Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

at 44 —T y Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. 3 was an object calculated to make male bearts quiver and scorn a bachelor life. But, to add to the Deacon’s dissatisfaction— he evidently deemed beauty a sin—she carried in her hand a flask which was plainly filled with some strong liquor, The reformer’s severe face grew stern and he put out one hand warningly. **Pause, young woman!” he commanded. “You are on the downward roadand goin fast. Pause, whiletheraistime! In your ban you hold one of the arch-fiend’s strongest wea- ns. And you are a woman! Big Nugget nd, my soul cries out in borror for you!’ The girl bad plainly been somewhat staggered at the first of this address, and she seemed in- clined to retreat into the saloon for protection until a serics of winks from the miners enabled ber to get pretty near the truth, “Hailo!’ she exclaimed, a saucy smile breaking out on ber pretty face, *‘ have you got them, toot Well, you've come to just the light place. Old Daddy Clover is in there and they’re crawling all around him. He has got a variety shutupin bis boots which be means to ship to Denver for curiosities and—” Hold!” interrupted Blake, sternly. ‘‘ Mis- peng: young woman, this levity is shocking. m endeavoring to save you {rem the clutch of the destroyer, [ am come to reform Big Nugget Bend. And you, young woman—your wickedness has found you out, Even at the door of this wretched saloon I find you with a flask of vile a uor in your hand.” “Just call it ‘vile’ in Jonathan's hearing, if you dare,” laughed the girl. ‘* Ask him if Le = ‘anything but the pure article—ask him, I ma Xt in good time, for the range of my work is Jarge; but it is to you I talk vow. Wretched gir! « hat is your name?” “Well, since you ask so polly: T don’t mind saying itis Zora Lockyard. But, sir, 1 have a protector, and he will not allow you to call me pet names, ‘Misguided young woman’ and wretcbed girl’ are ’most too familiar on short You had better take the next stage for Denver, and get yourself Iccked up where you will be safe. But the best of friends must part, and—l’m gone!” With the last woes the girl glided past him, laughing merrily, and ran down the street. Bartholomew Blake stretched out bis band toward her, and looked at his followers, his severe face full of lofty condemnation. ‘Behold the fruit of your city’s wickedness!” he said, in his incisive voice. “ Here is a young woman whom nature has kindly gifted, who flaunts her gaudy dress and sinful ribbons in the face of the world, and worst of all, she cer- ries a flask of liquor,0 enly and unblushingly through the streets. is is verily the plague- spot of Colorado!” “‘Look-a-hyar, mister,” said a rough miner, **look a leetle out bow you kerry on. Don’t dare ter say aught =! Zora Lockyard, We all know her bere. l with a merr neture an’ quick o’ retort, t _ om but one wit a heart o’ gold. Her record is clean ez ther water o’ Silver Spring, an’ she’s ther darter o’ Father Lockyard, ther money-lender. When any o’ ther boyees fall sick, it’s Zora that nurses them throughit. Ez fur ther Ji iquor, Vil stake my last dollar it is fur Father Lockyard’s sicknesses.” 7 here was an approving echo from the crowd, acquaintance, and many a threat was leveled at Deacon pr See but his face retained its old severi ty. “Better dio than use the vile stuff,” he declared. “‘There can be no excuse for using it, but you, all of you, are its slaves, Make no excuses; they cannot restore your honor.” Once more there was an impression that the reformer was “drawing it a leetle too strong,” and some one ps Say pe bodily revenge at once, but the majority had fully decided that Blake was out of his head, and would not disgrace themselves by touching him, At his last words, too, he turned and entered the saloon. There he saw a battered-up and used-up old man rap pping his boots, upside de va, against the bar, as t ough to empt them ething, while a lank, Yankee-looking an m tod behind the bar, laughing beartil **T can’t get em all out, Jonatban,” anid % the old man. ‘ There’s a rattlesnake and two racers which I can’t account for, They should be hyar, for I see’d’em not more nor an hour 0. _ Guess. the ’tarnal critters has gone up yeour breeches,” said Jonathan, good-naturedly; then turning abruptly, he faced “Bartholomew Blake, who had advanced to the bar, and added, **What'll yeou drink?” He meant it for an innocent and polite ques- tion, but he never made a greater mistake. The reformer’s face was like the front of an ice- bay! = its cold harshness. ile wretch, have you_ no sense of shame?” he severely demanded. ‘‘ Can you not seeI am not of the common herd whocome here to drink your soul-destroying fluid? Do I—” “iti ee stepped on yeour corns, I’m sor- ry—darn if T ai ain’t!” aid Jonathan. ‘Of course, veo wae a private room an’a leetle set-up o’ champagne; but, seein’ all the bina Dexia Baba ¢ with yeou, I thought yeou was goin’ ter set ’em up fur the house.” The reformer raised his hand with the old gesture, ** Stop!” he commanded, ‘' You are mad, or you would not address me thus. I woud not expend one cent in your vile place for all the wealth of Co:orado, I bave not come to help you thrive, but to destroy the sinful traffic you carry on—to sbow Big Nugget Bend her wicked- ness, and Jead her in more honorable paths; to tear up the tares which mix with the pure grain—to teach you the difference between right and wrong. You, sir, are the greatest sinner here, You are engaged in a traffic ail honest men condemn; you are leading your fellow-beings to ruin, and I cannot find words with which to describe how vile aud depraved you are!” Jonathan had been thunderstruck at firs but as he looked closer ‘at Blake’s face an dress, he believed he bad arrived at t!e truth. here, naow,” be interrupted; “‘ I’ve got a word tew put in. Bein’ master here, it’s nat’- ral, Let me tell yeou there can’t no spindle- sbanked person come bere an’ tell me baow tew run my sbop; I won’t stand it. Down in Skowhegan, where I come from, we ca'culate tew protect our rights. Naow,I give you jest thirty seconds tew git eout of that door, an’ ef yeou ain’t gone then I'll fling you out!” Jonathan was plainly in a towering rage, having failed to catch the drift of the case as the miners saw it. They bad winked at bim in vain; he saw only a straight-laced parson who wanted to ruin h s business, “Look out, Jonathan, he knows how to use his fists. Two to ona be can split your counter with one blow; he's Deacon Stonetist by name.” * Go light; ketch onter his eyes.” ** Keep cool: be’s a crank,” Such were the remarks addressed to the snloon-keeper, and as he caught the last words his face softened, Whether his business was honorable or not, the man from Maine did not possess a bad heart. But Blake, disregarding all, had cast a sharp glance about the room, It became stationary as he saw a barrel on the counter, upon the bead of which was marked the word “ whisky ” with the faucet in place. Tbree quick strides echoed on the floor, wa then, octets the barrel, Deacon crores ip one twist to the faucet and set the whisky ing in a stream. Tuis done, be turned sternly on the crowd. ** Thus perishes a foe to Big Nugget Bend. By such meansI save you from yourselves; I put temptation away from you and you cannot wander from the path of rectitude.” Jonathan had stood amazed at this bold act, but a sudden shout from the other men caused D-acon S'tonefist to turn again to the barrel, There he saw the cause of the miners’ mirth. Toe old man who bad snakes in his boots, but who seldom bad money in bis pockets, bad im- ip ae this chance to sample the liquor so reely flowing, and was lying flaton his back and allowing it to run from the faucet into his mouth, It was a sight calculated to stir any reformer from his e ye he act and it acted on Blake like a spur, @ strode forward, grasped the wretebed old man, and, lifting bim as though = had been a child, cast him one side like a Og. ‘* Look!” he said, “‘ here is what you are all Aen to if you keep on your downward pat The harshness of bis manner and the violence to Daddy Clover, who was a favorite, made the miners forget their resolution to deal gently with the reformer. Crank or not, be could not come to Big Nugget Bend and deal thus barshly witb their most cherished insiitutions. ‘This is too much; pitch ther critter inter ther street.” ‘**Tbrow bim in ther drink!” ** Run bim out of town!” With these ominous words the crowd surged forward on the reformer. Some remembered the power of kis heavy fist, and would rather have been at the rear, especially as he faced them fearlessly. ‘* Back, you degraded wretches,” exclaimed Stonefist. ““ Not one drop of this vile stuff goes down your throats.” How it would have ended is uncertain, for a new actor suddenly appeared on the scene in the od of a young man, who faced them resolute a Hold on, boys!” be exclaimed, ‘‘ What are you oing to do?” tand back, Al Sterling; we're going to give this fellow a lesson. Out of the way!” **T won’t ‘ out of the way!’” was the sturd meek ‘*[ have come to see the crank, ae n't think to find bim in a struggle with Stop, men, and don’t do what you w “te ashamed of a little later.” The speaker had no small! influence at tho Bend, and bis words