Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 483 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Flush Fred, the River Sharp. 5 be the headquarters of the campaign, as the en- emy is more or less in possession of all the other oints,” ‘*T am glad tosee that Miss Gibbs is with you,” observed Stanniford. ‘* Where is theschool that she is to teach?” ** That will not open for two months yet, and in the mean time she is my guest.” *‘Has any Stacey come forward, as you pre- dicted, to force an unwelcome marriage upon her?” ** Not yet, but there is time enough for that, end Staceys are so plentiful that one of them is sure to strike at her before long.” ** Are there so many Staceys?’ inquired Fred. “Their other name is Legion. You could never pitch a stone into acrowd anywhere about here without hitting a Stacey. ost of those who are not Staceys by name are related to the Staceys in one way or another.” ‘* Ts the hotel-keeper a Stacey?” ‘* Not he. Charley Taintor is nobody but him- self; but he has to keep on the right side of the’ Staceys, I suppose, or they would make Stacey- ville unpleasant for bim.” ‘“How does Miss Bramwell seem to be getting on with the Stacey tribe?” ‘*That is more than I can tell you. I wish I knew, but I have tried in vain to findout. They keep her shut up, and I suppose they are bring- ing a pressure to bear on her in favor of Tom,” ‘“What we have to do, then, is to find some way of persuading them to let up on the pres- sure.” ‘That is what we want to do; but I don’t know how we are going to set about it.” Fred Henning and Ben Stanniford spent a pleasant afternoon with Betty Marks and her friend, though the younger man was quite un- easy because he could get no exact intelligence of Eva Bramwell, and it was after dark when they got back to the hotel at Staceyville. Wishing to look about them and gain some knowledge of the village folks, they went into the bar-room and called for drinks, The room was fuller than they had yet seen it; but the men who were gathered there were ~not patronizing the bar extensively, nor did they seem to be enjoying themselves in any way. They had been conversing quite freely among themselves until Fred and Ben entered, when their conversation suddenly ceased, and all ap- peared to devote themselves to a silent but in- quisitive examination of the strangers, ‘“ Some of the Staceys who have come to take us in and size us up,” whispered Henning to his friend. One in particular kept his eyes fastened on them in a style that passed the limit of curios- ity, and became impertinence. He was a middle-aged man, short and in- clined to be stout, with a fierce mustache under a fiery red nose, and a generally warlike look; but his dress was inclined to be seedy, and it ‘was evidently some time since his buttoned-up coat had been new, This man was doubtless a person of some im- ortance in the village, as the others followed fim with their eyes while he stared at the strangers, and all had the air of men who were silently expectant of something that had been prepared for in advance of its occurrence, This condition of affairs was evident to the sharp intelligence of Flush Fred, and he deter- mined to bring the affair, whatever it might be, to a crisis, being more than curious to know waat these people meant, His idea was that he would make the acquain- tance of the person with a warlike look, and the natural and easy way to do that would be to in- vite him to drink. Would he come to the bar in response to a polite invitation! If he should follow his nose, Henning thought, he surely would. Flush Fred invited Ben Stanniford to the bar again, and looked around, As he did so, his glance lighted, as if casually, on the person of warlike appearance, who hap- pened to stand near him. “Will you take a drink with us?” he inquired, ‘with one of his best smiles. Even one who was not accustomed to that sort of thing would bave known from the man’s countenance that he was eager to accept such an invitation. But he had a part to play, and could not ac- cept it from that source. he **No, sah.” he fiercely answered, drawing himself up as if he thought he could add a cubit ‘to his stature, ‘No, sah. You are mistaken in the man, sah. A gentleman, sah, never drinks with a gambler and a thief.” This, then, was what was the matter—a de- liberate insult, provoked only by a bit of com- mon politeness, and its intention was plain. This was the beginning of the game, and what was the end meant to be? The insulter was doubtless a Stacey, and prob- ‘ably nearly every man in the room