Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 730 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

\ ” \ j | i i, a be ‘ a } Y ; f i } ; od ig Ms } ' v ' Wl ' ; \ : ' 0) ; 7 W - d RS . r] \, } 9 ' j el , - ; ee - - cy 7 % j } *4 “ < v - f , ; \ to say you are looking for revenge on Adam Jayne for some injury he has done you?” uan Pacheco shook his head. ‘*T am afraid [ have come at this matterin an awkward fashion,” he said, speaking surprising- ly pure English, ‘‘Itis not that man on whom seek revenge, but if I have been informed rightly, that man is connected with the case, I have been told he is searching for a boy—a rela- tive of his. Was that ccrrect?” ‘* Possibly so, possibly so,” and the lawyer slowly rubbed his hands together, while he studied the face of his visitor as if seeking to discover just what the man was coming at, Juan smiled, | ‘**T understand your suspicions,” he declared; *fand I see in what an awkward manner [ have aroused them. ButI tell you the truth, senor, when I say the man who recently left this office is not the man on wkom I seek revenge. The oue I am after is an enemy of his, Perhaps you know of him?’ ‘**T can tell, if you will kindly mention the in- dividual’s name, dear sir,” ** He is known as Violet Vane.” To say Elias was startled and surprised would be expressing it mildly; but he concealed bis emotion to a great extent, simply rolling the cigar into the other corner of his mouth ana blowing out a vast cloud of smoke at the same time. ** It seems to me as if I have heard of the fel- low,” he finally admitted, ‘‘A dapgerous man he is,” asserted the Mexi- cau. * Would you object telling me your grievance against him?” sinoothly inquired Slink, Juan hesitated a moment, closely scanning the lawyer’s face before he spoke, *‘{ think [ can trust you,” he finally said, “I shall not tell you anything you can use against me, though I bardly think you would take such an advantage.” ‘* Most assuredly not, most assuredly not!” Elias hastened to say, smoothly rubbing his bony hands together. ‘‘ You can trust me fully, freely.” ** Let it be enough to say I belonged to a band of men of whom the leader was a beautiful American lady. What the men were or why they were organized it makes litile difference, We all respected and admired our leader, for she was as daring as fair. But she was stern, None of us dared make love to her,though many were eager to do so.* Among others, I worshiped he~ secretly; { would have given up my life for her. And she—she loved this man known as Violet Vane !” The final words were uttered in a tone that nearly lifted the lawyer from the table and so startled him that he dropped his cigar, caught it asit fell and clapped the lighted end into his mouth. With a yell of pain, astonishment and disgust, Elias leaped into the air, ejecting the cigar fairly into the face of the amazed Mexican. The moment his feet struck the floor, the lawyer started on arun around the room, thrusting bis burned tongue out into the cool air, and cry- ing: ‘* Wow! Google-oogle-cogle-oo !” It was evident he was swearing in an un- restrained manner, but ashe kept his tongue thrust out, his words all sounded the same and might bave been a choice phrase from the Hot- tentot language for all his auditor could tell, Catching up the bottle of liquor, the unlucky man took several big swallow® but the fiery stuff nearly strangled him and he fell to cough- ing inan alarming manner, rubbing his throat with his hands, while bis «yes bulged out like b uge buttons. ** Madre de Dios!” gasped the Mexican. ‘The man is mad!—he is having a fit! I will eall assistance!” He started for the door, but the Jawyer caught him before he could get it open. ** Hold on—all right!” hespluttered. ‘‘ Burned tongue on dad-blanked cigar!” He soon succeeded in making Juan under- stand, and led the Mexican back to his seat, vict.usly stamping on the cigar, which lay on the floor where it had fallen, When he was quite sure the lawyer was not deranged, Juan continued: x ** As Isaid, the woman I loved, loved this vel- vet American. That was enough to make me hate him! But be cared nothing for her, and that made me hate him a thousand times more fiercely. In truth, he scorned her, and she was fair as the flowers! Still, when she knew he cared nothing for her, she continued to love him. I will not tell youall the wretched story, senor; let it