Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 262 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

RS” Bas © es------~-- | im» ee ne ee ee CHAPTER II. A ‘*GO” OF OYSTERS, Tue youthful partners made their way slow- iy along Third street, chatting in a lively tone, though Mickey did the greater part of the ee and Joe of the listening. ‘* W bereabouts ie that oyster saloon?’ asked Joe, hungrily. ‘* Ain’t we a long time getting to it? ‘‘Jist listen to the little rascal! Why, I b’lieve an ’yster’s as big as a watermilHon in your eyes, Joe Joram. Only wait till you’s had my ‘sperience! When you git ’vited out to dinner with the mayor, and sich big nobs, like l’s been, ye’ll be gittin’ sick of sich luxuries.” ‘Now you’re lying again, Mickey. And I don’t see no use in that.” ‘‘ That’s the way with you Sunday-schoolers. Yer never kin take a joke. I didn’t ’splain jist how it was I was ’vited out.” ‘* And I don’t want to know,” broke in Joe, very decidedly. ickey laughed. He had got into a bad habit of lying by way of a joke, but that was one point on which he and his partner could not agree. ‘‘Ther’s no use wastin’ fun on you,” he re- marked. ‘‘ Yer a good deal too fine spun. Guess we'd best let it slide. Tom Mill’s cellar’s jist anead here, and—” He aeppen suddenly, caught his companion’s arm, and forced bim into the opening of an alley near which they stood. ‘* Keep shady!” explained Mickey, in a stage whisper. ‘‘ Ther’s fun afloat. on’t ye do mothin’ to spile it.” ‘* What’s up?’ sputtered Joe, ‘““Hold yer jaw!” and Mickey pressed his hand on his companion’s mouth. ‘ Cute’s the word. Mind I tell you that!” A moment afterward two gertlemen passed the boys’ biding-place. Mickey fixed his little eyes upon them with a fox-like glance, and then apped his knee with satisfaction. “Got ’em spotted, sure as shootin’. Come ahead, Joe! We’ll see who’s the sharp ’un.” He pushed out to the pavement, and set him- self in pursuit of the two men, followed by Joe, who was full of wonder at this unexpected movement. Deep in the heart of the innocent lad was a suspicion that this was some trick to cheat him out of his oysters, He never could put full confidence in Mickey. ‘* W hat’s up?” heasked, querulously, ‘‘ You’re going away from the oyster saloon.’ ‘“"Ysters be fiddled!’’ exclaimed Mickey, con- tem ouopely ‘““’Ysters arter bizness, that’s my motto! Tell you what, Joe, that’s the chap as tried to do me with the scaly dime.” ‘You don’t say so?” ‘‘Tt’s the identical chap,” insisted Mickey. ** He swore he was goin’ to git even with me, but I bet I git even with him fust. I know the feller that’s with bim like a book.” “ Who is he?’ ‘‘He ain’t a Sunday-school teacher, you kin bet on thas,” answered Mickey. ‘‘ Never you mind. Ther’s some things ’tain’t best to speak abont fn the streets. ou kin dive in some- where and git yer 'ysters if you want, but ’m goin’ to foller them coons.” “Then I’m going with you,” asserted Joe. ‘“‘ All correck! There they streak up Market. seep shady now.” ithout a thought of this pursuit the two men continued their walk out Market street, conversing earnestly as they proceeded. ‘‘I’m hungry as a fox,” said one, as they reached the eorner of Fifth street. ‘‘ Let’s drop in here at Tim’s oyster cave, and try his Cove pants. ‘lm agreeable,” replied the other. ‘‘We can get a private box there which will do to settle the points of that job as well as any- waoere,” They turned down Fifth street and soon enter- ed an apetes cellar which opened upon that street. it wasa neatly fitted up saloon, with tables in front, and a row of curtained booths at the rear, for such customers as desired pri- two men entered one of these stalls, after giving theirorder. _ But they had not quite disappeared ere a pair of blinking eyes, and a cunning young face, red at them down thecellar steps. It was a et of Mickey Malone. No sooner had the two men vanished behind the curtains than the youthful spy boldly entered the saloon, more timidly followed by his partner. ickey