Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 hesitated the gambler, with a shy glance from his green eyes which Deutsch apparently failed to notice. ‘'I suppose you mean La Masque?” Dandy Dutch nodded assent, holding his glass up between bis eyes and through the western window. “One of the sort we read about, eh?’ he drawled, carelessly. ‘‘ Built on the Lightning Kate style?” Under-shot Dan hesitated, like one who hardly & knows what words to call into play. But Dandy Dutch made no offer to assist him, and he ulti- mately said: **She’s a bit of a mystery, even to we fellows { who hang around the shebang pretty regularly, } sir. I, for one, never caught sight of her face or heard her utter a word more than she was compelled to utter in settling an odd dispute over a stake or two. Then—well, it sounded more like liquid ice than anything else I can think of, just now!” tf **Single, or under matrimonial bonds?” ¥ ** Single, so far as I can guess.” ** And never shows her face?” mused Dandy Dutch, stifling a yawn as though attacked by f sudden weariness. ‘* That means elderly and faded, or naturally homely. Let La Masque retain ber incognito, Daniel!” ** Be sure Pll never try to lift it,” with a short, harsh Jaugh and significant shrug of the shoul- ders. ‘‘I saw Jimmy the Dude laid out for the cooling-board, and he only tried to raise that velvet mask.” ‘‘And the sport they call Major Holly Gar- denhire? <A sort of sleeping partner in the Oasis, isn’t he?” ‘** Not that I know 0’,” and the gambler open- ed his eye widely in surprise at the idea. . ** What makes you think that, sir?” Ml ‘“Didn’t somebody say as much last night, oe Sunday?’ 4 “ Kf you think so, sir, boss,” meekly respond- My ed the valet. . ‘ _ ** Never mind; I dare say it was only fancy. But I surely heard something said concerning a te fellow known as Captain Vampire, who had a lot of rascals whom he called his Bats,” Under-shot Dan cast a nervous glance around oa room, his voice barely audible as he mutter- er, & * A gang of road-agents, sir, but the less said against them the safer I'll feel when once out of these four walls!” x ‘* A bloody monster, eh?” with a soft laugh. *“ All right. I just wanted to know whether ~ there was any foundation for the rumors, If I aes go broke under the glorious eyes and snowy hands of La Masque, maybe I can make.a stake Bas | by pulling this Vampire and his Bats!” ) “Td rather you spoke the words than me, even in jest, sir!” muttered Frick, shivering as with a sudden ebill, even while brushing the sweat from his low brow with a hand that visi- = bly trembled. ‘* Don’t let it get out that I told you even so much, please, and I'll call it square without asking a red for what that fellow made me suffer!” ‘You're perfectly securs while in this room, dear lad,” laughed the Decorator, lightly, but adding with sudden gravity: ‘Every word ir utter here shall be deemed a sacred secret, oth on my part and on the part of my valet. Saul!” ** Yes, sir, boss!” ‘* Shut your ears and go to sleep!” “T couldn’t hear a thunderclap nur see the flash ef it was to swinge my winkers, sir, boss, your Honor!” gravely declared that worthy. — ‘ ** All Task of you can do the Bat king no material injury, Daniel,” quietly resumed the Decorator. ‘‘ Simply tell me what sort of fel- low he is, as well as you can. Of course you never met the gentleman?” The gambler shook his head in dissent, and when he spoke it was in still lower tones, though he could convey but little information which was of value. All he knew was that sucha gang infested the roads leading to Prospect, ani that no one 7 had succeeded in trapping the outlaw, though more attempts than one bad been made, He could not even say whether Captain Vampire was a giant or a dwarf, for he was described as being both the one and the other, “After all, it is hardly worth speculating about,” yawned Dandy Dutch, pushing back his chair, ‘I'll not tackle him while my good luck holds out. Sunday, wake up!” ‘** Done wide woke a’ready, sir, boss!” “Pay this gentleman his price, and beg his pardon for not having treated him more gently. rOOd SOD, Mr. Frick! Hope to see you ater. CHAPTER IX, ss IN SEARCH OF THE ELEPHANT. Ss “Just a little side-show of his own, gentle- . men,” ee the Decorator, with a lazy _-—- gilance of his brilliant orbs toward that vision Sp) in yellow and black, ‘ There’s a woman in it, I believe, and the poor devil means no harm, - $till—Sunday!” at ** Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” cs uh, **'You’re an infernal nuisance, Sunday!” ** Yes, sir, boss.” _ ox the light sifting | ———————e — Pa Lae T= “FF >a 4 So -— eS a Jandy. Dutch. ‘*Get somebody to kick you out, Sunday, ¥ind oat how much it costs and pay the bill, Sunday!” ‘*Good