be enough to say he was the direct f : UF ah os o ’ ' ant erent, a rere ? — Aaa Pe et ~s ‘ fa ‘tx " we -! VET Oe te ROS RO Ne ae Violet Vane’s Verdict. ae a ae ne eee ee Ce cause of her death—the cause of the death of the one I loved! I still love her in Heaven, for one so beautiful must go there! I swore to have re- venge on him, but simply his death will not sat- isfy me, I have been where I could slay him several times, but [ held my hand, waiting for a greater revenge. It will come! it will come!” ‘*But how does this concern me?’ inquired Slink, slowly rubbing his hands together and half-closing bis eyes. ‘‘lam sure I hardly un- derstand why you have come to me with this story, sir.” ** That is not difficult to explain, I have been tracking this vel7et American, and I have seen him with a boy. I heard that the one who left this office a short time ago is looking for a boy supposed to be in the hands of Violet Vane. I came to you to learn if this is true.” ‘*{f it is, can you tell us where the boy is now?’ The Mexican shook his head. **T did know till a short time ago, Till then, the boy and the American were living in an old hut far up among the mountains,” ‘Till how long ago?” “About a week. Then I think they discov- ered [ was watching the but. In one night they disappeared. I have followed the American here; [ know not where the boy is,” ** But you think you could find bim?” ‘*T do, if it would injure Violet Vane,” ** Well, it will, sir, it will! You will be strik- ing a direct blow for vengeance, and be aiding us at the same time, If you find out where the boy is, come directly to me, and be sure you tell no one else, I will pay you one hundred dollars if you are able to give me information that will lead to the securing of the boy. Is it a bar- gain? ‘* Si, senor,” Their hands met, CHAPTER V. DADDY DUZENBERRY’S “ GAL.” AS has already been stated, the lank, angular old fellow known as Daddy Duzenberry, was a recent comer in Coffin City. He was a queer genius who seemed to care for nobody, and he had an odd, comical way of saying the most commonplace things. He would give a ludicrous twist to expressions, which would not have rais- ed a smile had they been uttered by any ove else, His wit was of that nameless character which it is impossible to express in cold type, and bis boimely face and figure seemed to re- double the humor of everything he said, In appearance he was more of a Down-East Yankee than a Westerner, Daddy Duzenberry did not come alone to Coffin City. With him came a girl, of whom he always spoke of as ‘‘my gal.” She had blue eyes ond short curly hair, being really pretty, despite the questionable style of her garments. She seemed a bit shy and awkward, but there was a merry twinkle in ker blue eyes that told of a hidden fountain of fun, ‘*Good gal ’s ever breathed, Liz is,” asserted tbe old man, proudly, ‘*She hain’t no cuckoo, but she allus stan’s by ther oleman. Some fel- lers may think she’s old ernongh to hev a beau. Wal, ef I ketch any of ’em snoopin’ roun’ whar she is an’ playin’ soft, I'll leave the impression of my ban’ on ther part of his breeches thet gits ther most wear an’ tear w’en he’s settin’ down,” The accommodations in Ccflin City were of a decidedly limited nature, and after examining the cabin built by Old Luckless, which stood about a mile down the creek, Daddy made in- quiries concerning it. He was told the place was haunted by the spirit of the original owner, who had been murdered there, “Git eout!” grinned the old man, ‘‘ Sperrits! Fush? I hev never seen no sperrits thet I keered fer, egcept liquid sperrits, an’ I guess mebbe I do care more fer them than I’d ougbter, W’at I want ter know is: Who owns thet shanty?” On being toid that there was no living person who had a claim upon it, Daddy straightway ahewupced his intention of moving into the ut. ** Haow about thet placer thar in ther crick?” he inquired. aal,” said Sweet Jim, one of the tough characters of Coffin City, ‘“ef you begin ter work thet an’ sticks ter it, you'll do better’n I think, One feller tried it sence Old Luckless A Ppl ad out, but he said he c’u’dn’t earn his salt. ‘Wal, Vl try it,” nodded Daddy. ‘‘ Thar’s suthin’ in ther Bible about try never bein’ beat, [ hain’t wealthy, an’ I hev got ter do suthin’ ter git chuck fer me an’ Liz.” So he moved into the cabin and set up house- keeping with the utensils left by the former