Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 802 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Ag 6 | _Jeadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. eew- - ~~ matter, and those who knew any hing about diamonds recognized that the pif’ was worth twenty times the amount put up against it, They argued, from this, that tlie bummer did not really know the value of the “irticle he had staked. i All looked to see the proprietor win a fine pin with very little effort, for, even if he lost at first, or even half a dozen times, it was believed he could still tempt the fellow on till his object Was gained. **}] take ther pin off ef you win et,” the bum- mer said. ‘‘ No need ter bother about doin’ et onless ye do,” ‘‘That’s all right,” Jim-jam consented, “If ou make a kick you will find that we can take it away from you in less time than you can think,’ ‘** ‘You won’t have todo so, ef ye win et. Now, who first?” ** Just as you say.” ** Well, go ahead, then,” Jim-jam Joe took the box, and his score was a high one. “*Guess [jl have ter climb ter reach that lace,” the bummer observed, as he took the x in turn, He threw the same number of turns, and when he had done he bad one more to bis credit than the proprietor bad to his, ‘* Not bad fer a beginnin’,” he observed, as he took the five doijlars and thrust it into a pocket, **1’m much ’bliged to ye, I’m sure, sir.” ** Hold on,” cried Jim-jam, ‘* We'll try that again, ef ye please. Til put up ten dollars against the pin this time, and give you the same chance over again,” ' Well, it’s only to oblige ye that I do et, ar . ‘* That’s all right. See if you can best this, now.” The man had put up bis money, and now he tossed the wicked cubes once more, This time his score was less than before, and the bummer beat it by just one, as on the other occasion, Now the interest of the crowd was great, and the proprietor was getting warmed upto it. He would have that pin, if be had to pay its price, He insisted, and to oblige him the bummer played on, winning every time with the cer- tainty of fate. And at last he had sixty dollars in his pocket, and still the pin was his, ** Say, what will you take for the dasted thing, cash down?” So Jim-jam at last demanded, disgusted with his luck, ‘Ke ain’t fer sale, pardner,” the bummer made answer, ‘‘ This hyer pin is my good-luck token, an’ I wouldn’t part with et fer any price. If [ lose et fair, then of course et has ter go; but I'd never sell et,” ‘* But, you bave won allit is worth, and you migbt make a deal,” **Et was your fault. I only staked et fer a five, and was satisfied with that. You pushed the game.” ‘* Well, here, Pll throw ye ten to ten casb, We'll see bow that will go.” ‘* Seein’ that I’m abead, it’s no more’n fair to give ye a show,” the bummer admitted. The money was put up, the dice cast, and the proprietor won, ‘*Hal your luck has changed!” he cried. ** Will vou put the pin up oncet more, ’gainst a twenty?” ‘Well, yes, ef ye insist "pon et; but, this must be the last time, IfI lose I’m done, and ther same ef I win,” And with that understanding the throws were made again, The bummer won, and the crowd cheered him wildly, while the proprietor muttered im- precations against bis luck, **Do not blame me, sir,” spoke the bummer. *‘T would bave stopped at first, but you drew me on. However, you shall have my trade while | am in town, and that will in a measure make up ther Joss,” ** To the deuce with you and *“* Just as you please, I our trade!” old po ill-will. Now I go back to the hotel to pay my honest debt, ut, byer, take this ana treat ther house. Once more I’m flush, and when flush I’m free.” He threw a bill down upon the counter, and while the crowd proceeded to make way with it in liquid form, the bummer recrossed the street to the hotel, . ‘*Now, sir,” he said to the proprietor, on entering, and he slapped a bill down upon the bar, “Til settle that ’ar little score wi’ you, Jest