The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

" rascal, ‘not in the game. ~ lover!” she retorted. "Denver Doll’s of this nonsense, Let it be no secret that I love your daughter, and have decided to make her my wife. You, asa matter of course, will con- sent, and that will settle the whole business, without any parley,” “ Asa matter of course you area confirmed idiot to think of such a thing. My daughter ni you—you, an outlaw, a road-agent and Ha! ha! ba!” “‘Ha! hal if youlike, True, lam an outlaw in the eyes of the public—a man given to the delectable practice of stopping stages and re lieving plethoric purses; but, you are no better than I, for you are ono of the chisels of which I am the mallet. Your daughter I adore, and have-sworn to have her.” ** And I swear vou shall not, She is already engaged to the mau of her choice—the same individual who salivated me with salt and pep- per.” The scheming speculator watched closely for some visible effect of this speech, but saw none, McParland was not nibbling at such bait, so to speak. He calmlv lit a cigar, and then said: ‘You speak hastily, without considering the man you are addressiug, nor your own interests, My reputation ought to assure you that lam the wrong customer to trifle with. Besides, the 20th of November is but a few days off,” Verner-teaped to his feet with a cry. ‘* As T suspected. You have the child.” MeParland tipped back in his chair witha grim smile, ‘© Well, yow’re about right,” he responded, “And you purpose to use this child as a means of forcing a marriage with my daugh- ter?” 4* Perhaps.” ‘ What if I refuse?” “That matters not, She is her own master.” ‘« But she will refuse,” “Tether. The child is salable.” *“*Curse you! What.do you want?” “Ti tell you: First of all, I want all your wealth, and your daughter as my wife. The child will then never come to light, When your daughter comesinto-her fortuue, she will take care of you, and all will go as merry as a marriage bell,” ““Wouldn’t that benice, though? But I am Parents poor, who depend on rich dongpters, never cultivate the gout,” McParland arose, and carefully readjusted his disguise. : ‘*Well, Pll give youa chance to consider,” he remarked. ‘‘ It’s plain to me whom Ff shall sell the kid to, if I can’t earn a wife out of the bar- ain.” And with these words he abruptly left tho house, As soon as he had gone Verner arose, and saddenly opened the door of the adjoining room, to find, es he had expected, Isabel just rising from a crouching position, where she had been Istening, ‘*So you have been playing eavesdropper, eh?” he hissed, eeeeeelys “Tamasure I might listen to the voice of my ““Curse your lover! he roared, “You think | Device. by coming to his terms you cam win. We shall see, I am roe parent—your friend. If you leave me, Pll put you in the way fora coffin, be- fore you see a cent of the Porter inheritance!” And foaming with rage, ha turned and quit- ted the house, slammipg the door after him. Tsabel stood in the,center of the room, her figure drawn to its fulltst hight, her face white, her eyes warmed up with an unnatural fire, **Lam to be the chooser, eh¥” came from be- tween her teeth, in a sibilant whisper—‘ it’s father or bushand, eb? Well! I will consider, but Irather think the ccffin is not made that will hold me. Ié I lave to play for the game, why should I play to lose?” S “Ther crockydile he swallered a ham, He swallered a bam; He swallered a bam; Then got sueked in by a Natchez clam, One cold stormy mornirg.” ‘Owl omelets an’ fricasseed frogs, thet’s no sarcumstance, pilgrim! Reporter did ye gay? Lor’ bless ye—i kin equat down on ther bulge eend uva bullwhip, an’ te!l ye ernuff in a-min- nit, ter confuse ts fera year! Pap ismy name —Old Mount. I’m a snorter, 1 am—a-reg’lar amalgamated double-action, — steel-hardened, fine-tooth terror from Taos.” “But, my dear sir, allow mo te get in @ single word, Jam Jones—Chawles Pygmallion Jones of the Cavortin’ Cyclone o? Cheyenne, T come in quest of items—items, slr—not vernac- ular phrases. Do you know of any sensational tid-bits, as it war—bas any man’s wife broke his nose or vice versa? have any three-legged calves been born in the neighborhood? hasany one talked about his neighbor, <r committed suicide by swallerin’ left-handed shot-guns, three-leged dictioraries, cr the like? Sir, in thename of the Cavertin’ Cyclone, | command you to impart tu me the news, or I shall muti- late you. I ama bad man when my mercury is aroused |” ‘ Pretty well Jubricated with whisky, better known in Shining Bar as “ life-preserver,” and “ sweet byrand-by,” those two characteristic em- blems of indigenous humanity, Jones and Mcount, had entered the Monaco, arm in arm, and waltz- ed toward the bar, behind which the roseate poison-compounder, Emily, presided with aus- tere grace, his infantile apology of a mustache waxed out to a point, “ Ahem! gud mornin’! Pap saic, stroking his beard, and glancing at the array of bottles on the shelf, « “ Ahem! that is—Mr. Rarkeeper, I'll make ye ‘quaint? wi’ ther reporter o’ ther Cavortin’ Ove clone, o Shian, and we are werry dry—that is, cussed dry. Heer’s tous young fellers! so set forth ther bottle o’ ‘ by-an’-by,’ and we will in- dulge in a little expression o’ good humor.” The darling dispenser gazed at his two would- be customers with stupendous hauteur, and rap- ped upon the counter with his knuckles, as much as to say, ‘‘ Come down!” : agen elt in his pockets, looked at Jones and ighed. Jones felt in his pocket, looked at Pap and saloon. sighed; then both sighed in chorus, and arm ins Ee arm walked out of t