Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 730 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

f ’ P| 2 Ty any oot ¥ on af ea. t Fa ik YA if they’d jest riddle it, there, eS EE RE ES ES a a FS RNG ee | Saal AN ew Sd tl Ri ne ae ter-night, He’d be purt’ sure ter stick his nose inter ther chief saloon of ther town.” ‘¢ Who is that big fat bloat over at the bar?” “Thet? W’y, boy! thet’s Jedge Benjamin Hogg; though whar heever got any right ter ther title of jedge is more then any man kin tell, He is in with ther wu’st critters of ther place, an’ he kin drink more bug-juice then a little bit.” ** Well, I have noticed he is turning down the liquor pretty freely.” ‘*You bet! See them two critters with him now?” ‘* Sure,” ‘*Them’s Lank Ike an’ Sweet Jim, an’ ef two cusses ever desarved ther rope, it’s them! They are p’ison!” ** ‘You are remarkably well-posted for the short time you have been in camp.” ‘‘T have made it my business ter git posted, fer I hed an objec’ in doin’ so. I didn’t kem ter Coffin City fer ther fun of ther ride, son.” At this moment Jonas Jayne sauntered into the saloon, He was attired in a suit of ‘clothes which Red Lark declared were ‘‘so loud they c’u’d be heard a mile.” He wore a silk hat, car- ried a cane, and was smoking a cigarette, as usual **See thet thing?” snorted Lark. ‘* Waal, ef thet wuzn’t ole Jayne’s brat an’ ole Jayne wuzn’t in with ther toughs of this town, thet?d be shot dead ther minute it stepped inter this saloon. Ther boys’u’d fetch a-yoop an’ all pull the’r pops at ther same time; then, without any furder fuss, It’s lucky fer him thet ole Javne’s his dad.” ; Jonas sauntered up to the bar and ordered whisky. ‘‘Judge” Hogg and his companions crowded around, expecting the dude would offer to treat. Finding he was not going to do so, Hogg cried: Qs _ Say, looker hyer, Jonas, are we in it?” +s Aw?” : ‘‘Hain’t ye goin’ ter set ’em up?” The“young man’s nose curled somewhat con- temptuously, as he surveyed the fat and greasy individual before him, ‘* What thould I thet ’em up for?” he asked. ‘* Wer yer ole dad’s sake,” replied the ** judge,” scowling. ‘*This hain’tno place fer you ter be too mighty fine, We're onter thet dad of yourn with both feet, Jest now he’s our frien’, but ef you don’t treat—- Waal, we know how ter talk.” ‘ Jonas turned very red and muttered something like an oath, then he said; “Why, thirs, if you are fwiends of me vaw’s, I thurely will tweat.” ‘‘[ knowed it,” chuckled Hogg. whisk’, barkeep’.” Lank [ke aud Sweet Jim also took whisky. The ice having been broken in this manner, Jonas indulged freely, his tongue swiftly becom- ing loosened. ‘*T thay,” he cried, tipping his silk hat far back on his head, and leaning agairst the bar, while he lighted a fresh cigarette with the still burning stub of the one just smoked, * I’m a pretty good feller, baw Jove!” ‘‘ Thet’s a fac’,” nodded * Judge ” Hogg. ‘‘ Nobody’d ever s’pect it ter look at ye, but you hain’t hafe bad.” ‘‘ ve got the wocks, too,” boasted the shallow- brained fop. ‘‘ Paw, he ponieth up, ye know. I’m going to fall wight into a big fortune pretty thoon. When I git it, I will make the fur fly. I will dwive a team of my own, then, baw 1)? cas ge a sure thing, is it?” asked the “ judge,” winking at one of bis companions. “Weil, I thould thmile!” was Jonas’s reply. ‘“ Pawith a shawp one, you can bet on that, He knowth hith buithness, evwy time.” ** Fe looks it.” ‘‘ He don’t like to have medwink,” the shallow youth continued. ‘ But he cawn’t help it verwy “ Strai ght well. He thometimeth taketh a thmile him- thelf.”’ ‘Ts thet so?” ‘“‘“Thure, He liketh it ath well ath the west of uth.” | ‘‘ But how "bout thet forchune?” ‘Oh, that ith all wight! Weare thure to get ye know.” | ‘ That settles my last doubt!” softly exclaim- ed Leon Forest, who had been eagerly listening to the young man’s words. “J am sure now Adam ayne is the double-faced villain I took him to be,” ie “Then you know suthin’ *bout thet forchune business?” spoke Red Lark. * Perhaps.” ' “Crooked game ther ole cuss is onto?” “You have hit it.” a” 7 ae ** You are meanin’ ter block it?” ‘If I can.” ‘* 1m yer pard; Pll holp yer.” Jonas continued his boasting talk, till suddenly Adam Jayne entered the saloon. 3 Hello!” cried the young man, aw !” With his face drawn into a look of deepest sorrow, Adam advanced toward bis wayward son, ‘* Jonas,” came solemnly from his lips, ‘‘ only the Lord knows how it wrings my paternal heart to see you in such a place as this! It is with difficulty [ can restrain my tears,” ** How did you happen to come in, paw?” ‘*? was looking for you, my son,” “That ith a gweat guy, guy. came in faw a thmile, old man?” ** Jonas!” ‘*Veth, thir.” ‘*You have been drinking! You must come away with me atonce, I shall spend the night in humiliation and prayer.” ‘*Oh, cheeth it, paw! That wacket ith play- ed out, ye know!” Adam’s hand fell on his son’s shoulder, ‘¢ Come” he said, sternly. ** Don’t be in thuch a wush, paw. and we'll have a dwink together,” The elder Jayne seemed on the point of bursting into tears, ‘*Oh, that I should have lived to see this!” he moaned, ‘* The Lord has seen fit to send a heavy affliction upon me, and [I trust he wiil give me strength to bear it likea good Chris- tian. “You thould have a thmile to bwace you up, guy.” ‘* You know I never touch the demon’s drink, my son. Come; I will stay in this place of sin no longer.” ‘Well, jutht dwink,” But Adam would not wait, He insisted on leading Jonas away, which made the young man quite angry, As they were passing toward the door, Jonas tried to break from his father’s restraining hand. In this be succeeded, but he stumbled in an awkward manner and fell against Leon Forest, **There ish Weckon you Hold on wait till I have one more who, with Red Lark, was standing a short’ distance from the door. Instead of apologizing, he uttered a snarl] of rage and struck at Leon with his cane, But he did not hit the young man, Springing aside, Leon caught the cane and wrenched 1t from its owner’s hand. ‘* Have a care what you are doing!” he sternly cried, For a moment Jonas was too astounded to speak, then he began to remove his coat, crying: “Baw Jove! I will thow you manerth, ye know!” ‘A fight! a fight!” The crowd surged toward the point of trouble, eager to witness the fun. ** Hold on!” cried Adam Jayne, springing for- ward, ‘*I cannot allow this! Hold on, I say!” ‘*Sthand back, paw, and hold my coat,” said Jonas. ‘*I have been inthulted, and by gwa- thuth! I am going to lick the impwudent w’etch that did it! Thatith the kind of a hair-pin I am |” : CHAPTER XITi. VIOLET VANE ON HAND, JONAS really meant to fight, He had absorb- ed enough liquor to give bim a fictitious cour- age, and just then he imagined he was the match for any man on legs. Adam really tried to prevent the encounter, but the crowd was delighted at the prospect, and he was hustled aside in an unceremonious manner. ; . Deliberately Jonas removed his coat, passing it to a spectator to hold. ‘Come, thir!’ he cried, as he saw Leon was making no preparations. ‘* lam going to punch your eye, thir,” Forest contemptuously tossed the cane on ae floor at the feet of the slightly intoxicated ude, ‘*'You had better take your father’s advice and go home,” he declared. ‘Ob, I had, had I!” squawked Jonas, fla ping his arms very much as if they were a pair of wings. ‘ You think tho,doyou! Well, thir, I will go home after I have bwoken your nothe, Get off your coat, thir!” ** Yow ll hev ter fight ther fool, lad,” muttered Red Lark. ‘Jest strip an’ go fer him. Knock ther packin’ outer his skin, ef you love me!” ‘You commenced this,” protested Leon. ‘**Had you not stumbled against me and then