Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

/ _———— = a err ae = — - —— eee é ——_ = ~ -~— = — ° > te a tee - —_-—-—-—oreo or ete 2 eng oo ee oe: ee ee et — Painted black, witha red streak. Carried a heavy show of canvas. Should say she was built for a yacht, and has grown old in service.” . she anything?” “J did hear of some things being taken off of her at midnight. Joc Bower happened to be prowling eh 4 What's the matter? Anything wrong?” “ Which way did she gor” the river.” ™ k you, Mr. a How’s shad-fishing going 38) oe _ to work th “Prime!” declared the old man, with enthusiasm. ‘There’s show of a heavy run. Tho nets made a fine baul yesterday.” After a few words more of desultory conversa- _ tion, Hogan left the old river-dog and made his way k into the town. “tad CHAPTER VI. HELEN ANDREWS'S TWO VISITORS. Ir was with great amusement that Harry Spencer eld a ‘le which the reader has a y seen, It was no other than that of a half-grown bo ewho closely resembled a locust in the act of . bac at ita skin, or his short, tight coat was split down the back, ra shoulder to waist, the gaping wound revealing pea Spey of dingy shirt, ick Dar or it was he, turned with a rueful ace that brightened somewhat on secing H arry. “Why, what under the sun has happened ” asked the latter. hing. ‘‘Is my old friend Dick about ike oro his skin and come out new, like a butter ‘* A high old butterfly I'd make, wouldn’t 1?” and {Wick twisted his head around in an effort to see the middle of his back, “Is my coat tore?” he asked, vas if he had just discovered something wrong. whe pc antegpe pa pues But where u wet such a spruce rig never saw you sO souch like a dandy before.”’ *“ It’s.@ bran-new suit,’’ protested Dick, with some pride, *-*OCept that ’vea notion it’s been on some 90s back afore mine. Bought it from Sol Sly, a f'outh-streeter. Reckon he thinks he’s sold me as well as the coat. Shouldn’t wonder if I'd pay my : ag’in to that mercenary individual. Got a Si aiadleuinan the pepiaa mere... daer? woriiiok er ga seam. su hin with a pin or two pong with the aid of hich be drew together the ter part of the rip. “* Bet ’'ll square with old Sol for this,”’ he declared, ae he carefully introduced himself again into the duvieug nt. It was too tight for the pins to do their service, and the one great wound was ex- changed for a half-dozen narrow openings. Harry laughed again as he inspected Dick’s ap- pearance, * That is a decided bit of sharp practice. You had better see if your tailor won’t exchange. “Tf he don’t I'll punch his blasted old head,” said Dick, w y. ‘Went and swopped my ulster for this ge ona cobweb, and guv boot, tool” “ Well, Imust be going, Dick. I hope you will get eveo with your “If I don’t, sell me for a fried o ; ’ Iwant you totell me afore you there’s 6o aa ty C4 | “Allright. Let me hear what it is.” “I spose you recollect a sort of geod look: oung gal that takes singin’ lessons from a Mr. pencer that I know, aud that hangs round the pianer arter the lesson’s over?” “Su Ido? What then?” “Only I've got some private biz’ness with that Buseyed. angel, that’s all. Want to know where ves, What business can you have with her?” “QOhi private. "Tain’t none of yourn. Don't cal- to mention your name.” . “T am afraid the fous lady may not thank me for sending her Dick Darling as a visitor.” “Don’t you worry your cranium ‘bout that. Guess I look spruce enough to pay my ’specte to ‘the t rl a couple of pins more in my coat “Woll, here are her directions, "’ and Harry wrote alown an address on a card. “No nonsense now, I can’t imagine what business you can have with ber,” “Your tion ain’t very profuse. Didn't ‘take my Warnin’. Went to Chester and see’d the arc(-haired man, spite of all.” ““tfow amder heaven can you know that?” de’ tmoanded Harry, in great surprise. ‘ » it won’t git you into n his heel to leave. “Ho ‘trouble, but I’m afeard it will. Dick walked aoeey after delivering this oracular genvence, but turned to add: ** Jist you keep your eye skinned, Mr. Spencer. There'll the devil to pay if you ain’t sharp as a wew razor. Can't say no more. You've got the «aris. Take keer how you shuffie them,” Harry stood for minutes in deep wonder as to what =e behind all this mysterious warning. We will precede. Dick in his visit to the young svhose directions he had thus obtained. ‘Miss Andrews lived in a fine mansion on Sprnce @treet—the residence of her father, a prosperous merchant. The house was beautifully furnished, # i tie many choice pictures on its walls testified to ‘t. taste as*welbas to the wealth of its inmates, ‘ok bad been preceded in another manner, un- ¢’) ened of by him, For the gentleman who was so © _ esth conversing: with Miss Andrews in the par- ive was Lo Other than he whom the boy had lately | Chair, looking up at him with scared _.. Detective Dick. followed, and in t of whom he had been so sig- m : Mr. Andrew Williamson, the gentleman in question, was a tall, rather stout person, handsome in face, a full brown mustache shading his well-formed mouth, while his eyes were small, dark and somewhat shift- in expression. 