Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

«a ~ >. | RRR a PEI RE Tne meee Ae os Ne ee Se ee - ‘ or ee Eee SS ee y . more; and when f say resolved, you know what that means, father?” “JT know that you kin talk the bark off a black-oak knot when you git your tongue to goin’, but ef I won’t listen to ye, what then?” “Pll see if Mr. Laughlin will not be more polite,” and Luada turned <p ae d to the young man with an imperious tone and gesture that would have invi ridicule in most persons; with her, it only served to render her the more bewitching: ‘‘On your allegiance as a true and faithful knight, Sir Leo of the Laugh, we com- mand yeur lips to open to the truth, the whole truth, and nething but the truth! Reveal this mighty secret!” Behind the shadow of one mi hty hand, Mor- ris Kirkendall winked frightfully at Leo, shak- ing his head until the silver collar stood out straight in the air thus awakened. But the young man, bowing low, heeded him not. Rising erect, his handsome face slightly flush- ed, his blue-eyes half-sober, half-laughing, he spoke clearly, boldly: ‘** To the lady, not the sovereign, I speak, Miss Iuada. Itis no plot of state, no high treason of which we are guilty, but Pe simple compact which—” “You blind ejiot!” growled the irate trader, ‘with a vicious dig of his wooden leg into the ground. “ Cain’t you take a hint withouta kick goin’ with it?” Leo turned toward him, now really laughing, as he said: ‘‘ This is a case in which neither the one nor the other will answer, my dear sir. She com- mands; what can I do but obey?” “‘Hold the limber tongue of ye, ef ye hey to ibite it out!” roared the irascible veteran. Luada glanced swiftly from one to the other, her merry air going sober and constrained. Then she said: ‘‘Mnough, Mr. Laughlin. I see papa is in earnest, and I really do not care to hear any more.” ‘*Tt is not so terrible. I told your father that T loved you, and asked his permission to press my suit, with a view of making you my wife,” persisted Leo, calmly, but resolutely. Luada shrunk back, with a confused air, her eyes oe Morris Kirkendall ripped out a sonorous cath, adding: ‘* By the big bulls o’ Bashan! ef I hed my ood right leg left me, ’'d kick you so high the bluebirds "d build—” A plump hand touched his lips, and the sen- ‘tence was not completed, though the veteran grew almost black in the face and his neck swelled as though the fragment was choking him, Laughing Leo stood by, a trifle paler, perhaps, but in no other way betraying any emotion. He stood in silence until Kirkendall partially re- rs Ma his breath, then said, in a cool and easy ne: ‘*Since Miss Luada must know all in time, why not now?’ ‘You hush!’ growled Kirkendall, savagely. “« You've said plenty enough a’ready. Ef any- thing more’s needed, J kin say it, I reckon.” ¢ Gerbainly ; if yon will be so kind,” smiled Laughlin, ‘*Hnough has been said—too much!” mur- mured Luada, instinctively clinging closer to her parent, whose strong arm stole more tightly around her, holding her very near to his heart. He remained silent for a brief space, his brows contracted, his gray eyes lowering almost sav- agely as he looked at the easy, graceful figure before him. Would he always smile? Could nothing throw him off his calm balance? ‘* Not enough, Beauty-bird,” he said, his voice softening as his rough hand gently smoothed ther ebon curls, though he made no attempt to lift her face from his bosom where it was hid- den. ‘‘Sence you've hearn so much, I reckon its best you should hear the hull thing.” ** Not now—not here, papa!” ‘They cain’t be no better place, birdie. You needn’t say nothin’, I kin speak fer you.” ‘‘ If 1 prefer to take my answer from her own lips, my dear sir?” gently insinuated Leo. ‘*Ef you know when you're well off, youn man, you'll hold your hush,” harshly Setontedl the veteran. ‘I wanted to let you down easy as nature’d let ye tumble, but you wouldn’t hev it that way. I kinder liked ye. They was somethin’ into ye that wouldn’t let me rough up like I kin to other men; but you’ve kicked that fat all in the fire now, an’ ’ll hev to take the fod- der as is sot afore ye. ‘‘ Lis’en, Beauty-bird: The critter told ye straight as fur as he went. He did up an’ ax me might he hev you fera wife. You mought’a’ knocked me over with a blade o’ dry grass! An’ bim no more then a counter-jumper !” **In your store, Mr. Kirkendall.” “ That don’t help it one mite. Now hold your hush. You've done your sheer o’ the talkin’, an’ it’s my turn now.” ‘“ As long as you do me full justice, I will not interrupt you, my dear sir,” bowed Leo, still smilin g. ‘* Papa, let me go,” muttered Luada, lowly. Morris Kirkendall only held her the more closely, touching his lips to her glossy curls with a@ tenderness that was almost reverential. In softer tones he continued: ay Spread Eagle Sam. **The critter told me he loved you, Beauty- bird, an’ afore I could git back my breath he wanted me to let him marry you right off—In- jun-fashion, I reckon, sense we don’t tote a gos- pel-slinger “long with us!” He laughed harshly, and Laughlin interposed: ‘**'You are straying from the true trail, my dear sir. I asked your permission to speak to your daughter of my hopes and wishes; nothing more. ‘*An’ wasn’t that enough, ye critter? Ef I did myself jestice, I'd hire a stout nigger to kick me clean from this to St. Paul fer not bouncin’ ye at the fu’st word!” ‘* Papa!” gently murmured Luada. The irate veteran started at that reproachful sound, and then glared fiercely toward Laugh- ing Leo to see if it had reached his ears, That smile was sufficient. The lover had heard, and plainly drew conclusions far from disagreeable. With difficulty Morris Kirkendall restrained his rage. He manfully swallowed it down, and then spoke in tones more like those of ordinary emergencies. ‘**T told him I hedn’t no use fer dandy counter- jumpers. He said he wasn’t a dandy, but a gen- tleman, as good as they made ’em. He said he could show his pedigree running back to the creation o’ the world, or words to them effec’. He said it was clean an’ pure. That he was a rine able to keer fer a wife as well as to love er. He paused, his brows drawing together until they nearly concealed his glowing eyes. His strong frame trembled, his henvy muscles work- ed and writhed like crawling snakes. His tone was i and stern as he added: ‘**T told him I hed tuck one critter on trust of ood looks an’ a smooth tongue. What come of it? Death an’ruination! Iswore then I’d never trust another—nur I never will!” ‘*T do not ask you to take me on trust,” said Laughlin, his tone quiet and com puRET offered to furnish ample proof—” ‘*An’ when you said it, it made me think o’ the one who fu’st talked to me after that fashion— the p’izen wolf that crept into my heart only to eat it out by the roots! From the very fu’st jump-off they was somethin’ in your face that minded me o’ her—o’ that c she-wolf!” Terribly in earnest he was, but from the hid- den face on his breast came something suspi- ciously like a giggle! Luada remembered when Morris Kirkendall said the same thing to an- other, who no more resembled Laughing Leo in face than the night resembles the day. The veteran possibly recalled the same fact, for he hurriedly concluded his part of the con- fession: ‘** But I didn’t like to set him down too rough. I told him o’ the vow I made long ago, never to give up my Beauty-bird to anybody who could- n’t prove hisself a man from top to toe. I told him to an’ make hisself a record whar it takes men to hold tha’r own; to go rustle one season ‘longside men like Spread EagleSam. Ef he could hold his eend up, then he might brag 0’ bein’ a man.” ‘** You bade, me go and equal the record made by Spread Eagle Sam. When I did so, I might come back and—” ‘* Ax the same question over ag’in,” interrupt- ed Morris Kirkendall, sharply. ‘‘ But mind ye, they wasn’t no promise made to go any furder’n that. Isaid ye mought ax—I didn’t say you'd git Ba 7y ye axed fer, did I?’ and he chuckled, i y. Despite herself, Luada had partially lifted her face and was watching the face of the hand- some, graceful fellow. His gaze met hers, and a = smile broke over his features as he spoke rapialy: t fi If not said, it was implied, Mr. Kirkendall. But we will not dispute over words at present. I have accepted your own proposal. I will turn hide-hunter, and risk my hopes of winning the choicest treasure earth can hold on the result of that venture. If I succeed—I will return and ask, not you, but the lady 1 love with all my heart, for my reward.” Morris Kirkendall rose to his feet, one arm around his daughter, a dry, harsh laugh parting his lips. 4 Beauty-bird — through my lips, young man. Ef I say take you, she'll do it. Ef I say turn him adrift, down the current you'll go, jest a-whoopin’!” ‘* Come, honey-bee, grub’s ready, an’ all this palaverin’s made me most powerful hungry.” Without a word Luada bore him company, leaving Leo Laughlin standing beneath the cedar-tree. But she cast one sly glance over her shoulder before the lake was reached, and there was a smile upon her rosy lips. Was it encouraging? Laughing Leo looked as though he thought CHAPTER IV. HOW THE OLD TRADER PAID A DEBT. *You’RE mighty right he is, Jes’! A qu’ar ole cod ras ever drapped a bull buffler in his tracks fer a starter to a bale o’ hides, Rough, tough an’ gnarly asa black-oak knot, but made o’ the pure quill fer all that!” 5 The midday meal was over at the home of the hide-hunters, and for the second time since the sun rose that morning, Spread Eagle Sam and Jesse Purchass had drawn apart from their