Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a - [ <— re? sl >r2 ' < *. »* Saw 7 -§ - ; 7s ws a rer + . ' oT a oe “aA i ee I * » " — » 2 wo c?, : > ; .* / % Mon e Jim, the Black Sheep of Bismarck. u tending his unoccupied hand toward the sport, who gracefully accented it with a warm pres- sure. ‘“‘I never expected to see the money again—though I swore to get even with the man that took it!” and there was a half-defiant glow in his eyes as he looked into the face of Monte Jj im. With a quiet laugh, the gambler slipped into the seat as the young lady moved her drapery with that graceful art which her sex can display } in giving a mute invitation. CHAPTER VI. DISSOLVING THE SPELL. THERE followed a brief silence. Neither of the trio appeared eager to break it, though very different emotions actuated them. Least agreeable were those experienced by Alva Pen- nington, to whom this interchange of friendly i aaa had proven more bitter than worm- wood, Madly in love with his cousin, he regarded with suspicion all of his sex who came in close ‘* Left to yourself, Mr, Pennington, you would | contact with her, and now he fancied she was never have recovered a dollar of your loss, because you went the wrong way to work. I’m falling in love with Monte Jim. Certainly, never before this had she displayed so much interest in afraid you underrated the men you were pitting | any man, much lessa perfect stranger. And yourself against. But, pardon me,” he said, leaning forward and placing one gloved hand on Pennington’s arm, as the latter was about to slip the roll of bills into his pocket, ‘* Youhave not counted your money to see if the amount is correct. Pray oblige me.” Pennington muttered something about. not doubting it was all right, only to be quietly cut short by the sport: ‘* Allow me to insist, my dear sir, I pledged my word to the fellow who took your money that no further question concerning it should ever arise to trouble him. If the whole sum is not there, then my pledge to him is void, and Til have to hunt him upagain. You compre- hend?”’ If he did not, Alva Pennington complied, all the same, hurriedly running over the bills, then muttering that all was correct and the entire amount restored. ‘* And now, tell me how it happened,” asked the young lady. ‘‘ Was your pocket picked, Alva? And how did you manage to recover the money so soon?” turning to Monte Jim. ‘““Mr Pennington lost his money, that much is certain,” responded Monte Jim, with a slight smile, as the other flushed hotly at the query. ‘* By good fortune I happened to see how it was done, and when the gang left the train, I fol- lowed them with the intention of forcing them to make restitution of their booty. As it hap- pened, the rascals knew who I was, and when I put it plainly to them, rather than have an more words they disgorged, on the understand- ing that nothing more should be said or done about the matter, when once the money reached the hands of its rightful owner.” ‘* Bub isn’t that what they call compounding a felony?” Monte Jim shrugged his broad shoulders, glancing quizzically toward Pennington as he made reply: ‘ ‘* Tt was the best I could do under the circum- stances. You must remember that you are among the heathen now, and not expect a per- fect observance of either law or etiquette on the part cf the natives. We sadly need the services of a few missionaries from a more enlightened region.” ‘ We!” echoed the young lady, with a shy glance up at the handsome face of the sport. ‘You surely do not class yourself among the heathen, Mr.—” sue Ince—James Ince is my name,” with a low w. ** And mine is Medea Pennington—since Alva is too stupid to take the hint and save a self- introduction,” laughed the young lady, with a half-impatient glance toward her suiky travel- ing companion. ‘‘ Where's the use?” he muttered, scowling at the suave sport. ‘‘ It’s not likely we’ll ever meet cach other again.” ‘“ Your wife, I presume?” coolly asked Monte Jim. ‘* My cousin.” g. the ‘‘Pardon. The name being the same, made my mistake very natural, As for our not meeting again, if your destination is Bismarck, such an event is quite on the cards, since that is my present headquarters, and the city is not so large, as yet, that one so charming as Miss Pennington can long be lost to sight. I, for one, would deeply regret its being other- wise.” Alva Pennington twisted uneasily on his seat and scowled again at this speech, but Medea did not appear greatly annoyed by it. Pointed though the words were, they came in a tone so respectful, so gentle and deprecatory, that she could not take offense, though her fair cheeks grew a shade more flushed, and her lustrous eyes sunk upon her lap. Only for a moment, Then they met those magnetic blue orbs frankly, and perhaps her speech was more emphatic than it would have been but