Beadle's Dime Library No. 490: 'The Lone Hand in Texas' — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 =~ os FP ie > re uf r) A The Lone Hand in Texas. =, ‘My dear Webster, you will never make your | We must change our dress so that we cannot be fortune in the detective line.” ‘‘ Well, I will admit without dispute that I never expect to. I never was good at guessing riddles, puzzles or anything of that kind.” “To me the matter is quite simple; I think I can see the game, although unable to guess at the motive of the players, or to see the exact end for which they are aiming. **Do you recall that I predicted you would secure this place with the Jew when I found Moreno was interesting himself in the matter?” sé Yes.” **T felf sure the moment he said he would speak for you that he had some hold on the Jew and that if he told Oppenheim to take you the neg would do so.” ‘* Now, I have made another discovery which strengthens me in my belief that my suspicion war correct. ‘This landlord knows that Moreno has a hold on the Jew and that Oppenheim will do as he says, ‘** He told how mean the Jew was and laughed at the idea of you clerking for him until he made the discovery that Moreno was going to recommend you, and that immediately opened his eyes to the fact that Moreno wanted you to take a position with the Jew; then he saw he had interfered with the game and he took the back track as soon as possible.” ‘* Yes, that is probable enough—in fact, I do not think there is any doubt about it, but what on earth is this Moreno up to? What does it: matter to him whether I am with the Jew or not? What is his game?’ Webster asked, amazed at finding himself the central figure of such a puzzle, ‘** Ah, now you are too much for me. I am not deep enough in the game yet—have not seen enough of the cards in the hands of the other parties to guess, but three points I have settled to my satisfaction—but, stop! Before I go any further, my dear fellow, I must have an understanding with you.” ‘With me—how?” **This game in which you have become in- volved is a deep one, but as far asI can see now, you will not be drawn into any danger, that is unless you wish to take an active part in the future. ‘1 have a suspicion that certain parties had got the idea into their heads that a gentleman about my size 1s likely to become dangerous and that it 1s at me they intend to strike when they get good andready.” ‘Well, I think I get at your meaning and I must say I do not think pon do me justice,” Webster remarked, and his manner showed that he felt hurt, ‘*Tam not a great, rough fellow, and I do not set up to be much of a fighting man, but still when it comes to the scratch I think I wculd be as game as the next man. Anyhow I will swear [ will not show the white teatber if I am shot down in my tracks. I gave you my hand before we pitched into the brigands out yonder; I was proud to be your pard, and if you are willing I will be glad to stick to you no matter how great the danger may beif I can be of any service,” ‘*Put it there!” said the Lone Hand impul- sively extending bis hand. Webster obeyed the request and the two men shook hands heartily. * Since you are willing to enlist for the war we will put her through!” the Lone Hand ex- claimed. ‘Now for my discoveries: in the first place Moreno has a pull on the Jew, in the second, the landlord is aware of that fact, and that shows that Moreno, the Jew, and the landlord pre all connected. That is an important fact to now, ' ““My third discovery is that this Moreno is aman who will bear watching. ‘’ Now, mark my words, you will be engaged by Oppenheim and on good terms, and just as soon ashe has a good chance he will begin to pepp you in regard to myself.” ** And what shall | tell him?” ‘“*The truth, but not all of it. We were strangers, met by chance on the trail, came to this town and here we parted. That we intend toremain in communication with each other must be concealed. **Meanwhile you must be constantly on the watch without appearing tobe. You must use cial care not to excite the suspicions of the espe old Jew for if he was to discover that he was suspected all the fat would be in the fire,” ‘“Of course! Oh, you can trust me to be care- ful, but I say, old fellow that sort of thing ‘makes the blood tingle in my veins; it is like the excitement of the hunt.” -“ Yes, you are right there