Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 261 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Fergus Fearnaught, the New York weees eee -~_--- -- CHAPTER IX. THE YOUNG THIEVES’ DEN. Peravs turning into Pearl street, went on to Dover street, and out on the pier. Halt-way up it, he encountered a man, who was leaning against one of the large wooden posts that are used to moor vessels, lazily smoking a cigar. He was of a large, strong frame, attired in a rough kind ef business suit, and wore a black felt hat, pulled uite low down over his brows. His eyes were small, f agrayish hue, and peered from beneath heavy lack eyebrows. A restless movement of the pupils, kind of looking out of the corners, denoted a keen ‘watchfulness, despite his sluggish attitude. ‘Hallo!” exclaimed Fergus, in his impulsive manner, as he saw this lounger: ‘* Hallo, you!”’ he responded, in a gruffly amicable fashion. The recognition between them had been mutual. This man was the mysterious tenant of the upper floor of the tenement bouse in Baxter street, where Fergus lived, and who was known to the other inmates of the house as Mr, John Jackson, Fergus wondered what he was doing there, but John Jackson took the boy’s presence as a matter of course. Why, the ensuing conversation will explain. ‘*Going to the den?’’ inquired Mr. John Jackson, who had a faculty of conversing without removing his cigar from his mouth, ‘* Yes,” replied Fergus; and he was perplexed by Mr. John Jackson's knowledge of the young thieves’ haunt, ‘Ah! I didn’t know you belonged to that crowd,” continued Mr. John Jackson, meditatively. ‘‘Y don’t,’ replied Fergus, pointedly. Mr. John Jackson looked surprised, and somewhat incredulous, ‘“How did you know anything about it?” he demanded, suspiciously. ** How did you?” retorted Fergus, Mr. John Jackson's thick lips parted in a grin, and his strong white teeth phen strangely in con- trast with his heavy black mustache, and the end of the cigar, firmly gripped by those teeth, was jerked up toward his left eye again. ‘Cute little cuss!’’ he muttered, ‘‘ Well, I just discovered it by accident.” a I discovered it one day when I came down here with the Chicken to havea swim,” said Fergus. Jackson nodded his head, still quite affable, and his keen gray eyes lingered pleasantly upon the _ frank and fearless face of the boy before him, ‘Going to joln them?” he asked. ** No,” answered Fergus, decidedly. **T wouldn't!” rejoined Jackson, with an approving nod of the head. ‘Game too small for a lad of your mettle. Ican put you up to something where you can make more in a night than they make in a year, Some risk, though. But you are not afraid?” ‘* Not much!”’ * Ah! I thought not—don’t look like it,” responded Jackson, with satisfaction, ‘‘ Can always tell by the eyes what stuff a boy has got inhim. You'll do! I'll gamble on you every time. Come up to my room to-night ou know where it is?—top flight, first door to the left—come up, I want to have a talk with you. By-by!” Mr. John kson gave his cigar another twist, nodded his head in a mysterous fashion, pulled him- self up leisurely from the leaning posture he had as- sumed against the post, and sauntered away. Fergus turned to look after him. ‘Well, he’s a queer kind of cove, anywa : he thought. ‘I wonder what he wants with me?’ He did not deliberate long over this question, how- ever, his mind being intent upon the purpose that had brought him there. He walked on to the end of the pier, where he found six boys, whose ages ranged from twelve to seventeen, engaged in bathing, jumping and diving, with great glee, into the river. As the day was warm, Fergus thought it would be a good idea to take a swim himself; besides, he rea- soned, it would allay any suspicion that might be excited as to his object in coming thither. He was hailed boisterously mh the boys, who all knew him, as he knew them. ey were part of a ang of young thieves who made their head-quar- ters here, and it was generally supposed that they lived on what they could steal from vessels, or from the Fulton market. Under the pier they had a snug hiding-place where they could live and sleep and elude the police. 'They prowled around the docks, watching their op- ae i to steal any small articles that were left ying about. hen chased by a policeman, they jumped into the water (all being expert swimmers), dove out of sight, and swam between the spiles under the dock, and defied arrest. If a H ie sget cies procured a boat and followed them, the young seamps, like wharf rats, which they so much resembled, would swim out on the side toward the next Pees and so escape. When it was high tide it was dangerous ror a man to venture into their amphibious den. Fergus quickly divested himself of his garments as he an- a werell their greeting, and then jumped into the water, e had recognized all that were there; Micky Shea, Archie Quale, Johnny Cregan, Dicky Long, and two_ brothers, named_ respectively, Tommy and Billy Googan; but Rowdy Rube, Johnny Dugan, the Chicken, and Ragged Terry, were not among the swimmers. Thinking they might be in the den, Fergus swam between the spiles, and clambered up to it. The den was formed by nailing cross-pieces to the spiles, about two feet below the top, and boards were laid across these, forming a floor. This served ‘ eee CF } | | | — — er ee them as a receptacle for their stolen goods, as well as a ere ape Fergus found the den unoccupied; the es he sought were not there. He dropped b into the water again, “No use poring round here,’’ he muttered. “I must look somewberé else for them.” He climbed up to the top of the pier, where he found all the boys collected. ‘**Goia’ out, Ferg?’ inquired Micky Shea. + Yes,” answered Fergus, beginning to dress him- self. * Why, you hain’t been in but a minnit.”’ ‘Long epough. I only wanted a dip.” His example seemed to be contagious, for the other boys began to resume their clothes. This was not a lengthy operation, as none of them possessed any superfluous articles of wardrobe, Presently a loud outcry burst from the lips of Tommy Googan, the youngest boy in the pens *Somebody’s gone through my pockets!’ he ‘You've stole my money, Dicky Long!” * Yer lie!’ retorted Dicky Long, promptly, ‘Say that ag’in and I'll belt you in the snout!’ ‘Give me back my money!’’ whined Tommy, retreating to his brother, who was a much larger and older boy than himself. Oni" -h! *T ain’t got it—I’ve got my— Dicky Long had thrust his hands into his pockets as he s and this sudden break in his words and exclam “Was ca by the sudden discovery that they were empty, ‘ OE ge * A been through me!’’ he added, ex- y. ‘* And me, too!” nein ais Shea, Archie Quale, cried. and Johnny Cregan, in al chorus. ed that he had also been ‘*Don't you know who's done it?’ he asked, significantly. All eyes were turned upon Fergus, and he was not slow to comprehend the implication, He flushed indignantly, and turned quickly upon Micky Shea, an old adversary of his. ‘You lying scamp! do you mean to saylI stole your money?’ he demanded, fiercely. Micky drew a knife from his pocket, which opened with a spring and tie a murderous-looking Billy Googan prete ro blade, four inches in lengt ‘Keep off!’ he shouted, brandishing the knife. ‘“You've been a-whipping me for some time, when- ever you got a chance, and you ain’t a-goin’ to do it no more. You've belted me in the snout and kicked me, and now if you tech me I'll *hoge rip 74 BP “You just put down your knife, an fight you with my left. arm, tie the right behind me,’’ said Fergus, persuasively. “You're the thief that’s got the money, and you know it!” there was a murmur among the boys at this pro- osal. “ Put down your knife, and fight it out fair,” sug- sted Johnny Cregan. But Micky Shea had no idea of accepting Fergus's challenge. As he had intimated, he bad long cher- ished a grudge against him, and he was thirs ig for revenge. He wished, however, to have the rest of the band make common cause against Fergus, for he still stood in fear of him, even with the @ in his hand. ‘He hain’t got no business ‘round here,” he cried, “ He ain’t one of us, and he only came here to steal our money.” ) Fla was more than Fergus's hot blood could stand. “I'll steal you!”’ he shouted, and made a sudden dash at Micky Shea, ‘The suddenness of this attack took Mick prise, for he did not think Fergus woul attack him with the knife in his hand. He made a futile slash at Fergus with the knife, but the rearnaught py the blow aside with his left arm and shot out with his right, planting his fist be- tween Micky’s eyes with such good will that the oung rascal was sent literally “heels over head,” or he went down on his back with a resounding thump, and his lggs went up and he rollee over like SAE, A then lay sprawling on his face, howling smally. The knife was thrown from his hand by bie bo outed. by sur- dare to lence of his fall. Billy Googan instantly gre ‘He's kilt Micky; go for him, boys!” he But he found himself gone for with a celerity that was more surprising than pleasant, for Fergus sprung upon him with a_ panther-like bound wrenched the knife from bis hand before he could use it, and as Billy twisted away from him, adminis- tered a resounding kick upon the rear part of his per- son, Nis just then was brought prominently for- ward, ) ‘*Now, I'll fix some of you!” shouted flourishing the knife; but this was done merely to frighten the boys, for he had no idea of using it. The fray was interrupted in an unexpected man- ner. “Cheese it! here’s a cop!” cried Dicky Long, shrilly. Fergus found himself grasped roughly b the shoulder, and the knife was knocked out of h hand by the blow of a club which did not spare his knuckles. “T’ve got you, you young devilskin!’’ exclaimed a voice, and Fergus speedily discovered that it be- longed to a brawny policeman, e young thieves, at the warning cry, adopted their usual tactics, darting to the string-piece of the sin ar over into the water, and then, swim- ming between the spiles, disappeared like so many scared whart-rats. ' Fergus and the policeman were left alone on the pier. “Ob-h!"’ cried Fergus as his knuckles smrtaed ' mt se eww eee oe am me) 6 me oo Boy. | : 9 ———_- ee | Cee ee ee a eee from the sharp rap of the policeman’s club. “‘ You needn't knoek my : anal knock your off if I sée fit,” returned the ceman, gruffly. ol rs, Xou? see fits if you try it,” exclaimed Fergus, ercely, : | — The policeman shook him up vigorously, and with a grim kind of satisfaction, donk Fo ou want a bbing, you imp of the good clu devil?" he inquired, and with an exhibition of saa 8 SP tiousness, as if he was pleased with the boy while he reproved it. | ; ‘**No,I don’t,” peplivd Fergus; but he ceased to struggle, convinced of the folly of resistance to strength so much superior to his own. ‘Why don’t you take a fellow of your own size?”’ “Ho, ho! You find I've got at g ba hg m6, do you?” cried the policeman, with a chuckle, “Altogether too taking," responded Fergus. “I me wish you'd take your hands i ‘ Never a take, young limb of Satan!” I must take you in, I’ve been watc our crowd for some time, and you're the first one I've been able to lay my hands on, We'll have to make an examp of you. So eg Be, your knife and come along.” “Tt isn’t my ee ‘* Whose is it?’’ questioned the policeman, his man- ner seg that he thought Fergus uttered an untruta, “Micky Shea’s.”’ ¢ Who 's he—one of the gang?” ‘How did you come by it?”’ , “TI took it from Billy Googan, who was going to stick me with it. The policeman laughed. ‘* Pity he hadn’t stuck two or three of you,” he said; ‘it would have saved the city the expense of hanging you one of these pays Pick oe the knife, anyway; no nonsense, mind! If you try an penigen on me I'll club you within an inch of your e | He still retained his grasp on Fergus as he stooped to pick up the knife. ** Now shut up the blade.”’ Fergus did so, and the policeman took it from him and put it in his pocket, * That’s right,’ he said; ‘just you keep docile, It'll make things easier for you. e along, now.”” “What for? I ain’t done anything—I don't belong to that thieving gang!’ The policeman shook his head in an incredulous manner. ‘*Tell that to the marines!’ he rejoined. rawr py that sins oe regi ahd ve been wig your crowd for some time, w you ei enough with the others before you got into the e could not deny this. He was beginning to ex erlente the evil results of keeping bad co i ° : They said I stole their money,’’ he said “ “ Just as like as not you did, That's the d ofa crowd you are; when you can't steal from any! else Pe steal from yourselves just to keep your han The policeman led Fergus along, the boy submit- ting doggedly. Indeed, he was rather bewildered by fin self a prisoner under such circumstances; but, knowing his own innocence, he did not mantic that any punishment awaited him. me? He was yet to learn how juatige is administered in the tee metropolis of the New World, versity makes Ayes bed-fellows,"’ is an old saying, and a true one, as Fergus discovered on that eventful night of bis life. A horrid din and bat were kept up through the night, by three intoxicat- ed Sing agin he found it ims poanible to . e hailed the approach of morning with | looking for a speedy release. He was marched to t. ‘Tombs with the others. Justic Nixlaw was on bench, @ short, fat man, with a consequential look, and a high opinion of his own merits, and the re wae | with which he disposed of the cases, and meted o ‘thirty days—two mon three months—a fairly took away hy mph b ; His turn came in due course, and he was led be- fore the Justice, by the policeman who had arrested him, The Justice knitted his brows and frowned at Fer- gus in a portentous manner. “Hah! who's this?” he inquired, ‘‘A young re- probate?” Fergus fired up at this. _“T ain't a reprobate !"’ he cried, ‘Hah! of course not. I don't sup you would admit it—you never do,” he sarcastically. ** Who arrested him?" ™ 3 a rere ae — 4 I: “On what charge at’s he been doing? The policeman related the circumstances that led him to arrest Fergus. “Flere’s a young scamp!”’ cried the with an oracularjshake of the bead. “One of those young thieves—fighting, with a knife in his hand. You make a good beginning, youLbg Man.” “T ain’t Mei yet,” remorsreted Fe “T’m not a thief. I don’t belong vo the gang; 1 was only down there swimming—”’ “That's against the city ordinapce,” interrupted the Justice, sternly. . ‘* Well, a feller oughter have a chence to wasb Hime this warm weather,’’ rejoined Fergus, dog- gedly. : ne Justice shook his head again in h# portentous ashion. ‘**T shall have to send you up,” he said, *T don't want togo up; Lain’t done nothig« wrong!" Seo pan think h . ou think he’s one of those young thie the fastics inquired of the policeman, — ae —- “You. year,"’