Beadle's Dime Library No. 429 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 looking for a lively young man, why, I’m here— and hang the balance.” Silent Sam did not even turn toward the speaker. His eyes rested on the off ear of the horse he was riding, and his face was stolidly un- sympathetic. For allthe sign he gave one would not have suspected that he had heard a word that his friend had said. That was no new experience, however; and as they rattled along the trail there was an ani- mated monologue, in which Hart Hawkins an- swered himself to his heart's content, and Sam Loftus remained assilent asever. What all was said would scarcely interest the reader; and has no further bearing on the story. Enough that the two rode into Bad Man’s Bar, some distance ahead of the rest, and drew up in front of the Happy Home as naturally as though they had always lived there. In spite of its name the Happy Home was kept by a full-fledged Dutchman, who rejoiced in the cognomen of Jacob Hoopragle—when he got it. For the most part he was called ‘*‘ Dutch ake” as a matter of reference, and simply “Jake” when personally addressed, All the same he knew how to kvep a hotel, and was thoroughly popular with the boys. He came out to meet the new arrivals, end recognized them on the instant. ‘Hart Hawkins! Vell, eef I nefer! Vot sprungs you here? Cladt tosee mit you. Tumple in. You’re shoost indime forsupper. Ven you coom town?” ‘**That you, Jake? Glad to see you. Heard you had a bang-up lay-out here and struck for it. Just book Sam and me for abort a year. And as for grub—we’re ready and willing. But say, Jake; has Slim Jimmy arrived, with a couple of his cargo in tow? There’s been tho worss kind of a little racket back there on the Ten-mile Cut-off—coech and all over into the drink—and Jimmy und his crew started for the Bar on foot-back.” — ‘**Anypo y killed?” asked Jacob, with more show of animation. ‘* No humans; but it was death on horseflesh. The whole four gone up the flume. Also several of the road-agents, if the latest accounts are to be believed. Old Uncle Dan’l and his fiddle were standing them off when a lot of the boys from Rat Trap came up for the funeral. Long- hand skipped then, he did, and Dan’l said his friend had struck out overland. Ought to be here hy this time if they are coming.” ‘***Pears ter me they vos a-coomin’ now. Vot vos dot oop der stadt?” ‘* Correct, as usual. Go slow, gents, and don’t make them think they bave landed in a nest of catamounts, There’s a lady in the ontfit that is a lady, and I wouldn’t advise any of you gents to look at her cross-eyed. Uncle Daniel is a desperate character, and he has them under his especial wing. When he ain’t here, why, J’m around. For further reference to character ask Brother Yawkub. As they appear to be all right I’m going to grub.” Uncle Daniel was greeted i eS e reference to witb a laugh that became subdued on hearin the addendum. The musician was known well enough at the Bar, and nobody thought much of him as a chief. Mr. Hart wkins was also known—chiefly by reputation—and there wes an undeniable earnestness about him that checked the rising mirth. He and his pard were men that weren’t to be trifled with. Greatly to the satisfaction of Slim Jimmy, the journey to the Bar had been devoid of incident or danger. At first the fugitives hurried on in breathless haste; but before long, hearing nosigns or sounds of pursuit, they moderated their pace, and though the short cut was a severe one, they arrived in better condition than, at setting out, they had hoped for. Of course it was a great relief to see the Bar, waiting with its protecting arms outstretched. Until Even their minds had been cn a strain, imagining what might happen. Now, as soon as Miss Leona knew that they were out of danger, she felt the result of what she had undergone, and ten minutes more of it might have broken her down completely. A delegation of curious citizens was gratefully met, though she left to her less impressionable companions the duty of giving all the explanations, and did not speak a word from the time she entered the resi until she stepped over the threshold of the Happy Home. Slim Jimmy took upon himself all the labor of explanation. t was observable that his opinions had under- gone sométhing of a change. He forgot the loss of bis team, and was inclined to glory over hav- ing been one of the only party that had ever got away with the gang of Colonel Longhand. He went over the story of the atteck and retreat two or three times in response to various calls to ‘*ine,” and each time became more and more the central figure: It would not have taken bim much longer to have forgotten all about the strolling fiddler, and he was furtively looking at his boots to see if he could detect any traces of ore, The flow of eloaquence kept up until the pas- sengers had had time to settle down to the ways of the house and get their suppers—a