Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 118 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 ee Ce OO ee “Tt is a bad business about Mr. Elkton. I am very oo he was thrown into prison,’’ said Mr. nard. “He brought it all on himself by his obstinacy,” said the detective. ‘‘I cannot understand now why he refused to explain his possession of that silk.” “He did it to screen his friend,’’ replied Mr. Leon- ard. “It seems that this Jessie Powers saved his life once, and he would not inform on him. He sent a message to him to come to the prison, hoping to get an explanation of the matter, but Powers would i ne eee - not tome,”’ “There is some gratitude left in the world, then,” said the officer. “ Elkton must be released at once and an explanation of his conduct published to put him right with the public. I suppose that piece of silk was one of the samples they speak of having put ont forthe purpose of creating a demand for their stolen goods.”’ ‘They seem to have fallen into the wrong hands in this case,” said the elder man. ‘“‘ But how about these silks? They have not yet been sold. They must be in some hiding-place of the burglars. Yor should know these men, Fitler, and know where ' look for their plunder.”’ “IT know that Quinn for a cracksman, but no where he is living. The other manis a new hano I will soon hunt them up. ‘““And meanwhile everything will said the alderman, ; “Not if I know myself,”’ cried Will. ‘‘I can give ou a pint or two about that. It they want to savo their under they’!! have to shift it inside an hour.”’ ‘What do you mean?” asked Mr. Leonard. ‘*Oome up here, Joe, and tell the gentlemen what you seen,”’ said ciate. “‘Himand me smelt out Black-eyed Joe’s and nailed the rascals right at head-quarters. Don’ be afeared, Joe. Tell the gentlemen what you seen.”’ Joe, thus requested, began a long, rambling de- ng, of how Will had come to him in the square. He detailed their talk, and went with great prolixity through the whole story, till the time they discover- ed the burglars in council. Will helped him with suggestions here and there, and managed to dove- tail his own story into that of his associate. “This isa mighty important business,’’ cried Mr. Fitler, anger | uP. ‘You boys are worth your weight in gold. e must investigate this house at once, Can he point it out?’’ “Yes, with my eyes shut.”’ “Take a squad, Mr. Fitler, and go down and make a thorough search of the place,” said the alderman rapidly writing. ‘‘Here is your warrant. Don’t leave a rat-hole unsearched.”’ “Tf there are any stolen goods there I will brin them,” said Mr. Fitler, confidently. *‘* Come, boys, will want you.”’ “Within the next hour a squad of policemen marched into and took forcible possession of Black- eyed Joe’s mansion. The search instantly commenced, and was speedi- ly successful. In one of the upper rooms wasa pene constructed, oe and wide closet. The oor of this being forced it was found to be packed full of goods, among which Mr. Leonard’s silks were -rominent. The latter was sent for, and identified nearly all the — in the closet as his property, the proceeds 6 robberies that had gone on for over a year. Wagons were produced and the goods sent to his store. Then, under the leadership of the bootblack, Mr. Fitler proceeded to the lurking place of the re- maining burglar, whom he succeeded in arresting. disappear, ’’ CHAPTER XXIV. THE LOST FOUND, Aut the members of the council which the two boys had seen at Black-eyed Joe’s were now in custody. These consisted, as the reader may have een the two professional burglars, and Messrs, ilson and Powers, who were the persons whom Will had recognized at the time. Will had now given up his old residence, and was loca at the residence of his new-found father. The old gentleman was exceedingly rg in the possession of this strong, handsome lad for his son, and doted upon him with an affection which Will, in good measure, returned. He made himself as much at home in this well- appointed residence as he had ever been in his less savory dwelling-places, and adopted the manners and customs of good society with a readiness which could hardly have been expected. It would not be easy, however, to cure him of his assurance, and his rude, reckless habits of speech; all that could be done would be to confine them with- in more decorous limits. He told his father with much vim of the arabe, te events, the arrest of the burglars, and the part he had taken in it, The old gentleman was delighted with the courage and shrewdness of his son, and shuddered as he heard of the perilous adventure in the dark cellar. Will painted enterprise in no mild colors. ‘“‘ And now, my dear son,"’ said Mr. Somers, “ since you have so successfully finished your enterprise, I wish you to help me carry out my plans.” “Depends on what they are,” said Will. “I refer to your going toschool, You are young enough yet, to learn a business, and much as I dis- like to part with you I must give you the benefit of an education.” “Ain’t no use to with me. There’s good enough schools here,”’ said Will. ‘ Jist to think of a feller of my size goin’ along the street with baby- sthool-books