Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 512 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a Captain Velvet’s Big Stake. , 3 For ten minutes he blew smoke rings, and, to all outward appearances, built castles in the air, and the shrewdest observer would not have that he was drinking in almost every word of the conversation of two men who stood a little further down the counter, The wily Johnny never built air castles when he could enact the role of eavesdropper, especi- ally when the words he overheard promised to enlighten him in regard to certain things in ! which he was interested. ‘* When will you try to see him?” one of the men asked the other. ‘* To-morrow. 1 will choose two o’clock in the afternoon for my call.” ‘* He will receive you?” ** Do you doubt it?’ and the first man looked at bis companion, who was much smaller and laughed. ‘The prisoner of the chair knows better than to refuse me an audience,” ‘*f would think so. How long will the inter- view last?” ‘* Not over an hour.” ‘‘That will make the hour three o’clock?” 6% Yes.” ‘*Shall I have the horses saddled by that time?” ‘* Have every ee ready—the mapsespecially,. You will step in at Mardoni’s and get the things purchased there. Go over the list again and see that nothing has been forgotten. The smallest mistake may ruin the whole enterprise. You will also send a letter to our friend in the South. Make the usual promises, but va them a little, Say that a certain leaven is working, and that before long we will be in a situation to pay off all our debts to the last nny and with compound interest. Our debts! y Jupiter! it makes me grate my teeth when I think of them, but the prospect ahead ought to make one’s eyes snap, eb, Julius?” ‘*T should say so, Dun,” ‘‘ Are you going my way now? No? Well, I am off. You won’t see me again till I come back ready for the opening of the campaign,” ‘* Wait a moment,” and Julius caught the sleeve of the man who had drawn back. ‘“*] wish you would use your eyes while you are in the house?” ‘* Don’t I always use them wherever I am?” ** Yes, but I want to know—” ‘* What is it you want to know?” ‘*Who lives with the crippled gold-bug?— there! that’s what I wanted to say.” ‘¢ Whom do you think, Julius?” Unfortunately for Johnny Jumpup he could not see the expression that came to Julius’s countenance at this juncture. ‘¢ |—I think I could guess, captain,” said he. ‘*] think so, too, ha, ha!” rung out the an- swer. ‘** Curse that silk-handed siren!” hissed Julius. **T tell you what I wish you would do,” “For you, Julius?” ** Wor me.” ** To her?” **'To her!” ** Well, what is it?” “T wish you would choke her to death!” Dun Duff—we call him for the first time by the name which he is destined to make famous before we are done with him—leaned back and stared at the man who seemed to throw a world of hate into his words. ‘*] think you mean what you say, Julius?” remarked he with a smile, ‘* Dow't I? If I didn’t mean it, ’'d have kept my mouth shut. I wish my hand were going where yours is, that is, of course, if she is under Colonel Bluff’s roof. But, you won’t carry out my wish, Dun?” | ‘** No; it wouldn’t be policy, Julius. Besides, I am going there in the daytime and on particu- lar business. You know I don’t choke women for other folks, don’t you, old fellow?” ‘** Of course, Dun,” growled Julius, ** One of these days—” ‘Some other time, pard,” interrupted Duff, . touching his companion’sarm. ‘Don't forget the maps, and the thing at Mardoni’s. And 7 sure to have the horses ready at the right place, It is now or never!” ‘*Tt shall all be done, but, by Jove! I wish my hand was at the end o’ your sleeve, Dun, Good-night.” The two men separated, one going out and the other, Julius, tarrying to drown his chagrin in a drink which he watched the bkarkeeper mix ' with devouring eyes, Johnny Photaa enveloped his face in fresh smoke, and smiled to himself while he looked at Julius, as though he were casting about for some vulnerable point of attack, ‘* He’s going to Mardoni’s now; ten to one on it,” ejaculated Jobnny, following Julius when he moved off. ‘I would like to know what are the important things left there, Jehosaphat! who'd have thought that I would pick up such a scheme here? If Captain Velvet could hear of this, But he needn’t hear till I choose to tell bim.” And just then Julius turned into another street and the man in the laced garments quick- ened his oe and