Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 420 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

- ried out, and then the two friends procure some clothing that they needed, and to 12 have always regarded Eva as well able to take eare of herself, The newspaper account is very meager, and no positive opinions can be based upon it.” ‘* But, Colonel Bastrop, if they were alive, or either of them, we surely would hear from them in some way.” | ‘* Possibly not. If they escaped to the shore, it is quite likely that they found themselves far from any telegraph wire. I mean to get ready at once, and will goas speedily as possible to Memphis, and from there to the place where the disaster occurred. I will institute a thorough search, telegraphing you as soon asI get any news whatever, and will arrange for having my telegrams forwarded to you without any delay.” “] will go with you, father,” declared Law- rence. ** Tt does not seem to be necessary, my son. I suppose I am able to do all that can be done.” *Do you suppose, sir, that I can remain here inactive while there is this uncertainty about the fate of Eva Talcott? I could not bear that.” Mrs. Talcott said that she would prefer that Lawrence should go with his father, and it was settled that he should do so. CHAPTER XIII. STRIKING A CLEW. Gray Gorpon and Gerald Talcott reached Memphis in somewhat better shape than they had shown when they left Josh Simbell’s flat- boat, and immediately upon their arrival they were struck by the news of the loss of the Rowena. This was a terrible blow to Gerald, and his old friend seemed to feel it scarcely less than him- self; but Gordon’s head was clear, and he at once applied himself to the task of getting hold of the facts of the disaster and determining what was best to be done, The published accounts were of little value to him in this investigation, as there was no mentioon in them of Eva Talcott, nor any bint pf which her fate could be guessed at—except, of course, the overwhelming probability that she must have been lost, as she was not known to have been saved. Tf she was dead, however, her body might be found, and, whether she was living or dead, it st necessary to search for her as soon as pos- Sibdie. ** We know just where the boat was burned,” said Gordon, ‘‘and we can easily get there. it is too late to start to-day; but we will go down there in the morning as soon as we can get —— _ away.” ‘** Do you think there is a chance that my sis- ter may be safe?” asked Gerald. **Of course there is a chance, and a good chance, too. It always happens after such a disaster that people turn up at unexpected places and in unexpected ways. The loss of lif e is never near as great as at first reported, as the missing keep coming forward as they do after a big battle.” ‘Then we must go to work at once on the chances.” “That is just what we are going to do; but the first thing necessary is for you ‘o get word of your safety to your mother in the speediest ible manner, and tell her what you are about here. We will need money, too, and I shall send for some immediately.” This part of the programme was quickly car- astened to complete their outfit by the purchase of revol- vers and ammunition, using for those purposes the rentes part of the money that Gordon had got from Josh Simbell. The next thing was to hunt up such of the Rowena survivors as were still in the city, and to make inquiries among them in the hope of learning something concerning Eva Talcott, In the course of this quest they came across - Hank Byers, the gambler who had enlightened Mark Hannafin and Silas Birch as to the stand- ing of ‘‘ Ben Gray,” and from him they secured highly interesting and important information. efore they could get anything out of him, however, they were obliged to satisfy his own - curiosity, as his amazement at seeing them there was extreme, ‘* How on earth did you two happen to turn up here?’ he demanded. ‘“* What does this ’ ‘* What does what mean?” answered Gordon. ‘You were missed from the Rowena the night before she was burned, and there was the deuce of an excitement about you. Everybody sup- posed that you had been lost overboard, and there was no doubt that you were dead. Please explain that little mystery.” — . * Oh, that didn’t amount to much. We took a notion to suicide, you see, and jumped over- board together. Then we repented and swam ashore.” ‘*T take that in easy, and only wonder that you didn’t fly up to the moon while you were about it. You are a queer customer, Gray Gor- don, and I suppose there is no use in trying to squeeze the truth out of you.” ‘Suppose you give me a chance to operate on you, then. You must have been on the Rowena when she was destroyed. How did you get out of the scrape?” , . * , *-* ae Ww a* © ee The O a ——— ee ld River Sport. 