Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

il “That for him!” with a snap of the fingers. “He won’t bother me, I guess. But, you think there is danger to you from the girl?” ‘‘T cannot tell. She may think that I have fibbed to her, and in that case she may try to cut up alittle. But, I think I can hold my own against her, unless the man chips in with her.” ‘And in that case he will buck up against me,” calmly. “T thank you. And now, we were to have a plain talk, I believe,’’ as they took seats upon the end of the hotel piazza. They settled down in their chairs, and Simon placed his feet up on the railing and lighted a cigar. It was a charming evening, and a delightful place to spend a quiet hour before retiring. “ Now 1 am ready,” advised Simon, com- placently. “ Well, I will first of all tell you my real name, which is Jennie James. I am no relation to Jease, however, that I am aware of,” laughing. “IT can believe that.” “ About as far as we have confided in each other has been to say that we have both been sent for to come to this town of Flush Flats, and that Richard Rashton is the man who wants to see us.” “That is correct.” “What he wants to see me for I cannot imagine, and you have said that you do not know what he wants of you. By your advice I have agreed to keep quiet for a day or two, until you take a survey of the ground, before we make ourselves known to him. Are you willing, now, to tell me your real name, sir?” “My name is Richard M. Bristol, bet- ter known as Deadwood Dick, Junior.” The young woman uttered a low ery, and caught hold of Dick’s arm with a sudden clutch, saying: “Ts it possible? You are the one person T have been longing to meet, for I am sure that you, if anybody, can find my missing lover for me. Oh, say that you will!” “Why, certainly. I will do whatever is possible in that direction, Miss James, be- lieve me.” * Oh! I am so glad! stand each other,” “T hope we do. But, your story?” “Yos, I will tell you; I can tell every- thing freely and fully, for I would keep nothing back from you, Knowing who you are.” “But, in truth, there is not much to tell. The man I am seeking is named Theodore Barefield. We are all from St. Paul—he, I, and this girl, who was my rival, and also another man named Eugene Brand- son, whd was my lover’s rival for my hand.” “ Rather complicated.” “It looks so, at first glance. T and Maud both loved Theodore, and he and Eugene both loved me. Each vowed that he woutld possess me, but that was impos- sible, since I loved only Theodore, or Dory, as I called Jim. We tried to bring about a match between Eugene and Maud, but it was no go.” “That would have righted matters speedily.” “But there was a fortune in the way. T am quite rich, in my own right, and I Now we under- ~ ‘firmly believe that Eugene thought just a little more of my money than he did of me. And, too, it stood doubly in the way, for Dory would not accept me until he had made a fortune of his own, which he came down here to do, something more than five years ago, and I have never heard from him since.” | “Which would seem to show that he has not made the fortune yet,” suggested Dick. | | “T am more of the opinion that some / , . , ' ay . ‘3 SY a“: : | any 7 ‘ e Deadwood Dick, harm has befallen him,” declared the girl; “and the more so because Eugene left home about six months after Dory departed. He was gone a year, then he came back and asked me once again to wed him, and when I refused he left home a second time, saying that life had no charms for him, and that he would go and bury him- self where no one knew him, He might, however, he said, come back yet once more to ask again.” ‘You asked him, of course, seen Dory?’ “Certainly; but he declared that he had not seen him. However, I did not believe him, and neither did Maud, and we both decided to set out to find him, though not in company, you may be sure. And we did set out. I have means to carry me, while she has to earn her living as she goes along, and you haye seen the way she is doing it. Not that I say a word against her for that; she is good and honest, far as I know; but she can never win my lover from me, even should she be the first one to find him, And that is my whole story, Mr. Bristol.’” CHAPTER YV. RIVALS’ PUEDGES. Deadwook Dick had listened with a good deal of interest. It was but a simple story, as the girl had declared, yet it was one fraught with suggestions. “Well, we may find your lover living, and I hope we shall,” said Dick, at the close, “but I must think the chances are against it, unless—’ * Unless what?” “He may have thought less of you than you think he did.,”’ “Oh, no; I will not believe that of him, Mr. Bristol. He was as good and as true. as gold, and he loved me dearly.” “Do you think that the other man, Eugene, would be evil enough at heart to murder him, if the chance offered? That is a terrible thing to think, but mur- ders are not rare in this yet half-wild re- gion.”’ “Tt is so terrible that I will not allow myself to believe it of him; but, all the same, it is possible. Indeed, I cannot help but believe that he has had something to do with the case that has kept Dory ab- sent and silent all these years. Perhaps he has lied to him about me, and so made him decide never to return, thinking me false and unworthy.” “J hardly think that, because Dory,.as you call him, would distrust anything that his rival might tell him, and would be likely to investigate for himself, would he not?” “Yos: unless Eugene had false informa- tion reach him in some other manner than by his own lips, and in a way that would | earry eonviction with it. He might do that, you know.” F “He might, possibly, try such subter- fuge, but even that would imply that your lover had doubted you, and I am sure you will give him credit for having had im- plicit faith in you, will you not?” “Yes, yes; for I promised him so faith- fully that I would remain true to him, and wait for his return; but, I did beg him to write to me, no matter where he was, so that I might know where he was and how making out.” / | “Something has happened to him, that is pretty evident.” “T have a hope, but it is so wild that I scarcely dare call it ‘such, and that is—” “Ts what?” “This Mr. Rashton is a banker, and it ' is possible that Dory has funds with him and has asked him to send for me, in or- der to give me a glad surprise. I am im- patient, but 1 have been guided by you—” \ if he had Jr., at Flush Flats. you ’ = ; “aN a Gi @ ee ‘Do not hope too strongly, Miss James. Where thousands seek fortunes, only one in a thousand finds the prize. Still, if you do not kuow this man Rashton, and you have assured me that you do not, it may be something in connection with your lover that has led him to send for you.” “T am so eager to know!” “We will visit him on the morrow and learn. But, be prepared for news the worst, is my advice.” “Then you know something ‘Not a thing.” “Then, what do you mean?” “Why, simply that if your lover were alive, or, at any rate, at liberty, would he not have communicated with you himself and not have delegated another?’ “ Tt looks so.” “Where were you addressed by Rash- ton?” * At home—that is, St. Paul.” “And your letter was forwarded to 999 © 99? . eagerly. “Yes; I have kept in touch with home all the time of my wanderings.” “And you came in this direction imme- diately upon receipt of it. Now I get the hang of the thing.” “But, it is all a mystery, and it must remain so until we have seen this Mr. Rashton and learned what he has to say. But, may I ask questions?” “As many as you like,” “Did he send for you as Deadwood Dick?’ ‘He did.” “Then it must be that he wants some- thing in the way of detective work, 1 should imagine,” “That is what I think, and that is the reason I am remaining incog. for a time. I want to look around before I let him know who I am.” « “And what have you been able to find out?” “Nothing. There is no mystery abroad in the land, as far as I am able to find, and I don’t know what he can want.” > “ Well, Mr. Bristol, one question more: Do you still care to have me for your pard?” % “Why, certainly. ask such a question as that?” “Why, knowing who you are, I do not feel that I can be of any use to you, but rather that I am more likely to prove in the way—” ‘Never mind that; you are still my pard for this game. We must stick together, since we are in the same boat, so to say— that is, since we have both been myste- riously sent for.’ “Well, I will obey you in everything.” “Tf you will do that I think you can help the game along amazingly. And, if any- thing should go wrong with me, you will have to play your hand alone, and do my part as well as your own at the same time. “And now about visiting Mr. Rashton. Suppose I visit him at the bank, and you send for him to call on you here at the hotel. That will fix it so that he can speak his mind to each, and we can com- pare notes afterward.” be “T am willing to be guided by what you think best, for I know I can trust you implicitly.” “Then let it be so understood, and— Ah! whom have we here?” A woman was approaching, The night was not dark, and eyen had it been, the street was brilliantly ilumin- ated. The woman in question had come from the direction of the Odeon, and Dick was not wrong in a guess that it was the singer Star Sterling. Na ! She came up the steps-and advanced to where they sat. Soe et 6h, ee What leads you to.