Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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4 solved to win or lose solely on my merits as a man. I was almost a perfect stranger in St. Paul, so the idea was not so difficult to carry 0 ut. ‘‘ T applied to Morris Kirkendall for a position in his are. I satisfied him that I was perfectly capable of performing the duties attached, and he engaged me. That was only a short time be- fore you had that little adventure.” ‘¢ An’ the little miss—little Luada?” Jesse flushed, his voice sinking lower: ‘‘T think—but I am not positive. You have seen her. You know how full of life and over- wha. a “tog she is. It was difficult to tell, but— ieve I won her heart.” “ Bigg er wonder ef you didn’t!” and cf Eagle nodded his admiration for the really hand- some young fellow. ‘‘ Mind: there was no positive pledge given me,” hastily added Purchass. ‘‘I told her how I loved her, but she would not be serious even then.” ‘* But she didn’t lend ye one acrost the ’tatur- trap, did she? Didn’t trot off to tell the ole man?” yee yg! asked the big hide-hunter. Jesse shook his head with a faint smile, and Sam slapped him on the shoulder with force suf- ficient to raise a blister as he cried: ‘““T knowed it! Didn’t I say so? Lord love ye, lad, when it comes to shootin’ at sech a mark as them, I kin lay ’way over King Cupid hisself! The gal’s yourn fer the word!” “Tf I could only think so!” muttered the doubting lover. ‘“Ef she didn’t say no, she meant yes,” dog- matically decided Sam. ‘‘Then you went to the ole man, an’ he said fer you to make a re- cord, then come back an’ be or 146 4 ‘“ “T went to him—yes,” sai urchass, his voice growing harder, the smile fading from his dark features. ‘‘I told him I loved Luada, and asked for her hand in marriage. He stared at first, then laughed in scorn, and finally cursed my impudence in daring to lift my eyes to his daughter!” ‘ Jes’ like the peppery ole critter,” chuckled Sam. “I kin see jes’ how he looked through them gray ha’rs over his peepers; jes’ how he stuck out that onder lip o’ his; jes’ how he ched the floor with that peg-leg o’ his’n; jes’ how his skelp stood up on eend like the brustles ona porkypine! Ain’t I got his pictur’ down to a t-y-ty, lad?” e young man nodded, shortly. ‘““T knowed it, lad—I knowed it! Time out 0’ mind I’ve see’d him that-a-way, an’ a stranger’d be willin’ to take oath he was p’izener’n a mad- dog. But, Lord! it was only on the outside. Bu’st through the crust, an’ you’d find milk an’ honey ekil to a bar’l! It was jest his way.” faint smile. ‘‘It was like flaying a man, and then rubbing salt on the raw.” ‘‘But you didn’t skeer off, lad?” ‘‘ Not easily. I was in too deep earnest.” ‘‘ Then it’s all right,” with a nod of relief. ‘‘T wish I could think so. When he got tired of cursing, he tried ridicule. He called me a bandbox dandy, He swore that no such weak- ling as I should ever mix with his blood. I re- spectfully denied that I was either a bah ag oi oradandy. I told him that I was a man, ina that term implied.” ‘* An’ that sort o’ talk hit him right whar he Att h ed to eal the i so, he manag conc e impres- sion,” a little bitterly. ‘‘ He a ot my claims to scorn, and told me I knew nothing of what a man really was. To prove it, he bragged of what he had done before he was my age. ‘Not bragged, lad; the truth ain’t braggin’.” ‘¢ Tt left that impression on my mind, at any rate. I listened respectfully until he stop to catch breath, then said that what man had done, man could do again. I told him that, if he wished, I would make a record in that line sufficient to satisfy him. I was something more than a weakling.’ ‘‘ You couldn’t ’a’ spoke a fitter word then them!” | ‘They didn’t appear to strike him dumb with either amazement or 20Y> with a hard laugh. ‘‘He bade me go to the foul fiend, if I liked; that he had no further use for me.” ‘* Jes’ like him, lad—jes’ like the ole man! But it was only the outside, Jes’. He said it to see what you'd do,” nodded Sam, clearly re- solved to take the brightest view of the matter. ‘‘He said much more than this—some time I may tell you. But I’ve said enough to show why I want to pass one season on the buffalo- range with you. I swore I would make a record for him, and I'll do it or die!” ‘“Sa-a-y, you critters!” squealed Old Misery, thrusting his grizzled head through the open doorway. ‘‘ Grub’s ready!” “All right; Soa in’,” sy ge Spread le Sam, then again grasping his young friend by the hand, pressing it warmly ata de- clared: “Tm mighty glad you’ve come out flat-footed an’ tole me jes’ how the case stan’s, lad. Ill do my part. Ill Varn ye all the wrinkles I know, an’ ef you don’t go back to St. Paul with a record that'll open the ole man’s eyes, then it won't be no fault ©’ mine.” ‘A terribly disagreeable