Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 851 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 but l reckon it would be apt ter set you solid on ther ground floor, an’ thinkin’ it over I’ve concluded ter pass it your way. Road-agent er not, ’m not a-goin’ back on ther darter ov ther old pard w’ot allers used me white.” ‘‘There is money, then?” asked Stella, with a gasp. ‘Tt was not that I was after, but to find my father.’’ “This hyer will be the next best thing. You jest git it recorded, allinship-shape, an’ ontil it are done keep outen ther fingers ov Howe an’ his heelers. You kin see they are arter you sayready, an’ sooner than miss they’d send*you arter yer father,” ‘But how did you Ena hy **] got onter ther deal ez Meg war makin’ with a tough case ez wunst hung ’round hyer. How, are a story ov another kind.” ‘“‘ But \vhat did she intend to do with it? Certainly it could not be of any value to her—and she seemed so loth to give it up.” ““Mebbe she meant ter play ther same game I hed laid out—ter pinch Morris till he made adivvy. Itain’t perzactly her style, but thar’s no knowin’ jest how an’ whar a wooman like her will break out.’’. ‘*And you think the man with whom you found me to-night was a tool of this man Howe?” : ‘Shore ov it. An’ fur ther sake ov yer health steer cl’ar ov him in ther future. They’re skeered ov ye, an’ when that crowd are skeered they don’t keer whar they hit. Now, ef ye hev ary questions spit ’em out fur I must be a-goin’, You cain’t miss ther way back ter ther Flat, an’ I’ll hev one ov my men watch yer till yer gits to.ther town fur fear that galoot chips ag’in. Ef I kin help yer furder I'll do it fur ther sake ov my pard ez war white; but like ez not I cain’t. I most ginerally hey my han’s full ter look out fur number one,”’ There was some little conversation, which was only explanatory of what has already been mentioned, Then Stella set out on her return to the Flat. To give her further confidence Captain Brand had put into her hands a revolver, and as she knew how to use it she believed that, backed up by,the road-agent in the distance, she had nothing to fear from Steve Bradley and the hag who was so ready todo his bidding. Though the region was solitary there was no doubt in finding her way along the thread of a trail by which she had come, and before long she caught a glimpse of the lights of Sinners’ Flat, twinkling in the dis- tance, It seemed it would be the wisest course to turn loose the horse she had accumulated before entering the town, and she was about to dismount for the purpose when, from the bushes by the roadside, a weird figure darted, and sprung astride the animal from behind. One long, bony hand twined around her throat, while another clutched the reins from her hand and wheeled the _ horse. Then, with a screech that made the blood of the girl run cold, her captor struck his heels sharply inte the ribs of the frightened ani- mal, causing him to dash away in headlong flight. CHAPTER VIII. THE VALUE OF THREE SIXES, SOMETIMES fortunes are lost and won with frightful rapidity at the card-table, and again, luck and skill are so evenly balanced it takes a tong while for one man to get the better ot his fellows. It did not take the Tie-To Sport many minutes to find out that the two knew the TEED WE Oi gn a ~ eG - — > The Tie-To Sport. He had a fair working capital for an ordi- nary game, but not enough to stand many heavy losses. Charley Briggs was one of those men who seem overflowing with good-nature while they play. To hear him talk one would not suppose he had more than half a thought ' passed fora sigh of relief, tossing his tom | open another wad. for the game, and was careless whether he | was to win or lose. =" *. oo, ‘ At £ un ~ i " zs ‘ i ets a “72 ~ « 5 a <a! bh os a x — a * : f ms iy od - : P ASSEN ‘ . into the pot. ‘“A high roller from ’way back. Cover what you can, and if you size the pile I'll If it’s for blood and hair we'll have plenty in sight.” ‘*Count out your coin, and call the size of it. Idon’t want to finger your wealth till the cards say it’s mine,” grumbled Johnson, While he shuftled ‘the cards he kept up a | evidently a little staggered by the size of the running fire of questions, and if no answer | stake, but not inclined to take water. was otherwise forthcoming he answered himself. ‘‘ First appearance at the Flat, I believe?” He slung the question at Hammond in a | ‘“ Kight thousand you will find it, bar mis- takes at the bank in counting it. Money talks now, Put up or shut up.” The sport was watching the game with friendly way, and the sport answered it | all eyes in spite of the careless front he after the terse fashion of one who was busy, and didn’t relish any outside nonsense. ‘Oh, of course, 1 knew it without asking, but I couldn’t help putting a word or two in so I could add a dozen later on. I’m a stranger myself, or pretty near it, though J have been around the camp enough to have caught on to some of the ropes. Mighty bad place it is for a man with a kink in his neck. They are so rough when they try to help him straighten it out. Three cards you want, and I’lltake two. What are you doing, Mr. Johnson?” For half