reealled to the miners the fact that they had but a moment before re- me not to harm a man so men- tally. Deacon Stonefist was released, but he stood Sad neither smiling nor looking: relieved: is gaze was on the fuce of Al Steriing, which was a good one, with the mai:ly stamp of twenty-four years upon it: and the latter was moved to take bim gently by the arm. ‘‘Come with me, sir, and we will have a quiet talk, he said, persuasively. Blake meditated for a moment. “Very well; | will do so,” he replied. ‘I need i and I dare say I shall find emt even where I ee Even you, | venture to assert, are going along the downward road, a victim to your sins.” ** We are none of us cae good- naturedly replied Sterling, *“‘and I don’t claim to be But we will speak of that Jater. Let us gol” And they started down the street, erling had no more definite purpose in view than he would bave had if he had rescued a cat from vandal boys, but he deemed any person men- tally afflicted as worthy of forbearance and all possible kindness, CHAPTER III. THE MONEY-LENDER 8S HOUSEHOLD. | WHEN Sterling and biake startea off together the crowd remained behind. They b had their sport with “Deacon Broadel th” were willing to Le rid of bim, while if A! Bter- ling cared to shoulder the crank, they had no objactions. . ut one thing occurred to them and occasion- ed remark; Sterling was the clerk of Fatber Lockyard, the mone we -lender, who was also the father of Zora, and it might prove Le was taking a firebrand into the house, Over Lockyard’s cffice-door wes a sign bear- ing bis name, but Blake did not seem to take any notice of it, They entered. ather Lockyard sat at his desk, a mild- faced old man with gray hair and a patriarchal beard. He was a money-lender, but he was no usurer. Indeed, at the rate he oupeth it was a wonder that he made a living, and some people suspected it was merely an excuse to give him employment to ocoaer bis time. Yet, it remained a fact that both himself and his clerk were idle balf of the time. ! *Good-afternoon, gentlemen,” said Father Lockyard, arising, ‘and bowing potitely to the stranger. ‘‘I was nearly on the point of falling asleep and am glad to see any one on business, ‘*] have business with you,” Bartholomew Blake abruptly answered. ‘“‘I bave come to save you from your sins; to turn your wayward feet from the patos of wickedness, You drink, mble, lie and steal and your only hope is to turn quickly. Reform, while you can!’ The money-lender stood dumfounded, An amiable, kind-bearted man, with a rare repu- tation for bonor, he was amezed to bear such terrible crimes laid at bis door. The look on his face was laughable, but as be turned bis eyes as a last resort toward Sterling, the Jatter made a significant sign by tepping is forehead and Father Lockyaro’s face cleared. He spoke to the reformer in tones which plainly had an effect, forthe latter suddenly changed bis tune and, taking Lockyard's bana, said he was glad there was one honorable man in Big Nugget Bend. It was arranged to give the stranger a good supper before he left. Lockyaid bad spoken, though in a feeble way, of sheltering bim over nigbt, but Blake declared he could not think of it. e bad a mission to perform and must work without ceasing, else bis life would not be long enovgh to reform the whole West, ‘ — there was no doubt but be spoke the rut Supper was already on the table, and thea three went in and partook togetber. And it was noticeable that thé reformer had a good ap Phey were just finishing, when there was a — step at tbe door an a fourth person en- te ““I’m late, sin’t I, father?” cried a girlish voice. ‘I’m sorry, but I couldn't hel “ite You seo, his fever was worse than ever, and—-” The voice became silent suddenly. In the partially-darkened room the speaker bad failed — to see the stranger, but at the sound of the voice, Bartholomew Blake had slowly turned until be faced ber. “* Ob!” she said, in unbounded surprise. The speaker was Zora Lockyarda, A short yause followed, but the reformer’s stern face did not change. Genuine, indeed, must be his creed, since be could look with in- difference on so charming a girl. “Young woman,” he severely said, to see you again.” ell, al you've got to do is to shut your eyes,” the girl retorted. ‘‘If you do that, you can’ s see, and if you shut your mouth close you can't speak.” "dora! said Mr. Lockyard, with grave re- proo a i” the misguided young woman talk. It is well we should know what is in her heart; that we should know for a fact that she is on the downward road. I expect no more than this after what I’ve seen.” ‘He saw the liquor I bought for you, father,” “T am comicbooks €or