for the boorishness—as she considered it, being in ignorance of what he really kucw concerning this audacious stranger—of her cousin, ** Not more than I—than we should, Mr. Ince. ‘You have been of great servico to us both, and we are deeply in your debt, I have nomeans of knowing how long our stayin Bismarck will be, but while we remain, no visitor will be more welcome than yourself.” ‘You are very kind, Miss Pennington,” and the voice of the reckless sport grew strangely soft and musical as he uttered the simple words. ‘*‘ You have repaid my poor services a thousand-fold already.” aot cele OO cn yet he dared not show the gambler up in his real character, just then. ‘You are well acquainted in Bismarck?” asked Medea. ‘Yes, I think I maysay so. Of course, being the end of the road, there is a constantly shifting pulation, here to-day and gone to-morrow, lave you friends orrelatives in Bismarck whom you are seeking?” Medea Pennington cast a quick glance into his face, while her cousin also perceptibly started ; but the handsome countenance was immobile as that of a sphinx, Alva touched his cousin’s foot with his own, flashing a warning glance toward her, which checked the query that was almost uttered. With a low laugh, Monte Jim bowed. ‘*Pardon me, Miss Pennington. Remember I told you I belonged to the heathen class, About Bismarck; you'll find much that is curious and in- teresting there, if you’ve never lived in a live- ly, wide-awake, ‘ end-of-the-road town.’ Unciv- ilized and full of rough, reckless characters, as a matter of course. As a rule, a lady may promenade it from one end to the other, and be safer than in an Eastern city; but where so many drunken toughs are congregated, you will do better not to venture forth without an es- cort. ‘* For instance—though that happened in an- other town, and at the end of another road—a friend of mine, whose name, by the way, was the same as yours—” With a low, eager exclamation Medea bent forward, asking: . als whole name—was it Lloyd Penning- on? ‘*TIt may have been, thouch I would not like to say positively,” replied Monte Jim, apparent- ly failing to notice her poorly suppressed excite- ment. ‘‘WhenI knew him he was known as Poker Pennington, from his peculiar skill at that game, In short, not to put toofine a point upon it, Penn wasan inveterate gambler, and a pretty tough case.” ‘** Yet you called him your friend !” ** And so he was—the warmest friend I ever knew, since my mother died. A gambler, a bird of prey, a man whose hands were not always clear of human blood, always ready for a frolic or a fight—Poker Penn was my friend; Ill never deny that claim, though you look so astonished Miss Pennington, If fate willsthat our life trails are to often cross, you will some day learn that I am by no means an angel of light—” ‘** Well, hardly, Monte Jim!” uttered a clear, stern voice, as a heavy hand execs on the garmbler’s shoulder from behind. ‘* You’re out of vour range here, my man!” Monte Jim turned swiftly, to behold the con- ductor, whose entrance had not been noticed in the interest of the conversation. Sternl7 that fiery gaze was met, and slowly the hand of the sport dropped away from the pistol it had me- chanically sought at the unexpected touch and salutation. ‘* Miss Pennington, has this fellow dared to annoy you in any manner?” the conductor added, touching his cap with a bow. In amazement the young lady gazed at the conductor. ‘*Surely there is some mistake, Mr. Rice!” With a short, hard laugh, Monte Jim rose from the seat and a ag into the aisle, his eyes glit- tering as he said: **Not at all, Miss Pennington. I am Monte Jim, the Black Sheep of Bismarck. All is said when I acknowledge that title. If you are cu- rious to learn more, ask Mr. Rice for my record. He can give it to you straight as a string if he sees fit. ‘“* As for you, Will Rice, Tll see you later!” and then, with a low and sweeping bow, Monte Jim turned on his heel and walked swiftly along the aisle to the door, opening it and’ passing through to the smoker without a single back- ward glance, Medea Pennington gazed after him with a troubled light ia her large eyes, scarce able to believe the evidence of herownsenses. Hiscold, yet bitter, tones still rung in her ears as the door closed and his proud, erect figure vanished from sight; yet she could not bring herself to take those harsh words for truth. Surely there must be some cruel mistake lying beneath all this? And with a sensation of grow- ing anger, she turned toward the conductor, whose appearance bad so abruptly put the hand- some mranest to fligbt. But the sharp words which rose to her lipsdied away as she beheld that honest countenance, glowing with the consciousness of one who has rformed his duty, mingling, possibly, with a it of personal gratification at having so thor- oughly routed