Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 913 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

LZ Pete backed away from the bar, wiped his mouth, and cried out, as he glanced at the clock | ver,” Reuben said promptly. ‘‘I ain’t one o’ | the banterin’ sort, ’cept 1’m tradin’ horses, an’ “* Waal, boys, [ must be goin’, SorryI can’t then I kin skin a man out o’ two years’ growth, So you know what you want to get, and I know on the wall: linger wi’ ye till mornin’, but, ye see, the fact . is, I’ve got some important business to attend | what I want to pay, and that settles it, plum Kit Keith, th fo, and bizness is bizness, you know. Hello, | straight!” there, Reuben, aire you asleep?” “Not by a jugful!” Reuben cried, springing | didn up and coming forward; ‘‘ but darn my buttons | if I nose-paint you’ve got inside of you!” The crowd roared at this, while Big Pete re- plied: _‘* Why, Rube, you old cuss, there’s nothin’ like gettin’ used to a thing. That ain’t no cir- But come. cumstance to what I have done. We'll mosey !” | | Reuben and the giant left the tavern, and | were soon mounted upon their respective horses | and riding away. ** You'd better let me have your bridle-rein, while you freeze to your saddle, for {’m going to ride hellaty-toot!” Big Pete said, ** Sail ahead,” Kit replied, old and stiff, | ain’t fergot thet I was once a jockey, and know’d a few things about ridin’.” ‘* All right. Come ahead, an’ take care you don’t lose sight of me!” And off went the giant at a swift gallop. He had a fine horse under him, who could cover ground with great rapidity, but Kit’s 1c 5 was every bit as good, and held her own nobly. Fast riding at length brought them into the dense forest, and there their progress was slow, and they were obliged to ride in single file. But Pete knew every crook and turn among the trees, and just at the first signs of day-dawn, they rode out into the glade, where the shanties of the moonshiners were located, In answer to a challenge of “Who goes there?” Big Pete gave vent to four peculiar whistles, and be and Kit rode on, When they reached the distillery building they dismounted and hitched their horses, an Big Pete said: “Come along now, old man, I see thar’s a light up at the captain’s, and I reckon he’s up.” They made their way through the semi-gloom to Cussick’s shauty, and Pete rapped ou the door. ** Who’s there?” demanded a voice inside, ‘* Me, Pete!” replied the giant, ; rey come in then! What you knockin’ or Pete opened the door and entered what proved to be a scantily-furnished kitchen, Kit followed bim. At sight of a stranger, Cussick, who was seat- ed at a table, sprung to his feet and drew a re- volver, ‘* Who's that?” he demanded fiercely. ** Oh! he’s solid!” Peteassured, gruffly. ‘Set down and don’t beafool. Thisis Rube Sweet, a Yankee whisky-dealer, from downin Connetty- kut, an’ he’s up this country lookin’ for a cargo of moonshine. So, as he wanted to makea big purchase, I reckoned I’d run him u p hore, seein’s we've got a big stock on hand, Givehim your card, Reuben! Oh! he’s white, Cap; | sized bim up well ’fore I fetched him, an’ so did Howler!” Reuben produced one of his cards and gave it to the captain, who glanced it over, and then surveyed his. visitor a moment critically. ‘*Take a seat, Sweet,” he then ordered, ‘TI eat beat all right, Been around these parts ong ** Jest landed about fifteen hours ago,” Reuben replied. ** Whereabouts?” ** Some ten mile north of the leetle place called Jarvishaven.” ** So you’re lookin’ after whisky, eh?” ‘*Waal, yes. A friend o’ mine give me a pri- vate wink that there was plenty of it to be had up this country, and as my stock war gittin’ rather low down in Saybrook, I tuk a notion to take an excursion on my boat up round this coast, - and see whatI could skeer ? in the way of e good juice, [ve bin in the likker business over twenty year right around Saybrook, and I’ll be gol-danged ef | hain’t got tired o’ payin’ two or three prices for whisky.” ** Well, I can’t say asI blame you, You'll find no trouble of findin’ the kind you want in old Virginia, What do you expect to pay?” ‘Thirty-five cents, an’ not a