Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 292 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

“k Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. than that,” said Shaky Joe, in answer to the significant hints of his associates. ‘‘If you pre- fer to give over a sure thing for the chance of making a stake out of those darks, all right: 1 can easily pick up other tools for the job on hand.” ‘Tf you'd only give a man a hint as to just what its nature is!” growled Teddy Huke, with a cunning, covert glance, * I don’t know myself,” was the guarded re- ly. ‘‘lonly know ‘that the man who gives it is not one to pay with astingv hand. In one word, do you stick, or pull out?” ‘ Stick, of course!” ‘¢ An’ it’s Purty Paddy that says the same, be ob!” chimed in the Irishman, adding: ‘‘ But it’s atin’ like bloody murtber I am to see the loikes o’ that rabbit-fut slip out o’ me tin fingers, whin it’d cost only a tap on. the hid av a couple o’ dirthy naygurs—an’ the ould ’oman kickin’ up the divi deloight ivery noight, afore Purty Paddy kin rock her to slape wid a touch av the blackthorn or a t’ree-ligged sthool!” Shaky Joe uttered a low, meaning laugh as he glanced into the rueful face of the covetous Pat-lander. ‘“And that tap o’ the head might come to your own sweet pate, Paddy. Moke Horner is a tough colt to ride, even by a man that can wear the spurs as well as you know how.” ‘‘Sure I'd double him acrass the knee av me, an’ then t’row the two bits so high the blue- birds’u’d build nists in’em both afore they could come down ag’in!” “Perhaps—not! When you try to pick up that dark’, my lad, you want to spit on your fingers first. He’s a mighty tough ’coon, and pure grit clean to his toe-nails. 1 know what I am talking about. I’ve seen the boy tried, and come out of places so hot that it would melt the hair off your head, my laddy-buck, without a scratch,” ‘‘lyve heard of him,” said Teddy Huke, cut- ting in more for the purpose of preventing the reply which sprung to the lips of his hot-tem- pered mate. ‘*A roustabout on some of the river boats, ain’t he?” “ A king of the roustabouts comes nearer the mark, Moke Horner is a power among the river-men, and really has more influence than the most skilled pilot or the smartest captain between here and head-waters.” ‘A bloody naygur—the loikes av him!” sniffed Paddy. “You saw how he managed those darkies in yonder?” coolly added Shaky Joe, paying no at- tention to the disgusted Irishman, ‘ Well, right there you have a bint of his peculiar powers and the real reason why his influence is so re- markable over those of bis own race. He has earned the reputation of heing a mighty hoodoo man, and he never suffers that belief to die out for lack of practice, ** He is bold and original, shrewd and quick- witted, He has closely studied the whims and vagaries of his race, especially those bearing on witcberaft or voodooism. He knows all the thousand-and-one charms and fetiches in which the ignorant blacks place implicit reliance, and he works their superstition for all if is worth. They believe he can hoodoo them by a simple turn of his wrist. One word from him can fill a steamboat with first-class hands, and another word will be quite sufficient to leave her deck deserted, even though the steam is up and the gang-plank drawn in for a tripup or down the river. And nota mate that runs the line dare lay so much as the weight of a finger on the darkyin anger. Whether it is that the fellow really possesses more than mortal powers, I can’t say, but it is a recorded fact that when Moke Horner has suffered abuse on board a boat, it never reached the end of its run with- out serious accident, and often total loss, before he became so well known,” ‘A mere coincidence, of course,” laughed Huke. “You ean’t get a river-man of any ex- rience to believe that,” seriously retorted haky Joe, speaking as though he, too, had im- bibed some of the current superstition. ‘‘ He can have a berth on whatever boat he fancies, and once there, be is boss. He may work or play, just as the fit strikes him, for even those officers who disbelieve in his powers, know that his influence over their crews is much beyond their own.” ‘* Why, then, does he remain a common roust- about?” ““ Because of his color. He is a free negro, but still he is a black; and who would travel on a boat that had a nigger for an officer?” ‘““Not Purty Paddy, sure!” muttered the sulky Irishman. ‘‘ But w’u’dn’t I loike to play mate fer jist wan thrip wid dat bloody naygur as aroustabout! Glory to Moses! what fun!” ‘‘ Perhaps,” dryly reterted Shaky Joe, ‘ Wait until this little job is over with, and then, when you have a stake to put up to make matters in- teresting, and 1f Moke hasn’t gone up the river again, ll try and bring you together for all you or your backers can raise,” ‘*Sure you wu’u’dn’t