Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

point, and trust the world to learn that all lawyers are rascals, That fs all right, so far as it goes, and Iam used to it. But, just now, I bave business with your father, Can IL see him?’ ‘*Certnainly H+ is just inside, Give a double knock at the door and you'll hear him bid you enter,” Old Ketchum tried it and found it to be as se said. Tien he entered the private room and Zora was alone, Naturally, sbe had a good deal of curiosity to know what had brought bim there. Soe might have learned by listening at the door, but as she did not believe in such work she did nothing of the kind. Some one came in who had been there before and whose case she understood horoughly, He did not like the terms Lockyar.t insisted upon and a half hour’s talk followed. Her mind had been drawn from Old Ketchum, but his stay was still prolonged. pg rt? be came out and, with a simple nod to Zora, left the office and crossed the street to bis own. Then she went to ber father. The money-lender sat with his face shaded ‘by his hand, and bis attitude was such that she thought he was ill, She asked the question quickly, and then he looked around and laughed, Tilt health.” But if Zora had feared for bim before her fear was now redoubled, Her eyes were remarkably keen, and she saw a look am his face which bad driven the old, placid expression entirely away, _ ‘What is the trouble, father?’ she asked, go- ing to him quickly, } He tried to look very much surprised but made a failure of it. ; ‘What do you mean? There is nothing wrong that [ know of; why do youask?” ‘T can see itin your face, Don’t you know i have stu lied it so long that | should be a dull scholar not to read aright now?” She had taken position on his knee and her arm was around his neck. Ifsbe was guy and almost reckless in ber manner before the world, she had another side to her nature which showed when she was alone with her gray- haired father. ‘*| grant that you are observing,” ho said “but inthis case youerr. Lam quite well and —all’s well,” He hesitated a little before uttering the last words, and she knew they cost bim an effort, ‘‘Now, father,” Zora gravely said, ‘‘ why will you try to deceive me? Am I unworthy a confidence? You have just had a visivor. bat bas he said to make the peaceful look on your face give place to one of dread and trouble? a pont business in danger from this shark of the aw ‘* Ob! no; my business was never more satis- factory.” ‘‘Then what did he say to trouble you?” She laid ber head against his shoulder and her manner was fraugbt with temptation. Surely such an appeal would have brought forth any ordinary secret. But Nathan Lock- yard caressed her hair and seemed uncertain what to say. ““Foronce you are wrong, Zora,” he finally answered. ‘Of course there are shadows in even our placid lives, but there is nothing seri- ous. And Mr, Wisecraft had nothing to do with | my sober expression, if such a one you w, Zora did not answer or move at once. Accus- tomed as she was to her father's ways, and to stuiying every phase of his character, she knew he had not spoken truthfully, And as she had never before known him to vary from the path of veracity, it was surprising. But abe did not blame bim; she knew he must have some urgent reason for his course; and if ho withheld the truth it was from kindness, ‘It shall be as you say,” she finully answered, “but if you need help, don’t fall into the mis- take of thinking me a useless girl, I can climb a cliff or shvot a revolver equal to moss men at the Bend, and such an aily is worth baviog.” She managed to laugh and left bis lap just as a rap sounded at the dvor. She opened it anda very bland-coking man was,revealed. He was a stranger to them, but, having already met bim, less so to us, Is was the partner of Jack Bunker and young Kellogg. Be bowed politely and addressed Lockyard. “If you are not bugy, I would like balf an bour of your time,” he said, in a very respect- able voice, which was in keeping with bis very table manner. he money-lender was not busy, and he said so with all the more zeal and assumption of prleleriens because be hoped to blind Zora’s eyes, He should not have indulged in the vain hope at his age; but without furtber words Zora re- treated to the office. ‘“‘Now that we're alone I'll come right to business,” the visitor said. ‘‘My name, sir, is Gideon Warfield, and I am a stockbolder in Nonsense, child; I was never in better eR SiR a a ES A: A SS i a eee OO City, Idaho, You find me some distance from | home, but this may be easily