Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

this — “ Seen anything?” “Bout a couple of ounces or so.” “What sort? “Seen the Lucy!” proudly. &heeso is made of sour mill:.”’ **TIallo, boy! Now you're goin’ to take an extra split in your coat, surc.”’ ‘** Ain’ta word of lie in it,” assured Dick, produc- ingastump of a cigar from his pocket. S’ pose that’s what you’re hintin’ at. Guv us a echt. OF tal biz’ness ’cept I’ve got a smell ef the Weed. Dick was a comical object es he leaned back, puff- inz vigorously at his hali-smokeJ cigar, his small, teen boy’s face shrouded in smoks, his curly hair strageline in absolute deflance of combs, and his new attire clinging as closely to his limbs as if he had been foreed into his clothes by a pile-driver. The tenderness of his pinned-up coat forced him into unusual carefulness and deliberation of move- ™ ynt. ‘There. That’s comfort,” he declared, resigned- ly, after he had sent a small cloud of smoke to the ceiting. “ Now I can talk categorically. I see’d the Lucy. Sho’schangod her coat, though, and dropped her name. It’s the Molly now.”’ “The Molly, hey! Sure of that, Dick?” asked Hogan, with grect interest, “Sure? Ax mo if I’m sure that this is my own nose, Did I ever say anything categor—”’ “Stop rivht there, boy. You'll choke sure if that big worl gets sideways in your throat.” ** Anyhow I sce’d the Lucy and I see’d the Molly, and thoy’re twin sisters, only the Lucy wore a black dress with a red ribbon, and the Molly takes to blue. Can’t ram no sich transmogrification down Dick Darling's throat.”’ ** Where does she lie?” * At Poplar street wharf.” “Allright, boy. I'llpsy my respects to that newly- christened young lady,” promised augers rie *Spect to make any out of her?’’ queried iclk, ‘She belongs to the gang, Dick. She’ll bear wetchine.”’ ** And do you s’pose this gone is goin’ to sell their- Belves out as cheap as that *s my notion there’s some deeper game in that lotter.” “lt may have coma from some one who is turning traitor to tho countorfeiters.” ‘** It didn’t do nothin’ of the sort,” protested Dick “Jist as sure as | ha “The fellor that wrote that letter knowed o’d put you on the track of the Lucy, and wanted to throw you ofaz’in. He weren’t no traitoz,.then, and he’s rot some emg you don’tsee, I'll bet acow he’s tryin’ to hurt Mr. Spencer.” T have thought of that,” admitted Hogan, “* Wish T had tool hold of the red-haired man.” “Don’t you do it,” expostulated Dick, rising, “ It'll pay best to watch him. Ill goa peanut ’gainst a per- simmons that Chester biz’ness is only a blind.”’ ** You're a shrowd imp, Dick.”’ “T Icin see a hole through a ladder. I’m goin’ down mow to see the chap as sold me this coat, and sold ING wuss then the coat. DPvea notion to guv him a of m7 mind.” 4 my boy. It’s all ““Good-by, Dick. Draw it mild fa the way of business, you know. Dick walked loisurcly out, saying to himself: “ You're a smart chap, Ned Hogan, but you won't atch these: birds in your spring-trap. nd them Government detectives ain’t as near the game as you! I'm goin’ for them makers of the queer and appears of the s!y,I[ am. Bet I make Rome howl afore I git throu) wiih them!” Me took from his pocket the torn envelope he had ore used, and looked through it at the sun. He en replaced it in his pocket with an air of great satisfaction. ‘“ That’s the sauce for their mutton,” he said, con- fidently. Ten minutes afterward Dick burst into old Sol’s elothing ostablishment with the air of a boy that meant business. He was arrested in his object, how- ever, by an unexpected jncident. ‘Bie Jow was engaged ia earnest conversation with a sentlamantly-dressed person. Tuey both looked round at Dick’s abrupt entrance, and he saw to his utter surprise, that this gentlaman was no other fhan the man whom he so unsuccessfully tracked. Iie had also overheard something interesting. “[T putit ina places,” Solhad declared, ‘' w ehill's eye couldn't miss it. ‘They'll take him ‘Look here, old Sol Sly,” cried out Dick, anxious to appear not to have noticed these words, ‘* do you coll this a coatto sell to a gentleman of my standin’ : 1s ciety?’ He turned round to submit back to asnection. “IT must be going now,” remarked Mr. Williamson vo anly a casual glance at the boy. “ You will uM the things round to my house?” ‘“Certainiy,”” answered the Jew, in a tone that # “omed to Dick somewhat nervous. * That’s a blind,” thought Dick to himself. “* Aud now, my dear young friend, what can I do “ ryou to-day?’’ demanded Sol, returning from the or. _“That’s a high old cove to be callin’ on you, old feller. I’ve see’d him of’en, but never knowed his name. What do you call him?” 1ere a in the . Mr, Williamson,” answered Sel, quietly. “Tn biz’ness?” asked Dick, *‘ or is he only a bu’stin’ *ristooab?”’ [To has am office at Fourth and Walnut. ‘more than I 'speeted,”’ said Diek te himsel. eh). | T aan let np same en you.” But wht Joos my young friend want to day?’ “ssi; (eke an observaiion of that eoat,” effering " oo . EO ee Deteéctivé Dick. . -- —_—~ oe — ene ee 2 ee ee himself for inspection. ‘Imagine to yourself what would happen if the pins should let go their holt.” “You have been doing something to that coat,” asseverated Sol. “Of course I have,” retorted Dick. “I’ve been I told you the coat was too bu’stin’ it.” ‘It’s your own fault. tight, and was a trifle tender in the seams.”’ “Is that the first lie you ever told?” asked Dick, sarcastically. ‘*’Cause if it is you take to it as nat’ral as a duck to water. But if you calkerlate to shet ~ my eye, and then choke me off with that ge of logic, you're barkin’ up the wrong tree, that’s ‘** You've $e eyes of your own,’ avowed Sol, de- eidedly. ‘I don’t find eyes and clothing both for customers.”’ ‘**You’re jist an infernal lying, cheating, blasted old sockdologer!” and Dick oe excitedly. ‘** And if you don’t trade back my old ulster I'll bu’st your b’iler quicker than a hen kin crow.” to roll up his He flung off the coat, and sleeves as if he meant work. “It is only the seam that has ripped,” plead Sol, nervously. ‘“‘ That can easily be sewed up.”’ ‘“‘Ain’t takin’ in plain sewing for a living. Guv me my own coat back, an’ you kin stitch up your own rippin’s,” The Jew seemed disposed to accommodate Dick, orto be alittle afraid of him, and began to show him other articles of apparel. Then ensued a scene of dickeri which the reader will forgive our troubling him with. It ended in Dick’s procuring another coat several degrees further gone than the one he had brought back, but having the advantage of being a much looser fit. ““Guess I’m spruce now,” and Dick made a bee- line for Fourth and Walnut. “ Want to find out in- stanter if Sol told the truth. If I kin git on this man’s track it’s better than gettin’ a new coat.” search was not a long one. In one of the buildings, that seemed overflowing with office-rent- ing tenants, he soon discovered a door having on ita sign to this effect: ‘““ ANDREW WILLIAMSON, Altorney-at-Law.” “That’s a good day’s work,” thought Dick. ‘“* Guess I’ve druvy more than one nail to the head. oon gO home now and see what's the chance for rub,”’ And he ended a hard day’s work with a not very luxurious supper, CHAPTER VIII. HARRY SPENCER'S VISITORS. “ Now don’t alg bother me fur an hour, more or less,’ commanded Dick Darling, letting himself down gingerly into a chair that was doing its best to maintain a dignified position on three legs. Before him was a table of the most venerable aspect, on which he had carefully deposited a sheet of pone and a bottle of ink. . at are you up to now?” demanded a woman, who was bustling about the room. “ You are always after some nonsense,” “I guess the feller as gits this dokyment won't call it nonsense,” returned Dick, with much dignity, ‘I’m goin’ to let out a little of my eddication, and hope he’ll only enjoy it.” “Going to write a letter, Dick?” “You've hit it there, Aunt Sally. I don’t do much that ow But it’s me fur all that.” Dick dipped his pen into the inkstand and spread himself for work. uaring his elbows, and bending over the paper till it seemed as if he was going to trace the characters with his nose, he began to write, his tongue following every movement of the pen. It was no light labor he had undertaken, to judge by the immense pains he expended wpon ev word, and the air of triumph ‘with which he finish every satisfactory sentence. ‘How do you spell counterfeit?” he asked, ap- pealing to his aunt. “I don’t spell it at all,” with a vigorous movement across the room, “Dunno how, I s’pose,”’ sarcastically. ‘“ Guess I'll have to wrastle with it myself. .‘C-o-u-n-t,’ count, ‘h-e-r,’ her, *f-e-e-t,’ feet, counterfeit. Calkérlate that’s boutit. Didn’t know, though, it had anything to do with counting people’s feet.” He traveled on half-way down the sheet, finishin with a grand flourish over the signature, *‘ Richa Darling,” leaning back and complacently regarding his work, * Wonder if he'll understand it? Maybe I'd best put it Dick.” “Got Esq after it?” asked his aunt. “Ain't puttin’ on no ‘ristoeratic airs. But he'll bo ’stonished enough "bout this letter without any side highfalutin’s.”’ Dick, with some little difficulty, read the letter over to himself. It ran somewhat in this vein: **DzEeR Sur: ““"Spected to got a purtunity to run across you, but reckkun I best rite. Ther’s blazes to pay, so mind yer i. Ther’s them arter you as will, make things lively. You've an enemy, sur. more; but jist hunt your hous’ fur a bunch of eount- herfeet. me chap’s been slipin’ the sly on OS Oe ee a --- ~ rr te = ee ee oe ee ee ~ See cern eed Can't say no | ios | commenced to again seek thro Ther’s offesurs On yertrack. Burn the counther- | feets quicker’n lig’tning, or ther] be thunder to pay. ** RICHARD Darina.” “‘Fe’s dumb as all blazes if he don’t take tat in. Wouldn't Ned Hogan hewl if he knowed what I’m | at! Guess Ili put in, Burn this instanter.’ Mought sell the pass @n me.”’ Dick sealed his letter and earefulky direeted it. | roughly-dressed men entered. —_—-— ee a a ee me em ewe me ee ee “Got a two-center stamp, aunt Sally?’ he “If you don’t quit bothering me, I’ll put a handle stamp on the back of your neck,” anf bustling woman looked savagely at him. “Guess I'll have to lay out for one at the Tae vest ryt » leaving the house with his pendent air. We must follow his letter to its destination t& hands oe Mr, Harry Spencer, to whom & ‘*I do not know what could have kept Helen her lesson,’’ he says, gloomily, rising from his and pacing the floor with a discontented air, never missed before, and she mre should sent some explanation. It is har cust however, for scholars to excuse themselves their music teachers for loss of a lesson. getting tooimpatient.”’ His rapid walk was brought to a close by a qplittr ring at the door-bell. “Can this be m mured, with a gl missing pupil now?’ he x expression. ‘“ Yet this mae day. And it sounds more like the ng. It paced to be the postman, with Dick’s me 4 He ked at it curiously, from side to side, . knowing quite what to make of the address. “This is not what you would call ac hand,” he remarked, as he tore open the en * Who can my new correspondent be?” With a look of utter bewilderment he re epistle, which task was not very easily accom ick’s writin being as original as his spelling. ***Slipin’ the sly." That sounds like slang never could understand slang; and what sun does ‘count-her-feet’ mean? Whose wonder, and whois todo the counting? ‘ Darling!’ Richard—oh, Dick? I have it now. one of Dick’s mysterious warnings. It isa there is notsomething in it about red-headed Yet, Dick was right about the red hair. There be something here worth attending to, if I get the hang of this odd epistle.” He again intently perused it. | “Does he mean counterfeit?” he asked do ‘**Am I to understand that some enemy has hid terfeit money in my house for the purpose of me into trouble? Perhaps Ihad better He was prevented from doing so by another at the bell. Thrusting Dick’s letter into his he waited impatiently to see who it was, mt The parlor door cpened, and in walked his rating pupil, a demure look upon face. | she had felt any doubt as to the sentin her teacher toward er, the look of sudden that beamed upon his face woukd have ta that he was ming usly fond scholar. She advanced with a quiet, dignified air. **T was just thinkin woe you,” was his 2 pe we proceed with our lesson to-day?" “é rs) . ’ “But you have missed a lesson.” ‘**IT am afraid I shall have to miss others, Mr cer. Certain circumstances render it inad ” my eens should be continued for the p e nered Lap ri Quick surpring iy alarm. “Why, en—Miss rews—"’ he said, : ‘** What can have happened? Havel ogendot “Not at all, sir. ere are other reasons, you will please excuse my mentioning for the ent. The lessons have been very instructive te ‘“* And pleasant?”’ he asked, sinking, with a air, into a seat. ‘* Very pleasant.” ‘Yet we have not gone over our lesson of Waits,’”’ he went on, with a feeble attempt antry. ‘Shall we not, at least, have one exercise?”’ ‘Not ‘ Love Waits,’’’ she replied. “Let it be this, then,” he exclaimed, tepiag: quickly over his music. She bent over the thick pile, anxicus to what song he was looking. Their faces close ragesher: her breath moved his hair, his hand turned the music more slowly. The situation had become decided pea opt His hand lingered. He lifted eyes | ers. “In what have I offended?" came ina whitgtting tone from his lips. ‘In nothing,’ she replied. “The offense aeste with others.” ‘* There is offense, then?’’ he qlee asked. She drew back a little before replying. Mie she may have intended te say, she was pre a new ringing at the bell. He stood a moment, looking toward the if he could have annihilated the person int Heavy steps followed, as if more than one had entered. But they passed the door of the and seemed to go toward the rear of the house. “They must be triends of my housekeeper remarked, paying no further attention to ; ore. Miss Andrews stood in a quiet observant ean seemingly not quite satisfied with her as if in doubt just how to act. He made no further allusion to her last went} jut. h the music, Several minutes of silence thus passed which the footsteps of the visitors were ¥ ,) ‘‘ Here it is,” he said. ‘* ‘She is so near. ***And yet so far,’ ’’ she sung. ‘Not so far,”’ taking a quick step toward bee At this moment the feotsteps again appreached the door. It was quickly opened, amd twe rather Eomicsoo cs)