Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 333 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

& Derringer Deck, the Man With the Drop. no telling the depth of fun we'll have before the close of the evening exercises.” ‘‘ Thanks; but the one weapon will be enough, and as I will be more likely to shoot myself than any one else, I’m not very enthusiastic about taking that. Still, one must make a beginning sometime, and I may as well begin now, Ianthe, give me the key.” The trunk was a stout little ‘‘ steamer trunk,” and the doctor on opening it had to move its contents pretty thoroughly before the came to the weapon of which he was in search. He handed it up to his mentor with hesitation which ke laudable unfamiliarity, and waited for the verdict. ‘*That’s all right. A good serviceable tool, ready for first class work. Glad to see you don’t take any stock in these new-fangled, dou- ble-action affairs. Unless a man is cool as an iceberg he’s apt to get mixed in his triggers and the other fellow takes the drop. Stick it in your boot, or sling it on your hip, and come on.” Like a dutiful daughter Miss Gordon stepped forward and girt it on the broad belt that sup- ported the scabbard, having pet a unige effect as contrasted with his other clothes. ‘* You are certain you are not afraid to be left here alone?’ said the doctor, still hesitating. ‘* We may be gone for an hour or more.” ‘‘T am very certain. No one is going to trou- ble me. And if any one does, I have a revolver that is one of the new-fangled kind. You couldn’t scare Mr, Bender with it; but if any one bothers me I shall shoot first and try to do the scaring afterward. If Il wasn’t quite such a stranger 1 would go along; but I suppose | can trust you to the care of this pinitlannan who rejoices in so brilliant a title as Derringer Deck.” ‘* Without a doubt, miss,” responded Bright, not at all disconcerted. ‘‘ I see you are in no good humor, and I don’t wonder; but believe me, Iam very much your servant. If I don’t return a good account of my stewardship I shall offer my head foratarget. Solong, We're go- ing now.” Vith a careless nod Deck Bright threw open the door, and Gabriel Gordon followed close at his heels as he passed out. On the street everything was as quiet as if there had been no shooting-match a few mo- ments before. There were a number of people sent keg ag and fro, but every one seemed in- tent on his own business, and paid no attention to the two strollers, who sauntered toward the big red light, quite at the end of the street, that ‘hung over the entrance to the saloon and gam- bling-house known as ‘‘ Mad Mike’s,” ere was one person just a little ahead of them who had the same point in view, and the doctor, up to the last moment, had an idea that the lithe little form striding on before them be- longed to a youth of seventeen or thereabouts; but under the red light the youth stop long enough to take a brief but searching glance up and down the street, and in that moment Doc- tor Gordon had a fair view of the lovely face of a handsome woman. ‘‘ Heavens!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Who is that?” “Do you mean to say that this is the first time you have seen her?” replied Bright. ‘‘ You ought to know your neighbors, and she is one. Laughing Lil, they call her, the angel of the Ark, She is a very fresh young lady, pert as they make ’em, and about twice as handsome. She thinks she can shoot, and maybe she can, but if I was she I think Id keep out of such laces as Mike’s shebang. When a row opens here, some of ’em don’t stop to inquire whether the dealer is a woman or not. ey just plug at the bank. But there’s no discount on her nerve. That handsome face of hers would wear a smile if the bottom had dropped out of all ee and the world had come to an end.” “Then she is a gambler herself. My, my, how strange it seems that a woman with such a handsome face should be so thoroughly de- praved.” ; ‘* Drop that,” interjected Derring Deck sharply. +‘ Handsome is what handsome does, She’s got a pretty face, and she’s as square as adie. Be- tween the two, the man that advances the the- ory of Laughing Lil’s depravity had better be- speak a head-board and deporte collateral enough somewhere to insure a coffin. When the crowd gets through with him he'll be in need of both if they can rake up pnonan ieces to plant; and you bet none of ’em would chip in to pay for the uneral, Now let’s get in, or we'll be too late to catch my man.” The girl had pushed through the swinging- door while the two were fecering. When they followed in, she had already disappeared in the crowd, ‘* Don’t worry,” w red Derringer Deck, as he noted the dissatisfied look on the doctor’s face. ‘If you're struck on the girl, she won't be hard to find. You can safely bet stamps that she’s at the other end of the room, si behind the table with the box in