Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 196 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

LO ‘*T'd like ter know what brings you yere, in- terferin’ with a gen’leman in his _ bizness!” growled Mike, his face furious with rage. ‘* Now, see here, Mike,” cried Bob, walkin fearlessly up to him, and laying a heavy hanc eye his shoulder, ‘‘I know this lady, and Td kill you, you hound, if you had done her any harm. ou know me, Mike Crapper!” ** Like you killed my wife,” muttered Mike. Bob shook him as if he held but a leaf in his hand. ‘You lying villain! so that is your game then, to try and lay your bloody work on me? have you now, and you shall acknowledge the truth, in the presence of this lady, or you shall never escape my hazds until I give you over to the authorities. He grasped at Mike’s wrist with his free hand, but the cunning villain made a quick stoop tearing his shoulder loose from Bob’s clutch. An agile backward leap, and he had broken through a clump of bushes beside which he stood. Bob made no effort to pursue him. But he had no idea of letting him escape so easily. In a moment the barrel of a pistol glittered in the sun. ‘** Stop!” he cried, in a commanding voice. Mike, who had leaped from the edge of the terrace to the narrow beach of the stream, turned on hearing this peremptory command. But a hoarse laugh of defiance came from his lips as he took another step toward the boat. There was a sharp report. A bullet whistled past his ear, ‘*Stop! I say,” cried Bob, with still more energy of tone. At this juncture, Grace ran hastily forward and caught Bob’sarm with a frightened gesture. ‘*Oh, don’t shoot him!” she cried. ‘* Oh, for mercy’s sake, don’t shoot him!” Bob looked at her appealing face and lowered his pistol. - ‘You will not acknowledge?’ he cried to Mike, ‘* Never!’ “Very well. I know what remains to do then. The next time I find you—and it will not be long—you shall not escape me so easily. You may go now.” Mike leaped into his boat, lifted the rude anchor and hastily pushed the small craft from the shore. He was not yet sure of Bob’s for- bearance and seemed to think it good policy to make haste from that dangerous locality. Grace had loosed her hold of Bob’s arm. She retreated a step or two, looking uporm him with mingled emotions. He turned toward her. ‘*Do you, too, believe me a murderer?” he asked. “No, no! I never did! I never could!” ‘*T am bad enough,” he said, somewhat sadly. ‘*T did take — in that attempt at bank ox A bery. But 1 was driven to it by need and by your father’s coldness toward me. But to com- mit murder! I hope I am incapable of that.” ‘*T am sure you are,” she fervently replied. ‘‘Thanks! thanks!” he rejoined. ‘* Let me clear myself in your eyes, and I care not what others may think,” “Will you not do more?’ she exclaimed, ex- tending her arms appealingly toward him. ‘Will you not avoid all crime? Will you not seek to live an honest life? Oh! it is too dread- ful to think of a man like you entering into such fatal courses! Promise me! I will help you! I will aid you to the extent of my powers!’ He looked at her with moistened eyes. There was a quiver in his lips as he spoke. ‘*T will! With God’s help I will be an honest man! I have committed my last crime!” ‘‘Oh thanks, thanks! I know you will, and that I can help you. But this murder—this dreadful charge?” . Her voice failed her. A look of horror came upon her face. ‘*T am innocent of it, before Heaven! But I cannot prove my innocence now! If I have time I may doso. Butif I am captured now I will be surely condemned. And the blood- hounds of the law are after me.” He looked around with the glance of one who dreads a es “Te 1 can help you! If 1 can secrete you! Anything to save you from that!” As she spoke there was an uproar of loud voices from the direction of the house, which made Bob give a nervous start. Were the pur- suers then so closely on his track? CHAPTER IX. BOB.WAKES UP THE WRONG CUSTOMER. We must go back a few hours in our story in | | | | his right and looked in. order to explain this sudden appearance of Bob Rockett at the country seat ot the Garlands. He had good reason for a hasty movement out of town, as we will explain. Bob might have remnined in safety in the hiding-place | which he had sought after leaving Beau Bink’s apartment, but there were two reasons acting to bring him again into a situation of danger. One of these was a feeling of contempt for the police, arising from bis many escapes; and a sense of belief in his star which made him bold and venturesome. The other was a cause which rendered it necessary for him to expose himself todanger. This we will explain. The questionable circumstances which had produced the suspicion against him, as an ac- complice of Rusty Mike in the murder of his wife, could be explained away by a certain witness whose services Bob was very anxious to secure. In fact he had just read a full account of the inquest over the murdered woman, and of the evidence given by the inmates of the house. Some of this testimony seemed to strike him as very favorable to himself. ‘* By Jove!” he cried, suddenly flinging down the paper, ‘* the sky is beginning to clear. If I can only find Roger Glindon now, and get him to come up like a man, the whole thing is set- tled. Roger will not go back on me—but he may have made tracks from the city.” Fortunately for his plans Bob hada very good idea of where to look for his accomplice in the bank robbery. He knew Roger’s usual places of resort perfectly well, bus he had a shrewd idea’ just now that he would be most likely to find him in another locality. In fact he was well aware of the impression which the beautiful face and engaging manners of Marie Ormiston had made upon his quondam friend, and of the devoted attention which Roger was paying to this attractive young lady. **V’ve anotion that he goes there every day about this hour,” said Bob to himself. ‘‘ There’s the spot to catch my rept young blood. Roger is blamably given to look out for number one, but I don’t fancy that he’ll go back on me in this affair. He is like a good many others; he can be mighty good-hearted where he has nothing to lose by if.” Bob was not long in putting his idea into practice. It was