was a Stacey, and they had come together there for that very purpose, The intention was manifest, and it was to be supposed that the insulter’s friends were there to back him up; but Flush Fred gave no thought | to these circumstances. | He only heard the insult, and saw the man who gave it, As quick as a flash his left arm flew out, and, with a blow straight from the shoulder, he knocked the warlike person down. CHAPTER VI. DEADLY INTENTIONS. Frep HenninG and his friend stood on their | guard at once, as they expected an immediate | rush of the partisans of the man who had been struck down. They backed up against the bar, ready to draw their revolvers and make the best fight they could; but their expectations were agree- ably disappointed. No rush was made, and the bystanders kept their places as if the affair did not interest | them. The man on the floor slowly got up» flicked the dust from his clothes with a red pocket- handkerchief, deliberately extracted a card from his vest pocket, and drew himself up stiffly as he offered it to Henning. The fact that his face plainly showed the mark of the blow he had received detracted somewhat from the dignity of this proceeding. ‘* Here is my card, sah,” ho said. ‘‘ You will hear from me in the morning, sah.” Then he walked out of the bar-room, followed by most of the men who had witnessed the transaction. Flush Fred, more amused than excited, looked at the card, It bore the nameof ‘‘ Major Andrew Jack- son Stacey,” written withink in a stiff and formal hand, and the inference was that it had been prepared specially for that occasion, ‘Do you know that man?’ inquired Fred, turning to the barkeeper. ‘Yes, sir. That is Major Stacey, a gentle- man of the old style, sir.” tyle.” ‘*T don’t seem to understand his s ‘*Major Stacey means business,” observed a bystander. **Queer sort of business. I call you to wit- ness, gentlemen, that he insulted me grossly, and of course he deserved what he got. l knocked bim down, and he settles the matter by handing me this piece of pasteboard.” ‘* That don’t settle it,” put in the last speaker. ‘The major means business, and you will hear from him in the morning.” ‘“Why should he wait for morning? If he wanted to offer an apology, he might have made it while he was here, and then there would have been no more bother.” * pology? Major Stacey never apologizes. He will send you a challenge in the morning.” ‘* Ah! is that his little game?” ‘That is what he will do, sir, and he will kill you, as sure as you fi ht him. Major Sta- cey is a dead shot, sir. e has fought many duels, and has never missed his man.” “That seems to offer a bad ope ete for me,” mournfully remarked Fred. ‘' That a man should insult me, and then kill me to pay for it, is protty rough on an American citizen.’ ‘There is only one way for you to get out of it, stranger.” ‘(There isa way, then? A wy of sunlight in the midst of darkness! And, what is that way? Will an apology from me restrain his wrath and save my life?” ; ‘*No, sir. Major Stacey never accepts apol- ogies. Your only chance is to light out, and I would advise you, as a friend, to get out of this town as quick as you can,” ‘* How fortunate I am in finding a friend! Will you take a drink with me, sir?” The friendly adviser hastened to accept the in- vitation. ‘*T wish you would kindly favor me with your name,” observed Fred when he had finished his lass. . ‘‘My name is Alfred Stacey, sir.” ‘‘T am glad to have met you, Mr. Stacey, and I thank you for your advice. I have no doubt that it is good advice, and it may be useful to me some time, but not just now.” ‘‘ What do you mean, sir? Do you expect to stay here and get killed?” ‘*Not exactly; but I expect tostay here. I am too much in love with Staceyville to leave it for a little matter. Please present my com- pliments to the gallant and distinguished gentle- man who gave’ me. his card, if you happen to meet him, and say to him that if he wants to fight I shall be proud to have the honor of kill- ing him, though it will grieve me greatly to send to his grave a gentleman of the old style.” Flush Fred took his friend’s arm, and they walked out of the bar-room, Mr. Alfred Stacey after them with a puzzled look, and then chuckled as he turned to his friends, ‘That's all blow,” said he—‘nothing buta big bluff. The fellow is nearly scared out of his boots, and I'll bet high that he sneaks out of Staceyville to-night.” It was well for Alfred Stacey that nobody to bet with him on that point, as was ile Flush Fred was not so easily scared, and he ti showed no inclination