Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 89 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

‘h C= / ! ) . : - — —_——_ Ss — — ——__- - **T didn’t know running away was like this.” ‘* Well, then, go home; you know the way we came. Don’t give me away, though. I’m go- ing on,” said Dick, bravely. ommy held out his cold, wet, clammy hand, | which was like a fish’s fin. **Good-by,” he said, in a faint voice. Dick turned from him disdainfully, and direct- ly afterward Tommy was seen running as fast as his legs would carry him toward home. With commendable energy and determina- tion, Dick pressed on. Half a mile further was a barn, under the side of which he took shelter from the rain. Wearily passed the hours under that leaden sky; pitilessly fell the remorseless rain. His heart was heavy within him, and it would have been much more so had he known what was taking place during his absence, at his fa- ther’s hitherto comfortable and happy house. No sooner did Fanny tell Mrs, Dimity that Dick had goneaway to the Biack Hills, than the lady, who was of a nervous disposition and in weak health, fell down in a fit. Doctors were sent for and messengers dis- patched in every direction after the runaway. Mrs. Dimity passed from one fit into another, and never again was entirely conscious. Before morning dawned she was dead; and the unhappy husband wept by the side of the beloved wife’s corpse. Dick did not know this. Better for him that he did not; far better that the result of his rash and wicked behavior was not revealed to him. He had killed his mother. Had the news been abruptly broken to him, it might have driven him crazy, for he was not a bad-hearted boy, though spoilt, petted and headstrong. _He had always loved his mother, as she loved him. Soon darkness began to fall upon the earth, the shades of night enveloped everything, and still it rained ceaselessly, drearily. Dick bethought himself of the inside of the barn. Why should he stay outside, when, per- chance, he could creep into some hay or straw and be warm? He moved round to the door; he pushed it and it opened; an inviting heap of rye straw was spread temptingly beside him. In his fatigue, he forgot his hunger, and with & weary sigh he sunk upon the straw. Hardly had he done so than he was heaved upward by some might wer beneath him, and a volley of curses siinhed his startled ears. ‘“Whatin thunder are you doing?’ cried a voice, ‘‘and who asked you to come into this ranch? Curse you, git!” A violent blow between the eyes on TB Dick upon the floor, and he felt himself brutally kicked in the ribs and back. Inflamed with rage and fearful of being kill- ed, he drew his revolver from his hip-pocket, and fired two shots in quick succession at his as- sailant. There was a loudcry as of some one in mor- tal anguish, and this was followed by a dull, thudding sound, as of a body falling heavily to the ground. ‘“‘Great Heaven! What have I done?” said Dick, under his breath. A deep groaning horrified him still more. In his vest he had some matches. Striking one, he examined the ground, and by the fleeting light perceived the body of a poor, ragged tramp, whe was bleeding from two wounds in his breast. “There was no call to give me the lead, Cully,” said the man, who spoke with difficulty. ‘Pd preémpted this barn and had a right ter it. No matter; you’ve done for me, and all the harm I wish you is, that some one will serve you the same, afore long.” Dick Dimity shuddered. He had taken the life of a fellow-creature! True, it was done in self-defense, but was he not a murderer in the eye of the law? Would not the officers of justice be on his track soon, and would he not pass many years of his life within the walls of a prison? Or might he not expiate the crime on the scaffold? Alarmed and horrified, he resolved to fly from the accursed place, Outin the rain again, braving the storm, the pay fled, as if there was a legion of fiends at his eels, How long he-ran, he knew not, but at length, quite exhausted, his clothes torn by coming in contact with briers, his body bruised by repeat- ed falls, he came to a full stop. The rain was over now, and the moon shone out in the clear, starlit sky. Island Jim. home, but even if he had the inclination, he could not retrace his steps till morning. He was physically exhausted, and, having run across fields, he did not know where he was. All at once he was attracted by the sight of a fire. Edging up toward it, he saw a man and a boy sitting on two big stones, and by the aid of a stick toasting some bits of meat, which émitted & savory smell, Rendered bold by starvation and desperate by the necessities of his forlorn situation, he ap- proached the group. The man was tall and wiry, having a pecniiar- | How he siehed for the peace and comfort. of ) | | ly Gipsy cast’ of countenance, his hair being | black as a raven’s wing and inclined to cur'. The boy, however, arrested Dick’s attention in a marked degree, for he was wonderfully like himself in hight and general appearance. There was the same pensive face, the dark hair, the full, lustrous eyes, and, above all, the characteristic nose / They were as much alike as the two Dromios, whose similarity occasioned so much fun end trouble. “A confounded jackass!” replied Dick. ‘'I had a row with my father and concluded to start for the Black Hills. I only left home this morning, and I wish I was back again al- ready.” At this simple confession, the man and the boy _—same size, hair, eyes, everything.” laughed heartily. ‘* You can join us, I guess,” said the man. ‘**We’re a couple of sharps, and haven’t met with a flat lately. Find a stone and sit down.” Dick did as he was requested, and showed the man what money he had left. ‘Tam willing to pay for any accommodation you offer me,” he said. ‘‘ Better still; we will have a banquet. Jim look in the larder and bring out that fowl i hooked to-day; it is all ready for cooking.” The Gipsy took the coin and rammed it into his pocket without counting it, while the boy proceeded to a cattle-shed hard by. The