Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

——- -———-— ee + ee re ee. ee ee ee me ee ee ee ne ee - -——— - The gentleman walked along in an easy, careless manner, Occasionally pausing to glance in a window, or casting a quick look behind him. Thus they went on for several squares, Dick me ing rather close to the apparently unconscious ob- ject of his pursuit. He turued at length into an un- occupied by-street, through which he more slowly proceeded. Near the further end of the street he entered a narrow alley, Dick hurrying up lest he should lose sight of his prey. t was his astonishment, however, on arriving opposite the alley, to find himself ih a tight grasp, an cae face of the gentleman looking sternly down on him, “*Look here, boy, were you ever well kicked?’ asked the gentleman. “Never by a jackass,” replied Dick, saucily, striv- ing in vain to wrench himself loose, ‘You young villain! You’ve followed me now from Chestnut street. If I am not mistaken you were in the store where I got oy paper. What you are after the Lord only knows, but I catch your dirty face at my heels a square further [ll leave you in a condition to be carried home on a shutter.”’ And loosing Dick with a contemptuous shove, the gentleman walked on. ‘*Look here, mister,” called Dick, after him, “how many of the streets "bout these diggin’s ae ou own?”’ i do you mean, sirrah?” was the angry reply. BOnly thought maybe you might rent me enough for a boy of my size to get through. Seems some- a a “topes got to ask you what streets he kia go rough.”’ The gentleman walked on, without answering this home thrust. ‘* Bet I had him there,” thought Dick. ‘“‘ That’sas ood a sell as I got on old Sol. Wonder what rent e’d take for a foot or so of pavement.” The joke seemed so _ that he broke into a ate ees iy slapping his knee heartily in its enjoy- ment. A most unexpected result occurred. A sound of ripping cloth was heard, and the new coat split in the back from shoulder to waist. It was a most rueful face that Dick wore when he put his hand back and discovered the nature and extent of the accident. : ‘“*T'll be fizzled for a salt mackerel if old Sol didn’t sell me, after all!’ he ejaculated. ‘‘ Guess I'd best go back, like a blamed young fool, and trade even up or my old ulster.”’ Recollection of his pursuit returning, Dick looked up quickly. The gentleman had disappeared. He ran tily to the next corner. In vain; there was no such person anywhere in sight. CHAPTER V. THE RED-HAIRED STRANGER. To Harry Spencer, whom we left on the verge of his trip to Chester, on an errand which we have so far but vg ety outlined, the mysterious communi- eation of Dick Darling had not been without its effects on his mind, despite his seeming disregard of it. His acquaintance with this young gentleman had been rather romantic in its character, and one cal- eee ted to give him confidence in Dick’s good inten- ons. It had commenced by his saving the boy from a severe drubbing with which Dick was threatened by some of his associates. Dick was just then spoiling for a fight, and had stirred up a state of active war among his companions from which he seemed likely to emerge badly defeated. Harry Spencer had witnessed this affray—and taken such active part in it as to rescue Dick from his assailants, with no deeper wounds than a black eye and a bleeding nose. This assistance the boy had construed into an alliance, offensive and defen- sive, and he had since done his new friend more than one service from a sheer sense of gratitude. “The boy is shrewdness itself,” Harry mused, as he satin acarof the railroad leading south from Philadelphia. ‘This stuff of the fortune-te is only one of his oddities. He knows somet ng which he does not wish to divulge, and takes th ridiculous way of warts me of some danger. AS to my house being watched, that I can hardly be- lieve. I certainly saw no one but a common-looking man clouding himself in the smoke of a huge pipe. I Soe gee f that he had any ulterior d Yet this common-looking man, with that innocent pipe in his pocket, was at this moment in the same car with nis ann xo prey, pursuing him as keenly as the hawk follows his quarry. He took a sees Sp tee M4 ket - ae - pepe pe 4 re t an of mu This on. ng a by Harry S h action was imita y Harry Spencer, who also produced a letter, which he poured over in- tently, his face expressive of great uncertainty. “I wish I could see through the mystery of this strange business. I wonder if Dick, in his roamings through all sorts of places, has caught sight of some- thing threatening to me? But that is nonsense& where have I an enemy?” | He read the letter over again, carefully consider- ing every word. “If you would hear of something very greatly to your aavantape,”™ he read, “you be in the city of Chester at three o’clock in the afternoon of April You will find the writer of this in Morgan’s restaurant at that hour, seated at aside table. Ad- the person with a green sprig in his button- ee Detective Dick. hole. He knows and will tell you something in regard to the great mystery of yourlife. Don’t fail, if you value wealth and honor. “Your FRIEND.”’ ** Ts he my friend?”’ asked vety dubiously. “It would be no new event fora wolf to wear sheep’s clothing. Imust bear myself very discreetly in business.”’ He saw new reason for doubt on his arrival at the depot in Chester. For turning suddenly after his leaving the car he caught sight of a man just step- ping down from the same car whose face seemed to him remarkably like that of the man with the meerschaum. The person, however, seemed to pay not the slight- est attention to him. On the cont , he turned and made his way te the upper end of the platform, Arrived there he took a narrow street that led down toward the Delaware, and was lost to ge Harry stood watching until after the train had been gone for several minutes, but there was no sign of an in- tention to return. “‘T believe I am growing foo suspicious. Dick’s nonsense has infected me. 1 donot know what wonderful discovery I shall be making next.” He took his way leisurely down the main street of the town, examining with a curious eye the obvious strife between antiquity and the modern spirit of in- novation which here plainly displayed itself. For this main street yet held the odor of the original town, in which civilization had set its foot before William Penn saw occasion to cross the ocean. Passing the ancient court-house, now used as a lecture and concert-room, the clock in its belfry pealed out the note of three. weg td started at the warning and somewhat quick- ened his pace, though his mind was far from made up yet as to what action he had best take. Turning into James street, he soon saw the sign he had been looking for, “* Morgan’s Restaurant,” glaring in great gilt letters above the front of a rather narrow store. Harry paused a moment irresolutely at the door, gazing absently up the street. In the distance he caught sight of.a thick-set man, who vaguely re- minded him of the man of the pipe. This person had just reached the main street, into which he turned, **Another false alarm,’’ thought Harry, smiling. “T wish Dick had not put such nonsense into my head. I will be seeing gee suspicious in my own shadow next, and accuse it of following me with dangerous designs. Well, here goes. The few 9 8 way to get over the fear of cold water is to plunge in.” one opened the restaurant door and quickly en- red. A glance showed him the state of affairs within. It was a narrow, long room, containing some dozen of tables, three or four of which only were occupied. Avoiding any attention to these persons Harry gave an order for some slight refreshment, and seated himseif at a table near the front, looking down the room. He sat idly playing with a spoon, and carelessly eying the persons present. Two of these were ap- arently a young man and his sweetheart, with the resh impress of the country on their faces, who were enjoying their ice-cream asif luxury was just then a far more substantial thing than love. There were two others near by these lovers, a ane mercantile individval, who was swallowing his ce as if an enemy had just attacked the town, and it, was necessary to put it out of sight at once it he would save it, In strong opposition to him was a da person- age ee ae i yo et the acme va “ oyment out of every morsel o repast, and who ooked with amazed surprise at the way in which the rapid eater seemed torturing himself. : There was one other person present, in the lower end of the room, who was quietly en ay a sub- stantial plate of roast beef, and whose eyes been ed on Harry ever since his entrance. He was short mys re Alt meee with a thin, light- complexioned face, lit up by keen gray eyes. There were two main partic however, which Harry chiefly saw in him. One of these wasa green leaf at the lapel ofhis coat. The other was a plentiful apes. of hair of a decided reddish tin arry gave a fie ogee a 2 8 at Pe rod dis- covery, the wa oO ueer yo re- turning to him with convincias ieuce. tat “Dick knew more than he would reveal,” he thought, as he bent his eyes resolutely on est “There is certainly something wrong. I have nothing to do with this man.” His mind thus made up he quickly rose, and pay- for what he had ordered, left the saloon. et he had not taken ten steps outside before he was accosted by a strange voice. ‘“*Excuse me, Mr. Spencer,’’ was the remark thus noe ‘*May I have a minute’s conversation with you ” He turned to behold the red-haired man of the oon. “I do not know where you learned my name, sir,” he coldly replied. ‘‘ You are a stranger to me, and I have no desire for communication with strangers.” “I know more of you than you are aware,” re- turned the stranger, politely. “‘My object in this interview is entirely your own advan , not mine.” “T wish no advantage from you, sir,” said Harry, walking on decidedly. ‘ Nor dol care to 'prolong this conversation.” The stranger _— a quick pene backward. Not ten feet behind them was le the form of s persistent pursuer, who was loun along as if t shop-windows were his only aim e. A queer smile