Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 333 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

SPCC ATE RF ee ee = — a ms dots 2? to eo to-da és SWABAL SS Ee 9 500 and me.” 10 few that they could scarcely have attracted any attention, and if they had no one would have suspected their import, especially as the young lady directed her steps straight to Mad Mike’s, entering the place by the rear door, and remain- ing within fully ten minutes, and when she came out again she sauntered slowly toward the bridge that spanned the stream which ran through the little valley, just beyond the town. As she reached the spot Early Joe rose up from the stringer on which he had been lying, and bowed respectfully. ‘*Ah, you’re here, are you, Joseph? Now, what I’ve got to say I'll put short and sweet. I’m your friend—as good a friend as you have in the world—but I can’t be anything else to you. I’m a married woman.” ‘““Goon. Say thatit’s to Jim Norris and Ill furgive yer. Ill know, then, ye'll be a widder afore dark.” ** Don’t be a fool. Norris is nothing to me and never could be, though I need him as well as you. Of course as a woman I can see the trouble between you two, but I can’t reproach myself with having done anything to bring it about. I have certainly done my best to kee you both at a distance, and if I have not al- ways succeeded it was not the fault of my inten- tions. Last night there was a change in the state of affairs, and to-day I have n of you. Not to beat around the bush, I want a half-in- terest in your claim, and money has got to buy it. Name your figure, and I'll count it down. What is your price?” The answer came in a tone of cold determina- tion. ‘* The name of your husband.” CHAPTER XI. LAUGHING LIL SETS UP HER LITTLE GAME. ‘*Poor fool, do you think to intimidate me? What earthly good would that name do you? When he dies it must not be by your hand; at least not now or here.” ‘‘Then you hate him. Good. I can wait. I’m not blaming you; and if you’re a married woman I’m not asking you even to give me a hope. All I do ask is fair play. If you deceive me, so much the worse for both of us. If you are honest, ask what you want and take it along. I want no money of yours.” Laughing Lil looked at him keenly. “It is just as I thought,” she began. Then she completed the sentence to herself. ‘*] had suspected the rough dialect was only ut on; now I know it. What difference, though? f ITasked him no doubt he would tell me the secrets of his life, but if he did it would commit me as I donot care tobe. Let it be.” Then aloud: “If it was for myself I might take you at your word; but I want to be honest with you now, to avoid future trouble. I want you to name the price for the half-interest you sold or were going to sell through Thompson, and I will either see that you have the mone down for it or will secure you against: the loss of it.” t sort of game is this on foot, anyhow? Do you want me to eat what I said before them all last night? If Thompson has sold the half interest that I put into his hands and got away _— the money, Pll get away with him. That’s solid. ‘* Yes, if you take your time to it; but mean- time he may want get yom embroiled with the innocent purchaser. hether he wants to have him or you killed off is what I want to see, I am risking money on it—to make sure that it shall be neither, and yet have him show his hand.” ‘‘ Keep your money, then, little woman, and say just how you want it played. You think Early Joe is good for nothing but the war-path; I'll show you differently.” ‘*Good. But you mustn’t lose money by it. That man, last night, was the purchaser; and if I had let you go they would have forced blood on one side or the other. To-day you have had a chance to cool, and you can carry out my idea of meeting this Doctor Gordon quel as if everything was straight or could be made so. I know that, if no one lied, your arrangement with Thompson was three thousand down and share and share alike in the expenses. One would think it was too cheap to swindle, after the discoveries that have since been made. Am I not right.” ‘*You are, as far as you go; but how did you find ont? It was to be a secret between Thomp- ‘‘ A little bird told me. But that is neither here nor there. I’m not asking you not to look out for your interests, or to fail to protect your- self; but 1 want you to do it in a quiet, rational way, as though everything was all right; and then to let me know how it turns out. Can rely on you?” : And this is to be a secret between you and ? me It is.” | ‘* Then count me there. Here’s my hand on it. If that is to be the game the less you and I are seen together until it is played, the better, but you can believe me all thetime. I’m not asking any reasons or any confidence till ve prov >. -vorth them. If you believe that Joe Early i Sen — ie will turn out the pure white article you'll never find yourself mistaken.” And