com- rades for earnest and confidential discourse. Spread Eagle did not feel satisfied with what he had heard at the corral before being interrupt- ed by the summons to dinner. He felt that the young man held too hard feelings toward Morris irkendall, and it was with the hope of soften- ing, if not entirely removing, these that he con- trived to draw the confessed lover to a secure covert just below the corral. With the little stream at their back, no one could approach the dug-out without their notice. ‘*It must be the quill of a porcupine, then!” retorted Jesse, with a short, hard laugh. Spread ry H4 Sam joined in cordially. Even that sort of alaugh was preferable to the gloomy sullen silence which his young companion had until now maintained. ‘* Mebbe yes, mebbe no; I won’t ondertake to say you’re right in that, lad, though mebbe you mought ’a’ made a wilder shot at the bull’s-eye oO’ truth. We'll call it rough, tough an’ gnarly. ‘** But the old man wasn’t al’ays that-a-way. T me was when nobody couldn’t tetch him ’thout the milk o’ human kindness come a-streamin’ out, big’s yourarm! His heart was bigger’n a bale o’ hides, an’ I don’t reckon he knowed what it was to hate a feller-critter. Whatever he hed was thars as wanted it bad enough to say so. He was a white man from the suller to chimley-top!” ‘** Looking at the picture you draw, and re- calling what he is now, one could almost think it a pity he did not die young.” These words were uttered in a cold, harsh tone that drew from the giant hide-hunter a mild look of reproach. ‘* Mebbe not, lad. The change came over him afore the little lady come to town. I reckon she’s bright; an’ good, an’ kind, an’ ee enough to ixcuse an’ overbalance his failin’s— fer failin’s I ’mit he hes, good fri’nd an’ true man though Pll uphold him afore all the world!” ‘*T believe 1 heard something hinted—some vague rumors concerning a scanda! or a tragedy connected with his past,” mu Purchass, stooping to pluck a tuft of grass. ‘‘I gave the matter little thought at the time; I care still less to hear the details now.” ‘** Which is a perlite way o’ kickin’ me off the trail,” laughed Spread Eagle, with no sign of taking offense, ‘* but it won’t work, Jes’—no, it won't work! I’m too pure a breed to turn aside from a warm scent when oncet ve giv’ tongue. I’m goin’ to keep on ontel the eend is deathiod an’ you’re goin’ to keep me comp’ny.” ‘** Cut it short, then,” half-surlily. ‘* Time enough afore Old Misery flips his cla r fer another grub call,” said Spread Ea Sam, with a side glance toward the rapidly- declining sun. “It ain’t fer my own ‘muse- ment that I’ve pinned ye here, Jes’. My inem | sound 0’ my own tongue over much or—durned ef you ain’t snickerin’! What fer?” he demand- % wiles a portentous frown as Jesse broke into a laugh. He knew well enough, but he did not wait to be told. He had gained his first point, and hop- ing to keep his rather peculiarly-dispositioned comrade in the same good humor, he resumed briskly, but with an undercurrent of deep feel- ing that could not entirely escape the younger hide-hunter. ‘* No, lad; it’s mainly beca’se I'm the fri’nd o’ all-two-both o’ ye, an’ mean to do the best I know to make peace come atween the ccuple o’ ye. You think the ole man’s hard an’ grouty an’ too onreasonable fer commen use. Mebbe he is, I ain’t takin’ it onto myself to say yes or no to that, jes’ now. It’s encugh ef I give ye some faint idee o’ what made Morris Kirkendall the s’picious critter you found him. ‘““T knowed him when I was but a Jad, no taller then that two-eyed gun o’ yourn, an’ not much more of a shadder-maker then itis. It was me fer it ag’in’ the world, then; I hedn’t no daddy nur no mammy nur ‘lations nur yit fri’‘nds, when Morris Kirkendall picked me up an’ said he’d make a man outo’ me. Hedid the best the *teria] they was to work with ‘mitted of, an’ he made me what I be now. ‘That he didn’t turn out a cleaner, brighter, better job, wasn’t no fault o’ bis. ‘* From that day to this, nigh onto forty year, now, livin’ man never showed hisself a truer nur a kinder fri’nd then Morris Kirkendall did tome. I swore I'd never fergit it, the fu’st o’ them years; I sw’ar the same thing now. His inemies is my inemies, an’ ef ever—which the good Lord ferbid!—you come to blows with him, lad, you'll hev me to climb over, too.” ‘‘Even that threat does not frighten me from the stand I have taken,” said Purchass, with the shadow of a sneer. ‘It wasn’t tended fer a threat, led,” gently corrected the huge hide-hunter. ‘‘ Though the ole man, by rights, comes fu’st when fri’nds is mentioned, you stan’ mighty cluss to him in that class. I don’t know why—the good Lord knows you hain’t tuck no trouble to soft-soap a road into my heart!” com Ehooks e, wu'st | never ’cused me o’ likin’ to hear the (E(@)