Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Diamond Dick, The Dandy from Denver.* A True Stery of the Mines of New Mexico. BY “BUCKSKIN SAM,” (MAJOR SAM. S. HALL) AUTHOR OF “‘ KIT CARSON, Jr.,” “* WILD WILL,” ‘re BLACK BRAVO,” .‘‘THE TERRIBLE . TONKAWAY,” ‘* THE LONE ‘STAR GAMBLER,” ETC. . CHAPTER I. “Trer’s a pares: bald-headed lie! I asser: wates hit; *kin back my lingo, which air ited States.” —~ wa: n't aan akin? eou, stranger; an’ ina condish fer pi rers er andlin’ as her », ‘Sides thet, my six air shoved up for w ; * What's yer handle?” 66 Jams!” “a? ‘6 An’ yer says yer knows whar thar’s pocket gold within ten mile o’ Big Med’cin’ City?” ‘‘Thet’s what I said, an’ I spit hit out plain.” ‘* An’ yer heerd my say-so?” “*'Ya-as!” ‘An’ yer don’t ‘low ter take hit up?” _ * Nary one’t—I hain’t got ther dust ter pay fer a coffin, an’ I’m inclinated ter think that one squar’ knock on the ribs ’ud send me ‘ over ther range’ on ther whiz.” ‘*Yer a feeble infant air ye? Coppers burnt out? Git chuck-full every night, an’ then go net’s *bout ther way to put hit, pard; an’ I'm so dang’d nigh gone thet [ doesn’t mind what’s spit at me—I’m a loose link in ther chain, an’ li’ble ter drap off mos’ any time.” “‘ Reckon ye’re ’bout kerrect—sleepin’ in a ole shaft air calkerlated ter give a pilgrim a cough what mought be consintrated on ther breethin’ mersheenery, an’ culmernate in chronic corn- sumption, which air about ther cussedest kind o’ rer what could corral a human crittur. Thet’s solid, Jim Jams, or I’m a condemn’d kiute. I war kinder inclinated ter cause yer ter levant off on yer ear, but_hit wouldn’t be quite kerrect ter hit yer in ther ribs. Let’s kerral *bout four fingers o’ Prussic acid; mebbe so hit’ll wash thet lie down.” “‘By ther grim Moses, thet’ll fit me ter a charm! What’s yer 008 pard?”’ ‘Tm gin’rally called Bowlder Bill down Santa Fe way. Hyer, boss! gi’n us ther best whisk ’yer got in Placer Palace.’ The conversation recorded passed between two men as different from each other in ap - ance as could be imagined, if we except the apparel. » owlder Bill was a big, broad-shouldered, burly w, dressed in rough miner’s costume; red shirt, coarse pantaloons tucked into the tops of cow-hide boots, amd a greasy slouch hat. He carried the usual arms—a bowie-knife and a Colt’s revolver buckled about his waist. Jim Jamswas small in stature, thin to emaci- ation, and paleasacorpse. His ppething resem- bled Bowlder Bill’s, except that it was worn and ragged, and his belt was minus the arms. These two men, as their conversation indi- cated, had met for the first time. Pill had made ready use of the words which commence our narrative, upon overhearing Jim Jams as- sert to the bar-keeper that he knew of pocket- gold deposits within ten miles of the town. lacer Palace was claimed to be the best hotel in Big Medicine City, but the principal accommodations eonsisted of but four rooms, which were over the bar and gambling room, the last named being back of the former, in fact, both in one, ' The city lf was a newly-located mining town of some forty shanties, and was about twenty miles from Taos, New Mexico. _ Bowlder Bilt had been drinking heavy—this was evident—and had arrived at that stage of intoxication which caused him to use the strongest d most insultin 2 whether he was co "10e to pick a a as ough, for he had been seated mec. t. hour upon a bench, and rou himself to vy = some plan by wh he could get the drink that was so ee a = | Spring fee! ‘an idea — across the floor and, in mportant manner, had announced to the “ber Beeper, in a low * George Mc@lellan, a living character of to-day. , —AUTHOR. -confid ‘the wreck of a man with whom to hold his mind on the borders of a | voice. and what he wished to be considered a ential way, the discovery which he pro- fessed to have made, This important piece of intelligence could not fail, he thought, to have a sta ling effect upon the vender of “‘ bug- juice,” and induce him to treat. Bowlder Bill, owever, had overheard the remark, and **p in his oar,” as we have recorded. © | The bar-keeper—Taos Tim, so called—knew that Jim Jams had not been a mile from Big Medicine City in three months, and the words of the poor sot merely went in one