Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

cao sd . ’ ‘ tives in the *“‘ wild and woolly” city by the Big A bright light filled the eyes of Alva Pen- 7 because you are not the sort of man I like to do Muddy. nington as he caught up the cards, but it vén- | business with in this way.” Eastern roads have been but little troubled with that bitter curse of their Western relatives, three card-monte. lt seems to flourish best on the verge of civilization, where all men are too wholly absorbed in personal affairs to care for what befalls their neighbors. At all events, each new road had to pass through the same at- tack, which only ceases when the preliminary work is completed, and there is time for taking breath and looking around. Then comes the fight, generally short and sharp, but decisive. But during the interim the hungry birds of prey feast right royally, and their course is plenti- | fully marked by aching hearts, ruined homes and prematurely filled graves. The Northern Pacific in this respect was only ; second to its brother, the Union Pacific. Hard- Sy ly a passenger train could complete its ‘‘ run ” without being ‘‘ worked” by at least one regu- larly organized gang of three-card-monte men. On the train which more nearly interests us lying their calling, after the fashion which fails to meet with complete success. At the station last passed the party boarded the train, anda disgusted brakeman pointed them out to two passengers with whom this story will have much to do, giving names and pedi- ee of the leader, declaring that the chief, onte Jim, was a most fitting successor to the notorious Canada Bill, whose name and mar- , velous skill have passed into history. Frank Lisle and Alva Pennington, these two assengers had introduced themselves, The Sortuee was tall, handsome, with jetty bair and roustaches; richly dressed, yet wi.h perfect taste; his age being about thirty, and his ap- rance that of a man who has seen a good Neal of the world. Alva Pennington was less noticeable. Barely over the medium hight of man, he was heavily and awkwardly put together, giving him a slouchy appearance, despite his correct attire. If anything, his jewelry was too conspicuous, too massive. His complexion was blotchy, his hair and h whiskers of a dull, foxy hue, neither red nor yel- ay low. His upper lip and retreating chin were ar smooth shorn, His age was apparently but a few years younger than that of his comrade. Directed by the friendly brakeman, they closely scrutinized Monte Jim and his gang; and as the chief of monte-men has a prominent part to play in the story I have undertaken to ete a brief description may not come amiss, onte Jim was tali, broad-shouldered, trim- waisted, with the torso and limbs of an athlete. In his present garb, of a genteel, neatly-fitting suit of black broadcloth, silk hat, kid gloves rig - and white tie around his erect collar, he might “have easily passed for either a fashionable min- sister of the gospel or an aristocratic pilgrim cial fresh from some Eastern city. The garb aw oS showed his symmetrical figure to perfection, though the close-buttoned coat gave him an air of stiffness which seemed to form a part of a _. preacher in holiday attire. oy A perfect blonde, his skin seemed soft as that of a baby, being clear white and pink, but his features were clear-cut and manly; bis nose long and straight, his forehead broad and high, chin square and solid, Of his lips nothing could be seen, a heavy pvir of mustaches cover- ing them from sight. His eyes were large and of the deepest blue, filed with a fire that glowed rather then sparkled. His hair showed traces of an inclination to curl, but was closely trimmed. | It and his mustaches were of a golden corn ae color, soft and silken. . ~~ & roughly-dressed man with one blind eye, er, who appeared to be half-drunk; a tall, portly, soldierly-looking man; a brisk, impudent, off- hand fellow in the guise of a traveling sales- ae an, completed the “ gang,” as exposed by the x akeman. In addition to these, two green- ; looking young men had entered with them, whom our two friends at once set down as the *‘ pigeons ” to be plucked, and as the one-eyed man, who called himself Blinky Scott, pro- duced the ‘ papers,” the joined the little ey 5 oup, curious to see how the *‘ racket ” would ates worked. It was the old, old story; while the garrulous *‘ cattle-man” was explaining the game to the “‘ereenhorns,” Major Dave Poole marked one corner of the winning card witha tiny cross, Ae then bet that be could turn the winning card. ae: Of course he succeeded, greatly to the amaze- . ment of the ‘‘drunkard.” Then the two “suckers” tried their hand, winning by the same means. In a fit of pretended rage, Scott tore up the cards and flung them out of the window, producing a fresh pack of cards, still sealed. Tearing off the wrapper, he dropped off the first