Beadle's Dime Library No. 387 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

nn —aa = ‘*Glad to see you your Own man again, old fellow; but, if it’s all the same to you, I’m awful busy just now, and—” ‘“Tm quiet as a kitten, boss, an’ you'll never know I’m in the room ef you don’t want,” grin- ned Moses placidly, but with a reddish gleam in his bruised eyes. ‘*Go on with your work. I’ve got a bit o’ figgerin’ to do, too. Want to make out jest how much it’s wu’th, what work I’ve done this evenin’.” “There are other places in plenty, and I'd rather be alone,” was the sharp retort. ‘If you want a small stake, I don’t mind giving it to you, for past services, but—” ‘“ISick me out, boss,” drawled the Droop- eared Daisy, leaning back in his chair, hands thrust in bis arm-holes, an ugly leer in his blood- shot eyes. ‘‘ I’m here, an’ I feel like I’d tuck root to stay, too!” Damon Wingfold did not look much like a craven just then. Though the rough was big enough to take him across his knee and break him in two, to use the vernacular, he bent for- ward, shaking his long, bony forefinger in the | blood-marked face, snapping: “Tf I say go, roots won’t hold ‘you long, my fine felow! Don’t presume too much on your past services. I paid you your price, and far more than you earned. I repeat: [am busy. I prefer ‘your room to your company, Will you leave peaceably, or—’ He filled the hiatus far more significantly than words could have done. A loaded revolver slipped into his hand, and the muzzle stared Lop-eared Mose full in the face. But the big ruffian stirred not, save to utter, sharply: ‘* it’s business, not durn foolishin’, that brung me here, boss, Putt up your dropper afore you hurt somebody—an’ that'll hit you wuss then it will me, or you kin take my hat!” Damon Wingfold hesitated. Lop-eared Mose added quickly: ‘** You hain’t diskivered that lost cache, hey ye, boss?” The weapon dropped, and with a lightning movement Mose caught it and wrenched it from the old man’s hand, laughing softly: ‘“Yowre too narvous to han’le sech tools, old feller, an’ fer fear what Ive got to say mought jar the hammer off, Pll take keer o’ this little playthin’, ef you don’t mind,” Damon Wingfold shrunk back, showing his teeth like a cornered wolf. But Lop-eared Mose made no move to follow up his triumph, though he drew his burly figure more erect, his tones changing abruptly: ‘*T run onto an old pard o’ mine this evenin’, boss. Mebbe you’ve hearn tell o’ him; a mighty crooked little critter, Humpy Dick.” ‘* What is he to me?” snapped the old fox, sourly. “That's what I’m axin’,” was the placid re- tort. ‘*'Didn’t know but what he was a old friind to you, as well. Folks say he’s wu’th a ower 0’ money, an’ them’s the sort you used to ike the best.” ‘** A lunatic—fit only for an asylum!” Lop-eared Mose laughed shortly, disagreeably. ‘Jest what I thought my own seif when I fu’st see’d him this evenin’. A crazy hunch-up’er, I said. Durned shame fer his kin-folk to let him out loose without a keeper’ to sleer off the dogs! But that was afore I made him out as a old mate—I say, boss!” ‘‘ And I say that I have no interest whatever in this crazy cripple!” snapped Wingfold, angri- ly. ‘‘If you haven’t anything of more impor- tance to talk about, and refuse to leave my rooms when I ask you, I’ll leave them to you for the time.” - He rose to his feet as though about to put his threat into execution, but Lop-eared Mose grasped him by the arm, saying: | ‘** Don’t fly off the han’le, boss, jest beca’se I pay you back in your own change. Set down, or you'll only be sorry once—an’ that sorry ’ll last you to your grave! I mean business, now!” Damon Wingfold resumed his seat, more be- cause he knew that he was hysically unfit for a struggle with this rough o mighty muscle than from a belief that he would hear anything worth Mithat’s hearty, an? everythin iat’s he » an’ eve i tl go on smooth as grease, boss!” nodded Bar Droop- eared Daisy's with a cheerful grin, ‘You of- fered me a big price one time ef I could find that lost cache fer you? A vivid light leaped into those little eyes and Damon Wingfold leaned forward, all eagerness, as he ejaculated: “Tl! double, treble the amount now, Mose!” “Tt's a whack—shake!” and the rough grasped the bony band. ‘ ‘You have found—’ ee Humpy Dick—no less, boss! You don’t like = baler? with a short \eug* as the eager light rned to one of disgust. : “He is a foretiee I’ve heard of his silly ra- vings on that point, but I gave them not a sec- ond thought. If you place any dependence in what he may have told you, Mose, you’re a big- ger ass than I ever thought you!” ; “I found Hu y Dick, boss,” placidly re- ated the desperado, “ An’ when I found him found what was left of as fine an’ straight an’ 4 | time ago. | kin call the turn on it now, though!” ' et Sl St a | you