Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

' r t} 7 ESS Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. 13 They first gave their attention to the saloon- | ed the stronghold of the garrison, the lower floor being not so easy of defense, though it was | his appearance greatly changed by that simple keepers, urging them to make common cause with those who were immediately threatened. ‘*You are in the same boat that we are in,” they argued, ‘‘and must sink or swim with us, ‘*The Tycoons hate you as badly as they hate us, and you ought to have sense enough to know that they mean to get rid of you as soon as they can. ‘* They have left you out of their despotic de- cree, merely because they did not want to have too heavy a contract on their hands at the start, but preferred to separate us and pitch into us by piecemeal. . ‘* Tf they can get us out of the way, you may be sure that your turn will come next, and then they will make short work of you. ** Then “bi will be whirled out of this camp so quick that it will make your heads swim. ‘* Your only chance to hold your property and business, if not to keep your lives and liberties, is to join us and give the Tycoons a lesson which will never need to be 2? geet = These arguments had their full weight with the saloonists, the more so because they were not subjected to any persuasion from the other party. Being unable to promise them protection, Ja- cob Marvel and his followers could only leave them to draw a favorable conclusion from the fact that they were not named in the decree which was issued against the others. They gave that circumstance no more consid- eration than it deserved, and promised their natural allies that they would join them in the event of a fight, andin the mean time would maintain what might be termed an armed neu- trality. Thus there was a numerous and tolerably com- pact organizations arrayed against the Tycoons, and one strong point in connection with them was the fact that most of them ‘* would rather fight than eat,” As for drinking, that was another matter, but they considered themselves fully as able to fight as to drink. Dan Lasher was the natural leader of the anti-Tycoon party, and all the elements of the bs drs g gravitated to him and rested upon im, That was the sort of thing that he rejoiced in, and no person was more ready than he to wel- come a collision with the Tycoons. His place was the headquarters of the rebel- lion, and was the grand rallying-point in the event of a fight. The other threatened persons were prepared to close their concerns at an instant’s notice, so that they might hasten to the defense of what- ever point should be first attacked. Not a bit of timidity or hesitation could be charged against the Tycoons. Having determined what they meant to do, they went at it in a straightforward manner, with no parleying or dilly-dallying, intending to strike at once at the stronghold of the enemy, and hoping to crush all opposition by a sharp and vigorous campaign, — Marshal Ben Eagleson, in accordance with the terms of the ordinance, summoned a posse to suppress the establishments declared to be nui- sances, This amounted merely to calling his troops together and telling them what he expected to ) Tan Lasher’s place was the point of attack. If the msurrection could be subdued there—if opposition could be crushed out in that quarter —the rest of the work was expected to be a mere matter of detail, picking off the enemy by de- tachments. j Handsome Dan bad early information of the intended movement, and one of the first to bring it to him was El] Paso Pete. There was no reason why Mr. Peter Gannon, though an agent of the Tycoons, should not do this as no special secret was made of their in- tentions, nor was any pains taken to conceal their purpose from the public. In so doing he could not harm his employers, but might, in his capacity of spy, make some- thing of a point for himself, seb he His news, however, had preceded him, as he was only one of the first to bring it, and instant action had been taken on it, The other threatened men, all natural and in- evitable allies, were coming into Lasher’s place when he got there, for consultation and mutual aid, and they kept coming until a formidable force was gathered there. As yet the saloonists kept out; but they were all on the alert, having a plan of their own for taking part in the difficulty if it should become necessary for them to show their hand. Handsome Dan’s establishment was not ad- mirably adapted for defensive purposes, and had been chosen as the rendezvous for two rea- ons. In the first place, it was his, and in the second place, it had been selected by the Tycoons as the point at which they were to strike. It was a two-story house, of course a frame house, and the first floor was occupied as a saloon which had lately passed into the posses- sion of Dan Lasher. - His gambling-rooms were up-stairs, and form- ‘ necessary to the existence of the rest of the es- tablishment. The saloon floor must be defended, however, and it was closed and fortified ass ily as The spy with his short hair stood revealed, act, ‘*Pete Gannon!” exclaimed the gambler, struck by the sudden revelation, The spy did not need a word to tell him what possible after the news of the attack was re- | was the matter. ceived. He knew what he had to expect, unless he This house had the advantage of being joined | could save himself, and had already made a dash on the right by a building quite as itse igh as + liberty, wo windows on the side adjoining the low On the left was a smaller house, a one-story | house were open to their fullest extent, partly affair; but that was also serviceable, if the | for air, and partly for purposes of observation. enemy could be kept from taking possession of its roof. El Paso Pete jum recklessly through one of the openings, followed by a bullet from Dan Thus the front of the saloon was the weakest | Lasher’s ready revolver, which just grazed point, and that was partly left open to admit | him. the friends of the proprietor, who were dropping in to take part in the struggle. The middle of the afternoon had been the time set for the forward movement of the Tycoons; He alighted on the adjoining roof, and the next instant leaped to the ground. Anybody who supposed that he bad injured himself by this move was mistaken, as he was but Marshal Eagleson had not got his forces | on his feet immediately, apparently sound in ready at the appointed hour, and the affair | wind and limb. ser, | a Below stairs in the building that was to be As he emerged from the shelter of the build- ing, and ran out into the street, he was followed beleaguered, were armed men completing the | by a fusilade from the upper windows of the preparations for defense, and encouraging each | house he had just left; but not a bullet touched other to a resolute resistance. Up-stairs were Dan Lasher and a number of him, The next moment