Beadle's Dime Library No. 1 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

No. 1. fetch the whisky.’ An’ my banker, Ned—he’s slid, I reckon, with all the funds. Leastways—” “There! There! That’ll do! Hyar’s the ekads—” - . ee loan, ye know, Ned. When “Oh, yes. Don’t mention it. As you say—a temporary loan!” And the speaker laughed. “ But—” And he hesitated in the act of sg | the money in the eagerly expectant palm of his companion. ‘But?’ echoed the other; and a look of pathetic pr fom x came into his face. os Ned,” said Bradshaw, with laughing calcu- lation, ‘ yeou know yeour weakness.” - Lou, pro the other, “hain’t we Oh, yes; we’re pards fast enough.” “Well, then?” Conkling evidently thought that settled the | matter. ‘‘But when should 1 see yeou back again? Not until yeou’d swilled all the licker yourself, Yl bet money ” i ibe atti > eou don’t think ck on yeou ike that? = y And the injured look of the old toper made his chum shake his sides with laughter. “Hyar. Take the money. An’ ef yeou hain’t back with a full bottle and an empty whisky- I’ll scalp ye, sure!” “Ned,” said the other, earnestly, as he re- ceived the money with a radiant smile, ‘‘ef I hain’t square with yeou this time, my scalp’s ourn And he trudged off through the mist and drizzle, hug the money which was to pur- chase the wherewithal to ‘‘ make a man of him,” He had scarcely disappeared when Bradshaw started at a sound very close at hand, and a si aot os doe = stood in me open door- wa ughing to see gras weapons. Oh. you're a brave one,” she cried, “‘ to let a woman give you such a start.” ‘Ts that yeou, Katie?” he asked, springing up to meet her with mingled pleasure and surprise, ‘Have you forgotten me, then, that you have to ask if it’s me?” she said, coquettishly. ‘Never fear o’ my forgettin’ yeou, though I’ve seen little enough of yeou, of late, but Sn my dreams. But, what in the world bri hyar this time o’ night, my pees same yeou’re welcome as flowers in May!” And his words found corroboration in an at- Hoa edmond ts woman, harply: an ** Lou!” Oo e woman, ; an her ready hand dealt his ear a oult as a reward for his audacity. But there was no of in the blow, and he named it not far from rightly when he exclaimed: ‘Thunder an’ “, Katie! that’s a love-tap _ as ’ud win the heart of a !” “T heard you’d got to watch all night, and thinking you'd be lonesome, I come to give you a bit o’ my company,” explained the woman. ‘*T wouldn't ’a’ done it, if ’'d known you was going to forget your manners at the er start.” ‘Katie, dear, don’t be hard on a feller,” ex- | ted her lover. ‘I hain’t had a drop to wet my whistle—it’s so long I’ve forgot the taste of it; ah’ bein’s I was dry, yer lips looked 80 temptin’—” lips to your bottle. If “Don’t compare my you had less o’ the bottle— | ‘‘Or more o’ the lips, Katie. There’d be no use for the bottle then, ye know,” ‘‘l’m afraid you're asad flatterer, Lou,” said 7 the et her pleasure in her oy. . on ere’s many a worse one e ' world over; and thinking you’d want something to keep the damp out—” She drew a fiask from beneath her shawl; ~ and he forward with pleased “Ah Katie Pte millon?” be ! yeou’re one of a cried. ‘* How ready. you are for the bottle!” she said, withholding it with a show of vexation. “Or the Katie,” he said. ‘‘ Make it the rn al we'll throw the bottle out o’ the win- At that me smiled again. ‘Shall it be the lips?’ he persisted, drawing smile. near her with an insin with eyes that ed with The woman looked at - sparkled saucily. With a laugh that pty oe ry she shrunk away from him, all the while inviting him with her eyes. The next instant he had caught her in his arms and robbed her of that which costs nothing, yet is worth so much—to the parties ** Oh, ely oo ith !” she cried, snatchin ong with you sna g embrace and eg aoe with the bottle. ‘‘ Are Fob, Shon that you must crush me to dea th?” “My h t fit snugger’n yeour buffet,” he la ta YY ieee aan Tbe have thie Else end the too?” ‘No, no. I give you the bottle to you En tenes our nonsense,” she “Tt wouldn "ate so good if I thou t yeou applying the bottle "meant that speech.” he phe big lips. A Hard Crowd; or, Gentleman A quick flash lighted the woman’s eyes, as she | following swallows; but her lips smiled all the | ile. 