Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

. e H U ; i ' hardl 12 b’lieve that when I talk I mean somethin’, an’ I’m talkin’ now, Ain’t he givin’ yer fun enough with his fists, that vou want to mount him with the irons? I reckon he didn’t start this; if he did, ain’t you able for him, all ina gang? If not, go put yer beads ter soak an’ leave sport fer better mea. You hear me?” It was not often Solid Sau: drews bis tools so early in the game; when he did he meant busi- ness, every time. If Bull Dog Ben had still been on deck to hold his crowd up to their work, there might have been a lively time, even for Brace Box; but nis friends were not entirely anxious to open the ball, with Sam Ryan look- ing at them after that style. As for Oregon, he folded his arms and looked on with a pleasant smile, If he had not set a clean copy for other fighting men to pattern by, he was willing that Ryan should show him how it ought to be done. ; **They don’t seem ter hear me!” Things seemed to have come around to a dead- lock again. A couple of men were examining into Ben’s condition, but the rest, though mak- ing no aggressive signs, were eying Oregon with anything but friendly looks.. If Ryan stepped out of the road it wasn’t much of a conundrum what they would try to do to the roa sport. Sam saw it, and grew wrath- ul, ‘We hear you, Sam, and J don’t mind saying we hate to crowd a friend of yours; but he’s shot one man, and broke Ben’s neck when he of- fered to take up for his pard. If times were like they used to was, he’d have been swinging from yonder hook by this time, He knocked down half a dozen of us when we tried to take him, but that don’t count cn the indictment, We don’t bear him any malice for that last, for it was worth a swelled head just to see the fun. But if you mean to keep on regulating Brace Box, it looks to me as though you ought to run him in yourself, and hold him till we see how it all turns out.” The speaker was back in the crowd, and it was not easy to see him; but Sam knew the voice well enough, and the words sounded as though the fellow believed them, sure enough. Tom Wells sometimes trained with a bad crowd, but he had a way about him of telling the truth and a reputation of being better than his surround- ings. m That's all right, Tommy; that’s the way you see it, but your eyesight is not just as good as it might be, and maybe you’ll stand to one side until this tog & straightened out, You mean to say that he jumped your whole gang? and if he began by shooting it’s mighty odd that he wound up with ther sluggin’. Say, sport, how is it?” “You can look over my tools,” responded Oregon, ‘‘ and [ll lay a thousand dollars ter ten that yer finds a load in each barr’l, Whoever done ther shootin’ got in his work afore I got outen ther cellar, I war buckin’ Pedro’s leetle monte lay-out when I heerd a yell, an’ I knowed they war mountin’ Chestnut Chink fur a leetle stake he made, I’d just struck a lucky streak but I left my luck on ther table an’ run to ther rescue, Ther shootin’ war over afore I chipped.” “You hear that, Tommy? I’m bettin’ on that bein’ ther true facts in ther case, It ain’t no use fur you fellers ter be layin’ ’round byar. Ther fun’s stopped, an’ I’m takin’ ther sport long with me. ou kin ieger this thing over tell to-morrer, an’ then Ill guarantee he’d be ready ter walk up to ther captain’s office to settle if thar’s arything ter settle. But ef this crowd wants ter slug me, I’m ready fur it, jest too quick, Come along, sport. Yer friend are lookin’ fur you, an’ this thing’s settled fur keeps.” **Come er go, it’s all ther same terme. Ef you think it’s the thing ter leave, [in travelin’ right along with yer: or ef I ought to wade into that crowd, give me ther wink an’ I'll show yer fun surprisin’. Chestnut hez cleared out, an’ I guess ther’s nothin’ ter keep me hyar. What's ther time, anyway?” ** Along about midnight, Hook on!” Oregon gave a low whistle of surprise when told what hour it was, In fact he could hardly believe that time bad flown so swiftly since he had come into Hank’s ‘‘ Hole.” Merry May had probably come, and gone. He took Sam’s arm and strode away without demur or fur- ther hesitation. When the two had gone a short distance a slenderly-built young fellow, dressed in good clothes, hailed them. ** You did that nicely, gents. For a moment or twol thought you would have your hands full catching lead. If you are going toward Jimmy’s, can’t you take a fel'ow along?” Ryan stared st the speaker, but Oregon re- cognized Merry May at once. Ov course you kin ketch on; an’ glad I am ter see you alive and able, I’ve bin foolin away my time jest too lovely fur any use. You bin thar?” “I have, indeed; and got away, as the good book says, by the skin of my teeth! I want to see the Norths assoon asI can, They haven't let meinto