Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 145 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

h | the cigars ——- - — ----- — —— give ther pints ter ther Bulletin or Times / [Td be a bigger man thun ’Lysses Grant, in less’n ther wink uv aclam’s eye. Guess I won’t spill my cargo, jest yet, however. Mebbee I'll rake in sum more age fog A There was a lull in the conversation, now, and the gas was lit for the evening. The clink of glasses also suggested that the occupants of 7 pertor were regaling themselves with drinks. **Have you heard anything more from the boat?’ Madam Fayette asked, after a long pause, ‘Yes. I saw the captain, this morning,” Sir I"ranklyn replied. ‘‘He said he bad kept the boat scudding about the bay and will touch the Schuylkill shore, at the swampy flats in the rear of Woodland Cemetery, to-night, after midnight. McFadden and Mulroony will be there to receive the cofiin, and see to getting it into the vault.” ‘*Good, I will visit the vault to-morrow, and see to getting the cargoaway. It is not safe there, any longer, if the young Arab, Boss Bob, is in the secret.” ‘* No, indeed! The smuggling game is about nlayed out. You will have to beat the Custom 'fouse the old way, now,” Mitchell declared. * By the way, there was a death in Green «treet, this morning; a rich old lady, named Thorpe, dropped away, after a lingering sick- ness that has baffled medicul ski.l to analyze. sy Sas undoubtedly be a demand for her body. ‘*Good. Do you know where she will be buried?’ the madam asked, eagerly. ‘*Yes. She has a lot in Fernwood Cemetery, out near Fernwood station. She will be a fine catch, too, for beiag a loud dresser and rich and miserly, if is not improbable that she will be rigged out gav, in jewelry, even if she does not take her cash along with her.” “Very well, e will see to it, to morrow night,” the madamannounced. ‘ Phew, Mitch- ell, that is a bad cigar you are smoking. it is discustingly strong and rank!” ‘* Indeed! you are certainly mistaken,” the superintendent replied, evidently somewhat ruffled in spirit. ‘“‘It is an excellent cigar I am smoking, for I never will tolerate a cheap one. These cigars cost me three dollars per dozen at Partuondo’s stand in the Colonnade Hote).” ‘Then, you must be the guilty party, Sir Frankl Moe Madam Fayette said, for t cer- tainly detect the smell of a poor cigar in the room. I am a connoisseur in the matter of cigars, I flatter myself, and I never fail to de- tect the presence of a poor article.” “You are at fault again, nevertheless,” Frothingham replied, ‘‘for I also purchase my cigars at Partuondo’s, and have one of the same brand Mitchell is smoking.” “Can it be possible? Then, there is some rson in the room, smoking, besides you. ck! lock the door, and do not let him escape. e may be a burglar.” “But w-where is he,” Sir Franklyn faltered, obeying her orders. ‘‘I see no sign cof any per- sons, aside from ourselves, I—I have no wea- pons. “Bah! do not be a fool. There is no occa- sion to use weapons,” Madam Fayette said, coolly. “If there is any one concealed in the room, it must be behind the bookcase, yonder. itchell, will you help me move it to one side?” CHAPTER VI. CAPTURED AND OHLOROFORMED. Boss Bog had overheard the discussion about with feelings of chagrin, for he re- alized that he had betrayed simself by his own carelessness, e =e I'll be discovered, and booted out, now!” he soliloquized under his breath. ‘‘ Yes, here they come to move the case. Wonder how (his blud-an’-thunder drammer is goin’ ter end”’ There was nothing for him to do but face the ijusic, and he accordingly remained seated on (ie floor, and puffed away athis poor cigar with the utmost apparent anconcern, * Yes, the smoker of the poor cigar is behind dure,” the madam said, “for I can smell the smoke, stronger, now.” ited: efforts sueceed- one side, and Boss The next minute their «1 in pulling the bookcase Bob was revealed, Sane. A curse escaped the villainous trio; as they ciscovered him, ‘it’s the cussed bootblack,” Mitchell cried; with a *tart, ‘‘ Bet yer boots it.is, Mickey!’ Bob returned, <s L LLLLL LLLLALLL DE eee SS Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. ———— — —— —_ — — unconcernedly. ‘‘ You’ve got er memory hitch | digs in the face, and a punch on the nose that ter ye, like er hawk, I see. Didn’t ’spect ther | drew the blood. honer uv this visit, did ye?’ ‘Curse you!” he gasped. “1 can handle a The three plotters interchanged glances, in | dozen like you. Bring a rope, Madam, and which there was a mingling of dark expres- | bind his hands and feet.” sions. | This was quickly done, and Bob found him- ‘See, here, you boy, I’m going to have you | self a prisoner, indeed. arrested!” Mitchell cried, pen | Mitchell then arose, and wiped the blood ‘“What fur? What’ve 1 bin doin’? Boss Bob | from his face. queried, the picture of innocence. ‘Oh, yer beauty’s sp’iled, entirely,” the boot- “T'll show you what you’ve been doing, you | black chuckled, apparently not the least dis- young Arab. I'll learn you to sneak into peo- | comfited at his position. ‘‘ You wouldn’t even ple’s houses and play eavesdropper, I wiil.” | do fer ther model uv a penny chromo. Ef ye’d “Ton’t need no learnin’ on thet score, Mick- | only ’a’ let me got in a few more paralyzers, ey,” was the calm retort. ‘‘l’ve gradywated, | I’d hev made ye a curiosity fer a circus side- an’ got thet all down fine.” show.” Mitchell uttered an oath, and turned to Ma- | The mill superintendent did not reply, but, dam Fayette, who was white with rage. _ together with the madam, withdrew to another ‘What shall we do with him, madam?’ _part of the room and engaged in a low con- ‘“‘There seems but one thing to do,” was the | versation. significant reply. ‘‘He has overheard so much | What they said, Boss Bob knew not, but he that it will not do tolet him escape, you know.” | concluded that they were discussing some plan **O? course not. Yet we hardly dare use vio- for his summary disposal. lence!” | §ir Frothingham remained near the young ‘‘ Better kill me, and sell my cadaver ter old | prisoner as if to prevent any possibility of his McFadden!” Bob chuckled witha grin. ‘‘’Spect | making his escape. ef ther physickans wer’ ter cut me up, there’d ‘“Well, Johnny, how’s biz?’ Bob asked, be a heap more o’ perfeshional science than there is now.” ‘You keep still, or you'll die sooner than you want to,” Sir Frothingham threatened, peering over the shoulders of his companions in crime, ‘“*Snatched enny cadavers gett By the nay Jobnny, that was an orful whopper you told about bootin’ me, up at ther Centenyal. Bet a cross-eyed clam ye ain’t got grit enuff ter | spit terbacker-juice in a chicken’s eye. I uste ‘‘Hello! shute me fer a cross-eyed clam ef | ter know sech a chap like you, an’ he hedn’t thar ain’t New York Johnny! I say, Frothy, | no more game erbout him then er trained flea thet was a big bootin’ ye give me up at ther Kx- | hez. Guess you’re cut off ther same pattern. posish! Wanter try et over again?” | What they whisperin’ about, Frothy? Tell me And then the irrepressible Bootblack King | an’ [Pll present ye wi’ a penny chromo next burst into a fit of merry laughter that convulsed | time ther ghost walks.” his whole person, and caused Sir Franklyn to get | Frothingham gritted his teeth, and turned red in the face. _ his back on the young irrepressible, to hide his ‘‘Get up out of that corner, boy,” Mitchell | rage, but vouchsafed no reply. cried, threateningly. ‘Dll attend to yourcase. | * Good! bully fer you,” Bob tormented. “TI D’ye hear?” | knowed ye was afeard ter compare yer ugly phiz ‘No. I’m’s deef as er baked lobster,” Bob re- | wi’ ther countenance of a good. ooking face. torted. ‘‘ What d’ye propose to do, Mickey Au- Never see a peacock w’ot hed lost bis tail-feath- gel-oh?” ers, who wazzent ashamed, yet. Don’t mourn, “Tm going to cut your tongue out,so you Johnny, Ill console ye ther best I know how, can’t peach on us!” the superintendent growled, | even ef ye did boot me up ter ther Centenyal.’ drawing a large, keen-edged clasp-knife from | And off into another fit of laughter the boot- sea A oes ‘*No! no! better kill him outright than do so terrible a thing as that!” Madam Fayette inter- posed, shuddering. “You jest let Mickey alone, will yer, old lace- aachp. grab the bootblack cried. ‘* Mickey An- el-oh knows what he’s about. He’s tryin’ ter Mitchell and the madam concluded their consultation, abruptly, and came forward. “ll fix you, my young cocksparrow,” the superintendent announced, taking his hat, and leaving the room. black went. ‘Hello! what’s Mickey Angel up ter now?” oa good turn fer ther ‘city dads,’so they’ll | demanded Bob, turning to themadam! ‘Goin’ furnish him a free collar—one o’ Sheriff Elliott’s | ter git me a sepulker fixed?” pattern!” “He is going for chloroform, with which to “What do you mean?” Mitchell demanded, | drug you,” was the reply, “‘and then we'll with a start. ‘‘ You needn’t try to play game, for your presence here is unknown, and nobody would think of looking here to find you.” ‘* Bet a clam on that? *’Spect mebbe ye'd see Foxy frum N. Y., around heer, purty lively, ef I don’t report. Foxy, he’s got ther peddigree 0’ this ’stablishment, too, an’ be’s arter New York Jonathan, there, like a ferret.” ‘* Bah! you are lying. The New York detec- tive does not know you are here.” “Well, ef ye think he don’t, jest massacree me, forninst, an’ see how soon ye'll git an in- vite down ter see his Honor,” Bob replied, with audacious effrontery. Ale was apparentiy as much at ease facin his three scowling enemies, as though he ha rob he/ ou or—hide you where you'll never be ound. ‘**Bet I get loose—now!” and the youth winked knowingly. ‘Jest thort o’ suthin’. Go ahead wi’ yer Fourth o’ July circus, We'll see who'll win. The madam looked poet, but did not reply. She and Sir Frothingham retired to the piano, and Boss Bob was left to himself. — ‘** Wonder where Nondescript is?” he muttered. ‘‘ Ef he was ter git aboard ther trail, we’d hev a reg’lar blud-an’-thunder time, ”’ Pm ticketed an’ checked fer Jerusalem, onless there’s a Micawber ya d’rectly. Wish I had a novel ter read, ter sp t ther suspense, but good solid literatoor seem’s scarcer around heer — I been out upon the street singing his oldfamiliar than chances 0’ escape. Ah! footsteps—a reg’lar song. Hamlet tread, too. ‘Spect that’s Mickey Angelo ‘Bet a clam you’d better let me slide,” he | returnin’ wi’ ther chloryforum. Now fer a continued. ‘I’m a bad rooster to fight when | reg’lar spell of teetotal kerlapse,” I’ve oodbee spurs sharp, an’ I reckon I’ve got twas indeed Mitchell who entered, and he a full nand o’ p’ints against you. ‘Spect I hold carried a small bottle of colorless liquid in his the trump, Mickey Angel-ob!” | hand. - ‘“‘ And that fact makes it the more important , With a grim leer at Boss Bob he procured a that you should be silenced.” the madam inter- | sponge, and saturated it with the chloroform, posed. “Swear by the Bible that you will | and then advancing knelt ‘beside the powerless never betray us, in any way or manner, and youth, and held it to his nose we will give you your liberty and a hundred The effect was what might have been ex- dollars, pe and we will lock you up in a | pected. room, and let you stay there until you starve! What do you say?” | ‘i say, go to blazes! DTH take ther room | The Bootblack King was soon utterly insen- sible of all earthly things, and lay rigid and si- lent upon the carpet. _ rutoer than ter compromise my bonor.” “There! ‘he is pee under control,” and “Then you shall have it!” Mitchell cried, | Mitchell gave a long-drawn breath of relief, sevagely. ‘‘ One life is of no account, compar- | “* Now, the next thing is to dispose of him. ed with three.” | Which way shall it be done?” ‘Yyhe next instant he leaped forward and} © *‘ That is a question,” Madam Fayette had to taorew himself u the Bootblack Kirig, and’! answer. “To attempt to get him from the tne two. bad a lively rough-and-tumble scuffle | house is risky, for there is no time 0’ night when upon the floor. i rhth street is clear of people,” > pe) The superintendent/was much the larger and’|* “ True; and yet we cannot keep him here, stronger 01 the two, and soon gained “the :mas-} lest Fox the Ferret should come down on tg - tery, and held. Boss Bob: pinned to»the floor, |}*with’a sesrch-warrant and discover him!” but not until.he had: received severdl-vigorous’| '** Well, I see no way but what we shall have 0)(0)(6) ‘com (E ‘Ss