Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 262 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

& ———— a ee mm ee + + ee rn man for nothin’, He’s jist the kind as won’t b’lieve a word we say, if we swear to it till the sky turns green. It’s a bad show, Joe; but if we don’t want to go to Moya we’s got to slide outer this consarn.” ‘‘How?”’ asked Joe, looking up more hope- pry2 ‘‘How? Well, ther’s a good many hows. One way’s to jump out the winder. But ma little feared we’d fotch up too kinder suddent,”’ ‘We can’t do that,” declared Joe, “* Another how is—” He was interrupted by the opening of the door, and the appearance of the full-moon countenance of their jailer, the footman. ‘*Silence hin there!” he exclaimed, authori- tatively. ‘‘ You howdacious young ruffians, ee your jaws hif you don’t stop that clat- r Mickey, whose back was turned to the speak- er, winked knowingly to Joe. ‘Wide awake now,” he muttered. ‘“ Pll nab the Englisher.” But we must return once more to the search- ing purty outside. By the aid of the lantern they traced the footsteps in the rain-sodden und for a considerable distance. But not ar off in this direction a street had been cut through. It was not built on as yet, but the roadway was paved, and it soon proved impos- sible to follow the robbers by their footsteps turther in this direction, Sending the servants onward to make in- quiries, and to warn any policemen they might encounter, Mr. Barton and his friends returned to the house. They had been absent about half av hour. ‘** We had best examine the boys at once,” he said. ‘‘ We may gain some information neces- sary to us? immediately.” But they had first to pass through a running fire of inquiries, which detained them some ten minutes more, ere they could make their way to the stairs. | ‘*T hope none of you ladies will be alarmed,” remarked Mr. Barton, cheerily. ‘* Pray, do not let this spoil your enjoyment. Let the music strike up again.” The players promptly obeyed, and it was to the sound of musical strains that they ascended the stairs. ‘* What’s become of that stupid, consequential fool of a Joseph, who was left on guard here?’ exclaimed Mr. Barton, on seeing that the door of the prison room remained unguarded. ‘‘ The jackasg hae strayed away somewhere.” He was interrupted by an extraordinary noise from within the room; a sort of inarticu- late howl, followed by a furious pounding upon the door. ‘‘ Eh! what doesthis mean? Have the young vagrants gone mad?” He unlocked and flung open the door as he spoke, expecting to see a pair of frantic bo But what was his surprise to find that the boys had disappeared, and in their stead he saw the person of their jailer, all his aristo- cratic di a his face red and swelled like a boiled beet, while short howls of rage and dismay came in puffs from bis lips. ‘*To think has hi hever come from hold Heng- land for this!” he managed to ejaculate, in a sort of frantic roar. CHAPTER VIL. : A DASH FOR LIBERTY. WE must go back a step in our stony to ex- plain how this strange metamorphosis had oc- curred, a transformabdion scene in which two undignified boys were changed into a dignified 1uan. When we last looked in upon the youthful prisoners, Joseph, the footman, had just done the same, and Mickey had quietly advised his fellow captive to be wide awake, and he would nab the Englisher. The next instant, to the surprise of the jailer, Miekey tumbled in a beap on the floor, and be- gan rolling and howling ih a most distressing manner. “‘Ob Lawsee! Oh cricky! Oh yewled, as he doubled himself up ** Oh, send for a doctor! I’m afire inside! afire! afire! afire!” This was hg in gradually rising howls, which only the busy conversation and other neises below prevented from alarming the house, Joe stood with staring eyes and upraised hands, not knowing what to make of this sud- den attack. But Mickey, in the midst of his peeeayere. managed to roll over to him, and give @ ebarp pinch on the leg. iminy!” he ike an eel, I’m es ——— Ss + ee ee The Young Sleuths. eS ee ‘*TLook alive, you beggar,” he warned in a low tone, ‘‘ Stand ready to run!” This