Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Neen ee ee EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ————$——— = ' “This the young man can prove; and, his | father being dead and he the only heir, of course the property is now his. ‘‘ When this territory came under the ju- risdiction of the United States, the Govern- ment agreed to honor all claims which were recognized as valid by the Mexican govern- ment at that time, and this is one of them. ‘Tf there is no flaw in any of the young man’s papers, my friends, | am afraid he has the advantage. ‘Still, Tam ready and willing to fight for you, and fight we will, if you say so, till the sun ceases to rise.” ‘‘ And that is just what we intend to do,” said Cibuta John, ‘‘and you may depend on it;”” And he added: “These Mexicans never thought of look- ing up their old/claims till after gold and silver mines were discovered here, and then every man who could hunt up even a ghost of a claim, did so. ‘They may have plenty of law to back them, but they are not greatly overstocked with justice, for if no improvements and no discoveries had been made here, these old claims would have slept right on forever,” ‘That's so—that’s so!” ‘Th’ Prickly P’ar is right.” “iow old is this town asked ‘‘About eight years,” replied Bill Twick- er. “And you never heard anything of this Don Juan Bartolo, nor of his claim, previous to his first coming here about four months azo?” ‘‘ Never a word.” “Then I would like to know whether pos- session for eight years, without protest being made, does not outlaw this old Bartolo claim. How is it, lawyer?” ‘‘ Was due notice published of your inten- tion to settle here, and prior claimants in- vited to come forward and present their claims? Was due and legal warning given?” the lawyer asked. “No,” answered Jem Patterson, who was one of the original founders of the town; ‘‘we jest put down our claim-stakes an’ stopped heur. We jest struck camp, wi’ no prelimernaries whatever.” ‘‘Then,” said lawyer Skynn, ‘‘I fear the old claim will hold good. The Government is bound to recognize it, if it can be proved all straight and O. K.” **And the eight years count for naught, eh?” demanded Cibuta. ‘‘ This Mexican allows ee to go on for eight years, opening mines, building up the town and developing the wealth of the land, and then down he swoops and wants to gobble it all.” ‘* And the chances are he will beat us, too, in spite of our teeth. In any event, I think it would require a much longer period than eight years of undisturbed possession to give you any hold against him. You are, in com- mon language, simply * squatters.’ ”’ ‘‘Wal, ef we are,” declared Bill Twicker, ‘we'll continue to ‘squat,’ an’ don’t ye fer- git it!’ now?” Cibuta there are in a basket of live eels. And there is generally about as much squirming.” “ ¥Vell, what response do we have to make to,*) «ssrs. Jingle & Joy?” Cibuta inquired. if we hev ter go to Santa Fe in force,” Bill Twicker exclaimed, ‘‘thar’ll be some joyful jinglin’ thar, you bet.”’ At this there was another roar of laughter, “Well,” said the lawyer, in answer to the question, ‘‘you must engage counsel, answer the summons, and have the case brought to | Sot Bie a ne rr a see ee ee — The Giant Cupid. too,” declared Jem Patterson. ‘‘ You ain't much o' a fighter wi’ muscle or weepons, lawyer, but you re a power at law.” ‘“Yes, lawyer Skynn’s our man, every time!’ several others proclaimed. And that settled it. Phineas Skynn was retained as counsel for the town. While this conversation and a great deal more was being carried on, Uncle Dan Der- rick, the postmaster, was busily engaged in studying the paper he had pasted up. ‘Wal, Uncle Dan, what d’ye make out 0’ it?” Jem Patterson presently asked. ‘* Come, can’t ye shed a leetle ray 0’ wisdom on th’ subject? Can’t ye show us th’ way out o' th’ diffikilty? You’re most allers our right- hand man in a case o’ this kind.” ‘‘That’s so, poet,” asserted Bill Twicker; ‘* so let’s hear from ye.” Being thus called upon to give his opinion, the postmaster turned round and said: “Wal, pards, I'll tell ye what I'd do, I'd jest survey this claim right through: Fer sence I've read this keerfully, I've hit upon a big idee. A leetle flaw, heur, I hev found, Which makes me think we're g/ that ground, This tells jist how th’ lines all run, An’ sez our crick’s th’ northern one; But, as yeall are well aware, Another crick runs back o’ heur— Jest on th’ other side th’ hill, An’ may be ¢ha? will fill th’ bill. ¥f we kin prove thet that’s his crick, We’ll make Bartolo mighty sick.” ‘*| knowed it! I knowed thet Uncle Dan could solve th’ puzzle!” cried Jem Patterson, ‘* Bully fer th’ postmaster!” Bill Twicker echoed, ‘‘That is;just what we will do,” Cibuta John aeciarer as he caught the postmaster's idea. ‘‘ We will have the ground surveyed. There are three or four of these little creeks within a few miles of here, and this is just as likely to mean one of them as another.” ‘The idea is a good one—a very good one,” lawyer Skynn agreed, ‘‘ and we will have the tract run out, by all means. This Mexican may have crowded northward a little, pur- posely to take in this town, and if he has we will catch him dead to rights. Let us make no mention of our intention, though, and then if we do catch them at any tricks we will have a surprise for them at the trial.” At that moment, who should walk in but Don Juan Bartolo himself. CHAPTER VIL. A VILLAIN’S THREAT. Axovut the same time time when the Shang- hai Rooster from Jimtown Lode was dancing in the Pleasant Hour Saloon—dancing as though his very life depended on it, another role was being enacted in the town of Ante- Bar to which the interests of our story de- mand that we turn our attention. Not far from the Dew-drop Inn, Ante- Bar’s principal hotel, stood a white house, which, as the reader will remember, was the home of Judge Hucklebee, the man who was murdered by Giant John Jones. Here still lived the late judge’s beautiful daughter, Miss Nettie