pit your money on a naygur?” “Against my own father, if I thought I , wetting his ‘‘ That's all well enough,” impatiently mut- tered Huke, as he twirled his empty glass on the table, ‘* But you didn’t ask us here to listen to your praises of a darky? Where’s the money to come in at? Who wants us, and for what?” “That you'll see when the proper time ” ° ac comes,” was the cool retort. ‘‘ Are you game for bot and desperate work?” ‘I’m strapped, clean as a whistle. I’d wade through blood to the knees or dive into hell-fire for gold just now !” ‘‘An’ Purty Paddy’s got a mouth fer the same broth, bedad! Money’s the divil an’ all to git, these days, an’ it’s me that didn’t saa enough o’ that same to buy a rotten pratie anny day these six weeks past, so I didn’t, now!” grunted the other, ‘‘T thought as much, when I selected you two for the job. I knew the right stuff was in you, and I wouldn’t ask for any better hands where good pay calls for good work.” ‘Give us the pay, and I'll warrant the style of work shall suit you,” confidently replied Huke, bis tones guarded against being over- heard by any of those at the neighboring tables. _ You won’t balk if the articles call for spill- ing ved ink, then?’ added Shaky Joe. **Not if there’s gold enough to outweigh our scruples. Who is the man weare to deal with?” ** All in good time, my boy, Don’t grow im patient.” ‘What i: the work he wants done? Who is to be put out of the way—man or woman?” ‘¢ That I don’t know myself—” ‘‘Look here, you!” growled Teddy Huke, leaning across the table, his little ferret eyes glowing like hot coals, ‘‘If you are trying run a rig on us, after this fashion, don’t do it! { warn you, as manto man. It won’t pay. I’m soft as silk with those who treat me right, but when I’m roughed, I know how to make my teeth meet worse than any bulldog you ever saw!” Turning his head, Shaky Joe beckoned to the waiter, giving an order for fresh drinks, He settled back in his chair while waiting for his order to be filled, staring into the anger-pale face of the thief as steadily as his infir vity would permit, not speaking a word until the liquor was brought and paid for. Then, just uivering lips with the vile com- pound, he spoke, low and smoothly: “Keep your tongue between your teeth, my lad. It takes more show than you can offer to faze a hair on my head, You are here to obey orders, not ask questions. If you don’t like the conditions, pull oat. Ican do without you, if you are independent of me. You understand?” ‘*Tsn’t what I ask fair?’ muttered the thief, cooled down despite himself by those icy words. ‘* if we are to do work, haven’t we the right to know—” ‘* Just what I choose to let you,” was the low, but sharp interruption, ‘In one word; do you fly the track?” “Of course not,” sulki'y. * All right; let that flea stick by the wall, then. Now to expjain: AllI know is this: A man who is good for whatever he promises, bade me pick out two or three good and trusty hands, who would work without questions, for big money, and wait for him here, I know nothing what he wants— Jfist !” He cut his explanations short, as the outer door swung open. A tall man entered, drank, lit a cigar, cast a careless glance around the room, then turned and left the saloon. “That’s our nian!” muttered Shaky hastily draining his glass and arising. “ —we must keep track of him!” Without a word Teddy Huke and Paddy fol- lowed his example. Joe, Come CHAPTER III. A GLIMPSE OF PARADISE, On that same fair spring evening, but a few hours later, and in an altogether different por- tion of the Crescent City, certain events took place which must find a record here. A spacious, well-arranged mansion was bril- liantly lighted up from roof to basement, For an hour past stately carriages had been rolling OP the front door, pausing long enough to discharge their freight of beauty and chivalry, tben making way for still others. From the open windows came the mellow notes of music, and an occasional murmuring of voices as some couple lifted the misty lace curtains which alone shut off a view of the charming interior from the few dirty and ragged beggars whom the gay sounds and brilliant visions had drawn to toe rich man’s portals. ‘For Horace Ward was universally accounted a very rich man in those days. It was fre- quently hinted that he could see his way clear to a position among the very few millionaires of that day, even if not actually entitled to add that magical title to bis well-known name. Few men in the South were better known than the handsome, well preserved and genial merchant and ship-owner. Many a solid busi- ness man sighed while envying ‘that lucky dog,” and said what a great pity it was that : - oT * t orga = . : ae ae *. Sees: ie as a le tr es ee | et = ‘ “ ; Tans Ay PE 6 a Ye FL ant Horace Ward had no son to whom he might. leave the flourishing business