Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 145 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

= eee. - — - - a — —- ——— -— forward hitch of his chair. perteshional on sech matters. But my fortune have yet to get.” The girl laughed, good-naturedly. She saw she had been beaten, and was not inclined to be angry. ? Well, V’ll forgive you for fibbing to me,” she said. ‘*But pre io rtm must not give me away. It would spoi 4 ‘*Oh! Pll keep my conversation-valve close, so long’s you do the square thing. I'd jest leave hev a Castle as a Toodles, an’ so now, ef ye do what I want o’ you you’re solid.” “What do you want?” the girl asked, sus- piciously. ‘Tell ye jest what,” the King of Bootblacks said, leaning forward. ‘‘I want to see the inside o’ every room in ther ’stablishment.” “Oh! that is impossible. There is no one at home except myself and the barber girls—the madam and the boarders are all off at the Centennial.” “That suits me ter a capiterl dot,” Bob an- nounced. ‘I kin go through ther up-stairs part wi’out molestation.” _“* But, Lcould not allow that. You have no right to enter people’s rooms.” ‘“* Bet a clam I hev,” was the reply. ‘ Jest peep at that, will ye?’ and turning up the lapel of coat, he exposed a small brass star. was one he had found, once, but the shop-girl mistook it for a detective’s badge, and whitened a trifle, at sight of if. “You are a detective!” she gasped. ** Spect mebbe I am,” Bob replied, with as- sumed seriousness; “ leasthow, I want to review the interior of this ’stablishment, ’thout ther knowledge uv yer bossee, an wi’out hevin’ ter make anybody trouble., So ef ye’ve got enny objections ter takin’ a trip ter ther Central per- lice court, you’d better give me the keys, and let me reconnoiter.” ‘‘Oh! I dare not! I dare not!” Cora said, in alarm. ‘‘If madam should find it out, or find you there, I would get my discharge.” “Tl bet a clam ye won’t; ef ye sneak me uP no one ll be the wiser: if I get ketched, I throw suspishion from your shoulders.” ‘*'You promise this?” “Yes—if you pennies ter be loyal ter me an’ my kunt Bob replied. ‘’Sides that, when [ git out, ti present ye with peanuts and candy till ye can’t . e girl looked doubtful, but reached for a bunch of keys that hung upon a nail driven in one of the shelyes behind the counter. “You remain here,” she said, “‘ until I come back, and I will see if I can clear the way for you. She entered the next room and closed the door behind her, while Bob inspected the cont articles displayed in the great show-cases, wi a critical eye. ‘‘ Wonder ef a feller has ter buy all sich things fer his wife, when he constertodts one o’ ther big-bugst he muttered. ‘‘’Spect he'd hev ter own a big bank account.” Cora Castle was not gone long, ere she made her reappearance. ‘* Here are the keys to the upper rooms,” she said, handing them to Boss Bob. “ All the second-story rooms are unlocked. You can make the venture if you choose. You’d better not stay long, however, lest Madam Fayette should return, and discover you. Pass in through the first room into the barber-shop, and you'll find the stairway.” ‘* How "bout ther gals? Won't ter a feller an’ eat im up all because he’s good- ooking?” | “No. [ve explained to them that you’ve come to see the madam about hiring out and will await her return in the kitchen, If you don’t say anything to them, they’ll not be Hice- ly to trouble you, or say anything to you. You ae , now. ith a grin of delight Bob took the keys, and —_ = store, for the next interior apartment, nt on his venti me mission. Tipping a. nik a the darky waiter behind the bar, he passed into the barber-shop, and ina few minutes was in the hall on the upper floor. to_reco Here he pa nnoiter, Ib mence in this story and they pitch on- “ec Ss if t booted out, be eS sacky hit made. in ’ on ther feelin’s o’ ‘“Know’d ye was Sally,” he nodded; with a. | ee — - -— -_—- —_—— The next connecting-room was a long, magni- “Can't fool a ficent dining-hall, set with tables and chairs. Seeing nothing of what he was in quest here, he entered the next a ment which was notb- ing less than a bling-room, furnished with billiard-table, faro-table, keno