Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 916 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

“4 3 tet Ys, wet « oe Va % Pa P ° . Pans. < F —- - 4 — ** You are a rank old hypocrite!” _ “* Nay, nay, brother, you have no grounds for such a charge as that.” ‘*Don't you brother me; I wouldn’t own : ye! Didnt you take a hand in ther game ye was condemnin’?” “That is true; but, the end justified the mears, [intended to break the bank and give the proceeds to charity. The Gealer would not accede to—” , ““Where’s what ye won? How about charity wi’ that?” ‘* Charity begins at home, sir!” In spite of the awful moment, this sally elicited a laugh, which only served to incense Mad Anthony. ‘Men of Roarin’ River,” the mayor called out, ‘I ain’t satisfied with this hyer galoot, and as mayor of this camp I order his arrest ‘till we have time ter sift this thing!” - Here was excitement. ‘‘I protest! I protest!” cried the long- coated stranger. ‘‘ There is no sense in such an arrest. Upon what grounds is it ordered, sir?” ‘On ther grounds that I have a suspicion that you ain't straight; that is what grounds, When you made that. ’citement at ther table, then was a bully chance fer this deed ter be done—”’ “That's so, Mad Anthony!” voices inter- rupted, and hands seized the stranger. ‘“And am I the only stranger in your camp to-night?” the prisoner demanded. ‘* Was that excitement the first {hat has been experienced ?” Aft this, glances were cast at Center-fire, the Self-cocker Sport, but’ he boldly met every eye. ‘If I must be arrested, I demand justice,” the long-coated stranger went on. ‘' If there are other strangers in this place to-night, arrest them all, or let me go free. Treat all alike, Sir Mavor.” Still more menacing glances were cast at Center-fire, CHAPTER VY, THE SECRET SHOT. COMMOTION. ‘‘ WaT have ye got ter say fer yerself, young man?” asked the mayor. ‘This is the second time suspicion has been pointed toward me,” responded the -Self-cocker Sport. - ‘* An’ the more’s the reason why you should have somethin’ ter say. Thar is hoss sense in what this sanctimonious old hypocrite has offered. Not that I’m against ye.’’ “* You are not far short of it, sir.” “Wull, what d’ye say ?” ‘‘ All Ican say is this: I am innocent of everything concerning the events of this night here.” ‘‘ And the same say J,” chimed in the long- coated stranger. ‘‘All I want is a fair chance, and equal justice done, If you ar- rest me, arrest other strangersas well, Isn't that about right?” ‘‘ Let’s look at this thing a minute,” pro- . posed the Self-cocker Sport. aid in m ‘*Wull?” said the mayor. ‘‘Mr. Mainard himself held me to be in- nocent of any part in that coffin trick, and engaged me to try to find out something about that. It was my intention to do so. Now that the mystery has doubled, I am more than ever eager to sift it to the bottom,” “What has that got ter do with et?” _ “You want this matter explained, don’t you?” ‘““You can bet your life that we are goin’ ‘to have et explained " ‘Well, I stand ready to lend you all the power. Does that look as if Iam guilty of any share in it?” ‘“My own stand exactly,” cried the Old Saint. “TI am willing to do all I can to bring about the punishment of the guilty one, Release me, and see if Iam not as good as my word,” news had reached the outside. Mainard had been apopular man, in his way, and had had many followers. Oae man somewhere in the throng called out: ‘‘Hang ’em both, an’ then you'll be sure to get the right one! Ther death of Joseph Mainard has got ter be ’venged!” ‘ That is ther right talk!” echoed another. ‘‘ Make prisoners of ’em both, anyhow!” “And let the real murderer escape while your are fooling away time in this fashion,” ‘* We will be makin’ sure of two suspects, anvhow,” the unseen first speaker made re- joinder, . ‘““ Well, you must not attempt to arrest me, that’s all.” ** What’s that?” “You beard what I said.” “See hyer, what do you kalkylate ter do?” asked the mayor. ‘‘T am innocent of any share in these mat- ters, Mr. Mayor, and I shall resist arrest if it is attempted.”’ **'Ther deuce ye will! Men, make sure of him, too. I begin ter have a sneakin’ sus- picion that these two fellers ar’ into this | thing together, and it is our business to find out!” Several men sprung forward to obey the | mayor’s command. sefore anybody could realize what was | taking place, three or four of them had tumbled over, And with such force had they tumbled, | too, that they carried to the floor with them several others) with whom they had collided in the act of falling, The sport’s fists had done it. Having cleared the space immediately around himself, the young athlete gave a leap and was upon a table, and in his hands he held a pair of glittering guns, with which | he promptly covered the crowd. “T gave you warning!” the sport ex- claimed. ‘‘ Does anybody else want to make me prisoner?” The mayor, as everybody else, was looking at the man in amazement. 