Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 but there’s maybe a card or two I didn’t ketch on to. Kin yer tell me ary reason why ther boy might ‘a’ left?” ‘Nary reason; an’ thar was jest a thousand why he should ’a’ stayed. I've ve ’em right thar, an’ [ll take keer ov ’em tell he gits back er thar’s an execketer in sight,” Sam slapped his breast as he spoke, and Oregon understood that there had been some transaction between the two that the rest had not been aware of. ** Yes, sir-ree! He played me fur white, an’ ou kin bet Solid Sam never threw off on that ind onless they got ter slingin’ on airs. He’d jest put his wallet in my paws ter buy him a stack of checks when the lights went out. I never heered ov any skull-duggery ez Billy played, but thar’s a gang tbat hangs out thar thet might hev gone fur ther boy ef they knowed he bed rocks. ow they c’u’d git at him mght thar in ther crowd’s more ner I could tell.” ‘* Couldn’t’a’ bustled him outen ther winder?” inquired Oregon, more concerned for North’s own fate than the fate of North’s cash. “Yer ain’t bin notissin’ ther Bower very clost, er yer wouldn’t ask. Thar ain’t a winder ter ther back room, an’ on’y ther one door, When a sport gits cornered thar he’s got ter stay. It mowt be ez he took ther trail fur home. Ef he did I want ter know. Ef be didn’t they'll find Solid Sam movin’ *round,” ** Jest ex yer say—I s’pose you'll count me in along with yer?” ‘* Put her thar, pard; an’ we’ll do ther balance ov ther talk arter we see how ther game's bin runnin’.” The two men shook hands in a solemn sort of way, and then, without another word, started for the hotel. It was hoping against hope— especially for Oregon—and neither was much surpri to find that Neville North had not been seen at Bower’s place, and that his room was empty. “That settles it. Thar’s bin foul play. Ther blamed gerloots! They're tryin’ it on my pard, T’ll show ’em who's ther best man in Brace Box don’t yer disremember, og A ! Your pard warn't a detective, war he? it don’t make no differ’n’s ter me—I’m squar’ of I’m tough—but I want ter know ter figger it out a leetle.” ‘* No detective in hissen. Jest a squar’, gritty leetle piece of man flesh, able ter hoe bis own row, that come down ter Brace Box a-lookin’ fur _a missin’ tenderfoot—a cousin ov bissen whi@h, I reckon, are gone over ther range, I met him dri*tin’ through ther camp, an’ come along down, fur he'd pot on a kinder trail ez p'inted fur Brace Box. ‘His cousin’s name?’ asked Sam, thought- fully. There was something about this infor- mation that interested bim ey. **Cyril North war his genooine handle; but ther trouble are ter git at what he went ter sup- = by out hyar. From what my pard said | inder fancy hs ain’t keerin’ ter mention his name any too often, so, yer see, that made ther contract a leetle heavier,” ‘* He don’t allow ter send him ter prison ef he finds him, er any sich?” ‘¢ Not very much! Wants ter puta cold half million in his hands, that he don’t keer ter keep hisself,” “That’s ther sort! I tell yer, I like ther boy all over—better most like, than he’d care fur me. I'll do my level best, which are promisin’ a heap. I kinder think, if he kin handle sich big money, au’ ain’t too much in his pockets, thet they won’t kill him right erway. Ef they leave him livin’ we'll hev him afore we git through.” ‘‘ But who yer think bes him?’ ‘* That's tellin’; but, thar’s a gang somewhar. Now, we'll go back ter Billy’s ag’in. He may turnupyvit, Efhedon’t, we'll mebbe find tracks, aeae yer mouth shut—lI’ve bin blowin’ too much meself—an’ yer eyes open. Like ez not they’ll try us a fly fur good luck, ter see ef they can’t git us outen ther road.” *« Jist so I don’t kill yer friends, I hevn’t hed any real fun furacoon’s age, Ef I c’u’d on’y feel sure I war gettin’ on ter a gang ez laid fur North, I'd tackle ther hull town on a chance!” ‘* Lay low, pard, ef yer wants ter git thar. What Dm wantin’ ter know are, how they got ore) with him. Ic’u’d tell, then, who did ther ck.” In due time they reached the Bower; but Neville North had not been heard from; and by this time the crowd was thinking of something —_—_ —— CHAPTER IV, A QUEER COMPANION—GADLEY’S GANG. “Er I war you, miss, ’d wait. Ther men hyar ain't no saints; but ef yer happen ter gi back frum Brace Box livin’, you'll think ’em all an Reckon Mr, North ’ll be’round in a day er so, ef yer don’t hear from him.” he landlord of the Standard Hotel s thorough earnest, though not at all for t oe i of putting money in his pocket. Miss Viola orth was handsome, a lady, and just from the remote East. She was not the style of person to be traveling alone toward Brace Box. The road thitherward was edie « long, but of a trail ke in Gifficult and dangerous. The t led over the mountains, At