Beadle's Dime Library No. 395 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

SS ee eee 94 : ie unconsciously, if indeed he was the Duke of f Derringers. a, ‘*Kither way, I knew that it would take no small amount of money to keep him in play lon _ enough toread him through and through, i a had some, but I doubted if L had sufficient. For i Py trat reason alone I played for a brief delay, a, knowing that Cramp would cheerfully supply i what I eeleed: fA ‘“*T knew he was on deck with the lady, who te) required fresh air and exercise to keep up her strength, shaken by the natural fears of a daughter. I saw them there, and waited until I could catch his eye, if possible, or ese until ; the laly chose to go below. iis ' **No doubt that fellow dogged me; or, it may be, that chance brought him to where he could see what he had lost and another man won. Anyhow, Mark Landrum or Duke Barringer pushed in between them, using insulting speech, as you all heard the lady declare. Crampstruck at or shoved the villain back, and I rushed for- | ward to stop the row. Before I could reach Pipe them, a shot was fired, and Cramp fell. <A second shot was sent at me, but it only grazed, and I hit the scoundrel the best I knew how. He stargered or tripped, and fell over the guards. The rest you know.” Tt was apparently a clear case against Mark - Landrum, or Marmaduke Barringer, whichever he might be, and had he put in an appearance just then, in all human probability there would have been a neck-tie festival after the most ap- | '_» proved fashion. + Captain [les instituted a search that resulted + thus: The man who had registered as Mark Tandrum was no longer on board; every other -—s- passenrer was fully accounted for; and so, be- yond a doubt, he was the rascal who had kicked up ell this bobbery. pena: Tt was fully daylight before matters fairly ———s quieted down on board the Superb, and even | then the matter formed almost the only topic of DR ys ¥ conversation among the passengers. . Both Rufus Cramp and Kyte Darley seemed not alitile astonished as Miss Wellspring made * her appearance at the breakfast table, still a _ little rale, with just the faintest of shadows be- _ neath her glor ous brown eyes, But a solt blush suffused her cheeks as she glanced down the Jong table and saw Rufus Cramp, his head ban- — daged, bis left eye almost swollen shut from the ss effects of that bullet through bis cheek. = NT hae She whispered a word to the gallant captain, i ___who sent the negro waiters right and Ieft as he ~~ tore along to execute her commands. And with te his aid, Rufus Cramp was soon installed next to 7 ~) > the heiress. Lu aae Why not?) What was more proper? He had he ? ap es oe A are me “rane and oT $2 ae 6 words drop y arley were public Here iN _ property long ago; poate Miss V/clspring hits alone was ignorant of the fact that she was re- |. garded as his betrothed. i LE SF Sy Instead of ill, that night adventure seemed to have wrought good. It certainly had driven ~~ away the sad, brooding apathy that had so far ifee _ marked Portia as its own. She no longer kept Ne bi close within her state-room, though she was still -——sveserved, still rather shrunk from the lady pas- -———s sengers, who looked upon her as a double, if nota treble, heroine. A great heiress, a be- | _\ trothed bride, the indirect cause of a horrid ‘te _ \ man’s death! It was too preciously utter! Or * _ woukl have been, had the esthetic apostle been his own father, and by so much antedated his Dad Pl ey eat? 2 UR vis't to these benighted shores. Kyte Darley, too, appeared to reap the bene- > ft of his manly conduct in that little adven- gia.) < Cure. Miss Wellspring begged the captain to | __ introduce him, after a more regular fashion, __, and her hours were divided between the two /———s comrades with tolerable impartiality. The most | ——-— of these were spent on the hurricane deck, fcr though the summer sun was hot, there was al- |. ways a comfortable breeze over the surface of i} > the broad river and either Kyte or Rufus seem ‘ed only too glad of the opportunity of holding ie ae er sunshade. / ss Tt does not take so very much to interest pas- ss senger’s on‘a slow boat (and the Superb seemed de- iE ries he, termined to outdo herself, if not in reducing one oy __ record, in exceeding another) and the trio attract- ete -_ edmore attention than two of them at least wish- ed for. And Jong before the signal for capper sounded, it was pretty generally decided that Kyte Darley was cutting out the running at a | rare pace; that Rufus Cramp was more disgust- ed than pleased with the situation, and rapidly allowing his disagreeable side to come upper- most. “Tt isn’t a matter to make bets about,” ob- --—s- gerved one inveterate ae who had taken _ the closest interest in the little comedy, “ but if oon ‘ pa * e ‘ -.. any gentleman wishes to give suitable odds, I 1S pS dow't mind backing the black against the white, Bee NEF a3 to win the stakes before the Superb gets to St. ---—~—s There were no offers, however. The manner ate in which Rufus Cramp