Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 730 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

L ea j y a ~~ ‘ aol b » Ty z S y : oe ? 4K Po) Mi ra Nie : | =< oan tc J : r 7 Hel wea Ps a 4 iri phy) ay eae, ve -_ —-—— —_ oe ae ee eee + n’t keer so much fer my money arter all, an’ I hev beerd he laid right daown thar whar I met him an’ died. I can’t say it is true, fer 1 didn’t %end ther funeral, It wuz an oversight on my part, an’ I hev allus regretted it. I oughter hev went as chief mourner.” ‘‘Satan has many friends!” muttered Adam Jayne, as he saw this new addition to the force of the hated enemy. ‘“Thet’s so, by Judas!” agreed Daddy Duzen- berry. ‘An’ ef ther Ole Feller hain’t got you on ther list, it’s a big oversight on his part,” It was plain the toughs were filled with dis- may at this new addition to the force opposing them, They seemed far from ready to attack Violet Vane aud his friends. Again Jayne urged them on, but this time his words were wasted. ‘Taint no good,” gurgled Hogg. ‘ Ther boys won’t butt erg’in’ all thet gang. Thet Vierlet Vane is er boly howler with a gun, an’ I Yow Ole Duzenberry hain’t ser slow as he looks, As fer Reddy an’ ther kid, they’d count some. Ef ther boys tried ter down ther crowd, thar’d be ther wu’st ruction you ever saw, an’ jest like- ly’s not you’d be ther fu’st ter be socked with a lead pill.” This caused Adam to turn pale and lose some of his ardor. ‘But are we going to let them get away?” he asked, helplessly. ** Don’t see no way out of it.” Jayne was furious. When he saw Violet Vane, he had hoped to overpower the Sport and force from his lips a confession of the wherea- bouts of the missing boy; but now such a course seemed out of the question. ‘‘ May the Lord give us strength to overcome the minions of the Evil One!” murmured the two-faced hypocrite. ‘It ith not a go, paw,” put in Jonas, who had succeeded in checking the flow of blood from his nose, ‘** You may ath well give it up and help me out of thith blawsted plathe.” ‘¢ Had you not come to this den of infamy, my son, all would have been well.” ‘Oh, give uth a west. I am not going to sthand any more of that sthuff,ye know!” Adam produced bis handkerchief and wiped ampy en imaginary tear. - heart bas been wrung with anguish,” be sobbed, ‘It is a terrible thing to consider the wickedness and sin there is in this small world. For all of the efforts of the servants of the ame iniquity..seems.on the increase, Ah, um Jonas passed his arm through that of his father, ** Come, paw.” Then they made their way toward the door, and left the saloon together. Sweet Jim fol- lowed them, and just outside, Adam turned toward the tough, saying in a low voice: ‘Go back and watch Violet Vane! Find out where that boy is and help me get possession of him and I will pay you five hundred dollars!” Then the two Jaynes went onward, leaving the astonished tough at the door. thet ter due th “* Kid! Gre mas ps ae et ter fine ther kid! Great I kno whar ther kid is now |” “ageless “i CHAPTER XV, HOT WORK AT HAND. THE departure of the Jaynes was the signal for hostile demonstrations to end. The toughs turned toward the bar, and the four men who bad braved their intended attack were left to themselvss. ** Wal,” ned Daddy Duzenberry, “ this seoms ter be ther eend of ther fun, Thar wasn’t much to it,” he added, mi Mora fi 8 et appearance frightened them off,” jest- ‘Wal, I dunno’s I wonder,” was the reply. ‘¢T guess I look bad ernough ter skeer most any- body. I’m gal-danged glad I wuz roun’ ter take er ban’.” ‘* Well, your aid came in very appropriate, They were on the point of coming at us when you chipped.” ‘¢ ooked that way.” ‘¢ We should have been in hot water soon.” ‘Then I sp’iled a good raow?” 4 ” Ss. * Jest my luck! I chipped in ’specting’ ter hev some fun.” : ‘“‘ You are always looking after fun, Daddy.” “You bet yer I be igh I’m detarmined