take et out of this, ef you please,” Old Hink looked at him in amazement, ‘*Can’t ye change et?” the bummer asked. ** ve got somethin’ smaller hyer, ef ye can't.” **Ob! I can change et,” the landlord declared, **T was only considering where you could bave raised it in so short a time,” ‘*That does not matter, but Dll say that I picked et up across the street, as some of these gents who have followed me over can testify. Take out yer bit, ef ye please,” Mr, Hinckman had to do so, and while the crowd looked on, enjoying the situation, an- other new-comer entered the place, This time it was a colored individual, one wearing a ‘*‘ b’iled” shirt, with a diamond pin, and carrying two good sized grips, It was Pompey Sunflower, the barber. ‘*Good-ebenin’, gents!” he greeted, putting down his bags. ‘* Hello!” cried the mayor. ‘* Hyer’s another of ther cusses the driver spoke about,” ‘Yes, dat ’ar stage passed me on de road,” the dark y complained, turning upon the speaker, ‘fan’ when Il axed him fo’ a lift he told me he wasn’t runvin’ a volored line an’ he wanted to git in ’fo’ dark, 1 tell yo’ I feel injured yet, ober dat,” The crowd laughed, and now all attention was given to the latest arrival, and the bummer was forgotten. The latter had drawn away from the bar, havicg now received his change, and Lawyer Bungle was whispering to him in a cautious tone. one thing. You must give more care to the dialect you have undertaken. Stick to it every time rar speak, It will be strange if it hasn’t elready been noticed,” The bummer did not turn bis head or reply, and the lawyer immediately passed behind him and took his station where he could see the new attraction, ‘* Yes, sah, I feel injured yet,” the darky re- peated, ‘* Might ’a’ been in ’fo’ dark m’se’f if he had been a Christian gen’m’n, But, land- lo’d, do yo’ bab a color line heab, too?” ‘*1'm full, clear up,” Old Hink promptly de- clared. ‘* Dat settles et, boss, Can’t blame yo’. But, I hab come heah to open a barber shop, an’ if dar is any place to rent I hab de money to plank right down an’ take ’mediate p’session. Dat’s all I want. Now yo’ talk, somebody.” His want was soon supplied. There was a vacant shanty not a stone’s throw from the hotel, and he secured that. ‘*T’m in prime luck,” be declared, as be was about leaving the hotel t take possession of it, ‘* My name is Pompey Sunflower, an’ when I open my senatorial parlor to-morrow I'll be ready to shave anyt?ing dat comes along.” He was immediately voted to bea valuable acquisition to the camp. The darky had barely gone when wild singing oe, heard, up the gulch, and all stepped out to isten, ‘* Oh-ho, Oi’m Mickey McGee, So happy and free A wild Irish lad from dhe county Mayo; Oi step whin Oi walk, * Oi spake whin Oi talk, And ~ girls rave about me phwerever Oi go Oh-ho, a tinker am Oi As handy a b'’y, " As ever ye'd see in a day’s walk around; A pee or & pan, A kettle or can, Oi'll mend so complately dhe spot can’t be found, And there was a good deal more besides, but we have quoted enough for a fair sample of what citizens heard as another new-comer drew near. Presently the Irish tinker came in sight, and he kept up bis singing until be struck tbe hotel steps, when he stopped, not because his song was done, presumably, but because he had arrived, , ‘* Begorra!” he cried, as he set down his kit and furnace, ‘but it’s glad Oi am to get here. Av ever Oi did a hard day’s tramp Oi have done it dhis same day, dhe which same is night, now, Oi am _ as hungry as a pig in dhe time av famine. Phwere can Oi get a bite to ate?” ‘You have struck the rigbt spot, if you have any tin,” one man made answer to his query. ‘Dhen it is roight here Oi'll be after stoppin’, Oi have dhe stuff to pay wid, and whin Oi am out av dhat Oi can take out dbe balance in trade, Who is dhe landlord av dhis shebang?” Old Hink was there to answer for himself. He could provide something to eat, but not ‘ * ‘*Good! first