was followed by another volley of ap- peals for aid. ‘Oh! oh! oh! The doctor! The doctor! Afore I burn up to a cinder!” The pee would have been made of stone if he could have withstood this. He ran hastily into the room, on whose floor Mickey was twisting and writhing as if there was nota bone left in his body. ** W hat hails you?” he shouted. ‘*’Ang me if hi ever ’eared such a clatter! ’ave you got the toothache, er the hinfluenza?” ‘It’s my insides that’s all a-turnin’ outside!” cried Mickey, as he gave Joe’s leg a sharp push toward the door. ‘'Oh! I’m goin’ to die! I’m goin’ to die!” The thick-brained footman was quite dum- founded by this occurrence. He threw up his bands in horror, and exclaimed: ‘*Don’t you die ’ere! Hit’s haginst the law to die ’ere!—’Old there, boy! Where har’ you oin?’? This was to Joe, who bad made a start or the door. ‘““T am going for the doctor,” replied Joe, with a happy thought. ‘Come back ’ere! Come back, hi say!” He started quickly to arrest his flying pris- oner, but he was not destined to reach him. For with a sudden squirm Mickey managed to throw himself between his long legs, around which he twisted like a snake around a tree. The natural consequence followed. Joseph was tripped uP, and fell headlong to the floor, his prominent nose being the first point to touch bottom. With a last volley of ‘‘Ohs” the shrewd little schemer disengaged himself, apna to his feet as if impelled by a spring, an yea disdain- ful kick to the prostrate y of his dupe. “Take that, you bloody Henglisher; and don’t come foolin’ round Hamerican boys ag’in!”’ With a laugh of contempt he leaped to the door, through which he vanished just as Joseph was scrambling, in a dazed fashion to his feet. ‘‘ Come back ’ere! Come back ’ere hinstantly, you howdacious—” He was interrupted by the slamming of the door, and the turning of the key in the lock. ‘‘ What’s the matter hinside there?’ came in an Soe dhe demand through the keyhole. ‘‘ Got the toothache, or the hinfluenzy, hey?” The next moment the involuntary prisoner heard the boys retiring with a triumphant laugh, from the door. He ran furiously against it, but it resisted bis efforts. The tables had been decidedly turned. Utterly heedless of the cries of their prisoner, whose sound was muffled by the cl door, the boys hastened down-stairs. But the final flight of stairs opened out into the. hall, in the full blaze of light, and in open view of the guests, who were moving about in an excited fashion. " ‘* Won't do, Joe,” warned Mickey. ‘‘That’d be jist a jump from the fryin’-pan inter the oe ,We s got to investergate this yere shanty a bib. **There’s somebody coming up-stairs!” an- nounced Joe, with sudden alarm. Mickey caught him by the collar, and drew him quickly within a room, whose door stood open to their left. ‘‘Whist’s the word,” he said. ‘‘ Don’t stir, no more nor a rabbit.” There was little danger of that. Joe was much too frightened to stir. The step came steadily upward. Gazing slyly through the partly open door the boys recognized the face of Mr. Barton, who vas ac- companied by several others. They made their way to the foot of the next flight of stairs. “Tf we ain’t got to cut stick now ther’s no fun,” whispered Mickey. ‘It’s gittin’ blazin’ hot, Won’t ther’ be a high old time when they find the sort of pig that’s in their bag? Come, Joe, it’s Cherry Hill prison if they nab us now.” He sprung out into the hall which ran back beside the stairs, Several rooms opened into it, but Mickey made his way rapidly to the rear, where a window opened outward. ‘* Are you going to jump?” asked Joe timidly. ‘*T ain’t goin’ to git cotched, if I have to turn a handspring outer the winder. And I don’t b’lieve ther’s no elevators ’bout these dig- gin’s. ‘“‘This way,” cried Joe gleefully. another stair.” ‘‘That’s hunky. D’ye hear the row up-stairs? Lawsee! wouldn’t I like to be there now, to see our rat walk out of the trap. But bizness won't permit.” A hearty laugh broke from the ‘* Hore’s ee ee a mw §696009270 OC a oe ee eee ee a Oe ewe reckless boy. ‘‘Come, Joe. ‘Tain’t no time te be*moonin’ now. Slide’s the