Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 and places of resort, from Billy’s ‘*‘ Bower,” to Kid blove Hank’s ‘ Hole in the ground”; mean- time taking stock of the various important per- sonages of thetown. He had been doing it in a quiet, unobtrusive sort of way, so that Happy Saul really supposed his information was entirely unsolicited. ** He’s one ov yer best men, yer say?” respond- ed Oregon, looking unconcernedly after the man of heavy build, who had passed with such a smooth, cat-like step. ** The best, stranger.” ** Ob, call me ‘ Oregon.’ Ef a feller’s a stran- ger after bein’ hyar three days, he may’s well jump ther camp. It sounds like a bloody game ov a freeze-out.” ‘* Hx-coose me, Mister Oregon, It’s jest my way ov talkin’; but it don’t mean nothin’, yer onderstands. kz I war sayin’, though: ther ain’t no deescount on ther face vally thar. He’s Solid Sam, ther King-pin ov Brace Box an’ ther best man thar, I tell yer. When he whissels, Kid Glove Hank, bisself, takes a back seat, tell Sam’s through. Ain’t it so, fellers?” There were two or three other listeners, and to them the appeal was made, The question appeared to be a perplexing one —not to any single man, but to the collective body. Doctors will differ, . 4 Vos, Saul, ye’r’ right,” responded one, slowly. ‘“‘He’s good—mighty good. But, ez fur bein’ ther best in Brace Box, that’s suthin’ else. He hits like ther kick ov a muel, an’ fur sand he hez | his own bigness; but, when yer says he’s ther best, it shows yer ain’t seen him ‘longside ov Cold Card. He’s blue lightnin’.. Thar yer hev gota man.” ; ‘¢ An’ Kunnel Rollins lays over ’em both,” in- terposeda third man, ‘‘ Why, ding blast it, he runs ther town!” ‘‘Then yer hev three chiefs hyar. Speak it slow, now, an’ don’t be playin’ off on a orphan like me, ez generally, sooner er later, hez ter tackle ther biggest man in camp,” “Slow she are! Yer won’t strike no better man in this hyar burg.” ‘‘He, he, he!” tittered another voice al- together, ‘* Rollins ain’t ther best mau in town, ner Solid Sam, ner Cold Card, Yer best man, he, he, he! are leetle, teetle, teenty Paul Morri- son, ez lives up therguich. Him an’ his purty wife!” Oregon looked around at the last speaker with ! more interest than he had yet shown. ; “Tt takes two ov ’em ter make a man, don’t | it? I ain’t heard ov him afore. What’s his | line?” ‘* Layin’ low an’ keepin’ dark; he, he, he!” Happy Sara broke inindignantly: . ‘Oh, dry up thar, Chestnut Chink. None ov er fool-gabble. It’s men we're talkin’ about. ext you'll be wringin’in sum ov yer stories | outen ther spellin’-book, an’ make us all sick. You git, er hold yer hush.” ‘*Ke-rect! Vill hold, an’ you kin go on with er b'‘ar stealin’. You'll see when ther tail praakas ha, he, he!” It was hard to say whether he laughed from good nature, or from lack of sense. Most peo- ple in Brace Box, who bad heard him talk, sus- ted that it was the latter. Oregon, who had fast met him for the first time, was not so cer- tain, in spite of bis looks, Chestnut Chink wasslenderly built, awkward- ly put together, knock-kneed and_stoop-shoul- dave In addition, he squinted—sometimes worse than others. Originally, he was known as Chink—Charley Chink—which was the name he gave at the date of his first appearance; but before he had been in camp a week his tendency to tell ancient stories, and laugh over them him- self, caused bim to be dubbed Chestnut. From his general appearance one would be apt to suppose that the wrestle with fate for his daily hash was not over and above successful. He did odd jobs, that were none too well paid for, and lived in a little dug-out, some ten feet square, that he had built in a convenient bank near the edge of town. He loafed around a good deal, put in his word when he saw the chance, and occasionally slipped up to the bar along with acrowd. Even Happy Saul had very lit- tle patience with him, ‘*What sorter a man’s this Morrison, any- bow?” asked Oregon, He had seen Colonel Rollins, Solid Sam and Cold Card, so that he could believe they were all good men without much urging. But this was the first time he had heard the name of Morrison, or any mention of a pretty woman, living up the gulch. ‘* He ain’t ov much ’count except hevin’ the best-lookin’ woman in camp; an’ that’s what makes the oddness ov it. He’s jest the hardest- lookin’ pill in ther Box—Chestnut, hyar, ’s no patchin’ ‘longside ov him, Looks éz though he mou’t hev bin blowed up. er his face kinder scrubbed off with acky-fortis, er somethin’. ‘Ter speak ov, thar ain’t much face left.” *¢ An’ what’s his biz?” “* Nothin’ p’tickler, ’cept packin’ grub. I dun- no prezactly how he ’spects ter make a fortin’, but he waggons on with ther rest. Reckon he counts ter git thar, some way.” That of the former rolled out in an honest, hearty way that did a