a big thing.” ** How much do you own?” m One share,” Van Decker confessed, sheep- ishly. ‘** And there are one hundred and oue, all told, You are not a heavy stockholder. Mr. Van Decker, if the law refrains from touching you, will you sign a full confession of your infamous p Oo ** Don’t you do it!” Montague ordered, ‘* But I will! Gosh ter mighty! | TI ain’t goin’ ter put my foot inter no trap. All I want is ter get back ter Oil Gutter, an’ stay there,” ‘Thank your lucky stars you havetbechancs, sir! You could be prosecuted for blackmail, but it is Mr, Elliston’s desire to drop that mat- ter, and let you go free, if you act reasonably.” ay will, mister; I will,” “Coward!” again uttered the Brown Sport. ‘* You, Montague, will not be prosecuted for blackmail—if you are reasonable—not yet for trying to reat Miss Elliston, nor yet for set- ting Water Bill on me; but there is another count against you. For some time I have been working up another case against you, and I now arrest you for forgery. You know the case, though it concerns po one here, You will be prosecuted for that,” The Brown Sport kept his seat with the cour- age characteristic of him. He knew he was in the toils, and was tuo proud to make vain re- sistance, or to indulge in bluster, “ You've played your cards well,” he finally muttered, viciously, “We sent an expert to see the oil-plaint, and, to keep you quiet in the meanwhile, gave out the story of the accident to Mr, and Miss Elliston. That was all humbug; they had no accident, But the ruse worked; we gained time,” ra ss at Dennis. magine on’t owe this boy any good will,” he nade: Absa “Tye done my best ter beat you,” Dennis con- fessed, frankly, “Traitor!” “Mister, I stood by you, an’ believed in you, until — tried ter decoy Miss Irene ter Purga- tor Oat I wf I had succeeded a drug would have been given her, and she would soon have been Mrs, Roland Montague!” ** Bf it’s traitorous ter go back on sech a mean skunk, ’'m glad | Ididit. Sure, the Duff family never ‘would ag’in hold up their heads in New York, or look back ter the glories o’ Ballyrag- get, ef one o’ the stock had gone ter the bad, I pr refer ter stand up an’ be counted with Tom racer & Co,,an’ I bope I ain’ta cipher, There, I’ve made my speech, an’ now I'll fall back ter the rear an’ tackle the !unch counter My Tom Tracer kept bis word, and Montague, after due trial, was sent to Sing Sing for for- ody Water Bill, ‘Cal Garland and Jake Dowl- g also went to rusticate at the same place, The Shows Sport learned, through his lawyer, that the Ellistons had made their position impre ssf ble, and he decided not to injure himsel order to trouble them. The facts of this ahtonic cle remained untold in public. Van Decker returned to his home, a badly frightened and repentant man, Colonel Ellison never knew of the danger bis family and business house had been in, and the Eldorado Oil Company has been making money rapidly, Robert has paid off all debts, and Elliston & Iber are on solid financial footing, Tom Tracer continues in business, and often i a chance for the heir of the Doffs to kelp Dennis bas great aspirations in the detective line, but Molly McGinnis still has some doubts of his ability to keep out of trouble, and in her efforts to take care of him, she often assists, too, in aiding him to carry out the work set for him by Tom Tracer, THE END. Dennis Duff, the the Brown n Sport’s | Kid. peepee : Beadle's Half-Dime Library. BY JO PIERCE. © 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detec ‘tives or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 HNots«pur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow}; or, aaa Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 504 Five Pointa Phil. 509 Jack Jaggera, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar mat or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 538 Wreatling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 641 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. KOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid, 628 Buck pumblehee, the Harlern Hummer. 6389 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. See Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Sim, the Only One of His Kind. 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Caprutn Arizona; 3 Patent-Leather Joe’ 6 Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 44 Despard, the Duellat; ¢r, The Mountain Vempires. 8 A Tou h Boy} or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. S68 Little Tornado? or, ‘the Outcasts of the Glen, B78 Little Jingoy; or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my ¢ or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-Fly 3 or, A Race for a Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, A481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 517 Jim Gladdenv’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pardsto the Rescue, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. &74 Old Weaael- top, the Man with the Dogs, | 695 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. G18 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Iti, the Blne-Coat Scout. 648 lfappy HMarry’s« Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowatone Jacky; or, The Pg ere 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 paErsonns Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 - bee ges mag The King of the Plains. 186 N ht-tin it; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty tomae the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant: or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Roy Tra lers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Rarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. roe Old Double Fiat; or, The Strange Guide & The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Laat Trail. rity Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler. 677 Chineapin Dan’« Second Trall. ya Chinecapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 8 Old Crazy, the Man Without « Head, 708 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. " MISOELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s« Travels. B n Sw 14 Alnddiny or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Satlor. His Seven Vo 22 ‘Phe A anes Serpent; or, The Boy Ae fa Crusoe. By Juan Lew 88 The. Ocean Bloodhounds or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, re S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy lown} or, The Arena Queen. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By T 51 The Roy Fiffea: or. The Underground Camp. By A. C. Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Ilood, the Untiawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain The Mad Munt theC f Death. By Burton Saxe. 112 e Ma unter? or, 'heCave of Dea y n 124 Tippy, the Texan? or, The Young Champion. By George 128 The ee Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. S27 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By G, L, Aiken. 266 Kilib'ar. are Guide; %7, Davy Crocketi’s rooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw. <p One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. By Captain Comatock. 817 Peacack Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 y Mag Rhy Netecives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honos. Maior Mickey 850 ited Ralph, the River Rovery; or, The Brother’s Re- venge. y Ned Bun tline. RAS Raltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A, P. Morris. R74 Gold-Duat Tomt or, Ben’s Double Match. Add H. Morse. By Co 1 Thomas 418 Billy Rombahell, the Cliff “eye By F. S. Winthrop. 475 The Black & x By JohhnS W 484 Comanche Dick and His Three invineibles. By Henorv J. Thomas. BR2 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. cae Orie teen aye Ry Revie stg Bi ten: f atersa, tle Bov Ferret. By H. Ev 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlitos A New issue Every Tuesaday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by aii newsdealers, five cents por copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 9S William Street, New Yerk, 876 Callfornta Joe’s First Trall. Hover Monatery | Lovey e) La