Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 851 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ate a - a > - PRE TG DE IERIE _— * 4 a tied - (ea . . ¢ * —— PE ; »* ~~. mond’s thought, as he saw his late com- panion on the mountain pass out through the door. ‘‘ But what did he come in for? I begin to think he is a deeper man than he looks. If I had the time I might try to find out, and like as not the knowledge will come in m way, anyhow. Idoubt if I am done wit him yet.” As he turned away toward the gambling- room, which was reached through a curtain- ed arch, he heard Billy Jingle, who had been silently enjoying the scene, tune up his pipes: ‘* A man may smile, a man may snarl, A man may laugh or frown, But though you hate the ground he treads, Don’t hit him when he’s down. I’m for the thing that’s fair and square, A. man may fight the town, Yet, if he falls my rule is this, Don’t hit him when he’s down, Don’t hit him, don’t hit him, Don’t hit him when he’s down,” ‘* A very gooc rule,” thought Dell, as he dropped the curtain; ‘‘ but lam afraid it is not the one which guides the sianers of the Flat. I have hardly had a taste of their uality yet, but the time will come, no oubt.” The little trouble in the bar-room had not disturbed the players, and Dell Hammond found the game in full blast. Faro was the game, of course, but Madame Meg had no objection to short cards on the flanks. She knew that, after all, the money which changed hands at the poker tables would mostly find its way over her green cloth, provided luck ran her way. Hammond was aware of this dispensation of fate, but was willing at any time to brave it when he could do nothing better. As he saw no one who looked as though he was anxious to try the stranger a baad at poker he advanced toward the lay-out... In an- other moment his money would have gone into a pile of chips when some one touched him lightly. ‘‘Say, pard, while they are all too busy to look at a couple of strangers, what’s the matter with you and me taking a quiet little game?” ‘* Nothing atall,”” was the hearty answer, ** You are just the party [ am looking for. If we can’t make it interesting for the rest of the world we I'll make it interesting for our own two selves,” There was a vacant table in one corner of the room, and toward this the two made their. way. ‘‘And what do you say, pards, to count- ing me in, too?” asked a third party as they were taking their seats. Dell looked up at the new-comer with an inward doubt. | The first challenger was a nattily-dressed individual, who looked the gambler all over, while this second person might be any- thing from a sharper or a crook to a mine- owner. Hammond preferred dealings with the first class. He was always willing to meet a man who really intended to risk his money on the chances of the cards, but as a stranger in the town he knewit was not wisdom to have dealings with a gsure-thing player, easily though he might foil his schemes. ‘‘It'snot my game,” he answered without hesitation, however. ‘* Just as pard here says. For me, the more the merrier.” ** Let us be merry, then,” said the first comer. ‘*And call me Briggs—Charley Briggs, If I heard it right, around the hotel, your name is Hammond.” ‘fAnd mine is Dave Johnson. New, let’s get right down to level work. I have good, cold dollars to risk on my luck and judg- The Tie-To Sport. ment, and if either of you two gents can show the cards that lay over mine you can gather them in. What’s the game?” ‘* Poker, of course,” answered Dell, and opening a fresh pack of cards he threw around for deal. a CHAPTER VL DOUBLY TRAPPED, Tur name of the young lady who came in on the coach from Red Bend was Stella Stone, and she had come to Sinners’ Flat with a mission. She had no idea any one would be inter- ested in interfering witb the success of that mission, and had thought very little of the chances of.any personal danger, The first bit of evil fortune on her jour- ney was the encounter with the road-agents, and for the time being that was overwhelm- ing. Her purse was none too well filled for the work in hand, and when her stock of coin vanished she was not certain how it could be replaced. Still, she had a brave heart of her own, and resolved to put the best possible face on the matter. If she had to look for employ- ment at the Flat she had little doubt she could find it. Her greatest sorrow was for the delay her penniless condition might cause in carrying on her quest. For some time after the agents had disap- peared, and the stage had begun to move, she remained crouched in one corner, paying no attention to what was going on, and re- volving in her mind what course to pursue, She had some little baggage with her, but it was uncertain whether the sight of it would be sufficient to obtain a night’s lodg- ing, or the meal she began to feel she needed worst of all. After a while she put her hand mechani- cally into her pocket—and met with a sur- ‘prise. It seemed utterly impossible, and yet, she felt her purse back in its accustomed place. Her first impulse was to draw it out and see if its contents were there as well. A second’s thought convinced her, how- ever, that it would