Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

~ [= ee a GP eee ‘ Joanny-jump-up laughed mockingly, no whit disconcerted. ‘*Since then common sense has got out a re- vised edition of Hoyle, and straights are barred. \7o hold a full hand—a kid full on queens, to be more explicit, and your ordinary flush must Imuckle down before that!” ‘‘ The first deal don’t always settle a game, though,” and Sol Scott smiled with a certain grim significance. ‘* Aces-and said it was to be a game of freeze-out, for blood. All right. So be it! Wo’re.in_ the game, and we'll play it to the bitter end! I never yet let a man remain in my debt for many days, and Ill not begin with you, John Sand!” ‘Is this a threat, my dear fellow?’ drawled Johnny-jump-up. ‘It is a vow—the same oath I gave that poor follow over yonder, when he renounced his right to ta’se your vile life,” sternly uttered the detec- tive, with a glance toward Top Dancer. ‘* When [ told Sim your fellow-devils held our dear and helpless ones as hostages for your safe return, _ he nobly gave over his longing for revenge, And to reward him I swore that I would in good time square accounts with you. I swore to re- momber him when that glad time came, and to make you suffer one pang for him. And, as high heaven hears and records my oath! I will make it good before I die!” Johnny-jump-up laughed lightly, his woman- ish countenance ing mild and serene as that of a cherubim. ‘*T’ve heard better men than same end, oe Scott, and still ou swear to the am in the land of the living.” ‘*Other men may not have had as bitter cause,” ‘* All the same, I hope you didn’t swear that you would kill me.” ‘Why so, if I may ask?” ‘* Because you would be swearing to a lie,” was the cold retort, as Johnny-jump-up pro- ceeded to roll up another cigarette, CHAPTER XI. RUNNING OVER THE STAKES. THE cowboys were gathered near enough to catch nearly every word uttered by Johnny- jump-up and the two detectives. They listened vith the most intense interest. They heard him flatly give the lie to Sol Scott, and their breath came short and quick, for ‘now he has done it!’ they surely believed. ‘They looked to see the athletic detective leap at his throat and drag him from the saddle—to see the insolent varlet checked by blow or shot—but nothing of the sort occurred. Instead, Sol Scott only bowed, his face cold and unmoved, his tones even and unshaken: ‘Your tongue is no scandal, John Sand. Time will show which one of us has spoken falsely. If me, it will be the first time in all my life that Ll ever broke pledge to either friend or foe,” ‘Talk is cheap, but it takes ducats to come in,” retorted Johnny-jump-up withan airy wave of his gloved hand. The cowboys interchanged glances of surly disappointment, and one of them, tall, athletic, a pet of the Single Pot Ranch, muttered to hon- est Ben Jimson: ‘“Whar’s your brags on Sol Scott come in now, Benny, boy? Tuck the lie from that durn- ed little squirt, an’ is chawin’ onto it till yit! Ief it’d bin our boss, we'd hev a aye fer a dance stots the lie could ’a’ dried on the dirty whelp’s ips!’ Ben's face flushed hotly, and there was an in- dignant moisture in his big cyes as he replied, in the same guarded tone: ‘* Play fa’r ef it breaks you,man! You know them imps 0’ hell hey got the madam an’ her kid foul. What kin the boss do when he knows all the damidges must come out o’ them? Wait. I’m a Jiar from head-waters ef Johnny-jump-up ain’t cuttin’ his own throat afore he sees the last 0’ this bit o’ bluff!” ’ **Here’s hopin’ it,” was the prompt response. “‘Ef he’d on’y say that to our boss, though! Good Lawd! you'd think a ton of dynamite hed bu’sted right in the middle o’ whar he lives! The low-down cuss!” There was a brief silence following the last re- mark of Johnny-jump-up’s, during which the brother detectives interchanged glances, as though each wished to divine the conclusion his mate had arrived at before making any positive movement. Then Dan Brown spoke: ‘You say you are the messenger mentioned by Aces-and in this note of his. If so, you ey understand just what game he is play- ing “T should, since I did a goodly share of the planning,” was the prompt retort as Johnny- jump-up showed his white teeth in a mocking smile. ‘‘I hope you'll not forget that little cir- cumstance when you two gentlemen make your testaments!” ‘Tf you are on top of the earth at that time, be sure we will not,” quietly retorted Dan Drovn. ‘Thank you for nothing,” laughed the mali- cious desperado, then abruptly addins: ‘‘ The scan is growing uncomfortably warm, and I ™ I resets Oe eee eee crane a ee ee Se A Royal Flush. 