Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

| h " j . Apparently the: widow had taken a second ——— where I trust you will make yourselves comfor- table and wholly at home. Iwill change my dress and hasten back to you, for I am dying to hear your story!” She led the way up the narrow flight of stairs, making no sign as her quick eyes caught a mo- mentary glimpse of a door ajar, through which | swiftly waved a white hand. She gave father an 1 child rooms adjoining each other, and after a few kind words, left them alone. Her brows were contracted, her lips tightly compressed as she caught sight of the stout man | descending the stairs, pausing at the foot of them just long enough to repeat his imperative signal, then vanishing. | ‘What's up now, I wonder?” she muttered, | her brown eyes snapping with anything but an amiable light as she followed, entering a rear | room which might be called a parlor. ‘ You | wanted me, Mallison?” The stout man was awaiting her coming, his full, florid face hard-set and an ugly look jn his eyes. ' ‘Would I take all this trouble if I didn’t want you?” he said, in a harsh, almost brutal | tone as he dropped upon a stuffed sofa. “Of | course I want you—a fool would know that much!” “Perhaps that is why I come to you for the information, dear,” softly smiled the widow, | making a mocking little courtesy. ‘‘ But want will have to be your master, at least until I can change my dress and get some of this dust off, If you are in too great a hurry to wait, I will try hard to survive the shock, my dear!” Another courtesy and then away she sailed, leaving Colonel Joel Mallison to calm himself as best he might. It was not a very agreeable | picture that the colonel presented, just then, and many in Good | Leather would have required a second look before recognizing the smooth, polite, suave | gentlemen they were accustomed to seeing in that garb. : He was barely up to the medium hight of his sex, but what he lacked in altitude, he made up in breadth of person. His shoulders | ‘were broad, his body thick and by no means graceful There was a stoop to his shoulders, | though this did not show so much on ordinary oecasions, thanks to his full chest and digni- fied erectness. His limbs were short and thick, his feet and hands large. His hands were white, and bore but slight signs of the hard labor they had done in his younger days. His face was full and florid, looking still redder from the suspicious blackness of his hair and heavy mustaches. His eyes were of a light blue, set close together, small and just now filled with an ugly reddish glow. His other features were heavy, almost coarse, his jaws being remarkably wide and strong, giving him something the look of a sitet § Perhaps it was this look that pe give Good Leather the impression that Colonel Mallison would prove a tough nut for even the hardest | ‘hammer to crack, for such certainly was the gen- eral belief, though up to this time he had never | been put to the test. ; | If he was ‘‘ chief” of Good Leather, it was through his lavish use of money, his daring» ‘speculations, his suavity, coupled with an occa- ‘sional show of jollity with ‘* the bloods,” Joel Mallison did some hard thinking while waiting for widow Watkins, and he had time to realize his folly in speaking and acting so roughly. At all events, when she made her re- ‘appearance in a fresh dress, his tone was much more civil, his voice softer and more like that of a gentleman. : ‘Tm glad you’ve come, little woman!” ‘And I'm glad to find another person here from the one | left,” pointedly responded the widow, her eyes still ing sharply. **T ask your pardon. I was so excited—” ‘Over what, may I ask?’ Colonel Mallison hesitated, but only for a mo- ment. He rose and passed one arm about the ‘trim waist, bending over until he could gaze di- rectly into the brown eyes. A brief space thus, then he drew her to a seat beside him on the sofa, saying: ‘*T will tell you the whole truth, little wom- an, only—who were those persons I saw you with? ; thought. She seemed quite willing to accept the truce, and her reply was prompt enough: “An old blind man and his daughter, I met them while out riding. ‘Why did you bring them here?” asked Mal- lison, watching her keenly through his sheggy brows, for it seemed to him that she had cut herself short while on the point of saying some- | thing more. . Widow Watkins laughed a little, almost ashamedly. : ‘‘ Well—you won't think I am growing soft, Joel?” } ‘Did you ever do anything I found fault with, little woman?” 3 His voice was soft and almost caressing as he ‘uttered these words, but it was easy to see he ‘was ill at ease., At any other time the woman Would have been quick to note this fact, but somehow she herself felt a trifle disturbed as the —_—— — = = Howling Jonathan. handsome face of Iceberg Dave appeared to pass before her eyes. ‘‘ They were so poor!