Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

a> 7 4 ; wo oar PP " j ! ‘* 7 rl) ‘ * te ‘e = “Sp * 4. ¥ Wega, #7 if» ee hae Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid. fing to wait. He was introduced, and all sat down. Dennis Duff’s chief wish was to be looked at as little as possible, and be found a chair in one corner, He wondered what kind of a trap was to be sprung. Young as he was he was confi- dent that no such thing as a mermaid existed in the house or anywhere else, Did the trap lay in a bogus mermaid, or somewhere outside the do- main of the charmers of the sea? He soon found an answer. Conversation was general and brisk for several minutes, and then one of the men, who was called Toby, observed to Cal Garland: ‘‘] was showing Pat a new trick to-night, and I knocked him out of a Y:” ** What was the trick.” ** T’ll show you, just for fun.’ From his ket Tuby tock three Jalf-shells of walnuts anda bean. He showed them that all but the shell of the walnuts had been cut out, leaving a cavity inside, **The trick is to put the bean under one of these shells; you to see me doit, plainly, Then I move the three shells about on the table—shuf- fle them, as it were—and when I stop, you guess which shell the bean is under, If you cone right, you win; if you guess wrong, J n, ** Thimble-riggers!” thought Dennis, in dis- “Well, that is new!” Cal admitted. “ Old as Methuselah,” muttered Dennis, in dis- st, wih I'll go you, once,” declared Cal. ‘I'll beta dollar I guess the right one,” ** Done!” Toby turned all the shells over. Under one he put the bean, Then he moved them about on the table for awhile, after which he directed: ** Raise your choice!” : Cal picked up a shell. The bean was revealed. There was a laugh at Toby’s expense, and he insisted upon trying it again. This was done, and Cal lost. He lost four times in succession, and was three dollars out. Then he quit in pre- tended disgust. Vandevere Van Decker had been an interested observer. He never had seen or heard anything like the game before, but he was stocked with enough sporting-blood to be fascinated by any eof chance, He wished himself in Cal’s place, every time the shells had been moved about, he had followed the one with the bean without trouble. He regarded Cal as very stupid to be deceived. He ought to have been a winner _» .t0 the extent of four dollars, instead of losing The Brown Sport’s Kid expected to see him come in when the other man stopped, but he did not, and the thimble-riggers did not urge him General conversation was resumed, One of the y soon made an excuse to get Cal to one side, and they went out of hearing of the other men, but near enough to Dennis so that, having unusually keen hearing, what they said was audible to him. | “Say, d’ye know the fellow you have in tow?” ‘ “ His name is Van Decker, and he’s from Billy Penn’s State.” *“T know, but what more?” “Oh! the Brown Sport has him under his wing, and I presume the old lad is to be fleeced.” “ He is big game.” - ** How do you know?” ‘“‘He owns a big oil plant in Oil Gutter, Pennsylvania. A friend of mine who has the rocks was there and tried to buy it, He offered a good, round figure, but the Americanized Dutchman was too shrewd to take it. If you can get him to break the balls for you, perbaps you can get an interest in the oil biz for a song.” *“ Are you sure of what you say,” Cal asked, thoughtfully. ** Well, not personally, but I got it straight.” ‘*[ suppose we might throw up the thimble- ging, and work him for a biggergame. If he scards, and will drink a little more stuff, perbaps he would sign away a shake in the wells.” “Try him!” At that moment Van Decker’s voice rose audibly. He had been looking wishfully at the shells, which still lay on the table, and was able to control himself no longer, ‘‘Say, stranger,” be remarked, ‘‘I’d like ter try you on that little trick, myself!” | ‘All right; I feel proud of my luck, and had as soon have your money as any otber person’s,” replied Toby. ‘‘ But make thestake twenty-five cents. I don’t want to rob any one.” i . / s Jj ' ' end ; vy! a 2 s v4 4 : ; a] nt 2 af « a . ’ - oo T iL ? 