Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

He 7 i? ae _- * os 2 Major Blister, the Sport of Two Cities. Blister, who ought ter be somewhar about this hash-trap. Whar is he? Walk this way, Si Slinkum; pick yer ears, an’ listen,” A laugh at the clerk’s expense from several men in the room greeted the boy’s remark, and Mr. Slinkum, who was an important-looking of- ficial, with a paste diamond and hair scrupu- lously parted in the middle, turned with a look that threatened to annihilate the messenger, ‘* Here! give me the letter!” he said, snappish- ly, reaching a very white little hand ont for the letter. ‘* Not this eve, my cherub of the paste star!” laughed the boy, drawing back. ‘* My orders ar’ imperative, I am ter deliver the letter in person. Whar will I find Major Blister?” ; ** He isn’t in.” ; **Then Pll wait till he comes.” And the urchin, with all the assurance possi- ble, turned away and dropped into the first empty chair that offered its services. Among those who heard the passage at words between Mr. Slinkum and the boy was a man who was half-hidden by the smoke of a very fragrant cigar. He occupied a chair not far from the clerk’s desk, and the moment that Major Blister’s name was mentioned he started just the slightest. This person was about twenty-five years old. | He was well dressed in dark clothes which had not seen much service, tanned and his face was leathery in color, well- shaped, and more than passably good-looking. His only adornment was a dark-brown mus- tache which dropped over the mouth, quite hid- ing it, and further up were two keen gray eyes which at the time had a somewhat animated ex- pression. If he had not started slightly, nothing would have indicated that the mere mention of Major Blister’s name was anything to him. For sev- eral minutes afterward he watched like a hawk the boy who was drumming on the floor with his feet, while he waited for the man for whom he had a letter. After awhile the eyes of the man and the boy met as if by accident, and the latter moved un- easily in his chair, Every few moments he would look up and each time he caught the gray eyes regarding him like the serpent charms the bird. : ‘That man’s got me!” muttered the boy. “TI wonder who the old Harry he is? I don’t think I could get out of this chair if I wanted ter. Ther next time I fetch a letter ter this appetite factory for Major Blister or anybody else, I want ter be kicked out 0’ Custer!” Time and again the boy turned his eyes from the man with the mesmeriec look; but some po- tent influence always drew him back and at ‘ Jast he left the chair. ‘‘I'm goin’ ter come back again,” he said. “You'll look out ther next time, Quartz Kid. Tll bet Custer ag’in’ Flush Bar thet thar’s not another pair ov eyes like them in ther world.” The boy started toward the door as he mut- tered the last words, but he happened to glance over his shoulder at the man with the gray eyes. Happened to, did we say? Rather let us remark that some terrible power seemed to draw him to the bronzed stranger, for the eyes were still fixed upon him, and under their influ- ence he stood still, A moment later he was moving toward the stranger with his eyes set‘and his lips quivering as if he was cold. The man with the powerful eyes made a slight gesture toward an empty chair which stood_be- | side the one he occupied, and little Quartz Kid dropped into it. “You have a letter for Major Blister?” said the man in low tones. ‘Yes, sir.” ** Give it to me.” Quartz Kid drew back, but not with much force. He had about completely surrendered. ‘* Yes, give the letter to me,” continued the man, “Will—you—give it—to—him ?” stammered bhe boy. ‘* Perhaps,” and a hand howth ob forth for the letter which the eyes had already located. The boy put one hand beneath his short coat and drew forth a small envelope which was taken from his grasp before he could draw it beyond the stranger's reach, ‘You can go now.” Quartz Kid let slip a pent-up breath and start- ed toward the door again. His limbs seemed weak and his face was very e. “Who is that wizard?’ he gasped, when he reached the sidewalk and halted because he seemed too weak to proceed further without rest. ; ‘¢ What's that, sir?” was asked over him. Quartz Kid looked up and saw a handsome man whom he remembered to have seen before but where he could not tell. “‘ Nothin’, nothin’ at alJ,” he said. You look sick, boy.” “‘T don’t feel like a lark, that’s a fact,” grin- pes Ris lad and the questioner passed into the 10tel. The next moment a voice which Quartz Kid His hands were well | | ‘*‘ Hello, major! There was a boy here a min- | ute ago with a message for you!” The boy started off with a light cry. | “Jt is Major Blister! He must not know that I gave his letter to another man.” | ‘* Where is the boy?” he heard asked. ‘‘ Just went out; must be somewhere in front of the house.” | The man who had just passed into the hotel turned back toward the entrance, Quartz Kid heard his tread, ‘‘ Hello! here he is!” ealled out a voice be- hind the boy. ‘This must be the chap.” And ‘the next moment a hand descended npon the urchin’s shoulder like a trip-hammer, ‘* Yes, that’s the messenger,” said the clerk as Major Blister brought the boy back into the house with triumph in his very dark eyes, ‘* Where’s my letter, boy?” ' Quartz Kid looked toward the chair where the gray-eyed man had sat, but it was empty. ‘*Hand it over,” the Major went on, “I’m Major Max Blister, as the clerk will certify. You have a letter forme. Where is it?” ** P’ve—l’ve lost it!” ‘* The deuce you have!” roared the Major who | was a giant in dark clothes which did not fit him very well, ‘‘ By heavens! Ill shake your bones into a heap if you don’t produce that | letter within two minutes.” ‘* Shake ’im up, Major,” urged the clerk, who remembered the laugh Quartz Kid had secured 'at his expense. ‘He wouldn’t put the letter in 'my hands for safe-keeping. He ought to be | jerked bald-headed for his independence.” | Meanwhile, the boy had felt the Blister hand tighten on his shoulder, and, eager to get away by some means, he resolved to tell the truth. | “Twas robbed—by the holy stars I was!” he | said. ‘‘No gammon about this story, Major. | I was robbed of that letter in this room.” | That's all fudge,” laughed Si Slinkum. | ‘* By Jericho! that’s a reflection on the house—” ‘Let me attend to this case,” interrupted Major Blister, giving the flushed and indig- nant clerk a look that instantly silenced him. ‘* Come up to my room, boy. We'll adjust mat- | ters there.” Quartz Kid was willing to do this, He be- lieved that a private interview would tend to mollify the irate Major, and did not object to | being taken up-stairs two steps at a time to the big man’s apartments. * Now,” said the Major in a softer tone when he had shut the door behind them, ‘‘ now, my boy tell me about that robbery.” uartz Kid did not hesitate, but gave a suc- cinct account of the strange theft and accurate- ly described the man who had deprived him of the letter. He was surprised to find Major Blister listen so coolly to the narration. He expected to hear him interrupt it with fierce expletives and rough upbraidings, but the big man Nid not say a word until the boy had completely finished. ‘““Was the man below when we came up here?’ asked the Major calmly. ** No, sir; his chair was empty.” “Why, five minutes could not have elapsed from the time you left him till I took you back into the hotel.” : ‘‘ Not three minutes,” declared Quartz Kid. ** Who gave you that letter?” “] don’t know. I didn’t see the party. It ; was slipped into my hand in a crowd alon with a gold dollar, and a voice said: ‘‘ Deliver that in person to Major Blister at the Dolores House. That was all, sir.” ‘Would you know the man who took the let- ter?’ asked Major Blister after a brief pause. ‘““T would. I’ve got him photographed on my mind, I’d know him among a thousand, by his devilish eyes.” — ; A faint smile came to the Major's lips but did not remain long. ‘‘ Don’t be too certain of that,” he warned. “Try me!” exclaimed Quartz Kid eagerly. ‘‘May be you will be tried some day,” was the response, : I ‘Pm your huckleberry, Major Blister! Ive carried a many mysterious messages in Custer City, an’ I’ve got a reputation for doin’ good work in that line, but I never thought thar war thet kind o’ eyes in existence, I don’t allow anybody to rob me with impunity. I want ter get even with that Satan-orbed galoot, Give me a chance! You board here?” fs Yee. pee et ere ht Bin dkna y ‘I stay about the appy grim, ou know whar that is?” bers Blister nodded. ‘Wal, eae thar for Quartz Kid when you want me. Ef I don’t happen ter be in, Boodle Dan will put you on my track.” * Allright, Not a word about this transac- tion,” enjoined the man. ‘You intend to find who took that letter?” Quartz Kid saw the eyes of the speaker flash. | ‘Find him?’ hissed Major Blister. ‘“* We'll find him if we have to rake the wild West with a fine-toothed comb!” The boy did not notice at the moment that the Major used the pronoun ‘‘ we” when he spoke, but he was soon to have the fact brought to his recollection by a series of terrible events, ee ——____—— easily recognized rung cut: