Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 262 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

er ee + es ee ——— name had not yet been given. A growling response came from Jerry’s lips. He dteanpreree into the house, closing the door behind him. Heavy built as he was, not the sound of a footfall came from him. He was evidently well trained in the art of burglary. Phe other two waited silently and impatiently without. Plainly this was no ordinary effort at house - breaking. A particular object was desired by the burglars, and they had chosen their time very shrewdly for the carrying out of their scheme. Several minutes had elapsed. There were no indications of an alarm. It sepeeted es if the robbery was going to be safely consummated. Joe crouched in trembling terror. As for Mickey— ‘“‘ Look alive!” cried Tim, suddenly. ‘‘ Where’s that rascally boy?” The other man glanced hastily around. Mickey had disappeared. He had taken the advantage of a moment’s carelessness, and slipped away into the darkness. With a bitter oath the man started in pursuit. But at this instant there was a new diversion. A deep, hollow bay broke the stillness of the night. It was the voice of the watch-dog. ‘Blast the dog! be hasn’t took the meat after all!” ejaculated Tim. ‘‘Why don’t Jerr hurry? If he ain’f here in a jiffy the job’s all in the fire!” As hé spoke the door was hastily flung open, and Jerry sprung out. ‘The job’s done,” he briefly said. ‘‘ Now for cover!” One quick leap took hin into the darkness of the garden. Tim followed, while a whistle of recall from his lips gave the warning to the third burglar. Little Joe hesitated for a moment, and then fearfully followed this rapid flight. At th same instant there broke out again the bay o the watch-dog, succeeded by the scudding of a heavy body through the bushes, CHAPTER V. AN ALARM AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, Insipge Mr. Barton’s residence quite different events were taking pace than those that had occurred outside. The house, as we have said, was a large one, and a considerable distance in- tervened between the scene of fest vity in front and of darkness and crime in the rear. Two large rooms, separated by a wide hall, eccupied the front portion of the first floor. These, by the aid of foldinyz-doors, were all thrown into one, and were filled just now with ea gay and festive throng, full of the spirit of ompeymenk eavy chandeliers depended from the ceil- ings, throwing a flood of light over the richly furnished apartments. ‘ But tables, chairs and sofas bad been pushed aside to make room for the dancers, who whirled in the bewildering swnazes of the waltz over the broad floors. The musicians were seated in the wide hall, back of the passage between the doors, making the who e house vibrate with the ringing strains of their instruments, as a oo | dancing tune gave animation to the feet and the hearts of the merry guests. L dies in flowing silks and satins; gentlemen in glistening broadcloth; young and happy faces; the gleam of joyful smiles; the merry sounds of youthful laughter; the murmur of gay chat; all were there, and “all went merry as a marriage bell.” No wonder the servants surveyed the scene with eager eyes from the shadowed depth of ms beyond, and from the region of the hall yack of the musicians, and left the remainder * the mansion to shift for itself. Mr. Barton, a tall, solidly-framed man, with pen and cheerful face and handsome features, « alked from room to rcom, with a smile and a | word for ezary one he met, ** How igic you ar®aot dancing. Mr. Price?” he asked. eould not withstand that music.” **T have bee,” answered the youthful person :idressed, wita a sickly smile. much dancing nowadays, you know. 49 keep up to the pace.” ‘*Getting danced out, eh?’ auswered Mr. Barton, with a look wf covert amusem:nt. “That's early, for a brisk young blade like ‘‘ Perhaps it’s the dreadful weather -ffects pe,” yawned the fop. ‘‘I’m so sensitive to rhanges. And it’s raining unmercifully out- ide, wi “Yes,” and Mr. Barton shrugged bis shoul | if we listen forthem. And ‘“‘T should fancy that you, of us all, | ‘* But there’s so | It is bard | ec LCT tra LL LLL OE LLL ALLL LAC LL LLL AL Tt eee —— enemas vette, The Young Sleuths. speaker was the third burglar, whose | ders. ‘‘ Itisn’t the most agreeable night.