Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 891 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

_. tothe mayor bluntly. \ look as if it would prove to be a white ele- pee on their hands, zens of the latter place had to chew the cud “Yes, sir.” : bi of their chagrin with the best grace possible. | = ** And open a evenin’ school fer dancin’, of COUNSEL. 3": | -' One day, when ' = J ' Pe ." p : . 4 Fe ~ WR, e, y i. a ; : re | ; ; / Me ci : in Swe dee ‘ a ( J . - ‘ aoa o \ eat th . : "* A , , ; . y ¢ > ey P : - rs eh . : -s * ’ Ae - , . r but on that occasion not a man - Batan's Pocket or Nuggetville had honored in front a ! *& = tig - . ~~ -_——-_ . Py tate _ " A He ‘What ar’ we goin’ to do with that Town Hall?” he demanded. ‘*] kalkylate we'll have to git up a play o’ some sort, out o’ home talent,” was the off- hand answer, “You hev hit et, by ther great gosh- awny!” cried Dimund, struck hard with the idea. ‘‘ We'll talk et over an’ see what kin be done, ther hearse, The stage was coming at last. More than that, it was bringing with it a personage who could and would make use of the new ‘Town Hall to better advantage than the mayor's thought could have made possible. | With the vsual swing and flourish the “hearse” drew up in front of the Big Hen and stopped, | The passengers alighted forthwith—such as were booked for this place, for the stage ran on to Nupggetville and as a general thing some of the passengers went through with it. : This was not the fault of the people of Rosy Posy. They generally gave out the report that Nuggetvill. was not much of a town, and if they—the passengers—had any respect for themselves they would stop at Rosy Posy and be done, with it, and, this (particular boom, yet it was withal a lively scitlement that considered itself of some im- portance. Rosy Posy snuggled at the bottom of a rugged mountain gulch, the latter a kind of golden belt that extended for some distance in both directions from the camp, holding out rich inducements to the brawny wielders of pick and shovel almost anywhere along the bottom, Here, then, lay the reason why Rosy Posy existed as the thriving camp described. It was not much of a city—in fact, it ap- peared but a small village to the stranger who looked upon it for the first time before entering. Generally, it did not take more than twenty four hours to convince the aforesaid stranger that it was about the biggest place of its size that he had ever struck if his life. Rosy Posy boasted of only one hotel, the en” by appellation, but it had several saloons, chief smong which was the ‘ Pro- hibitionist Headquarters.” ‘Then there were a couple of general-supply stores, a banking and exchange office with an Express Office in connectliou, and the post-office. ‘*But, greatest of all, Rosy Posy had a brand new Town Hall, recently finished, which was pointed out to the new-comer with pride—pardonable pride, for not an- | sometimes had the desired effect, olner camp in the gulch bad anything that On this occasion all the passengers save could begin to compure with it! | one got out at Rosy Posy. True, Nuggetville, further down the gulch, The exception was a young woman, could boast of a school-house, and Satan's | riding inside, who merely put her head out Pocket, above, of a church, but when it | and inquired: came to the matter of a public hall, these ‘*Gentlemen, is this Nuggetville?” towns were not in it. ** Nuggetville!” roared the mayor, prompt- This public institution was the outcome | ly. ‘* Don’t insult us, lady. Nuggetville of a thought born in the fertile brain of Mar- | can’t hold a candle to this place.”’ shal Mackerel, the mayor of the camp, ; “TL beg your: pardon sir; I didn’t know.” When the school-house at Nuggetville was ‘«Then it’s time ye did, by seat!” said the announced, Rosy Posy turned a glance of | mayor, doffing his hat and stepping for- envy in that direction; and when, later, it | ward, speaking in a kindly manner. ‘' Do wis heralded that Satan’s Pocket had a! you mean to tell us that you are goin’ to church, then the galootsof Rosy Posy awoke Nugeetville?” , Lp Arh oa to .the fact that something had to be done, | _ | and that in a hurry, a oe’ uf ‘ Now the above-mentioned Marshal Mack- | doin’, but if you ar’ merely out for pleasure, erel was high-cockdlorum of the town, both and don’t know the place, 1 would offer by right of office and because he was a par- ticularly ‘‘bad” man—or was so held to be, ther proposition that you stop off right hyer and his people demanded of him that he and hang up yer hat at Rosy Posy. I don’t | | want to run down my neighbors, but you should do something that would put the rival | might go further an’ fare wuss, ye know.” camps away back in the shade; so, when the | mayor had worn his thinking-cap fora day or two, he made the proposition that they ‘‘Tam not on pleasure, sir, but business, and I understand that Nuggetville has a ) should build a Town Hall, a suggestion that. was hailed with a whoop of delight. school-house—” | ‘‘An’ you ar’a schoolmarm?” : | ‘Oh, no,” fritid ‘* 1 teach dancing—” ‘You see,” the mayor explained, ‘“‘ef we| ‘Oh! ka-whoo, ka-whoop!” yelled the havea Town Hall we ar’ bound to git all| mayor, wildly. _ vig (th NN veri Cukh the shows and sech that come this way, and] ‘‘ Why, sir, what is the matter?” asked Nuggetville and Satan’s Pocket will have to | fhe young woman, her eyes open wide in take a back seat. Our kids have ter go to | wonderment. eA Mi . Nuggetville to school, and our wimmin all “‘You ar’ a dancin’-master?” the way to Satan’s Pocket fer their churchin ; and now, by scat, we'll make them come to us fer their’muscment!” | “ Well, yes—or that is, I tench dancing.” ’ The marshal’s proposition was sustained, ‘An’ I take et you ar’ lookin’ fer a locate, a place where you kin open a school?” and it was so ordered—with a vim that awoke the echoes inthe gulch, _ That is just my plan, sir.” : And the outcome was, as said, the Town Oh! ka-whoo, ka-whoop, ka-whoop-ee! ‘Somebody hold me! Barth Dimund, do ye Hall, all complete and ready for business or yleasure, just as the order of the day might | hear what she says?” be; but, now that it was done, it began to } —~_ -— ---—--—— Fea Be nist...) ie Well, 1 s'pose you know what you ar’ ‘* Yes, I’m takin’ et in, marshal,” | The young woman looked from the one to the other, a puzzled expression upon her countenance, Saas : An can aaa he turned to her again in- stantly, ve re and you wanted ter git the use of the Ha Hg at Nuggetville fer that purpose, t had been opened formally, of course, from either Rosy Posy with his presence, and the deni-. There was the Town Hall, but, what were they going todo with it?) } ‘exing question! Fa at eis 0 the stuge was iate and all the idlers of the camp were lounging around ** Dhat is the jdca, sir. Do you think I can get the school-house for that purpose?” “ Why, bless yer heart, gallie, that ’ar school-house at Nuggetville ain’t no bigger’n of the hotel and saloons awaiting its | a cigur box sot upon its side, wi’ winders one Barth Dimund put that question an’ doors cut in, an’ thar wouldn’t be room in Wain cdavyssbe tees a fer Big-foot Ben hyer to turn round.” ) DOW aes eal ‘ : | i, fk 7 ; ’ ’ , . ; } p ; " ‘ : i : - Al - "he : , ER Pir", arriva ’ 2 * « ¥. ei . , t ee zt 4, bee ¢ 4 P fave * f f 7 yy, \ » : . “yy ed on ‘ “wes ¥ ' : P .. i Pt 6 wr é c ‘ > wa 3 ‘ ‘ eile twee vs + | ae ae Yeshua tye § pase aa Son ‘ 7 ite / 4 wu okey AVE es hp wear 5p MV wiley o rr Le ee. PY ih. , ty Tyke hs eo. ye y - . . : « rr Ps pi oe ; i J St Wis, . A 2. a v-¢ c ee ae at é tas Wat howe * ~ 3 = ap wi int tHe % 5) Rint? a am of¥ ‘ were Wy, ! ite a os ; 