Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

@ 16 Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. do ae think of the move the Tycoons are mak- ing’ ; oe you call them the Tycoons, too, Mr. Mar- ow bs ‘**T have heard the name so often lately, that it sticks to me.” ** Well, sir, it is my private opinion, though I would not want to publish it, that the perform- ance is all wrong. No doubt the gambling- bouses and other places are wicked and immoral, and you and I, who don’t go in for that sort of thing, might consider them public nuisances; but there are many people to be thought of be- sides you and me and the Topnotch Papen Company. The men who congregate in an about a mining-camp, and those among them who are the hardest workers, too, a those ee as public necessities. They are bound to ave their recreation in whatever shape they choose to take it, and may be expected to resist all attempts to deprive them of it. There is as much feeling of personal liberty here to the square inch as anywhere in the country, and it is not safe to jump on it too heavy.” ‘*T am a strong believer in abet liberty, too. How do the miners feel about it?” ** As they are the hardest workers we have, and the fondest of the recreations that Top- notch supplies, they are opposed to the perform- ance all through, though they are not likely to mix in the disturbance, They would fight for the mine, of course, but would never stir a foot to help the Topnotch Mining Company in this crusade,” **They would fight for the mine, would they? It might be well to be sure of that, Blanton. They may have a chance to fight for the mine.” ** Do you think so?” ** Don’t you think so? How do you suppose the trouble in Topnotch is going to end?” ‘* Well, sir, Mr. Eagleson was so confident of success, having made such complete prepara- tions, und having, as he told me, plenty of fight- ing men, that it looks as if the Tycoons ought to win: but 1 have my doubts about that.” ‘*'You may well bave. If the other side onze get a bit of an advantage, a crowd will hasten to join them, and then itis good-by to the Ty- coons. Topnotch will go crazy when that hap- pens, and the wildest guess at what the people may do will be the nearest one. I should say that they might naturally be expected to strike at the mine, not only to take revenge on the Ty- coons, but for what they could get out of it.” **T have thought of that, Mr. Marlow, and have quietly made some preparations, so as to be ready in case of trouble.” ‘What bave you done?” **T have got a good stock of provisions on band, so that the men need not leave the mine if they are willing to stay until the trouble is over. We have plenty of arms, have had them all along, as there was supposed to be danger that we might be attacked here by mine- jumpers and the bard cases who are so plentiful about Topnotch. Plenty of arms and ammuni- tion ought to enable us to hold our own against all enemies,” ‘* How about the men?” “T think they are all right, but will soon. make sure of that point. The day shift is going off directly, and the night shift is coming on. I will explain the matter to them, and you will see how they stand.” “That is right, my young friend. Of course ou will explain it to them fairly and honestly. hough they may not be willing to fight for the Tycoons, [ think they may be depended on to fight for their bread and butter.” _ The result proved that the old man was right in his conjecture, When the night shift arrived, Blanton A tage them there, and called out the day s Having collected them near the mouth of the mine, he made a little speech, which was brief, plain, and to the purpose. ‘* For my part,” he said, ‘‘I have nothing to do with the fighting or any other trouble that may be taking place in Topnotch to-day, and I don’t suppose that you care to mix in it any more than Ido, We have our own interests to lock after, and our interests are connected just now with this mine and nothing else. I can’t pretend to say how things are going on in Top- notch, as I have not heard a word from there; but I have reason to believe that there is danger that some of the roughs and scalawags about here may take advantage of the disturbances to capture the mine and drive usaway. Would that sort of thing suit you?” The response in the negative was unanimous. *“ Well, then, there is only one thing for us to do. We must stand together to guard the mine, and beat off any people who may want to steal it. We bave plenty of arms and ammunition, as well as enough to eat, and you can cook your _ coffee or anything else you need to cook right here. Now ] want to know whether you will stay here and stand by the mine. If any are not willing to stay, they will please step out and . go their way.” | Two or