Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 80 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

/ Rosebud Rob. ‘*What! what! Bess, ye don’t mean ter go back on yer uncle, who actooally won ther gold medal fer sublimity uv indervidual beauty, at ther Centenyal persityun?” ‘Can't help et, old covey; Rosebud Rob’s jest ther very purtiest in these hayr mines, an’ hayr’s what kin lick the galoot who wants ter go aft o’ my de- claration.”’ } ‘*Mebbe ye want’er lick me/” growled Hickory Hank, with an insolent leer, as he stepped nearer. “No! Hank Grim. I want nothing to do with you; not that I am afraid of youre know better than that. But there are others who want to get a clip at you, and I won’t stand in their way! Gct away; your breath smells of Kentuck’s bed-bug poison. on't tempt me to shoot—you know my aim!”’ The ruffian muttered a fierce curse, and turned toward the door, with a beckon of his hand to his comrades. . ‘‘ Never mind, girl! A day must come soon fora settlement ‘twixt youand I. Never mind,Isay. Ill get even with you yet—ha! ha! ha!—yes, I'll get even with you in a way ye little dream of, curse ye!”’ Then the ruffian entered out into the blackness of the midsummer’s night, followed by his pals in vil- lainy. CHAPTER IL. THE MILLIONAIRE — MINE-OWNER AND STEP-SON— A STRANGE VISITOR. Munro MALVERN —. moe among the wealth- iest men in Deadwood City. ; He had come there a man of no particular im- portance, and as was reece aeege yp the claim, now known as the Big Bullion Mine, had opened it up on a large scale, and as a result it yielded the greatest per cent. of gold of any mine in that section of the Black Hills. Becoming suddenly prosperous, the speculator had invested oe, in different schemes, which netted him a princely income, and while he was rev puted to be a bear in the market, and 4 ruling sovereign, his thousands were rapidly accumulating. His residence in wh ered Gulch was = es style of architecture, with every convenience at- tached, and the few’ who had éver beon inside it ronounced it a palace, compared with the other swellings in the Golden City. Let us pass along up through the crowded street, and ring at the door of the pale tial mansion. A colored servant answers our summons, and ushers us into a handsomely frescoed hall, up a andly carpeted stairs, and to the door of the mil- ionaire’s sumptuous library. Let us pause and peep in. The room is furnished in grand style, for being so far toward the setting sun. There is a rich, bright- hued matting, dot here and there with plush rugs; and the furniture, consisting of marble-inlaid center-tables, luxurious sofas, and large cushioned chairs; while against the walls stand towering book- eases of polished walnut, and filled with choice bound volumes; here are magnificent oil landscapes, and there are vailed statues in either corner. On this same night of our opening scene in the “Little Brown Jug,” the owner of all these magnifi- cent surroundings, sat reading .by the light of a shaded lamp, apparently deeply engaged in the sd: er of a local newspaper, while he smoked a scen He was a man of between forty-five and fifty ears, but as well preserved as though he were but thirty. Instature he was of medium hight, with a person that was neither massive nor yet aaey thin. His face was whiter than robust health would warrant, where it was not covered by a jetty beard, and his eyes had a treacherous, snake-like gleam, calcula to represent a sinister nature—a man born to plot evil, and scheme deeply to accom- plish his own plans. The advance courier of age had not even silvered his black hair or beard, nor unsteadied the fair hands of the mine monopolist; few would have deemed him even well in his thirties. As his glittering gaze swept over the lines on the per, a confident expression hovered about his loodless lips, finally breaking into a triumphant smile. ‘All my plans and financial schemes work like a charm!” he muttered, blowing a cloud of smoke up- ward, nnd watching it dissolve into space. ‘*‘ When I came here to this poe place, over a year ago, I had not a hundred dollars to my name, while cca now, the papers estimate me worth over a million o dollars, and compliment me as the most go-ahead and successful speculator in the Black Hills coun- try. How sweet is the fascination of flattery! Ha! ha! ha! especially when one deserves it, as do. Ha! ha! ha! Why do I not deserve it? Humph! things are working in an open groove, and it is about time for me to be meg re about for one of the onpe site sex, with whom to form a copartnership. Ido not think I am yet too old to swing in double har- ness, if I can only find the right butterfly !"’ “Haw! haw! Darr: so you think you are capa- ble of catching butterfly belles yet, eh?’ laughed a cool voice. Munro Malvern wheeled about with a startled ex- clamation, then smiled as he saw the stalwart, black- mustached young man who stood in a careless atti- tude, just within the door, “Qh it’s you, eh? Come in, Ralph, and be seated. So you overheard my soliloquy? Well, yes, I flatter myself that there are many women who would not despise the idea of marrying me, with my youth- fal appearance and the Big Bullion mine to back “ V true, Unky, and as your ste son ies a Fase er you on oat fen tate the fact!’ the other replied, elevating his heels to the corner of a book-case, and settling comfortably back into his chair, to enjoy a cigar. ‘**I dare say you have already cast your eye upon some piece of calico, whom you would be pleased to make Mrs. Munro Malvern.”’ ‘*No, Ralph, it has not come to that yet, that Iam aware of. There is but one woman in Deadwood that I'd givea snap of my finger for, and even she has long ago refused to open her doors to me.” **Ah! whom do you mean?’ and Ralph Lamont elevated his brows as an indication of surprise. *‘Her name is Jessie Mapleton!” the millionaire replied, an evil light flickering in his eyes. ‘Phew! not the little washerwoman who holds out down the guich?” “The same. She has a wicked temper, albeit she is but eighteen years of age.” “And, old-maid-like, prefers to be independent | and work for her own living, rather than depend _— Me charities of an unscrupulous illion- re, e + i] “It seems so, Ralph—but you do me a great injus- tice in calling me unscrupulous, when you know I am strictly honest, like yourself—’’ with a shrug of the shoulders, and a hoarse chuckle. **Ha! ha! Good joke. Of course you’re a para- gon of honesty and acentty, Unky. But how is it that the little competitor of our Chinese nation, is down on you?” **Oh! there was a slight matter of business be- tween myself and her father, concerning his right to a controlling share of the Big Thunder gulch claim, and wheh the old man suddenly skipped out of Dead- wood, she accused me of conniving at his disappear- ance. Naturally, I arranged matters so as to con- —_ aye mine, giving Beet dividend sufficient to satisfy any one but a sanguinpary personage,”’ - Aud she kicked, eh?’ “Exactly !—kicked me out of the house, when I went to make her an offer. But, curse her, she shall yet feel my power—I have sworn it.”’ “Ha! ha! The girl is a brick, after all, and asI am about to make a debut into her graces, Unky, I trust, for the sake of the late lamented Mrs. Malvern who was my mother, that you will the lapels o your plethoric purse once more open, and make me a liberal donation!” ‘What? Why, you rascal, it was only last week I gave you a couple thousand to invest in a mining scheme. Where has that gone?” ‘Evaporated, yan! — actually evaporated—gone into the cash till of Cha where bills of so large a denomination are usually deposited. Faro took it all.” And you've not a cent?” ** Not the ghost of a copper!”’ * Then Pal may go penniless. I am not obliged to 5 ae you.”’ ‘‘But you wouldn’t leave me to starve, Unky, when you're rollin’ in wealth and luxury?’’ ** Curse it, BO to work and make your pile, as I have!’’ the e-owner growled, impatiently. . “Oh! I couldn't, Unky; you know I haven't got the business tact, nor the capacity, nor the unlimited cheek required to earn one’s living, Work, either with the brain or hands, is somethin question with me!” ‘‘ And do I understand that you intend to depend upon me for support and sp.7* cash, you spend- t fs ee RA oafer?”’ sa ly I don’t see how else I shall get poy B.S the world, dear Unky. Just ruminate back upon the late lamented Mrs. M., and—”’ “Hang Mrs. M, | | 2 « + ed a articles, and stepped into an adjoining room, urnished nearly the same as his lib ; In the course of an hour he returned and found Lamont idly engaged in emptying the wine boitle. “Well! have you done?” “Exactly. lease examine,’’ and he tossed a sheet of paper upon the table. “I think you will find it clever.”’ “It has been done grandly!"’ Malvern replied, as he ran overit. ‘“‘ Here is a hundred dollars for your pains. Now, then, I want you to deliver this to Jes- _ Sie Mapleton, and tell her you received it from her ’ | gi rlie Baggs’s money-drawer, | father up in Washington Territory, but had quite forgotten about it on your first meeting. You are then to take your leave. Of course the letter will produce its effect, and in time I will call upon the rl. Doyousee? And if I win her—” “Exactly! If you win her, what then?” ‘“T’ll make you richer by five thousand dollars!" “Hurrah! that’s me to a dot! The thing is set- tled. The girl shall marry you, or I'll go drown her in Whitewood creek, as sure’s my name is Ralph Waldo Emerson Lamont!”’ And seizing the forged letter, the dutiful step-son made a hurried exit. After his departure Munro Malvern sat for many moments ahsorbed in a brown study, while he smok- ed innumerable cigars. “The girl must be the third woman who has taken my name,”’ he muttered, ‘“‘Ha! ha! what pleasure it will give me to tame her, as the buchario does the wild cayuse! Not that I care for her any more than does Lamont, but I am anxious to break and subdue her strong, independent spirit. I think I can trust Ralph, as long as I feed him with money. Ah, Brass!""—to the servant who entered, bearing a sil- ver card-receiver—‘‘ what now?”’ ‘‘A gallus gentleman, Mr, Malvern, who sends up his card.” ““Humph! I wonder who?”’ the speculator mutter- ed, as he took the delicate card, from which arose a delicate perfume of white-lily. ‘‘Few of these illit- erate denizens of the mines boast of cards in their calls. Ha! and such a name—Rosebud Rob! Won- der what and who A¢is? Yes, Brass, you may show him up.” **No, Brass, you are let out of that job, for I have come of my own accord. You may retire, how- ever!”’ announced a voice that, though pleasant, was sarcastically cool. ioe there stood Rosebud Rob, just within the por- Nearly frightenea out of his wits, Brass made an abrupt plunge out of the room, and Munro Malvern was alone with his visitor. Rosebud Rob came gracefully forward, and cooll accepted the chair but recently occupied by Lamont, Since his visit to the “ Little Brown Jug” he had made a general change of wearing apparel, and looked even more the ctf sport of the mines than before. His pants and coat were of the finest light wool, while the immaculate white vest and shirt- front were remarkable for that rough region. A diamond pin gleamed upon the latter,and scintillated a thousand dazzling rays. His boots were patent- leather; his mustache was slightly waxed at either g out of the | | int; there was a delicately-tinted bunch of rose- uds %f various colors attached to the lapel of his CUR ; a whitish slouch hat was set jauntily upon his ead, “Well?” Munro Malvern said, as he surveyed his caller with an interrogative glance, ‘‘ of what service _ can I be to you, sir?”’ } af you want more money, you | must work for it. The girl, Jessie Mapleton, must | and shall be my wife, so that I can tame her—”’ ‘But, hold up! You're encroaching upon my corn-field. I have already made her acquaintance, and mean to go ahead at once into her graces!” “The devil! It must not be. The girl shall be my wife, if [have tospend every dollar Ihave. Do you hear? You must not interfere, except as I direct. What do you care about her? Bah! nothing! abso- lutely nothing! There are a thousand better than she for you to pick up. What you want is money ‘to make | you a silent partner to my individual schemes. ‘** Bully boy! + you've just hit the nail upon the financial head. Shake! I’m your accommodat- ing step-son—for the sake of the late lamented Mrs. M.—just so long as the jingle of coin produces pho- nographic music from the depths of my ket.”’ “Very good. You shall be well paid, if you serve my will. However, [ shall not advance you money until you perform your part. Here is what you have to work on: “This man Mapleton is dead, and his daughter be- lieves me his murderer, orin some way connected with his disappearance. She must be persuaded dif- ferently. Here is a letter I once received from Maple- ton; you are a skilled penman, and must forge a letter purporting to be from the old man, some- where up in Washington Territory, where we will suppose he is engaged in prospecting. In the letter I must be thoroughly exculpated, and lauded with praises—do you see? It will be easy for the sup- apt = writer to say in the letter that he, Mapleton, aving become deeply involved, it was necessary for him to fly for safety, and that it was only through the leniency of Munro Malvern that he escaped a violent death, etc., ete,” “Phew! you old scheming rascal!’ the dutiful — exclaimed, as he ran his fingers through his , meditatively, ‘so that’s your game, eh? Well, I don’t see as I can do less than follow your orders. So give me pen and ink and paper, and cigars and —_ and then leave me to myself, and I try my Without a word Munro Malvern set forth the re- ——— ee ‘Eh? at service can you be to me?” the mor repeated, as he lita cigar. ‘‘ Well, let me see. ou read my name on the card there ?’”’ **T did, and a very strange name it is, too.” ‘*Humph! yes, when you’ve a mind to think so. Emanated, you see, from a personal peculiarity of mine, of always carrying foran emblem, a budding rose, pinned to my coat. Sometimes, of course have to substitute an artificial one. when the cold snows of winter are low over the graves of the dead and unavenged.” The millionaire started, violently, and gave the Sport a quick, searching glance. ut that personage was engaged in knocking the ashes from the end of his cigar, evidently uncon- scious of the effect of his words. ” By heaven! I am glad it was not an intentional stab,” the speculator muttered, in under his breath. Then, aloud, »e added: _ ‘IT suppose you have another name, sir, in addi- tion to the nom de plume you have assumed? It is generally the case.” “So I presume; and of course I have another which I use on private occasions. Perhaps it is a name you have heard of before, since my father was once your partner in business transactions. My name chances to be the same as his—Robert Maple- ton, at your service.”’ ‘** Robert Mapleton!’ the millionaire gasped, lea | ing to his feet with a colorless face—* Robert Map é- re ton ? “That's what I said. Can't you hear? Robert Mapleton, or Rosebud Rob, for short—a chap pu much calculated to suit all circumstances, you see?” Munro Malvern took several turns up and down the room; his brow knit fiercely, and his breath coming short and fast. “Satan seize the fellow,”’ he muttered, under his breath; ‘what brings him here? I never knew that Mapleton had a son; he never spoke of the fact. Pshaw! why should I act like a coward? I must face him and try the plausible game. If that fails— something else more soothing. He is here for a pose. He is a cunning devil I plainly see, and all that ae Sag is put on. I must face him, curses on It was several seconds before the mine-owner co>" ) (E| OOO) com <SiiGO