Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 302 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

‘Faro Saul, the Handsome SEES ———————— OO kage of bills which had saved the life of | them when Little Jobnny gets through with his Milo Vincent, With a covetous laugh, the woman reached out her hand for them, but the mine-owner shrunk back, and the Handsome Hercules in- terposed. ‘The time of grace has not yet expired, aunt Althea, and I have a few more words to say. You, Waldo St. John, will pay this money over . to your wife, You will promise on honor to hand her the remaining five thousand before sunset to-morrow. In return, I will give you a bend absolving you from further molestation on their part.’ ‘‘To be broken as soon as her fickle fancy wills!” ‘‘Not so. Iwill turn against her, in sucha ease, and show her no more mercy than I have thus far showed you, for then your interests will be identical with mine.” Stepping to the table, he bent over it and wrote hastily for a few moments, using a par- tially printed slip. Holding this up before the eyes of the mine-owner so it could be easily read, he continued: “Here is my note, acknowledging the receipt of twenty thousand dollars from you. Re ble on damand meee Ving the usual notice. : e | | | | | | It is | it. | grand tail-twisting act! Do me proud, gentle- men? Barkeep’!” If the commencement was a trifle arrogant, the conclusion more than made amends, and when Don Bobtail Fandango, after wiping his lipsand watching his recent passenger out of sight, added bis commentary, it was pleasantly listened to. ‘* An’ durned ef he ain’t a thoroughbred, too, gents! The good Lawd! sech see-gyars as he kep’ a-rammin’ into my port-hole! An’ the pocket-pistil he toted! Hope may never see the back o’ my neck ag’in, gents, ef he didn’t give me one dose that run clean through me so quick that it melted the nails out o’ my boot-heels afore I hed time to smack my lips! It was ’stilled honey stirred up with a full-growed t'rantler’s probe! Made me feel like I was a gigadier-brindle o’ hoss marines—nur I hain’t ot clean over it yit, by gum!” It was seldom that the arrival of a single pas- senger created so much interest, and gave rise to so much discussion as this dashing young fel- low did, but his own appearance and brief in- troduction, together with the enthusiastic ‘‘ toot- ing ” kept up by Don Bob, bad much to do with And before the sun had fairlv set, it was pretty well spread through Good Enough that there would be plenty of fun at the White Ele- in your hand, and hold it as | phant that evening. e this, giving your wife the package of money you carry patinen Ab for the scrupulous fulfillment of my pledge. I will prepare a bond, in which it will sworn that Althea Pennoyer was a married ean, with a husband living at the time she married you. And if you prefer, it will also state that the child sbe claims now to be hers and yours, is really an impostor, picked up and trained for the occasion. And any other little point which you may like to have inserted as a safe d, shall be attended to. When you are satisfied with its contents, I will exchange it for this nete.” Stepping across the room, he unlocked the pay eaving it ajar. Returning, he added 2£ol t Pay the money and take this note, or refuse. Make your own decision. The door is open. You are free, and. can depart whenever you choose, If you elect to keep the money and the chances, not a finger will be lifted to inder your departure—but to-morrow the ow will fall as heavily as our united force make it.. Decide, Waldo St. John!” is tone and manner, even more than his words, carried conviction to the soul of the hunted man, and after a barely perceptibla hesitation, he cast the package of money on the table, grasping the note with trembling bands, muttering: _** You have conquered,demons! But may the curse of Heaven descend upon your vile heads and crush you to atoms!” _ The woman laughed softly as she pounced upon the money, tearing off the covering and running over the bloodstained bills with dexter- ous fingers. “Now may I gof” tremblingly whispered the haken man. a One moment,” said Saul, pitilessly. ‘* You have silenced them, but still have me to settle with! When Zurilla is my wife, you are for- ever safe from the black past, but until then, I hold you under my thumb. If you fail to coax or foree her to consent to marry me within the week, all that has been threatened by or in her name, shall be carried out, sure as there is a sky above us!” cus Tudor staggered before this fresh blow. He saw how little mercy he was to re- ceive at the bands of this utterly conscienceless rascal, and buskily muttered: ‘‘You malignant devil! Do your worst! I defy you!” je pitiful defiance, aseven he must have felt, for be was unsteady as a drunken man when he attempted