Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 375 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

= « by i | - 7 LZ ’ you. 24. ‘*He war a useful man but he’d his leetle failin’s. Ef hec’u’d ’a’ got his fingers on you, salt wouldn't hev saved you Look after ther girl a minnit while we see after Sam. There’s big money in him, ef he'll split.” ‘*And Gentle Joe—” ‘*Gentle nothin’. He can’t fool one side ov me. I bein ter see it all now.” As they talked they walked, and a little distance away they came upon a man groan- ing. ‘* Curses on him; it was he that set up the job on me last night, and when he failed | came back on me again. He saw me, he knew me, and he held as straight as he knew how. Listen, and I'll tell the whole truth.” CHAPTER XXIX. A BIG OFFER. GENTLE Jor followed the dark-eyed man without hesitation. and gave no sign that the call was either unwelcome or unexpected. The man Gid not belong to Blazer’s Bar, and though he was evidently acquainted with the events that had transpired at the Jungle, it did not seem likely that his intentions had any connection withthem. It was more than possible that he was an emissary from Royal George. Any other man would have at least ex- hibited some signs of caution; Lipscombe did not, though his hands hung somewhat con- veniently to the pockets of his sack coat. Twenty yards from the Jungle the man stopped and wheeled about, ‘‘When I get through maybe you'll think I’m a friend, and maybe you won't. I’m nat going to surprise you very much, and I'll say what I’ve got to say in short order, and then give you afew moments to think over it.” ‘Propel, my venerated friend, You've in- sisted on my taking a hand in your game, and I mean to make it pay or know the reason why. Whoare you talking for, and what is it?” ‘*Time enough for the first when we see how we hold together. For the second, this: You are a New Yorker, and your true name is Caton Ormsby. You are the real heir toa fortune that is not less than a million, In addition, you are wanted on the other side of the mountains to answer for the supposed murder of one Major Kavanaugh. I[f you lose your life to get the fortune, I can’t say but what you miss both. Do you want to come to terms by which you can have and save both?” **A good deal of Greek in that chinning; ain't there, old man? If there is any risk about it dont say another word. I'd sooner be Gentle Joe, without a cent in my pocket but a boss in Blazer’s Bar, than the owner of four or five millions and in the Tombs. Let it go to Mrs. Ormsby. I don’t want it.” ‘* We've thought of that game, my friend; but if we play it where will you be when the —ecurt’in comes down?” ‘*Me? Vl be supposed to be dead. Isn't _ that satisfactory?” ‘It would be in some respects, but we need you, and to get your help are willing totreat yousquarely. Suppose, for instance, we could prove that you didnt kill Kay- anaugh at all, that he is still living; how would that suit you? You'd like to go back and revel in the old ancestral halls, eh?” ‘‘ It would be a regular lark, that’s a fact,” admitted Gentle Joe. ‘*And you wouldn’t want to be bothered with a Mrs. Ormsby either, would you?” ‘** Not any in mine.” ‘‘And if you could be assured that you wouldn’t be, and that all the rest could be managed, would you be willing to say, halves.” ‘‘“Why, you're the most generous rascal I ever heard of. Such benefactors are scarce, I tell you. But it looks to me as if such confidence in human nature don’t be- long to this world. Suppose, when I got hold of the Ormsby estates, I refused to ante up, what you going to do about that?” ay We're not going to suppose any such thing. Before we move a step we’re going to take your word to do the fair ee You are a tough citizen, Joseph, but I know enough about you to be sure that when you give your word to a pard you won't £0 back on it. Give me your hand and we'll trust ” | ! | | | | Royal George, the Three in One. ‘“‘And if I should shake hands with you; what is the first thing you would want me to do?” ‘*Get out of here before to-morrow morn- ing.” * Thanks, for one thirg. ‘* And that?” ‘‘There’s another party in the bush that insists upon my staying. And, in fact, I couldn’t well go back on them. If I did they would be mighty apt to do a little kill- ing on their own account. So you see, take I wouldn’t object if it wasn’t »» it all around, I don’t think we can trade.”’ ‘* Will you talk toa man that thinks maybe there’s been a big mistake somewhere, and if he is once certain that there has, can set you right?” ‘*Talk? You bet! I’m just ready to howl to anybody that can straighten up this infer- nal mix. But you and I can’t trade on any such basis as that you’ve just been talking about. I don’t care a continental for the Ormsby fortune, and I do, a great deal, for something else. It’s hardly worth while for you to come back.”’ ‘“T’m not so sure of that. Il talk to the other party and see what he has to say. We'll give you a chance, and if we find you can’t take it, that settles it—and some- thing more. Will you run the risks?” ** Anything to get at the bed rock of knowl- edge. Bring on your party, and I'll beready to talk—or shoot.”’ ‘*You may have a chance to do both. Keep shady for a few minutes; I think there are wolves abroad.” Rather to Lipscombe’s surprise, the stran- ger turned away without further effort to come to terms, and he watched him vanish- ish in the darkness with a puzzled air. While he stood there ina thoughtful mood, a hand was laid upon his arm, and turning, he distinguished the outlines of a familiar firure—that of Ragged Rufe. The vagabond had been out of sight at the time, and was evidently ignorant of the little affair at the Jungle—at least, he did not refer to it; but he had evidently been listening to the conversation with the stran- er. ‘*Took sand ter throw a chance like thet overboard. Why don’t somebuddy talk like thet ter me, eh? Betcher sweet life I ain’t a-sayin’ no. Sha’n't I call him back? It ain’t too late, an’ I'll go yer halves on ther resk fur my sheer ov ther profits.” There were at times glimmerings of know]- edge in the eyes of the vagabond that made Gentle Joe uncertain when to decide that he was guessing, when lying, and when talking at large. Sometimes he trusted him; again he wished he was miles away; but all the time he felt like using him for what he might turn out to be worth. ‘‘Rufus, you are entirely too inquisitive for your own good. Some day you will be so fresh that they will take you in and. salt you down to keep. I’m not asking any questions of you, am 1? Ill tell you more. f I didn’t think that somehow you might be more than you seem, I'd do the little job myself,”’ ‘*Good ernuf, pard. I don’t take no of- fense; but ef yer would expound why yer go back on sich a chance, mebbe I’d know what ter do ef I ever git in, sich a box me- self.” ' Gentle Joe looked at him coldly. ‘It can’t hurt anybedy to know, and I don’t mind telling you, whether you_ are square or cross. Blood in self-defense don’t worry me as much as it did a few years ago when I was young and innocent; but the blood of a woman is more than I care to shed for all the money that Hugh Ormsby ever counted. And if I wrung into this game with the aforesaid stranger—and I can guess pretty well who he comes from—there would be two dead women, if not three be- fore the the frolic ended.” ‘* An’ yer think it’s him an’ his crowd ez hes ther daisies in ther box?” **T don’t think so, I know it.” “ An’ you ain’t a-helpin’ them out? I didn’t think it ov yer Joe; I didn’t think it ov yer.” ‘‘Don’t be previous. Perhaps Gentle Joe is not as quiet as he looks. Until they have the balls all set, andthe game made, the wo- men are safe. By that time maybe I'll be doing something!” , 24, AES > ia Stas ee” *.- -in ther ring. - ar ‘“Maybe you’d like ter be doin’ suthin’ now?” ‘‘ Just as much as is safe, Rufus, just as much as is safe. Do you think it would do well enough for the present if | gave Singu- lar Sam a hint of the racket? He can’t help the one without taking along all three, and the way things have been running | don’t suppose he would lIct Bess Stanley stick, whether she’s anything particularly near to him or not.” ‘* Looks are mighty deceivin’, pard; an’ I wouldn't bet a pickayune on bein’ able ter name ther keard when Sing’ler Sam are a flippin’ ov ’em. Ter my noshun he’d give about three cents an’ a half ter ther man ez sent her up ther flume; an’ if he couldn’t let ther contract, an’ hed a good chance, he wouldn’t mind a-takin’ ov it hisself.”’ ‘‘Heavens! Do you think so? For once in my life I may have done a foolish thing. If I have, a better man than Iam might have been deceived.” “Ef you've give Sing’ler Sam ary p’'int yer ondoubtedly hev; fer jest ez true ez preachin’ he’s standin’ in with ther gang ez are workin’ roots. I’m a stranger, so ter speak in this hyar burg, an’ you’re ‘bout the only man ez would tech me with a forty foot pole; but I kin see what’s goin’ on ez well ez ther next, an’ I tell yer ther biz he’s kerryin’ on are jest tov funny fur ary use.”’ ‘* And he means harm to the girl?” ‘Jest those same. Ef he did tell her what he knowd ’bout ther death ov Hi Stanley IL: don’t guess she’d hev ter travel fur ter finish ther job what she’s workin’ on. Jest what he’s after are what I’d give suthin’ ter find out; but Pll sw’ar it’s foul play anyhow.” “Then come with me. Maybe you'll learn before the night is over.”’ ‘‘Tfush! Thar’s suthin’ in ther wind now. Lay low while I find out.” And with the hasty warning Ragged Rufe darted away. mtoe fie CHAPTER XXX. OLD PARDS MEET. Ir took sharp ears to hear the sound that had attracted Ragged Rufe’s attention, and a keen wit to imagine anything in it that was suspicious Lipscombe rather believed that the man of rags was simply trying to cover his own disappearance; and though lately feeling inclined to confide more or less in that worthy he was justat this moment more suspicious than ever before of the good faith of Rufus Primrose. Nevertheless it was well to be cautious anyhow; and so, when he followed, it was as noiselessly as though his life depended on it. When he had gone about a dozen yard., though Ragged Rufe was nowhere to :¢ seen, faith in his integrity was pretty well re-established. Some one else was in sight. Two men were near, and were talking in a low tone. “Things have gone far enough and to- night there will be a big explosion. If cer- tain parties get tuken up it will be all the better for me, and money in pocket for the boys. But look sharp that the wrong man don’t get laid out.” “Pick out just who yer want ter drop, an’ to-morrer yer kin jingle ther bell fur ther fun’rals. Whar’s Sam? Tho’t he war run- nin’ ther inside work. Ef he’d bin ‘round thar wouldn’t bin so much ov a botch ov it las’ night.” ‘Hush, not so loud. Sam has been out on the war-path.and I’m mighty much afraid he’ll turn up among the missing, It’s too late to look for him to-night. We must finish the work in Blazer’s. To-morrow we'll have the whole town behind us and get things squared down to date. I have all the points and the gang can’t get away without dropping their plunder. If they try it we'll take no prisoners. They may know too much, and I owe them a big one for chipping into my game. They hold big cards now, but wait till I bring up the cold deck, and we'll see who gathers in the sequins. Curse him, who is he—and what coes he want with her?” “After ther news Sam brung yer ’tain’t hard ter guess. He’s workin’ ther same racket on ther stren’th ov our repertashun; an’ he wants her cause he thinks ther’s coin in it. He ain’t no man’s fool, from ther way he starts out, an’ he’ll take a shy at all thet’s Ef thar ain’t suthin’ done soon Pee of) miGbooks eee ee = +