Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 857 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 ‘*Black mustache?” “ That’s the one.” ‘*Di’mon ring on his lef’ han’ little finger —big sparkler? Jest kind o’ put yer eye out?” ‘“ Yest” ‘* Double gold chain ’crost his vest? Nud- der sparkler in his tie? Smokin’ black cigar?” “Yes! Which way?” **Whatcher want of him, boy?” *‘ Never mind. Which way did he go?” ** He tipped me a quarter, boy.”’ “‘Here’s fifteen cents more. Now tell us which direction he took—lively /” ‘Thank yo’,” placidly said the darky, 4s he pocketed the money. “I didn't notice which way he went, suh. He jest kind o’ rambled off somewhar,” a And that was all they could get out of m. They searched for Black Dirk, but not a trace of him did they find that might. When the hunt was giver over, Silent Dave wished to be directed to the Broadway hotel where sporting men were wont most to congregate, and Bob promptly took him to the Tower House, There they obtained a room and registered, the Westerner paying for several days in advance. That night they made the rounds until a late hour, and then, when they were in their room, ey carefully settled their plans. Bob longed to know the reason why the man from Idaho never spoke, but refrained from questioning Silent Dave on that point. Twice within the next three days the Philadelphia lad saw the man he was after, Each time it happened that Bob was alone and the sport was in a carriage, accompained by a younger man, so it was impossible to follow him. On the fourth day, as he was sauntering along Broadway, Bob’s eyes fell on this younger man. It was after four o’clock P. M. and just the hour when the most fashionable throng frequents the great thoroughfare of New York from Fourteenth street to Forty- second street. ‘* Wonder who that chap is?” thought Spotter Bob, as he gazed after the well- dressed young fellow. ‘ He togs right out, anyway. Mebbe he’s goin’ to meet this Black Dirk? I'll just sneak along.” So he followed the young man, who carried his cane and gloves in his left hand and frequently lifted his hat to ladies of fashion- able appearance and spoke to men who were aid spruce and correct. It was not far from Twenty-sixth street that a carriage drew up at the curb, the door opened, and a beautiful young lady’ stepped daintily out. The moment the eyes of the man Bob was following rested on this young lady, he hastened forward, exclaiming: ‘* Miss Noland—Marie!”’ ‘“Why, Mr. Steele!” rather impulsively and artlessly cried the girl, as she gave him her gloved hand, over which he bowed with lifted hat.’ **I scarcely expected to see you to-day. The bank—” ** Closes at three o’clock, you remember, That lets me off and gives me time to reach Wppe Broadway thus early.” he young Spotter had not missed a word of this, and it had told him the young man was connected with a bank, in some capacity. He made it his way to stop on the curbing not far from the pair and pretend to be deep- ly interested in something across the street, but all the while he was drinking in every word uttered. : And it was but a precious few seconds be- fore the boy shadower discovered that the as oung man and the girl were lovers. More: e learned that the young man was cashier in some bank, of which the girl’s father was president, this was no business of Bob’s, but’ he ‘was waiting and hoping that something Spotter Bob in New York. ne. ee ~ ar ee eee ——- S eee eee would be said that would interest him. He wus not disappointed. ‘‘Who is that large man of the black mustache that I saw you with at the Casino last evening?” asked the girl. , The young cashier hesitated and looked confused, “That?” he finally said. ‘‘Oh, that was Mr. Walden White, a very fine gentleman, ’ The girls lips curled a bit. ‘‘Tf what I hear of him is true, he must be a very fine gentleman!” she said, somewhat scornfully. ‘* What have you heard?” ‘“‘That he is a gambler—a man who follows the races and the faro table.” The young cashier was still more con- fused, ** Some enemy has been lying about him!” re said, trying to pei his voice. ‘*‘ Mr. White isa gentleman. He is a heavy dealer in real estate. Why, even your father is in- timate with him, It was your father who introduced us.”’ The girl fell back a step, her face paling; then she recovered her composure, to uttera low, musical laugh, ‘Tf this is true, the reports about him must be malicious falsehoods. Yet, papa never spoke to me of him, and I am papa’s confidante in almost everything.” ‘* Oh, the man is not in society, although it is possible he might obtain a foothold, for he has many acquaintances of the best sort. Ihave been to his house, and I assure you he has a most estimable wife and a beautiful little baby girl.” ‘‘They can't be speakin’ of the man I’m lookin’ for,” thought the listening boy. After a minute more of conversation, the young lady entered a jeweler’s, while the cashier continued up Broadway. Bob followed the man, not yet having given up he that they Sct come upon Blac irk, Straight to Trainor’s the young cashier led the way. The boy pursued him into the bar-room, and there, sure enough, leanin against the bar, was the very man the ] was looking for! CHAPTER IV. A RUFFIAN’S BLOW. ‘*HELLO, dear boy!” greeted the man of the black mustache, as he grasped the hand of the young man, ‘‘ You're nearly fifteen minutes late.” ‘‘I met Miss Noland on Broadway,” was the reply. ‘‘I suppose I must have spent nearly fifteen minutes chatting with her,” “Oh, that’s the way!” laughed he of the mustache, with a leer that seemed vulgar to Bob, youthful as the boy was. ‘‘'That’s the way when you're hard hit! You're bound to sack her, my boy.” The young man’s face flushed a bit, as if he did not quite approve of this familiarity, and he suddenly flashed: ‘‘She said something that nearly caused me to break faith with you and not keep this appointment at all.” The other man turned to rest his elbows on the bar, against which his back was leaning, while he elevated his, heavy eye- brows, as if quite astounded. ‘* Indeed !” That was the onl it was quite enoug ing, a It is true,” declared Steele, half-defiant- ly, as if he were making an accusation. ‘*She has heard of you,” ‘* Very likely; I know her father, as you are well aware,” ‘‘But she never, heard of you through him.” No?’ ‘* Not by any means.” ‘“‘Then Ihave friends who have mentioned me to the charming young tady,” sneered he of the black mustache, as he knocked flakes word be uttered, but to express his mean- of ashes from the dead. cigar in his fingers. ‘They weve very kind.” ‘* Some one has told her you are a gambler and a scoundrel,” Black Diek did not start or show any sur- prise beyond the leisurely uplifting of his heavy eyebrows. If he were not a gambler, he had, beyond a* doubt, the kind of nerve every professional gamester requires. ‘* Very kind of them. I wonder if it has come to such # state’ thaf a man cannot ven- ture a little money on the races or take a hand ata quiet game ef poker without be- ing dubbed a gambler in this highly moral city?” ite placed the ¢igar between his white teeth and held it there: with a grip that, be- trayed the fact he felt himself on unsteady ground, even though he seemed quite at. ease. ‘‘Well, you see—that is—yow know how it is,” faltered the young cashier. “People will talk sometimes.” Something like a harsh smile passed like a glint across the graven face of the man against the bar. He saw the situation was not as serious as he had fancied, for Steele had not really taken alarm, “Let them talk,” he said, with a haugh that seemed utterly care-free. ‘‘ When lam caught chéating or doing something erook- ed they will bave Pow § It’s a pity if a man can’t have a little sport now and then? Why, even you, Willis Steele, might be called a gambler, for you have hit the races now and then, and I.hold geveral of your Ff. O. U.’s that were taken when you did not have money handy to pay for the fun of a night's session with the boys.” “?Sh!” and the younger man’s, hand fell almost savagely on Black Dirk’s arm, while Steele glanced around in alarm. speak so loud, for God’s sake! Remember my position! morrow if. old truth!” The big man shrugged his shoulders. “That's just it,’’ he nodded. ‘“ As long as @ man keeps these little breaks covered, pe allright; but let it be known that he pa he ‘‘[’m going to quit!” interrupted Steele, his voice shaking. ‘‘If I don’t, 1 may yet go too far. I don’t know but I have gone too far already.”’ ‘Too far to quit—yes. You're in debt, and your only way to pull out and keep the thing quiet is to make a winning. You must win now, or lose everything. And ou’'re dedd sure to win next round, for I 1ave a straight tip from one of the best touts at the Gut. Mayfair is a positive win- ner to-morrow, and if I don’t pull out $10,- 000 on her, ’m a chump, It’s a clean walk-away.” ‘‘T haven’t any money to venture,” was the hopeless declaration. Black Dirk glanced swiftly around from beneath his shaggy brows, and then he aight’ laughed, | ‘‘ And you the cashier of a bank!” At first, Steele did not seem to compre- hend. the hidden significance of the words, and when he did fully understand them, his face flushed crimson, He seemed on the point of striking the man with whom he was talking; as he grated: ‘ That’s an insult, White! Do you think for a moment I would touch—” ‘* There, there, there! Don’t get excited, my boy! You’re the poorest hand to take a joke I ever saw, Of course I don’t think anything of the kind, but I couldn’t hel making a little crack, just to see how it would go with you,” ‘*] trust you are satisfied. It does not go at all, and I'll thank you not to repeat it. I’'d blow out my brains before I would re- sort to that!” “‘Of course, of course. You’re square as. a brick, lad. I’ve got enough ready cash,. toger Noland knew the ‘*Don’t . Why, my head would fall to- . 4 i . ae? 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