Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 38 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

-- - -——— ‘‘Perhaps there may be some truth in the superstition; the mine has not brought good luck to us.” ‘“‘One swallow does not make a summer,” the brother re torted. ‘It is my evil fortune; the mine has had nothing to do with it.” “Perhaps not; but if you cannot borrow the money, then it is hopeless to think of still controlling the property.” ‘*] don’t know about that.” Blanche looked at her brother, inquiringly; it was plain that he had some plan in view. ‘‘Do you not think that we ought to make some effort to re- tain the mine?” he continued. ‘‘Tt seems a shame to lose so much,” she replied. “That ring upon your finger is worth five hundred dollars at the least,” he said, pointing to the diamond, which has al- ready played so prominent a part in our story. ‘‘ This ring?’ and a burning blush swept rapidly over the beau- tiful face of the girl; but the tell-tale blush was gone in a mo ment, and Fernando, busy with his own thoughts, gazing intently upon the precious stone, did not notice it. “Yes; if you are willing to risk the loss of the ring, 1 may be able to raise five or six thousand dollars.” *“‘T do not understand,” Blanche observed. “ And I cannot explain,” he replied, a tinge of hauteur in his voice. ‘If you are willing to risk it, well and good; give it to me, and I will make the trial, but I cannot explain to you what I am going to do, or how I am going to do it. I know that there is a chance to raise the money, if you will give me the ring to work on. It is not possible that fortune will forever frown on me; the tide must turn sometime; it is a long lane that has no turning, they say. Iam desperate now, and must play a bold game; Fortune is a fickle jade, and now at the eleventh hour she may choose to smile upon me,” Without a word Blanche took the ring trom her finger, kissed it, passionately—two sweet memories were connected with the charming bauble—and then handed it to her brother. The dark eyes of the Californian lighted up as his fingers grasped the ring. ‘‘ If fortune does not change, why, then, the sooner I am out of this evil world the better!” he exclaimed. ‘While we live we may hope,” exclaimed the girl. Woman though she was, she was made of stouter stuff than the Californian. Fernando rose, putting the ring upon his finger. “Before midnight this little sparkler shall win back the mine for me!” he announced, with a glow of triumph on his face. Already the gray mists of the night were rapidly descend- ing. The Californian took up his hat. ‘Will you not stay for supper?’ Blanche asked. “Oh, I have no appetite. Food will be repulsive to me until this suspense is settled.” And then hiseyes fell upon the long-necked wine-bottles upon the side-board; the sole remains of the famous vintage which had once reposed so snugly in the ancestral cellars of the Del Colma family. “JT am not hungry, but I thirst,” he continued; and then he filled himself a generous glass of the rich wine, tossed it off at a draught, kissed the sweet forehead of the girl, and sallied forth. Up and down through Cinnabar town went the Californian, and one man alone he sought—Velvet Hand! CHAPTER XXVIIL A DESPERATE CHANOB, VELVET HAND was found at last; seated on a bowlder on the hill-side, he was gazing vacantly down upon the Cinnabar mine. It was the veteran Joe Bowers who directed the Californian to the right spot. | ‘‘Pard, methinks I savvey,” he exclaimed, with all that dignity so peculiar to the bummer. ‘“Oft in the stilly night, when slumber’s chain holds the galoots of this hyer wicked world, hev I see’d that velvet-coated sharp a-sittin’ on the hill- side, right above the Cinnabar strike, a-gazin’, in meditation wrapped, down into the valley. He’s a deep cuss, heis, He goes up thar’ an’ steadies his nerves, so that he kin flax the boys at poker when the midnight hour draws on. He’s jest ole p’ison now, I tell yer.” Acting upon this advice, Del Colma climbed the hill-side, and, sure enough, he then found the man he sought. The face of the sharp was clouded; it was with troubled eyes that he looked down upon the mining valley. The sound of footsteps aroused him from his meditation, and, in some surprise, he looked up. Few feet ever trod the little trail up the hill-side. “ Good-evening,” said the Californian, advancing. ‘‘ Good-evening,” Velvet Hand replied, distantly, evidently not pleased at having his privacy intruded upon. “T have been seeking you.” “Yes?” | The Californian seated himself close to the other. “« And not finding you in the town, I was directed here.” It was quite plain to Del Colma why Velvet Hand had selected this nook on the hill-side, sheltered by the spreading pines and the cone-like junipers, as a lounging place. A short eighth of a mile away was the Cinnabar property, and from that spot one could command a full view of the mine and the buildings. “One can command a fine view of the Cinnabar property from this point, 1 see,” oe 32 Beadie’s Dime Library. ~ 66 Yes.” Velvet Hand was strangely reserved. “You know, | presume, that the Cinnabar property is in the hands of the sheriff?’ ‘*T heard so,” ~ **T owe about twelve thousand dollars on it which I am un- able to pay.” “That is | 1d.” “And of ‘nie twelve thousand which I ought to have, you nave got abe at six.” “Yes?” Velvet Hand was not manifesting the slightest interest in the matter. “ Lost to you at cards,” Del Colma continued. ‘‘Tt a man will play, he must expect to lose sometimes,” the sharp replied, in his cool way. ‘‘T have lost always!” the Californian retorted, bitterly. ““T wouldn’t play then if I were you,” “When I need your advice I will ask it!” Del Colma ex- claimed, haugbtily. The lip of the sharp curled just a little, but he did not reply. Possibly he saw that the Californian was in a desperate mood, and he forbore to provoke him to a quarrel. ‘‘ There is only one chance for me to save my property.” ‘““Your property?’ questioned Velvet Hand. ‘‘ Yes—the mine.” ‘*Oh, yes, | see. Well, you are not the first man whom. the Cinnabar mine has broke.” Wasthecool and hardy sharp a believer, then, in the legend which gave to the golden lode the character of a destroying demon? “If I had six thousand dollars I might be able to buy the mine in at the sheriff’s sale.” ‘Yes; but six thousand dollars don’t grow on every bush,” Velvet Hand observed, tartly. “You have managed to make that much out of me.” “Do you want me to give it back?’ the Cinnabar man asked, sharply. ‘‘ Are we a couple of boys playing marbles in fun, the winnings to be returned when the game ends!” The Californian was nettled by the speech, and threw his head up proudly. ‘‘T ask favors from no man!” he cried, ‘and least of all from you. Ihave sought you out to-night to challenge you to play. Before morning dawns I intend to win six thousand dollars from you.” _“ Well, if you do that, I sha’n’t be able to buy the eee | mine, to-morrow, at the sheriff’s sale.” Del Colma started as if he had trodden upon a snake. ‘* You buy the Cinnabar mine!” he cried. ‘“‘Why not? It will be sold to the highest bidder, won’t it? Why shouldn’t I buy as well as anyone else? I am getting rather tired of being a gambler—a card-sharper, that is what gentlemen like yourself term me, although you are all eager enough to try to win the money that we gamblers risk. When I become the owner of the Cinnabar lode, I shall be a gen- tleman—a man of property; I can play cards, too, just the same as ever, but I will not be a gambler any longer. You will ob- serve that there is a great deal of difference between the man who plays cards for amusement and the man who plays that he may live.” Del Colma winced at the sarcasm. ‘“‘Of course you are at liberty to buy the mine if you bid high enough.” ) “Tll give thirteen thousand dollars for it, if I can’t get it cheaper,” The Californian looked astonished; he had no idea that Velvet Hand possessed such a sum. **Oh, | mean it!” the sharp exclaimed. “Will you play with me to-night?’ Fernando asked, abruptly. “é No.” “You are afraid to give me a chance to win my money back!’’ “‘T said once that I wouldn’t play with you again.” “You owe me my revenge, and you are no man if you refuse to give it to me!” Del Colma cried, hotly. ‘‘See this diamond ring, my sister’s jewel, given by her freely in this last ex- tremity. It is allI have. It is worth five hundred dollars at the least, and I challenge you to put up that sum; take the ring, and then we will play.” ‘““Tt’s a bargain,” cried Velvet Hand, abruptly. “I will uy the ring from you and give you five hundred for it, and you shall have the privilege of redeeming it at any time within a month.” “‘ And you will play with me?’ asked the Californian, eagerly. “Yes; as long as you have a cent of money left,” Velvet Hand replied, with cool irony. The two men rose to their feet, and down the hill-side to the town they went; straight to the Occidental Hotel they pro- ceeded, secured a room, laid in a stock of cards and candles, and immediately proceeded to work. The game proceeded at first with varying fortunes, but as midnight approached luck deserted the Californian, and with the stroke of twelve he sat a haggard, penniless man, The thousand dollars lay in a heap on Velvet Hand’s side of the table. He drew from his pocket two bags, one marked a thousand and the other five hundred, and placed them beside the heap of coin. “Your sister is a charming girl; when I own the Cinnabar mine, I shall be a suitable match for any woman in California. Pll put up this twenty-five hundred dollars against your con- sent in writing to my wooing her, and take the chances of a single cut out of the cards.” Eomichboo