Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

." ¢ <— ae ~~ -_ Es Roe Bi a Sane: ial a. ayy Pon * sa A oP EN Sy of mine.’’ “vengeful sort of person, - — tet i a iy ee “ | _——- They had separate rooms at the hotel, which fact in itself had practically settled the first surmise. Their names had now become known throughout the camp, and were upon every lip, for they were certainly a coupie to attract altebtuen. wreat was the cur- josity to know more about them, At the time of the closing of the bank for the day, Cashier Hurdle remarked to Mr. Rashton: * Well, you think now that he is not the man?’ ‘Yes, I am forced to think so.” The deading place of amusement in Flush Flats was the Odeon, which was something in the way of a saloon and Playhouse combined—being a long hall, the front part fitted with bar and ta- bles, and the rear half divided off and fitted with seats, on a sloping floor, with # fairly commodious stage at the far end. This place was open night and day, and from eight o’clock in the evening until midnight there was a continuous pertormance; the rest of the time the bar was the only attraction. It was about that time of the evening— eight o’clock on the evening of the day of which we write, that Simon Peters and his pard entered the Odeon, as if to while away a pleasant hour. As the performance on the stage was about to commence, and the crowd was filing the chairs, they, too, passed through and took seats in a fayorable-lo- cation, to immediately become the center of attraction, every pair of eyes, being turned upon them—which did not in the least disconcert or annoy them, The curtain was rung up, to a variety performance, gramme being*a song by one “Star Ster- ling.”’ The curtain rose to a great clappiug of hands, indicative that the singer was known and popular. The musie¢ struck up, and, in a moment, the singer tripped lightly out upon the boards and made her bow. As she did so, Simon Pure noticed that his sport pard gave a start. ‘What is the matter?’ he asked.. “TI think I know her, and if she is the person I take her to be she is no friend “Indeed! But I do not imagine that she is your enemy to a dangerous ex- tent. She does not look like a very uly. ” “IT cannot say; but, one thing 1 do know and that is that I must have an interview with her, as soon as conven- jent, and if she knows anything about my missing lover, she shall tell me!’ She spoke low, of course, and no one but her companion could hear. The singer had begun her song. | “You fill me with interest,” exclaimed Simon Pure. “ You did not tell me about _ this, Nobby Nancy.” * Well, no, I did not; why should I? You withhold some things from me, so Wwe are even.” “And. stand in our own light by so o doing. I have been thinking that it will be better if we confide fully in each other, for I have ow ‘seen enough of you to satisfy me.” “The same thought has come to me.” “We will TIeave here early, then, and - fave an earnest talk. “Say no more now, for this is no place to— Ha! she sees _ youl” \ The singer had ‘atopped suddenly short in her song, and was gazing staringly at Nobby Nancy. Everybody wis filled with surprise at y the ‘sudden stopping of the song, and the too, all eyes followed yA" music. stopping ‘ ry mi 4 ale e (Aly ae . : ri ’ Shahan nn OD oo ed . Ae os ea woe vent an We = ss zt - Neg s Fer if I find that you have told me a lie, the the first thing on the pro- | -roughly to Nobby Nancy, “you had. bet- Clear and ringing tones. not to blame for this little break in the ———— — —— —— —— - - the direction of her Nobby Nancy. This for a moment; then, with a sudden movement, the singer leaped from the Stage to the floor, and ran up the aisle. She w hipped out a pistol as she ad- vanced, seeing which, Nobby Nancy did the same and sprang to her feet to meet her, thus getting “the drop.” “Stop, or I will stop you! girl sport, ringingly. The singer obeyed, but had come to within three yards of her rival—for such, apparently, Nobby Nancy had been, or then was. The general crowd was, in an instant, all excitement, and every one was amazed—curious, too, to know what it all meant. “I want to know where he is!” the singer demanded, her handsome face flushing red in anger and hate. “Just the question I wanted to ask of you,” responded the girl sport. ‘“‘I do not know, and it is apparent that you do not. We ure still even, it is evident.” Nobby Nancy was much the cooler calmer of the two. “Are you speaking manded the singer. “Yes, I am speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” “ Well, I am forced to believe you, but gaze, to rest upon ys cried the and the truth?’ de- worse for you.” “No oecasion for me to lie. I would not be afraid to tell you the truth, if I did know where—where he is. You had better get back and finish your song.”’ The manager of the hall was hurrying up, other performers were already on the stage, and the singer was told to get behind the scenes. “And you,” and the manager turned ter get out of here.” ‘* And you had better attend to your own business!” spoke up Simon Pure, in * My pard was performance, Mister Man.” “T don’t care; I order her to get ae of here; doyouunderstand? And you along with her, too! Come, now, no fooling! Git up and git or I will fetch you out of that seat by the roots! See?’ “We paid our admission to this part of the house; we have done nothing out of order, and we are going to stay here just as long as we please! Do you see?” The man had gone so far that he could not well “take water’? now, so made a reach for Simon and laid a hand on his collar, with the intention of carrying out his promise. He certainly looked to be able to do it, and as Simon sat next to ‘the aisle, it looked like an easy job for the Odeon man. . But the trick did not work as the man- ‘ager had intended, for Simon was up with a suddenness that amazed him, and ‘something else amazed him a good deal ‘more; an iron-like fist was _ planted ‘squarely between his eyes, and headlong down the aisle plunged the manager in the direction of the stage. The erowd broke out with a ringing round of applause. Not a man in the place was in sympathy with the manager, for he had more foes than friends in that crowd. His name was Sanford Mainard, and being big and strong, with some knowl- edge of the fistic art, he had ruled once in his hall with an iron hand. Fee Hence it did the crowd good to see him get such a “winder,” but at the same time everybody knew that he would only be the worse when he got upon his feet. Friendly voices, therefore, called out to Simon to look out for himself, which Simon was evidently prepared to do. Deadwood Dick, J r., at Flush Flats, ’ ~ ad NEE RETO a ST iggy ARE PRS Sagas ERE EM RE RE SEES, ¢ gE A RIE TNC aA LON aa PEE SES SRN OY LL ———-—e CHAPTER IV. NANCY JANE’S STORY. It looked as if there might be a jubilee. Half the men in the hall were upon their feet by the time Mainard got upon his, and many of them had their hands behind them, where they carried their guns. That they were prepared to make things lively was not to be doubted. “Sit down, gentlemen! _ Sit called out Simon Pure, very calmly. * There is no need for any undue exceite- ment here, I can take care of myself, I think, and if not, this gentleman will take care of me!” > “You are right I will!” cried Mainard, making for him. ‘“‘No man ever struck me like that and lived.” “He'll kill you!” whispered Nobby Nancy, in alarm. “No he won't. Be calm.” Simon was on his feet still, with one hand resting on the back of the seat, and he eyed the big man calmly. There was something in that magnetic eye-flash that brought the proprietor to a stop before he came within touching distance, but he pulled a gun and leveled it. “I order you out of here!” manded, sternly. “And I refuse to go. I have paid my admission; I have done nothing out of order, and you cannot put me out. Put up your gun, for if you were to murder me, this crowd would perforate you in a manner that would give your undertaker a bad job to put you in a box.” There was more truth than poetry about that, as Mainard perfectly well under- stood. “If it were not for interrupting the per- formance, I'd show you what I’d do,” he snarled. “And I assure you that the performance might be permanently interrupted, if it depends oh your active personal service, sir,” was the cool and easy retort. ““Take the wiser course, and go back to your busi- ness!”’ , “I may see you again, unless you sneak out of town unawares,” growled the man- ager, thrusting his weapon back into his pocket and turning toward the stage. “As I am not doing the sneak act, you will have all the opportunity you can desire.” Simon sat down amidst a thunder of applause, Thé music struck up again, the perform- ers took up their parts, and things moved along smoothly once more. “Who would have thought we'd get into such a_ broil here?’ observed Nobby Nancy, speaking in a low tone to her com- panion. “I thought you were done for, Simon, sure enough.” KY Not by a fellow of that stripe, you will find. I’m glad I had to serve him no worse,” ‘* Shall we go out?” “No; we'll stay an hous or 80, just to prove that we are in no haste, and then we'll return to the hotel.” So they gave their attention to the per- formance, and nothing further came to pass to make things uncomfortable. Finally, after they had remained some- thing over an hour, they arose, at the end of one of the performances, and made he com- making way for them. “Tt looks as if there might be trouble ahead for us,” remarked Nobby Nancy, as they proceeded toward the hotel, “and I must look out for Maud Weille—” : “That is her real name, eh?” “Yes; Star Sterling is only a a stago name. I have got to look out for her, and rit down!” . their way quietly out, the men in the place | you have made an enemy of Bon man-