4 rf . *? i . ‘) ¢ ¥ ‘ Ses! a ve —- - — Confident as Van Decker was he did not object to beginning light, and be agreed, The old pro- cess was gone through and he lifted the selected shell. The bean was under it; he was the winner, His face beamed with triumph, and he tried if again. Four times in succession he won, Toby looked downcast, but the Pennsylvanian was in high spirits, ** Let’s increase the bet!” hecried. ‘It ain’t enougb. I’ve won four times, an’ only got a dollar.” Toby pretended to hesitate. ‘The trick has lost its charm for me, and seems childish,” he finally answered, “but Vl go in once more on a revised plan, The stake shall be raised, Til let you fellows bid, one against the other, and run the wager up as high as you please, if it’s five dollars or more; and then I'll meet whatever sum you fix. See? Everybody ‘‘saw,” and Toby put the bean in place. Van Decker watched the shuffle keenly, and when it was done he simply knew that he could tell which shell the bean was under, Bid- ding started at one dollar, but went up rapidly, the sharpers showing the jovial, happy-go-luck air that always proves so infectious, Ten dol- lars, twenty, thirty and forty were called, with numerous bids between the round figures, Van Decker was determined to have the chance of betting against Toby, but bets of this size he had not been accustomed to before. He grew a little tet and the sharpers saw it. He finally called out, ‘* Fifty dollars!” with an air which told that it was his last bid, and no one went further, Toby seen the opinion that he had been a fool to make the compact, but vowed he would not back out. He and Van Decker each put fifty doilars on the table, p to that time the Pennsylvanian had not re- move! his gaze from the right shell. He was not suspicious, but did not want to get confused. Just then Dowling, as if by accident, dropped the ashes and a few hot ks of his cigar on Van Decker’s hand, The latter cried out with pain and instinctively danced up and down, but soon recovered his nerve and accepted Jake's apology. ‘** Lift the shell!” Toby directed. Van Decker obeyed, and then stood aghast, No bean was visible! He had lost! Toby coolly scooped in the fifty dollars, ‘**Luck always has to change,” be calmly ob- served, | Not a word said Vandevere Van Decker. He simply bad been sure of his position—or thought he had, How had the ruin occurred? When he had recovered a little he raised one of the other shelis, and found the bean. ‘*T can’t understand it,” he said, blankly. Everybody else could, “Your eyes deceived you,” remarked Cal Garland. ‘* Well, never mind; you can stand such a trifle. Lucky we didn’t run the bid- ding up high. Have a drink, old boy?” Van Decker took the drink, but even then he repeated: ‘Darn me ef I see how I made sech a blunder!” Dennis Duff, silent but watchful, was not so uch in the dark. The episode of the cigar hes was only a trick to divert the Pennsyl- vanian’s attention, and, while his gaze was turned away, Toby had quickly and skillfully changed the relative positions of the shells, Tae time-worn trick of thimble-rigging had been worked successfully, with a slight varia- tion in minor details, After another drink all around Van Decker forgot the pang of his loss, and grew eager to see the mermaids, He was directed to wait awhile longer. Dennis was growing anxious. He did not have any great good will for a man who would indulge in strong drink and make himseif ridicu- lous, but the man from Oil Gutter was the Brown Sport’s acquaintance, and Montague’s ‘“‘ Kid” felt that he ought to be rescued. But how could it be done? He was in the whir! of dissipation, and would object to leav- ing, even if the sharpers would allow it. Dennis was growing nervous, Once, be went to the window, pulled the shade aside and look- ed out, determined to call a policeman if he saw one, but, assoon as the men saw his position, he was ordered away. Faces at windows were something these vultures did not approve of, More liquor was offered the victim, and he did not refuse, The gang’s liberality in this