rate!” he was saying; ‘‘all but lodging, declaring that he was full, and could take in no more. ** Well, begob,” the young Irishman accepted ** since ‘atin’ is dhe main part av me livin’, Ob ate here and let dhe slape take care ay itself,. Lead dhe way to dhe locker, and begorra av Oi don’t create a famine bere Oi will come mighty near it; dhat Oi state fur a fact.” He entered, and putting his things down in a corner of the room, followed the landlord to the kitchen of the establishment, where he was served, While be was thus engaged the Dutch peddler arrived, ‘Py shimminy!” he cried, as he dropped his pack at the foot of the steps, ‘‘ Cot vas a valk! I peen so pooty vigh killed, ain’t id, dot I don’t know v’at vas der matter mit me, maybe. I nefer dake some more dramp like dot pooty soov, I bet you. Is dis blaces der hotel?” ‘* Yas, this byer is ther hotel,” answered the mayor, ‘*Say, how many more of you fellers is comin’?” ‘* How many more?” ’ ‘‘That’s what I said.” ‘* Vell, now, I am all here miueself, and dot is: all I know apoudt id. Maybe I don’t know v’at you vas talking apoudt.” ‘* No, I guess you don’t, What’s yer name?” “Hans Yager, gentlemans, Maybe | could sold you somedings mit mine pack, ain’t id? Pessness before bjeasures, you know,” **No, we hardly think you can,” declared the mine-manager, speaking up. ‘**And, if you want anythivg to eat, you hac better get in there before that wild Irishman makes a clean sweep of the board,” ‘*] vas like a famished volf! der vay.” Yust show me CHAPTER VII. TROUBLE IN THE CAMP, Ir was laughable to the crowd to see the way the peddler made a hasty scramble to get in for bis share of the grub. Ola Hink met him, and as soon as he had made known his wants he was conducted out to the kitchen where the tinker was doing more than justice to the viands that bad been spread before bim. The arrivals by the stage, meantime, together with Lawyer Bungle, as shown in his case, had finished their supper, and the lawyer was again on the piazza, talking with the citizens and | making furcher inquiries about the murder case he bad taken hold of, The woman, Fearless Fan, had gone to her room, Some time had passed, when, suddenly a great. uproar was heard back in the botel in which were commingled Irish imprecations and Dutch anathemas, Suddenly the inner door was flung open, and into the bar-room rolled Mickey McGee and Hans Yager, each clinging to the other with de- termination, and both talked at once, ‘‘ Oi’ll choke ye, ye gossoon!” cried the tinker, ‘‘T vill hunch your plamed headt mit you!” shouted the peddier, ‘‘Oi’ll ate ye, ye thafe av dhe wurreld!” ‘*{ vill bite you like you vas a pulldog, may- ” ‘“Oj’ll tie ye up in a double bow-knot, be- gorra!” ‘Yas, upt I vill make some gat-cut fiddle- strings mit you out, ven you vas not vatching out pooty gwick!” And tbey were pulling and hauling and drag- ging each Other around at a great rate, the while, In upon them rusbed the proprietor of the hotel, however, backed up immediately by the mayor, and the belligerents were pulled apart, ‘‘ What's the matter here?’ demanded Old Hink. ‘‘ What ar’ ye tryin’ ter claw each other fur?” added the mayor. ‘* Begorra, dhat lop-eared son-av-a-gun was afther going fur dhe last bit av m’ate dhere was on dhe table,” explained the tinker, ‘‘ whin Oi wanted it mesel’!” | ‘‘ Yaw, yaw, dot ves id,” cried the peddler, “He peen vanting to sad der whole plamed beesness unt let me go hungry; but I vas cop mit his game, you bet, Ven he jerk der meat mit mine mouth out, den I go vor his neck pooty gwick, maybe.” ‘* Yis, begob! and purty quick ye was almost standin’ on dhe top av yer pate, too, av Oi re- member anyt’ing about it. fied but he wanted to ch’ate me out av dhe m’ate as well! Oi havea notion to—” ‘“* What is this?” suddenly cried Lawyer Bun- ; ‘comicboo Ye had dhe last av ~ dhe bread, and yet be hivvins ye wasn’t satis- ——— » ee — oe © — ——————— — -_ 7 rt | ’ rt 4 7 ¥ <sSseom”