Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

The man who was regarding the equipage was neither trim nor prepossessing, and it needed only one look to see that he was not a New orker. _ He wore clothes which did not fit bis gaunt form any too well, and a soft, slouch hat, but the clothes were of good material, and a diamond glittered in the front of bis shirt, This man wad evidently been wooing the liquids that bring profit to the city saloon and loss to tbe saloon’s patrons, for his eyes were dull and heavy, and he blinked frequently in an attempt to keep his visual organs open, Intoxicated he was not, but be was under the influence of drink to a certain degree. While he was still looking, and, plainly, re- volving some idea in his mind, a young lady descended the stairs which led to the second floor of the big business building near at band. She was handsome and stylish, and any one might have been excused for looking at her with interest. The gaunt man did more: he awkwardly raised his hat and accosted her, ** Good-mornin’, Miss Eiliston!” An expressioh of regret and uneasiness ap- peared on ber face as she saw him. ‘‘ Good-morning, sir,” she returned, coldly, and was going quickly to the carriage when he checked her, ‘“ Don’t you know me? I’m Vandevere Van Decker.” ‘*T am aware of it, sir.” ** Been out on business?” Miss Elliston gave the persistent questioner a glance far from friendly. ‘‘ [tis a pleasant day, sir,” was the evasive re- sponse, Quickly she entered the carriage, but Van Decker put one of his beavily-booted feet on the step. ‘ll ride up with ye!” he remarked. ec Sir?’ , ‘*T said I’d ride up with ye.” ‘‘T’'m not going home,” ‘* Never mind; a ride anywhere in sech com- pany will suit me wal;” and Mr. Van Decker grigmed in a foolish way. He was not yet inside the carriage, for Miss Elliston had sat down on the side next to him, and he was considering bow he could en- gineer his big boots and long limbs past ber skirts, ‘“Wouldn’t it be well to wait until you are asked?” the young Jady demanded indignantly. ‘Hal ba! Very good joke. You New York- ers bev a kind o’ bumor that ain’t never beard out in the oil regions, Say, jest hitch over an’ let me in!” ‘* You can’t ride, sir!” **No? and why not?” ** Because I have not asked you, Do you know it is very ungentlemanly to try and force your company On any one in this way?” “En? Darnitall! what do you mean? You pretend ter give p’ints on behavior ter me? 1'll hey you ter understand that we know as much about perliteness at Oil Gutter as any New Yorker does, an’ you can’t afford ter put on no airs, anyhow, over me! Not much! Let me in, now; you’ve got on yer bigh hoss, an’ ’'m goin ter ride, whetber or no. Move over, an’—” The liquor was working in Van UDecker’s head, and he was insisting on his points in a cracked voice and peevish manner, but at that moment a hand grasped his collar and he was jerked back from the carriage with force which made his neck snap audibly. ‘*You scoundrel!” exclaimed a deep voice; ** how dare you insult my sister?” The man from Oil Gutter looked into the in- ‘dignant face of a handsome young fellow, and the shock of the first surprise paralyzed his utter- ance for a moment, Robert Elliston motioned to the driver. **Go on!” he directed, and, a moment later, the vehicle was moving toward Broadway with ‘the lady as its sole occupant. Tbus far, mucb to the relief of young Elliston, no crowd had been collected by the trouble, and, though bis tones were intense as he proceeded, ‘they were purposely made low. ‘This is an infamous piece of work, Van Decker!” “ Right! You yanked me by the collar as ef I was only a dog.’ ‘* Why were you so meanly engaged, then?” ** I was only goin’ ter ride with Irene.” ‘** Her name is Miss Elliston to you, sir. Well, she objected, didn’t she?” | “Yes, she did that!” ‘Were you not man enough to heed the ob- jection?” “Now, you ses here, Bob Elliston; you nor she can’t afford ter put on no airs over me. You dassent—” whatever cost!” was the quick retort. ‘Ob! you dare? Scoundrel, bel? Blast you! take that!” = Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid, | Me bf re .. ‘I dare defend my sister from a scoundrel, at peacemakers, but without success. — They held | his hands, but he would not be quiet, thirsted for a fight, and found an abettor in the boy named Dennis, This denizen of the streets Vandevere Van Decker reached out quickly | had a mischievous twinkle in his bright eyes and caught Robert’s nuse between his thumb | and be put in side-remarks, whenever be had a and finger. and his manner was peevish ratber than angry. “Tll learn you New Yorkers—” He did this with an insolent grin, | ebance, in these words: “Two ter wan ain’t fair fightin’, at all, but Pll bet on Soft Hat. He’s the boy for my So said Mr. Van Decker, and then he went | money, Look at the muscle of him! Why, sprawling on his back, upset by a blow from lliston’s hand. Io point of fact the latter was vut indifferent to Van Decker’s assertion that be | scare him! | Jobn L. wouldn’t hev no show wid him! Bet yer he kin do them both up. Oh! they can’t He’s goin’ ter get away wid the both **dared” not be severe with him, but the un- of them, An’ he kin doit easy, too!” pleasant position into which Miss Elliston had been driven, and the attack on hisown nose, was too much for endurance. Nevertheless, the blow was only a light one on Van Decker’s chest, but it was enough to push him back ward, and bis heel had caught against some obstruction and sent him down. Elliston was immediately startled at his own temerity, and he took a basty step forward and gave the man from Oil Gutter a band to help bim up, ‘* Boss, you’re sp'ilin” the pictur’,” cried a pew voice, ‘‘ av’ it’s against ajl the rules o’ the prize- ring ter belp him up, First knock-down for you. Go in an’ settle it up loike you was out fer a purse, See?” Robert paid no attention to these words, or the speaker. If he had turned be would have seen two persons who had just come out of Greenwich street— persons who furnished a sharp contrast to his own elegant, but modest attire, They were a boy and a gir] who seemed to be representatives of a class who never dine at Delmonico’s, or ride hehind spirited horses in Central Park. Plain, coarse and without pretense to fashion was their attire, and their faces, though bright and alert, were not scrupulously clean. Their hair, too, needed attention, while their inde- pendent, nonchaJant air bespoke them as much userl to the streets as any otber niche in life. The boy appeared to be seventeen years old; the girl was about two years younger. Vandevere Van Decker came up unsteadily. *T trust you are not injured?’ added Robert, uneasily. ‘*Did yer ever, Molly?” cried the boy. ‘* Where’s the rules 0’ the prize-ring? Do they order a pugilist ter ask his antygonist ef he’s hurted?” ‘* That was a mean trick o’ yourn,” declared Van Decker, trembling with anger. ‘* Remember the provocation,’ ‘* What I remember is the blow.” ‘‘Niver moind!” urged the boy. the — a Bape a < : quiet, Denny!” ur the gir ‘Quiet, whin thant te eeanes for fun? Sbame on you, Molly McGinnis! Give mealift, will yez? Say: ‘Sic ’em, Tige!’ an’ start the fun —e ‘** You have only yourself to thank,” continued Eljiston.” ‘ Right,” Van Decker agreed. no thanks,” “You cannot expect me to endure every- thing.” ‘‘] expect you ter give me satisfaction. No man strikes me without gettin’ his money back, with interest! ’Tain’t the style at Oil Gutter ter let one man do all the broosin’, Look out fer me! I’m comin’!”, ** Hooray!” shouted Dennis, Van Decker put up bis bands, though not ina way that gave promise of scientific work, and trouble seemed inevitable, but at that moment pi py bof of the store before which they 8 , hustled out, followed by a clerk, Un- like most New Yorkers this merchant had no desire to see a display of pugilism, and he promptly collared the belligerent in the present case, ‘*What do you mean, sir?” he demanded, ‘* How dare you fight in front of my store? Stop it, or ll have you arrested!” Van Decker swung his fist wildly. ‘“*Ticave