Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 898 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

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On entering the saloon he went straight to where the woman was sitting. ‘‘ This is rather early for Sparkler Sal to be up isn’t it?” he remarked. ‘‘ Well, yes, you are right.” was the an- swer, ina pleasing tone. ‘‘ But I was eager to hear the result.” McKnight had taken a seat,and the last was said in lower voice, ‘‘ Everything is all right,” he declared. ‘¢ Tt has worked as you planned?” ‘* So far.” ‘* And what about Van Bascomb?” ‘“‘T think I have got him right where I want him, on the hip.” ‘‘ And.you believe he will give what the men demand?” ‘* Oh, no; that’s not to be expected; but, he will compromise rather than have trouble, I feel certain,”’ ‘* What was all the cheering about?” ‘* Cheering me.” ‘* Ha! ha! ha! Butit is all right, and so much the better.” ‘Yes, for it has doubled my grip here. Van Bascomb will have to admit that I have done what he could not have accomplished.”’ ‘‘ And once he is made to realize that you really control the destinies of the Marguerite we can handle him about as we please, ei? It will do me good to pull that proud daugh- ter of his down from her pedestal.” ‘‘And that is what will be done, if all works well,” ‘“‘ You bet!” “ ‘When you are made Mrs. Van Bascom and become her step-mother, you can turn her out, you know,” Sparkler Sal made an impatient gesture. ‘‘T hate the thought of that part of the scheme, Jim, and wish there was some other way around it. It is almost as bad as the thought of your wedding that stuck-up thing.” ‘‘ But, that is the way we are to get hold of the property, youknow, You will marry a third, at least, and I will marry the balance, and then, when we bave disposed of our in- cuibrances, we will lump the whole and be fixed for life. True love never has run smooth, you know.” f ‘* And this is where ours has come to a particularly rough place} it seems.” ' ‘‘No matter, Sal, play your part, and I will plan the game to the end and play my role, and all will come out well.” ‘*Do you know, Jim, I am jealous of that girl?” 3 ‘“* Nonsense!” | ‘‘But,-Iam. Whatif you should really learn to love her, and leave mein the lurch—” “Pshaw! get that out of your mind at once, little sport! I think more of your little finger than I do of her whole body, and I wouldn’t give a snap to marry her if it wasn’t to transfer her wealth to you, after- ward,” ‘‘ And don't you feel a bit jealous when you think of my marrying the old man?” ‘* Well, yes; but, itis a matter of business, and so I choke it down and say nothing. It won't be forever, you know. not a safe place for such talk, so let us drop it. We have got the ball to rolling, now, and as soon as it begins to run down hill it -will crush everything in its path.” But, this is “4 > a ‘‘T hope it will all come out right, any- how. It won't be because I have not done my part if it don’t, that’s sure.” ) CHAPTER IV. A BUSINESS PROPOSITION, ZEKE HUMMINGBIRD had joined Van Bas- comb and Keefer in front of the mine office, as stated, at the same time that McKnight went into the Cosmopolitan Hall. ‘‘ What has happened, Zeke?” the mine- manager hurriedly asked. ‘‘Ther men have happened ter go back to work, that’s what,” was the very unsatisfy- ing answer. “Yes, yes; we guessed that much; but, on what terms did they go back? That is to say, what induced them to return to work?” ‘* Mayor McKnight done et,” This was the first time Zeke had yielded the point. Never before, since the trouble began between himself and McKnight, hac he acknowledged McKnight as mayor of the town, The mine-manager looked at him in sur- prise. ‘* Mayor McKnight?” he repeated. *“That was what I said.” ‘*Then you yield your claim to him?” ‘Yes; he may as well have ther name, seein’ that he’s got ther game.” ‘**Come in and tell ws all about it.” Van Bascomb*entered the office, followed by the superintendent, and Hummingbird and some others went in. Hummingbird then related what had taken place at the mine, his story being confirmed by the others, who had seen and heard. ~‘* You don’t mean to tell me McKnight took that action, do you?” the mine-manager demanded. He was assured of it, ‘** Never heard a man talk fairer an’ squarer in my life,” declared the old mayor of the town, ‘‘And that’s jest how ther matter stands. They have gone to work, and to- morrow mornin’ Claffinger and some others will wait on ye here to see what you'll do, an’ that will be ther critical p’int of ther hull business,” ‘* Have you any idea what compromise they willagree to?” ” ‘*T haven’t. I reckon it’ll be aoffer to split ther difference with ver, fer a guess,” ‘““And I can’t do that; it will be just as impossible to pay the half as the whole. Still they are disposed to act square with me, I can’t deny that.” ‘An’ you have to thank Mayor McKnight fer et all.” ‘¢ Well, I’ll have to think overit. Go back to the men, Keefer, and carry on the work as if nothing had happened, and we'll see what is going to be done. Leave me alone, men, please.”’ : All went out, and Van Bascomb’was left to wrestle with the problem alone. ‘‘Confound it, what does it mean?” he asked himself. ‘‘ A strike was the last thing I looked for here, for we have been paying our men well and treating them like men be- sides. There is something back of this—a nigger in the fence, somewhere, I wish that man Bristol would put in his appearance. : While he was pacing the floor McKnight entered, ‘* Well, you see what I have been able to do for you,” he reminded, the first thing. ‘Yes, and I’m much obliged to you for it, too. But what in the world is to be the outcome? You must know how im- possible it bab be for me to pay what they ask, or any Where near it.” ‘‘ To-morrow morning must decide.” ‘« And if I refuse—” “There will be trouble, and no telling where it will stop. They will feel as if they have done their part.” ; “Well, you have helped me so far; now, what do you advise?” eare for her, ‘“‘That depends.” ery McKnight had taken a seat, laid off his hat, and had lighted a cigar at which he puffed with great relish. | ‘* Depends on what?” ‘* How badly you want my help.” 7 ‘‘Depends on how bad I want your help?” ‘* Exactly.” “Well, just explain-yourself, please.’’ “And you will need help pretty decided- ly bad, I take it, eh?” ‘*T am not so sure about that. I can fight, if it comes to that, and they will find it out | ‘‘ And lose more in a week than you have made in the past two years. That will not do at all, Mr. Van Bascomb. I can bring ou out of this with comparatively little oss.” ‘‘ What do you recommend, then?” ‘‘ Now you are back again to the starting point. I said that depends.” “Well, explain.” ‘‘T can do so in a few words, You know that I love your daughter, sir, und if you will favor my suit I’ll pledge you my word that this matter won’t amount to much.” Van Bascomb was turning purple, almost, and seemed to be choking. ““Wh—what!” he cried. ‘Sell my child to you for a price?” ‘* You look at it in the wrong light, my dear sir, for Iam only playing to win be- cause I love—madly and devotedly love.” ‘*But, you are not the kind of a man [ would select to be the husband of my daughter, sir, and what assurance have you that she cares anything for you? This can never be, McKnight.” ‘** It has got to be.” ‘* What! you would force me?” ‘No, no; I mean it has got to be or life is worth nothing to me.” ‘‘You have not answered my question, ‘sir. What reason have you to think she cares for you?” ‘‘No reason whatever, sir. It is I who I am acting the honorable part in coming to you first. Still, 1 have no reason to think she dis!ikes me.” McKnighs had closed the door on enter- ing. Tt was now thrown open, and a vision of sunlight, almost, sprung in. Clara Van Bascomb was the vision, her face beaming with smiles, and with a nod to her father she gave her hand to McKnight. ‘‘T have heard all about it, Mr. McKni ht,” she said, ‘‘and I want to thank you for it all. ‘You have helped papa more than any one else could have helped him, Iam sure.” ‘“‘Tt is not worth mentioning, Miss Van Bascomb,” was the response, and the man lifted her hand to his lips and boldly kissed her fingers. ‘‘ Or; if it was, this has amply ° repaid the service,” he added. er face flushed, and she turned im- mediately to her father. | ‘‘T am so glad, papa, that it has been so_ easily settled; for, of course, you can easily come to a compromise of some sort when the committee wait upon you.” | ‘Tt will be the easiest thing in the world,” hastened McKnight. ‘‘ With my aid, he cin bring about almost any kind of a settle- ment he desires, now that the men are in the mood for it.” . He opened the door to take leave. pi a ‘¢ And of course you will Jend your aid,” said the young lady, full of confidence. ‘‘You are the only man who can be of any use to papa in this emergency:’ And, as you are mayor of the town, it is plainly your a. But, pardon me for speaking about t ” Certainly, I stand ready to do my whole duty, and will do everything in my power to bring affairs around all straight—if be will allow me to do:so.” a | He bowed and was gone;. sé ~- -— oe : ~—— ane weadiiienmess a, Ot bw we ‘ : * . woo -~ "a" { . ‘ »' - + YF A re. . f. 7 . a4 r - rt : | ¥ “sh oe ‘ : F [ * | en thik 77 f \? : Ly a Ry Aas . - f ry ’ i‘ é : wa Fe a re Bee % a) . ahve — : 7, Ghee ony? >" s - eS be J '¢ et ae ak = ‘ A na) Ras Ci yi) he aaa led Fifth 8 bay ot oe Ll il Noraeae aes x eat ae ile ee AB i ne bile Se 3 as % 4 -_ a ae Ne —_. Sve _ A NL NK — lt, — i ™ * » . ~ ~