Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| ‘** And you aspire to be a murderer?” Oe Her tone was imperious, but they silently obeyed. ‘Hs this meeting resulted from your former quarrel?” she continued. ‘* Yes,” said Sterling, looking at the ground. ** Who sent the challenge?” There was a moment’s silence, and then Kel- logg acknowledged the doubtful honor. She spoke with cutting sarcasm, which brought a spark of courage to the surface. { am not a child,” said Horace, defiantly. “IT was grossly insulted by this man, and I sought relief by the only means open tome. I claim honor for it, since tbe usual way is to shoot at one’s enemy at sight, and without warning.” ‘Plainly, Bartholomew Blake has found an ample field for his_labors,” she said, quickly. ‘Big Nugget Bend does, indeed, need purifying if such is its creed.” “*1t will come around all right if afew more cranks get bold of tbe bell-rope,” Kellogg re- torted. Althea turned from him to the other duelist. ** And you, sir?’ she questioned, *“P rhaps it is as well for me to say nothing. I was challenged, and, as I would i.ot be braud- ed acoward, lcame here, Judged from a bigber plane there is no excuse for it and I will not at- tempt to reply.” He did not speak defiantly or stubbornly and she knew it; she could see the shame and sorrow on his face very plainly. Something like a kindlier look appeared on her own face,but it was no time to reveal the fact. ‘* And what will you do now?” she asked. Daddy Clover pusbed to the front, *‘I m ve that we take a drink all around—at tier duelists’ expense—an’ let this cruel war be over” be blandly suggested. ‘“Voes; let the matter drop,” said Benway, anxious to be on the winning side, N> ove onjected, andafter a few more words all prepared to depart. There was no pretense atree ne lintion—an empty form at best—nor did Miss Lawrence saggest any. Both princi- als prepared to go with their seconds. Both had the tact torefr in from asking permission to see the lady sa'tely tome; but Daddy Clover was vot so modest. He offered his escort and received a refusal whi b left bim staring with wide open eyes as Althea went away alvne, He speedily recovered, however, and on the homeward road had a good deal to say. Ster- ling beard little of it. He was cursing his folly for accepting vhe challenge. He was a brave man and be valued his reputation; but he felt at that moment that he.would rather be branded a coward throughout Big Nugget Bend than to bave lost Althea’s lately-«on favor, Reaching the money-lender’s office, he found Zora at the desk. Lockyard was vot visible, ‘| want to ask you something, Allen,” said the girl, abruptly. ‘“‘Do you know anything about the lawyer they call Old Ketebum?’, ‘‘No, nothing in particular,” replied the clerk, recalling bis wandering thoughts. “I have merely seen him on the street.” ‘‘ He was here to see father last night, and it was his second visit. The first threw father into deep dejection and the second has increased it. The lawyer is worrying him, somebow, but I can’t learn bow Now what is the trouble?” She Jooked at Allen ina way which brought all his mind to business. He almost tegartad ber as a sister, and ber treubles were his. He thought for a momenf, but as be did not know of any business with Old Ketebum he could not see how be could trouble the money-lender, So far as he knew, all Lockyard’s ventures were small and simple—he knew nothing of the Quickstep affair. , So he acknowledged his ignorance on the sub- ect. 5 “T wish you would find out,” said Zora. “Well, [ll try.” : “Something is worrying father; something serious, He denies it, but I am not to be deceiv- ed. If ar Oli Ketchum—lI bate the sight of that man, Allen—he has in some way tangled him-. self with father’s business in the past and is try- ing to blackmail him, as they callit. Of course, fatber never did anything wrong; but there may have been some error in legal papers or something, you kaow, Don’t you laugh, but | think the law isa wretched humbug,” Allen did not laugh. and_ be agreed to try and learn the secret of Old Ketcbum’s power to worry the money-lender. CHAPTER XVI. MORE ABOUT THE QUICKSTEP MINE. Tue rough experience of Bartholomew Blake ‘with the lynchers had not made an iota of change in his way of doing business, He took no steps to have bis assailants identified and punished, and as he did not refer to the matter vhey took it for granted be had forgotten it ina measure, | ~ But as a reformer he went unswervingly on bis way and spared no one. Few indeed were the people whom he bad not told, in his peculiar y, that they were leading most miserable and ‘wicked lives. Rich and poor were served alike, ————— and all were lashed unsparingly, If they did go toruin it would not be because Blake had not warned them. Near the center of the village was a large building known as the ** Right Bower.’ Besides these words there was painted on the sign an image which those not versed in card lore would have mistaken for an old Eng- lish cavalier, and arnund him were four spots like the mystic signs of ‘‘spades,” ‘‘ hearts,” ‘*elubs” and ‘‘ diamonds” so dear to the sporting- man. In brief, it was a gambling-house, The evening before the duel the place was well crowded and playing was brisk. Sharpers and miners mingled and tried their luck, and as they played liquor stood at their elbow and revolvers nestled on their persons. In the midst of it all the door opened and a singular figure appeared at the threshold; aman whose presence there marked a new epoch in gambling. It was Bartholomew Blake, but no one chanced to notice him; the (nfatuation of ambling wagon them and they could only see fhe game, The reformer stood in silence for a while, A$ motionless as the walls, gazing on the scene. His appearance was as usual. is Quaker-like hat, long, straight hair, clean-shaven face and suit of black,.with the long, double-breasted coat buttoned to his Shinar was as usual, And as he looked on the men before him, severe and righteous wrath were visible on his harsh fave and in bis cold, steel-like eyes. For a full moment he looked, and then he strode to the nearest table. Four men were there, all intent on their game. Their faces were set and anxious; their eyes had a wolf-like gleam as they sought to read each other’s faces; even their breathing seemed to keep time to the devouring suspense of the minute. One of them reached forward to drop his card on the table when a white, slender hand passed over his shoulder and clasped his wrist. Pause!” ssid a warning voice, wretched man!” Tbe gambler dropped his cards and sprung to his feet with a suddenness which overturned his chair. For the moment he did not doubt but he was in the grasp of the ruler of the lost, and his bronz:d face was pale as he turned around. The ‘‘ reformer” stood in an impressive atti- tude, erect and stern, one hand stretched out over the table and bis steel-like eyes unwaver- ‘* Pause, ng. But the alarm of the gamblers vanished at the sight. ‘** Deacon Broadcloth!” one of them muttered, in disgust. The ripple had run through the room, card- playing was generally suspended and all eyes were on the crank of the Bend. ‘* That is rigbt, men,” he said, in his peculiar, incisive voice. * Drop your cards and swear never to touch them again. They are the weapons devised by the enemy of mankind to drag bi: down to ruin; they are the ticket, of lost souls, Unite, men, to-night, and with one accord Jeave temptation behind you, The saf- est way,”’—here he gathered up a pack at one motion—“‘ is to burn them!” And at the last word he cast the pasteboards into the fire. A roar of anger followed the act as the owner saw his loss. Less than a week before he had paid a dollar for the toys then bending and smoking in the blaze—and Big Nugget Bend was not a rich town. One leap he made forward and his ready re- volver was at the Deacon’s breast; one moment the latter's life hang poised as by a thread; but his hand closed over the murderous wrist and the weapon was turned aside just as it was dis- charged, And the bullet sped harmlessly upward to find a lodging-place in the roof. The bsffled gambler made an effort to free his wrist, but it was a loss of strength. Without seeming to be at ail inconvenienced, Deacon Stonefist held him in a grasp he ecvdld not break. It was not the first time they had seen the man’s power, but it would take a good while for them to understand it, so little did his muscle show in his sober suit of black. But, the first surprise over, more than one man sprung to keep the gambler from disgracing himself by doing harm to one not in bis right mind and the two were separated. . But the keeper of the place now~bad his say. ‘* How dare you come in here?” he demanded, of Blake, ‘*T dare go wherever crime flourishes, ™her- ever a warning voice is needed; and, surely, no place more needs correction than thisvbaunt of vice. Here are men squandering their hard- earned money, risking their souls and sinking step by step in infamy.” ae **Hold right on!” interrupted the proprietor; ‘fs gh have another word!” ow can you stop me? I speak in a just cause and aver no Yea? : Till make you fear in just one minute if—” “‘Miserable