exhibited the “off cross” in his blood, lost him what few friends ihe might otherwise have had. am- ---—--_—ibler thourh he was, Kyte Darley was ten times the gentleman his room-mate ever could be- - - % fas ~~, ata _ “Tf he isn’t in dead earnest, then I can’t read (ye *. vii - » © ae SS Spray ars ~~ ~* —s _ te — a —— a man’s face!” declared the same shrewd ob- server to his especial cronies. ‘‘ Kyte is actually going in for the big stake! And the prize don’t seem half-displeased, either.” It may have been so. It was possible that Portia still remembered the words Rufus Cramp bad let drop on the hurricane deck just before the ‘‘accident” occurred. It might be that, while she could hardly help showing him how erateful she was for what he had done, how much sympathy she felt for his injury, received in her behalf, she treated Kyte Darley with rather more kindness than might have been the ease had she not wisbed, to show Rufus that she held herself in no wise bound by the wishes he affirmed her father had expressed. Either way, that was a wretched day for Ru- fus Cramp, and long before supper time came, he was cross and surly as the proverbial bear with a sore head. He refrained from taking the seat beside Miss Wellspring which he had occu- pied at breakfast and at dinner. He ate little, perhaps because his wounded jaw forbid, but more likely because of his sullenanger. He out- sat the rest at the table, and scowled viciously at all about him. He rudely repulsed Doctor Mor- daunt when that wortby gently hinted that he would be all the better fcr rest, and much more comfortable in his berth. ‘* What is it?’ he growled, surlily. ‘‘Only a scratch. Go nurse Kyte Darley, if you must be pottering about some one!” ‘*T think Mr. Darley has found a much more agreeable surgeon than even I can pride myself on being,” maliciously laughed the doctor, with a glance toward the ladies’ cabin, where the handsome gambler was gayly laughing and con- versing with Miss Wellspring, Though he tried to retrain from so doing, Ru- fus Cramp was forced to follow that glance, and his brows contracted fiercely. Even he could not help acknowledging that Miss Well- spring had never looked more Jovely than now. Her pallor was gone. Her cheeks were softly fluzhed, her great brown eyes were sparkling with animation. And how abominably hand- some that infernal villain looked! And hcw tender, without in the least overstepping the bounds of strict decorum! ‘* Would you like to see him?” softly asked the doctor, bent on gotting even for his snubbing. ‘*Tt would bea pity to break up such a charm- ing picture, but nothing is too much for me to do for a patient.” ‘*Go to Hades!” snarled Cramp, rising with a vigor that upset his chair with a clatter that drew all eyes toward him. He saw the handsome couple looking toward him, and as he turned away, he caught a low, musical laugh. Laughing at him—with Kyte Derley! His face grew pale as death, and an ucly glow filled his blue eyes as he strode on to the bar. There Kyte Darley found him drinking, an hour later, his face growing flushed and swollen with combined liquor, jealousy and _ hatred. Even then it might have come out all right in the end, and a night’s sleep have restored amity, at least in outward seeming, had Kyte Darley been content to leave his comrade to himself. Instead, he ad remonstrated with him on acting so foolishly. ‘* You should be in your bunk and sleeping old man, instead of poisoning yourself with all this hot stuff. Come—Ict me help you to your state-room.” ‘‘Keep your advice and your assistance for those who need them, will you?” snapped Rufus, with an ugly frown. ‘‘ Who made me your pa- tient? I’m all right, if you let me alone!” Kyte shrugged his shoulders with a_ little smile thut by no means improved the temper of his companion. ‘All right, old fellow, if you prefer it so. I ress my aid on no man, and as Mark Landrum bas kindly vacated his quagters for—let us hope warmer if not more comforfable—others, I'll just transfer my little dunnage to that room,” ‘* No need of that,” muttered Cramp, a little uneasily. ‘‘TIt was simply a temporary arrangement, you know,” lightly responded Darley, ‘ I spcke on the first vacated room, if you remetn- er. He insisted on carrying this intention into effect, and after the clerk took possession end put seals upon the baggage found in the state- room, Kyte Darley completéd his change of uarters, ‘*Is it because you think you'll have a better chance to meet her, that you want to get out of eyeshot?” muttered Cramp, with a sickly smile when next they met. ‘Not at all,” was the prompt response, “I never could bear to sleep in an upper berth, and you, as an invalid, of course must have the best the shop affords.” ‘‘Pm man enough to match you at any and all points, Kyte Darley!” was the vicious re- joinder, though to all outward seemin they were conversing peaceably. ‘‘ Look out, you! Try to play crooked, and I'll have the measure of your heart, if I hang the next minute!” “ You're drunk, old man,” page Kyte, with annoying solicitud:., ‘ You'll