promised me the fu’st time. | fer,” | significant leer. frowning, “he did tote it thar not more’n two a es ee a smart a man as you ever run acrost in the hull course 0’ your life!” Damon Wingfold stared at the speaker, some- thing like a sneer curling his thin lips. ‘You don’t swaller that, boss, but all the same, it’s the gospel truth. them as takes Humpy fer a sardine, never yit see’d a whale to recognize it—no they didn’t! He’s clean color, an’ don’t need no washin’ nur quicksilver." But let him drap fer a bit. “You want to find the cache you lost long I tried my level best to ketch onto it fer you, but slipped up on it, bad. I reckon I **Do it—show me the lost cache, and Ill pay your own price!” ** Money down, or when we corral the dust, boss?” , Lop-eared Mose seemed to find particular pleasure in first raising the hopes of the old man only to cast them down the next moment, Damon Wingfold scowled as he sunk back into his seat, ‘** Not a red unless you succeed! bled any more!” ‘*Nur [ ain’t in that line, nuther, boss,” laughed Sawyer. To show how dead sure I be that [’'m on the right track, I won’t ax a dollar unless I show you the lost cache. Ef I do show it, you’re to pay me over jest three times what Ts it a whack?” **1 will give it to you in writing, if you pre- 1 won’t be ‘*No need. You won't go back onto a old pard—one that knows so many o’ the ins an’ outs o’ your past, boss,” laughed the rough, with a ‘** Your word is good, Aw’ now fer why | lugged this crooked critter, Humpy Dick into the confab: he holds the secret 0’ the lost cache!” . ** Tmpossible !” ‘*But dead sure, true enough, boss!” was the positive retort. “It was to git hold of this secret—he kerries a paper tellin’ all how to git at the dust, in his breast. Leastways,” slowly, hours ago!” ‘* How did you make the discovery? Why are you so positive?” ‘‘ Fu’st, I tuck the critter to be looney, as you said, e was fightin’ off the jim-jams, an’ couldn’ git a drink to satisfy ’em. I tuck him up a’ watered the critter, fer I'd bin thar my own self, an’ knowed how to feel fer him thar. ‘*He went on in the durnest rigermarole 0’ crazy stuff you ever hearn tellof. I was watchin’ of him, sorter keerless like, when I tuck a notion Vd see’d the imp afore. Not crooked up like that, but tall an’ straight an’ trim-built a piece as you could find in seventeen States!” . * All imagination. If your osha are founded no better—” and Damon Wingfold shrugged his shoulders significantly. ‘* ll be heap satisfied ef they be,” quickly in- terposed Sawyer. I tell you, boss, T turned ‘cold all over when I placed the critter—an* I did place him, you bet! I was jest stirred up enough to spit out the name he went by in them old days, an’ you’d orter see how he wilted when they hit him right whar he lived! Looked like a rattlesnake hed jumped onter his face without givin’ warnin’ nur nothin?!” ** What name was it you called him by?’ and from the quickness with which he spoke, it was plain enough Damon Wingfold was beginning to grow interested in the matter far more than he cared to show. ‘* Wait a bit, boss. I didn’t want to make a show thar whar so many hungry critters was watchin’ fer p’ints, so I manidged to git Humpy out-doors, an’ then I made sure he was the man IT oncé knowed when he wasn’t crazy, nur rag- ged nur crooked all upin a heap! An’ ef I ain’t a born liar, you knowed theman, too! Knowed him mighty well, boss!” ‘What do you mean? What was his name?” demanded Wingfold, hoarsely. ‘Sterling Coin, true as I’m a livin’ sinner, boss!” A wild, gasping cry escaped the lips of Wing- fold, and something close akin toa ject terror filled his thin face, CHAPTER VII. HUMPY DICK SELECTS HIS HEIRS. Anp Dark Durg it was, beyond a doubt! Rex Stuart could see this ‘as he stared at the tall, dark figure standing just within the cham- ber, gazing steadily at the pale face of the de- formed as ho told the black and bitter story of the past. Even as he caught himself wondering how the strange being had succeeded in entering the room without attracting his or the doctor’s attention, Rex Stuart was comparing this man with what he could recall of the c aring rider who had so suddenly changed the odds in that street row, A tittle over six feet in his moccasins, erect, perfectly proportioned, a model for one who wished to draw the likeness of a physically per- fect man. His muscular development and grace- ful lines were well displayed by the snug-fitting dress of buckskin, soft and pliable, giving with each motion of his arm or body. His face and hands were dark as bronze, either by nature or from the effects of constant expo- An’ I tell you that | ee Se a i i a a i a ne i Beers iD Sa “ sae sure to the sun and tanning winds. The jetty blackness and straightness of his hair, however, lent strong coloring to the report that if