Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 904 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

cM ‘4 buthe would not disclose it, _. cions that he isn’t straight. . OY ‘the man. ** No, no; you have in mind the original Deadwood Dick, who, I believe, did have some such stigma upon his nime. Dead- wood Dick, Junior, isa detective, one of the keenest in the world.”’ ‘‘That is better, then; still I cannot lay claim to any such distinction as that, Mr,— Mr, —” ‘*My name is Robert Terrell, sir,” “You will have to admit that you were mistaken, Mr. Terrell.” ‘** Yes, it is plain that I was mistaken, Mr. —Mr. Five-Spot Sport. Pardon my intru- sion.” ‘‘ Don’t mention it, Mr. Terrell.” The chief clerk and cashier of the local bank arose and walked away, and just about that time a typical Chinaman entered by a rear door, bearing atray of eatables which he set down before the stranger. It was a meal good enough for any hungry mortal, and the savor of the bowl of steam- ing coffee was particularly grateful. This bowl was a big one, and it rested in a saucer large in proportion. ‘*You havee anysing more?” the Chinee asked. ‘*No, nothing more, thank you, John,” the sport answered. ‘‘This is a repast good enough for a king.” While the sport was speaking the China- man lifted the bow] of coffee from the saucer, replacing it immediately, but giving time enough for the sport to catch sight of a bit of paper under it. ‘“You savvy?” he asked, in lower tone. *«'You catchee on?” ‘All right, John,” the response, ‘‘ and thank you!” . The sport looked at the Chinaman search- ingly, now, and his eyes followed him as he shuffled out of the room. ‘*Say, landlord, what’s the name of your heathen?” he called out, ** We call him Chin Shang,” the answer. ** Well, you can set it down for a fact that he is a good cook, anyhow; I know that be- fore I tackle his viands, just by the smell of them.” ' The sport fell to, then, getting down to yusiness in a way that proved he was hun- rry. in the mean time Robert Terrell had joined his employer, Henry Hurston, who, also, had drawn out of the game. “That man isa mystery, Mr. Hurston,” observed Terrell. ‘*A mystery? In what way, Terrell? He seems like an open-hearted fellow, I think.” ‘‘He may be all right, of course, but I doubt it. Imade an effort to get at his name, Simply calls himself what you heard.” ‘Which he undoubtedly has a right to do ” “‘T admit it; but, he is reticent respecting where he hails from, and I have my suspi- Do you think he can be that fellow, Howard Smithy ?” bee acai The banker uttered un exclamation and looked searchingly at the stranger, and from : ie him turned his gaze to a placard on the wall. This placard, which was dated some months back, set forth the offer of a re- - ward of five thousand dollars for the arrest _ of one Howard Smithy. Smithy was described as a man twenty- six years of age, about five feet ten in height, weighing about a hundred and seventy pounds, with black hair and eyes, -andadark mustache. Certainly this stran- ger filled the bill pretty clieely. From the ' poster Hurston again turned his eyes upon * What do you think?” asked Terrell. ‘‘The man certainly answers the descrip- tion. How did you come to think of it so romptly?” | ‘‘To tell the truth, I huve had an eye Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Trade-Mark. open for him ever since that notice was put up here; not that I ever expected to see him, but if he did come my way I meant to go for that reward.” ‘‘ And you are going for him?” ‘“*T mean to find out whether he is the man or not, if possible.” ‘Well, I don’t blame you, for five thou- sand dollars is not to be picked up every day. But, go slow,” ‘What do you mean?” ‘“* He looks like a man of sand.” “'The poster describes Smithy as a nervy fellow.” ‘* Let’s see: this robbery took place about five months ago, down at Tucson, Arizona?” ‘Exactly. The cashier of the Gold and Silver Bank put sixty thousand dollars in his' pocket one fine morning and skipped out, and that was the last of him, so far as we know.” ‘‘That is the whole story in a nutshell, Terrell. Ill tell you what 1’ll do for you.” ‘‘What’s that?” **T’ll sound him when chance offers.” ‘‘T wish youwould. Ican’t well approach him again, to-night.” Meantime the Five-Spot Sport was pushing right ahead with his repast, apparently pay- ing no attention to anything else, He was not unmindful, however, of the attention that Terrell and his companion were bestowing upon him, and rightly judged that their conversation was concern- ing himself, The placard on the wall was behind him where he sat, but he noticed that Terrell’s companion was looking at something inter- esting in that direction, and resolved to learn what that something was when he got up from the