Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 375 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 speak without being overheard we c:n have more to say.” ‘*That’s about the length and breadth of it. We're not all turned in here for nothing, though maybe I haven't much to do with the racket. There wasn’t a living man that could have guessed, half an hour ago, that I would be here. If you two ladies compare | notes maybe you could get a glimpse through the millstone.’ ‘Not so certain of that am I—but who are you?” : A sudden thought appeared to strike Mrs, Ormsby. She moved the little taper closer to the face of Gentle Joe. Holding the light so that one could obtain a better view of his countenance she studied long and earnestly the features that never changed under the fixed, inquiring gaze. When the little lady stepped backward with something like a sigh, he only uttered his customary laugh, and then was silent. ‘*Speak,” she said. ‘‘ There is something about you that arouses an old-time memory. What is it? Whoare you? There is more than chance in this meeting.” ‘*Don't loose the strings of your heart, then, and slop over. There is a bare possi- bility that you may be mistaken and I don’t want any heartrending errors. Everybody lately seems to know me for somebody else; who do you think that | am?” “T don’t think, | know. Ormsby, and the renegade husband of mine that I have come all this distance, and put myself in all this danger, tosee. Iwas right. hoever planned this meeting knew what it was for. Now explain; and tell me what this girl has to do with it. Am I ta be her friend or her enemy? A word from you will decide that.” ** Several words won't do it if I have to speak them; and as to my being a man by the name of Caton Ormsby, | guess you are away off. I wouldn’t care to deny your soft im- peachment if it was only true, but I am sorry to say that there must be a mistake somewhere, This is the second time that neme has been plastered down on me to- owen’ i claimed your unworthy servant as her hus- Roy al George, the You are Caton | viivht, and you are the second lady that has | | band. I've got to take a stand in the matter h somewhere, or get back to Utah. If you have any other outlet to suggest ’'m waiting | ~ to hear it.” ; 4 The two paid no more attention to Bess jn Stanley than if she was a corpse. though she icaned forward, listening to their conversa- tion with an intense eagerness. Now she suddenly laid her hand upon Lipscombe’s shoulder, and stared even more earnestly in- ~~ to his face than Mrs. Ormsby had done. is “The truth! The truth! More depends | sleepin’; on it than youdream. Are you indeed Caton ~ Ormsby?” ~ i ‘Another spouse in the immediate future? ‘Really they seem to grow on every bush, and | Vll swear that I own none of them and don’t intend to let any of them own'me. Now, who in thunder is this Caton Ormsby? If he’s the right sort of man | appreciate the compliment and may er out a wife or two and settle down. I enough to repudiate the whole thing and stick to my own name.” _ ‘Then you deny thename? This woman a oo across the floor, the light was again let down from above, and the room fairly well illum- inated. The only one who seemed totally uncon- cerned was Gentle Joe, and, as every one about Blazer’s knew, an earthquake wouldn’t phaze him. ‘Really, madame, this is an unexpected pleasure. Allow me. You will find them all very pleasant people when you once get acquainted with them. Mrs. Ormsby, Mrs. Ormsby. This is Miss Bess Stanley, and this—ah! my eyes don’t deceive me, though I had overlooked him till this minute —this is a Hurley, though | can’t just recall his front name. Some relative of the Hurley who was so anxious to let a gleam of day- light through yours truly this evening. Shake, pard. We're in a heap of trouble, and with all this calico hanging to our coat- tails: the chances to get out don’t look as brilliant as one could wish, If they haven't corraled us all here to cut our throats there has been a heap of time wasted that might have been put to a better use. No one speaks, eh? Well, all right. Let's hold Quaker meeting and maybe the fellow out- side will say somethmg. Anything for a lead. Then (ll know whether to trump or follow suit.” ‘‘ The fellow outside” was evidently listen- ing, and he spoke up briskly: ‘‘You’re ther boy fur a_ suggestion. Couldn't ’a’ hit it better fur a lead ef yer hed been a-lookin’ over my shoulder inter my hand. Some whar er other thar’s a mill- yun, more er less, ez are a-hangin on ther turn. I’ve got ’em all cooped ez hez a share in ther plunder, an’ when | kin pick out ther one ez will divvy up ther squarest with Royal George, l’l] know what ter do with ther balance. Z'hey won't hev no use fur fortunes, ner a share in ther frolic; but I'll be- speak ther handsomest kinder tombstones fur them ez doesn’t survive. Fix it all up atwixt yerselves an’ when ye’s’ ready ter put in yer proposals iemme know. | ain’t a-boardin’ yer all fer nothin’; bet yer sweet lives I ain’t.” ‘All right, George, if you think so,” re- sponded the cheerful voice of Gentle Joe ‘Pity you've made one little mistake. It always makes me sad when a man flips up on four aces, and I weep when he loses money over a sure thing.” ‘‘ An’ what’s ther trouble now, Gentle Joe. Ain’t I got ther dead wood on the gang?” ‘“The wood is dead enough, my friend; but the trouble is, you have the wrong Mr. Ormsby. If you leave him out of the box the town is going to be dead against you, whichever way you play it.” “Don’t worry about that, Ef there’s ary more Ormsbys a-goin’ we'll hev ’em all ‘scooped in by this time ter-morrer night; an’ then we'll be ready ter tork bizzness. Good- night. Ye’r’ allin a safe place; an’ ef yer know what’s good fer yer you'll do lots ov an’ durned leetle chinnin’; you folks can’t agree nohow. Ef you should need anything durin ther night jest ring ther bell -an’ you’ll hev some one round.” he’s not I'll know | . is nothing to you? You layno claim to any- thing that is Caton Ormsby’s?” “_ ‘“Oome, little woman, don’t crowd me too far. How do | know what I want