Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 560 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

} | The Man from Mexico. 5 of his left hand was a brilliant ruby to match it in size. He wore a blue sash of silk, and beneath it was his gold-belt, which also served for his weapons. The latter, a pair of revolvers and long-bladed knife, were of the finest kind and gold mounted. His form was perfect, his hands and feet ex- tremely small, and he looked dangerous in spite of his rather dandified appearance and make- up. Te wore a watch, with a chain about his neck formed of small gold-pieces, and in fact his cos- tume and outfit were worth a small fortune. As he faced the desperado now, it was seen that his hat was looped up on the left side by a pin representing an ace of diamonds, The card was of ivory, and the diamond ace was formed of rubies. In the excitement of his coming, and what fol- lowed, it had not been particularly noticed how he was attired, and besides, after his return to the Hash House he bad arranged his costume and toilet with exceeding care. As Dick Deadly Hand now had a good look at him, he said; ‘‘ Waal, my Mexican dandy, I'll jist ruffle your fine feathers, fer yer, so bere goes fer ther game, and I'll see thet yer fun’ral expenses is paid and yer has a good send-off frum Hallelu- jab Hill,” the last being the name of the ceme- tary of Last Chance. As the bully spoke he seated himself at the table and threw down a pack of cards. ‘*One moment, sir,” ** Waal, Mexico?” **'You are to match my money there with a like sum, and your cards are not the ones to be used in our little game,” ** Waal, [ kin match yer dust, “Gold Grip, jist put down a thousand thar fer me, fer you has my dust.” ** Certain Me Dick,” and the landlord, who was the banker for anumber of the miners, call- ed to one of his bartenders to get the sum named. The truth was Dick Desmond wished to keep his gold in Sampson’s hands, that he might kuow how well off he was and not refuse his daughter to him on account of poverty. The money was placed on the table, and Dick Deadly Hand said: ** Now, come, fer ther game,” ** Not with those marked cards,” was the quiet reply of the Man from Mexico, and he pointed to the pack which the desperado had placed up- on the table. CHAPTER VII. THE GAME, ‘*LOoOK a-heur, stranger, hain’t yer goin’ it jist a leetle too strong, ter accuse me o’ cheatin’, fer ter play with marked cards are thet?” ‘*' Your cards are marked, and I']l prove it by eile the marks,” was the reply of the Man from Mexico, Dick Deadly Hand turned slightly pale at this, for he saw Stella step forward to pick up the em and he quickly said: ** Waal, I hain’t no wish ter quarrel with a man who may be said ter be livin’ his last few minutes o’ life, so T’ll git a new pack,” “Will you kindly procure a pack for us, senorita?’ and the Mexican turned to Stella, who called to one of the bartenders to give her a fresh pack of cards, and then she glanced earnestly over those she beld in her band, and which the stranger had said were marked, **T see no mark on these, sir,” she said, “It is plain to me, senorita—do you notice the lines on the back, which seem to be merely fancy work, show by examination just what card each one is.” For full a minute did Stella look ere she dis- covered the puzzle, but suddenly it flashed be- fore her eyes, and with a look at the miner she thrust the pack into her pocket. “Tf thar is any mark on them cards, I don’t know it, and you sha’n’t hold me up afore my pards as a thief, fer—” _ * Hands off that revolver, sir!” The words rung out stern and sharp now, and this time the stranger held the miner at his wee “The table is ready, sir, and Iam waiting to play the game. ‘*“Here is my gold, as you see, and my re- volver lies with it.” ‘‘ And thar is my dust, and my weepon covers it,” and Dick Deadly Hand placed his revolver upon his pile of gold. The cards were handed to the Mexican by Stella, and glancing at them quickly he said: ‘* These are all right, senorita. * Now, sir, do you understand the terms of this game?” “The one who wins gits the dust, and takes up his revolver and shoots the t’other.” “The winner gets the gold, and the loser stands yonder against that window. “The senorita gives the word, if she will be so kind, and the winner shoots the loser, and