Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ae pent ne not, Yet—as you request it, I will use plain language. ‘*How many times in the last month have you visited the Oasis?” ** Not once—in busiuess hours,” the young man replied, with just a touch of impudence which, despite bis gravity, brought the ghost of a smile into the face of the banker. **And how many times after business hours, if I may ask?” persisted Corwin. ‘* Several times: possibly half a dozen all told. Not nearly so often as any one of a score other young men whose names | might mention, how- ever. ‘* They are not relatives of mine, nor do they serve as Clerk in my bank,” still more gravely. ‘* Is it so deadly a sin, then?” ‘* It is an error, to say the least, and one into which I am very sorry to hear you have fallen, Dudley.” ‘**May I ask to whom you owe your informa- tion, sir?” ‘There is no need to mention names, since you admit the fact, nephew. 1 could give you my authority if—” ‘Might it be Major Holly Gardenhire? I have seen him at the Oasis every time I dropped in there, at least ever since he made his first ap- pearance in Prospect,” deliberately uttered the young man, his face showing more defiance than was exactly respectful. ‘I bave said there is no necessity for men- tioning names,” steadily said the banker, dro ping bis hand and letting the light fall fairly across his face. ‘* You seem to resent my ask- ing you this question, Dudley, Why should you, if you are not ashamed of the action?” ** Because no one likes to think his move- ments are being spied upon, I presume, sir,” in lower tones, his eyes dropping before that keen, yet not all unkindly gaze. ‘If that person never strayed from the right path, there would be nothing for spies to feed upon, nephew, Wait,” lifting a band to check the young man. ‘Do not speak with- out weighing your words, Dudley. Your fiery temper is your worst enemy, urb it, unless you wish to have all your hopes dashed to.the earth, ruined beyond restoration, ‘“Though my nature is reserved, though a long life of trying business has led me to keep my more kindly feelings under cover, I have loved you almost as my own son, Dudley, and never more tenderly than when I felt in duty bound to reprove you for wild or thoughtless actions, ‘You may not find this easy to believe, T know that you have been led to regard me as, to a certain degree, harsh, even unjust to you. You have even charged me with holding back what ought by rights to bave come to you at the death of your mother, my sister,” “I have only repeated what mother herself told me, before she died, Mr. Corwin. charge her with lying!” ‘She was my sister, and I loved her, even as I have since loved the son she left behind her,” was fhe steady response. ‘“‘As heaven hears my voice now, she was mistaken, As God is my judge, I never wronged her or her son out of a penny. “I say this much, but I will not press you to believe it, Dudley,” his tones once more gravely cold. ‘‘ Some day I hope you. will know me better. Until then I can wait, ‘*But what I started to say is this: You occupy a responsible position, and such being the case, it is only natural that your movements should be more closely noted than those of other young men, Even you ought to be able to real- 1z@ sO much, nephew?” ** I have never made a crooked track, though ate have taken my little fling, at odd times, sir. “Too often for your own good, I fear,” with a half sigh that was instantly covered by the stern old gentleman. ‘‘ You bave gambled, not only at the Oasis, but at even less reputable re- sorts, if that be possible. You have drank to excess—” “That I deny, Mr, Corwin!” with sharp anger. ‘‘ Name the villain who dares calumni- ate me thus, and I'll drag him here to own his vile lies!” “If you deny it, that is sufficient, Dudley. I have not learned to listrust you to the extentof refusing to believe your truth. When I do— but we needn’t enter upon that point just now.” “I thank you for so much, at least, uncle,” his tones subdued, his eyes drooping, ‘ Still, L think it is best for me to bid you good-night and goaway. You called my temper my worst en- me I begin to think as much myself. May I ) ‘Wait yet a little longer, Dudley,” with un- abated gravity, ‘Since we have spoken so frankly, better finisb up now, rather than have another unpleasant scene,” Though with evident reluctance Dudley Mann resumed his seat, “If you had been any other person, and had I loved you less, Dudley, I would have discharged you from the bank the instant I learned for cer- tain you were frequenting gambling dens. As itis, I am willing to » Bive you another chance, ‘*T am growing old, but I have not yet for- | Don't | a a | Dandy Dutch. gotten what it was to be young. And my eyes are still keen enough to see what takes place about