ear and out of the other; but when Bowlder Bill interrupted with his insulting remark, Taos Tim, although he said nothing, was as mad as a scorched “rattler,” and made up his mind if the burly miner laid a hand on Jim Jams he’d put a Com- stock funnel through his anatomy. Thus matters stood when Bowlder Bill ordered the drinks, With the exception of the three characters memeqneds the bar was deserted. But half a dozen tables in the rear part of the building were crowded with the variously attired peo- ple of the plains and’*men of the mountains; among whom were miners, cow-boys, specu- lators, rancheros and teamsters, Huropeans, Americans and Mexicanos. But this was some pay feet distant from the bar. All were so intent upon the games of monte, faro and roulette, that it must be a noisy clamor iadeed which could draw their atten- tion; but when once their minds were attracted to anything more exciting than the fast flippi cards, or the rattle of the marbles that so sel- dom ‘‘ struck” the *‘ eagle-bird,” they were as one man moved here and there by their passions or emotions—a resistless mob, to whom excite- ment was as necessary as food and drink. Taos Tim go a bottle to Jim Jams; and a glass to each, meanwhile*eying Bowlder Bill with a suspicious glance, “Does yer call that a squar’ deal, pard?” asked the miner, with an indignant look at Taos Tim. ‘+ What > 4 you have reference to?” ‘Why, shovin’ ther whisk’ ter that pilgrim fust off. Ain’t I slingin’ ther dust fer this hyer ison?” ‘Well, I me you intend to do so, but I took you for a'‘gentleman ”—this, with some- thing of sarcasm—‘‘and a got eman who treats a friend always passes the le to his pard before he pours out his own liquid refresh- ments. I saved you the trouble, and you ought to thank me.” It was evident that Bill could not exactly take in and digest the words of Taos Tim, and arrive at any positive conclusion whether the bar-keeper was favorably disposed toward him or not; but by his looks and manner the bully felt that, in the event of his getting into any personal difficulty, the man behind the bar would be ‘‘ dead ag’in’ him.” Jim Jams, who, by the way, seemed to have been Yor appropriately named, poured out his glass full to the brim, and Bill, noticing this, and also that the bar-keeper made no remon- strance, knew that his picked-up and broken- down was respected in the, establishment, notwithstanding his poverty and wretched.con- dition. He therefore decided that he had made a mistake in more ways t one, by insulting e clicked glasses. ‘* Hyer’s oe yer lungs Il heal up, pard, an’ that yer'll strike pocket-gold within ten mile o’ Big Med’cin’ City, fer I knows yer pons $A nag ngth ter pick as quartz er pap- sana, ‘Td like mighty well ter scoop in ’nuff ter bury me decent, an’ sock up a head-stone. But hyer’s another nail in my coffin!” Jim Jams raised his glass with both tremb- ling hands, spilling some of the liquor, notwith- standing this precaution. ‘‘ Hit’s a cough what’s goin’ ter flop yer inter yer coffin, pard, Ha! ha! hal’ and tossing a gold eagle on the bar, Bowlder Bill drew bis sleeve across his bearded li re an upward ull to his helt on each side, then gathered u change, back a quarter, as be di ing | d saying: two! Reckon we doesn’t often , corn-cob er a nythin’ but a ‘ase when we does; we'll kerral Serres tet had cleared their eyes and brain, as indeed it had, and they wished to y, each his new iend’s char oth, swayi oved in a gentle breeze, gaz each other’s eyes for a mo- ment, and then Bowlder Bill extended his ke, pard! Reckon ti at Bill and asked: . ) ‘‘ Are you a stranger in this section?” ‘‘Ya-as. I’m down from ther range. Never crossed ther Col’rado line. Bin meanderin’ from Port Yuma ter Tucson; from thar ter El Paso, an’ up ter Sanba Fe. Down an’ up ag’in like saplings ” oe oe tp JAaVvor ye | Lh TL gets in his imagination, but t Diamond Dick, the Dandy from.Denver. hit has bin fer some consid’able periods, but I never hev raked in extry dust enough ter skute back ter ther States in style.” “How long a time have you been in this burg, if I’m not too inquisitive?” ‘‘ Jist ’roved ter-day, Don’t keer ’bout yer bein’ quisitive et all. I’m out an’ out white, with a clean trail, an’ I