2 eee ne ee ** Oh, that didn’t amount to much,” answered 9 Byers, copying the style of the old man. “I just dived under the burning boat, and swam up here to Memphis.” Gray Gordon was visibly annoyed at being ** picked up” in this fashion. ‘**] will be greatly obliged to you if you will come down to facts,” said he. ‘‘My young friend here, as I suppose you know, had a sister on the Rowena, and every fact that we can learn may have a bearing on her fate.” ‘“*That makes it a serious business,” replied Hank Byers, ‘‘and you are welcome to all the facts I have been able to get hold of, <As re- gards myself, I have been mixed up in so many river disasters that I always know just what to do, and I am one of the Lord’s lucky ones, any- how. I had a cool head on my shoulders, and I kept out of the way of the fire as wellasI could, and watched my chances, When the stern- wheel boat came near enough, I jumped into the water and swam to her.” ** What became of Mark Hannafin?” inquired Gordon. ‘*That is just what I was going to tell you about. I would hate to raise any false hopes; but I should not be a bit surprised if the young lady you spoke cf is alive and well.” ‘* Bless you for that!” exclaimed Gerald; but Gordon wanted to know what grounds Byers had for his statement. ‘* Of course the young lady was at the stern of the boat, and I heard Mark Hannafin speak to Sile Birch of a plan he had formed for saving her, and then they both started aft, I was too busy with looking after Hank Byers to take any further notice of them, and I saw nothing more until I had got aboard the stern-wheeler.” ‘What did you see then?’ eagerly asked Gerald. ‘On a sandkar out in the weter, near which the Rowena had grounded, i saw three people— two men and a woman—eand I am quite sure that one of the men was Mark Hannafin, It is reasonable to suppose that the woman was the yourg lady of whom we have been speak- ing.” his was great news, and the two friends were heartily thankful for it, ‘‘Mr. Byers,” said Gordon, ‘‘ you are the best man Ihave met in a long time. You are an angel in the disguise of a card-sharp. You have lightened the heart of my young friend, and have done me a great fayor. We both thank you for the good news you have giveu us, and hope that there may be no drawback to ot. 99 ‘‘ T hope so, too,” answered Byers, ‘‘ and Ican only say that I have given you the best I had in the shop.” Gordon and Gerald discussed the situation hopefully when their informant had left them, and. were more than ever of the opinion that immediate action on their part was ne- cessary. Though it was highly probable that Eva's life had been saved, it was to be supposed that she was under the controlof Mark Hannafin, whose designs or intentions with regard to her were well known to Gerald. Hannafin’s character and purposes, as under- stood by Gerald and his old friend, were not such as to convince them that Eva, if alive, was entirely safe. “If he has saved my sister’s life,” said the young man, “that wall offset his attempt to murder me; but it will go no further than that, ar we want to get to her as soon as possi- a, ‘““That is understood,” answered Gordon; ‘but I want you to know, my boy, that I am an intensely practical man, with not a bit of sentiment about me, and here comes in the money question. It goes without saying that we will need more money than we have got.” ** When I telegraphed to my mother,” sug- gested Gerald, ‘‘I told her to send me some money.” *T telegraphed to my bankers to send me some, too, and I think the lightning is likely to strike me sooner than it will you; but I am afraid that it won’t strike either of us soon enough, and I mean to try another scheme.” ** What is that?’ ‘“‘T have about twenty dollars left of the money I got from Josh Simbell, and I am going to match it against a faro game in this town, and either make or break to-night.” ‘*T don’t think you are likely to break, Mr. rer judging by your luck and skill at e r. **T don’t think Iam, either. If I did I would not risk my money. I feel, too, like the boy who was after the ground-hog—lI am out of meat and have got to win.” ** May I go with you?” ‘“Not much. In fact, my boy, not a bit of it. I am a hardened wretch, and understand just what I am about, while you are supposed to be young and innocent, and I have reason to know that you areaneasy prey for sharpers. No, Gerald, if you don’t feel like sleeping, go to the