pays burial expenses.” I are willin’,” said Dick Desmond, but his voice was not as full of confidence as was usual _ with bim, | 2 eee eee —_ S His having to play with other cards than bis own seemed to have discouraged him. ** T will not act, sir, but my father will,” said Stella, and the landlord stepped forward, when the Mexican said: ‘““I give you my belt of arms, sir, and this man must also give up bis, ‘*Then please hold your revolver ready, and should either cheat or the loser attempt to take his weapon from the table, be good enough to kill kim.” There was something so cool in the manner of the Mexican that he won the admiration of all, He was a stranger, but he had money, and more, he had grit. He had come well mounted, thoroughly armed and he had rendered a great service to all in the camps. He was handsome, fearless-faced, and had a certain fascination of manner about him that was irresistible. On the other hand, Dick Deadly Hand was feared by all. He had ruled the camps by the fear he caused on all sides, and here was a man he had begun with, to at once get him cowed, who would not submit to the desperado’s iron rule. So all watched the result with the deepest of interest, and there was a dread silence in the saloon as the arrangements for the game were made. The Mexican took a seat quietly, lighted a cigarette and handed the fresh pack of cards to Dick Desmond to shuffle, Stella Sampson stocd by her father’s side, pale but determined, She had helped the Man from Mexico out of 4 ugly scrape, and she intended to see the end of it. Landlord Sampson held the belts of each man on his arm, and in his right hand was a revolver ready for use, should the loser attempt to break the compact, and those who knew the proprietor of the Hash House were well aware that he would use it if need be, The crowd, silent and earnest, gathered around and under’ a suspense that was painful, the game was begun. " It was to be but one game, for so it had been decided, and the lookers-on felt that one of the two men must die within a few minutes. The bands were dealt out, and the Man from Mexico, smoking bis cigarette, seemed not to feel — his life was depending upon the turn of a card. Amid asilence that could be felt the game was begun, and all could not but observe that Dick Deadly Hand was not playing with his usual reckless manner. = was slow in his plays, and his face was ale, The Man from Mexico looked indifferent, and that was all. As the last card was thrown down a long breath was drawn that seemed to come from every one. The suspense as to who was to be the victim was over. ‘*T have won, sir,” was the quiet remark of the Mexican. Dick Deadly Hand made no reply. His face had turned to an ashen hue. He cast a quick glance at the landlord, but it gave him no hope, and he saw that Gold Grip would kill him if he moved his hand toward his revolver, As though to put the temptation out of his way, Stella stepped forward and took the wea- pon of the desperado, as the Mexican picked up is own and the gold. There seemed to be one ray of hope for the miner, and he clutched at it: ‘*Tf you misses me, pard?” he asked, and his voice was busky. All awaited the answer, and Stella with the deepest interest, for she bent forward toward the Mexican. ‘““If I miss you, senor, you are at liberty to take your revolver and kill me,” responded the Man from Mexico. There was no hope for Dick Deadly Hand in the response. The Mexican now rose and said sternly: “Take your stand, sir.” Then he lighted another cigarette, and step- ped to his position across the saloon,glancing at the lamps to see if the light was favorable for his deadly work. Dick Deadly Hand was not a coward, though a bully. He had a certain pride, and he de- termined to face his death with courage, though he was full of hope that it would be life for him in the face of what appeared to be a sure end for him from the Mexican’s bullet. If he faced the music without a tremor, and should not die, then he would still retain his in- fluence in Last Chance, He smiled as he glanced at Stella, and said with an effort at indifference: “IT has got ter go, Miss Stella, but ef he misses, then I chips in fer a shot, and you mnwe a 10 with a swagger he stepped to the ition assigned him, in front of the window, the shut- ters having been closed by order of