Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 763 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

om ’ Violet Vane’s Vision. At first Royal Ralph was inclined to refuse to let the intoxicated man play, and so pick a quarrel in that manner, but he changed his mind. Being full apparently, of course the minister could not lay bis bets with anything like judgment, and the house would be a win- ner. If the drunken man bet recklessly, the house might be a big winner. Then there would be time enough to dispose of the Parson, So Wagg’s friend took his place at the table. The major gave him two hundred dullars, which was put into chips, and the Parson made his first bet, placing it on the knave. He lost. Again he bet on the knave and lost, ‘*Sher ol’ rascal hain’t in it,” he muttered. ** He’sh a dead—hic!—losher, he ish! Guesh I'll try zer queen,” He did so, and won. - “* You hev struck it now, pard !” laughed the major. ‘* Try the gal erg’in.” he intoxicated player followed the advice, and he won once more, ‘¢ Whoopee!” laughed Erastus, ‘‘ She’s ther one, Parson! Copper her! coppe. her, my boy!” That was done, and the queen came out a banker’s card, which made the Parson a winner for the third time, “Oh, zer girlsh wash alwush dead stuck on _ !” observed the minister, a silly grin on his ace, Royal Ralph scowled. Hedid not at all fancy the way things were turning, but he remained quiet, on the outlook for what was to follow, Had he glanced into Lona’s eyes, he would have seen a look of deep satisfuction there—a look that might have set him thinking deeply. What did it mean? Was she pleased to see the bank lose? The game continued, and the Parson seldom bet on any otber cards than the knave and queen, On the knave he always lost, but on the queen he was always almost certain of being a wioner. Heseemed very, very drunk, but there was that about his playing which seemed to in- dicate his head was still clear as far as faro was concerned, After the first, Wagg remained quietly be- hind the Parson’s chair, closely watching the game. He no longer offered advice, for it was plain his ——. knew what he was about. Royal Raiph gnawed his mustache and a. “The little whelp can act the part of a drunken man very nicely, for I know he is no more intoxicated than | am at the present mo- ment, If I remember right, he is one of those rare birds who never taste of liquor. Well, when the time comes, he shall taste of cold lead, But the bank must be the winner, It would not do to down him when the bank is losing, for that would have a bad Jook—a mighty bad look !” So the game went on. But luck did not turn in favor of the bank, as Royal bad expected it would. The house con- tinued to be a steady loser, only winning an occasional venture. The proprietor of The Trap raved inwardly, and a throng gathered to watch the queer game, ' Wage was in his glory More than once he waved his battered hat around his woolly head, giving vent to bis delight. — ‘“Whoop-ee/ You're a jim-jo-jo, Parson)” be cried, ‘“ hev.” Here Royal interfered, requesting the major to allow the player to do as he chose, and, as for himself, to keep bie mouth shut. ‘‘Zer major ish my legal ‘dvisher,” murmured the Parson, as he secured the cash for the larger part of his chips, Wagg was a person inclined to use his tongue very freely on all occasions, and be was nothing if not saucy; but for once he allowed himself to be silenced. He remained behind the Parson’s chair watching the game, but he spoke only at rare intervals. The Parson-gambler seemed to have received ay, cash ther most o’ ther chips you a hint, for be secured the cash for his winnings at regular intervals, only retaining chips enough to make two or three following plays, As the minutes passed and the bank continued to lose, Royal became more and more nervous, He could not understand it, and be did not dream Lona might be playing him false, But such was the case. The handsome dealer was pulling the cards for the house to lose, and she did it so skillfully the trick was detected by no one of the witnesses, The Parson himself did not dream that the girl was turning the cards in his favor, but be seemed to be blessed with a wonderful streak of ! luck, His wagers became larger and more reck- less, and still he continued to win. Royal Ralph saw ruin staring him in the face. He had boped the bank would win back the money lost, and then he would execute his treach- erous plot, but, little by little, that hope slipped from bim, - The proprietor of the saloon became desperate, What was to be done? He must dare the wrath of the spectators and put the Parson out of the way, but what excuse could he find for the shot? 2 My dear boysh,” observed the Parson, lean- ing across the table and fixing his eyes on Lona’s face, ““ you—hic!—you dunno how to deal faro!” That was enough—that was what Royal was waiting for! **Look here,” he cried, ‘you will be kind enough to keep your tongue between your teeth! As for eying the dealer in that way, I will not stand it!” ‘My dear brosher in shin!” protested the Parson; ‘‘ you are makin’ a da-da-darn fool— hic!—of yourshelf!” “What!” roared Royal. ‘* This to me!” ‘“* 'Yesh, shir, to you! I guesh it’s you, though you sheem to have two headsh, and ther funny- est kind of a—hic!—moush. Why, your moush ish all over your face! If you are not careful, shir, your br—hic!