Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. III, No. 34 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 “T reckon she'll be well patronized ef she don’t charge too mych. I swow I'd goa dollar any time for to get a good square look at a good-lookin’ fe- male up in this hyar country,” Johnny remarked. Then the conversation turned upon other subjcets. The roughly-dressed man who had been leaning on the counter and listening to the conversation with- out taking any part in it, quietly left the saloon. York and his two companions, after exchangin © few words together in whispers, got up and fol- lowed him. The stranger proceeded at once to the shanty occu- ied by the young woman who had so astonished the inhabitants of Humbug Bar by the public announce- iment of her calling. > ‘‘Her face was very familiar to me,’’ the stranger muttered, as he walked onward, “and yet she isa stranger tome, If I meet her face to face and hear her speak, I can easily tell whether I know her or not,”’ There was a broad, full moon shining in the sky, and it was almost as light as day, - York and his two companions slouched along in the shadow of the shanties, following on the track of the stranger, imith—as he had ealled himself—halted in front of the little shanty occupied by the strange woman. _ A shingle was affixed to the house; on it was rude- ly painted: ‘*CotomMBA MrerRIMEE, ForRTUNE-TELLER." Smith paused for a moment, read the sign, then advanced to knock, but the door flew open at his ap- proach; he had evidently been observed, A Chinaman ig oy - } ‘*Commee in,’’ the heathen said, grinning; and as Smith entered, the Chinaman closed the door behind him and ushered him into the inner room, then re- tired, A eandle lighted up the apartment, and by the table sat a dark-haired, black-eyed girl, wonderfully beautiful, ‘**Good-evening, Mr. Talbot,’ she said, rising as he entered the room, “Hallo! you know me?” Talbot exclaimed, for it wis Injun Dick in the strange disguise. * Yes, I have been expecting you ever since night- fall,’ she replied. ‘“‘ Let me warn you, for deadly evil surrounds you. Had you remained a day onger in Bannock you would never have quitted it. You are treading on the edge of a fearful gulf.” CHAPTER IV. THE BELLE OF HUMBUG. Besstz Smoox was a tall, fair-haired girl, with a rvand, good-natured-looking face, wherein shone a air of clear blue eyes. She was the acknowledged yelle of Humbug Bar, If fact, not a rival had she for fifty miles, north, south, east or west. A whole- soine, buxom girl, quick in speech, and ready in re- ply, She attended to the hotel department of the Vaterproof saloon, Report stated that the blue-eyed Bessie had re- ceived an offer of e from ouery miner who nad ever set foot in the Humbug Valley, and one andall she had laughed at, and made reply that they had better go back to their wives whom they nat abandoned—a reply which struck home five times out of ten, and made some grow red and oth- ers pale when the girl’s answer brought back the memory of the days that were gone, and the joys— or sorrows—which they had left behind them. Bessie had never a favorite in all the Humbug region, o the ressive language of the Pacifi¢ Slope she said that ‘tall men were first-class frauds, an that she didn’t take any stock in them.” Bessie was a great favorite with all the frequent- ers of the Waterproof saloon. 15 was about five o’clock in the afternoon, on the same day that the events related in the preceding chapter took place, Bessie was sitting in the dining- reom of the “ Waterproof,’ an apartment rather limited in extent, but still quite big enough for the guests of Pop Shook, except on great festive occa- sions. She was looking out of the window at a umping-match, which was in progress before the o and in which the ‘‘Gay young rooster from the Geyser Springs,:; Johnny Bird, and Bob Shook took an active part. The entrance of a guest disturbed the girl’s medi- tation. The guest was the man known as Jim York, The girl greeted him with a smile as he sat down at one of the little tables, ; “Get me something to eat, Bessie, will you?” “Yes; what do you want, Jim?” she asked, rising to wait upon him. * Oh, aaything that you've got in the house han- dy,” he replied. ‘ “Give you some ham and eggs? uz t will do, and I'll come and look on while you cook ’em,”’ he said. The girl made a wry face, “Do you think that it will be interesting?’ “Yes, I s’pose so. I can tell then whether you will make a wife or not, and p’haps I can recom- mend you to some likely fellow,” The girl tossed her head. “The fellow had better get some one to recom- mend him to me,”’ she said, laughin ’ “You're just spoilt, Bessie,” Sank said, quite -ravely. : But the girl did not notice his manner, She pro- ceeded at once to the kitchen, which was just off the -room, put the fryingpan on the fire, placed a slice of ham in it, and proceeded to break the eggs in a cup. York stood leaning against the door-post, watching her intently. The ham sizzled and sputtered as the heat of the fre to affect it. : Bessie stood by the table watching it. She was conscious that York's eyes were fixed intently on her face. Jim York had been a puzzle to the Belle of Hum- bug. He was about the only young*and good-look- ing man who had come to the Bar since she had ar- rived there and become the mistress of the Water- proof saloon, who had not fallen down and wor- shiped her almost at first sight. York had not done so. For the first week after his arrival he had not seemed to even nolice—even though he took his meals constantly at the Water- ‘Beadle’s Dime Library. oung and proof—that