'and bending over him, “‘my hand» gives you ‘* Whew !” gasped the man, catching his breath, | back to life and liberty !” e swig that every day! What kind o’ whisky do yeou whil while the tears came into his eyes. have to have a sheet-iren li call that? said the woman. was fire’n brimstone! yac 9” ‘*Hear the man! brandy nin’.” ‘“‘Tf you don’t like what I bring you, you shan’t have any more!” And she snatched the bottle from his hand. ‘* Hold on, Katie,” he “Don’t Katie me!” she interrupted him. ‘*Oh, I see,” he replied, slyly ‘*'Yeou take the bottle away from me so’s I'll go back to my nonsense, as yeou callit,” . | TY ie !? she exclaimed, with a toss of her | EbER bending a searching look upon him, she : | “What's the matter with you, Lou? You ' must be in your cups. You never acted so bold before.” ‘“ Not because I didn’t want to!” he replied, quickly. A sudden c came over the woman. “Tou,” she sald—and going clese to him she ~ a8 earnestly into his face, with that peculiar of the shoulders and setting of the head on one side, which is so enchanting a mark of shyness, and a nervous interlacing of the fingers —‘‘ Lou, do you really care anything for me?” ‘“Care for yeou?’ he cried, with an honest surprise which Then, drawi with a snort o ‘* Wal !—yeou bet all yer ole bonnets I don’t care fur no else!” a Gaep: breath, he ejaculated earnestness; that clasping of the hands where each grasps the other as in congratulation—not the inter- laced fingers of d or supplication—she looked up at him with a delight which showed in her dancing eyes. 5 begrat; taking her by the shoul- “Katie,” he ders and. Gans into her face as if incredulous of his good fortune; but she interrupted him. ‘Sit down, Lou,” she said, and pushed him toward a box in a corner of the room. cote he pe gly to her he watch- er expectantly. When she plac beside him he would have clasped arms, in the enthusiasm of his new-found hap- pane but holding his hands she prevented , and eae rs Hp to his side her head against his shoulder, so that she could look into his eyes. “Katie,” he said, in a tone lowered by his earnestness, ‘“‘is it so? Do _ like me, an’ will # a have me some day?” ‘* Don’t talk, Lou,” said to think of it all.” Again he submitted ing of rest and content leaned back the wall, only holding to her hands, as if it were — evidence of what seemed too good to e. In this position her eyes held his as if by fas- cination. If he noticed that everything was becoming dreamy, it was without surprise. The woman remain heavy eyelids closed and his head sunk to one — until it found rest in the angle of the walls. en she called him gently. ss Lou. ” He gave no indication of hearing her. Withdrawing herself from her semi-recum- e leaned carried t e woman; ‘‘I want bant tion, she gazed at him fixedly. She eck ki. calling again: sc Lou 1”? His heavy breathing showed how completely his senses were wrapped in lethargy. Now the treachery of the woman showed in the exultant gleam in her eyes. ‘‘A clod!” she muttered, and spurned him with her foot, as a sort of revenge for her en- forced fondling of a moment before. With swift motions, whose dexterity showed that the work was not unaccustomed, she dis- armed the unconscious: man, taking his knife and pistols. ae of his late companion, Ned Co stairway leading up the his carbine and that exclaimed, with a sort of fierce exultation. ‘* Did these dolts think to hold him, who is a king to them?” A TIGRESS, “THAT had been and when the woman appeared he could hardly repress a shout of Sraninh. nkling, she sprung . into the loft of the e. ‘* Now for freédom to The Red Hand!” she life to me and death to you!” Red Hand’s exultant exclamation ; 7 Sam/’s Sister. ; “That ain’t whisky, Lou. That’s cognac,” | id n. a _ | your flesh,” she rep. Seat bork he repeated. ‘‘I should say it |, with the knife she had, taken from’ Lou Brad- What in blazes is cone- shaw. | With scarcely-a glance at The Stranger; the saw the liquor pass down his throat in several _ woman hastened to The Ked, Hand. ‘ — a ee ee ee ere ‘““My king and master!” she cried, kneeling With an almost tigerish ion she caught up his head and kissed him on the forehead and lips. ‘‘That’s enough. of . sentiment,” he replied, rshl ‘‘ Now cut these accursed bonds!” heart while they galled Y They constricted m lied , Slashing them asunder With a bound The Red Hand gained his feet, Don’t you know what | then shook himself, as a lion just risen from his Ma Lone | lair | ‘‘ Not that kind. I reckon that’s bottled light- ‘Free once more!” he cried. ‘‘ Now let’s see | the hounds retake me!” $$ | } } ' ' ' ’ His rolling eye fell upon The Stranger; yet prostrate and helpless in biebents. 