explained. L, sir, am a practical miner. I purchased stock in the Quickstep only when I had seen for myself there was money in it, and after purchasing I went further, I have looked the Qnickstep over most rigidly, sir, and as a resuit | am convinced there is a fortune—an immense for- tune, sir—in it. Having found tbis out, I becime desirous of getting control of all the stock I could.” Lockyard nodded slowly. He believed he saw what was to be said next. ‘*To do this I must move secretly, or the stock would be pushed up. I resolved to havo a good partner. Thinking I knew just the man I came to the Gunnis: n valley and went to Ruby to see a friend of mive. When I arrived, lo! the man was dead. It was a bitter disappointment, but I put my wits to work, Theresult was that I resolved to take no partner, but, in brief, to borrow a few hundred thousand dollars and buy up all the stock on the sly. That’s why [have come to you. 7 To me? Do you take me for a millionaire?” Father Lockyard questioned. ‘‘By no meuns; if you were that, you would be the owner of a mine, instead of following your present trade.” Mr. Warfield threw out the hint in as respect- able a way as though a hook did not lurk within the bait, ‘*But if you wish to gather ‘a few hundred thousand doilars,’ what I gould loan you would be a mere nothing,” ‘Who would scan me the whole ina lump and not feel an ambition to get the lion’s share? If | bad a partner with a hundred thousand, I would like it; but siace I am to borrow, it must be in smaller sums. If I take all the risk I want very nearly all the gain,” This frankness favorauly impressed Lock- yard and he asked more about Cutaway City and the Quickstep mine. The account he re- ceived was to the effect that Mr. Warfield hoped a new Leadville had come to light in the Idaho mountains. And be guve figures calcu- lated to prove that the Quickstep was capable of making a few millionaires. ‘‘Ir was a severe blow to me to find Jackson dead, for I wanted a partner badly,” added War- field; ‘‘a man who could be depended on because he was getting rich at the same time I was.” Mr. Warfield gave a sigh for the lamented Jackson and looked sadly at bis polished boots, “Suppose,” said Lockyard, slowly, ** that you had another partner?’ ‘* Why, if be was a one-horse man I wouldn’t look at bim; but an honest, substantial man, one 1 could safely tie to, as the saying goes, such a man would be a godsend to me.” ‘* Suppose I find such a man?” ‘You?’ cried Warfield, dropping the late Mr. Jackson and springing into new life. “ Well, you’re a stranger to me, but men say you are eighteen carat fine, and I feel sure the man you would recommend would be the same, wenne the man, sir, and I'l) talk seriously with m. **T must see him first,” said the money-lender, slowly. ‘‘ Perhaps be would not engage in the matter, You are positive the Quickstep is rich and sure?’ ‘‘As sure as lam of my own breath; so sure that my last dollar goes into it,” said Warfield, as bravely as though the Quincstep was not a phantom of his mind and his ‘last dollar’ near- ly as vague an affair. “Well, I will see my man,” Loekyard said, and if you care to call again the matter may soon be settled, He does not care so much to increase his wealth as to place it where it will be in a form thieves can’t ran away with,” ‘* A sensible idea, and [ take it I shall like the man. Of course—this is between you and me— I reserve the right to reject the alliance if I don’t like him.” ‘Quite right and sensible.” Little more was said, for the visitor had worked the case to the very point where he de- sired to leave it, and then he took his departure. He went straight to Parrott's Hotel, and was soon in the presence of Jack Bunker. ‘‘Walf’ questioned the leading plotter, eagerly. ‘The hook is in bis mouth; it only remains to land him,” Warfield replied; and tben he pore an account of the whole affair as near as e could remember what had been said, ‘“‘It is clear he bites,” he added, ‘‘and bis re- rt that his man wants some safe place to put is money confirms it, His ‘man’ is himself. Now, unless the plot miscarries, be will take the share in the Quickstep, and we will be so much the richer—I mean, Kell will,” He winked at Bunker, and the latter nodded in reply; after which they emptied a half-pint flask together. CHAPTER VIII. THE DEACON’S HEAVY HAND. ZORA was pleased to see that her father brightened after the visit of the last caller, and he me so much like bis genial self that she the Quickstep Mining Company, of Cutaway ' partially forgot her fears, the more so that she : Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. — ss TT 7 ~~< ee ee ee ee on — -_——— could not see what serious trouble he could have. His fortune was ample, his loans were trivial in character, and no loss of the kind would cause him inconvenience; so she decided that Old Ketchum must have been more dis- agreeable than dangerous, The money-lender’s daughter was a lover of out-door life. Half ber time was spent among the hills that surrounded the Bend, and no one knew so well as she the secrets of the eternal peaks and guiches. Sbe had some accomplisb- ments, too, not common to ber sex. Sbe was a fine equestrienne, a good revolver-shot, and no novice at handling an oar—though there was no chance for boating around Big Nugget Bend, The day following the last-described scenes she went for one of her rambles among the hills, As usual, sbe was alone, She went to an elevated place, where Nature had formed a sort of chair from the solid rocks, and sat down to humor her fancy that she was a& queen on a throne. he Bend lay below her. It was a quiet, peaceful scene, with little that was new for her to look at, for the business which gave the town its existence was off at one side where the few mines existed, Perhrps an hour passed and the girl was fast falling asleep when a footstep caused her to turn quickly. There was an intruder on her royal premises; near the foot of the throne was a man who had come uninvited and stopped in the same way. He was no stranger; in his burly form and unshaven face she recognized a man she bad be- fore seen in the village and the reader may re- cognize Jack Bunker. ne moment they looked at each other in si- lence and then the man removed his hat with awkward politeness, ‘* Mornin’, miss,” he said, with a contortion cf bis face meant for a smile, “ Hope I don® intrude. I was jest passin’ this way an’ run on ter yer by accident, ** Don’t apologize; everybody is free to walk here,” she calmly replied, not pleased with the man but just as far from being afraid. ** But *tain’t everybody kas a bower o’ beaut like you. Shoot meef ’tain’ta reg’lar chair an’ o’ solid rock,” ss Yes,” The monosyllable did not bold out encourage- ment to bim to remain longer, but he was not amen to be discouraged. ‘* Fine view, from kyar.” et Yes,” He looked at her from wnder his hae gy trows in a searching way. He was not a fool, th.Jun- shaven man of the mines, and he knew his com- pany was not desired, This, however, made no difference to bim. . ‘*’You’re the darter o’ Lockyard, the money- lender, I bilieve,” he went on evenly, “Look like him; same eyes an’ gineral make- up o’ face. Business pretty brisk, now?” “Really, I don’t know, sir. Perhaps father could tell you; you'll find him in the office, now,” Zora was resolved to get rid of the man. Sbe had no means of knowing he was at the front 44 a plot to rob her father of a fortune, but she di not like him and would not prolong the inter- view, Neither was she willing to forsake her throne to get rid of him; he was the one who must go. He, however, easily comprelendirg her hint, showed a disposition to carry the war into her cam . ty Don’t know that I care ter see ther cold man ter-day, though I may cali on Lim Inter. Ther more I look at you, miss, thir mcre you look like some one else I knowed onc’t,. Wit might ’a’ been your mother’s name?” ‘‘T beg your pardon, sir, but all such ques- tions are better addr to my father than to me. Besides, I am here to-day for quiet and don’t care to talk,” ‘“P’r’aps you hev a mortgage on these hills,” he retorted, ‘No, I haven't, and no one has a mortgage on me. When I want company I know how to sa £0, and when I want to be alone, alone I w Zora having held her peace as long as she could, had at last carrsicd the war into the enemy’s camp with vigor. ‘‘Oh! no offense, miss; [ didn’t mean ez bad ez I said, But it cut me right sharp ter be snubbed so, Tell ye what ‘tis, thar ain’t no time in a man’s life when he feels so hurt eg when he begins ter realize he’s gettin’ old an’ that ther gals won’t keer fur him.” The absurdity of POPRORING Bunker on the verge of this chasm, and his attempt to look melancholy did not bide the fact be he was a dangerous man; but Zora laughed in spite of 1. ‘“*T never would have taken you fora lant,” she said, ‘but now I look oe tom ine closely, I have no doubt you bave n many aT Mksie' Woo yor Stdbh,’ tay lady,” ie eh ‘More than you nk, my y. tered, a per ag be light in his eyes, Don’ lat your isa blockhead in ther world it’sa a take too much trouble to sneer at me, OOO) KS m (E(0) (c (E(0)