times the wayfarer found himself uncomfortably near to the edges of precipices, and at other times the wandered 7 Pata the favorite lairs of ‘‘ Captain Gadley’s ang. That was the name by which the road-agents who collected the tolls on the route were known. Very desperate men they were, who turned up just when least expected, and least wanted. As they had been quiet for some time the chances were they were about ready for another dash. Miss Viola had heard all about them, and all about the dangers of the road, but nothing could stop her. She left the bulk of her baggage at the Standard, thanked the burly proprietor of the house, climbed into the rickety old stage, and started on her way rejoicing. Miss North had made no particular inquiries concerning the passengers, and had thought very little of them. Her mind was fixed on Brace Box; the ways and means of getting there trou- eg but little. en the stage was fairly under way, how- ever, she was not altogether charmed at the prospect, Tbere was only one eer inside, who was puffing away quite industriously at a long cigar, the smoke from which curled up from under the broad brimmed, white bat that was drawn forward with a rakish slant. As she settled into her seat this individual nodded, and said in rather a pleasant tone: “* Howdee? Reclcon on goin’ fur on this line?” ‘*To Brace Box.” ba be answer was curt, and not very genially spoken. ‘* Live ‘round thar I surmise?” ‘* No, sir; only traveling.” ‘* Ah, suthin’ like meself, Heerd tell on it an’ want ter see ef she pans out ekil to her reper- tashun. You kin bet she does, though, You'll find her a town on wheels, Travelin’ alone, be yer? Any friends thar?” ** Relatives there.” ‘‘That is, they war there when last heerd from. Don’t gamble on the’r bein’ thar now. Awful place to kill off strangers, an’ ole settlers are skeerce, I’m alone meself, an’ it don’t seem ter kinder go right. I’m little, but I’m good, jest real good ter tie to. What’s ther matter with you an’ me bein’ pards, ef yer friends hap- pen to hev wanderec over ther range when we git thar?” at Sig #? Viola was quite matter of fact, and had thought herself able to take things as they came, but she got as much indignation into that one word as if she had spoken several dozen, ‘* Ain’t hard ov hearin’, be yer? I thort I said it slow, an’ purty toler’ble clear. It’s ov no con- sekence, though. I jest thort you an’ me’d make a rattlin’ pair ov pards ef you're ez good ez yer look,” “And I, sir, do not care totalk to you. If you cannot allow me to journey unmolested 1 will go outside and throw myself on the protec- tion of the driver.” For answer, the nger burst into a clear, ringing laugh, that had very much of the femi- nine about it. ‘‘There, there! IT’ll be mum as a church mouse. I know it was an outrage, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to take a rise out of you. Bless you’re soul, ’m Merry May, and very much at your service, I don’t know that my costume is much of a recommendation to @ young lady from the East; but I assure you that if the truth were known, Tama very good in- dividual to tie to, as I said before.” Viola was surprised. She had not entirely conquered her indignation, but at the sound of that genial, laughing voice, that seemed to be- long toa girl of some education, and possibly some refinement, she felt a py deal more at her ease, and turned to see what she looked like. The broad-brimmed hat was pushed back now, revealing a pleasant, even a handsome face; brown eyes, twinkling with mirth; a rose- bud mouth over a squarely-fasbioned, resolute- ly-built chin. On her forehead lay a line of ort, crisp brown curls, while her complexion was none too dark for a typical brunette, eee as it had evidently been deepened somewhat by Western winds and sunshine. ‘Some folks think I look charming in this outfit,” continued Merry May, as Viola looked her over curiously, and without a word. ‘*T should judge that it is no great recommen- dation to you, but you can’t always tell from the outside, and as I had no idea of a tete a tete with one of my own sex, I dressed for business from the word go. I’ve got all my cash capital with me, and I don’t propose to be held up by anything less than a gang—and it’s got to be a mighty good gang at that, It don’t look quite so odd to see a set of sixes belted on over a pair of breechbaloons.” She glanced toward her waist, and Viola, following the direction of the look, saw that a brace of revolvers hung at ber hips. ‘“* Do you really expect to use them?” : It was the thing that came to Miss North’s lips, and was me as good to begin with as anything else would have been. ‘‘Can’t say that I’ve thought much on the subject, but I can assure you I know how. It’s the first thing a party