Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

cb ee ee ee aes -s ‘ ~ Dandy Dutch. glasses, ‘“‘If you wish, I will place your card in the rack tor future reterence in case we should decide to alter the furnishing of our es- tablishment.” Andre Deutsch stared broadly at the speaker, plainly puzzled to interpret his meaning fora few moments, but then breaking into a musical laugh as the truth flashed upon him, Dudley Mann flushed hotly as one hand slip- ped to the shelf below the counter, his fingers closing on the butt of a revolver. He did not like the looks of either man or master, and more than ever he suspested some cunning scheme for robbing the bank of which he had charge. And yet, under different circumstances, Andre Deutsch was almost the last man living whee he would have picked out as a bank- thief. A little above the average hight, his figure was muscular without looking heavy, well pro- portioned in every particular. His face was more than ordinarily handsome, despite his wenang’y marked features, each one of which spoke decidedly of Hebraic descent. His eyes were black as polished jet, his nose aquiline, though of medium size, his ips red and full, his pee ane full beard inky black, close curling yet silky. His garb was neatly fitting, fashionably cut, such as may oftener be seen in large cities than among the mountains. 6 material was costly, but of rather gay hues, though this did not seem so much out of taste and keeping with his orient- al face. His bosom was crossed by a heavy gold cable, from which depended a seal and a ric a! jewel- ed charm, A single diamond flashed in his shirt, and his scarf-ring was circled by the same pre- cious stones, On his curling locks he wore a.silk hat. On his feet neatly fitting boots of patent leather. In one gloved band he bore a slender cane with golden crook, ““T really beg pardon, Mr. Mann,” the brill- iant stranger hastened to say, taking warning from those hardly squared jaws and gleaming ayes: “‘T ought not to have laughed, but the 1adea-— squared jaws, denoting an iron will and unflinch- ing courage. Leonard Corwin bowed slightly to the man who was gazing at him, but passed along to the back of the building without speaking, Dudley Mann moved toward the rear of the bank asif to meet his employer beyond range of those ears, but without taking bis avatchful gaze from the comparatively unguarded money shelf below the counter. ‘The gentleman claims to have business with you, sir, I believe,” be hurriedly explained, handing the card tothe banker, ‘* That is his name, but—I think he'll bear watching a bit!” Barely loud enough for these words to reach the ear of the one for whom they were intend- ed, then Dudley once more drew near to the front end of the counter, quietly saying: ‘*Do you wish to speak to Mr. Corwin about this deposit, sir?” ** Why should [?” with arching brows. ‘ All I wantis to have it taken care of for a few days; a month or two, it may be; and surely you can serve me thus far?” ** Anything I can do, Mr. Mann?” asked the banker, coming forward. Dudley fell back and to one side, leaving Andre Deutsch to repeat his wishes, which he did with just a touch of sarcasm in his tones, ‘*Simply an assurance that I will not linger long enough to become a charge on the town, dear sir. As for my poor card, which seems to have prejudiced Mr. Mann against me, why that may be smoothed over by a single wor from you, And I think you will find authority sufficient in this note to waste so much breath, Mr. Corwin,” He handed the banker an unsealed envelope, the writing on which seemed to strongly in- terest the elder man, judging from the keen manner in which he scrutinized it, turning aside to secure a more favorable light. When he turned again his eyes were glowing brightly, his coldness entirely gone, his voice ringing out like that of one both glad and proud to welcome the man who brought him such a missive, ‘Delighted to meet you, Mr. Deutsch!” he, of my working—was more than I could | declared, warmly gripping the gloved hand stand without—” Dudley Mann sharply tapped the card with a! when d | that a finger as he said: ** You bear decorator on your card, I believe?” ‘*Simply because I can’t help painting the town whenever I strike a new location. I[ did this so lavishly at Dead-Lift that the sports unanimously conferred that title upon me, In common courtesy could I do less than acknowl- edge the compliment on my cards? Before that I was called the Frescoer from ’Frisco. When I leave this Ll I may be the Painter from sree , for I know now,” with a soft augh, All this was very plausible to one as well versed in the curious whims and fancies of the far-western sports, but Dudley Mann was not yet fully satistied, and something of his sus- picion showed itself in his words or tones as he asked what he could do to serve the gentleman. ‘* Take care of a little