Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

— ee Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. dashes madly around the gtfass-fringed banks of the Thousand Islands. The tewn of Prescott opposite, on the Canada side, is also in plain view; and nc more oon jocation for a summer home can be found on the American continent. A beautiful flewer-garden, laid out in great taste and showing the constant care of female hands, extends from the porch down a gentile decline to the ornamental fence which separates the grounds from the public street. Some ten acres of land is included in the space within which the mansion stands; and this is mostly filled with ancient apple trees, although near the dwelling, and im the rear of the same, is an orchard containing pears and various other fruits. In short, peace, nee com- fort and refinement are indicated, although the place is situated within the limits of a consider- able city. : Some three months previous to the events that are recorded in our first chapter, two ladies, one middle- the other quite old, sat on. the veranda of which we have spoken. They were slowly rocking back and forth in those roomy, old-fashion 0 chairs so common in Yan- | bring him success in life. You remember how Maine. Oh, mother! what will he say when he hears of all this di and death? I feel al- most certain that when he knows the facts he will follow that wretch Holbrook to the ends of the earth, and shoot him down like a dog!” ‘“‘T know well what his energy and temper | are,” said the mother; ‘‘ but he is only a boy— my baby, as I call him. I fear he will never again be contented at home; he was always dis- posed to be wayward and wandering. On all these Jong expeditions that he has taken, he has occupied himself with other things besides bunt- ing and fishing. He has kept up his favorite 3 the new-comer was more embarrassed than was usual with bim, when the unexpected order broke on bis ear. Hastily he opened the bottle. ‘‘Two glasses—you and myself,” said the stranger, tapping the bar lightly with his whip. ‘* Here’s another gentleman who will perhaps join us,” he said, feigning to have observed eblo Pete for the first time; “‘and there are two more. Give'us another bottle.” So saying he beckoned to Bowlder Bill, and made a gesture indicating that he wished the latter to awaken his pard. In a moment after, all four men stood at the study of botany, and I am sure has gathered a | bar; Jim Jams, winking, blinking, and trem- ares deal of information in regard to the me- icinal uses of herbs.” There was a tone that denoted no little pride | in her son, in the old lady’s voice; but she re- sumed her knitting, and soon the conversation drifted from their common grief entirely to the discussion of the absent and evidently favorite one, ‘*T feel assured,” said the younger lady, “‘ that George’s self-confidence, which has always, as he says, carried him through tight places, will kee-land, both oceupied with their knitting, and | he won the great snow-shoe or racket race from the older of the two occasionally glancing at Malone across country to St. Regis, and carried | away the prize at the skating tournament on her companion in apparent solicitude if not anxiety. The younger lady had the appearance of one who was suffering in mind; and the same to some degree affected her companion, but in the latter it was seemingly suppressed on her ac- count. The one was about forty-five years of age, and still attractive in face and form; tbe other was apparently four-score, small in stature, and quite attenuated, but her dark, flashing and piercing eyes, and nervous motion had yet not a little of the fire of youth. ‘Mary McCiellan,” at last spoke the old lady, in an impatient tone of voice, glancing up from ber work as she did so, ‘“‘you are worrying yourself almost todeath. You do not act natu- rally of late. What has ha cannot now be remedied, and we must bow to the will of ” ‘*T fully realize that it is as you say, replied the lady addressed as Mary McClellan, but I cannot control my thoughts, or my grief.” She dropped her hands heavily on her lap, and continued in an earnest manner, bending to- ward her companion as she spoke, emphatically : ‘*Mother! Agnes Corleise McClellan! you suppose that a family was overwhelmed by disgrace and death in so short a time before since this world was first created, unless death came in the form of some terrible accident? Do you suppose that any woman was ever called upon to suffer such anguish of mind thro the perfidy of ber husband, and then, witbin two short weeks, have the grave claim her three, her only children? Do you wonder that it sent her, as it did, to an insane asylum, and then