meal they ee --—™ Hair Trigger | tion to yourself. = nnn Errante eee ie a eee ee enjoyed with a gusto they had hardly expected an hour or two before. Then Jimmy was brought up with around turn. The passengers wanted their baggage suggesting to him that he should take the horses in the stables, and his wagon, and go back to ' ez he hez he jest don’t disremember. bring in whatever was transportable. **Exqueeze me; but I think I rather guess not,” was his answer. ‘*They might come back; an’ whar’d I be ef they ketched me thar? Send some ov ther boys. Wouldn’t mind it ef it warn’t after dark: but I | ain’t perspectin’ ’round ther Ten-mile Cut-off when [ ain’t no bizzness thar.” Half a dozen heard him, and joined in the laugh; but it made no difference, laugh meyer | 4 hurt any one; bullets bad, plenty of times, preferred the side of safety, and he kept there though his vaporings were pretty well stopped | for the time being. -Then, in a moment or two, he wished he had decided differently. As Jacob, accompanied by Sidney Darelle, was going out to see what better | fortune they would find in attempting to make arrangements elsewhere, they found that it was not necessary to look further. The baggage came of its own accord. To explain. Much to the surprise of every- body, a special coach came rolling in, the boots jam full of trunks and bundles, though only | two passengers were within. The vehicle halt- | ed at the door, just as a man’s face appeared, | looking out through the glow of the lamp that | was over the door of the Home. ‘* Look!” whispered Leona, at her father’s shoulder. ‘‘A woman! Who can it be?” **Hush!” he answered. ‘Do not draw atten- J saw no woman,” “ Look again, then.” He did look again, and now the man, whose face had appeared so sharply limned at the win- | dow, was standing on the ground, his back to- | ward the hotel, bis hands held up, while lightly floating to the ground came the feminine whose | presence Leona had detected. She was undeniably beautiful. Apparently | some years younger than Miss Darelle, she was almost a duplicate in figure; but about her face —though there was some general resemblance— there was a freshness and a bloom that was lacked by the other, and her eyes were black and sparkling. She tripped h¢htly up the steps, and brushed past Leona, who drew a little aside. As she went she found time to fling a whisper: ‘*T must see you to-night. Be ready when the vbance comes, and not a word to any one. Your life—perhaps more—may derend on it,” Then she ran on lightly into the house, leaving Leona struck dumb by the mysterious warning. CHAPTER VI. ‘*FOR WHEN A WOMAN WILL, SHE WILL; AND WHEN SHE WON’T, SHE WON’T.” THE young lady having vanished, Leona, per- haps in hopes of finding some explanation, of the singular warning, turned once more toward the coach; and this time she had a full view of the face of the gentleman who had been one of the two inside passengers. ce her surprise she saw that it was Egbert aw. He seemed to be fully as much surprised as herself: though for a different and a more un- | pleasant reason. From the hind boot of the | conveyance some one came dropping out: and it | did not take Leona a second glance to see that it | was the ungainly young man who had intruded | upon them at Red Bend, and who had declared | s intention of getting to Bad Man’s Bar, if he | had to walk. He was there; and he hadn’t walked, either. In some mysterious way he had managed to stow himself away in the extra, and had, despite | the governor’s warning, come into the camp with the special. At least, that was what Shaw made out of it, and as he watched the young pilgrim, a wrath- | ful flame crept into his face, his hand slid to his hip, and fora moment it looked as though the life of the intruder was not worth two cents purchase money. Leona watched the meeting in breathless ea- gerness. Possibly she overheard something of | the threat made at Red Bend; at all events she | understood the situation; and the methods of Governor Shaw at the denouement were subjects of interest to her now, when confidences were | just trembling on her lips. The youth—for really he seemed but. little more—seemed somewhat surprised, but by no means abashed at the meeting, After the first shadow of hesitation he slouch- ed forward, his hand awkwardly extended on the possibility of its receiving a shake. ‘*How d’y’?” he said, leisurely. Tough ain’t fur bebind ther hearse. sez he’s comin’ he allers cits thar. Gosh!” ‘**L think I told you there might he some per- sonal danger at the end of the journey: you probably forgot that part of it. As a personal affront I might call you to account here and now: but I think the matter can be safely left in the hands of the bovs of the Bar. Walk a chalk-line, my young friend, and the cyclone won't hit you quite so soon.” ** Tommy and the landlord was | a _ doors. When he | Tom of Red Bend. ‘* Mebbe, seein’ ez I’m on’y