not all red-skin, Dark Durg carried a good deal of In- dian blood in his veins. His face was beardless, long and narrow, with high cheekbones and prominent chin. His eyes were black and lustrous, now glowing from be- neath the shadow of his slouched hat as though the sockets were filled with molten metal. A. broad belt encircled his waist, supporting, knife, hatchet and a brace of heavy revolvers. As Humpy Dick shrunk back, his eyes wildly distended, one thin hand pointed quiveringly to- ward this strange being, Dark Durg suddenly threw back the drooping brim of his felt hat, stepping forward with a low, peculiar ejacvla- tion. It did not seem to be a word or words of any language, but its effect was marvelous, That look of wild terror vanished from the face of the deformed. His head turned squarely to- ward the strange being who was slowly moving toward the bedside, and then a glad, almcst sob- bing ery escaped his pale lips, just as Rex Stuart stepped before Dark Durg, threateningly. ‘Stand back—keep your distance, or~—” _ Dark Durg smiled slightly as he paused, say- ing: “T am his friend. Judge for yourself.” Even as he uttered these words in a deep, mel- low tone, Rex Stuart involuntarily turned bis head at the cry that came from the lips of the wounded man. ‘My father! I am glad—so glad! I have prayed for your coming, but I feared I weuld never again gaze upon your dear face! fee! the morning has dawned, as you predicted—for I am a man again! My poor brain has burst its shackles, and—doctor—” Blood rose in his throat and choked his excited, exultant utterance, and as his head fell back on the pilow, Humpy Dick cast an appealing, im- ploring glance toward Doctor Shipley, who at once hastened to his side, spluttering, exploding, indignant and prophetic al in a breath, ‘* Knew it! Said so! Suicide! Hung, next thing, for aiding and abetting! Serve me mighty right. Yes! The devil--hundred devils—all the = pe in history, sacred and profane! Good ord! With a single sweep of his right arm, Dark Durg put Rex Stuart aside, and standing near the bedside, keenly watched the movements of the fussy but really skillful dector. His interest seemed deep, but in his glowing eyes alcne was it written. Hard, cold, immobile remained his deeply bronzed face. ard and stoicalit remained even when Doctor Shipley, having done all he could for the de- formed, giving him another of the strengthening draughts and propping him inan easier pesiticn, turned upon him much asa mother ben might fly out at a grave mastiff, spluttering: ‘* Infernal scoundrel, sir! Want a liching— kicking, too! Get ont! No right here. My patient. My room. My Lord!” Poor doctor! He was being terribly tried that night, and it is little short of a miracle that his growing indignation did not actually burst bim —or at least split his clothes up the back! Dark Durg without a word or even a bow hy way of apology, took him by the arms and coolly set him aside, stepping close to the bed and bend- ing over Humpy Dick, whose thin right band went up until it lovingly touched that cark bronzed cheek, much as a tired, ailing infant might caress a patient, loving mother. *T knew you were lcoking for me, dear friend, but I began to fear ycu would come too Jate to see— Ha!” and he cast a wild, startled glance around the room. ‘‘ They’re yelling and hewling —don’t you hear them?” “You are safe, gecd lad,” softly muttered Dark Durg, grasping the quivering hand and pressing it yeassuringly, *‘ No cne can Larm you while | am to the fore.” ‘** Not me—you /” panted the deformed, ‘ They how] for your life! Ican hear then! Go! ride away on good old Midnight, and you can Jaugh the fleetest ot them all to scorn.” ‘*In good time, Dick. When you are able to go home with me.” A faint smile flitted across the face of the sty oe “Tam going home, but not with you, father.” “‘ Tt isn’t so bad as that, Dick, You are going to get well and be as strong and hearty as ever in. a few days. Don’t be downcast-~” Humpy Dick laughed softly, painfully, his dark eyes drooping as though to take a survey of his frightfully crippled frame. “It is so much to lose, isn’tit? This lovely form! This— Hark!” and his glowing eyes turned toward the door as though he again caught the sound of the bloodhounds. ** All is quiet, Dick, and there is no pressin danger,” calmly uttered Dark Durg. ‘I tco care to throw the hounds off the track befere I doubled on them to come and visit you. I hoped to take you back home with me, but—” “Can't! Sha’n’t! Impossible, sir!” exploded Doctor Shipley. ‘‘ He’s under my care, sir, and Vl fight for his rights. sir! But may the devil eat me without salt if Idon’t wish I'd never seen him or any of your relations up to the ten thou- sandth degree—so there!” MIiGDoOO (E(0) (C CSG On ae gs a gi I lM A a a ll I aaa Se nee ee ee ees: _— SO