Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 173 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

<< - ~ absent. Ps . : ee -_-—_——_—-— —_——_— = indicate when it was written, or where, or by whom,” ‘‘It is in a woman’s hand and threatens ven- geance, and from the appearance of the paper if was penned some years ago; I am sure if was before I left my convent to accompany this man on his wild, dangerous and uncertain life, for,ever since I have known anything about him he has been afraid of secret foes; he was constantly on the move and constantly taking particular care to cover up his movements so as to prevent any one from following him. If he designed to proceed southward, he invariably said that be intended to gotothenorth. Never, by any chance, did he reveal to a single soul the true direction whither he bad made up his mind to wend his way. Nor did he even trust me with the secret. I knew no more when we set out where our journey would end than if I had been a perfect stranger to him. Often I sur- mised that the name he pore was not bis true appellation; often did I think that he must have great cause for fear or else he would not take so many precautions, for in all things else he was one of the most bold and reckless of men.” ‘Tn Heaven’s name, miss, what bond of union was there between such a fair young creature as yourself and this man who was evidently an adventurer of the worst type?” exclaimecl the Californian, unable to restrain the curiosity that devoured him. ‘‘He was my father!” ** Your father!” *‘Or at least he claimed to be, although he never bestowed upon me a nt’s care ora arent’s tenderness,” the girl replied, bitterly. ‘My lifeis all wrapped up in mystery. From early childhood I have been the inmate of a eonvent. My first remembrances are of the soft-voiced, pleasant-faced sisters and the old stone walis that harbored them. And then, when I grew older, childlike, I was curious for the story of my life. Brief and unsubstantial indeed was the tale thesistersknew. I had been brought there when an infant by a gentleman who stated that cruel death had deprived him of his wife, and being about to set out on a long and perilous journey he desired to place his child in good, careful hands while he should be he bills for my maintenance were paid regularly, but I never saw him until I was about ten years old; then he came one day to see me, but even then his coldness chilled the irlish love swelling up in my heart, and I ooked upon bim with more awe than affection. At that time he told me that, when I was five years older, he would come and take me awa with him; and he was F aphae y to his word, for on the very day I was fifteen he re- moved me from the convent. He took me from that quiet, peaceful, holy life and with him I plunged at once into the world’s vortex. Five long, weary, tedious years did the man who called himself my fatber spend in training me to the purpose for which he had in- tended me ever since I was a child. And be- cause he thought that I was suited to his scheme did he provide for me. Fate had willed that I should grow to womanhood with a face calcu- lated to prove attractive—to win friends. Upon that fact he shrewdly calculated. I was - to be the decoy to win dupes to his nets, there to be fleeced of their gold. And for five years there has been a constant struggle in my breast between the teaching of the good sisters who reared me and the advice of this demon—for _——s such -he really was, whether my father or no. _ slowly descending to his level. Step by step he undertook to supplant their pious instructions with the cunning sophistry of the world. Little by little [ felt that I was I was becoming desperate. A hundred times at least I have re solved to fly from him and seek to gain an honest living, far from these wild scenes of lawlessness and vice, but then my early teach- “+ 5 Wiggs to my mind, and my heart said that if he was my father it was my duty to stay with him and strive with all my feeble power to induce him to lead a better life. The end came at last—the violent and bloody death to which I have looked forward for so many long weeks. I felt sure that it would come, some time, for such a death is but the natura! ending to such a life; but I did not think he would be stricken down in the silence of the night by an unknown hand; rather, I thought the end would come in some desperate brawl which so fre- quently disgraces the infant settlements of the frontier. He claimed to be my father: his money has nourished me, and yet now that he has gone to that long home from whence there is no returning, I cannot feel for him the sorrow whict. I should feel if he was really and truly my parent. The confession is a frank one; Iam ashamed to make it, and yet it is the truth. I think sometimes that I have a heart of iron.” | Sorrowful indeed was both the face and the voice