Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 730 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— : - ~~ = i — Pic. om ~ ~ = ; ~ —_" “ 7 - = - - * » = . ee A i : a ee a SS ee xen te EO LSS Le 2 Ee: cs x ~ » too hasty; wait till the camp is quiet before you make a move. Do not fail, for your lives!” ‘* Trust us, boss,” chuckled Ike, ‘*‘ We know our biz, an’ we’il git thar with both feet,” Little did the plotters dream their conversa- tion had been overheard by a hated enemy, CHAPTER XI, ANOTHER PUZZLED MAN, AFTER immersing his head in the bucket of cold water and drying it on a towel that had seen arduous duty since it was washed the last time, Adam Jayne placed a soft felt hat on his head and left the cabin, Proceeding to the hotel, he ate quite a hearty meal, after which he started for a walk in the Open air, The sun was well down behind the western peaks.and evening was approaching. By chance, Adam turned his steps down the ereek, Walking slowly along, be mused on the situation, muttering his thoughts aloud, } ‘Such confounded luck is disgusting! Just as success was reacbed the game was blocked for the time. I succeeded in disposing of the girl, but the boy still lives and keeps beyond my clutch, ‘* What a fool Brother Saul was to leave his wealth to those brats! When his wife left bim, she took the children with ber, and he never saw them afterwards up to his very death, He tried to keep track of his wife and the children, but failed, and when he died, he did not know if they were living. The property was to go tothe children if they were living; were they dead, it fellto Jonasand myself. ‘¢ Sincerely hoping the kids were dead, | start- ed out to trace them, I found the mother was dead, but the children were still living, though separated. I found the girl first and was taking her with mg to Memphis when she accidentally fell overboard from the steamer and was dorwn- ed, There wasa young fool who jumped over after her, but neither was recovered. They perished together. ‘¢ Then 1 tracked down the boy, and found him living down here with the miner known as Old Luckless. The miner had enemies who were willing to put anend tohis existence, and my money easily set a trap which the boy fell into, There seemed no way of escape, and ke would have followed the gir), but for the interference of that fellow known as Violet Vane. He got the boy off, and has managed to keep him con- cealed ever since, ‘* But Tam not a man to stor »%¢ trifles, had I been, I should have given it upas a bad job long ago, Now Lam determined te win. When tiis boy is found, the whole affair will be terminated in a short time,” Thus muttering aloud of his crooked schemes, the hypocritical rascal sauntered along. When fairly beyond the limit of the town, he had pro- duced and lighted a cigar, and he was enjoying a smoke, Adam continued down the stream till he came to where Daddy Duzenberry was industriously rocking the cradle, working tbe placer origini- nally discovered by Old Luckless. *“*T say, you,” called Jayne, after he had watched the old man for some time, © Daddy looked up, and, seeing who addressed him, sometbing like a look of contempt passed over his face, +6 Wal (id ‘*‘ How much can you make a day at that?’ ‘¢ Something less than a thousan’ dollars.” ‘‘T should imagine so,” snapped Adam, “T knew that.” es if ye knew ser much, w’at made ye ax me “TI thought I would receive a civil answer, old man,” ‘* Seems like you’re mighty int’rusted in my business,” ‘*It is not that, but I have always had a de- gire to know about how much a man can make in that way.” ‘Sho! Think we’re paid by ther day?” ‘*Ob, no; I understand you get what you wash out. But I am curious to know how much that is.” ** Sometimes it’s more; sometimes it’s less,” Adam scowled. ‘** You are an ill-mannered old curmudgeon!” Daddy deliberately turned round and stared at Jayne, his bands on his hips and his arms akimbo, There was a twinkle of mingled anger and mirth in his keen eyes, ‘Dunno but I'll hev ter do it,” he finally said, ‘spitting on his