Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 145 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

a hg i ed TE Oe a ~ 12 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. and water could make it. He also sported a kid- gloved hand and gold-headed cane, with con- siderable loud jewelry about his person, and a good cigar between his teeth—his whole ap- pearance being decidedly flashy. ** Ha! ha! wonder how I look!” he muttered, lancing at his reflection in the “ei window, as he passed along. ‘‘’Spect I look like a reg’lar Long Branch swell. onder if any o’ my old pals will twig my nibs?” It was not long ere he had a chance to test the matter, for he saw the Nondescript and another bootblack coming down the street. Bracing up and adjusting a pair of gold- rimmed glasses to his nose, the metamorphosed Bootblack King strutted importantly along, not deigning to give his former associates so much as a glance. But just after he had passed them, he was conscious that they had stopped, and he accordingly used before a store window, to hear if possible, their remarks. ** Say, Script, did ye see thet gallus cove who jest passed?—there he stands at the windy, now!” the N ondescript's companion asked. **'Yes, I see’d him,” the Nondescript Fy 's ¥ Coy on entirely too much style fer a t- *“ A bootblack!” tue other ejaculated. “Why, yes. Didn’t ye know him? That was | | my old pard, Boss Bob. Guess he don’t notice | common folks, since he’s got togged out new.” Boss Bob turned upon the boys, with a grin. “Yes, I do, Script,” he said. ‘‘lallus know ye’d reckernize me. Know zo, tho’, fer what’s born in ther blood can’t be serubbed out wi’ Turk baths, ner be hid under ood togs. Don’t I luk serumpshus, tho’?” “'Yes—ye look like a reg’lar nabo,” the Nondescript replied. ‘‘ What’s struck ye, Bob?” ‘Ohi Pm erbout bein’ nomernated fer Prime Miniscor ter Injy,” the boy replied with comi- cal importance. ‘Struck er reg’lar Buffler Bill bonanzer, ye see. Call around to McFad- den’s Funeral oposertary, ter-night, an’ Pll talk with ye. Tra-la la-la!” And then the new Boss Bob marched on, with as much ponnpoaity as a Third street money- king, leaving the two gamins to stare in open- mouthed amazement. As Bob reentered the office of Judge Turnover, the millionaire regarded him with a smile. ‘“You’ve certainly made a great improve- ment in your looks, at least,” he admitted, “ And ‘now, if you are ready, I will order my carriage, and we’ll go to my home in the West End, [am anxious to regain possession of the pte 3 Be my poor lost child, whom I have been robbed of for thirteen long weary years,” The carriage was accordingly orde ca ccp, f the twain were driven rapidly Philadelphia-ward. Ere long after they had crossed the Schuylkill, they were landed before a large stone mansion in an aristocratic portion of the West End, the house in turn being set in a fine lawn fringed and est- . with trees and flowering shrubs, Dismissing the cab, ws ¢ Turnover and Boss Bob entered the house, and traversed a magnifi- cent hallway, finally bringing up in a tastily furnished apartment used as a sort of library and private office, evidently, judging by the desks and bookcases. “Be seated,” the judge said, “‘ and I will sum- mon Felice.” “All right. Jest don’t w’isper ter her who I am, an’ she’ll not know me, an’ be on her I’m wuss’n a Philadelphia lawyer at analyzin’ a person, ef I get’em co , that wa The judge nodded, and left the room, but soon returned, accom by the French- woman, Felice, who was attired in a satin wrap- per, and ri out to *‘ to ” as Bob at once commen in under his breath. ** Felice, seated,” the judge said, locking the door behind him. ‘‘ There is a serious char preferred against you, which I'd like you account for. ‘‘A charge against me, sir?” she cried, flush- ing, and directing a startled glance toward Boss Bob. ‘“‘Of what nature, sir ““ The charge is of attempted murder, ma’am. Did you not come with a recommend to me, claiming that you were directed to me by an English baronet, Sir Franklyn Frothingham by name?” “T did, sir.” he “But how is it? This Frothingham proves to be a notorious Ni “hi York scoundrel, by the title - New York Johuny—a pickpocket, thief and urglar!’ Who ta ys this?’ Felice demanded, angrily. ’ A SSS Sls — ee ‘‘Ahem! I am so fortunate as to have the honor of making that assertion,” Bob sai thru:ting his thumbs under his armpits, an bowing, mockingly. ‘* And who are you—pray ?” ‘* Robert Burns Maloney, at your service, ma’m—Boss Bob, King o’ Bootblacks, fer short,’ was answered, with a grin, ‘ ’Spect I recker- nize you, too.” ** You recognize me, sir?” “Yas. ‘Spect I do. You’re ther same wo- man who set Adele’s baby afloat on the river, in an open boat. Guess i can tell a clam from an eyster, when I see it.” Felice half rose from her seat, a deadly light in her eyes, but she sunk back the next minute. very Be ** This is infamous,” she gasped. ‘*But true, nevertheless,” Judge Turnover said, sarnlye ** You are cornered, woman, and it will be better for you to own up. A few mornings since, Boss Bob, here, saw a woman set an innocent babe adrift upon the Delaware river. He, however, promptly went to the rescue, and placed the child in safe care, Since then he learned from Frothingham’s own lips that you attended his wife in her last moments, and made away with the child, who is my rand-child, as Adele was my daughter. There- ore, when Bob heard me mention you, he at once recognized you Now, what have you to “y for yourself?’ elice covered her face with her hands, and my friends. Was jest playin’ off, ter see ef | burst into tears. d d et wouldn’t bea | ‘“‘] beg—I beg!” she cried, piteously. ‘ Only preenye that you will spare me, and give me my iberty, and | will confess all!’ ‘* Do so, then, and you will not be prosecuted, penny grab so faras lam concerned. If you have sinned, I will not be your judge, for there is One who will sooner or later judge all things, justly,” r. ver jp mene “Then, I will ess, and look elsewhere for employment,” Felice said. ‘‘The recommend I brought to you was one of my own manufac- ture, and Frothingham had nothing to do with it. In the first place I was employed by Mrs. Adele to nurse her and her child, during her sickness. Frothingham had nothing to do with hiring or paying me—and Adele being poor, I did not receive much pay. “‘ Before she died, I for the first became aware that Frothingham was her husband—but he had deserted her, and never came near her. Every time he saw me, he paid me the most kind atten- tion, and I rather liked him for it. Also, before Adele died, she told me that you were her fa- ther, but she did not dare intrude herself on you, lest you should treat her as an im . She ot me to promise, however, that when she was dead I would bring her child to ou, and beg of ou to care for it. This I should have done, un- doubtedly, only that Frothingham intercepted me, and induced me to drown the child, under a promise of large pay. It was after I set the babe adrift, that I conceived bom me of coming here, and trying to win your affections and your wealth. That is all. I have nothing more to confess. I have sinned, and am sorry, and thankful that I am of no crime—which I am not, as you say the child was rescued.” “You may be thankful that Boss Bob took the burden of an awful crime from your shoulders!” the judge said, er ** There are some other questions I would ask you. Boss Bob, here, heard Frothingham indi- cate that it was his intention to steal the body of my child, and dispose of it to the doctors for dissection. Did you hear anything of this?” “Sir Franklyn told me so—that is all I know about it. Whether he did so, or not, Iam un- able to say.” ** What doctor attended my poor child in her last moments?” ** Dr, ——, of No. — South street. He seemed to do everything he knew how, but her disease was a complicated one that baffled his skill.” ‘*Do you know where the body was buried? We would like to find it.” **T do not know. The physician took charge of it, promising to give it a decent burial at his own expense.” Judge Turnover turned to Boss Bob. ‘**Qur next move is, then, to hunt up the Ia - sician, and have an investigation made o the grave, is it not?’ “ Yes. ’Spect that’s ther best course, Ef we don’t. find things right, then, we'll takea scull eround ter,Patrick Mc¢Fadden’s Morgue, Goin’ ter let ther hoss-eater go?” | “Felice can go,” the judge replied.