Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 840 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick, J r.’s, Clutch. 13 ‘*How much is thar in et fer movin’ *spenses?” ‘*A hundred dollars.” *“T move.” And without further parley Mr. Snyder set out for home to make ready. The mayor made haste to fall in with Wat Cooper, who scemed to be his right-hand man in all cases of doubt. “Well, did you make it all right?” Wat asked. ‘‘ Confound it, no,” the snarl for answer. “Tt is all wrong.” . ‘*What’s up?” ““The kid is missing.” ‘“Whew! That was done quicker than we would have dreamed of.” ‘* You are right; and now, the next thing is to find him, and I want you to help me.” ‘*T’m yours to command. gin at it?” : ‘By going to see that woman, confound er!” ‘‘Come right along.” They directed their steps to the hotel at once, where the lady was found on the piazza How’ll we be- ‘in her accustomed place. ‘* Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she cheer- fully greeted them, ‘‘ though it is getting al- most late enough to say evening. Can't I have the pleasure of your company a little while?” **The very thing we have come to offer,” responded Cooper. ‘‘ We have called ona matter of business, however.” ‘** Business?” with some surprise. ‘‘ Yes,” said the mayor. ‘‘ Not that it amounts to very much, but “i may be able to help me out a little. requested Mr. Cvoper to come with me, as he knows more about the matter than I do myself.” . ‘‘ What is it, Mr. Gibson? Nothing about hat unpleasant affair of the other night, I ope.” “Oh, no, nothing about that; in fact, noth- ing serious anyhow. The fact of the matter is, Josh Snyder, one of our citizens here, has lost his boy—” | ‘** Ah! and you want me to visit the family tosympathize with the parents, or something of that kind? Why, I'll go, Mr. Gibson, ie willingly. You need not have hesita- te d?? ‘No, no,” the mayor interrupted, as soon as he could get command of his breath to say anything, for she had taken it away from him. ‘The boy is missing—gone, not dead; and as you have been seen talking with him we thought possibly you might be able to give us a clue,” “Oh! that dirty little fellow I was talking with this morning?” ‘Yes, can you imagine where he is?” *‘T cannot say, sir.” ‘He told his parents about your askin him a great many questions, and as they di not like to come to you themselves they ask- ed me to come in their stead. Was there nothing let fall that would give you an idea where he may‘have gone?” — ‘* Nothing whatever, It is true that I did ply the little fellow with numerous questions, but there was nothing in them that could in any way explain his whereabouts now.” “Then that is all we can ask, Miss St. James, and we are sorry for having troubled you at all.” | ‘*Do not mention it, pray.” There was a momentary awkward pause. ‘Ts there anything I can do?” she sweetly asked. ‘‘If so, do not hesitate to mention it,” . ‘‘N-no, there is nothing,” the mayor an- swered. ‘‘Sorry had to trouble you, am sure. Going along with me, Cooper?” The mayor was a little confused, and show- ed it “No, I will remain, if you will exctise me, mayor,” Cooper responded. “I de- sire to talk a little while with Miss St. James, with her permission, I will see you later after supper.” ‘* All right.” ; So the mayor went on his way and Cooper remained. ‘How long have you been in the West, Miss St. James?” Cooper then inquired, ‘*Oh, a considerable time, Mr. Cooper,” was the gracious response, ‘‘ Several months at least.”’ ‘Then you have been here amply long to learn how brief we are in the matter of busi- ness, of course. You know we use few words but right to the point.” ‘Yes, I have found it so.” ‘* And we are the same in matters of senti- ment,” 1“ Yes t.. ‘‘Exactly. Will you permit me to speak out before your man here?” ‘*Patsy has no ears; say whatever you have amind to, sir. Ihopeit is not senti- ment, however.” ‘T'll call it business, for that is what I mean. Will you be my wife, Miss St. " gevaga’ Take a minute to think it over and hen give me your decision,” | ‘*You are less generous than Mr. Hartz, sir,” laughing. Cooper scowled. ‘*What about him?” ‘He has given mea whole day in which to answer the saine question, and [ have not answered it yet.” ‘‘Tt ought to be easy, then, for you to answer me off-hand.” ‘* And why?” ‘« Because, you ought to know by this time whether or not you are going to entertain his proposition favorably.” | ‘‘F would prefer not to answer either of you—in truth, I wieh neither had put the embarrassing question.” ‘Which is equivalent to a negative. But, let me have it in So many words and so know my fate. I had rather know a prize is bevond reach, than to be ever look- ing hopefully toward it.” ‘*You are philosophical about