—brainsh will run out of it!” With a savage curse, Royal fired from his pocket, The bullet struck the Parson in the breast, and he fell forward on the table, a hollow groan coming from his lips. The next instant the ligbts were turned out. Then, high up on the wall appeared a blazing hand of fire—the Hand of Fate! Then a wild, maniacal voice rung through the room, ‘“* Frank Delmar, your hour is near! Ha, ha, ha! I know you now—I know you! Death isat your heels, villainous wretch! You ruined my life, but I will have my vengeance!” It was Mad Mona’s voice! The confusion that followed was indescribable, Everybody seemed to rush for the doors and windows, CHAPTER XVI, A FURIOUS MOB, YELLS, blows, screams and curses sounded through the saloon. Everybody seemed to have suddenly gone mad at sight of that blazing hand of fire. Major Wagg had been stunned by the unex- pected occurreuce, but as soon as the lights were extinguished, he felt seized by more than one pair of hands, ,/Then nimble fingers ran over him, seemingly searching for something, Erastus knew what it was. The letter from Vane! ** Great jehocus!” he shouted. ‘This yere thing bain’t goin’ ter work with yer uncle! Scat, yeimpso’ darkness! Seek yer hoels, ye whelps o’ perdishun!” The major was a powerful man, and he struck out right and left in the darkness, Fortune must have directed his blows, for both were suc- cessful and effivient. He felt bis fists strike something, and then be tore bimself from his assailants and fled like a terrified deer. Woe to the human beings who happened to be in the corpulent gentleman’s path, He simply knock- ed them down and ran over them, It happened Wagg made for an open window, and just as be was struggling through, the window fell and pinned him fast. The man behind the major proceeded to kick that worthy unmercifully, and Wagg’s howls rent the atmosphere, After a time the man behind succeeded in kicking the major through. When the lights went out, Lona sat dazed by what had happened. Ina moment she felt ber hand clasped by anotber’s, and then she heard a well-known voice in her ear: ‘* Don’t be frightened; Iam Vane, Trust me, and | will get you out of bere.” Her heart bounded with Joy Yes, it was Vane—she knew his voice. She did not hesi- tate, but allowed him to burry her away. In a few seconds they were in the open air. ‘*T have found you again, my little darling!” said the sport, passionately. ‘* You shall not be torn from me another time.” Half her strength seemed gone, She could only cling to him, sobbing: ‘** Oh, Vane, Vane!” That was enough. He understood then as well as if she had spoken more, His arm was around ber waist, and regerdless of everything, he kissed her again and again. ‘*T must get you to the cabin of a friend near at hand,” he said, ‘‘ Bear up till we reach there, my darling.” He aided her to hasten along, and soon they were within the cabin, She clung to him, as if she would never let him go, ‘** Do not leave me!” she entreated. ‘* Do not be alarmed, Lona,” he said, ‘*I will not be gone long. I must leave you for a short. time.” ** Must?” ‘* Yes, little one.” *“* Why must you? Oh, they will kill you!” ** Do not fear for that. I am on the watcb,,. and they will bave a hard time to do that.” Still she clung to him. ‘* Why must you go?” “*T must discover if Mark Marden is living or dead,” ‘* Mark Marden?” ** Yes, the Parson, for he played that part. He- was after your brother for the murder of his. father.” “* Do not ever again call that man my brother!” she cried. ‘*‘ He is now nothing to me! If the Parson was Mark Marden, then Mark is dead, for Tom shot him,” ‘Still he may not be dead, A friend was to- bring bim out of the place, and I will bave him. brought here. Good-by for a few moments,” With a parting kiss, he hurried away. Out in the street he found all excitement and! confusion, The mob was enraged, and a wild-- eyed man was urging them to still greater anger. t was Useless Jackson! The gambler’s bands: had not choked the man to death. Another man was joining with Jackson, and his stentorian voice instantly still recognized. by Vane. Major Wagg was doing what he considered his duty. The Velvet Sport hastened to the side of Use-- less Jack and grasped him by the arm, “Did you get him out?” asked Vane, ,” was the reply. ‘*Ts he dead?” ‘*Can’t say. Come, I will lead you to him,, then 1 must return tostir up themob. To-night: I mean to bring about the ruin of Frank Delmar, The time for vengeance has arrived,” Jackson hastily led Vane to the shadows of the cabin, where, close by the wall, a man was. trying to x tg oe to bis feet, t was the Parson, minus the beard that had’ disguised him; Marden, ‘* Are you hard hit, pard?’ asked Vane, as he: lent Marden assistance, “Is that you, Howard?” asked the other,. faintly, ‘It sounds like your voice, but I am: so dazed I cannot see.” “Yes, lam here. Are you badly wounded?” ‘Lam afraid I have got my death wound.. That devil fired from his pocket, Had he pulled a weapon, either Wagg or myself would have dropped him before he could bave used it,” Vane assisted the wounded man to the cabin: where Lova was, and then he hastily examined. the injury, but he was not able to tell how serious it was, ‘*T will send in some kind of a medicine: sharp,” be said. ‘* Lona will do everything she can for you, Marden, You are not going under, if we can prevent.” The wounded man smiled faintly, “1 do not want to die till my father is: avenged,” he said. It took Vane some little time to find a doctor and get him to the cabin, Then he did not enter with the physician, for he’saw the mob had been worked to a pitch of furious frenzy by the excit- ing words of Useless Jackson and Erastus Wagg. **They are like a lot of madmen!” he exclaim- ed, as’ he listened to the wild yells and howls, ‘*T would not give a cent for Tom Lewis’s chance- if he fell into their hands, They would hang him to the nearest tree. It is strange how sud-. denly the feelings of a mob will turn from re- spect and awe to hatred and contempt, Use- less Jackson is tbe prime mover in this, although. Wagg is doing all he can to help it along.” Mounted on a box, Jackson was addressing the: mob, Vane could bear his words. ‘Men of Palace City,” he shouted, speaking distinctly, ‘‘in your midst you have been har- boring a most dastardly wretch! He was known as Ralph Royal, but that was only one of his. many names, His true name is Tom Lewis, but ears ago, he was called Frank Delmar. As. elmar, a handsome rascal, he ruined the life of a beautiful country girl and murdered the- brother who sought to avenge her, The girl he and the Parson was Mark. JOOKS- Cor ate! dag meee * comic