came upon the spare face of the man, as he again said: ‘ 5 Ce - -—- — — _—< _— oe eee we “Su ay I desire to tell you something about that wh ch has been the great aim of your life? Sup- pose I know something concerning that strange mystery of your parentage? Would my communi- cation bé then of no interest to you ee Harry turned sharply upon him. | om What do you know about it?” he sternly demand- “You are entirely too energetic, my dear sir,” re plied the other. ‘‘ I know much more than you im- agine, and more than you can readily find out with- out my aid,” ‘And what is your object in eppcinting ts inter- view? If you have such information, what do you expect to make by it?”’ arry’s tone was sharp and decisive. Eviden he was exceedingly doubtful of the man, and a li fearful of prolonging this interview. “Of course if I should assist you to wealth, for in- stance, I should expect to be remembered,"’ said the man, smiling. “I never did anything for pure love. Certainly ten minutes’ talk with me won't hurt you. Step here into Price's for ten minutes only.” **T don’t think that Iam seriously afraid of you, or of any man, for that matter,’’ Harry remarked, as he followed into a corner tavern, It was nearer a half-hour than ten minutes when Harry emerged into the street, leaving the red- haired man behind him, The first person he saw there was no other than the man of the meerschaun who seemed deeply interested in the movements Sarre tonnes Mteah ly in the f he passed, arry loo m sha n the face as he half inclined to accost ~e and accuse him of persist- ent dogging of his steps. But the man looked so unconscious of his presence, and it grew so doubtful whether he really was the man whom he supposed him, that he walked on without speaking. The man paid no seeming attention to him. He waited until Harry had got some distance up the street, and then turned and entered the hotel. Looking sharply around, he soon caught sight of the red-haired man, who was seated at a table, fore ly sipping a glass of ale, and examining some loose papers. He looked up with an odd expression at the entrance of Ned Hogan, for it was really he. But the stranger paid no further attention to him, Hogan stood undecided for a minute, theh called for and drank a glass of liquor, and left the saloon without speaking to the stranger. **Guess I'd best not break the ice till it’s froze harder,’’ he mused. ‘* Harry Spencer’s nailed if I ain’t badly sold. I must see Harris." | He soon turned from the street into an office that . had for sign: “HH. Wiuson Harris, Altorney-at-law.” The occupant, a short, dapper, important-looking personage, glanced up at Hogan with a look of ‘re- on, . ' I have been expecting you. Take a chair.” o hing new turned up?’’ asked | as he threw self into a chair that creak th his weight. ‘‘How about the Lucy and the red haired mate?” “You are too quickly at the point, Mr. Hogan,” replied the consequential lawyer, “Il have 2 Ver mark to make first,”’ : “Out with it then!” “ What did you mean by sending me as a messen- ger that compound of impudence, dirt, an res t brought your letter and with it nine-tenths the ape —— of all the SE one -. ‘S’pose I answer your question by as another What did you mean by getting r’iled ‘a a boy's and giving business the ?’ Re: “It was more your business than mine. I did not relish being subjected to a bootblack’s insults,”’ _“ Ain’t you mighty thin-skinned for a lawyer, Mr. Harris? I sent that boy because he’s a sharp veune rascal, and was the handiest that I had. You'll may- be see more of him yet. But let’s get to business. How about the sandy-haired mate?” “He is living very quietly at Price’s. He seems to have no business and to know nobody. His time is spent in lounging about the town.” “And the Lucy? Anything mysterious about her? Any sort of cargo landed?” j “Nothing. She lay quietly at the wharf for a day e has been gone—” 7 “Gone! The deuce!" exclaimed Hogan. “No, the Lucy,” quietly replied Harris. “Where did she go?”’ “She slipped out between two suns. Nobody knows when or where.” “ What kind of a vessel was this Lucy?” Ps A two-masted vessel. Not very “An old schooner. And that’s all you know about her? You’ve fot a better ate for a law-paper than a vessel, Mr. Harris. I bet I'll salt on the pier who will tell me all about her.”’ 7 may be,’’ admitted Harris, as Hogan rose to go. ‘Look for old Mr. Pike. He sees everything down that way.” Hogan made his way quickly to the main wharf of the town, on whose verge stood the old Steamboat . tavern, a revolution relic of the " On the porch of this edifice souk a ht, tall, straig _ gag old man, with his eyes fixed lovingly on the er. “ How is my old friend Pike?” asked Hogan, vigor- ously clas his hand. - h, a ses sound, and sweet,” was the old man’s yt new stirring hereabouts? Any new craft in, or the like?” “Nothing but a schooner that ate in a day or two Wie and crept out ag’in last night.” *y t kind of « looking craft?” “A very rakish build. Very low down amidshipa, | Comicbooks* cor or very ; find some old river = oy