Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

=< both tergether, When he did he made things extremely lively for a little, wakening Jimmy Bower out of a sound slumber with an energy that made the landlord think there was an earthquake, or the house was coming down, It took a little time for Bower to understand what was wrong, or why any one shoald come to him for be!p. ‘* Biess yer soul, young man!” said Jimmy, and he flourished a navy six as he spoke: ‘ Ain’t you a leetle off? Dyer think I go ‘round an’ tuckin ther bedclothes fur my lady boarders? Missin’, are she? Ef so, an’ you ean’t tell whar she be, whar dyer s’pose [ kim in at? [I reckon vou’re all right, an’ I wouldn’t like ter say anything ter set ther Gang ag’im’ yer: but ef thafi young lady can’t be found,an’thar’s money in ther case, it mou’t leave you in a thumpin’ bad fix, You war ther last livin’ person ez seen her so fur ez [ know, an’ ther fu’st question ther bovs’ll ask are, ‘ Whar did yer leave her? ” Jimmy was not a bit alarmed, and he put his question in such a deadly earnest way that Neville saw there was something in it, though beyond his understanding for the present. “T leave her? What is if you mean to insin- uate, old man? I'll swear that I haven’t seen her since I left her, early in the evening, to racket around town by myself. l’d have known nothing of it had it not been for that young lady who arrived here in the same stage, and who patched up an acquaintance on the road. She came to me to tell that Viola was missing.” ‘* An’ ef you didn’t ax me, an hour er so, ago, ter send her to ther dinin’-room ter hear suthin’ portant, I’m a bald-headed Dutchman.” “Ah, that is something at last,” began Neville. ‘¢T’ll take my oath that I did not—that I was peacefully sleeping the sleep of a righteous inno- cent an hour ago, and two hours ago. It’s the other man; the fellow that looks like me. Come, you are wasting valuable time, What did that man want? Who was this fellow? It is the sec- ond time that he bas been in the house this night, trying t> take my place. Describe him to me so that I may know him,” ‘¢ Looks like you, eh! Ish’dsmile. Jest you peek into ther lookin’-glass, an’ you'll see ther identickle, owdashus cuss, ow, I’m re- markin’.” Mr. Bower was not only a believer in his opinion but he intended to remain so, Thus far Neville had only succeeded in directing suspi- cion against himself—and precious time was flying. ‘* As I have not been in the dining-room since supper, nor bave I seen my cousin, it was not I, bowever much you may think so, I tell you, it must have been the man we are looking for, Cyril North. If you do not believe me there is the letter left behind that shows what has been done. What I must know next is, how he did it. if she went to visit him of her own accord, I swear that Pll never movea step. If she was carried off, against her will, I swear I will never know rest or sleep until I get the thing straight- ened,” He placed Cyril’s letter in the hand of the landlord, and waited with surprising calmness while it was slowly perused, ‘‘Harrowin’ up yer holiest ’fections purty bad, ain’t it?” said Jimmy, at length, deliberate- ly handing back the letter, and looking at Neville with something very like a twinkle in his eyes. ‘7 don’t keer ter rise yer angry pashuns, an’ I tell yer fair an’ squar’ that I know better; but ef I war you l’d put that away somewhar, an’ say nothin’ more bout it. Ef some one war compurin’ it with yer writin’ in ther register ov this hyer house, he might take a noshun thet ther feller writes like you, too,” Bower had a revolver convenient, and was in his own house, so that he risked little in making this insinuation; but Neville glared at him in speechless indignation, until he had fairly mastered its meaning. ‘Why, confound you!» You don’t think I wrote it, do you?” ‘Tn course J don’t; but ther’s plenty es would. Ef ther young lady’s missin’, ’'d advise yer ter find her—an’ mighty soon, too. Brace Box are a-lookin’ at you, an’ she ain’t takin’ too much stock in these hyer ‘myst’ries. Ef ther young woman hes a half-million at her finger-ends, you might think this a good place ter drop her out ov sight, ef you’re ther next ov kin. Nobody ain’t seen this feller that looks like you, an’ ef yer can’t projuce ber, ther next best thing might be ter interdoose him, so we kin see yer You sabbe?” ‘““Yes. I understand the vile hint, though least of all should it have come from you, since ou, at least, have seen Cyril North, and not so ong ago as to have forgotten his appearance.” ‘* True ez preechin’, an’ ez I only seen one ut a time, I can’t tell yer apart. An’ now, ef ther’s anything in this, drop chinnin’, an’ git down ter biz. You bin a-wastin’ time by ther bucketful, an’ she gittin’ furder away all ther while. We'll look ’round ther house, an’ see ef thar’s no sign w’ich way she went. I wouldn't be skeered ef we found her back in her room in ” wy would,” retorted Cyril, sharply, but he Oregon, the Spor followed Jimmy, who first of all led the way to- ward the dining-room, ‘¢ Kinder curius, this,” said Bower, snatching at a little packet that lay on the end of the table, with a sudden dive. “Thort I seen yer lay it out, an’ figgered thet thar war sutuin’ in it ez you wanted ter talk to her about. Mebbe you kin tell ef it’s yourn, er ef 1t only b’longs to ther feller that looks like ou.” : It seemed to Jimmy worth remembering that Neville clapped bis hand to his breast at sight of the package, which appeared to consist of old letters, and other documents, ‘Tt can’t be mine—nnless I dropped it when [ was ut the supper table and some one has since found it and placed it there. I have not been near the spot before since I first entered the house,” ‘*In course not. Don’t we know? Thar’s Johnny, now, comin’ ter see what’s ther matter. He could sw’ar ter that; an’so could the rest of ther crowd, I see your name byer pritty frequent; but mebee that’s ther same ez ther one ov ther feller thet looks like you. It’s a nasty mix, anyhow. Blame me ef I'd keer ter live ef I hed ter drag’round a shadder like that! Let’s finish up hyer an’ then go round to her room. Ef she’s run away you bet she ain’t left her jewelry behind.” Johnny was about half-dressed, and blinking like an owl. It was a wonder that he bad been sufficiently roused to turn out, Somehow, though, he got an ilea that something not alto- gether according to the schedule was going on, and he wanted to be posted, In the same way a couple more men sauntered in, though obvious- ly a little ashamed of themselves when they saw only the landlord, showing a guest around with a light. ‘‘Glad ter see yer, gents, an’ thet yer hevn’t furgot yer shooters. This gent says he’s lost su’thin’, an’ were lookin’ fur it bard. Mebbe yer wouldn’t mind goin’ out by way of the win- ders, an’ see ef you kin strike a trail.” ‘What's missing, Jimmy? Give us the name and we’ll see if we can’t show the article.” The young fellow who spoke looked hard at North. There was something in Jimmy's man- ner that made him suspicious, ‘‘ Ther article are a young lady ez arrived on ther stage, an’ ain’t hardly hed time ter make herself at home, She may hev bin kerried off; er she may only hev lost her way, Ef thar war any place ter hide her I'd say, look out fura corpus, Keep yer eyes open anyhow fur blood,” e excitement increased, and several more were added to the corps of searchers, Outside din they went, but found nothing. The man o abducted Viola was too shrewd to leave footprints. jower attached himself to Neville North, and om a talkative mortal turned into a taciturn, His revolver was at a ready all the time, and Neville realized at last that he himself was but little better than a prisoner. He had reached for the package of letters when he had so far recovered from his surprise as to recognize them, and at the movement Jimmy had quietly put them in his pocket. The search of the dining-room and its sur- roundings having revealed nothing, an adjourn- ment was made, first to Viola’s room, and then to that of Neville. The young man explained where he found Cyril’s letter, his words being received with ominous silence; and pointed out his bed, which barely showed the impress of bis form, He might bave been sleeping in it for an hour or so, but as far as appearances went it was just as likely that he had only thrown himself on it and fumbled the bed-clothes. ‘It’s a queer kinder start,” said Jimmy, the last vestige of a smile fading out of his fat face as he laid his hand on Neville’s shoulder, ‘**T don’t want i ter think hard ov us, but I guess you hedn’t better exert yerself much tell this myst’ry are cleared up. Ill git ther town out an’ see what we kin find, Ef we don’t find nothin’ you kin hev a chance ter talk with Kun- nel Rollins in ther mornin’, He’s our alcalde hyer, yer know—kinder eee things with his pistols, yer onderstands; an’ what he says most frequent goes.” All this had not really taken so much time; and Bower certainly had the right to satisfy himseif that Neville’s story had something in it before he gave an alarm that would do him and his house more or less damage. Neville was satisfied with that part; the words of Jimmy indicated something else, neither flat- tering nor agreeable, If they meant anything, it was that he was under arrest, and that he would have an opportunity in the morning for proving himself innocent of the murder of his cousin. The young man was not altogether an idiot, and he understood that snch a charge made against a stranger by a responsible citizen was not a thing to be laughed at. Men had been pynated on no more obvious proof in about half the time Jimmy Bower had takea to form his opinion. If the worthy landlord so willed it, something of the kind might bappen now. As for resistance—that was not to be thought of. He was perfectly unarmed, while the land- | . 