whit more, as I told this feller afore Icomeup here. If I can’t ship a cargo at them figgers, I'll go hum withb- out any at all,” ‘‘Humph! We hold ours at forty cents by _ ithe lot, and then we’re not makin’ a livin’,” “ee se ‘* Hf I am gittin’ | } + "2 > F ¥ ; ° "ee 4 . r » t : ¢ eal op Ay wi tid tool Lilet s fitted OL, I . yosuk oR ae a ‘* Hamph! whisky do you want?” ‘* A hundred bar’ls.” ‘* What?” ** Ye heerd what I said?” The captain whistled, ‘* Well, that makes a difference. you expect to pay cash?” ‘* Spot cash on delivery on my boat.” ‘‘ When do you want it?” ‘* The sooner the better.” ‘*Hum! let’s see! I s’pose you know you'll have to load up betwixt midnight and morn- ing?” ‘Yas, That would be safest.” ‘** Well, to-day is Friday. Say Sunday morn- ing. How will taat suit you?” ‘* At thirty-five cents?” sé Yes.” ** Waal, that'll do first-rate,” ‘You say your boat is not at Jarvishaven?” ‘* No—furder up the coast, in a little inlet, Purty -afe place, so I'll let her stay there till loadin’-time, then I’ll run up the York to where ou say.” ‘*Good idea, Jarvishaven ain’t the safest place to land for any length of time. Well, we'll callita bargain. The stuff shall be ready for you at the appointed time, at the mouth of the creek, and you shall have plenty of help to I suppose you'd like to know* what you’re buying. I'll get you a sample,” He arose and entered an adjoining room, but soon returned with a gobletful of amber liquid. ‘* There! try that!” he suggested, Reuben obeyed by taking several sips. Then he took a _ patent liquor-tester from his pocket, and tested the contents of the glass, This act satisfied the captain beyond all doubt that his visitor was in reality what he represent- + himself to be~a liquor merchant from the vast. “ That's all right!” Reuben decided, after the test, “‘If you give me the same in the bar'l, [ won’t kick.” ; ‘* You shall have the same,” Cussick declared, ‘‘And now, Mr. Sweet, are we to “have some- thing to clinch it with, as a guarantee of good faith?” ** Waal, I hain’t got much with me for a fact,” he said, taking out an old-fashioned pocket-book, ‘“* for | wasn’t expeetin’ to make a real purchase so soon as this, an’ didn’t fetch much along with meé from the boat. However, I reckon I can let you have a hundred dollars,” , ** That will do,” Cussick returned, approving- ly. “AllI want is enough to satisfy me that you mean business,” **Oh, I’m business to the backbone!” Reuben chuckled, “‘ Any one down in Saybrook, Con- necticut, kin tell you Reuben Sweet is no slouch when it comes to business!” And so the hundred-dollar gnarantee of good faith “clinched” the bargain between the moonshiner chieftain and the Revenue Ke- triever, assist you in loading. CHAPTER XV. A SURPRISE FOR KIT, It was by this time full daylight, and Cussick’s black-eyed wife came down-stairs to prepare breakfast. ‘“* While Lucinda is getting some grub, friend Sweet, l’ll show you around the premises, if you like,” the captain said, graciously, for he was now in an excellent mood, and not without rea- son, too, As soon as he should get his clutches on the fifteen hundred odd dollars which the pay for the liquor would amount to, )t was his inten- tion to give the gang the slip, and skin out for parts unknown. ‘ ‘*Waal, I don’t keer if I do take a look around,” Reuben assented. ‘‘ Never wasat sech a place as this before.” rapes, get the captain did the hospitable and showed his customer around the premises the principal point of interest being the still- house, Here the method of the manufacture of liquor was explained, hen they visited the storage cellar, where rows and tiers of barrels lay, unstamped, and waiting sale in defiance of the laws of the U. Government. } “e * << . I never saw a Yank yet but what ’t want the best of every bargain, the best pew in church, and in fact, the best of every- sbouldn’t think you'd be sleepy, with all the | thing!” growled the captain, *‘How much Of course e Revenue Spotter. ‘** Well, that settles it then without any pala- 4 ‘= ~ , The captain next explained the rafting pro- cess by which the liquor was conveyed down the creek to the river, and stated that it