an hour the game went on with even fortune. Then, as he looked over his hand, Johnson braced himself up, or seemed to, and began to crowd the betting. ‘‘ Easy, easy, my friend,” laughed Briggs, counting down the coin called for to see Johnson’s raise. ‘‘ You hadn’t ought to have bluffed out the stranger unless you were sure I’d follow him. ‘But you don’t bluff me worth a cent. I'll stay right by you through six troubles, and on the seventh you'll find me around. | | | maintained. He began to think he was sailing in deep water, If this was the size of a little side came for amusement, what would he have got into if he had looked around for the heavy holders? Was Johnson going to stay with his antagonist? No real question did there seem to be about that. ‘Eight thousand I see, and we'll let it stop right there. I’d know what you had if it cost me a fortune, and if I had a million I’d stake it on a side bet that 1 scoop the ot.”’ , From his own boodle he drew away a few bills, and placed the remainder against the pile just pushed up by Chariey Briggs. The latter threw down his hand, face up- permost, but bunched together. The top’card was the ace of hearts, ‘* Four of a kind, and they’re all like the little joker on top,” ‘Not good,” gritted Johnson, throwing down his hand so the five cards could be seen, It was a straight flush of hearts, beginning There you are, and there’s a few ducats that | at the deuce, and running upward, says you're clean wrong. When you tickle me, old man, you always find me ready to | reciprocate.” It was hard to tell from his face whether Johnson was disgusted at catching the wrong fish. Atany rate he saw the raise and went a few dollars better. ‘Oh, ’m after you with, a sharp stick,” continued briggs, as he again went over the other. ‘T’m only sorry our friend here couldn’t see his way to staying in. Ido like to wina pile when the cards run right.” ‘*In your mind,” growled Johnson, tak- ing a glance at his hand and then making another raise. ‘*Most parties I have played draw with let their money do the talking, It’s a heap better than to be chawing so much wind. If you are going to stay with me, better show up just how long. It'll save both of us a lot of time counting over change, and clear ‘the road for a tussle between me and the stranger, here. He don’t say so much, but that don’t hinder his knowing thé cards by name,” ‘‘ One down and another come on, eh? If I knew how much geit you carried I'd bet- ter know the size of the pile [ ought to put on the table. How does that strike you for a raise?” Still laughing, Briggs first counted out the amount it took for him to come in. Then, he drew a roll of money carelessly from the side-pocket of his coat, and began turning over the ends of the bills. When he had fingered over ten of them, each with a C on the end, he flung the little package down witha flourish, and looked up knowingly in the face of the other, whose answer was not long coming. ‘‘ Pretty fair for a tin-horn speiler, just in from a raid on the joskins at a country fair, but not much for a highflyer at the Gates of | Then, he thrust his hand over toward the ot. sate You say? What’s the matter with mine?” asked Briggs, spreading.out his cards with one hand while with the other he made a gesture that protected the money on the table. ‘*T said I had four of a kind, but that don’t hinder from having five. The cards speak for themselves.” He also hada flush in hearts, but it was also the highest hand in the deck—a flush royal, ‘‘And you dealt the cards?” said Johnson, in a low, tense tone. ‘‘T dealt the cards,” answered Briggs. ‘* What’s the matter with that?” And then, like a flash the two men were up and facing, each. with a revolver in his hand. Johnson had attempted to catch the drop before he said the word, ‘‘ cheat,” but Briggs was with him, as he had been all along, ‘‘ Hold the stakes, pardner, till this thing is settled, and see the best man gets them,” hastily exclaimed Briggs. It may have been said to divert the atten- tion of the other man, but if so the trap was not @ success. Though Dell Hammond coolly bent for- ward, and swept up the stakes without the least apparent thought of danger, the eyes of Johnson never left his antagonist. ‘‘T’l] settle with him afterward,” he ted. ‘‘ First is this matter with you. it bea goas you please, or do you want a regular China: of it?” “*“T guess I can hold over you with the We Ue tee. . a Sa My - - pate oN ie..." * % >" ~ Fe fall barkers as well as with the pictures, and at. any game or any gait you choose to take ’em. It 2s a pity to makea muss here. We'll go out doors, where Meg can’t hinder. Have you got any friend, or; shall I lend you one of mine?” | Charley Briggs thrust away his pistol as : * . * ‘ is 1s 4 - - te, - & / : he spoke, and turned away. opal With lightning like speed Johnson threw “sl » 7 a | « ‘~~ And this time he fluttered two thousand down, and evidently had more back of it. “Ah,” said Briggs, with what, might have | up his own, and there was a double report. value of a hand as well as the next, and with luck so evenly ba.anced he was cautious about forcing the pace, Glory. A little better if you please.”