Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1096 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ent ———— = ‘*]’ve got ther drop on yer,” he informed, the mowent the door swung back, ‘I ain’t ter be fooled with. Step right in, if yer is all wool ther same as yer claims ter be.” There was no hesitation about accepting the invitation, ‘‘ Your precautions are all right, and i have no fault to find with them,” the visitor re- ruarked, Ham closed the door, and demanded: ** Has yer got a match about yer clothes?” ‘* Vos,” the answer, “a pocket 3afe full.” ‘‘ Waal, jest strike one, an' let me have a squint at yer phiz,” ‘‘ Pil do that, certainly, for 1 want you to be assured regardine m= identity, old friend,” There Was @ moment’s pause; then followed the scraping of a match, Soon the little blue flame sprung up, and, as soon as it blazed white, the visitor held it before his face, ‘Dick Darrel, b’gosh!” cried Ham. yer paw!” Tne light was extinguished at once, ** You mustn’t speak so loud,” Dick cautioned —for he it was, “It kem out itself,” declared Ham. ‘“‘T’li be a leetle more keorful. But, say, Dick—” ** Well, what is it?” ‘‘ Whar did ye go to when yo went inter ther bar-room t’other day and wasn’t seen no more? I’m dyin’ ter know what bekem of yer, an so’s every boy else.” Dandy Dick laughed lightly. ‘*So, you are dying to know, are you?” he re- marked, ‘Yas: an’ fur ther luv o’ goodness tell me, How did yer do et, anyhow?” Dick explained in few words, and Ham ex- claimed; Waal, I'll ber darn!” “You didn’t suspect it, then?” **Surspect it! How could a feller surspect?” ** Well, that’s so; I made a long play, and it seems I got there.” ‘*Bet yer life yer did! You is ther devil himself at detective business, an’ that’s ther fact. You comes hyar as a Eyetalian, witha organ an’a monkey, an’ yer fooled every man of us, an’ got at yer enemy in fine style. Then right on top o’ that ye comes up asan Injun, an? bags yer man ergain. An’ now, darn me if hyar ye ain’t a third time, an’—” ** And as well disguised as before, eh?: Well, I hope so, for I have a desperate game to play, and I want your help init. It is for that I have come here to-night. Will you help me?’ : ‘*Will I? Bet yer life I will!” **T thonght I could depend on you, and I was not mistaken.” ‘‘Bet yer boots on that, every time! But, what is yer after now? What has yer got yer eye on?” ‘* The Invisibles.” . Fara so, b’gosh! I’m with yer, heart an’ soul. ‘*That is enougb for the present, My plans are not laid yet., But, you must guard against betraying me, Ham,” ‘* Yer kin trust me fer that, pard.” *‘T know I may, so far as your intention is concerned, but you must be on your guard all the time. A look, or even a slightér thing, might expose all,” ‘*I tell ye yer kin trust me. Yer secret is gafe— Blazes! who would ’a’ believed it!” “Tt wasa clever trick, I think, myself.” ** Why didn’t ye let me onto it afore?” **] have been waiting fora favorable oppor- tunity. To-night the Invisibles are abroad, and I took advantage of the moment.” “Yas; I begin ter see, Waal, all yer bas ter do is ter direct me, an’ Pll git thar, you bet!” ‘Very well, Of course you can understand that my communications with you must be ex- tremely cautious, The least thing might betray me, so be porn to hear from me at any moment and in any unlooked-for manner,” “*T onderstand.” ‘‘ ft may be to-morrow; it may be a week hence.” ** All ther same, Count on me as bein’ ready when yer wants me, that’s all.” “Tm going to prepare a dragnet for them this time, Ham, so to call it, and I want to scoop them all at one bau],” “That’s ther cheese! An’ yer wants ter put a few nooses onto et, too, an’ make one clean job of et. Hang’em at ther same time as yer auls ’em,” ie They shall have what they deserve, never ear, **T don’t doubt it, pard, with you after ’em.” ‘*Guv us ‘ a ee Le la : : 5 a — ah ¢ . . f - 7 : ‘. te rf : i *) +.” Caen se) HAP REMY the he GR by Gee LiPo ¢ mee NT > EY, te Av ' J 7 ‘\ SM yal 7 wre 7 . ee] 4 e - >, vaY 7 f ry oe i ‘ ~? , ath. i. ef : " ‘Se ? » 4 * oh € > moe M Ee. Dandy Dick’s Dragnet. “‘ Now [Pll go. The hour is late, and I mustn’t risk discovery. Mind, keep well the secret I have intrusted to your keeping.” Ham promised yet again, and Detective Dick Darrel! took his leave, disappearing in the dense darkness of the night, while Ham closed the door after him and roturned to his bunk, CHAPTER IV. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSING, MENTION in acasual way has been made or **the Gobles.” The persons bearing that name were guests at the United States Hotel, at Imperial City. They had arrived there a few days previous to the disappearance of Daady Dick aud his companions, as has been shown, The party consisted of a man and his wife, with a Chinese servant whom they called Tom Lee. They had registered as from San Fran- cisco, and evidently rich, Gideon Gobles was a man about fifty years of age, apparentiy, and, although he claimed to be from San Francisco, had more the appearance of a countryman, a retired farmer, well-to-do, His wifo, Mdannah, was a rather masculine appecring woman, yet a motherly-looking per- sonage withal, who “* looked up to” her husband in all things, evidently having full confidence in him and in his opinions and judgment, The Chinese servant was a Chinaman of the usual type, clad in ill-fitting and odd-enough American garments, with this queuc. coiled up under bis black felt hat aiter the manner peculiar to his semi-Americanized countrymen in general—a ‘* John” of the familiar type. And these had come to the hotel, as stated, previous to the disappearance of Dick Darrel and his allies. Mr. Gobles was searching for a truant son— a@ prodigal son, #0 to say. he young man has left home about a be J before, with a full pocket, and had not n heard from since. The young gentleman had played the prodigal act several times before, leaving home with a ful) purse, aod returning in about three months ** dead broke,” Now, however, his stay was so prolonged that the old folks, becoming uneasy, had begun search for him, and such slight information as tbey had been able to gather had led them in the direction of Imperial City. Gideon had questioned almost every man in the camp concerning the lost heir, trying to get some further clew to his whereabouts, but so far all in vain. No one had seen anything of a oung man answering to the description the ather gave of his son, Simeon Gobles, the name of the missing young man, was described as a fair and slight young fellow about twenty-two years old. He had red hair, an incipient mustache, and, according to statement, a goodly array of freckles, And he was an unfortunate in that he was blind in one eye and had a cross in the other. Such a description could not be mistaken, and should Simeon Gobles chance to come within a dozen miles of Imperial City be would be sure to be “‘run in,” There would be little chance of mistaking bis ideutity, for the description was 80 gen that even he who ran might read. And besides, the fond father of the misguided ign had posted a reward of a hundred dol- ars for any correct information, It was on the morning following the night of the events recorded in the pr ing chapters, that Mr, and Mrs, Gobles, just coming out from breakfast, met Sinclair Fowley on the piazza. **Good-morning, Mr. Gobles!” the mine-man- ager greeted; ‘‘ good-morning, Mrs. Gobles.” ““Good-morning, Mr. Fowiey!” was the re- sponse from both. ei aur word of the lost one yet?” Fowley in- uired, ar Not a word, sir,” responded Gobles. And Mrs, Gobles echoed: ‘* Not a word,” **Tt is strange.” “We begin to think we must have been mis- led, sir.” ‘““It looks like it, and that’s a fact,” Fowley assented, ‘lt is plain that your son has never been here.” **' We agree with you,” svoke Mrs. Gobles. “If any one here had seen our dear Simeon, I am sure he would be remembered. Simeon has a striking presence, sir.” **So I am led to infer, from his description. I am sure if any one ever saw him he would re- member bim, What eee think of doing, roid pte Will you remain here for a me ‘ S| ; be : 3M fy . * - it tee “* ‘ - v 44 , 4 ; 1 : 7 oF an) » bat 5 ‘ . J ’) ° + yh y spar? Td ‘“‘- Yes: I think we will remain a little longer,” was the answer, ‘‘ You see, sir. we may as well stop here as any place, and we can. send out letters of description and inquiry, and in truth have done so, and any one can write us here,” ** Not a bad idea, ‘*So we think. It is better than being on the constant move,” “IT agree with you, perfectly. hope you will get tidings of tbe lost one, soon.” Mr, Fowley passed on, while Mr. and Mrs, Gobles, arm in arm, walked up and down the piazza, taking their morning constitutional, They were an odd-looking couple, clad in their best, in garments thirty years aut of style, and which had probably been their wedding clothes. If so, they had kept them well, Mr. Gobles had on an old-style high hat, broad at the top and wide at the rim, and the collar of his coat was so high in the back that it and the hat occasionally met and kissed. And the sleeves of the coat were narrow and long. He wore an old-style stock or cravat, bad a gorgeously patterned vest, and breeches that buttoned up before like a curtain on a wagon. He had on spectacles, too, that might have be- longed to his grandfather, and taken all in all ho was a fine old gentleman of the real old sort. His wife was dressed to correspond, being fin- ished off with a white cap and a pair of green glasses, They were a quaint pair, and the roughest rough in the place would not have offered them insult or injury, so gentle and innocent they ap- peared to be, Talking together as they paced up and down the short and narrow piazza, they gave little at- tention to what was going on about them, but responded now and again to morning greetings from persons pessing. Finally Ham Stanton came along. ‘““Waal, any word o’ that ’ar missin’ young- ster yet, Mister Gobles?” he asked, ‘* Not a word, good friend,” was the response. my ae are beginning to fear the worst has hap-~- ned, ** Hanged on account of h eh? Waal, that would be rougb, I allow. That is gen'ly ther wu’st that kin happen, in these days.” ‘* Heavens!” gasped Mrs. Gobles, ‘‘ you don’t think they have hanged my boy, do you, sir? Gh, do not tell me you think such a thing as that of my poor Simeon!” “Waal, now, ma’m, it was yer husband what said he thort ther wu’st had happened, an’ I opine that’s ther wu’st, ain’t it? But, mebby that wasn’t jest what you was meanin’, Mister Gobles,” ‘*T meant to say we fear he is dead,” sighed Gideon, ‘““Ob, that makes a difference. I beg yer parding, ma’m. There’s a difference "tween dying an’ bein’ hanged.” ‘*T know they would never hang my boy,” de- clared the mother of the prodiga)], ‘‘One look at his face would assure them of bis innocence,” ‘‘ Haven’t no doubt of it, ma’m, not ther least, from his descrip, But, it begins ter look as if he wasn’tin these parts. That reward would fetch bim,if he was, I think.” “T would willingly double the reward, if I thought it would hasten his discovery,” Gideon declared, *‘T don’t think it’s any use ter raise it,” said Ham, ‘‘I remember that’s all Goody Craw] of- fered when his dog was stole, an’ it fetched the cur home,” While they were talking, the mayor or mar- shal of the city, Gold-plate George, came out of tbe hotel in a rather excited manner, bearing a inte? envelope in his band, and looked about 1m, ‘* Hello, Ham,” he greeted, at sight of that “brian ‘see here, I want to show you some- hing. ‘“What are it, Gold-plate?” Ham asked, curi- ously, advancing. ‘‘T have heard from Dick Darrel at last.” ‘‘ Ther dickins yer have!” “That’s the person we have heard so much about, isn’t it?” queriz1 Gobles, “The same, sir, XoOu remember, he disap- peared shortly after you came here,” ‘Yes; Iremember him, Was fixed out like an Indian, made an arrest, and then suddenly was not, like Enoch of old. ‘* Exactly; but Enoch’s case don’t fit his, for it seems he hasn’t gone far; at any rate, here is a communication just fresh from his bands.” ‘But, what ar’ it?’ demanded Ham Stanton, impatiently, “At that moment Sinclair Fowler ) £09 Co a ~ a ~~ i | i N X ; F rs p ¥ i o - —_— > ‘ < re ‘ ae 1) * pe eA ,) 7 < % ft ¥ + Say says 4 4) € . Well, I They were