Five minutes later Quartz Kid found himself x Ti! 96 et Oe ian Bs Gal ced “GU Lee ee on the street again, and Major Blister leaned over the counter and said to Mx, Slinkum: ‘Don’t mention this little incident. The let- ter was worthless, and there was no robbery to speak of.” Then he walked out with a fresh cigar bitten half through, and suddenly encountered a man who recognized him at a glance. The two join- ed and walked along the street for some time without speaking. ‘The Old Harry has happened, Perry,” said the Major, at last in low voice. ‘ A letter from some one, a mysterious an’ important letter, in- tended for me has been stolen.” The man called Perry looked up with a start. ** Who took it?” ‘A man with gray eyes and a dark-brown mustache.” There was no reply, and Major Blister looked down ia silence at the person walking at his side. ‘Why don’t you <?” he suddenly exclaim- ed. ‘‘In Satan’s name, what are you thinking about?” “ The man from New York !” Major Blister gave a slight start and caught Poker Perry’s arm. ‘“* Has he gray eyes?’ he asked. “T cannot say. I never saw him in daylight, you know. We fixed him after dark.” ** Look here, Perry,” and Major Blister’s eyes seemed to look his companion through, “ Are ou certain you fixec Fred Ferret in New ork?” ‘‘’d bet a million on it!” was the reply. CHAPTER II. THE DAGGER’S WORK. Ir was a fact well known in Custer City that Poker Perry had no million to stake on any ven- ture, and his offer to bet that amount must be taken as an exhibition of confidence. He spoke with the manner of a man who was thoroughly convinced that he had performed a certain act to the letter of bis orders, but it was evident from Major Blister’s looks that he, the Major, still had some doubts. ‘‘ Whar is this gray-eyed letter-thief?’ asked Poker Perry breaking the embarrassing silence that followed*his last sentence. *‘ Somewhar in Custer,” was the reply. ‘Who sent the letter?’ **T don’t know.” The Major’s companion shrugged his shoulders but said nothing. ‘Go down town and hang about the Dolores,” continued Blister. ‘* You will know themen on sight by his strange gray ares, If I run across the boy, Quartz Kid, I will send Lim down to keep you com pany. Do you know the boy?” <a Gartatity. Whar will you be?” “At the old quarters. The letter-thief may come back.” “ Hell wish he had not if he cces,” srarled Poker Perry through clinched teeth. “ That man is not Fred Ferret the New York night Spy. I know thet for no man cen escape from the kind o’ trap we made for him in tl at city.” “Go,” said the Major imperatively. ‘I’ve taken your word for the Broadway sycrt’s pre- sent whereabouts. Watch for the grey-eyed man at the Dolores, home, and then report.” * All right.” The two men separated, Poker Perry turned back toward the hotel, and Majcr Flister kept on. ‘* Whether Fred Ferret is ccad crrot, scme unwelcome hound has ccre to Custer,” the Major said to himself. ‘The men who tock that letter from Quartz Kid is tric fcr no gecd. He probe. against us; but it will prove a ¢cceth geme for him if he ventures to play it tlircvgb. Ican play as well in the Black Pills es in New Ycrk, or anywhere else. Woe to the ren cr men whe fights Max Blister cn bis own gicurd!” At a certain spot several squeres frcm the place of separation Majcr Blister entered & saloon, but took ncthing at the ter. _The place was not thronged at 1] at particular time, and nobody seemed to notice ite big nen who passed apse! on and disappeared beyond a door at the end of the ccunter. Major Blister passed down a derk ball at the end of which he found a stairway which in turn he ascended to a small reom. This epartment, had no carpet on the flcor, ard its cnly orma~ ment was an oval mirror in a gilt frame W 7) above a well-used washstand. . ax Blister took care to shut the door behind him, and as night had fallen upon Custer ates he lit a small lamp and doffed his coat, whi he threw on the bed. Then he went to the foot of the couch ane tapped three times on the floor, and seve 9 minutes later a cadaverous fellow with @ wax mustache entered the room with @ bottle and two glasses on a well-worn tray. Mat “Sit down there, Gideon,” ordered the aor, motioning his waiter to the only unceccupl chair in the room. a The fellow ambled to the seat end smacked his lips as Blister filled one of the ¢lasses. ‘“T say, Gideon,” he went on, ‘‘ what is your opinion of the Mulberry street traps in ‘New York?” The waiter started as If you find him dcg bim thinks he is stacking tke cards’ if a bomb had been > 4 * «+ (E com Ks: 3 = ae ta + * ™) " S = ~ inne ‘ + ,