flat on your back in the morning, if you don’t act with a lit- el ' t Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derring | | | | | } -f - tle more common sense. Go to bed and sleep it off. Remember—our game is not yet won!” ‘*'You’ve been acting as though it was—all noe pocketing the stakes!” muttered Rufus cramp. ‘*Of which neither you nor I will ever finger a penny, unless you play your hand a little more carefully,” curtly retorted Kyte, turning on his heel and leaving his fellow conspirator From the nature of things, almost the only source of amusement on board a river steamer, particularly after the shades of night bave fall- en, is to be found in cards, Talking soon grows tiresome. Stories cannot be repeated over and over again without growing stale. Reading is hard on the eyes, even now with the improved lights. Yet one must do something to keep from wholly stagnating: and card-playing 1s the universal panacea—or was, atthe time this record treats of. Though too well known asa “hawk” to get: intoa game of much importance, or without a moderate limit to the betting, Kyte Darley was a true-born gambler, and loved playing for playing’s sake—when nothing more remunera- tive offered itself. And such being the case, this memorable night found him seated at a table with sundry companions, playing poker. For several hours Rufus Cramp had been in- visible, and Kyte Darley had long since reached the conclusion that he had retired, to sleep off his ill-humor, when he was surprised by that identical personage dropping into a chair at the table, just vacated by one of the players, whose ill-luck had discouraged him from longer wooing; the coy goddess. Where all were supposably gentlemen—and a gambler was not so rigidly ruled out in those cays—of course no objection could be made to tuis substitution, thourn Kyte Darley did ven- ture to hint something about imprudent expos- ure. But this wasso ungraciously received by Rufus Cramp, that he dropped the subject once, for all, and the game went on. Not nearly so smoothly as before, however. Rufus Cramp was in an ugly, vicious mood, and though the other players, save Darley, insisted on keeping to the limit originally fixed, he pressed. the game as heavily as circumstances would permit, rarely ‘‘calling” himself, betting the limit as often as any one of the party would ‘stay in” without ‘* calling.” And, though ordinarily hardly what one could term a ‘lucky hand,” fortune seemed to special- ly favor him this night. It was the original gameof ‘‘ straight poker,” as distinguished from the more recent ‘‘ draw,” and witha game that can be played so rapidly, even with a modest ‘*limit” on single bets, much money can be won and lost. And so, before the hour of midnight arrived, Rufus Cramp and Kyte Darley were left alone at their table. ‘*T wouldn’t press good luck too hard, old fel- low,” laughed the professional, as he leaned back in his chair, idly shuffling the cards as he spoke. ‘* You’ve made your day’s wages. Now take a friend’s advice and goto bed. You look quite knocked up—really !” ‘*Then you own up that you're afraid to keep on playing against such luck, as you chcose to call it?” sneered Cramp, rudely. ‘* Against all rules and regulations, my dear boy,” rong gtd laughed Kyte, ‘‘ Like to carte you, but I really couldn’t go so far. Id be ruled out of the profession, certain!” ‘* For telling the simple truth?” ‘For telling a lie,” yawned Darley, behind his shapely band, ‘““Good!” ard the eyes of the other blazed brightly. ‘You will play me an unlimited game, or else own up that you are afraid of my skill—I really beg pardon!” with a bard laugh. “‘T mean—luck !” Kyte Darley was no longer smiling. He gravely Joolred into the inflamed face of his ad- versary, speaking coldly, distinctly: “You fully understand what you are saying, Mr. Cramp?’ ‘* Shell I repeat my words?” You ask me to play you for money, without a limit?” ‘I dare you to do so! Of course, if you are afraid—" ‘*T wouldn’t say the rest, if I were you, Mr.. Cramp,” was the cold, almost icy interruption. ‘Please sit down. cards, if you will be so kind.” There was a little hum of growing interest in Social Hall as Rufus Cramp a. into the chair opposite his late friend. All who knew Kyte Darley knew that he never assumed that painfully polite tone unless he meant strict busi- ness, and those who did not know, were quite shrewd enough to make a pretty close guess at the truth. All other games were dropped and a silent, at- tentive crowd gathered about this particular table, keenlv watching each move, noting every bet and bluff, feeling that something more than ordinary was underlying this almost savage challenge. Never mind the minute details. It was the old story over again. A _ cold, steel-nerved gambler playing against a rash, desperate man. The wagers ran high. Almost from the first the tide ran in favor of Kyte Darley, as might. IJOOK: (E Waiter, a fresh pack of -* * a if Pp ' a ©, « 4 ai 2 aet a 1 ‘ pit ‘0! Pe ot - a S- oI a ye: yy ‘74 i. ; . : “ rr a Ad . - 4 ' 4 4 Lewes © é 7 ra 4 a,” Po ! ~