ter go fer all ther fun I kin git outer this life.” 9 Well, I fancy the fun is not over, by any ** Haow’s thet?” ' i¥ ’ - ’ vs ——— ! i" j 1“ aT Violet Vane’s Verdict. — ae eee | A _— ‘T think there will be hot work somewhere in Coffin City or its suburbs before morning.” ‘* W’at makes ye think so?” ‘‘T have good reasons.” ‘ Are you goin’ ter take er ban’?” ‘‘ 1 shall try to be around,” ** Can’t ye let us in?” ‘‘ Well, it is possible. I should be pleased if you will hold yourselves ready to aid me in case of emergency.” ‘We will do that,” declared Leon Forest, ‘*T am ready to do what I can for you, for you saved my life. Adam Jayne would have taken me by surprise when there was no weapon in my hand, I thank you for the prompt manner in which you disarmed him.” ‘*T was delighted at having an opportunity to balk that hypocritical wretch, His schemes will all come to naught in the end, and he will receive the just reward of his crooked work,” ** T hope so,” ‘“if I could only prove be was at the bottom of the murder of dla Luckless, 1 would soon wind up his career, If I had proof of that, I would not wait for his tools to goon with the work they have planned; but, as i cannot prove it, L must give them rope enough to hang them- selves and their master, When they have fully insnared themselves, then I will crush them,” ‘‘T hope you'll need help ter do ther crushin’ act, I want ter git er finger inter ther pie,” ‘* An’ so do I,” declared Red Lark, ‘*T would not object to having a hand,” as- serted Leon. ‘*Tf only had absolute proof of one crime I know this Jayne committed, | would soon have him dangling at the end of a rope,” asserted Vane, ‘* Was it that of which you charged him?” ec Yes,” ‘sThen you believe the man truly capable of murder?” ‘*] believe he would stop at nothing to gain his ends,” ‘¢ And I think so, too.” ** But haow about thet Greaser?” asked Daddy Duzenberry. ‘I hev seen ther critter, He actually tried ter make love ter my gal, b’gosh! I knowed bis voice soon’s I heerd him yoop. He'll be knifin’ you, pard.” ‘*T shall have to take my chances,” was Vane’s quiet reply. ‘‘ If the fellow would meet me like a man—” ‘But he won’t, he won't!” Daddy snapped, ‘* Don’t [ know suthin’ of ther critters? ied ter make love ter my gal! Foun’ bim daown on his knees, with her han’ in his! Woosh! I[kem nigh faintin’!” ‘What did you do?’ ‘* Do? You bet I lit on his neck!” ‘Wat follered?” grinned Red Lark, who was well acquainted with the facts. ‘* Wal,” said Daddy, slowly, ‘I kinder slip- ped an’ fell daown., Ther p'ison skunk wuz goin’ ter knife me, but Liz she kivered him with a pop, an’ tole bim ter slide out. He slid,” ‘An’ I wuz ther feller thet saw him laffin’ like he hed struck a reg’ler picnic.” ** Gal-dang him!” ‘“ Juan is bad medicine,” said Vane, ‘* You had better keep him from your girl, Daddy. He is quite a masher,” “Wal, I'l] mash him ef I ever ketch him snoopin’ aroun’ again!” ‘You may give him one for me,” said Vane. “ But I will have to leave you folks to atteud to some business 1 have on band.” ‘Got ter go?” “You? “Kem up an’ hey er drink,” invited Red rk, Vane declined. = There is one point I want you to remember,” said the Sport. ‘It is this: if amy one touches their forehead with the forefingér of their left hand and speaks the word ‘caution,’ he is my friend, Do you understand?” ** You bet!” : ‘‘ Well, remember that. No matter who it is, if he gives you that signal, he 1s my friend.’ ** Correct,” ‘* Look out for hot work.” **We will,” He left them and turned toward the door. They watched bim till he passed out of the sa- oon, ‘““ As w’ite er man as ever drored breath!” as- serted Daddy Duzenberry. ‘I believe you are right,” said Leon Forest, *T like him better the more I see of him.” Outside the saloon Vane paused aud mused for several minutes, scarcely aware he was being watched by a pair of glittering eyes. “Yes, there is hot work ahead!” muttered Vane. “I almost fancy to-night will see the termination of the crooked game. If my plans do not go amiss, Adam Jayne will meet with a crushing defeat. His trusted tools have been playing to suck as much money out of him as possible, and they would continue the snap; but [shall ruin all their plans, I bave deceived them even more successfully than I hoped, I want to catch one of them in such a position that I can make him acknowledge my verdict was a just one. Thatis the chief thing 1 have been playing for.” He walked slowly away. At a certain distance a skulking figure crept through the darkness io his footsteps, He was being shadowed, By whom? Was it Juan Pacheco? Vane did not long remain unconscious of the fact tbat he was being dogged, but he made no sign of discovering that was the case, Calmly he continued on his way, seeming quite absorb- ed by his thoughts, The shadower did not dream he had been detected. The Velvet Sport passed beyond the corner of a building, and the one who was following him hurried forward, fearful of losing the man in the darkness, He rushed straight upon a trap, for as he pass- ed the corner of the cabin the heavy butt of a revolver crashed down upon his head, knocking him senseless, ““T fancy that will keep you quiet for a time,” observed Violet Vane, as he put up his revolver and walked serenely away into the darkness, CHAPTER XVI. AT SLINK’S OFFICE, ADAM JAYNE assisted bis son to stagger through the darkness to the cabin where they were stopping, and stagger Jonas did, for, the. excitement of the fight being over, the liquor he had swallowed began to affect his legs, It also made its presence known by his speech, ‘‘Snocked him out *f ’tadn’t—hic!—been f” you, paw,” the youth thickly protested. “TI wath, gug-gug-goin’ t’ hit—hic!—him in eye, I wath.” | , “Oh, yes!” sneered Adam. ‘**T know al} about it! Jonas, you made a fool of yourself —a blooming fool!” | ‘Oh, paw!” ** Oh, rats!” ‘That ith—hic!—schlang, paw.” ‘‘ Well, your actions are enough to make me fall from grace and talk slang! Sbut up now and come along. Oh, Lord! that I should ever come to this! Here I am, a devoted parent, helping home a drunken son!” “ Ain’s hawf tho dwunk—hic!—ath you wath thith mawnin’, paw.” ‘Shut up and coms along!” So Adam aided Jonas into the cabin and, 5 a much difficulty, deposited him in the ham-~ mock. ome, ie. “a . *'You can lay there till you sleep off the ~ jag,” said the elder Jayne, ‘‘Ob, Jonas, Jonas! you will have an awful head in the morning!” ‘*You—hic!—sthpeak frawm thpewience w,” gurgled the brilliant youth, as he settl imself and closed his eyes. “ ms t, ol’ boy.” Adam surveyed the picture with unutterable disgust, and at that moment, pee he re- alized he was in truth responsible for the dis- raceful condition of his boy. He had tried to ide his: true nature from his son, but the yonth had been able to see through the sham and pretense, and he was simply imitating his parent’s example. With something like a n, the plotter turned and left the cabin, He paused outside, and muttered: | ‘‘Old man Duzenberry is in Coffin City; now | ; would be an excellent time to get hold of that girl. I must see Slink and find out what he can do,” He hurried toward Lawyer Slink’s office, There was no ligbt in the office and the door was fast, but Adam gave a peculiar rap and was immediately admitted, ‘Ah, is it you, my dear sir?” purred the voice of the oily lawyer. ‘*I was scarcely lookin a visit from you at this time. Remain sir, while I make the door secure, and lw duct you to a seat. There it is, and con- are, Sit right down.” “*T have aoe on im nt business,” Jayne immediately began. “ It is sate tag that must. be attended to at once.” | ae i To-night «fk “wy Vtg ‘Ts it possible, dear sir!” pala * ; ‘ : | | ft : M 4 here you 4 » ” ni, / 5 e dy a ¢: ° > nS . a 4 . Sut) a’ * { sie vs