Beadle's Dime Library No. 278 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a al err > oe ee :" } > ao beautiful yet so different in color, were destined in any way to become rivals. There was the hot blood of the Southern bor- der in Lola’s veins, and the flash of Zoe’s dark es bad already told Carl that, when aroused, @ Was no mean enemy. He felt that the two girls had already met, but whether they had vowed to be friends or not, he did not know. After eying bim for a second from beneath her long lashes, Lola looked at Pigmy Pete. “ That’s the man who said be war handy with the pasteboards,” said Pete, as if in reply to the irl’s inquisitive look, ‘‘I want you to tackle m, Lola. I lifted my voice in You-Bet an’ called yer a daisy an’a jumper. Sustain yer reputation. Thbat’s all old Pete ll ask.” e was not old. One might bave found a few silver bairs under the sombrero-like hat, witb a wide silver band, that sat rather jauntily on his head, but age bad not placed them there. Pigmy Pete was not well known to the deni- zens of You-Bet, not well enough, at least, for them to become familiar with the story of those gray hairs, which dated their existence with the scar above his eye from one of the most re- markable events of bis life. ‘“ We'll hev thet game,” he went on, moving toward one of the many gambling-tables in the room, ‘* Yer name sounds very suggestive, but no cold decks tonight. However,” and he laughed, “if you kin set one up on Lola hyar, _— by it, drive ahead; Mr, Mariposa, an’ set up! ‘IH play the girl a square game,” Carl re- sponded, He moved toward the table, followed by the crowd, to the number of thirty men, on whose hips were seen the deadly weapons of the wild- . cat towns of the Far West. The only person who did not go forward to witness the, game was the fair Zoe, the angel of the place—the girl who was understood to be the protegee of one Hercules, who had been missing three months from You-Bet. There was curiosity in her eyes, which still regarded Lola, and she did not see the look which Carl threw toward her. Lola’s eyes beamed suddenly with excitement, and as she seated herself on the bench at the table they fairly danced with delight. The girl was in her element, The Spanisb-Mexican beauty was really a queen of cards, and the manner in which she took up the pack thrown on tbe table by Carl and shuffled it elicited much surprise from the crowd, and a proud look from Pigmy Pete. * Don’t play with the Mariposa tiger,” whis- pered Pete at the girl’s ear. ‘‘l want short work made oy him. Swauip him so quick that his head 7i1 swim.” Lola’s reply wasa rapid glance which told Pete that bis wishes should be carried out. “What does the senor stake?’ she asked, apoesing for the first time _in silvery tones as she looked up into Carl’s face. ‘* Mexican! just as I thought,” murmured the friend of the man dead in the gulch near town. **T'll bluff Pete’s protegee in the start.” Then he smiled at Lola. ‘‘What do I stake? A few trifles, my little daisy.” That instant his hand disappeared beneath bis coat and wben it reappeared it was filled with a lot of crisp notes the outer one of which was a five hundred dollar bill. ‘*How much senor?’ asked Lola not the least disconcerted., ‘** Nine thousand dollars,” Lola threw a smile at Pigmy Pete, then drew from her bosom a little purse not as large as a mole-skin, but as soft, and laid it alongside of the stake Carl had thrown on the table. The dead man’s friend jooked astonished, ‘* What's in that wallet?’ he exclaimed. ‘“‘ Show up yer pile, miss.” ‘With pleasure, senor,” and picking up the little purse the dark-skinned beauty emptied its contents upon the table. As these fell out and glistened in the light of the reflector lamp overhead, exclamations of wonder burst from the throats of the crowd. was a shapely diamond! ‘* What do you value them at?’ Carl demand- ed, in some amazement, ‘Forty thqusand dollars, senor—no less.” “Jebu! But that’s your own valuation.” Lola’s reply was the fishing from the depths of the puree of a discolored paper which she un- did and laid open for Carl's inspection. Cold-Deck Carl was convinced at a glance for he saw that Lola’s second prize was a certi- ficate of valuation of the diamonds signed by “ Craig & Stephens, Jewelers. Virginia City.” “Isn't it squar’?’ asked Pigmy Pete c- ing from the paper into Carl’s face. ‘Oh, yes, But,” to the girl, “you don’t pit them all against my pile?” ‘“* Yes, senor,” was the smiling reply. ‘‘ We'll bave no ante, senor. The best hand sweeps the board.” Cold-Deck Carl bit his lip and took up the cards the girl had thrown across his stake. The crowd drew closer to the table, and from it Carl turned his attention to his “‘ band.” An expression of chagrin darted athwart his sountenance. Although he bad played a thou- ‘ | eS Sat hl’ ———_———— a Eee ee ee el a TF a e + Hercules Goldspur. + * er send games and kept his composure, this time he betrayed himself. He had been beaten by men, but by a girl, never! All at once be threw bis cards upon the table a a fierce oath and shot Pigmy Pete a mad ook. — ‘*My hand is this, senor,” smiled Lola dis- playing her cards face upward and deftly lay- ing side by side as she did so, four aces, ‘1 do not lose the diamonds, do I, senor?” ‘*No! but your partner loses bis beauty!” Another instant a human wild-cat cleared the table as if it had been a wisp of straw and landed in front of Pigmy Pete before that indi- vidual could realize that he wus in the least danger. Car!’s bound took all by surprise. ‘IT said I would draw a blood-jline around You-Bet and I will!” he hissed savagely as his band closed on Pete’s throat, and he lifted him frome the floor, ‘‘ You back the girl! You put her up to beat me, Now, my little snake, Pll make yer eyes burst!” The crowd drew back, rendered speechless by the sudden assault, and Lola who had been brushed aside by the men of You Bet was im- prisoned between two burly figures while the precious stakes were at the mercy of the first rapacious band, It was the most thrilling scene which the gambling-den had witnessed for many nights. Carl was fast keeping bis word. s his bronze hand tightened upon Pete’s throat the Pigmy’s eyes seemed to start from his head. Suddenly a man appeared in the open door- way of the den, A look of recognition lighted up Zoe’s eyes as he stepped toward ber. He was a veritable Hercules, and as hand- some as he was powerful. Two long strides. carried him to the counter and as he leaned across it, be said: ‘Which one shall I kill, Zoe?” CHAPTER HL GOLDSPUR'S INTERFERENCE. THERE was a good-natured twinkle in the eyes of the man as he put the question to the girl behind the bar, We have already said that he was a giant in stature. This was true. ) Out of his boots he would have measured more than six feet, and his broad shoulders added much to bis splendid physique. His face was bandsome, somewhat browned, but full of expression, with almost soft blue eyes, and a silky mustache which hid the con- tour of his lips. He wore an open jacket, the edges of which were braided, and at the ends of the sleeves was woven silver braid arranged in loops. He did not wear the loose almost baggy trow- sers seen sometimes among men who affect his style of dress: but bis nether limbs were clothed in tightly-fitting ones, the ends of which could be seen for the polished boots be wore, Af the heel of each boot was a heavy spur the meta) of which resembled gold, His hat was a sombrero but soft in texture with the rim above his eyes turned up sbowing all his face at a glance. He was still youthful-looking, despite his wild life in more than one lawless locality of the great Northwest, and those whom he made his confidants and they were few in numbers, knew that he had at the date of our romance bareiy passed his twenty-seventh birthday. Such was the man who strode into the saloon as Cold-Deck Carl was choking Pigmy Pete black in the face, and coolly asked Zoe which of the two men he sbould kill. For a moment the girl made no reply, but as a wild cry rose from Lola’s lips, she Jaid her hand on the giant’s arm and clutched it, ** Don’t kill the little man, Hereules,” she ex- claimed. * Don’t let the big man kill him.” **T won't, Zoe.” Quick as a flash Hercules wheeled upon the combatants and a bound carried bim to the spot the occupied. Cold-Deck Carl did not seem aware of bis presence until a hand large, but soft as velvet, clutebed bis wrist, and the next moment he was wrenched from bis blackened victim with an ease which nearly made him give expression to an exclamation of wonderment, ‘* You don’t choke that infant to death!” said Hercules with a glance at Pigmy Pete who, un- able to stand erect after the severe choking he had received, sunk in a heap to the floor, He still held Carl’s wrist and as he eyed him the same faint smile with which be had greeted Zoe vas still visible at the corners of bis mouth. * Who are you?” demanded Cold-Deck Carl, with a savageness which told that he was spoil- ing for a fight. | ‘Hercules Goldspur!” was the son rejoinder. ‘I never let a big man choke a little one in my presence,” **Ob, you don’t!” sneered Carl. “* Never!” “Then mebbe you have no objection to tackling me? I’m vear yer size.” The handsome giant burst into a laugh. He could look over Carl’s head, and Gon was no pigmy. a eet if Cold-Deck Carl ba 3 ——— ee —s ‘“We won't fight,” he said, releasing Carl's wrist so suddenly that he staggered back, ‘* You’ve blackened Pigmy Pete’s face by a process that’s mean and: contemptible,” ‘* Tf you don’t like it, say so plainly.” ‘*] dosay so. The man who would choke an infant that way is a coward,” ** That means me?’ ‘* It was intended for nobel else,” was the reply. ‘* Cold-Deck Carl, I believe that’s your name, I make no pretensions. . These men know me. l’m Hercules Goldspur as I’ve already told you. [mall man. There’s no half-hoss, half- alligator about this chicken. I don’t owna foot of land, an’ I never expect to. LInever staked a claim, an’ will never be a bonanza king. But thar’s one thing Iam proud of an’ that’s this,” Hercules held up bis right hand in a manner that riveted Carl’s gaze upon it. The member was shapely, white and fair, and touched it he. would have found it as soft as a woman’s. . “That band bas given me a name. which Inever go back on,” continued Goldspur ad- dressing Carl, ‘ In different places men know mé as The Man of the Velvet. Hand,” Carl’s start was noticeable, lt was apparent that he had heard the name before. ‘* Are you that man?” be asked. sé I am.” . , ‘‘ Then it becomes my duty to kill you.” . The crowd drew back at these words, but that was Hercules Goldspur. ‘‘Not yet,” be said before Cold-Deck Carl could draw bis revolver. ‘‘Wben I’m anxious to go to judgment mebbe I'll call on you.” His haod fell on Carl’s rigbt arm between and an instant later by main force he tu him about. | ‘*] want to see you,” he said in a significant whisper, and with a look that said sti ** But not here. Come outside.” To the sarpeine of the crowd, Hercules began to lead Carl toward the open door, and the twain passed from the place more like friends than men who were almost certain to become deadly enemies. Not a word was spoken until the two men had reached the mouth of the cut in whose shadows lay the man Cold Deck Carl had carried behind the bowlder. fs, Then Hercules’s band fell from the latter’s arm, and looking him in the eye as be stepped back, be said: } : “ Xen belong to the family of fools, Cold-Deck arl,” His words seemed to demoralize the man from Mariposa. His band made a move toward bis revolver, but be checked it himself, 4 ‘‘ That’s right,” laughed Hercules. ‘‘ Stop row hand half-way an’ don’t draw my fire. ou stopped the train to-night and let a pass- enger off in this gulch?” | ‘And you killed bim?’, | ‘* Not” and the face of the speaker instant became calm. ‘1 have killed no man to-nigb . but I know where your comradeis, He Jies be- ' - bind a rock not faraway. ,Will you go an’ look at him?” a“ Yes.” ; Side by side the two men walked from the spot where they had halted, and Hercules stop- ped beside a certain bowlder, bebind which he ooked with his old smile, “He's byar yet, Carl,” he said, glancing a his companion. ““ Hadn’t you better bury him Cold-Deck Carl’s teeth fairly cracked as he answered: ‘““T want vengeance first.” “Ob, you do! On whom?’ | “On the man what killed him! Dare you tell me who did this? Hercules Goldspur, dare name the man who drove a bullet through bien’s brain?” ‘* An’ dare you tell me wey he came to You- Bet?” was the quick rejoinder. “Answer me an’ |l’}l answer you. Truth for truth.” The men stood face to face, their feet almost touching the corpse of Cold. figures and threw their shadows against tho oT fate a eel direct, but Car] glanced e ust. t a down at the dead before he answered. . ‘No, I will not tell you,” he said. : “ Then find out who killed your friend!” : ‘J wil. Kerife an’ revolver shal] not intimi- date Cold-Deck Carl. He war my pardner. He came hyar fer a Pp at Hereules. Is the train. My light wara derstood, but he got, off to boots on. Thar never died a gamer man than he. I have said that J will draw.a blood-line about You-Bet fer this shot an’ ll doit. Hear ie hyar with his me, dead pard! hear Cold-Deck Car] in spite o? ther bullet in yer bead!” / LP Cold-Deck Carl and seized the hand of the dead, and kneeling by the rock looked up into Hereules’s face, wide G “T swear to get even with that man killed my pard, All the pistols in Idaho, the wolves ov You-Bet sha’n’t balk me! keep my word to draw a blood-line about com (e there was one man who stepped forward and elbow and shoulder as he uttered the ras more, this. k Carl's. nd, The moon overhead revealed their aie con nal which en | accursed town, We war linked together, the. : IOOKS ‘ ‘