loose change for a da or so,” was the light response as Andre Deutse snapped his fingers with a glance toward his valet, who came shambling forward like a wan- dering ghost of misery and tribulations, ‘‘ If not a man of business, I’m shrewd enough to make sure of a return ticket, in case my ear gion, | proves more costly than usual. Sunday, p your weasel!” With a faint sigh Sunday obeyed, producing a plump pocketbook and taking from it a good- ly roll of bank-notes. Like one whois loth to part from old friends, be dropped the money on the counter, falling back to his corner in obedience to a sign from his master. ‘* Please give me credit for this, Mr. Mann,” was the easy continuation. ‘‘ Subject to check, of course, as I’m not certain just how long Imay care to remain in Prospect. And that reminds me—Mr. Corwin is not in at present?” Even as he uttered the words a look of relief came into the face of the clerk, for he caught sight of Leonard Corwin just mounting the steps. ‘** You are fortunate, dear sir,” he said, witha faint smile. ‘‘ Yonder comes Mr, Corwin now!” Andre Deutsch turned quickly toward the door, and the movement hid his face from the keenly curious gaze of the clerk. CHAPTER IV. ‘* SLOPED WITH A HANDSOMER MAN.” DUDLEY MANN shifted his own position in the attempt to catch a fair view of that darkly handsome face, but he might have spared him- self the trouble. There was absolutely nothing for him to discover there. Andre Deutsch showed simply a languid curi- osity in his face as he took note of the banker, a single glance summing up his outward points. A man of not more than fifty Nise well pre- served in looks if not in figure, the latter being rather portly than otherwise. A strong, stern, yet not unki indly face, smoothly shaven save for modest ‘‘ ear tabs” now slightly sprinkled with silver hairs, Blue eyes, shaded by heavy brows. A broad, high forehead, with just a hint of coming baldness. A compcsite nose, wide, thin-lipped mouth, strong chin, with ‘ deeply bo | across the counter. ‘*{ wish 1 had been here ou first entered, but we'll soon make right. Dudley,” turning to his nephew while still retaining that hand, * this is a friend of my friend, and therefore a friend of the house.” Mann muttered something about his regret at having treated the gentlemen so coldly, but Deutsch waved it aside with a bland smile. ‘‘ Never mention it, dear boy! Idler though I be, I can understand how careful you business men have to be under all circumstances. For aught you knew | wasa bank sneak, with my decoy yonder,” laughing softly as he nodded toward Saul Sunday, who was still mechanic- ally manipulating his shells in the corner. ‘““Open an account with Mr, Deutsch, Dud- ley,” nodded Corwin, too true a business man to forget any detail. ‘‘ Will you come with me, dear sir? We can talk more at ease in my pri- vate office, just back yonder. Andre Deutsch smiled assent, passing down the counter, while Leonard Corwin kept pace on the inner side, smiling like one who had just been the recipient of a most joyous surprise. His suspicions now wholly dissipated, Dudley Mann glanced curiously after the two men, possibly wondering what connection there could be between this professional sport and the staid banker, If such were his thoughts, he could find no clew to fasten upon. He had never heard the name before. He had never met the gentleman who called himself ‘‘ The Decorator From Dead-Lift.” A heavy sigh near his elbow brought his eyes swiftly around, to note the tall, bony figure of Saul Sunday standing close to the counter, with his gaze fixed bungrily upon the little pile of bank-notes, ‘* Sufferin’ grandpup!” sighed the valet, his pointed nose actually pressing between the inted wires forming the screen above the coun- = “* Jes’ to see em! Jest to think how mighty much comfort a pore critter might squeeze out o’ them all! An’ him! Why, boss, he'll jest double ’em up an’ throw ’em away fer the pure fun o’ doin’ of it!” His peculiar voice sunk to an awed whisper as he uttered this last sentence, and his little gray eyes roved uneasily toward the rear room, though Banker Corwin had closed the door be- hind himself and his visitor. Dudley Mann made no immediate response to this speech, his practiced fingers deftly counting the bills, even while he was summing up the strangely-garbed man before him, If y at Deutsch was fond of rather ‘loud ” colors in his own garb, he had been even more liberal in providing Saul Sunday with a suit of livery. As for his taste, the less said the better perhaps. From neck to knees Saul Sunday was clothed in velveteen; coat, waist-coat and small-clothes, The material was good, but of a mening yellow, with huge, silver-plated buttons, and_ broad, braided edges in dead black. Each pocket was ered with black, with wide flaps. a From knees to ankles, bis bony legs showed red as dye could color wool, and