Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 523) (1887 08 02)
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but I fear it will be impossible. Coming events cast their shadows before, you know, and the sense of approaching evil clings to me like a phantom.” _ ‘* Nonsense!” exclaimed the young man, laugh- ingly. ‘‘You are nervous. Take my advice, | return to tae hot-l and remain there until you have recovered from the effects of your last | night’s adventures. Then you will see how quickly these evil shadows will disappear.” “I will doso. It was very thoughtless in me to venture out. Let us hasten back, for I fear uncle will be worried about me.” ‘“ With pleasure, Miss Ray,” and Algernon offered his arm with profuse gallantry. The return was soon made, altogether too quickly for the sport, who found aerabg pleasure in conversing with the fair girl by his side. With the desire to cheer up the girl’s depressed | spirits, he chatted gayly upon every conceivable topic. He told her he was a New Englander, a graduate of fair Harvard, traveling through the West for the double elaine of adventure, and to recruit his health, which had become pe ame impaired by too close application to study. The eee man was not entirely unsuccessful and when they reached the ‘‘ Pick and Shovel % he had the satisfaction of noting that Rachel on aoe ey some of her customary good spirits. “‘I will say good-by for the present, Miss Ray,” he said, as he turned to go. ‘‘ Be of good cheer, and remember, should anything happen that you should need my aid, I shall not fail t to be on hand. Au revoir!” _ Tipping his bat, Algernon Arnold walked | lightly away, but as he did so he felt that he pa left his heart im the keeping of fair Rachel y. CHAPTER III. TOMMY THE KID, EMERGING from the “‘ Plck and Shovel,” the | Dandy yg once more made his way along the street. His active brain was busy with thoughts of Rachel, her somber uncle, and the mysterious | telegram. | Algernon Arnold had laughed at the girl’s | fears, but it was in view of relieving her anxiety that he had done so; truth to tell, he believed be ewes had more significarce than he pre- “ Bring the girl,” it said, and it was this sen- tence that impressed the youth unfavorably. This man who signed himself ‘‘ Carleton” evi- dently had some particular object in desiring the nb of the young lady. What could it The more he pondered! upon the matter, the stronger grew his suspicion that there was some evil scheme at the bottom of it all. True, it might be a mere fancy, but the young collegian was determined, nevertheless, to keep an eye on Reginald Ray, find out the identity of Carleton, and then ascertain, if possible, the object of the former’s sudden visit to Canyon City. _“Perhaps [ am an idiot for allowing this singular idea to possess me,” he soliloquized, ‘*but somehow I cannot shake it off. I don’t half like the looks of that Reginald Ray, in spite of Rachel’s protestations as to his extreme oe gon and I mean to keep a watchful eye on movements, Ah! what’s all this racket about?” Excited wea seeming to come from behind a@ neigboring shanty, suddenly interrupted the young man’s soliloquy, followed by sounds as of a violent struggle. Arnold’s inquisitiveness was aroused, and without hesitation he dashed around a corner of the building, to behold a lad struggling in the grasp of two drunken ruffians, The lad was making a placky fight, but his @ avail. The object peared upon the seene; his blood boiled with | indignation at the sight, and he proceeded to | partici in the rumpus without ceremony. 