Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

_ place. -~ 12 ‘‘Peter Gannon, at your service—the man you sent for, and who bas been here several days.” {Bat why do Ae wear that wig and that out- landish costume?” ‘¢ Because both are necessary for business pur- poses. There are people in the world who know me, and I may not always wish to be known, Permit me toinform you, Mr. Kagleson, that here I am El Paso Pete, and that you are not, at least for the present, to know me by any other name.” ‘*Well, I suppose you know what you are about; but you cannot expect me to address you as Mr, El Paso Pete.” ‘You need not address me at all, as I shall probably not see much of you in the presence of other ple.” ‘‘ What have you been doing, Mr. Gannon, since you got here{” ‘‘ Looking about, making acquaintances, and posting myself up generally. There is one little matter of business that I have attended to, ac- cording to your instructions,” ** What is that?” ‘“‘T have discovered the author of the threat- ening and blackmailing letter that was sent to the company a while ago.” Sure?” ‘*¢ Quite sure, I will show you the proofs, Here is the anonymous letter, and here is a letter which a man wrote to-night at my request. Though a poor attempt was made to disguise the hand in your letter, thesimilarity of the two is so evident that no expert would be needed to decide that both were written by the same per- ‘That is true, Mr. Gannon. Was the person one of those whose names I suggested to you?” ‘Yes. They were all concerned in it, no doubt; but his guilt is plain, and you may take steps to punish him assoon as you please.’ - “T think I shall let him alone,” said the superintendent after a brief consideration. ‘*Weo have nc fearof that gang, and his case can wait. As I hinted to you might happen, we have more important business to worry us now. ‘The other matter that you spoke of? That is a serious business, and it may prove to be more serious than you expect.” ‘*Tt may; but we are going through with it, just as I told you we might, and we will expect your help.” ‘** You shall have it. Dear me, Mr, Eagleson, it is very late. You ought not to be working here at this hour, and I must hunt my roosting Good-night.” The next morning, as El Paso Pete was taking an early morning walk away from Topnotch, enjoying the balmy mountain air, he met a man who was coming down toward the town—a tall man, of peculiar appearance, who walked with long and rapid strides. his man looked curiously at_ the picturesque person as he approached him, but would have gone on without stopping or speaking, if Gannon ad not halted him, extending his hand, ‘‘ Good-morning, Mr, Marlow. Iam glad to see you, and I wish I could hope that you were as glad to see me.” 4 The Mad Parson looked at the man intently, and then a smile lighted up his face, ‘Is it possible? Can this be Pete Gannon?” ** Just himself. You are much keener than Mr. Eagleson at the mine office, who failed to recognize me, though he knows me well,” ** What are you doing here?” ‘**T have business here with the Topnotch Min- ing Company.” “But what is the meaning of that masque- rade?” ‘*Tt is a bit of a disguise, and it seems to be a good one.” ‘*T see. I remember that you had got the name of being one of the smartest detective officers in the employ of the Government. Have you quit that job?” ‘** Yes, I got tired of it, and preferred to work on my Own account and be my own master. Do you live near here, Mr. Marlow?” ‘** A little way up the mountain.” ‘* Higher up than this? I hope you enjoy it. Is Susan—is Miss Marlow—living there with you?” ‘* Yes, and enjoying herself, too.” *T should think it would be poor enjoyment, when her home is invaded by scoundrels who try to carry her off, and capture her father and put his life in peril. You perceive, Mr. Marlow, that I have not been idle since I came to Top- notch, I know who the wretches are who com- mitted hoth these outrages.” ‘*So dol. Ihave had no doubt about that.” “What are you going to do to punish them?” ‘* Nothing at all. They will be likely to work out their punishment in their own way. They have done me no harm, but have given mea warning that I have profited by. They are - nothing but vermin, anyhow, and I have no work out their salvacion with slipnooses, fear of them.” ** Very well, Mr. Marlow. I think they vo ) villains!