Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Dick Doom’s Destiny. —_———- ‘* Two sixes and tray—fifteen,” called out the gambler. Gordon Grayhurst threw a second time. ‘*Two sixes and five—seventeen,” sung out Jack Dimond, Then came the planter’s third throw. ‘* Three sixes—eighnteen, Total, fifty. ** A fine record, Mr. Grayburst, ‘*Can you beat it, sir?’ and the gambler turned to the ‘‘ young man from the Mississippi Hills,” ‘*T don’t know, ** But I’m a-goin’ ter try, mister.” He took the box and glanced at it admir- ingly. ‘hen he looked over the gold dice, examining them most minutely. ‘‘ Are you trying to charm them?” asked Jack Dimond, ‘**That’s just what I’m a-doing, and here goes for three sixes.” “Three sixes—eighteen!” called out the gam- bler, while the lookers-on applauded, Davy Dunn took it quietly, blew on the dice, shuffied them in the box and threw a second time. He did not raise the box, but said: ** Pll go yer a bundred, card-man, that I show up ther sixes,” **T take the bet,” was the quick reply of Jack Dimond. Then he raised the box, and without the movement of a muscle, as though he was not interested in it, the gambler called out in the same tone: “Three sixes—eighteen !” Again the lookers-on applauded, and the coun- tryman again took up the dice and box. He performed certain signs over it, blew in the box, shook it and again threw, Still he held the dice covered until he said: ‘*What does yer say, card-man, ter another hundred that they hain’t three sixes.” ‘“* Tl take your bet,” “Three sixes goes,” cried Davy Dunn, as he revealed his throw, and in the same unmoved voice as before the gambler cried: ‘* Three sixes—eighteen—total fifty-four. “Mr. Grayhurst you have lost, so I play with this gentleman from ’wayback,” ** Yer does fer a fact—thankee, jist two hun- dred I won from yer. vet Pil put’em in ther game, ag’in’ yer diamond ice. ‘*Two hundred dollars against my dice?” asked the gambler. ‘* Yes, that’s what I said.” ‘* There are four of them and they are of solid gold, with twenty-one diamonds in each one, not to speak of the box of gold and the diamonds that form the word chance on it.” ‘** Well, what is ther outfit wu’th?’ coolly ask- ed Davy Dunn, ** The cost was two thousand dollars,” **[’'m with you,” and he thrust his hand into his bosom, hesitated, then said: ‘See here, Mister Grayburst, [ like to have forgot, I did; but here’s your five thousand dol- lars thet Blackleg winned from you ter-night.” A dead silence fell upon all as he handed over the big roll of money and said: ‘* Jist see if it hain’t all there.” ** Where did you get this money?’ asked Ger- don Grayhurst, excitedly. ‘**T seen thet feller cheat you right along, so when he and t’other feller went out with ther deader, I thought ’d go and ask ’em for ther cash they stole from you by cheating.” ** And he gave it to you?” ** Oh; yes, there it is.” ** See here, did Black Bill and Buck Staples give up that money to you?” It was the gambler who asked this question, and his voice was earnest and stern, ** They did it,” “ Why?” ““Waal, ’'m a kind o’ missionary, yer see, and jist told ’em of their wicked ways and how wroug it were to cheat a man as trusted ’em for gents, which they was not.” ‘* And they gave up the money.” ** There’s the money ter speak for itself.” **T don’t believe it.” ‘*Maybe Mister Grayhurst knows if jit is his money or not?” “It is, for my bills were all new and crisp, and in just the amounts I see here, ‘* Then this is the elastic I had about it with the bank stamp on it, ‘* I don’t know how to thank you, sir.” “ Don’t mention it, ‘* Now, card man, here goes my money ag’in’ yer diamond and gold dice and box,” He placed his money on the table as he spoke, | just two thousand dollars, and it was very evi- dent that he yet had more, The gambler took the dice from his pocket, four of them this time, and the box, and put them upon the table. ‘*Now go ahead,” said Davy Dunn, and the game was played in silence to the end. ‘*{ thanks yer, mister,” said the young man as he raked back his stake, and along with it the gold dice and box. ‘** You are in luck to-night. **See. if it will continue,” and Jack Dimond showed no sign of regret at his loss as be shuf- fled the cards for another game, CHAPTER XI. THE DISAPPEARANCE, THE lookers-on were surprised at the remark- able luck of the greenhorn, as all bad looked upon bim as being. There he sat at the table playing, bis carpet- bag by his feet, his beaver hat pulled down over his eyes, which his green goggles completely hid from view, and his sallow complexion looking as though he had had the jaundice, His giving over the money won by the Black- leg from the young planter had been a surprise, no one appearing more so than did Jack Di- mond. The latter did not understand how it had been done, for he knew the desperate character of both Biackleg Bill and Buck Staples. The strange-looking fellow had certainly won the gold box and diamond dice of the gambler, and the later was fretted at the fact, though he did not show it in his countenance, “* Well, sir, what is the amount it will please you to stake against me?” asked Diamond Jack, complacently, ‘** ve left my two thousand on ther table, and as I hain’t no idee o’ bein’ mean, seeing as how I hain’t built that way, Ill jist throw ther gold box and diamond dice inter ther pot without your putting up ag’in’ them.” ‘* You are certainly geverous, but as you risk- ed your two thousand against them, Pil put up a like sum,” ‘*So the game goes for two thousand cash from me and the gold and diamond fixings?” ‘* Yes, I put up four thousand in cash, The stakes were put up and the interest now was intense, for the game had begun for very big money, and all knew that Jack Diamond was