Dickey

“ Dickey exclaimed incredulously. Dickey was really surprised, for the old man, so far as he could judge from that distance, wore an extremely mild and kindly look. "Why do you have to run?" he asked.
"Why? Why?" the Fantasm fairly shouted. "I told you a moment ago that he was the Itinerant Tinker! He tries to mend every [Pg 75] broken and unbroken thing in Fantasma Land! Every time he catches me," went on the Fantasm, as he edged cautiously away, "he tries to glue on my head. It's very annoying—and, besides, it hurts! Good-by, Dickey!" ”

“ Since ‘they twain became one flesh,’ Dickey has been very proud of walking abroad, at fair times and public occasions, with ‘his better part,’ when they generally formed objects of considerable attraction to those to whom they were not particularly known. ”

“ Presently a man appeared around the corner. After him tagged a small white-headed boy, and after the boy, Willy Rose, with a sassafras-root and an old shoe-knife in his hands.
The man, who was Mr. Hiram Fairbanks, Mrs. Rose's brother, had a somewhat doubtful expression. When he stopped, the white-headed boy stopped, keeping a little behind him in his shadow.
"What boy is that, Hiram?" asked Mrs. Rose. Miss Elvira peered around the door. Mr. Fairbanks was tall and stiff-looking. He had a sunburned, sober face. "His name is Dickey," he replied. ”

“ Go right in this minute, 'round by the kitchen door, and take this boy 'round with you; he can sit down on the door-step and help you clean your sassafras-root."
Willy disappeared lingeringly around the house, and the other boy, on being further bidden by Mr. Fairbanks, followed him. "Willy," his mother cried after him, "mind you sit down on the door-step and tie your shoes! I ain't goin' to have that Dickey boy left alone; his folks are nothin' but a pack of thieves," she remarked in a lower tone. ”

“ ‘I hope,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘that our volatile friend is committing no absurdities in that dickey behind.’
‘Oh dear, no,’ replied Ben Allen. ”

“ As the girl glared at him with a flash of hatred in her eyes, he stalked into the taproom, followed by the ready topers.
"Pile these bags on the table, Rusty," ordered Warren, as he smiled winningly at the girl.
"Yassir. We kin use 'em for one of these yere barracadies, if we has to."
"It looks as though we're booked for a warm reception in Seguro, Rusty. Doesn't it?"
Rusty rolled those chalky optics, with an expression of mingled drollery, apprehension, and confidence in his master's ability to lead the battle. It is wonderful how much expression can be condensed into a darky's eyes! ”

“ A knock on the door brought them both back to—the deck of the Mauretania, with terra firma not so far distant below!
"There he is now," she whispered nervously. "Who shall I say you are? And what?"
"Oh, any old thing—Warren, Mr. Warren. Leave the classification to me. Self-identification is an American trait!"
She crossed the cabin, and after a timid pause opened the door.
"Come in," she murmured.
"Ah, I'm intruding," exclaimed Carlos, Duke of Alva, with an intonation which expressed an invitation for Warren Jarvis to make a graceful exit. ”

“ She could do something."
"She's on her way," he told her hopelessly, "but what can she do—what can anyone do, with the imps of darkness all about her?"
"She would go straight into that castle after her brother. Ah, she is a great lady, with a great heart. Then will the villagers have it said that they let their own Princess go in alone, as they did their Prince?"
"God forbid that it should come to that!" muttered the Prince's retainer, as he handed her the basket. "Good-night, señorita."
As he started for the door the girl called after him.
"Will you go again to-morrow, Vardos?" ”

“ I don't want to let any grass grow under my feet on the trip to the castle to-night."
She gave the order to Pedro, and he promised to bring the required objects with sturdy steeds.
"Ah, Mr. Warren, looking for an honest man, like old Socrates?" inquired the Duke of Alva.
"Ah, Mr. Warren, looking for an honest man, like old Socrates?"
"Not in this neck of the woods, your Excellency!" and Jarvis disappeared in the balcony entrance to the old line of bedrooms.
Maria Theresa turned anxiously to her cousin.
"Carlos, what news of my brother? Have you heard anything yet?" ”

