Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

. ot - merry if you will deign to take it. of +t af ‘ 4 a y , f ‘ ae uy : 2) . Oe, Be ie ata aa iy ae ae, 2 hair fell in a splendid mass upon her shoulders. She was a beauty, with dark-tinted skin, regular features and peerless eyes. She was riding astride, and wore a natty Suit, the vest low-cut, and the coat richly bound. She had whipped a revolver from the inside of her coat, and held it ready for business. And the man—he was.a good-looking with dark hair and magnetic eyes. He was clad after the manner of a _ spoft, wearing seal yelvet, a white felt hat, and patent leathers. He, too, had pro- duced a popper, but had no use for it, as he saw the moment his éyes met those of the handsome girl sport. Immediately he thrust his weapon out of sight and lifted his hat. “ Allow me to offer apology,” he said, gallantly, “but I could not, of course, know what manner of person I was about to confront.”’ “No apology laugh fellow, under thirty, mustache and keen, ” necessary, sir,’ with a that displayed twin rows of the pearliest teeth, and the girl re- turned her own weapon to its place. “We were both ready for business, that was all.” The seene is laid at the bottom of a wild, rugged gulch. Two trails, from different directions, here converge into one, with a point of rocks separating them, And along these trails the two riders had come. By strange coincidence the two horses had appeared at precisely the same time, neck and neck, and, acting upon im- pulse, each of the riders had prepared to interchange introductions of a force- ful character. “And whom have I the honor of ad- dressing?” the man asked. “ Well, my name is Nancy Jane, but I am called Nobby Nancy, just for short. Who are you?” ' “Nobby Nancy, eh? It is a name that fits you well, anyhow. My own title is Peters. surnamed Simon, but better known, where I’m known at all, as Simon Pure, ee Peculiar. " Nobby Nancy laughed a merry, ringing laugh. “It is a peculiar name, “Which way are you traveling, Peters?” “In the same direction as yourself, it seems, Miss Jane.’’ s* she declared. Mr. “Oh! don’t call me miss—please don’t! Mr. Peters. Jane.” | “And I would prefer to call you Nobby Nancy, if I may. Moreover, I must re- quest you not to put on any trimmings when you address me; just call me Simon and done with it.’’ F “ All right, Simon!” “And which way are you going, if I may ask?’ “In the same direction as yourself— to pay you back in your own Coin.’ “Ha, ha! Well, our fencing: you seem a pretty good sort of a fellow, and I’m another.” “You are a jovial blade, I opine!’ re- marked the girl sport, nonchalantly, “and I rather cotton to you. IT am Silk warp and all-wool filling, and a good sort of person to tie to.” “T ‘believe you, and here is my hand, T am an- other, if you are willing to believe it, and T should Tike to have the pleasure of your company for the wilt make of our journey. I think we wil strong team.” *T am willing, aioletiniec fact, a little more than willing, to confess the Bring it right out, Nancy Se de tien _ Led there is no use of | anything fair about me, make a pretty ‘TI ‘have reason. to believe there is dan- | ger for me on this trail.” “Indeed! Then there is every reason why we should continue on our journey in company, my fair Nobby Nancy.” ‘Ha, ha! I fail to see where you find for l am as dark as sun and wind can make me. But, we won't discuss that. I am ready to jog along if you are.” “To what particular place are you go- ing?” the man asked, “Iam heading for Flush Flats, which, I take it, is your destination as well.” “Yes, it is; and I hope we'll have op- portunity to become better acquainted during our sojourn there. Have you any idea what kind of a place it is?” “IT have not. You, then, are a stranger there?” “Yes. I have never seen the place in iny life, and only heard of it a short time ago.” “The same with me; and, otrange, I don’t know why I am there, now. That is what makes me a little suspicious, you see, and IT am glad to have company.’ “Strange coincidence!’ exelaimed the what is man. ‘That is almost my own @ase, ex- actly. I'll tell you what it is, Nobby Nancy. I think it would be a zood thing for us to pool our piles in this game, and share the risks and divide the spoils. What do you say?” “Tt is a bargain!” assented the girl sport, offering her hand. CHAPTER II. HINTS OF A CRIME. Flush Flats was a flush place. .It was one of the biggest camps. in all that section, and was important in pro- portion, And, tial man in the town was one. Richard Rashton, president and manager of the Dauphin Mine, president also of the local bank, and also mayor. He was, as it were, & sort of veritable Poo Bah in the community, and it was no small community, either. The population was considerable, and while the place still retained the old name, yet there was a movement on foot to have the town made into a city and the name changed. Rashton was some fifty years of age, big, portly, with iron gray hair and close cropped beard. He was strictly a man of business, first and last and all the time. In truth, he was nothing else. _ On this morning, which witnesses the opening of our story, he was sitting in his private office in the bank, which looked out upon the street. Just opposite was the largest hotel in the place, the Fifth Avenue Hotel, so- called. The street, by the way, was called Fifth Avenue, although it was the only avenue the town could boast. In- quiring strangers were told that it was expected the town would have more some day. - Rashton was looking out tipon the street scene, when something nas scat his. par- } ticular attention. He called to his cashier, one Henry Hurdle by name. “T'll wager a sixpence that’s our man!” the president exclaimed, pointing out the person he meant. ae “* Oh, Hop Mae: he! Me the: @ashier dis- agreed... “Put on your hat aiid find out... Do so quietly. They have dismounted and are going to stop there. at the hotel, and you can see what name he registers.” The cashier hurried away, and the pres- the biggest and most consequen-, Deadwood Dick, J de at Flush Flats. | door, going | crowd ee “Yes, Til bet it is he!” he said to him- self. ‘‘ He looks like a keen one, even if he is in flash attire and seemingly a sport. ll wager that he is our man, two to one!” The persons who had claimed attention were two new arrivals, a man and a woman. The man was clad in seal yelvet, white felt hat and patent leathers, while the woman wore male attire. More partic- ular description is needless, since we have seen them before. ( When they had dismounted, the man called a bystander to take charge of their horses; tossing him a yellow-tinted tip, and by the time the cashier crossed the street, the man,and woman had mounted the steps and entered’ thé house. The woman had passed in» by the hail while the man entered the door over which was the word “Office,’’ bar-room that there was scarcely a dis-_ tinction. Hurdle the idlers man, with the always to be followed of curious” found standing around such places. truth.” | " ident continued asernee out of the ith f 4, a ‘What do you mean?” dow. i of the time in company with the 4 in male attire, and they sat together for Uh and sister. He was gone for some time, and when he appeared, he recrossed the street and re-entered the president’s office. . - “Well? the president asked. ‘You were mistaken,” said the **Not the man, then?’ * No, not the man.” “What is his name? register?” “* Why, simply—‘Simon Peters and Pard, Pilgrims.” “A strange name, sure ine aod not convince “Why not? right here.” :“ No telling what Devi wood Dick would _ Gor, Hurdle; no Mb crated what he. would 0. ‘Well, there is one way to find out; wait for him to make the advance. If he is our man, ‘there is no doubt but he will call this afternoon.” “Yes, if he is the man, which I am not prepared to believe. He does not look as I fancy Deadwood Dick looks. He im- presses me as being a card sharp.” | “And how about the woman?’ : “Not likely, either, that she is the one we want—which makes me most doubt the man.’ ‘What are they to each other?” “Pards, the man has set down, but £)) take it they are man and wife.” “Maybe you are right; but what is Noi a game? What do you take them to— e?” “ Why, just. what I have intimated, or said—a pair of sports and card sharps, who made their way here to bly their trade.” “Well, you may be right; this eee! noon will probably determine. If they, don’t call, then they are, as you sus- peet, card sharps, and not the two we ashier, How did he Your man would come have secretly summoned — to solve the death mystery.” ; | oe : P | CHAPTER III. 1 eee UNEXPECTED ‘EXCITEMENT, «9 ‘The day passed and the stranger did not visit the bank. — ea He was seen about town a little, 0 ne r a while on the hotel piazza. ole voletlon had been rife sekeciing their relationship, and the first and most popular guess, that they were man and — wife, was by night abandoned. It had |) been decided that they Ld only cae am ual friends. : Or, ‘possibly, ~ al-. though it was so near a neighbor to the . lm as some © suggested, a <a uP \ a B ih \ ie Ae: