Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 209 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 park has had none too savory a reputation for | promise that you would abstain from drink | has come here to visit and watch the workings some years past, it being a nightly haunt of the | rough and bardly respectable crowd of human- | ity that frequent the low dives and variety | dens of Vine street and vicinity. employ. Half-way through the square had he got | when he met two low-browed fellows, one of whom said to the other: ‘‘That’s him, the dirty baste! his mother, Riley?” The next instant there was a whiz through the air, and the merchant was conscious of be- ing struck in the face with some hard object, and falling to tbe ground, his senses partly leaving him—while his assailants hurried on. A moment later there were hasty footsteps, and Tom Ward ran up to where his uncle lay, partly raised upon his elbow, and gasping for breath. ‘““Why, uncle John, is this you?—What has happened—what is the matter?” he demanded, raising the merchant to his feet. ‘Matter enough. Some unmannerly wretch hit me in the face witb a slung shot!” the mer- ehant gasped. ‘‘Tnere! there! boy; don’t bother to call the police. You know I detest publicity obtained by police court advertising. if you will take my arm until I overcome this dizziness we will walk toward my home,” ‘Certainly, uncle. Shall I not call a car- riage?” ‘‘No, I prefer to walk. I shall soon feel better, and am thankful the matter is no worse, lought to have know better than to come through this place, I suppose, with the hard name the daily papers give it.” They soon left the park, and walked along in silence for a ways; then the dismissed nephew said: ‘Well, uncle, I suppose things go better at the store since I left, eh?” And there was a bit of irony in his tone, that Mr. Harrington at once perceived. “No, Tom, my boy; I have failed to see that your absence improves matters any. There is internal trickery somewhere that defies my comprehension.”’ ‘“Strange—and yet not so strange either, considering the number of your employes. I hope and trust you will find the guilty one be- fore I return from my voyage.” “Your voyage, boy?’ ‘Yes, uncle. 1 have a chance to ship as a deck hand on an excursion craft, going to Italy, and I guess it will be my best chance, Any- thing is preferable to remaining here, where I am widely known, under the existing circum- stances, you know. The boat sails day after to-morrow, I believe.” ‘*Tom, you must do nothing of the kind. The idea is simply preposterous, sir—you, the son of an aristocratic family going asa deck hand—humph! Go slow, my boy, go slow! Everything may seem against you now, but do nothing rash. To-night Schloss withdrew from the firm, and benceforth I am the sole pro- prietor. Although I am not prepared to be- lieve you guilty, I have my confidence lessened in you by sundry little reports to the effect that you drink and gamble. My boy, this in- dulgence will never make a man of you —it will ruin you and your prospects for- ever.” ‘IT do not deny these charges, uncle, nor do I think I need to ask who is your informer. I have drank and gambled occasionally, like the average young man, who taturally begins lite a little wild, and grows calmer with maturity, but I can say Ihave been careful to abstain from excess in either instance. I can break cff very easily, and mean to do so,” ‘‘A good resolve, my boy—a commendable resolve. Honesty and sobriety are jewels more valuable than the most brilliant diamond. And, Tom, I have been considering, to-night, the advisability of taking you back into my Hit him for and gambling and all kindred associations.” ‘* You can have the promise in those words, Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. ~~ —— of the establishment, in view of starting a uncle, with or without reinstatement in your | an honorable chance to prove my honesty and integrity as a man, and asa gentleman.” » ‘‘ Well, well, Iam glad to hear you say so— because I see you are not ashamed of a lesser position. You may resume your services in my employ, to-morrow, at a salary of ten dollars per week, taking the place of Jenkens, who goes on the road in the interests of the es- tablishment. Yoursalary, with strict economy will pay your board and clothing, and lessen your supply for chances of temptation. You will not resume your position as a member of my family, at present, or at least, not until I see fit to have you. As far as Rossie is con- cerned, 1 dare say she will recognize you, but shall not accord you your former plaice in her confidence and esteem, did she so desire, until this cloud is beyond a doubt lifted from over your bead. If you desire to please me, sir, you will please to refrain from addressing her, except when addressed, and then only in the way you would any lady acquaintance—civilly. Do you understand, sir?’ and there was now no pity in the merchant's tones. ‘‘T understand, perfectly, and it shall be as you desire,” Tom said, bowing his head in acquiescence, although his spirit rebelled. “By the way, I saw Rebecca, to-night, and she said you had made an accession to your staff of employes.” ‘““Ah! yes—a German Jew—a dry, odd and clumsy fellow, yet, withal a sharp lad, when experience and good training properly develop him, I take it. Ive got him on purpose to keep an eye on you,” witha rather grvff laugh. ‘“Well, I'm glad of that. I hope and trust he will serve me honestly, as well as your- self.” Soon after they reached the merchant’s man- sion, where Tom took leave, and