Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

es — = . < Pe baud Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. 5 you understand, ‘that nobody need sign his name to it. We can put a coffin, or the skull and bones, at the bottom of the letter, and tell ’em to send the answer to Bart MeGinley’s place.” ‘*T wonder, now,” pondered Dave, ‘* whether a jail mought be in any way mixed up with that sort o’ thing.” ‘*No chance of it,” answered McGuckin, “* when the letter is anonymous,” ‘* Well, Sees you had better work that racket—you an ‘Isaac—as you are both good hands at usin’ pens. I’ve got a scheme, too, and will want you to help me,” ‘Give us yoar scheme, Dave,” put in Bad Lands Ben. ‘‘ That crazy old galoot—if he is crazy—of a Topnotch Tim has pat usin the mud. He got us skeered—for one, I’m willin’ to own it—and then flung us down and walked over us. It stands us In hand to git even with him, and we can do it, easy as rollin’ off « log.” ** How?” inquired Ben, ‘** By way of his gal. He leaves her at home alone, as l’ve reason to know, and we can slip up thar when he is away and carry her off. If anythin’ could rattle him wuss’n that, I’d like to know what it is.” ‘*Tt would tear him all to pieces,” declared MeGuckin, ‘“‘ But what would we do with the girl when we got her?’ | ‘““[d look out for that,” answered Dave. “*T'dq take good keer of her, you may bet your eye-teeth.” ‘*That might be very well for you, Davey, but where is there any money in it for us?” ‘*Money? Thar’s other things besides money. Gittin’ even is one.” ‘*That’s all well enough,” interrupted Aaron Isaacs. ‘‘ Gettin’? even is a good thing; but there’s more ways than one to get even. I’ve been thinkin’ this thing over, too, and I can tell you how to get even, and at the same time to get hold of a lot of money, or money’s worth.” ‘‘That sounds well,” observed Ben Staples, “Give it to us as straight as you can, Aaron.” ‘** T will give it to vou as straight as a shingle. We ail know that Topnotch Tim has brought lots of gold into town to sell, in the way of dust and seales and nuggets. So we know that be must have a diggin’s somewhere, as nobody gets gold out of nothin’, We must find his dig- gin’s,” ”'« That’s been tried,” said Sandy. ‘“ I’ve hunt- ed the place myself, and so has Dave, and so have lots of other fellers; but nary find. No amouns of watchin’ and waitin’ and creepin’ and sneakin’ has ever done any good, If he ever goes to that place, he goes like a spook or a witch, and nobody has ever caught him at it.” ‘‘That is because nobody has ever gone to work the right way,” replied Isaacs. ‘I know how to get onto the scheme and find the diggin’s; but I will want you fellers to help me, ‘“*Tf we could do that, it would be a bi thing,” said Dave; ‘‘but I don’t see muc chance, I think my scheme is the best.” * And I think mine is the best,” put in Mc- Guckin. ; ‘*T am sure that you would find mine to be the best if you would try it,” averred Isaacs. ** How does it look to you, Bart?” Bart McGinley, in fact, was the umpire, the general counselor of the gang that owned Dead- wood Dave as its leader, and the arbiter in case of disputes or differences of opinion, When his counsel was asked he had his own way of giving it and getting at the question. ‘It’s my drinks this time, boys,” he said, and he produced the necessary exhilaration. aving duly primed himself, he was as read as Jack Bunsby was to “‘ give an opinion as is an opinion.” ‘* You are all right, boys,” decided he; ‘‘ that is, the three of you. Sandy’s plan is a good one, and he ort to try it. If it don’t work, we'll know the reason why. Dave’s scheme isa}! right, too. ‘Thar’s no way you kin hit Topnotch Tim so hard as by robbin’ him of his gal, no matter what be- comes of her arter Le loses her. Atthe same time, if it works as easy as Dave says it will, you might pick up somethin’ at his house that would pay for the trouble of goin’ thar, and that’s worth lookin’ arter. As for Aaron’s scheme, that depends on whether he cau do what he says he can. If he can, it’s a big thing. Try %em all, boys. If one don’t work, another will. Go in strong, and work ’em for all they’re worth, and I reckon it won’t be long afore ’'m able to wipe all your accounts off the slate,” CHAPTER VIL. A VERY PECULIAR GAME, THE renewed prosperity of Topnotch natural- ly brought to the camp many adventurers, who hoped to fatten on the new wealth of the new-old town. Among them was a man whose arrival created ‘no little stir in the camp, especially on the part of Deadwood Dave and his friends, This was no less a personage than Dan Lasher, known by the sobriquet of ‘‘ Handsome Dan,” who was widely reputed as one of the