Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 209 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

A - x. ‘Right’ right? why you impudent lout, what do you meanf What do you suppose would be my object in stealin’ a baby sucking- bottle and hiding it in my hat?—and I a single rnan, thank God, at that! This is scandulous -—Outrageous, Here—take my hat and look at it, and satisfy yourself!” And he jerked off his somewhat sbiny ‘‘ plug,” and handed it to Fritz, who thrust his hand inside of it, and—lo! and behold, drew forth the missing bottle, half-filled with milk, just as the lady had left it, at the depot. For the moment the bachelor stood as if struck dumb with horror—then, uttering a violent curse, and seizing the hat and stamp- ing it beneath his feet, he rushed from the cars, like a madman while Fritz restored the bottle to the surprised mother of the child, and the passengers were leit in wonderment, Fritz quite satisfied with the mischief he had done cuddled down in his seat for a good sleep, which, owing to fatigue he was able to enjoy. The afternoon had fled and evening was gathering over the fleeting landscape, when he awakened, The brakeman had not yet been around to light the Jamps, and it was quite dark in the car—so gloomy, in fact, that the passengers at the further end were almost indistinct, Two portly individuals occupied the seat just in front of the boy, and were conversing in an undertone, yet loud enough for him to catch the drift of their conversation, “You are sure the detectives are on the watch?” the one next to the aisle questioned. ‘* Yes—have been ever since the other cargo was run in, There'll be no hope of getting the Fleetwing’s load into market, until a meet- ing is called and notes compared.” ‘*Then it must be done. I will telegraph to Cregg, to-night, and learn how the coast is, ubout Atlantic City.” “That will be risky. Do nothing until there isa meeting. As soon as we reach the city, I will write each member, and call a meeting of the league, at the last meeting- place, to-morrow evening, at ten o’clock.”’ ‘‘ Probably that will be the best thing to do. Ji will be a good opportunity, also, to appoint a new spy to watch she man that isn’t above suspicion,” “Psbaw! I’d stake my life on his loyalty.” Then the brakeman came into fhe car, leay- ing the door open, and the din was so great, caused by the roar of the train, that Fritz failed to hear any more, ere the men relapsed into silence, He went to the front of the car, however, to get a drink, and on his way back, took a look at the two men, so that he might remember them, thereafter, it he had any occasion to. CHAPTER ILI. FRITZ AND REBECCA, Very few writers’ powers of description are adequate to the task of expressing a person’s teeling on first entering a great and bustling city, after a quiet life in the country. Only those who have ‘been thar’ can realize the strange sensation that passes over one, who awakens to the knowledge that be is landed in a great city among strangers, alone, unknown, and uncared for by the great eddying torrent of humanity around them, Fritz Snyder, although ignorant in the ways of the world, was by no means ‘a greeny.’ As Mrs, Partington would remark of lke: ‘‘He had a pile of ideas o’ things in general in his head, did Ike, but bad ruther a poor way of showin’’em.” And so it was with Fritz. He fully realized that he was in a big metro- polis, dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood; but he had confidence that be could | take cure of himself and soon find employmen’, “T vil put up at the b-st hotel, to-night,” he decided, ‘fund uff I dowd can stand der pres- | sure, any longer, I'll fini a sheaper one to- : i a oe ee sidered first-class hotels, and accordingly got into a hack and ordered the driver to take him to the latter-named kotel. ‘But, hold up!” the driver said. you don’t mean the Continental, do ye, Dutchy? It costs a V a day thare. Now, there’s an emigrant lodging-house, down on Dock street, where ye kin get a bed for a nickel, and soup, down-stairs, fer a postage stamp. Reckon that would suit you best, eh? Right smart place it is, too.” ‘“You take me yoost where I told you to,” Fritz replied. ‘*‘ Uff you vas know my pizness better den I vas, I like to know dot.” ‘All right; to the Continental you go, then, but I'll wager you'll not get in.” ‘*Den I vil stay oud,” Fritz muttered, grim. ly. ‘*Uff! my money don’d vas so good ash somepody else’s, den I know der reason,” The carriage soon rolled away over the pave- ment toward the center of the city, and from the window pane our adventurer watched the stores and houses flit by, in great curiosity. He had never been in the city before—at least, not since he could remember—and the great rows of massive brick and marble struc- tures, and the lighted, elegant stores looked strangely grand and beautiful to him. In due time the cab halted before the Ninth-street entrance to the Continental Hotel, and Fritz got out, “‘Tll wait here a bit, soif you don’t get in, Ill take you some’res else,” the driver said, with a grin, as he received his fare. ‘‘ Don’d you worry aboud me,” Fritz replied, good-naturedly, ‘‘ Uff I do look a leedle green, dot don’d vas signify anydings.” “Tt signifies there'll be some fun in the Continental,” the driver mused, turning away. Into the bctel, and direct to the office, Fritz strode, grip-sack in hand, resolved to put on a bold front, and face the music as any person does who applies to an austere hotel clerk for accommodations. “Can I get accommodations here for one