returned to his own lodgings. | It had been a lucky hit, for him, which had dropped Mr. Harrington, it would seem, but there was yet a darker lining to develop in the cloud that hung over him, before the silver lining should come to view. CHAPTER VII. DANIELS AND FELICE. On the following morning Fritz presented himself at the establishment of Mr. Harring- ton, and took up his situation as genteel loafcr and spy. Rebecca had also returned to re- sume her position as saleswoman, and ‘tom Ward's pleasant face was seen behind one of the jewelry counters, A cordial welcome had been acccérded him by the employes, when it was learned that he had been reinstated; even Dolph Daniels had manifested enough interest to drop around, in his cool and cynical patronizing way and say: ‘‘Hello! glad to see you back again. Was saying to the senior, that I couldn’t see auy harm in your coming back. Hope you’ll find your new position very lucrative and desira- ble.” Then he passed on, for which Tom was not soiry, for he did not like his half-brother any too well, and knew too that his dislike was more thanfully reciprocated. Daniels had heard of Fritz from Mr. Har- rington, but had not been informed of his real errand at the store. He had at once taken a dislike to the new-comer, and resolved to tor- ment him whenever an opportunity afforded, for there was no danger of such an action be- ing resented by Mr. Harrington. He approached Fritz not long after his ar- rival, and slapped him familiarly on the shoul- der. ‘Well, my son, what is there I can do for einploy—not as a cashier, but as a clerk, Of | you, this morning?’ he asked, patronizingly. course it is an humble position compared to vou: former one, but [’'d rather have you in uncer my eye, thai on the streets. In case of such au event, i si uli require your solemn ‘* Anything you wish to purebase:” * Noddings,”’ Fritz replied, briedy. ‘* On! then you are perbaps the rich young | man Mr. Harrington was speaking about, who As for the position, | should deem it | a EN SS —eNSEE-— > ; me similar enterprise yourself?’ * | shouldn’t vonder uff | vas dot same vel- ler,” Fritz assented condesendingly. ‘Ah! yes. Well, 1 trust it will not take you long to get an idea of our business, so that you can get a start for yourself. We do a very extensive trade, and it probably would require more time than you have to spend, to investigate the whole workings of each de- partment, but you can in a few days obtain a general idea of the store’s transactions.” ‘*T dinks I dake my time to it and learn it all,’ Fritz replied, turning away, as if not de- siring to converse with the foreman. ‘*‘Humph! I dare say you will stay much longer than you are wanted,” Daniels muttered to himself. ‘If your business here is an enigma to the rest, it isn’t to me. Ha! ha! no.” 5 0% Fritz curing the forenoon devoted bimself to inspecting the character and amount of business done on the first floor, which was ex- clusively a retail department, bandling costly silks, satins, laces, trimmings and jewels— mostly diamonds. The latter, however, were kept in a close case, more for samples than for regular retail trade. Among the clerks Fritz endeavored to single out those whose looks might indicate an un- trustworthy character. One, a young Frerch- woman who superintended the diamond counter, did not favorably impress him. She was a thin, angular person of perbaps nineteen or tweuty years of age, with a death- like complexion, pearly white teeth, a decided- ly sinister castof countepance and sharp, wicked black eyes, ever on the alert and gleaming. She spoke in broken French some- times—then, again, in perfect English; her every movement was cut-like; she impressed Fritz as being a deceitful, fiery-tempered wo- man, whose disposition for evil was greater than that for good. During the forenoon, while sitting behind a bale of goods, he saw her come from behind the counter and stop Daniels, who was pas:ing her. Neither of them noticed the ‘German Jew’s” proximity, and that portion of the store being deserted at the mowent, they were not so guarded in their conversation, as would other- wise have been the case. With all eagerness Fritz listened, for, some- how, he liked ueithcr of them, and felt that from them he had scu.cthing of importance to learn. The Frenchwoman was the first to speak, and her voice was rather harsh and hissing in its tone, ‘‘Ze monsieur Tom come back!” she said, significantly. ‘Ze grand plan is a failure, Monsieur Dolph—ze bad failure.” *Pshaw, no! I rather expected the old man would take him back. He, however, has only taken bim in, on test, and we must manaze it that the test is unsatisfactory to the Governcr —do you hear? Tom must go forth agai, forever banished. I’d be a fool, you kiew, when it as almost as good as settled that I am to be a partner in this concern, to let any brotherly feeling interfere with my preventing Tom from getting back into the old men’s graces.” *“Oreven to kt him g¢t ze place monsieur hopes to gain in zu pretty Rosalind’s affection’ Bah! you reckon wildly, Monsieur Doipno! You zink when ze goud fortund come, you will cast ze old love cif for ze new, but it shail nevare be—nevaie, Monsieur Dolph Daniels)” The foreman scowled, and uttered an exe- cration. ‘‘Pshaw! when will you cease to bo foolish, Felice? Haven’t I promised everything reason- able, when I get the coveted position? Let hear no more of this complaining.” * But ze Ma’moiselle Rosalind? Ze report say zat Monsieur Dolph pay her ze loverly atten- tion since poor Tom no longer is allowed ww | JOO Goin (E =) (E@)