one who had proven himself a powerful enemy. ‘*'Your pardon. Miss Pennington,” said the official, as he placed his lantern in the aisle, then slipped into the seat beside her, ‘‘ for making a scene, but really I could not help it, when I saw the matchless impudence of that crafty scoundrel. He knows he has no business here—” “Why not?” a little sharply asked Medea, tiny lines gathering upon her fair brow. ‘‘ His man- ners and address were those of a gentleman. You insulted him shamefully, and that in the presence of those whom he had recently rendered a great service. I wonder that he allowed it to pass without calling you to account for your speech !” xr This was rather more than he had bargained ¥ for, and Will Rice flushed hotly as he drew Ae back a little from before those flashing orbs, while a cold hand seemed to be tightening its | grip around his heart. Butnot forlongdid he flinch. He felt that he had not exceeded his __ duty, and it would not require many words to prove this fact. | “Monte Jim would hardly recognize himself ‘ under the title you give him, Miss Pennington,” he laughed, shortly. 3h 2 ‘What do you mean by that name? He © called himself James Ince,” petulantly inter- — jected Medea. JM ‘* Possibly that is his rightful name, though he makes use of somany thatI doubt whether he himself could swear to it. Unlucky for — bim, there is not the slightest possible room for ¥ doubt concerning his character. Monte Jimis the most dangerous confidence-man in all this u region, and he is at the head of a numerous (ae gang but little better than himself. He lives by robbing those who are less cunning than himself, and if you knew as much concerning him as I know, you would rather take a rattle- Att ¢ _— Z iow. X 7° > be snake to your m than permit that crafty — demon to approach you within arm’s length!” fire” Medea Pennington stared at him, with Bed oii wy eases air, despite herself feeling convinced by is earnestness that he was speaking from per- sonal knowledge. - “To convince you, I need only mentiona single incident which occurred not an hour — ago, on this very train,” said the official, only _— to be bluntly cut short by Alva Pennington, == ‘* What’s the use? What do we care whether the fellow is a demon or an ange in disguise? He’s gone, and that settles it. What interests to Bismarck. How much a * he 4 os o > me most is getting longer will it take?” ‘*Less than an hour. But, pardon me, Mr. — Pennington; I must differ from you as to the — importance of this affair. I have accused a © ‘ dof man of being a rascal, whom Miss agp oh: apparently thinks just the contrary, in “ER self-defense I must prove my words true.” ‘Be “Did I say so?’ murmured Medea, slightly — confused. ye ‘‘With your eyes,” bowed Rice. “I found — him conversing with you, as though he mightbe = your equal; and not an hour ago he robbed G..) yaa gentleman of five thousand dollars, in—” ean > He paused abruptly, without finishing the — sentence, his honest brown eyes roving quickly from face to face, for a muttered curse came from the lips of Alva Pennington, just asa — triumphant smile curved those of his fair cou- sin. ee “You are surely wrong, Mr. Rice!” she ex- claimed, with a gleeful little langh, as she © clapped her gloved hands together, while her eyes sparkles vividly. ‘‘It was my cousin who lost that money by having his pocket picked, and Mr. Ince brought it back to him, haves ie % frightened the pickpocket into giving it a ae Am I not right, Alva?’ turning to her cousin. ‘*Of course you're right,” sulkily muttered the young man, who knew that the whole truth must surely come out now. ‘‘And that man, Monte Jim or Jim Ince, whatever his name may happen to be, is more of a gentleman than some of those who wait until be is out of = hearing before they try to backbite him. I,for one, don’t care to listen to it any longer!” ~ are * Jumping up, he left the coach with an angry 4 scowl at the astonished conductor. fa ys a CHAPTER VII. OF: THE CONDUCTOR’S REVELATION. aera At the very beginning of his run, Will Rice = had been of important service—had saved ~— Medea Pennington from falling beneath the wheels of the train, as she attempted to follow her cousin from one coach to another—and whenever his duties would permit, he had ~— sought the company of the young lady whose —__ appearance had so deeply impressed his fancy, __ pointing out to ber the various objects of inter- 4 ¥ est along the way, and greatly lightening the tedium of her journey. Bright, intelligent,a gentleman of birth and breeding, spuinty? = : good-looking if not handsome, Will Rice soon made an impression almost as deep as that which he had received, thereby awakening the jealousy and dislike of Alva Pennington, who was something of a dog in the manger, where his fair cousin was concerned, EOmMmicboo Ss ’ » com /?