Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

=_—S = _ eee .* Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. 11 In this effort he was speedily and eminently successful. He chucked a few dollars into the mouths of the tigers at Dan Lasher’s and other places, but without committing himself to a combat with either of the beasts. At the various saloons he was free with bis money, treating frequently and liberally, but himself sampling the liquors with caution and moderation. His modesty, though it might not have been so considered elsewhere, was something marvel- ous to the Topnotchers, in view of the reputation that bad preceded him, and his statements con- cerning himself were not regarded as in the least degree boastful. ‘*T am El Paso Pete,” he was wont to say, ‘‘and [ am a chief where I comefrom, The Comanches hunt their holes when they hear of me, and the Greasers give me plenty of room. [| own the field, and always cut a wide swath, I am not hunting any fights, and am as peaceable as a young lamb on a May morning; but, if any citizen about here wants to pick a quarrel with me, he can be accommodated with all he wants as soon as he can call for it.” Such extreme modesty on the part of so great a man was highly appreciated by the many ad- mirers of El Paso Pete. The toughs swarmed about him, but treated him deferentially, and the more substantial cit- izens, though they regarded him as a possible terror, were respectful and willing to be on good terms with him. In the course of his peregrinations he ‘‘ took in” Bart McGinley’s juicery, and it must be ad- mitted that he seemed to take unusual pains to make himself solid there, greatly to the delight of McGinley and his regular customers, Deadwood Dave and his gang had been out of a job since the disastrous failure of their last at- tempt upon Topnotch Tim. They were also out of money, the sums re- ceived from Dan Lasher having lasted them but a little while, and there being no more forth- coming from that quarter. Handsome Dan had positively assured them that no further advance payments would be made; that he must have something to show for his money before he put it up. As it had been clearly demonstrated to them, by the presence of Topnotch Tim in the flesh, and the continued absence of English Bill, that it was the latter individual who had been done away with by the burning of the cabin, the fact had discouraged them greatly. As they could not understand how the un- armed prisoner had escaped, while the free man with weapons had perished, their belief in the ssession of supernatural powers by the Mad arson was strengthened, and their fear of him had become so great that they hastened to get out of sight if they happened to perceive him at a distance. Sandy McGuckin had so far recovered from the effects of his wound that he was able to sit up in the bar-room with the others, and there was no longer any medical interdiction to pre- vent him from taking his regular or irregular drinks, if he could get them. If he could get them—that was the sore point with Sandy, as well as with the rest of them, and they were all more than ever convinced of the truth of the old saying that ‘‘ it takes money to buy whisky.” Consequently the advent of a stranger, and especially of such a personage as El Paso Pete was regarded by them as a windfall of the first magnitude. As he was the furthest possible remove from a tenderfoot, they could not hope to take any- thing from him, or to make anything out of him, except what he chose to give them; but he was surely a liberal chieftain, and it was very kind of him to extend his patronage to the Mc- Ginley juicery and continue it there. He was, indeed, very liberal to the four toughs who were usually housed at McGinley’s though Deadwood Dave had at first exp the opinion that he was a “ stuck up kind of a cuss, and jest as like as not a fraud.” One evening, when he was there with the pro- prietor and the four comrades—other customers seldom sought that resort—he ventured to ask a small favor of them or one ofthem. : As he had “‘ sugared them up” to their satis- faction, it was to be expec that they would gladly do something for him in return, and their willingness was only limited by their abil- ity. ' “Is thar any of you fellers,” he inquired, ** who is handy with the pen? I can write my name, and maybe can do a little more when I’m eee but I make such a poor fist of it that would be ashamed to have anybody see my handwrite.” | Aaron Isaacs could write, and admitted as much; but it was agreed that Sandy McGuckin was the champion penman of the party, and Sandy was glad