Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 375 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

/ ¢ other living men could know. 4 ———— -_—_——- + EE — . ——EEEEEEEEEEEEss ——- =. thar’s goin’ ter be trouble. live on ther saine pasture. bound ter starve,” ‘* rom on you fellows last night I should say the chances were that death was going to come a little faster than by starvation. Be-on your guard. They know more than I thought any Two gangs can't One OV em are hardly come into the Bar, and there [ will have work for half a dozen to-night. You'll be apt to see that cross-eyed man back before morning, for him all day without finding hair, hide or hoof; but he told Sam he was coming, and the way they got the bulge | But they will | I’ve had a couple of men looking | he’s one of the kind that always keeps his | word—when no one wants him to. The cursed boteh that let him run loose last night may be made again, and sooner or later he'll give trouble, While the job is being done that ragged rough that trains at the heels of Gentle Joe must go along with him.” “Allright, but ther don’t want ter be no f,olin’. ‘That cross-eyed gerloot are a man oy sand, anyhow, an’ thar’s a strong under- kerrent settin’ in ag’in’ tacklin’ bim. didnt make much show hyar; but they’ve | lately heared from him up above. Ef it’s ther same man—” He | | The other broke in with sudden sternness, | his voice unconsciously rising a little so that the hot tones came quite distinctly to the ears of Gentle Joe. * And it 7 the same man. They can dis- guise themselves as they choose; [know them all well enough to shoot at a venture. Rag- ged Rufe is of the same gang. I have made up my mind, Pass it around. thing else go, and clean up here,” ‘An’ how about Gentle Joe? be tuk in when ther horn plows?” ‘Let Gentle Joe be. There's something aout him—I may need him. Strange. Never mind, though, Afterthe warning he got last night he will be apt to sing small for a little, und by that*time I may be able to see my way better. But the cross-eyed man—shoot him on sight,” ‘* You bet I will,” muttered Sam, who had thoughts of his own that tallied exactly with those of the other in their drift, if they differ- cd in motive, “The cross-eyed man stands a mighty poor show,” thought Lipscombe, listening to this conversation, the most of which came quite cistinetly to his ears; ‘‘ but what in the name of vengeance do they want to save me up for, and who the thunder is my friend in the a en ae ee of the light, and any one that had ever seen it before shou!d have had no trouble in recog- nizing it, Mordaunt Mortimer «hesitated, neverthe- less. His hands went into his pockets in- stead of into those of the bummer, and he stared steadily into the blinking eyes that were trying vainly to peer into his. “‘T rather think you are mistaken, sir. At least, you have the advantage of me. I do not remember your face; and I am not weeping over the fact. Stand aside. I am a stranger in the place and have no time for any practical jokes, if that is what you want to put up on me.” ‘‘Joke! Bless my soul, Rufus Primrose ain’t set up a joke on an old pard sence Hec- tor wara pup, Yer don’t mean ter say yer hev clean furgot yer old side pard, who roamed through ther shady bowers ov Wales —which ther same it war New South—with yer, an’ drifted clean out ter sea ther time we skipped frum Sidvey. Why, ole man, whar are yer eyes, an’ yer nose? I w’u’d’a’ knowed yer a mile.” ‘Rufus Primrose! Ah, it seems to me I remember a man of that name, but where I met him is not so certain, except that it could not have been at the antipodes, since _ [never was there. Probably you have mixed me up with some reminiscences of your last escape from a penal settlement. We won't | Shake, but I have no objection to hearing | | i ' Are he ter man jest wanted ter wring in. | i | | | what you have to say for yourself. It’s a drink first, last, and all the time, I sup- pose.” ‘* Now yer hit me about whar I gin’rally Let every- | live, though ez fur ther present I ain’t eg- Yer needn’t think ther ole ‘Pon me soul, when