he was waited upon by a alf-grown pocee girl, instead of the usual rough, oy or old battered-up veteran, ssie, spoiled beauty as she was, felt annoyed that there should be a man within reach of her smiles who seemed so utterly indifferent to them. And, though rumor said that York’s character was none of the best, and that he made more money at night by the aid of the painted pasteboards, known as “ cards,”’ than he did in the sunlight from the “ pay- dirt’? which his ‘strikes’? up the Wisdom yield- ed him, York stood high among the inhabitants of the Bar, and was reported to be worth more money than any man in the Humbug Valley, Doc Kidder alone excepted. _ But he was far from possessing Kidder’s popular- ity. He was cold-blooded and merciless, oe to the man who sat down to a quiet game with York. Not till his last dollar was gone did he yield up his prey and then there was no giving the loser a few dollars back, to get him out of town, and start him afresh on his road, to try another ‘* luck” with for- tune. ‘Let him beg his way, the fool!’’ York would say, contemptuously, and light his cigar as coolly as though he had not brought a fellow-creature to ruin and despair, Kidder was a different kind. of man altogether. He was free and open-hearted, a favorite with all—men, women and children, Little by little York’s reserve had disappeared, un- til at last he and Bessie got to be quite friendly, He had not made love to her, though, and that part had not pleased the girl; not that she cared two straws about York, but that she was so accustomed to have every new-comer offer incense at her shrine - beauty, that the young man’s coldness fretted 1er. But now, as York stood by the doorway, watching her with his cold, keen eyes, she felt that he was ehone to say more than he had ever said to her be- ore, She was nervous; she felt that her face was get- ting very red. At first she tried to persuade herself that it was the heat of the fire, or the smoke of the ham frying in the pan; but in her secret heart she knew that it was the cold eyes of the man fixed so intently upon her face, which sent the blood to her cheeks. pio ou know, Bessie, that you are a very pretty gir 9 ork said, quietly. ‘*Do you think so?’ And the girl busied herself over the fire, Balak uite a fuss over the pan that was getting along all right without her care. ‘Yes, you're a re r first-chop of a girl, as a Chinaman would say, and I’ve come to the conclu- sion that I think a great deal of you.”’ * Do you like your ham well done?” the girl asked, suddenly, bending over the pan, and thus concealing her face from view. ‘“ Well, yes, I think that I like it pretty well done,”’ he answered, slowly and deliberately. He was mak- ing love with the same coolness with which he turn- ed up a Jack from the bottom at eucher, or By pped a ten-spot into his boot, and took a ‘*‘bower”’ from his sleeve in its place. ‘The fire is very hot,” the girl said, slowly, findin that he did not speak, and stealing a sly glance a him from under her long lashes, ‘ Yes, I judged so by your face,” York rejoined, The girl's face grew scarlet, and she drove the fork into the ham, and turned it over as if the fate of na- tions depended upon her action, ‘‘ Bessie, I’m lonely down at ay tinued, ‘and I want to hire a good cook to come and work for me.” ‘* There’s plenty of cooks—Chinamen,”’ the girl re- pied. dishing up the ham and putting the eggs in its ce, “I don’t want a ‘John,’” he replied, “I want you; will youcome? I'll give you a nice gold ring, Set ew ene to take care of you all the rest of your e, The girl’s triumph had come at last. York was at her feet, but, strange to say, she did not enjoy her triumph. York was altogether too much in earnest, He was not like the other suitors, who plum down on their knees, and talked of revolvers and bowie-knives, if they were refused; and when the shanty,” he con- refusal came, afterward comforted themselves by getting “howling ’ drunk, and kicking up the devil’s wes row, ina free fight outside the Waterproof sa- oon, York was no such man, and Bessie all at once woke to the knowledge that he was not a man to be trifled with by any woman, She had courted the man’s attentions, tried to make him care for her, simply because he had seem: ed indifferent to her charms, and now that he wasin the toils, she discovered, too late, that it would have been better for her if she had left him alone. The queasian came, and the answer must be yes or no ich should it be? She discovered that she did not like him well enough to say ‘‘ yes,” and she was afraid to say “ no.”’ York was reputed to be a merciless enemy, one who neither forgot nor forgave—an uncertain friend and a terrible foe, _One course only was open to her, Evade the ques- tion, ‘*Oh! do you want your eggs turned over?” she asked, yi a, to ignore the question that he had put so directly. ** Yes, turn them over,’’ he said, cold as ever. The eggs flopped over in the hot fat and sent a cloud of steam up into Bessie’s eyes, causing her to retreat a step, and, as she did so, she felt York’s arm around her waist and his hot breath upon her cheek, CHAPTER V. A PREDICTION, Tatpor looked at the girl in wonder. Calmly she returned the gaze. * You have oome ko test my power,’ she said, finding he did not speak. Talbot had ed silent, evidently puzzled. grees partly that and partly something else,” he re . ‘I knew that you would come the moment that you heard that I was here," she said. ‘You did?” There was a slight trace of astonish- ment in Talbot’s voice. ‘** Yes; I wassure of it.”’ “I beg your pardon!” Talbot exclaimed, suddenly; - “but will pe permit me to ask you why sure that I would come to see you when that you were here?”’ ‘Because you are a gambler, and, like all who follow your evil trade, you are superstitious. You believe in luck; that it runs counter one hour, and in your favor the next. You have taken a dangerous task upon yourself, and you would learn from me whether you are to succeed or fail; whether you will take the desperate road-agent a helpless prisoner into Bannock, and there receive the thousand dollars blood-money offered for him, or whether you will fall by the bullet of the robber in some lonely canyon, with the vulture and the wolf as chief mourners by your side,”’ ‘““My dear young lady, if you keep on in this strain, you'll speedily convince me that you are not a fortune-teller—that the gift of second sight has been denied you, and that, in reality, you are what an average American would call a first-class fraud,” Talbot said, banteringly. ‘‘ Denial is easy,”’ the girlreplied, scornfully, ““So is assertion,” he said, quickly; “but asser- tion is not proof. You tell me that I come to see you ona certain quest, and now I tell ge that it is noth- ; that you are utterly and thoroughly you were learned ing of the so wrong.”’ ** And you do not come for the purpose of learn- ing ‘ie er you will succeed in winning your bet or no %9 sé No.” ‘* Why do you come?”’ ‘* Tf you cannot tell that, your skill as a fortune- teller must be scant,” he said, laughing, “No,” she replied, slowly, “that ia beyond all earthly power, even. though aided by the subtle in- fluence of the spirit world, In the of your hand I can read the lines, which tell of you past hfe and predict the important events of the future, Gazing in the depths of my magic crystal, and aided by the mystic gift of looking into the future, which the seventh daughter gives to the seventh daughter I can warn you of dangers to come, but cannot tell you how to avoid them,”’ ‘Your information cannot prove of much ser- vice, then,”’ he said, dryly. ‘““Why not?” she demanded, quickly. “Is the chart, which shows the location of the sunken reef beneath the wave, of no use to the mariner who holds the helm of the goodly skip? Will the knowl- e of the quicksand not save the traveler from sinking into it? Why, then, will not the knowledge of the future be of use to you?” “TI will test your skill, at all events, since I am here,” he said, gayly; ‘‘ but I assure you that I had another urpose in view when I came hither,”’ ‘* And that purpose?’’ she asked, curiously, “That is for you to find out,” he replied, with a baffling smile. ‘‘I will own, though, that yee do possess some mystic power, for you penetra my disguise in an instant; but, as you confess that you expected me, that is not so wonderful,”’ ; ta wish to try my power?” she asked, ‘ es,”” ‘*Give me your hand.”’ ty extended the small, white hand, his chiefest e. t A convulsive shudder shook the frame of the girl as she took the cold, white hand within her own warm ms. Talbot noticed her agitation and wondered at it. The eyes of the girl sparkled with a strange luster; her face was unnaturally white, and her bosom rose and fell as the quick breath came from between the white teeth. * Tirst, I will speak of the past,’’ she said, slowly. A cloud gathered for a moment on the face of the gambler, and a sad look came into his clear, blue eyes. of My past life has been miserable enough,’ he said, col y; ‘“‘only a little bit of sunshine here and ere,’ ‘*‘And all that sunshine came from a woman’s fp she said, slowly, looking not into the palm of the hand which she held within her own, but straight into his pg Talbot did not reply. Then the girl let her eyes rest upon the white palm, With her finger she traced a line toward the wrist. “Two years ago, at Walla Walla, this hand was stained with blood,” she said slowly, and a strange, unnatural gleam came into her eyes. ‘ This little cross on the line of life tells of a bloody encounter wae came near being fatal to you. Am I not r 4 & Yes,’’ he answered, and again a puzzled look come upon his face, She noticed the look in an in- 8 * ‘* You wonder at my knowledge,’’ she said, quickly, A quiet smile stole over Talbot’s face. sie ‘* No, I do not,” he replied; ** however skillful you may be at reading hands, it is very evident to me that you are not good at reading faces, I do not wonder that you should know of my being concerned in an affray two years ago. All Walla Walla knew of it, and I think that you were there at that time. That is what puzzles me. I know that I have seen your face, and yet I cannot place you,” ‘**You are wrong!” the girl said, decidedly; ‘you have never seen the woman who calls herself Colom- ba Merimee before.” _ "i I'd bet my last chip on it, though!” he said, de- y. **T have = Sha of the past; now for the future,” With her finger she retraced the line on the palm. “I see here another cross on the line of life, and the time, six days ago.” Talbot shook his head. “T have not been in danger within that time,” “You are wrong!’’ she exclaimed; quickly; “a hidden danger threatened you. Had you remained a day longer in Bannock, you would never have left it, Reis Ore, Sou oye tt your death, arm was e strike, bu de- parture you evaded the blow.” pincer go> i> ‘Lucky thing, wasn’t ity’? Talbot said, coolly. ‘But you not always be so fortunate,” she exclaimed, quickly. “ ‘Oh! the foe is still upon my track?” he queried, “Yes; you have but gained a respite, no PAE don, Here, but a short space further on, is another cross which breaks your line of life, and that bodes a sudden and violent death.” a — Sat GOmMmiIiGbOOKS EG (0)