Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Oe te _——. « i ~ => es ° + #4 z 5 Pee. oes » « ae < eo a, Middy Ned, the Runaway. 15 plied with arms and ammunition and her bat- tery is a pretty one, so the Volunteer’s crew will gO away altogether empty-handed,” ** Do you go with the brig?” quietly asked Hansen, “Oh, no! The brig’s people—you understand —will come to me, in America, within a couple of months,” ‘‘I’m glad. I feared 1t would be the other way,” **Thank you: You're a good fellow, Han- a averred Blood, grasping the lieutenant’s and, ‘** And, now, if you please, I'll get back to my work, and quietly let the men know what they already suspect regarding the disposition to be made of the brig, is correct,” ‘“Doso. If there is any discontent let me know, and I will do my best to remedy it,” ‘*There will be none,” assured Hansen; and he was right. There was not the slightest dis- content over the loss of prize money, and when the vessels parted company, next morning, the greatest good feeling existed between the crews ‘of both, _ Ned was one of the two who had occasion to go aboard the Rattlesnake to say good-by, and on returning to the brigantine, whispered to Harry: ‘She is going to come and stay at my fa- ther’s bouse, by and by, until the captain has his house ready. He’s awful rich, and General Elrington’s going to sell his property for him,” To close the career of Captain Blood, as a 9 bapa i oma it is only necessary to say that ed’s statement covered all that followed, ex- cept that the marriage of Miss Alice Elrington to St. George Blood Howard was celebrated in the farm-house of General Preble—the “ Briga- dier” and General Elrington having become warm friends, notwithstanding the war then raging between England and America, CHAPTER XXII, HOME AGAIN! JUST one month after the capture of the Rattlesnake, two youths in naval dress at- tracted considerable attention in the main street of Falmouth, The Volunteer, under Captain Blood, had re- turned to the port of departure, and, the facts being laid before the authorities, the ves- sel and cargo were condemned, and the value divided among the crew. The boys ‘had just parted with Blood and Turner, it having been arranged that the boat- swain should take care of the captain, for that night, while Ned was to play host to Frank, rize money had been plentiful, and, during the early morning, the captain and boatswain, as well as the boys, electrified the Falmouth shop-keepers by their heavy purchases, A. farmer’s wagon passed, while the boys were a per hesitating as to what they do next, for, as he frankly admitted, Ned was not at all certain regarding the character of the welcome which would be accorded bim by The Brigadier, ** |’ vesomething forevery one of them, except him,” said Ned, as the wagon passed, ‘but what to buy him puzzles me. What do you think I should get for him?” ‘* Potatoes!” laughingly answered Frank, pointing to the farmer’s wagon. Ned jumped at the suggestion, and, hailing the farmer, bargained for the delivery of the entire load at General Preble’s farm-house. ‘‘ Now, I know what to get him!” exclaimed Ned, looking after the farmer’s wagon, witha fr lpr smile, pig Mh ‘* Why, do you intend buying more?” ‘‘ More!” repeated Ned, ‘‘ why I’ve’only com- menced, Ill. put as much stores in the old i res as if The Brigadier was going cruis- ng in it, f Come on!” he continued, laughing at Frank’s astonishment; ‘‘come on! It will take up all the forenoon, and, then, we must spend an hour with Mrs. Turner.” Seizing Frank’s arm, as he spoke, the now joyfully excited Ned hurried to a nearby* pro- vision dealer’s, where barrels of pork and beef, and barrels and sacks of flour, and potatoes, were purchased and ordered delivered to Gen- eral Preble, - Nearly a dozen dealers were visited in this fashion before Ned was satisfied, for none of them carried a very heavy stock, and provisions were scarce, About noon a wagon, loaded entirely with tatoes, stopped in front of the Preble farm- use, and the driver halloed: ‘Where d’ye want these here ’taters put, Brigadier?” The family were at dinner, and The Briga- dier was just remarking that provisions of all kinds, and potatoes in particular, would be scarcer even than they were, owing to the war, and, with a grim smile, he went to the open doorway, and answered: ‘“* 1d like first rate to put them in my barn, but it so happens that I haven’t ordered any. ‘*Nor could I pay for them, if I had,” he muttered to himself, **Then into the barn they go!” returned the driver, adding: ‘*'Whether you want ’em or not, I got the directions t’ deliver ’em here, an’ have got the money for doin’ it, too!” The Brigadier stared as the speaker turned his team toward the barn, where, a few min- utes after, he began unloading the potatoes. ** Eben, go tell that fellow that somebody’s been playing a trick on him. We want, or rather ordered, no potatoes,” said The Briga- dier, turning to his eldest son. In a few minutes the latter returned from the barn, and, seeing that the work of unload- ing Rete still going on, the father impatiently asked: ‘*‘What’s the matter with the fellow? Why don't he stop bis foolish work?’ ‘* He says he’s willing to be tricked, at the same rate, every day; that the potatoes were bought, and paid for at a liberal price, by a young man in Falmouth, this morning, and that he received two dollars extra to deliver them here, ** And he says he’s going to doit, if he has to fight,” smilingly added Eben, ‘* Did he know the young man?” asked Mrs. Preble, oF No, but he says the stranger looked like a sailor,’ ‘‘ It is exactly one year since Edward left us,” thoughtfully observed the mother, Another wagon stopped in front of the door, at this juncture, shutting off further specula- tion regarding the stranger. This time the driver came to the door, and, handing The Brigadier a receipted bill for a barrel each, of pen teh and flour, and one sack of potatoes, asked: ** Where’ll you have ’em put, sir?’ After staring a full minute at the bill, The Brigadier sighed, and, in a helpless way, an- swered; ‘* Anywhere, anywhere! Some ef the boys will show you.” Before the second wagon was out of the way, a third arrived—loaded with the same kind, and quantity of goods, except that the potatoes were reduced toa half sack, Then, as if timing their movements, a fourth, fifth, and sixth wagon stopped before the door, Just as the previous one was ready to leave, It was dark when the sixth wagon departed, and The Brigadier looked relieved, as he heard it roll away, “Well, that’s the last of ’em, I guess,” he sighed, looking very much perplexed, and half 6 was mistaken, however, for, just as Mrs, Preble reproachfully answered that he should feel grateful instead of angry, a loud “‘ whoa!” accompanied by the noise of horses’ hoofs, an- nounced the arrival of a seventh load! _ This time it was a large farm wagon, and, in addition to the usual beef, pork, flour and potatoes, contained fully two dozen packages, each bearing the name of some member of the family, ** Anything for me?” asked The Brigadier, with a grim smile, seeing every one’but himself busy opening their packages, ** Oh, yes!” assured the driver, as he relieved himself of another armful of packages, and ex- tending a folded paper, continued: ‘** That’s for you, sir, It’s a receipted bill for what’s on the wagon,” ‘* What is on the wagon?” demanded The Brigadier, without looking at the bill, The driver, unaware of his six predecessors, innocently began: “A : mighty fine lot of stuff, sir. Beef, T —- ** Flour, and potatoes!” angrily interrupted The Brigadier, amid a burst of laughter, whisk not even his severity could restrain, and in which he himself soon joined. = Mele man, I’ve been doing nothing but re- nD ceiving beef, pork, flour, and potatoes, all this bl day!” he exclaimed, on recovering his com re, _“*You’re a mighty lucky man, sir—in these times,” gravely returned the driver, adding: eee Ce er nse teeta eS ee ae a **T wish I had a son to do the same for me.” Although able to learn nothing definite from any of the previous teamsters, this, now, was not much of, a surprise, for the arrival of the packages, which contained just what each had desired for years, had led all to suspect that Ned was the donor. ‘Where is he? Where ismy boy?” eagerly asked, Mrs, Preble. ‘** Right here, mother!” came the cheery re- sponse from the open doorway, and, a moment after, Ned was locked in his mother’s arme, Following the excited boy, came Ho: ton, and it was to the latter that The Brigadier, and the rest of the family, were compelled to ad- dress their questions, and remarks, for the next few minutes, When, quiet being somewhat restored, Ned had told the story of his life for the past year, The Brigadier laid the seven bills for beef, pork, floar, and potatoes, on the table, and asked, sigrificantly : ‘* And these?” **Oh, I didn’t stop to dig the potatoes, so I thought it would be wise to buy some before coming home,” laughed Ned, adding, very soberly: **Pve prayed, many a time, for another chance to dig some!” ‘**'Then, you’ve had enough of the sea?” asked The Brigadier. ‘Yes, sir;—in that way,” declared Ned, ** Now, T want to get an appointment as mid- shipman, and one for Frank,’ ** Well, we'll see about it, tig fo since you are determined to follow that life, I may as well begin at once,” “Thank you, sir. cluded?” ‘*Oh, yes; but you are a foolish boy!” insisted The Brigadier, little dreaming how high that boy’s name would one day stand among the list of American commodores, The Brigadier ‘‘saw about” the matter so quickly, and energetically, that, one month after their arrival in Falmouth, the boys were appointed to the 36 gun ship Protector, where we will leave them. THE END, Of course, Frank is in- Beatles Half-Dime Library. BY DAN DUNNING. 746 Quiet Jack, the Secret Service Spy. 767 Mac and Jack, the Invincibles; or, The Diabolical Three. S75 Detective Dave’sa Close Call. S84 Farrel Fox and His Girl Ferret. 898 Farrel Fox’s Sweep-Stakea. BY CHARLES MORRIS. 118 WHIL Somers, the Boy Detective. | 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick: or, The Hero in . 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. 147 Will Wildfire, the Thorough bred. 152 Black Beas, W1))] Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike M y the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire tv the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 70 A Trump Cardy; or, Wl! Wildfire Wins and Loses co Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. Ss 1 1 I Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden rf and; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy, or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed}; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the eer Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 285 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, 242 The Two ** Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway: or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: o:. Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice, 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota: or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Keady, the Hote! Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 8379 Larry, the Leveler;: or, The Bloods ot the Boulevard. 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 423 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 452 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagapond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket: or, How He Fonght for Honor, 501 Koots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret *ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid: or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfin the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Bey Speculator. 667 Rob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbsatone Detective: or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. THT Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes, S69 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, SSI Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective 917 Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot, A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is tor sale vy all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents eacn. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. comicboo