hotel and quietly wait for me there. For our mother’s sake, as well as for your sister's, want you to leave cards and liquor alone until this business is settled.” . ee ee me mm RR ———— eel hells Sse Gerald promised to obey the injunctions of his old friend, and Gray Gordon set out to atteud to his ‘* business.” CHAPTER XIV. A STREAK OF LUCK. GORDON was acquainted with the streets of Memphis, but did not know what mav be styled the secrets of the city, and therefore, finding himself comparatively a stranger in a strange place, he did not know where to go to find the ** business ” he was seeking. Luckily he again met Hank Byers, who wil- lingly put him on the track when he stated his desire. ‘*T’ve got a few dollars left,” said he, ‘* and want to blow them in ata faro game, if I can find one that will stand the racket.” ‘* That’s easy enough to do,” answered Byers. ‘““Tf you will accept me as a steerer, I will take you to Mrs. Hannafin’s den.” ‘‘Hennafin?’ ejaculated Gordon, as if the name was a surprise to him. **'You know Mark Hannafin, one of the men you played poker with on the Rowena. Itis his mother who keeps this place, and there is not a more decent game in town.” ‘* She is a widow, I suppose?” ‘‘A sort of widow; but i can’t exactly say how thatis. I am not sure whether her hus- band is dead or it 1s a case of separation. He was Jim Hannafin, I bave heard, a man who was well known on the river some years ago, and there is a queer story about him, though 1 can’t pretend to give you the rights of it.” “Well, 1 don’t need to worry ahout bygones when I am going to fight the tiger. Are yon in- terested in that game, Mr. Byers?’ “7? Nota dollar’s worth.” ‘* And you don’t care whether the bank wins or loses?” ‘*T believe I would prefer to see it lose, as that tiger bas clawed me pretty badly whenever | have stopped in Memphis.” ‘*Now is your chance to get even,” observed Gordon. ‘I will give you a straight tip—just follow my lead to-night, and you will put dollars in your pocket.” “Why so? Do you think you are going to win?” ‘** Sure of it.” “Tf you have got an infallible system, or have struck a sign that never misses, you are gone up. ‘‘T have nothing of the sort. I am spinning this for you as fine as silk. I havea lucky fit on this night, and it is pure luck that is going to carry me through. I need money, you see, and must have it right away.” ‘You speak as if the bank was owing you the money.” “Tt is going to pay me the money pretty soon, and if you want a share you had better follow my lead. This is one of my lucky times, I tell you. All I ask of you, Byers, is to intro- duce me as a friend from up the country. Then leave me alone and let me work the scheme to suit myself.” ‘Do you mean ‘ gra ?” ‘‘ Perhaps so; but I can assure you that no- body will play a brace game on me.” rs. Hannafin’s ‘“* place” was found to be a few quiet and apparently respectable rooms over a saloon. It could hardly fail to be quiet, as the pro- prietress was always there, and her presence was supposed to be sufficient to insure order. to pass yourself off as a Byers introduced his companion as ‘ Mr, Gordon, a friend of mine from up the country, who wanted to find a faro game.’ Mrs, Hannafin, who appeared to be a pale- faced and somewhat careworn woman on the shady side of forty, but stylish in her apparel and energetic in her manner, looked sharply at the stranger as she greeted him, ‘* Your friend is welcome, Hank,” she said, ‘and we will try to accommodate him. He will find a square game here, as this bank is satisfied with its percentage.” At the faro-table a rather monotonous game was in progress, a few men betting small amounts as the cards were dealt in a per- functory manner, when Gray Gordon seated himself before the ‘‘ lay-out” and looked up at the dealer. ~ oo ‘Ts this the sure-enough tiger?” be inquired. “Tf it is, I went to ruffle the fur of the ani- mal.” ‘‘ Proceed to ruffle,” responded the dealer, ‘‘ This is the genuine Royal Bengal, and you may tangle your hands in his hair to your heart's content. If he scratches or bites, 1t is not the fault of the keeper.” With a smile at this fair warning, the man from up-country proceeded to “ tangle,” and ke began and continued the performance in a style that astonished the dealer and everybody else in the recom. It was as he told Byers—he had a Jucky fit on, and was bound to win. There did not seem to be any plan or system in his betting, as he placed his money recklessly on one card or anofher as the whim seemed to strike him, but he won from the start and kept COME 5 >> > eee —— 2 a a aaa ee Si . a % © a : 9 S P/se-dd