air a-feelin’ bad coz I lit down on Jim Jams hea I war purty nigh blind with forty-rod a what I poured down fore I struck up street. I war in at ther ‘“‘ Quartz (Jueen,” an’ [ didn’t know Jim ams war a sick paein though I thought he ooked kinder skim-milkish, I cut round Taos, an’ purspected fer ten mile ’bove hyer, an’ I know mighty well thar ain’t no show up ther range fer pay-dirt, pocket-gold, er yaller quartz, ‘ceptin’ right hyer at Big Med’ein City.” ‘That was only an idea of Jim Jams, born of drink,” said Taos Tim, smiling, evidently having oemgec his mind as*to the character of Bill. “He thinks, however, that it is a dead sure thing, and is dreaming about it now, I reckon. Poor fellow! he ore rakes in the nug- ey do him just as much good in that way, for it would all go — and in yonder, if he owned the Comstock mine. Bowlder Bill cast a glance over his shoulder, for’he was leaning upon the bar. | Jim Jams was again seated on the bench sound asleep, his head thrown back, and his emaciated features, showing traces of manly beauty, now ma by disease and dissipation. ‘‘He doesn’t "pear like he war low-born, ef he does w’ar rags an’ sling hashed lingo.” = he man, he used to wear boiled shirts and a plug hat! He was a slam-up gentleman when he struck the range, and had poenty of food some , | ays, but he has crop t since he got reduced to Pie you sep hi “Yer doesn’t say!” Fact!” and Taos Tim tossed off the cock- tail he had been mixing with great care. wider Bill walked to the bench, seated him- elf and gazed with interest upon the face of s Jim Jams. At this moment a heavy-built man, of ah nouscular h, and at least a head er than Bowl ill, walked hastily from the crowded gaming tables up to the bar, brought — — upon the counter with a bang, and called out: “ Bu’ by Christopher! double dieting, damna ion!” Gimme a drink o’ Swallowing the liquor at a single , the new-comer cursed “about, Oe BP Fak against the bar, and with an ugly scowl] upon his rough-bearded face, and his black eyes flash- ing from beneath beetling brows that met and mingled over a red sun-burned nose. He looked ae aheafl“at the slabs that formed the side of the building, seeming ob- livious of the presence of the two men on the bench, and indulged in soliloquy which be 00 doubt wished to be overheard and noted: ““T’d like danged well ter know if ther cuss run in a cold deck on me! If I war sure, I'd either put as many holes in him as there is in a perforated plaster, or start a lynch pic-nic on him. Homsomever, thar’s more’n Pueblo Pete gut tuck in, I reckon lll hev ter corn- solerdate with some tender-foot, puttin’ ™ cheek an’ fightin’ qualities ag’in’ his capital. Wish’d I'd ’a’ stayed in Utah!” Lowering his voice now, to prevent his words being overheard, the huge borderer continued: ‘*Wonder when ther cap’n I! ’rove, an’ make a break fer this hyer burg? Reckon he’ll hev ter shove some duster inter my pouch ‘fore | = him this billy-doo what I gut outen ther aos post-office.” So saying, Pueblo Pete, as he designated him- self, pulled a letter from his poueb, and slowly spelled out to himself the superscription :— ‘6 © G-e-o-r-g-e H-o-l-b-r-00-k!’ . ‘‘Reckon thet air his right handle, an’ I hes ther deal on him, ef I wants ter take a hand in a sly game. He must ’a’ bin raised whar ther letter comes from, an’ bit’s post-marked ““< O-g-d-e-n-s-b-u-1-g, N-e-w Y-c-r-k!’ “ He air a boss pard fer a flat-broke pilgrim; I’m a- n’ on that! » Dog-gone—” The solil y of Pueblo Pete was here inter- rupted by. sudden appearance around the screen, ich stood opposite the street entrance of Placer Palace, of a young man, the sight of whom ca the occupants of the bar to hold their breath in the utmost astonishment. CHAPTER II. A RETROSPECT. | would now call the reader’s attention _— the sof cal Rocky Mountains to the utifully s and a eity of Og- densburg, on the verdant banks of the St. Law- an elevation above the business portion of the town, situated on one of side streets in the suburbs eg e old-fashioned mansion from the veranda of which, and also from many of its windows, can be had an ex- tended view of the noble river that some forty miles nearer Ontario’s Lake, ripples lovingly or JOO COmiGc CS col oy ~ ” — _—ap \w