Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 118 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

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Think I'll take his place afore long, if | ed in deep thought. Their tones fell SEA SOe nothing further came | Mr. Leonard will give me sal enough. Let tim ures {o the listeners’ ears. The consultation soon after | hoe his prettiest row, and see if I don’t come out CHAPTER XIX. Lroke up, and there were signs of departure, ahead.” , A PRISON CELL, . “Thursday night, then,’’ said one. ‘ “That’s all talk, Will Iam afraid you have done Joun Evxton had been a week in prison. His ar- ”. “No. Friday night. They might be on guard on | for yourself.” rest had excited much indignation among his friends, Thursday. “Them that lives longest will see the most,” was | who had a high opinion of his character. His The boys slid down the shed, gained the fence, | Will’s answer, silence, however, in regard to the damaging charge 1udina moment had dropped to the ground out- Ten minutes after Will received a peremptory sum- ainst excited distrust in some, even his side, mons to the office. friends. His employer was one of these. He offer- ‘* Now, Joe, we know our men, and don’t need to He walked back with his most independent air, | ed to see that John was released on bail, if he would follow them. Let’s slide,” said Will. entered the office, and coolly helped himself to a | only ag to him this ae: But John would They lost no time in putting distance between | chair opposite Mr. Leonard, who was seated alone. not exp , and did not want bai them and that dangerous locality. ‘“*T did not ask you to seat yourself,’’ said the lat- He was moody and unhePEy in his contracted “Tell you what it is, Will,’’ said Joe, leaning dog- | ter, in a displeased tone. ngs cell, and grew cross and nervous as the long i against alamp-post. ‘‘ There’s something up. ‘I was afeard you wouldn't. That’s whyI helped | days wore on, e€ monotony was broken by fre- What is it?” myself,’ said Will, nonchalantly. ‘‘ We’re goin’ to | quent visits from his friends, some of whom were “Dead burglary, Joe. These fellers have been | have consid’rable talk, and I’m too tired to s o Ry very attentive to him. But with all this the hours foing through a friend of mine. Jist hear their im- ‘*1 don’t think we will have much talk,” said the | dragged, and the place grew bitterly tiresome. perdence, too, They’ve laid out a plan to rob him | merchant, sharply, ‘A few words will conclude my One thing wore on him more than aught else. He ag’in next Friday. But I’m on hand to spile their | business with you.” had seen and heard nothing of Jennie Arlington. Little ame.”’ ‘“* But not mine with you,”’ said Will, How was his disgrace going to affect her? He did “ o’s been robbed?” ‘‘You are too much inclined to answer back,” | not believe that she could turn from him for an un- “Can’t tell you now. You'll know afore long. | said Mr, Leonard, severely. ‘That is your main | proved crime, but she was under the direct influence You'll get paid, too, for our fun to-night. You | fault, Tam satisfied with you otherwise, but can- | of his enemies, and what stories might not be told, know where them cracksmen can be nabbed?” not permit insolence in my establishment. You | and what arguments brought to bear on her? ‘Mighty queer if I don’t.” have talked in a shamefully insolent manger to Mr. He was fully aware of the natural conclusion - “That's the ticket. I’ll call on you soon at head- | Wilson. Now that is nearly the same as if you had | from his persistent silence, and could not blame peo- Juarters in the syu-re. Till then, mum’sthe word,”’ | "sed such Ti re to me. I am sorry for the ne- oe for Ser agg bee innocence. Buthe had fondly *“( wouldn’t biow; uo more than an oyster,” said | cessity, Will, but will have to discharge you. I had | oped that she had more confidence in him, and Joe, ind tly. ho better things of you.”’ would not turn away from him so lightly. We split then for to-night.” “Tt isn’t the same,’ said Will, biaxin € ~~ oo But as the days wore on and she came yot he be- Will went his way, whistling his feelings in a very | wouldn't talk to me as he does, and there’s where | gan to fear that she was lost to him, to grow gay air. the difference comes in. If a feller comesto me like | miserably unhappy in consequence. re was diligent in his store duties for the next few | a slave-driver it’s all very pretty, but I guess he'll Another thing seemed to annoy him. Some of his days, being light-h in an unusual degree. find I don't drive,” friends kept aloof from him, one in particular of When Will was in his gay mood he was the life of ‘“Men don’t measure their language in speaking | whom he had had a very exalted opinion, and the store, keeping up a constant breeze of amuse- | to boys. You must expect to put up with hasty | whose absence caused him much mental disquiet. ment, Mr. Leonard had decided to let him alone in | speech.” : He finally sent a message to this man, Jesse Powers these outbursts of animal spirits, as he did not find ‘Boys have got souls,’’ said Will, indignantly. | by name, with an UrgeUP request to have him come that the liveliness engendered by Will interfered | ‘‘’Tain’t what I’ve been used to, to be talked to like | to the prison and see him. with the amount of labor performed, but rather aid- | a dog.” It failed in its effect. His friend was out of town edit. So our young friend was left to sing, dance, ‘‘T am sorry, Will, that there is such a break be- | and did not get his epistle. joke, and otherwise upset the quiet of the store, to | tween you and Mr. Wilson. I will have to support It was nearly the end of the first week of prison iis heart's content. him, You must go,”’ life when the door of his cell was one morning un- And yet he fell into bitter disgrace before the ‘‘What! for Gus Wilson? Not if I know myself. | locked, and anew visitor admitted. He had been week was out. I wouldn't stayed here a week, Mr. Leonard, if you | given a privilege which few of the prisoners enjoy- It was Thursday. They were engaged in getting | hadn't been a straight man. You suit me pretty | ed, of having both doors opened, and visitors in an invoice of very valuable goods. These were wa and I ain’t taking no discharge.”’ ted within the grating. black siliss of superior quality, and very costly. a is nonsense, boy,” said the merchant, se- He sat discousolate and moody, fretting in spirit Will labored vigorously, but with the utmost good a ** You will have to go.” at the defection of his betrothed, when he lifted his , A ‘humor, at the task of getting the cases into the “T'll bet my next year’s that Gus Wilson | eyes and saw her standing before him, her eyes full store and lowering them into the basement, where goes first,’’ said Will, setting his hat rakishly on his | of love and sympathy. ‘ it was decided to place them for the present, ead, ‘Oh, John!” was her piteous exclamation. Yet he could not repress his overflowing spirits ‘Come, there is enough of this,’ said Mr. Leonard, | _ He sprung to his feet with new life, clasped her in » and executed a hreak-down between the lowering of rising. ‘I will pay you what is due you, and hope arms, and rained kisses on her distressed face. oue case and the receiving of another, that excited | this experience may be a lesson to you in the next “This is very good in you, Jennie,” he said, “I the laughter of the men, and the indignation of Mr. | place fe may get.”’ have just been thinking of you, and wishing for you; Wilson, who was passing. sn down, Mr. Leonard,” said Will, cant, “May | but not nee ‘*See here, boy,’ he cried. “We don’t hire you | be ros re done; but I ain’t quite through yet.” “You did not think I had forgotten you?” she fora negro minstrel or for a ballet-dancer. You've he merchant stood looking down at the indepen- | said, reproachfully. talaed disturbange enough in the store already. | dent boy with an air of surprise. He had not met “‘No, no, Jennie; I had faith in your love. But Wow I want this a eee such a character before. how I did want you!”’ “Pll try,” said emurely. ‘“‘ But my logs ‘What have you got to say?” he asked. He kissed her again, clasping her still closer. sometimes kick up all of a sudden, I catch myse “Well, the first thing is, that I ain’t only goin’ to ‘** And what a place this is,’’ she said, looking round dancing afore I know it.” spend my days here, but calculate to spend my | thecell. ‘‘I would have been here before, John, but “You had better kuow it, and well, in the future. nights here, too.” I was hindered. I thought, indeed, the first few I warn you now that the next time you attempt it What do you mean?”’ cays, that you would not stay here.” you will be sent about your business.’ “T mean that you have gotin a lot of fine goods, “How could I help myself, Jennie? Nobird would “I’m about my biznéss now,” said Will, as he lent | and that the thieves are goin’ for them to-morrow stay in its cage if the door was open.” a hand to the next case. night.” ' **You could open the door with a word. You know ‘**You have entirely too much impudence, boy, I ‘Mr, Fitler, the detective, don’t think 50.” ou could,” she said, looking tenderly but eagerly will not have these pert answers.” “He be blowed. He’s good for straight work, but | into his face. “ You are innocent. Why will you ** Dunno how you're goin’ to help it. My tongue’s | not good for a crooked job like this. I’m goin’ to be | not clear yourself?” jist as hard to manage as my legs.” detective, and to spend to-morrow night in your “Tt looks as if I were guilty,” he ropes leading “You have got to aaa it, then,’ cried Mr. | cellar. There's rats there that want to be smelt out. | her to the only chair the cell afforded. “The law Wilson, insudden anger. ‘If not here, then some- | Set down,” he continued, as the merchant looked | and the public seem to think so.” where else. our insolence