man good to hear. He was amused to think that a man could expect a fortune to come to bim in a place like Brace Box, and he showed it. ‘* Yes, that’s what ther boys think; but they don’t say it, long ov that wife ov hissen, which ther same are too nice ter be dragged round from piller ter post. But mebbe some day they'll give bim a hint; an ef they do they’ll do it strong. Ef she wara widder, now, she c’u’d pick an’ choose. I dunno but what she c’u’d rake in Rollins hisself,” ‘*Mebbe you'd like ter tell him that ter stir himup. He, he, be! How Id like ter see ther cat *bout ther time yer war puttin’ that bell onter bim.” ‘* Dry up, Chestnut, er [ll baste yer one!” Chink dodged from the raised hand and point- ed down the street, ‘‘Thar he are now. You tell him, an’ [Jl git reddy ter run. Ther best man in Brace Box. He, he, he!” As Oregon turned away to look in the direc- tion indicated, and as the bark of Happy Saul was always worse than his bite, except when he was actually crowded, the latter remained silent, while Oregon watched the bent figure of the dried-up man who bobbled along, as if to walk was both an effort and a pain. ‘*Seems ter bev hit yer *bout whar yer live, pard,” laughed Saul, at length, as Oregon once more looked his way. ‘‘ Mebbe he’s an ole side- pard ov yourn, an’ you c’u’d reesk tellin’ him w’ot Ive bin sayin’,” ‘*Nary pard ov mine—never ever see’d him afore, an’ dunno ez [ll ever see him ag’in, This byar burg ain’t ekil to its repytasbun, an’ it ain’t ha’dly wu’th while ter stay init. Thar’s no profit an’ mighty leetle fun ter be got out ov stayin’ hyar.” ‘Fun! Ef it’s fun ye’r’ after, w’y don't yer go ter Billy’s Bower an’ shout? Kim along. [Tm goin’ thar now,” ‘Thanks, Mebbe [ll be ‘long shortly, an’ mebbe I won’t. But I’ve got ther four best men ov Brace Box down so fine I'll know when ter chip, an’ jest how heavy. So long, ole man. P’raps [ll see yer later.” Then Oregon strolled away, leaving Saul and the ret of them to their own devices, When he bad gone perhaps fifty yards he felt a pull at his sleeve. heeling quickly, he found himself face to face with Chestnut Chink, who leaned toward him ratber mysteriously. **Say, Mr. Oregon, it war truth I war tellin’ yer, honest Injun, deed an’ double deed. Ther rest ov ’em hez the’r spots, when they don’t want ter be tickled, an’ ef yer does, they kinder lose the’r gripe. But that thar man ain't got no spots at all, You kin tetch him where yer have a'mind ter, an’ he don’t mind it. That woman ov bissen knew w’ot she war doin’ when she bung on, I kinder like yer style, soI give yer warnin’, Now, ef ver want ter browse round teevuty Paul Morrison, you kin do it, an’ I'll dig ther grave fur nothin’, Chestnut Chink spoke rapidly and then skur- ried away as though be had been doing some- thing disgraceful and wanted to run from the reputation of if. Oregon gazed after him reg es Soe ‘* Mebbe that Morrison’s a bad pill, an’ mebbe he ain’t. Ez [ don’t banker fur him, °tain’t likely ter make much dif’ren’s ter me; but, some ov these days, ef that Chestnut don’t make some of ther boys walk Spanish, ’m jest a-howlin’ liar. Thar’s a heap more sense toted ’round by them bandy-legs than they gives him credit fur. An’ ef a feller’s got sense, he’s got all ther rest, Ef it war wu’th while ter stay, I’'d try ter see him ag’in. Mebbe I will, anyhow. Now it’s time I war reportin’ at Jimmy’s. Ef that pore boy don’t get a word soon, he'll be all broke u MK Jimmy’s ” was the name by which the best hotel in the place was known, Oregon did not stop there, but they knew him at the house already. When he came swinging in, Bower, the proprietor, nodded, and two or three others looked up in a recognizing sort of way. ‘Mir, North about?” Oregon asked the question in a matter-of-fact way, and was answered after the same style: ‘* He went out bout ten minutes ago. Didn’t say whar he was goin’, but pears ter me you'll find him down to ther Bower.” ‘* Reckon, then, he’s lookin’ fur me. Ef he turns up, tell him to stay hyar tell I git back. I’m scoutin’ fur bim,” He spoke unconcernedly enough, turning away without any apparent haste or anxiety; but, when be struck the street, he was thinking to himself: : eee) ** What in thunder kin the boy be wantin’ at Billy’s? If it’s a knob on his head, or an extra button-hole in his shirt-front, he'll be blamed oe ter git it ef I hoes yank bim out afore he A mixed in with ther crowd. They’re on’y inkin’ bout tacklin’ me, but they’re all ready ter go fur him fu’st sight. An’ ther leetle angel he left back at Glory Gulch! What does he eum OO ee Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. By this time, business at the Bower, as well as at the other saloons, was getting under full swing. Nearly everybody on the street was in a hurry, so that if Oregon lengthened his stride, bis