kept him in sight. Julius kept on until he reached a two-story frame building that stood on one of the by- streets of Sacramento. | Above the door, which had no number, was | the simple inscription: * MARDONI'S.” No other was needed by those in search of the house, and to such the name told as much as though it had been followed by a catalogue of the ariicles to be found within. There was a window on each side of the door, and displayed on a cloth-covered board were to be seen revolvers, bowie-knives, compasses, watches, and nearly all the other articles to be picked up any time in a California pawnshop. Julius) walked in without ceremony, and Jobnny Jumpup drew near the window, and stole a covert but searching glance beyond the promiscuous merchandise. He saw Duncan Duff’s pard walk to the fur- | ther end of the shop and lean over the counter. Mardoni, a hatchet-faced Italian, with ashock of black hair and blacker eyes, was listening to what he was saying. All at once the merchant turned and stooped before an iron safe in one corner, After a little while he opened the door and thrust in his hand, When he rose be held something like a little box about four inches long in his hands, This he extended to Julius, who took it with a bow, and put it away in his bosom, Jobnny Jumpup saw no money change hands. Perhaps that had been attended to before. When he looked again, Julius was coming to- ward him, and he drew back in haste lest he should be seen. CHAPTER IIT, THE SLIPPING OF THE LEASH. At ten o’clock to the very minute Johnn Taney presented himself at Colonel Bluff’s oor, It was, of course, the day following the events just narrated. He did not get to knock, for the portal was opened by Nina before he could do so, anda piece of folded paper was thrust forward. ‘‘What’s happened?’ mentally exclaimed Jobnny, but he took the paper ast the same, and opened it, while the woman watched him with her coal-black eyes. He read as follows: ‘* Colonel Bluff finds it impossible to see Mr, Jump- up to-day. He is obliged to declare off the business mentioned last night, being too much interested in his affairs in Sacramento to attend to mythical mines in the north.” ‘*Mythical mines in the north—ba, ha!” echoed and laughed Jumpup, when he got to the bottom of the dismissal, and then he caught the look that seemed capable of piercing him through. ‘*Convey my regrets to the colonel, and say that he could have found no better servant than Johnny Jumpup,” and the speaker tipped the hat with the snakeskin band to Nina, and saw her eyes get a new flash under his show of po- liteness. Then the door was shut in his face, and he was left on the step with the paper in bis band. ‘*Cool as a cucumber, by Jove!” cried he, looking at the door that interposed itself between himself and the man he wanted to see. “I wonder what Captain Velvet will say when I repoit? He evidently thinks that the colonel will keep his engagement. Heintended to when he dismissed me last night, but something has occurred to change his mind, I'll bet a hundred that that woman had a hand in it. She’s the siren Julius wanted Captain Dun to choke for him—he, he! It would no easy job for the eaptain, for she looks like she has the strength of a lioness.” Jobnny Jumpup could do nothing more than walk away. With his back turned toward Colonel Bluff’s mansion, he went down the tree-bordered- aisle to the street, watched keenly by a man who oc- cupied a wheeled chair at one of the curtained windows. ‘*He is somebody’s servant,” muttered this personage, who was Colonel Bluff. ‘* He is not the kind of man who plans deep schemes and plays the game alone. No. Asan assistant I think be would prove a success.” And then the Sacramentan watched Johnny Jumpupin silence till bis figure vanished. After this he pushed his chair back to the table and unlocked a drawer. From it he took a smell packet of papers to which was fastened the broken blade of a dag- ger. The steel was bright and slender, but there was no point, as if at one time it had been violently broken off. Colonel Bluff looked at the fragment of dag- ger some time in silence. Twice his face changed color, and once he scowled darkly. ‘The darkest history of Gold Land clusters round that bit of steel!” he suddenly exclaimed. “It is tied to a mystery which is as unsolved to day as it was ten years ago when the blade lost its point. They say that murder will out—that crime can’t forever