hardly safe, however, to ven- ture into the street without some effort at dis- guise, buS he contented himself by putting a heavy false beard on his usually smooth chin, and by wearing a cap which concealed the up- per portion of his face. These additions to his costume made a marked change in his appearance, so that no one would be likely to recognize him froma mere descrip- tion. But he had no idea of trusting bimself to the chances of the street. He bailed a passing cab, gave the driver the street and number which he sought, and lay back securely on the cushions, metaphorically snapping his fingers at the guardians of the law. : The locality in question was situated some distance up-town. Bob enjoyed a look at the streets from which he had been for some time debarred, while the horses rapidly made their way toward their destination. ‘‘Here you are,” cried the coachman, as he drew his horses up and sprung to the ground, throwing open the cab door. ‘*Wait for me,” said Bob, as he. got out. ‘I will not be long.” Striding up the steps of the house he gave a vigorous pull at the bell. He waited for a n.inute or two, but there was no response to his ring. ‘‘ Are they all asleep inside?” he muttered. ‘‘Or has Roger grown so sweet on the fair Marie that they have no ears for such matters as bells? All right then, Pll make myself at home.” The door opened readily to his hand and he stepped within. The passage was empty. Bob pushed open the door of the parlor which lay to x, fey! all the good people of the house!” he cried. ‘Is nobody at home, that visitors must be left to cool their heels on your doorsteps?” | - “Pid you ring?’ came a strange voice from within, ‘*T fancy so. Hello! you’re a stranger here. What’s become of the folks?’ It was a somewhat stout individual who stood before him, dressed in a half-cniform, which Bob at once recognized as that of the police. ‘* Are youva friend of the family?’ asked this person, looking keenly at Bob. ‘Yes, a most decidedly gullible friend. He’s your best friend I suppose who feeds you for nothing. Well, that’s me. I’ve given them groceries out of my store on tick till they’ve run up a scorching bill. But when I come for my money they’re not at home.” Bob shrugged his shoulders and made a comical grimace, that set the officer cff in an amused laugh. ‘* You're thoroughly cished then, my trusting friend. They’re gone, bag and Laggage.” ‘Bless us! you don’t tell me that? Where have they struck out to?’ ‘**] wish you’d tell me that. There are other folks want to see them besides ycurself. Well, — not to mince matters, there’s a warrent of arrest out for them. But somehow they’ve smelt the rat, and vamosed. There’s nothing here but the heavy furniture.” ‘* And that belongs to the landlord,” said Bob, turning, with a heavy heart, for this unlooked- for flight might pcssibly prove very disastrous for him. Without the aid of Roger Glindon he might be convicted of a murder of which he was as innocent as a child. He turned too quickly in fact. He had been standing close beside the door, and, in his basty movement, his face brushed against the side of the half-open portal, lcosening and sweeping the false beard frcm his face. He stooped hastily to pick it up. But the officer had observed the incident, and a quick suspicion flashed into his eyes as he sprung for- ward and caught Bob by the shculder. ‘‘ What is this?’ he cried quickly. ‘‘ Let me see your face again, my friend.” ‘ Bob rose, with the recovered beard in his hand. His profile was turned toward the cfficer. ‘‘Ha! by all that’s good, it’s Bob Rockett! Here’s a find worth a dozen cf your fancy women. By Jupiter, ’m in luck)” ‘*Don’t swear to that,” growled Bob. He was still rising as he spoke. His right side was turned toward the cflicer, whose hand lay heavily on that shoulder. But in the ver act of ae Bob swung round sharply on his right heel. This movement added force to the weight of his left hand which struck the cflicer a stunning blow on the temple. That dignitary dropped to the floor lke an ox when struck by the ax of the butcher. The whole affair had been so quick and suc- cessful that Bob himself viewed the fallen cfficer with some surprise. A grim laugh of amusement broke from his lips as he dashed through the —e to the front door, hastily clapping the eard to his face as he did so. He leaped into the cab which stood awaiting im. ‘*To the Hudson River Railroad Depot! Like lightning!” he eried. ‘' A dollar extra for your- self if you let no one overtake you. Drive on!” ‘‘Ay! ay!” returned the driver, giving the reins to his horses and tcuching them shrewdly with the whip. At this moment the front door of the louse burst open, and the cflicer appeared. He had not been stunned, as Bob had fancied. ‘‘Stop thief! Stop murderer!” he yelled, on perceiving the flying cab. But cabby paid no attention to this cry, which, indeed, was so inarticwate that he did not understand it. He only stirred up bis horses to greater speed. he cfficer started in full chase down the street after him, giving the alarm as he ran. Others joined in the pursuif. The alarm-rattle sounded in all directions. But the fugitives kept a good distance in advance, and rapidly gained ground over their running pursuers. Not many minutes were cccupied in reaching the railroad station. Bob sprung out, bastily paid the cabman his fare, with the offered gratuity, and ran into the depot building. He was just in time. A passenger-train was on the point of starting. Hastily procuring a ticket he sprung on board the last car of the train, whist was already in moticn. Breathlessly he stood on the rear platform, looking back as the train gathered speed. Soon they had drawn out of the station and were rapidly gathering speed in their onward course. Two minutes afterward the cflicer dashed headlong into the wide doorway of the station, followed by a throng of excited followers. He had succeeded in gaining a cab and fcllowing the fugitives at a cistance. ‘‘ What is wrong?’ yelled the crowd. ‘‘Murder! Bob Rockett! An escaping mur- derer! Heis here! I saw bim leave the cab! Shut the doors! Don’t let him escape!” The excitement spread rapidly. Everybody was in motion. Every man looked suspiciously at his neighbor. (ECO) fi EO) (ECO)