table, Nor had he forgotten the bit of paper un- der his'cup. . Removing the bowl he placed it just out- side the saucer, between it and the men who were observing him. , He went right on eating, but, as he did so, he examined the bit of paper in the saucer, to read this brief message: ‘* Want to speak to you. ‘CHIN SHANG,” The sport naturally felt surprise, but did not show it, and when his meal was finished he replaced the bowlin the saucer and rose from the table with a satisfied air. ‘* Yes, landlord,” he declared, ‘‘ your Chinee is a good cook, and that supper is worth a tip. I’m going out and give him one, if you don’t object Where is your kitchen? All right; thisis the way. Chin Shang, where are you?” CHAPTER ITI. THE MYSTERIOUS CHINAMAN, WuiLe- speaking, the sport opened the door by which the Chinaman had entered the room. It }ed into the kitchen of the establishment at once, and Chin Shang putin his appear- ance immediately in response to the sport’s call, The sport had pulled-to the door, after him, a little, but not enough to close it tightly, and in voice loud enough to be heard by those nearest to the door, be addressed the Chinaman: “That was a good supper, John, and I want to thank you forit. Here is something to shove into your pocket,” and he gave the Chinee a coin. ‘‘ Allee samee not muchee goodee,” the cook depreciated. ‘‘No have many tings to cookee :inuchec nice.” And then in lower tone: ‘’ You read the note?” There was no pigeon English about that! ‘“ Yes, and that’s why I’m here. What do you want to say?” ‘*No time now; must see you again, I know you, and I want your help.” ‘You know me?” ello! ‘about the way eh ‘Yes; you are Deadwood Dick, Junior.” The Five-Spot Sport smiled, as if at the mistake thus made again. ‘‘ This is the second time I have been taken for that person since I arrived,” he said, ‘‘Ha! is that so? But, no time to talk now. Look out for yourself! See you later.” And then louder: ‘‘ Ajlee samee Chin Shang thankee ’Melican man, and tly to pleasee him evely time.” “You're all right, John, you bet! lLand- lord,” as the sport stepped out into the main room again, ‘“‘ your Chinee is a brick, from the ground up, and I have made myself solid with him. Hello! what’s this? Some- body is wanted, I take it, by the looks of this.” He referred to the notice of reward, which just then caught his eye—apparently by chance, though he had purposely iooked to learn what it was that Terrell’s companion had found so interesting, a few minutes be fore, This was it, undoubtedly, and he rightly guessed the drift of their con- versation. ‘‘That notice has been up here a consider- able time, sir,” informed Henry Hurston. ‘* Yes, I see it looks rather like a back number.” , ‘Never seen that reward before?”’ ‘‘Would not like to say, positively, sir, A fellow sees a good many such notices, in the course of his travels.” ‘*Then you are a traveler?” Ata: Rake ‘‘Ever been. down in that part of the country?” : ‘Yes, I have been in Arizona, Good stiff offer, five thousand; wouldn’t object to pick- ing that up, myself.”’ ‘*Mr, Sport,” and the banker rose and stepped leisurely forward, ‘‘the more I look at. you the more I am struck with your like- ness to the description given of this man . Smithy,” Lith cass ‘* Yes?” vat We bad | ‘“Yes, decidedly|!,,..Height, weight, hair, , ey mustache—really you appear to fill the bill!” ‘don’t know but you are right, sir,” withthe utmost nonchalance. ‘* That is ou would have to describe me, I guess. But, there are thousands of men of the same general make-up.” =", ‘*Oh! undoubtedly, sir. Do not think for © a moment that [ would insinuate that you — are Howard Smithy, the defaulter.” ‘‘Not going to take offense, sir. But, I think I'll consult a phrendlogist as soon as chance offers.” ‘* A phrenologist?” ‘So I said.” ‘“What do you want with one of those fel- lows?” ‘‘Why, your friend there) took me for a great detective a few momelis “Re and now you have likened me to a thief, Ha! ha! ha! Quite a joke, Mr.—Mr,—” ‘‘ Hurston—Henry Hurston.” , ‘Quite a joke, Mr. Hurston,” The sport had looked toward Terrell as he spoke, pointing, too, and fora second the chief clerk flushed slightly. ‘* Mistake all around, it seems,” he remark- ss ed. , ‘‘ Decidedly,” assured the Five-Spot Sport, » “For Mr. Hurston there is some excuse, however; for you, none,” ‘‘ How do you figure that out?” asked the banker, , ‘“Fasily enough. You had this descrip- tion of the placard to go by, while Mr, Ter- rel had nothing— But, pardon me, Mr. Terrell, I am wrong; you said you had re het that detective, and that I look like im.”’ ° It could be seen, b read it, that Terrell this, At that moment all attention was drawn to the faro table, those keen enough to . id not take kindly to — comic ae » } C oO | » ~ is 1