Hucklebee, who was the acknowledged belle of the town. The house, although owned by Miss Huck- Not only was she the belle of Ante-Bar, but she was now the affianced bride of our hero—Cibuta John, and the day for their wedding was set and near at hand. Somewhere along in our first chapter we mentioned that the group of men seated in the Pleasant Hour had been quietly discus- sing a ‘‘coming important event,” etc., and that ‘‘event” was the approaching wedding. Great preparations had been made, and were still going on, to make it a memorable affair. the conditions @ for dancing had been built in the open air, excellent musical talent engaged, and a great many people from far and near were invited to attend. lt was expected that it would be the grand- est fete the county had ever known, In speaking of it, the people of Ante Bar called it ‘* Cibuta John’s picnic,” ‘‘th’ Prick- ly P’ar’s great jubilee,” etc., and hence the title of this chronicle. But, more of this anon, are digressing. Early in the evening of which we are now treating, there came a caller to the Hucklebee mansion, who asked to see Miss Nettie Hucklebee | This caller was a man. He was a Mexican—to all appearances a Mexican gentleman, and was faultlessly at- tired in the habiliment peculiar to his native land. The servant bade him enter, and then in- quired his name. ‘‘Don Juan Bartolo,” the Mexican an- swered. And the servant having ushered him into the parlor, went at once in quest of the young lady, to apprise her of his pres- ence, In afew minutes Miss Hucklebee came down-stairs and entered the room. The Mexican rose at once, and greeted her with a most courteous bow, saying, in his native language: . ‘‘T am so glad to see you, senorita. Your presence brightens the room the moment you enter. It would brighten a king’s palace.” These words were uttered with all the fervor of a Spanish galanteador of old, Miss Hucklebee smiled, greeted her visitor civilly, and invited him to resume his seat. “You are quite a stranger at Ante-Bar, Senor Bartolo,” she remarked; she, too, speaking in Spanish, which she understood thoroughly. The Mexican had made the young lady’s acquaintance during his few weeks’ sojourn at Ante-Bar some months previously, before the citizens of the place had made it so un- igo for him as to cause him to remove 1is head-quarters to the nearest neighboring town, which rejoiced in the name of Bung- eye Camp, and by which title it has been al- ready mentioned, He had come to Ante-Bar highly recom- mended, and previous to his setting up his claim, and arrogantly demanding to be re- cognized as monarch of all he surveyed, had been favorably received. But the moment he had made known his desire to become lord high mayor, then the citizens gave him the cold shoulder at once. “Yes,” he responded. ‘‘I am quite a stranger here. Your people here made it quite plain tome that I was not very wel- come, after I presented my claim and re- quested my rights, so I went away.” ‘‘Tt was too bad,” said Nettie, ‘‘ but it was only natural that the people should object: You see, the most of our citizens are rough, uneducated men, and your demand aroused their antagonistic spirits at once, and they took a dislike to you personally. We find that we rou.” ‘ ‘*Then I hope I shall always deserve your respect, senorita. I hope I shall always be able to observe the conditions by which IT can claim it.” ‘“You hope you shall, senor! Do younet * know whether have named?” ’ «*No, senorita, I do not.” “You do not! And why, pray?” ¥ wi wi, Wid of 3 At this there was a general laugh. lebee, was occupied and managed by the “Tam sure, though, you cannot say that L ¥. ‘You are right, Bill,” Cibuta John aver- | young lady’s friends, Mr. and Mrs. St. Claire, | treated you any differently after you had x red. ‘* We will continue to hold the fort ag | she making her home with them. made your claim known, than before.” : t long as there is anything to hold. We are in In point of fact, though, Miss Nettie was ‘*True, I cannot; and yet you have as ie possession, and possession is about nine points | the recognized head of the household. much interest at stake as any other person in. a of the law, so it is said.” Nettie Hucklebee was truly a handsome | the town. You are one of the chief usurperé i j “Yes,” lawyer Skynn hastened to assert, | girl. She was now about nineteen years of | of my rights, senorita, I cannot under- — ar, ‘that is where our main hold lies, and we | age, and was of medium hight and exqui-| stand it. I should think you would hate. ‘ will make the most of it. And if we can sitely proportioned. She was just budding | me.” q on show that this man knew of your settling | into the perfect flower—magnificent woman- Nettie laughed. i cy r here and did not warn you off, we will gain , hood. Her complexion was of a delicate red ‘‘Oh, no!” she answered. ‘There is no es a grip on him. Besides, the Government | and white, and marvelously clear; her eyes | reason why I should hate you, senor. You ba has recognized the town by establishing a | were of a deep velvety blue; her hair was | have always treated me gentlemanly enough, = : ost-oflice here, and we will see what bearing | golden in cclor, and rich and lustrous, Lit- | and have never injured me in any way; and that will have upon the case. Oh, there are | tle wonder she was called ‘‘ Th’ belle o’ th’ | so long as you cortinue to do the one, and pate more crooks and turns in a case at law than | Bar.” not do the other, so long I skall respect af ot ‘ht — ats es Yee no ge will continue to observe 3 ‘* Because, senorita, it will depend alto oe m trial. I shall be most happy to take it up for | If was intended to make it a great festival- | gether upon you.” a “ae you.” day for the whole town—a day of gayety and| The young lady looked the surprise she Na *“An’ you're jest th’ old fossil we want, | merrymaking. An immense covered platform fe!t. Ri fay, AN }. ro aE : ae ’ . bas | | Gomicbooks.com . ~ 2 i‘ “ : ES ee ’ - 7 }. i »