above each in- step flashed a huge silver-plated buckle, His linen seemed stiff as a board, hearing gaudily-colored figures of horses and jockeys engaged in a steeplechase. His collar wus high, with long points, on each of which showed a gamecock in full feather. On his head rested a tall white felt hat, fashioned after the one of silk worn by his master, but bearing a wide mourning band. Although a description has been given first of the dress, its wearer was scarcely less worth ob- serving closely. Saul Sunday was tall, and would have been taller but for his stooping shoulders, These lent. him the air of one weighed down by grief, which impression was deepened by a glance at his mel- ancholy visage. His features were fairly good, though all of an elongated order, but taken as au entirety they seemed the very personification of deep, incurable woe and suffermg. Even the thin, long, goat-like beard which tipped his pointed chin seemed a badge of mourning. ‘* Extravagant, is he?’ ventured Mann, com- pleting the count and looking up after making a note of the amount. ‘* Sufferin’ grandpap!” breathed Saul Sunday, lifting his eyes to the ceiling and rising on his toes as though he could in no other position ex- press his feelings, ‘' Higher up then that, stran- ger, sir! They ain’t no words into my talkin’ stock as kin climb so fur up as to begin to tell how that—bow the boss kin sling away the ding- bats when he gits good an’ ready an’ right in the notion! An’ me—mournfu! Moses! ef I only jest. hed a grip onto sech a roll as that, even! Ef [ only did! Ef I only—an’ yit, boss, sir, time was when I could strut an’ crow an’ ruffit it ‘Yong o’ the best o’ the gay sports! Time was when ’tarnal sorrer an’ never-dyin’ misery hedn’t marked me fer itsown soft-snap! Time was— But time is no longer, an’ the best I kin do is— Hist!” he softly breathed, tapping his own li with a bony finger as he glanced toward the rear room, at the same time sp her to the ning in the wire screen, to thrust his head through, with; ““ Mebbe you kin set me right, stranger! Meb- be you kin—mebbe you know whar she’s hidin’? Glory Ann Sunday, sir. My wife—that was. Ef you only mought, boss!” with an almost pite- ous groan accompanying the last words, his lit- tle eyes filled with a yearning light as they held the gaze of the bank clerk. ‘* You are looking for some person?’ stammer- ed Mann, curiously impressed by this strange fellow’s words and manner. ‘‘ Fer the woman that was my wife, boss,” with a heavier sigh as he drew back a little, a shadow creeping over his gaunt visage as his possible bopes faded away before that puzzled gaze. ‘‘She run off one bitter black night— sloped with a handsomer man, the letter she left ahind on the table said.” ‘¢ And you are searching for her, after such a parting?” ‘* ve got to!” groaned Saul Sunday, the pic- ture of hopeless misery. ‘‘ Long as I don’t find her, I’m jest a white nigger in circus clothes!” ‘* You travel as a valet in order to cover more ground? Is that it?” ‘* Wuss luck then that, by a mighty heap, sir,” replied Sunday, with a visible effort choking down his powerful emotions. ‘I travel like this beca’se I cain’t holp myself! Beca’se that Dandy Dutch hes got a morgidge onto me, soul an’ gizzard, body an’ britches! An’ it cain’t never be lifted ontel I’ve found the woman who betrayed my trustful love an’ heaped shame ‘onto wrong ontel I hev to think twice afore I kin know my own face into the lookin’-glass!” ‘* Why don’t you run away if the service is so distasteful?” Saul Sunday drew his gaunt figure erect, bis face full of sad reproach, his little eyes filling with an honest glow as he said: ‘‘ Low down as I be, stranger, I hain’t quite that fallen. Though I’d heap ruther go chaw bread fer sick ‘ect into a reg’lar show then to walk the wide airth like this, I cain’t go back onto my solemn word,” ‘Of course that’s another matter,” hurriedly murmured Mann, flushing guiltily before that earnest gaze. ‘‘If you have passed your word to serve Mr, Deutsch, you ought to keep it to the end.” ‘*T did, sir, boss. Mebbe he was a bit hard onto me, seein’ how low down in the ditch 0’ miseryation I was when he stuck out a paw to drag me to solid airth. I say mebbe, now I’m sobered down. I use stronger tarms at odd spells, but even then I cain’t wholly fergit that he did pull me out o’ the mud. Still—I leave it to your own self, boss, I leave it to you ef it’s the pure thing fer one man torig a feller critter out so mighty like a’Talian monkey. To tote him all the wide world over, huntin’ fer Glory —lookin' fer a woman that mebbe is dead an’ in—call it heaven, boss, fer time was when I called her a honey angel 0’ b’iled-down sweet- ness! : Overcome My his emotions, Saul Sunday drew back and partly averted his face, surreptitiously drawing a gaudy sleeve across his nose, Eomic > a bi ops ollie jooks.cor ee_rlee bid .