6 | ““Durn me ef he ain’t a self-cotker fer a fact!” So one fellow expressed it, ‘Il can gencrally take care of myself in a scrimmage,’ was the/ cool response. ‘“ What are you going to do about it, Mr. Mayor?” ‘What do you mean ter do with them’’ar guns?” demanded Mad Anthony. “Pll play some music with them, if you want it that way. I am not going to be taken prisoner, so don’t make any mistake about it. If you try it on, somebody is going to get hurt,” . “And what ef we let ye off?” ‘‘In that case, lam going to try to solve this mystery for you.” ‘‘Mad Anthony, I think you have made a mistake here,” now spoke up John Klein, the sport. ‘‘ flow is that, John?” Klein was a cool, level headed fellow, as every one knew. ‘We know that this gentleman did not commit the crime himself, for he was at Lacy Mulvern’s table when it took place.” ‘* Me too!” cried out the Old Saint. “Yes, you too,” admitted Klein. ‘“ We | know that neither of you did the deed.” ‘Then, what would you do about et?” asked the mayor, who had some respect for John Klein’s opinion in matters. “T would let them go, and we will get down to business and try to put the crime where it belongs. It seems to me’that is the right view to take of it. We have no proofs.” “That suits me,” cried the Old Snint. ‘“ Well, it only half-suits me,” declared the sneered the Self-cocker Sport. | ae ig Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double-Decker. By this time a part of the crowd was be- | mayor, ginning to show a vengeful spirit, wai ‘‘Self-cocker Sport, you kin go free, but we'll hold this one till ther thing is settled.” “ Greatly obliged to you,” said Center-fire, with something of a tinge of sarcasm in dis- guise. ‘ You are accepting the situation just as it stands, which is a very sensible thing to do.” ‘* What d’ye mean?” ‘* Just what I say, sir.” “Tf you hold me you must hold him,” complained the Old Saint. By this time there was a great mob out- side the doors, and the room was packed with people. The roar of the many Voices almost equal- ed that of the falls, and many of the hot- headed ones were eager that somebody should hang forthwith. Seeing Center-fire, the Self-cocker, on the table, with his weapons in hand, it got noised that he was the man who had killed Main- ard, and from the front part of the room a cry for his life went up. “You will find that I am running this thing my own way,” Mad Anthony made re- sponse to Jacob Mundy. ‘‘ You are my prisoner, fer the time bein’.” ‘“‘ And you will have to show your author- ity, sir, or there is going to be some trouble,” apprised Center-fire. ‘* How is that?” ‘‘ Don’t you hear? They are beginning to how! for somebody to hang.” ‘Then you jest tell ’em ‘to stop their howlin’ an’ that I say so; we have got a prisoner and know what ter do with him.” His reason for delegating this to a stranger was, no doubt, because the man was in acom- manding position on a table, while he him- sclf was with the general throng. Center-fire raised both his arms, weapors | still in them, and motioned for the crowd to become silent, ‘‘ Men of Roaring River,” he spoke as loud- ly’as he could, tomake himself heard plainly, ‘‘ there is no call for any rash work here. Your mayor has made an arrest, but there is no proof against the prisoner as yet—” _, ‘* You ar’ the galoot, we want,” sung out one fellow. ‘““ Well, my man, maybe you would like to come and take me,” the Self-cocker invited. ‘‘ Nothing can be gained by rashness, Jet me tell you, and you may make a serious mis- take. Let us go slow in this matter, and I pledge you my word that I will do all in my power to aid in finding out the murderer.” Barely had he ceased speaking, when the report of a pistol was heard from a distant corner, The Center-fire Sport reeled and fell from the table, shot. Ready hands caught him as hecame down, and the next moment Mad Anthony leaped upon the same table. ‘That was a cowardly thing ter do!” he shouted, at the same time pullinga gun from his hip pocket. ‘‘ Let ther man what done ct show hishead, an’ see how durn quick I'll plunk him!” | He looked in the direction whence the shot had come, but could not, of course, single ont the man who fired it, and while he was inquiring if any one knew who had done it, there arose a great com- motion on the outside. There was a rattle - revolvers, and the mad yelling of scores of men. | CHAPTER YI. CENTER-FIRE SHOWS HIS HAND, For a moment all action within the saloon ceased, | Then there arose a shout, and all in the forward part of the big room made a break for the doors, ‘‘Ther two mines aire at et again!” was the shout, ' And out they went, despite the fact that f & . 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