Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 261 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

t lea itin F ‘s hand RPMs ebt n Fergus's han ' his hole like a fox escaping from the hounds, e-—- - -<- - - ee Oe oe -_-—_—--- a -<- -- —- ee ee ‘Nice little girl!’ exelaimed Clinton, in his off- hand manner. Fleda smirked, and dropped him a little courtesy. ‘*T am glad you think so,”’ she said. ‘‘ How's the peanut trade?”’ continued Clinton. “‘Tam doing as well as I expected,” replied Fleda. ** That's good!”’ “ But I can do better now, because Fergus has got more money, as you know,” ** Yes, uncle ott came down with 2a V. He’sa nice old chap—I always liked him. They say he'll leave me lots of money when he dies, as he hasn't got any children of his own.” ‘* You're a lucky fellow, Clint!” cried Fergus. Clinton laughed cardlessly. ‘* Yes, I'm one of the chaps that you read about that’s born with a silver spoon in his mouth,”’ he re- plied. “ How would Pia ike to have me in the pea- nut business?’ he added, to Fleda.”’ *Sakes alive! such a business wouldn't do fora gentleman like you,” she answered. “Oh! a kind Of silent partner, you know—the chap that puts in money and don’t have much to say. I made a raise this morning from the governor.”’ He took a handsome portemonnaie from his pocket as **Told him I wanted some new clothes he spoke and he came down handsomely. How much do you | on the corner of Baxter and Grand streets. think I have got bere?” “Ten dollars,”’ guessed Fergus. “Twenty-five,” guessed Fleda. 7, You haven't either of you hit it. I've got ** Witty!” echoed Fergus and Fileda, surprisedly. Tt was a good deal of money in their eyes. “That's the ticket! There's enough here to see the apna and pay for a piece of his tail: eh, Fer- gus “Tshould say so!” * Take care you don't get into a scrape," cautioned I'ieda, as they quitted the housc. As the two stood in the street, Rowdy Rube, Johnny, the Chicken, and Ragged Terry came along on the other side of the way an: perceived them, R * Only t Ferg Fearnaught! cried Rowdy ube. “And there's that swell with him,” said the Chicken. “*Go and muddy his boots, Terry, so I ean get a chance to black them.”’ ed Terry crossed the street. ‘** Please help a pe horphin!’’ he whined extend- ing his dirty paw to Clinton. he nristocratic youth regarded him in surprise. “Halioa! where did this animated rag-bag spring from?’ he exclaimed. | "7 It’s Ragged Terry!” cried Fergus. ‘“ Be off with u He raised his foot to kick, but Ragged Te bicl aped nimbly away, and applied his thumb to h nose moc y. ** Yer didn’t come it!" he piped. Clinton made a rush for Terry, and Rowdy Rube aud the Chicken darted up an alley-way and disap- Clinton did not find the task of catching Ragged pal Ae easy a oue as he had anticipated. That nufive youth dodged and doubled with an agility that was surpr Bs but Clinton’s mettle was up, and he determined to capture him. At last he closed in upon him, extended his hand to grasp him, when Terry ducked suddenly down on all fours and Clinton sprawled over him, f at full length on the sidewalk, in an awkward and de- cidedjy mo ng mann er, en Terry rose to his feet Fergus had him b 3, of his ragged coat. ia " *1've got you, you little seamp!”’ he cried. “* Oh—o-h—o-h-h!"’ howled Terry; and then, with a sudden twist of his lithe body, he emerged from him, hold him tight!’ exclaimed Clinton, struggling up to his feet in a crestfallen manner. “Blast the little beast; he gave me an awkw But the “little beast’’ darted across the street and jum down an open cellar door, disappeared with a cele ty that was almost magical. ‘* Well, that beats me!’’ cried Clinton, Fe looked rather foolish, standing with the ragged coat in his hand. “We can’t catch ‘** And me, too!"’ he answered. “Tt looks very much like it. He has dived into Are you going to take that coat home as a trophy?” “Faugh! I should say not.. It’s as filthy as a fish- basket. I'ildrop it here. H2"ll come for it when we are gone.” Fergus threw the coat down. | ** Where shall we go now?” he asked, “Let’s go up to the corner and see how Fleda’s ‘ him now.” trade is at her stand to-day.”’ - * All right.” They walked away, and as the curve in the street x them from watchful eyes, forth from their hid- os came Rowdy Rube, the Chicken and e ITY. Terry darted swiftly across the street, anxious to regain his ragged amet, but as he picked it uP. he saw some ying under it that made his little eyes bulge from his head like a lobster’s. “Oh, ecrickee!’’ he piped, shrilly. “Halves!” cried wdy Rube, who came up at * thet moment. ‘*Thirds yer mane!” exclaimed the Chicken, close following at Rowdy Rube’s heels. ‘*‘ Yer can just * count me in, my covies!”’ Ragged Te clutched his prize covetously, and to have a decided objection to. "an djyision The two larger boys were one on eac e of him, and watching him narrowly. © Fergus | it was inevitable, an ' -you but a moment. I saw ae ee ee oor ———— eee eo eres “Tf yer attempt to cut with it, I'll] murder yer!" cried Rowdy Rube, savagely. ** And I'll put an existence to yer life!’’ added the Chicken, Appresatrely. Ragged Terry felt his weakness, but he was very loth to relinquish any portion of the prize he had so ag eye! found. “°Tain’t nuffin’, much,’’ he whined. ‘eon None o’ yer gammon—I see'd it!’ cried Rowdy ube. ‘‘Don’t yer lie to us, Terry,’ admonished the Chicken. ‘ Fork over, or yer’ll smell of that.” He held his clinched fist disagreeably near Terry’s nose in a threatening manner. ‘‘Come up the alley, and we'll ge ey said Rowdy Rube, clutching Ragged Terry by right shoulder with a tenacious gripe. ‘We'll do the square thing by yer,” added the Chicken, fastening in a like manner upon Terry’s left shoulder. Terry resigned himself to his fate, conscious that was led like a lamb to the slaughter, Leaving the young raseals to make a division of their prize, we will return to Fergus and Clinton, By this time they had reached the peenae end was rather a primitive affair, consisting merely of a common old pine table, and a chair without any back. But Fleda bad covered the table with nico white paper, and her wares were Sor ap ts dis- played in some quaint dishes—the remnants of a peculiar set which her mother had possessed in more prosperous days, and which she had spared Fleda for this purpose. “ How’s trade?’’ inquired Clinton, as they paused before the stand. ‘‘Tolerably brisk,’ replied Fleda, smiling in a manner that displayed her teeth to good advantage. ‘*‘ As pretty as a picture, and as smart as a steel- trap,”’ Clinton thought, as he said, poarailes TT ngist patronize you a little, Miss Fleda, just to help along the trade, you know.” He put his hand into his pocket to extract his portemonnaie. “ Jumping Jupiter!’ he ejaculated. ‘It’s gone!”’ This exclamation startled Fergus. ' ‘*What’s gone?”’ he ask . “My portemonnaie. Do you think any of those ragged scamps picked my pocket?” ergus shook head dissentingly. “No,’’ he answered; ‘“‘they couldn’t do that. There was only Ragged Perey, SNe he wasn’t near wdy Rube and the icken on the other side of the street, but they cut as soon es the Chinaman began to holler.” ‘“‘T must have dropped it from my pocket when I fell over that little ragamuffin.” **So you must,”’ . “Run right back and look for it,’ cried Fleda, a a cally. ‘You may find it,” “ t’s doubtful!’ exclaimed Clinton, with a shake of the head. ‘I don’t think anything in the shape of money would pei loose around this neigh- borhood for any len of time."’ ** You bet it wouldn’t!’’ corroborated Bip ae ‘“‘ But there’s no harm in trying," insisted Fleda, ’“ Do go back; you may find it after all.” Do go back; you may ‘counter with Ragged Terry, but they di there’s nothing like trying, as you say; so come aloig, Fergus. We'll take a look for it, any- way. The boys hurried back to the scene os sw @ bar no the pocket-book, nor see anything of Ragged Terry, Rowdy Rube, or the Chicken. “That fifty dollars has gone up!’’ remarked Clin- ton, in a very unconcerned manner. Fergus looked grieved. ‘“*Tt’s a lot of money to lose,”’ he rejoined. , **Pooh! that’s nothing. T'll make the governor pony over some more. I wonder whieh of the scamps got it?” , “Tl try and find our for you,” replied Fergus, quickly. ‘‘ Perhaps I can get it back for you.”’ ‘* Ah! you know the hiding-places of these young | scallawags?”’ ‘* Yes; most of them. They've gota rondévoo, as they call it, under the pier at the foot of Dover street. That’s where they carry. their swag after one of their thfeving expeditions. They don’t dare to carry it to their homes, for fear of the police.” “‘T suppose not. Does this Ragged Terry belong to this gang of thieves?” ‘* Yes; he and Rowdy Rube.and the Chicken, and lots more that lives in the Fourth Ward. I think if I go down to the den IJ shall find them there with the reegat , ‘“‘And do you think they would give it up to you?” “Oh, yes; they’re all afraid of me, as I have thrashed about all of them at different times; and besides, there’s two or three that Ihave got out of scrapes, and they would stand by me.” ‘**Come along then; I'll go with you.” But to Clinton’s great surprise Fergus objected to this proposal in a very decided manner. ‘“No, no!’ he replied; “‘you can’t do that. It would be as much as your life is worth for me to take you there.” wren ed a thi k d f *'Phey’d think you were a spy, and go for you sure,” exclaimed Fergus. . ‘**But won’t they go for you?” ‘Oh, no, they know me, and they know I wouldn't give them away to the cops for no ys ** Who's the cops?” “The pe “‘Ah, yes, I might have known that.”’ “They wanted me to join them—said they’d make ‘me capt’in.” ** And you couldn’t see it?” , ‘ aa Fearnaught, the New York Boy. . - ee Ce Boing, to see eee ee on — ee | a ee oo “Not much! I don’t intend to mix myself up with aset of thieves, if I can help it."’ , ‘*That’s where your head is level, Ferg, my boy! Stick to that. ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ You'll make something yet, my boy. It won’t be my fault if you don’t, forI mean to give you a lift in the world.” The tears started to Fergus’s eyes at these words, for he had one of those passionate natures which are easily excited. ‘“‘T know you do, Clint!’ he exclaimed, gratefully; ‘and I would just die for you—see if I wouldn’t?" Clinton clapped him upon the back in a friendly manner. “‘T don’t want you to die for me, my boy, but to live!"’ he cried. ‘* Dying isn’t. e ticket, not just at pereears s0 you be caref ong these yo scallawags, and don’t get into trouble. ‘There'll be no danger to me—they dasen’t try to hurt me.”’ ‘‘Don't be too risky about it. Who's their cap- tain now?” ‘Rowdy Rube,”’ ‘‘That’s a nice name fora small party! friend of yours?” ‘* No, he isn’t; but he’s a big coward.” ** How do you know he is?”’ “IT punched his head the other day, and he Ils hea hollered good. Fetched him a clip under the chin, aud he wilted.” ‘Ha, ha, ha! Good for you, my bully Ferg! You're the best fellow to travel with that I ever fell in wth. We'll hitch horses one of these days, and see the world, and knock the spots right out of it. If you think I'd better not go along with you, I'll be getting home.” ; ‘‘ You had better not,” replied Fergus. ‘If I had you along with me I'd never stand a chance for the money, and Idon’t think I could get into the den; and if 1 did I wouldn’t find anybody there; they'd ail mizzle the moment they saw you.” ‘‘ Shouldn't wonder; then I'll return to the paternal mansion. Well, I'm blest if I've got a red. Say, Ferr, have you got a stray five-cent-piece about yom clothes?” , ‘‘ Yes, here’s one,’’ answered Fergus, surprisedly, as he produced it, ‘‘ Do you want it?” ‘* Yes; I want to pay my car-fare. I don't care to walk home; that’s a little too much pedestrian pam f for my delicate constitution. Can you spare it?’’ ‘**Of cours: I can,” pospmes Fergus, quickly, onl too proud to serve his friend. ‘‘ You can have a the money I’ve got, if you want it.” ‘But. I don’t; appreciating your liberality, m bold Ferg, 1 will content my with this nickel. iM come to-morrow to see how you make out in your search for my portemounaie. ' ** All right.”’ “You'll know it, if you are fortunate enough to see it again?” ul = so.” ‘ is : ‘Tl te ou how you can make sure of it: my initints O, D. S., are on it.” “Ti bear that in mind.” ** Now I'll be off.”’ A hearty hand-shake between them, and they rted. : " Rgpeus walked back to Fleds's peanut stand, ‘*Have you foun - P moment she beheld him. oe “ ‘*No,’’ he replied. “Where's your friend Clint?” was her next paury: and she flushed just a little as she made ‘** Gone home.”’ . Fleda breathed a regretful sigh. ““Oh, my! but isn’t he a nice you murmured; aud she took up a rosy-cheeked apple, and began to polish it energetically with her apron. ‘*Do you like him?” ‘* Ever so much!’ “Sodol I mean to bea gentleman when I grow up, same as he'll be. I don’t think I was ever cut out for a loafer!” “I’m sure you were not!” replied Fieda, with emphasis. ‘*Give me the key to the rooms.” ‘*Sakes alive! what do you want to go there for?” she rejoined, surprisedly. “IT want to pas on m f I can old clothes, and then I'm d Clint’s pocketbook for ‘“ Why, do you know who has got it?” “‘Not for certain; but I think it lies between Ragged Terry, the Chicken, and Rowdy Rube, and I think I can find them, and if they are flush, I shall know what made them so,”’ a That's a good idea. Here’s the me + “T'll bring it baek to you after I change my clothes,” said Fergus, as he received it; ‘‘and I sha’n’t be long about it, either.”’ He hurried away, and in ten minutes was back with the key, and dressed in the worst clothes he possessed, even worse than those in which I first presented him to the reader, “Oh! why did you put on that ragged coat?” cried Fleda, as he gave her back the key. ‘* Because I wanted ‘to look as bad as I could,” he answered, smilingly. ‘‘Well, you’ve succeeded! You look like a beggar!” “That's the way I want to look. Those coves don’t like to see a fellow any better dressed than they are. This will kind of gammon them.” ‘‘ Where are you going?” *T'll teli you where I’ve been when I come back.” ‘* How long are you going to be gone?” ‘‘That’s aard telling; but I guess P’ll be home to supper,’’ Le anawered, laughingly, and walked agvay. om fellow?’ she / chooks. con®