—to dare to try to touch her! Hanging is too good for them.” ** Are you still fretting about the girl?” ay ‘* You know that I can never forget her. I wonder if she would be willing to see me?” ‘*T would be glad to ask roo to my house, as I have always liked you; but I do not believe that she would ever care for you as you wish her to. Young women have their own notions, and my daughter is free to choose for herself,” ‘* Ts there anybody else that she cares for?” ‘**T do not know of anybody.” ‘* While there is life there is hope. I may still have a chance, then, See you later, Mr. Marlow.” The two men separated, and El Paso Pete sighed as he went on his way. CHAPTER XV. A GREAT MORAL MOVE. As Mr. Eagleson informed his secret agent, the Topnotch Mining a eine had more im- ortant business on hand just then than attend- ing to the punishment of a few rascals whose Hi ty was believed to be much worse than their ite. The affairs of the company were controlled by Jacob Marvel, the President—father of the Simon Marvel who has been introduced to the reader—and the superintendent, Thomas Eagle- son. Burch Blanton was nominally the manager of the mine; but he had no authority outside of the works, and was therefore merely a superior sort of foreman, Above him was the superintendent, and above gs Sac was the president, who was residing in Topnotch and never absent from his busi- ness, Beyond the president were the executive committee, who merely registered his will, hav- ing entire confidence in him, and allowing him to run things to suit himself, Beyond the executive committee were the stockholders; but they held but one meeting, at which they delegated all authority to the ex- ecutive committee, who bad in their turn trans- ferred it to the president and superintendent, Thus those two controlled the company, and through the company were virtually the owners of Topnotch as it then existed. Without doubt the projectors of the enter- prise had been crafty and foresighted, Before taking any steps toward ogee the old mine, or even allowing it to be known that such a plan was being considered, they sent anagent up there, who purchased at very low rates the greater portion of the town site. The valeulation was, of course, that when the boom was started they would come into a con- siderable fortune by the sale of town lots, which would be a good speculation in itself, outside of the chances of the mine, That was what happened, and they sold the lots with such restrictions and regulations as kept them under their control after they had passed out of their possession. Jacob Marvel had emigrated to Kansas from an Eastern State, at the time of the anti-slavery excitement, among those who hoped to save, and succeeded in saving, that splendid territory from the encroachments of the slave-owners. Being a shrewd trader—some called him un- scrupulous—be had become wealthy. Subsequently he had gone further westward, interesting himself largely in mining and landed property, and continually increasing his for- tune. From his New England birthplace be had brought some of the ideas and methods of the Puritans, and had fixed upon Topnotch as a good place to put them in practice. Thus there was a little morality mixed with the main chance in his speculation in town lots, as they were sold with restrictions against gambling-houses, disreputable resorts, and even the customary saloons. In these efforts the president was ably and eagerly aided by the superintendent, though Eagleson was a man who preferred to look at the practical side of such matters, rather than be bound by a theory. Small towns or villages have been built and controlled upon such principles, with more or less success, in older communities, where law and order have become thoroughly pigs een but it was not to be supposed that Jacob Marvel’s sys- tem would suit Topnoteh. People generally object to being governed too much, and the dwellers in mining camps are notoriously impatient of restraint. Thus it came to pass that Topnotch was by no means free from objectionable characters, who were merely confined, as far as their business was concerned, to those portions of the town site of which the mining company had never acquired control. ose portions easily found an abundance of urchasers and renters at high pices and en- joyed a ‘“* boom” that was ahead of anything else in the camp. Jacob Marvel, who had determined to make a model town of Topnotch, was greatly worried by this state of affairs, but was not a bit dis- couraged. He persisted in his purpose of getting rid of objectionable places and objectionable people. othing of the kind had ever been tried—at least in nothing Jike so extensive and thorough a sss“ 7 - , . - ‘ * . fh “ » ‘ a2 ne ow «et “i ‘ws . NC - ‘ Pet" oat sre ay | LAs “ D ; pes “K & Hapa Sei f Be, 1% yx Atien ies pee Aes Gok Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. style—in any other mining-camp; but none