Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

. farthing, and miners who might have both | mea As the eyes of this pew-comer were every- where he saw the two conferring together, and on the instant gave a great start. Then, bend- ing forward in the saddle, he touched his horse with his spurs, and went by at a gallop, giving another short, sharp glance, just as Wilkins and the landlord turned toward the open door. “Who is that?” hastily asked the trouble- casual look at the bent form that flew past t almost racing speed. “That? Oh, that is Colonel Dashwood. Smart man; often stops bere, but find him oftener at the Star. He’s farming sheep for all the thing’s worth, an’ ‘ll get ricb if he don’t lose it all fingering the pasteboards too much. Wish he’d ‘stopped in; you dught to meet the colonel. He could post you up, an’ mebbe take you through himself. He just about rans this town.” But as the original question was only asked through momentary curiosity, the subject was dropped; and even had it been pursued ever so far the two could hardly bave dreamed of the strange leok upon the face of the colonel as he galloped on through the camp, and finally dis- mounted near a rum-mill of the harder sort, known as Hoodlum Hall. He entered that delectable resort-in a furtive sort of way, and remained there some time. That evening, before starting out on the pro- jected visit, the mature of which he did not confide to Kate, Wilkins tooka generous pull from the private flask ef his host, and then fol- lowed without the faintest show of hesitation. {t was evident that, though be might have fears of some kind or other, they were not for the roughs and hard cases he. might meet in a a mining town. When they arrived the Star was in the. full swing of its rushing business, and they entered without attracting any attention. Fritz, the proprietor, and his assistants, were busy as bees; and Wilkins and his conductor tovuk up their position at a vacant table near the bar, where they would have a good oppor- tunity of seeing tue frequenters of the room, There were plenty of men, though. this. was an off night at the Stur, but there was none there that particularly attracted Wilkins. The crowd seemed to be composed of but nw classes; villainous, hang-dog looking men, to whom he would not intrust the value of a [ guest, though he did not give more than houesty and nerve, but hardly the care and skill on which he could confidently rely. Wilkins’s face was growing long, and there was a look of weariness in his eyes. He had just about made up his mind to take leave of the place when through the door there came the man who bad tried that afternoon to sell him the three-legged pony; and immediately behind him a man who at once attracted his attention. - He was a well-built, sinewy man, quiet in dress and manner, with a soft gray eye, bronze beard and mustache, and a light, quiet step. From the way he glanced around him it was evident that he was a stranger in the place, though he was one to fall naturally into its ways. He stopped a moment at the bar, after the usual formula, and then advanced to tbe doorway that led into a smaller room, where the was done. “That’s my man, if Ican get him,” whis- pered Wilkins, a ‘“‘That man in the white shirt, He’s man for a thousand. Move up a little + hem I want to watch him.” The devotees of fortune ogous bud their choice of games at the Star; for, in to short cards, there was a faro ager and when business justified, and the Mexican dealer, Pedro 0, Was present, a monte table added to the attractions. The stranger in the bronze beard invested a few dollars.in only ventured small amounts, but winning or losing he remained just the same. ’. Meantime Wilkins and the hotel-keeper, hav- ing followed into the were ac- ecsted by a man who rose from one of the side tables af their appearance, Pistol Pards. ee ee eee ee | addition | dealing for stocks without a flyer.”’ be down here herding sheep. I'd be in ’Frisco, | seizing the infuriated man by throat and thigh | he tore him from his feet and flung him to the The speaker was Colonel Dashwood, and ' floor. though his words were addressed to Mitchell his eyes, from time to time, were fixed upon Wilkins, with a keen, questioning, and. even anxious look, But Wilkins was studying the face of the man at the faro table, and scarcely heard a word until his companion touched bim lightly on the shoulder and introduced. him to the col- onel, at the same time remarking: ‘*Colonel Dashwood was just bantering us for a game; but I told him we’re only lookin’ on to-night, and I’Jl allow he kin swamp me without tryin’ half. keards, ez well ez everything else. afore I begin, an’ save my bacon.”’ ‘*Oh, come’ now, Mitehell, I’m no sharp, | and you know it. Just a summer game fera | little amusement won't hurt anybody.” Mitchell made some laughing remark and } floor at once. | tumble fighter. Then, with heels drooping down, ready to mash his face beyond recognition, the colonel sprung into the air, immediately. above the head of Wilkins. CHAPTER III. PINNED TO THE WALL, It is a question whether pistol and knife are nearly as brutal as the ways of a rough-and- Everything passed so quickly that Mitchell had not time to interfere. Be- fore he could guess what was coming his com- He’s ,a four-decker at | panion was down, Dashwood was springing Pi quit | upon him, and he actually turned his face away as he recognized the intent of the latter. But the heels of Colonel Dashwood, expert fighter though he was, did not land upon the face of Wilkins; nor did they even strike the As he leaped, one of the by- thought that the thing would end there, but | standers bent quietly forward and caught him Dashwood was persistent, though he