Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 220 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Tom T i em eee eee Ce eS eee - eC - anner, Scalawag and Scapegrrace. ran off in the opposite direction, with a shriek of laughter. **T bet Frank’s salted with the old Jew now,” he cogitated. ‘I knowed I’d warp him.” He calculated rightly. When Frank, after a despairing effort to sake up the chase again, re- turned to the store, he found the old fellow wild with excitement. **'You no got my coat?” he cried, seizing Frank by the collar. ‘' You no call ‘stop tvief!’ You want them to get off mit der coat!” **T did my best,” answered Frank. ** You lie, you little rascal! You know dem poys! Don’t you know dem poys?”’ Frank was silent. ** You know dem poys, you t’ief!” “Let go my coat!” cried Frank, angrily, shaking himself loose. ‘It don’t matter what i know or what | don’t know. Just pay me cff, and that will settle it. I’m done working for you, * You know dem poys; and you want me gif you monish! I owe you no monish!” ‘You owe me for six customers, That is sixty cents,” returned Frank. “Towe youno nothing. They didn’t puy. I was to gif you nothing for anypody as didn’t “You lying old villain!” exclaimed Frank seh ‘‘I saw them buy. I wasn’t fool enough to trust you. Say, are you going to pay me or not?’ ‘*T owes you notting. Dey was my old gusto- mers. Bring me back my coat, aud I pays you. My beautiful coat, worth t’ree tollars.” ‘All right,” said Frank. “I will bring it backif I can. And if youdon’tpay me then, I will find some way to get even with you, [ promise ycu that.” _ And he walked briskly away, again out of a jou. CHAPTER V, A STERN PARENT. Mrs. TANNER had a very disconsolate look as she gla about her household duties, doing her best to keep order where her careless family did their best to make confusion. “It’s very trying,” she said to hersslf, ‘‘ that those boys can’t keep situations. It’s just one trouble after another, and it all comes on us. We did live comfortable for a while when they were in the pen factory; but here’s the old trouble all over again. declare it’s just dis- couraging. Idon’t know though, as1 ought to blame the boys so much, when their drunken father, Jacob Tanner—” She checked herself suddenly, for the door at that minute opened, and in came Jacob Tanner, rober for once in a fortnight. He held in his i. =d a short, stout leather whip. ‘See here, wife,” he began. ‘‘I’ve been in- ve ‘igating.” * Investigating?” ‘ Jist so. Dve been ’round to collect the lit- t'» Lalances that’s comin’ to my boys.” ‘ Ah!” she cried with some interest. ‘‘ And « | you get them?” I thought that would wake you up, woman,” he replied, with grim satisfaction. ‘I never sec’d sich a cormorant as youare for money. Vvhy, you’d swaller up the United States bank and swear it weren’t a mouthful. Well, I did- n’t git no money, then, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it.” ‘**What did you get?” asked the poor woman. ‘*I got characters. I’ve found out what sort of critters them boys is.” ‘** Ab!’ she ejaculated, her heart sinking with fcar for her favorite son. ‘*'Yes, wife, and I’m proud of one of ’em, and achamed of t’other. One’s a honor to any fam- iy, and t’other’s an out-and-out little divil. But tuer’s ways of gittin’ even,” and he made the whip whistle through the air. ‘‘Ob, mercy, Jacob!” she cried in alarm, ‘You are not going to whip Frank?” ‘*]T didn’t name no names,” was the non-com- r:btal reply. ‘“‘I’m a-goin’ to git even, that’s elit ihe poor little woman fell back on her chair, end covered ber face with her hands. She bad ®@ presentiment of what was coming, and knew that it would be of no use to interfere. He looked down upon her with a queer ex- pression, while he drew the whip grimly through his hand. At this moment the door opened, and the two boys entered incompany. It was strange how like they were and yet how unlike. Any one could have told at a glance that they were brothers. Thesame regular, weil-cut features, the same color of hair and eyes, the same +.