Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 229 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

_ ver. 22 * An’ then what” *‘IT dunno’ prezactly. But thar’s a man cor- raled down in ther Slap Jack ez won’t live ng. ‘‘An’ ther fust letter ov his pame are Hart Blaine?’ **'You bet! Oh, I tell yer Went. Case are a me I run ag’in’ him. — meee ee ee — ——-—- en boss. It ain’t ther fust He allers holds his hands full ov trumps, no ' matter what g me he sots up to.” ‘Say that name ag’in.” The interruption came from Howlin’ Billy, who had been taking in the conversation of the two without giving any sign. “*Bee hyar, ole man, yer bin a-listenin’, when yer orter hed yer ears in yer pocket. They’re , ding-blasted long. Huckleberry, han’ me yer knife. They kin lose about a foot ’thout ary material change, an’ this antelope are goin’ ‘ter ampertate ’em.” “That name—war it Wentworth Case? Did he niet around Sacrymento about 'fifty-five?” _ “That’s ther wild gerzsile. I war thar too, an’ I see’da heap. But whoin thunder be you?” Huckleberry was more liberal than his pard, He vouchsafed at least this much information, though he closed with something very like a threat. Billy Bender ignored the question. ‘* Yer reelly sure?” he said,as ho gave a twitch ‘to the belt at which hung a single huge revol- “Ther name slipped out kinder nat'ral- like,ez though yer did know ther man. I thought it war him meself—fur I war thar in ’fifty five, ‘now yer jest bet—but I warn’t sure. Copper- heads an’ coal-ile, no. But ye’r’ an’ honest man, ap’ wouldn’t go fur ter fool a poor ole cripple like me, No. An’soTl ll take yer word fur it, an’ there'll be the doggondest time outen jail. Ef yer don’t b’lieve it, watch ther pertoestr, 4 ** What yer goin’ ter do about it?” “Never you mind. Good mornin’, out ter take ther Slap Jack.” Without waiting for further question or ex- avation Billy Bender stalked out, leaving the wo ds together. “Don’t call him, Tom,” interposed Huckle- 'y, as Gouger began to mention various ious things—not being in condition. to do any- + else, “I'm a kinder ov aslouch, but I knows a thing er two. It’s all right. it’s ther nfan what struck ther Bender pocket. Tl? bet a hoss he tips ther wink to ther wooman—an’ ef he does Tain’t a-carin’. She's too good grit ter hev’em all a-goin’ back on her’thout warnin’. But ef you pany be ’round ter see ther sport I must be oin’, ‘* Yer torkin’ too much, pard; but I guess yer got ther sand ter hold yer own end level. Shoot er leetle one fur me; an’ kim ’round ter gimme ther points when ther fun’s all over.” “You bet,” said Huckleberry, and then he vanished. T'm goin’ CHAPTER XXXIV. THE DEVELOPMENT OF DR. COFFIN’S GAME. THe mistress of the Slap Jack felt tolerably at ease in her position as manager of the mine. She bad only had hold of the ropes for a few days, and she was really umder the doctor’s gu LITTLE dance in all matters that pertained to the working of the claim; but as she gave the or- ders, and the men whom Coffin bad provided were promptly obedient it seemed to her that pater hing was going on as well as could be ex- pec . She aad her own private troubles, but even out of those she seemed in a fair way to escape, ‘The doctor had stated that he had had an in- terview with one of the men who had attempted her abduction, convinced him of his mi:take, and sent him away with Lis mouth most effectu- ally plastered shut with a bribe sufficiently } to cover the orifice, re was one other tronble—and though Dr. Coffin assured her that that would come toa satisfactory ending, she could not help but have her doubts. As Huckleberry had informed his pard, Hart- ford Blaine was with ber in the little shanty at the mine. His skill with the pistol had done him but little good since the blundering luck of Colonel ley had sent a bullet so near to the life center, that existence had hung by but a slen- der thread. The chances indeed, did not seem 80 favorable now as they did at the time he was first placed in her hands. re was a strange, low fever upon him, and much of the time he was in a stupor or a delirium. Yet the doctor avowed that he would recover -—~and the doctor had skill. Ona the afternoon of the call of Huckleberry upon his pard the doctor slipped hastily into his ee. He had resumed his Glory Guich manner, and would hardly have been recognized as the rather handsome man who had been a short time before, so eloquently pleading his case with the younger E!len Canley. He threw himself into a chair, and looked around with a contented air. **She will consent; in fact, she must consent. She is a magnificent girl, with courage for two, Cutsleeve. but she understands the situation. And then, she feels grateful to me for