Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 763 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ‘© A letter.” ‘* A letter?” cs Yes, 19 ** Did you hear what was said!” “Only part of it. Vane guv ther letter ter “Wagg, an’ he tole him ter guv it ter some one, I dunno who, Then they had some more talk, ‘shook han’s again an’ parted.” ‘* You followed Vane?” ‘Wal, I sh’u’d snicker!” ‘* Which way did he go?” ‘* Back toward the raveen whar I hed jest -come frum.” The gambler’s satisfaction was apparent on his face, for now there was not a doubt in his mind but that the Velvet Sport was playing the double part of the fire-eater and the Parson. To his knowledge the two characters had not both been seen at one time, as, of course, they could not if they were one person, **) follered bim clean inter ther raveen,” con- tinued Burns; *‘ an’ then [ decided ter wipe bim out. I got a dead bead on him, an’ jest then he started as iftorun. I pulled trigger, and he went down at ther same instant, f course, I thought I hed finished bim, fer be never moved arter he fell, so 1 jamped up an’ started toward him. Jest asl was leetle over hafe way ter him, a spout of smoke burst from the quiet body -an’I felt as if ther hull world hed tumbled on my head. I saw plenty of stars, an’ then I didn’t know any more!” ** Vane was not dead!” ‘Wal, I sh’u’d say not. even tetched him.” ** But he fell.” ‘* An’ J think that’s w’at saved his hide,” +6 How?” ‘He must bave tripped jest as I pulled ‘trigger. *“*T see! And so he escaped?” ‘* Yes: but I didn’t.” ** Evidently not.” ** It was almost dark w’en I kem to, an’ I was ‘so weak I c’udn’t stan’,. I bev crawled a good part of the way here, but here I be.” | That was the whole of Dav Burns’s story. “Well,” said Royal, ‘‘one point is settled. But I must get possession of that paper or letter ‘Vivlet Vane gave to Wagg. If thesport shows up to-night, it will be the end of his career, for I will take his case in hand. You fellows have -done well, and here is your money. If you ‘stand ready to aid mein case I need aid, more will fall to your lot.” “You kin depend on us, boss,” assured the “two rascals, as they eagerly seized the cash given ‘them. ‘ We like your style, an’ we’re with ye ‘ter down Violet Vane fer keeps.” I don’t believe [ ee ’ CHAPTER XIV, THE GAMBLER SHOWS HIS POWER. From the little room Royal Ralph ascended to *the chambers and rapped at bis sister’s door, ** What do you want?” was Lona’s demand. **T want to come in,” he answered, ‘*T do not want to see you,” ‘¢ Well, you will have to, all the same.” ‘* What if I refuse to open the door?’ * You will not.” He séemed very confident, as he really was, for he had seen her in many a defiant mood, mone of which had lasted, however, Tboere was a dead silence within the room, ** Lona?” ** Well, sir?” ** Open the door.” He heard her slowly approach, then she spaused, **T—T—will—” **Of course you will,” he agreed, and yet he “~was aware sbe had intended to add the word ‘ss not,”’ There was no further hesitation, The key suddenly «turned in the lock and the door was flung open. The girl confronted him, ber eyes blazing. ‘The privacy of a lady’s chamber should be ‘sacred to ber own brother!” she cried. ‘ But you do not see fit to regard it thus! You thrust ‘yourself upon meat any and all times, no mat- ter how much I protest,” He showed his teeth in a tigerish smile, **Come, come, Lona!” and he lifted one hand deprecatingly. ‘‘ What is the use for you to get on your mad in this way!” ** With you it is useless!” was her scornful re- “tort. ‘‘ You have no regard for my wishes—no sense of delicacy or even decency! And I do mot wonder! You are not the brother I once _iknew—no, no! You are changed to something _ entirely different!” t he retorted, roughly. Violet Vane’s Vision. Her manner cut him more than her words, for he had heard her speak that way before, To-nigbt he saw in her a new uprising of her rebellious spirit—an uprising more formidable than anything she had shown of late. Once he had thought her subservient to bis will in every particular, but now he was not so sure. ‘Tt is all because of that cursed sport!” he thought. ‘* In some way, she has discovered he is near. She loves that man with aJl her heart, but be shall never have her!” She saw by the working of his face that bit- ter thoughts were in bis mind, but she still faced bim bravely. ‘What do you wish?” she asked, He regarded ber from head to feet. ** You are not dressed for the saloon,” sé No.” ‘* The time to go down is near,” “T know it.” ‘* You should be ready. She was silent. ‘*TLook here, Lona,” and he placed a hand on her shoulder, only to have it shook off, while she fell back, repugnance expressed by her face, ‘*] want you to besensible. You do not mean to deal to-night?” **'You are right.” ** But you will, just the same!” **T will not!” ‘‘You are only making a fool of yourself. Get on your masculine clothes!” ‘*T will never touch them again!” He laughed, but there was little merriment in the sound, ** Don’t deceive yourself—you will be at the faro-table within the hour.” She closed her Jips firmly, and her blue eyes looked her defiance, ‘‘] know you donot mean to go there,” he said, ** but you cannot help it.” ‘* Your power over me is gone!” she asserted, “That is another mistake of yours, It is simply stronger thanever. Even at this min- ute you are doubting your ability to resist it,” He never uttered truer words, His dark eyes seemed to charm her, She had thought she wovld meet them with looks of utter defiance, but now she felt them stealing away her strength, How she fought against the baleful influence, but all to no avail! ‘Oh, Tom!” she finally cried; brokenly; ‘have you no compzession on me?” The he knew he had won, and once more he attempted to rest his band on ber shoulder, Oaly to have her