Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

2 * _---es Se ~~ a + — 4 ‘ \ _ ie > = ' : 5 mm : > >» —_ % _ — ee ; ——- oo ‘box afore I’ve open _run that way in my head. eine ee ow fee ee \ 3 One of them, whose face Harry remembered hav- seen somewhere lately, approached him, saying: *Excuse me, miss; I have a bit of business wit this gentleman.”’ “I shall go, then,’ nervous at some indefinite threat in his tone. “Do not go,’’ Harry quickly exclaimed. ‘I have maf ee usiness with these men. What do you “Do you recognize this package?” holding out a small parcel. “I do not,” “Perhaps you may now,” suggested Ned Hogan, tone wacky ropeniad th 1, and displayed e quickly open e parcel, an yed a con- siderable number of bank-notes. “ Well, sir?’’ asked Harry, questioningly. “That is well played, Mr. Spencer. ese came gat of your private desk. They are counterfeits, of the kind that the city has been flooded with lately, ~“ And what?” “It is my duty to arrest ,you as an accomplice of 4 counterfeiters.” - sasabedl , ere was an appealing cry. Harry loo up, to find the eyes of Migs Andrews fixed with trembling citude upon his, to feel her hand laid protectingly upon his shoulder. CHAPTER IX. ~ DICK GIVES THE DETECTIVES A COMMISSION. Tue two government detectives are seated in their room at the hotel. _Or not both seated just now, for Frazer is pacin the floor in a restless, discontented manner. Jac Bounce, however, has established his large frame in one of his easy attitudes, and is coolly peeling an orange, while he looks up in a questioning manner at his associate. .“* Well, we have tried hiding our heads and wait- ne for developments,” declared Frazer, sarcastic- y. “*T do not find developments opening up very - * Wait, my boy,” nded Jack. “The man that can wait longest wins. Have an orange?” 0,” pe awa h “T have matters of more im- portance to think of just now than eating oranges.” ** Have root I haven’t,”’ responded Jack, as he threw back the golden rind of the fruit and applied its luscious interior to his lips. _ “Tl be shot if you ain’t enough to make a saint swear!” cried Will, throwing himself angrily into a chair. ‘‘Do you think these fellows we are after will come to our room and give themselves up?” '“ Softly, softly, my boy,’ taking a morsel of his eee between each sentence. ‘‘ Maybe you think, Will, that flirting about like a fly on a hot shovel is oing todo some great good. Did you ever gain anyt by getting out of temper?”’ ~“Yes. I gain some relief to my feelings. I don’t like to see Pinkerton get the inside track of us. There’s that fellow, Hogan, has just arrested a man rf one of the gang. That’s the work we ought to be “That is so!” admitted Jack, thoughtfully. ‘He is to have a hearing this morning, "We must drop round and take a squint at the evidence. I’ve a no- tion there’s nothing in it.” hag is no fool,” averred Will. “He does not 0 it blind. How about that boy you invested ten dol- in? Looks as if he had sold you.” “Maybe he has. Time will tell,” responded Jack, bet a2 his ae, I hope he don’t go blowing about the streets how he has ee a brace of Uncle Sam’s detec- That would be too pleasant.”’ Dau a blow,” came from a youthful voice at the open door. The officers turned quickly to see the small figure of Dick Darling, who entered the room with the most free-and-easy air imaginable. He was dressed much more sprucely than when ee wocee ten last, but there was the same ex- n ace 0 : **Been investin’,’’ he a, turning himself ‘around with a proud air for their inspection. ‘‘ How’s at for an out-and-outer rig?” Rich and er ronounced Jack, admiring the grocery Agure 0 the boy much more than his at- and fiver done it all! I’m guns ona bargain,”’ at once installed himself in a chair, which “And what have you done to earn your money cried Frazer. ow you want to git clean to the bottom of the the lid. Ain’t got much in > box yit, anyhow. And that little I’m a-spreadin’ “*T suppose you will spread it out very thin.” ‘‘Allers try to make my butter cover my bread. noe you’ve heerd what Ned Hogan’s gone and “ @) es. ” nai he’s struck ile,” continued Dick. ‘ Don’t Spencer’s one of my cular friends. Hedon’t know no more ‘bout counterfeits than a cow knows ’bout ’rithmetic.”’ ‘* What is the evidence against him?’’ asked Jack, curiously. - “ They’ve found a bunch of counterfeits in one of his drawers. That looks blue; only it’s too Sat A in ‘the season fur blue birds. There’s some de utry back of itall. They’ve been put there by somebody that’s down on him. And the chap that put them there, that’s the chap we want.” with deeply-inter- he tipped up on its two hind legs. two officers were lookin ested eyes at Dick as he slowly laid out this pro- gramme of his opinions. “he boy may be right,” admitted Will. ‘“ We . That’s the long and the skort of it. Detective Dick. must be at this hearing, Jack, and if it looks as he says, the next thing will be to spy out Spencer’s enemies.”’ **Let Dick unload his bag first,” answered Jack. ‘* He knows more yet.”’ ** Come round here on biz,”’ declared Dick, impor- tantly. “Firstly, want you to write me a letter.” * Certainly, Dick, we will do that.”’ “*Tain’t "cause I can’t do it myself. But some- how I ain’t extra at flingin’ the pen. And then my spellin’ ain’t jist ’cording to Webster. Now 1 want this in one of your swi *, cavortin’ business hands, so the chap that gits it’ll think he’s got a million- dollar job, and will let hisself loose on an answer.”’ ‘All right,” declared Jack, laughing, as he seated himself at a table and drew up pens and paper. nny in. I'l make adocument you may be proud oO ye ‘*Oorreck! That’s what I’m arter! Jist pull out this ray, =~ Got down Philadelfy? And the date?” ‘ es.’ ** And Dear Sir?”’ ‘“* Dear Sir,” said Jack, writing. ‘‘Hold your hosses there a minit,” and Dick scratched his head. ‘* Want to get hold of the butt- end of my idears. Let’s see—a million-dollar job, and half to the lawyer? No. That’s too thin.”’ **T should call that too thick.” “S'pose you strike it somehow this way. You kin put in the fancy work yourself, Ill jist lay out the rough stock.” ‘Allright. I'll do the poetry.” ‘Sure you got down Dear Sir?” ‘Go ahead. That’s part of the fancy work.” “Well, then. ‘I’ve got a big contrack for a law- yer, which I think is ‘bout your size and weight.’ be you'd best say, ‘rushin’ big contrack.’”’ ‘““We won't rush anything,”’ demurred Jack, for a new paragraph. ‘*Slide on then. ‘There’s ‘bout a hundred thou- sand in it, and fine pickin’sfor a lawyer. If you're in the market for sich a job, let’s hear from you in- stanter, if not sooner. ‘Point an interview.” Got that in shape?” ‘* Yes, with amendments.” “ Well, let me see what next. Oh! yes. I’ve got it. ‘Yours ’spectfully, Richard Darling.’ ”’ ‘*That’s short and sweet.” ‘* All I want’s ananswer. Calkerlate that’ll wake him up.” ‘“*But what under heaven are you after?” de- manded Will Frazer. “After a divvy! Got my eye onsome fun. Bet I stir up things kinder lively afore I’m through! Can’t blow on my game jist yet,” ‘* But what directions shall I give your legal friend to write to?’”’ asked Jack. ‘ Philadelfy’s enough. IfI guv him my mansion on Walnut street, he mought call, and that ain’tin the game. Want an answer by mail.”’ ‘*But how are you going to get it? Philadelphia is a sizable Rl , with a good many people in it.” ‘Why, bless your eyes,” retorted Dick, laughing, “ all the letter-carriers know me likebeans. Carry ona ’stensive cor’spondence, I do! Of’en git letters from Ching and sich like fureign parts. Can’t go ‘long the streets without them droppin’ ri Laing into my hands,”’ -" our business must be a good thing for the post- office.”’ ‘Reckon ‘tain’t bad. Takes asmall fortun’ to keep me in stamps.”’ “Oh, you are a writer too, then, as well asa re- cipient of letters?” ‘Yes; rattle them off amazin’. That is, when I grease my elbows and square myself for work. Don’t think nothin’ of a dozen at a batch. Ain’t much at puttin’ in poetry and hifalutin’ though. That’s why I come to you.” .“* How shall this be directed?” asked Jack, curious- ly, as he closed and sealed the envelope. ‘Pass it over; I'll ’tend to that part of the job. Allers do my own finishin’, you see. Don’t like to put you to no more trouble.’ “It’s no trouble at all.” ** Feared it is,’’ said Dick, putting the undirected tet ms in his pocket. “Won't ax you todo no more now. It was very evident he did not intend that they should know the destination of his epistle. “* Hope you don’t think I’ve been gettin’ money under false pretenses?”’ seating himself coolly on a corner of the table. ‘“‘T don’t see that you’ve done much to earn it yet,” answered Will Frazer. ‘Well, then, I'll put you on ten dollars’ worth of a lay. There’sa chap as keeps an old clo’ store on South street, which there mought be some fun in mac a an eye on.” ** For what purpose?” “ That’s jist what I don’t know; but I've a lively parpe ss that there’s a screw loose *bout that ’spected n 9 ded waiti ** Who is he?” ** It’s Solomon Sly, or old Sol, as I generally call the dried-up cove. He hangs out at 479 South. Sells mix- tures, sich as trowsers, shoes, aud hair-pins. Wants watchin’ michty bad.’ ‘Then why don’t you 7™/ch him?” asked Jack. “Got other biz on hand,’? was Dick’s rejoinder. “Can't split myself and be in two places at wonst. Spottin’ higher e,Z am. But, while a feller’s wee the eagles, the night-hawks can’t be left out. “Then you choose to watch the eagles, and leave us the hawks?” ‘* Jist so,” declared Dick, independently. ‘* Don’t find eagles for other folks’ pont You’ve got a dozen eyes to my two, and Sol Sly wants watchin’. Give you ten rs ee dollars’ worth. If you don’t choose to go for it, don’t nap I ain’t paid my debts. GuessI’ll go and see Ned ogan. And cramming his hat close down on his head, Dick made a bee-line for the door, as if he had said his last, and did not care to waste words. “Hold hard, there, you blasted, quick-motioned, stiff-headed, young villain!”’ cried ack, laughing. ‘You're the most mysterious reprobate I ever ran across. Is there any game in this Sly?” ‘*Yes; deep game, if I ain’t sold,’’ answered Dick from the door. “Very well; we will shadow him.” “All O. K. Don’t let a skeeter by without the ass-word. Reckon you'll strike ile. Good-day. ortant bizness calls, and I must obey.”’ And Dick stalked from the room, leaving the two officers choking with laughter. It was not a half-hour before he had managed to get his letter directed by some disinterested indi- vidual, with a handwriting rather an improvement on his own. It was directed to: Mr. ANDREW WILLIAMSON, Fourth and Walnut stz., City. Dick haunted the post-office the next day, asking a dozen times if there was any letter for Mr. Richard Dee. Just before night it came—a voluminous legal en- velope. Dick read the direction eagerly, then deposited the epistle in some inside pocket with an air of supreme satisfaction, and strutted, dignifiedly, out into the full human tide of Chestnut street. CHAPTER X. A SOCIAL GLASS. THE reader must accompany us next up the line of the wharves on the Delaware, with their close array of vessels of all shapes and sizes, from an oyster boat to a huge ship in the India line, from a steam tug to an ocean steamer. . aetog suit way along the line of open stores devoted to truck in all its branches, We finally reach the vicinity of Poplar street wharf, in the wake of Mr. Ned Hogan, who is walking leisurely along, en- joying his meerschaum and the spring air, At the wharf in question lies 4 trim little two- master, a vessel with the tall spars and sharp build ofa yacht. She seems to have seen some service and looks the trimness and neatness which should be the constituents of a well-kept pleasure boat. Hogan walked quietly'down to the wharf, and in- spected her with the eye of a sailor. On her stern, in plain letters, was the name Molly. “That's the craft,” he said to himself, as he ap- proached the edge of the wharf overlooking the vessel. ‘A neat boat,” he added, aloud, leaning easily against a post, and speakin a man on board. ‘Hard to beat,” answered the man, a short, thin- faced person, with reddish hair. “Calculate she ought to be a good goer,” con- tinued Ned, blowing a cloud of smoke to windward, “You can wager your bottom dollar on that,’ an- swered the man in a pleased tone. “1 fancy she can show her heels to any craft along these wharves.” ‘*Maybe so. I have a keen eye for & good sailer, and she’s got the lines. Let’s have a closer look.” He ee on board the boat, and com- menced the inspection. ‘Used as a yacht?” he asked. “More for pleasure than profit,” confessed the man, rising from the coil of rope on which he had been reclining. “If you want to see a well got up boat, I won’t mind showing you through her.’ ‘* Much obliged,” anewened: Hogan, puffing away at his meerschaum, He followed his guide through the interior of the vessel, praising her end neage very liberally. ‘*T like to get hold of a man thatis in love with a fine boat,” the red-haired person declared. “That’s me,” ejaculated Hogan. ‘Much ob iged, Mr. Turner’’—he had got the man’s name. “Take something to drink.” ‘¢Tt isn’t just my hour.’’ ‘‘Oh, a drop won’t hurt. Comealong. The Molly don’t need a ship’s husband to look after her.”’ Mr. Turner needed no great persuasion, but yielded to the warm invitation of Ned. A tavern on the wharf soon enveloped them, and a glass of the most fiery bever cemented their new acquaintance. Neither of them seemed inclined to stop at one lass. Seating themselves at a table, they entered into 8 desultory conversation on all sorts of imper- sonal subjects, Ned mec that their talk should be well moistened with whisky. e was a thoroughly seasoned toper, and the er affected him no more than so much water. Not so with Turner. His head seemed quickly to feel the strong potations, and his tongue to grow loosened in co uence. “ Oh, fill up again!’’ pressed Ned. “I don’t meet a good fellow like you every day, and ain’t in no urry to ‘ Very little persuasion was needed. Another glass of the liquor overcame the last scruples of Turner, and gave his tongue a suspiciously thick utterance. ** By the way,’ wn Hogan, as if the thought had just occurred to , * the Molly doesn’t belong here. I was here a week ago, but n Molly.”’ back,” rner Just put in a few days “What port do you hail from, shipmate?”’ ‘From New York Jast.” “Aha! Come up the river lately?” ; “Oh! two or three days ago,” taking a sip at his glass | ——— = wee ee eee (E(@) comicbooks Lael