to her grave? Oh, how I detest that name of Holbrook! Henceforth, when I speak of my dead sister, ’') call her simply Katharine.” ‘* It was indeed terrible, ,” returned the aged woman; “ but God’s ways are not as our ways. I shall soon join = daughter Katha- rine and herchiidren. But I never trust myself to think of the near past. If I did I should be miserable, and it is wrong to regret those who have gone before us.” ‘* But does it not seem to you, mother, that that female fiend, Lucile Luzerne, who entered my sister’s family to destroy them, must have been leagued with the Evil One?” “T only know, Mary,” was the quiet reply, ‘“‘that she was a very beautiful woman, one with whom men could rarely fail to be infatu- ated, and that she had a heart incapable of feel- ing. But, sooner or later, retribution will over- take her. When you speak of that woman Mary, you excite me. wt do not repeat it. have to repent, often and often, of my revenge- ful ¢eelings.” “I cannot avoid speaking of the terrible past. I think of it by day, and dream of it by — I know it is wicked, but I find myself calling down curses u George Holbrook and Lucile Luzerne, who tortured my darling sister to in- sanity and death, and then her three in- nocent children to die so Fb ay ince ago knows by what means! Poor little Frankie was but seven, and Stella an infant. Mother, I reall and truly believe that e and her , dren were poisoned !” Grandmother McClellan dro her knitting one looked with horror into the eyes of her ughter. ow you mention your suspicions, Mary,” she said, in a husky voice, ‘‘I am astonished. These same thoughts have flashed through m mind more than once of late. Do you know anything suspicious was found in the house?” ‘Not that I aware of, Be assured she would remove all traces of that kind. But Mg do you imagine the wretches have fled to ‘‘They are somewhere in the far Western wilds, I presume, But I wish m George would return. He has not wri in some months.” “He is hunting and fishing in the woods of Black Lake? I almost believe he has assurance enough to sign a contract to remove the Thou- sand Islands from the 8t. Lawrence to Lake Champlain. ‘Nothing venture, nothing win,’ he says. I hope the dear fellow may succeed. = bave had our full share of misery, God nows!” As Mary McClellan spoke, she rose hastily to meet a boy who advanced with a telegram. ‘* Please read this,’’ he said, ‘‘and ascertain if you need to send an answer.’ Tearing the envelope open in a nervous man- ner, the old lady scanned the message, and then with a joyous, radiant expression on her aged face, replied: “Thanks. There is no answer.” Quietly she resumed her seat, remarking to her daughter as she did so: “You may lay aside your sewing and your fears together, Mary ; there is some good news at last. George iscoming home. He has tele- graphed from Lawrence, and will be here with- in an hour!” -7—-e-o-— CHAPTER III. MET HIS MATOH. THE occupants of Placer Palace bar gazed at the new arrival in wonder and amazement, and well they might for the se man would have claimed and received the attention, if not the admiration, of any crowd, éven in a more civil- ized part of the world, His buckskin suit was of the finest quality and make, the breeches being fringed on the | outer seams, besides having a row of two and a half dollar pieces extending closely down, and serving as buttons. Upon his head rested in jaunty style a wide-brimmed sombrero of | soft felt, and his well-formed feet were intased | in fanec _which bis breeches were tucked. French boots with high legs, into On the heels | Of these boots were buckled a pair of richly engraved Mexican spurs. An embossed belt, also stamped in the peculiar and highly orna- _mental workmanship of the Mexicans with a _ huge clasp of silver, supported a pair of Colt’s | army six-shooters and a bowie-knife; and these | | last were mounted in gold. A diamond of large size and great brilliancy _gilittered from the center of the square knot in his neckerchief, and he carried in his hand a costly riding-whip. The face of the new-comer was bright ‘and winning, besides being boyish; indeed he did not seem to be over eighteen years of age, al- though at least five feet, ten inches in bight and symmetrically formed, seeming fully de- veloped yoreareny, Fair of complexion, with mild blue eyes, and flaxen hair which hung below his shoulders, but for his hight and movements, he might well have been taken for a woman in disguise. He entered the bar as though he were ona mission of life and death, as far as his actions went; but his cheerful face showed that such "Touching bis hat politely to the bar-keeper ouching bis hat po to t - ; he strode quickly around