of the girl, and the Califorvian casily un- derstood that the strange life which she bad led | since leaving her convent had made her old be- yond her years. , ‘Instinct is often a safe guide in such mat- ters,” he observed, ‘‘and without knowing any more of the facts than what I have learned from your recital, I feel quite certain that this | man was no kin to you; but whether a relative or not, of one thing I can assure you, and that is—his death does not lie at my door.” ‘Oh, I feel sure of that!” she exclaimed, im- mediately. ‘‘The moment I knew you were uccused of the murder something within told me you were innocent, and this is the reason why | have now come to endeavor to save you.” ‘* To save me?” the Fresh demanded, in sur- prise. ‘Yes; I have succeeded in my design to gain a private interview with you, and now cannot , you arrange a plan so that by my aid you will e enabled to escape?” Many times in his life had the adventurer been surprised, but never more than now. Alone and helpless, ba had proclaimed him- self; no friend near, either nfan or woman; but lo! the min had come, and now appeared the woman, to say nothing of the Doctor, whose friendsbip was founded entirely: upon sordid motives. ‘You have quick wits; can you not devise | have wealth to stake upon the hazar ‘See; I | die, or, tospeak more correctly, upon the un- some plan of escape?” she continued. have brought you a weapon,” and from. the folds of her dress she produced a good-sized re- volver and a box of cartridges, ‘‘L am ever so much obliged to you!” he ex- Claimed, gratefully, as he hid the revolver within his breast and dropped the box of car- tridges into his pocket. ‘* And really, this is so unexpected. You are about the last person in the world to whom I should have thought of looking for aid, but in this pinch friends seem to spring up around me on every side. Why, even the little Doctor came with a proposition to help me beat the game of these gentlemen who are so hungry for my life, but I was not well heeled enough with dust to buy his. ser- vices.” ‘* Perhaps it would be well for me fo see him,” the girl observed ec xlegg **Do as you please about that, but the best scheme that occurs to me is one that by your aid I think will succeed. When the time comes for my execution be you on the spot with a swift horse. Contrive to dismount in my im- mediate neighborhood; then [ will take advan- tage of the first favorable chance that occurs to draw my pistols and make a dash for liberty. If I can gain the back of the horse and the chances are that I will be able to so in the con- fusion, there is hope of escaping the rope.” A few more words passed between the two in regard to the details of the plan, and then, call- ing the sheriff, the lady departed. er coming was a surprise, her iar ge in com- ing a greater one, but there were still more sur- prises in store for the Fresh that night. CHAPTER XVI. HAIRPIN’S LITTLE GAME. AFTER the lady departed the sheriff inquired of the prisoner if he couldn’t ‘‘ tackle a leetle ash,’ and upon being answered in the affirma- tive, at once proceeded to order in the supper, and it was as good a meal as the restaurant of vhe Grand Central Hotel could get up, too, or at any rate so the mule-skinner declared, and (as he said himself) he wasn’t usually far out of the ay whar ” eating was concerned. ter supper was over and the dishes re- moved the two, sheriff and prisoner, sat down to another sociable game of cards, and as card- playing without money on the table is not ac- cording to Hoyle, in Gold Land, the Fresh always willing to be accommodating, sugges the means by which Hairpin, who was com- pletely ‘‘ bu’sted,” could raise a stake. His first suggestion was that the sheriff might get a loan from some of his acquaintances in the sa- loon, but Hairpin shook his head, “What's the matter? Ain’t you well ac- quainted in this town?” “1 bet yer! and that’s whar thar ain't bottom to the road, They know me too well. You see, I’ve gone broke in this hyer town afore and have raised a stake hyer, too, but I allers did hate to be pestered ’bout money, and when the cusses came round, a-shooting off their mouths ’bout their muney, I jest whaled them, and that’s how my credit has gone bu’st.” “‘ Ever raised any money on a note?’ ““Onc’t; outen a leetie Jew cuss wot kept a store down to Hualpais. I got a twenty-dollar outfit, paid him ten cash and gi’n him my note for tother ten. Wa-al, when the time was up, I couldn’t raise the blind and the cuss ’lowed he tt, going to have the law on me, so I made him eat it.” ** Kat what?” ‘The note, in course, and thar ain’t ary man in this town that has wanted to take my note since,” ‘Well, under the circumstances, I am not surprised. Then you can’t raise a stake any- way you can fix it?” ‘* Nohow that I knows on,” replied the other, disconsolately. ‘* Nice pair of revolvers. you have got there,” the Fresh remarked, casting a critical eye upon the sheriff’s excellent tools. os They ought to be good, I paid fifty dollars for ’em.” ' ** Honest?” ** Honor bright or ’m a Dutchman!” | California John, the Pacific Thoroughbred. ‘ ' ' | { NN LBBB LLL LLL LLL LL LT teeta EE —_———Es 6c Pretty good pair of boots that you have got on.’ ‘‘ Fifteen dollars up at Prescott’s or I’m a hoss-thief!” ‘* Not a bad pair of pantaloons, and that is a pretty good shirt—might be a little cleaner, but that 1s no matter,” ‘‘Say! what in thunder air you a-driving at, apy way ?”’ ‘**How much is the whole outfit worth just as you stand, from head to foot?’ ** W bat do you want to know for?’ “Why, 4 will buy it of you, and then you'll have a stake to gamble on.”’ The big fellow blinked like an owl for a few minutes as he reflected upon this astounding proposition, “Say, you're getting a leetle looney, ain’t er? ‘“Nary time, old man! It is a fair proposi- tion. Iwill buy the entire outfit, one or two articles at a time, if you like, and then you wil! of the certain turn of the more uncertain card.” “Durned if Idon’t doit!” cried Hairpin, af- ter thinking over the matter for a few me- ments, the novelty of the idea pleasing his fancy. ‘‘ButshallI shuck the things in case you win them?” “Oh, no, that won’t be necessary; in case I skin you I will make a willand ia it leave in- structions how everything shall be disposed of after I shuffle off this mortal coil.” re Bully for you! You're a brick, every time, and don’t you forget it!” Then the twain, like a pair of old-clothes dealers, proceeded to discuss and fix the value of the different arficles eppertaining to the out- fit of the favorite son of Hualpais. This took up some little time, for, as Hairpin observed, it was a very weighty matter, but an agreement was reached at last and then the sale proceeded. The sheriff objected to selling the whole outfit in a step because, as he justly observed, twenty-five dollars was quite potash to start on, for the ‘‘ ante” had been fixed at two bits—the lowest piece of money that Ari- zona, acknowledges—and the “limit” at five dollars, so that it wouldn’t cost a man a fortune to “‘straddle.the blind,” as some mysterious operation of regal ‘“‘ poker” is called. And then, too, fortune might favor the clothes- seller, and if fortune was good and he was gourd to himself by slip deals, why, twenty-five dol. lars was ample capital for a man to win a smal! fortune. So Hairpin again put forth his utmost en- deavors, but all to no purpose. Either the Fresh was extraordinarily skillful at handling the papers, or else he was wonderfully Iucky. henever the pot was a big one the Cali- fornian was bound to capture it; whenever it was small and not worth having, then Hairpin was sure to have an invincible combination. Play as carefully as he could, cheat as cunning- 8 as he might, slowly, one by one, the mule- skinner saw the articles which composed his outfit ae away from him. At twelve o’clock all that Hairpin had left was bis boots. Hat, shirt, revolvers, knife, belt, pantaloons— all had been won by the remorseless adversary ; the big boots alone remained. ‘You ought to low me ’bout twenty dollars on these hyer boots,” the big keeper growlec, ina most disconsolate way, as he shuffled the cards for a fresh deal. ‘‘ Just as you say, pardner; it is against my religion to crowd a man when he is going down-hill,” the Fresh assured. ‘‘ Twenty dol- lars for the boots,” and he shoved the coin across the table. Just at this moment Keno Bill and the cap- tain came in. **T. am going to close up the ranch, Hair- in,” Bill said, “and I thought I would take a ook and see that everything was all right afore I turned in,” ‘‘Evenything is all O. K. I tell you I am jest the kind of man to tie tu in any sich leetie affair as thig hyer.” ' ‘ Having a little game?” the captain observed, noticing the cards and money upon the table. ** Just to Le es the time away,” John ex- plained. ‘‘Wouldn’t you like to sit down and take a hand?” But, Bill wasn’t in any mood for such fun, and turned impatiently away. ‘‘Keep a good look-out, Hairpin; remember we hold you responsible for the prisoner.” ‘Oh, that is all right; you kin hang me if he gits away, every time!” Apparently assured the pair departed, and again the sheriff and the prisoner plunged into the mysteries of the fascinating game of poker. An hour passed, and for the first time that night fortune seemed disposed to-smile upon the big fellow, but it was only a little streak of good luck which was rapidly succeeded by still worse fortune than before. At the end of the hour the boots were gone and the mule-driver sat naked, metaphorically speaking, before his antagonist, ‘‘Wa-al, durn my skin if ever see’d sich luek since I war hatched!” Hairpin exclaimed, in ut- ter despair. G JOO! Le... “com aid , (El @) | ) * a J . £ , wee .