having saved her father’s life. Ha! ha! That will move her more than anything else; but if [can get a start on her affections, she must be Satan’s own daugh- ter if I can’t win her, soul and body. ‘“* As for the older Ellen, I’d not have bothered with her if I had known of the younger. “Still, she has served a very good purpose, Over ner shoulders I alread y have possession of the Slap Jack; and that little property, when I realize on itin my wife’s name, will bring ina million or two. Then good-by to Glory Gulch, Walnut Bar, and this i meemly sultry climate. I suppose it will be Ellen’s luck to fall a victim to malaria or beart disease, or some of these new-fangled diseases that eat the soul out with- out apparent rhyme or reason; but I can find consolation. ‘Blaine is dying, Canley will die to-night, and if the good seed I let fall in Lieutenant Lew’s mind don’t fail of sprouting, Johnny Ling —or Johnny Ling’s ghost—will go over the range about the same time. It’s a pity to keep Mrs, Canley out of the procveeetts but I guess to save suspicion, I’d better call In my three stipendiaries, and send her back to Frisco. [ reckon that’s a Fame that the colonel set up, and I'd be a fool if I didn’t take advantage of it. Ellen, the time is at hand, and you will have to Zo. Prt was a good stroke getting hold of this Huckleberry before he had time to EPY around. I remember his gimlet eyes—and what is worse he remembers me. The boys will take care of him now, and he won’t be missed. Ministers of grace defend us! What cords of stiffs will be ying around Glory Gulch! *That’s what they were born for, though. You can’t rub out what’s written, and if you could, it would make no difference. Tl send ’round to Dodger Si’s for my three minions of the law,and then have Ellen join us. Quite a friendly little tea-party we'll have here, and whet my guests leave, they'll all go off to- gether, Having thus decided upon matters the doctor went to the door, and, shading his eyes with his hand in a peculiar manner, looked up the street. In a few moments Honest Hank came slouching es He was ncar at hand, and had seen the signa To him the doctor gave his directions, and the messenger departed with alacrity. “If she don’t come, 1 suppose they might go and bring her, but that would be risky. though the boys have their orders. People might think there was some rotten 7 pia’ to jump the claim, If she doescome they’ll bounce her on the road, and hustle her off before she has a chance to whimper. It won’t take long to tell which it is to be. When people start fora talk with their attorney they generanly g° a-flying. [I can see the fun from the back door. She won’t know what’s up until she steps around tlie bend, and then there won’t be time for a scream, Lamp a little rift in the land the doctor, after a little, watched curiously the roadway that led out to the Slap Jack. This thing was not going to be done under a bushel, and there was plenty of chance for a lively time. There were shanties on each side of the point indi- cated, and at no great distance. There were plenty of cabins between Glory Gulch and Colonel Canley’s find. Before long he saw the three men at their posts. In broad daylight it did not look like an ambuscade, but it was, all the same. Then the doctor gave a start. Ellen Canley, the elder, came around the bend, and the three men stepped forward. The trap was being sprung. And then, just as the foremost placed his hand on the woman’s arm, he drop to the ground from a heavy blow, and Huckleberry faced the re.naining two with drawn revolvers, The woman had brought a body-guard, and by rare good chance, the only man that she could trust. As she was coming away from the mine she met Tom Gouger’s pard, and with stolid indifference to the rights and wrongs ef the case, he now stood behind her. And while he covered the two men with his weepons she darted past, and fled fleetly toward Dr. Coffin’s. CHAPTER XXXV. MANACLED AT LAST. ‘Curses on the wretch! be’ll Ly it all! What did the boys mean when they let bim get away? They'll carry out some cerpses and bring in some better men at the Slap Jack! She’s coming straight for bere. Perdition seize her, why can’t she stay and fight it out? She was ready enough with tools when she was fighting me. It’s not too late yet. She stum- bles, aybe I can bring him down.” The doctor rushed back into his office and seized a carbine. His eyes were blazing with the fire of murder, and he caught the weapon as though he meant to use if. He was back in an instant, as it seemed to him; yet he was back too late, Huckleberry and the three deputy constables had passed from his plane of vision, while he heard a mur- thet name. oe ee es ee ee ee eee _—— eee