Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

, Sw eat Pe oad i i act for them, “Miss James, so that I painful interview?” S$ ee “What do you think of it, sir,’’ asked the cashier, in low tvues, as ‘Dick passed him: “A shocking find, assuredly.” “You think you can clear it up?’ “I think I can, sir. I have never yet been baffled in my pursuit ef a death niystery.”’ He followed Mr. Rashton into the of- fice, where they took seats for further discussion. “ Could I do otherwise than you?” the banker asked. “ Hardly, sir. And I am glad’ that you sent for the other party also, for she can give me the key to the whole, I feel certain.” “And I hope that you will enlighten me aS soon as you can do so.’ “IT will tell you something *“T am eager.” “ Now, about the men who sold you this building; who are they, and where did you get on track of them?’ “I found them by advertising in the papers, telling what I wanted. A lawyer ‘ame here having power of attorney to and I bought of him. I Saw no others.” “But you have their names?” * Yes; there were three of them—How- ard Jones, Richard Smith and Thomas Brown.” : “A pretty and I'll bet send for shortly, sir good tray of names, truly, a house that not one of them is genuine. You see, this crime has stood in their way. Probably all are guilty.” “ But you cannot believe that the. law- yer knew it?’ , * No, that was not necessary; maybe he did his part all in good faith. But where was he from?” “Kansas City.” “And his name?” “Richard Ketcham.” “And that is what my name has got to be, too. It will be of no use to adver- tise again, for that would only awaken Suspicion, now.” “That's so.” “But I have a trump to play.” “What is that?’ “The fortune, provided that it has not been discovered.” e “And how will you make use of that? I fail to see, clearly, what you can do.” “Tt may be the means of luring some of their gang to this place. You let me work ‘that, quietly, and watch the papers here for mention of it. I will see that it goes in to-morrow.” “And, meantime, xe will talk with will be spared the “Yes, I will see to that, Mr. Rashton,” ‘and Mr. Peters took his leave. . CHAPTER IX. ; A CHEAP BARGAIN. Deadwood Dick returned to the hotel. There he discovered that a man was awaiting his coming, and that. che per- sonage was a “character.” | e sample under soataldebaat ant was a big, broad, lubberly fellow, with a face like the rising sun, and arms as big as the legs of the average man. His name was John Samson, but, owing to an impediment in his speech, he was _ known as “Stuttering” Samson. He could | not string a dozen words together without - stuttering, to save his life. hen he had plenty of time he usually { easier. He was waiting by the hotel steps. Putting up one of his ponderous arms, he signaled the sport in velvet to stop, beginning: “S—s—s—ay, they P—p—pure, culiar?” “ Well, yes, ny man, that is what I am called,” Dick answered; “but not quite so peculiar as you make it appear.” “TH m—m—im—make it m—m—m—more p—p—p—p—pe—peculiar than that, be— are you the f—f—feller k—k—k—eall S—s—s—s—s—imon the P—p—p—p—p—p—pe—pe- be—before I g—g—g—go. I wa—wa—want to h—h—have about f—f—f—f—tf tive m—m—m—m—n——n—ninuies’ t—t— t—t—t—ttalk—”’ “If that is the case, let us sit down,” suggested Dick. “It will probably take us an hour and a half, at your rate of going, and 1 will enjoy a cigar while you are making known your business. Come up on the piazza, and we'll take chairs, and you can take your time—’” ‘*N—n—n—no! h—h—h—hold on! I wa—wa—wa—want you right here. I have b—b—been s—s—s—s—sert to. l—-l— l—Il—1—1—lick you, and—”’ “Oh, ho! that is it, eh? Weil, if you can't fight any faster than you can talk, you had better give it up berane you be- gin, is my advice. You will find that you have undertaken a bis job.” . I ean sing,” break- ing out in tune, ‘and I can tight just as good as I can sing, you bet?!’ ’ “Well, you are a warbler, sure enough; and if I were you I would never do any- thing else but sing. But who sent you to give me this licking you speak of? I must protest, you understand.” “And it is only natural that ye would, I should say., A man has given me five dollars to come up here and whale the daylights out of you, and I can’t think of lettin’ a shap like that go by, ye see. I hope you're ready.’ “Well, hold on a minute till I get the hang of it. Who is the man who sent you?” : Mister Sanford Mainard; tu—ra—ly, ri—laddy.” “Ah! I see. Why didn® he come him- | self?’ “Well, he k—k—k—k—k—k—couldn’t, and s—s—s—s—s—S—S—”’ “Oh, sing it, my friend; I enjoy your singing a great deal better than your talking, I assure you.” “ Anything to oblige; ri—tu, ri~—lu, ri— laddy—oh! He didn’t want to wrinkle his shirt, and so he sent me; and as he can lick me, it is all the same, you see,” > “He can whip you, then?’ 7 Y—y y—y—y—yes.’ ? “Then he made a mistake in sending you to do me up, I give you fair notice. I'll tell you what I'll do.” “What is that? Te—du—dum—day.” “7 will give you five dollars not to whip me, and that will let you out of it, easy enough. You ean hand him back his five and still be as well off—yes, a good deal better off.” ‘ “Well, now, mister, doodle—doodle— day; I have got a great big notion that I can do it all right, all right, and if you have got a fiver to put up Ill bet you even that I can; then I'll be ten dollars to the good; you see?” “T would like to take some of the con- ceit out of you, my friend, but it is too warm to fight. T won't fight. but Iwill do as T said, and you can’t make five dollars any In fact, T will make it ten, for I _stuttered it out, but if in a hurry, or his \ have nothing against you. and had rather - message ut important. he would sing—’ - for he could sing like a lark. and without the suggestion of an imp iment. times he was called “Singing” up more often otherwise. ) not do you any mischief. Here is the money: take it and £0 and hand the Some- : other fellow back his five.” at hang me i y—J-I—-J—-I—-J— you—’ ye) ; Deadwood Dick, dT: at Flush Flats. | 7 v ial ne 7 yan > a and at 7) ees is -——— = a ee ee = — ‘Sing it, sing it!’ enjoined Dick. “Hang me if you ain’t a liberal cuss, anyhow! Looks as if you was buyin’, off.” “Yes, that is just what 1 am. doing. Here, take your money and git, for | have no more time to monkey away with you.” The bank president and his cashier were taking it all-in from the window of Rashton’s office, over the way, and they were smiling breadly, with good reason to smile, A crowd had gathered around, drawn by Stuttering Samson's singing, and. they, appeared to be disappointed at the pros-' pect of losing the fun of a \fight between the velvet sport and the man of the sore affliction; but Samson was still hesitating about aecepting it. ‘““S—s—s—s—say,”’ he began. d—d—”’ “Sing!” once more ordered. Dick. “1 don’t know about it; Mainard wilh think I'm ‘fraid of ye, and that would never do.” Well, make up your mind quick,” said Dick. ‘‘ Hither take the ten dollars or take a whipping, and in that case you will be out and injured all around. ' What doe you say?” “T'll take the t-—t—t—t—ten. g—g—go and re—re—re—” “Sing, confound you, sing!’ “Tl take the ten and go and report, re—tu, re—lu, re—laddy,” he sang. ‘* A bird in the hand is werth two in se bush; re—tu, re—lu, re—laddy, oh?’ “Sensible man; here is the money. If Mainard wants anything out of me, tell him to come. and get it himself. He, w.ll find nme at home any time he and I will try my best to give him full and e«omplete satisfaction. Don’t let get you into trouble.” With that Dick mounted the steps and Stuttering Samson went off, with a good! share of the crowd jeering after him, They called him a coward, and one or two, at the rear, was the same, It was certainly a “peculiar” stting, out of a muss. bn | “T d—d— me | (r_., and ¢— way of CHAPTER X. THE VILLAIN SEEN. But Dick Bristol paid no heed. Hé at once went into the house, and to the so-called parlors, where he found his who had been awaiting his com- ing, and who had Witnessed. from the window, behind the blinds, his interview, with Samson. pard, had run down her cheeks. “TIT thought you were going to be eaten alive, Simon,” she playfully remarked. ‘Maybe I shall be, when the other fel- low comes to see me. IT must look for him, now, at any moment. fi » I do net believe he “will come, for his position will not allow him to stoop to a common fight; but he will probably raise your ante and send the stuttering pugilist back again.’ * T did not think of that; maybe he will, the job, that is all.” “* But now, Simon, when, am I to expect Mr. Rashton?”’ “Not at all. He has baiieaeiad me to make known the’ whole situation and let you know why you were sent for.” “Then pray sit down and let me hear the story, for | I am full of curiosity, ss may be: Sure.” have been thinking. how much of it. withhold from you. In the first bssinaty map prepare you ginal bad news.” : . , ; : 4 4 ‘ : ee: aha 44 . " . > o¢ vA ay : . J ; = +) iF + ye ‘7 ~ 8 ( eel > J“ A's ine a nm the ~— ; asia oe Pe . ae rite r. é “a a ~ , “ ’ “% . - - © ~ , s 7 as t thar, ee callsy, him: hinted that Simon Pure She had laughed, quietly, ‘until tears i Well, if he does, I shall have to undertake I ought to tell you, and how much to a “com Heck eg e « » _ 1 Gl tee a 7 ame SS gt ate ¢ = - —~ in see ae ~ tem, YS a > oR > tr 4 * ll ie | . ~~ _ *. 2 eV Se he eS _ = << é +