baste would not be noticed, As he came to the resort, he saw that some- thing of interest was going on inside, There was a loud chorus of excited vcices, the noise of several pistol-shots; and then a sudden hush, In the midst of it Oregon sprung through the door. If he had waited an instant, he could have come side by side with Colone) Rollins, As it was, the latter followed by a few paces, CHAPTER II. BILLY’S BOWER, NEVILLE NortTH bad been stopping at Jim Bower’s house for several days. He came in the stage and made no inquiries of any kind that were not connected with the accommoda- tions at the hotel. He was well dressed, but not after a style that would attract attention. There was nothing of the pronounced tenderfoot about him. He was good looking, but without being liable to be taken for a dude by any man of common sense, Altogether, be was just that sort of a young man who does not attract any particular attention; and who surprises no one, no matter what he turns out to be. _ Jimmy Bower was not surprised when asked if there was not a place called ‘‘ The Bower,” or ** Billy’s Bower.” He gave the simple directions needed, and thought no more about it until Oregon's question recalled it to bis mind. Then he thought, if he did not say: ‘It’s a purty tough place for a stranger, and that’s a fact. Mebbe I orter told him ter sin low till he got ther pitch ov ther times thar, an ef he thort he couldn’t kerry it along right ter ther notch, he’d better stay out. But, ] guess he kin take keer ov hisself, He kinder looks that way.” Nevertheless, the toughness of the hovse was not so apparent when Neville sauntered in, keeping bis eyes well about him, his face show- ing. but careless unconcern, be patrons of the house were well represent- ed, and had got down to work as though they were there to stay. Those at the bar were hoist- ing the benzine in style, while a subdued bum of voices crept out through the broad curtain that hung at one end of the bar, where there was a doorway leading to the other room, which was the bower proper, In the bar-room, which was rather small for the amount of its patron- age, there was a table or two, but no one ever thought of starting a game there for anything more serious than the drinks. The heavy play- it Saker done in the larger apartment beyond. orth bad no settled purpose in coming there, any further than to have a view of the men of Brace Box who patronized such places, and per- haps to find Oregon. He certainly was not in anxious bag of either an eye-opener or a game, wonkn e had no particular scruples about either, The way to the bar was open, and he found himself in reaching distance without question or interference. The young man who handed out the glasses looked at him inquiringly. “*Good-evening, John! Can’t you introduce me to somebody? It’s neither pleasant nor healthy to drink alone.” At Neville’s eye question the bartender nodded knowingly and turned to three men who were standing at the other end of the counter. **Sam, here’s a gentleman and a stranger, that ave’ like to drink by himself, Can’t you jcin is It_ was a little more than Neville bargained for, but he accepted the situation and move forward a step or twoas hesaid: ‘ North ismy name, gentlemen, What will you have?” The three were looking sharply at him; the one addressed as Sam acted as spokesman. ‘My vame is Ryan. This are Ben Gunn, an’ this Lanty McGuire, Some ov ’em call me Solid Sam, moreover; but, you kin take yer choice. We don’t gen’rally try ter wring in, er play roots on strangers, Ez you've asked us up fur p’lite- ness’ sake, we’ll stay with er fur ther round, Ef yer pan out well when we’ve see’d more, we'll tell yer ef you kin hitch on ter tie.” “And of course you'll take whisky,” laughed North, not at all abashed by the formal address, nor awed by the name of the man, ‘**Pve never been in here before, and it is more than likely I won’t be in again, WhileI am here I suppose you'll find me up to the average, and about as white as they reac them, Nothip like sounding your own bazoo, don’t you know ‘* The average runs pretty high at Billy’s,” was the sober response, as Sam elevated the vial, and = a liberal supply of the ardent into his ‘Oh, I don’t mean the average at the Bower. From what I hear of it I couldn’t reach it. But, the average of mankind, by and large, as the sailors say, Here’s to us!” Everbody nodded, the tumblers were emptied, and North followed up his friendly advances, b ** Ha, ha, ba!” think *ll happen ter her ef he goes up ther , drawing out his cigar case and handing it around. There was a good deal of difference between | flume?” By the time the four weeds were lit, Neville re- the laugh of Oregon and thatof Chestnut Chink. §_ He quickened his steps, cognized that there was no foretelling what was Ree oe | Gomilecbooks:com