the burly form! of Pueblo Pete, and smilingly pointing to the bot- |. ‘ ‘euss directly!” tles behind the bar, said in a careless tone: ‘Piper Heidsick!” So dazed was Pueblo Pete — appearance of the dashing stranger that looked at him with open mouth, forgetting the letter in his hand, at which the youth cast a quick glance. A light flush flew over his face, and a look of surprise blended with satisfaction came into his eyes. Al h Pete was too intoxicated to notice the slight emotion of the stranger, he at once returned the letter to his , and resumed bar, felgcras position, with bis x ] against the , fe unconscious of the presence of the late arrival. Taos Tim, whose eyes had been riveted upon ; bling, filled with agreeable surprise at the high- toned drink that awaited him. Again the glasses were filled, and the stranger tossing a ‘‘ slug,” or fifty-dollar gold piece upon the counter, looked toward the rear apartment and the crowd of gamblers, a score or more of whom were now approaching the bar, drawn there by a sight of the new arrival. Every eye of the advancing gamblers was fixed in astonishment upon the young stranger at the bar, who see unconscious of their scrutiny. As the crowd halted together some five feet from the end of the counter the bar-keeper. passed the change, thirty dollars, into the hand of his customer. Neither Pueblo Pete, Bowlder Bill, Jim Jams, or Taos Tim spoke a word. The crowd imita- ted them; and naught broke the silence, except the murmur of the betters and the flipping of checks in the distance—even the bar-k postponing: the washing of glasses. Never ore e denizens of ~~ Medicine City, or at least the frequenters of Placer Palace, Soa so impressed by the dress and appearance of a stranger. The silence, which the young man did not ap- oe to notice was broken at length by Jim ams, who, with drunken importance, pretend- ped for- ward and held out his band, exclaiming, with an attempted expression of pleased : ** By ther grim Moses, Dick, hew air you?’ With a smile, the youth took the proffered hand, and replied carelessly: : “How-de do my friend? You appear ill, Hadn’t you better take another drink “Not yit,” replied Jim Jams, in an impor- tant tone of voice, much pleased at being reeog- ized; ‘Tim, is thara leetle o’ thet cham- n pagne left?” ‘** Yes,” replied the bar-keeper; ‘‘ about a glassful.” And he passed the bottle in question to his seedy customer. ** Pard,” said the latter, y, ‘will ou take off yer sombrero an’ bend yer head a eetle? I’m goin’ ter christen yer.” Laughing lightly, the young man removed his hat, and bent forward. ‘“Whar yer from last?’ inquired Jim Jams, yore the crowd looked on with increased won- er. ‘* Denver,” was the careless reply. ** Wa-al, boyees,” called out the poor old sot, in aloud voice; *‘Lhyer christen my new pard, who air a gentleman o’ ther XXX. sort, “Diamond Dick!’ ‘Low me, gents, terinterduce yer, one an’all, ter ther dandy frem Denver, iamond Dick.” ‘* Drinks for the crowd!” called out the new- ly-named infant, replacing his sombrero, whirl- ing quickly in his tracks, and gracefully cut- ting the air with his whip as he walked back and forth opposite the bar. A rousing round of cheers followed the intro- duction and the order, but it seemed not to affect the person for whom the honor was in- tended in the least. The cheering caused the gaming-tables to be deserted, and the space from the end of the bar for some distance back became a perfect jam of surprised humans. : Such a character bad never before been seen on the border. His youthful and somewhat feminine appearance impressed the miners more than aught else. At this moment, however, an Indian, somewhat fancifully attired in the pe- culiar manner of bis people, with a Navajo blanket of many colors on his arm, walked uietly around the screen into the room, and eblo Pete sprung at once toward the brave, twisting his fingers in the warridr’s head-dress of paewesouners, saying: sé oned ef byer ain’t a ginewine scalpin’ an’ T’ll mop ther floor with bis carkiss! s a-comin’ nex’? We'll hey a XXX eir- friend,” in the Sat In- g§ with you, pounds more ing to recognize the new arrival In un, at ** You'll have a cireus right now, said Diamond Dick, snapping his w face of Pueblo Pete, * if reo don’t let dian pass. He wasn’t interferin and I judge you weigh about than he does. ’ ‘* Thet’s a double-distilled, bald-headed lie!” These words had barely left the lips of Pueblo “Pete, who clapped his band on bis revolver as he spoke, when the left lez of Diamond Dick flew upward with the ocity of There Was a sounding whack o_o Re pms te og ong ie tic So mn mae he e floor such violence as shake the building. : ‘ com JOOKS (E (E(o)