Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 902 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

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It was richly furnished and appointed, hhaving the latest and best of everything, and it aimed to be first-class, whether it was or not. The place ‘was weil filled when “Trump” Finnegan sauntered in, in wompany with Felix Shea. Felix had taken a strong liking to Finnegan. This was probably owing to the fact of his prowess, as it had been displayed, und the fact that he laid claim to being an Irishman, Handsome Harry was there, and, as seats happened to be vacant near him, Finnegan and Shea crossed over to where he sat and took the unoccupied places, ; wih a word of greeting, They entered into conversation, watch- | ing the game at the nearest of the tables with passing interest. _ While they sat there, a man sauntered } vg Gown the room past thém, and on to the end and up the other side and out again. ‘He -was a thickset fellow, with a red dace and redder mustache. They gave him no attention. Outside, a man was waiting for this fellow, and that man was the mayor ct the camp. _ “Well, did you get a good look at ‘him? ” he asked. “Yes, good as I could,” was the an- swer. “I would know him again all right.” “Tt is not a question of whether ycu would know him again or not, but do you know him this time?” -“Woll, then, I don’t.” “All right; you come with me, and we'll talk the matter over a little. 1 have got a scheme on hand that will “pay you well, if you perform well the work laid out for you.” “T have done jobs for you before, mayor.” “That is just the reason that I have selected you for the present undertak- Come on.’ They crossed the street 1 a building in which the mayor had his office, and there Godwin let himself in with a key. A faint light was seen coming from a private room at the rear, and he ‘ed his companion in that direction, and threw open another door, and ushered him in. Here were Godwin the younger. and | nuge Dalton. / “Found him, did you?” queried” Dal- ton. “ How are you, Jasper?” — “$o’s to be and about, thank ’e,” the ean responded. “How goes it with ‘you? Bk seus Gooa enough, Sit down, for. wwe want H "to talk with you.” “All right,” dropping onto a chair. “Go ahead. You in it, top, Tom % ke oak son. brs “Yes, up to my neck.”’ « Now, the matter is right here,” began G Bsawin, having seated himself. “ You a er na ar Sa \ ~~ Deadwood Dick, I v. ‘at Gold Dust. “Never seen him before in my born days, mayor, that’s sartain.” “ Well, then, we are going to put you on to him. We happen to know he is.” ‘Who is he?” “Tiger Joe.” The man leaped to his feet with aston- ishment. who “Ye don’t mean it!” he cried. “ Who says he is Tiger Joe? How do ye know he is?” *“T say he is,” spoke up Tom Godwin, “You? Where did you ever see Tiger Jae? ’’ ) “ At Carson City when the sheriifi’s men had him there, before he shot Deputy Williams and got away.” “The old mischief, you say!” * Fach, sor. " Now you see what is required ot you,” said Godwin the elder. ‘ You must arrest him and lodge him in the air,” “That trick may be a good deal easier said than done, old man.’’ “Tf any man in Hungry Gulch can do it, you are the man, And we'll be on hand to back you up.” : S$But, is it dead sure that he is thé chap?” to Tom Godwin. “Of course it is dead sure,” was the answer, in petulance. ‘“ Don’t you sup- pose I know what I am talking about?” “Yes, but the proof of it. Suppose he claims he ain’t—” “There, now you have come to thé] vital point,” interrupted the mayor, " Do t you think that a thousand dollars rigit down in hand would ‘help you to remem- ber him as Tiger Joe?”’ “Oh-ho! Now I nibble. Now I bite, as it were. That man Tiger Joe? Why, bless yer heart, mayor, I kin swear to him as high as a mountain, if you want it that high. Wasn't I one of the depu- ties that he got away from at Carson? Didn’t I see him kill Williams—” “Hold on, don’t get in too deep!” -ecautioned the mayor. ‘‘ You were a dep- uty at Carson City at the time, that is enough. Here is the thousand dollars to fasten that point in your mind. Now, have you got the sand to go and arrest him and jam him into our jug here?” The mayor had tickled the fellow’s vanity a moment before, by the compli- ment paid him, “Have I- got the sand for it? Do l look like a rooster that wouldn’t come to the scratch fer a thousand dollars? Try me.” “Then you you?” “T reckon I dB. You want me to go and scoop this chap, and swear that l know him personally fer Tiger Joe.” “That is it, exactly. You have not heard that we tried to arrest him this afternoon then?” “No; did ye?” “Yes, There was only one thing lack- ing, and that was, proof. My son here made ne charge; but there was no proot to back t up, and so we had to let him 0 see what is required of ‘I see.” “ Now, it is not to be known that you have seen us, or heard anything about this matter. You have just come in from Red Horse; you saunter into the Silver Saloon, as is your custom, and there you see Tiger Joe, and you go for him without a second’s hesitation. 13 “TI see, I see.” “Myson will be-there, and so will I nde Dalton here, and the minute you make the charge we willbe on hand to aid you in taking him, if you need any aid, which is not at all likely.” “All right, count on me. But, what is 5 the game? is Tiger Joe?” “For the present, yes, he is. What we want is to get him away from here, and if it is found out later that a mis- take has been made, he can beset free and no: ‘Hares doné.”’ “T see. But there ain’t no mis he is the man, and I kin swear to.it.’ “Good enough; you understand all right. Now,.give us about. ten minutes to go there and get settled down; and then you can come in and open up the ball. Be sure to have your gun out, for this fellow is lightning on the draw. Pocket your wad, now, and be off.” take, CHAPTER V. A HITCH IN THE PROCEEDINGS. “Trump” Finnegan and his two com- panions were enjoying some light drink and cigars, and were talking pleasantly among themselves, when the thickset fellow with the red face and redder mustache sauntered down that way again. This time he stopped near where they sat, and looked on at the game that was in progress near at hand. “Who is that fellow?” inquired Trump. hs | “Dhat?” responded Felix. ‘“ Dhat is Jasper Lord, a deputy from over to Red Horse.”’ “A deputy what?” ee Deputy sheriff,’’ explained Handsome t Harry. ‘You are not afraid of his kind, aré you? But, that’s only in jest.’ “With the unmeant insinudtion that I may be Tigér Joe after all. But, I ate tach no signifigahee to your remark, and take it as it was meéait. No, I’m not afraid of anybody.” Just at that moment the deputy turned in their. direction, and, seeing Hatidsome Harry, apparently for the first time, he advanced, saying: - “ Hello, Sport Harry; how is it you are not playing this’ evening?” ‘‘Oh, I thought I would take an even- ing off—" “Tiger Joe, by all that’s golden!” So the deputy suddenly interrupted, and he had whipped out a gun at the first word and covered his man. Handsome Harry and Felix Shea started and stared at their companion, who sat unmoved. He was as cool as @ Roman punch, and was looking the dep- uty in the eye! The deputy had spoken in a loud tone. and the attention of half the people in the room was drawn immediately. “You are slightly mistaken, friend,” asserted the accused. “Mistaken? Well, I ruther guess not, my fine feller; I ruther guess not!” “Then how much are you paid for making this charge?” “ Paid fur makin’ the charge?. Do you want me to bore ye right where you set this minnit? You are worth half as much dead as you are alive, and for a cent I'd do it!” “And be hanged for murder; that would pay you big, now wouldn't it? I am not ea the slightest resist- ance.’ eS i ‘you'd better not, either, by golden!” His loud tones had now drawn the attention of everybody, and the voice of Mayor Godwin was heard. ** Hello! this?” “Tt means that I have just lighted on to Tiger Joe, that killed Deputy Will- jams,” cried Lord. “TPivor Joe? 7s (cx | / “Yes, Tiger Joe.” “Then you know him, deputy? os my ™~ What is the meaning of |). a.’ Lt Is it dead straight that he B we fack — - ’ + 4 of’ Fe ‘ . 3 a * in wee ~ ao fn : po ore id yt: ~~ a ‘ ra iM ie > 7 Vo tee ee UBS ee -, © MP Te a tak, ~ <r" a - " Pe 4 - s —. Ley = _ oe eae a od . _ te Seon me nw <—a< ee a = ¥ Je | vege 2 ee i 4 - — a om, | a be - hee el Bo - ee .com ae oe rH