“ T shall not be in need of her services any longer.” Without a word, the Frenechwoman arese and | left the room, accompanied by the judge, who —_—_—_———— went to see that she took nothing with her that did not belong to her. He ts gone some time, but at last returned Bob. “We will now visit the physician, and learn from him, if possible, where Adele was buried,” he said, gravely. ‘‘ Do you remember the num- ber of the street?’ “Bet Ido! Never lose sech pints as them, I don’t,” was the reply. ‘‘ Come erlong, an’ we'll find the pill-shop without trouble. ‘Spect I know ther physician. Shined around his hired gal last summer, an’ collected some live stock, wich I di of dog cheap.” They left the mansion, and walked to Chest- nut street, where they took the cars, and in due time found themselves in the presence of the hysician who had attended Adele Frothing- am. After listening to the judge’s explanation of their business, the physician said; “TIT did attend the young woman until her death, and learning the case of her wrongs, I took pity on her, and had her remains interred in my family plot at Woodland Cemetery. If her remains have been disturbed, it is without my knowledge. I will accompany you to the cemetery if you wish, and we will make an in- vestigation of the case at once.” CHAPTER X. MORE PLOTTING. THE trio soon left the physician’s office, and walked toward a livery stable, near by, where they proposed to hire a cab to take them to the cemetery. On their wa — met Fox, the New York Ferret, whom Boss ob at once hailed, and a rised of their mission, and the detective y consented to accompany them. “Did ye do anything fer ther game, yet?” Bob asked. ‘*No. I kept a watch, but did not strike a trail. I guess the schemers kept shady.” In due time a drove into that beautiful city of the dead, Woodland Cemetery, and were conducted to the physician’s admirably kept family burial-place—a lot containing a modest monument, and some half-a-dozen headstones. A fresh mound of yellow earth told where Adele “The doctor only “gave th single e doctor only gave the ve a glance, and then mnened away. vie “‘ Tt is useless to look further, here. The body ge a removed!” Ter his u Turnover groaned, and covered face with his hands, “This is horrible,” he gasped— not to see one’s own child for many years, and then learn that it has been consigned to the pitiless mercies of the dissecting-knife,” “It is in sad,” the physician responded, Bue, b persistent effort, t be “But, by s ort, we may ye able to track and get on of the body be- fore it comes to the dipeccting -knife.” ¢ ‘*How do you know the y has been dis- turbed?’ Fox demanded. ‘‘ The grave seems to be all right.” ; ** There is where my eyes happen to be a little sh than yours, detective,” the physician rented. s Eaily last evening, you will remem- ber, there was a short but rain-storm, Well, if the grave had not been disturbed since that, you would see some effects on the mound, yonder. As it is, the dirt appears to have been newly disturbed, and no rain has touched it since it was last disturbed; which is conclusive, to me, that the body was removed during the latter portion of last = gro “Thar, Foxy, the pi -dispenser is a better de- tective than either o us,” Bob averred. ‘‘ ’Spect we better go an’ sell out, at auction, dog cheap. Et behooves us to pay a visit to a certain place I knows of.” They left the cemetery; the doctor returning to his home in South street, and Bob, Fox, and the judge going to the latter's residence where they partook of a sumptuous repast, and planned their next course of action. It was propoe’s by Fox that Boss Bob return to his old street appearance, and pay a visit alone to the morgue, or receiving-house of the gang of grave-robbers, as one person could work, alone, better than several, without creating much suspicion, But Bo ed that it would be next. to im- mene for him to gain an entrance to the secret aoe . -house of the gang, unless he-was armed with @ warrant, or could resort to some trick. For ‘some time the trio discussed various plans, and it was at last decided that Bob should represent himself as a medical student, in seareh EoOmichdoo cS (ECO)