to claim? | Let’s all sit down and tell our stories, then swe can tell better who we are and what we want to do. What do you say; and we'll : throw around to see who is to begin.” ; iy - ** Jest wait a minute, will yer, till ther rest ov ther menagery hes arrove,” said a voice at ‘he door, which Mrs. Ormsby had no difii- - guilty in recognizing as belonging to Royal - George. ‘‘ Don’t show any sign ov nonsense ‘gn thar er we'll hev ter shoot. Hyar’s ther -_- yea, genooine Mrs. Ormsby; an’ ef yer goin’ ter hev ary discourse take her inter ther ring. ‘When yer git through you kin all take me inter yer confidences an’ tell me how yer made out. Look out, she’s a-comin’,”’ Then the door was swung open and an- other woman was ushered into the room, “7 ay | CHAPTER XX. Y TWO MEN THAT PLAYED THE LIMIT. As the other Mrs. Ormsby, propelled by a - ghove that was vy no means gentle, staggered ~~ 2 as ‘* Pleasant,” remarked Lipscombe, as they heard the noise of retreating footsteps. ‘‘ The infernal scoundrel means every word he says, or I don’t know beans when the bag’s untied. His voice somehow sounds familiar enough, but blamed if I can place him Wish I could see his face.” ‘‘7 know him; and that only too well,” ground out the younger Mrs, Ormsby. ‘‘When it will do you any good I can tell rou all of his life. It was his treachery that rought me here. It is too monstrous to be- lieve that he intends me apy evil; yet what else can I think? Nevertheless, his advice is all the better, since he did not intend us to take it. JZshall go to sleep. To-morrow he will have something to say, and we will lis- ten to it. A thousand in hand is worth a hundred thousand in the bush. If you have any coin to jingle for him it will not be hard to buy your freedom, all. Then we can fight this matter to the bitter end.” Without another word.she drew off the heavy coat she wore, and wrapping it up to make a pillow she threw herself gracefully down in one corner, not even youchsafing a good-night to Hurley, who cast a singular glance at her as she drew away. The other two women, who had been lis- tening, but saying nothing, followed her ‘ex- i 2 eee ee Three in One. ample, leaving the two men alone, and fac- ing each other. ‘*Come,” said Lipscombe. ‘‘ The night is young, and there's nothing else to do, what say you to a little game? These are the most accommodating road-agents you ever saw. They’ve left me all my plunder. If you're in the same fix we may have an interesting time after all.” “Correct you are. If you have such a thing as a deck about you, there’s a chance for fun yet. I'm tolerably well heeled, as far as coin goes; and as I guess they’ll gobble it all, sooner or later, we may as well have some fun while it lasts. Everything looks as though it had just been laid out for us,” ‘Cards! That’s what I travel on, T’m the boss flipper of the Rockies, and can scoop your wealth about as fast as you can count it out. Here goes! We'llthrow around for deal, and I'll play you for anything less than a million.” All the prisoners took the situation with remarkable coolness; these two with scme- thing that was more than wonderful. With the women out of the way, everything was nicely set for a struggle at cards, and at that each of them was a chief. Almost directly under the light was a table, on each side of which was a rude seat, The two dropped down, and Gentle Joe pro- duced a pack of cards which was but little the worse for usage. ‘‘What’s it to be? Name your variety,” he exclaimed, when, after a skillful prelim- inary shuffle, he tossed the cards over to be cut. > ‘*One game is the same as another to me. I profess to be an expert from the East. If you have any preference for seven-up or single-handed eucher, you will discover that I am there or in that neighborhood. If you want it to be old business from the first, draw-poker is good enough for any man, my- self included,” ‘So I should suppose. Well, there’s your card and here’s mine; who has it?” ‘*You have it and you may keep it; I wouldn’t give three cents for luck that comes so early in the game. Ah! they are begin- ning to run my way already. I’ve neither ace, face nor trump; give me one.” The cards had been dealt for ‘‘ Old Sledge,” a game that once was a good deal more popu- lar than it now seems to be. Gentle Joe looked over his hand in a careful sort of way. ‘‘We haven’t put up the stakes yet. Be- fore we go any further it might be as well to know what we’re playing for. <A fellow is a little more carcful if there’s enough up to make it interesting. Could you name the exact amount you think you would be justi- fied in risking on the chances of this game?” **Oh, that’s easy arranged. I always play the limit. One way or the other that fin- ishes it out the sooner, and saves a heap of wear and tear of nerves. If you say so | guess I'l] just put up all I’ve got. Then we can lie down to our slumbers. From the looks of things I should judge that’s your plan. <A heap better thantosay: Hands up, and go for what you find.” “So you think Im in with the gang? You never were more mistaken in your life; and if you know what's gocd for you, play for all that’s in the cards. There’s a chance to make big money. There's my little boodle. Is it enough to cover your pile? I hate to draw in my horns for any man that walks on shce-leather.” He threw a well-filled wallet on the table, and the other at once drew out his own pocketbook, and began counting its con- tents. ‘One thousand three hundred and forty; with a few odd, which we don’t intend to bother about. How coes that strike you?” ‘‘Couldn’t have hit it nearer if we had laid it all out before hand. There it is, and afew dollars more. Take your point and we'll see what there is in your hand.” And so the singularly plucky game began. The gift was not a bad investment, since Gentle Joe made the whole four points possi- ble, and scored up a noble start toward win- ning the same. Then enry Hurley dealt, and Gentle Joe looked over his cards with a smile. os gan I'll ask for one. I don’t believe it would suit you to run ‘em any more than it would me. We'll risk it anyhow.” -