Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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20 oe - -—- ———— + Cr Since I escaped from her I have had a desperate fight with the world. I finally found some good ng ap who gave me a start in a more respectable e > ee “Andis thatall? Does your memory go no fur- ther back?” “Yes,” answered Harry, eagerly. “I have faint memories of an earlier time. I can just recall a large stone house, with pretty grounds around it, in which I must have lived when very young. I re- member, too, a tall, handsome gentleman, and a beautiful lady, dressed in blue silk.”’ His eyes were fixed upon her face with the earn- estness of + siege recognition. She trembled, growing pale and red by turns. She could hardly eep in her chair. “Is there anything more?”’ she asked, clasping the medal nervously, ‘Very little,” he replied. ‘‘I can just recall a fall from my mother’s arms—I suppose it must have been my mother,’’ he continued, with a ques- tioning look at her. ‘There wasa toy, too, of which I have a distinct recollection. It was a black figure in a box, which sprung up on touching a spring. I still remember the trouble I was in when I let it fall and broke its nose.”’ She could keep in no longer. The instinctive feel- ing she had entertained had grown assurance. Oh! it is he! my son! my long-lost son!” she cried, in a tone of infinite joy, rising and moving to- ward him with extended arms. ‘I felt it in my soul when I first met you.”’ ‘* And I, too, mother!”’ he cried, with a long, eager dwelling upon the word. He rose, too, with the same irresistible impulse which had moved her. In a moment they were in each other’s arms, the mother clasping him to her heart with a warm embrace, in which all the past an of her longing love seemed to find expres- on. They stood for minutes thus clasped, looking in- to — other’s eyes, murmuring only inarticulate words. ** Come, Dick,’’ said Jack Bounce, in a low tone; “we can return again.”’ “*T spose so,’’ reluctantly. The boy’s face was flushed with a warm emotion. He looked positively handsome at that moment. He seemed loth to be da away from a new experience in his young 8. **Oh! do not go!”’ cried Mrs. Milton, hastily turn- ing. “*T have been thoughtless in my love.” We have but a few words to say,” replied Jack. “We know you must prefer to alone at resent.” Pn We will hear you through, at all events,”’ said Harry, smiling with the perfect happiness which had dawned upon him that day. “*T have only to say that your child was stolen from you by an old crone, who has been caught in more than one case of child-stealing. Her object = ape oy a im asap ag and then to — em objects of sympathy in or Dees. ck, here, has fortunately discovered her. have just paid her a visit, and forced her to acknowledge the whole truth.”’ “Dick, again!"’ cried Harry, smiling. ‘* Dick is a very jewel. But how has he learned so much? I never told him my history."’ ‘You told me enough of it,” explained Dick. “I knowed what that p to Chester was for. I a ed Williamson's game to git all the p’ints he 20 from your and then play them off on this Hong Not all at once, thoighb, I took it in, bit by “Tell us all about it," plead Harry. “It must be an interesting story.” Dick proceeded to do so, they all listening with at attention to his account of his adventures in e pursuit of snowiecee under difficulties. “It wasn’t himself Williamson was working for,”’ declared Dick. ‘It’s too well knowed who feiss. It was that Cap. Parker, who I s’pose never had no father or mother, and so was open to take on a rich stepmother. I'm glad you escaped taking him in, ma’am, for he’s an out-and-out beat,”’ Dick expressed this last opinion with such energy as to set them all anghing. **T do not think he would have succeededivery well, despite all his stolen proofs,” averred Mrs. ton. “ As for my Harry, here, he has all the proof I need in his face. However, I thank Nee from my heart for your wonderful success overcoming the oe of these villains. I shall never forget what owe you. ‘*Shake hands with me, ma'am,” said Dick, start- ing up. “ Certainly,’’ she replied, with a warm smile, as she offered him her hand. Dick shook it vigorously, his face lighting up with warm enthusiasm, ‘‘That's pay,’’ be declared, fervently. ‘* Never touched a reallady’s hand afore. Mr. Harry Spen- cer, you're a lucky feller, that’s all I’ve got tosay. Sich mothers ain't picked up every day. Come, Mr. Bounce, I guess we’ve bout wore out our welcome.”’ Jack seemed of the same opinion, and followed Dick from the room, after having bidden good-by to the happy parent and child. Despite their interest in what they had heard, any were glad to be alone, and spent an hour of suc communion as comes but once in any one’s life. The mother’s heart, closed by grief for years, opened to the new joy which had dawned upon her life, and her feeling for her new-found son was that. absorp- tion of soul into soul which alone makes a true union of two natures. Harry, too, had so long yearned for a mother’s Vv v Me and had repined so bitterly over the mystery | s life, that bis love bloomed out for his mother Detective Dick. — ee EEE as a flower bursts open its enveloping leaves, and grows at once into perfect bloom, During their long communion many new facts is recollection, each one an added proof of Mrs. Milton, however, came to hisidentity with the lost son. asked and desired no further proof than had already come to her, her faith in and love for her son being = that perfect nature that disdains the shadow of oubt. A knock at the door finally recalled them to recol- lection of the outer world. Ha opened it, ad- ene a young lady, who s back on observ- ng him. n Excuse me, Mrs. Milton,’’ she said, “‘I was not aware you had company.” “You know this young geneteman, I believe?” and the mother smiled sweetly. “ Yes,”’ answered the young lady, faintly. ‘“‘ He is an acquaintance of mine.” ‘“‘Her music-teacher,’’ put in Harry, with like faintness of tone. ‘‘He is my son,” and Mrs. Milton spoke with af- fecting earnestness. ‘Oh! I knew it! I knew it!” cried Helen, eagerly, “T felt thatit must turn out so!” ‘“‘T did not think you would be so enthusiastic about it.’’ ‘‘But I could not help feeling a deep interest in your bereavement. ‘“*And was that all? Was there no interest in this dear boy’s bereavement?” Helen stammered as she attempted to answer, away her flushed cheek. ‘*Ask Harry,” she at length managed to say, in a very low tone. ‘**T am referred to you,” and Mrs. Milton turned to her son. *T have but one answer,"’ putting his arm round Helen’s waist, and kissing the lips that were turned up tohim with an innocent willingness that was beautiful to behold. ‘*T love her, and I know that shelovesme. Should she not be coma interested in me, then, mother?”’ ‘*T know, and I love her, too, Harry,’’ said Mrs, Milton, taking the young couple in herarms. “And I know that we three will be ever so happy, while life lasts, in each other’s love.” CHAPTER XXVII. FINALE, Anp now that we have followed our characters to the full exposure of the ins, and the reuniting of the long parted mother and son, it is but justice to the readers that we detain them no longer over the commonplace lives of completel happy or thorough- ly unhappy people. It is only those whose lives are well checkered with sunshine and shade who are in- teresting characters in a ate As for winding - Dick Darling’s history, why, bless you, as he would say, we have taken him but to the threshold of a life that overflowed with ad- ventures. It would need ten stories like this to tell all that Dick afterward went through in his new vole of detective, and in more or less connection with his ro. of en es ta pg ess s next public appearance was as ess st the gang of counterfeiters. The evidence against them was so direct and conclusive that there was not a shadow of hope of their escape from the pun- ishment they deserved. Dick's graphic description of how he had gradual- ly traced them, excited the greatest interest in the court, and was listened to by Williamson with a look of baffled . He had not been able to conjecture before how his well-laid schemes had been unfolded. Will Frazer was present with the material which he had brought from the haunted house, consistin of the most complete set of counterfeiting tools an material conceivable. He also had learned some new points concerning their modes of procedure. It seemed that the old house belonged to William- son, and had been fitted up by him quietly for the purposes intended. The interior cellar had been prepared by his men, and the skillfully-devised door constructed. It was so peveces an imitation of the real wall that no one, not having reason to suspect its character, could ever have discovered it. There had also been built up a large flue, commu- nicat with the wide chimneys above, which served for purposes of ventilation, and as a draught for their fo when in use, and also, by the aid of interior ladders, as a means of escape. Among its other interesting uses, this chimney was the chief means by which the ghost business was kept up. These spectral visitants never troubled the ves to walk except on such occasions as valorous parties attempted to brave them by spend- ing the night in the old house, en, by the aid of the ready chimney, such a con- cert of ans, door-slammings and noisy footsteps was kept up as utterly to dismay the brave ghost- seekers, especially as the noisy rooms became at once silent and deserted when the investigators approached them. y this plan prying eyes were driven effectually from the old house, and tf, by chance, any of the g themselves were seen about it, the natural con- jecture was that they were either ghost-seekers, or, to the more marvelously inclined, that they were the unquiet spirits themselves. The trial ended in a general conviction cf the ac- cused, their sentences running from five to fifteen years at hard labor, according to their degree of complicity with the crime. Joe Turner was released, as it was shown that he knew nothing of the counterfeiting, being employed by Wil n in minor schemes of villainy, of which the chief was his effort to impose on Mrs. Milton with a fictitious son. It proved that Williamson had loug known the , on receipt of six cents each. me | LLL Cll, story of