—he is blind, and she so pretty, soinnocent! And then they were com- ing to Good Leather, anyway, so I asked them to stay here.” ‘** Coming to Good Leather!” echoed Mallison, biting his thumb-nail viciously, his little eyes glowing strangely. His uneasiness was so plain that the widow could not avoid noting the fact, and instantly her curiosity was awakened. *“Do you know them, Joel? meet them—” ‘* As you came in—yes,” was the hasty reply, as he lifted his head, laughing shortly. ‘* Before that, I mean! You have! I can see it in your eyes!” cried widow Watkins, her brown eyes sparkling. ‘‘ You seemed startled at the sight of the old man—or was it the girl?” There was a fresh suspicion in voice and face, now, and the colonel forced another laugh as he made answer, with clumsy playfulness: ‘* Careful, little woman! If any other ears should happen to hear you now, they would be mighty apt to set you down as jealous of your new lodger!” ** You know better than that, Joel,” with a curl of her red lip. ‘‘ You know there can be no jealousy between you and me. You are simply Did you ever 'a boarder, and I am widow Mercy. Watkins, free as air!” ‘* All Good Leather knows as much, of course, just as they know that it is not my fault vou still remain a widow. Buta truce to this. You met these people by chance, you say?” ‘“Yes, Dave Ingram had just read Ugly Dan a lesson for insulting the girl—crippled bis right hand, I believe—when I came on the scene,” said the widow, apparently too modest to claim all the merit due her actions that day. ‘‘ They seemed in want, and so [ brought them here. My House can afford it, even if they don’t pay their bills.” ‘You talked with them, of course? What sort of story did they tell you?” slowly asked the colonel, striving in vain to hide the interest with which he awaited her reply. ‘*Not much. They are looking for some one, a son, I believe, who has run away or been put out of the way, or—” ** Curse the foul luck that brought them to Good Leather!” grated Joel Mallison, striking his tightly-clinched fist against the sofa as he might have dashed it into the face of a hated enemy. The widow turned pale, her eyes glowing, her voice growing hard. ne ati ig wrong now? You do know them, Joel! hat are they toyou? What have they done—or, what have you done?” allison caught her arm and stared keenly into her face. She read the question before it was spoken, and promptly said: “Tt isa late day for you to ask whether or not I can be trusted, Joel! If you have a single doubt, keep it close to yourself.” He drew a long breath as he sunk back on the sofa seat, brushing one hand rapidly over his face, but his voice was far more natural as he , spoke again: ‘*T do trust you, little woman. I will tell you everything—but not just now. First—I want pi to get their whole story from them. Pump hem dry, one after the other, and then see if they both'tell the same story. You can do it— you will do it, little woman?” ‘*Of course, if you say so,” was the eee response. ‘*But give me just a bint, so Pll know better what points to press the closest. You know something of this man, this missing Franz Moskau?” Just then there came to their ears the sound of excited voices on the outside, and as they turned their heads to listen, they caught the sound of wild howls and sharp reports in the dis- tance, rapidly growing louder and plainer, then ag (it with the rattle of wheels. ‘*Something’s gone wrong—it’s the stage!” muttered Colonel Mallison, leaping. to his feet and catching up his hat. ‘‘ Remember! find out all you can from those two!” There was more of relief than curiosity writ- ten upon his flushed countenance as he hurried from the room. He was not yet ready to make confession, even to one whom he felt could be so entirely trusted with dangerous secrets as the widow Watkins. This disturbance, coming just as it did, was a perfect godsend! As the reader has already seen, it was the stage, with Howling Jonathan Hebrew handling the ribbons. Its mad progress had attracted at- tention before the foot of the long slope was reached, and thecrowd rapidly gathered to learn the meaning of such reckless haste, giving vent to excited cries and unanswered questions, And when Howling Jonathan drew up before My House, he had an audience large enough to satisfy even his extravagant desires, Colonel Joel Mallison opened the door and stopped short, amazed by the scene. Jonathan,his feet still holding Joe Duncan cn the foot-board, was rattling off his wild address, introducing f to the citizensof Good Leather. But as he caught sight of Colonel Mallison filling the Oe re Oe SS i . doorway directly opposite him, he rose to his feet with a complicated flourish of bis right arm