shrink shudderingly away, as sbe had before, while sbe whispered: ** Don’t—don’t touch me!” He scowled, ‘* Why do you avoid my touch?” ‘Can you ask that?” **T do ask it.” ‘‘ Your bands are stained with blood!” Her horror was not counterfeited, and, for a moment, he felt a touch of it. The color left his face and he actually trembled. This he tried to conceal from her, and was successful. ‘Well, what of it?’ came harshly from his lips. zs You’re a murderer!” i. Bosh! Ihave been forced to defend my- self. **Ah! you did not kill Dan Marden in self- defense!” **T deny that I killed Dan Marden,” ‘** But the proof—” ‘** Was the words of a drunken bummer that wasafterward lynched, What does that amount to for proof? Nothing at all!” ** And still I feel it is true.” ‘Yes, you are ready to turn against me, and you should be the one to stand by me. A fine sister, you are}” She quailed before his anger, for he seemed about to strike her; but be restrained himself. ‘*No more of this foolishness, Lona! Do you hear? I will not haveit! I know what is best for you, and you must obey me!” ‘*And is it best that I go night after night into a drinking and gambling-den where as- semble the worst creatures to be found in a min- ing-camp of this character? Is that what you consider best? You seem to forget Iam a wo- man !—you forget I am not like yourself!” ‘*] protect you in the saloon, You are never insulted,” *“Not in words, but I know my sex 1s no secret, despite the clothes I wear, and night af- ter night looks are cast at me which make my blood curdle. They are as insulting as any words can be! On, Tom, Tom! why will you drag me down to tkat bateful place again?” **l amin no mood to hear this kind of talk,” ** Nor can I fool with you any more, I am going to leave you now, and I waut you to puton your male attire at once, You must lose no time if you would take your place at the regular hour. This life will not al- ways last, and when I have made money enough, we wil] vanish from this town. Then never again will you be called on to do anything dis- tasteful to you.” ** Well,” she said, grimly, her face growing cold, “I will take my place to-night, but the money you covet may not come to you.” Those words sounded unpleasantly in his ears; somehow they seemed almost like a threat. With a bow, he left ber to dress for the sa- oon. CHAPTER XV. 4 A DESPERATE DEED. A FEW minutes after the usual time, Lona, as ‘‘ Handsome Harry,” took her place at the faro- table. She showed no trace of her interview with her brother, the color having come back to her face, and her manner being as calm as u-ual, Royal Ralph smiled with evil satisfaction as be saw this. ‘‘She is quite over her foolishness,” he mut- tered. “*I thought she would come round all right, I shall bave no;more trouble with her for a time, ‘Ab! butis that true? If Violet Vane enters this saloon to-night, he will never go forth alive! If he is in disguise, she wil] not know him, and so his death will not affect ber so much, I think sbe would take her own life if she knew the truth, so it must be kept from her. But how ?” That was the question that troubled him, He studied over it for a little time, and then be was struck with an idea, At once le went to the bartenders and other employees about the place, and told them to be ready to turn out every light if he did any shooting during the evening. ‘That will make it all right,” be thought, with satisfaction, ‘If the sport were shot and his disguise then removed, she would never re- cover from the shock; but as soon as the lights are turned off, I will have the body carried out. She eball never see it again,” With everything thus arranged for the foul work, Royal assumed his usual position near his sister. The game opened bard and] ran slow, but it was soon to be stirred OF Into the saloon came Major Wagg, and on his arm hung the Parsou, The minister seemed to still be sadly under the weather, for be clung to the major in order to keep on bis feet. Wagg, on the other hand, had the appearance of being fully recovered, although his clothes were still in f® sal plight, and his silk hat looked battered and worn, ‘‘ M’ dear brosber,” said the Parson, speaking with some difficulty, ‘‘ you are shtill deep in your shins—bic! You ought to sheek redem- shun, dear brosher, b’fore it ish leverlashtin’ly too late, The door of mershy will shoon shut, an’ th’ day of pardon be pasht th’ firsht thing you know. Listen—bic!—to m’ warnin’ voishe,” ‘‘ Parson,” said Wagg, grinning, ‘‘don’t tell me anything more *bout my shins! Wen I wuz pursued by thet big two bundred-pound mad dog this mornin’, I took a tumble an’ went down cen my shins, an’ i jest nacher’ily raked them bare o’ skin, by jebocus! It gives me a twinge o’ pain uvery time you say shins.” ‘‘] shee you won't pay heed—hic!—to my shober wordsb.” ‘“ You hain’t spoke a sober word fer hours, pard,” ‘‘ Lend me thy handkerchief while I weep over thy follysb.” “Oh, rats! Come, Parson, you said you used ter play faro before you wuz converted, an’ you hed asystem thet wuz a winner, Come over ter ther table an’ try a whirl,” ‘‘My dear brother!” * Oh, I'll back ye, an’ you may bev hafe ther winnin’s, don’t be skeerd,” ** 1t would be shinful,” ‘* Bosh! You’d only be showin’ your bility ter defeat ther minyonso’ ther devil.” The Parson seemed struck with that, ‘* Never looked at it zat waysb b’fore,” he con- fessed. ‘* Dunno but V’ll try it—bic!” ** Kem on,” ‘** Lesh have a nozzer nip.” ‘‘No, you hev hed ernough, drunk, Parson, ef you keep op.” ‘‘ Never, shir—was never drunk in—hic!—all m’life!”’ But the major would not allow the Parson to secure another nip, and the two made their way toward the faro lay-out, You will be | eomic > « $ ‘ ty a * ‘ s * + s A » ’ , ’ . ’ « ‘ f 5 ‘ 4 - ¢ od ‘ —--~ » ” * ‘ ? 4 | ? | + | % | 4 ] : ! + ‘ es Gee 3 ‘ ) ' * , © £