1” Oh ‘ ‘. Sate eval. 3a. Hive ¥ $ ie wi {és 3 Py) , \e rt | be } a! 4 , ‘ * «Pu fe of Ty “~ iw oe Yor) a 5 J A 4] 4 aR” Ae » =~ J wit: . But, no time now, fer hyer comes | that?” , Nuggetville when they come ter find out i ie Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. | He jerked his thumb in the direction of a © big fellow who stood near. The young lady had to Jaygh merrily, as she surveyed the size of this man’s stogies with a swift glance, ‘* Well, have you anything better you can offer, sir?’ she asked. — . “Lady, jest look ’e thar!” With astep backward Marshal Mackerel spread out his hand with a flourish in the di- rection of the new Town Hall. | The young woman had to put her head further out in order to sce the building, and as soon as she beheld itun exclamation of ad- miration sprung to her lips. ‘““My! What is it, sir?” ‘“That’s our new Town Hall, galliec, as spick, span an’ clean as a new pin, you bet!” — ‘And do you mean that I may have that building for the purpose of opening a danc- ing-school? I can hardly believe you mean it, sir.” ‘‘Thet ’ar’s jest what I do mean, neagh. none ther less,’’ the mayor declared, ‘' This hyer’s the place you ar’ lookin’ fer, lady, and you couldn’t ’a’ found a finer buildin’— no, by scat, not ef you had et made to order!” CHAPTER IL. | ANTICIPATING A BIG BLOW-OUT. THERE was a whoop from the crowd, and without further parley the young woman | alighted from the stage. boote She was not more than eighteen at most, with a well-rounded figure and a pretty face, with a fresh, rosy complexion. had laughing eyes, and a wealth of brown hair that fell upon her shoulders in profu- sion. | . | She wore a jaunty hat, and her dress was of serviceable material, semi-masculine in cut, as far as waist and jacket were con- * just short enough to disclose her shapely feet to good advantage. Altogether, she was a charming specimen of her sex. ‘*T accept your offer, sir,” she said ex- tending her hand as soon ns she was on the ground, ‘I take it that you are the mayor of the town,” \ asks ‘You have bit ct right on ther head,” de. « And this is the leading hotel?” She indicated the Big Hen, as soon as she could disengage her shapely hane out of the mayor's rough grasp. ey ae © That’s whatet ar’, allie,’ the assurance. ‘We call et ther Big Hen.” “What a name! Why ‘* Because thar’s pieey of room under its wings, ma’m,” spoke up the proprietor of the ‘‘shebang” himself, from the steps. Again the girl’s merry laugh rung out, and the stage having by this time been re- lieved of all the mail and Express matter it had brought for Rosy Posy, the driver was prepared to go on to his destination, “Wull, ye have got about all I had,” he declared, ‘‘including ther pootiest gal that ever got aboard this hyer old _hearse., Shouldn’t wonder ef thar was a ruction over about et, boys, But, that ain’t no funeral o’ mine, you bet!” ; 34 “That’s what’s ther matter,” agreed Mar- shal Mackerel. shun about et, send ’em to me, Jonas,’ “ That’s what I'll do, sure.” The driver cracked his whip, at that, and — the stuge went lumbering on down through, ‘the gulch, while Marshal Mackerel politely fair stranger up the steps and ah rv! * conducted the into the hotel. | | a <«©You'll find us plain an’ homely, miss, — he made apology, ‘but we ar all heart, . er “AIL what ain’t feet,” muttered Big-foot ; n, aside,» We is ae Mackerel led the inetd cerned, while the skirt, of ample fold, was » do you call it She | clared the mayor, taking the proffered hand, . ‘Tf they want any inferma- ‘ : ef } 1 way right into the bar- | : ‘ : ; 4 ’ : a” a} ’ i ¢ : . . ¢ . “2 7 . ’ . { 4 , ¥ athe 7 i ’ ; : . {= ) : “ 4 s avs s 7 ot -_ ee hil A me ,* heee a ay Md ead CY TY ate “i "he 7 a srk te , ie of, f | fia - AD ~ A" . : “se ute > nits : vi} vu pth. 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