Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 852 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee oy Abput seventeen or eighteen.” ‘* Blonde, or brunette.” ‘Blonde, I believe. Her case is a most peculiar one, as you will agree. Years ago, when the Mississippi steamboats were nothing more nor less than floating gam- bling-houses, a man, named Jack Hood ran one of the biggest games on the river. ‘He ran a square game; one day he was rich, but on the next day, mayhe, he would not have enough money to open the faro bank or poker game with. . ‘‘Hood had a pretty little daughter, whom he thought the world of, and who was the pet of every one who traveled up and down the river | ‘The boat on which Hood traveled was one of the principal ones afloat, and accom- modated more gamblers’ than any other two. Many was the man who lost his last red on board of her, and then blew out his brains. ‘One night Hood engagdd in a game of draw-poker with a man named Grant—at least that was the name he gave. He turn- ed out to bea very game player, for he gathered in nearly every pot ‘Finally, both -men got to drinking heavily, and this of course spurred them on to bet more recklessly 4 ‘But, it had no effect to change Grant’s wonderful luck, for he won steadily fF inal- ly both got big hands, ‘Grant got four kings,and Hood four queens. Naturally the betting now became hot and heavy ” ‘¢T should presume.” ‘You bet! Hood’s last cent was in the pot, and Grant raised him again, ‘‘There was so much at stake that Hood could not afford to back out.” ‘*T should say not. Did he?” ‘“No! What do you suppose he did?” ‘1 haven’t the least idea. What did he do, if bu’sted?” ‘« He put up his child!” Vee ‘“Good heavens! And lost?” “* And lost!” ) “The miserable devil! He ought to have been strung up. Did the other claim the : child?” r “Yes, When he found’ that he had lost _ > her, Hood fainted. When he came to, Grant i had already left the steamer at Davenport, | ‘taking the girl with him.” . am ** What happened next?” vale ‘* Well, the result of the loss was, that Hood blew his brains out. When the news ~~? . — eh oe ~~ - was worth considerable in her own right, she immediately set detectives to work to find f her child—not only one detective but a score . of them, . | tad ** Fortune favored her in so far that before - * longa foreigner came to this country, mar- ried the widow, accommodatingly passed in bis checks, and left her valuable estates, that, on being sold, realized about half a ‘million dollars. keep detectives constantly in search of her child, and amass a fortune besides!” | ‘But, they never found her?” | “No, There have been hundreds upon hundreds of dollars spent on the search, but all tono avail, Gerald Grant had utterly vanished, and the girl with him.” “Then what makes you think she is here Devil’s Guich?” | r ? ; " . , Nia pares Picet into» lavigh oi Sepp ry burst into a laugh, | ean ai act Well, that’s good,” hesaid, ‘* You don’t believe in ’em?” : ‘©Yes, I do believe in dreams. I have had 4 S Ne, B's s " Fie BOOT AAA streaks of good luck, through following up dreams.” ) —. .__. ** How long have you been on this case?” Me ye.” 24 Only about two weeks.” Mrs; Hood is dead, eh?” Yes. She died a month ago. aa. Ame! _ 3 ey { . % “A : . « e $: a she- gy a aoe a t-} » mine. So £ ‘ * i’ Po I went to see her, 2, runes é. ry : 3 d wie a) ¥ » . - ; Wf 7 te: "A " Bide’ x “EDAD Sets IRAN ane aie Name Fe Scere eee ret, a i a a - LA 7 . * :* * : ' tn : er" : i) } aly ne Oe * ° 7 & | ‘ 4s Ww i, , ‘ ’ ” A tele > al Se Sa = Pe See ee - ee eee e Nathagpag get oe re Rese reached Hood’s wife, who lived in Cairo, and: «This profitably invested, enabled her to. | written in the | arope with you!” , - Before , she sent for me, froma friend of After ques- ‘ te rh we ary ‘ ay 4 : Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. tioning me for a while, .she wanted me to take charge of the case, and never give it up until I found her child, ‘‘She also instructed her bankers to hon- or all my orders for money. So I took hold of the case.” ‘* And you dreamed that this Hazel Hood was here in Devil’s Gulch?” ‘*‘T did. As she appeared to me, in the dream, she was not unlike Nora Sage.” ‘Ah! Is that so? Well, that’s queer.” ‘* Yes, it is.” ‘‘Were you ever in Devil’s Gulch before?” ‘** No, never!” ‘¢ And never saw Miss Sage before?” ** Never!” replied Mose. **Has this young Hood woman any par- ticular birthmark y which she could be identified, if found?’ ae Yes » ‘* What sort of one?” ‘*She was born with a livid scar upon her right arm, just above theelbow, in the shape of a half moon. Rathera queer birthmark, e a ‘¢ Are you sure that this gambler’s genuine name was Grant?” asked Harris, .