15 never could talk business save in a cool spot. Tell some of your bullies to drag that carrion away, to make room for his betters.” Johnny-jump-up nodded toward Top Dancer, whose sunken eyes were steadily watching the trio, Sol Scott turned paler than ever, a deadly light flashing into his eyes, his hands involun- tarily closing. Dan Brown flushed hotly at the open insolence of the ruffian, and Johnny-jump- up would almost certainly have found himself on the wrong side of prudence, but for the vol- untary action of the wounded cowboy. His hatred-sharpened hearing caught and comprehended those brutal words, and ina husky whisper be bade his mates lift him up and bear him from beneath the shady tree. si- lence they complied, pausing with their burden when opposite the malicious demon. Paced accents Top Dancer addressed the scoun- drel: ‘Tl get out of your road, you cur, for I can see you are racing to the grave—digging it with your foul tongue! Keep on as you have begun, and dying though I am, [ll spit on your cold carcass before my eyes close for the last time!” Ata sign, his mates bore him on, gently low- ering him to the earth at the base of a corral fence where the shade was wide enough to cover he for the time yn ohnny-jump-up made no reply to this speech and his mocking smile fled from his tate’ Der. haps he felt the truth of the words uttered by the seemingly dying man. In his bitter hatred for these two men who had given him and his so much uneasiness of body and spirit during the past few months, he had allowed himself to g° too far. Despite the nature ¢f his armor, he egan to feel a secret uneasiness as he saw the stern deadly light burning in those blue eyes, Yet he showed naught of this outwardly, He dared not change his line too abruptly, lest his dreading. ‘* Babies, fools and moribunds are privileged characters, and the law allows them to say whatever comes to their tongues,” he said, with a low, musical laugh and careless out-flinging of one gloved hand, ‘* A man is an ass who holdsa grudge after he is physically past the power to wipe if out on his enemy; he is worse than a fool if he pays any attention to the snarling of a defeated adversary. Good-by, Top Dancer! May you live to see that my grave is kept green!” “Stranger things than that have come to pace muttered Sol Scott with a short, hard augh, ‘And nothing would delight you more than to see the miracle repeated in my case, eh?” sneered Johnny-jump-up, casting aside the end of his cigarette and settling himself in the sad- dle. ‘Td say that was the truth, only you do not choke to death.” ‘*A truce to compliments,” sharply cried the little desperado, as he moved toward the lone tree, prermg rein ‘neath its spreading branches, | aera to the ground and leaning carelessly against the trunk, all mockery vanishing from his bright blue eyes. ‘‘ I came here on business, and the quicker we get down to sober work, the | | mighty fighters quailin | another chance, | | fears produce the very effect he was secretly | before one little man. And in doing all this, | have partly repaid the injury you and yours have done me and mine. Only partly, though! Before I get through, the old scores will be wiped out, and the balance will stand on the other side of the page!” ** And this is what you call business?” again asked Dan Brown, his voice as even as ever, his face cold andimmobile. , Johnny-jump-up bit his lip until his white teeth showed traces of blood. He felt that his triumph was curtailed, and far from complete. But only for a single breath. Then he laugh- ed lightly, the dark frown vanishing from his brow, his hard tones growing soft and musical once more. ‘*Tt would lead to business in a hurry, if I were lucky enough to have men to deal with, in- In slow, | stead of wind-bags,” with a mocking smile. ‘* But since your stomachs are too weak for such fodder, we'll change the game a little to give you ‘Yes, I am the messenger sent by Aces-and. Are you ready to listen to his terms?” ‘* We are ready to listen to your terms,” said Dan Brown, coldly. ‘* Of course ransom is your object” ‘Mainly, of course,” was the prompt response. ‘* With revenge as a sort of side bet, you under- stand.” ‘* What terms do you propose?” “First, lei me run over our hand. We hold your wife and her two children. To make u the full hand, we have the wife of Sol Scott an her little girl. Each of them has a very fine head of hair, as I took particular notice. ell, we'll be satisfied to call the account square when ou pay us over one dollar for each and every hair there is in the lot combined!” As he spoke Johnny-jump-up smiled malicious- ly, watching his adversaries closely, as though anticipating an outburst of indignant surprise. But the surprise was his instead. In grave silence the two detectives listened, and as grave- ly seemed to weigh his words before giving their deciaion, ‘*In what manner is