Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

— md - ots 2 ee = ‘*Or bu’st a flue!” Perry Blair whirled about with hand on re- volver, to meet the red face and blue eyes of the Howler, quieter and cooler than any one in Good Leather had as yet seen him. “Tt was my gentle bazoo that made ye flip- flop, pard,” and his voice was gentle, almost apologetic as he spoke. ‘* Ye don’t know who I be, 1 reckon, but that’s a fault easy got over. Um Howlin’ Jonathan, a Holy Terror just come in from Headwaters, an’ I’m the best fri’nd to the gent you've bin takin’ the vain.” The gambler showed his teeth in a vicious snarl as he grated: “What have you got to do with it? Frank Spartan to you?” ‘Waal, pardner, that ‘pends some on which eye ye look at it out of. ne way I hain’t the ghost of a right to chip in, seein’ as it’s *nother rooster you’re crowin’ ’fiance to, but—” **'Then hold your yawp and save your chips for a game that better suits your caliber, curse you!” snapped Blair, like more than one of those present taking this moderate tone and even gentle demeanor to be but the prelude to the ‘‘ crawfish act.” ‘‘Tt?s a waste o’ time an’ good material, that I know jest as well as ary man livin’, but is a critter to starve to death holdin’ out fer a hull hog, when they’s spar’-ribs layin’ cluss by? It’s mighty small an’ monstrous slow pickin’, but ef you cain’t git jest what you want, take what ye cin. Penny-ante is heap better then no game an’ so, meanin’ no ‘fense to you, pardner, I reckon I wouldn’t mind steppin’ into the boots o’ Frank Spartan, onless you kin shove out a bigger an’ better man to tackle the Terror!” This was a widely different conclusion from the one Perry Blair had anticipated from that moderate, even deprecatory tone, and he stood glowering at the red-haired champion half in rage, balf in doubt, ‘That’s the one question answered the best I know how, pardner,” placidly added the Howler et with a peculiar something in his tone and ooks that held the crowd interested enough to leave him a clear field. ‘‘As fer the other, mebbe you never hear tell on the Hebrew chil- dren? ebbe you never read o’ Shadrach, Mes- hach, an’ To-bed-we-go?) Mebbe you don’t know that I’m them an’ them’s me, Howlin’ Jonathan Hebrew, the Terror right from Headwaters!” With a short, angry curse, Perry Blair turned on his heel as though feeling this red-headed champion was too far beneath him for further notice. All his former hatred burst forth anew, as he grated: ‘‘1f Prank Spartan has a friend within sound of my voice, let him carry my words to the run- away sport! Tell him that I brand him as a cowardly cur, too infernally low for any white man to dirty the sole of his boot with! ‘Tell him that—” ‘* He’s one o’ the Hebrew triplets, an’ I’m the others,” curtly interjected a voice, and once more Perry Blair wheeled with drawn revolver to confront the Howler, The Terror stood his ground, though the gam- bler was in a red-hot rage, his face fairly trans- figured, his eyes all aglow. He must have seen the drawn pistol, but if so he showed no trace of uneasiness, nor did he make any move toward arming himself, one hand lifted with forefinger shaking deliberately in front of that knuckle- marked face. ‘‘1’m the most peaceable critter that ever hopped on two legs, pardner, an’ many a time I’ve clean broke my neck running to git et from some sech mighty bloodsucker as you think you be right now; but when you tromp on the corns of my pet brother, an’ he a triplet of which I’m the rest, then Pve got to howl right out in meetin’! An’ when I how! [ say some- thin’, An’ that somethin’ in this case is that Frank Spartan gits shet o? more manliness an’ grit an’ genuine good leather every time he blows his nose then was ever wropped up in the clothes of the Blair family, with you at the head, pardner!” For one moment Perry Blair stood like a man dumfounded, but as a laugh broke from the amused lookers-on at this decidedly original comparison, & Savage snarl grated through his teeth and he made a swift motion with his pis- tol arm. . ey, There was a rapid shifting as the weapon ex- ploded, and then a man staggered back—but it was not Howling Jonathan, The lead spent its force on the wall, while the Terror, with a force that could not be resisted, hurled the disarmed gambler across the room, fairly into the arms of the tall, thin, dyspeptic looking individual with whom the Howler had opened the impromptu dance an hour or less be- fore. : And those who followed the reeling gambler with their eyes, caught a glimmer of polished steel, heard a metallic clicking sound, and then —-a cry of wonder broke from their lips as the tall man freed his right hand to display a revol- ver, while Perry Blair cursed ‘viciously as he stared in stupid wonder at the steel manacles upon his wrists! “Pun alive!” and Howling Jonathan set up his thrilling, ear-splitting war-cry. name jin! | What is | ‘Turn the treat. But his hands were ironed. Howling Jonathan. Hebrew children loose an’ give em room ’cordin” to thar bizness! The safety valve’s dropped off, an’ ’m blowin’ off steam that’s hot enough to raise a blister on a cast-iron monkey at forty rod! Shove that cocktail for’ard! ub kyann pepper in his tail feathers an’ sting him up to meet a— Look out, pardner!” ‘* Keep your distance, my good fellow, unless you want a high lot on the hillside free of charge!” sharply cried the dyspeptic man, his gray eyes gleaming coldly over the leveled tube of death. ‘Perry Blair is my prisoner, and—” His voice was drowned by a howl from the crowd, until then too much surprised to make any decided move. And Perry Blair aided in this as his voice rose in savage curses, his tem- pered muscles trying to snap the slender links | which connected the handcuffs, his practiced feet to trip up his captor. But along arm held him off, fingers of steel shifted from his shoulder to his neck, and clear above the tumult rose the voice of the man who had so deftly ironed the gambler. And _ the muzzle of his pistol was now turned toward the skull of his captive to emphasize the words that came hardly from his thin lips: ** Keep your distance, gentlemen, unless you want to murder this man! You can’t take him from my grip alive, The law is on my side, and a its name l command you one and all to stand clear!” ; ‘* What’s he done? What right hev you to kick up a row when two gents was jest hevin’ a little fun to pass away the time? Who be ye, anyhow?” edicnanty cried Jonathan, but at the same time falling back a pace or two. “Tm a detective—see!” and a quick motion of the revolver opened his coat far enough to re- veal a gleaming Ba ea ‘“*T have a warrant for this person, for robbery and murder. I have arrested him, and now, it is in the name of law and justice, I call on all respectable citi- Zens to stand by me as the representative of the law!’ His swift appeal appeared to have its effect, for several men ms toward him, their faces to the rest of the party, their hands filling with weapons. And then Hebrew strode forward, a broad grin on his face, a peculiar twang in his voice es he cried: ‘* That’s a hoss of another color, an’ ef the law says so, J say so, an’ durn the odds! Mebbe Ill need the good natur’ 0’ the law myself some o’ these days, an’ so ll git a under grip onter her while I kin. Nothin’ like layin’ up grub fer a hungry time, pards, an’ I reckon you want to shinny on this side, too!” If this peculiar appeal had any effect on the rest, it was not immediately visible. There were dark looks and sullen mutterings. _ Strong hands gripped deadly weapons, and it would take but little to cause an outburst where death would claim more than one victim. Every one then present appeared to realize this, and the knowledge made each man slow to make any decided move. There were no lack of followers, but none who wished to play the part of leader. The detective saw this, and his hard, menac- ing tone perceptibly softened as he added: ‘*T am simply performing my duty as asworn officer of the law, gentlemen. I was sent here to make this arrest, and I had to do it, just as I would arrest him again, though I knew certain death awaited the action. I trust there will be no further trouble, but if there is, it is my duty to tell you that the warrant I am acting on, says dead or alive! If I am crowded too hard, it will be dead |” ‘*You grip tight the critter, pard, an’ Ill watch out for the crowdin’,” cried Howling Jonathan, a revolver in each hand, his face stern and business-like, ** We'll stay with you, friend,” quietly utter- ed one of the three men who had first stepped to the aid of the detective, “Theyre all birds of a feather!” growled an ugly voice from among the excited crowd. ‘* Strangers, every one of them! It’s a put-up job to down Perry—” His voice was drowned by the fierce cry rais- ed by the pares friends of the ironed gam- bler, and for a few moments it seemed as if the crisis was at hand. Steadily and resolutely the three men closed about the struggling, cursing, snarling captive, their weapons cocked and ready for instant use when the fight could no longer be avoided, The tall detective turned the muzzle of his weapon to the head of the prisoner, Howling Jonathan formed the ad- vance guard, his red hair fairly bristling, his little eyes flaming, his ‘athletic figure fairly quivering as his muscles tightened for the des- perate struggle which seemed inevitable, Then, clear and stern came the voice of the detective: { ‘‘Tell your friends to keep their distance, Perry Blair, if you love life! The first blow they strike, cutil ba the signal for me to blow the roof of your skull off! I swear to this!” The gambler was not a coward, physically meen and if he could have seen even the shadow of a chance to escape instant death, he would have called for a charge instead of a