Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 145 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 9 2 + ee ee | = -- - — —-- to smuggle him oly thee. I will order my carriage to be before the door at a quarter past three o’clock. We can maybe slip him from the store into the carriage without detection, and make our esca It seems our only chance.” “Very wel play to win—but if we fail—?”’ ‘* He shall die before he can open his lips to | betray us,” the madam hissed, fiercely. Several hours later, just after the hands on the Boome coe of the Jimes building pointed out the hour of 38 A. M., @ carriage drove care- fully out from a narrow by-street upon Eighth street, and came to a halt in front of Madam Fayette’s Emporium of Fashions. The carriage was a close one—rather a cab than a carriage, and drawn by a magnificent span of bays who were in turn held in check by a liveried colored coachman. The street was apparently deserted, now, in the immediate vicinity of the millinery store; down the street further voices and footsteps were heard. No sooner did the carriage stop than the door of the store was opened, and «& closely wrapped female figure glided forth to the curb, and opened the cab door. The next instant the two men followed her, and entered the cab, bearing between them a bundle. The woman then sprung in, after them, and closed the door, and the cab rolled away. The whole action did not occupy more than two minutes; yet in that short space of time the plotters had been seen. In a doorway, across the street, had lain curled up, a dark object, looking more like a bundle of rags than anything else. But no sooner had the carriage rolled awa up the street, than the heap began to unfold, and dissolved into the the form of a boy—a queer-looking lad, ragged and dirty in the extreme, and, the possessor of a queer, owl- shaped face, and big wild eyes, that had in their glance a power of meaning. Seizing his blacking kit, the Nondescript-- for it was indeed Boss Bob’s strange mate—set | the New out at a rapid run up the center of the street, in pursuit of the cab. So swift did he run that he soon caught up with the flying vehicle, and climbed upon the | stepping forward and throwing open the ca trunk-rest, with which it was ornamented. Here he settled himself comfortably, out of sight, and was borne along with the runaways. Once upon a time, over a year before our story, the Bootblack King had rescued Nonde- script from a crowd of ummeling him, and since that the two had involun mated. Even Bob could learn nothing of the strange youth’s antecedents, and if an mar was done the Bootblack King invariably had to do two-thirds or more, of it, which was by no means an irksome task, as talking was one of his best gifts. With all the speed the horses could be ur to, the flew along up North Eighth street, until it came to Girard avenue, when it was turned suddenly into that thoroughfare, and driven Foy | on westward. An occasional ceman would step from his eovert and regard the flying turnout, but wisely refrained, in each instance, from attempting to “— it. erched upon the trunk-rest, in the rear of the vehicle, the Nondescript sat with a resolute expression on his homely face, and a flash to his — which betrayed that he enjoyed the exciting ride, while at the same time going to the rescue; for he had seen Boss Bob enter the millinery establishment, and had lounged in the vicinity thereafter until he beheld the form carried out and placed in the cab. On—on through Girard avenue dashed the horses and the vehicle—Broad street, with its northern and southern miles of street lamps flitted py, as did the Girard college, and soon the cab dashed out upon the beautifully illum- ined Girard avenue bridge. But the flight was destined to be checked. One of the overtasked horses stumbled and itched forward, and failing to regain its equi- brium, went crashing head foremost. down upon the hard Belgian Blocking of the bridge. CHAPTER VIL. THE FERRET’S, WORK—BOSS. BOB 4S A FRESCO ARTIST. At the same time, two men, one of whom was a policeman, h ‘Up. ‘Hello, here!” he cried, addressing the darky, coachman..who was just picking himself. up out the way,” Fox said. be ad been. pitched 9 the | living.” of