respect was proof that they were not done with him, What further did they contemplate? Dennis ponderei on the point, but without get- ting hgbt. Perhaps their design was simply to + Seon Gs rob Van Decker of his last dollar, and then turn him out into the street—and perhaps their design was darker, as it certain that they would allow Dennis, himself, to leave in safety? The last speculation was so interesting that the boy fiaally obeyed a sudden impulse and walked quickly to the countryman’s side, ‘* Boss,” he said, “it’s about time fer us ter meet the Brown Sport!” ** Eh?” cried Van Decker, with a start, ‘*Hev you’s forgot the engagement with the Brown Sport?” ** Did | hey one?” ** Why, bev you forgot it?” " Darned ef I hadn’t, an’ I don’t remember it, now. _“* Never mind that,” added Cal, sharply, ‘We like your company, and can’t give youup. You are going to stay right here, old mav!” CHAPTER VII. ON HAND FOR THE CRISIS. THERE was an emphasis to Cal Garland’s de- claration which troubled Dennis Duff, but Van Decker answered: | “By gosh! I don’t want ter go. I’m all right, bere!” “Would yer be after breakin’ yer promise to the Brown Sport?” Dennis persisted. ‘‘ Bub, I don’t remember no such promise,” “* He will.” ‘‘ That’s so; he don’t forget nothin’,” “Go while you’re sober,” urged the boy. . ‘Tne Brown Sport will take your skin off ef he sees you drunk ag’in.” The Pennsylvanian started up. ‘* That’s a fact, by mighty! lll go!” Garland “Lies a his coat-tails and pulled him back into the chair, ‘“'You will stay here!” he declared, peremp- torily. ‘* You are drunk already, and this is the safest place for you.” ‘But the Brown Sport will be mad,” Dennis: insisted. | ‘* He be hanged!” ‘¢ Heain’t no mean enemy, me good sir.” “Do you threaten, boy?’ blustered the: sharper. ‘¢ No, but it’s time fer this gent ter go.” ‘* An’ get arrested for being drunk, and bab- ble on us all? I guess not!” ‘« I'll steer the ould tippler home.” ** He stays here.” ** All right; then I’ll go alone.” ‘No, you won’t! You want to go out and tell a copper of us, do you? It won't work; you will stay right where you are, to-night. In the morning, if we can fix things up, you can go,” Dennis placed no confidence in the last prom- ise, and was uncertain when he would be at liberty again. The house had a bad reputation, and, before then, men had been found in the street drunk, moneyless and beaten, near at hand, who never could account for their mis-- haps. When suspicion pointed to “ Purgator Coop” some silent, unseen influence was used, and the place, despite an occasional raid, never had experienced any severe blow. Just what crimes were done there no outsider knew, but our young friend felt that, in bis case, a lifein- surance policy might not be a bad thing to have, Not being in accord with the plan laid out he slipped away from the restraining hold Cal had put upon him, but another of the gang suddenly thrust out a revolver, ‘* Stop!” he ordered, It was an argument not to be defied, Dennis obeyed, “Sit down D Reluctantly he sought the chair again. There — was no visible sign of frigbt, and his eyes fiashed indignation and defiance, but he was not rash enough to throw “gets and judgment to the winds, His break, however, had done much to sober Van Decker; the revolver bad frightened that person, aud his heart seemed to be down in the vicinity of bis boots, There was a long pause, and the crooks looked at each other in a way which indicated uncer- tainty on their part. A drunken man could be beaten into insensibility and thrown into the street, and he would forget where be had been when he regained his mental] faculties, perhaps but how was a keen, alert boy to be rendered harmless? | They had presumed on the fact that he was of humble life, but had found that he possessed unsuspected courage, The.word bad gone around that their p was ty be plucked further, but, in a ce way, they were afraid of Dennis Duff, He was no pigeon! es a "Stet / , rae > ? ~" Sead ~_> a ey hl * >. + baie ome <Oe e —— ee el lll at rd ofS Aime » 2 e = i * “ok, : - 4 a | ‘ ‘d” 7 Laas 2% ay “=f : (ge bh a :