best faro- dealers and short-card players that could be - found anywhere. a It must be said, however, that ‘“ Handsome a «a 4 Dan” was not as young as he had been, and it was one of the most strenuous struggles of his life to prevent other people from discovering that mournfal fact. His black hair and long and heavy mustache were assiduously dyed, and he had got into the habit of using preparations to abolish or mollify the crows’-feet and wrinkles that had begun to disfigure his face. As his two hands had not lost their cunning, and his skill at cards was quite as pre-eminent asit had ever been, he need not, as far as bis pecuniary interests were concerned, have given so much attention to his personal appearance; but the truth was that he was proud of his con- quests among the fair sex, and desired to con- tinue them indefinitely. A stage was then running regularly over the road which Burch Blanton had _ cunstructed from the valley up to Topnotch, and Dan Lasher was one of the passengers by the crowded con- veyance, Though his journey had been a tedious one, when he stepped out of the stage on its arrival at Topnotch he looked asif he had just issued from a band-box, Preparations had bean made for him in ad- vance by trusted fiisnds and agents; rooms having been secured and furnished, in which he was to open an extensive gambling establish- ment; but he did not visit it at once, as it was night when he reached the camp, He listened to the words of welcome and ad- miring congratulations of those who bad await- ed him, like a king receiving the homage of his “i pape. and adjourned to the hotel, where he held a reception until a late bour. The next day he supervised the finishing touches that were being put to his apartments, and at night opened his game in grand style. He had made his rooms as attractive as pos- sible, in order to allure his victims, and the opening night was an occasion of special fes- tivity, and of course there was a big crowd present. When his guests had been given a chance to eat and drink and inspect the place, Handsome Dan opened his faro game, and the lay-out was speedily confronted by an abundance of eager bettors, Shortly afterward there was an _ arrival, whicli caused no little stir in the assemblage, as well as some consternation. The taH form of Topnotch Tim was visible as he pushed his way through the crowd, and his dark eyes were glaring with even a more lurid fire than usual. No person spoke to him or tried to binder his progress; but all who knew him wondered what had brought the Mad Parson to such a place. He pressed as near to the faro table as he could get, and then began to sing, in clear and musical tones, a camp-meeting hymn, The strangeness of this performance compelled the attention of all, and a hush that was almost solemn came over that rough ips pee wrought no less by the wonderful voice than by the thrilling words of the bymn. When be had finished the hymn he began to speak concerning the evils of gambling, exhort- ing his hearers to resist temptation and abandon the accursed practice, His exhortation, though brief, was rarely elo- quent. Every word was pvinted, and every phrase went straight to the mark. It was wonderful that so much meaning could be compressed into so small a space. No person attempted to stop him or interfere with him in any way, and not a word was spoken by anybody but himself. Handsome Dan, who had just emptied his box when the singing began, suspended further pro- ceedings for a while, and leaned his head on his hand with a tired look. ) Shortly he raised bis eyes, and gazed intently at Topnotch Tim until he had concluded bis per- formance, if it may be so called, Having finished his exhortation, the Mad Par- son crossed his hands upon his breast, closed his eyes, and began to pray. His prayer, like bis speech, was brief but elo- quent, full of burning words and earnest thoughts most vividly expressed, There could no doubt that it produced a strong, though probably only a temporary effect upon his mixed audienee. Many heads were bowed, and a solemn silence reigned until he had finished his prayer. Then Dan Lasher spoke up. ** Now that those interesting but rather fire- some exercises are concluded, gentlemen, we will resume the game,” shuffled a pack of cards, calling on the players to make their bets, Suddenly a great change came over Topnotch im. At first a look of disappomtment overspread his face; but it was succeeded by an eager and almost vindictive glare as he glanced at the dealer and the lay-out. ‘Ts that all 1 have gained by it?” he cried. “‘ Do the Word of God and the solemn warnings you have heard affect you no more than that? Now, then, for the, sword