‘‘ He may have had an assumed name,”’ . ‘‘ Very possible. He went under the name of Grant, however, when he won Hood’s child, and was known all along the river, as Grant. By the way, how long have you known Samuel Sage?” .. ‘‘Oh! fora matter of about two years, I reckon, I first met him in Virginia City at the card-table. After that, 1 drifted down here, for reasons too numerous to mention, and I found him here, the owner of a mine.” ‘* Do you know how long he resided here, before you came?” ‘*‘No, I do not. I should presume for some length of time, as his mine was well developed when I came here. Why have you an idea that Nora is the girl you are searching for?” “* Well, I’ve been “wondering if she might not be, for she is like what Limagine Hazel Hood would be, if living, and she certainly does resemble Mrs, Hood.” “Well, if you think so, why not in- vestigate the matter?” ‘*T intend to.” : Further conversation was here cut short, a the arrival of Polly who, with a screech of eldritch. laughter, lit down on the shoulder of Magic! ‘* Pete gone!’ said Poll. ‘‘ Pete gone debbil/ Poor Polly! Polly want cake!” CHAPTER V1, TO THE RESCUE. ° Wein, Polly, did you find your master?” asked Mose, taking the bird off his shoulder, and shaking its glossy feathers. ‘‘ Ah! yes! Bully bird. Here’s another message from Pete, sure enough!” And Mose took it neck, : “ That certainly is a most wonderful bird,” declared Happy Harry. ‘* When we get Pete free, I'll buy that bird from him.” ‘Polly want cake. Polly want a drink!” Magic Mose proceeded to read the note by match-light, as best he could, It was hardly decipherable, having been ark, but Mose made it out, It was as follows, in correct phrase: ““ Come at once. Poll will lead the way. f I remain in this hole much longer I. shall, e eaten up by rats. There’s thousands of them here, now, and I’ve all I can do to fight them off. Iam down purty deep, so bring from about the parrot’s _“He must be down in some abandoned shaft,” said Mose, after he had finished read- ing the note. San hha Ra * - yd; f Bae hs % )\ INS Ss ro oar * f * : « aia t Sly bee bad LY a *y Pu OK ele “a3 OFS : on ne re A "»* . ‘* " - x, > ager? wis wt ' “ a, Ged ett ee PO Ag ; x al ; oR i ‘ a * , “but L will be blowed if La “Pure Parrot.” \| yee met Aibapedl BP 3) ps mee eae ' ; , ’ . ° . \ : P , : . . q . . Y “ : Pg * i» -¢ Gt odie hy : 5 ‘* Yes, it looks like it.” be “ Is there one under Sage’s house?” " ‘*] don’t know, but more than likely there is. If Pete isin such a fix we must geta ~ move on us at once! But, Dick, do you | a think the parrot can or will guideus? Such 5 a thing don’t seem credible.”’ : ‘‘The bird is astonishingly sagacious,” re- plied Mose, ‘‘and I believe he will lead the way so that we can find where Pete is, even though we may not be able to get at him!” Down upon the grounds all was becoming quiet, a Such of the guests as had not departed for “¢ their homes were in a maudlin’ state of in- oo toxication. . ‘‘ Even old Sage is drunk!” opined Mose, ‘‘You bet! He always looks out for his Pty) guzzle,” replied Harry. ‘It will soon be a oe So we had better make a start.” os ‘‘You are right,’ replied Mose, ‘‘ Now, “ Polly, show us w' ere your master is!” and | taking the bird from his shoulder Dick drop- “i ped her upon the ground before him. ‘‘ Go ahead, Poll!” and he urged her along with his foot, ‘‘Go to Pete!” on With a flop of her wings and a series of croaks Polly started off in a kind of hop, _ skip and jump gait that was comical to see, the two men following close behind. She led the way to the rear of the Sage residence. In the réar the fence was high and strong, but one of the tough oaken boards chanced to be down, leaving a vacant space big enough for a man’ to squeeze through, The trio were soon inside the grounds. ‘You remain here, by the fence!” sug- ested Magic Mose, ‘‘ while I reconnoiter, Ms t wou't do to go at this work in a bungling ; fashion!” The reconnoissance did not last long, Every one on the lawn was found to be in | a maudlin state of intoxication, even to ta Samuel Sage, who lay outstretched upon the ha rass, | ore Now is our time,” said Mose. | | By this time it was broad daylight, and the sun-rays were beginning to gild the moun- tain-tops. Wei | So he returned to where he had left Harris and the bird, to find Harry in a state of per- — Nie | ‘¢Thank God you are back,” he said, ‘*1I. want yu to explain a mystery.” “Tf I can, yes. What is it?” For answer, Harry handed the detectivea — slip of paper, on which was written the fol- lowing: | Twenty days more, for you!” — ‘* Now, that is consoling, isn’t it?” remark- ed the boss gambler of Devil's Gulch, “Why yes. Where did you get sucha love letter?” rt ~ “You tell me, and T’'ll tell you. I felta Per! « pin sticking in my back, and reaching ‘ee around, pulled it out with this paper attach. ed to it. How it came there is more than I can tell you.” ara 4 ) ‘‘ Well,” said Mose, after he had examined ) it ‘it looks asif some one had rather gotit = = = * “But, I have no enemies here,” Harris urged. ‘But, how did you find thingson the lawn?” Pg tes \ Sess “Every mother’s son of them drunk, = Sage included.” " Means s “Then now is our time to move, Willthe = parrot guide us any further?” ne “Yes, I think so. I reckon she willknow _ just whatis wanted. Go ahead, Polly! Go | to Pete!” he ordered. DA Th eat ‘Polly want drink!” said * , - Harry scratched his head. idl higd! Aig ae ‘Well, I don’t like to swear,” he said. ‘a | vince me that thatis a parrot. Itisa Me: Seat will acknowledge, but it knows more han ty ‘Polly got her drink—just: enough to ‘* cee a J . 5 : ane” a y , i” ; ‘\ ; 4 A Mie ’ . , » 2 A. \ ; . . ry » a+ Nh ane 4 ea ¢ is sa rr s ‘¥ *] i a” «! i as 5 7 * oa a ae , ot ‘ -' ~+ ; = € . jiyee &. P r 7 Le ~ 4 - Ne ty wt 7 AL a ¢ » = ‘ ‘ 4 ¥ é int i z