Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~ =~ “ Aev bin usin’ honey! 1 thought it at fu Dandy Dutch. = 0 : 13 cold, like. But her time’ll come, an’ then she'll he soft an’ kind an’ tender an’ all the rest, to more’n you, little gal!” laughed Sunday, with all the airsof a man who thoroughly under- stands human nature, ‘*T can’t think it,” shaking her head decided- ly. ‘‘ Mistress is not like that. She fairly scorns the very shape of a man!” ‘* An’ them is the very sort that is easiest to ketch when a man knows his business, honey dove, An’ they is a man—lI ain’t sayin’ who he is or who he zsn’t, mind ye, little gal,” with an- other soft laugh, ‘‘I know a man who hes fell head over heels in love with your mistress, an’ ef [ kin win him anythin’ like a fair chaince to court her, in bettin’ big money she won’t scorn a man’s shape no longer, nur— Good Lawd!” Well might Solemn Saul break off with that ejaculation, for Fanny flashed a gleaming dag- ger before his very eyes! CHAPTER XV. SOLEMN SAUL GROWS ENTHUSIASTIC. ‘‘ DECEIVER! doubly a traitor!” cried the wo- man, aiming a vicious blow at the throat of the. valet. Had that stroke fairly gone home, Saul Sun- day would surely have seen the end o- his weary pilgrimage on this earth, but with an activity ale remarkable in one who so bitterly be- moaned his lot, the Sad Man eluded the weapon, catching Fanny by the wrist and holding her powerless while he ejaculated: ‘* Mournful Moses! what's bit ye now, honey dove? An’ me jest ready an’ weepin’ fer to lay me down in the dirt to play h’arth-rug to them weenty, teenty little feet o’ yours! An’ you— Thar, Miss Black!” with a hollow sigh that might have come asa breath from the tomb as he released his grasp and presented his bosom to her blade, ‘Kf you kin see even the ghost of a thought that ain’t clean white an’ truly yourn, Fanny, pin it to the backbone o’ me! Ef you kin—” Instead of dealing the blow, Fanny turned away to hide her face in her hands, sobbing bit- terly. And when, a few moments later, Solemn Saul ventured to gently touch an arm, the glittering weapon had vanished as mysteriously as it had been flashed forth. ‘* Fanny—Miss Black—” ‘* Leave me, false, hard-hearted man!” with a nervous twitch that sbook his touchoff, ‘ Wait until my mistress comes—save your soft speeches for her ears, and—” ‘*Git clean yanked out o’ my rijimentals fer tryin’ of it on, too!” spluttered Solemn Saul, starting back aghast, ‘‘ Good Lawd! ef.he was to ketch me doin’ of it!, Ef the boss was to—” Fanny gave a little cry at this, grasping his arm and gazing keenly into his face by the star- light. ** You mean—you didn’t mean that you were the man in Jove with my mistress, then?” she pantingly asked, Solemn Saul stared into that pale, anxious, uestioning face for a few moments, as though airly unable to believe his own ears, Then, as the ridiculous truth flashed upon him, he actual- ly broke into a laugh, ‘* Sufferin’ grandpap o’ sin an’ sorrer!” he chuckled as his long arms wound about the maid’s waist, drawing her half-resistingly to his bosom once mcre, dropping a rousing smack deftly upon her pouting lips. ‘‘ An’ you tuck it that way? You wanted to stick a body fer— Fanny, honey dove o’ never eendin’ delight! you didn’t raally think it? You wasn’t actilly jealous—o’ her ’nd me?” ‘** You said—what did you say?” ‘“* Nigh as I kin come to ’memberin’, now that I’m jest runnin’ over with pure delight an’— Fanny, you’ve bin rubbin’ honey onto them red lips 0’ yourn!” Solemn Saul paused in his remarks long enough toagain test bis lover-like suspicions, then Fanny managed to draw her head back far euough to utter: * Are you trying to evade my questions, Saul? W ho isin love with my mistress, if not yourself?” ‘**My boss, fer sure,” was the prompt re- sponse, with an air of genuine surprise that the query need be pressed so closely. ‘'Didn’t I say so time an’ time ag’in afore— Fanny, you st, an’ now I’m dead sure!” With a sigh that seemed relief from a dread. ful weight of doubt and torture, the woman yielded to his ardent embrace, making no at- tempt to cut his rapture short. And Solemn Saul hardly deserved that title longer, so thoroughly loverlike were his actions, his mur- mured words of praise and joy. ‘* Ef I didn’t ketch a glimp’ once in a while o’ these p’izen rijimentals, ’d feel dead sure I'd died an’ flopped up to heaven, Fanny!” her lover finally paused long enough to affirm, in awed rapture, Fanny laughed softly, shyly, as she gently but firmly freed herself from that clinging em- brace, murmuring: ** We must come back to earth, dear boy, and now—not another one until you have explained everything to me, Saul,” her voice filled with a firmness which seemed to