of the Lord and of Gideon! If one way won’t work, another may.” ‘ Ma ‘+ He pushed his way to the faro-table, pulled a buckskin bag from an inside pocket, and handed it to Dan Lasher. ‘*Weigh that dust,” he said, ‘and give me chips for it.” hen the surprise of the crowd was greater than ever, and the situation became yet more interesting to them. What was the matter with the Mad Parson? A moment ago he had been denouncing the evil of gambling most bitterly, and now he was rushing in to ‘‘ buck against” a faro game, hot- ter and more eager for a conflict with the tiger than any of the other players. Those who had believed him to be crazy were more than ever convinced that his head had quite gone wrong. Dan Lasher, who was accustomed to ‘ dust” transactions, and whose business it was to take everything as a matter of course, produced a pair of scales, very fine and delicately adjusted, Into one side he poured a quantity of shining scales from the buckskin bag, and in the other he placed the weights, quickly determining the value of the gold. , Then he passed a pile of chips over to Top- notch Tim, who counted and arranged them like an experienced band, ' It soon became apparent that if the Mad Parson played a crazy game, there was a special providence that favored crazy men with luck, He appeared to be playing with a system—at least, there seemed to be a systematic method in the way he placed his chips on the cards to which he gave bis preference, Anyhow, he won from the start, and he kept increasing his bets and winning almost con- stantly, in such a brilliant and astonishing style as compelled most of the other players to drop out of the game, that they might watch bim and stare at bim. Three or four stayed in, endeavoring to avail themselves of the Mad Parson’s luck by follow~ ing his bets; but this’proceeding was viewed with disfavor by the others, and they, too, dropped out. andsome Dan was evidently nervous, a most unusual thing for him, , He kept his head down most of the time, and handled bis cards with a strange appearance of uncertainty and indecision. Whenever he looked up, however, be found the lurid and glittering eyes of the Mad Parson fastened upon him with such a gaze as made un- fair play on bis part impossible. . So the queer game went on, and the crowd pushed forward and stared in wonder as Top- notch Tim piled up his winnings, ‘*That’s all,” called out Dan Lasher, at | ‘*The bank’s broke. Two thousand was the limit, and it is all gone.” The Mad Parson cashed in his chips like an old gambler, and stuffed the gold and notes into his ket. ms That two thousand,” he said to the dealer, ‘‘is your contribution to the new Baptist church that is to be built here. I will call around be- fore long to see if you are ready with another contribution.” Nobody then present had ever seen Dan Lasher in such a flurry before. He actually trembled as he fidgeted in his chair, and bis eyes turned this way and that, but never met the lurid and gleaming orhs of bis late opponent. ‘* You can’t play here any more,” he retorted. “You can’t either preach or gamble here again.” : ‘“ Why not?” inquired Topnotch Tim. ‘ Are you willing to admit before these people that you are afraid of a messenger of salvation?” ‘* You may be a messenger from the devil for all I care, and Iam not afraid of any kind of a messenger, But, I don’t play with crazy people when | knowit, and you must not come here any more,” . ) ‘This place is open to the public,” answered the Mad Parson, ‘and | think I will come here when I want to.’ ; ‘“*“You may be able to get in; but you shall not play here.” ** We will seo about that. I am much obliged to you for this contribution, and will call on you for another.” : When the Mad Parson had left his place Dan Lasher opened another game, and before the night was over he won from others quite as much money as he had lost to Topnotch Tim. Deadwood Dave was present during the epi- sode that bas been narrated, and he stayed near _ . the faro game a long time afterward, though he made no attempt to play, not having the where- withal for such indulgence. When the place was shut up, be sought a pri- vate interview with Dan Lasher, and they set- tled down in a quiet place for what Dave called a business talk, “That old man cut into you r‘ght sharp,” observed the big fellow. “Yes, curse him! He had the devil’s own luck. I wish Icould hit upon a a bit. It would never do to allow such business as preaching and praying, and then starting in q to buck against the game.” ‘“*Specially when the preacher beats the game — and bieaks the bank, Seems to me, Mr. Lasher, lan tokeep him away from my place. Idon’tlike hisstyle T= - Fo Comicbooks