it, anyhow. The explanation is, because if I refuse, then you will press for'a reason ” , ‘‘T promise you I will not.” ‘Very well, then here is your answer: I cannot marry you, Mr, Cooper.” : Cooper rose, his face dark and his eyes full of sullen fire, and lifting his hat, said: ‘Thank you, Miss St. James. May I ask one more question?” ‘‘T suppose I cannot hinder you,” — “Are you going to give the same answer to Hartz?” ! ‘Tt would be unfair to let another have my decision before | make it known to him, ir.” : “Well, I can answer for him: you are not going to wed him! If I cannot possess you, neither shall he—J swear it /” “Oh! this is horrible of you, Mr. Cooper?!” ‘‘T cannot help it; I mean it.” ‘ And what shall you do?” ‘‘ Wait and see.” He strode away, and was quickly lost to sight, The young woman turned immediately to her seryant, saying: ‘Patsy, you have heard and understand; goat once and put Mr. Hartz on his guard, in few words.” ‘Yis, ma’m.” The Trishman was off at once, and the lady entered the house, He evidently knew pretty near where to find the sport, for he went around to the rear of Hartz’s gaming place and entered. The sport was there, in a rear room, talk- ing with Comstock Jones, with whom he appeared to have struck up quite a friendly acquaintance and with whom he was dis- cussing Captain Crusher. ‘‘Begorra, Oi have a wurred for ye, sport!” Patsy announced, bluntly, / rr ‘Whom from?” the sport asked. ‘* Me missus, sure,” “Ah! Well, step this way and let mo hear it.” He drew the Irishman a little aside, and then bade him speak out, ‘‘Begorra, dhe same is just dhis,” the Trishman explained, in tone plenty loud enough for the ears of the capitalist too: ‘Me missus sinds me to tell ye to have y’ure: top eye open fur Misther Cooper.” ‘* Wat Cooper?” ‘* Dhat’s dhe gossoon she m’anes, sor.” ‘And what isin the wind? What is the trouble, Patsy?” ‘‘ Be hivvins, he has asked me missus to marry him, and whin she tould him vo, he swore dhat nayther should you, and he’s gone to sharpen up his aaa to be afther shootin’ at ye.” | ‘Ha! that is his game,is it? Ill be ready for him.” Dhe which same she tould me to tell e) sor,’ And with that and a duck of the head, Patsy O’Glory took his leave as abruptly as he had entered. ‘‘l suppose you heard what the fellow said, Mr. Jones?” the sport asked of his vis- itor. ‘‘Yes, I heard; and if you want a second in your fight—don’t call on me, Not that I wouldn’t oblige a friend if I had to, but it is. against my principles. The fact of the mat- ter is, I’m afraid of bullets—mortally afraid of ‘em!” CHAPTER XIII. PROBING THE: SECRET, Ir was night, and the shoulder of rock that in dark- ness, By the light of the stars the trees that lay across the chasm could be seen in outlines. overlooked Dismal Canyon was vailed that was all. The towering peaks all around made the ar darker uss “ vtec a bate ae cat a and a person leaning agains e roc ron could not be seen, éven from a peal A tance. A man was there, one who claims our at- tention for a space. _He had been there for some time, as mo- moa eo as the rock itself, almost, patiently waiting. | The hour was late, no one joined him, no- thing had happened to disturb the stillness of the night, and one might bave come to the conclusion, finally, that what he waited for was e. Such a guess would have been correct. At last he moved, Stepping forward as silently as a sbadow, he placed a foot upon the trunk of the fallen tree, He waited a moment, then got upon it, and balancing himself, began /the dangerous task the terrible depth * of advancing out and,ac in the darkness, with nerve like ‘ Dark as it was, however, and silently as ho moved, he had taken but a few steps when hoe was challenged, “Stop!” came the word of warning, ‘* Ad- vance at your peril! Cross the desth-line, and death will be your portiov, swift sure Heed the warning of Captain Crusher and live; disregard it, and you die.” The man, however, did not pause, but kept straight on, crossed the place where the dagger marked the death-line, and pressed forw to gain the other side as quickly as he could, He had taken but a few steps more when he saw the flash of a rifle in the depths below, a bullet whistled harmlessly behind him, and in the next moment the report was heard, causing the grim chasm to echo again and again, Another shot, and still another, and then all was still. A step or two more, and the man had crossed the dangerous footway in safety, and now stood between two walls of rock in which the top of the dead tree lay. On that side was no shoulder of rock, ason the — the tree lay all the more ophcatng but | fastened in this marrow pass that had the ap- having been carved for no other aer pearance of purpose, against the inky blackness of the depths, but: