Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 898 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- ier i | - to be bis friend ‘ that.” 6 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drive. in which case [ would have turned tail and departed, according to agreement,” The crowd broke out in a cheer, for both the mayor and the new-comer. ‘“ We won’t discuss the matter of how you could have remained without my permission, now that you have it,” rejoined McKnight. ‘You might have found it a little difficult. You are a tall man in a wrestle, I have to acknowledge. We'll have no further trouble, though, for | am a square man, and my word here is law; just ask the boys around, if you doubt it.” “T’ll take your word for it,” assured Strader. ‘‘ And that’s my bond, every time.” ‘* Well, where is your nearest feed-trough —that is to say your hotel?” was inquired. ‘*The Hardscrabble Inn, just ahead there, is the place you are looking for,” answered McKnight. ‘‘ ’m going that way.” The mayor had brushed the dirt from his clothes, now, and Strader, telling his man to come on, walked in the direction of the hotel in company with McKnight. ‘* You are just the kind of a man I like to meet,” McKnight declared. ‘* A horse-thief, eh?” ‘‘Ha! ha! That is past, now; so say no more about it. No, I mean a man of nerve and muscle.” ! ‘‘ Well, I’m said to have a little of both!” ‘*A little! You are loaded full to the muzzle I’m inclined to be your friend, rather than foe.” ‘*] guess I can meet you half-way in that, if you are as square as you claim to be. Though I’m a dealer in horses, yet I can’t put up long with anything that is crooked.” ‘You won't have to, in me,” ‘‘ Good enough; I thought I’d merely men- tion it.” ‘‘That’s all right, of course, I wouldn’t wonder if you had struck a pretty good camp for your business.” cy That so?” ‘Yes. But things are a little unsettled just at present, owing to trouble in the mines,” and the mayor gave a brief outline of that. ‘‘That must give you some anxiety, see- ing you are mayor,” Strader suggested. ‘* Well, yes it does. But, I have most of the men of the camp at my call; and that is everything. We'll try to protect your property, if trouble comes.” ‘ And of course you look for my support, if needed.” | ** Well, yes.” They were now at the hotel. | Entering, the horse-trader made his terms with the landlord, and registered, and his: stock of horses were taken around to the stables, under the keeping of Mongrel Mike, the hulf-breed. | The tilt between the mayor and the new- comer was soon newsed around, and Mr. Strader was an object of curiosity. The man who could dump Jimmy Mc- Knight must be a fellow extraordinary. A good many of the denizens of the camp came prowling around the hotel for no other purpose than to get a look at him. hen McKnight finally went back to his office, Tony Young exclaimed: ‘‘ What the mischief is that man made of, boss?” hs ‘* Spring steel and India rubber, I imagine,” was the sullen answer, ‘‘ Never had a lift like that in my life.” ! f * But, you'll square the account with him, I take it?” ‘*You can bet your life on it!” growled ‘McKnight, his face dark with anger. ‘* Don’t say a word, though, for I am pretending and have shut his eyes in “Tm mum.” : | ‘ ‘When the time comes, then I'll open them again,” | e ‘ot. 7 * , "or Of 4 : ‘J . + i “I guess none of the boys will want to. 3 tei 1% ha F 4 Sinn 4 : n » et Shi . 7 ma hs rey : Nes ~ 7s a pS uklg aps a: Nae 0 eee Ee ee tackle him, not even the bruisers around the camp.” ‘* Probably not; but, Pll tackle him again before I’m done with him. Not at once, though, for I may want to use him first. I’m anxious to see what the strike will amount to.” “T guess it won’t amount to much.” ‘*Why not?” ‘‘ Because, [ think you can make it go any way you want it to.” ‘““ What do you know about that? Don't be so free with your guesses, and don’t you dare to get that idea noised around.”’ ‘Oh, that’s all right, boss; I understand a thing or two. Tm as mum as a mule, and you needn’t be uneasy about me. It all depends on how Van Bascomb takes your proposition.” ‘* What do you know about that?” “* Just a little.” , ‘‘And that is just a little more than I want you to repeat. But, you Know me, Tony Young, and that it will not be well for you to anger me against yourself.” ‘* Haven’t the slightest intention of doing that, boss. But, I think it will be all right, and that the old man will come to your terms. Ihave got eyes, and can see as far into a board as the next man,” ‘* Explain.” ‘‘ Well, you know Henry Keefer has been paying some attention in that direc- tion, don’t you?” ‘* Certainly I know it, curse him!” ‘* You seem to be the best of friends with him; what do you want to curse him for?” _ **None of your business. Say on.” “What I’m going to say will show you there is no need to curse him. He is out of the race, I take it.” ‘‘Ha! this grows interesting. What do you know?” ‘‘Tsaw him meet Clara, this noon hour, and he tried-to talk with -her, but she gave him