me. I saw something this very evening, Dudley, which would, at one time, have filled my old heart with joy. Now—whether what I saw ever comes to a climax, depends mainly on yourself,” ** You mean—” ‘‘ Never mind what I mean, since you can hardly help guessing the truth,” with ‘a quick gesture that cut the young man short, ‘ We are nelther of us in fit condition for entering upon that subject more clearly. And—unless you alter your recent mode of living, sir, we will never go further into it!” It was all his old imperious self, and the young man visibly cowed before it, His, face grew paler, his hands clinched, his breath came in short, quick pants, but he made no reply in words, *I called yes to this talk, Dudley Mann, to make you fully comprehend this, I resolved to speak plainly, and to tell you that I mean to thoroughly investigate your actions for the past few weeks, have heard, falsely I try to be- lieve, that you have lost very large sums over the faro-tables: sums far too large for a young man on a salary to even hope to clear off with- out aid of friends or—worse i Dudley Mann sprung to his feet, pale as a ghost, his eyes fairly glowing with powerful einotions, And when he spoke his tones were harsh and-unnatural; ‘You said well, Mr. Corwin! You have spoken plainly—tooplainly for me to quietly sit and hearken to, blo ed relative though you may be, If to-morrow was not the Sabbath, I would resign my situation right now; as it is, I will wait only long enough for you to look over my books and admit that they are in perfect-order,” Leonard Corwin tried to check him, but Dud- ley Mann was far too angry for that, and he hastily left the house. CHAPTER XIII, SOLEMN SAUL ON HIS OWN HOOK, LIK one literally bowed down by a mountain of care, grief and wretchedness, Saul Sunday raoved away from the table at which La Masque sat dealing faro, and bad Dandy Dutch deigned to cast a glance after his ‘‘ big sunflower,” h surely would have thought him quite heart- broken by those languidly impatient’ words. But a change came over the valet as soon as he had passed through the heavy curtains di- viding the two apartments, His tall figure stood more nearly erect than usual, and his melancholy looks changed to an almost ludicrous defiance as he shook his clinched fist in the di- rection of his bi gs i ** Hoodoo, be 1? Hoodoo goes, ef I kin fetch it! Cross your luck, top an’ bottom, rights an’ lefts, with a big round ring to swaller it all, an’ never no eend to it—so /” Solemn Saul spat on the floor, sweeping the toe of one foot through the mark in keepin with his grimly muttered words, ending wit a > giana flourish that completed the malicious spell. His cheeks swelling, his head flung back, his little gray eyes glittering and snapping, the valet glanced around the saloon to find himself and his curious actions the center of attraction, just then. *‘ Evenin’ to ye, gents, one an’ all,” he said, stifly nodding his head in salutation, then re- turning to his attitude of defiance. ‘ They’s times to grin an’ bear it, an’ then ag’in they’s times fer kickin’ like a bay steer with a bum- blebee nest stuck to each hind leg. An’ this is one 0’ them emargencies, An’ I’m doin’ the kickin’,” *“* Mighty right, too, I reckon, pardner,” ven- tured one of the company, with a covert wink toward a mate, ‘Bin turribly ‘posed onto, ain’t ye?” ‘‘More then anybody as is a body hes any right fer to bear an’ still stay a body,” replied Saul, heaving a monstrous sigh and shaking his head with a return of his usual melancholy, * Ef it was time afore the war over ag’in, Ef it was ’way down South in Dixie. Ef my hide was as black outside as some souls beinside, Ef a contract with a man is wuss then a barg’in with the cdlevil, _Then— ‘Look at me, gents!” stretching out his long arms and slowly turning around on his heels to give them alla complete view of hls gorgeous- ly attired person. ‘* Take it all in, ef the tryin’ dant make ye color blind fer month to come, Try to’magine them gyarmints was stuck onto your own selves, thar to hang an’ stick an’ re- main day in an’ day out till time no end! An’ then, ef they’s ’nough left 0” ye to do it, say ef you kin blame a pore critter fer kickin’ when he gits the chaince!” More the action and looks of the speaker than his words caused that general burst of laughter. It was all so ridiculous, and vet it seemed so genuine. What would have been utter extrava- gance far away toward the rising sun, was taken for granted in Prospect, Solemn Saul gazed reproachfully at his bois- terous audience, and for a brief space it almost seemed as though he meant to take it as a per- 11 sonal affront; but then his usual meek forbear- ance prevailed, and he sighed es eh as be cast a glance toward the bar, one hand slipping into his pocket as a natural sequence. o