Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 302 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 word to make it pure business. You’ve thrown away more than enough chances, and good man as you have proved yourself so far, you can’t keep on doing this without his getting in his work at last. Say you'll act in earnest, or this fight goes no further while I can pull trig- ger or play steel!” ‘Don’t you git oneasy, mate,” with a short, Lj dry laugh that carried conviction with it. ‘* The power is onto me likea load o’ dynamite. I’m a butcher from Slaughterville, an’ I hain’t hed a hot red*drink fer anage! That two-legged hog’)1 be on the market in the shape of a hunk o’ measly pork, quicker’n a old maid kin jump at a offer o’ marriage in a drought!” “All right, then; bnt mind, my friend,” so- berly; ‘‘if you play ont more of your wild and foolish tricks, I'll take it as an insult to myself, and call you to a strict account.” ~ Meanwhile Faro Saul was busy with his prin- cipal, picking bits of splintered glass from bis face, batbing the gashes and whispering to him in an undertone. In all but one respect Tom Jobnson listened to him quietly, and agreed to follow bis advice; but he would not consent to \ ask for a delay until the coming of day. ‘‘Thar’s pore Jim, an’ he killed him. Ef I . waited even a hour, I’d feel like L was takin’ n . gides ag’in’ him. Right now’s the time. On’y i make it so I cain’t help but take him down to blazes with me—it’s all 1 ax!” deliberately ut- tered Tom. Placing the man under charge of those whom he felt he could trust, Faro Saul approached Vincent and they began discussing the terms of | the duel. In accordance with bis principal’s J°t wish, the Giant Gambler proposed that the two 7 men be fastened together by the left bands, then permitted to fight it out with knives; but Vin- ste utterly refused to entertain the proposi- tion, ‘Your principal bas tried to murder my friend on three separate occasions, and each \, time has bad his life given to him when it was Vi justly forfeited. We don’t propose to throw iW away another point. If be wants to fight, he Ae must fight after a manly fashion.” ‘** And that is?” ‘‘ With revolvers, at any decent distance, and according torule. If either principal attempts any trickery, he forfeits his life that instant.” Vincent remained firm, though Old Pap Weatherwax freely offered to accept any. terms that might best please the enemy, and the final y decision was this: The men to use their own weapons; to be stationed back to back in the outer air, under the light of the moon; tteir re- volvers to be placed on the ground ten yards in advance of each man as they stood thus; at the word they were to advance, step by step as ten | units were counted; then pick up their tools and A" fire at will, ih, Neither Faro Saul nor Tom Johnson were me satisfied with these conditions, but with the 45 voice of the crowd against them there was NU nothing for them but submission. And, after + om all, the odds were not so great. By bathing and thet a little judicious use of the lancet, the eyesight | _ of the bully was restored to something like its 3 normal condition, and Tom Johnson was ip bet- ae ot ter fix for sighting a pistol than he would be in { a hong when swelling and inflammation d . Biter these preliminaries had been arranged, there was but little time cut to waste. The h seconds took their principals outside, where the 1 distance was already marked off. The moon Bl is shone with sufficient brilliancy for the occasion al and in high good-humor the citizens ranged bie themselves along both sides of the street, eager to ‘witness a duel after the orthodox fashion, | th ( To Don Bobtail ar was granted the — of giving the word, on condition that he should attend strictly to business and not yield to the temptation of making a spread- 1 . os eagle speech. The principals were pla back fhe ‘co ie ck. The pistols were placed on the ground, < ¢ ee each beside a ing lamp, that there might be no difficulty in finding them, as well as no \ Tena ee tey for trickery through the collusion w a a friend. _ And then, amid a breathless silence, Don Bob nis * All ready, gents?’ ot pies _“ Yas—burry up!” growled Tom Johnson. « - “Ditto from your Uncle Fuller!” cried tho ancient. : “Mind the word then. The critter as takes ‘too big a step, or tries to steal in two to one -. mumber, ‘ll hev to settle with me! Ready— a4 ” _ _Kach man strode forward a single pace, then Le - halted for the next word. In regular succes- ss gion they came, and at the tenth count both 4 Btoo and snatched u _—— * ‘Wheel an’ cut loose!” squealed ) the men wheeled, Tom Johnson firing first in his bloodthirsty longing for revenge, but a mocking laugh burst from the lips of the old : with the sharp crack of his own med weapon. their weapons. on Bob, ex- ginan, mipglin a ) St deliberately. Plies 5) With a wild yell Tom Jobnson staggered, the ss gevolver dropping from his graspfas§the well- -- gimed bullet crashed its way through his tightly _ “@linched band, With a furious curse he stooped . and caught up the pistol with bis left hand, fir- ing two shots in swift succession, as he rusbed to closer quarters, holding his own life as noth- ing if he could only take his foeman down to death with him. ‘*T al’ays did despise a hog!” cried Pap, send- ing his second bullet bome with the same cool deliberation. Another mad yell, and Tom Johnson turned half-around, his left arm dropping to his side, a bullet through his elbow. ‘*Cuss you—a millyun cusses on your head!” he gasped, bursting into tears that were even more terrible than bis flood of blasphemy. ‘‘ Kill me—put a eend toit, durn ye! 1 dont want |to live a helplesscripple! Kill me—sen’ me toj’ine Jim! Ob, a cripple—a cripple in both arms!” ‘* Look to him, somebody, an’ I'll stan’ good fer all charges they’s made,” cried Pap, all traces of levity vanishing. He had time to say no more, for Vincent, fearing furtber trouble from some of the fel- lows who might be in secret sympathy with the brother of the dead road-agent, caught the veteran by the arm and hurried him through the excited crowd. ‘* You would have showed better sense, had you killed bim outright, old friend,” he mut- tered, when once fairly clear of the gathering. ** You could have done that as —. as to crip- ple bim. All the sympathy woul with you, then, but now—there may come a serious after-clap.” ‘*T couldn’t bring myself to kill the pore devil,” seriously replied the old man. ‘“ You see fer yourself bow often I let up on bim when I hed him foul. I see he was crazy from griev- in’ over his brother. I wouldn’t bit him hard ontel I see that ef I didn’t putt the carb on, he’d keep up his lick ontel he throwed mv cold. I’m sorrier then you kin be over the way it’s anned out, but a man with life an’ one arm is tter then a dead carkidge.” ‘* For him, possibly, but I fear not for you. Still, there may be no trouble over it, if you keep a little out of sight until the first excite- ment blows over.” While talking, the two men bad been walk- ing rapidly away, and as Vincent abruptly paused, they were near the outskirts of the town, Hesitating for a moment, hespoke earn- estly: Wil you trust yourself to me for a couple of hours?’ ‘* For a’tarnity, ef you ax it,” was the prompt reply. oe want you to go with me to the White Ele- phant.” ‘* A sort o’ menadgery, I reckon?” ‘* A gambling-house, run by Faro Saul.” ‘*T hain’t got a stray ducat in wy bull ward- robe, so—”’ ‘** | don’t want to play, nor to have you gam- ble, lI only want you to use your eyes the best you can, Faro Saul has a dealer of faro whom want you tosee. Look closely, and then give me your candid opinion when we come out. It is of the utmost importance, or I wouldn’t ask it of you, just now.’ **Old as I be, I never yit hesitated to takea ood look at a woman when I got the chaince. ad on, my covey!” In five minutes the twain were in a spacious, rather neatly-fitted up establishment, consider- ing its location in a third-rate miving-camp. - Owing tothe excitement which had reigned in another quarter of the town, the gathering at the tables was but thin, and without ac- tually joining the players at the faro-table, our friends could readily watch the movements of the dealer. A woman, dressed in rich wine-colored velvet, oramented oberg. with chased golden but- tons; with short curls of rich brown hair; with arms plump and superbly rounded; with small, white and shapely hands, gleaming with jewels; a figure that seemed perfection itself, though on a rather diminutive scale; with a close-fittin mask of black velvet which fellin a fringe o gold below her chin. Long and patiently the two men watched her, without betraying their especial purpose, From the front, from each side, listening to her oc- casional sentences as she announced the begin- ning of a deal or called attention to the coming of the final turn; summing ber up as carefully as though their lives depended upon their giving a correct report of each detail. It was not until the room filled almost to over- flowing that Vincent touched bis companion on the arm and made bis way out of the gambling- room. He flushed a little anxiously as he saw how many eyes were turned upon them, and re- ized a number of those who had been wit- nesses of the duel; but nu one ventured to check their retreat, and they were soon safely outside, mone rapidly away from the White Ele- ant. ‘* Well, what do you think of Queen Titania?’ asked Vincent as he came to an abrupt balt in a shady corner. ‘* That she slings on a mighty sight more style then she did when she tried to play bugs onto you in the bearse, to-day,” was the prompt re- sponse. “Then you think they are one and the same t have been | I | eT ee oe OO Or on ee — ee FF Hn, nn ee ee Faro ‘Saul, the Handsome Hercules. person?” eagerly asked Vincent, thrilling to find bis own suspicions so promptly confirmed by the opinion of another. ‘*’Course I couldn’t take my Bible oath onto it, but—” Milo Vincent never heard the conclusion of that deliberate sentence, if it ever reached a legitimate conclusion. He barely caught the sound of rushing foot- steps, then a crushing blow fell upon his head— a sharp pang shot through his side—and all was blackness! With a hollow groan the young foreman open- ed his eyes und stared vacantly around him. He could just distinguish the stars of heaven dancing and whirling in a mad, crazy waltz. He could see no moon. He gave a gasping moan, and tried to rise; but in vain. A faint- ness as of death swept over him, and with it came an unutterable horror of thus dying, alone, in the dark! With a desperate effort of will, he reached his belt, dragged a revolver from its scabbard, cocked it, and then pulled the trigger. He tried to shout aloud; but bis feeble remnant of strength left him, and with a gasping moan, bis bead drooped. CHAPTER XIII, OLD PAP WEATHERWAX TAKES A NAP. Ir would have been better for both Milo Vin- cent and Old Pap Weatherwax if they had felt a less absorbing interest in the personal appear- ance of Queen Titania, and at the same time kept a httle closer watch over their own sur- roundings. Long before their intense curiosity concern- ing her was satisfied, inimical eyes Ay noted their presence and a crafty remorseless hand was pulling the wires by means of which their discomfiture, if not destruction, was assured, Their faces, figure and dre-s wereall carefully marked beyond the possibility of a mistake, and then grim, evil-hearted men Jay in ambush without the door of the White Elephant, await- ing the coming of their destined victims, tealtbily they were dogged by armed men whose bootless feet gave back no echo, and then, as they came to a pause in the lonely corner, a low whisper passed between the thugs, “Don’t make a mistake. Lay the young ’un out cold, an’ take t’other—you know how, Ready —time |” Swift and deadly was the attack. Without a word or a sound of warning, four shadowy fig- ures lea upon the twain, striking hard and sure. ithout even a gasp or groan, Milo Vin- cent sunk down in his tracks. The elder man dropped to his knees, and showed faint signs of resistance, but then he went down on bis face as another blow descended upon his skull, and two heavy bodies fell on top of bim. ‘“Clapa a ane on his jaw, while I make sure o’ the other!” hissed the man who appeared to act as leader, He stooped, then rose, and red blood was sprinkled over his right band and dripping from the point of his knife! ‘* He’ll never squeal!” with a low, savage laugh that was more like the biss of an angry serpent than aught of human mirth. ‘‘ Boost the old man up and play bim for a skinful of budge. If we meet any cifrious cuss, Jet me do the chin- nin’, Locking arms around the body of Old Pap Weatberwax, two of the ruffians lifted bim to his feet, the third Peeing. oe limp arms around their necks. And thus, having the appearance of being good-natured comrades of an unfortu- pate who bad thus early in the evening been *‘ knocked out” in bis fight with bad whisky, the thugs moved away from the spot where Milo Vincent lay in a growing pool of his own blood ,his sightless eyes turned up toward heaven, his face drawn and ghas.ly. Selecting the deepest shadows and taking a roundabout course where passengers were scarce the thugs reached the rear of a certain building in Good Enough without encountering a single person whose memory wight afterward prove troublesome. Tapping lightly at the door it swung silently open, and the party entered without the slight- est hesitation, though all was dark as Erebus. Only until the door was closed and barred by the chief of the thugs, then a widening shaft of light shot out before them, as from the moved slide of a dark-lantern, though the bearer was wholly invisible in the shadowy rear. The leader stepped briskly abead and stooped to spring a cunningly-hidden trep-door. He stepped uside and made a sign, the meaning of which appeared to be perfectly plain to his fel- lows. for without a werd of question they caught Old Pap Weatherwax by the arms and let bim drop, feet-foremost, through the bole. A thump and a muffled cry came back. ‘* Hell’s delight!” grated the chief, as be stoop- ed over the aperture. ‘‘ The hound Eas come to his senses, and we never stripped off his wea- pons! Down with you, lads! The light, now!” As the bright rays shot through the opening, showing him where to jump, the bead thu leaped into the pit, closely followed by mates: They saw that their captive was strug- Gomicbooks:co % ty ‘ ; , ' .