Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1006 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

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DOWN TO SHORT RATIONS, ‘ST can’t say, except you take me on my face, Frank Melton’s my name, and what I wrote for was some money I Jeft bebind me in Chicago, FRANK had no difficulty in locating Mr. Con- | You can open the letter if you want to, and if it verse in St. Louis, He followed him directly to the leading hotel of the city, where, as at Chi- cago, he registered under the name of Rowland Hill. So far the young detective had smooth sailing ; but, what was to come next? With but fifty cents in bis pocket, he could not put up at that house, and his one source of diffi- | | | isn’t about that, then [’m a fraud.” ‘* Where did you leave it?” ‘¢ At the St. Claude Hotel.” “Allright, This is for you, then.” He handed Frank a letter, which the boy ' eagerly opened and read hastily. As he did so | | eulty was how he shoul live two days without | coming to utter bankruptcy. He could not afford to telegraph to Caicago for his money. But he might write, He could possibly keep soul and Lody together long enough to get an answer to a letter, ; ; his face fell. ‘* Bad news?” asked the clerk. ‘‘ Read that. He won’t send it, Says he don’t know if I’m the right party. Whaetam I to du?” ‘‘Trot back to Chicago, I fancy, and show _ your face there,” It was now well on into the night, but there | _ cents to my name,” was notimetolose, His lettermust go out that night. Borrowing a sheet of paper, he wrote to | the Chicago hotel proprietor the story of his sud- den journey to St, Louis, asking him to Express | the money-packege and his gripsack at once, | after taking out enough for his hotel bill. This letter duly written and posted, rank felt easier in mind. Where should he lodge? In fact, be could not afford to lodge at all, unless be was to go hungry the next day. There were seats at the railway station. He could seem to be waiting foratrain. That was a good idea, Frank hurried back to the station, curled bimself into a seat, and was svon fast asleep. lt was considerably past midnight» when a station-keeper wakened bim. ** Come, sir; this is not.a sleeping-place. You must get up.” The boy, who had laid his plans in advance, got up and stretched himself lazily. ‘(Guess it’s ’most time for tho train,” he awned. ‘* What train?” *¢ Alton accommodation,” ‘¢ Why, bless you, boy, it went an hour ago,” ‘The gracious you say! Why didn’t some- body wake me up? “That ain t our line of business, is expected to be wide-awake here,” ‘Pm left, that’s all, Say, oli chap, when does the next train go out?” ‘* Four o’clock.” | ‘‘Then if I go to the hotel, I'll be left again. Guess 1’}1 wait.” ‘* Don’t go to sleep this time.” ‘“Go to sleep! What do you take me for? This ain’t a sleepy eye, is it?” The guard turned away with a laugh, while Frank once more coiled himself in his seat, and in five minutes was off in another snooze, from which he did not awake till six o’clock in the er oat, : ae e was roused by asharp shake from the ‘* Well, Master Wide-awake, here you are still.” & Frank, rubbing his Everybody ss vipat Seoere asked eyes vigorously. ; fe Past six.” “You don’t mean rain 2” ‘* It looks that way,” laughed the guard. ‘‘That’s what comes of night travel. Got to Guess I'll gorake vpaluneh, You bet I'll be wide-awake when I come round here again.” He was hungry enough to spend all his funds to say I’ve lost the train -inone grand feast, But that would never do. He invested five cents in rolls at a baker’s shop, and made a dry meal at a very low figure. If he could go on at the same rate bis funds ' would carry hiin through two or three days, Frank spent that day on the track of Mr, Converse, Not a step outside the hotel was . taken by that individual but what the young | 8 ferret was sharply after him, though the boy ee brought him little return, be only thing he could note down at night - was—Converse had stopped at a large wholesale oF goods house, and spent two hours in the private office, in close conference with the pro- prietor. , _ What took place there, he was, of course, in ignorance of, but the affair interested him, It | | a a ea ee ee ee eee SSC SO — CC —_—— LL CS Ce ‘‘T reckon itil be a trot, then. Haven't fifty The clerk looked him over with eyes of ex- perience, ‘““You wear a watch, boy. worth?” ‘‘ About a fifty, I reckon,” said Frank, draw- ing it out, ‘‘Then go see your uncle, twenty on it.” ‘* Bang my thick skull, why didn’t I think of What is it He’ll lend you a that myself? Much obliged, mister, I ain't up to pawning watches or I’d knowed that. Good- by.’ , Frank was away with a new idea in his bead. But it didu’t stay there long. He had been put on the track of Jacob P. Converse. What might become of his quest if he left the trail for a trip to Chicago and back? He halted, in deep cogitation. There was Dick Wister; why not telegraph him for money? It was a fertile idea. Frank resolved to do it the next morning. It was too late to wire Dick at his office that night. Tue boy, who bad now but twenty-five cents left, spent that night as he had the night before, but in a different station, Atan early business hour of the next day he put his watch in pawn, as the clerk had suggested, receiving fifteen dol- lars, which was the most the careful pawnbroker could see in it. 7 Frank celebrated his victory immediately by a good breakfast. Ho then sought the tele- graph office, and sent Dick Wister the following message: ‘‘ Dead broke, Sena me some money.” It was two hours before the following answer came: ‘‘The deuce you are! Four hundred dollars ina week! Do you think we sleep here on gold mines? Explain.” ‘‘ Left it at hotel in Chicago. Daren’t leave here to go after it,” wired Frank in rep! y. ** You young scapegrace!” was Dick’s answer, ‘‘ I'll sea Borden, but I don’t believe he'll pony up. The squeeze is too tight.” ? Frank left the office in a fret. Dick’ might have trasted bim, and sent him some out of his own pocket. And yet, he said to himself, that wasn’t Dick Wister’s way. He had the fashion of holding on to his dollars, What was to be done? Mr, Borden was not likely to band out money at such a rate. Should he go to Chicage?