managed on the fly, turning him around with a strength to avoid being at all offensive, and by and by |, even greater than his own, aud flinging Wilkins, upon whom, perhaps, the whisky be the further end of the room, him to It, was _ the had taken had made some impression, sug- | bronze-bearded. man who_ had attracted. the gested that as they were in Rome they might attention of Wilkins, who thus interfered. as well play cards with the Romans, provided | Then he stood quietly looking on, as though they were not going to pay too high for their | his.concern with the affair had end initiation. Between a smile aud a sigh Mitchell gave his assent, and the three adjourned to a small side table in the further corner of the room, ‘* Shall we hunt a fourth man; or shall we just have a little tea party of our own?’ asked the colonel, as they seated themselves; of course his actions showed.that bis preference was for the latter. “ Three will be company enough in this case, for it’s not. worth while to trouble any one else to. join in for the hand.or two that I will play.” ‘ Just-as you have it,” said the colonel, and the eards being produced the game, began, ‘ Although be bad stated that. he bad not touched cards for years, it was at once ap- parent that Wilkins was no. novice in the art of poker, He shuffled and dealt with all the grace of an, expert; and what was more, he won steadily, though but little; and Mitchell, finding that the run of luck was against him held out without any regard for his reputation as a man of nerve, and finally jumped the game. It turned out not to be a summer game, of a few hands, either, for the end of .anm ‘hour found the two men facing each other with the gambling fire hot in their eyes,.and several thousand dollars spread out on the table be- tween them. Around was a crowd of spectators, deeply in- terested; for Colonel Dashwood was well known at the Star, and rough though they were the majority were his friends, and seemed aston- ished that this stranger should be so vqedly a winner. Mitchell was troubled, too, but in a different way. He watched the colonel closely, though in a furtive way. He felt that there was something wrong brewing, though the crisis came in a way he hardly expected. As Wilkins drew in a hundred dollars on a hand of four kna@es there was an ominous twinkle in Dashwood’s. eyes, as be quietly said: Excuse me, but Ill take that pot, if you please.” Wilkins looked up sharply. “You called your hand at three There’s hardly any nonsense about you.” ‘Three queens was the heft of my hand; but behind them is another Jack. This pack has five jacks, and you put the odd one in. I thought it queer that you held fours so often. If these peeks Ng migakooaty yr up your sleeve, 1 wouldn’t be surprised if they found more of the same sort.”’ “Warp it to him, kunnel,” shouted mal by- stander. “ Thar’s ther ace of spades under stool, whar it dropped. He's a Ava ona shark, . kim here to play sharp,” Wilkins did not notice this harsh interrup- king. Dashwood sprung bis trap with a delighted If Fhad had your cool head I'd not ' svarl, No weapon did he draw, eatin but a) * “See byer, boys, | reckon none of you The spectators knew. better than that, and their attention was so thoroughly centered on him that Mitchell had a chance to drag his friend out of barm’s way. Up from the. floor sprung the colonel; glar- ing around him, uncertain, upon. w om to wreak his wrath, since he had not i assailant.atall. —_. ‘‘Where is the hound that caught me from behind?” he shouted. _ ‘‘ Was it. that milk.and- water fraud from the Seven Angels? Who- ever it was, I'll have his blood; his heart’s blood!” The bronze-bearded man had no ition of shirking the responsibility, but before he could speak another voice chipped in: , “Tt reckon it must be me you're shoutin’ fur; but I wouldn’t talk quite so strong; not quite sostrong, .I rile, myself, sometimes; ‘specially when lve got hold oy ther long. end ~er, ther string, eal hes this time, Yer a an’ a Bees au’ ef yer don’t like that, I’m yer dough- u » It was Alabaster Jim, proclaiming himself, and hp coolly slid in front of the, bronze- ed man, who stood immovable and with folded arms, neither shunning nor seeking a fray. Toward his waist dropped the hand of the colonel, as he sprung straight toward his chal- lenger, and half-way from its sheath rose his ready knife; but Alabaster Jim was as quick with hand and foot as with tongue. Wi any apparent effort, he gave an u ted bound, and then threw his right fist straight from the shoulder out, Again Dashwood struck the floor, nearly leveling two or three men in his journey, the force of his fall being in that way b en a little, but his head none the less feeling the effects of the good, solid blow, that almost bereft him of his senses. At this a bowl arose. So far, no one had time to interfere; but now, Alabaster Jim hav- ing attracted all attention to himself, the by- standers seemed inclined to take hold wheie “Dashwood was leaving off. Up sprung one Dave Hawley, the boss of Hoodlum. Hall, caiat ing with grimy finger at Alabaster Ji ws this chap, an’ none of ye wants so so we'd better waltz him outer. He’s a ecard sharp, an’ a an’ ther s e pardner ov ther cuss ther kunnel caught cheatin’, We don’t want noskin games byer, fur, ef a man can’t sit down to a squar’ deal an’ fair plav thar ain’c no use, for pasteboards. Yer aii Ma fn one Koei an’ wring ther ner bo.d- out keerds, an’ 4 sorts from a cold deck, an an’ b ow ie Ta headed -ayek chipped in. > Aopen Vp ore wo on ’em five minutes to git out ov town, an’ ride this ’un out on a ridge-pole "Halt a denen Yoices joined in, with such words as « That’s the. talk: Give ’em the grand bounce!” to ee : po poy Ehooks (EC)