¢ht and shape. Yet any one would have ein t+ Vv ree manasa cea ccc. aaa aaa eee called Frank handsome and Tom bomely. It was all in the expression. The open, manly, good humored look of one, was replaced by a selfish, sneaking, hang-dog look in the other. Frank’s form was erect, with a free active step. Tom was slouching in figure and dragging in gait. Even their mode of entering the room told their different characters. Frank took off his hat politely tohbis parents, and quietly seated himself in an upright dignified attitude. Tom ‘| rawled in the nearest chair, flung bis hat at the cat under the table, and gave vent to a loud groan, as though he was expiring with fatigue. Jacob Tanner stood upright before his sons, casting an odd look from one to the other, while he held the hand containing the whip behind him. Mrs. Tanner crouched rather than sat in her chair, with a frightened look upon her face. The boys felt involuntarily that there wasa storm brewing. : ‘See here, young chaps,” began their father, in a short, stern accent. ‘‘ Ther’ ain’t no use to mince matters. lve been investergatin’. Or, to come down to the level of your intellecks, I’ve been a-findin’ out things.” ‘* The deuce!” whistled Tom. Frank kept silent and expectant. ‘‘That’s the long and short of it,” continued their indignant parent. ‘‘ I’ve been round to Wilson’s pen-factory, and picked up a p/’int or two there. And I’ve been to Fred Jones’s oyster ry § and got another p’int. And [I’ve been to old Frank’s slop-shop, and gathered up another pint. What’s more, chapees, [ve been a put- tin’ them p’ints togther, and mebbe ye’d like to know what they all come to,” Mrs, Tanner was certainly afraid they would come to trouble. She was rocking herself ner- vously in her chair, while her eyes had a fright- ened look. “They just come to this,” continued Mr, Tanner, a stern resolution setting into his face. ‘One of you’s a confounded little hound and rascal. ‘T’ther’s a gentleman right through to the bone. Lain’ta sayin’ which is which, for that’s a p’int which ye’ll find out afore yer much older. There’s goin’ to be a wallopin’ old time round here,my lively lads, and the boy as has a bad conscience can know where it’s comin’,”’ Tom - his tongue in his cheek as he glanced over at Frank, whose pale face seemed to reflect that of his mother. Mr. Tanner’s eyes, in fact, appeared to be fixed on Frank, and they bad a very malevolent look as he moved with a sidling gait toward his youngest son, still keeping bis hand behind him. Frank did not stir. His face only grewa shade paler, and his eyes were firmly set, but he smc no sign of rebellion. Mrs. Tanner des- pairingly clutched the back of her chair, as if to restrain herself from interfering. As for Tom, a look of mischievous satisfaction spread over his face, and he made a grotesque mouth at Frank. ‘Scripture says, ‘Spare the rod and spile the child,’” remarked the stern father, as he came very near Frank, with outstretched hand. ‘‘ Now it’s my Christian duty not to spile the child, if I wear out all the rods in North Ameriky.” Frank shrunk back involuntarily from the outreaching hand, but it did not fall upon him. For in an instant Jacob Tanner had taken a quick step across the room and caught the grin- ning Tom by the collar, bringing him by a quick jerk to his feet, while the whip was bran- dighed in the air above his head. ‘You thought it was Frank, did you, you tricky little rapscallion?’? Whiz came the whi across his shoulders. ‘‘It’s allus Frank, hey?’ whiz. ‘* You’ve been a-playin’ it on Frank, blame yer eyes!” whiz. ‘An honest,” whiz, “brave,” whiz, ‘‘ industrious,” whiz, ‘‘ boy like Frank! And you're a lazy,” whiz, “lying,” whiz, ‘‘ back-bitin’,” whiz, ‘‘ little devil’s cub, that’s straight on the road to the State prison, and a good riddance to you,” whiz, whiz, whiz, Tom was dancing and howling with pain, as the whip continued to descend viciously upon his shoulders. Chairs were overturned and the table sent reeling into a corner as the indignant parent hauled him about the room, inflicting such a castigation as he had never before expe- rienced. Mrs. Tanner released her convulsive hold upon the chair, Her revulsion of feeling showed it- self ina nervous little laugh. Tom’s sins had been so many, and his punishment so slight, that she felt that a righteous retribution had at last fallen upon him. As for Frank, his pale look was replaced with a deep flusb. He had risen to bis feet, and was erasping his chair to restrain himself, while at every stroke of the whip he slightly shrunk as though it had fallen upon himself. ‘* Oh, don’t, father!” he appease ina pained tone. ‘*‘ Tom isn’t so bad. e’s only full of fun like all the boys, Ain’t he had enough now? Won’t you let bim off?’ ‘* Dry up, Frank. He’s lied you into many 2 sound whoppin’, and laughed at you into the bargain. I’m goin’ to scorch the Old Nick out of him afore I’ve done.” And the whip descended with more vim than ever. But Tom had ceased his bowling, and a wicked look had come into his eyes. Witha quick downward jerk he broke loose from his father’s grasp, leaving bis collar and a handful of shirt bosom in his hand. In an instant he darted to ice door, which yet stood open.. He turned upon the threshold, his face blazing with evil passion. ‘‘ All right, dad!” he ejsculated. ‘‘ You've had your innings to-day. Jist see if I don’t git mine in the next round. I ain’t nobody’s baby, to stand here and be licked for nothin’. I’m done with this here shanty, and l’d bu’st a blood-vessel afore 1’d work another day to find you in whisky-money. As for that pretty- faced baby, Frank Tanner, that you're all a coddlin’—” ‘* Well, as for him?’ broke in the father, who had not stirred a step. ‘* Tl] settle Lis hash, that’s all. He can plug into jobs as fast as he wants. See if I don’t plug him out on’em. And for you, dad—” ‘* Well, for me?’ queried the father. “Pi— Yl— Blame me, if I don’t blow on you at every whisky mill in the diggin’s, and eut off your likker.” At this portentous threat Mr. Tanner gave a deep groan, and made a savage spring at his defiant son. But Tom was on the look-out. He darted quickly into the passage outside. In a moment he was on the stairs, and running rapidly down to the street. He had taken a new step forward in his bad career. Mr. Tanner turned back and threw the whip into a corner, while be seated himself heavil uponachair. There was a gloomy look on his face. Tom had been his favorite son; had he driven him from his home? Frank’s generous heart prompted him to say a good word for his brother, but it was no easy to come in after what had just passed. He stood with parted lips, slightly panting, and with his eyes fixed strangely upon bis father. The mother crept around, and laid her hand upon that of her son. ‘* Don’t say a word, Frank,” she entreatingly whispered. ‘Tom has been a very bad boy, and it is well that your father has found him out. I fear he is on the road to ruin.” ‘“‘T shall do what I can to save him,” an- swered Frank, devotedly. ‘‘I don’t believe Tom is bad at heart. He is full of mischief, I know, but it’s only a boy’s way.” ‘“‘Tt’s a thief’s way. It’s a footpad’s way!” broke in Mr. Tanner harshly. ‘‘ Don’t say a word in his favor, or I'll wollop you next. Not a word, d’ye hear?” Frank subsided into silence. A few minutes of uneasy quiet passed, and then he took his hat. ‘‘T must be on mv rounds again, mother,” he said. ‘*I ecouldn’t find any work this mornmg, but I may hit on something this afternoon. I can’t afford to be idle.” The mothei’s eyes followed the graceful form of her boy with proud affection as he walked out of the room, turning to givea kindly nod as he did so. There was silence in the room for some ten minutes afterward, Mrs Tanner going quietly about her work, while her husband sat in de- pressed gloom. ‘** 1 don’t know if it was all for the best,” be at length muttered, ‘‘ but what was a man to do? Tom lied like a thief to us, wife.” he continued, “It was him kicked up all that row at the pen factory, and Frank only stood-up for him, They told me all about it. And it was Tom and a party of other young hounds that dished Frank at’ the slop-shop; and stole a coat into the bargain, hang them. I didn’t give the little villain half the rations he desarved.” A knock at the door stopped his harangue. Mrs. Tanner hastened to open it, and a fine- looking and well-dressed middle-aged gentleman entered. “Am Tin the right place?” he asked. ‘“‘Is there a boy of the name of Frank Tanner, lives here?” “Yes, sir,” replied Mr. Tanner eagerly. “ He is my son.” ‘‘Ah! He seems to be a fine fellow.” “You bet he’s a fine feller, sir. He’s jist the (EON OOO KS G... (E() * . . a | |