very much in earnest, ‘* Are you ready?” asked the gambler. ‘* Yas, and watchin’ yer, so keep yer eye on me for I is devilish sly with keerds, | declare to gracious I is.” “it you can cheat me you are welcome to do SO. “Ditto on your part, Mister Man o’ Chance, so here goes,” The cards were shuffled most carefully, dealt and the hands taken up. The countryman did not even appear to glance at his cards, but kept his eyes upon the gam- bler with what was really a deliberate stare, Somehow, for the first time in his life the gambler began to get a trifle nervous, bardly layed with his accustomed coolness, and the and he keld was not made the most of, On the other hand Davy Dunn played with quickness and skill, and said complacently as he raked over the money: ‘*’m ridin’ a streak o’ luck, ter-night.” ‘* And in losing my dice I bave lost my luck, so I will play you one more game only, staking my money against the box and dice.” ‘*See here, mister, what is that purtty thing on your chain worth?” and Davy Dunn pointed to the chain, a diamond five-point star upon one side and upon the otbera band holding four aces, the spots being of rubies and black pearls, ‘** This is worth even more than the box and dice, but Vil chance it against them to win them back.” ‘* It’s a go,” Not a sound was heard about the table, Who was this green-looking youth that played like a professional gambler and had the nerve to risk thousands on the turn of a card? He seemed as unmoved as though notin the game, and the box and dice were puton the table, while the gambler unfastened the magai- ficent triuket, which was hung ona pivot of two points of the star by two miniature gold rabbit's feet + The charm was much admired, as it was laid upon the table with the remark by the gambler: ‘*I told you I was a Man of Chance.” * All superstitious persons believe there is great virtue in a rabbit’s foot worn as a charm. —~THe AUTHOR, ‘‘ And I was born for luck,” was Davy reply. Then the game was begun and each one playe carefully and skillfully. “You bave won, and that is my last game this night,” said Jack Dimond, rising from the table. The successful player calmly pocketed the dice, put sae box in a secret receptacle about his spacious coat, fastened the star upon his watch- chain and rose from the table, He grasped his vse riggs as he did so, and said: ‘*Good-night, gents, Til see yer at feeding time in the morning I reckon, for I’m a-going tber full run and come back ter my landing, fer maybe I kin find somebody else as wants ter pick me up fer a greeny. ** Good-night, all.” And carpet-bag in hand he started along the cabin for his state-room. He was seen to halt, unlock the door and enter, and then the crowd began to discuss him, The gambler had taken a drink with Gordon Grayhurst, after which he lighted a cigar and went on deck, and soon all began to drop out of Social Hall to their state-rooms. But the next morning at breakfast the strange player did not appear, and when Gordon Gray- burst asked for him later, it was found that he had not been seen, His guard door wes unlocked, there was his carpet-bag, the bed had been slept in, and yet at the two landings made during the night he had not been seen to go ashore, The captain too said that he bad an envelope of money of the stranger’s in the safe, W bat bis strange disappearance meant no one could at first comprehend, but soon it began to be rumored about the steamer that he had been foully dealt. with. CHAPTER XII. THE MYSTERY UNSOLVED. GorpDON GRAYHURST had sought out the strange character, who had come to bis rescue, the next morning to thank him more heartily for what he bad done, He felt that the act of the supposed country- man, in striking up the revolver of the Blackleg, had saved his life, while be also owed to him every dollar he had lost, which had been returned to him, So he had sought kim out to have a talk with him and find out just who and what he was. But the waiters said they had not seen Mr, Davy Dunn that morning. ata He had not been to breakfast, and an inquiry at the office showed that nothing there was known of him, He had been seen by the bootblack to go on deck, after the hour ke had gone to his room, and that was all that could be found out regard~ ing him, Then the clerk and Gordon Grayhurst went to his room, ; It was locked on the inside, and they went to the door opening out on the guard near the wheelhouse, This was open. : That the occupant had retired the bed showed, and there was his cravat, collar and carpet-bag, which showed that he had not gone ashore at any of the landings. Search was at once made for him, but no- where could he be found, This looked suspicious, His affair with the Blacklegs was recalled, and also the fact that he had plenty of money, the diamond dice, and gold box, the diamond star and his own watch and chain. It looked like a case of murder for revenge or money. Then the thoughts of some turned upon Jack Dimond, He was known never to rise until dinner, which was at one o'clock on the Mississippi steamers, ; But he was called and told of the mysterious disappearance of the stranger. / He saw at a glance that be was under sus- picion, so said in his cool way: ‘‘ Of course, this reflects upon me; but the last I saw of him was when he Jeft us in the cabin, ‘‘T wept on deck and smoked for an bour, them turned in, and that is all I know about it, ** Are you sure he did not go ashore at some landing? ‘‘ He was not seen to do so; and besides, would he leave his cravat, collar and carpet-bag, not to speak of a package of money that he had in the safe?” said Valentine Gibson, ‘‘ That settles it, then, that he has been foully dealt witb, but by whom?” is) 6 ye * ' - ~ Ps, , US S| | peed &- "4 4. . Vite i a a —