a striplin’ ov @ boy, ef you’ll speak a good word fur me, it won't strike at all. Anyhow, I’m much obleeged ter er, an’ when | kin do yera good turn jest name it. Tommy Tough ain’t many frien’s: but them So long.. I’m hungry ez a b’ar, an’ I'll see yer later.” He slouched away into the house, passing’ Leona with a recognizing grin; and found bis. way to the dining-room undisturbed by Hoop-- nagle, who accepted all grist that came to his: mill, as long as there was the coin to back it. That he saw Tommy was beyond a doult, for there was not much escaped his sharp cyes, though at the moment he was engaged with Leona in a brief conversation. When the danger of an immediate raclet be- tween the two passengers seemed to te cver she touched on the shoulder the worthy Jand- lord, who happened to have taken his stand just in front of her. ‘* Excuse me, but as a stranger here I can’t help asking questions. Who are the two ar- rivals by the stage? They seem to be vell known here. In fact, 1 have met the gentle- man before; but the lady seems strangely out of place in an out of the way Jittle town like this.” ‘* Kh, so! Dot vas der Fairy Fan, der vcmale dot runs der Quartz ven she’s der home. Den, der mon—dot vas der Goobender Shaw, dot keeries der town in his pritches bocket. Von goodt mon der die to eef he’s ready der cadch on; undt von padt mon ven he gives der pounce. 1 voodn’t pe in dot young veller’s spovts —no, not fur coin.” “He does not seem to be eying him ina very friendly way; though indeed I think he is mistaken. The trouble began with him, if I am not wrong, back in the last town through which we passed. I must really tell the governor that we have no cause of offense with the young man, Is—is he a friend of the young lady?” A puzzled look came in the Dutchman's face, and he hesitated before answering the question. ‘** Dot tepends,” he responded at length ‘*Meppe he vos: meppe he vosn't, raw, Dot tepends. Dey shpeaks ven dey meet, an’ vhen der gocbender vos aroundt der vcs no pody vonts ter look crosseyed so mooch ez von vink. Put dot vos apoud all. Dey don’t vos to- ene on not so mooch as any at all. Der goo- nder hafe too mooch on handts ter be voolin” roundt nit ter gals, an’ it’s shoost chance he cooms mit her in der stage. Meppe he think it not safe she cooms alone. Oh, he’s a square mon, vot vood go a hoondredt miles but vot he vood see dings done right.” ‘Who's all that you’re cracking up to the sky? I didn’t know there was a square man ex- cept myself in this sink hole of iniquity—and— deal faro, Don’t pile it on too thick. There isn’t a soul within practicable distance that is not for sale at a thousand dollars. Don’t de-— pend on what Yawkub tells you, miss. He can run a botel; but for information he’s not wurth a cent.” The smile of Mr. Hart Hawkins, as he spoke, was sufficient to win pardon for the abruptness. of bis address had it been seen in the dulious light; and as he got considerable of its winnirg— ness into his tones penape Miss Leona would not have been altogether angry if he had linger- ed to follow it up. But Hawkins was on his way to look for busi- ness, and did not intend to allow pleasure to in- terfere. He just threw in a word or two when he hoped they would do the most damage to the: other man, and then went on his road, rejoicing. He hit a little harder than he knew, though the young lady at first did not know whether to- be angry or grateful; while Hoofnagle was de- cidedly mad—aJmost too mad to answer the question that Leona put before the gay young gambler was fairly out of hearing. ‘*Dot? Dot vos Meester Hart Hawkins— von. cardt sharp und pad man. He p’lieves in no- poddy; and nopoddy p’lieves in him. FEef cer goobander hears bim schling dose. dalks Le makes undt hole gleam through mit him.” , ‘‘No doubt; but I am keeping you here talk-- ing; many thanks for your information. When _ vou are more at leisure I will ask you more at. length about the people of the camp, where we will probably stay for some time. Good. even- ing!” Jacob had rather fancied the conversaticn at first; but the turn that Hawkins hed given it had made him weaken a little, and be tcck | is release with very good grace. He left Lecna standing there, and sought the recesses of ihe kitchen, There was a light burning in the narrow ball- wey, thouch it failed to make a very brilliant iumination. Looking aleng the little row of Leona saw, or seemed to see, one of them open. Then, unless she was very nuch mistaken, Fairy Fan, as Hoopnagle had named . her. stood for an instant in the doorway, beck- oning to her, ‘“What can she want?’ was the muttered question. ‘It is possible that she isa particular friend of Mr. Shaw, and has heard him mention our interview. It is worth while to find out. If he is a boaster I never again want to speak tos him, and then, she may be jealous, Decidedly, J] must discover which itis; and to dothat therc. co JOO <€om “S (E - ——— ée