her hand. Don’t crowd the mourners, though. There’s lots of thin worth looking at here, and you can go to Laughing when you can’t do anything Ise. Gabriel Gorden nodded and glanced around room. | EE EE LL LLLQaLQSaLa_x_axax_sSxSS LSS SS... =e “<j It was a long, low apartment, redolent with tobacco smoke and the fumes of bad whisky. On one side, not very far from the entrance, was the bar, around which a dozen men were grou ed; while at the further end he could enjoy the view of the backs of a throng which, no doubt, faced the faro-table over which the girl dealer presided. While he looked around him, he heard a roar of laughter from the dozen at the bar, and im- mediately afterward a coarse, loud voice: ‘*T tell yer all hyer I’m ther talented twin, jest let loose on ther rampage. When I drawr re’th, all ther world jest snorts! No slouch be I, but the boss ov Brad Awl, an’ don’t yer fur- git it. I kin hug harder, scratch deeper, bite sharper, buck heavier, an’ shoot plumber-center than ary galoot ez stomps ’round on two legs. Oh, hold me while I shout! I’m Ananias Jaw- ler, hyer fur blood an’ ha’r. Whar’s Derringer Deck?” ‘‘Here you are, old man!” rung out a fresh, clear voice. ‘‘ You’re shouting my name, and I’m right in town, all dressed up. Now, what’s the matter with you ?”; Before Doctor Gordon could extend his hand to tay him, Derringer Deck had slipped away from his side and stood facing a huge, beetling- browed man in a red flannel shirt, corduroy ants, and heavy, high-topped boots, who had een flourishing a revolver in either hand, and was not at ali struck dumb by the sudden ap- parition. CHAPTER IV. SLUGGERS AND ANOTHER SLUGGER. ANANTIAS JAWLER, in fact, looked down upon the little man with some disgust. ‘* Great snakes!” he shouted, **yow can’t be Derringer Deck, No! Why, blast my cats! ef ther sneakin little runt don’t wear spec’s, an’ him to be settin’ up fur a sport! Git out, son- ny, or I'll take yer over my knee an’ give it to yer hot whar yer buzzom orten’t ter be.” ‘* Don’t promise the crowd too much fun,” was the quick retort. ‘‘ You may fall so far short that they won’t laugh worth a cent. I heard you calling my name a bit ago, and you've got to say out your say, or eat dirt as I measure it. I’m at home; knock on the shutters.” ‘An’ so you be ther cuss they call Deck Bright. Wal, I swear, I can’t believe yer. Why, it would take a man ter git away with Sammy Jawler—eh? Oh! rock me, Susan. What’s ther boy a-doin’ now?” In spite of his scornful words and mien, those that watched for the true inwardness of things got a glimpse of the fact that Jawler was not quite as careless as he pretended, and it was possible that he suspected Deck Bright of being tter than he looked. If he did notat once turn n the smaller erringer Deck’s kets. If he t meant that the battery of his revolvers u man, it might be because hands reclined carelessly in his was as good as his reputation, t he held the drop ways f But a sudden change had come over the tone of the braggart, his hands dropped to his side, while he stared at vacancy, the crowd roaring at the singular look on his face, as though it was part of the most ludicrous performance. “Well, finish up, old man. Don’t be at all bashful, but spit it out. Ill listen to what you’ve got to say, and take your ay tr» off afterward. If you want a chance to talk, do 34 now. When I get through, it will be too te! Cool and cheerful was Mr. Bright, and he dropped his words out with a distinctness that certainly rendered them very clearly audible; yet Ananias never turned at their sound, or ave token that he heard them. Though his fips moved, the only sound that came from them was an indistinct murmur. “ Can’t you speak?” continued Bright, sharp- ly, after an instant’s pause. ‘‘ I’ve heard of ou; a great, overgrown, slab-sided idiot, rav- ing around here about what you were going to do with Deck Bright. Now you see him, are you too scared to talk? Or do you want some- thing to stir you up and make your blood boil? If you do, I’ give it to you hot!” he giant’s tongue was loosened at last, but not, ee: from the spans Se address. His eyes had the far-away look, and the words ay mechanically from his lips. : ‘“Tt’s all right, Sammy. I hear you. I thort yer hed gone up ther flume, an’ I swore I'd git even; but ef yer say it’s all right, all fl she are. I’mcomin’, Sammy, an’ don’t yer fur- git it. Straight ez a string, an’ snakes can’t keep me back.” pha 5 9 Bens might only be a dodge to throw him off guard. So Derringer Deck thought as he saw the re- volvers thrust away, their muzzles never once turning in his direction. His own hands came up out of the pockets where they had been hid- ing, and he suddenly darted at the huge Her- cules with an earnest ferocity that meant busi- ness, war just at that moment the Hercules moved “Dm coming, Sammy!” he shouted, more ve- hemently. EE — Then, with one prodigious bound, he went ' and push crashing through the window, vanishing from sight in the midst of a jingle of broken glass, and a chorus of surprised Tisapprobation from the spectators. Derringer Deck had been partially in Jawler’s. way, though his fingers missed the gripe for which they darted. He was flung violently to one side by the momentum of the giant, and turned half around—though he faced about the instant he recovered his footing, and his hands dove into his side pockets as he turned, he was just too late to catch the last fleetizg glimpse which the others had of his brawny antagonist. Without an instant’s hesitation, he gave a headlong spring and darted through the openin made by Jawler, leaving a little hush ceiling him. During the momentary lull that followed his exit, those left in the saloon could hear the scurrying of feet down the road, and there was no doubt but that Derringer Deck was off in close pursuit, What might take"place out there in the dark- ness no one seemed much to care, though its pos- sibilities furnished a theme for conversation during the next five minutes. During this little interlude Doctor Gordon after the first feeble attempt at interruption, hac maintained a discreet silence. It was pretty evident that his guide was reckless of what might happen, and was as likely to embroil him- self with the whole’crowd as with the giant, who looked large enough alone to crush two or three such men as the little fellow in spectacles. So he stood and listened, with good cause for thankfulness that attention had been diverted from himself. From what he heard he understood that. both men were comparative strangers to the regular denizens of Brad Awl; Ananias more particularly so since he had only made his ap- x¢arance there that afternoon, while Deck Bright had been stopping at the Ark for a week, and had found Mad Mike’s the first night he struck the town. From the hints let fall it was pretty certain that he had been playing there with unusual nerve and luck, and it was gene- rally supposed that he could take care of him- self, though, as yet, he had made no record, and had not even been involved in a serious alterca- tion. ‘*Oh, he’s a sport from ther ground up,” re- marked one of the bystanders, as he filled his glass at the expense of a friend. ‘* Who’s a sport?” , The question exploded in a surly tone, that seemed to come from a point right at Gabriel Gordon’s shoulder. “Ther leetle man with ther derringers,” was the nagey answer. ‘He ey hed blood in his eye, an’ looked ez though he meant ter craw] all over that bag ov wind. An’ hyer’s money ez sez he kin do that very thing if he ketches up in ther foot-race.” ‘How d’yer know he hes derringers?”’ inter- rupted the same surly voice, once more. ‘He's a durned leetle blow-house, but he’s steered clear ov me. I tell yer, when he tackles a man once, you'll see how quick his hackles ‘ll drop. Don’t try ter stuff me with sich lollipop. Yer make me tired.” ‘“What’s ther matter with you, Early Joe? Do you want ter start a racket, right hyer? Ef you do ther table’s set, an’ you know whar ~~ kin git yer gruel. I ain’t rubbin’ in what think on no man; but [’m thinkin’ all ther same, an’ if you don’t like it you kin put up yer ante er jump ther e.” ‘‘That’s plain talk, Jim Norris, an’ jest ther kind I like ter hear; but, hedn’t yer better keep yer linen on till yer know which way ye’r’ crowdin’? I only axed how yer know he hez derringers. I ain’t a-keerin’ fur ther durned leetle cuss. Ef he came my way I'd take him ‘cross my knee an’ break his back; you look monty sharp you don’t git served that way yer- se ‘‘ Maybe you'd like ter try it?” snarled Norri in a peppery manner, There was no g bl between the two men, as Gabriel Gordon could plainly see; and he saw, too, that the bad men of Brad Awl were not so nearly aunit as he had been informed. Shrinking back still further he listened eagerly for the answer, while he looked from one to the other. He was only human and he would have been a little more than that if he had not felt an interest in gaugin the powers of the man with whom Deck B ght had “i strongly hinted he would soon come in con- ict. ‘‘Go slow, Jimmy. Talk’s cheap, an’ I don’t hev ter sound my bazoo in Brad Awl ter make ‘em think !maman. Ef yer wants me ter try it shuck yerself ov yer tools an’ stand up fur ther last time in yer life. Hyer’s money thet says t kin lick yer with one hand behind my Early Joe had been oe ata table at one end of the bar, and a little bit removed, where he was not in the way, yet convenient for pur- poses of irrigation. Opposite to him was a man with whom he had been having a struggle at draw, and from whom he had raked a pot just as Jawler went out of the window. Now, with a sweeping movement of his arm, he drew ther the coin that lay on the board, it toward Norris, There w JOCKS COME » ’ = ~