80 slight of build, dragged him off his prostrate victim. Pa re, you coward hounds!” ; 4 almost bebe "4 oe MARE VATS. GN __The Dandy Sport, ly ‘‘ went to grass;” head struck against a rock, and he lay there motionless, stunned by the fall. But the remaining tough was not to be dis- posed of so easily. Algernon’s tremendous effort caused him to momentarily lose his bal- ance, and when he recovered, it was to find him- self looking into the menacing barrel of a re- volver, backed by a face whose expression was fairly demoniacal. ‘** Ho, ho!” laugued the scoundrel, triumphant- ly. “Pair play, hey? Yow ll git it, yer durned, meddlin’ jack-in-a-box.” For a moment it seemed asif the dude was destined to come out second best this time, for the other had him nicely covered; but help came from an unexpected quarter. In his eagerness to wreak vengeance on the intruder, the ruffian had released his hold upon his victim; and now the boy, quick to improve his chance, suddenly shot upward like a stone fromacatapult. His head caught the tough full in the pit of the stomach, with a force that nearly knocked. the breath from his body, and sent him staggering to the ground, the revolver falling harmlessly from his grasp. When he regained his feet, it was to find him- self covered by his own weapon, in the hand of the dude. “You cowardly vagabond,” exclaimed the latter, his dark eyes flashing fire, ‘“* ve a good mind to shoot you down like acur. As it is, Pl give you thirty seconds to get out of sight. Be off!” and the scoundrel wisely lost no time in obeying the stern command, uttering deep and | vicious imprecations against the triumphant sport as he sneaked around the cabin and dis- appeared, Arnold turned to the youth whom he had as- sisted. He was apparently eighteen, but small for his yeas; short and “ ehinky,” and possessed of more than youthful strength. His brown eyes sparkled mtelligently, while his face would undoubtedly have been handsome after a proper introduction to soap and water. As for the lad’s dress, it was simple in the ex- treme, A well-worn shirt of red flannel; a pair of tattered trowsers, held in place by a piece of rope that answered the purpose of a belt; a bat- tered felt hat that had seen the wear and tear of years, through a hole in which his hair stuck up in wild confusion; that was all, and yet this barefoot waif of the mines seemed as happy and contented as if dressed in the finest broadcloth. He stood rubbing his head where it had come into contact with the bummer’s stomach, as he stared at his benefactor with an expression of mos¢ ludicrous astonishment. ‘“‘Saay, mister,” he blurted out, ‘‘air ye er dood?” So quaint was the query that Algernon could searcely refrain from laughing outright. ‘‘ Perhaps I am, my friend,” he returned, con- trolling his risibilities. ‘‘ Why?” “Cause I've heard tell about ’em lots o’ times,” retorted the boy, in no wise abashed, ‘‘an’ I allers tho’t they wuz a lot 0’ walkin’ pipe-stems, w’ot lived on toothpicks, an’ hed ter hitch ’em- selves ter little pug dogs ter keep ther wind from perp away, aes ell?’ interro the sport, amusedly, as the lad hesitated. i ‘Wal, I don’t think you fill the bill, Ther thin legs is thar all right; so’s ther big collar an’ all ther rest, but hang me fur a_hoss-thief, if I | ever heard of a la-ia who could make ther fur fly ther way you did just now. I don’t believe you're a genuine, out-an’-out gusher, anyhow!” ‘You mustn’t judge a man by his looks, for appearances are Ofttimes deceitful. By the way, suppose you tell me about this little scrimmage: what were these fellows doing when I came sett ‘‘ Fishin’ pockets fer keeps, I reckon,” respond- ed the youth, laconically, “‘ Ye see, T jist won & V at poker off Hi Low, ther Chinaman. Then these two fellers laid fur me, an’ told me ter ante up ther boodle. I didn’t see it that way, an’ kicked like a steer, but I reckon if you hadn’t cum along, I’d hed ter borry a stake afore I could buck ther tiger ag’in.” ‘* And are you not hurt?” ‘*Not much; only my head swims a little since I butted Sneaky Sam in ther bread-basket. Holy smoke! That feller must ’a’? made his breakfast offer tenpenny nails an’ stove covers,” “Pm glad I happened along in time to ae you,” said the Dandy . ‘Here, take the rasca] yer gs then you will be better prepared to de- end yourself in the future.” The lad eagerly seized the proffered weapon. “Now I feel like myself ag’in,” he remarked, ithin hi boisterous} mn various subjects, .§.