Beadle's Dime Library No. 384 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

i aa fied) Injun Dick, Detective. ness we may rely, so we will not be detained by being obliged to hunt up a man. | ‘‘ The gentleman who will act as my second | is below, and with your permission, gentlemen, 1 will summon him.”’ Then Everest went to a speaking-tube in the wall and spoke through it. In a few seconds a tall, saturnine-looking in- dividual made his appearance. Phenix and the new-comer exchanged glances. The detective and the gloomy-looking gentle- man were old acquaintances. He was commonly known as Melancholy Mike, and was reputed to be one of the most expert confidence men in the country. henix had once had the pleasure of sending the gentleman to Sing Sing stone hotel for a three years’ term, and Mike had had a high re- spect for the detective king ever since. He bore no malice, for it was all done in the way of business, and a man ought not to be blamed for following bis trade. Everest briefly explained the situation. ‘This gentleman,” he said, indicating Talbot, ‘‘ig anxious to either give or take a few lessons in swordsmanship; I am going to accommodate him, and I sheuia like you to attend the picnic in the guise of my best man.” Mike looked rather surprised, but he was too much of a man of the world to express any amazement. A better second in an affair of this kind it would have been hard to find, for in his youth Mike had been employed in a fencing-school in the old country before he took to bad courses, and had carte and tierce at his finger’s end. He expressed himseif as being delighted to be of service. The doctor was summoned, the swords care- fully wrapped in a bundle so that no inquisitive eye could detect what they were, and then the party set out. They proceeded straight to the water’s edge. Mike negotiated for the use of a boat, and soon the party was afloat. The tide was on the ebb, and swiftly they floated down the stream. By the time they had passed Castle Garden and got out into the harbor it was after eleven, | and with the exception of the shipping anchor- ed in the stream they had the water all to them- selves. ‘*We are all right if we don’t attract the at- tention of the police-boat,” Everest observed. ‘*They might be inclined to be inquisitive, but I do not think we would have any difficulty in satisfying them.” From the perfect acquaintance which the old man showed with everything connected with the trip, particularly his knowledge of the tides, and how the currents ran, Phenix came to the | conclusion that it was not the first time Ever- est had captained a water-party, and immedi- ately in his mind came remembrances of some successful hauls the river-thieves had made, and now he was satisfied be was in the company of the man who planned the raid. The island was reached, and the rarty clam- bered to the broad surface of the stone, and then, after the preliminaries were arranged, sword in hand the antagonists faced each other, stripped to their shirts and pantaloons, and with thoir right arms bare, appearance of the two men, now that they were stripped for the fight. For a man of his size and build, Everest was uncommonly muscular, wiry and steel-like, but there was no comparison between him and his antagonist. Talbot was so much larger that he appeared to be fully fifty pounds the better man, ‘* [T guess you are about right, Mike,” Everest answered, ‘‘In a boxing-match I think it is very likely he would get away with me in a manner that I should despise, but when it comes to the steel blades, then it isnot so much a question of mus- cular strength. ‘As you well know, I have been able to hold my own with some of the best fencing-masters in the country, and it is not likely that this Westerner will be able to cope with me. ** In fact, | think it isabout a thousand dol- lars to a cent that I will spit him with my blade within the first five minutes,” **Oh, there isn’t much doubt about that,” Mike remarked. ‘‘It isn’t likely he can be up to any trick with the sword that you don’t know.” And while this conversation was going on be- tween the two, one somewhat similar in its na- ture was being indulged in by the opposite fac- tion. ‘This galoot thinks he’s got a soft thing in this hyer b’iling,” Bowers remarked, as he as- sisted Talbot to remove his coat. ‘* Yes, I shouldn’t be surprised if he is a good swordsman,” Phenix observed. ‘In fact, it seems to me that I have heard some yarns