“ She turned toward the sheep-like, staring villagers, and with an eloquent wave of her hand she cried out resonantly:
"Gentlemen—a man!"
"Gentlemen—a man"
Jarvis was lighting his cigarette, and he laughed, with a side-remark to his valet:
"Rusty, as the Indians said to Columbus: 'We're discovered!'" He turned toward the girl. "Did you by any chance address me, fair señorita?"
"I'm calling the attention of these valiant gentlemen of Seguro to the only man with spirit and bravery enough to enter the haunted castle," she declared. ”

“ Then, as the toreador dodges the mad onslaught of the maddened bull, he leaped aside and the sword struck the ground.
Before it could be raised, he swung from his side position, with the heavy antique chair, against the vizor. The equilibrium of the armored man was none too stable, as he missed his stroke—and his head went back. Again the Kentuckian charged, this time with a barehanded clinch, the chair dropped. ”

“ Carlos sneered exultantly.
"Yes, you might borrow it but there is not so much ready money around Seguro. My terms, if you care to know them, are these: I wager the thousand pounds that you will not be at Seguro three nights from to-morrow—the time when we will arrive, according to the train schedule. However, why should I waste talk, with a man, on a bet which is not for tradesmen but for gentlemen?"
"Who would hold the stakes?"
The Duke smiled, and waved a gallant hand toward his cousin.
"Who better than my kinswoman, the Princess of Aragon?"
"Who better?" echoed Jarvis. ”

“ Now, all of a sudden you express the utmost anxiety as to what's going to happen to me in the castle. You even offer to buy me off. You advise me to stay out. Shall I take your advice? No. "The play ain't natural."
Duke. You have intruded into a matter which you neither understand nor appreciate. If, as you say, the play seems unnatural, throw the cards and stay out of the game.
Jarvis. No, I'll stay right in the game, but I am going to watch the dealer. Well, come along, Rusty. (Cross to Rusty.) Let's see if we can find the landlord. ”

“ This is Mr. Warren, of America, who has consented to help me. My cousin, the Duke of Alva." She walked behind the two men, comparing them keenly: the deadly parallel column was not at all unfavorable to the insouciant Kentuckian.
"Glad to know you," volunteered Jarvis. "Have a cigarette?"
"I never smoke in the presence of ladies," retorted the Duke. Then with a patronizing air he added: "I am honored to meet you, sir, if you are in my royal cousin's employ. So, you are interested in the castle?"
"Oh, not so much in the castle as in the ghost. I'll attend to him." ”

“ Jarvis, the executive, was now in action.
He had emptied the trunk as she was talking, tossing out fascinating feminine mysteries of lace and silks, with a nonchalance which brought a twinkle into the dark eyes. He turned again.
"Hurry, now—call up the clerk downstairs. Tell them to look out for Rusty and send him up here."
More delicate symphonies of Parisian architecture were thrown on the floor, and Warren had taken out his pocket-knife.
"Hello, hello," called the Princess. "I'm expecting a man."
"A colored man," was Warren's parenthesis.
"Yes,... a colored man ... ”

“ Rusty. (Advancing) Lord, Marse Warren, what is it? (Starts up to Jarvis.)
Jarvis. Get back! Give me that lantern. (Rusty hands lantern.) Give me your hand. Can you hold me? (Rusty holds out hand and Jarvis cautiously steps on trap door; it sinks and other end rises.) God! I thought so. Water and a long drop! No wonder people disappear in this castle. Good Lord, what if her brother went down there? Rusty, whatever happens, keep clear of this. If you step on this you will never see Kentucky again for sure. ”

“ Next to Rusty, the Duke was the most unhappy person present, although the Princess showed the strain of her uneasiness.
After the men completed the first quizzing, they repaired once more to Warren's stateroom to seek for other papers.
When they had been gone a minute or so, Carlos waved Nita out of the room. That young person could look otherwise than melting with her black eyes when occasion demanded. ”

“ The villagers were still grouped about the door to the taproom. Dolores stepped back, as Warren Jarvis and Rusty Snow entered the big front hallway, and blinked in the unaccustomed glare of light.
They were both burdened with suitcases, and two of the Princess' hatboxes. These they dropped unceremoniously on the floor, with sighs of relief.
"We're here, Rusty, with both feet!"
"Yassir," and the negro groaned with exhaustion, "and I'd jest as lieve be back in Meadow Green. Dis don't look very scrumptious for a Mrs. Princessess' plantation house."
"This is no castle, Rusty. ”

