Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 -~ me ae ce we a Ce pletely as poor Barnacle Bill himself, So swiftly was the feat performed that even as his huge arms closed around his adversary, the riant found that he was almost paralyzed. His ungs had no room to play, and his really enor- mous strength was reduced. At that moment, had he made the attempt with all his strength and skill, he might have raised the desperado from his feet and cast him backward, adding his great weight to the fall, but his naturally sluggish wits were utterly be- fogged, and ere he could decide what to do, that one chance was forever lost. Steadily Revolver Robinson put his wondrous powers into full play, increasing that dreadful pressure until his hands of steel seemed to eat into the solid flesh, while his swelling bosom grew still closer to that of the luckless giant; tiercer and more deadly grew his gripe, until a gasping, gurgling cry welled forth from the lips of Barnacle Bill, then Revolver Robinson suddenly relaxed his grasp, slid one arm beneath the giant’s thigh and seemingly without au effort raised the huge body to a horizontal posi- tion, holding it thus for a moment before lower- ing it gently to the floor. hen the wild applause burst forth, and among the most enthusiastic voices was that of Dashing Della, who seemed to forget her sex for the moment, in admiration of that wonder- ful exhibition of strength and dexterity. For the moment the awe with which the desperado inspired the majority of those present was for- gotten, and he was a popular idol. Like a bashful youth Revolver Robinson blushed before this unexpected ovation, and then raised his band to command silence as the gasping, bewildered = staggered to his feet. here was a dazed look in his great eyes, and a sickly smile crept over his face as he balanced himself before Revolver Rob and extended a trembling band, saying in a husky tone, frankly and without a trace of malice: “You said you’d do it an’ you did! I tuck you fer a sucker, an’ you was a full.growed whale! The Wall-eyed Pike gives in. He’s ready to climb up the Peak an’ pull the Pike after him. He ain’t got no more use fer these riffles! Good-by, boss—an’ you, anngelifferous madam, farewell fo’ever! e starch is all out ©’ my back-fin, an’ my tail is ferever clipped. I'm goin’ back to whar I kin git up my muskle a-wrastlin’ with grizzly b’ars, afore I tackle chain-ligbtnin’ ag’in!” CHAPTER X. A PLEDGE FOR AN APPARITION. A LITTLE grotesque the speech of the giant, perhaps, but what would have sounded like empty gasconade from common lips, seemed second nature to him, and nothing out of the way. He looked wonderingly at the small white hand which Revolver Rob freely placed in his brawny paw, as though unable to divine from whence bad come that terrible and suffocating and heaved a great sigh as he bowed bis on-like head over the hand of the blonde siren. “Far’well, anngelifferous madam—far’well ferever! It was a squar’ —* an’ old Wall- eye ain’t the man to go back onto his word. his swimmin’ hole hain’t got no more use fer him, an’ he’s gwine back to the kentry whar they don’t do up dynamite an’ niter-glycereen in britches an’ long-tailed coats to make com- mon critters think they is only men! I kin see now that I was a durned fool fer my pains, but I jest got one partin’ wish: may the man 0’ your cboice make ye as happy as the Wall-eyed Pike o’ the Peak ’d ’a’ tried mighty bard to do, ~ it hed bin on the keerds fer you to smile onto im! As though afraid to trust himself to say more, Barnacle Bill dropped the hand of Dash- ing Della and rushed from the room, but leav- ing a far more favorable impression bebind than he had brought with bim. “A genuine diamond, if still in the rough,” said Revolver Robinson, in a low tone to Dash- ing Della. ‘‘I1 am doubly glad that you asked his life at my hands, because it would be a pity to kill such an oddity, and now that you have asked a favor at my hands, it emboldens me to ong one in return.” here was a deep significance in his tones that could not be mistaken, and there came a flush into the fair face of Dashing Della as her eyes sunk before his burning gaze. She ventured no reply, but turned aside and hurriedly took her seat once more at the faro table. Revolver Robinson did the same, but he no longer seemed to feel an interest in the game, and his wonderful run of luck had come to an end, the cards now turning almost as squarely against him, and in the few minutes which be- longed to the first half of the night, his heavy —— were almost wholly absorbed by the ank, Promptly on the first stroke of the clock which bung on the wall above her bead, Dashing Della arose from her seat, though the deal was not yet completed. This was her regular custom—not a card would she turn after the