in regard to his skill with the sword, ‘*T can’t recall the exact particulars now, but it seems to me that a couple of years ago he had an encounter at some fencing-school in New York with some foreigner who came here with the highest testimonials as to his skill as a swordsman, and Everest succeeded in getting by far the best of the match. ‘Tam atolerable good man with the steel blades myself, and used to take a good deal of interest in the sport, and that is why, [ suppose, I remember what this fellow’s reputation is in that line.” ‘* Well, I can’t say that I am expert now,” Talbot admitted. ‘* There was a time, long years ago—I was a | youngster then here in New York—when I was _a pretty fair swordsman, but as I have hardly had a foil in my hand since that time, I am de- cidedly rusty.” ‘** Ain’t you running a big risk then in this en- | counter?” Phenix asked. He did not exactly understand why Talbot was taking the matter so coolly, if he was aware that the chances were allin favor of his getting killed in the encounter. Bowers snickered outright as he noticed the misapprehension under which the able detec- tive, in spite of all his shrewdness, was labor- ing. ou worry yourself about that, Mr. ** Don’t Phenix!” he exclaimed. average galoot.” Bowers did not comprehend bow Talbot pro- posed to equalize the chances which now seemed so much in favor of his antagonist, but from his long acquaintance with Talbot he felt satisfied that Injun Dick had some scheme in his head by means of which he trusted to secure a vic- tory. ‘* Ain’t I right, pard?’ he continued. ‘‘ You don’t calculate to let this ornery cuss rip you up like a dried codfish, do yon?” ‘*Not if I can help it, and I think I can,” CHAPTER XXI. THE DUEL. THe moon shone upon the scene in majestic beauty. 5% Afar off glimmered the lights of the great twin cities, New York and Brooklyn, connected by a chain of fire from the electric lights upon | Talbot replied. ‘As a general rule I don’t the bridge. mean to be skinned tn any game that I choose There was a decided contrat between the two, | to chip into, and although this fellow thinks, no for Talbot “ stripped large,” to use the sporting | doubt, that he has a soft thing of it, I reckon I ‘‘T reckon my ole pard hyer ain't any more | anxious to shuflie off this mortal coil than the | not a fight with cudgels but a sword encounter 15 making this outrageous charge, and I want you to understand that your heart’s best blood alone can satisfy me, **This is to be a duel to the death. I shall show no mercy, and ask none,”’ ‘*You had better save your breath for the fight. You will find you need it all before we get through with the struggle,” Talbot replied. The coolness of the admonition angered Everest, the more so, because he felt perfectly satisfied that he held the life of his antagonist completely at his mercy. ‘*** Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!’” he exclaimed, throwing himself into position. ‘**'Your ignorance alone excuses your folly. There is not one chance out of a thousand for Gp “TIT hold your hfe in the very hollow of my hand—it is mine to sacrifice, or spare, as I lease, **] will play with you as the cat plays with the mouse enjoy your agony when you discover that you are hopelessly in my power, and then drive my steel through your heart, and with a a le straight thrust send your soul to its aker, ‘*Bah! what a man you would be if you could only fight as well as you can talk about it,” Talbot remarked pier trig sah ioe gh advancing and crossing swords with Everest. It was the intention of the latter to do exactly as he had said, relying upon his skill as a swordsman. He intended to confuse his opponent with brilliant parades, prick him here and there with the point of his blade, and enjoy his fruitless endeavors to retaliate. It would be rare sport, and followed by the death of his opponent, would give him full meas- ure of revenge. or only a moment though, after the keen and shining blades crossed, twining together like two silver serpents, did Everest enjoy these pleasant thoughts. It was his intention to remain on the defensive for a moment or two, allowing his adversary to attack, so as to discover just-how expert a swordsman the other was. This programme suited Talbot exactly, for it allowed him to carry out the plans which he had formed, So, hardly had the swords crossed when Tal- bot’s a his opponent’s and performing a flourish in the air such as no fencing-school