Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a - Ss a oogh. «anes - » , > __ _— 7 > toe aT Dick Doom’s Destiny. a oo! mae 5 om, remarking that should the games reuk up in a row, and any passenger be killed, they being found on board, would be dealt with very severely. They had secured their baggage from tbeir state-rooms, and the two stood talking in a low tone, the dead man lying at their feet, while far ahead glimmered the lights of the town they were nearing, The deep roar of the escape pipes, the heavy thud of the wheels, with an occasional burst of song from the roustabou’ below, alone broke the silence of the night. The moon shone bDrilliantiy and the river looked very beautiful under its mellow light, the scene and all casting a feeling of awe even apon blustering Blackleg Bill, Suddenly a form approached coming around the pile of trunks, and the two gamblers at once ceased their talking, ‘It’s that greenhorn fool as knocked up my arm,” said Buck Staples in a sullen tone, ‘*]’ve a notion to pitch him into ther river,” Blackleg Bill growled, All unconscious of their deadly feeling to- ward him, Davy Dunn came on and halted near, gazing with apparent awe at the blanket- enveloped form on the deck, ‘Well, what do you want, Greeny?’ de- manded Blackleg Bill, angrily. ‘**{s that the deader?” and he pointed to the body. ’ 56 ig," *‘ It’s sure dead?” ‘*If you had the hole in your head, you would be, too,” Davy Dunn started back, but said: ‘* Waal, I bain’t, and I don’t want it, nuther,” ‘*What did yer knock up my friend’s band for to-night when he went to shoot?” “Cause t?other man had no weapon, and I was afraid they’d bang your friend, maybe,” ‘*Ohb, that was it, Greeny.” ‘* My name isn’t Greeny.” ‘* What is it? Greenhorn?” “No! It’s Davy Dunn,” ‘** Well, you may be Davy, but you are a long way from being Done,” and the two laughed at the intended pun of Blackleg Bill. ‘*l’m a long way from home,” said Davy. ** W here do you live?” ‘Up in the Pine Hills of Mississippi.” ‘* Well, you better go home and stay there,” ‘* That’s where I’m a-going.” ** Where bave you been?” ‘* To the city.” “My! and the museums didn’t catch you?” ‘* They tried to,” ‘*T guess you are hard to catch,” ‘Yes, almost as hard as you are; but, you evre caught all the same,” ‘* What in thunder do you mean, ye country tout?” ‘There lies one of your comrades dead, and you two are going to land at the next town, he- cause you are afraid to stay on this boat— Hold ou, | have others right handy if | need them, so don’t put your necks in a noose by trying to barm me, [ can protect myself also—see ?” He showed that he bad a revolver now in each band, and the two men felt that they had caught a Tartar. Under the circumstances, of wishing te escape from the boat without again being seen, they were anxious not to attract attention to them- selves, while something in the manner of Mr. Davy Dunn told them that he was not the green- horn he looked, So they were silent while Davy Dunn con- tinued the talking as follows: “Now [am quite nandy with cards, and my luck is so great that if I were a gambler 1’d be called a cheat, ‘*[ watched your game from the first with that young planter, and when he won you play- ed square; buf, when be had won all you could spare, you began to cheat,” ) Blackleg began to move uneasily asifto get mearer the ‘‘ greeny,” ** Oa, ye needn’t bristle up now, Mister Gam- bler. Lsawitall, You have just five thousand dollars of his money in your pocket, Blackleg Bill—five thousand dollars—which I want you to give up. That’s the point of order now, do ye bear?” ‘* Pll not do it, you fool. Go away.” ‘“‘Be careful, don’t raise your voice, or you will yet be hanged on this boat, or be thrown over astern with ropes around your necks, ‘I repeat, William:—I saw you cheat Mr. Grayburst, and you are to hand me back every dollar you won from him,” ** And I say I won’t!” Davy Dunn simply raised one hand, still hold- ne bit revolver, and drew the flap of his coat ack, ‘** Do you see these badges? Well, they mean that I am a detective and special United States officer with authority to arrest a man apy where in this country. ‘“‘Tf I arrest you, then you, Blackleg Bill, will go back to the Penitentiary you escaped from six years ago in Obio, and you, Buck Staples, will be wanted in Indiana for safe- breaking. ‘Now hand over that money, or I give tbe signal for my men! There is a whistle in the butt of this revolver; one blast will bring aid; and, if you resist me I will kill you both. ‘* What is your decision, Speak quick!” ‘“*Take ther durned money!” and Blackleg Bill tossed it at the feet of Davy Dunn. ‘* Pick that money up and band it to me, or T’ll put a bullet through you—quick!” and the words rung out clear, revealing the voice of Dick Doom, for the young detective it was in the disguise of a countryman, The desperado Blacklegs, confronted by the man well named Dick Doom, were white with terror and anger. They were in the presence of a master whose signal call would surely be their doom. CHAPTER IX. THE DIAMOND DICE, BLACKLEG BILL felt that be had met more than his match, so stooped and picked up the rol] of money. Had Dick Doom, as the reader now knows the pretended countryman to be, stooped to pick up the roll, it would have been the last act of his ate for a knife would have been driven into his ack, But, he was not to be so caught, and when Blackleg Bill handed him the wad of bills he saw that the youth’s revolvers were cocked, The whistle now blew for the landing, and the ycung detective said: ‘‘ Now get down upon the lower deck arid be ready to goashore when the gangplank is run out. ‘*Some time we may meet again, and I warn you that cheating don’t go on the Mississippi River where you ring yourselves in with gentle- men for a game, ‘** Take a good look at me so you will know me next time. ‘* Au revoir,” and the young man backed off around the pile of baggage, followed by the muttered curses of the two men. He went on deck, stood near the captain as he gave his orders, and saw them go ashore, carry- ing their dead comrade, ‘** | wish they’d never come on my boat again,” said the captain, more to himself than the pre- tended countryman, who replied: ‘ = Maybe next time theyll go ashore feet rst?’ The captain turned and looked at the country- man, said nothing and tapped the bell to back off and go abead up the river. : Dick Doom still stood gazing at the town, until the boat got well on her way again, then he took up bis carpet-bag and walked down to the cabin deck, ’ There he met the captain again. **T say, sonny, you stick to that old carpet- bag as though you thought you’d fallen amonga den of thieves on this boat?” ‘It’s safer when I[’ve got hold of it,” ’ ** What have you got in it?” ‘*Lota,” ** Well, the clerk will take care of it for you in the office,” ‘“* Vll take care of it myself, mister, if it hain’t ag’in’ the law,” The captain laughed and entered the cabin, and a moment after in came the young gentle- man who called bimself Davy Dunn, A game, the fifth, bad just ended between Jack Dimond and Valentine Gibson, the latver saving: ‘* Well, sir, you have won all I care to risk to- night.” ‘Your I, O. U, is perfectly good to me, sir, for any sum,” said the gambler, ‘You do not know me, sir.” ‘‘Only asa strangerin New Orleans who isa gentleman of wealth.” ** I will not give my paper, sir, to a stranger,” stiffly replied Gibson. ‘*The captain might oblige you, sir, for he knows you.” ‘Certainly, Mr. Gibson, if you wish it,” said Captain C——., ‘Pardon me, sir, but permit me to place my purse in your hands,” Gordon Grayhurst said frankly, bolding it out as be spoke, ‘‘No, no, I have my limit, thank you, and I have lost a thousand dollars, enough for one evening. ‘¢ T will play no more,” ‘*Give me a chance then, mister,” and Davy Dunn stepped forward, while all langhed. Taking no notice whatever of him Jack Diamond said: ‘* Now, Mr. Grayhurst, [ll oblige you, as you seemed anxious to play awhile since.’ ‘‘ With pleasure, sir.” “But 1 comes in ahead,” persisted Davy Dunn, ‘‘T do not care to play you,” coldly said Diamend Jack, ‘*Ts you scared?” All laugbed at this, even tothe gambler, and answering bis question he said: ‘*T am afraid of you, I admit,” ‘Then yer dasn’t play me, says I!” The gambler bit his lips, while the crowd laughed, ‘*Tam to play with a gentleman, Mr. Gray- hurst,” he said quietly. ‘Ab! J’m a gent too, and don’t you forgit it; ‘* But I saved that gent’s cocoanut from being bored and Le is going to let me take his place.” ‘*Much as I would like to oblige you, Mr. Dunn, I feel that 1 am pledged to play with Dimond,” said Gordon Grayhurst in a pleasant way. ** Diamonds? ** Ts that your name?” ‘* My name is Jack Dimond,” ‘The Jack o’ Diamonds be you? ** Waal, ll just go a toss up whether it be you, or me, Mr. Grayburst,” said the pretended countryman, ‘*That is fair, certainly,” cried a number of voices, In fact, the crowd wanted to see the country- man play with Jack Dimond for the fun of it, Had they seen bis game with Blackleg Bill and his pal, Buck Staples, a few minutes before, they would not bave thought that there was so much fun in it as they looked for, ‘*T’ll agree to toss for it, then,” said Gordon Grayburst, willing to bumor Davy Dunn, But Jack Dimond tried once more to get rid of him, by saying: ‘* You are prepered to put up a hundred or so, if you win with Mr, Grayburst, for I only play for big money ?” ‘* A thousand or so, consarn yer, if I plays,” was the energetic answer, to which the gambler responded: ‘*T believe, after all, you may be worthy of my steel,” ‘¢ You won't steal from me, and I'll give youa pointer on that,” and the gambler again joined in the laugh at his expense. ‘* Now let me suggest that you throw dice, the highest number in three throws,” said Jack Di- mond, “That suits me to a tickle,” Davy Dunn re- plied. : ““T am willing,” came from Gordon Gray- urst, ‘‘ Permit me to offer the dice—my diamond dice,” and the gambler took from his pocket three solid gold dice, with the spots on them represented by diamonds set in, very unique and elegant for the use of a man of chance, as Jack Dimond was. CHAPTER X. A MAN OF CHANCE, **Ou! but them is purty! ‘‘ Will yer trade ’em?’ said Davy Dunn, ex- amining the golden, diamond-studded dice with the greatest admiration. ‘* They are not for sale,” said the gambler. ‘* Then I'll play yer for ’em.” ‘‘T am a men of chance, so never refuse to play for anything,” was the answer, ‘It’s a go. 5 ** Whav’ll it be?” ‘‘ Before you decide what you will stake against my diamond dice, first see if you win in your throw with Mr. Grayhurst.” ‘* That’s so, ‘‘ Let ’em go, friend, best in three tosses,” and Davy Dunn handed over the dice to Gordon Grayhurst, while Jack Dimond called to his black valet, and the latter gave to bim a gold dice box of rare make, representing a bundle of wheat, with the word ‘* Chance” on one side in diamonds, ‘‘ Waal, thet are fine,” cried Davy Dunn, as he saw the box. Gordon Grayhurst took the box, put into it the three diamond dice and threw, . ee . +. ol oe ss oe eee at Sees: ee ~ a w - as ad | << Ss . see Ie ws . “~ ‘ Site e din ty a le b gt 4: af 2 ~« ~,- —_ -_