three cards, which were the ace, king /¥ and queen of hearts, crying: ate “2 Darn the sawledan, say bow. I'm a lady’s- aed 5 man, J be, an’ I’m open to bet that I kin do the trick with the ole gal, ev’ry time! Look at the papers, gents, an’ see that they’re honest; then ou fellers that’s got some o’ my good money, n hev the rest ef you’ve got sand enough to swing out fer it with a long pole!” Monte Jim, the Black § ca ae ngs * =? at present, a pack of these human wolves were | s so often been described, yet which so rarely | ished almost as sudden over to his fellow-trave Me as he passed them er . An almost imper- ceptible motion called the attention of Frank | Lisle to a tiny cut or notch which marked one | corner of tho queen of hearts. Neither of the | other cards bore the mark, and it seemed to ahs been mado accidentally in trimming the cards, A warning glance from Lisle, then he passed | _ the cards back to the garrulous drunkard, who | | swiftly menipulated them, then turned to the | | young man who had won his money, crying: ‘*Now’s your chaince fer to git rich, young feller! I’m a bull-dog that never loses his grip when once hauled up tothe scratch! I'll keep | | on a-bettin® as long as my dust holds out, an’ | | then peel off my rags fer a last stake! Money | | balks, an’ mine says youcain’t turn up the pritty gal! , Scott’s whole attention seemed devoted to the | | young men who had once won from bim, and his boasts grew louder and more offensive as ve hesitated to accept hischailenge. But at lengt one of them spoke out firmly enough: ‘**T reckon we don’t want any more, stranger. | Jim an’ me ain’t hogs, an’a hundred dollars in our pockets is wu’th more to us then ten hun- dred into yours.” | 4 Waal, ef you weaken, thats all right,” with a ag grin. ‘*lain’t crowdin’ nobody, an’ ef | your backbone’s so stiff you cain’t stoop over to pick up a fortin’ ’tain’t fer me to say that you're pesky fools. You'd lose, sart’in sure!” His eyes all aglow with the true gambling fe- ver, feeling that he had a sure thing with the | marked card, Alva Pennington forgot bis reso- lution to “‘never bet on another man’s game,” and flinging off the warning hand which Frank Lisle placed on his shoulder, cried out: ** How much money have you got that says I can’t turn up the queen of hearts? I don’t mind trying it once, if you make the figures worth the trouble.” ‘*That’s white talk, an’ hits me right whar I live! Nary a limit, bos, U’m thoroughbred, | an’ kin kiver your own pile.” “Good enough! Vil bet you an even thousand dollars that I can pick out the queen of hearts, first trial!’ and, as he uttered the words, Alva Pennington dropped a roll of bills into the gambler’s lap. CHAPTER II. MONTE JIM GIVES GOOD ADVICE, A SHARP exclamation broke from the lips of Frank Lisle at the impetuous action of his — friend, and be made an ineffectual attempt to check his hand. ** Are you mad, Pennington, torisk all on a single turn of a card? Don’t bea fool! If you must bet, split up your stake.” ‘‘That’s good advice, my dear sir,” said a musical voice from close behind the friends, causing them to start despite of themselves; but Frank Lisle never cnce removed his keen gaze from the dealcr and his cards, suspectin some attempt at disposing of the marked card, or other foul play. Less strong-nerved, Alva Pennington flashed an angry glance over his shoulder, his lips part- ed in a savage snarl, as he recogni onte Jim. A bland smile and low bow greeted him, | and the mellow voice added: ‘** Pardon me for interfering, my dear sir, but { cannot help approving of your friend’s ad- vice. Better draw your money before Blinky | Scott covers it, else you'll never take it up | again. I speak as a friend, believe me.” | ‘‘No doubt, but is it as my friend, or the friend of that fellow?’ with a short, hard laugh. ‘‘ There’s my money; cover it or squeal ‘Enough.’” ‘* If you insist, of course it will be covered,” was the quiet response. ‘* But perhaps you don’t know the man you’re bucking against.’ | ‘*] know him, and I know you !” Pi are certain?’ with a soft, peculiar | smile. ‘*'You call yourself Monte Jim, and that fel- low is your dealer. You came here on the look- out for suckers, but you’!l find you’ve staggered up against a whale before the end.” The gambler laughed softly, showing not the slightest trace of annoyance in either face or | tones as he said: ‘You are well posted, my friend. I believe your name is Alva Pennington?” | ‘““That’s no matter!” roughly retorted the youth, ‘*‘My money talks plain enough, and that is all that concerns either of us at present, Is it a go, or a square back-down?” ‘* My dear sir, were your knowledge as thor- ough as you seem to think, you would know | without asking that Monte Jim never dodges a bet while bis bank contains a dollar. So much on that score, Nov listen to me, though I dare say a will think me a fool for my pains. ‘If I give Blinky the word to throw, you'll lose your money, sure as fate. It’s a rule of mine to never thoroughly skin a man all over without first giving him plain warning. **T know you now, better than you think, per- haps. If I had recognized you before, this seem- ing chance would never have fallen in your way, five | ——— ‘ _ the car with the geng. a revolver instead, ‘Too gritty to sit well on your stomach?”