Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘* Beg, buy, borrow or steal me a seat, Sun- day,” drawled the Decorator from Dead-lift. ‘*T really believe Vl play a turn or two!” ‘* Have mine fera case, boss!” eagerly cried one of the players, who had just seen his final stake drawn to the other side of the board. Andre Deutsth nodded slightly to his valet, who sighed heavily as he paid the speculating gambler his price, then bent his gaunt figure low enough to use his coat-tails as a duster be- fore holding the vacant chair for bis master’s occupancy. ‘* Any limit, ma’am?”’ sweetly murmured the flashy sport, bending over the table with a fas- cinating smile; but if he boped to win a word from those masked lips, he was doomed to dis- arent n perfect silence La Masque pushed a printed card across the table, then began shuffling her cards preparatory to opening a new deal, ‘¢ Thanks!” bowed Deutsch, scanning the card through his glasses for an instant. ‘‘ Better than nothing, but— Sunday, you rascal!” ‘‘ Right here, boss, your Honor!” came the doleful response, ‘* Unload, Sunday. And—see if you’re mas- cot or hoodoo, to-night,” La Masque slipped the cards into the box, then sat waiting. ‘CHAPTER X. DANDY DUTCH ASKS FOR A CLEAR FIELD, WITH a sigh so heavy as to draw more eyes than one pair from the face of his master to himself, Solemn Saul lugged a fat notebook from his bosom, unstrapped it and slowly ex- tracted therefrom a single bill. ** Lively, Sunday!” frowned his master us the valet hesitated, ‘‘ The lady is waiting.” Crumpling the bill in his hand, Sanl dropped it at random on the painted cloth. Bouncin from where it struck, the little wad settlec down squarely on the queen. ‘Fair woman forever!” murmured Dandy with mild enthusiasm as he noted the result, ** Thefqueen goes!” La Masque flashed a glance into that band- some face as a reminder that gentlemen play and permit their money to do the talking, but as none of the other gamesters made an objec- tion, Dandy Duteh received no further reproof just then. Waiting only long enough to permit each man to bet that wisned to venture at such an early stage, La Masque began to deal. for several turns no bet was decided, but then tha first queen came out in favor of the bank, and the dealer quietly brushed the wadded bill into the little drawer before her. Solemn Saul uttered a muffled groan and shrunk back from the seat occupied by his mas- ter, who turned his head with a slight frown, saying: ‘“Sunday, you’re off—’way off! You're a hoo- doo, you rascal!” ** Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” dolefully whin- ed the symphony in yellow and black. “I knowed it soon’s that female—” ‘*Make your game, gentlemen,” coldly utter- ed La Masque, flashing a glance toward the master and man, ‘This is faro, not a side- show !” ** You hear, Sunday?” gravely nodded the De- corator. ‘*The lady savs youre wagging your chin too freely. Give me the boodle, and then take yourself to a nunnery, or some other sea- port!” The valet obeyed so far as passing the pocket- book to his master, though parting with the money dragged a sigh clear from the bottom of hisinterior. And yet, once that bond was fair- ly broken, the man of misery seemed in haste to beat the suggested retreat. ‘‘Ef I only dared fer to make it a clean break-off ferever an’ ever amen!” came dimly back to the listening ears as the gold and jet combination shuffled away, ‘Ef i only did ! Ef I—Glory Ann—” Possibly because this initial loss woke his lethargic soul, or it may have been because he had forced that masked mystery t» use her voice, Dandy Dutch squared himself at the board like one who means business, pure and simple, His face was blank as_ the mask opposite, but his dark eyes glowed with the feverish light so seldom seen save in the confirmed gambler. He smoothed out a pile of bank-notes on the edge of the table, one hand covering them while the other placed his stake: the full limit, as all near could see at a glance, Just in time, as the fates decided, for the very first card slipped after his bet was placed brought him a winner, Dandy Dutch removed the winning sum, shifting his stake to another card, closely watch- ing the movements of the dealer. These seemed perfectly regular, and if there was anything crooked about the game, his keen wits had as yet failed to detect as much, Again fortune smiled upon him, and once more Dandy Dutch changed his bet, by dropping a Sone on it, as it remained upon the same car A slight frown darkened his handsome coun- tenance, several turns later, for the card won sss i Dandy Dutch. for the second time, his *‘ coppering ” the bet turning it into the bank instead. Twice more he won and lost on that deal, then caught another winner when the pack was near- ly exhausted, La Masque