1200 > ‘‘ Ha!” cried the robber chief, “here is one debt yet unpaid! Now, my trussed bird,’ ‘he continued, mockingly, ‘‘ I’m ready to spit you, as you su ‘ natching the knife from the woman’s hand he advanced upon his prostrate foe, with eyes glowing with eavere elight and white teeth gleaming through his shaggy beard like the angs of some beast of prey. As for The Stranger, while'no fluctuation of color, no wavering glance, no quivering muscle gave indication of even a shadow of fear, hemade such an effort to avert instant, death—or better me no brave man need have blush ‘You cowardly cur!” he cried, his wound for- gotten in the storm of; passion that moved hi ‘dare you so much as free one of my hands But it would be glory enough for such a dog oe Ohchovmy bantling! how loud) wi!” , 0, ™m tling! how loudly youcrow! sneered The Red Hand. ‘‘ Tl release, not one, but both your hands. And then let’s see if you left no doubt of his sincerity. can peck in proportion to your racket.” As he spoke he reeled with vertigo induced by the loss of blood’ he had sustained from the wound inflicted by The Stranger’s bullet in the | ' | meaeelt | her in his | her ’ and with a strange feel- | me Bs | | Occidental Saloon. Buta mighty effort of his ‘Oh, Lou!” exclaimed the woman; and with | will sent the blood into his brain; and he e Y w _ forward through the refuse hay ittered the floor of the barn loft... Meanwhile a wonderful ¢ had come over the woman who liberated bi When she first heard The Stranger’s voice and saw his face y the light of a lantern which hung from one of the rafters, she started, dropping the pistols which she still held, with a sudden shrinkin within herself, and d at him with eyes. The longer she looked the more deeply she seemed moved. | “My God! it is he!” she muttered beneath ith a of pain showing in her face, she pressed her hands over her heart, then em to her head with a sense that it was about to burst. For an instant the room spun round; the air seemed turbid and suffocat- ; and she began to gasp hysterically. ut as The Red Hand passed her, he moniously thrust his hand beneath the folds of her shawl and drew forth a knife from its hid- lace, with which he evidently was familiar. this the blood leaped again to her brain, wee army fe vivid realization of the impe tragedy which must result from the meeti these men. Where a moment before she for air she now stood with bated breath, ing back with clasped hands, as if help- less to avert the meeting she dreaded, yet watching the antagonists with eyes that could ;O ed motionless until his | not withdraw themselves. Whatever the past relations between him and the woman, thus far The Stranger had not no- | ticed her particularly, and her presence in no way distracted his attention from his approach- ing foe. Conscious of his own extreme loss of strength, he noted every indication of weakness on the part of The Red Hand. He knew that neither could sustain a protracted struggle. He hoped that he might be able to command sufii- cient strength for one d te effort. The Red Hand reac the side of his pros- trate foe, bent over him, cut his bands and thrust a knife into his hand. As he: rose again he was almost ovércome with vertigo, and clutched at a for support. — But as The ger got upon ‘his feet, he too was struck with a blinding dizziness which he had not felt in his recumbent position, and: was fain to lean inst'the wall, while he passed his hand across his forehead, | Thus pore stood, once giants of prowess, now almost children in their weakness, waiting for strength to begin the contest which was to be to the death. Whether bécause his wound had not told upon him so much, or that the transition between stooping and standing erect was not so great as in the case of The § r, The Red Hand was the first to recover; and balancing himself on his legs, he cried: “Time! Time! Get ready for the dog’s death you meted out to my partner!” ‘‘.__ in crime!” concluded The Stranger, neeacomicbooks.co