without asking pledge or promise of re- ward, Early Joe yielded himself into the hands of this woman, whom he adored, as a passive in- strument “Thanks. Go on, then, as though you believ- ed Thompson in good faith intended to pay you the three thousand, and I will see that you re- ceive it.” With this parting assurance they separated, Lil making her way back to town. ‘‘Not much of the laugh about her now,” thought Early Joe, as he watched her going. ‘* Nothing but sober, honest business. What 1t all means I can’t guess and I won’ttry. It’s not much I’m losing anyhow; and if you want to trust a woman you must go the entire figure or lose the — If Mr. Thompson and the Co., call around to-day they’ll find Early Joe at home and very cool.” If the Co., meaning thereby Doctor Gordon, could have overheard the interview, the result of his first investment at Brad Awl might have seemed less doubtful; and he might have met his friend with a more cheerful face. As it was when the colonel dropped in at the Ark to ask after his health, he found him looking the worse for wear, and decidedly modest about appear- ing on the street while he was inclined to be snappish over the last night’s outing. ‘*No. After the exhibition I made of myself I don’t think your people, or the better portion at least, will want to see anything of me to- day. It was simply disgraceful, sir; simply dis- graceful.” ‘*Humbug! You feel a little off color this morning and everything looks blue. We'll have an eye-opener or two and it will be all right. What was the matter with last night?” ‘* Nothing was the matter with the night, but a good deal the matter with me. I must have daughter gives me this morning.” The colonel laughed heartily, and his laugh was a pleasant, ringing one, that was very apt to make the man who heard it his friend. ‘*Ts that all? Why, what do you care for the cattle at Mike Mulloney’s, anyhow? There wasn’t a man there that hasn’t started out, in his mind, to paint the town red, or that remem- bers anything about you this morning. And if ou called yourself drunk last night, they’d augh at you. As soon as you began to feel our oats you climbed off to bed, and that was ’ the end of it.” | ‘* I wish I could think so, but such light dissi- | pation can hardly account for the ripping head- ache I have this morning. What was the trou- ble between Early Joe and me?” ‘* Who has been loading you up with any such nonsense as that? Why, you didn’t see the man at all. He had been on the loon himself, and had some kind of a racket; I suppose you heard them talking about it. But he went home be- fore youcame, I want you to meet him to-day, however, and I think you can agree without much trouble.” ‘* From what I seem to have read about him, I am afraid we can’t. I doubt the wisdom of the investment. He must be a terrible fellow.” ‘* Not at all—not at all; if you take hold of him right. If he tries to bluff you don’t give an inch; he will soon come to his senses. But about the singular adventure of yous daughter. As roe requested it, I have said nothing in regard it; but it needs explaining. I still think that ir had more to do with it than we have been ld. It may give us a clew. They are com- ative strangers here, and as far as can be iscovered, are after no good. If we can ob- tain proof positive, the good men of Brad Awl will combine and run them out in a hurry. do not say that you or your daughter are in danger, or that there is much chance of another attempt being made soon, now that the futile effort has put you on your guard; but common caution is advisable.” The colonel eyed his vis-a-vis sharply while he spoke. Most likely he had a hidden thought which he did not care to express; yet something showed itself in his face, since the doctor flush- ed a little and answered: **I believe that my daughter is right in wish- ing to keep as much as possible her adventure to herself. She has no desire to pose as a heroine; and she is confident that but for the chance that brought that young man in spectacles on the t, she would have been in a plight worse than death. She thanks him accordingly, and wants the matter to rest there. I wish she was somewhere else; but as that cannot be, we will make the best of it. When my nerves get a lit- tle settled, I will be ready for business; but don’t talk of it this morning—I am not fit to meet a man like Early Joe.” ** All right, there is no rush, though of course I would be with you, to look after your in- terests. I feel as though I had been instrumen- talin bringing you here; and I shall see that you don’t suffer.” ‘‘T haven’t a doubt of it, not a doubt,” re- sponded the doctor, hastily, ‘‘ but I don’t want to attempt to do business when I’m not fit for it, or spoil the future by present rashness. I am impressed with the possibilities of Brad Awl, } | been drunk as a lord, from the account my Derringer Deck, the Man with the Drop. but am more than ever