is petting unbearable.” | incredulous. ‘‘It won't be my first night there. I've “Tt is your own fault, John. You are incompre “You didn’t hire me, and I ain't taking no dis- | got something to tell you,” hensible. Why are you so silent? I cannot guess a c e from you.” Mr. Leonard’s incredulity changed to intense in- | reason, You must clear yourself.” “Tl see if you won't,” cried Wilson. terest as Will proceeded to describe his former night ‘** And convict others?” ** Now you get back to your end of the ship, and | in the cellar, and what he had seen there. ‘Tf they are lty, yes.” don’t be annoying a gentleman at his work,” said ‘*Can it be possible?” he cr.ed. ‘‘ Why did you “There are things that cannot be told, Jennie, and Will, impatiently. ‘‘ You’re worse than a bad oys- | not tell me this before?” reasons why I should not convict even the gay. I ter. You'd best slide if you know when your moth- ‘I was waiting for it to get ripe,’ said Will, quiet- | hope you will not press this matter further. I have er’s pet is well off.”’ ly. ‘*Set still; I ain’t done yet. not taken my course without excellent reasons. If “*Why you insolent, rascally young memeet!.. Mr. He proceeded with a description of his last even- | you knew all, you would counsel me to do asI have Wilson could hardly speak for rage. ‘‘That comes ! ing’s adventure, and of his recognition of the oe done. Let that suffice. It pains me to have to re- from taking vagrants off the street. You shall get ; concerned, though declining just then to tell who | fuse you.” -out of this store, or I will.”’ they were. — Jennie was silent for a little, thinking. She clasp: He made as if he would take Will by the shoulders “But this is most important,” said the merchant, | ed his hand with a warm pressure. is gladdened and Ba him out bodily, then and there. breathlessly. ‘‘ I must send for Mr, Fitier at once.’’ | eyes were fixed eagerly upon her face. * You can get, soon as you want,”’ said Will, stand- ell | you do, I wash my hands clean of it,’’ said ‘Let it be so,” she said, at length. ‘“ For the pre- ing erect and coolly eying him. “Dunno that | Will. ‘I ain’t taking no pards in bizness.” sent, at least, we will forget it.”’ rowre much use here, ‘long side of me. Willful ‘‘But we need his advice.” The conversation changed. Seated upon the floor | Vill ain’t to be spared,’ ‘We don’t want none of it. I tell you what we do | at her feet, and looking lovingly up into her eyes, ‘ “Tl see about that,” cried Wilson, doubly en- Ae their talk grew of softer themes. Their voices fell, ' raged, as some of the men laughed. “This is the ** Well?” mellowed 9 love. Hours, it seemed to them, they | a second specimen of your insolence and it shall be ‘““We want to keep still tongues, If this thing | conversed in that sweet love gossip so hard to trans- the last. If there’s more of it I shall put you out | is talked of, our dog’s dead. I'll tell you this much, | late, so weak and meaningless when put into words, } : ae. there’s a traitor in the store. If there’s a hfe re Looks, tones, hand-pressures, form the soul of ' ‘Don’t try it on,’ said Will, lifting his straight, | gets out all our fun goes for nothing. I want to find | lovers’ talk, and these no pen can write down, The ' athletic figure. “It you lay a finger on me Y'll | out how them things are got out of the cellar,” words spoken are dreadfully prosy to outsiders; all ' couble you up like a jack-knife. I could curry down * You are right, Will. I shall not speak of it.’’ the poetry lies in the language of lips and eyes. ‘ e, dozen mules like you. Now get, and blow to Mr. ‘Nor don’t look it, nor wink it, nor let it out in “Your friends have all visited you, then?” she at eonard, and I don’t care three darns what you tell | anyway, There will be somebody doubtful of our length asked. ; him. Look out, though, that I don’t get a ringin | long talk here, Tell Gus Wilson and the rest of “Not all. Nearly all,” he replied. ‘‘ Their kind- your nose afore you’re a week older, it you try it | them that I begged off, and made you promise me | ness has helped me greatly.” on,” L another week’s trial.”’ ‘* Could they do less, and be friends?’ she quickly Wilson seemed incapable of further speech. He | |‘ “Very well. I shall do so. No one shall learn | replied. **IT do not think much of those who have e went hastily back. anything from me.” failed to come,” ae _ “You're a fool, Will. You’ve got your walking- **Not Wilson, nor Fitler, nor none of them. The **T donot blame them. They might have been papers,” said one of the men. : job can’t be done if it gets in the wind.” away, or unable to come. And my very equivocal ‘\ “Bet a dollar I ain’t,”’ said Will, easily. “I ain’t “ But how will you manage to remain after night | position is a very good reason for their absence.” ent _ talting no discharge now.”’ Tee, without its being known?’ : “It’s no reason at all,” she broke out, ‘‘ They are & . . . 2 ' bag : / P ‘a, 4 - : my, > ne ' : » :