three of the miners were more than willing to step out and, go, being influenced, . probably, by curiosity rather than by any other motive; but they were easily persuaded by the others to remain, and all declared their purpose of standing by the mine and defending it if necessary. Burch Blanton then made his arrangements speedily and with excellent judgment—at least, they were highly approved by Timothy Marlow. Sending a part of the night shift in to work with their foreman, he retained the remainder and the day shift, for whom he found sufficient employment, Some of them he set at work to cook supper for all who needed it, others he stationed as pickets on the road that led to Topnotch, and with the others he applied himself to the task of strengthening the pusition and making the most of its advantages. The works, as the buildings that contained the machinery were called, were located in an open space or basin behind a narrow pass that could easily be defended. At the head of the pass Blanton caused to be erected a fortification of rock and logs, and on the hights at the sides he stationed riflemen to com- mand the pass and the approach to it. Supper was then had, and arms and ammuni- tion were served to the men in active service, a supply being reserved for those of the night shift who were at work in the mine, CHAPTER XXI. A ORUSHING DEFEAT. THe cry of ‘‘On, to the mine!” which was raised by the mass of the insurrectionists, caused a serious disruption of their ranks and a loss of their coherence as an army. In fact, from the moment that cry was raised, and the movement toward the mine was begun, they were no better than a mob. Dan Lasher, who had vainly endeavored to dissuade them from their wild purpose, quitted them in disgust, and they were no longer led by the men who kad shown them the way to vic- tory. There was another important desertion that seriously affected the movement. The saloonists, believing that they had gained their point by the defeat of the Tycoons, con- pasted the hour of victory a propitious time for a boom in their business, It did not seem likely to them that the Tycoons would bein any hurry to make another effort to enforce their decree, and in the mean time the prevailing excitement might be expected to cause a strong demand for drinks, Why should they not profit by it, and gather in the ducats of both factions? They let the enthusiastic insurrectionists go on to their destruction or otherwise, while they bastened back to their establishments, opened them, lighted them up in the brightest style, and attended to the rush of custon to the best of their ability. Thus Topnotch was speedily illuminated again, and was in a fair way to resume its normal condition. As a matter of course, Deadwood Dave and his gang did not go with the crowd that was hurrying away to the mine. The toughs were attending to their private business when those enterprising citizens had started and had got well away from Topnotch, and no persuasion would have induced them to take part in that movement. If there was anything of value to be got at the mine, there would be too many to share it, and there was a chance of hard knocks in get- ting it, which was not at aJl to the taste of the ang. > They conveyed Simon Marvel as quietly and secretly as possible to Bart McGinley’s juicery, where he was closely confined and well guarded, Deadwood Dave then went out to seek Dan Lasher, and found him at his own place, where the late leader of the insurrectionists was cele- brating the victory in the saloon which had Jately been a fort. Dave was invited to help celebrate, partly in consideration of bis services in exposing the spy, and he was not the man to refuse to obligea friend in that way. Yet, before he had celebrated sufficiently to satisfy him, he felt himself compelled to attend to business, and thereby to establish a new claim upon the gratitude of Handsome Dave. Accordingly, he tore himself away from the festivities, took the gambler aside, and made an important communication to him. ** While you fellers was cbasin’ the Tycoons out o’ the camp,” said he, ‘* me and my pardners was attendin’ to business,” ‘Picking up little things?” inquired Dan, ‘* Pickin’ up a big thing, you’d better say. We've been makin’ a big strike for you.” ‘* What sort of a strike?” ‘We've got that Marvel feller.” ‘“What! Jacob Marvel? Have you really captured him?” *“ Not the old man, but the young feller, his son. : ‘‘His son? Well, thatis better than nothing.” ** Better’n nothin’? I should say it was a heap better’n nothin’! Jest think how you can twist the inwards out 0’ the old man if you work the young feller for all he’s wu’th.” ‘*You are right, Dave. It is a good catch, and we must keep him. If they try to rough in : a