—Well, Milton, boy, what is it?’ This was addressed to a slender, handsome | youth, who stood by as if be wished to speak. | Nothing much, uncle,” he replied, ‘Only I thought | saw something queer in the garden. I was up in my room just now, and saw a sudden flash of light in the bushes. But it was gone when I got to the window, and I could see noth- ing more.” ‘‘A flash of lightning, I fancy,” smiled Mr. Barton. ‘It’s too wet for glow-worms to be abroad.” ‘No, sir, it wasn’t lightning,” persisted the boy; ‘for I don’t think it was, at least. It didn’t look like it.” ‘‘ What else could it be, boy? It is no night for stragglers. And if there were any about I fancy that our watch-dog, Wolf, would have had a say in the matter before now.” ‘‘- Yes, | guess he would,” rejoined the lad, still a little doubtfully. ‘It’s queer, though. I came right down to tell you.” ‘‘ Suppose you run up again, Milton, and take another look out,” suggested Mr. Barton, in a kindly tone, ‘* you had best satisfy yourself.— The lad is a little nervous,” he continued, as Milton started quickly away, ‘‘and boys are apt to magnify trifles.” ‘* That is true,” said the person addressed. ‘‘ I eould easily find you his match.” Meanwhile the lad ran quickly up-stairs to the third floor. Here he entered a room to the rear, and threw up the window, from which he took an earnest observation of the darkened scene below. From his position nothing was visible. The burglars were hid by a projection of a lower roof, and only vague spaces of darker shadow indicated the bushy clumps of the garden. Yet there was something that attracted his attention. A faint murmur, that sounded much like human voices, came to his ears. But it was so mingled with the patter of the rain and the sounds of festivity from the lower rooms, that nothing definite could be made out. ‘*Maybe it’s only a fancy,” he doubtfull said. ‘ We can ’most always hear odd sounds olf wouldn’t kee quiet if there were stragglers about. But, wonder if the dog is loose. They may have left Pees chained up, and his kennel is away around ront. Full of this new idea he ran hastily down- stairs, determined to satisfy himself upon this point. Slipping through the line of dancers, he made his way to the porch in front, and tence to the side of the garden wall. The rain bad considerably slackened, and was falling now in only a light drizzle. Wolf, the old watch-dog of the house, whim- ered uneasily as the lad approached bis kennel. fe had indeed been forgotten by the servants and left chained up. The keen senses of the old dog had not failed to trace something suspicious in the air. But he had been approached, not long before, by an old acquaintance, Tim, the burglar. This had quieted his doubts, and though he had declined to eat the poisoned meat left him, he had given no alarm. Now, however, his canine suspicions were again aroused. New sounds and scents were abroad. Milton found him straining at his chain and eagerly sniffing the air. ‘‘ What is it, old fellow? What is it, Wolf?” asked the youth, as he patted the dog’s shaggy bead, an tried to loose the chain from his collar. There came at this moment, from the garden to the right, a rushing sound, as if some one were forcing bis way through the bushes. It was followed by the tones of a man’s voice in a fierce oath. Wolf lifted his long muzzle and emitted a bay that rung through bouse and gaiden. The next instant Milton succeeded in slipping the chain. ‘‘Find them, Wolf! Find them, old chap!” he commanded. The intelligent animal needed no _ second order. A quick leap forward, another loud ba from his powerful jaws, and he was off throug the garden without heed to bush or vine. It was an exciting moment for more than one. The burglars were dashing for the rear wall with their prize. Little Joe was iryeso- | lutely following them, hardly knowing what he | captors, was seekin did. Mickey, who had slily escaped from his to gain the front of the house and give the alarm, when the savage peal from the dog caused him to crouch down for concealment. Milton, full of excitement, ran hastily to the porch and broke into the front dvor of the house, exclaiming, in loud tones: _—— ee owe ‘“‘There are robbers in the garden! I have just set Wolf loose, and he isafterthem! Come quick, uncle Barton; we may catch them!” ‘‘Hold your tongue, boy!’ Mr. Barton an- grily exclaimed, running forward and the boy’s arm with a hard gripe. ‘‘ You are too old to be scared by shadows.” But the mischief which he wished to avert was done. The dance broke up with a huddling to- gether of the dancers, like a flock of frightened birds that crowd together for safety. The music ceased withacrash. The cries of fright- ened women, the loud tones of men, little screams and nervous exclamations, succeeded the gay scene of the moment before. The boy’s startling announcement had fallen like a thun- derbolt in their midst. ‘*Keep cool, ladies,” exclaimed Mr. Bartoa, in a masterful voice. ‘‘Itis nothing of impor- tance. Milton is overly nervous. Go on with your dance. I will see what is the matter out- side. x The dog has scented a rabbit, I sup- ose. His words were interrupted by something more startling yet. This was the sound of 6 isto]-shot, which rung sharply in from the gar- en. It wes followed by a more savage bay from the dog. ‘* By Jupiter, there is something,” exclaimed Mr. Barton, as he sprung bastily to the porch and disappeared in the darkness without. Several of the guests followed him. But in the ball-rooms all was confusion. Many of the ladies were clinging to the gentlemen for pro- tection. Others stood with white faces and trembling lips, looking nervously toward the door. And some of the men displayed as little self-control as the most nervous of the ladies. ‘‘'We shall all be killed! I know we shall!” exclaimed one of the frightened fair ones. ‘‘ Oh, why did we come here? It is too dreadful for anything!” ‘Keep cool, Mabel. I will protect you.” Mr. Price’s arm stole around the waist of the frightened beauty, while he attempted to throw an expression of ferocious courage into his face. It cannot be said that Mr. Price was alone in his courageous movement. Others of the gen- tlemen displayed their courage in the same dar- ing manner! And there was some reason to think that the ladies did not quite disapprove of being thus protected! The servants had rushed back at the first alarm, and now, armed with lanterns and wea- pons of various kinds, sallied out to explore the grounds, Meanwhile the burglars bad made a straight dash for the wall. They did not hesitate now to open their lantern to guide their steps through the darkness. “This way!” exclaimed Jerry. ‘‘ Where’s Mart?” ‘‘He struck ont for the runaway boy. But the whistle will fetch him.” ‘The boy’s got away from you?” aa Yes.” ‘‘High chap you are! Curse that dog! wish it was cbeked. Is this the wall?’ ‘* Yes. And here comes Mart,” ‘* Up, then, like a flash!” The wall was Jower on this side, and some athena tools lay against it at the point they ad reached. A quick spring, and Jerry was seated astride the ay Tim quickly followed bim. As the first burglar leaped to the ground out- side, tightly compressing the stolen box beneath his arm, the dog’s fierce bark sounded perilously near. He was rending bis way through the bushes to the left. ‘‘Tet him have it, Tim,” exclaimed Mart. ‘* Drop the hound if he shows hiniself.” He reached the wa]l as te spoke. Tim drew his pistol, and hastily fired at random into the bushes. His shot was answered by a savage bay, and the next instant the form of the dog broke into sight. Mart bad caugbt the top of the wall, and was on the point of swinging him- self up, when the fierce brute sprung at hie. There was another ineffectual pistol-sbot, a cry of fear or pain from the man, a sound like the rending of cloth, and then Mart succeeded in gaining the coping, and rolled, rather than ane’ to the ground outside. ut Wolf had a good square foot of pantaloon stuff between his teeth, and the dismantled burglar felt a sudden and uncomfortable access of cold air to his pefson. They bad not got off quite scot free. In fact the burglars were just in time. Voices now sounded in the garden. The back doors of the house were thrown open and lights emerged, which rapidly spread to right and left. ‘‘ Here is one of them!” cried one of the ° I EOMrEGDOOr “com