Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 89 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

io _—— —_— See oe — ——— — SS ee “Name the specific act of which you have doxbtle s come to complain, and if any compen- sa*ion of a pecuniary nature can—” ‘** Nonsense, sir!” interrupted Mr. Mandragon, grvving choleric again; “‘no money payment ct indenmify me for the annoyance, the per- s_ertion, | may sav, of that confounded boy.” lir. Dimity red’ened in his turn now. Yelk wes the pet of the family, and he did ns lixe ¢>) Lear him spoken of in that disrespect- ful manner. “ Ren-aher, sir, he is my son,” he warned. “Tam sorry for you, sir,” retorted Mr. Man- crugon. ** Do you wish to insult me, sir? If so, he- ™ ‘are! Kir. Dimity raised his hand with a threaten- iss gesture, at which Mr. Mandragon—who, tie all people of a blustering nature, was easily covved—retreated a step or two in alarm. ** | stand upon my rights,” he cried. “Then tell me what he has done, and I will © -deavor to give you satisfaction.” “Sir, we have a favorite cat, or rather we bod” beran Mr. Mandragon. “ You speak in the past tense.” “And well I may. My blood boils when I i:mkof my wrongs. That cat was my wife’s }oi, sir. Mrs. Mandragon doted on it. She . 2 22a¢ht as much of it as you do of your conf—” “ Hush, sir, hush; my forbearance hasa limit.” * Well, let it pass. Just now we found tht cof haneing by the neck to our clothes-line, ‘ul, sir, dead. While I was cutting the poor (Luiag down | was fired at through a SaRRRLOW. ‘vy and nearly had my left eye put out; Look at it, sir; look at it!” itr. Mandragon indicated the injured optic with his finger. l{ was considerably bruised and fast closing up, as if he had just come out of the attentive hands of a prize-fighter. * Well, sir, I heard a shout of laughter, and looking up,” resumed Mr. Mandragon, ‘‘1 saw tint imp of wickedness, that—” ‘Gently, gently.” ‘: | saw your boy, Dick, with his fingers extend- «1 from his nose, and I heard him mew like a cin token of derision. There, now.” “So that is the bill of indictment?” ‘It is, and a true bill, too, as Heaven hears ro. I demand simple justice. It must be stopped!” Mr. Mandragon rested his case here and ‘sed to take breath, leaving his neighbor, Mr. tumiby, to digest the facts as well as he cora, ** Ahem!” he said. ‘“It is a very grave ciarge, and apparently inexcusable. I will see into it and talk to the boy.” Mr. Mandragon stamped his foot upon the floor and was about to make an excited reply, ‘hen a boy with a smiling countenance entered { «a room. Ité was Dick Dimity. Iie was thin, and rather undersized for his avo, with dark hair, and very large, expressive 1. ack eyes. His nose was long and prominent, : il altorether such a remarkable nose that it vas A common saying among his friends that he ¢ymld be known anywhere by his nose. His eee eee eee -_ es ni anner was free and easy, such as became a | i oy accustomed to have 1 Ollb as he was, - ‘* How dare you, sir?’ cried Mr. Mandragon, ” Ving his fist at him. * Leave him to me,” said Mr. Dimity. mie place to talk to and correct. him. \ hat have you been doing?’ * Hanging a cat and blowing putty at this © | fraud!” rephed Dick, indicating Mr. Man- divron, At this Mr. Mandragon executed a pas seul o1 the carpet, and showed symptons of incipient insaity. ‘Be calm, my friend! be calm, I entreat vi! I will talk to this misguided youth,” said Dimity. “Talkine’s no use; try a thick stick!” cried Ir. Mandragon. “ May ! sneak, sir?” asked Dick. * Certain! +.” “Tis cot killed my sister’s bird. erving over her canary, now. ‘* and I knocked her off the wall with a stone end then hung her.” Dick, - ee 44, Fanny is is OWn Way and so | | what you are. the error. ts ‘Tis L saw his eat do | * Why cid you shoot pellets of putty at the | com tleman?” ‘“ Because he’s always snerking around and wine tales about