Landlord Sampson. : ’ ~, ; = 4 aah iT ng Se yw : Fy *a ot tS hat nn 7 Th we, 4c He turned as he reached the spot, and said: ** Landlord, ef I passes in my cbecks, jist give Miss Stella ther dust you have o’ mine. She is ther heiress ter my claim, and I says it afore all ter witness.” “No, Pll not have it,” was the firm reply of Stella, and before more could be said, the Man from Mexico asked, sternly: * Are you ready, sir?” CHAPTER VIII. BRANDED. ‘“‘T ARE ready ter die ef you is ready ter do ther killin’, pard,” was the plucky response of Deadly Hand as the Man from Mexico faced him, revolver in hand, The Mexican glanced at him and then at Stella. He saw that the face of the latter was very pale, and he stepped toward her and whispered something which no one else heard, At bis words ber face flushed, and then step- ping back to his position, the Man from Mexico raised his revolver and fired as quick as a flash. Dick Deadly Hand started at the shot, but did not fall. Then he called out in a voice full of savage revenze: ‘‘ Missed me, by Heaven! Now it’s my chip in!” ** Hold!” The command of the Mexican caused the hum of voices to cease, and the excitement was over in an instant. ““T did not mise you, but I cared not to kill you, so I branded ap with my mark, Dick Deadly Hand, for I sent my bullet through your left ear,” coolly said the Man from Mexico, The desperado raised his hand to his ear, and it was blood-stained. He had felt the sting of the bullet, and felt that it had clipped bim, but meant to say notb- ing about it, that he might get his return shot at the Mexican. This the latter had threatened by his words, and all now saw that there wasea clean cut . round hole in the left ear of Dick Deadly Hand. His face paled with fury, and a cheer at the marksmanship of the stranger broke from the lips of the crowd. Dick Deadly Hand was livid now, and said in a voice that quivered with passion: ‘‘ Yer bas branded me, has yer? ‘‘ Waal, one day yer’l] git my brand on you, Man o’ Mexico, and jist book what I says, fer .1t goes, ev’ ry time, ‘‘ Good-night, gents,” and taking his belt of arms from the landlord, the desperado left the saloon. ‘*'You have made a yaa Hee, sir,” said the landlord, turning to the Mexican, who re- sponded: ‘*T do not care, sir; but he should be thankful for bis life. ‘* Senors, join mein a drink, for it is my treat.” This the crowd were most happy to do, and the liquor was placed before them, and the ° health of the Mexican was drank with a shout. Stella had slipped out of the saloon, but not — until sbe bad said to ber father that the Mexican had whispered to her: ‘*]T will not kill him in your presence, senorita, but [ shall mark bis left ear.” his proved the marvelous skill of the Mexi- can with a revolver, and he at once became a hero among the miners, Of his antecedents they knew nothing and cared less. They owed him a debt of gratitude, and he had shown himself a ‘‘ man from ’way back,” as one of the miners expressed it, and so they were more than willing to acknowledge him as a ruling spirit in their midst. 4 Mexicans. were not, asa rule, popular in the mines, but the Senor Merl had proven himself an exception to the rule, so he was at once set down as one of the outfit of Last Chance, | Having treated to drinks and cigars all around, the stranger quietly left the saloon and . sought his own quarters. As he neared the loor of his room, and was leaving the yard fronting the quarters of the landlord, he heard a vvice call out: ‘* Senor Mer].” He at once halted and doffed his sombrero Stella Sampson glided up to him. ‘‘Senor, I wish to tell you that you want to be on your guard against Dick Desmond, for he will strike you in the darz some time,” ‘‘T thank you, senorita, and yet I do not wish to kill bim for your sake.” ‘* And why for my sake?” ‘“‘Ts he not your accepted lover?” A ringing laugh followed, and then Stella said: ‘*T love Dick Desmond? ‘‘ Why, senor, I have yet to find the man I would love.” — ‘Ah, pardon, senorita, but I spared him be- — cause I believed you loved him. ‘‘ He made you his heiress, you know.” ‘© Oh, yes, and professes to love me; but if my father is now the keeper of a border tavern, senor, we have not been always poor. ‘‘My father was unfortunate East, unfor- (E(0) | yy a NICDOOK: oe Air. Wee) OPiS ohh —-— -" > * *) ‘ha.