lay out and roulette; also a walnut side-board which he | ' ' | | rightly concluded was devoted to the storage of wines and liquors, and gaming-tools. ‘“ Well, may I be forced ter live on dorg Ssassage, ef this ain’t a reg’lar hossy old place, anyhow,” Bob muttered. ‘ Ef et wassent fer pressin’ surcumstances, I reckon Id like ter nee at this hotel.” he next door admitted him to the madam’s private parlor, and he spent some time in in- specting it, for there were many fine ornaments and fixtures that tookhis eye. He failed to find | the casket, however, and was about ready to It | leave the room, when he made two discoveries. The first was that it was near night—for on looking out of the front window, he perceived that a store across the way was being lit up. He had absorbed more time in his explorations than he bad any idea of. Following close upon the heels of this discovery came one of a more Startling character—some one was approaching the parlor, along the hall—not one person, evi- dently, for there were footsteps of several. It at once became plain to Bob that he was cornered, for the hall door was the only outlet _ from the room, and to attempt to escape through _ that meant instant discovery. ! There was but one hope for him—a high wal- nut bookcase stood crosswise of one corner of the room, and behind it was sufficient place for a person to hide. { was much too heavy for one person to lift, but catching hold of the top, Bob drew himself up, by the main strength of his arms, and dropped down upon the other side, without creating any noise worth mention. He had scarcely ensconced himself ina com- fortable position, when the door opened, and three persons entered the room. Two of them were men, he concluded, by their heavier footfalls, and the smell of cigar smoke. The other Bob rightly concluded was Madam Fayette. ‘Shute me fer a cross-eyed clam ef that ci smoke don’t smell better’n Jockey Club. Wonder ef I ain’t got a stub about my duds, so I can keep ’em company. Ah! here’s half o’ a reg’lar genewine Havanner, w’ot cost me three cents, up at ther Centenyal. Dunno w’ether ther two reeds o’ smoke ’ll mix or not—don’t care, neither. All I want’s ter heer them folks con- verse, an’ spill out their secrets inter my ocular hopper. Bet I kin store away more p’ints in less time than any coon in Philadelphy.” And, regardiess of the consequences that might follow, the Bootblack King lit his half- smoked cigar, and puffed away, comfortably, his eyes closed as he leaned against the wall, but his ears were wide open to catch any points that might be opened by the three occupants of the parlor, It was some time before anything was said, and then Madam Fayette spoke. “We are ready to hear or report, now, Sir Franklyn, You said you had something of im- portance to communicate to us.” ‘“*So I have,” was the reply. “If we do not lay low, there is a prospect of trouble. You have heard of the young bootblack devil they call Boss Bob, maybe?” “Yes, I have!” a third voice replied, boarse- ly, which Boss Bob at once set down as belong- ing to no person other than Michael Angelo Mitchell, the mill superintendent. ‘‘He is a little too cute for a lad of his age.” ** And as sharp as a steel needle,” Sir Frank- lyn averred. ‘Well, he attempted to blacken my boots to-day, but through his insolence, I left the job for another urchin to complete, first giving him a good kick.” “Oh! w’ot a whopper,” Bob muttered under his breath, from his place of concealment. ‘“"*Stonishin’ w’ot heroes sum fellers will make out o’ themselves, w’en they don’t think no one’s around w’ot knows better.” ' Yes, I gave him a good kick,” Sir Franklyn pursued. ‘‘Why the young devil hinted “as we though I was concerned in grave rob- ** Ha! ha! do came to the truth?” Certainly. He evidently has been spotting us, and knows all—or, else, how would he know anything?” of Si : And if he knows all, we are in im- minent of being arrested, for that “ter rsons- ally - devil has no respect for s—especi doers,” Mitchell ave ‘We must somehow you fancy he knows how near he Mitchell asked. | SE _— —— —_————— or OO * Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. —— vi a contrive to purchase his silence, or procure it. for my position under old Turnover is too valu- able to be lost.” ‘“* And likewise my millinery trade,” Madam Fayette added. ‘ But [have a planin my wh :! by which, I thi:.’t, we can trap the young re; cal. What else have you to Sonirhtifinate: 8.2 Franklyn?’ | ‘‘Something of importance. This boy, Boss Bob, is, I believe, in league with Fox the Ferret from New York. I saw them talking togethe: to-day. Fox is in town for the purpose of nah bing me for ‘lifting’ c valuable set of jewelry from an English lady, lately in N. Y. But te joke of it is, he has no proof against me to er rest me on. But, that isnot what I was about tosay. You remember that I married a poor irl, not over two years ago, by the name of. dele Lawton?’ ‘* Yes,” Madam Fayette replied. knew the girl.” “Well, the fell hand of the Destroyer has struck her down,-and left me at freedom to we: Madam Fayette at any time she may please.” The madam laughed, a little. ‘*Perhaps I should cry, at that news, since Adele was of my own flesh and blood,” she said ‘but in truth I am not of a disposition t« mourn. Adele was too much like her father, as were the other children, for me to care for her. I shirked my respousibility of caring for them. years ago, and there ended my concern for their welfare.” “Then, is it really true that Adele was your own daughter?’ Sir Franklyn asked. “Yes. I should have told you before, onl did not want ber to get upun my track. had a child by her, I believe?” ‘Yes. I had one,” was the significant reply. “but the French nurse, Felice, who attendc 2 Adele, stole if, and when I gave chase and over took her, I found her in the neighborhood of tl « river, without the child. Questioning her proved useless, and I could only draw my cor- clusions that she had drowned the child in the river.’ ‘* A very safe conclusion to draw, I presume.” the madam said, sarcasm in her tone, whil Boss Bob, behind the bookcase, shut his teeth together with a snap. ‘‘ Ef this ain’t ther toughest nest o’ ripe rogues and roguesses, I'll be sol wo cheap,” he mut- tered, under his breath. ‘They talk about death as ef et wasn’t no worse ter kill er person. than ter eat er mince pie.” **T had as lief draw that conclusion, as not,” Sir Franklyn said. **T'll bet your child is not drowned, or any- thing of the kind,” Mitchell said. “Boss Bok: found a babe in the Delaware, a few mornings ago, and placed it in charge of one of my fac tory girls, whom I have mentioned here, before. as Flora Bacon.” : ‘* Curses on the luck!” Frothingham grow ‘“There’s another case of that devilish boot- black’s meddling. He must be silenced; or, better, put ont of the way.” ‘ll see, myself, that he is attended to,” Madam Fayette said, fiercely. “But let the babe alone, Sir Franklyn, for it is in good han: 4, and will never be likely to bother you. Fliers Bacon is also my daughter!” The two men uttered an exclamation of az tonishment. ** This is incredible,” Mitchell exclaimed, ‘* But nevertheless true,” the madam replied “Thad three children, and two of them were girls. I placed them in the Almslhouse, am they were afterward adopted by the two fami lies whose names they bear—Leawton and Lia con. ‘* What became of the boy?” ‘*T gave him to the captain of a whaling vor sel, and he is doubtless a sailor before the ma:-t.” “Then, perhaps you can induce Flora Bacon to become my wife?” Mitchell said. ‘“‘Perhaps not,” was the decided reply. “TF have nothing to do with her.” “Then, you at least ought to tell me who h:»~ father was?” “Tf it will benefit you any to know, be is {! < miserly old nabob, to whom you look for yur spare cash—Judge Turnover.” Boss , behind his bookcase concealmert bit his fingers to keep from whistling his sir prise. ‘‘May I never shine ernuther boot, ef this ain’t a reg’lar Alexander Dumas of er dren: mer,” he muttered, his eyes piistening with ex- citement. “Wonder what Flora will sax when I unload my diskiveries fer her ter cogitate on. madam is ther wife o’ over, Ww'st Foxy sed went ter Urope, an’ left her husbend. Phew! w’ot a sensation et would make, ef }’¢ ECORIMCEOOOKS “T also e Z. cu (G