hour of midnight had tolled—and so well known was it that the sudden movement occasioned no comment whatever, while a male dealer stood Rev olver ready to take her place the moment she vacated it. Revolver Robinson also arose, and said ina tone distinctly audible to all: “You must allow me to attend you as far as the door of your hotel, Miss Delsarte, for there was mischief in the eyes of that crazy woman, and she might try to stab you in the dark if alone and unprotected.” Dashing Della made no response, unless a slight bow of consent be thus considered, and together the twain left the Oasis behind them. The heavy brows of tbe gambler contracted as Dashing Della silently ‘gnored the proffer of his arm, and they wal.-c op in silence, not a word passing between them until the door of the hotel in which they both had rooms was reached. Then Dashing Della spoke hurriedly: ‘* Good-night, Mr. Robinson. Of course you will attend the shooting-match to-morrow?’ But her question was passed unheeded, and there was a dogged earnestness in the mauner of the desperado as he said: “The night is young, yet, Della, and with your permission we will not part company just et. In the parlor, if you object to receive me in your own rooms, but there are a few words which I must speak and you listen to, this night.” For a brief space there was silence, and the blonde siren stood with averted head so that her face wes cast into deep shadow: but when she once more turned toward Revolver Robinson, her face was placid, and there was a brilliant light in her speaking eyes. ‘Twice this night have you obeyed me, be- sides rendering me a great service, and I should be acting very ungratefully in denying your first request. Whatever you may have to say, I will listen to, and where there will be no dan- ger of interruption. After all,” and tbere was a slight ring of meyers at if not bitterness in the words, *“‘ why should | care for empty ap- pearances! AmInota branded being—a pro- fessional dealer at a public gambling table? Without waiting for the impetuous reply which sprung to the lips of Revolver Rob, Dash- ing Della turned and ran lightly up the steps vonvaiag f to the hotel entrance, and biding his time, the gambler followed close upon her foot- ste Dashing Della occupied two small rooms on the second floor, and five minutes later she and Revolver Robinson were seated together on a small sofa in the outer apartment, with the door closed and locked, The gambler was no laggard in love, and lost but little time before coming to the point. ‘* You must know what it is I have resolved to say, Della,” he uttered, taking her jeweled hand in both of his,a warm flush upon his handsome face, a brilliant light in his dark eyes. ‘“ My looks and actions must have prepared you for this.” Her blue eyes were downcast, there way a plainly perceptible trembling of the hand which he clasped so warmly, and the color from her cheeks slowly faded away, but she made no an- swer to his inquiring pause. He saw all this, but he drew no unfavorable augury from the signs. “Just one short question—will you be my wife?” | ‘‘ But you know so little of me—” “ Bnough to feel confident that in winnin your love, I will be the most perfectly bl man alive!” was his swift interruption, his eyes glowing ardently. . ‘‘Tam an almost perfect stranger to you,” added Dashing Della, slowly, her eyes still downcast, her face paler than ever. ‘‘ You know nothing of me save what rumor may have whispered, and those whispers, true or false, have not always been of the most compli- mentary nature.” Instantly the desperado flashed up. ‘You are pure as the lily—not the faintest breath of suspicion can rest upon you—” His impetuous speech was interrupted by a short, bard laugh from the red-ripe lips of the blonde siren. ‘* All men do not hold the same opinion—or women, either—as witness the events of this very night.” ‘The man was a drunken ruffian—” ‘* And the woman?” came the swift interpola- tion. The warm flush died away, and the dark brows contracted. The shot was a center one, and plainly rankled. ‘‘ She was crazy, and knew not what she said,” Revolver Robinson slowly replied. ‘‘ Surely you place no dependence in such a wild charge as she made?” ‘Wild, it may be, but of too grave a nature to be entirely ignored after the serious question you have just put me,” said Dashing Della, ber eyes looking searchingly into his. ‘‘ Be frank and honest, as you can be when you wish. What is, what bas that woman been to you?” For a moment the gambler hesitated, but with those searching eyes upon him, seeming to penetrate below the surface and to read his inmost thoughts, be dared not prevaricate or refuse to give the direct answer asked. ‘It is a difficult task which you set me, ed venta natin | | —_——— ——€F Della,” he