wretch, I see your feet press soil near the line from which iets a ey ‘You are worse than those men who come here -RECHSES., “OL ie NGgeet: SAU. 13 —————, to play, for you keep the place where they are ruined, body and soul!” Blake had gone as far as he could. Big Nug- get Bend bad bad its amusement with its “crank” before and the day was past; they did not want to be interrupted at their playing and they feared to get into trouble as tbe lynchers had done; so, at a sign from the proprietor, there was a general rush and the Deacon was forcibly carried out and the door locked upon him, ** Somebody ought ter give that galoot his last sickness.” The speaker was Jack Bunker. He sat at the further side of the room, engaged ina quiet game of poker with a stranger. Luck had served them very foe 8 ee i but Jack had found his opponent such good company that he was content to make nothing. ‘* Why?’ carelessly asked the other man, as he dealt the cards for a new game. ‘* Because he’s a humbug.” ‘* A humbug?’ “Yes. Durn a crank, anyhow, sczI! Folks has no business ter be galivantin’ about ther ken- try with one-half o’ their brain hyar an’ t’other half thar, That critter’ll do somebody harm, bimeby.” The stranger observed that hé would proba: bly wander off shortly and conversation drifted away from the crank. Jones, the stranger, was good company, wé have said. He wasa generous mian, too, He ordered up the liquor like a lord and Bunker drank it like another lord. In fact, Mr, Bun- ker, who usually governed his taste for liquor admirably, went too far in this case and drank too much with the usual result, At this period Jones mentioned that he had an ambition, He wished to own a card-room and saloon, himself, and have it fitted up in ences style. Denver was bis promised land. If be had the money, be would go there and start a ‘place *which would eclipse everything else in the country and make him a grand man among other grand men, But be acknowledged he hadn’t the money. Bunker meditated. At least, he seemed to do so, but as this part of the evening found no part in his recollection the next day, itis fair to presume he did not meditate so much as he seemed to do, ‘*S'pose you take a pardner?” he suggested. ‘* A good idea.” ‘ Warfield’s goin’ ter take one,” ““T don’t know Warfield. Whois he?’ ‘Friend of mine; owner of Quickstep mine.” “T don’t think I ever heard o’ the mine, either.” ‘“ Nobody ever did but Warfield an’ me. That’s one o’ my leetle games you see; wanter raise fifty thousand on it,” ‘* Ah! Isee. You’re sbort o’ funds an’—” “ No, I ain’t,” Bunker declared, with drunken gravity. ‘*Got plenty o’ money, but hev ter fly low. Got piles o’ money!” ‘*T hope you've put it in a safe bank.” “Taint in no bank; don’t ketch me thar. Banks bu’st; Only fools trust them. I put my money whar it'll be safe.” ‘‘T wish you’d explain ther way. I m want ter try it some day,” said Jones, insinuat- ingly. Worry, but can’t, All men hev secrets; I hey mine. Hev put ther money whar thieves won’t corrupt nur moth get at it, Don't askme whar; ’portant secret.” Bunker’s eyes looked over the table in a glassy way. His brain and hands bad lost the power of handling the cards and they lay idl on the table. Jones was wide-awake, but if h manner was to be relied upon he was a hail-fel- low-well-met with Bunker.” He motioned for more liquor which was brought, sae arfield wants a partner inthe Quick- step?’ P Yes, but don’t you goin; nothin’ in it; no money, no mine,no nothin’, It’s all cut an’ dried; don’t you invest.” *“*T see you believe in taking care of one’s money ?” Jones’s conversation oscillated from learned to ignorant like a pendulum, but Bunker was too far gone to heed it. . “Take car’ o’ mine,” said Jack. ‘‘ Had bard work to getit; bold fastnow. Get it hid, safe!” ‘Where did you sel it?” “Didn’t bury it; didn’t say whar ’twas; se- cret, that.” . cg lirycs ** A thousand dollars, I think you said.” “Thousand! Fifty thousand, pard, fifty thou- sand all in one lump, Got it by a neat dodge ; goin’ ep hang onter it. Goin’—ter—hang—on- ter—it eines Got Mr. Bunker’s hands closed around his glass, s though it was bis answer, his heavy eyelids ell and his mind lost what little power it bad retained, He had kept up as long as he could and gone to pieces entirely when he went. This fact Mr. Jones firmly established before he left him, for he s: emed very anxious to know Jack’s way of preserving ‘his money, and when he saw he must give if up he showed stron dissatisfaction; but ah it up he finally sid an went quietly away, leaving Bunker to’ sleep r ~~ €@ JOO am S € (E()