® — with a sneer. : ea) ‘** In your mind,” with a mocking bow. Pennington flushed hotly, for, well acquaint- ed with the current slang, he could not mistake the meaning conveyed by this terse phrase, His fist clinched tightly, and his arm drew back as though to answer the tauut with a blow; but Frank check it. ‘‘One thing at a time, Al. These fellows think we’ve got them foul on the cards, and are only playing to change them, cr to sneak out of Letting against your money.” 4 ‘“‘Truly, a Solomon come to judgment!” 4g laughed Monte Jim. : ‘‘In one word—will you play?’ demanded Pennington. ‘*] don’t want to win your money—” ‘*Or lose your own,” was the swift interjec- tion. Monte Jim laughed shortly, his mustaches culling, ‘‘ That is out of the question, my dear sir. We deal monte to win, and never !ose.” ‘* Bah!” sneered Pennington, with a fling of his hand toward the young fellows who entered ‘It is easy to say that, Lut these fellows can tell another story. They raked tn one century only a few minutes since!” ‘* Who furnished those ducats, lads?’ laughed the sport. ** You did, boss!” was the prompt response. a ‘* Just so,” smiled Monte Si. plainly enjoy- 1% | ing the amazement of both Pennington and Lisle, who bad never suspected the truth—that these innocent-looking fellows were actually members of the gang. ‘The bait attracted you, just as was intended, I wish now that it had failed. As I said before, you are not the kind of game I care to tackle. You have put up all of your wealth, and if the cards are thrown, you can’t help losing every dollar. When you lose, you'll kick worse than a Govy- ernment mule on short rations. ‘** Not that I'd care much for that, ordinarily. It is part of the game, so far as the pigeons are concerned, But I’m in a peculiarly tender mcod this evening, and wculd rather throw up all claim to the stakes than be obliged to listen to your mournful lanientations. It may be that my supper sits heavily on my stomach, but I give you a last warning—take up your boodle and count yourself just five thousand ahead.” ‘* Hands off, curse you!” snarled Pennington as Monte Jim stooped to take up the roll of bills; and as he uttered the words be thrust the muzzle of a revolver almost against the temple of the dashing sport. With a motion swift as thought itself, Monte Jim grasped the weapon and wrested it from Pennington’s hand, even before the self-acting hammer could raise to fal on the cartridge. ‘* A little less reckless, if you please, my dear fellow, or some one might get hurt,” he said, sl arply, ee the muzzle as if by accident toward Frank Lisle, who seemed on the point of interfering in behalf of bis fnend. **T repeat my words: if you bet, Mr. Pen- nington, you will lose. This is my last warn- ing. Pennington looked at Lisle, his eyes asking a rrute question, which was answered in the same fashion. The cards had not been touched dur- ing this brief disturbance, ‘* Win or lose, I never take back a bet once laced. Cover my money, or change your name +s isle grasped the member in time to | | to Crawfish Squealer.” ‘* Since he will have it, ‘ git thar, Eli!’” said Monte Jim, with a short nod to Blinky, drop- ping the pistol and turning away to his former seat, as though the affair possessed no further interest for him. With deft fingers, Scott counted out a sum equal to that lying on bis overcoat, handing all to the brakeman, who reluctantly took it as stakeholder, sulkily muttering to Penningtcn: “You cain’t win, an’ you’re bound to lose, an’ durned ef I ever thought you’d be sech a pesky fool, after all J said!” But Pennington beard him not, his eyes fol- lowing the swiftly flying hands of the dealer until the three cards lay backs uppermost, when he caught at the notched card and turned it over—to stare aghast at the ace of hearts! CHAPTER III. CURLY KAINE, KING OF BISMARCK, A LOUD snort of mingled distrust and anger ro broke from the nostrils of the brakeman as he 4 dropped the roll of meney on the folded over-— coat resting on Blinky Scott’s knees, ** Foul play!” oviad Alva Pennington, drop- Nj ping the fatal card and making a swift snatch | at the money—only to clutch the cold muzzle of ‘‘Basy, pard! Business is business, an’ I reckon I hold the age in this little game!” grinned Blinky Scott. Pennington withdrew his hand as swiftly as though it had unexpectedly come in contact with the clammy skin of a venomous serpent, and his flushed countenance turned a shade JOO in "EO 4 (é S.