Night-Hawk, The Mounted Detective — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

; 18 - « : CP es a OO PI NE LO SS IE OE Ome . ay . ff . ey The detective made no answer, but the sound ot heavy breathing sounded through the room. ____—SRIGHT-HAWK, : yell, swung round, and fell. The detective was upon him, and the darbies were on his wrists in A moment passed, when in « husky whisper |a second. : the robber said: ‘*T don’t understand it; what’s up? where is Banchey?’’ } Again he called his pal’s name, and again ¢<he only answer was the sound of heavy breath. ing. ‘*fomething is wrong,’’ said the fellow; and he advanced beside the bed, and the second time the flash from a dark-lantern was thrown upon the detective’s face. ‘Why, what does it ,mean?’’ the robber, in an audible whisper. ‘* Sanchey ain’t in the room, and there’s the old woman sleeping’as peacefully as a child!’’ The man turned to leave the room, when there came a stir in the bed, and a voice de- manded: ‘‘ Who is there; who is in the room?’’ | The robber came to a stand, but made no an- ewer. Again there came a voice demanding: ‘* Who is there?’’ Still the rpbber remained mute. A third time the question came: ‘‘ Who is there? speak; I know some one is in this room.”’ Ay, The robber made a step toward the bed, mut- tering: ‘** It’s no use fooling; I'll stop her nolse, and have done with it!’’ CHAPTER XXVIIL. ‘Tom Hawk was on his guard. The robber stood close beside the bed, when a shriek rang through the house; the robber started back, and the detective started up in bed, and the next in- stant there came a fall. Tom Hawk’s club had done its business; the robber was knocked out at the first “* clip,”’ and the darbies were placed on his wrists. Thus the detective had two of the robbers. and he stole out from the room and moved down-stairs to capture the third man. The latter had been placed on guard outside the heuse, and just at the moment the detective entered the sitting-room the fellow called through the .door: ‘‘ What’s up? What’s the matter? have you got the boodle?”” ‘‘ 1t’s all right,’’ answered the detective. ‘Is the old woman awake?”’ ‘* Yes; come in.”’ The man entered the room, when Tom struck a light, and a strange sight was presented. The detective had a white nightcap on his head, with flaring frills, and he wore a long white night-gown cver his ordinary attire. Indeed, he was a sight. The robber just stood and glared in speech- less amazement, — ‘* Are you one of ’em?’’ demanded the seem- ing old woman, in a Squeaky voice. The robber was tco amazed to answer, and the detective suid again: ‘* Are you one of ’em?”’ . ** Are you the old woman?” the robber found voice to say. , ‘* Yes, I’m the old woman.”’ ** Where are the fellows?’’ ‘* They’re upstairs, ’’ | ** Well, 1’ll wait for ’em outside.’’) ‘© You will, eh?’ ‘" Yes,” “** No, no, old man, just throw up vour hands!’’ ‘* Don’t attempt to fool with me, old woman, or you’)i get hurt,”’ ‘© See here,’’ said Tom, ‘‘ can I have a word with you?” ‘‘Up with your hands, old man, or there will be trouble.’’ : The fellow made a step backward. He was. preparing to resist. ** Stand!’’ came the command. The fellow halted. ‘‘Once more, and for the last time, up with your hands, or down you go!”’ | ‘* Who are you?’’ demanded the robber. ‘ Don’t you know me?”’ 6 No.’”’ ** Well, it’s time we were acquainted. My mame is Tom Hawk, and now up with your hands, I say. | | The man moved back toward ‘the door. scliloquized The ‘‘ It’s all right now,’’ said our hero; and he spoke truly. He had made a neat job of it, and had captured all three of the robbers. The Jast fellow was not hurt, the ball had clipped ‘close to his temple, merely barked him, and had knocked him over; but practically he was un- hurt. . The detective removed his disguise and ascended the stairs, and one after the other drag- ged the other twe fellows down to the dining- room, where he bound the whole three secure- ly, and started off and aroused the town constable, whom he knew perscnally, and ere daylight the three robbers were safely lodged in the county jail. ; With the morning Miss Knight and her aunt returned; and meantime the news of the at- tempted robbery and the adroit capture had spread abroad, and the people came from all quarters to view the scene of the adventure, The constable was on guard, and no one was permitted to enter the house, where our hero held a Jong consultation with Miss Knight and her aunt, The last words cf our hero were: ‘* You are safe now; you need not fear a second attempt. I owe you many thanks for your courage in permitting me to carry out my scheme, and arrest the rascals.’’ _** And what do we owe you, sir?’’ demanded the younger woman. ** Nothing. Ihave but done my duty.” ‘* We owe our lives to you. Those wretches, those monsters, would have murdered us!” - ‘* Well, 1t’s all right now.”’ ‘* We will seegyou again, sir?”’ ‘‘ Yes; some day. But at- present I must be up and doing.”’ The detective returned to the house where he lodged. Returned as the invalid, and success fully concealed his identity, and although every one was talking about Tom Hawk, po one knew that the pleasant gentleman who was seen about was the great detective. In the evening our hero went to the house where the robbers were wont to congregate, once more. He was under disguise. He found the loungers round Byrcn’s place holding an animated discussion. Matters were mixed; the regular loungers had suddenly. awakened to the idea that their resort had for some days been the'resort of thieves, and that was the question they were discussing when our hero entered. Tom was gotten up as a green Dutchman, and as the place was a public resort, no one paid any attention to him, and he was permitted to sit and sip his beer without altracting any unusual attention. : | He had been an hour in the place when a country carryall stopped in front of the hostel- ry, and four men alighted and entered the bar- room. The men appeared to be a jolly lot of young couotrymen on a spree; but the detect- ive was not long in discerning that they were in disguise, and. he iay around watching for clews. : . One of the men at length left the bar-room, and walked out toward the barn. ‘The detect- ive watched ap opportunity, and slipped out also, and he soon got in position from whence he could have an eye to aj! that might. pass in- side the stable. A few moments passed, and the proprietor of the resort straggled out to the barn. That seem- ing half-drunken, jolly countryman was sud- denly transtormed into a sober, Keen man of business. | ‘Say, Byron,’’ said the man, ‘‘ what’s wrong around here?’’ ‘*] don’t understand you,’’ said Byron. ** You don’t understand me, eh? Well, 1’) speak plainer. Five of the gang are in jai).”’ “ That’s so.”’ | ‘* And those men were ‘ nipped’ when run- ning out schemes that had been arranged in your house.”’ ‘* That’s so,”’ ‘* Certainly it’s so, and now what does it mean ?’’ | . ~ **] don’t know what it mears.’’ **Do you think anything would help your memory; my friend?”’ The owner or the hostelry uttered a low cry and answered: ‘* You men do not suspect me?’’ ‘* Well, somebody must .be suspected.”’ ‘*'lom Hawk’s in the neighborhood.”’ ‘“That’s it; and who ¢ives Night-Hawk his information?’’ CHAPTER XXVIII. BYRON did not make an immediate reply to the da1k insinuation of his companion in ths barn, and the latter said: ere ‘* Byron, old man, Night-Hawk must get hig information from some one,”’ ‘* Do you suspect me?’’ ‘" Well, we can’t tell. It’s very strange that twe expeditions organized in your house should result in such dire disaster. Night Hawk had everything dead to rights on our boys—knew in advance every move they were to make, laid his plans accordingly, and, as I said, the result is, five of our best men are ‘ nipped,’ and the chances are that they will all be tixed for the next ten or twenty years.’’ ‘* This thing has bothered me.”’ ‘“ Well, 1 should say it ought to bother you; it Jooks bad.”’ . ** Has any one dared suggest that 1 am not straight?’’ | } ‘\ Well, yes.”’ ** Who is the man?’’ ‘‘It would be hard to name any particular mun, as quite a number are of the opinion that you are making money. ** It’s talse, ”’ | ‘Then ycu must clear yourself. I'll tell you a conversation that 1 overheard. Now, Byron, you know | am your friend, and you can just believe what 1 say. Two-of the lads were talk- ing together over the mystery, when one of them said: ‘ Do you want to stop the give-away busi- ness?’ ‘ Yes,’ answered the other, when the first speaker exclaimed: ‘ Put a seal on Byron, and there’ll be no give-aways.’ ”’ ** Who was the man?”’ ‘*IT can not tell you, but there jis an unusua: sentiment among the boys that all is not right.”” ‘* And what do you want me ty» do?”’ ** Clear yourself,”’ ** How ean [?’’ ** Are you innocent?’’ ** 1 am,’ ‘Then you are as much interested as any of us in discovering who it is that has been giving things away.” . ée I am.’”’ ** You ought to be able to aid ** In what manner?” ‘** There are a great many steady visitors to ycur house?’’ $6 Yes, »3 **“Can you suspect any of them?’’ ** No, not a man,”’’ ‘* Do you have any occasional visitors?’’ *" Ah! now you are getting down tc it. noticed one thing.’’ ** Give it to us.” **l observed that every time the lads are ‘quickered on’ that there has been a stranger in my house the night before.”’ ** What sort of a looking man is_ this stranger?’’ ‘‘Ah, there’s the mystery!—it’s always a different-looking man.”’ ‘* Ah, I see! You think it’s some one ‘ under cover ’?’’ ‘‘'That’s the idea that has been running through my brain.”’ ‘* And when does this stranger come?’’ ** He always appears to be around just those nights when something new is on hand.’’ ‘*TIs he here to-night?’’ ‘* Well, strange as if may appear, there is a man hanging around the bar-room whom I never saw there hefore.”’ ‘* What sort of a looking man is he?’’ ‘* He looks like a green Dutchman,’”’ ‘* Have you heard him speak?” | ‘* Yes, when he called for a beer,”’ ‘* And how does he talk?’’ ** All right.”’ ‘* But you’ve an idea concerning him ?’’ ‘* No idea only that he is a stranger.” ‘** Do. you think there is a possibility that he a spy?” : ‘* Can’t tell.’’ | ‘There is one thing I’m to tell you, Byrou, we are going to the bottom of this thing,”’ ‘*] want you to do so.”’ | ‘‘ And when we find the man we will only have one job on hand.’’ ‘*T am at your -service.”’ . **'The man who is against us must get out. The gang have sworn it.” — ‘*T am willing to have all my acts investi- gated; but to me it does appear that it is ® us »> l’ve traitor.’”’ ‘* What makes you think so?”’ detective sprung forward. The man uttered a / ‘‘ The party gives the thing so dead away. tee ee Bi ie a i . x ——————— NS ee ee eee ew ee ee ee en ee ie oe ee ——— eee ~ Leal OA A OOO AA nS Bile iid i Ld ° “A .