tried to strike me with your cane, it would have been all right, Ido not want to fight with u. ‘* Well, you have got to do tho, jutht the thame, [am going to thow you where you be- long, thir.” ‘It is plain you are not where you belong. If you were, you would not be here.” ‘*Tth that tho? Where would I be?” **Tn an asylum for idiots,” At this Jonas uttered a squealing howl and made arush for Leon, The tenderfoot seemed quite unprepared, but he met the charge with- out quailing. Jonas struck out with both fists, one after the other, and the blows were neatly parried, then— Smack-smack ! With his open hands, Forest had slapped the furious dandy on both cheeks, ‘* Oh-o-o! Good gwathuth!” Clinging to his tingling cheeks, Jonas danced about in a lively manner, his gyrations eliciting bursts of wild laughter from the spectators, ‘* Brace up, Tall Hat!” ‘‘Go for him again, Cigarettes!” ‘** Hit him in the same place!” Red Lark was delighted, ‘** Good boy!” he exclaimed, slapping his hands together, ‘* I'll resk you, pard!” ‘You hain’t done, are ye, Jonas?” inquired ‘“ Judge” Hogg, anxiously. ‘‘No, Iam not!” snapped the dude. “If you felloth will keep sthill and mind your budthneth, I will attend to thith job!” ‘* Well, w’at are ye doin’ now?” ‘““T am only wethting.” ‘¢ You get tired easy!” Jonas turned toward Leon, who was quietly regarding bim, his hands hanging in a natural position by his sides, ‘T thpose you think you are thmart!”? Leon’s reply was asmile, ‘* Well, 1 am going to thow you thome points,” boasted the coxcomb, ‘‘I wath only fooling that time,” ‘* Ditto.” Deliberately Jonas removed his cuffs and roll- ed up his sleeves, displaying a very ordinary pair of arms, ‘‘Thith meanth that I am going to annihilate you,” he declared, Having made these arrangements, he caus tiously approached bis opponent, standing on guard in a boxing attitude. But Leon did not even raise hishands, Observing this, Jonas fan- cied he saw a chance to end the battle with a few sharp strokes, and. he let himself out. Once more he met with a surprising set-back, Leon dodged his blows and gave bim a crack on the jaw that sent him steggering back into the arms of ‘‘ Judge” Hogg, who prevented him from falling limply to the floor, Goodneth gwathuth!” Jonas faintly gasped the words, staring up- ward at the ceiling, ‘*T thought a piece of the woof had fallen in,” he explained, ‘* Wbat did he stwike me with?” ‘* Nothing but his fist, pard,” ‘Oh, come off: It wath a club, baw Jove!” ** Tl reckon not,” ‘Well, it wath! I weckon I know a club when it bits me, I am not going to fight any more, ye know, if he don’t fight fair. I cawn't afford to have me jaw bwoken with a club,” It was with great difficulty he was convinced he had been struck by nothing but Leon Forest’s bexp knuckles. Even then he insisted it was not air, _“T wath not weady,” he asserted, ‘ Thith Jumping on a feller when be ith not pwepared, itb too thin,” ; ‘He will most prob’ly wait tell you are ready next time.” ‘I gueth I don’t want to fight any more,” But, on being urged not to give it up in that. way, he decided to try it again. ° ** Thith time [ will thwash the wascal,” he as- serted, Slowly and deliberately he crept toward Leon, in whose ear Red Lark hoarsely whispered: © ‘*Plug him one on the nose this time, pard! Make him see stars!” ~ Jonas was shy; experience had taught him he had not tackled an easy job, ‘¢ Jutht you come at me once,” he entreated, ‘‘T'll therve you the thame ath you did me, Jutht you make a wush once.” ‘* Well,” smiled Leon, ‘if that is what you are waiting for, here goes,’ Then be sprung at Jonas with a promptness which made it impossible for the coxcomb to avoid him, Jonas struck out at Leon’s face, but wasted the blow on empty air. The following moment the stroke was returned, and the ten- Va chs Pee , oni A | , ‘ \' w ' . \ \ at . wha