hands and rubbing them together, ** Do what? ‘Give ye a spankin’, same ag I did thet no- brained son of yourn.” Taf = i a get f. aT > on a ‘ ~* ‘ »* £ ~ <_— ee SO eee oe en 08 ee ere shee sal es ae 4h ob —_ named a a ome ee ee rs . to 6 ee ee ~ - ee A OE A SOT = =a and _- ee eS “Try it, if you dare!” cried Adam, retreat- ing several steps, his hand going back toward his hip-pocket. ‘¢ You don’t mean ter say you’d shoot?” **T certainly would.” ‘Wal, you’re a bigger fool then I thought, W’y, looker yere!” Quick as thought, Daddy snapped out a revol- ver and covered Jayne, who turned very pale, and dodged as if to getout of range. ‘Take yer ban’ off thet barker!” sternly commanded the old miner. ‘‘ Lively thar, ur Pll run a tunnel in yeranatomy! I mean ole business,” Adam immediately released his grasp on his own weapon, quickiy crying: ** Hold on, hold on! I did not mean anything! Can’t you stand a little sport, old man?” Daddy laughed, shortly. “Oh, yep; [’'m a great boy fer sport,” he as- serted, ‘* But you see [’m mighty fly. . They doa’t git ther yank on ther ole gent very oftun, you bet, So yon wuz in fun?” ** Of course I was,” ‘Waal, it’s mighty danger’us, I once knew a feller thet reached fer his hankerchook; t’other feller thought he wuz goin’ fer his gun, so he pulled an’ fired, They foun’ out arterwards thet ther fu’st one didn’t hev no gun. So he—” ‘** Daddy, supper is ready.” : Liz came dancing through the dusky shadows of the gathering twilight, but paused with a low exclamation, ‘finding herself face to face with Adam Jayne. At sound of the girl’s voice, the bogus clergyman gave a great start and mut- tered something like an oath of dismay or feur, ** Great God!” / Adam Jayne gasped the words, as he stared at the girl’s face like a man fascinated. His own features were transformed by an expression of genuine horror, And Liz seemed scarcely less moved. She shrunk from the man, as if in deadly fear, then, turning quickly, she fled toward the cabin. Adam Jayne started to follow, but Daddy Duzenberry’s hand checked him, Pointing to- ward Coffin City, the old miner uttered one word: “ec Git mum ‘* But that girl! ue GIT!” The revolver in the old man’s hands em- phasized his words, Jayne saw the uselessness of making any talk, and like one dazed, he stag- gered away. Daddy Duzenberry stood watch- ing him till his form was lost in the shadows, For considerable Cistance Jayne walked ilong his legs shaking under him and his teeth chat- tering. At length, he exclaimed, brokenly: **'The dead cannot return to life! She was drowned in the river! But that girl had her voice! It was a most remarkable resemblance, It is impossible that Jennie Kenyon escaped, and yet—” He did not finish the sentence, It was quite dark when he reached town, Entering the cabin, he found Jonas swinging in the hammock, a lighted lamp illuminating the room, At sight of his father’s face the younger rascal exclaimed; ‘¢ Baw Jove! you are white ath a theet! You look Jike you bad theen a gbotht?” ‘* And 1 feel as if I had,” confessed the shaken man. She is—” CHAPTER XII, TROUBLE IN THE JIM DANDY SALOON, “*THE Jim Dandy” was the principal saloon of Coffin City, and into that resort Leon Forest made bis way on the second evening after his arrival in town. Red Lark was within the saloon, and promptly approached the* tender- foot. ‘* Hello, pard,” saluted the miner, ‘* Lookin’ round over ther town?” Leon nodded, ‘* Lookin’ arter anything in pertwickerler?” ‘Oh, no; only seeking to pass away the time.” **Come in fer a drink?” ‘¢T do not drink.” ‘Is thet so? Don’t recxon ye hey got any wings sproutin’? You must be a little better’n common peoples!” <f Leon scarcely liked the man’s manner, still he had no care to make the red-bearded fellow his enemy, and, by the ‘‘ balmy” smell of Lark’s breath, it was evident he bad been drinking. “Not at all,” was bis quiet reply, oF am just a common, every-day sort of fellow. Does it make me any the less a man because I do not drink?” — ‘“* Not er derned bit!” beartily replied the red- bearded