he ran into the arms of his his friends and followers, who were similarly | friends, who were advancing to the attack from employed. Among them was El Paso Pete, and who was sO numerous as that picturesque person? Next to Dan Lasher, an outelden might have considered him the most important man in the the opposite direction. CHAPTER XVII. HOT AND HEAVY. Wuen Marshal Ben Eagleson had got his party—one who was respected and trusted by | force into working order, he speedily made it all the others, and whose advice and assistance were in great demand. He was, indeed, considerably more numerous than Handsome Dan, speaking fifty words where Dan spoke one. He was holding forth to a group that sur- rounded him, unfolding a famous plan which he had invented for defeating the Tycoons and bringing them to zrief. This plan was that a select party of the insur- rectionists should stealthily ieave the-building, ancd conceal themselves until the attack was about to be made. _ Then they should hasten to the mine, capture it by surprise, and hold it against all comers, 'aree'is alike to friends and foes, that he meant usiness, It was a truly formidable array that ad- vanced against Dan Lasher’s establisbinent, and El Paso Pete, when he peti their num- bers, and noted the excellent quality of their weapons, their compact organization, and their resolute air, easily predicted for them a com- plete victory. Naturally he was rejoiced at the prospect of getting even with the man who had exposed him and come so near putting an end to his ex- istence, It may be “ie for the Tycoons that they had the couraye of their convictions, showing that thus carrying the war into Africa, and striking | they would not be content with any compromises their point. Not a bad plan, perhaps, if it had not in- Abad a division of the force that might prove atal. adversaries at the most vulnerable | or half-way measures, The contract which they had undertaken was a serious and expensive one; but they were at least sincere, believing that their success would inthe end greatly benefit the good people of While he was explaining this plausible | Topnotch, as well as themselves, scheme, Dan Lasher was gazing intently at him from a little distance, and listening to the whispered words of Deadwood Dave. It might have been better for Pete if he had used his tongue less and his ears more. s the news of the intended attack had spread until everybody was aware of what was going on, there was of course great excitement in the camp. It was, however, at the beginning of the af- ‘*Are you sure that you saw him go into | fair, what may be styled suppressed excite- Eagleson’s office?” whispered the gambler. * Sart’in,” answered Dave. ‘‘He went thar ment, The citizens generally stood around, eagerly straight from Bart McGinley’s the night I | watching the preliminaries of the contest, but spoke of, and ’ve seen him come out of thar | without manifesting any special desire to take sence,” sides, as the struggle promised to be a serious “*T wish you had told me of that sooner; but | and sanguinary one, it is not too late to settle his case, Ihave been noticing him lately and have considered his ways rather queer, It seems to me, too, that there is something about his looks that is not Most of the stores were closed or closing, but the saloons were wide open and doing a rush- ing business, with the exception of those which had gambling or dance-ball attachments, and new tome. Iam really inclined to believe that | were consequently covered by the edict of the the fellow is a fraud and a spy.” ‘* How’re you goin’ to find it out?” ‘Let me alone for that. When I begin to ele ie aman, lam sure to find proof pretty quick. ** What will you do to him when it is proved?” ** T shall make an example of him.” Handsome Dan stepped to the group that sur- Tycoons. The saloonists, however, were to shut up shop instantly and hasten to the assistance of their natural allies, and in such a move they counted on the aid of manv of their regular customers. Marshal Eagleson deployed his force on the street near Dan Lasher’s establishment, stretch- ing them out so as to give them as formidable an appearance as possible, with the view of over- rounded El Paso Pete, and listened to his chin | awing the py Sole music for a fow moments, _ ‘That is a fine plan of yours,” he said as he pressed forward and faced the speaker. ‘ It is a very good scheme, if it will work; but it will Then he advanced toward the building, and summoned its inmates to surrender in the name of the law. Dan Lasber, who was of course the spokesman need a brave and smart man for a leader. Will | of the other side, wanted to know what he meant you take the lead?” Pete hesitated for an instant, while his ques- by that kind of foolishness. The marshal produced his authority, read the | tioner looked at him keenly. and the hesitation | ordinance, or whatever it might be called, and did him no good. declared that be was there ‘‘Of course I will,” he answered suddenly. .| enforcing that law by suppressing all the gam- ‘‘Glad of the chance. JI know just what to do, too, and nobody could work the scheme better than I can.” “Tt have no doubt of that, and we will work you for all you are worth. Let me take a look bling-houses and other disreputable resorts, He said that he had a sufficient force for the purpose, that he meant to do what the law ai- rected him to do, and that all obnoxious parties would consult their safety as well as their in- at that hat of yours, Pete. I would like to | terest hy peaceable submission. know what it is made of,” Dan Lasher, from the upper floor of the strong- That was a queer request, especially in con- hold of the opposition, answered bim plainly and sideration of the place and time and other cir- | to the cumstances; buf there was no reason why El Paso Pete should not comply with it, and a re- quest. He lifted bis sombrero from his head some- what carefully, lest he might possibly disar- range his wig, and banded it to the gambler. Dan Lasher scarcely glanced at it as he held | or three Tycoons, can’t run_ this camp, it in his left hand. With bis right he reached out suddenly, b- bed El Paso Pete's wig of long and dark hiair, and snatched it from his head. « ' j a t ; ey - ¢ 4 ‘ LA . Sab C83 sur ge) oh. LS. = iai's ST" . point. ; ‘You and your crowd,” replied,the gambler, ‘‘ had better go home and mind your own busiress. — fusal would be yet more singular than the re- | Youare liable to get burti bere. What you call a law is not worth the pa- per itis written on, and your authority don’t amount to a row of pins. Ir you suppose that the Topnotch Mining Company, or any two ou are as much mistaken as if you had butted a hornets’ nest. We know ourrights, and we mean to stay just here. So you bad better call off your crowd, and go and take a nap.” (aCe) JOO m ‘< Ss a or the purpose of you fool around - x. * “ ‘ i — / a Wen j | a i y Poel’ Lu ; ay My :