the dust, where — We will play the game, and | | : | | } i ' ; ' eager to be off. ; oung roughs who were | what youare doing witl him,” the officer re- ; Os ee eee : fall of the horse, “Why ts this carriace out at: | little while ago—was carried out.” this time of morning? What are you doing | been liberally fed with chlorof ” the officer with a horse down?” guessed. “TI smelt it the moment I opened the “Fo? suah he fell, an’ nearly broke dis yar | cab. The better plan is to take him bome and nigger’s neck,” the coachman apologized, brush- | let him recover from the effects of the drug at ing off bis clothes, and looking frightened. his leisure.” ‘ But, what is this carriage racing so for at ‘“‘T do not know that he has a home,” Fox this time of night?’ the cfficer demanded, sus- | confessed. ‘Do you know where he lives, boy? piciously. turning to the Nondescript. ‘Dunno, sab. ‘Spect I’m driver, an’ de ‘‘Guess he hain’t got any,” the lad replied, madam she told me to drive w’ar she d’rected.” | “cent it is in the doorways, an’ coal-houses an’ ‘‘ Who is the madam?” w’arts.’ ‘“ Midam Fayette, sah?” ‘* Well, then, I'll take charge of him, and see ‘‘ Who else is in the carriage?” that he is PEopeEy cared for, You can go on, ‘‘ Marse Mitchell an’ Sir Franklyn, sah.” officer, and we'll takeh im up to the Trans-Con- “Humph! do you know these parties?’ the | tinental, by slow stages, and see to him.” officer demanded, addressing his companion, a | The officer ecconinay trudged away en his little, nobbily-attired individual, with black | beat, and then Fox ard the Nondescript raised hair, eyes and mustache. the inactive Bootblack King in their arms, and ‘¢] have heard of them,” wasthe significantre- | bore him along the gloomy avenue toward the ply. “It issafe enough to venture that they are | Trans-Continental hotel, located at the intersec- not out for any particular good.” tion of Bclmont and Elm avenues. No stir was made by the inmates of the cab. Boss Bob was a solid weight, despite his boy- They were evidently awaiting developments. ish size, and ere the distance between the bridge The fallen coach horse had regained its feet, | and the hotel was traversed, the detective and and shaken the dust from its glossy hide. the Nondescript were glad to pause several times The darky finished brushing himself, and gave | and rest. a wistful glance toward the seat, as if he were The great hostelry was finally reached, how- ever, and owing to the fact that it was Fox’s ‘‘ Hold on,” the officer said, coolly. ‘Don’t | stopping-place, they had no trouble in gaining be infno hurry to depart, until I am satisfied | an admittance, and securing a ag lg lodg- that all is right. Who is in this establishment | ing-room for the insensible bootblack. besides the parties you have mentioned?” Here Boss Bob was stretched out upon the bed ‘* No one, sah!” in a comfortable position, and left in charge of ‘* Are you sure?” the Nondescript. ‘Dun suah certain, sah!” The detective then took his departure, promis- ‘‘Don’t ye believe him,” a voice said, and the | ing to return in the morning. Noncescript came around from the rear end of t was near break of day ere Boss Bob recoy- the cab. ‘ They’ve got my pard, Boss Bob, in | ered from the effects of the chloroform, suf- there, an’ L ’spect they’re either a-goin’ ter hide | ficiently to be able to sit up in bed, and recog- or kill him. I see’d em put his body in there.” | nize his true and tried friend, the Nondescript. The little man started forward. ‘‘ Well, I'm an eyster ef I ain’t in old U.5., “What! Boss Bob the bootblack?’ he interro- | yet, alive an’ kickin’,” was his first exclamation, gated, eagerly. on gazing at his surroundings. “Hello! you The Nondescript nodded. heer, Script? Well, that settles it—l’m stil! “Then we must know the reason of this,” the | this side o’ Jordan, right side up wi’ care. Did- little my, ee who was none other than Fox, | n't know but mebbe I’d wake up an’ heer the york Ferret... “ Open the door, officer, | angels playin’ on the golden pap an’ banjo, or and let’s sift this matter, for there’s dark work | else I’d layin’ seven-up wi’ old Neptune; but at the bottom of it.” seems I didn’t make a go of it. What's the rip, Without hesitation