miner, extending bis hand, which was promptly accepted hy the young man, ‘Ef en es “=: — ORS F es ot = EF —<—— rr se sss sss you stick ter thet, youll kem out all right in ther eend, an’ be er derned sight better off nor them as guzzles ther cussid stuff, I take a drap now an’ then, but I know I am er blamed fool fer doim of it. It hes made me er shiftless, no- count sort of a critter, an’ it may be ther death of me yit,” OPinha's don’t you put on the brakes—chain up? ‘Waal, I’m allus tellin’ myself I will, but I dunno as I ever shell. Thet’s ther way w’en a feller gits ter turnin’ down ther stuff. He's allus promisin’ hisself he’s goin’ ter make a break putty soon, an he means it, but he never gits ter do it. It’s allus some time in ther future. An’so he goes it tell be gits ter seeiu’ snakes. Wen er man gits thet fur, thar hain’t much show fer him, boy. His goose is purt’ nigh cooked, fer his huJ] system’s all outer kil- ter, an’ he bain’t in no shape ter live like other people. He’s got ter hev fire-water ter keep his- self braced, an’ ginerally he swills tell he kicks ther bucket. Ther pesky p’ison’s all right in its place, but it’s stuff thet can’t be kep’ in its place. Thet’s w’at’s ther matter with the ole- fashioned lady we call Hannah!” ‘You would make quite a. temperance-lec- urer, Lark.” “Dunno but I w’u’d. Never thort of thet afore. I might try thet business. Reckon’ Pd be as bones’ as most of ther critters as go yoopin’ roun’ ther country ter shout an yowl on ther platform en’ take a nip behin’ ther door some- whar. I’ve allus made a failure at ev’ry thing I’ve tried, p’r’aps I kin come out top of ther heap as a temperance crank, Who knows? Boy, your suggestion may mean my forchune!” Leon joined in the man’s hearty laugh. “Do you know Adam Jayne?” inquired the younger man. ‘‘ Waal, [ sh’u’d shout! I hain’t bin hyer but one hull day an’ part of another, but 1|’ve got ther run of the place an’ ther people purt’ derned well. Adam Jayne is ther biggest blamed two-faced skunk that ever purtended ter be pious!” ‘“T do not know the man by sight, but I heartily agree with you. If there is a more dastardly hypocrite on the face of the earth, the world must be unfortunate, in“eed!” ‘‘- You say you don’t know him?” ‘¢ Not by sight.” ** Waal, you must hev heerd of him?’ ‘*T should say so.” ** Waal, now look at me! coward? No! Still,in your ear I would whisker ther fatal words; Jam/ Sad an’ turrible as it may seem ter you, my brave young frien’, lama pore, miser’ble coward! I know it, an’ it fills all my soul with a feelin’ of disgust an’ loatbin’ fer Red Lark! I bev enemies byer in Coffin’ City, an’ Adam Jayne is one of ’em, cuss him! Eff wuz not a coward, Id meet ’em like a man! But [ don’t durst—{ don’t durst!” Leon was surprised by the man’s singular manner and words, and he began to understand that Red Lark bad not come to Coffin City ina time of idle roaming. The miner had a purpose in visiting the place. ; ‘Tf Adam Jayne is your enemy, then you and I should surely be the best friends im- aginable, for he is mine, We should form a combine against bim,” ‘¢ Right, lad, right!” “Ts ita go?” ‘¢-You bet!” ) ‘© We will stick by each other through thick Do TI look likeva and thip, and in everything we will work against Adam Jayne?” sé Yep.” ‘‘ But you must let up drinking, if you want to become my pard.” **T'll do it, tenderfut.” ‘* That settles it! Your hand, Lark!” Again their hands met in a firm grasp, ‘‘T his is ther combine thet’ll down ole Adam,” chuckled the red-bearded jfellow, ‘* Anyhow he’s got two enemies in this yere camp.” | ‘‘He has moretban two. There is yet another of whom [ knuw.” ** Who's thet?” ‘6 A sport who calls himself Violet Vane.” ‘‘T’ve heerd of ther feller. Ef ther yarns they tell of him are true, he’s er terror on trucks.” ‘*T have heard as much,” ‘« Ever see him?” ** Yes,” ** Lately?” “* Yes,” Whar?” .‘* He was at the hotel yesterday.” ‘Then he is in this town?” ge fk “Ef thet’s so, we're ap’ ter see him in hyer e ‘ f: e » as 49 tla Ay ' : \ + : Dit nf y 4 Fb ie *~ ged , ~.w~«~ om