word, and hey jolly diddle?” Down the back stairway he went, takin scarce three steps to the whole flight. Joe fok lowed no less rapidly. They now found them- selves in a pitchy darkness. But after groping around for a minute a door was discovered, which opened easily, and let in a beam of light from the front of the house. ‘*Yere’s a winder!” cried Mickey. ‘‘ Mind yer eye, Joe. They’re arter us. Dig out behind me, you littlé beggar.” There was indeed no time to be lost. Excited voices were heard up-stairs, and sounds as of rapidly descending steps. A light flashed down the stairway which they had just descended. Kvidently pursuit was to be sharp and decisive. Fortunately the shutters had been opened and the window raised during the recent search. Mickey went through it with the ae of a cat, in a quick leap that landed him in a bunch on the soft ground outside. Joe followed more carefully, Jetting himself down by his hands and dropping to the ground. ‘‘ Not that way,” cried Mickey. ‘ Here, by the porch. You don’t hanker to run inter the dog’s jaws, hey?” ‘* But they'll see us that way.” ‘‘Let ’em see! Who keers¢ Give Mickey Ma- lone a fair start, and I bet a persimmon, they don’t nab him,” The rain bad now ceased falling. They had reached the ground at the side of the house, not far from its front. There was sufficient light here to enable them to make their way easily. Stealing quickly forward, in a second they had gained the onter corner of the wide porch, which fronted the mansion. A few steps more and they would be in full view of the guests, for a bright light illumined the shrubbery and walks in this direction. ‘* Pelt out, Joe,” cried Mickey. , ‘‘Pm afeared,” responded Joe, oer ey At this instant a loud bark came from their left. Wolf had evidently caught the séent. “There’s the dog! Ye’ll be eat up alive if ou pie pelt out like sealin’-wax! Slide, d’ye ear J oa, the scared wt Mickey set out at full speed. Joe followed. There was no help for it now. The gate to, the grounds luy but some twenty paces in front, and stood wide open. If they could but reach and close it behind them? But they had not taken five steps ere they were discovered from the house and the alarm ven. a eThere they go! There they go! This way! This way! Stop thieves!” Steps were heard rushing hastily from the rooms to tbe porch, The bay of the dog came nearer and nearer. The boysran as they had never run before. There were no seconds to waste now. They neared the open gate. A crushing sound in a bush just behind told of the approach of the dog. To the right was visible a slender, boyish’form, running hastily forward, as if to intercept their escape througb the gateway. It was an instant of thrilling interest. But the boys had slightly the advantage in the race, and their speed was winged by fright. The reached the gate and darted through just in ad- vance of their pursuer. ‘ But instead of his springing through after them, as had seemed his purpose, he bastily closed the open gate, just in time to shut in the dog, who came bounding fiercely up. The youth caught him by the collar and jerked him sternly back. ‘“‘What did you dothat for, Milton?” came an angry voice at hiselbow. ‘Do you want them to escape?” ‘‘T don’t want the sorry little vagrants to be eaten up alive by this brute,” the lad firmly re plied. ‘‘ Yonder they go. Catch them if you can. But Wolf shall not touch them.” The light from the house reached out fora considerable distance over the fields that lined the opposite side of the roadway. But to right and left, out of this line of light, the dense darkness of a moonless and stormy night reign- ed supreme. In this direction the boys were flying with the speed of fear. The momentary diversion had given them a start, and they were a hun- dred paces ahead when the gate was flung open, and several pursuers darted out efter them. It was now a question who could run the fastest, boys brought up in all the wildness of street life, or men who seldom took a step faster than a walk. Up the road and into the fields Mickey led the way, little Joe quickly following. Soor FOMIEDOOKS: OT