Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 375 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

A) ‘= —_ ‘¢ A fool or a cheat, it is all the same, trailer can follow now,” ‘©You bet not!’ responded Carl, vigorous- ly. ‘‘An’ mebbe it’s part ov ther game.” CHAPTER XI. TAKEN. Bess STanuey had had her own unpleas- ant experiences in Blazer’s Bar before this, but it was not the fault of the citizens. She was too popular to be willfully offended; and even a stranger would feel like an old-time | gether. friend after the first glance at her fresh young face Probably if she had shown her hand in fa- vor of the stranger before matters had gone so far she could have at least secured him a more deliberate hearing, if not an acquittal altogether. The trouble was, then, that the Bar wanted to be led and not bluffed. There was no time for the former, and it seemed to her that she had failed most signally in the latter. When the prisoner had been dragged away by the mob, and she recovered a little from the shock of the proceedings, she closed and locked the door behind her, and fol- | lowed quietly and at a distance, She had no surprise and anger. After all she had done Royal George, the ‘Three in One. } | | for him it seemed to her that she deserved | ; | intention now of interfering unless she saw | that there was a more favorable opportunity. The unpleasantness between Gentle Joe and the others gave that opportunity, She saw it begin with some surprise, forit seemed to be, without a doubt, in the interest of the captive. The latter would perhaps have idly re- mained watching the affray until it was too late to utilize it had she not attracted his at- tention. With some care she approached the out- side of the ring of spectators, and waited till she had an opportunity. Then sie gave a low hiss. The prisoner’s head turned to- ward her, though his glance seemed to reach toward the four points of the compass. Her little finger was beckoning him, though; and he saw his chance. To her great satisfac- tion he coolly began to edge his way out of the crowd. At that Bess fell back, looking from time to time over her shoulder to make sure that he followed. It was possible that he might find it convenient to go in some other direction. Instead, he kept right in her wake, with now and then a reassuring nod. He wasa great deal more unconcerned than she was over his danger, The little game of fisticuffs only occupied a few moments; but as those minutes were all turned to good account the stranger was well out of the throng some time before the blow was delivered that sent Joe Lipscombe ‘‘west-end crooked.” Bess Stanley led the way, and she was shrewd enough to turn behind cover at the first available oppor- tunity. Then she waited until the man could overtake her. He came along, strolling carelessly—not at all like one around whose neck the rope had been already knotted. When he had once rot outsidé of the glare of the fire near the Golden Lamb he became almost un- recognizable. maAK He sauntered slowly up to Brilliant Bess, and in his voice there was not the first token of care or caution. ‘‘Tt’s allright, leetle woman. Yer wants ter talk to me; but this ain’t ther time ner place. afore I'll be fit fur ladies’ sersiety; an’ jist now I’ve got big biz somewhere else. By- by, I’ll ondoubtedly see yer later.” ‘Hush, speak lower! I must have a talk with you now. Follow me, please. Therearea few words you must say. Then you can £0 your way—to death, for what I care, I'll be frank with you; I think when I took your part against ail Blazer’s I earned the right.” “IT ken jedge jest what yer a-achin’ ter say, put ef I war you I wouldn't say it. This hyar ain’t ther time ter fool round askin’ conundrums. I kin tell yer one thing squar’, when yer git honest help outen Sing’lar Sam ther time hes come ter draw blood from a turnip. Yer can’t trust him; yer won't trust me; an’ ther balance ov human mankind are perty much all frauds. Fur ther good turn yer hey did me I kin only give yer a word ov advice. Don’t trust nobody, an’ yerself least ov all, Give my love ter ther Bar; an’ tell ’em I’ve Jit out.” Then the man in some mysterious way re- newed his strength. Without waiting for y I reckon I want a leetle cleanin’ up’ ee a ri better treatment. Yet there was something about his in- definite advice that struck a responsive chord in her mind. his way. To tell the truth she could do noth- She allowed him to go | ing else—and slowly and thoughtfully went | back toward the cabin, ’ As she went she was trying to fit it all to- ‘* At least I have helped to save his life; and I will have the chance to some day meet him again. Yet—if 1 am not mistaken in the man—how many months have 1 been vainly looking for him; how many more may elapse before he will a second time cross my path! I should have heid him at the muzzle of my revolver—should have forced the full truth from between his lying liys. Ah, he told me one thing at least, that was the truth. Trust myself least of all! True. | After thus mismanaging the chance of one’s | lifetime what confidence can one have for the future?” She was speaking to herself, and if her words were low they were audible, though she did not know it. She was more than startled to hear a voice at her elbow: “‘T wouldn't worry ‘bout it, leetle wo- man. Thar aint the slightest use. All the feathers you c’u’d ‘a’ picked off’n that rooster wouldn't ’a’ made much to’ard a small-sized piller. Ef yer hed raised a racket ther crowd w’uld ’a’ come an’ hanged him— | eref yer hed shot, how much cud yer’a’ | got outen ther corpus. He’s fly ter them p'ints ov ther game, an’ he’ll take his chances every time. Take old Ragged Rufe’s ad- vice, an’ let sich biz fur Sing’lar Sam ter follow. der than whar you left off.” ‘‘ Who are you?” retorted Bess, sharply. In an easy way, that betokened familiarity with weapons, she threw up her hands—and Ragged Rufe could perceive that he was covered. “Oh, I’m nothin’ but a durned ole tramp, layin’ round Blazer’s, fur what I kin make. I reely ain't wu'th ther shootin’ an’ it wouldn’t do you no good ter pull. Put