way, then,” with a 4 +" Spread Eagle Sam. ‘* All I ask is a fair field and no favor.” ‘‘ That to be sart?in. Even fer you, I wouldn’t try to come no gum game over the oleman. He made me what I am, an’ while I live I'll see that he’s treated white. But, didn’t he make any sort o’ promise afore you left?” ‘** He said for me to make a record, if it lay in my bones, then come back to him and—” ‘Take the little gal?’ supplied Sam, as he hesitated. A flush that was almost black swept over the dark face, and the eyes glowed until they emit- ted a reddish light as Jesse Purchass muttered hoarsely: ‘‘He swore he’d give me the measure and weight of his boot for my impudence!” ‘Waal, I ber-durned!” snorted Sam, scratch- ing his chin in wide-eyed astonishment. ‘‘ Ef he wasn’t jokin’—durned ef I don’t win the gal my own self, then turn her over to you! The can- tankerous critter! he must ’a’ bin drinkin’!” ‘* Be that as it may, I'll do my duty here, then go to him and repeat the request. If he still treats me like a dog—Ill take the girl] in spite of his teeth!” Purchass turned away and strode toward the dug-out. CHAPTER III. ‘‘ Wk MUST WIN WHO WEARS.” Less than a score of miles from the dug-out of the hide-hunters, at the same hour on the same day that Jesse Purchass partially unbosom- ed himself to the sympathetic Spread Eagle, dinner was being prepared at another camp in the foothills, and other two men were busily en- gaged in ep aay closely akin to the one which set the bl of the fiery hide- hunter all aglow. This camp, plainly a temporary one, since no tents were pitched, no brush huts erected, nor aught else done to guard the wayfarers against the frosts of night, was located in a narrow val- ley between rocky, broken hills. A slender stream crept through the hollow, just above the camp widening into a miniature lake, thus in- suring an ample supply of that first requisite to a camp, pure water. Below this lakelet stood two light, but substantial wagons, canvas-cover- ed, with a liar business-like air about them that proclaimed the ‘‘ old hand,” despite the new- ness of the outfit. A little to one side stood a third vehicle, light- er and more graceful than the others, yet stron enough to bear its regular burden over seat trails where the only grading or macadamizing came from nature’s hands. Not far distant one could see the propelling power to these vehicles, in the shape of sundry sleek, active-looking mules, now too busy eating to think of either work or deviltry. Near the mules were several horses, either one of which would have caused the eyes of a pro- fessional trader to glisten and gleam with covet- ousness. Near a dense clump of plum-brush rose the light blue smoke of wood fires, and a hungry nostril could readily detect the appetizing fumes of broiling steak and boiling coffee. Though the little valley could boast of little in the way of timber, above the pond a more pre- tentious growth was thinly scattered along the rocky sides, though the greater portion was, like that macho below, a of scrubby plum. At the foot of a ragged, broken-topped cedar, two men were seated, presenting a startling con- trast in the face, figure and expression. The eldest, a man who had apparently reached if not over-past his third score, was seated with his broad back resting t the trunk of the tree. Hesat bold upright, his rugged face light- ed up with a mixture of defiance, anger, stub- bornness, and a certain portion of contempt. His right leg had been amputated just above the knee, and the wooden substitute was now viciously plowing a furrow in the sandy soil. To those who knew Morris Kirken best, this motion was a signal of danger pretty apt to be respected, and there were not many,in his list of acquaintances who could have gazed into his face as it took on that hard, ugly look, without showing some signs of perturbation. It was a peculiar face, strong and rugged. The head was of extraordinary size, well pro- ee ceaenar save that it exaggerated firmness to obstinacy. There was only a fringe of hair surrounding the skull, which baldness was now fully revea’ed as the veteran crumpled in his huge, bony right hand the soft felt hat which usually vailed the deficiency. This snowy fringe met beneath his chin, there flourishin like an old-fashioned ruff, all other signs o beard having vanished before the keen razor. His brows were long and shaggy, curving over until it seemed as though they must impede his vision; but those who met his gaze when fully aroused, knew better. His eyes were rather small in comparison with the rest of his fea- tures, dark gray in color, keen and steady, filled with a fire such as few men of half his age could boast. His mouth was another remark- able feature, taking different expressions in ac- cordance with the workings of his