said, with an uneasy laugh that came only from his lips. ‘* Not that I have been so much to blame,” be added, quickly, as he saw the expression which came into her eyes, “ but it will sound like bragging to say what I must, a rr LLL LLLLLLLLBLLLL LLL SS = ee ee = if vou still persist.” “Can I do otherwise, after what you have asked me—unless, indeed,” she added, quickly, “vou are willing to drop the one matter with the other, for good-and-all!” ‘“‘That 1 will never do, while I can see the faintest glimmer of hope before me,” was the ardent response. ‘* Ask me what questions you will, and Ill answer them truly, without a shade of reservation—I swear it, by my hopes of winning you for my wife!” ‘Your bare word is quite sufficient, for what- ever may be your other failings, I know that lying is not numbered among them,” frankly said cm ne Della. A grateful light came into the dark eyes, but he made no spoken comment, waiting for the catechism. You called that—that lady by name?” ‘‘Tsolina Planillas, yes. Sbe is Mexican born, but of Spanish descent, coming of a rich and honored family who have made their home in the city of Mexico for more years than I can calculate.” ‘‘She made the charge that you wooed and won her, under a different name from the one you now bear—that you robbed and then deserted her.” ‘*One morsel of truth, the rest all false! It is an unpleasant task you set me, Della, but since you have asked for the whole truth, you shall have it. ‘*You know what I am: a gambler, a fire- eater in the eyes of mankind, and a terrible criminal in the estimation of many. Whether I have not bad ample excuse for what sins I may have committed, is not the question now. When you give me the right to do so, if ever, then will be time enough to try and make my- self appear less guilty in your oF Enough for the present that I had g¢g reasons for wearing an assumed name while stopping on Mexican ground. ‘* Under the colors I then elected to wear, I was admitted into the innermost circles, and there I first met Isolina Planillas, the loved and honored wife of a Spanish officer. ‘‘From the very first she seemed to single me out for her brightest smiles, and I was noth- ing loth for a flirtation to pass away the time which bung heavily on my bands, but upon my honor, Della, I never breathed one word into her ears which I would not have been will- ing her mother or her busband should hear. “My stay in Mexico was short, but long enough to set the mad blood of that foolish wo- man on fire, it seems, 1 bade the Planillas adieu one night, and started early the next morning for the border. That night I stopped at a little town, and was just on the point of retiring, when Isolina Planillas, in the garb of a boy, rushed into my room and fell upon my neck, sobbing and begging me to save ber. ‘* Bewildered and confused myself, [ was try- ing to get her to explain, when a half a dozen armed men came rushing into the chamber, with Colonel Planillas at their head, fairly frothing at the mouth as he poured out bitter curses on my head and hers, accusing me of en- ticing her from him. ‘“*T tried to —_—" but he would not listen, drawing and firing a pistol almost in my face, then calling his fellows to show me no mercy, he assaulted me with sword in hand. ‘*]t was not in my nature to stand and be murdered without striking a blew in self de- fense, and I met their attack as best 1 knew ow. ‘* Tt did not last long, but when two of the fellows turned and fled, they left three dead men behind them; and one of the trio was Colonel Planillas. ‘*This was not my first visit to Mexican soil, and from past experience I knew that my only hope of escaping with whole bones lay in speedy flight. But Isolina Planitas was once more hanging around my neck, begging me not to desert her, not to leave her a helpless sacrifice to the relatives of her dead busband. “TI knew that her fears were well founded from my een 5 of Mexican nature in gen- eral, and the Planillas family in particular, so what could I do?’ ‘‘Take her with you,” came the ready reply, and, with a grateful light in his dark eyes, Re- volver Rob continued: ‘‘ And that is what I diddo. I abandoned my baggage, and with Isolina on the horse thus set at liberty, I rode out of town in the face of a scowling mob, whose will was good enough to tear me limb from limb, but whose fear of hard knocks was, luckily for all concerned, still more powerful. “Tf we were chased we were never made aware of the fact, and reached the border in safety. Here I reasoned with the woman the best i knew how, promising to take her wher- ever she should select, suggesting that she stop at some convent until matters could be amicably arranged with her relatives, but all I could say was in vain, She said that } bad taught her the JOO eom ‘S (E (E() ee ee