haa ever seen, gave Everest a sounding slap across the face with the flat of the blade, The force of the blow for a moment almost blinded the adventurer, and he staggered back in astonishment. Talbot had not calculated on producing so powerful an effect or he might have ended the struggle there and then, for Everest had been thrown off his guard by the unexpected blow, rendering himsélf open to an attack and one straight thrust delivered by Talbot's powerful arm would have ended the fight. Perceiving that his principal was for the mo- ment helpless, Mike hastened to protest against this astonishing way of fighting, ‘* What are you about?” he cried, ‘ This is and the way you have commenced is against rules.” ‘Oh, bosh!” cried Bowers. ‘Take a back seat and keep quiet until the time comes to bury your man. I reckon my principal kin slin swords as well as any galoot that ever flourish a toad-sticker. ‘*Come up to the scratch, take your gruel smilingly, and get whaled like a man and a brother!” By this time Everest had recovered from the effects of the blow and he stepped forward with an ugly look upon his face, He had formed a new plan of attack, phrase. That is, when his outward garments were re- man thon he seemed, And Everest, who was watching his opponent with the eyes of a hawk as he prepared for the encounter, was astonished at the muscular de- velopment of the Westerner, ‘‘T say, Mike,” he observed to his second, who | lish game of single-stick, and during the long was assisting him to disrobe, “did you ever see such an infernal muscular wretch?” “Well, I must say I never did, for a man of his size. | He strips like a prize-fighter.” ‘‘ Indeed he does; he’s a model of aman. See how the muscles stand out through the skin, just like whip-cords; all good solid stuff too. I don’t believe the fellow has an ounce of fat or super- | | ' will be able to make him change his mind before we get through with this picnic. ** Although I am not as expert with the sword as I might be, yet I know a trick or two in another line which I think I can work in here to advantage, ‘*T had a pard once up at the mines in Salmon river region who was an expert at the old Eng- CHAPTER XXII. ANOTHER ADVENTURE, Tre look on Everest’s face, when, for the sec- ond time he advanced to cross swords with Tal- bot was altogether different from that which he had previously worn. The trick which Talbot had so deftly per- formed had convinced him that he had made a winter-time, when the weather kept us within doors I studied the play, and became about as | mistake in holding his opponent so lightly and skillful at it as he was. ‘that the task which he had undertaken wes ‘“My gentleman over yonder is undoubtedly | not going to be so easy a one as he had antici- an excel ent. fencer, but the chances are a hun- | pated. dred to one that he never heard of single-stick, And with the caution which was so pre-emi- and when I give him a taste of a trick or | nent in his nature, he began to think he had two 1m that line, I have an idea he will discover | made a mistake in accepting the challenge so that he has not got so soft a thing on hand as he imagines,” $ By this time the pay cao were prepared for the encounter, and ward sword in hand, invited attack fluous flesh on him. af ‘““ Why, if he had been training for months to meet a man like the Boston slugger in a four- round contest. he couldn’t have appeared in bet- ter condition. , pil ‘Small chance you would have against him if fists were to be the weapons Ins of swords, Mike remarked, with an admiring glance at the muscular arms of the representative of the Cen- tennial State. There was no disputing the truth of this ob- servation, for there was a vast difference in the Talbot to the let us see of what material you are composed!” he exclaimed, ‘*Tam ready, sir,” Talbot replied, advancing toward Everest, sword in hand, - eg AS Now, then, you man from the mountains, | boldly delivered by the other. It would have been better, be began to be- lieve, if he had intrusted the task of making verest, stepping for- | away with this obtrusive Westerner to other hands, rather than undertake to do the job him- self, ‘ But he was in for it now, and there wasn’t an other course open to him but to face the music and make the of the situation. He had a scheme in his mind by means of | which he fondly hoped the death of his foe might “You have mortally insulted me, sir, by be compassed, Gomicboo (E cs) (e(@)