to leave the house. And, with a triumphant laugh, the giant gambler caught him by the arm, saying: “T will have to see you safely back to your home, or else Billy istler may have to take the war-path to-morrow and go gunning for my scalp, t foot foremost, father-in-law!” a Tudor tried to cast off his hated ‘touch, but was unable todoso, Shaken to the ‘very core, his strength of body and mind both failing him, he wasslowly conducted home, “One parting word, WaldoS:s. John. Don't try to either blow your brains out or to escape by flight, for you are watched too closely. Good-by, until to-morrow_!” CHAPTER XX. _ JOHNNY WILD, THE FR'ISCO THOROUGHBRED, “I’m Johnny Wild, the Fr’isco Thoroughbred, gentlemen, fresh from The Slope, and I've come to stay as long as the sports of Good Enough make it interesting enough to keep yours t y from going to sleep in the middle of a deal. can trace my pedigree back without a flaw or a cross, to mighty King Pharoah, and I’ve taken a solemn vow to get oven with oft those who anisspell his name, and then tack it on a sacri- : eof cards! C the news to your and tell them to file up the claws of -- a eae ae ee ee SE i_Cie ee SS ee The usual crowd collected a little earlier than ordinary, and a low buzz of interest stirred the warm air as the unknown sport entered the — And Johnny Wild, the Thoroughbred from Frisco, as be bad introduced bimself, was by nO means an unpleasant object to look at, for those who took an interest in physical beauty and perfection. Very nearly, if not quite, six feet in hight, his oegeeen were those of an Apollo, rather than a Hercules, yet it was evident enough that be was gifted with enough muscular power to carry him through almost any crowd witbout having his ‘‘ tail-feathers plucked!” Hair so dark chestnut that it looked black at the first glance, bung to his shoulders in curling locks. A magnificent pair of mustaches, waxed and pointed, graced his face. His eyes were large, lustrous, now looking jetty black, now a deep brown as the lamplight fell at different angles across them. His skin was clear as that of a society belle, of a healthy olive or bronze tinge, through which the freely flowing blood could be distinctly noted as it ebbed and flowed. Coat, vest and trowsers were of a rich wine- colored velveteen, trimmed with broad black silk braid. A snowy shirt bosom. was visible, in which glittered and flashed a magnificent cluster pin, while on bis shapely white hands, other precious stones sparkled. A double chain of curiously wrought gold crossed his ebest, and this alone would have proclaimed the card sport quite as plainly as though his profession was stamped in bold letters across his right brow. The links, by the ingenious use of enamel were made to represent a suit of cards as used in @ faro ‘“‘lay-out.” At either end dangled a couple of dice, with diamonds inserted to represent the pips on each side. It was.a curi- ous work of art, and in itself represented a modest fortune. Seemingly unconscious of the sensation his appearance was creating, Johnny Wild gazed leisurely around the gambling-ball, taking notes. If he expected to see the proprietor, Faro Saul, of whom he must have heard during his brief stey at Good Enough, he was doomed to meet with disappointmdnt, at least for a time. That worthy was very differently engaged, just at that hour. Though the crowd gathered within the four walls of the White Elephant, was something larger than it usually was at that hour of the evening, still there was little playing @going on at the various tables. A few men. were ranged opposite the lay-out over which Queen Titania, masked as was her invariable habit, presided, and for whom she was dealing; but they were risking very little money, and its interest was not sufficient to keep the Faro Queen from looking up at the entrance of the stranger rt. Nor from casting frequent glances in his direction as he strolled leisurely around the room, pausing a moment or two be fore each table it contained, reserving that honored by her majesty for the last. And when he did pause before her table, she greeted bim with a slight bow, which he returned with grace and ceremony, doffing bis hat and bending his handsome head unti! bis curling locks drop- ped in a half-vail over his face, With a graceful toss, he cleared them away, and hat in band, moved to the table, his bril- liant eyes roving over the thin line of players, as though taking their caliber. If so, this was swiftly done, for be spoke almost instgntly: ‘Gentlemen, I never like to intr and if any among you bave a claim on the ,or hold a pile you are anxious to blow in, I'll wait your pleasure,” ‘There is always room for one more, sir,” said Queen Titania, pleasantly. ‘ Will you be seated?” ) The Fr’isco Thoroughbred bowed again, then bi pets, for it'll be a feast or a famine with ' replied with a half-laugh: Hercules. Cee TTT TT TT ee’ ose nn ‘‘T am so nervous, you see, madame! With other players at the same table, I catch myself watching their game instead of attending strict- ly to business. I will either wait until your table is at liberty, or, if these gentlemen will not take offense at the offer, I will gladly pay each one his Own price as a premium for the privilege of enjoying the entire attention of your charming majesty!” ‘“Tbat you may the more certainly feel my claws?’ laughed Queen Titania, with a trace of malice in ber musical tones. ‘* Remember my time is valuable, and one man is as welcome as another at this table, as long as he has money to blow in!” ‘* Which is my only claim to your considera- tion, of course, your majesty,” coolly replied the handsome sport. ‘‘1 took up a little col- lection in Fr’isco and journeyed all the way to Good Enough for the express purpose of closing up this establishment, according to Hoyle. It is my rule to take the best first, and hence, if these gentlemen object to giving me full swing this evening, | can wait for a more propitious moment. If they will accept a few ducats for their rigbts, ll be only too happy to make the deal before proceeding to break the bank.” Queen Titania laughed impulsively, then bowed apologetically, as she said: ‘*Excuse me, sir, but really I could not help it! While this bank has always been a tolerably heavy one, it has increased its capital twenty thousand dollars to-night!” ‘“* So munch the better. I will receive so much the higher pay for closing it. I always de- tested small games; they make one so weary.” ‘* Enough!” and there was a menacing ring to the voice of the gambler queen that told how keenly she felt that covert insolence. ‘‘ Though a thousand were ready to join in the game, they sbould wait now until I bave read you a little Jesson in common politeness! Gentlemen, please draw your stakes,” ** And — me <4 drinking my health,” with a suave bow. ‘ Will you honor us, Queen Titania?” “Thanks, I never drink during business hours,” was the cold response as the faro queen aria up the cards and began sbuffling them eftly. But ber refusal was the only one. Calling the white-aproned barkeeper to him, Johnny Wild tossed him a bank-note, ordering a cock- tail for himself, and begging the gentlemen around to drink heartily to his good-luck; which they at once p to do with a re- markable unanimity. Daintily sipping bis cocktail, the handsome sport wi his mustaches with a white silk bandkerchief, then suddenly fasten:d the gaze of the gambler queen, asking gently: ‘By the way, may I ask what is your limit for this eve?” “The last dollar in pocket or bank, when I take the trouble to deal for a single gentleman,” was the quick retort. ‘*Very good. Then, of course, we will not take the trouble of using chips, as I would have to engage a porter to handle them for me, and unless Il am greatly at fault, it will take all my powers of concentration to keep the run of the game and—watch your shapely fingers!” Queen Titania flasbed a swift glance at him through the eyelets of her mask, and there was a trace of threatening in her clear tones as she demanded: ‘“‘Am Ito take that as a slur, sir? Do you dare hint that I would lower myself by trying to deal foul with you?” ) ** Not for the world, my dear lady!” exclaimed the sport in a shocked tone. ‘It was intended as @ nay aN however clumsily expressed. I always admi a lovely hand, but I never met one before—as I am now fully convinced!” ‘Very pretty, but decidedly taffy-ish! Ina quiet way, let me advise you to reserve your pretty talk for the ears of a woman, instead of weelng them on a money-making machine— which | am, just at present. The game awaits you, sir!” ‘* Your servant, Madam Machine! Luck be- fore science, every time!” and tossing a crisp bank-note into the air, he watched it float down and cover the ten, ‘‘IT’ll touch you lightly at first, until we see how the cards run.” There was a little buzz among the watchers at this, for they could all see that the bill was for one thousand dollars. If this was “ lightly,” what would it be when the dasbing sport “ got down to business.” Coolly, imperturbably as a veritable machine, Queen Titania dealt the cards, deftly sli them one by one from the polished silver box, only pausing when the ten turned up as the winnip yan | Leaning lazily back in his chair, Johnny Wild nodded as Queen Titania glanced at him r paying bis winnings. ** As well there aselsewhere,” he said, lightly. ‘‘T am only testing my fortune, as I bad the game go honor of observing before. Let the on, Madam Machine!” Not for long. At the second turn the ten won again. ** Never ride i =e horse to death, is one of my mottoes,” smiled the sport, dividing his Gomicbooks com