“ You lazy coon! Get on that horse of yours and hike along to the castle. See—the moon is helping us!"
"Yassir. I was jest finishin' another hunk of po'k-chops dat I forgot an' put in my pocket. Won't you have a bite?"
"No. I want to eat up something worse than pork to-night," and Jarvis swung into the saddle with the lithe skill acquired from childhood days on the backs of Blue-Grass thoroughbreds.
"What was dat gun-play, Marse Warren?" asked Rusty, after he had calculated that they had ridden a respectful distance for inquiries. Rusty had a certain inherited pride! ”

“ They don't understand human nature like us fellers—they ain't got no education over there. Good-by, Doc! Don't let your foot slip!"
He turned toward the Duke, as he passed through the door.
"You're all right, Dook, old boy, if you do have fits! Ghost Breaker—ha, ha!"
Carlos started toward the other door, with a bound.
"It's not too late. I'll see the captain."
Jarvis, sitting on the trunk, whistled with typical American lack of reverence. As the nobleman turned about, he found himself looking into the barrel of the revolver. ”

“ I heard a great many people running up and down the corridor, outside my door."
The detective scribbled away in his notebook. Jarvis winked again at the Princess, over the doughty shoulders which were backed toward him. The Duke caught the wink, and pondered over it.
"Did anyone come in your room, miss?"
"Yes. My maid was frightened, poor child. She came in, and begged me to protect her." ”

“ Jarvis. (c.) They're trying to scare us, Rusty. They're probably watching every move we make. That's where that pounding comes from. Why don't they shoot? They're trying to scare us, like they did the poor boobs down in the village. (Rusty crosses to fireplace.) They want to get us out of here. They want to get us out of this room. Rusty, someone was working in the room. Now, where was he working? Where was he——
Rusty. (Meanwhile has crossed to mantel and picked up hammer and chisel) Look here, Marse Warren—look y'ere! (A few steps from fireplace.) ”

“ Not wanting to, Princess exits, followed by Carlos, who closes door after him. Trunk lid raised slowly after Princess and Duke exit. Jarvis' head appears and looks about. Throws back lid and stands up. Gets cigarette and matches out of pocket, lights and smokes. Expresses satisfaction. Lifts one leg to step out of trunk; gets stitch in back at movement.)
Jarvis. Oh—oh—Lord! (Carries this business at far as legitimate. With every movement getting out of trunk finds new pain.) If I only had that last baggage man by the neck! Oh—a—oh, Lord! (Crosses left and drinks water.) ”

“ He faced the girl meaningly.
"Will you excuse us for a moment's interchange of pleasantries?"
She nodded, and retired to her bedroom with Nita.
"What do you want, you scoundrel? I know that you are an impostor—a make-believe, and worse!"
"Take it easy, Duke. I'm really not too enthusiastic over you. But this Colt revolver is not a make-believe. ”

“ Come to a room, Nita."
"Ah, your Highness, you are too brave, too determined. You are all worn out with this long trip. Better to wait until daylight, if I may be so bold as to suggest to your ladyship. You are all unstrung just now."
Maria Theresa did indeed show the strain of the nerve-racking trip, but she valiantly shook her head.
"Show me up, Dolores. When Mr. Warren, my representative, arrives inform him that I will be down very soon. Come, Nita, for I know that your hands can rest me, with their skillful massage," and she spoke wearily.
Pedro stepped forward, bowing. ”

“ So, it's Don Robledo—coward!"
The big man snarled.
"Coward—never a coward in a fair fight in the open, and I'll meet the best man that walks the earth." Here he faced the inquisitive and thoroughly awed villagers. "Any two or three!"
He banged the table with his riding-crop to punctuate the emphasis.
"I don't ask you to kill one or two or three of these poor whimpering sheep of Seguro. I ask you to dare something, at risk to yourself. To go to the aid of your Prince.... There isn't a man among you—who dares! Dios! How I could love such a man!" ”

“ Warren.... Are all Americans like you?"
"They all play the game in Kentucky," snapped Jarvis.
"And I thought all Americans were fools." He crossed to the door. "I think, my dear Maria, that for the sake of the family name it would do my health good to take a trip to Monte Carlo and the Riviera—even Egypt might help. Mr. Warren, take her advice and return to Kentucky."
He walked up the steps and smiled back with his cynical appreciation of the situation, a mediæval sport to the end, as Jarvis realized.
"Hey, Rusty, you just follow that Duke as well as you did me. ”