all the boys in our block, and tiat’s him!” ‘‘Tfush! This is wnchrictian.” ‘So T do!" replicd Dick, boldly, as he glared | Gs ‘ontly at Dlandragon. | | | Beadle's ‘*Go,” said his father; ‘‘I wish to be alone | with this gentleman.” Reluctantly Dick quitted the room, favoring | Mr. Mandragon with a contemptuous and de- risive gesture which was not lost upon him. ‘“ Dimity,” exclaimed Mandragon, ‘let me give you a word of advice.” Well?” ‘“You will never do any good with that lad at home. Send him to school.” ‘* Hal” said Mr. Dimity, drawing a long breath. That idea had never occurred to him before. Dick went to the public school in the district; but a boarding-school, where he would be away from home, was a very different thing alto- gether. ‘I will talk to his mother,” said Mr. Dimity after a pause; ‘“‘in the meantime, rest assured that something shall be done.” With this assurance, Mr. Mandragon, con- siderably mollified, took his leave. In the hall he stumbled over something and fell heavily, crushing his hat, which he held in his hand. ‘* Perdition!” he ejaculated. As he rose, sore and bruised, a peal of mock- ing laughter greeted him from the top of the kitchen stairs. “Good lands!” cried Mr. Mandragon. ‘“ Only let me get a hold of you!” He rushed in the direction of the stairs and tumbled over again. The first obstacle in his way had been a line extended across the hall; the second was an empty coal-scuttle. Mr. Mandragon was precipitated down the kitchen stairs and fell in the arms of the cook, who had come out to see what the noise was. The scuttle fell on the pair as they rolled over and over. ‘Fiend seize the woman! Let me go!” shout- ed Mandragon, extricating himself with diffi- culty from the greasy embrace of the cook. Fearful of encountering any fresh trouble, he opened the back door and darting into the street, gained his own mansion, Dick’s laughter rung in his ears as he went. That evening Mr. and Mrs. Dimity sat up later than was their custom, discussing their boy’s future. The prospectus of a school some distance off in Jersey was before them. The next day, after breakfast, Mr. Dimity called his son to his side. ‘** Richard,” he said, ‘‘ your mother and I had a long conversation last night, respecting you.” ‘*f know who I have to thank for that!” re- plied Dick. ** Who?” ‘That old skinflint, Mandragon! pay him out, see if I don’t!” Mr. Dimity smiled serenely. ‘T don’t think you will have the chance to carry out your vindictive scheme,” he said, ‘for I shall take you to a boarding-school, near Trenton, to-morrow morning.” For once in his life Dick was fairly astonished. “Take me away to a boarding-school!” he cried. ‘‘ Leave all the boys?” ‘Yes; you will be away two years. Your mother and [ have spoilt you by making you the pet of the family, and we are responsible for It is not yet too late to rectify Though if we do not act at once, it is difficult to say what. fate is in store for you.” " Dick did not hesitate a moment in this emer- rency. ‘‘T won’t go!” he exclaimed, defiantly. ‘¢Pardon me, you will go!” replied Mr. Dimity, calmly. “lam your father and if you drive me to extremities I shall have to make my authority felt ” ‘‘ T tell you, father, Jam learning all I want to know at our school and I will not be sent away. That’s flat, and final. I’d sooner run away!” “ Where to?” ‘* Oh! to Cheyenne City, and from thence to the Black Hills; so look out!” ‘‘My decision is made,” said Mr. Dimity. To school you ¢0 te-morrow.” “Tll run away this afternoon,” replied Dick. You'll not go far.” ** Won't 1? don’t vou be too sure of that!” ‘You will be glad to come back before you get out of the State of New Jersey.” ** What will you bet on it?’ ‘** Nothing; don’t talk to me in so flippant aimanner, Bid vour friends good-by and make all your preparations for an early start to-mor- row.” ‘* But, father—” But Pl ‘ ! Half-Dime Library. $e Se ee ae a ‘‘f have nothing more to say,” interrupted Mr. Dimity, waving his hand, as he thought be- came a stern father, He walked out of the room, Jeaving Dick to his own reflections. Mr, Dimity did not sup- ose for a moment that the boy would carry out 1is threat, at which he secretly laughed. He wrote a polite note to Mr. Mandregon, in- forming him of his decision respecting Dick. It was said that Mandragon had once had a child which had been stolen by Giysies, and. that this had soured his temper. Certain it is, that he did not like c! ildren in general and that he detested Dick in particular. Dick went to his room and put on bis thickest boots and stoutest clothes. .He hely cd himself to his father’s revolver, which was loaced ins x chambers, and counted his worldly vealth which amounted to precisely one dollar and seventy-tive cents. This was not much to start for Nebraska with, but the breast of youth ever beats high with hope. He did not burden himself with any change of clothing, and, indeed, throughout bis n.eager preparations, showed an utter disregard for the future. Meeting his sister Fanny on the stairs he kiss- ed her good-by. “Where are you going, Dick?” she asked, in surprise. “To the Black Hills,” he replied. ** Never.” “It is a fact. Father and I’ve had a few words, and I'll show him l’m no slave to be sent to a boarding-school, because old Mandragon complains of me.” He pressed her hand and ran down-stairs, leaving Fanny to tell her mother the :trange news. Outside the house he encountered a friend of his named Tommy Bennet. ‘** Hello, Dick!” said Tommy, ‘‘ where are you ' going off to in such a hurry?’ ‘Bound for the Black Hills!” ** Hey!” cried Tommy, opening his eyes very wide indeed. ‘Father and I’ve had a kick. I’m poing to earn my own living and be independent.” ** Oh, isn’t that bully? Take me with you!” plead Tommy Bennet. ‘Why, certainly! to £0 along.” *TVlldoit! Father licked me this morning, ror playing hookey and I’d like to show him a thing or two,” ‘*Good enough. Come on!” ‘‘ Can’t I say good-by to mother?” asked Tom- If you’ve got grif cnough Not if you’re going with me,” was. the de- cided answer. Tommy was the hb: ppy possessor of a quarter, which, added to the general steck, biovpht the sum total up to two dollars, with which very limited amount of capital, these two preterna- turally foolish boys thought they ccwd_reach the far-off Territory for which they were bound. They had a vague idea that they ec uld do odd chores on the way, for which services they would be rewarced by a yresent of t¢ccd and xermission to sleep at night in barns and out- apes, Never, in the course of their luxurious lives, having encountered haidships, they made light of them. Away they went over the Hackensack mea- dows, on the road to Newark, which town they reached about one o’clock in the afternoon, Here they went into a bokery, feeling Munery, and regaicd themselves with ten cents’ worth of cakes and a class of water pea Siarting again, they struck out for E'izabeth, but in @ short time the sky became oveicast and a cold, heavy rain fell. They were soon wet to the skin: t) cir boots sunk into the mire at every step, and they shiv- ered to the bones. This dampened their About two miles out of Newark, Ton my,who was not so desperate in earnest. or made of such stern stuff as his companion, gave out, arcor considernbly. completely. He burst ont ervine lamentably. “What's the matter with ver?’ erked Dick Dimity, with 2 tines of contempt in b's voice. “Pm wet throueh, Io tired enc Tungry. Where we are eoine te sleep, Pm frre ! don’t know, and we sha’n'’t have any nice civrer such as we ~et at home,” replied the weak but prac- (on chorn!dett expect Iuxuries when you go on the tramy ” eas the stern rejoinder, | OT want te oo home.” whimpered Tommy. ‘What cid you start out for?” 6) €oim cS (oo)