and the biggest ae in the world is man,” the Lone Hand re- ‘““Now then, mark another prediction of mine. When this lynch businers goes on to- night—just as the half-breed is about tc be strung up the outlawr will make their ap - ance and rescue him so you be on the inchoate: _ forthe gang will wipe both of us outif they can, yey rere “That is a good idea; you suggested that there was danger of a rescue at the consultation to-day?” “ Yes, but they did not heed me. It is hard work to talk to men who know it all. But here we are at the Jew’s, and now for another scene in the drama.” CHAPTER XV. MORENO AND THE JEW. AGREEABLY to what he said when he parted with Webster in front of the mayor’s office, Moreno hastened immediately to Moses Oppen- heim’s store. ’ he man he sought was seated on the counter, idly swinging his long legs, waiting for the advent of customers when Moreno entered*the shop. P Gesentaic was the typical Hebrew. He was tall, and as thin as a slipper pantaloon, dressed in a rusty, threadbare suit much too small for him. He had a long head, an enormous nose, was very bald, and had a gray, thin beard like a billy-goat. His eyes were as keen as a hawk’s, yet he al- was had a pair of enormous, old-fashioned spec- tacles perched upon his nose, He was a slippery, oily old fellow, who cringed and rubbed bis hands together whenever he talked to any one, As more than one rough cow-puncher had said to his teeth, he was one of the biggest soft-sawder frauds to be found in the whole of Texas. And when he was addressed in such terms as this, the old man would laugh, and bow and cringe more humbly than ever, as if he consid- ered it a compliment, ‘‘ Aha, my tear, how you vas?” exclaimed the Jew, who spoke with a decided accent, when Moreno entered the store, ‘‘Oh, I am first-rate! Are you all alone— nobody around?” Moreno asked, casting a sus- picious glance about him. ** All alone, my tear. Shust close der door, und you can talk mitout fear.” Moreno did so, and then took a seat on a bar- rel which stood near the counter upon which the old man sat. ‘¢ You have heard the news, I suppose?” ‘* Ah, yesh, my tear,” and the old mau heaved a deep sigh. ** Such news travels fast, eh?’ ‘‘ Yesh, yesh, shust like it had on dem seven- league boots, like in der fairy tale.” ‘“Tt was a nicely-planned scheme,” Moreno observed, in a reflective way, ‘*‘ The Red Glove Raiders had us foul, for our revolvers. had been doctored in some mysterious way, so that they were not of the least use to us. Aldama would have been carried off, and I presume the fellows would not bave giyen him up until they had got fifteen or twenty thousand dollars for a ransom.” ** Ah, mine gootness! dot would have been a baul!” and again the Jew sighed. ‘*You can bet all you are worth on it; but these two strangers sprung up just like a couple of ghosts, you know, put a ball through one man, killed the horse of the second, and stam- peded the third.” ‘-Yesh, yesh; it vas vat der poys call a sur- prise-barty.” *“You bet it was; and now Comanche Joe is in the calaboose, and the mayor and marshal are doing their best to get some information out of him.” “ Ah, but Joe will not talk,” the old Jew de- clared, ‘‘ He ish not one of dot kind!” ‘* You are right there; not a thing can they get out of him,” | ‘“ Ah, mine gootness! der obstinacy of dose ot Para is enough to make a man’s heart eed. ‘‘Did you see the two men who did the trick so nicely?” ““-Yesh, yesh.” **Get a good look at them?’ “Yosh.” ‘The poune slender fellow don’t amount to much. is name is Webster; he has been clerking at Brackett and by the way he is com- ing down here to see if he can’t get a job ith you. He has letters of recommendation in his pocket to you from some of your friends up there.” ‘*A clerk I vants one bad, but dot young mans—oh! I am afraid dot too thin he ish. A small fortune vill it cost to fat put onto him,” ** Well, old man, I want you to take bim.” ** Vat difference does it make mit you?” “This much; if he don’t get a chance with you, the chances are that he will go to Al- ey ranch, and he must be kept away from ere. at understand it not—why should he not there go ‘‘ Why, you old jackass, don’t you know the game Tam Le eda the young man exclaimed, rshly. ‘* Haven’t I been doing my level best to make mysel: agreeable to the old man’s daugh- ter, Mercedes, the sole heir to all