brain. Just now the under lip was protruding and pendu- lous, affording a slight glimpse of his stro yellow teeth, irresistibly reminding one of a surly bull-dog. His garb was that of an rig keke’ hide- hunter, minus the grease and blood-stains, of strong brown duck. Half-reclining at his feet, was a comparative- ly youthful man, handsome in face, graceful in gure, with long, rounded limbs that bespoke more than an ordinary share of muscular strength and activity. His head, too, was bared, and as he lazily re- | clined on his left elbow, with his free hand he languidly fanned himself with his hat, a stylish derby; but his skull was protected by a dense crop of nut-brown hair, curling in tiny rings, soft and glossy as ever maiden wore. His complexion was fair—almost too clear and pure for a man—with a tinge of healthful pink on each smooth shorn cheek. A neat pair of mustaches shaded without entirely concealin the moist red lips, parted in a smile whic seemed habitual to him. His eyes were blue, large and lustrous, filled with a peculiar, indo- lent humor that admirably seconded his smile. His other features were in good keeping, and eg asa whole, made up a rarely handsome ace, His garb was one better fitted for the city than the plain, of costly material without being in the least flashy or ‘‘loud.” A diamond flashed in his scarf; a slender chain of gold crossed his vest. On his slender, neatly shaped feet were rid- ing boots of fine leather, and kid gloves covered. his hands. Such, in outward seeming, was Leo Laugh- lin, whom his associates in St. Paul had dub- bed “Laughing Leo,” a title to which he took without any especial aversion. ‘*They’s one thing you don’t want to ferget,” said Morris Kirkendall, abruptly breaking the brief spell of silence which had fallen over them. ‘‘ You ain’tto say nothin’ ontel the eend is won; ’bove all, you’re to keep it from her | | —_—_— ears!” ‘‘TIndeed! and may I ask the why and where- fore?” exclaimed a clear, musical voice, and with a light, springy step, a maiden came from the cover of the nearest plum bushes and stood before the twain. With a rapid motion Laughing Leo rose from his lazy position, bowing deferentially, his smile more pronounced, the laugh deepening in his liquid eyes. A more complete change came over the old man. His face actually grew handsome for the moment, and his hard eyes became soft and gen- - tle. Even a stranger, seeing him then, could have told this fair girl was very, very dear to the heart of the crippled veteran. ‘‘Great bulls o’ Bashan, Beauty-bird—you’ll be the last sickness o’ me yit, ef you ain’t a little more keerless—an’ I know it!” declared the veteran, with an affected shiver and frown. ig Won't you never outgrow them skeery tricks an’— ‘learn you to reply to a civil question, not by asking another? Most assuredly, if human perseverance can accomplish aught so near a miracle,” saucily interposed the bright and coquettish-looking creature. ‘‘Once more, I ask you, what is the mighty secret this estima- ble young gentleman is ordered to so carefully guard from reaching my ears?” ‘‘T didn’t mention your name, Beauty-bird.” ‘You are dodging, father!” with a shake of one taper finger; ‘‘and that is neither grace- ful nor dignified in a gentleman of your ven- erableness. Mr. Laughlin was warned to keep something mysterious from reaching her ears. I am the only member of the ‘fair sect’ in this vicinity. Consequently you alluded to your dutiful daughter, who—” ‘* Who's the torment 0’ my life!” growled Morris Kirkendall, twisting his shaggy brows into a frightful frown. But he held very still and made not the least attempt to escape when the girl bent over, catching him by the ears and smoothing out the perpen cular wrinkles with her red-ripe lips. ery soft and loving was the light in those hard gray eyes, as Luada Kirkendall drew back and azed saucily into them. Grim old tyrant ough he was to all outsiders, Morris Kirkendall could rarely resist his only child when she took up such weapons as these. There was a laugh in the blue eyes of the young man as he wood by, uncovered, respect- ful; a laugh, but not of ridicule or pinky harsh and rough as the old man had so often been to him, his employee. If it had been, the glance which Luada ed in his direction would have turned to one of indignation. In stead, she averted her eyes, a deeper flush man tling her rosy cheeks. “Open confession, you know, father! As I h a portion of your conversation, you'mi ght as well make a merit of necessity and— ‘¢-You bin listenin’, gal? Whatdid you hear?’ and as he hurriedly uttered these words, a genu- ine frown came to the old man’s face, . But Luada only laughed saucily. She knew per power, and his frowns had scant terror for er. ‘* Just enough to make me resolved to learn <€om ebooks.com . t : : — =