Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 220 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 - re —_—- — — = . —E ‘‘Hum! Nota savory quarter. the key of this store?” 7 oe tar.” “Where do you keep it at night?” “T never let it go out of my pocket.” ‘“And do you talk about it? Do the rest of the folks in that establishment know that you have charge of it?” ‘*No indeed, sir. Mr. Clark told me to k-ep that to myself, and I always do.” ‘Was it in your pocket last night?’ **'Yes, sir. found it there this morning,” ‘* What time did you get in last night?” ‘Twelve o’clock, sir.” ‘*Twelve o’clock, Frank?’ exclaimed Mr. Thompson. ‘' Do you keep such jours as that?” ‘**“Not usually, Mr. Thompson. Yesterday was my birthday, and I went to the theater.” ‘* Ah!” asked the officer quickly. ‘‘Was any one with you?” **T went alone,” replied Frank. the gentlemen in the store saw me there. Mr. Parsons, sir.” ‘*Send for Mr. Parsons,” said the officer. He was becoming favorably impressed, despite him- self, by Frank’s manner. The person sent for entered. He was a littl man, with sandy whiskers, anda very set cas of features. “Were you at the theater last night, Mr. Par- sons? At—what house was it, Frank?” asked Mr. Thompson. ** Wallack’s, sir.” *“*T was not there,” answered Mr. Parsons, coolly. “What?” cried Frank, turning to him with flushed face. ‘Why, I saw you there, Mr. Parsons. And you saw me. You looked straight at me, and not ten feet away.” His tone was very indignant. ‘‘The boy is mistaken,” replied Mr. Parsons, coldly. ‘‘It must have been somebody who looked like me. I was not there.” ‘*' Why you wore that very pin!” exclaimed Frank. ‘And you saw me too! You know you saw me, Mr. Parsons!” “Did I?’ answered the man, with a cold smile. ** Do you want me any longer, Mr. Thompson? _I don’t care to bandy words with the boy.” ‘“No. That will do.” Parsons walked quietly away, Frank looking after him with a bewildered expression. He was sure that he had seen him. But there was one thing he did not know; that Parsons was a bitter enemy of his. He was the person to whom we referred in a previous chapter. The officer looked keenly at Frank, who had laid his hand on the back of a chair, and was gazing with disturbed eyes after the disappear- ing salesman. “That will do,” remarked the officer. ‘ You can go now.” Frank slightly started, looked at the members of the firm as if thinking that a might have something to say, and then quickly left the room. ‘‘ Well?” said Mr. Thompson, with a glance of inquiry at the officer. “I hardly know what to think of that boy,” answered the latter, shaking his head. ‘ He seems honest and straightforward. But facts are the stuff, gentlewen; hard facts. See that he does not leave the store. I must have a search-warrant, and look into his place of resi- dence, Something may turn up there.” An hour afterward the officer entered the Tanner domicile. Mr. and Mrs, Tanner were both present, and leoked inquiringly at their unknown visitor. ‘You have a son named Frank Tanner?” ‘** Bless yer eyes, yes! In course we have,” replied Mr. Tanner heartily. ‘Was he out late last night?” ** Not that I knows on. He ain’t a bit given that way.” ‘“He was at the theater,” answered Mrs. Tanner. ‘* But why do you want to know?” ‘‘What time did he get home?’ asked the officer, without heed to her question. ‘* At twelve o'clock,” ‘* How do you know that?” ‘Why, I heard the clock strike.” “Ah! You heard the clock strike twelve?” “Why, no,” a little confusedly. ‘I onl heard it strike three times, but Frank said it struck twelve.” A quick flash came into the officer’s eyes, ‘So! You heard it strike three, and he said it struck twelve. You trust Frank then more than you do your own ears, Mrs. Tanner?” “ Why—why, yes. I only heard the last of it. But what is the matter?” **T fear the boy has been in mischief,” was the cold answer. ‘‘I have a warrant to search these rooms.” You carry ‘* But one of ee —————————————— ———— ee =O es ‘* For what?’ asked Mr. Tanner hastily. “For anything that don’t belong here,” replied the officer, as he at once proceeded to put his warrant in execution. The search did not last long. It took buta few minutes to examine the two sparsely fur- nished rooms. Buthe drew from under Frank's bed a long flat package neatly sewed up in linen. Mrs. Tanner’seyes opened as the officer quietly drew his penknife and cut the stitches of this package. A sheen as of silk appeared through you got there?’ asked the opening. ‘‘What have Mr. Tanner, gazing earnestly at the package. ‘Stolen goods,” wasthecold answer ‘‘ There was a robbery at Thompson & Clark’s store last night. This is part of the proceeds. You can put that and that together if you wish,” and the officer walked from the room with the bundle of silk under bis arm. Ap hour afterward Frank Tanner was taken into custody on the-.charge of participation in burglary. CHAPTER XI, TOM’S TRIUMPH AND FRANK’S DISTRESS, Wr must return to a scene which we visited a chapter or two ago, to the haunt of Bandy Ben and his villainous associates. The group of young pickpockets was seated around the room as we saw them before, smoking and talking in language that had an oath for every third word. Tom Tanner was one of the loudest talkers in the gang. Something seemed to have highly delighted him, and he burst into occasional Sp of laughter with no apparent foundation for em. ‘What in the blue blazes has become of Bandy?”’ he ejaculated. ‘‘Why, he’s slow enough to give a mule the brain fever,”’ *“ Waitin’ for the ‘lection returns, maybe,” sug- gested one of the boys, with a wink. ‘* Bandy’s bad struck with polities.” ‘**None of yer larks now, Toppy Jim,” cried Tom, angrily. ‘* Your jokes is too salty. Don’t you be gettin’ them off on me.” **T don’t keer half a pipe of ’baccy for you,” was the retort. “Tf you come rootin’ round these diggin’s Ill make ye keer, then,’ and Tom rolled up his sleeves suggestively. ‘‘Hello! here’s Bandy now. Jist in ane eB stop Toppy Jim’s jaw. What’s the news, old poke “Dry up!’ was Bandy’s very curt answer. “‘ Ye’re too curyus. Give achap time to wash the cobwebs outen his throat.” Not a word more would Bandy utter until he had taken a draught of whisky, filled and lighted his pipe, and fixed himself comfortably in a chair with his heels on the table. “That's all serene,’ he remarked, as he sent a whiff of smoke curling toward the ceiling, ‘But what is the news?’ asked Tom, anxiously. ‘Is the police squintin’ this a-way? That's the in- terestin’ p’int.”’ ‘The perlicel”’ cried Bandy, with infinite con- tempt. ‘‘Why, bless yer stupid eyes, ye don’t s’pose the perlice ever hits the bull’s eye till it’s pushed right up ag’in’ their noses? Ye’ve only got to make a false trail fur the perlice, and they'll fol- ler it like blind moles. 1 don’t keer a whiff of *baccy smoke fur the best on ‘em,”’ “They’re off the track, then?’’ asked Tom. “Didn’t I say it? D’yewant me to swear to it?” “Yer a reg’lar old growler, Bandy. How’s the trap worked, that’s what I’m arter. How ’bout the little joker, eh?” “They’ve nabbed our decoy duck,’ answered Bandy. ‘“They’ve snatched that nice brother of yourn from baste,”’ “IT knowed it!” cried Tom, throwing up his hat in an enthusiasm of delight. “T told you I'd git even with the proud, stuck-up Sunday-schooler! Him a puttin’ on airs, and gittin’ me kicked out into the street! I knowed the time ’d come to lay out Frank Tanner.” The heartless young villain lay back in his chair and roared with laughter. He seemed overcome with enjoyment at the unpleasant predicament of his brother. A look of disgust came upon Bandy’s face. Bad as he was Tom’s behavior was too heartless even for him. ‘Belay that!’ he growled, ‘or Ill swipe yer pretty face for ye. Yer a bigger hog nor I thought ye was, Tom Tanner. And ye’re a good deal too fresh. Ye’il blow on us next and sell the pass, if ye keep goin’ off that way.” Tom, with some effort, reduced his face to so- briety, with a slight sense of shame at having ex- posed himself to his associates. ‘**How ‘bout the plunder?” asked another of the boys. ‘* What’s to be did?” “Won't do to spring the plant yet,” answered Bandy, decidedly. ‘‘ I’ve got the fence marked out, but we’ve got to lay low and keep shady till the wind goes down a bit. Come, lads, who’s in funds? I’m tired of buzzin’, and feel like shakin’ the pa- pers. Let’s have a set to,’’ and he produced a pack of cards. But no one todk the bait. That hook had been offered to them too often. They were not in the mood just then to invest all their loose cash in Bandy’s bank. He grumbled and cursed at them a Tom Tanner, Scalawag and Scapegrace. Sessler a sss ss sss sss sss sss Ss SS — They for milk-sops and babies, but it had no effect. would not play, and that was an end to it. “Smash my fingers if ’'d give a penny a cart-load for sich fellers. A set of Sweet daisies, ye are, aren't ye now? Why blow yer ugly carcasses, I’ve a notion to emigrate and leave ye to hoe yer own pertater patches! Ye wouldn’t last onten limbo long *nough fur a cat to whisk her tail, only ye’ve got me fur a perfesser of the fine arts, dang ye!” With which dreadful threat he buried his head in the collar of his extensive coat, and only an occa- sional growl, and a continuous puffing of smoke, showed that Bandy yet survived beneath his envel- oping mask. At almost the same hour in which this conversa- tion was taking place, a very different scene Oc- — curred in another portion of the city, This was in the office of a police justice, before whom Frank Tanner had been brought to answer the charge of burglary. The members of the firm from whom the robbery had taken. place were there, looking much depressed and disappointed. They had felt and placed such confidence in Frank that it was hard to think they had been deceived by this seemingly innocent boy. But the evidence against him seemed incontestable. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner were also present. The mother was completely in- consolable. It was aterrible shock to her to see her dear son arrested for crime. She knew there was a dreadful mistake somewhere, but the poor woman could see no way out of the labyrinth, and it was impossible for her to control her emotion. As for Jacob Tanner he had taken care to prime himself with drink, and had all the sobriety and coolness Of a half-tipsy man. His eyes were fixed on Frank with the severity of a much injured father all whose moral lessons had been in vain. As for poor Frank, he was ina state of utter be- wilderment. He strove to appear calm and self- possessed, but his limbs trembled, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears, which showed the deep emotions stirring within him. “The boy acknowledges that this key was in his possession all last night, and that he opened the store with it this morning. Is this the key of your store, Mr. Thompson?’ asked the justice, ‘Tt is,” was the answer, after a brief examina- tion. *And like this? ‘*That is not to the point,’’ replied Mr. Thompson rather angrily. ‘‘ There is no question of whom wé trust and whom we don’t. The prisoner had charge of this key.” “Very well; since you are so precise.”” The jus- tice was a little r’°iled also. He turned to Mr, Tanner; ‘** How are your rooms fastened at night?” ** With a dead latch,’’ was the reply. ‘**A dead latch, eh? And who has keys to it?” ‘* Nobody but me and Frank.” ‘**You live in a tenement-house, you say? Full of other families? Do you never leave the door un. latched, so that some of them could get in, and take the key from your son’s pocket?’ Evidently the jus- tice was favorably disposed toward Frank. ‘‘Nary time,’’ was the decided answer. ‘‘ Mrs. Tanner's a very partik’ler woman. Why, she locked me out last night. I had to ’sturb the whole con- cern to git in.” ‘* Where was your key ?”’ Mr. Tanner scratched his head a little confusedly. His memory was not very precise on that point. ‘‘ Why, see here, judge, he began, “I’d been takin’ a little opedeldock last night, for my rheuma- ticks, aud somehow it allers goes to my head. I've been kinder weak-j'‘inted in the brains ever since I fought in the war, Anyhow, when I come to bunt in my pockets for the key last night, it wasn’t thar, Couldn't find it nowhar, and so I had to kick for Mrs. Tanner. Howsomever I guess it was the ope- deldock, fur there lay the key all right on the table this mornin’.”’ The justice looked at him with some interest, ** How late was this?”’ ‘*T never keep late hours, judge, it was wuss nor ten.”’ ‘* How late was it, Mrs. Tanner?” ** After eleven,’’ she weepingly responded. Mr. Tanner cast an angry glance at her for daring to impugn his testimony. _“T don’t b’lieve it was wuss nor ten,” he re- iterated. “I’m a keerful father of a family, judge.” ‘““ Where were you till this hour?’ asked the jus- tice. ‘* Why, now you speak of it, judge. I did stop in at Micky Flynn’s fur a glass of ale. i you trust it in the charge of a mere boy, I don’t s’pose And sich ridik’lus powerfulale you never see’d-as Micky keeps. It'd give a mule the blind staggers.” ‘““Isee. You came homedrunk, Was there any- body with you? Or were you drinking with anybody at the rum-shop?” * Excuse me, judge. I consider Micky’s a highly *spectable saloon, or I wouldn’t go thar. And Tallers imbibes by myself. I'd be ashamed to keep bad company, yer honor.” ‘Did your son come in later than you?” “Blest ifI know. I didn’t see him,” ‘‘ What time did he come in, Mrs, Tanner?” ‘** At—at twelve o’clock, sir,’’ answered the weep- ing woman. ‘‘Are you sure of that?’ queried the detective. “Did you hear it strike twelve?”’ < Mrs. Tanner was silent, with her handkerchief to er eyes. “Please answer,” said the justice, in a kindly tone. ‘Did you hear twelve strike?” **I—I heard—I only heard three, sir. But—but Frank said it was twelve. I didn’t hear the rest of it.” gone voice quavered so she could scarcely speak, The justice shook his head doubtingly.. Matters (ELOUNMUCE Cs) | (E@) JOO! oie