go!” he cried. ‘‘ Lemmealone, or 1’ll floor you fer a starter, you old fossil!” ‘* Fussil! You’re the worst of the lot, and ought to be ashamed to fight at your age, You’re drunk, too!” ‘‘ Drunk? Never, sir, never! I’ma teetotala- tor!” ‘‘ Keep your hands down. Don’t strike me!” ‘‘T’ll strike whoever I please!” shouted Van Decker. ‘“ I come from Oil Gutter, Penn, where they raise men. Wasp-waisted dudes ain’t in- degenous ter that soil; not by a long shot!” The speaker was making efforts to hit the ‘*Go in fer *T owe you V——_—_———_ ---or_ ->-- -- ~ or. V———_——_——ee ee ——————— le Which remarks had due effect on Van Decker, who had unbounded vanity, and, spurred on by the strong drink in his stomach, likewise, he was determined to whip the meddlers in the most ap- proved Oil Gutter style, He bad lost sight of Robert Ellison, and not strangely; the latter bad seized the chance to leave the neighborhood, and was out of sight, ‘* Boy,” directed the merchant, turning to Dennis, ‘‘ go for an « fficer!” ‘* Major-gineral or corporal?” inquired Dennis, gravely. ‘You young duffer! IJ] show you which, later!” ‘‘Duffer? Thbat’s me; you've bit it right, Dennis Duff is m* name, sometimes called the Little Duffer. Office hours from eight a. M. to two o’cleck next week. Business attended to wid dispatch an unfaithfulvess.” A hand fell upon Dennis’ arm, and he looked around to see a tall, rather handsome man be- side him who was clotbed in brown from head to foot, ** Hello, sport!” the gamin promptly saluted, — ‘*Dennis,” the new-comer burriedly whis- pered, ‘* we must get that man away!” “Who? Soft Hat?” ‘Yes. He’s a friend of mine.” ‘* More’s the pity!” * The fool is drunk, and that will get him into trouble. His wits work slowly. He mustn’t be arrested, though; it never would do, I will en- age this merchant in talk, and do you steer on eer off and save him from the coppers, ee CHAPTER II, THE BROWN SPORT AND HIS KID. DENNIS DUFF was not the person to need much explanation, and he quickly answered: ‘‘T see, Heave ahead, boss!” The manin brown turned to the merchant — with a very bland manner, _ “My dear sir, I beg your pardon for interfer- ing here, but this man isa friend of mine. Un- fortunately, he has taken a drop too much—” ** No man has a right to make a fool of him- self, and that is what a drunkard does,” — ‘‘You are right, sir; whisky is the curse of those whe drink the vile stuff. In explanation of my friend’s wretched condition, just now, let me say he is from the country, and has yielded to the fascination of city life. I beg that you will overlook his offense, and allow bim to go to his boarding-house, He will suffer both men- tally and p ysically when the effects of the liquor vanisb,” | ‘ But I’ve sent for a policeman already.” ‘‘ Pray don’t press the charge, sir.” ‘*T can’t unless an officer comes,” ‘‘ There he is, now,” added the clerk, A blue-coat was seen approaching with quick steps. A wonderful amount of dignity encom- passes a street guardian of the peace, and he re- alizes it. This man came up promptly, Hw saw the crowd, but no disturbance. ‘Phat does all dis m’ane?’ he asked, ‘Oj was towld there was a riot, but where be the rioters?” ‘““The peace has been disturbed,” explained the merchant, “ and I want you to arrest this man, He turned toward the disturber of the peace, as he thought, but failed to see either bim or the man in brown. ‘‘ Why, where is he?” the speaker added. A laugh rose from the crowd, ‘“Catch your bare before you cook it!” one man advised, and a second added: ‘* You’ve lost your prey, sir, While the man in brown engaged your attention a boy escorted the other man away, and while vou looked at this officer, the man in brown made tracks, him- self, He is probably over by the ferry now, going so fast you could play a game of checkery on his coat-tails,” The merchant showed chagrin for 4 moment, but accepted the situation all the more readily because he had an idea that he had been Ye He laughed, and let the matter drop. cboo - estill = OO nee, eee So eee a \ bs — - Fa j dec i ,