required the labor of his entire force of twenty men when a large shipment was made, By this time, breakfast was ready, and the captain and Kit helped to do full justice to it, During his tour of the premises, he had used his eyes to their best advantage, but had failed to discover the least clew to lead him to believe that Sadie Sefton was a prisoner in the moon- shiners’ camp. If she was, he concluded that she was locked up in the captain’s house. After breakfast, as he saw nothing to be gained by remaining longer in the camp, he announced that he must return to S——, as he had some stores to purchase for his boat, and other busi- ness to attend to, Accoraingly, Big Pete was detailed to escort him to the outskirts of the woods, from where it was a straight road t». S—., ‘*The captain seemed mighty pleased over the sale he made to you,” Pete observed, as they rode along. ‘*] don’t wonder. Fifteen hundred dollars and over aire a powerful heap, ! “Yes. Bat the captain ‘ll never git it!” ‘* Why not?” asked Kit, in surprise, ‘“*Cause he won't!” Pete replied, grimly. “ You won’t giveittohim. You don’t want no whisky. You can’t stuff that gaff down me/ You’re no Reuben Sweet from Connettycut, as I know’d from the first I saw you, You're a good one at your business, but you can’t foolold Pete Plunkett nary time!” Kit stared at the giant in speechless amaze- ment. ‘* Why, thunderation! are you crazy, man?” he cried, ‘*Not the least. You might’s well acknowl- edge the corn, You’re a revenue detective, and you’re playing a strong game, an’ I admire ye fer it, fer I reckon ye ain’t fur advanced in- ter yer twenties yet. Ye’r’ playin'a lone hand ag’in’ a full table, an’ darn my picture if I don’t reckon you'll win!” ‘“* Well, if this don’t take my time, shoot me!” Kit ejaculated, not knowing what to make of it, ‘“‘If 1 am a detective, as you say, how is it you, & moonshiner, are acquainting me with the fact, so good-naturedly ?” Big Pete laughed. ** l’ve nothin’ ag’in’ al he said, “In fact I'd like to see the hull business bu’sted up, I have been a member of the gang, but have never received ae particular fer the hard work l’vedone, Last night, when I went to S——, I got a letter from the East, sayin’ thet my old mother was dead. 1 had about made up m mind, after that, to give up this sort of life, an’ when I saw you, and tumbled to your racket, my mind became fully made up. ‘*The hull gang at the camp have allus been sour on me, cause they dassent pick a fight wi? me, an’ they’ve showed their animosity in vari- ous snéakin’ ways. So, when I met you, and sized your lay-to, sezI to myself, ‘ Pete, here’s your chance to get square, and change your ways!’ An’ that’s how I cum to guide you to headquarters,” ‘* Pete, it does me proud to hear of your good resolution,” Kit said. stretching forth his hand— ‘* that is, if you mean it!” Wi ‘*Iif I don’t, may the devil kick me off this horse and break my neck!” was Peto’s reply. RN re you don’t intend to go back to the un?” ** 1 ain’t decided yet. I’m goin’ back, at least, after you’ve roped in the ’shiners. I’ve suthin to do there, But, first, let me hear your plans,” Kit hesitated. Should he make known his plans to this man? Could he trust bim? Big Pete noticed his hesitation, and spoke up: : ‘*Oh, ye needn’t trust me, if you’re afeard to. You'd find me worthy, tho’!l” ‘I will trust you, Pete,” Kit declared, earnest- Sf ‘* But first, ere I give my plans, answer me 8: ‘ Why did you go for Joel Sefton so fierce?” Pete’s brow darkened. ** Well, I'll tell you,” he answered: “I had an ugly fit on, for one thing; and, another thing— I’ve had it in for the cuss sence be run away and deserted his gal, two year ago, and lefther = to eke out hor own livin’ as best she could, He were hired to leave these ysl forever, you know, an’ I know who hired him, But of that, more after a while. Now for your plans,” ** Well, do you think the captain will raft the caiealaee whisky down the creel to the river?” “Sure, You completely shut his eye up, and ‘ . ¢ Me Ay ~~ * 4 4 i * J d a ehae . 4 i” ba ————— = 4 ‘ " + . | yy a v's, : ite 7 ay e's _* ‘ P vd lj A ‘fs : ‘ "fe a wat im yi Jay aad i ‘a » 4 "Ns