lower portion of this shed was occupied by cows, while the upper, approached by a lad- der, was filled with feed and fodder. Dick watched the boy curiously, and present- ly saw bim return with a split fowl which he cast carelessly on the burning embers. CHAPTER II. THE POOR SCAMP. THE Gipsy was a garrulous fellow, about thirty-five years of age, and while the supper was cooking, he informed Dick that he was a native of Bohemia, who had been some years in this country. He had belonged to a tribe of Gipsies who | roamed about the continent of Europe, and he | fled from his native land on account of a quar- rel he had with a peddler, which resulted in the death of the latter. ‘‘My name,” he continued, “is Ken Belshaz- zar. The boys always call me Een for short. Um a tramp and a thief by profession, because I like it, and work never did agree with me.” ‘Same here,” said the boy; “I believe I was a born thief, for I never did anything else but steal, and I’ve practiced the lay, pretty well, | since [I and Een became partners, and that’s | nigh upon twelve months.” ‘You talk well enough. Can you read and | write and cypher?’ asked Dick. * You bet you I can! I got my education in the House of Refuge. Oh! I’m posted, I am!” The Gipsy patted the boy on the back, ap- provingly. “This is Island Jim,” he remarked, ‘‘ and toe: proud of him, for a better pupil I never had, ‘* What a name! how did he get it?” ‘* Because, before he took to tramping, he was thing or other.” ‘‘ Yes,” said Island Jim, as if admiring him- | self; “if it wasn’t for stealing, it was for fight- | elegant watch, your mother gave you on your ing, or being drunk, or vagrancy. I’ve got a lovely record, and young as I am, my picture adorns the Rogues’ Gallery.” In the course of further conversation FEenas Belshazzar informed Dick that they were hang- ing about the cow-shed because the quarters were comfortable, and—with a sly wink—the had a little job in contemplation in the immedi- ate neighborhood. The chicken being done, Dick required no per- | -_ + + eee 3 A =~ suasion to devour it, and the supper was quick- ly dispose 1 of. In time the fire dried his clothes and he felt more comfortable, especially as there was a prospect of a good bed on the fodder in the shed, The Gipsy artfully plied him with a variet of questions, found out his name, where he live what the members of his family were like, and other trifling particulars, At length Dick Dimity’s eyes began to close, from sheer weariness. ‘*Come to bed,”said Een Belshazzar. ‘* You’re worn out. I and Jim will smoke a pipe and join you afterward.” He rose, and beckoning Dick to follow him led the way to the loft. Here he threw himself on a pile of straw and was soon asleep, dreaming of the ghost of the dead man, whose corpse he had left in the soli- tary barn. When Belshazzar returned to the fire he threw | on some more sticks, lit his pipe and producing a bottle of apple-jack took a deep draught, after which he passed it on to his young associate in erime. “Bay, strangers,” he cried, ‘‘can I have a warm at your fire?” | The boy and the man looked up. ‘* What are you?” asked the man. os island Jim drank as heartly and with as much appreciation as his preceptor and handed. it back, ‘*Say, Jim,” asked the Gipsy, ‘‘do you see anything very remarkable about that young rooster?” ‘*T noticed he’d got a beak on him, the very image of mine,” replied Jim. ‘it isn’t that, ri: a you’re as like as two peas ‘‘ Even to the strawberry mark on tho left arm!” laughed Jim, ‘Tm not Jjesting. Thisis aseriousthing, I’ve got an idea and I'll propound it.” Island Jim became grave at once and prepared himself to listen, because he knew from experi- ence what a long-headed fellow Ken was, and how valuable his ideas were, ‘Tm no fool,” began the Gipsy. ‘“ I can see my way to making a pot of money out of this young snoozer if you have only the pluck to work with me.” ‘* Did you ever find me deficient in the com- modity of cheek?” asked Jim. ‘* Never; but this requires courage and skill combined. Dick Dimity’s folks are rich; let us knock him on the head and put you in his place!” The magnitude of this suggestion almost took Jim’s breath away. ‘* | personate Dick Dimity?’ he gasped. ‘* Precisely.” ‘* But, ’m only a poorscamp. It’s true he’s a rich tramp, but suppose | get found out?” ‘Tf so, you have nothing to fear. All the Dimitys will do is to give you some money and kick you out. These high-toned people have a horror of scandal, They would never prosecute rou.” * Think not?” ‘Tam sure of it; andif they did it wouldnt hurt either you or me. We have both served time before. Is the stake worth playing for or not, say?’ Belshazzar awaited an answer. It was not long coming. ‘ Pll do it,” exclaimed Island Jim. ‘'That’s my own dear boy!” said Ben, with an unctuous smile, ‘I always said you were & promising lad, and I knew it or I wouldn't have wasted my time with you.” ‘* And now you’ll either make a gentleman of me or bring me to the gallows.” Ken held up his hands in admiration. ‘* What a head he’s got!” he cried. ‘ How be praspe an idea! It is no trouble at all to talk to vim ! ‘*‘ When’s the job to be done?” demanded Jim. “ Right away; no time like the present. Dl knock him on the head ‘when I’m Y ough with this pipe, and we will carry the stiff to the old well in the next field,” replied the cold-blooded | Villain. ‘* Look out: he’s heeled! Isaw the butt of a i © nt ” é _ pistol. always being sent up on the Island for some- ‘““So did I, but he'll bave no time to use it. That pistol will soon be yours. You stole it from your dad, don’t you remember, and that last birthday, and you’ve got a little sister named Fagyny, and your dog’s name is Lion, and your neighbor, Mr. Mandragon, is your great enemy. It won’t do to forget all these things, Dick, you know.” The villain smiled oilily again and chuckled audibly, as if vastly pleased at his own humor. All these particulars, with many others, bad been diligently gleaned from Dick after supper, for the bold idea which Een had just broached (EO OOO) “com