Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Good! I was afeerd it was good money.” ‘*T hain’t no fool to give up good money.” * That’s right.” ‘* Does yer know why we lost. to-night?” **T seen it.” ‘* The fat boy.” ee Yas.” ** He queered us.” ** Sure,” ‘* He’s a hoodoo, for I couldn’t play a false card while he was watching me.” ‘* Neither could I.” ‘‘ Then he’s got cheek ter ask us ter play.” ‘Sure, ther cheek of a Gover’ment mule— Lordy! there he comes now,” Just then the fat boy appeared. He advanced witha free and easy step, the moonlight revealing his stout form plainly. ‘* Gents, | want to break a hundred dollars, to get some change to buy candy to suck, and they can’t break it in the bar, and the clerk told me he wouldn’t do it, for I was too big to be a baby and eat candy. ‘‘ Now, Lsaw that you had some change, so please break the bill for me.” ** Ts it good money ?” ‘*Tfit isn’t I don’t know it, but I got it from the bank, in Memphis,” Buck, you break it for him,” and the tone of Blackleg Bill was significant. * Yas, I'll do it,” and Buck Staples took out his roll of counterfeit money. ‘‘That’s good money is it?’ innocently asked the fat boy. ** W hat does yer take us for?” ‘* Til tell you,” and the fat boy took a seat just behind the two men, and a revolver in each hand pressed hard against their backs, ‘*T take you for just what you are, gambling Blacklegs, passers of counterfeit money and thieves and murderers in general— Hold on! for I’ve got a cocked revolver pressed against your backs, just under the left shoulder-blades, and a move will send the bullets through your hearts.” ‘Say, sonny, is you joking?” asked Blackleg Bill with a sickly smile, ‘* Pass your hands behind you, Blackleg Bill. © Quick !” With an oath the gambler obeyed, and how he did it the villain did not know, but in an iu- stant steel manacles were clasped upon his wrists, and then came the stern command: ‘* Now, Staples, put your hands behind you!” **T’]] see you—” ‘Obey, or die!” cried the fat boy and the second gambler was manacled in en instant. A groan came from the lips of Staples, as he felt himself captured thus, while Blackleg Bill said in a husky voice: ‘* Who in thunder is yer?” ‘Charlie Chumley, the fat boy,” and the speaker laughed lightly. ‘* What does yer want with us?” “Well, Blackleg Bill, you are wanted for several murders you have committed on the river.” ‘** It’s a lie!” ‘‘ It is the truth, for I have the data on you, ‘* And you, Staples, I want as a card shai and cheat, a passer of counterfeit money, for aes not the crime to set against you of mur- er, Just then Gordon Grayburst and Valentine Gibson came on deck, and the reader recalls the remark of the fat boy to their calling him away, fearing he would get into trouble, that: ‘‘He was playing a little game and held a hand full of trumps.” When the two friends had departed, the fat boy held a long conversation with his two pris- oners. ‘I don’t wish to take you below while any one is stirring, but I am going to see that you occupy pleasant quartors for the night in a state-room.” When midnight had passed, the boy put a one 9 through the manacles of his prisoners, and said: ‘* Now go; and when we reach the guards, I will lead the way; but if I go first here, I very much fear I might get a fall—see?” The two men did see, and muttered curses against him, for they bad made up their minds to kick bim overboard when he neared the edge of the deck to descend. _ But they went first, and soon after were led into a state-room., Here Blackleg Bill was chained securely, as Jack Dimond had been, and then the youth said: Any attempt to escape you will find useless, and, in fact, fatal, for 1 have some one to watch you, Blackleg Bill. enanee Staples, Ill take you to your quar- Dick Doom’s Destiny. He locked the doors, entering into the cabin and out upon the guard, and took both keys. Staples followed like one who was beyond making resistance. Entering his own state-room, the fat boy said: ‘* Now se here, Staples, if you are a mur- derer, I av “+ know it, but Ido know that you are a card chvat and counterfeiter. ‘‘ These crimes I can promise you pardon for, ‘if you care to save yourself by telling me what I wish to know. ‘““Tf you refuse, then I shall hunt up your record and perhaps hang you after all. ** What do you say?” CHAPTER XXII. BROUGHT TO TERMS. THE man Staples seemed to have fallen wholly under the influence of the fat boy. He sat in silence and heard what he had to say, and then said: ‘* What do you want me to do?’ ‘‘T am aware that there are a number of steamboat-thieves upon the Mississippi River, and they are known as Blackleg gamblers, ‘* A number of gamblers are square, good fel- lows, who trust to chance wholly, and their nerve and skill enable them to win big money. ‘‘ But there are those whvu play with marked cards, who play into each others’ hands, who pay their losses in counterfeit money, and who have been banded together to rob innocent players. ‘‘This band is under the lead of Jack Dimond, alias Diamond Jack, and Blackleg Bill is his lieutenant. ‘“‘T have evidence to hang Jack Dimond and Blackleg Bill and to send you to prison for a long term. ‘¢ But there are more of your band whom I want, and I wish your aid.” ‘“To betray them?” ‘That is just it.” ‘They would kill me,” ‘‘They will do no such thing.” ‘*T know ’em,” ‘*T know that they will be all either hanged or imprisoned, so how cau they harm you?” ‘‘ They may escape,” ‘There is no fear of that, but you must take the chances on that score.” ‘‘T knows our laws, and it would be death to me,” ‘‘ Your captain, Jack Dimond, Blackleg Bill, yourself, and the man who was killed going up the river by Mr. Gibson, are four, so how many more make up the band?” ‘* Six, now that our mate was killed.” ‘* Well, [can account for four, so where are the other two?” ‘*T don’t know,” ‘‘ Well, as you do not seem to care to accept my offer, I will find them out, and make terms with one of them, “Tn fact, I will even offer Blackleg Bill his pardon but what I bag the whole band.” ‘* Where is the captain?” “ A prisoner.” Sure?” és Yes,” ‘“*] can’t believe it.” ‘*T can show him to you.” ** Seeing is believing.” The fat boy arose and taking Buck Staples with him led him to state-room number fifteen. He opened the door on the guard and said: ‘‘ Well, Dimond, I have gotten your friends Staples and Biackleg Bill.” ‘“The deuce you have!” came in the voice of Jack Dimond, but Buck Staples recognized it oe by the dim light saw a man chained to the d. ‘You is rigbt,” he said, and he was glad to get out, Then he was led back to another state-room. ‘‘ This is where you are to stay, Staples, and I will have to chain you as I did the others,” ‘* T can’t help it,” ‘* You are convinced ?” ‘“] saw him.” ‘‘Tt was your captain?” ‘é Yes.” “ And now?” ‘* What?” ** What will you do?” ‘I’ve got some sense.” ‘““That means that you will squeal?” ‘*T'll do it if it’s not known to come from me,” ‘* No, I'll see to that.” “Has you the power to keep your promise?” ** Yes, I'll act on the square witb you,” ** All right.” ** You come to my terms?” il ‘“‘T wants the cash my mates has about ’em,,. for if they is going to be hanged and go to prison they won’t want money.” ‘You will get your freedom alone, for yow already have money.” ** How does you know?” ‘*T saw it.” ** It’s counterfeit,” ‘* Give me your counterfeit money.” The man asked to be set free to get it, but the fat boy searched him and found two rolls of money, also a bunch of skeleton keys, a revolver’ and a knife. ‘‘ This roll of money is counterfeit, and this is ood. ‘ ‘‘-You have some hundreds of dollars here of good bills, so that is all you will get.” ‘* Then I won’t talk,” “ All right; | know who will.” ** Holi on!” “ Well” ‘**Tll squeal,” ‘* And I'll listen,” ** Where shall I begin?” ‘¢ Answer my questions,” ** All right, fat.” a Jack Dimond is your captain?” ‘* Blackleg Bill your lieutenant.” * Right.” ‘‘ There were seven members in the band,” ‘There were nine,” ** Where are the others?” ‘Went same way our pard went t’other night.” ‘I see, ** And you are bound by laws?” ** W u’st kind.” ‘*'You have to give up a certain per cent. to the chief?” ‘* ‘Yes, and he finds our pigeons to pluck, andi is pledged to help us out if we get into trouble, or prison.” ‘* Now, who are the other two?” i“ One is named Sam Sykes, and t’other is hic wife, ’ ** Ah! a woman in the band?’ ‘*She’s useful.” ** Doubtless! but what are her duties?” ‘Well, she and Sam travels to do the light-- fingered work.” ‘** Rob state-rooms, pick pockets and such?” ** Just that,” ** Where are they?” The man was silent. **Do you know! saw an old couple come om the boat on the way up, and the same two got om again at Vicksburg to-night, ‘* Are those the two?” ** You is onto them, pal.” ** All right, you need say no more, “Now, good-night, and remember I am: watching you.” With this the prisoner was locked to bis bed, and the fat boy left him, going to his own state-- room, CHAPTER XXIII. A FAIR PASSENGER, THE morning came and Gordon Grayhurst and Valentine Gibson met at breakfast. The fat boy was not in bis accustomed place, and the waiter said that he had not yet appear- The two friends glanced at each other signifi cantly. They glanced up the table at the line of faces, but nowhere were visible the evil countenances of the two gamblers, This looked suspicious the friends thought, After finishing their breakfast they strolled to- the office. ‘Mr, Butler, where is our amusing fat boy this morning?” asked Gordon Grayburst,. ‘* He went ashore at Grand Gulf, sir.” *Tndeed! he did not speak of Jeaving us so» soon,” The clerk laughed and responded: ‘* He was a queer one, Mr, Grayburst.” ** Indeed he was, ‘‘ But our two gambler friends are not visible either.” ‘‘ No, they have gone too, for the captain would stand no nonsense from them.” ‘* Any new passengers?” ‘*No, sir, and vet a young lady did come aboard at the Kibbe plantation early this. morning. ‘* And she’s pretty too.” ‘‘ Ah! that is a recommendation, Grayhurst,. ‘*We must cultivate her acquaintance,” said Gibson, Then the two friends walked on deck and went: to the pilot-house. mS ys | a. a Meta i : “ “~ — * *\ \ou) = 8 , at ~-? = > % e.% a -=—a.' ba om _