the policeman obeved, by | Script? Whose gay, palatial domersile ar’ we occerpyin’, now?” me eee -— door. “We are at the Trans,” the strange boy re- ‘‘ Hello, here!” he cried, peering in. ‘‘ Have | plied, briefly. you got a lad here called Bors Bob?” “Oh, we aire. Well, we’re in tune, then. Fust ‘‘ We have,” Mitchell replied. ‘‘ What of it?” | time I ever salubriated in sech qua - But, ‘Much of it—so much that I want to know | how’d we git ae ‘Script? Last I réeko Mickey Ange! Mitchell was stuffin’ mé wi’ per- ‘ithe Nondescript related what ad_9cétirred, e Nondescript related w and Boss Bob listened, attentively. “ Well, ef et ain’t a reg’lar three-act dramy, I don’t never swaller anuther clam—that’s An’ thet Foxy is a hoss—prowidin’ he settles my hotel bill.’ hen Fox came inin the morning, Bob was thoroughly himself again, and related his ad- venture and what he had learned, all of which the New Yorker heard with a satisfied expres- sion of countenance, and jotted down. “They are a precious pair of rogues,” he said; *‘and I shall give them my ‘You did not find the jewels “No. I did not git all thru the ’stablishment afore I was nabbed. ‘“‘’Spect mebbe ther gewelry was furder up.” ‘‘Perhaps. Ill keep the Fayette place under surveillance, at any rate. Your own course of action you can choose for yourself. If you find jo | points, I'll take them off your hands for . How much do you want, for what you have told me about the smuggling, and the grave-robbing biz?” eee I’ve got a2-X an’a V fer ,»” Bob replied. “Ef I find out any more pints, ye’ll heer from us ag’in. Goin’ ter take in the body-snatchin’ matinee up at Fern- wood?” ‘‘No. Ill let this thing lag a little. The culprits will naturally lag a little, too, and pues sternly, and seizing the heels of the rugged boy, he pulled him out of the wagon. ‘You have placed yourselves in suspicious cir- cumstances, and it is my duty to investigate the matter.” ‘“‘Pshaw! You are having your trouble for our pains,” Mitchell averred, ‘‘for we are all too well known to be suspec I ain the su- perintendent of the Turnover Calico Mills!” “Tt don’t make any difference—not ef you were old Stokely himself,” was the blunt reply. “You've had an insensible boy in your carriage and I'd be pleased to have you inform me what you are going to do with him?” ‘‘We were going to take him to the home of a friend of mine, at Elm Station, to recuperate. He was taken very ill, to-night, and we thought it best to get him out of the city,” Madam Fay- ette answered. ‘‘Oh! sir, please do not delay us, as it may be the means of hastening his death, and we could never forgive ourselves or you. _ “Dll see to the lad myself,” the officer replied in a way. ‘If I see any need to arrest you, I'll know where to find you. Drive on, you nigger ” The darky hastily mounted the box, and the cab rolled away, leaving four figures remaining on the brid ‘It was lucky we chanced <omet just as we did,” Ferret said, ‘‘ or one of Philadelphia’s best detective lights would have in all probability rsonal attention. been squelched.” things will eventually work around, so that ‘‘No; Boss Bob git rescued by me,” the Non- | they will resume business, and they can then be descript said. ‘I Boss Bob’s pard—I dog cab caught in the act.” —rescue Bob.” ‘‘ Well, my boy, you deserve credit,” the de- | rectly took their leave. tective, said. ‘‘ Bob had been in the Fayette | f ae ee place before his trip in the cab, had he not?” That afternoon, Michael Angelo Mitchell was ‘Yes, Went in about noon. Jes’ cim outa | sitting on ‘the veranda that fronted the en- ; trance to the calico’ mills, engaged in reading ‘“Good! He probably discovered something and smoking. of,importance, and reathar than have him use it | lounge at | V against them, «theydecided to put him out of glanced over the dally Dare aug eee the ‘‘ Let's see if he is dead or “cigar trade by @yaporating innumerable ciga ‘find toppitg off by inspecting every person tha chanced to pass along the street. Sometimes, Bob nodded, and he and the Nondescript di- Te ... ee ee ee It was a custom of his to. thus ‘‘He is irisensible from the fact that he has EOLANIICE OC) <S 8 ease, and sun himself, while he. (E@) < = — —= = <a —- — 2 — eee ee ee eet a ee ee