I| see’d yer it jest made me think ov ole times, an’ [ felt good all over. What brung yer ter Blazer’s? It's a mighty hard place, an’ [ tell yer it’s jest ez well ter hev a friend ez knows allther ropes by name. But freeze onter ther ev’nin’ Primrose an’ he'll take yer through all right.” ‘Thanks for the generous offer, but I fancy 1 am able to look after my own in- terest in most places, and if my hand don’t hold out ’'ve picked up a man pretty much of your kidney already. Between us we ought to be able to do the Bar. Still, I never refuse assistance when I need it. Per- haps you can be of a little present use. Do poe happen to know where I would be most ikely to stumble across a man by the name of—ah, Lipscombe is his one handle, though zactly suff’rin’. big hat? I must be getting old and blind, or | I understand he is more generally known ‘cd drop to him, for I swear I know him. | here under the name of Gentile Joe? I have Ah! that conference is at an end, There’s | been looking somebody coming in the distance, and they Asip like jack rabbits. the wood.” ll trail’em if it’s in | that it is more than se for him, but they tell me he had some sort of a difficulty last night, and he has skipped the town. may travel a thou- Just my luck. le started cautiously to follow the two sand miles and then find my man has skipped men, who had turned around the nearest the day before.” building; but he could not help but give one vlance back over his shoulder. In that brief time he caught sight of two other men coming down the street, and Rag- ved Rufe slouching forward to meet them. And just then some one touched Gentle Joe on the shoulder. The man of rags started wp suddenly from the ground, where he had been crouching; and, onl hesitating long enough to see that Gentle Joe was off on the trail, turned his attention to the new-comers—though it was possible that they were only a pair of Bar- ites, roaming from one galoon to another. He sauntered toward them with the easy swagger that characterized him, and timed 18 progress so well that he halted almost in | | | | | The man who was with Mordaunt Morti- mer very prudently kept in the background; though Rufus had given various inquisitive glances, he had been unable to see more than a general outline—just enough to guess on. Now the man came forward a pace or two, and gave a pull at Mortimer’s arm. ‘Ain't I beat an’ bummer an’ hard case ernuf ’thout a-pickin’ him up? Jest say ther word,-pard, an’ let me h’ist him. Ef yer git him in tow, they'll hang us all three.” “Why, dog-gone my tail-feathers, ef it ain’t me ole side-pard, ther cross-eyed man, w’at they war bhuntin’ fur so industr’us las’ night! I’ma leetle down on me luck, an’ can't blame a nabob like Mord, hyer, fur front of them, jus! as they were about to pass | givin’ me ther shake; but you—bless yer through the line of light that streamed out | soul!—yer orter reef right in an’ how] ter see through the window of a neighboring cabin. |me. Abednego, ye ole shark, put it right As they walked slowly along, more intent | thar, er you an’ me'll fight!” upon. their low conversation than upon their surroundings, it was not hard to obtain a good view of their faces, - Kin I b’'leve me eyes?” exclaimed Rufus. ‘« Jest stop right thar, gents, whar you’ll hey a chance ter behold me own bloomin’ eoun- ternance. Ef it ain’t—yes, it are—an’ don't yer furgit it. Mord Mort, how in ther name ov wrath dus yer do?” Rufus extended his hand and stumblea forward. : As the party addressed halted, and then went a pace or two backward, the florid face with its watery eyes, bulbous nose, and tobacco-stained mouth, was fullin the glare . fA jh 4 Ragged Rufe executed a rapid advance, and the cross-eyed man showed no sympton)s of wanting to get out of his way. ‘Ef yer want ter—shake. Then you kin answer Mister Mortimer’s question an’ git.” The clasp of hands was not remarkably cordial, but Primrose took no offense. con- tinuing his observations, however, to Morti- mer: ‘‘T s’pose yer know thet after you slid out ther Gentle kept on a holdin’ ther aidge till it got ’round ter him ag’in, an’ then started fur Jumptown. Still, thar ain’t more ner half ther town knows thet he’s got back ag’in, an’ I'd be free ter bet thet in ther next ten oyal George, the Thr ee in ee me ee ees ee re ree en rsnnemn meneame an meee ee em ee oo minnits he'll be 'round ter Neddy’s Jungle, w'ich are jest whar I’m goin’, Ef yer want ter see him very bad, that’s whar I'd advise yer ter go.” ‘*From the name I should judge that it would be a likely place to find e man of his caliber. Show the way; but I want to leave you at the door. [have no desire to enter the society of the Bar under your sponsor- ship. Here’s money—more than the job is worth; lead on!” ‘*!’m yer antelope; but I'd advise yer ter stroke Joseph gently when yer find him. He's in an orful bad humor—ready ter lay out two corpses agin’ breakfast. “There'll be fun yit afore ther night's over—speshully ef Mart Hammers gits his paws on Trinn- fador. Thar’s jest dozens a-waitin’ fur him,” ‘*Let ’em wait,” growled the cross-eyed man. ‘‘When ther band strikes up ther openin’ overture, they’ll find thet Abednego are around.” ‘** Jest ez yer please; but I would remark, thar’s ther fu’st notes ov ther band now.” CHAPTER XXXI. THE CROSS-EYED MAN GETS BACK, THe sounds that bed attracted the atten- tion of Ragged Rufe came from the direction of Neddy's Jungle. Trouble had been brewing there ever since Gentle Joe had bluffed his way out on his pair of sixes. Though it had not developed into a regular emeute there was 2 very pretty little fracas in progress. Neddy—and there were not half a dozen men in town who knew any other name for the proprietor—had held his peace while Lipscombe was on the defensive. Perhaps he preferred, if the little gambler was to have a fight for his life, that the battle should come off in the Jungle. Dave Dukely was somebody else, and when that worthy resented some of the insinuations that one or two of the bystanders let fall, and offered to pull his guns, Neddy suddenly grasping him from behind, threw jim out of the déor, which he ciosed with a slam. Then he stepped to one side, and waited for developments. The suspense did not last very long; v. hen Dave had picked himself up, and turned around once or twice to get his bearings, he began to shoot first and swear afterward. In the midst of his ovation came Ragged Rufe, with the two men he had picked up in tow. When there was an opening of any kind the man of rags always showed a willingness to insert himself, and he saw his chance now. His ponderous paw fell on the arm of Dukely. “Ah, ole man, are yer reely mad? ’cos ef you be ye’r’ puttin’ yerself in a heap ov dan- ger furnothin’. Ef I owed thet shebang in thar, an’ war thirstin’ fur blood, yer couldn’t set me up a neater lay-out than jist this byar. Ther biggest fool in Arizony couldn't miss yer ef he laid his gun on ther winder an’ tuk a rest.” ‘Who in blazes be you?” fiercely turning as he spoke. He had a very good mad on, and was willing t) make a break in almost any direction so that he got even with some- body. ‘* Don’t put on airs, David. I’m yer Uncle Rufus; an’ I’m jist a-tryin’ ter save yer life. Ef yer must hev it out with semebody kim inside an’ try it on with ther hull gang. What’s broke loose, anyhow?” ‘*You’re another of ‘em, are yer? Git out ov this afore I break yer all apart. I’ve hed Gentle Joe rammed down my throat ter- night about twice eftener than I can stand, You're one ov his pals. You jist dry up an’ pass on afore I git mad an’ go ter git even on ou.” bir So you ain’t mad yit? That's jist what I was askin’. Ain’t 1 givin’ yer the best ov advice? Goin an’ shoot out. Youll have all out ov doors ter aim at, an’ maybe you kin hit suthin’, So fur yer ain't hit ther side ov ther house.” ‘*You want it, do you? Allright. There, yer got it.” For some reason Ragged Rufe seemed re- solved to pick a quarrel with the man, and he - was met fully half way. As he spoke Dave Dukely swung out his fist with as vicious an intent as he could well have shown, and if he COMINIEHDOOKS. ee — * ~~ ——— = a4 a. > A Be 2 * « Seat ore 53 : J i