6 stood ing a chair with a hand that closed on the wood as if it would crush it, Opposite him Miss Andrews sat easily on a sofa, a little tinge of amusement on her face. “ Now, do be seated, Mr. Williamson,” she insisted. “ You will certainly hurt my poor chair if you close your fingers upon it in that energetic fashion.”’ “ And you did not mean a word you have said?”’ he asked, releasing the chair he had been uncon- sciously grasping. ‘* It is only some of your humor?” “My humor!” she replied, holding up her hands in affected horror. ‘“ That is the first time I have been accused of anything so unfashionable.” “You are disposed to be witty, at my expense,” with a darkening look upon his face. ‘* At your expense?” with a gon wit smile. ‘* As if a gentleman of acknowled wit, like Mr. Wil- liamson, could not defend himself against my poor assaultst” “ Thore are some antagonists whom we dare not draw our Weapons agains | “ Oh, do not spare me, sir, If it comes té & con test of wits I certainly have no mercy upon ” fe) ‘IT believe you,” he replied, as if he had had plenty demonstration of the fact. ‘“‘ But, for mercy’s sake Miss Andrews, do be serious now. I hardly expected to be answered in that fashion.” “T hope you do not wish toadd to your other duties that of regulator of the fashion of my answers?"’ she suggested, sarcastically. . He flung himself gloomily intoa chair. te Perhane I have offended you in some way. Or penne the manly charms of your devoted music- her may have thrown all my poor claims into the e “Will you please lain what you mean, sir?’’ she haughtily oaked, aie with a grand sweep from her “T hardly think an ecepteranion necessary,’’ he re- plied. ‘* You know perfectly well that I have good reason for what I say.” “T know this perfectly well, sir,’ she answe “that my gentlemen friends are not in the habit o insulting me, and that Iam very little inclined tosub- mit to insult. I think there is no occasion for us to continue this conversation.” She was moving like an offended queen toward the door when she was arrested by his next words. ** You know Ihave no thought of insulting you; and you know as well that I have some right to be offended at—"’ * At what, sir?’’ * Shall I call it flirtation? Will you please explain which of us, I or the music-teacher, is the one whom you are pleased to flirt with?” His tone showed that he was too indignant to con- a Sac far he might be injuring himself by these wo +s think that Mr. Spencer will ever have reason to accuse me of on,’’ she replied, with a fierce glance at the speaker. “Do you know who Harry Spencer is?’’ he de- mand 9 ry, er as she grew excited. I know that he is a gentleman.”’ “There is something besides polite behavior re- quired to make a gentleman.”’ “ As what, for instance?" “ As birth, for instance.”’ “Oh! Then he is of no family?” “It would be difficult for him.to tell. Ef you should like to know pe ask him who was his father.” “ And what answer would I be likely to get to such an cr eee Be question?”’ “T should like to know myself how he would an- swer," and he uttered, with a constrained laugh, “YE am afraid it would puzzle him to tell you. re is a little mystery connected with his birth which Harry a on “eat would scarcely care to be forced to “dhe seated herself, or, rather, dropped into a eyes. all this,” he continued; “I do not wish to injure the man, and am sorry I said anything about him. I am in no serious fear of your too much for a man who, for all we know, may wear the bar sinister upon his shield.”’ # “Will you be kind enough to change the subject? with a flush of crimson on her cheek. “ If you will but let me return to our former sub- at ba Ihave not offended you too deeply in the nterim,’ “ Perhaps you had best not recall your offenses,”’ she aawered: with flashing eyes. “Now youare angry, Helen. I am sorry, indeed I ame I have no better control over myself. Jealousy has made a fool of me, as of better men. Will you not forgive the fault which love counsels? Will you not—” He B yews: as she turned away with what he seemed to think a contemptuous gesture. He was mistaken in this; it was a step outside the door which had attracted her. She was agitated as she rose to answer a knock upon the door. “ There is a yOUns senbenae out here wishes to see you a minute, Miss Helen,’ the servant explain- “But a truce ‘ You will excuse me, Mr. Williamson?”’ ‘‘ Certainly,’’ with a smile that grew deep and subtle as the door closed upon her. I have a fancy that I have checkmated mpenaes, She is but a fluttering bird, and I know r where ber nest will be.” | ST LL a Helen had walked qui visitor was arene her. shrewd face of Dic Darling. **Do you wish to see me?” to the room where her ith surprise she saw the “* Well, that’s about what brung me here,”’ he an- swered, stretchi minute’s worth of bizness.”’ ‘Very well, sir. My time is limited.” “*So is mine. You never saw ac patiently. himself out in a chair. “Get a whose time was as limited as this identercal individualL“’ ‘What do you wish with me?” she demanded tm- ‘Does it come back to your recollection that you nodded to a cer:ain person, say about Eleventh and Chestnut, and, to wit, at two o’clock this after- noon?” ‘‘T remember doing so,’’ she answered, after 4 mo ment’s thought. ly. wise where he hangs out. Moreover, who heis.”’ Dick seemed quite proud of his ay or ne way of aback, however, utting it. He was slightly taken y her reply. “ Is that all?” **That’s all!’ fh “ That's jest to the mark,” declared Dick, excited: **T want the name of that certain peison, ‘ er * ‘Then I decline to give you any information in re- gard to that certain person,” with an involuntary smile at Dick’s manner. * You ain’t goin’ back on me that way?”’ ‘Tl believe you said that was all your business?" ‘* About all,” resignedly. that you're harborin’ a rascal. word, miss, “You have not “*T think I’ve said ing toward the door. more to sa ing as he turned back, at the his new coat. ‘All I've got to gay Harborin’s jist the reg Jar out-an’-outer of a rogue." is ae iG enough,” rising and walk. espite her indignation she could not help lang Somewhat emboldened by this, Dick turned and ded take t ast shot. If you know this chap, him like a hot potater, and you'll git o burnt rs.” Instead of returning to the slowly to her own room, sending ed: “Hope you won't take it agin’ me, mifss, Jist his t ff without rlor Helen went er excuses to Mr, illiamson by a servant, She wished time to reflect upon the two strange charges she had just heard, CHAPTER VIL THE LUCY’S TWIN SI STEN. Nev Hoaan, back from his visit to rags hog again seated behind his favorite meerschaum in where we first met him. Stret ching himself out easily he takes the from his lips and lays it temporarily upon the while his hand goes on an exploring expedition into his ye ‘*T don’t know that I’ve got an ounce of proof ositive,”’ he muttered as he drew from its acle a well-thumbed letter. ‘*Tracked him room Chester well enough. Seen his interview with the red-haired chap, ie. That’s correct as far as i; o I kno goes, but how He opened the letter and again read it address it read as follows: w but this is a sel?” . After the ‘Tf you would gain a clew to that mysterious of counterfeiters, who have been setting the d ives at defiance you will follow these di rections. There will, two days from the date of this letter ut into the ort of Chester a small schooner he Lucy. She belongs to the gang in question, and will leave there one of her officers, a red- thin faced man. She will also land certain als of the counterfeiters, with the purpose of con- tinuing their operations in that locality. A yo man named Harry street, is connected with the gang. If discover their movements you had him, for he will Spencer, of 1084 North Eleven ae want te t shadow o at once to Chester and have interview with the red-headed man referred to. you wish to learn more, you will find in his house a 7 hi of counterfeit bank-notes, and also a inform- on which may put you on the track of his con- federates. A FRIEND.” “A friend to who, that’s the mystery. Sar- tain he’s no friend to Spencer. He mou want to hurt him. It’s true t nes come out just as he says. But then, there’s n the schooner, or Mr. Redhead hing to show that had anything to do with the gang. And it sounds like a sell on me about the counterfeiters in § like to make a false move, ncer’s house. ope Harris will track Don’t his man and the Lucy’s cargo into some port of entry. be Dick may fetch her.”’ I’m curious about that schooner. May- He had hardly thought this ere the person named entered the room, with his usual free-and-easy air. — senen looked at him in surprise. “Well, Tll be S8wigged ’ he exclaimed, “if the boy aint changed his skm. Whothe blazes melted yo and prene to the back of your coat?” ured you into them clothes? And what’s you didn’t ax so many questions in one mouth- ful I mought answer them more categorically,”’ and Dick seated himself with an air as if he felt that word to be a regular stunner. eoat somehow seems to take folks’ eyes.”’ **Tt’s such a splittin’ tight fit,’’ explained Hogan. “The back of my ‘*' Was down at the menagerie, and tried a back somerset over an elephant’s back. Went over and ut it were a leetle too much didn’t touch a hair. of a strain on my new Tragian.” ‘* Maybe it was some such lie as that swelled you out and bu’sted your outfit,’ suggested resuming his pipe. ‘‘ Been. along the wharv “T hev,”’ quietly. | €om G 100 SS}