Lawd—yes, sir!” ‘“My nostrils vegin to tickle. sneeze, Sunday!” If the man of many woes made ary reply to this languid command, it was lost amid the chorus of laughter which just then burst forth, but his gaunt visage was expressive enough for around dozen. lf ever a mortal was thoroughly tired of Ei ia that being was the Sad Man from San a Prepare to a, Dandy Dutch stood with arched brows, lips slightly parted, luzy expectation pictured on bis darkly handsome face, but then a faint shade of reproach crept over it, and he shook his head gravely toward his valet. ‘** You’re a fraud, Sunday! You ate up that | snuff, or else pawned it for a drink. Remind me in the morning to—” Solemn Saul sprung into active life and ac- tion, jerking forth a little box which, in his _ frantic haste, flew open and scattered its pun- gent contents freely about the room, And then, himself leading the ridiculous chorus, ample amends were made for Saul Sunday’s omission. As soon as possible, for he bad not been slighted among the others, Andre Deutsch apol- ogized for the clumsiness of his valet, seemingly _ deeply mortified by the contretemps. And yet, taken all together, he could hardly have contrived a better or sbrewder method of introducing bimself to the good grades of the patrons of Aubrey Conyers’s Oasis, f some few eyed him with vague suspicion, scenting a mystery, under this by-play, by far the larger number took it as it fell, seeing. in Dandy .Dutch only a hair-brained sport, who _ sought notoriety at the risk of hisreputation for | good sense, | Quite early in the evening the Decorator, fol lowed by his brilliant-garbed servitor, entered _ the spacious building known as the Oasis, saloon | and gambling rooms, owned and run by Aubrey Conyers, Early as was the hour, the saloon was fairly well patronized, and from beyond the rich , — things stood with the other sports. S o.—you see?’ Saul Sunday strode forward and silently thrust one of his bills into the white band of the mi gambler, meekly bowing an apology the while. ‘‘*Scuse me, boss, sir, but ef you mebbe mought—” ** Saul Sunday!” sharply cried the Decorator. ** Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” with a violent start that sent bis remaining posters fluttering over the sanded floor, ‘* Fall back, Sunday, Youannoy the gentle- men. Stick to your corner and keep out of mis- chief. Sabe, Sunday?” With a heavy sigh the symphony in black and gold shuffled over to where his staff leaned against the wall, propping his bowed figure in the angle formed by the meeting walls, slip- ping down that silver band and spreading his velvet table. Producing his shells and the little joker, Solemn Saul began bis penance with the air of one for whom this world has long since lost all its charms, . Aubrey Conyers frowned as he noted the gam- bling device, but before be could interpose by woes or action, Dandy Dutch gently touched his sleeve, smiling blandly as be spoke: **Not in opposition, partner, but simply to keep the rascal from intruding on gentlemen, Still, if you seriously object—” ** Why should 1? Ifa man is willing to spend his cash on a dead sure thing, 1 have no right to check him, There’s room for all, and—” ‘‘And suckers without number!” laughed Dandy Duteb, but snapping his fingers sharply as a signal to Solemn Saul, who closed his de- vice with an alacrity that caused even Conyers tosmile, “‘“One of whom I’m eager to prove which, my dear sir, provided your dealers can get the better of my system, Sunday!” ‘Yes sir, boss, your Honor!” quoth the ' automaton, striaing forward. ‘* What do I drink when ’'m dry, Sunday?” “Whisky straight, your Honor.” ** Ah, yes,soIdo! Tell the barkeep’ to set ’em up, Sunday, Join us, gentlemen?” languidly drawled the flashy sport, turning to the bar, Aubrey Conyers drank with the others, but arenes. which reached from ceiling to floor,one his keen eyes were making a close study of this d cou already under wa | As usual, Saul Sandia's carried his staff, but catch occasional sounds telling of playing , queer sport, trying to place him where he be- longed, but making poor success of the effort. What could be his real object? For, surely, | as Dandy Dutch signed him towarda corner, the + this was not nature? ' valet soon disburdened himself of this, slipping | a little roll of posters from his pocket and tack- | ing several of them upon the wall, sighing dole- | fully as he drew back to note the effect, **?Tain’t no use, but it helps to fill ap time an’ — Take one, sir, boss?’ interrupting himself to | thrust a bill into the hand of one who drew near to see what the notices meant, ‘‘Ef you only could give a pore, weer, heart-broken feller- bein’ even the ghost of a idee whar he mought jump the stray, sir! Ef you kin only say which way I want to go to head ’em off,” ‘** 'Who’s Glory Ann?’ **The wife o’ my buzzom that used to was, sir,” groaned the man of unlimited woe as he pep gloomily upon the poster that described } a3 | is erring life-partner and her reckless escapade, Paid ten round silver cart-wheels fer to git hitched, an’ then she sloped with « handsomer man, ’cordin’ to her’own words, Run away | with Preserved Polyecarp Piety. An’ him no | taller’na—” . Saul Sunday closed his lank jaws with a start- led click, for just then it was that the Deco- rator from Dead-lift sharply called his name, ‘**] keep the rascal by way of a tonic!” laughed | Dandy Dutch, wiping his eyes as he smothered | an incipient sneeze, ‘*One never knows what | fool-trick he’ll be trying on next, and the doubt serves to keep one’s blood flowing. Of course he’s a nuisance. Of course he costs me more | than his careass is worth every day in the year, | Of course he makes things a little annoying for | my neighbors sometimes. But even that has its advantages, you know. It’s so much less troa- | ble to have the other fellow find excuses for kicking up a bobhary ie | The laugh that followed this speech was hard- _ly as bearty as that which had gone before. ' There was a languid insolence in his tones, in his gaze as he leisurely scanned the faces uround bim, that left an unpleasant taste in the mouth, so to speak, Dandy Dutch showed his white teeth in a bland smile as he divined something of this, and lightly waved a beringed hand, as he udded: ** Not a chief, gentlemen, unless some of you realiy think [ meant totread on your toes, Then —well, it’s a heap less trouble to fight than to make an apology.” “We never talk figbt in this establishment, sir!” gravely interposed a tall, well-dressed man, who just passed through the hanging curtains which belped to separate the saloon from the space devoted to cards and gambling, ‘I trust you have no complaint to make against the manner in which you have been received in the Oasis, sir?” \ ** Not I, Mr. Conyers!” frankly cried the sport from Dead-lift. ‘‘ I never felt nearer heaven than Iam just at present, but I didn’t know how d a oa ; _ . vel, Eee a eee o Dandy Dutch gave no sign if he noticed this scrutiny, but daintily sipped his liquor while Saul Sunday was paying the score. This done, the sport from the upper country turned toward the curtains and motioned his valet to open a passage for him. Sunday obeyed, and followed at the heels of his master. Though the night was still young, the various tables in the spacious apartment were fairly well patronized, onein particular. And as by ins! inct the dark eyes of the Decorator settled upon ra or rather upon the figure of the presiding enius, ¥ This could be no otber than the La Masque of whom Under-shot Dan Frick bad spoken that same afternoon, As well as could be judged while sitting, the woman was of rather more than the average hight of her sex, with a foll, admirably devel- oped form as displayed by her rich suit of black velvet and snowy waist. Yet nothing could be more decorous than this same garb, despite her questionable position as dealer of faro for rough sports in a common gambling hall. The sleeve reached nearly to her wrists, ending in soft lace, and rose to her throat, permitting but a slight glimpse of snowy skin, fora |sce edging fell from the closely-fitting mask even below her chin. Her hands were gloved, though the finger-rips were removed to permit the requisite nicety of touch in dealing. in fine, not a single precav- tion bad been omitted if she was really desirous of concealing her identity. All these details Dandy Dutch took in at a single glance, then noiselessly drew near the table, closely watching the motions of the dealer as her fingers slowly slipped the cards from the silver case, moving with the regularity of an admirable machine, deiaying only long enough for ber patrons to place or shift their stakes, or to pay winnings and take down their losses, There was no other official at the table, but La Masque evidently required no assistance. Through all she evinced a perfect knowledge of her double duties, and there were no remon strances, no fault-finding, at least while Dandy Dutch stood making notes, That was only until the end of the deal, for he had not visited the Oasis simply tosee the sights, “ Sunday 1? ‘* Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” came the gloomy response, ! La Masque swiftly lifted her eyes at the sound of that clear, musical voice, and—did she start when they met those magnetic black orhs? If so, only Dandy Dutch himself had time to note the fact before the woman sport was once more clearing the painted lay-out. in readiness forafresh deal. — m €O ? e Z. — ——- — —7