in business out here has Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. to learn, and it don’t do to get out of practice, ither. ‘*T think, then, that I should prefer to stay out of business.” ‘* That’s so; but, when one bas been born and bred into a trade, and followed it fora time, it’s not always so easy to retire. Some of these days, maybe, I'll be able; but for the present I proeace myself, and manage to make a living. ’m going down to Brace Box on a professional excursion. There are some big and I want to see what Charley knows about draw.” ‘* You are a gambler, then?” ‘* Bless your soul! you have more wisdom than I gave you credit for. Yes, in cold fact, that is the size of it. Of course, I don’t expect to bother you after we get there; but there’s no reason why we should not journey along quite amicably. I set you down as a woman of sense the moment I put eyes on you. It may be that I can do you some service, too, If 1 can, com- mand me. I fancy you are new to the ways of this land, while I know them like a book,” ‘* Perhaps,” answered Viola, thoughtfully. A character like Merry May was a novelty to her—-in some tsa disagreeable one, et there was something about the female sport that attracted her. Under other circumstances she might have turned away in disgust or horror, Here and now her appearance was almost wel- come. “‘Tf you would promise me one thing, I think I should feel very much less afraid of you.” ‘‘ Afraid! Come, now! That’s tipping it tol- erably steep. I didn’t know that I was such a desperate-looking case. One thing? What is it? Ill cheerfully promise a dozen.” ‘* But a dozen would be harder to remember than one. You might think you were doing very well keeping eleven of them, and the twelfth, that you forgot, would be, to me, the most important of all. ‘‘-You’re a woman yourself, and know just how it is. The one thing, then, Tl promise, but I won’t swear to it till I know what it is. Of course it’s something about a man?” ‘‘The guess is shrewder than I expected. I bave a young relative, under whose protection I am supposed to be traveling. I expect to on him again at Brace Box. He is naturally a gambler, and, asa matter of fact, an unluck mes there Coldcard one. Promise me that you will not win his money.” ; ‘Done! What’s his name?” ‘* Neville North.” “Allright! Mr. Neville North is henceforth safe from my fascinations, so far as the card- table goes. seldom Spend with any but pro- fessionals; and when I can afford it, look after the bigger game—try to skin the s shall let him severely alone.” The ice was broken between the two, and their conversation went on for some time with- out flaggin , though it now took a more general turn. Viola did not care to say much to a stranger about her present mission: while Miss May, in such company, did not feel like airing her own oe life or future prospects, In the course of an hour or two they had become almost intimate, and though after that the con- versation flagged for a season, it was re- newed from time to time, as a subject suggested itself to one or the other. ‘* By the way, you said something about road- agents—a gang of them. Were you in earnest about our being likely to meet them?” Miss Viola asked the question after a little spell of silence, _ ‘*‘Very much in earnest, In fact, I shall be somewhat surprised if we do not. Somehow they manage to bave pretty accurate intelli- gence when there are pilgrims on the road worth the plucking. [m not given to nerves myself, as you can possibly imagine; but I con- ssa did hesitate about striking out on this rail, “But are—are they violent? Do you think that we, as unprotected females, have anything to fear?” ‘* A rather healthy old unprotected female I appear to be!” responded May, looking down her costume toward her revoivers. “‘Gadley’s Gang, °s they are called, are not too good for almost anything imaginable, They don’t exactly want to make the country too hot to hold them; but if they don’t tone down a little they’ll get there just the same, I prefer to keep them at the small end of my sixes, any- how. I take it, they’re after coin; but could manage to wagon along without it if they saw they couldn’t get it.” “You mean? ‘“T’hey’re not trying to draw blood out of a turnip, or any such nonsense. If they saw the unprotected female had no wealth, or that they couldn’t get it without bloodshed, they’d be apt to pass till it got around to them again.” . And if we meet them; what do you intend ners, I oO ** Bluff like blazes, as long as I have a say-so, and then show a full hand,” She leaned forward as she spoke. with rapid earnestness, drawing her revolvers with illus- trative speed, her glance going toward the road on the side she was riding. The weapons were | GOMIIEGERDOOKS Col .