their game any further than they ought to, but I think I can tell them something | danger. Where’s Neville, I that will do them good. If they need the miss- ' see Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. ing Cyril very badly, I think they can have him if they’re right down spry about morning. I left him in a coop.” ‘*T don’t know much more about ’em than you do; butef talk goes, that’s what they’re wanting. We'll bustle along, anyhow.” They made good time, and Merry May could not remember many moments she bad lost since her escape, but as they reached the steps that led up to Jimmy’s hotel, she saw a young man turning away. Undoubtedly he had seen her, and just as certainly recognized the party she had left a prisoner. CHAPTER XITI. THE CASE OF CYRIL NORTH. Merry May gave no sign that she recognized the figure that seemed to melt away in the dark- ness. On the contrary she stepped straight for- ward, perhaps incieasing her rate of speed a little, her tongue all the time running as glibly as ever. Ryan kept beside her, but as she placed her foot upon the step lately vacated by the shadow, she cast a careless glance over her sboulder. To her surprise Oregon was not in sight. It was on the end of her tongue to call to him softly, but second thought suggested that it was possible the sport bad seen the individual she believed to be Cyril North, and intended to hang upon his heels and learn something more about him, She wished now that she had at once told him about her adventure, and promised herself to doit the first thing in the morning, whatever might be the result of the conference with the Norths that she was now seeking, Tt had been her intention to tell Oregon hasti- ly who the individual was that had just saun- tered away from Jimmy’s, and suggest his mak- ing an effort to learn where he went to, If he was doing it of his own accord, it at least show- ed that they were both of one mind. ‘* Ask no questions,” she said, in a low tone, to Ryan. ‘¢ Yregon is off on business, and it’s not likely he will turn up again for an hour or so; it’s just as well not to let the world know it. Unless you have something especial to say to Neville North, bid me good-night and come again, [ do not hesitate to trust you, but for the present it might make confusion. On second thought— where can you be found for the next hour?’ ‘‘ Business first, all the time, IT’ll meander round past Hank’s, to see how them roughs take their set-back, and then bring up at Billy’s Bower. Unless you need me don’t send; but I’ll wait an hour on the chance.” Before starting on” her ri out Me May had learned the location of Viola No Sere y On leaving Solid Sam she went stra to it. | Jimmy’s caravansarie was moderately w constructed. Though the main dormitory was partitioned up ina make-shift sort of way, that gave little privacy, there were a few little rooms that were almost worthy of the name, One of these had been placed at Miss North’s disposal. nder the door there was now a faint streak of light, but Merry May scarcely expected to find the occupant awake, as she knocked softly on a panel. Tbere was no answer or sound, and she rap- ped a little harder, an expression of disgust ap- pearing on her face, ‘*Tt does strike me that after what she has learned about Brace Box, it wouldn’t hurt to keep one eye open, There ought to be no dan- ger at Jimmy’s; but one can never tell.” It was not from the expectation of finding it free that she raised the latch of the door and gavea push. Her own room had a bolt; this was probably like it; and it was not likely that Viola would neglect to secure the fastening be- fore retiring—she thought, rather, that the click of the latch would have more effect than a pounding on the door, Great was her surprise, then, when the door yielded to her touch, and swung open. ‘* Something wrong,” Merry muttered. ‘* The girl’s not an idiot. hat’s in the wind now?” It only needed a glance to.show that Viola was not in the room at all. The lamp was burning at about half its regu- lar brightness, probably as it had been turned down for the night, and the bed showed the im- rint of a form, though the covering had not een turned back. It was as if Viola had thrown herself there, all dressed as she was, to rest before retiring, It seemed more than likely that she had then temporarily left the room—she might be, even now, conversing with her cousin—but was by no means satisfied, and made a careful inspection, ; here was nothing to indicate foul play. The few belongings that Miss North had brought with her, all seemed to be there. There was no disarrangement of the furniture to point to- ward a struggle, *‘ All the same, I’ll bet somewhere in the neighborhood of three to one that the child has been carried off, or lured away, and is now in wonder? I must im at once if he