under my arm. Will burst into a laugh at the absurdity of the t. i Aiat to true, Wik” said. the’ old gentioman. pe ee + Will, dragging up his bashful asso- | Will Somers. ae eee —- --+ o- ee thoughtfully. “I would hardly like to subject you oa to the unpleasantness of going to a primary school. I will have to get you a private tutor, till you are somewhat advanced. “Suit yourself. It don’t make any difference to me,’’ said Will, carelessly. ‘‘Never was ashamed of anything honest. Andif anybody tried to poke fun at me I’d soone them down. I ain’t it'd last long. Kind of do want to learn something. Can’t get myself ona level with other folks ‘cept by learning.” * You are right, Will. Lam glad to see that you take such a sensible view of the case. I will at once provide you with a tutor.”’ ‘What am I expected to do? To kick him if I don’t l#ke him ?’’ ‘“* He will be a gentleman and must be treated as such.”’ ‘Allright! I jist wanted to know what folks gen- erally did with such. Didn’t want to be out of the fashion,’’ said Will, Ne ' ‘You are incorrigible, Will,” said the old gentle- man, ee fondly upon his handsome son. ‘*I don’t lay myself out for a smooth board, easy planed,”’ sai ll. ‘‘I’m full of knots, and ain't going to be shaped so easy. I’ve got another job to put through yet afore I tie myself down to school- Dn ” ‘What do you mean?” asked his father, anxious 0 know what new whim had seized him, “ Want to find my little lost sister. Poor Jennie is ‘st like me, kicked somewhere about this big town. m goin’ to scour the whole city fcr her. BetI now her if I set eyes on her,”’ “T earnestly hope you may succeed,” said his ther. “I will lend you every aid in that search. ntend to go to the alms-house this very day, and s»rn if any trace can be found there,” ‘I want you to come with me, first, to Mr. Leon- weo’s store,’ said Will. ‘It’s about time we was elling him of our plans.” A. hour later found them in Mr. Leonard’s private office. Mr. Fitler was present, and there been « long debate on the subject of the Pye The merchant had been apprised of Will’s good fortune, and met his father with much pleasure, ‘*T hope you intend to let Will continue with me,” he said. ‘‘ He is going to makea good business man, and [ should be sorry to lose him,” ‘**T may let him return to A in the end,”’ said Mr. Somers. ‘At present I feel it necessary to give him an education.’ “*T cannot object to that,” said Mr. Leonard. ‘*T want to find my lost sister, Jennie, afore I strike into anything else,”’ said Will. ‘Jennie, Was that her name?’ asked Mr. Leon- ard, curiously. “Yes,” said Mr. Somers. ‘‘The villain who car- ried off my children seems to have made no effort to change their names. He seems to have trusted to the distance he brought them to hide them from me.”’ ‘‘T have made inquiries at the alms-house,”’ said Mr. Fitler, ‘‘as I Pee you to do. They have a record there of the admission of two children, William and Jennie Somers, with date given, There is only one other record about them. ill ran away a few years afterward.” ** And Jennie?” asked Will, laughing at the eae of his early exploit. ‘‘She was took out, and I couldn’t stay without her.”’ ‘Yes, she was taken out,”’ continued the detect- ive. ‘* By whom,I could not learn. She was adopt- ed by a party who refused to let his name go — the record. He wished to hide all trace of her origin.” ‘“But the date is there,” said Mr. Leonard, in some excitement. ‘ What date is given?’ ‘‘The 8d of September, 18—.” The merchant hastily rose and seized his hat. ‘Come with me,”’ he said, briefly. He led the way through the store and into the street at a rapid pace, giving no intimation of his object, but evidently in a state of growing excite- ment. He continued at this pace for a considerable dis- tance through the streets, finally stopping before a private house in a fashionable locality. Ringing the bell with a nervous pull they were speedily admitted into the house. Mr, Leonard had asked to see Miss Arlington, and they were ushered into the parlor, while the servant went for the lady. In a minute she returned, and Miss Arlington was ushered into their presence. She was pale and hag- ard looking, and had evidently suffered much from the revelation which her guardian had made her. She looked in surprise upon the party who had called to see her. Two of them, at least, were utter strangers, and she could not conjecture the object of this visit. ‘. ‘“We have called,” said Mr. Leonard, “‘on impor- tant business. But first let me introduce you to ; Fitler and Mr. Somers.” “Mr. Somers,” she repeated, looking from him to Will who sat beside him. *T told you once that I had lost my parents,” said Will, * or they had lost me, which comes to the same thing. I have found my father.” “And I have found my son,’ said Mr. Somers, looking proudly on his boy. ‘‘ Were but my daugh- ' terreturned to me, my cup of happiness would be full.” “*T congratulate you both on your good fortune,” said Jennie, with much interest. ‘*l am sure you at a reason to be proud of my young friend, “T have no doubt of that,”’ said the happy father. “T have,” said Will ‘‘Folks, so far, ain’t felt proud of me.” | overly ee eard | ate to leave the store, but I | -_———-- — — - — ‘*But you wished to see me on business,” she turning to her guardian. Yes,” he replied, ‘‘in reference to the matter I mentioned to you at our last meeting.”’ A look of deep displeasure came upon her face. **Let that matter die,’’ she said briefly. “It is enough to have told ittome. Do you wish to pub- lish it to the world?” ‘It need not go beyond the parties resent,” ** And ay so far as that?” she sharply asked. ke Naan heir affair? I can see no necessity of ‘I will tell you why, Jennie. I have learned wg te > ad 7g a connected with you, since I saw you last. It is necessary to broach it before pnere gentlemen, who are already conversant with e facts.” ad | ha my affairs publicly canvassed,’’ sh mk y Pp y she coldly r. Somers was involuntarily leaning forward in his seat, and devouring the face of the young lady with hungry, eager eyes. He seemed to forget all present in his absorbing interest. ‘Listen, then, to another story,’ said Mr. Leon- ard, uietly. “Mr. Somers here has had in his life experience the greatest misfortunes. He is a gen- tleman of great wealth, and surrounded with all that generally makes life desirable. Yet with it all he has been very we ae ‘e His wife died; his two children, a boy and’ ear , were stolen from him by an enemy; his whole life has been devoted to the finding of these Icst treasures.”’ ‘*T am glad to see that he has perey succeeded,” said Jennie, looking with new feeling into the hand- some, cultured face of the old gentleman. Mr, Somers had broken from his rapt regard of her features, on attention being direc to him. ‘We have pe learned,” continued Mr. Leonar ', ‘that the villain who carried off the children left them in the alms-house here in Philadelphia—dying there himself.”’ A quick thought flashed across Jennie’s mind. She grew pale, and sunk back in herchair. She was beginning to guess the object of this revelation. They were left there uncer their own names, William and Jennie Somers,’’ continued Mr. Leonard, fixing his eyes upon his intently listening ward. ‘The life there did not please young Will. He took occasion, after losing his sister, to run away from the institution. He is now before you.” ‘* After losing his sister?’ she repeated, abstracted- ly, a feeling she had never before experienced com- ing ag her as she continued to gaze at Mr. Somers, es. The sister was removed from the institu- tion, on the 8d of September, 18—, by a gentleman, who was attracted by her beautiful face and charm- ing manners. He adopted her as his daughter, giving her his name, and concealing the facts of her n. ‘** Yes,’’ said Jennie, listening to his words with breathless interest. ‘On the 8d of September, 18—,”’ continued Mr. Leonard, “‘a friend of mine, Mr. James Arlington, adopted from the alms-house a young child, giving her his own name of Arlington, but retaining her original name of Jennie Somers. She is now known, in her full name, as Jennie Somers Arlington, and is the heiress to Mr. Arlington’s estate, I being her guardian.”’ Mr. Somers had risen and approached Jennie with a motion as if drawn by some unseen force. ““Can this be possible?’ she murmured, restin with one hand upon her chair, which shook with nervous emotion. ‘Mr. Arlington not my father! This gentleman my father!”’ ‘* Yes, she is my daughter—my Jennie!”’ he cried. ‘“‘T know her now, her face, her eyes! She is the image of her poor mother!’ He would have clasped her in his arms, but she held him off, while her large, eager eyes : azed with devouring intentness upon his face, as if not quite believing in this sudden revelation, yet drawn to- ward him and longing for his love. Will, with his usual impulsiveness, broke the sus- pense. ‘*Didn’t I tell you so?’ he shouted. “I knowed you wasmy Jennie! Felt itinmy bones. My dear, sweet, lost gister Jennie!”’ Cane Her in his arms with a bear-like hug, be kissed her with a boy’s earnest though boisterous affection, his whole face thrilled with love for his new-found sister. “This is our father, Jennie—yours and mine,”’ said Will, pushing her into the old man’s arms. ‘ Don’t be doubting that. There ain’t such another nice old father in Philadelphia.” She yielded to the old man’s embrace, tears springing to her eyes as she felt his gentle kiss upon er ; va cave never had father or mother,” she mur- mured. “Mr. Arlington was kind to me, but he never seemed to me like my real father. I know why now, I feelit in my heart that I have at last found my own father.” The warmest congratulations followed. Mr. Leonard was quite forgiven in the joy of this mo- ment, and she turned to him with all her old impul- sive affection. ‘“You only want John Elkton to make you per- fectly happy,” he said, smiling. ‘He is out of rison now, and I suppose is hunting this town over or his betrothed.” CHAPTER XXV. CONCLUSION. A vone and confidential interview ensued between the father and his two newly-discovered children. It was not easy for Jennie to take in the fact of her new relations. Such a sudden and surprising reve COMICDOOKS. can see no such necessity, and must decline! > ~ com