Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee —— —— —— ——s “T kin feel fer ye, pardner, fer when 1 was young an’ in my prime, I’ve bin right thar tauy’s the time! I reckon it was them old mem'ries that made my words take that shape. I never knowed anythin’ as could make acritter melt an’ try to run down in his boots as them!” ‘“*It was your breath that paralyzed me, not our touch or your words,” roughly retorted rick, ‘‘ They was Onions in the hash, mebbe,” sighed Sunday, meekly tugging at his goat-like beard, ‘But that hadn’t ought to be laid up ag’inst me, pardner, or make you kick over the traces when—it’s the boss that wants to see ye, Dan’el.” ‘¢ Then let the boss call at my office,” snapped the gambler, his green eyes shifting uneasily once more, ‘* What’s your boss to me orl to your boss? Ain’t one two-legged pet enough for him to lug about?” Solemn Saul ventured on a feeble smile as he glanced over that ugly countenance, and he meekly uttered: ‘*Tt’d save mea heap o’ lookin’ at, an’ that’d be some weenty comfort in life fer a man that’s nat’ally too modest fer to use a lookin’glass when he wants to shave hisown self. But— don’t you think it, stranger! An’ ef you do, don’t give way to temptation or you'll ferever an’ ever wish you didn’t hed! ‘*Not that he’s a hard boss to sarve, as bosses go. Not but what the pickin’s is good an’ fattenin’ enough to suit a hog. But—me an’ you would hey to bunk together, nights, an’ fu’st we knowed I’d let slip your wind jest to give the law a chance fer to keep me from doin’ suicide onto my own self!” A rather roundabout method of carrying out the instructions given him by that master, one would think at first glance, but Solemn Saul felt that he was acting all for thebest. His unlucky address had frightened Daniel Frick, and that worthy had not yet fully recovered, though these enigmatical sentences were awakening his curiosity in no slight degree, ‘What sortof game is your boss running, anyway?” be ventured. ‘*The heaviest game in town, as a rule, an’ he never stops or lets up until it’s run clean dry or his weasel-skin gives out. More times’n one this back o’ mine bes groaned out loud to marcy that it didn’t snap like a dry twig with the dead load o' ducats I hed to tote hum after a night- long buckin’ o’ the tiger an’—but that ain’t business, nur what fetched me over this way, gical abruptly changing his manner from oasting to calm dejection, ‘*The boss wants you, Dan’el,” ‘** Let the boss come for me, then!” ‘* But the boss done tole me go fetch, Dan’el, an’ what the boss says is heap more’n law an’ gospel to sech as me. Sorry, Dan’el, but you’ve got to go. ‘Live an’ not kickin’ ef you’re wise; dead an’ still never usin’ your heels, ef you’re foolish; but go ’long you must!” equably de- clared the man in yellow. ‘* How’ll you make me, then?” surlily scowled the gambler, a hand slipping under his coat with an ugly significance, Solemn Saul apparently failed to notice the movement, for he’never altered his tones in the least, as he turned to his staff, opening it and ple his implements on the velvet before adding: ‘* [t’s a heap o’ tronble, but I hate to spill the ruby, Dan’el, an’ I won’t do it ef they’s any lawful way 0’ gittin’ "round it. Now—you’re a sport. You’d rather bet an’ lose then not bet an’ keep your good ducats. You’d even buck ag’inst nother man’s game ruther then go rusty fer want o’ exercise that way. Look, Dan’el!” and he caused a number of coin to jingle in his capacious palm, ‘Pick out the little joker an’ the ducats is yours, Miss it, an’ you let me take you to see what job the boss is got on file fer you.” _ Without pensing for an answer the thimble- rigger deftly manipulated his tools, droning forth his set phrases the while, then giving his long fingers a flourish in the air as he left the three shells ranged in aun even ruw on the velvet, It seemed the perfection of art, and yet Frick could have made oath he saw one of the shells rest its edge for the fraction of a second on the little black pea before settling down even with the cloth. And though he knew the “ mighty unsarVin” game of old, his gambling instinct proved too much for his prudence, and he caught up the shell with a laugh—todrop it with an oath, for the little joker had vanished! “Sold ag’in an’ this is the how!” chuckled Solemn Saul, deftly dropping the pea from un- der a curved fingernail, then closing his table and Me epden his other tools as he added: “Said I’d fool your eyes ef I could, an’ the wu’st enemy I ever hed dared hint I was a liar in the same township, But that don’t count. Come, pardner!” Under-shot bad dropped into a chair, thrust- ing his hands deep into his pockets, doggedly grinning: ‘* Take me, critter. I didn’t bet I’d go on my own legs. Tote meif voulike, I ain't caring whether you do or not!’ _ Solemn Saul flushed hotly as the otbers burst into a laugh as they witnessed his discomfiture, pm Dandy Dutch. and his manner was melancholy itself as he spread out his hands and whined: ‘* Be I all growed to ears? Do I look like a john-donkey ?” ‘‘That’s all right,” nodded Frick, carelessly. ‘“*T payif I lose, but 1 pay in my own way. Send for a baroucho if you’d rather, but ’m saving my boot-leather just now.” Solemn Saul gazed around the room in ap- | parent dismay, but then his eye caught a glitter as they rested on a small coil of rope vear tho end of the counter, and flipping a coin to the proprietor he snatched up this and deftly bourid his prize, hand and foot, despite Frick’s efforts to the contrary, amid the boisterous laughter of his mates, who seemed to hugely enjoy the joke at his expense. ‘* The easier you take it, the sooner the eend’ll come to ye, pardner,” was his grave observa- tion as he rose from his difficult task, leaving the gambler lying helpless on the sanded floor, ‘*It was your own choosin’, an’ I ain’t the sort ©’ critter to kick ag’inst that. But I do say this much: durn a town whar a pore, weak, mis’able, down-trodden human bein’ hes to be his own 1 j | ; 7 his green eyes. ‘‘ You’re on top just now, but the wheel keeps on turning, and in time—” ‘‘Tf you hold a grudge, dear boy, wreak it at once, Sunday !” “* Yes, sir, boss!” “This gentleman wants to thrash you for giving him a free ride!” ‘ Shell I take my rijimenutals off, boss?” sober- ly asked tho valet, ‘‘ Broken hide kin grow over, an’ flesh beal itself, but they cain’t any other sech a rig be hatched up in ten States— good luck, too!” The last words came in a spiteful thankful- ness, if the paradox be allowable, and even Frick gave a ghastly smile at the outbreak, while Dandy Dutch laughed merrily before adding: ‘‘Never mind the livery, Sunday. [f it iswt exactly suitable to your complexion, that’s the fault of yonr ancestors, not the combination. You ought to feel as guy as a big sunflower, for I’m sure you look like one!” With that speech his gravity returned and he spoke politely to the crestfallen gambler; af Make out your bill and add the proper salve pack-mule an’ ‘livery-wagon b’iled down into ; for your injured sensibilities, dear sir, I wanted one!” ‘* Let me up, and I'll go like a lamb,” mutter- ed Frick, but Solemn Saul grimly shook bis head in dissent, ‘* Would like it mighty sight better, pardner, but a bet is a bet,an’ you lost it that way. | | | | | to havea bit of a talk with you, and was too busy just then to write a proper invitation, I sent my valet, as the next best thing. The oor fellow means well, but—you know?’ and - gently tapped his forebead with a finger-tip to point his meaning, ‘‘ Rooms to rent, and More fool me fer not hevin’ it fully onderstood | like that, you know!” at the jump-off, but— Stiddy, pardner, ef you ‘‘ Well, if there’s money in it,” hesitated don’t want to ride head-down an’ heels top- | Frick. most!” While speaking thus Saul Sunday thrust the top of his stout staff between the legs of bis un- willing captive, then with a mighty heave and a gasping cry from Frick, be hoisted the gam- bler from the floor, resting the staff across his shoulder, and striding from the saloon into the street, grimly cautioning his burden to main- tain bis balance, ‘* Top-side down or bottom-side up you’ve got to make the trip, pardner, fer the boss is waitin’, an’ when he biles over it’s mighty apt fer to scald somebody. J’m used to it, but it mought burt you /” Seeing the uselessness of “‘ kicking,” Under- shot Dan steadied himself as best he could, a grin of mingled shame and defiance on his homely features as the gathering crowd hooted and cheered, And Pee as a professional mute, Solemn Saul made his way down the middle of the street, CHAPTER VIII. DANDY DUTCH WANTS TO KNOW. THe Jewish-appearing sport who had given the somewhat extravagant title of ‘‘ Decorator from Dead-lift,” was sitting on the wide veranda which ran along the front of the frame buildin dignified by the name of ‘‘ Occidental Hotel, lazily evjoying his cigar, when the loud laugh- ter and cheers of the crowd called his attention up the street, At first he could not exactly dis- tinguish what was in the wind, but then a frown came over his darkly handsdme face as he recognized the brilliant livery of his servant, Saul Sunday. ‘“What in time—well, that is one way of doing it!” he muttered, as he recognized his heavily-laden valet and saw what was winning this noisy escort, . The picture of grimly-resigned melancholy, Solemn Saul trudged along, bare-headed now, for Under-shot Dan was trying to make the best of a bad bargain, and had contrived to free one hand, With this he robbed his buman beast of burden of bis tall hat, cocking it upon his own head, then steadied himself by a tight grip on the long, flaxen locks of hair thus exposed to the breeze. But, after all, it was poor bravado, and he caught his breath with an air of relief as Sol- emn Saul dumped him on the porch beside the Decorator from Dead-lift. **Done fetched him, boss, sir, your Honor,” dolefully uttered the valet, saluting. ‘Shell I ontie the critter, or let. him stop hoppled?”’ ** Release him, by all means, Sunday,” nodded Deutsch, with difficulty holding his risibles in check. ‘* You have done well, Jog my mem- ory when next pay-day comes, please.” “Ef I’m still livin’!” faintly murmured the man of many woes, bending over the helpless gambler and cutting his bonds, ‘‘Jest now they’s a mighty goneness ’round the heart o’ me, which— ‘Fill it up at the bar, Sunday,” nodded the sport, then leisurely scanning the gambler as that worthy rose to his feet. ‘* Fun alive, isn’t it?’ Frick asked, forcing a grin that served to emphasize his deformity. ‘“ Who's going to pay for this little ride of mine, I'd like to know?” ‘‘Sunday never charges for his services with- out my permission, dear fellow,” blandly smiled Deutsch, tossing the end of his cigar over the railing and rising to his feet. ’ and grow handsome until he hands in a bill for bringing you hither|” ‘““Make the most of it,” sullenly growled Frick, with an evil glance out of the corner of | | | Sl ‘““May you live | take his percentage and let his ‘* There is a stake big enough to let you buck the tiger on your own account in pluce of rop- ing-in, Mr. Frick,” smmled Dandy Deutsch, at the same time slipping a hand through the arm of the gambler and leading him from the ver- anda into the « flice of the hotel. At a nod from his master, Saul Sunday pro- cured a key from, the clerk, then gloomily led the way up-stairs, uplocking and fl nging open a door to the left of the usual long corridor. Under-shot Dan entered without hesitation, for by this time he had decided that there could be no possible harm intended him, else the sport would have chosen his time when fewer eyes were ready to catch up the slightest prospect for amusement, The chamber was fairly large, supplied with a table and severe chairs in ad@ition to a single bed and the ordinary furniture to be found ina third or fourth-rate hotel, Saul Sunaay apie chairs for his master and guest near the table, then produced a box of cigars and liquor, duly flanked by glasses. This done he fell back, bis eyes downcast, his gaunt visage gloomier than ever, if that was possible. ‘* All this is a little irregular, Perna, Mr. Frick,” said Dandy Dutch, after filling a glass and pushing the cigars nearer his guest, ‘‘ But it’s a failing of mine to jump over all iron-clad rules. If I hadn’t been born different—if it wasn’t for golden spoon and all that, you know —I would have been an outlaw, pure and simple, As itis, ’m a sport, by choice and by nature. And if ever my luck deserts me for good-and- all, Pl drift clear over the line along which | try my level best to walk with one foot over the danger edge.” : ‘* All of which means?’ ventured Frick, shoot- ing a green ray over the rim of his glass, ‘ That you mustn’t get huffy over my free-and- easy manner, dear fellow,” smiled the Decora- tor, with a glance toward the open window, ‘Tf you should—well, one of us would go out that hole in the wall to mash some poor devil’s hat below!” Frick shivered uneasily and replaced his still full glass on the table, He looked like one who most sincerely wished himself in a far different situation, but who was too diffident to even bint at as much, ‘* But there’s gh ie ge little danger of that coming to pass, | feel perfectly sure,” sweetly added the Decorator as he struck a match and je ps a cigar. ‘‘ You’re a sport, as well, ou are willing to post a brother on matters where ignorance is anything but bliss, Now— what sort of game is run at the Oasis?” ‘* Square as you'll fiud in the Territory, sir!” was the instant response, and Frick seemed greatly relieved at the abrupt turn the conver-— sation had taken. ‘‘The usual percentage is enough for a hog, and Aubrey Conyers is a gentleman, as white as they make ’em to-day!” ‘* How much does he pay you for blowing bis horn, Daniel?’ lazily smiled the Decorator through his cigar smoke, ‘‘Not a red, because he don’t have to bave ; Cappers or ropers,” was the earnest response, ‘'That’s all well enough in the East, where players are scarcer than games, but out here— well, you ought to know how it is yourself, ig? ‘* Perhaps I wanted to make sure you knew, Frick,” laughed Deutsch. ‘Say Aubrey Con- Say he is content to trons have the ghost of a show for their d dollars, Then—what is this I hear about a daisy dealer?” ‘“‘T don’t know just what you’ve heard,” yers is all right, then. a €omicbooks