hide its trail, but I am begin- Sr to believe that the saying is a grand hoax. If this broken blade coul it might throw ‘ of the past!” some light upon the puzzle that has baffled the best sleuths of this continent, but it keeps as silent as the grave. Is it a wonder that I re- fused to see the man who left the house awhile ago after I read the language of Nina’s fingers? I will see no one whose anes calls up the mystery connected with these papers and this broken dagger blade! I want to cutJoose from the red puzzle. I want to see no one whose presence can, in the remotest manner, freshen the infernal memories. ‘Mine refuses to tell how she knows that Jobony Jumpup would recall that period. I have ceased to press her, and she can keep her secret till she dies. Wanted to become my agent on No Man’s Ground, did he? I wonder who put that idea into his bead? Who is at the bottom of Johnny Jumpup’s coming here? Is it some hound who thinks he can solve the mys- tery of crime, after it bas baffled thea best of his kind? No; I won’t see Johnny Jumpup, or any one else who talks No Man’s Ground or who re- calls the past which I wish was buried under a mountain as big as Shasta itself.” , Meantime Johnoy Jumpup bad reported to the man known as Captain Velvet, ‘* Wouldn’t let you in, eh?” eri, bs the man, and then be put out his hand, ‘* Let me see the paper.” ° J obnny extended the note received at the door and Captain Velvet read it with a smile at the corners of bis mouth, ‘*Shall I try again?’ asked the man in laced clothes. ‘*To become the colonel’s emissary in No Man’s Ground? No, Johnuy. We won’t press that point just now. We leave Sacramento ip- side of two hours,” ’ ‘* Before they start?” ‘* What do you mean?” ‘“T speak of Dun Duff and his pard, Julius— the pards I heard last night in the*bar-room. The captain is going to interview Colonel Bluff at two this afternoon, and Julius is to have the horses saddied by three,” Having delivered this information, which seemed to surprise Captain Velvet, whom he had not seen since the night before, Johnny gave a complete account of the side drama in oe he had played spy to his own satisfaction, at least, When he bad finished, he was met with the question: ‘* What did Julius get at Mardoni’s?” ‘“Of course I don’t know,” answered Johnny. ‘* Tt was wrapped up, was it?” “It was,” ‘“No money changed hands?” ‘* None that I saw.” ** And no pawn-ticket?” ‘**T think not.” ‘Where did Julius go, after the visit?? Of course you followed him?” ‘*Of course I did,” was the echo, ** Well?” ‘* He went from bank to bank, playing here and looking on there. The rascal kept me up all night.” © ‘* Wherever he went he carried the packet, eb?’ Yes,” ‘* But you finally ran him in?” ‘* He entered our hotel and went to bed.” ** Ha!” ejaculated Captain Velvet. ‘* What is bis name on the register?” ‘* He didn’t put any down.” ‘** Like ourselves, Johnny,” was the reply, ac- companied by a smile. ‘‘I countermand m order about starting within two hours. 6 won’t quit Sacramento till after three. You need not go back to Colonel Bluff—” ‘“What would be the use? I'd find a lioness at the door, and I don’t want to tackle the wo- man Julius wants choked,” Captain Velvet, five minutes later, was walk- ing rather rapidly through Sacramento. He looked neither right nor left, like a man pro- foundly interested in a mental problem; but when he came to a certain street be turned, and walked up it some distance. In a little while he was knocking at the door of a modest house, A small girl opened it, and shut it quickly when he was inside, Captain Velvet was conducted through a dark and narrow hall by the girl, and at last was ushered into a room nearly as dark, “Tt isthe gentleman,” announced the child, and then the door was shut, and the captain heard a voice calling him forward. “T thought you would come, Captain Velvet,” said a woman’s voice, and the man looked down at a woman past middle age and the occupant of an arm-chair. ‘‘ When do you sed ‘* Between three and four,” was the reply. ‘‘ What! have you postponed your start? You were to start by twelve.” ‘¢ It is better to start after three, Mona,” The woman sighed, ““*T ought not to et age er since you are serving me, and since my affliction keeps me from the trail of justiceand vengeance, I sit in dark- ness while you work in a Come! let me touch your hand, Captain Velvet. 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