emerge with double alacrity, catching the polished staff and setting its mate at liberty to explore another pocket, while his gaunt vis- age reflected hope and doubt in bewildering changes, ‘* Look at it, gents," the man of many woes uttered, holdin up a “short bit” between thumb and forefinger, ‘ Thar’s the ‘stent o’ my fortune, an’ me jest onto the p’int o’ shoutin’ fer the crowd with the house throwed in! Kicked out by the boss, an’ this all I’ve got fer to buy salve fer to putt on— Good Lawd!” with a groan of intense disgust, his gaunt figure bow- ing until only the stout staff kept him from entirely collapsing, ‘**'Your boss is good for what you want, I reckon,” suggested one of the company nearest the sorely afflicted fellow, but the mere idea was enough to spur Saul Sunday into action. “They ain’t no boss any more!” he declared, hig Soke up and frowning darkly, ‘* Them ties is clean bu’sted wide open, Fer why? Jest beca’se I couldn’t fetch him winnin’ luck every whack! Is this the way to rig out a luck-stone? Kin you ’spect a mascot when you turn him into a ’Talian monkey?” ‘““Not ef you ferget to fasten the tail on, surely!” laughed the facetious prospector. Solemn Saul strode up to the bar and laid down his dime, ‘Taint much, when ye gaze onto it one way, pardner, sir, but it’s a mighty heap when ye come to think an’ say thar’s the last chunk out of a dollar that stan’s atwixt me an’ starva- tion fer drink. Look onto it, boss. Try to putt yourself into these yer’ clothes o’ mine, An’ then sling out the biggest glass ye kin perwide fer that wealth!”. “That’s all right: help yourself,” nodded the barkeeper, producing decanter and glass, sweep- ing the despised ‘*‘ short bit” into the till, Randay obeyed, slowly tipping the decanter and watching the trickling stream as it fell, sigbing as if unconsciously. * When shell we three meet ag*in? How long 11 it be afore I kin drive ‘nother nail? An’— luck to ye, gents!” lifting the glass and smack- ing hislips in anticipation. ‘ Better luck then I ever knowed ever sence—an’ all fer a critter that lugged a name like Preserved Polycarp Piety! Good Lawd!” He emptied the glass at a gulp, like one who fears to trust his stomach longer, using a sleeve for lack of a bandkerchief, his little gray eyes turned half angrily, half reproachfully toward one of the smal! posters which he had pinned to the wall earlier in the evening, ‘*'You see how turrible low down I be jest now, gents,” with another sigh that apparertly came from his very shoes. ‘ But time was—an’ not so mighty long ago, nuther! Time was when I could hold up the head 0’ me with the pick o’ the herd. Time was when I could beller an’ aw an’ cock my fly-brush from one eend o’ the an Saba to the other, an’ never a snort would dare to come in answer, But that was afore I run me foul o’ that female woman who let me coax her to become Glory Ann Sunday, That was afore she left me a letter to say that T was played, an’ she’d sloped with a handsomer man—an’ him named Preserved Polycarp Piety!” ** Jest one man?” asked the prospector. ‘‘ Aw him not much higher then whar T stow my cbuck,” nodded Saul Sunday, mechanically atting that portion of his anatomy. “ Ef lory Aun ever gits mad at him an’ wants fer to maak the pesky eritter, she’ll hev to borry a spyglass afore findin’ the right spot.” ‘You don’t seem to greatly admire her judg- ment, friend!” laughed another of the company, ‘Yet you are hunting her, I believe” ** An’ you never see’ a mortal critter set out hotter onto a trail then I did when T come in from the round-up an’ ketched onto that p’izen letter!” groaned the Sad Man from San Saba, dolefully wagging his head as he stared with glassy gaze at that poster. ‘Fer I didn’t stop’ to think that what was his Joss was my clear gain. It was bein’ told that yen’ little runt was a bandsomer man, I reckon. Must ’a’ bin, an’ then— Gents, I cain’t go no furder into it. I cain’t say no more then that IT must ‘a’ bin agit afore I leh that sport—ketch me foul like e did, ‘* But that’s over with now. He done kicked me out. He said [ wasa hoodoo. He told me to go hang, or words to that effect. An’ I’m goin’ the shortest way I know how to pick out. An’ when [ git to whar they won't be nobody in’ *tickular fer to git shocked, I’m goin’ to ot is these duds an’ build a bondfire out of em. Yes, sir, gents, I jest am! An’ ef I cain’t find leaves big enough to kiver the nakedness o’ me, I’ll hunt a hole an’ craw! into it ontel I kin grow a suit 0’ wool!” As be spoke thus, Saul Sunday thumped bis staff against the floor, the gesture causing the baud to loosen and the velvet table to fly open. He stared at this, one band mechanically mov- ing toward the ket in which he carried his shells and the little joker, his eyes turning tOw: (€ : EComigvooks | % * * 5 y