his wealth? a 7 Pa and I must say, though it is not flattering to myself at all, that 1 have not been near as suc- cessful in that game as I thought I would be. And now, just as [am beginning to believe the girl is getting a little interested in me, do you think I want to have a good looking gentleman- ly fellow like this Webster 2 ia right in the ranch itself, where he will have a chance to see the girl fifty times a day?” ‘“Oh, no, my tear, tbat would not do at all!” the old man exclaimed, wagging his bald head too and fro like the toy Chinamen, ‘““Of course it wouldn’t do, and I must do all in my power to stop it. ‘‘ Luckily, the fellow didn’t want to go there for he has an idea that ranch life would be too hard for him.” ‘‘ Yesb, yesh, he shall have a nice soft job mit me here,” and the old Jew grinned. ‘‘- Yes, but I say, you cannot come the same game on this fellow that you did on your lart clerk,” Moreno observed. ‘‘He is no two-dol- lars a week chap.” “Oh, vell, since you speak for him J vill give him three.” ‘¢ Three devils!” cried Moreno, harshly, ‘‘ Mine gootness, no! Not devils, my tear, tollars,” ‘* You will give him ten a week—” ‘Ten mit der week?” cried the old Jew ina sort of shrill squeal. ‘‘ Oh, mine gootness, why not say for him to take der whole business?” ‘“That is all right, you pay five and I will fork over the rest, and you wil] not have to board him for he will probably stop at the hotel.” ‘‘ Hive tollers is too much!” and the old man shook his head in a melancholy way. ‘‘ That is what you will pay, and I don’t want any talk about it either!” the other cried. ‘* And you may thank your lucky stars that I don’t make you pey the whole.” ““Yesh yesh, I vill pay der five tollars, my tear,” the Jew exclaimed, hastily, evidentl afraid that the other might be as good as his word. ‘* Well, that settles him then; while he is in the store you can keep an eye on him, and I will look out for him at the hotel. ‘He is not dangerous though; it is his com- panion that I fear.” ‘¢The tall fellow—he ish a fine mans.” “Yes, and the impression has come to me that I have met him somewhere before.” ““Tsh dot so?” ‘¢ Yes, but I cannot place the fellow or remem- ber aught in regard to the circumstance, In fact, my mind is in such a haze about the mat- ter that it does not really seem possible that I have encountered him, yet there is something about the man that seems familiar.” ‘* Dot ish strange.” “Yes, and ‘it worries me. Did you notice what an upright carriage he has and that he bears himself like a man who has been used to command?” ‘Dot ish true; mit mine.own eyes I saw dot.” ‘Yes, and the suspicion has occurred to me that he is an officer of the United States Army in disguise.” ‘*-Yesh, yesh—come down here der Red Glove gang to look after.” ‘That was my thought.” ‘Dot would be rough on der poys,” the old man observed, thoughtfully. ‘“Yes, and if that suspicion is true it would account for my thinking that I have met the man before.” “« How ish dot? I cannot see.” ““Why, heis a bloodhound in disguise; I have met many bloodhounds in my time, and as all these man-bunters come in years to bear a re- semblance to each other, the fellow =, familiar enough to me to make me think I bave encountered him somewhere when it is not the truth—we are strangers,” ‘“My tear, dot ish too fine spun for your uncle. Icannot me much stock in dot take.” ‘‘ Oh, it is only a fancy of course, but it has served to put me on my guard, and whether the man is a bloodhound or not, I shall look out for him. “Dot ish all right!” “By the way, as they have not been able to make Comanche Joe talk, the mayor and mar- shal proposed to try a little lynch business on him to-night.” “‘ How ish dot?” “They are going to disguise themselves and break into the calaboose at midnight, take Joe out, put a rope around his neck and run him u to a convenient tree until he concludes to what he knows,” ‘ “ Dot vill be a surprise-barty on Joe, but can- not his bards some trick like dot blay?” the old Jew asked, with a shrewd smile, : ‘’ You bet your life they can!” Moreno replied. ‘The mayor and marshal think they are smart, but they may get a surprise to-night that they } %. do not e ‘¢ Well I must be off, for I have worktodo between now and midnight. Engage this fellow — and keep your eyes upon him!” ‘©Oh, yes, my tear!” And then Moreno departed. “Com 4 A a