paused when “last turn” was reached, but Dandy Dutch sat motionless, and no otter player seemed to care about * catching the turn” on that deal. Through another deal fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the sport from the upper country, the end leaving bim a fair winner; but this slow progress apparently was not sufficient to satisfy his wants. Until La Masque emptied the box and began to shuffle the deck, Dandy Dutcb held his impatience in check, so far re- specting the unwritten rules of the game. But then he broke out with a tone remarkably impa- tient for one of his usually careless, happy-go- lucky disposition. ‘¢ This reminds me of the nag that could trot all day under the shade of an umbrella,” he de- clared, pushing his seat back and flashing a look of discontent along the table. ‘‘ I’ve also heard of a fellow trying to get fat by eating shadow soup with a knitting-needle, but I never came so near believing in its truth as right now!” ‘‘Anything troubling you, Mr. Deutsch?” asked a cold, even tone from close at his elbow, a hand gently falling upon his shoulder, and a pair of steel-blue eyes meeting his dark orbs as he sharply turned his head, ‘If you have any fault to find, please step to one side with me, You are too much the gentleman to think of disturbing others while playing, I am sure.” There was a slight stir among the gamblers thus alluded to, for past experience told them that Aubrey Conyers was never more dangerous than when in his * silky mood.” ‘* Only thas rascally valet of mine, pardner,” smiled the Decorator in response. ‘‘ He’s put a hoodoo on my game, when [ bronght bim as a mascot. If you’d kindly ask some one to kick him out—kick him gvod and solid! Tl pay the price, and add my thanks in the bargain,” Despite himself, Conyers could not help smil- ing at this whimsical request, and he turned aside to visit the other tables, simply making a brief sign to the gleaming eyes of La Masque. Dandy Dutch turned once more to the table, growing more cheerful as he won several small wagers in succession. LEHither his luck had shifted, or he was placing his bets with clearer judgment, for when the deal came to an end he was a heavy winner. ‘*Tt’s rough on Sunday, but that’s what I pay him for!” the sport laughed softly, as he deftly noted his winnings, and watched those white- tipped hands swiftly shuffling the cards for an- other turn. ‘* A dollar to the man who reminds me tonat I owe some kind friend tbe price of a kicking!” Luck still clung to the banner of our friend from Dead-lift, but while he was the object of almost. general envy among those who had heen far less lucky, a cloud gradually settled over his handsome face. ‘* Oh, for the good old times when no sport recognized the combination of the letters which make up the term limit!” he said, ee in his chair, more like a loser than one who had already won sufficient to keep a man for months inidleness, ‘‘If— Happy thought!” he cried, rising froia his seat, turning it upside down to hold his place, while be hurried off to where towered the athletic figure of Aubrey Conyers. “ say Conyers!” ‘* Well, sir, what is the matter now?” frowned the proprietor. ‘Pm growing tired of making two bites at a cherry! I came here to-night to make or break, to quit a lion or a bob-tailed mouse, fresh from a bath in the wash-bowl! But I'll die of old age before [can begin to do either, unless—I say, dear fellow!” coaxingly, softly patting the rigid gambler on an arm, as be added: ‘‘ What’s the matter with me buying those other duffers off for an hour or two?” ‘‘ They are my patrons, sir, and as such have all the rights in common with vourself—and even more, so long as you see fit to kick up such a racket, sir!” frowned Conyers, seeming- ly in a far more impatient mood than usual that night. andy Dutch seemed a little taken aback by this curt speech, apd his white fingers tangled themselves in his curly beard. Conyers turned his left side toward the sport, thus insuring the free use of his fighting hand in case of need; but apparently the Decorator was not in a quarrelsome mood, so far as fighting went, though he seemed irritable enough on other points. ” phen sorely you might lift the limit so far as I’m concerned, dear fellow ?” ‘Tf that is all you want, let it go that way,” curtly said Convers, as he moved toward the table, where La Masque was once more dealing the cards for such players as remained in their seats. The proprietor made a sign which drew a cold bow from the woman on the further side of the table, and with a sigh of relief Dandy Dutch resumed his seat, showing his sincerity : = = + — ne wes “2 Ma - ~ a ~ a rr et ee a — - — = ' a by placing an unusually heavy stake on the ing. Almost immediately his card turned up a win- ner, and twice more before the