to be of service to the gang’s new friend, if he could get hold of proper tools for the purpose. **What do you want done’ he asked, when the materials had been procured. ‘“*T want,” answered ote, “to write a letter f Ca : a a to the superintendent of the Topnotch Mining Company.” Sandy started and hesitated. He had been in that business once before, and his previous experience made him wonder what this man might intend to do. ‘* What do you want to say to him?” he asked. **T want to apply for a posish.” *““That’s a scheme that ain’t a bit likely to work,” put in Deadwood Dave. ‘ Those folks are a pious crowd, the piousest you ever struck, and I’m afeard that your style wouldn’t suit ’em much better’n ourn, and I know that they wouldn't touch any of us with a ten-foot pole.” El Paso Pete ordered some more whisky for the party, as the easiest argument available. ‘*T understand that, Dave,” said he, ‘‘and I shouldn’t wonder if 1 know as much about the people as you do; but ’'ve anotion that my style is just what they need and are bound to have. I want a posish as a sort of handy man—a bouncer, a cbap who can make big-headed galoots stand around, who can keep order and do what [ may call the rough work of managin’, Thats the sort of man they need, and they’ve got to have him, if they haven't struck one already. Just you write that out, Sandy, and put it in as good shape as you can, and [ll pay you well for the job if it suits me.” Sandy addressed himself to the task, applied to it al) the resources of his stimulated intellect, and produced an application that suited the ap- plicant when it was read to him. It was inclosed in an envelope directed to ‘*Thomas R. Hagleson, Superintendent of the Topnotch Mining Company,” and Sandy Mc- Guckin was well paid for writing it, and more drinks were forthcoming at the expense of the visitor. CHAPTER XVI. YOUR NECKS INTO NOOSES. DEADWOOD DAVE was considerably perplexed and worried by the application which El] Paso Pete had concocted and Sandy McGuckin had put in shape for him. He wanted to know whether this new and val- uable friend, who could be of so much service to the gang, was going over to the enemy. It was of course an understood thing that the new mining company was hostile to the old Top- notchers and the tough interests generally. ‘You seem to be a squar’ man,” said he ‘* white all through, no sort of a tenderfoot, and not piouser than the law allows, I jest hope that you ain’t goin’ to sell out to that mining company.” **? am not the kind of man who sells ont to rrtgerny A replied the gentleman from El Paso, ‘“*T reckon, Dave, that you don’t understand this little game of mine.” ‘‘Mebbe I don’t; but [m sart’?in that thar can’t be much hold out to the new minin’ com- pany. They’re a mean and despisable set, too, with nota bit of public sperrit about them. The whole concern is on the make, and they don’t mean to let anybody but themselves make anythin’ if they can helpit. If they keep on as they’ve been goin’, the public sperrited citizens of this camp will rise up afore long and smash em, ‘That is my opinion exactly,’ observed El Paso Pete, with a sudden burst of confidence, ‘‘and I reckon I may as well let you into a lit- tle secret, as weareall friends here, and may be partners.” As friendship and possible partnership with El Paso Pete was greatly to be desired by the gang, they listened eagerly to his explanation. ** As I told you,” said he, ‘‘I am not the man to sell myself, and I sometimes think that I’ve got as much public spirit as anybody. Do you suppose for a minute that any measly, miserly wages that those folks could pay me would be- gin to buy sucha man asI am? Chiefs ain’t sold that cheap in my country. No, my friends and partners, that’s not what I’m after. It’s boodle!” The eyes of his hearers glistened. Boodle was what they were after, too; but they did not know how to getit, and hoped that their new friend was going to tell them. ‘*How are you goin’ to make the scheme work?” inquired Deadwood Dave. “That 1s what I am not ready to tell. I must wait and see how things shape themselves before I can say just what lam going todo, I wanted to let you into this thing a bit, so that you might make no mistake about my inten- tions. The first thing I want is to geta good grip on those chaps—a hard and cold grip—and then [ will work them for all I am worth,” “That'll be mighty fine, if it works as well as it sounds,” ‘**T mean to make it work. That’s the only way to get along. It is strange to me that you fellers haven’t tried to play some such game, I pever had much to do with pious people, but have thought that they are easy to scare.” **Not allus, I reckon. We did try toruna skeer onto ’em a while ago; but it didn’t seem to work. We mought have followed the thing up, if we hadn’t had some other jobs on our hands.” . ‘* What other jobs?” inquired the visitor, half closing his eyes, lest their sparkle Buea sug- i SS EEE — gest the deep interest he was taking in this con- versation, ** Well, as you are a friend of ours, and sorter hitched in the same barness, | may as well tell yeu though I don’t suppose it will interest you a bit. The big ruffian gave a tolerably true account of the attempts of bimself and his partners to get possession of Susan Marlow, to find her ather’s “ diggin’s,” and finally to capture and corral Topnotch Tim. ‘*He did not, however, mention the name of Dan Lasher in the matter. ** Who put you up to those jobs?” the visitor wanted to know. ‘‘ Why, we put ourselves up to’em. We had plenty o’ grudges against the old cuss to work out. Idon’t mind sayin’ that thar was some- body bebind us with capital; but I can’t be ex- pected to give his name.” From the lhberality with which El Paso Pete ordered more whisky for the party, it might be supposed that he had received some interest- ing information, and was possibly expecting to get bold of more. ‘Since then,” observed Dave by way of finish, ‘‘we hain’t been doin’ much of any- thin’.” ‘¢1t seems to me,” suggested the liberal visitor, if you won't take offense at me for speaking plainly—” **Oh, no.” ** Not at all.” ‘The plainer you speak, the better we like it.” The glib answers were 80 encouraging to the gentleman from El Paso, that his eyes flashed as he continued his suggestion, **Tt seems to me, then, that you haven’t got enough grit and get-up about you; that you give up too easily, and generally lack nerve and en- terprise, I have heard something of those per- formances of yours, and have heard, too, that you have more than once been frightened out of your boots by the man you call Topnotch Tim. What's the matter with you, anyhow?” Deadwood Dave leaned over and spoke ina confidential whisper, with the air of a man who is enunciating a great moral sentiment. ‘**] shouldn’t wonder, now, if Topnotch whisky is kinder wearin’ on a man,” ‘““As a steady thing,” remarked the visitor, **T doubt if it is calculated to give a man nerve and build up bis brain. Suppose you quit it for a while, and try to brace up. There will be plenty of openings yet for public spirited citizens.” ‘“ When the openings come, we'll jump right into ’em,” Ben Staples declared, **Good-evening, then, and you had better Sous up,” was the parting word of El Paso ete, There was an almost murderous look on his face when be had got out into the street. ‘You will jump your necks into nooses,” he muttered. ‘* That is the biggest and best jump- ing you are likely to do.” ite went direct to the. office of the mining company, as if he preferred to hand in person. ally the application which had been so carefully prepared by Sandy McGuckin. hough the hour was late, be found the super. intendent still at his desk, busy with the affairs of the new company, which he was working hard to place ona sound and substantial foot- ing. Nir. Eagleson was a man of about forty, but nearly bald, pale and rather thin, and with what might be styled an ascetic expression on his smoothly shaven face. He looked up with a surprised air as El Paso Pete entered the room, The visitor was picturesque, no doubt, but seemed to be out of place there. *“*What can I do for you, sir?” be coldly in- ed. “TItisa little matter of business,” answered the other, as he helped himself to a seat. ** Be quick about it, then, if you please, as I am very busy.” ‘*T supposed that you were expecting me.” “What do you mean by that?’ demanded Eagleson. ‘* Expecting you? Why should I be expecting you?” ‘* Because you sent for me.” ‘Sent for you? I? Come, that is a little too sg Who are you, and what is your business here : ‘*Ts it possible, Mr. Eagleson, that a slight change in a man’s get up can make such a bi difference in his tag g I perceive that shall have to make you acquainted with my- self,’ ; El Paso Pete took off his sombrero, and then removed from his head a wig of long and curl- ing black hair that had fallen down on his shoulders, My The difference was really astonishing. His own hair, though black, was cut pretty close, and he would, without the wig and dress- ed in a business suit, have appeared to,be a neat young fellow, good-looking and bright, but not varying much from the ordinary run of neat young men, ‘“Mr,. Gannon!” exclaimed the Superintend- ent, y comicghboo (C <Si :