can beseen. Heavens! Merry. this is going to be no child’s play, but a game for life and death with revolvers for trumps, and your humble servant on what looks now to be the losing side, There’s no particular reason why I should stay there, for they haven't seemed any too auxious to have me, Pll vow. If the wicked cousin has got her somewhere, [’d like to know just where it can be—and [Ui find out, too, before a year.” Once more she looked over the whole room, without being made any the wiser. Then she hastily began a search for Neville. : There was no difficulty in finding his room, and at his door there was no delay. At the first knock there was a response, Neville, from within, beard a brief statement, By the time the girl gambler closed, he was set- tled in his garments and had the door open, ‘ A strange thing it is,” he said, trying to take the intelligence coolly. ‘‘ She should have too much sense to leave her room this time in the night; yet 1 do not see how she could be dragged away without any alarm being given. I do not suppose 1 have been asleep over ten minutes, and I would have heard anything like a cry or astruggle, I will look over the ground myself, 1 wish Oregon was here, but Psippose he has not come in yet.” ‘¢He was with me a moment before I came in, but turned back, I think, to follow the man you are searching for—your cousin, Cyril.” ‘‘Cyril! Then you have found him—you have told bim of our object? What said he? Did he offer any .excuse for his treatment of Viola and myself?” ‘ST am afraid he is not the kind that offers excuses—even with a revolver at his ear. If you consider the matter you may remember that I am not very far in your confidence; and could not well explain what I didn’t know. I did the best [I could, under the circumstances, and fancy that the guesses made were not very far off from the truth. I can assure you I don’t want to solidify the friendships I made this evening, in your interests. It would be too dan- gerous. By the way, Ryan came with us as far as the door, and left his address for the next If we need him I will know where to They were back in Viola’s room by this time, and Neville was already Jooking keenly around. ‘‘ Ah, what is this?” be exclaimed, pointing to an envelope that Jay upon the table, the lamp resting upon one corner, ‘‘T should surmise it was a letter,” remarked Merry May. ‘‘Tt may explain one mystery; but I declare it’s a greater one initself, How did it get there? It wasn’t there when I went in search of you. Things begin to look dangerous, Neville caught up the letter. It was addressed to him, in a clear, running hand, that was totally unfamiliar. That of itself was sufficient to show that there was something mysterious about Miss North’s disappearance. ith nervous haste he tore open the envelope failing to hear a word of what Merry May ha just said. The letter inside was brief; but very explana- tory. It ran something like this: | ‘ My Dear Cousin:—You have enjoyed the society of our charming cousin so long that no doubt you begin to feel that you have a prescriptive right to it. For fear you should urge this view too forcibly, and thus widen the old and unfortunate breach, | have judged it best not to meet you at this time; but will undoubtedly see you later. Meantime Viola goes with me, and as our movements are uncertain I leave no address. When our arrangements are com- leted I have no doubt that you will hear from her. Tp anticipation I would advise that you have all the coin available that you possibly can. I have ob- served that those who do business with me ae bea need it. Give my love to the gentle Oregon. Good- by, and luck go with you. ‘* Affectionately, te Cyrit ad He read this to an end, then handed it to Merry May, seating himself on the one chair the room contained, his chin resting between his hands, and his face giving evidence of extreme dejection. aN ye abe ‘Seems pretty certain of his victim,” said the latter, glancing hastily over this singular epistle. ‘‘ But bow did he get her away?” ‘How? Can’t you see? Whecdled her away with his infernal, oily tongue, just as I told her he would, He could charm a saint out of para- dise if he chose. He can fascinate and deceive ber as often as he tries,” ‘‘ Jealous, my lord; jealous, and half-crackedt That's what’s the matter with you. I begin to see toward the bottom of this mix a deal faster than I did. You won’t be much good in this deal. I think I’d better wait till Oregon comes,” *¢ And what can Oregon do?” ‘* Help me get your cousin out of the clutches of a bad man from Bodie. Help me to look up her trail, of which there must be some traces, a Ae know where Cyril is when he comes ack. “Trail! Of what use to attempt to follow it? The ruffian is a will-of-the-wisp at any time, Now, when he has wheedled Viola to him, he Eomicbooks a -_ ®