Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 812 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

o : OT. » ys __~** That’s what’s the matter,” cried the mayor, who had come in in time to bear what was going on. ‘* Roundabout stands ready to defend this Jady, Mr. Prestley, until you can prove your claim to her by right o’ law,” ‘*Which he can never do,” the girl sport de- elared. ‘‘I do not know him, never saw him before, and if heis honestin what he claims, he simply mistakes me for some one else,” «lB? heavens, [ am not mistaken!” the man retorted, ‘' Don’t you suppose I know you, Mary Graves?” ** It is stiil more clear that you do not, sir, for ae is not my name, never was, and never will e! ; ‘*Then what is your name?” ‘*Tam known as Fly Fan; and, you will find that I am tly enough to take care of mysell!’, too. While i thank this gentleman for his inter- ference in my behalf, yet | want to tell you that lam well prepared to deal with such a fellow as you. If you don’t believe it, just try your game on again, that’s all.” This was said with such admirable insistence, that it brougbt a cheer from the crowd. ‘Well, it is just possible that I may be mis- taken,” the manager admitted, to himself and the crowd as well; ** but, 1 don’t see how two persons could look so much alike, For the pres- ent I’}l have to halt, but all the worse for you if I find f am right,” ‘‘ As fine a display of horse sense as I ever saw!” avowed the poet, with a burst of entbusi- asm, ‘* You bave done the proper thing, under the circumstances, sir. I feel quite proud of you, It is quite an art to fall gracefully, when a fall is bound to be the next thing on the pro- gramme, It isn’t every man can tell at a glance when heisina horn, I congratulate you, sir.” And the post went so far as to hold out his hand, but the manager disdained to notice the proffer. ‘No credit is due you, anyhow, and you meedn’t take any,” be snapped. ‘* And you, my lady, look out for me if I find you are the person I take you to be,” ‘* And you, my man,” the spirited girl retort- ed, “ look out for a snag if you run up against me again, that isall, Does that sound anythiug like your lost Mary?) Whether it does or does not, it means business, Sir,” to the clerk, “ll go to my room if you please,” Her request was like an imperious order, and the clerk hastened to conduct her to her room, “* Now it is just barely possible that I may be mistaken,” remarked the mine-manager, then, .** but I don’t think lam. I believe that woman is my wife, and if she is lam going to have her iin spite of your teeth, men of Roundabout.” ‘** Don’t see how you will get har, if she ain’t willin’ to go,” suggested Mayor Gadzooks, **She’s under the protection of this city, now, and I think we can hold herif she wants to be beld. See?” ‘* No use talking that way, sir; if she is mine and I can prove it, the law will give ber to me, and [ll have her. Has that stage gone on to Hustleville yet? IL hope not.” ; But, the stage had gone on, and the discom- fited manager set forth to walk home, not even ‘waiting for his muil at the post-oflice, No sooner had he left the room than Editor Sneed, of the Rustler, went up to the poet and took bis arm, ‘* I want to talk with you, sir,” he said, ‘* Now that the editor of tbat rotten sheet be- yond the Choke is not by, Pll make a proposition to you. I do want a poet on my staff, and you abs just the man I want. What do you say to t? ‘* Tf there is moQney tp it, sir, I am your poet.” ‘* And there is. ou come on and show me what kind of work you can turn out in our next, and we'll come to terms. With a fire-engine and a fighting poet, | am of the opinion that Hustleville won’t be able to bola up its head at all. Poet Tennison was then given the story of the rival camps, CHAPTER V. PRESENTS A PAIR OF ROGUES, ONE passenger*wbho had come by the stage on this same night went with it over to Hustleville, If Hustleville was denied the privilege of a post-office it did havea stage the same as Round- about, and there the stage put up over night, Hustleville had its hotel, too, oue cailed the Rocky Gulch House, and when the stage drew up and stopped before that hostelry the men- tioned passenger alighted there and entered. He was a person above the medium height, dark-browed, with a close-trimmed mustache, and had a pair of keen and searching eyes, cal- \ ° 7 ! CBee rt oh a th mT as B z Ay ry 4 » Fi ° Us ve ie, &) ai . A ! os > . * - Pay ‘ he ewe . vi eating ae em eee Oe ee we ae a7. Deadwood Dick, J a b oe boi _ P > 2 = . ew f ~~. a ed rt = Cee —— culated to make a timid man quail before his steady gaze, He was neatly clad ina business suit of a dark color. Entering the hotel he singled out the landlord at a glance. ‘Sir, is Mr, Aaron Prestley stopping here?” he made inquiry. ‘Yes, sir, be is,” was the prompt information given, ** Where is he just now?” ‘** 1 guess he has gone over to Roundabout for his mail, sir.” “Hal! then I would have met him by getting out there, But, no matter, for I suppose he will be back here again shortly.” i ‘* No doubt he will; he don’t often stay over thar, sir.” ‘* Well, have you any room for me here?” ‘** Yes, plenty of it.” ‘“* Then Dj) just register and take something to eat while I wait.” The landlord was willing enough he should do that, and pushed out the book and dipped a pen for him, The stranger wrote: ‘* EDMUND MURTAGH, Chicago,” Making his terms with his host, the stranger went into the dining-room, and was still there when Prestley reached the camp. ‘* Man hyer to see you, sir,” said the landlord, when the mine-mavager entered the bar-room, ‘' Who is he?” ‘* Name is Murtagh—” © ‘* Hal he is here, eh? Where is he?” ‘** Takin’ his rations jest now.” ** 1’ll step in and see him,” And he did so, ** Hello!” the new-comer cried, when he en- tered the room, ‘ Here you are, eb?” ‘‘ Yes; and you are here a little sooner than I expected. What has brought you ahead of time?” ‘* Business,” ** As I could