that sent outa pistol-lhke report from the braided lash, crying: " Hallow, boss! How goes it, anyhow? Ef you ain’t the postmaster, you look enough like him fer to be one, an’ yar’s your new patent male- bag! Chuck-full an’ sloppin’ over! Ye-up! stiddy by jerks, josey!” While speaking, the Howler stooped over and grasped Joe Duncan by the collar of his coat, lifting him clear of the foot-board and dropping him to the ground. ‘*Chuck-full o’ registered packages, that male- bag is, boss? Han’le with keer, fer ef it should come ontied, the good Moses save all them as is within range! Salt won’t save ’em, nur soft-soap ever take out the stains, or make’em smell swee never no more!” Limp, almost lifeless apparently, Joe Duncan dropped to the ground, a feeble grcan breaking from his lips. : ‘*What’s happened? Give himair! Give him whisky’s more sense!” Those nearest crowded around the luckless driver, and while Jonathan was rattling on ex- travagantly, whisky was poured down the half- senseless fellow. It cnickts preduced the usual effect, and with a savage curse, Joe Duncan | struggled to his feet, thrusting back his officious lc LLL LLL LLL friends, brushing one hand across his bleared eyes, as he fumbled for a pistol. Even as his hand touched it, he caught sight of Howling Jonathan, and with a snarling curse he flung up his weapon and discharged it, ’ With a will yell the Howler turned a back somerset from the roof of the coach, only to dart under the low body between the wheels and knock the weapon from Duncan’s grasp. Then, catching him by the middle, he twisted him from his feet, litting him into the air with: “Tm Howlin’ Jonathan Hebrew, the Terror from Headwaters!” With an effort that seemed superhuman, he tossed the driver above his head, then cast him endlong, straight at the amazed colonel! Head and stomach came in contact, and the owners of both fell backward! CHAPTER VII. THE HOWLER HIT RIGHT WHAR HE LIVES! ‘* SuFFERIN’ Moses! ef I hain’t done it now, I hope I’m a liar!” ejaculated the Howler, holding up both hands in an attitude of holy horror as he stared wide-eyed at the heap of strugglin humanity in the narrow entry. *‘ Ram-jamme the male-bag clean through the postmaster, stead o’ chuckin’ itin the post-orjfice! The— good—Laud !” At that savage curse and the pistol-shot, there © was a hasty scatteration on the part of the crowd, so the Howler had nothing to interfere with his passage as he leaped forward and fol- lowed his novel missile, entering the hotel and turning about, with his rear thus guarded, all so naturally done that, probably, not one of the crowd, even those who»sympathized most with luckless Joe Duncan, gave him credit for an ul-— terior motive in thus acting. ‘Saints in ge-lory!” he peters g the half-stunned driver and dexterously ening his belt of arms as he apparently wrestled with the weight, then rolling him unceremoni- ously outside as he stooped again to assist the gasping, ay tes speculator. “ Ef that clumsy critter hes bu’sted anythin’, be durned ef I don’t make him prove it ef it takes the hide off! Tak- in’ a bay-winder like them fer a e to through! Be durned ef he ain’t drunk as— Damages?” he cried, as Colonel Joel Mallison uttered a sonorous oath, ‘‘ Waal, I should remark! The jedge as wouldn’t give ye heap big damages fer Sach doin ain’t fit to kerry truck to hogs! TP be a witness, boss! 1 kin take me oath I see’d him jostle ye—rub up ag’inst ye — smart, an’ never give a whistle to tell ye right or left han? side! It’s a good cause fer action, boss, an’ ef you'll make me your liar, I'll ketch a vardict fer one-hafe the plunder we git out o’ it—be durned ef I don’t, honey!” Ag Colonel Joel Mallison regained: his feet, one hand pressing against the spot where the bullet head of Joe Duncan bad come in violent con- tact, the other thrusting Jonathan back with more force then courtesy as he growled an- Tily: Ph Give way, you clumsy brute, or Pll—” “Oh, angels o’ light an’ ministers o’ grease!” fairly squealed the Howler, every hair on his fiery head seeming to bristle with pure delight as he hopped rapidly from one foot to the other, dashing his battered hat to the floor, piveing ce | his hands and making other warlike demonstra-, tions, greatly to the delight of the crowd gather- ed without. ‘“‘Is that the chune, honey-love? It’s a heap big fighter-man ye be, ’stead o’ the stmaster, eh? Lord o’ love, pard, but that its me right whar I live when I’m to home! I’m a tough myself! I’m a chief, with fifty feathers in my skelp, an’ each one tells of a ’way-up game-cock that crowed his last crew on the pint o’ my gaffs! Come an’ take your last salvation, honey! Come an’ see me punch your — ticket fer—” . Not a little to the surprise of the citizens whq@ Drunk—that’s what's the matter! “4 - -_ «se 4 JOO (E(0) AAILICE <S