had ever offered such facilities as were enjoyed by the Topnotch Mining Company, Holding the control of the town organization, which was a peculiar one, invented by Jacob Marvel, they could do in the name of law pretty much as they pleased, and they proceeded to do so, An ordinance or decreo was adopted, prohib. iting gambling- houses, dance-halls, and other disreputable resorts, within the legal limits of Topnotch, and providing for their suppression as public nuisances, It is one thing, however, to make laws, and quite another thing to enforce them, When laws are found to be oppressive and contrary to the general sense of communities, insurrection is in order, and it may happen that attempts to enforce too exact order lead to the worst disorder. When the Marvel decree was published b means of placards, the excitement in Topnotc was something that nobody could sneeze at, At first the people at whom it was aimed laughed at it. ey had never heard of anything so uncalled for, so preposterous, so utterly out of place. It was soon made evident to them, however, that Jacob Marvel and his followers were deter- mined to enforce the law, and that they had made careful and extensive preparations for that purpose. Fully believing that only a moral and model town could be truly prosperous, and that the interests of the miners, as well as the mining company, would he fostered by the measures he proposed, he felt that he would be justified in carrying out his intentions at any cost, even if it should be necessary to baptize the model town with blood. Therefore he had spared no expense in pro- curing such a formidable force of auxiliaries— mercenaries, some other people styled them—as he supposed would be sufficient to squelch the very idea of opposition. ; Part of them were enlisted in Topnotch, but many were procured from Tolbert. The town in the valley had suffered by the rise of its neighbor up the mountain, was en- vious of its prosperity, and was willing that it should enjoy as big a row as it was capable of. Therefore plenty of men could be found down yonder who were willing to take part in that row, especially if they were paid for it. Ben Eagleson, a younger brother of the super- intendent, was made marshal of Topnotch and commander of the forces, He was a tall and stalwart man, active and energetic, accustomed to the men and manners of mining-camps, skilled in the use of weapons, and reputed to be quite fearless. Peter Gannon had been imported to aid this great moral move; but it was believed that his services would be more effective if he should work secretly, without being known as one of Jacob Marvel’s partisans, In plain words, he was to be employed as a 8 . es Blanton was told that he would be ex- pected to take part in the operations of the army of reform; but he informed his superiors that he had been engaged as a mining engineer, and was not inclined to undertake any new duties, Such independence was displeasing to them; but he was needed where he was, and it was thought best to overlook his insubordination for the present, It may seem strange that such extensive and formidable preparations, whose effects promised to be more or less sanguine, should be made for the furtherance of a purely moral purpose; but. it often happens that great reformers will stop at nothing in their efforts ‘co force their ideas upon other people. CHAPTER XVI, | “SATAN APPEARED ALSO.” Ir the magnates of the Topnotch Mining Company supposed that the gamblers and others would be frightened by the preparations that were being made for their subjugation, and would incontinently pick up their gripsacks and skedaddle, they were greatly mistaken in the men with whom they had to deal. Those men, in the terse and expressive lan- guage of the day, didn’t scare worth a cent. On the contrary, when they discovered—and the discovery was quickly made—that a crusade against them was being organized, they lost no time in making their own preparations for resis- tance. Already they had opprobrious epithets for the leaders of their adversaries, whom they stigma- tized as the Nabobs and the Tycoons, names that were by no means calculated to secure popular- ity in Topnotch. They had their spies in the enemy’s camp, who gave them speedy and reliable information of every move that was meditated there. Of thatinformation they availed themselves promptly, for the purpose of defeating the plans. that were laid against them. : Being fully determined not to yield an inch of ound without fighting for it, they believed that | hey must win in what they styled the struggle — eg of the people against monopoly. COME boo a Ae Ye Sete Sacer