Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 281 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

A = a aa B —————————————— Denver Dol] had given her word that she per- soually, would not inferfere in the family quar- rel nollie employed to do so on the right side. She spoke thus for herself; but not for Little Bill Bethel. She went back to her room, in the hotel, and found the lad there, f_st asleep, and snoring like a full-fledged butcher; but his eyes were open the moment she permitted, purposely, an in- cautious footfall upon the floor. ‘* Another good sign!” the Detective Queen said, inwardly. ‘** Hello! back a’ready, sis?” the lad yawned, ‘* Why the blazes don’t ye let a feller sleep?” ‘* Why did youawaken? By the way, Billy, I’ve got a case for you!” ‘Then pan out, for I haven’t had a square meal in I-don’t-know-when!”’ ; ‘‘ But it’s not sweitzer case, Billy—nothing more nor less than a detective case.” The juvenile ferret puckered up his face awry. **OCan’t masticate that—give a feller the dis- pepsery !” he said, soberly. ‘But off from the profits you can live like a duke.” ‘* What's that, Dollbaby—a burro ?” ‘Oh! no,” Doll replied, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. ‘*A duke’s a feller like me, you know—a U.S. D. Savy? How’d you like to walk about with a Government breast-pin upon your vest?” Billy leaped to his feet, with sparkling eyes, and strutted about with his thumbs under his armpits. ‘*Wel, I should snicker ef that wouldn’t be gallus!” he cried. ‘Vd jest rise frum thar to Congress. A good long step and large fees will fetch it ye know.” ‘* Well, Bill, ’'ve concluded not to pay much attention to anything but the robbery Case, for the present; so if you think you can work Pacific Phil in for a case, sail in. Do you re- member everything you heard?” ‘‘Like a book, Gulpedit down like an alle- gntor.” “ Well, now, Pacific Phil may need some per- sonal aid, and maybe you can by extreme care become of some use to him. Supposing you t into the jail, and see what you ean do for im, in-the detective line. If you make a suc- cess of the case, a badge you shall have!” The boy’s eyes fairly danced with excitement and joy, and he executed a jig on the floor, ** Horty fishhooks!” what would my gal Kate say, ef she were to see me now?” ‘* By the way, I forgot to tell P Ades Billy, that 1 was through the Ainsley residence, in every part, but there’s no woman concealed there.” Billy put his finger to his nose, and winked, knowingly. “Git out!” he said. ‘Did ye go into a sort o’ wing on the ner’ side o’ the shebang?’ Denver Doll meditated a moment. ‘*I think not,” she said finally. ‘‘As I remem- ber, all the rooms were within the main house.” “Thort so. That jest settles it that my gal Kate is up-stairs in that wing. Guess I'll go, now. But, bold up. age ve better fork over a recommend ter his nibs, Percific. Slight- ly acquaint wi’ him, but ye see these big chaps w’at calls ’emselves men, don’t ginerally take \much stock on little rats like me, an’ we're liable ter have ter swaller a lot o’ insults, ef we ain’t got backin’!” Dolf smiled at her young disciple’s logic, for there was certainly some trath in it; so, seizing pencil and paper, she wrote: “ Pacrric Par.—Anticipating your need of the ser- vices of a detective, to help you out of your dilem- ma, which is known to me, send you my aid, Billy pee You can safely put en aie san = rust to his keen judgment, for he's razor, and has x, aetscave's skill far beyond his years. He will be of undoubted service to you. « wii see what carne done for yon the vriai. ery respectfully, , de hg DENVER Dou, U.S. D. ‘There! now scoot, and see if Pacific wants anything before the trial,” Doll commanded, giving him the paper, which the boy pocketed, and was gone like a flash. : Before seeking the :ecret passage to the jail, he sauntered about the prison for awhile, to see if anything of extra importance was going 0D; but there was not, the crowd being about all to beseen. Just as Billy was moving away, Ned Ainsley on Helo, Billy.” h y @ accosted. ‘‘ How’s your heal? hé Do you ‘know you turned my honk for the Labi boy?” ~ “ SOFrys that,” Bill declared, soberly. “ Goodasess gracions| onan ‘ oo ee Denver Doll’s Victory. | ——-—_—_-_—— — a oe —— —_ — —-—-—_-- ‘* Because gamblin’ is a bad perfesh. I only “Tf I choose, though my style o jest wanted to show ye ye didn’t know shucks about cards. Say, d’ye know the feller in the jug?’ ** Not personally. ‘*Wull, ye know he’s Ainsley’s boy, Philip, don’t ye?” ‘* Pve had a suspicion that way.” “Well, it’s so. Inter the family history ?”’ ‘* Not very deep. I’ve had it intimated that uncle and cousin were not exactly on friendly terms,” ‘‘ Bet they ain’t! I got the case down fine, The old cuss wants to crush the young cuss flat- ter nor though an elerfant had stepped on bim, To do this, a job’s bin put up to prove that Per- cific is Capt’in Crime. Can't ye give a lift, at the trial, to prove different?” ‘** You bet, if there is any need of it. is that Denver Doll your ma, Bill?” William snorted, ‘“Nary a time! Hain’t got but one. Doll’s my partner, ye see—young, purty, unmarried, sharp as lightnin’, rich, amiable, and a reg’lar prog Why don’t ye sail in, buddy, an’ capture er, Ned smiled at the boy. ‘*?m afraid I'd not make a bit,” he answered. ‘“*Pshaw! She's sweet on you. Kinder like her, too, don’t ye?” ‘* Well, to tell the truth, she has rather taken me in and done for me,” Ned admitted, blush- ingly. i He! he! be! so have I!” squealed Bill, with a malicious grin. ‘‘ Know’d I could draw ye out, like fetchin’ a bile to a head, wi’ fly-blister. Oh! but won’t I have a sweet toothful fer Doll- baby! But, never mind, Neddy; I'll fix it up all-rigat fer ye with her. You'll have a reg’lar puddin’!” And away trotted the young r-gamuffin, with a tantalizing laugh. ‘*Blame that young rascal,” young Ainsley muttered. ‘He's worse than anyimp. Ten to one he’ll make a laughing stock out of me in Den- ver Doll’s eyes.” I say, While Little Bill burried away, rapidly. ‘“This chinnin’ ain’t allers bizness,” he s0- liloquized. ‘‘ Hope I don’t meet another ’quaint- ancel know. I must git in a word wi’ Parcific, afore they yank him out fer trial!” CHAPTER X. PACIFIC’S FOES AND FRIENDS. HARRISON AINSLEY went home; bis rage un- abated, and raved about for awhile, but find- ing no relief in this, returned once more to the street, where he saw Deputy Kierg, who was superintending the erection of a sort of stand, ic which the trial of Pacific was to take place. As soon as he could, conveniently, the banker called him aside. * Excuse me,” he said. ‘Iam Harrison Ain- sley, the banker of this place. I understand that you have captured the desperate, Captain Crime?” ** Bet yer boots we have, boss, and we’re goin’ to try him, this afternoon.” ‘‘Pm glad of that, don’t you let bim escape justice. He has robbed me repeatedly, of large sums of money. I suppose you will lynch him?” ‘That will be im ible. There are other detectives here, and for me to allow such a pro- ceeding would be to lose my position as deputy, I'll guarantee his conviction, after which Detec. tive Sinclair of the Union Pacific, will hand him over to the courts. The only thing is to prove him the man. Are you greatly inter- ested ?” “Well, to that extent,” the banker said, slip- ping a note of large denomination into his 1and, T would prefer, quietly of course, that some sure and certain disposal be made of the ellow, at once.” : ‘**All right. I will see what can be done to accommodate you, sir.” ‘Perhaps I may triumph yet!” the scheming banker muttered, exultantly, as he strode away. ‘One thing is certain:—if Philip gets free, I shall have to.look sharp to save my life. So I may as well take advantage of first grip.” He went thence to his banking-office, near which he met Ned Ainsley. ‘Well, boy, I guess you might as well come rene. and gee i work,” -_ ey good-na- uredly. am tty well sati ou are not the thief,” ee : : “Are you, really?’ Ned replied, with sar- easm. ‘‘I thank you, but I do not care toagain enter your service, sir.” ‘Indeed! I suppose you ean make a li on gambling, you young vagabond! * tae at the theater. 11 ae ee re eee LN ee ~ -———— Sgamhinng and yours varies, somewha er mine the more honorable mode.” The banker was nonplused; he did not know just what reply to make. ‘‘Perhaps you are right,” he said, finally. ‘‘By the way Ned, I wish you'd stay at the bank this afternoon. I have some important business, outside,” ‘*So have I!” the nephew -returned, signifi- cantly, and turned away, leaving the banker in a rage, ‘Can he know, and does he seek to Eevang® himself on me, at the trialf’ was the thougbé that flashed across his mind. In the meantime let us look after Little Bill, and ascertain how his errand resulted. After leaving. Ned Ainsley, he made his ap- proach to the pit, in a reundabout way, and taking a good look around him, to meke sure that he was not observed, leaped into it. Entering the tunnel, he crept underground for some distance, until he came to an abrupt ending of the passage. Then reaching upward he exerted ajl bis puny strength, and managed to raise and displace a large flat stone overhead, which was one of many that formed the floor- ing of the jail. na moment more he was standing in the apartment where Pacific Phil .was pp paipoged. e was half-reclining, now, his head resting upon bis hand. There was 4 look of surprise upon his face as be saw Biily. ‘* Hello! where in the name of all that’s wen- derful, did you come from?’ be exclaimed, “Sh! Compress your bugle!” Bill warned, with a nod toward the door, ‘* Mum’s the word! Ears out there sharper tham a needle. Know me?” ‘* Well, I reckon I've seen you. Once seen, your mug is never to be forgotten!” Pacific said, dryly. ‘*Dunno. Seen purtier, an’ hev seen wuss. I’m William Bethel, -s-q., an’ heer’s my recker- mend,” Pacific Phil received the message and read it, surprise beaming from his eyes, ‘* Denver Doll is extremely kind,” he remark- ed thoughtfully. ‘Hang it, so am It’ chipped in Bill, *‘ or else I wouldn’t ’a’ rooted through the dirt to reach you. Soccme down to biz, Percific, Aire ye goin’ ter employ me or no?” » Ole ‘*What to dof” the prisoner demanded, re- garding the pe amusedly, , ‘Why, ter take hold o’ your case, straighten out all the kinks, and win the game fer ye, in “Well, boy, your mistress seems something of a phenomenon, so J suppose I better employ yon. What do you know rela- tive to my affairs?” _ Heaps! Got a phono phic pate—scoo in all it hears, and all ye’ve do is to turn the crank, and out she comes! It was me who got the p’ints furst. Snuck in behind youe royal dad, and ro in all the slack that passed *twixt you. The old gent don’t exactly dote on ores a = naa ge ae *‘No!l—nor Il on grea ac - lain never lived than he!” ‘Right! He’s a pages old sockdolager o’ Satan, and he’s goin’ to make it gosh-darned tropical fer you, too! D'ye know they're goin’ ter test yer neck this afternoon, to see, if ) any injy rubber in it, worth workin’ up inter galluses?” ‘*So bad as that!” The buckskin sport was perfectly composed, ‘Yas, so bad as that. 4 a ou ‘pears to take It mighty cool!” O ‘Oh! ves. There’s little use getting excite. over trifles!” Pe Bill felt rather disconcerted at this. ‘Poor show for scari:’ a ten thousan’ dollar job out o’ this feller,” was his thought. But he went on: I’ll do the axin’ Uve got all the con think you “ Well, let’s git down to biz. and you the answerin’, Arter nec pints down, we'll compare opinions. There’s nothin’ like quizzin’ and unearthin’ pints. In the farst e, thet aire singer at the theater, war your wife w’ot bekim sub- tee frum ye, not “Phort’s so. ‘That was also my side pardner, Kate. We've bin workin’ a streak o’ pay nor’west, since I kin dirt, remember. .Kate a highfalutin’ notion she was tired, SE, an’ left me. Found wn heer Did ‘You an Kate hey any ‘ None.” uot’ eideditow Eomichooks (elo)