Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 209 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

eee 2 2 ee eee ae _ ee sort of business, and as Tom’s income was but limited, it was but natural to suppose that he must acquire the means from some other source. And, Fritz, it was only a few days after this that poor Tom was discharged.” Fritz sat down and gazed thoughtfully at the floor, while he ran his fingers meditatively through his hair. ‘‘Fritz,” he was saying to himself, ‘der is vork ahead, und off you can make some dings clear, you vill make a hit—right oud vrom der shoulder. O'd vimmens Shrimp, Fritz don’ vas ask some odds off you den!” To Rebecca he said: ‘‘Den you don’d vas dink Tom is der guilty one, Rebecca?” ‘“No, I don’t!” emphatically. “Tom may be a little wild sometimes like other young men, but he’s brains and good sense enough not to be carried away by any base passion. Why, if you could see how disconsolate and unhappy he is since Mr. Harrington has forbidden bim the house and store, your heart would go out for him. ‘(Und whois this Dolph Daniels?” ‘‘QOh! he’s just the surliest, meanest man in the store, and nobody likes him. He is Mr. Horrington’s nephew also, and a_ half-brother of Tom. There’s quite a bit of romance con- nected with the case, ton, Fritz. You see Mr. Harrington and Mr. Scbloss are to dissolve partnership soon, Mr. Schloss returning to Germany, and Mr. Harrington continuing the husiness. In this event it has long been un- derstood that Mr. Harrington was to take one of bis nephews in asa partner in the business, which would be quite a lift for the chosen one. Which of the nephews was to be the lucky man has never been announced, though we have all rather calculated it would be Tom, he being the merchant’s favorite. But, since his discharge, it looks as if Dolph -would be the man, And I do really believe he is trying his best to influence Mr. Harrington against Tom.” “ Misder Harrington don’d vas der man to be easily influenced against a person. He vould quicker side in der favor, onless he had good reason to der gontrary,” Fritz decided, judging by what he had seen of the merchant. “Oh! yes; he’s a nice, good man, but he’s awfully in error, now,” Rebecca asserted, put- ting ber plump little arms akimbo, and looking very wise. ‘* You see, there is another thing to consider, too, Fritz. There is a woman in the case.” Fritz put. up his bands, imploringly. ‘If she is von old maid, don’d delJs me nod- ding apoud it,” be said. ‘But she isn’t; she’s a young maid, and a very desirable one at that, sir. You see, some years ago, ove of Mr. Harrington’s old col- lege-chums died, and bequeathed to his care a little daughter accompanied with a sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, For bringing her up, Mr. Harrington was to have the interest of the money; when sbe arrived at a marriage- able age, he and she were to agree upon the choice of a husband for her, and on their mar- riage, the money was to be divided equally be- tween the bride and the man of her selection— his share to be used in purchasing a partner- ship in some good business,” “Shimminy dunder! I vonder off I can’t go up und make a mash mit her; vile my clothes ish new, Rebecca?” ‘And leave poor me without a beau?” re- proachirgly. ‘*Oh, vell, pizness is pizness, Rebecca, and a feller vants to make bargains vare der money is der most. You see, Icould see you home effery night vidout interferin’.” ‘Ob! Fritz—you’re just awful! I don’t want any second-hand fellow.” ‘‘But vile you are doin’ a segund-hand piz- ness Rebecca, vot is der difference?” ‘Oh! a great deal, sir. Besides, you’ve no show; Miss Rossie—-Rosalind is her name—is of American blood, and wouldn’t have a poor ignerant Dutchman like you. Now, you see, Dolph Daniels and Tom are both in love with Rossie, which makes another reason why Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 7 Dolph should desire to injure Tom, who has hitherto commanded the preference, until for- bidden to enter the Harrington house, or speak to Rossie. I believe it was as good as under stood that Tom and Rossie were engaged, with the consent of Mr. Harrington, until Tom’s discharge. Now, Fritz, do you know what I want you to do?” ‘Ven you tell me, I know all apcut it.” “Of course, Well, I want you to intercede for Tom, with Mr. Harrington. He would take it from you, quicker than from any of the rest of us; I want you to sound Tom’s praise constantly in his ears, and above all, keep an eye on Dolph Daniels. I have an idea he would bear watching.” “ Vell, I vill do dot, Rebecca, some great fancy to bim, myself. must go and find a boarding place.” ‘But, Fritz, huld on! I was speaking to uncle about you, and he said you could board with us, if you like.” ‘* Dot would suit me firsd trate, Rebecca, so I could be near you. Und ven I haff nodding to do, I mind der pawnshop, eh? Ill bet a half a dollar 'd make your unele bankrupt in six weeks.”’ ‘*Ob! no; you must only pay half of the value of anything you take in Fritz, and sell it again for twice what you gave for it. That is the way to do business, honestly and success- fully.”’ ‘Oh! ish dot der way? Vell, 1 dink I start a puwnbroker shop myself, one off dose days, Rebecca, ven I get through settling up dot pizness apoud der— Oh! dunder, I forgot. Pll bet a half a dollar I giff der whole t’ing avay, et.” . So Fritz became installed in his new home, with ajob before him that required tbree es- sentials — close attention, shrewdness and se- crecy ! I don’d took Now, I CHAPTER VI. A KAP WITH A SLUNG-SHOT. THE day being yet half unspent Fritz strolled about to see the sights, While standing on Chestnut street, he saw a man pass, whose face was familiar to him. It was one of the two portly individuals whose conversation be had partly overheard on the cars. Their conversation now for the first recurred to Fritz, in connection with what be had heard at the store of Schloss and Harrington, and he slapped his bead as if to stir up more idcas, “‘T beta balf dollar I vas on der trail, right avay off!” ne said. ‘* Dose. vellers vas talking apoud some cargo vot dey haff oud at sea, und couldn’t get ashore. Dot makes ’em smug- glers. Der next thing is to find varebouds dey hang oud, who ish deir associates, und who deir names vas.” And the amateur detective walked away on the track of the portly man—on his first trail. The man soon entered a billiard room, on Eleventh street, and challenged the proprietor to play, who at once consented. Fritz followed boldly into the place, pur- chased a cigar, and sat down to watch the game. Two men were engaged in playing a game, at another table, close by. Both were rather good looking fellows, whose genteel attire in- dicated respectable social positions. One was a brunette the other rather a blonde witha hungry, pained expression about his month and eyes. The two were talking, as they played, and Fritz could not avoid listening to what they said, ‘* Pshaw!” the darker youth was saying, “‘vou must brave up. There’s more chances in the world than one, and it don’t pay to ery over spilt milk, Tom.” ‘*But you see, Jack it’s uncomfortable, in wnore than one sense. Why, the Governor don’t notice me when we meet face to face, and it wasn’t more than an hour ago that I met Rossie, and she drew aside her skirts in pass- ing by, as though afraid I would touch her. I * ~ tell you I'm the most mivereble fellow out, and I was tempted to go shoot myself,” ‘Dot is Tom, vot Rebecca tole me of,” Fritz silently concluded, ‘‘He don’d look so much like a rascal ash his step brother.’ The supposed smuggler had by this time con- cluded his game, paid for it, and departed, Again Fritz tollowed at. a respectful distance, and without discovery be trecked the portly man to the hallway of a place on Sixth stra-t which led up a flight of stairs to a ball imme- diately over a saloon. At the foot of the stairs a tin placard was tacked to the door, bearirg the following notice: “Tris Hau. to Ler *“ FOR MEETINGS, BALLS, FESTIVALS, ETO, “APPLY AT THE SALOON," The portly man went up stairs— Fritz turn- ed and retraced his footsteps toward Market street. ‘*Dot is der place where der meeting is ter be held, der-night, at ten o'clock,” he said, re- flectively. ‘‘I must see who goes into dot hall, To linger long in that vicinity might excite the suspicions of the smugglers, as well as the police; hence he conceived a plan that promised to work well. He borrowed an old suit of clothing at the pawnbroker shop, of Rebecca, together with a wooden tray; tben at a bakery he procured buns, cakes and pretzels, Before eight o’clock that night be hed taken up his stand on the curb, only a few steps from the deor to the hall, where he could dis- pose of his eatables, were any one disposed te invest, and at the same time notice each and every person who should enter the door, lead- ing to the hall, It was well on toward ten 0’ clock before any one came along, and went up-stairs. The first one was the man whom Fritz bad dogg<d that afternoon. He gave a sharp, searching glance at the as- sumed peddler as he entered the hallway, but went on up-stairs without saying anything. Soon after two rough, bewbhiskered and vil- lainous looking sailors followed bis example; after them a roughly dressed man who was the possessor Of the longest and beyviest black beserd Fri'z had ever seen: next came two well-dressed men, who looked as though they might be prominent business merebants; then followed several others—all wearing heavy beards, which Fritz at once concluded were false. The last individual to go up the stairs was the mosi noticeable of the Jot, being quite tall, and very thin—in fact, was the leane-t-looking specimen of humanity Fritz had ever seen, in face as well as in form, and was apparently ef a very nervous temperament, judging from @ habit Le had of looking about on either side, as if fearing pursuit, Instead of going up the stairs as the others had done, he took his position in the doorway at the foot of the stairs, and stood there like some grim, superannuated statue, ‘Oh! ish dotit?’? Fritz thought. “I dink I see how dose vellers work it now. Dey don’d vas let anypody play eavesdropper.” As the thin party continued to stand guard, and seeing no chance to learn anything mote at that time, Fritz succeeded in disposing of his stock to the street boys at the rate of three cakes for a cent, and went back to his new home, Though not exactly satisfied with the resuls of the evening’s work, he was thankful for what little clew he had obtained, That same evening Mr. Harrington was de- tained in town later than usual, and it was after ten o'clock when he started for his resi- dence, which was on Ridge avenue, in the northern part of the city. His route brought him to Franklin square, which he concluded to cross, rather than go a long walk around it, and he accordingly entered it and strode along, no thought of danger en- tering his mind, despite the fact that the pretty (SO! NMUCELONKovKe) gS