the cool go-by and you never saw a fel- dow look so cut up and surprised in all your born days.” ‘You don’t tell me!” “‘Well, that’s what I have tried to tell you, anyhow,” “Yes, but it is past believing, almost, Well, keep your eye skinned, Tony, and let me know whatever you can find out.” The door opened and the mamager of the Marguerite walked in. ‘‘What’s this I hear about you, Mc- Knight?” he demanded, laughing. ‘* They tell me you ran up against 2 snag a while ‘‘Ha! ha! Yes, you have got it straight; so 1 did: The best men are bound to get taken in once in a while, Mr. Van Bascomb, and this was my turn, That fellow is a giant for strength.” ‘* Don’t know who or what he is, eh?” ‘* No more than he lets out; his cognomenis Horse Strader, and it is certain he is a trader in horses. His true name is Dick Strader, he: ‘*Dick, eh? Dick Strader? Never heard of him.” ) Ae ‘*'That’s his say-so.” “Well, no matter, McKnight. I have dropped in to see you for a few moments in pri ate,” | “All right, Tony, go and take a walk im your health, and be back in Jhalf an Our. 7 ae young fellow grabbed his hat and was gone forthwith. - aytanN & ‘“‘ Now, then, Mr. McKnight, I am here on business,” said the mine-manager. ‘‘I have thought over your proposition.” Vik ‘« Well, what is your decision?” “‘T have decided to grant your request, | conditionally: You help me to overcome this strike, and I will then give my consent to your trying to win my danghier’s hand, and will speak to her about it.” . t aie int - a | : : ee — ———— — ——— “All right, sir,” respectfully, and the’ ‘' ’ i ar i Be : : * * 1 * ‘ it. a gue Ton ~ . > ; ; wu patient Wikibase Vea teak iGs. ssn liek Ss eae ee ‘‘Mr, Van Bascomb, 1 am glad you have looked at it in the right light,” cried the rascal, grabbing the manager’s hand and shaking it warmly. ‘“* Nothing would have given me more pain than to have worked against you in even the slightest degree. ow our interests are one, and we are bound to succeed.” CHAPTER VII. A SCENE IN THE SALOON. Nicut settled down, and the Cosmopolitan: was a blaze of light, If there is any place in the world where night is not known, it is your bonanza min- ing-camp. As was sung of Creede—to change just a. word: ‘It is day all day in the daytime, And there is no night indeed.”’ And so it was in the town of Hardscrab- ble. It was alive all duy, and when night. came on it was then that it really began to wake up. : The Dsetdonoiitad, as has been said, never closed its doors, and it had four relays of managers and three sets of bartenders, the best of whom were on duty when business. was greatest. Such places have beep so many times de- scribed that it seems superfluous to describe - this particular one, but, it is made a necessi- ty in a measure, by the nature of this story, The room was a large one, with posts all the way through the center that supported the roof. | The bars were long and roomy; there was. a large space for dancing, and further baek were numerous tables and chairs, with an apology for a stage in the rear end, — Lamps were numerous, and the place, as said, was a blaze of light. There was music, the hall having a piano back near the stage at which a man in his shirt sleeves sat and’ pounded out the popular airs of the day with seemingly untiring vigor. Games were going on upon every side. To one of these in particular attention is invited. It was the game of the Hall, and was pre- sided over by no less a personage than Sparkler Sal. } She was in her place now, and a sight of her explained ber peculiar name, for she was all asparkle with diamonds in -every place where they could be properly worn. Clad in a low-necked dress with short. sleeves, and that of the finest silk of a color that became her well, and with her, free flushed with the excitement of the hour, she.’ attracted attention. ‘‘Make your play, gentlemen!” she called out, | Her voice was rich and sweet, and it was. _ hard to resist her invitation. On her right sat David Van Bascomb, the mine president; opposite him was Mayor’ McKnight, and other leading citizens were: | around the board. One seat had just been vacated. | mM “‘T reckon I'll take a hack at this thing’ ~~ myself,” said a man who had been looking — on for some minutes. | It was Horse Strader, the horse-dealer. : He sat down as he spoke, and producing a. wad of bills made a goodly purchase of chips. to begin witb. Apparently he paid no attention to any i one else, but played to suit himself, and usually such plays as a regular devotee would have avoided. And yet he seemed to. Win. “ | ' : On the other hand, Van Bascomb Was. losing steadily. | mh ‘Make your play, gentlemen!” of “Vm going to follow your lead, just for- ig oy: luck, sir,” the mine-manager now spoke up, th addressing the new-comer, | Sah ‘ TY : Petey, ' Naa! Ril ah , ae sh ae ee Ee be Bee CRN PAT A XP - : vay vie +) age ile a he 2 hy ae By lM tah Pe “ pds a BY to 7 cu Whar i | ; we A by yi ay as Nae 7 Vo vt pe et ls 4 , . . IGDOQOKS.CcCOm:. - ‘ OR ee ett eS I ee & - ak a Sia Ds: ~ : .