iS Fa "I es, _ = ¥ - ‘ 7 ¢ : 5 a Ores Cin Heder Ne a. * —————— ee ee ot ee ee ae ee a comets * ° on us again, we will work him, as you say, tor all he is worth. Where is he now?” ‘* Down to McGinley’s.” ** Better bring him up here where he will be safe, and where we can put our hands on him whenever we want to use him.” So Simon Marvel was conveyed to Dan Lasher’s place, and Deadwood Dave and his partners were made free of the bar there, of which ia a they availed themselves fully, as became public-spirited citizens. Thus Topnotch settled down toa condition of comparative equanimity, though there was still an abundance of excitement, and the citizens generally really supposed that there was an an end of the trouble that had lately torn up the town. The trouble, however, had been merely trans- ferred to another quarter, soon to return in full force and renew its former fury. At the mine Burch Blanton and Timothy Marlow waited and watched for possible foes until they were weary. They had come to the conclusion that no dan- ger was to be apprehended there, and were about to dispatch a messenger to Topnotch for information of the peceIee of events, when the trouble began for them. The pickets who bad been stationed down the road came hurrying back to the mine with the news that the enemy was at hand. This warning, by the way, was not necessary, as the enemy announced their approach by yells and other obstreperous noises that could be heard at a considerable distance. So the defenders of the mine had plenty of time to prepare for their reception, if any fur- ther preparations were required, ‘*T am so glad that they have come at last,” said Burch Blanton, stretching himself until bis tall form looked taller than ever. ‘“Are you really glad?’ demanded the old man. ‘idid not know that you were so fond of a fight.” ‘* Well, 1 am not fond of a fight--at: least, not for the sake of fighting—though I am not likely to run away from one. But it is a relief to know that there is an end of waiting. It seems to me that when one has been expecting a con- flict he feels easier when the conflict actually begins.” ** Wor my part, I should think that he would feel easier when it ends, provided that he is not laid out.” ° Very little further preparation was needed, The defenders of the mine had only to occupy the positions that had been assigned them, and wait a little longer for the onset of the enemy. Blanton had taken the precaution to establish a pile of materials for a bonfire a little way down the road, and to station a man there to ligbt it if a mob should come in sight, This was for the purpose of causing the enemy to be clearly visible as they approached, while his men would be concealed and sheltered. As yet nothing was known at tbe mine of what bad been taking place at Tepnotch, and it was only the advent of a mob from that direc- tion which enabled Blanton to guess that dis- aster had overtaken the Tycoons. Yet the mob might be, as had been suggested, merely a lot of roughs and rustlers who had taken advantage of the disturbances to strike at the mine. It was a mob, ard nothing but a mob—there was no mistake about that, Though the men from Topnotch appeared to be numerous enough to eat up the miners if they could geta tair chance at them, they had no organization, military or otherwise, nor any- leaders, except such as could yell the loudest and were the most ready to push themselves to the front. Their expectation was, no doubt, that they would find the mine undefended, and could surprise and capture it. In this expectation they were disappointed as boon as they caught sight of the bonfire in their ath. ; The man who had been left in charge there waited until they were dangerously near before he set fire to the pile. Then having made sure that it would burn, he Sedo back to his friends at the top of his speed. As soon as the fire flashed up, its meaning flashed upon the minds of the mob. lt could mean nothing else than that they were expected, that preparations had been made to receive them, that a surprise was cut of the question, and that they would probally havea hard fight before they could get possession of the mine. This was discouraging to the meu who had put themseives forward as leaders, and disheart- ening to some of their followers, There were some in the mob who had been brought thither merely by curiosity or the love of excitement, and others who had come in the hope of plunder, but without any expectatiou of fighting for it. These adherents might be expected to desert, or at least remain in the rear, if the situation should become serious. ; The men at the front, however, excited their comrades by yells and other noisy demonstra- 7 comicbooks i 4 rie, aT 4 “2 fe . poe es TiS t) ta v ‘ +5 i = ve