the transfer to be made, when the ransom money demanded is paid?” in- quired Dan Brown. ‘‘ As you are too treacher- ous and evil-spirited to be trusted, just so you would be unwilling to trust us. Of course you have duly considered this point!” “Of course,” was the careless, off-hand reply. ‘‘We hold the women and their kids. If we surrender them it will only be after we have the full equivalent in our hands, Even you wouldn't have the cheek to ask any other terms.” ‘‘Speak for yourself, John Sand. You are not qualified by nature to answer for a man of honor.” Despite his nerve and natural assurance, the little desperado flushed a trifle at this quiet hit. A devilish glitter flashed into his eyes, and he seemed on the point of breaking out into a sav- age retort; but he seemed to think better of it, and forced a laugh. ‘‘I| might come back at you with the moldy chestnut of ‘no gentleman,’ butI refrain. Time is too valuable for wasting in idle compliments, right or left-handed. You know our condi- tions—money down, and secure in our posses- sion before the goods are turned over to you. Do you take it, or am I to carry back word sooner we will arrive at a complete understand- | that you hold money dearer than you do your ing.” | mr We are waiting your pleasure, and have | been for an hour,” bluntly retorted Dan Brown, facing the rascal coolly enough, though the fire in his eyes told of powerful passions raging be- neath that calm exterior, | ‘*As Lintended you should,” and a flash of | devilish hatred filled the rascal’s eyes. ‘For months past you have been posing as heroes, as | little gods on carth! You have made the poor | fools who call themselves honest men, believe | you_ prodigies of bravery, skill, cunning and | sand. You bade them watch while you swept | the vile scum before you as a cyclone clears away underbrush! You told them that when the campaign once begun, the thieves should | know no rest, receive no quarter; that you would keep them too busy in seeking to save their lives to even think of striking back. Among those who jmplicitly believed your boasts, were these ar bow toward the cowboys who were so eagerly watching and listening. ‘* Possibly you believed what you said. You may have counted on making your proud boasts | ing boldly. . good, but for all that they were lies. To show you this, is one of my reasons for making you this call. One man, and he hardly half your size and weight—one of those whom you were to | make break their neck in fleeing from your wrath—comes here and flings that lie back in your teeth! Tells you flatly that he is a better man than the best in all your boasted Royal | Flush!” ‘Ts that all you have to say?” coldly asked Dan Brown, as the little desperado paused to catch his breath after this outburst. ‘* Alone I came to you, and single-handed I can bluff you down. have insulted vou time and again. Ihave brought the flush of shame to your brazen cheeks, I have caused your ser- vants to ry in wonder at thesight of twosuch all tlemen,” with a mocking | own flesh and blood?” “Tf we did think so, you would hardly be in fit condition to either carry or deliver a mes- sage. We would begin our vengeance with ou!” sai That is too diaphanous, old fellow,” laughed the rascal, with a shrug of his shoulders. ‘‘ Aces-and hinted at something of the sort when I proposed to act as go-between, but I soon brushed the cobwebs out of his brain. I told him, as I tell you, that my life was safer in your company than any other place. Elsewhere, accidents might befall me, and no one strain themselves to save my neck. But while you felt that on my safety depended the lives of your dear ones, you would guard my life even more carefully than your own. For, if I don’t return to Aces-and within a certain length of time— Well, I leave you to picture the doom which will certainly overtake your loved ones, and the two fair women in particular.” It was risky work, this—something like pull- ing the tail of a lion while one’s head rests be- tween his jaws; but Johnny-jump-up felt that he held a hand that fully justified him in bluff- “To put it plainly, my meek bloodhound, you've got to trust us just as far as we ask, here is no other lead open to you with the cards distributed as they now are.’ ‘*You are authori to conclude the bar~_ gain, then?” : ‘Well, not exactly.” hesitated Johnny-jump- up. ‘‘I could, of course, and Aces woul firm whatever arrangement I might see fit to make; but I prefer dividing up the responsibili~ _ ; ty a bit.” ‘‘ Then why have you come to us?” ‘‘ Simply to tell you how the game stands, and to let you have a sly peep at our cards,” was the rompt reply. ‘‘To te bay back your missing treasures, while any at- | Eomicbooks. ye . » Fi ¢ a4 5: con= _ you that money will