Re mur of voices around The Blizzard that told him the woman had been seen. In fact Ellen Canley’s fvotsteps were already almost at the door, while Huckleberry, when the three men bad promptiy thrown up their hands and explained the state of affairs, coolly dropped his revolvers back in their holsters with the remark: ‘‘Ef yer hev ther law on your side, an’ kin take ber outen ther Doc's lay-out, this hoss ar’ | hee 1 reckon I'l) g’long down an’ see ther un. Panting and breathless the woman burst in at one door, just as the doctor, carbine in band, entered by the other. ** Yew saw my messenger, did yew? He made uick time. 1 wanted tew see yew, fur I hev russ he’red that Jim Canley is not only in the and of the livin’; but air likely soon tew be back.” ‘“‘Curse you and Co’onel Canley, and this whole scheme! What dof care for your mines and your millions? Hartford Blaine is dying. If you can save him, come to bim; but by the everlasting, I believe you have poisoned him. If you have, ("ll eat your felon heart out. Pitch me no more of that drawl—do you think 1 don’t know you, Wentworth Case? Are you for me or against me? You told me the truth once or twice in the old time—dare you tell it to me now?” “What dew you mean?” “I mean that you are standing in with these ruffians, and hat you are playing a cross game somehow. Was it not enough that we three were to share the spoil? How do you expect to hold on to the mine without me? You know this is a vile plot; and if it succeeds, it breaks you up. “Ef yew air Canley’s wife, yew air ther woman they want. Yew can’t git ’round fhat. His wife warn’t divorced, but she seems tew hey married sev’ralothber men. In fact she war slightly irreguler. It ar’n’t any wonder I want ter pull out, She drew herself up to her full bight, and looked at him with a stare of scorn. ‘You didn’t use to be a coward in the old days, Wentworth Case, T doubt if you are one now. Take your own course: but, tell me, first, if you can save Hartford Blaine.” “T dunno what yew mean by callin’ me by It air none oy mine, an’ I hev bed a good many. Ez fur Hartford Blaine, I'll al- low thet ther brother bizz’ness air about played. Yew wouldn’t take no sich tr’uble ’bout ary brother. You'd let bim flicker. An’ Ellen Canley’s brother’sdead. I reckon he died about ther same time ez she did.” ““Wretch! What isit to you whether be is my brother or not? Can you save bim?” ‘Tew speak sequar’ly, I kin not. Men ner angils c’u’d do thet now. I’ve done my sheer in this lay-out, an’it’s a fizzle. I reckon ‘J’ll draw a moist pen slick through, and start fresh’ on ther square. Heur’s ther depity constables from *Frisco an’ half ov Glory Gulch at the Neg aartad, I don’t see ther’s much else I kin ew, ’ “We can fight if they won’t listen to reason. Como, Wecanfly by the back door, and with the men at the mine wecan defy them all. Only seve Hart Blaine.” ‘Tt air tew late.” The crisis had come in a different shape from what he had expected; but the doctor was con- tented to let it take its course. Indeed, there was nothing better for him to do, “It is not too late for one thing—revenge! You would consign me toa living death; I pre- fer the real article. When I leave this room alive you remain bebind, a corpse. One bullet, at least, is for you.” As she spoke, the woman sprung for the cor- ner of the room, where she stood at bay, with drawn weapons, while into the room streamed the three deputies, with Huckleberry and a score of Gulchers at their backs, ‘“* Fellow-citizens,” began the doctor, taking time by the forelock, ‘‘ this woman air squar’ enuf Jim Canley’s widder; but et seems she air crazy ez er loon, an’ hez made her escape from an asylum. I hate ter buck ag’in’ ther law, an’ I don’t keer ter go back on er female. I hev perposed that she back an’ git this matter straightened eout, ef money an’ law kin dew it. Onless ther’s some one kims with a better right, ther Gulch ‘ll look after her stake here, an’ see ez Lrunsitin berinterest. They know me here, an’ that I’m a good man tew tie tew; but she hez one ov her wild fits on, an’ air actooly dan- gerous, Kin Iloer squarer?” “That’s so, Doc! It’s the best you kin do,” answered Johnny Goodman, as spokesman for the crowd. ‘*That is, ef she’s the woman. We've had a little inkling of this matter, an’ it ‘pears ter me ther war another man er twe mentioned. Ef that’s so ther’s some on us askin’, whar in blazes does Jim Canley’s widder kim in at?” “It’s false!” cried the woman. “TI had a sister Margaret. They have confounded me with her. That villain knows better. We were twins; but he knows the difference, Men of Glory Gulch, he is a treecherous scoundrel, who has stolen even the name he bears, There — (E() S) Eomicboo SS