be better to say nothing. With one hand she opened it, and turning the contents loose in her pocket began to in- vestigate, Ske could feel beyond a doubt the little wad of voills which constituted the bulk of her funds, and the ten dollar gold-piece that had occupied a compartmenf by itself. In some mysterious way the purse and its con- tents had been. returned to her. After ‘hat, the encounter with the road- agents did not seem such a terrible thing, and she no longer dreaded the time when the coach should come to a halt at’ Sinners’ Flat. She was again ready to continue her search for the missing man, her father, When she dismounted she had no thought of meeting with any one who knew her, or of her. It was another surprise when a man with a totally strange face approached and asked if her name was not Stella Stone. She shrunk away from him while acknowl- edging that it was. ‘‘All right, then, You are the young lady who wrote old Adam Druyer some time ago, telling him you were coming this way. ou asked some questions that he didn’t have strength enough to answer. And if he could have done so he would hardly have cared to put his answers on paper. To tell you by word of mouth is a different matter, and he sent me here to meet you,” ‘‘ But where is he? Is it farto go? Tam worn out with a long ride, with excitement. I must have some food and rest.” ‘* You can’t get them anywhere else better than you can at old Adam’s. His woman can look after you—and you bet she won't see you suffer. If you want Adam to talk you better come now, while he’s in the notion for it. By and by he may close his fly-trap, or be too weak to chin if he wanted. — Make up your mind quick; I just came to oblige Adam, but I’ve no time to wait. If you want to youcan try and hunt him up inthe morning—it’s not far. But you may not find him living.” He spoke hastily and in earnest. Stella did not doubt that he was all that he said, and further hesitation was but momentary. She did not feel as tired ag she had done, and no doubt there was information waiting for her that would be well worth the hearing. She followed the man without misgiving, and when he told her Adam Druyer’s cabin. was less than a mile away she believed him. She met but few persons on the way out from the town. They looked at her curi- ously, but hardly suffered their eyes to rest on her companion. He seemed to be well acquainted with the place, and to several of those they passed he nodded after the manner of an old friend, With the town behind their backs the way began to grow lonesome. It Jed upa gorge, where there were no babitations, and from the looks of the ground she decided that but few ever came that way, and no one ever worked there. ‘‘Here’s your cabin,” he said, at length, and pointing with his finger she saw the door and little window of a dug-out. The sight was not what she expected, and she felt frightened in spite of herself. Yet it was no time to hesitate. From what the man had said Adam Druyer was an elderly man, and his wife a kindly wo- man, What matter if circumstances com: el them to live in a hole in the ground. erhaps that was only a proof of their hon- esty. She advanced without a word. The door opened as she reached it, and she saw beyond a female form, clad in a dingy, calico dress. ‘*Come in, phy, 4 squeaked the voice, and she entered with the man who had been her guide close at ber heels. Then the door swung to with a sound sug- gestive of solid strength, the man placed his back against it, while the woman crept to- ward her side, with a stealthy movement suggestive of a tiger. ‘You will have to wait a bit, honey,” whined the woman, while she was approach- ing. cp Adam has been took bad ag’in, 163 We don’t know ef he kin see you. Ti git you some supper, an’ then, mebbe, he'll feel strong enough to talk, but it’s terrible un- surt’in.”” Stella stared at her, scarcely hearing the words she uttered. There was enough in the fierce face, an@ = pantherish movements to put the girl on guard, and she would have shrunk away) had there been any’ place to shrink to, There was no use to turn to her guide for aid, since she knew without a glance thathe ~~ was no better than the woman, He was bolder, though. : ‘‘ Be done with that, mammy,” he sneered, © * You can’t fool her with your cant, and ~ she may as well know the truth right in the. . ‘i: start. 2 : ‘*You want to listen to reason, little wo- We don’t mean to do you an you force us to it, but you you to lie by till we are sure you can’t do any damage.” od el DS vy “a * ‘id a ae) $e 7"? » , 4 ” _ r r ** A, oe man, and you want to salt it right down. ~ hurt. unless on’t come at just the most convenient time, and we want — owe wc - ~ s « > ' 0 46 eal it fa ‘«But—but what harm can I, or could I, do you, if you only let me alone? If trou- 2 a, ' ble follows this it will be of your own make: | 3) “That is all right. We will risk the ~ trouble you can make for us long as we ~ have you safe up in the hills, When we go — ’ Y.« ‘ - uf we will see things are in such shape you ~ can’t come back to us. Take it easy, I tell you, “ 4 ‘Ww ah sh 7 ad s ee ae i 7 bP ae me‘; * i? Mammy, here, will get you some — Fi Phan a | lee :