§ — as he thrust the shooter within his ces) Boru a ai rously ee erith the Besoin, re oe “I uster hev a six onc’t, ov my Own, plate ‘ith gold trimmin’s; but it went fer poker . | chips long ago.” - eS oy ‘““You gamble? I’m afraid you’re a hard ticket.” , The boy drew himself up proudly. ‘* I’m er rooster, i am, an’ don’t yer forget it. They calls me Tommy the Kid, ’cause Pm so little, but allee samee I know as much as ther oldest ov ’em about life in these hyar diggin’s.” Algernon laughed; the independent ways of this mountain boy interested and amused him. Besides, he believed that in him he had found a friend it would do to “ tie to.” ‘Well, Tommy, ’'m glad you are so well posted. You maybe able to give me some valuable pointers concerning affairs in Canyon City. ill you do it?” Tommy’s reply was to grasp the other’s hand in a hearty clasp. | ‘“Willl? Will a fish swim? If there’s any- thing yer want me ter do, just ask it. You've EE} done me a good turn, an’after this ’m with yer, ev’ry time.” “Good enough! I see no reason why we shouldn’t be the best of friends. Suppose, to commence with, that you show me round a little, I am desirous of: knowing what manner of place I have wandered inte,” ; ommy the Kid grinned broadly. ; ‘¢ Wanter see ther ellerfant, hey?” ‘*That’s it, ot ‘Cum on, theh! Bizness is kinder dull to- day, an’ I reckon it'll serve ter kill time.” | The Kid led the way down the street with Ar- ; nold close at his sie, The fallen ruffian had j not yet recovered consciousness, and the two t were pleased to note that the recent fracas had attracted no attention. ‘* T suppose you live with your folks, Tommy,” said the sport, as they walked along. ‘Folks? Humph! Never had any! Allers: bev b’en kickin’ round hyar since I kin remem- ber. ‘*Spect a found me hyar when ther first settlers cum. I’m a happy-go-lucky kid, here, there an’ everywhere, an’ allers a-gettin’ in somebody’s way. I reckon they likes ter pick on me ’cause I’m small. But I generally man- age ter git thar, jest the samt.” “Then if you have lived here all your life ou must be pretty well acquainted with the in- é abitants.” “T reckon I’m on ter ev’ry mother’s son ov ’em—knows ’em like a book.” ‘‘Then you know a man named Carleton?” asked the Dandy, eagerly. “Carleton! t’s see—oh, yes, [ guess you mean Cool Car]. eh?” ‘‘Perhaps. Who is he What can you tell me of him?” & “Might know you war a stranger hyar, if - > you never heard of Cool Carl. He’s —ther bossest card-juggler in these parts. runs a shebang over yonder, #n’ owns half the camp besides. Sort over lord high executioner ; hez everybody under his thumb, ye see.” ** Indeed?” ‘Yes; but hyar we are at his place, Mebbe ‘ Cool Carl is inside. Wanter cum in?” The sport nodded, ‘Lead on, Tommy,” he exclaimed. ‘‘I have > great curiosity to gaze on the great Mogul of } Canyon ks The building before which they halted was ae only a plain wooden structure, but it was the ORG? ik ee most pretentious one in town, Over the broad : door a gilt lettered sign informed the passer-by ate that this was ‘‘ The Miners’ Home,” while under~ @ neath hung a huge red light, which at night dis- rn. pelled the gloom for many yards around. hax Tommy the Kid pushed open the door with a a confidence that betokened his thorough knowl- ae 4 edge of the premises, and Arnold followed close q at his heels. ae | They found themselves im a long and rather wi narrow apartment, in which the business of ¥ gaming and liquor dealing were combined. saa tos ae ; At one side, near the door, a bar was con- Rat | eae structed, over which a dirty, low-browed indi- aay ! ta vidual dispensed liquid lightning to whosoever bers, ° . een. { thirste . \ ‘Dh At the furthermost end were several plain me (aoe tables, to accommodate those whose passion for ee ambling drew them nightly to the “Miners” a Se ome.” et ] a : When the eastern sport and his newly-found aa Rat friend made their appearance, the fun was in — “a ig full blast; the tables were all occupied, the bar- ¥G ce tender was doing 4 rushing business, while the 7. ps space between the bar and the tables was well- aa Ba filled with idlers. | s] pa a There were miners, gamblers. adventurers, eS, bummers—-men of all lands - z , « NE ops -_ 3 3 i oa f 5 *
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