fairly intoxicate the sss ss-_ssse—=sssssssesssssssssesss—esnss valet, though her forbidding gesture served to hold him in check, ‘*That’s the wu’st o’sech things, honey dove o’ pure delight!” be sighed, regretfully. ‘‘ They don’t last long enough for a hungry critter to giteven a squar’ taste afore they take to ’em- selves wings an’ flop over the garden wall!” ‘* Can’t say, I’m sure,” with sudden. tartness, ‘* But you seem to have bad plenty of experi- ence! Perhaps that is what made you so late to-night! Perhaps you were detained by an- other—if I thought so!” **Don’t ye do it, honey—don’t ye begin to do it!” hastily mumbled the startled valet. ‘‘ Cross the heart o’ me I hain’t kissed even the ghost of a woman sense Glory Ann run away—durn Slory, Ann!” and he spat vicivusly over his shoulder, ‘*‘ They’s glory enough rigbt into this very gyardin fer sech as me, an’—” ‘** Business, Saul Sunday!” checking him with uplifted finger. **Good Lawd!” sighed Sunday, with a long breath. ‘* Ef you hed on the other kind o’ clothes, an’ ef they was a black baird all over the pretty face o’ ye, an’ your voice was double harsher then it is, 'd come mighty nigh thinkin’ it was the boss checkin’ of me up fer makin’ a crooked slip!” ‘*Do you think you would really like such a boss, Saul?” softly laughed Fanny Black, seem- ing to forget the point she wanted to press, ** Would I?” echoed Saul, rolling up his eyes in ecstasy. ‘‘ Wouldn’tI! Fanny, pet, le’s git to tryin’ of it jest as quick as the law’ll let us! Le’s git right down—” ** And Glaee Ann?” demanded Fanny, bis un- fortunate choice of terms seeming to recall the memory of that erring wife, “Thar it is ag’in!” groaned the Sad Man, brushing a sleeve across his brows, ‘‘’Tain’t enough that the ole hag double-’sulted me by ‘lopin’ with a weenty runt named Preserved Polycarp pa an’ callin’ bim a handsomer man than her lawful husband—” ‘*Tt is because she is still your lawful wife,” pointedly interposed Fanny Black, ** Wuss luck me!” ‘*And while you are legally bound to her, what right have I to—to even speak to you, Saul?” her tones growing unsteady. ‘‘ How do I kuow that you are not the one at fault? How can I be sure that youdid not run away, desert- ing your wife and—and family?” ‘Good Lawd! wussan’ wuss an’ more a-com- in’!” groaned Sunday, then desperately bracing up and adding: *‘ Fanny, let me tell you jest how it allcome about, 1 was young an’ green, an’ didn’t know much ’bout the fair sex when Glory Ann roped mein. From the fu’st jump she tuck the—that is to say, she played boss, She said this must be that, an’ t’other must be which. An’ ef I didn’t like it that way, all the more did it tickle her to stick right whar she jumped, An’ so—Fanny,” his tones growing even more earnest as he added: ‘* Ef Glory Ann hedn’t jumped over the fence, I'd ’a’ tuck to stampedin my own self!” “Tf she eloped with another man, surely you were entitled to a divorce?’ murmured the wo- man. His teeth clicked together sharply, and his voice grew dogged : ‘*Mebbe so; but I didn’t stop to think that way jest then. When 1 read the letter Glory Ann writ’ fer my welcome home ag’in, I tuck a solemn oath that l’d never settle down ontel I’d ketched ’em up an’ lifted the skelp o’ that p’izen Preserved Polycarp Piety! An’ then, when the fu’st heat wore off, I couldn’t git the divorce. Fer I hedn’t a dollar left that I could call my own. I hedn'tafri’nd to my back, An’ I hed a boss that wouldn’t even let me think o’ callin’ on the law afore I showed myself a man—any- way, that’s the way he put it.” ‘*The gentleman in whose employ you are at present?” asked Fanny, drawing a little nearer though still a bit coy and evidently on her guard against that familiar arm, ** Dandy Dutch, the Decorator from Dead-Lift —jes’ so!” sighed the Sad Man, ‘That is not his real name, of course, Saul,” softly breathed the woman, now so near that her elbow touched his. ‘ It is only one of those hideous nicknames which are so plentiful in these barbarous regions. What 1s his real name?” ** Andre Deutsch, an’ I reckon he’s a Jew,” shortly replied Saul. . ‘‘T saw him to-day, and I think—shall I say what, Saul?” **Durned ef ['m keerin’,” sulkily, ‘*T think he’s awfully handsome,” cooed Fan- ny, clasping her hands asif in ecstasy, ‘‘ So handsome—almost as handsome as—you, silly goose!” barely brushing bis lips with hers, then springing lightly back beyond his reach, that bright blade playfully warning him to maintain a respectful distance, ‘*Then you—yvou ain’t tumblin’ in love with the boss, honey?” ** No more than you are falling in love with the mistress, Saul,” ber merry laugh changing toa sigh as she softly added: ‘‘ We women can know but one love at a time, and you—I