satisfied that we must proceed with caution, sir, with great caution; and I want to take a review of the situation. Don’t let me interfere with your affairs this morning: and perhaps you will be the better able to give me some of your time this after- noon.” The doctor’s hesitancy was not so unreason- able after all, and without any further attempt to overcome it Colonel Thompson, left Gordon to his own devices. The doctor retired to his room; but stayed there less than half an hour. Wher he reap- ared, after a few questions he strolled off by imself. If the colonel had been about, most likely he would have been very much surprised at seeing that his friend turned his steps directly toward Early Joe’s cabin. It was something of a walk but his resolution never faltered. He approached the spot without a shadow of hesitation, yet with a carefully subdued manner—just business all over, By chance he struck the place just as Joe had finished preparing his dinner. It might have been better timed to have come half an hour later; but under the circumstances it was the best that the doctor could do. Quietly he spoke; and Joe listened to him in a watchful, reasonable way that he had hardly expected. ; ‘Good-morning, Mr. Early. I have taken the liberty of hunting you out because I wanted to see you alone. I’m not altogether used to your ways here, and may not show off to ad- vantage; but I want you to treat me as man to man, and I promise that we will both be the gainer by it, and you will find me white clean through. What do you say?” He held out his hand in a frank sort of way, without appearing to notice the momentary hesi- tation; or showing afterward the surprise that perhaps he felt when Early Joe’s closed over his in a solid, steady grip. ‘‘Ef I’m not mistook yer ther man ez were stake-holder fur that durned wu’thless sort ov affair at Mad Mike’s las’ night. I war howlin’ mad jest then; but I’ve heared this mornin’ su- thin’ ’bout the trouble thet thar war like ter hev happened at ther Ark, an’ ef I sed arythin’ wrong, bein’ ez thar’s no one round ter see me chaw sand, I take itall back. Ef ye’r’ white you'll find me ther same pure quill. Ef yer hez any low down game ahind yer slick words, all ther wuss fur you. Ther man seldom lives ez goes back on Early Joe. You kin be friend er foe, an’ hez ther chance ter make yer ch’ice; but yer can’t be both. How are it? Say it quick, an’ say it fur See There was a glitter in his eyes, as he spoke that showed how much in earnest he was, an eagerly he listened to the doctor’s answer. He was going as far as he had premised, and even further, but he did not intend to be played for a fool without fair warning of what must be the consequences. ‘* Let me tell you just who I am, what I have done, and how I am situated. Then you give me a square answer, without any passion in it, of what you think I ought to do, and I pledge you my word to follow your advice.” ‘** Don’t promise too much; it looks ez though yer war tryin’ ter pile it on thick. An’ don’t wait too long. I want her settled afore I change my mind.” ‘Then I will cut it short. My name is Gabriel Gordon, and I am a stranger on the slope. I have some money, and want to make more. In Glory Gulch I came across Colonel Thompson. He advised me to come here, telling me that there were dozens of chances to one at the Gulch. He even had one to place right in my hand; the half-interest in the claim of a man who needed capital to help him work a bonanza in asmall way. I paid him as the agent of that man, and came down, thinking that it was all right. I have heard since that there is likely to be trouble about the matter, and what I want to know, quietly and between friends, is, whether you are willing to take me in, my capital against your experience, or whether Tam to go to Thcmpson and tell him I’ve found him out to bea fraud? That's the whole story, Of course it was the Early Joe claim that I thought I bought into.” Early Joe gave no signs of the anger the other had expected. He was silent for a moment or two, revolving bis answer, and then, still in the vernacular of Brad Awl, gave it: ‘‘ Tt?s no use my tellin’ yer thar’s bin a snide game somewhar. Ef ye’r’ half ther man I think yer are frum yer looks, by this time yer know it. Ab Thompson did hev a power ov ’torney, but he warn’t ter use it fur three months, while I hed ther chance ov gittin’ it back. It wara trick ov ther pasteboards that done it; but that’s neither hyar ner thar. I sh’u’d hev hed three thousand dollars outen it, amyhow, an’ I ain't seen ther color ov it. Ef I know anythin’ about ther kurnel, I think ther hull story are thet he means ter fight us both, an’ kerrel ther mine hisself.” ‘Has he such a badreputation, then? Iheard of him as an honest, upright man; and to be re- lied on thoroughly.” ‘‘That’s the wu’st of it. Cordin’ ter Brad Awl sugar don’t melt in his mouth, an’ he’s bina ecomicbooks f ; : ee ee ee