when he grew too old or too rich to care for keeping up his watchful interest, And then, with thoughts of the charming Drusilla Ward, sole child and only heiress of the wealthy merchant, they fell straightway to summing up the chances their sons or their nephews might have if duly entered. for the grand stakes of beauty and bullion. There bad never been another child born to Horace and Melicent Ward than Drusilla, nor had the parents ever really felt the lack of other, though the merchant did experience an occasional pang of regret that there was none of the same name to take up tis work when his time for retiring to private life should come; but that sentiment was only momentary, always vanishing before a word from the red lips of his idolized child, or one glimpse of her bright countenance, Even had she not been heiress to such bril- liant prospects, Drusilla Ward would have been considered a bright star amidst the brilliant. galaxy of beauty and fashion for which the Crescent city has ever been famous. Handi- capped by poverty, not even the most envious could have denied herclaim to beauty of the highest order. Favored by great wealth and indulgent parents, she became the reigning star, the acknowledged belle, the most precious prize then in the matrimonial market. Not one who beheld her then, gracefully float-. ing over the carefully waxed and polished floor to the rise and fall of music, could have denied. her right to any or all of those titles, Just eighteen years of age, for the ball was given in commemoration of her birthday, Dru- silla Ward was yet fresh and charming as a just-opening rosebud, though she had eotered society when but little more than a child in years. During all that time she bad bad many suitors, but never a lover, But now—and he nothing but.a beggarly lawyer, without name or fame! He was her partner in this dreamy waltz, and. neither Drusilla Ward nor Marcus Dingeon bad. eyes or thoughts for the meaning glances, the significant shrugs, the whispered comments: with which a certain portion of the company regarded their association, And then, when the music died away, and the gracefully-whirl— ing couples ceased their rhythmic movements, Marcus Dinyeon, flushed and supremely happy,, reverently led the beautiful maiden into the dimly-lighted conservatory beyond the ball- room, Without a word he found her a seat, and still in silence be stood at her shoulder, bending over her fair head and reading ber thoughts as some religious devotee might study the linea- ments of his particular idol. : A lovely idol was Drusilla Ward, in good truth. Just eighteen years, Northern born and Southern bred, she seemed to combine the pecu- liar charms of both regions in one harmonious: whole, With golden-yellow hair, soft and silk-- en, gently waved and Beoaly luxuriant in its growth; with a pink and white complexion that owed naught of its perfection and purity to art, her large eyes were black as sloes and brilliant as diamonds, forming a most charming cun- trast. Her mouth was small and well arched, her lips red and full enough, without being in the least voluptuous, Her teeth were small, even, white as pearls; her chin softly rounded; her ears pink and shell-like. a fizure she was neither tall nor short, leam nor dumpy, but just the graceful mien which is so much more captivating than either extreme. And her present cavalier, so far as oucwaid seeming went, was a fitting mate for the mil- lionaire’s daughter. | Marcus Dingeon was handsome, and at the same time a manly man, without a suspicion of effeminacy about him, unless it Jay in his gentle courtesy, which never failed bim while in the pienence of the opposite sex. A true woman, e regarded as something to be 1everenced, be her wordly station bigh or lowly, and this sen-. timent lent to his manners that peculiar charm sh so many of the professed “ lady-killers ” ack, He stood quite six feet in hight, his shoulders broad and square, his chest full and swelling, tapering down to trim, flat loins, with muscular hips and lower limbs, His facial features were irong. yet regular, his eyes of midnight blackness, his hair worn rather lone eS ab the ends. In obedience to the ruling fashion, his face was clean shaven. He wore the customary evening dress, neat and plain, without the slightest trace of jewelry about his person, ; Self-composed though she usually was, some- thing in that steady, reverential gaze caused the warm color to suffuse the fair cheeks of the. heiress, and with a little laugh, she cast a sby glance into the grave, handsome face of her cavalier, saying softly: * Shall I offer the traditional penny for your thougbts?” . be With a start the young lawyer aroused him-. self. His swarthy face flushed hotly, then» grew pale again before be couldcommand him-. ox Y self sufficiently to make reply; + & are ‘VE te _