Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a nee There was always some evil genius of fortune to direct his steps to the place, and in nine cases out of every ten that evil genius was soundly cursed after the play. I shall not say that men were boldly robbed at the gilded den, but it was current among gam- blers in the city that not all the games played there were conducted ‘‘ on the square.” Let us go back in our story a little ways and eer the resort of the green-cloth tiger in ad- vance of Tunis. The lamps are already lit, revealing the inside splendors of the place, the elegant carpet that covers the floor, the really fine paintings on the walls, the frescoed ceilings, and in one room the finest bar in the City of the Golden Gate. The most elaborate gambling-room, the faro uarters, were on the second floor, above it were the roulette boards, the keno room, and stalls for small card-parties. The first floor of Monte Merle’s place was more of a reception-room than a play-house, and here it was, from a place where he was conceal- ed himself, the proprietor could study the faces and purses of his visitors. About the time that Tunis was on the last square on his way to the gaming-palace, a man entered the faro rooms and walked to one of the tables where he stationed himself at the side of a player and began to look on. his man was Silver Chick, the person mention- ed on the street by Oregon Noll, and the man, also, whom he thought of detailing to watch Noah Nelson from San Diego. He was still young, but it was not difficult to see that, despite his new clothes, he had seen more of mountain than city life, and that he knew more of the revolver than etiquette in social circles. The only adornment of his dark face was a heavy black mustache; his eyes were like it in color, dark as the raven’s wing, and he wore his black hair long. He stood like a statue at the table, and watch- ed the game with a sport’s interest. In a minute he had found out who were win- ning and who losing, and this discovery added zest to his watchfulness. Nobody appeared to see him; the silent gam- blers enh 5 on as if he were a thousand miles away; only the eyes of the dealer, raised now and then, saw the handsome figure of Silver Chick. Suddenly one of the gamesters pushed his chair back with a curse that sounded strangely, because it broke the silence of the place. ‘*T can go back and play with the pick once more,” he growled. ‘‘ Like an infernal fool, I got it into my head that I could buck ag’in’ the monte demons of ’Frisco. What a fool I am! Good-night, gentlemen.” Some of the players nodded anda few said good-night, but never looked uP, and the broken sport walked off, brushing Silver Chick as he passed by. The sleek banker looked up at the motionless spectator, and then looked at the chair just va- cated. He did not ask Silver Chick to play, but the invitation was instantly unde ‘ As the chair was near by, the mountain sport had but to move forward a step and occupy it, which he did. . The next moment he had bought one hundred dollars’ worth of chips, and was fighting the nee of the gold coast. f om the very first he won, and in less than ten minutes he had won three times and doubled sums at that.’ Men began to look at him, but he never moved; he staked again and again, and always won. Was he going to break the bank? In the midst of his astonishing success there came into the room a man who had just ascend- ed the stairs from the first floor. ‘** Mebbe I’ll find ’imn hyer,” muttered this in- dividual who was not as well dressed as the men at the faro table. ‘* Oregon said I'd find him at Monte Merle’s, an’ this is the place. Aha! thar he is, ther handsome devil—fixed up in broad- cloth, an’ winnin’ as usual,” Need we say that the enaaleer was Tunis? He walked to Silver Chick’s chair, and, stand- ing behind it, looked down over his shoulders at his winnings. It was a sight to gladden Tunis’s eyes; it made them glisten, and heresolved not to dis- turb Silver Chick while the run of luck was on. He stood there and watched for twenty min- utes. '_ The unprecedented success continued, but at length Silver Chick with a smile pushed his pyr- amid of valuable chips across the table. “Do you quit, sir?’ asked the banker. **T guess so,” was the answer in a nonchalant manner. ‘* By George! you’ve made big money 1"? Silver Chick looked up, and his eyes met those of Tunis. “What! you in ’Frisco?””’ he exclaimed. were be we left you in camp.” ant.” you did, Silver; buts I'm hyer at pre- * An hing off thar?” ginder? iN ! | ‘“*T | blood, an’ he doesn’t know whar we ar’. | Some mystery hyer. ‘thing. I know of o Cool Conrad; the Dakota Detéctive. Silver Chick waited till he had been paid in a | draft on Monte Merle’s private purse, and then left his chair. A moment later he had led Tunisinto a private room on the right, the door of which he shut be- hind them. on his arm, and he heard the voice of Tunis at his ear. ‘*For God’s sake, Silver, look at ther man takin’ in thet mountain picter—over yer right shoulder!” Silver Chick had been halted by the clutch, ‘* Now, tell me,” was all he said, but he spoke | and his eyes wandered instantly in the direction in tones of command which was enough. ‘‘Tt’s all on Red Roy’s account,” said Tunis; ‘*but Oregon Noll will settle him an’ his chicks. He’s off for camp afore this—” ‘*Gone?—the captain?’ interrupted Silver Chick. ‘*T think so. He said he’d go an’ suppress Reddy in a manner thet’d surprise him. He told me I'd find you hyer an’ thet I should re- main behind an’ help you take keer ov the Dakota Tiger thet’s come to town.” sé Who?” ‘*Don’t you know?” asked Tunis, looking strangely into Silver Chick’s eyes. ‘ ve got a letter hyer in my pocket thet’ll explain a good deal. mebody what signs his name in figures sent it ter Oregon.” ‘* Let me have it.” Tunis dived into his pocket in which he had deposited the warning letter a short time before, but it was not there! ‘* You've lost it!” cried Silver Chick, his eyes suddenly flashing up. ‘*No; Pve got itsomewhar about my anatomy —I’m sure I hev,” was the reply. ‘ Besides, what would I lose it for? Thet’s what I'd like ter know.” Silver Chick stood impatiently by while Tunis went through his clothes, pocket by pocket, but always with the same result. ‘* Darn me, ef I hedn’t it awhile ago,” he said, forced to look into the sport’s face at last, and admit the truth of the accusation that he had lost the important letter. ‘‘I thought I'd show it to you, fer mebbe you could make it all out— thet is, mebbe git at the writer by the figure signature at the bottom. Say?” A brilliant idea seemed to light up Tunis’s eyes. ** Well, what now?” ‘Tl bet my teeth thet I kin go back over the ground an’ find thet very letter.” ‘* Over the streets?” se Yes.” ** Nonsense! You’re a fool for losin’ it, but I'm not goin’ ter growl now. When did Oregon Noll start for camp?’ **He went ter hunt up ther rest ov ther boys —all but you, Chick.” ‘* An’ he said he’d leave me behind ter take care ov the Dakota Tiger, eh?” ** Thet’s what he intimated.” ** Whar did he see this man?” ** At the Coast City Hotel; first he saw his name on the register thar, then, I think he saw ther galoot himself.” ‘“* What’s he like?—did he say?” ‘‘He said he war a mejium-sized man, with full beard an’ spectacles, an’ the name on ther book war Noah Nelson, from San Diego,” ‘‘ Thet’s a starter,” said Silver Chick, quietly. ** Noah Nelson, eh? medium-sized man, with full beard an’ spectacles.” ‘* Thet’s what Noll said.” za All right. We'll watch him, or at least I ““T'm in on ther watch, too, Silver,” said Tunis, quickly. ‘*'You? I don’t know about trustin’a man who'd lose a letter.” “Tl never do it ag’in! Truth is, Silver, I run ag’in’ a man who mistook me for some hustler from Mohave, an’ he poured several straight thunderbolts inter me without stop- in ‘* Mebbe thet man stole the letter.” ‘Ten chances ter one thet he did! I’m ready ter swear now thet I didn’t loseit. Ill not leave Frisco till I’ve found thet liberal-hearted cuss, an’ —_ him inter ther middle ov next week. Me from Mohave? Ye’r’ right Silver; thet cool liar gobbled in thet letter. I recollect thet he wore specs.” ‘‘ Thunders!” ejaculated Silver Chick. ‘* An’ a full beard, too, I sup ” ‘*He hadn’t any such thing thet I could see, an’ he didn’t look much like a tiger from Dakota, nor anywhar else.” ‘The man wants watching—Ill bet my for- tune on it!” said Silver Chick. ‘*‘ Come with me. He won’t come hyer, so we’ve got ter go on the hunt ov him. If I’m left behind for work, ter work I go with no hangin’ back.” He opened the door of the private room and stepped out into the gambling apartment, fol- lowed by Tunis. Silver Chick threw a hasty glance through the room, and then went to the stairs. ‘‘T must first get at who this Dakota sharp is,” he said to himself. ‘It’s very strange that enough to tell me some- y one man from that quar- ter of the world who’d come to ’Frisco for our Thar’s By heavens! I could choke the galoot behind me for losin’ thet letter!” He reached the floor below and was about to turn into the elegant bar-room to take a parting drink, when a hand from behind closed suddenly oll didn’t stay jong indicated by Tunis’s voice. He saw a man standing before one of the sev- eral fine paintings that adorned the walls of the mare but the person’s back was turned toward im. ‘*Thet’s therman what thought I war ther galoot from Mohave,” continued Tunis. ‘*Hev you seen his face?’ “No; but I know him without a front view. Thet’s ther chap, I tell yer. He’s got mg letter somewhar on his person. Whata fool he war ter foller me hyer! He yields up thet stolen dockument, Silver, or he never leaves Monte Merle’s alive!” The stranger appeared to be absorbed in the picture which was a well painted piece of wild mountain scenery—a high walled gulch in tho foreground, and the figure of a human being— some lynchers’ victim—swinging from a crag! ‘* Mebbe he’s seen thet place somewhar in his travels,” said Tunis, in a whisper. 3 cage oi answered Silver Chick, turning away. ‘‘ Tunis, your excitement has fixed sus- picion on the wrong man, I guess.” ‘* Never! I know them shoulders. By ther eternal, Silver, I'll prove thet I’m right!” The next moment Tunis sprung across the car- pet toward the stranger, and all at once his hand touched his arm. ‘* We meet again,” said Tunis. The man turned with a start, and said, in a voice that seemed to freeze the listener’s blood: ‘““If you interrupt me again, Ill kill you in your boots!” ‘**Gods!” cried Tunis. ‘*‘The wrong man!” CHAPTER III. CAGING THE TIGER. ** Just as I expected!” laughed Silver Chick, as Tunis came back to him white faced and with eyes almost starting from his head. ‘‘ You stirred up the wrong lion, eh, Tunis, old boy?” ‘*Thet’s ther way it looks, Chick; but, by George! I would hev sworn I had the galoot thet got the letter,” was the reply. ‘‘ He’s just his size an’ all thet, but he can’t be ther sama man. This feller doesn’t wear specs, an’ he’s got an iron-gray mustache thet hides his mouth.” **So I noticed, Tunis. Hadn’t we better in- vite him to tip glasses with us before we go?” ‘* Heavens, no! Dve had enough ter do with him ceaernt § He threatened ter kill me in my boots, an’ his blazin’ eyes said thet he means business. No drinkin’ with him in mine. He must hev taken a fancy ter thet picture.” | Tunis drew back. He was glad to get away from the presence of the man whom he had roused, and who, instead of punishing him for his interference, had turned to the painting again. Silver Chick gave the stranger a final glance as he and Tunis walked into Monte Merle’s elc- gant bar-room, where they drank success to the pil which Oregon Noll had imposed on the ick. ‘** Now, Tunis, we'll look out for Noah Nelson,” said Silver Chick, turning toward the docr: ‘* The captain can go to the camp an’ deal with Red Roy an’ his pards, but our work keeps us m Frisco. It won’t be a long hunt, since the man from San Diego is at the Coast City Hotel. Til size him up when I see him. Come!” The twain passed from the gambling pelace together, leaving the stranger still contemplat- ing the picture which had struck his fancy. ‘Don’t I know that place?’ he suddenly ex- claimed. ‘‘ Never will I forget the morning I entered that accursed gulch, and saw that bod swinging there just as the artist has depicted it. Never mind, vultures of the Colorado! I will find you al]. My trail ends where I pay the last of you back for bathing your beaks in the blecd - cae of the bravest and best men that ever ved. He turned from the painting and stopped at the bar. ** Can og tell me who painted that canyon picture?” he inquired of the bartender, ‘* No, sir.” ‘*'W ho sold it to Monte Merle?” ‘**T don’t know that, either. It isn’t for sale.” **Of course not. I don’t want to buy it, but I was curious to know who the artist is, as the painting itself strikes me.” “*It takes everybody that comes here. That ingi om the crag was an after- ee h?” , ‘**Tt wasn’t on the canvas three years ago.” ‘* How was it put there?” ‘* Monte Merle was showing the pictures to a party ov players one day, and one ov ’em said thet he knew every inch ov thet canyon. It’s somewhar along the Colorado, I b’lieve.. Well, this gentleman went on to say thet he once saw a man hangin’ from thet crag, an’ told Monte thet ter hev the man painted just as he hung thar would add to the picture. Thet war enough, an’ it appeared ter be a gocd id¢a, se JOO eoim S (E (E(@)