hitched up his very loose fitting suit get his cap more firmly on his red hea , and walked with a ewaggering gait to the bar. The Young Sleuths. ne ‘**Ysters fer two,” he ordered, ‘ And lively! We're bizness folks, and ain’t got no time to re,”. The attendant looked at him over the bar with a humorous expression on bis face. He evidently thought he had got hold of a charac- ter a = ‘* Haven’t you been shaving off your mustache = I saw you last?” he asked, in a very grave ne. The boy lifted bis hand to his upper lip, with a well assumed expression of surprise. ** Sure’s you live somebody’s done that while I was asleep!” he ejaculated. ‘‘ Teer’ allers was a lot o’ fellers jealous of that mustache.” The man laughed. ‘*You’re a wide-awake young ceon,” he re- marked. ‘* How’ll you have them?” ‘ll take a fry,” announced Mickey. ‘‘ And primes, mind you! Don’t try to play off none o’ yer cullens on thischap. I’ve been there afore.” ‘*] want a stew,” said Joe, modestly. ‘All right, young gentlemen. Take a seat and we'll serve you out ina jiffy. Got your pockets well lined to-day, eh?” “You bet!” and Mickey rattled his money in roof. They had but a few minutes to wait, ere the fry and stew were served, piping hot. “Take a table, young gentlemen,” said the attendant, with the same air of deep respect to Mickey’s invisible mustache. ‘*“A table?” exclaimed Mickey, witb deep contempt. ‘* What sort o’ chaps do you take us for, hey? Weain’t that kind, now I tell you; and we’re goin’ for a private box, or nothin’.” ‘‘A private box?’ laughed the good-natured attendant. ‘* All right, my lord! Excuse me for not recognizing you sooner. Slide ahead then. Shall I send a waiter, with the proven- der?” ‘‘Oh no, we ain’ta bit sassy,” answered the boy, with a lofty air. ‘‘ We kin carry our own grub. Don’t want no waiters to count my mouthfuls.” The boys picked up their dishes, and retired to the stall adjoining that occupied by the two men. The attendant followed them, with a humorous glance. “That’s a shrewd !little rascal,” be said to himself, ‘‘ There’s no fear but he will meke his way in the world.” Some new customers entering diverted his at- tention from the boys, who bad now disappear- ed behind their curtain. Mickey laid his hand cautiously on Joe’sarm. ‘‘Mum’s the word,” he whispered. ‘* Don’t make as much sti as a mouse,” The dishes were deposited noiselessly on the table, and the elder boy stealthily seated him- self on the side adjoining the stall occupied by the men. They could plainly hear the murmur of acautious conversation which was going’on beyond the partition. Mickey held up his band in warning, while He applied his sharp ear to a slight opening in the boards. The men had apparently let their voices fall, in consequence of the conversation of the boys at the bar. But bearing no sound in the adjoining stall, and naturally concluding that no two boys could eat oysters in silence, bey took it for granted that the lads had occu- pied some more distant stall. They continued their talk, in consequence, with Jess caution. It was impossible to keep Joe from his oysters. You might as well have tried to keep a miser from a gold mine. The little fellow had an ae appetite, and oysters were to bim a luxury fit for the gods. But he managed to eat in silence, and to make upin joyful looks for tue words he was obliged to suppress. A look of knowing triumph came upon Mickey’s expressive countenance. He had caught some words from beyond the partition. “Pll have that box or split!” came to his ears, accompanied with an oath. ‘*Hush! You are too loud.” For some minutes their voices were inaudible. Then some low utterances came distinctly to the acute hearing of the spy. ‘*On the ground at eleven to-night. It’s go- ing to be dark andrainy. And the fandango in front of the house will take everybody from the rear.” ** But about the dog?” ‘“Leave him to Tim. The dog knows him, and he Cua ‘ settle the brute’s bash. Again the voices sunk out of hearing. It was growing decidedly