Beadle's Dime Library, No. 406 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 ** Come up to see me at Charlestown. The enemy sare weakening. If you ean’t come, send some one ~who can. Moone.” The message dispatched, he smiled to him- self, and muttered: ‘You old sinner, I'll beat you yet!” CHAPTER XXVIII. POP’S TRIBULATION. a CHARLESTOWN was full of the bills of the ‘two shows when Pop Hicks drove in on his - red road-cart, with the big piebald, and went to the hotel to see little Moone. The old man looked much thinner than when he had started out in the season, for - there’s nothing like losing business to put wrinkles into a man’s face, more from an- ticipation of the future than what is actually going out, all the time. Pop put up his piebald in the shed, and ‘hunted about for Moone, to no effect. Finally he asked for him at the desk, and found that the little agent had written him a | mote, te be given him when he arrived. He hastily opened it, and found the words: » * Pad 4 a “Taylor wants me to join their show, at forty-five _ dollars a week, to be guaranteed by a certified check fora quarter’s salary. Heis to make me a written offer to-day, at the Tompkins House, where I’ve ‘taken aroom. Come round, if you get here before eleven o'clock; but take care Taylor does not see you, or all the fat will be in the fire. ay “OC. H. Moons,” ‘4 Pop turned pale as he read, It was the ¥ - . heaviest blow he had yet received, Moone had been his right arm in the whole business, and had seemed to be so entirely | faithful to Pop's interest that the thought of losing him cut the old showman like a nif Vo. SRE G. Moone did not say whether he was going to accept the offer, or whether he meant it as a bid for higher pay; but Pop Hicks, accus- tomed to the push and competition of show | business, never doubted fora single instant | that the letter was a ‘‘ strike.” _ He folded it up gloomily, and took his way ‘tothe Tompkins House, found the number ; of Moone’s room, aud walked up without im cua A ceremony, to find the door locked. He rapped on it, and was admitted by the - jittle agent, who began to laugh at his lugu- ___brious face, saying: | “* What’s the matter, Mr. Hicks? Don’t you feel well?” Pop Hicks looked at him with still more Ber: _funereal oom as he replied: ~ ‘You'd orter ask that. So you're goin’ back on me too, are you? Well, boy, it's all vight. When a feller gets in a hole there’s __ajlers lots to kick at bim.” Moone laughed as carelessly as before. __ ** What’s the use of whining, Pop? Take your gruel Jike a man. It’s all ip a season’s” _ work, isn’t it?” Pop sunk into a chair and ground his teeth in bitterness. Yes, that’s all well enough for you, but Gt ain’t all in a season’s work for a man to have all his attractions stolen from him by -underhand work. But it’s all right, Charley - Moone. [I ain’t complainin’. ou’ve got a tight to change, if you kin better yourself, I _ s’pose. I can’t pay ye no forty-five dollars a -_- week, and ye know it. If I promised it, I’d only come to smash a little quicker, that’s all. Taylor’s too many guns for ye, and ye’ll have to go, I s’pose.” ‘Moone listened calmly. _ **T don't know that, Pop.” - “Ton’t know what?” asked Pop, in the game gloomy way as before. <i “that I'll have to go,” responded Moone, quietly. in Po } sbook his head. , “T tell ye, I can’t pay no forty-five dollars _ aweek, nohow. Show wouldn’t stand it, if ‘we was a-boomin’, an’ now I'll have all I kin do to scratch through. No, Charley, if you _ ¢an’t get on as you are, you’ve got to go.’ Moone laughed shortly. _ “Hem! Isuppose you want to discharge me before my contract is up. Is that it?” Pop looked at him in his simple, honest ‘Way, as he answered: “Now, Charley Moone, you an’ me allers been more like friends than manager and agent, "Tain’t fur you to go agaggin at me ike I was one of the guys. ‘Twenty years have I managed a show, an’ no man never _ knowed me to break a contract, unless the . s —_—_ _- —- ———_ — wagon I had, to get into town for the win- ter. I ain’t tryin’ to break no contracts, so don’t ye say it, boy. You know bet- | ter.’ ‘Then neither am I,’’ returned Moone, who had been watching him closely all the time he spoke. I’m not aware that I’ve asked you for any increase of. wages, Mr. Hicks. I’ve simply told you of the coffer made me by another party, and asked you to come here and witness the way in which I meet it, that’s all.” Pop stared at him and began to tremble. “What?” he asked. ‘‘And ye ain't goin’ back on me, like the rest?”’ Moone shook his head, answering: ‘‘It was a temptation toa man on fifteen dollars a week to be offered forty-five, and I'll admit it staggered me for a while, Pop; but I’ve thought better of it, or 1 wouldn’t have sent you word.” ‘* But you telegraphed me that the enemy was weakenin’,” pursued Pop, seeming be- wildered. ‘‘ Where—how?” Moone laughed. ‘*Don’t you see it? They’ve found me a thorn in their sides, and want to get me over. It’s costing them like blazes to pay Taylor, and he’s not used to their work. He’s fat and lazy. Accustomed to have assistants and a big show, with stacks of paper. I tell you he’s weakened, Aemself, and if he comes here to-day with the check, it will show they have weakened, too. Wemay be nearer to suc- cess than you think. Hark! What’s that? It’s steps in the passage. Here, hide quick. I had that wardrobe on purpose.” He shoved the puzzled manager into a large wardrobe at the side of the room, turn- ed the key on him, and whispered: ‘Keep still and listen.’’ A rap at the door startled him, and he un- locked it to admit Mr. Taylor, who walked in, puffing, and seated himself on the bed, remarking: ‘““Oh, my heavens, those stairs! They take—the breath out of—a fellow—more— especially when he’s as heavy—as I am. Phew! Daren’t trust your chairs. When I’m down on the floor 1 can’t get up so easy. I'll sit here.” Little Moone shut the door and shot the bolt again, when Taylor observed, smiling: “Very proper, Moone. Don’t want ever one to hear what’s going on, hey? Well, have you thought over what I said?” Moone walked to the window and looked out before he answered, shortly: ‘* Yes, Ihave.” Taylor began to rummage in his pockets, puffing all the while. | ‘‘Ah, yes, yes. “Here, man, take a cigar. None of your country five-centers, but im- orted, and fit for an emperor. Confound it, Moone, I was as poor as you are once, and made my living x taking my chances as they came to me. May as well smoke a fifty-cent Havana when it don’t cost you anything, hey?” oone took the offered cigar indifferently, lighted and began to smoke it, while Taylor, engaged in a similar operation, watched him furtively. The big man was puzzled at the quiet im- yooete § of the little one, attributing it to a esire to drive a good bargain, and the little one was measuring his foe before they entered on the contest of wits. Taylor believed in the ameliorating and seductive effects of good-cheer in driving a bargain, and presently began: ‘Well, Moone, well, what d’ye think?” ‘* About what?” an Moone, assuming a vacant stare, at which Taylor smiled in ap- ede of his cunning, and the contest egan. ‘‘About what? Why, about what I spoke to you of yesterday.”’ ‘* What was that?” . ‘* Joining our show, of course.” **Did we speak of that?” ‘* Yes, we did, and I’m here to meet you as I promised, by appointment with you.” “So see, Well?” ‘‘Tt’s for me to say—Well? What's your answer?” “To what?” ‘To my proposition.” ‘You've nrade none officiaily.” ‘Well, I'll make it again, then. ’ Old Pop Hicks, Showman. contract with you and all the rest of the boys, | though I had to sell out every beast and ie = ‘ , ah » tied > : ‘A ‘* As you please.” " Will you come to our show at once for forty-five dollars a week?” ‘*Who makes the offer?’ “1 do.” ‘‘No. I told you that before.” “Will you come on Bownses’s written offer, then?” ING: ‘What do you want?” ‘‘A guarantee.” CHAPTER XXIX. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. TAYLOR puffed at his cigar a moment. ‘*What guarantee will content you?” ‘*A secure one. What have you to offer?” The old agent put his hand in his breast- pocket, brought out a paper, and said in a nervous sort of way: ‘‘Now, Moone, it’s understood this goes no further. If you refuse my offer (and | don’t think you’re fool enough to do it), but, if you refuse my offer—you must not tell any mortal man or woman what I|’m going to tell you.” Moone smiled dubiously. ‘*T promise to ¢ell no one, Mr. Taylor; but if the matter leaks out through your own want of caution, you must not complain of the consequences. Some one may have fol- lowed you to my room and be listening at the door now.”’ Taylor started up with more agility than he had shown for months, strode to the door and looked up and down the passage. ‘* Phew! how you scared me,” he said, as he sat down again, ‘‘I thought some one was listening at the transom. No, no, don’t tes be afraid, my boy. When Norm Taylor orgets to hide his tracks, it will be because he’s too drunk to see straight, and I won't blame you for that, you know.” ATL right,” was the placid reply. ‘‘Go on and talk business. I’ve got to make an- other town to-day.” Taylor laughed. ‘* Let the town go.” “I can’t,” , ‘Why not?” ‘‘Something you might not understand,” said Moone very dryly. “Tell it to me and oT see,” said Taylor. ‘Only the fact that I’m under contract with Mr. Hicks, who pays me to do a certain amount of work,” answered Moone, still more dryly. Taylor uttered an impatient oath. ‘* You're beating about the bush too long. As if I didn’t understand your airs! You want a big price, Moone, and 1 don’t blame you. I frankly admit you’re worth it. Ill talk business straight, Here’s a check drawn to your order, and certified at the bank of this very town for a quarter's ere! | in ad- vance, at forty-five dollars a week. Look at it. Thirteen weeks at forty-five is five hun- dred and eighty-five, and you can have all the money you want for expenses.” Moone took the check and scanned it care- fully, asking: ‘*Who’s this George Leonard, who signs it?” ‘“Why, don’t you know? It’s the same man you raised such a rumpus about; but he’s worth a good five millions yet, and any- how, as you see, the check’s certified.” ‘‘Is he the party I'm to get my orders from, if I accept your offer?” ‘“No, no, you'll get them from me. He’s only the financial backer of the concern.” ‘ Ah, then he’s in still, and Onion George’s letter was all a sham?” Taylor laughed slightly. ‘You knew that long ago, didn’t you?” **T might have divined it; but I couldn’t very well have proved it. Now I can.” ‘‘T guess not. Neither can you now, if the court knows herself.” ‘*'You’re mistaken, Mr. Taylor.” The little man’s tone was icy cold, and Taylor exclaimed hastily: ‘‘ Bless my soul! what do you mean? You wouldn’t betray confidence?” “Oh, no, but I could prove it for all that.” ‘‘How? I defy you todo it. You wouldn’t get me to say what I’ve done before wit- nesses, and my word’s as good as yours, Aha, Mr. Moone, you’re not as smart as you think you are. 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