last turn was made he repeated the act. Fortune fluctuated during the earlier part of the next deal, but still smiled on the Decorator oftener than she frowned, and like one who hag long since learned the wisdom of ‘‘ crowding a good thing,” the up-country sport pressed his luck with vigor and matubless nerve, ‘‘1t’s rough on you, pardner,” he laughed, softly, turning his head to glance lazily into the grave yet expressionless countenance of Aubrey Conyers who stood at his elbow, ‘‘ But when I play I like to make the fur fly—my own or the other, with the tiger’s for choice!” ‘* All winning and no losses would mighty soon freeze out the banks, you know,” quietly retorted the proprietor, turning away as though tired of idleness, Despite bis heavy gains, Dandy Dutch fidget- ed uneasily in his seat as the game progressed. One by one the other players had dropped out until only two or tbree were left to play, and these, noting the almost steady success of this new sport, modestly followed his lead, naturally desirous of gaining a few crumbs from his over- laden feast. Now there is nothing more distasteful to the true gambler than this course of procedure, un- less it be a steady betting against the cards he "Se out to win, and therefore Dandy Dutch ad some excuse for frowning. More than once be purposely placed a_ bet, against the winning of which the odds were ex- treme, and once he grimly chuckled as he saw his jackals share his losses. But, then, as a me came to an end, he broke out once more with: ** My fellow has levanted. I never was much of a pack-mule, and anytking like a load makes me tired, just to think of it! So—gentiemen, all!” turning toward the remaining players, a bland ariite lightise up his oriental features as he softly uttered: ‘ tow much may each and all of you deem your time worth?” Those addressed stared in doubt, some shrink- ing, others beginning to swell out blusteringly, but before any barsh words could be shaped, the Decorator briskly added in business like tones: ‘** You ought to see just how the cat jumps, gentlemen, I bate to hire a burro to pack my winnings heme, and I won’t do it unless fortune positively insists on turning me into a muleteer. Still if I have to do it, the sooner it is over the better for everybody concerned, Tl] have the boodle and you'll have my room—see?” “You are not crowding us in the least,” laughed cne of the men, who bad most persist- ently followed the lead of the unknown sport. ** Tf L were I'd let you do the kicking,” smiled Deutsch. ‘ As it is, yon are crowding me, as any sport could tell with half aneye. But Pm one of the most reasonable fellows you ever ran up against, and ’'m more than willing to pay for what 1 might claim as a natural right, ** Now, how much will you take to draw off a bit, giving me a clear field and no favor? Name your figures, gentlemen, and Ill not keep you idle one moment longer than 1 can kelp, With the limit lifted, making or breaking is mighty sharp work, you know!” ‘** And if I should decline to deal for you alone, sir?” coldly asked La Masque, her dark eyes glowing through her velvet mask, CHAPTER XI. THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE, THAT same evening found Dudley Mann a caller at the house of his uncle, though it was without any particular desire on his part for an interview witb that gentleman, Rightly or wrongfully, the bank clerk felt that Leonard Corwin had treated him unjustly that afternoon, giving bim harsh suspicion in- stead of justly deserved praise, ‘* Another count for that rascal to settle!” he mentally declared, with eyes that flashed and sparkled wondrously bright for a man who wore glasses as a rule, By which was meant Major Holly Gardenhire, of course. In his hardest moments Dudley Mann would hardly dare stigmatize his uncle thus. And yet, more than once, the young man had complained bitterly of that relative’s hard, grasping, Shylock nature, leading his intimates to infer that, had strict justice been done, he would be something more than a mere clerk. While making no positive charges, Dudley said enough to make many believe that Leonard Corwin had not acted liberally, to »ut it in its mildest shape, with bis sister when death called her from her only ebild. It was not often that the young man took up this strain, and never since cousinly liking had deepened into love, but it might easily be that something of his thoughts, real or fancied, had come to the ears of Prospect banker, Whether or no, his manner had certainly grown barder acd less kind of late days, and the hot, impa- tient spirit of his nephew strongly rebelled. Leonard Corwin did not return to the bank that afternoon, and though Dudley Mann kept fancying the worst on his fair cousin’s account, comicbooks.com Spl iP a! 8 =< 4S mee . ont St, 5.