could kill her!” “I only wish you could, fer sure, honey!” ——e et oe pt i EE ati caine le SE LL sighed Sunday, then brightening up once more, and adding: “‘ But sence you speak o’ the boss, let me tell you jest bow it all came about,” ** Please do, Saul,” drawing near once more, and only feigning to resist bis gentle clasp, though she kept her face well shrcuded in the folds of her cloak. ‘* Please tell me everything. Why do you serve this Andre Deutsch! Why do you consent to wear such a livery, since you seem to dislike it? Why, Saul, I think it is just lovely!” ‘So do I—ef you do, boney dove!” murmured the amorous valet, *‘{ won't never wear any- thin’ else but—’ ‘* Until you have won a divorce from Glory Ann, Saul.” ‘*Glory Ann be—kin I cuss right hard, jest once, Fanny, dove?” ** Tf you go hide in the bushes where I can’t hear you, Saul," ‘* Never mind; mebbe I kin git along "thout doin’ of it, ef you only won’t keep on luggin’ Glory Ann in by the heels,” resignedly added the Sad Man, “ But I was sayin’—whar was 1, honey ?” ‘* About to explain why you served your pres- ent employer, Saul.” ‘** Beca’se he’s the whitest man a pore, mis’- able critter ever run up ag’inst when all the world ’peared sot dead ag’inst him! Beca'se he lifted me out o’ the mire an’ quicksand o’ de- spair, settin? me onto my feet ag’in, an’ cheer- in’me up to be a man agin! Beca’se—but I mought go on beca’se from now ontel the sun shows in the mornin’, Fanny, ’thout beginnin’ to show ye how white the boss is!” ‘‘T can guess it. Like man, like master,” softly cooec pecaee ‘““'Wish’t I was like bim, but mebbe the time ‘ll come ag’in when Saul Sunday kin lead the herd as he did afore-—-Fanny?” vs! ‘*T am listening, dear.” ) ‘** 1t ’d take too much time to tell you jest how it come to be so, an’ ef you wasn’t so mighty skittish we could, spend the time so much more *greebler. Wouldn't it-—” ‘** Not just now, Saul,” shaking her head firm- ly. ‘Tell ine about your master, please,” ‘* Et you will hev it that way, honey,” with a feeble sigh of resignation. ‘' An’ so—the ‘gree- ment was that in pay fer bis pickin’ me up out 0’ trouble, | was to sarve bim faithful ontel I ketched up Glory Ann, or the boss got tired 0’ rovin’ as a homeless sport. An’so—Fanny, little a ‘* Well, Saul?” ; ‘* Don’t you begin to see what I meant by talkin’ all that bout your mistress? Den’t you see ef we was able fer to fetch a match in sober airnest atwixt him an’ her, that oath would be bu’sted wide open?” ‘* But Glory Ann, Mr, Sunday? persisted the maid, gravely checking him. CHAPTER XVI, SOLEMN SAUL GAINS A POINT, ‘*D—poGs bite» Glory Ann!” almost howled the Sad Man from San Saba, recoiling from the object of his affections like one who has received a heavy blow fullin the face, ‘‘ Must that old hag contin’ally stick her ugly mug atwixt. me an’ the woman—angel I adore all over an’ back ag’in? Must she ferever be—” | ‘““ Your wife until you procure a divorce, Saul,” sighed Fanny, yet yielding only in her tones. ‘‘I have permitted you to presume far too much already, but I shall never do so again until—until Iecan show you how very dear are your caresses without feeling my cheeks scorch with shame!” ‘‘ So be it, little lady,” gravely said Sunday, seemingly powerfully impressed by her words and the manner in which they were delivered. ‘* It’s like pullin’ teeth to know it must be 80, after what I’ve—fer ef vou bain’t bm washin your lips in honey dew, Fanny—” ‘* Hist!” lifting a hand and bending her head to peer keenly over the fence toward the more densely settled portion of the town, ‘Is that my. mistress coming?” he alarm proved to be a false one, but it served its purpose. Saul Sunday was chilled once more, and Fanny felt that she could trust him to come a little closer, ‘*'You say your master has fallen in love with my mistress, Saulf’ Fanny asked, after that alarm came to an end. ‘How can that be, when he has been such a short time in town?” ‘How kin it be that I tumbled all over in love with you. honey?” ‘** But—well,” with a shy laugh, ‘you saw my face by daylight, and be can’t possibly bave seen that of my mistress,” ‘*Sufferin’ grandpap!” with a flourish of bis right hand, like one brushing aside a trifling ob- stacle. ‘* That don’t count with a ’way-up blood like the boss. He see ber shape an’ figger. He ketched a good look into the two eyes o’ her ’crost the table last night, an’ the way he rolled an’ tumbled an’ kicked off the kiver a’ter he went to bed! The way he tuck on ’bout them all! Ef I hedn’t seen you, honey dove, an’ knowed pritty nigh what was bitin’ him, I do reckon I'd ’a’ run fer the last doctor in town afore I'd git over the skeer it’d ’a’ give me!” Sl (C "comilcbooks —~ cag ee ee PP ij