—what, and leave Con- verse unwatched? No, not if he had to lunch on his sleeve-buttons and sleep in an ash- barrel, | Frank’s watchfulness that day yielded no re- sults, other than that he saw Converse agai enter the merchant’s office, remain there a few minutes, and come out in his company. They walked together down the street for a block or two, aud then separated, It was a prosperous-looking gentleman whom Converse had nowintow. That was all the boy learned, Several days passed with no further points gained. Thenthe young detective dropped on something of more importance. He met Con- verse near the Chicago and Alton station, ana with him his Chicago acquaintance, who bad evidently just arrived. aa They were in earnest conversation, and the curious boy pushed up close bebind them, as once before. They talked in their usual tones, was a step in the business that had brought this | and he had no difficulty in following their Louis, Frank had told the Chicago hotel proprietor to direct bis answer to the St. Louis hotel where Converse was stopping. He inquired of the clerk at six o’clock that evening, a Ree tx ~ * Are you a guest here?” asked the clerk. “No, sir; but I wrote from here.” ‘*] havea letter just in for that name, But know that you are the right ; ‘ words, | | ‘‘T shall probably be here for seyeral days ae r,” remarked Converse. ‘‘Then I must strike for New Orleans and see Brown.” “The plant is working satisfactorily, you say? | a Splendidly; that’s the word I got yesterday from the works. I have not bad a chance to get there myself, but, as sure as you live, our top- price for the metal will be ten cents a pound, <> o~ ; aa 3: y i ~_ 5 a Cum - . ? Maybe not over five, gee! to put in it, that’s all.” ‘* How much can you and Wilson raise?” ** Not over fifty thousand, I fear.” **So far as I’m concerned,” answered the other, ‘11 pot puta red penny in till I see it’s work- ing and am satisfied. Tnat’s my way. If your words turn out worth their face value, [ won’t hesitate to invest a cool hundred thousand.” ‘* That’s busivess, friend Jobnson, [I like you for it. The plant will be in good working order about the end of March. Then I shall expect all of you gentlemen at—” Frank unfortunately lost the last word, The name of the place where this mysterious * plant” was to be seen remained unknown to him, ‘‘By the way,do you know Gordon?” asked Converse. ‘‘No, Never saw him,” ‘‘Then you must. As you are likely to sail in the same boat, you should be friends in ad- vance, And bere’s his store now. Come in. I’}l introduce you, and we can chat over the en- terprise.” It was the store within which Converse had bad so much business during the past few days that they now entered. Frank stood outside, in doubt whether he had better wait for them or not, Ha finally con- cluded that there was nothing to be gained by this, There was matter of more importance to consider, He had heard that morning from Dick Wister by wire, saying tuat Gorden had refused to ad- vance any more, He would send him on his own account twenty dollars in a registered let- ter, which was ali he could spare, ‘¢ That’s very generous in Dick,” growled the hoy, ‘But, maybe he don’t quite believe me, I did play the fool act, that’s sure, Converse says he'll be here several days yet. That'll give me plenty time for a run to Chicago, Here goes,” He had made up his mind on ths jump, and sought the railroad station in the same prompt manner, Here he was informed that the next Express for Cyicago would not go out till ten o'clock that evening. ‘* And it’s not four yet,” thought the boy. “Well, I don’t need to be so blezing mean now, and [ judge I’! go order a prime-up old supper. I’m hungry ali the way down,” At ten that evening he stepped aboard the train with more assurance than on the former oceasion, for he had a through sleeping-car ticket in his pocket, and was a few dollars still on the right side of poverty. | Before daybreak the next morning he landed in Chicago. An abundant breakfast at the sta- tion restaurant braced him up for the busiuess of the day, and at eight o’clock sharp he made his appearance in the hotel. ‘* To ‘you recognize me?’ he asked the clerk. ‘‘T’veseen your face before,” was the doubtful answer. | ‘* And wanted to see it again; for you've made me run back here from St. Louis to show How?” ‘* Here’s your letter. That will show.” . The clerk looked at the letter; then at Frank; | | There was too and then laughed, ‘*3¢ was business, young map. much cash to take chanceson. Somebody might bavestolen your secretand your name, I know you now, and it is all right, Here is your package.”’ ‘* Ali correct,” answered Frank, cheerily, after counting the money. ‘‘ What’s your divvy? Let’s see the size of your bill.” 3 —<———-- CHAPTER VIII. — FROM CHICAGO TO NEW ORLEANS, . Wirt a pocket full of money and a heart fult of satisfaction, Frank Melton spent tue remain- der of that day in taking a general survey oj Chicago. He and might never bave the chance again. Early the next morning he mounted the Day rt Express for St. Louis, and once more rolled out over the prairie level of Dlinois, ae He was busily engaged in reading the morn- ing paper when the conductor came round to punch tickets, It was the same high-minded official with whom Frank bad had his previous _ that lighted up the =) boyish face before him, the conductor stopped sf adventure, ; On seeing the quiet smile in surprise and anger. ** You here pe he exclaimed, ‘* How d’ye_ lo” asked Fravk, ing!” I'd like to have more ad abundant time, he thought, -