re- That terri- ne EEE _____ O_O O_O ——————————————— a Bae, << ble grip on his neck was causing his breath to come hot and thick, his brain to buzz and whirk dizzily, the strength to desert his limbs. And the cold muzzle of a revolver was pressing: ri oa his skull, telling only too plainly of death. ‘* Let up, boys!” he gasped hoarsely, ceasing” his vain struggles and hanging limp and heavy on the arm of his captor. ‘* Wait for a better opening, then—” His voice died away as those fingers closed tighter about his neck, but he had said encugh to avert the crisis for a time at least, And just at that moment a tall, athletic form leaped into the room from the street, holding a cocked pistol in his left hand, glaring keenly about as though seeking some particular persom in the crowd, ‘*Iceberg Dave! This way if you’re a man!” he cried, his voice hard and strained, his weanom partially raised, murder in bis eyes, “Ugly Dan!” came in half a dozen voices: from the startled crowd, as it parted to leave a. free passage for the desperado. ‘* Ugly Dan it is, and on the war-path!” grat- ed the man, shaking his bloody-bandaged right hand in the air with a fierce curse. ‘‘ Ugly Dan, come to get even with Iceberg Dave fora coward shot from cover and behind my back? Whereis he? Gone—hiding, the cowardly cur!” he answered his own question as his keen eyes: saw the cool sport was not present. A move on the part of the detective with his: epee still surrounded by his guard, hoping o Clear the saloon under cover of this fresh ex- citement, attracted his attention, and as the lamplight flashed across the detective’s badge, a. sudden light filled his eyes and he cried in a quick, vicious tone: ‘“‘T swear that Iceberg Dave is in one of Cap- tain Clean-up’s gangs of road-agents! I can prove it! VU help arrest him, if you—” ‘Tll see you later, my friend,” coldly inter~ posed the detective, pressing with his half- choked prisoner toward the door. Ugly Dan made no attempt to stay them, and the others were too completely demoralized for the time being to take decided action. The door was gained and a moment later the little party was hastening away from The Mint, the Howler guarding the rear and keeping an eye open to a. possible rush from the saloon. But none such came, and this was in part due to the opportune: appearance in the rcom of Ugly Dan. he detective took his hand from the throat of Perry Blair, and a few long breaths strength- ened that worthy sufficiently so he could keep pace with his captors without much assistance. And by the time they reached the front of My House, he was alert enough to recognize the tall, athletic figure that came out of the build- ing, and to burst forth into a savage curse. ‘You cur! This is your cowardly work!” he grated, his figure quivering in every fiber as he held up his manacled hands in the bright glow of the lamps. With a startled exclamation Frank Spartan stared for a moment at the speaker, then hur- ried forward, his face showing pale as death, his: black eyes glowing with a reddish light, his voice hard and strained, ‘* What does all this mean? Itis you, Perry Blair?” “You low-down cur!” snarled the gambler, his lips fairly tinged with froth. ‘“ You ask that? You—bah! what is shame to you?” } Frank Spartan turned to the tall man whe held the prisoner firmly as he attempted to push him onward. ‘“ What has this man done? What right have you to arrest him?” “You can’t cover it up that way, Frank Spartan!” grated Blair. ‘You sent me word that you’d wait to give me a chance to get evem for that coward blow, but instead you hunted your hole and trumped up this dirty lie to save. your hide! But ll get even with you yet, ou— . A strong grip choked off his flood of curses: and epithets, and the detective warningly waved a revolver toward the other, saying: ** T’ve arrested this man on a regular warrant,, and if you care for your own head, young man, you will think twice before interfering.” ‘Tf you are what you say, of course I can do- nothing, But you have heard what this man says. In justice to myself, Pll investigate your rights, and unless you can prove your title clear T’ll sethim free if I have to kill you and all your allies! That is sworn to, sir.” A choking, savage snarl came from the lips of the prisoner as he managed to free his throat: long enough to utter: “Too thin, you cowardly cur! You set up this job, but if will not die out with my voice, thank the devil! It’sall over town by this time and it will ring in your ears until you slit your ° own—” ‘*‘Let me see him! Let me see him just once!” came a shrill, Lele voice from beyond, and out of the shadows came a crouching, shuffling” figure toward the little group, “ It sounds like his voice—the voire of the devil who—” ‘‘No crowdin’, honey!” grated the Howler as: he stepped before the new-comer, one’ heavy” band lifted warningly. ‘* It wouldn’t be healthy EGOomicbooks cor