4 ’ ‘ Rav nee ik haw or ee af “\ to Yo) Uae oe 50 ¢. t with a Scar. 17 —— lord had his pistol ready, and would no doubt tar 2h SN a eee ee wR. g use it on the first provocation, Even if be broke away there was no place he could escape to; and he wisely decided that the more coolly he took the charge the easier it would be to disabuse the minds of everybody of the unpleasant suspicion. He could not altogether sn.ooth the anger out of bis voice, but be spoke far more steadily than he bad hoped for. ‘*T suppose I understand your meaning, and I won't tell you how big a foolI think you. In your western parlance you have the drop, and the only thing I can do is to bold up my bands, and let you go on to find ont how great an ass you are making of yourself, At the same time —believing in your honesty—1 must have your word as a man that nothing will be left undone to discover what has become of my unfortunate cousin. Give it, and swear to it, or ll run the risks, and show Brace Box what auswer should be given to such a foul charge.” ‘** Ke-rect. Dll leave you in ther bands ov Johnny an’ one ov ther boys, an’ say nothin’ fur- der tell we’ve looked round. Git a crowd hyer, an’ somebody say rope once—bowlin’ hyeners! you’d go up ther flume a-kitin’!” There was more truth than poetry in this, For fear that some one would say rope, Neville followed to the office without further objection. At the door they came face to face with Sam Ryan and Merry May, who had just arrived. CHAPTER XX, AT THE BRINK OF BLINDMAN’S SHAFT, Merry May and her escort reached the hotel witbout further adventure, though they saw that Brace Box bad begun to experience an ex- citement that was rising and spreading. There was already a drift of men toward Jim- my’s, and more than once May heard them speaking of a missing girl. ‘* Master Neville has come to his senses, and started an inquiry,” she muttered, “ ie oe that is what I should bave done, but I thought I could strike the trail before it would be coy- ** Wish I'd bin on ther ground afore they over- run it hyer,” replied Sam. ‘ We'll see in a holy minrit what they’ve found out.” So it happened that they entered just when Neville North was being escorted into the office as a prisoner, To a person of tolerably quick mind there was no difficulty in the world in taking in the situation, Neville carried it off prev well, but there was a certain suggestion of a hang-dog look about him, ouly to be seen under such cir- cumstances; while, in spite of Jimmy’s care, the guards proclaimed themselves in a dozen silent ways. Ryan gave Merry May a warning look before he spoke. ‘* Hello, Bower, what are up now?” ‘¢ Don’t mind tellin’ you, Sam, ef it don’t go furder. I must look out fur ther name ov ther old castle. Mebbe I’m all wrong, but I’ve hed ter set down on our young friend hard, till he proves bisself ther pure white quill. Ef he look- ed more like a fool I'd put him down fur an honest man, Ez it are, ’'m holdin’ him safe tell went to.’ ‘* But you don’t ’spect him ov kerryin’ her off? W’y, bless yer soul! she came hyar to meet him. An’ you heard ’bout the racket be war in last night? Well, you bet ther same Gang ez war after him thar hez snaked his cousin off now, Come, Jimmy, ye’r’ pitchin’ it a leetle too stiff ter swaller, Let up on it. He’s my pard, an’ PU go bail fer him, Turn him loose ter jine in ther search,” “Sorry I can’t Sam—monstrous sorry. Wouldn't burt bim fur a dollar; but, fact are, I’ve gou ter keep him in case ther jedge wants a look over.” “Ther jedge! What jedge?” ** Jedge Lynch, ov course. Killer ‘ll hev ter t up a court. We ain’t prezactly angels at race Box, but we can’t let a outrage like this go by; an’ Mr. North hadn’t orter want it, He'll get justice one way er t’other, an’ that orter be g ernuf.” : ‘* Yes, ef it don't come after his funeral,” an- Neville, who, as yet, had said nothing. ‘* Take her easy, pard, Thar’s more sense in what Jimmy’s doin be safe as a church tell I get the bank straight, an’ you wouldn’t be much good nohow, ty an’ his pard "ll be along soon as they bear ther news, an’ [ll put them on ther watch. ith you fur a bait they may catch a whale, ef the party as got Miss North comes back for the rest look a bit further, So long. Ill see you later.” Merry May bad not waited to listen to this brief conversation, but bad passed on to what did duty for waiting-room and parlor, There Sam joined her. ; He seemed puzzled and troubled. ‘Blame meef I wouldn’t like ter know ef Jimmy’s squar’ er not. He pay hev took thin ez they come, an’ put ’em together, or it a alla game. Hither way er both ways, ef they talk rope ter-night, an’ Killer an’ those go in "comilebooks oth i — the young lady turns up, er we know whar she | swered Sam, dryly, as be held out his hand to © than he knows of. You'll | of the family. Keep your courage up while I _ com ee ee eel f MT 4 * eS te - oA - oN en Ne ee ee SER ceee ee ——~ Pe Ft