interesting. The quick- witted gamin shrewdly gue sed that a burglary was in contemplation, and was burningly eager to hear more. It seemed, however, as if he was te be disap- ee eg -_—-<- -—— ~~ qusnwesnewuewecgeeenercdiita -_ . — ———— pointed. The men’s voices were now reduced almost to a whisper. In fact, be coukd have heard a whisper better than this confusing murmur of sound, A burglary, at eleven to-night, at a house where some sort of party was going on? The object of the burglars a box? So much he had gathered. But this was a very indefinite pieo.: of information. Now he heard the men shuffling their feet reparatory to rising. The boy despaired of earing anything more definite. Fortunately at the last moment, a name came to his ears: **’ve sworn to be even with John Barton, and I will. I owe him more—” ‘* Hush!” came from the other, and the voices again subsided. The next moment the men noisily left the box, talking loudly on indifferent subjects. Mickey glanced over at Joe, in whose appear ance there was something very odd. The boy had arrested his spoon half-way to his mouth, while a look of astonished inquiry marked his intelligent features. Something very striking seemed to have arrested his attention. ‘‘What is the matter with you?” asked Mickey. : ‘*Did you hear that name? Didn’t those men say something about John Barton?” ‘ Yes,” was the cautious answer. ‘‘And I'd give something to know who he is, for there's deviltry afloat, sure.” : ‘*T know,” answered Joe. ‘You do? Hush!” He parted the curtains slightly and looked out, The men were paying for their oysters. The boy waited until they had done so, and ‘until he had seen them on the stairs leading to the street, ere he spoke again. ‘* Now you kin slide on.” ‘* Aren't you going to follow them?’ ‘Foller’em? And leave this fry that I's got to pay for? You don’t s’pose I’m an idyot, do e! Mickey plunged into the mysteries of his fry with the more.zest from his previous enforced caution. ‘*Who is John Barton?’ he asked, between his mcuthfuls. “Why, haven’t I ever told you? It was him my dad used to work for. He’s got the nicest place away out over the Schuylkill. And he bas done ever so much for us since my dad died,” ‘You know where the place is?’ ‘** It’s queer if I don’t.” ‘* There’s a savage dog?” ‘* Yes; and a wall around it,” “Tl bet a blackin’-box and a roll of papers I’ve got ‘em spotted!” ejaculated Mickey, as be continued to pay particular attention to his provender. ‘“Why, what’s up? Anything about Mr. Barton?” ‘* Burglary !"—Mickey repeated this word in a deep, guttural tone that aJmost set the youn- ger boy’s hair onend. ‘‘ There’s goin’ to be a u’stin’-open time. Eleven o’clock to-night. They’re goin’ to bu’st inter Mr. Barton’s house and carry off a box of di’monds or somethiit sich like.” ‘“Ob, mercy!” exclaimed Joe, starting up. ‘‘Rob Mr. Barton, that’s been so good to uv What shall we ever do, Mickey?” ‘* Hold yer whist! I'm cogitating,” answered Mickey, curtly. Any one — venge* - that he was de- vouring. ut perbaps Mickey was able te think and eat at once. He finally 1d. down his knife and fork with a sigh of satisfaction, crowded into his mouth the last cracker on the plate, and then looked over to Joe. ‘* What ail’s ye, boy? You ain’t finished yer ’ysters,” he remarked. ‘““T ate all I could,” answered Joe. “You iled my appetite. What is to be done, ickey ?’ The latter swallowed his cracker with a gulp. stood up, and looked down upon Joe with an of infinite erlemon'e h ‘You've got to dig over to Mr. Barton’s and him ‘bout this bizness. But mind you on’t tell nobody but him. "Tain’t best for 4 to git out in the kitchen.” ‘* And what will you do?” ; ‘“T'll have an interview with the perlice,” answered Mickey, loftily. Joe looked up at his companion asa og might look at a Newfoundland, with an infinite sense of his superiority. ‘ Your a cute one, Mickey,” he declared, with deep admiration. “Why, I do I’ve got my eye-teeth tut,” answered the elder boy, with a lodk of comical GOMIIGDOOKS