up yer weepins, an’ pass on. It war only a lee- | An’ I reckon he won’t go much fur- | tle collat’ral infurmashun ez I were a-chuck- | in’ in, an’ ef it don’t seem ter hit yer whar yer live I won’t do so no more. Pass on, an’ Pll git back ter kiver, It’s a discouragin’ sorter night fur honest folks ter be abroad.” ‘‘ Ah, you are the drunken brute known as Ragged Rufe—one of Gentle Joe’s ad- herents., If you are not as bad as your mas- ter it is because you have had less brains. You have not come to me without a pur. pose; and I can vow, even without know- ing, that the purpose is a bad one. Keep clear of me, I do not care to have your blood on my hands; but | warn you that it will stain them if you interfere. What Singular Sam might do if he knew how you had slan- dered him I leave for you to find out. Per- haps you can guess.” ‘‘Mebbe, mebbe,” retorted the bummer, with a wave of his hand, ‘‘It ain’t wu’th while ter discuss it. All the same, ef Sam ain’t a-howlin’ when he finds yer stood in atwixt Abednego an’ ther rope, you kin jist play me fur a flat, an’ make ther riffle every time.” ‘““Who did you say? What name was that?’ ‘‘Abednego Trinnfador, Yer see therold coon ain’t quite ez dumb ez he looks. He kin tell a thing or two ef he loosens up ther guy-ropes ter his jawin’-tackle. Mighty good name, that; an’ ther owner ov it—oh, but he’s a daisy.” ‘‘Abednego Trinnfador! Tis a strange name to me—one that | never heard before. THlow comes it that it comes so patty to your lips and my ears?” ‘‘Oh, he war an ole side pard ov mine, Bully ole hustlers was we. Don’t do ter talk ‘bout them ole times; but red-hot they was, an’ still a-heatin’ when we d’solved. Hain’t seen him sence till he struck ther Bar. Sorry he skipped. Me an’ him orter had a long palaver. Thar’s gold an’ blood in ther wind, an’ we're dead sure ter git one er other. That’s all, leetle woman. On’y wanted ter gi’n yer a pointer ter show we wa'n’t quite dead yet. By by; methinks Joe | ———————— ae ~ a2 oo. ee oe ws = No | answer or further inquiry he darted away | hez skipped by this time, an’ I'll meander into the darkness, and left the girl full of | back ter ther Golden Lamb. Thar’s a party thar I'd reely like ter see ter-night—a woman. She looks ez though she war a tin angel on wheels. Go fur her in ther mornin’. She kin give yer a pint or two an’ not half try. So Jong.” Although all the time Bess held the revol- ver in her hand, the bummer seemed per- fectly unconscious of its presence, and he went away without leave or license. The girl did not attempt to stop him, though, if the slight hesitation in his swagger meant anything, it showed that he expected a recall, Probably she did not, in cold blocd care to open an interview then and there with so dis- reputable looking an object. Besides, from the willingness displayed it seemed likely that he rather desired to hear himself talk; and much more than likely that he knew nothing, and would not tell the truth if he could. One thing, however, struck Bess Stanley; and that was, the presence of a lady traveler at the Golder Lamb. It the words of Ragged Rufe could be relied on, this stranger had some connection with her affairs. Who she might be became at once an object of in- terest. In spite of the boisterous crowd around the hotel she turned her face in that direction, and took perhaps a dozen steps. Then—an arm of steel went around her waist; a hand was pressed over her mouth, She was a prisoner, CHAPTER XII. A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE, THE voice at the window certainly pro- duced an electric effect. Major Widespin hung on Kagged Rufe’s utterances with breathless interest, while Mrs. Ormsby ap- peared to be strangely moved; Mr. Cath. art leaning back, coolly listened; and if the satisfied smile on his face went for anything he was very well pleased with what he saw and heard. As his eyes were fixed on the lady, the deeper tones of the major did not drown, for his ears, her little ery. After that, had she wished it, she could not have concealed her agitation. She did not attempt it. On the contrary, when Ragged Rufe had ceased speaking she had bounded across the floor, and stood peer- ing out of the window. “That voice! Speak! Let me hear it again. Is it indeed Rufus Primrose?” “That same sweet-scented flower ov ther evenin’, mum; which no doubt are a sur- prise. Shake, ole lady; er, ef it’s too much trouble, 'll come inside. Mebbe, ef it ain't askin’ too much yer could wring me in on yer frierds. Sence Gentle Joe hez absquatur- Jated it'll be necessary fur me ter find a friend with capital; l’m clean gone broke meself, Hole on a bit; I'll be thar. Know’d yer wouldn't go back on me,” He disappeared from the window; only to enter the recom a moment later. Mrs. Ormsby had not moved from the position in which he had left her. She looked up with a haggard expression on her face; but without a word, as the bummer rolled forward with one very dirty paw extended, - ‘Don’t s’pose it’s wu’th while ter say ‘Come ter me arms, ole gal; but fur ther sake ov ole times, I kin resk it ter say, ‘Sheke, pard, shake!’ Yer does me proud ter recog- nize me, when I’m down at ther heel,” The door slamming sharply on the depart- ing major interfered somewhat with the an- swer. The two looked in that direction, and Mrs. Ormsby was recalled to the fact that this interruption was peculiarly ¢napropes. Without a doubt, it increased the anger that was taking the place of surprise. | ‘You vagabond of the world! you thief beyond redemption! you scoundrel without a decent trait! what, of all places, are you do- ing here? Have you not worked enough harm without coming here to finish with my utter ruin?” Rufe looked at her as she rolled forth this tirade, and his hands were uplifted and his eyes opened to their widest extent. He looked the picture of innocent surprise ‘*Oh, say, give us a rest on that! I thort yer war bu’stin’ with glory at a-secin’ ov me, er I wouldn't hev introoded. Ther very sound ov Primrose war once music to yer years—an’ now yer talks like that. All o "comicboo (E : | (i _ a ‘ ) J , | at? 4 Pn