a ee eee a ———L—$ LL EE Bay owner of the place, which, strange to say, had not been stolen, It was shortly after this that Jonas Jayne joined his father in Coffin City, the elder Jayne having come to the place alone originally, Although Jonas was an insipid fellow, he prided himself on being something of a ladies’ man, and, having beard of Lizzie Duzenberry, ° he exerted himself enough to walk down to the cabin beside the creek, hoping to catch a glimpse ot the girl whom all Coffin City pronounced ‘‘a stunner,” Jonas was even more successful than he had dared hope, for, as he was sauntering slowly along, swinging his cane and smoking a ciga- rette, he suddenly came face to face with Daddy Duzenberry’s ‘‘ gal,” Liz started back with a cry of alarm, and seemed on the point of run- ning away, but, as he lifted his hat and bowed very low, the dude hastened to say: ‘“*T beg your oot I weally do! I twusth you will not be alawmed, fair damthel, I would not hawm you for the world, I athure you.” Liz looked puzzled and amused. It was pos- sible she bad never before met a creature of ex- actly that sort, and she inspected it with curios- ity.. Jonas was flattered by the thought that he bad made an instant impression, and he bowed again, more effusively than at first, pressing one hand on his bosom over his heart, ‘‘Thith ith a gweat pleathure,” he declared, ‘¢T theartbly dweamed of meeting a young lad of thuch pwepothething appearance in thit wild thection of the countwy—I weally didn’t.” Liz turned away to bide a smile, ** Allow me tointwoduthe mythelf,” continued Jonas, feeling fora card. ‘*Good gwathuth! L have forgotten my cawds!” He seemed really distressed, ‘*Never mind the keerds, mister,” said Liz, ** Daddy don’t ‘low me to play keerds,” ‘‘ Baw Jove!” Then Jonas removed his cigarette from bis mouth, but the vacuum was instantly filled by the head of his cane, and, standing thus, he stared at Liz with increasing admiration, ** Deothed pritty giri!” he muttered, removin the cane, ‘‘ Dethidedly chawming! Thith it equal to the fwind of a gold mine! Blue eyes, weal yellow hair, wed lips! Ob, yum!” Jonas was allowing his emotions to quite carry himaway, | ‘*What did ye say, sir?’ asked Liz, who had not caught all et the young man’s words, ‘* Was ye"speakin’ of iy?” \ “1 wath, i don’t dare wepeat it for fear you might—aw—be offended.” At this Liz fired up. “So you was makin’ sportof me, was ye?” she cried, advancing toward him, with her hands tightly clinched and her eyes flushing. ‘* Now, if there is any one thing I won’t stan’ it’s thet, mister. You've got ter take it back!” As she advanced, Jonas retreated in amaze< ment, gasping: “My gwathuth! Sheis a weg’lar thpit-fire! I wath not thaying anything of the kind, I athure you, Mith—Mith— Ugh!” The final exclamation came from bis lips as one of his feet struck against a stone and he sat down on the ground with more force than grace, nearly biting his tongue in two as he did so, ‘‘Ow-wow!” he moaned, dropping his cane and cigarette and pressing bis hands to the sides of his face. ‘I believe Iam killed—I do, baw Jove!” Liz stopped and pressed her hands to her sides, being convulsed with laughter at sight of the discomfiture of the would-be masher. ** Ha, ha, ba!” she laughed, the sound ringing out like merry music, ‘If you will come here, Pll help ye up, mister.” ‘Taint anything to lawf at!” was Jonas’s indignant assertion. © anything funny about it!” ‘Tt is all in ther way ye look at a thing, mis- ter. If you was me an’ J jest come nigh to splittin’. DU’m giad you hap- pened along, fer 1 hain’t hed so much funina week, and I was gittin* kind of lonesome,” ' Jouas struggled to his feet, looking very red in the face. ‘¢T weckon the joke ith on me thith time,” he finally confessed, brushing the dirt from his pantaloons, ‘* I don’t know ath I weally blame you for lav fing, but you are thuch a chawmin girl, ye know, it did cut me up dweadtul, athure youl wath not thaying anything un- complimentary to you, dear mith, In fact—” edging closer to her and giving her a heart- breaking look—‘* you are thuch a beautiful girl that I am quithe smitten by your chawms, Your eyeth are of the heavenly blue; lipths—” = ‘*Harged if I can thee. — was you, [guess you’d — your ee gis: fe 75 e¢ P’ | 4 ‘ ° - ’ . . . , 7 ’ Fi : - re | at “ys * iar. 7 i a | | } La a, 2 ” = ee eee eee _® gon = 8S 3 o “- Ee eee — Lar A] ¢