bave answered myself,” ‘t Well, ’'m. about done here; suppose we go to your room, or mine, and talk the thing over a little.” ‘Tm with you.” They bad shaken hands on meeting, more business-like than heartily, and now Prestley led the way to bis room above. When they had entered there, and the door had been closed after them, they took seats and entered upon their conversation in low tones, ‘* You asked what has brought me heresooner than I expected to arrive,” s:id Murtagh, then. ‘‘- Yes, so 1 did, I didn’t look for you yet awhile.” ‘* Well, I am here because the business has gone so as to make it proper for me to appear upon the scene, Is the girl here yet?” ‘Oh, yes; she is here,” and the mannger smiled rimly,. Mt Good! W hat do you know about her affairs?” ‘* As much as anybody else, I guess. She is as pure as an angel, and makes an honest living doing mending for the men,” mm s she heart whole and fancy free, so to put os ** Yes, far as 1 know, she is,” ‘“*Ther 1 am in luck, truly. If [can cnly win her regard at sight, that will be balf the battle won, won’b it?” “Tt will.” ** Still looking for her father?" ‘* No; she’s found him at last—” 2 a Carats him? I happen to know that he is ead.” ‘*T would naturally infer that be must be; she found only his head,” ve His head! Great Scott! what are you driv- ¢ ‘“ Well, his head came here to-day, and at sight of it she recognized it and fainted.” ‘‘ Explain—explain, How came the head of Joel Meadway here?” ** Well, our jo anna camp received a fire- engine to-day, and when they opened its fire-box there was a buman head—” ‘* Joel] Mead way’s head!” Yes,” ** Wonderful!” “It was taken out, and was recognized as I bave said, That’s the long and the short of it, and so I was not surprised when you said Mead- way is dead,” ** Should think not, after that, But, there is something horrible about this, on my word. And, mystery of mysteries! how came his head there ? This is something that gets ahead of me, in rs, Head-off. £. vee i ae, 1 ie P74 ‘* You are playing it well, I must admit,” ‘* Playing what well?” ‘* Innocence.” ‘* Curse you! do you mean to infer that I know anything about it? 1 wan you to under- stand, Prestley, that I am avove such business , as that,” ‘But, it works to your advantage to have Meadway out of the way.” ‘*L admit it; but, that is not to say that I would kill him and cut off bis head and send it here, is it?” ‘* Maybe not,” ‘** Positively not. I bappened to know of the man’s death, and having the information, have come here to look after the girl, That is all there is in it so far as | am concerned,” ‘* Well, ’L have to take your word fer it, I suppose,” ‘* Curse you again! I guess you will, If not, if that won’t do, Pll back it up with proof!” — ‘* Proof for what?” ‘** Why, that Meadway is dead, that he died a natural death, and that he has been decently buried,” , ** Then how came his head in the box of the fire-engine?” ‘*T tell you that is what puzzles me. should I know how it came there? what I know; no more,” ‘** What do you know, then?” ‘Pll tell you one thing, and that is—that I don’t like the manner in which you put your questions, If you suspect me of any evil in this matter, lef me set you right, bere and now, I am out of it,” ‘* Well?” ‘' You know that I have been interesting my- self in the search for Joel Meadway, for, in order that the estate might be settled, he must be found, or proof of his death established.” ** Exactly.” “‘T have looked everywhere, and was about to give it up when the thought came to me to turo my attention exclusively to Chicago,” ‘*T understand you,” ‘You see, that having been his home, nat- urally, in bis weak state of mind, he could be looked for to return there, perhaps seeking his former resideuce and former business occupa- tions,” ‘** Clear enough reasoning, I think,” ‘* As it proved. I had bis old baunts watched and finally got on track of him as he ap red there, He was sick, ragged and miserable, but it was he. My man followed him with the ob- ject of learning where he was stopping, but on the way the unfortunate man was run over in the street, ‘‘He was taken to a hospital, and when my man bad located him he came and reported to me, and | went there. The man was unknown, but I identified bim as Joel Meadway. The reeord can be found there at the hospital all straight. He was fatally injured, and in a few days died, and was decently buried. ‘lhat’s the whole of the matter, so far as I am concerned in it. ‘Then, with that proof of bis death, I came here—for what purpose you know, I was com- ing, anybow, but not quite so soon, aiming to be on hand when the girl came of age, in order to make sure of her hand, if possible. Now that she is an heir, whether of age or not, [ am bound to bave her if I can, with your help. lh not, then will come the real scheme, of which you already have the outline, What do you think about it all, knowing the girl?” ‘ i think you stand a slim chance of winning her. “ Why so?” ‘* First, because you are not the sort to catch a girl’s eye; next, because all the bloods of the How I only know canip have laid siege to her heart without mak- | ing the slightest impression upon it,” ‘That won’t binder me from making a try at it, anyhow. If I find it’s no use, then we will have to fall back upon the scheme. If the real Maggie Meadway hasn’t got the good sense to recognize what is best for a Maggie Meadway that has, that’s all,” ‘* And the real Maggie—” ‘‘Oh! she will disappear. I can’t understand about that bead business, though, How and why came it in the box of that engine?” ‘‘Tf you have told me the truth, it is a mystery, as you declare,” ‘And whe cen I lie to you about it? Are we not in this thing together? I would not try to deceive you.” | ‘‘ That is all right; I can’t swear to it. But, see here; now that I am helping you I am going to call on youre help me carry on a little game of my own, ill you do it?” oa ¢ er, then we will find _ < —. 4 é oe & 4 a. * * . -