her bereavement, and becoming acquainted with some points of the history of Harry Spencer, had arrived at the correct conclusion, and at once attempted to manipulate it to his own purposes. That he signally failed, and is yet Pg, PF in prison the discovered crimes of which he had been so long guilty, we say with pleasure. Of course there was « wedding. And Mrs. Andrews was present in all the glory of silken resignment to her daughter’s choice. And Mrs. Milton was there in all the joy of perfect contentment. And Jack Bounce was there, big and jovial as usual. And Dick Darling was present, with a wonderfully polished face, and a bran-new suit, not bought from Sol Sly. And hundreds of others were there, of the ete of the Quaker 6 And the happiest lovers under the sun were that day made one, still singing in their hearts ‘“ Love waits no more,” and seeing in each other’s eyes the windows to a heaven of appiness vouchsafed to few mortals on this earth. And they still continue too happy further, for, as we have said, perfect have no story worth telling, it nee trouble to make the romance of life. Dick Darling has not forgotten them in their pleas- ant homes, but condescends to favor them with an occasional visit, in which he usually contrives to — them up with a spice of his fresh, young spirit. He is still Dick Darling, the sauciest, liveliest, most independent boy going, with a little of the roughness rubbed off, but not a particle of the shrewdness or self-assurance. Dick was not without substantial reward for his valu’ ble services in tracing the mysterious gan which had so long baffled the detectives. Jac Bounce saw that some of the Secret Service funds of the government should flow into the capacious pockets of his new clothes. And Mrs. Milton also proved that her gratitude extended beyond thanks, so that Dick has a small fortune of his own as a result of his services. “T don’t vally the money so much, though,” he says, ‘“‘as I do the peace and quiet that a man of property gits. It was allers at home, ‘that ’iarnal young rascal of a Dick!’ And every other step put me in somebody’s way, or else flung a scoldin’ in my way. But, sure as you live now, cross old aunty has found out that my name’s Richard, and she’s got jist as sweet as a plum that’s been layin’ for six months in a jar of sugar.”’ ‘‘ And what are you going to do for a living, Dick?" asks Jack Bounce, as he tilts his chair back at its usual dangerous angle, and plants his heels on the window-sill. ‘* You are old enough now to be laying out some plan for your future life.” ‘*I dunno,” says Dick, scratching his head doubt- fully. ‘*Can’t see that I’ve showed myself fit for much of anything yet, ’cept it’s smellin’ out dubious rascals. Had an idear once that mebbe I mought make a good detective.” “T doubt that,” declared Will Frazer, somewhat aherply: ‘Not but what you are quick-witted enough, But our business is one that needs heart and soul in it if one would be successful. And I eer | that it has been with you a mere bit of sky- arking. ‘“*If skylarkin’ pays better than heart and soul, so much the better for the skylarkin’,” retorts Dick, sturdily; *‘ but I’ve a sorter notion that I ain't quite as big a fool as you buy me for. I’ve had t things in my Sve in this little bit of detective bizness; and them things is glory, ages and fun. Glory’s well enough in its way. It ain’t to be sneezed at. Profit’s better, for a pocket well stuffed with ding- bats is jist the best karacter goin’, and a gold dollar ‘ll buy more than a good deed anytime. But fum's the best of all, That’s what puts meat ona man’s bare bones, and makes dry bread taste like pound- cake. You kin have all the glory and profit goin’, if rou'll only see that ’'m kept up well infun. That's ick Darling’s philosophy.” “There was a heavy old to interest us happy people g a spice of hilosopher lost in you, Dick,” adds Ned Hogan, taking bis favorite meer- schaum from hislips. ‘‘ You had better put your- selfinmyhands. I willmakeamanof you. I think I know your natural line of businegs.”’ ‘“‘Mr. Bounce is ahead of roe announces Dick, reflectively. “‘Can’t say as I’m ready to guv any answer jist yit. It’s a heavy ’sponsibility, and I want time to think it over, But if there’s any bit of pri- vate work you want done in the way of findin’ out things, why, jist give me the wink—'ticularly if there’s any fun in it.” Dick, since then, has put through more than one important case, and is favorably known to the force as the most promising apprentice in this business. But he has taken care not to tie himself to any one’s leading strings, and always gives his official frien: 3 to understand, in his usual independent manner, that he intends to run his own detective agency. THE END. No. 131, The Golden Hand; or, Danny Rock TO THE ReEscuE. By George Waldo Browne. No. 182, The Hunted Hunter; or, THE STRANGE HORSEMAN OF THE PRAIRIE. By Edward S. Ellis. No. 133, Boss Bob, THE Kine or 1): | BoOTBLACKS; or, THE METROPOLITAN Sportitn. By Edward L. Wheeler. Beadie’s Half-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per Copy. or ot. mail BEADLE & ADAMS Publishers, 96 William Street. N. Y. Gomme JOOKS-cCOmM