to sneak out of Stacey- ville. He went with Ben Stanniford direct to the room which they occupied in common, and there they quietly went to bed. ‘*Do you look upon that affair as meaning something serious, Fred?” inquired Ben as they were undressing, ‘‘T must admit that I do. It seems to me to be a made-up scheme to get rid of me, The chances are that my Major Stacey is really a duelist, and that he has been put forward to play this game for the purpose of scaring me away or killing me. lt don’t seem to me that they are likely to win at either end of the game,” ‘* Then there is a risk, Fred, and I can’t allow you to run any such risk for me,” ‘It’s not for you, my boy. Those Staceys have a grudge against me because I won their money, and they want to work it out, No, it’s not for you. I came to Staceyville to please Miss Marks, and I shall stay bere to please my- self,’ ‘* Have you ever fought a duel?” ‘* No, I have had plenty of fights, but nothing in that line.” ‘*Tf that man is used to duels, and is a dead- shot, as he is said to be, what sort of a chance will you have?” ‘*] will have whisky on my side, for one pr But you needn’t worry about that, Ben. I will play the game for all it is worth, and you won't have to copper me to win.” So they both went to bed, and slept as placidly as if no question of life or death were involved in the expected duel. CHAPTER VIL A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, AFTER breakfast the next morning, when Henning and Stanniford were smoking their cigars on the veranda of the hotel, the proprie- tor came to them and informed them that Col- onel Stacey wished to see Mr. Henning, ‘*So it is the colonel this time,” observed Fred. ‘* Are you sure that it is not the major, Mr. Taintor?” ‘* This is Colonel Jeff Stacey; but I reckon he comes from the major. He wanted to know if you were here, and seemed to be surprised when I told bim that you were, and then he said that he had some mighty particular business with ou! ‘* If it is a duel, tell him that I will be happy to see him,” said Fred, as if duels were ordinary and pleasant incidents of his life, Yes, it was an invitation to a duel, and Col- onel Jeff Stacey did not appear to be well pleas- ed with the turn the affair bad taken. He bad doubtless supposed, as others had, that Fred Henning would have been frightened off ; but there sat that obnoxious individual, calm and contented, wearing bis usual pleasant but determined look. The colonel came to the front manfully, how- ever, and stated his errand with a martial mix- ture of dignity and firmness. ‘*My cousin, Majah Stacey, sah,” said he, ‘“ has sent me with a message to you, which, 1 am obliged to say, is a hostile message.” _** And what is it?” calmly inquired Henning. ** You insulted the majah Jast night, sah, and ‘he demands satisfaction fcr the insult,” ‘*T hope he don’t want an apology. Any satis- faction but that I am ready to give him. But perhaps he wants to offer an apology.” ‘*'No, sah, Majah Stacey has nothing to apolo- gize for. You struck him,.sah.” ‘* Yes, and knocked him down, and he thor- oughly deserved it. He gave the insult.” ‘* Do you want to challenge the majah, sah?’ **Oh, no, | am very we satisfied with the situation as it stands,’ ‘*But you say that you were the insulted party,” insisted Colonel Jeff. ‘*No doubt of it; but it seems to me that I at- tended to that part of the business. I do not feel the need of satisfaction; but, if, Major Stacey requires anything in that line, I shall be happy to accommodate him,” Colonel Jeff was somewhat discomfited by his failure to induce the common advers of the Staceys to take the attitude of the challenging party, which might, under the circumstances, have given them a considerable advantage; but there were plenty of Staceys, and the chances in any event ought to be on their side. So herecurred to his errand as it originally was, and proceeded to do his duty. “T must request you then, sah, to favor me with the name of a friend of yours who will ar- range the preliminaries of the hostile en- counter.” ‘*T will take peers in doing so; but I must first find the friend, as I am a stranger here and I will send him to you as soon as possible.” Colonel Jeff Stacey was obliged to be satisfied with this, and he left the hotel none too well pleased with the result of bis mission, Flush Fred turned to Charley Taintor, ‘* Do you belong to the Staceys, Mr. Taintor?” he inquired. ‘**‘T am nota member of the rama | family, Mr. Henning, and I do not belong, if I know (ECOL Ebooks G + - * : . ua (@) Ig | ~