day?” he asked of the clerk. The clerk eyed him a moment superciliously ; then glanced at the room record, which Jay on the counter. ‘Cannot keep you; houssis full,” he replied, curtly. ‘ Plenty of other hotels handy.” ‘‘But I don’d vas want some oder. hotels,” Fritz returned, decidedly. ‘“‘I vant to stay heer, so yoost give mearoom, I can pay for ‘im.” Seeing that he had undertaken to bluff the wroog man, the clerk assigned him a room, to which he was shown, Fritz spent a very pleasant evening, looking around and had a good night’s rest. He awoke at a seasonable hour, the follow- ing morning, and dressing himself, went down- stairs to the breakfast room. A darky waiter, sprucely dressed, and wear- ing a white apron, met him as he was about entering. “Say, jes’ youl hold on!’ he saluted; “de boss gave order dat youh was not to eat wid de odder guests. You’s got to wait for ce servants’ table.” “Tsh dot sof” Fritz said, surveying the darky, eritically. ‘‘ Vel, den better you teil dot boss I eat yoost ven I blease, so tong as [ pay vor id. You git oud. off der way, or l plack your swi’ eyes mit blue.” And he doubled up his formidable pair of fists so threateningly, that the darky immedi- ately got out of his path. “Take care, sah! Don’t strike me or I'll hab you arrested. Don’t youh gone in dat breakfas’ room, or Til tell de boss,” “Dell ’im; dot ish all right,” Fritz retorted. ‘““T plack his eye, if he fool mit me.” Then he entered the great ball, which was filled with fashionables of both sexes. As may be imagined Fritz’s attire did not | create a favorable impression, as he walked in- ‘*T reckon morrow, vere I can make a good deal of show | ‘epen !ently into the room, and took his seat for a leedle money.” By inquiry of a policeman, he learned that at the head of one of the tables, and, giving | his orders for what be wanted he eat witha either the Girard or Continental were con- relish what was set before him. atl et CL LL LLL LL LL LLL LLL LLL LAL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL ELL LLL DLL LLL LLL LLL Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. He l:eenly felt the evident displeasure of the others to his presence, and resolved to have satisfaction. rom his position he commanded a view of nearly all the tables, which gave him a good vantage ground. “Pie!” he ventriloquially caused a stout el- derly lady to shout, and all eyes were turned upon her in astonishment, for she was a leader of fashion, and the last one to be guilty of such a breach of etiquette. ‘Rotten eggs—phew!” came from another part of the room. ‘‘ Hairs in the butter!’ apparently cried an- other lady. These exclamations as may well be imagined caused an immediate sensation, and the boarders stared at each other inquiringly, some utterly shocked, while others were inclined to laugh. And, Fritz went industriously on eating, no- body suspecting him to be the author of the cries. Several of the guests and boarders got up to leave the room. ‘‘Look at ’em go. They’re sick,” a voice cried. ‘ Dead flies in the biscnits—ba a-a-ck!”” Then there was a sound as if of some one vomiting, at which another delegation beat hasty retreat from the room. The proprietor of the great hotel socn made his appearance, purple with rage. ‘““What is the matter here?” he demande‘, striding up and downthe room, ‘“ Who is it that is finding fault with the rervice? Ils it you, sir?’—and he caught hold of Fritzs coat collar, angrily. ‘“Shimminy dunder!” Fritz ejaculated, inno- cently —‘‘ vot is der matter! Iden’d vas find noddings der matter mid der food.” “Then I’d just like to find out who is creat- ing all this disturbance,” the landlord stormed. No one answered bim. What guests yet remained in the room were as much nonplused as be. At this juncture the imposing darky steward of the house stepped in from the main entrance door, and Fritz manufactured words for him, ere he could speak himself. ‘‘Say, boss,” he seemed to say, ‘“‘dar’s a basket of pie cats down-stairs; shall I put ‘em in de ’vaporator?’ ‘Get out, you accursed nigger!” fairly howled the tormented landlord, and seizing a castor from the table he hurled it at the sup- posed offender “ coon,’’ and then dashed furious- ly in pursuit. Fitz, concluding that he had created enough mischief, abstained from further ventriloquial. efforts, and when he had finished his breakfast, procured bis grip-sack, and went down to the office of the hotel.” “Vel, how much is my bill? he asked, ad- dressing the clerk; “*‘supper, lodging and preak- fast?” “ Nothing at all; all we wantof you is to get out of the house, and stay out!’ was the surly reply. ‘The devil’s been to pay ever cinee you came. ‘‘ Vel, I ish very much opliged,” Fritz re- plied, graciously, “‘ und der next time a Dutch- man comes along, maybe he'll stop at der Con- _dernental,”’ . | Then with a grin he took bis departure. The job before him now that of finding a situation — was neither agreeable noreasy. He was well aware that his attire was not in his favor, so he resolved to seek a clothing house, and make a purchase. Pursuing h's way into Eighth street he soon came to a little storein front of which hung | three golden balls. “T dinks I get vat I vants, in here,” Fritz muttered. ‘‘ Dose places generally find just what a veller vants, vedder he vants it or nix.” It was a pawnbroker’s shop attended by i pretty Jewess maiden, and filled with a motley collection of goods, all the way from a jews. harp and jewelry, to household goods and pianos—nearly everything, in fact, one’s mind could con *eive. | O}ONO) Goim Cc S <