Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 397 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

’ $2: ae 7 niet - Le FA *, 12 Bob o’ the Bowery. —eeeeO0Ooaoeee—=~— Oe eoeeeeeeeeeeeereeeoeeeoeeeoeoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoewSe to fail to lay the blame for all this where it be- onged. Careful study of the subject had*convinced him that the Bertrands were at the bottom of it all, and he began to suspect that that the robbery on the train was due to their efforts. Pr bably they had known of his intended journey to the city, and had from the first worked against him. He even suspected that in Crow McGookin he re- cognized a man who had occupied a seat just behind him in the railroad car, though if such was the fact, Crow had been disguised. The o]d man kept up his courage well and was re- solved to defy them, and to win in the end. He deeply regretted that his fears of ridicule, and his hc had kevt him from going at once to uperintendent Walling or Inspector Byrnes. Of Bob o’ the Kowery he seldom thought, though he was grateful to the boy for saving his life at the hotel, and thought him a shrewd young fellow Matt rs took form when, on the evening of the day last written of,some one entered his prison- room. It was Marco Gamboro. The Prince nodded. ** Good-evening, sir. with you.” ‘What now? Do you propose to garrote me?” bitterly asked Woodman. “My dear sir, do you think so badly of me as that?” ‘Yes. sir; I do.” * Then he make a great mistake, for Iam your dest friend. Wx»it—hear me out. It is true I am your jailer, but I was inveigled into it by men who were really evil,”’ *To whom do you refer?” nar, pls he Italian smiled again. ‘We will speak of that later. All things have a time. Let me ask you bluntly if you want to find your granddaughter?” Adam started. ‘Then you know of her?’’ “That is not the question. find her?’’ “Of course I do,”’ ** What are you willing to give?” **So! Iam to be bled!”’ “*IT did not say so. You are a perverse man, sig- more. You compel me to speak plainly. Yes, I know of her. She is a fair and beautiful giri, I know her well; I am tomarry her.” as Marry her!’ echoed the dazed gentleman. as es.”’ ‘**Great heavens! she is but thirteen years old!” **What of that? The blood of sunny Italy flows in her veins, and the Italfin girls mature rapidly. At thirteen, our girls are women, Go theoush the Italian section in New York and ask how many girls marry at that age.”’ ‘*I don’t care to. Such an idea is an atrocious erime, and, if true, I do not thank you for letting me know that such cases occur,’?’ Woodman emphati- eally declared. ** But, suppose I should wait a couple of years be- fore marrying,” said the Prince, somewhat per- plexed. **‘No granddaughter of mine shall marry under eighteen, at the lowest estimate.”’ Then the Padrone scowled. “Don’t you get the idea that you have this matter all in your own hands. 1 shall marry her when I choose!’’ he declared. ** Villain !”’ * Winner, you mean.”’ Adam was gy with indignation, but it oc- eurred to him that he so situated that he could not afford to deepen any enmity against him. He foreed an outward calm- ness and looked keenly at Gambora. * Do you really know where my granddaughter is %) se Yes.” **And she is well?”’ ** Well, and as pretty as an angel. She favors her father. and has the rosy cheeks, biack hair and glorious eyes of the daughters of Italy. She speaks good English, though, and you would be proud of b I have come to talk business interrupted Adam, Do you want to er. Sheis under the care of an honest old Italian, ut she is poor and wants for even the necessaries of life.” ‘** What do they call her?”’ ‘* Now, you ask too much.”’ ‘** What was her mother’s name?” ‘* Rose Woodman.”’ ** Possioly,”’ said Adam. looking at him fixedly, “the name of the child is Bianca. The Padrone Prince started, and his confusion seemed to clearly betray that the shot had gone home. Then he bit his lip with vexation, for he saw from the new expression on the old man’s face that his annoyance had been noticed. He asked himself angrily why he had been 30 foolish. Common-sense should have told him that Adam would know the Christian name of the girl, if nothing more Come,’ said Adam, with renewed vigor, ‘“ how much do you want to release me?” *T want Bianca,” ‘Well L’ll see you in blazes before you shall have her!’ was the retort. ‘Just as you say,” replied the Padrone, coldly. **I will not remain here to talk with you, as I have business elsewhere, but you know at last just how matters stand. I did not kidnap you, or order it, but am simply your jailer. But if you will agree to my terms I will go back on the other men and re- lease you.”’ He had turned at the door to speak the last words but Adam said nothing. It occurred to him that if was not only powerless, but | the Italian would break faith with his present em- ployers he was liable to do so with him, but he was not rash enough to say so, : Consequently, a brief silence followed, and then Marco closed the door aad went out. ‘*He is stubborn now,” thought the Padrone ‘**but confinement will bring him to his senses. I will win or ruin all, Pretty Bianca must not slip through my fingers, for, with her, I will win much money. Ill go overand see that she and old Silva orgs not run away. I may have frightened the girl.’ He went outside and, on the way, had to pass his own house, It seemed as though all New York was on one mission, for, as the Padrone FF ih peer Gus Redding stood at the door inquiring for Tomaso Silva and Blanes, much to the surprise of the party at the door, who had so lately answered the call of Helena Abbott. Were all the Americans wanting Tomaso? won- dered the Italian woman. But she was able to tell Gus more than she had told Helena, having informed herself, and Marco Gambora grew whiter as he heard correct directions ven, ee had cause to fear Redding, and he knew it His breath came quickly, and he looked hurriedly around He saw two of his pliant tools approach- ing—men who had once been veritable bravos in Venice—and he quickly accosted them and spoke a few words. As a result, when Redding resumed his way, they followed close after. The night was dark and foggy, and the street-lamps seemed to give but little light, so everything was in their favor. Gus heard their voices, but he also noticed that they were lively and good-natured, so he did not look around. Better for him had he been more suspicious. The Padrone Prince had drawn from his pocket a murderous-looking slung-shot, and with such a wea- »0n he was resolved that Redding should not reach Silva’s room. True, he did not object to his seeing the organ-grinder, but he knew it was B anca who was wanted. They soon reached their victim, and then, while all but Marco made a feint of passing, the latter took sure aim and struck heavily. The slung-shot encountered Redding’s head, and he dropped like a log. e Into this doorway with him!” said the Padrone, quickly. It was a deep recess at the entrance to a business place, and when the fallen man had been placed as directed, he was out of view of the casual observer, ‘Go for the cab at once, Pietro,” added Marco, and then, while, the man addressed hurried away, the others seated themselves on the steps and began what seemed a careless. light conversation. Really, Gambora was an anxious man, for if an officer happened alons and told the group to move on, discovery and ruin might follow. Every passer-by gave them a nervous chill. But the cab came before any meddlesome person, and the unconscious man was bundled in, the Ital- ians entered, and the cab rolled away toward the North river. This point they reached in due time, and they made their way uvon a dark and deserted pier. Some caution was necessary to avoid inquisitive eyes, but luck was with them, and their burden was borne from the vehicle to the edge of the pier. ‘**Torow him well out!’’ directed Gambora. | Then the body was swung to and fro until a de- gree of impetus was gained; then they exerted their strength together and their burden shot out into the darkness. A moment’s silence ensued, and then followed a splash. si ay Good!” said the Padrone Prince. ‘‘ He is done for. ow, let us get away from here &s soon as pos- sible” They re ent red the cab, the door was c‘osed, and then they ro.led away on the return to Mulberry street. Gus Re'ldi-g was left to the mercy of the North river, which hides many a dark crime, Nun, the girl detective, was seated alone in the humble kitchen of the house which gave her a home when a man entered without ceremony He pre- sented a du! ious appearance, being covered with blood and having a general air of being broken up badly. wh le the girl looked at him with astonishment, he ge heavily into a chair. ‘* Don’t ye know me?” he faintly asked. ‘*Lawsee, yes; you’re Crow McGookin, but I never see'd ye with yer war-paint onter ye afore.” * Oi have been as auited by won ov dhe‘ gangs,’”’ said the man, bitterly, bu" with a vagueness cf man- ner which told that he was by no means clear-headed. ‘* You remember me, Nan; Oi used ter drive a team wid Ren Dukes.” ‘Yas, an’ ye got fired fur bein’ too fresh, an’ then went ter ther bad,” she frankly exrlained. **So I did, but don’t lay it up ag’in’ me now. Oi’m sore hurted: me head is ail b’ate to a jelly. Where is Ben Dukes?” ‘** Pop ain’t come in yit ”’ ‘*Thin let me lay down on dhe bed till Oi kin talk wid him, Dukes won't go back on an old pard.”’ Nan did not like the idea of shelter: McGookin. whom she knew to be a determined law-breaker, but she had no heart to drive out a man so beaten up. and she did not object when he took off his coat and laid down on Dukes’s bed. He soon seemed to become unconscious, His coat had been thrown loosely over a chair, and a package of papers peeping from the inside eT | a a arrested her attention. In some ways she was & careful girl, and she decided that the papers ought to be put in a safer place. ‘his idea she carried out, and, resisting the im- pulse to examine their contents, put them away ina niche and then sat down to await | ukes’s return, not at all dismayed by the company of the wounded man on the bed. CHAPTER XIV. BOB DOES SOME SOLID WORK. “‘Taar’s nothin’ like persewerence an’ grit, cept it’s money, an’ ez ther last wouldn’t work hyar, ther fu’st must. I’m onter ther clothes-line, an’ ther next thi g is ter git outér this hyar coop. Wonder ef they tuk me fer a fowl, that they shet me up hyar? Is thar anything "bout my classical phiz that resembles a Shanghai or Brahma? Dol hez spurs? Not any, fer Joseph, an’I can’t see why they should shet me up like a fightin’-rooster—un-- less it’s cause I kin crow. Mebbe that’s it.” The speaker was Bob o’ the Bowery, who was still in the dark room to which Oscar Bertrand had con- signed him, but he was no longer bound. After long struggling with ; is bonds, he had suc- ceeded in getting clear of them, and if the door had been unlocked, he might have walked out at any time. But the door was locked, and he had nothing with which to try to turn the bolt, even had he been skied in that line of business. Still, the door scemed the only possible way by which he could escape, and he centered his attention closely on it, What interested him most was the oueetug just above it, which let in what little light e had, A small, revolving window-sash at this point, he found to be loose, but the opening was so very small that he did not at first see any hope in that quarter. Yet. it was clearly his only chance, and he surveyed it sharply. : ‘‘ Jest about right fer an elevated road ticket- winder,” he grumbled, “an’I don’t reckon I kin squeeze my Daniel Lambert an’ Chang, ther China- man, body through. but. lawsee, it’s ther only show, an’ I'll take a lick at it, fer sure.”’ He brought a chair to the door, and, as it was heavy and well-balanced, managed to stand on the top of the back. This brought his face on a level with the little window, and by wrenching at this for a few minutes, he managed to remove it without noise. Everything then hinged on one question—could he crawl through the window? It really seemed a hopeless venture, but he was not the boy to let one chance go untried. Beyond him was a hall which was dark and silent, though, in the lower hall, a fe+ble gleam of light showed that a lamp was burning there. He had a clear coast, it seemed, if he could work through. This he at once attempted, and his head was thrust out of the window like a ‘urtle’s. Then came the tug of war. His young shoulders were wide and thick, and had not been made with a view to this emergency. When they touched wood, he stuck fast. and in a most uncomfortable position. His feet were no longer on the c' air, but both legs and arms were sprawling about in air wildly. ‘*Gosh ter gracious! it’s a tight fit.”’ That was all he said, but he worked energetically, and was «neouraged by feeling himself slip along a little ata time. Despite all the opposition he was gaining. Inch by inch he went on, and then so sud- dently that he covld not check himself; he slipped forward and landed on the floor with a shock that shook the whole floor. ; He was up in a moment, none the worse for his tumble, and in high spirits now that he bad left his prison, He ran lightly down-stairs, but just as he was passing the lower steps a man,appeared from the interior, looking startled and surprised. At sight of Bob his excitement i creased. * Hold on there, young scamp!”* he cried. * Ain’t got time!” retorted the Bowery boy, and instead of dodging, as the jailer had expected, he made a dive, flinging his full weight upon the fellow and down they went together, Bob was up first. and ina tmoment more he had torn open the outer docr and dodged through. He heard the angry voice of his late cap'or just behind, and as a cab was cassing he sprung on behind unseen and was whirled away. When he had gone two blocks he was about to jump off when he heard a voice from inside. ‘The North river will settle all, and Mr. Gus Red- ding will never meddle with me again.” Bob puckered bis lips for a whistle, but wisely refrained. ‘ , ‘* By ericky! ef it ain't Marco Maccaroni! Now, then, wot is ther riffe? That cre remark c’ his sounds sorter suspicious. Wonder ef they’ve got Gus inter hock? Ef they hev, I’m jest ft’-er fish-ball ter git him out. Reekon Ill hang On i. ar an’ gee w’ot’s inter it.” The boy did so, and unknown to the conspirators, made the journey to the North river with them, On the way he learned a good deal more from their conversation. and when the pier was reached was ready for his share of the work, ‘(us has cot ter take a bath forsure,”’ he mutter- ed. “Tcan’t wade in an’ fight ell them crooks, so I may as wal lay Jow an’ be ready ter ruffle up ther big brook.” He sas ready. and when the bravos threw in their marked victim, they did not suspect that a lithe fig- ure promptly followed. ; Bob o’ the Rowerv could swim like a fish, and he soon had bold of Gus, but the weight was rather more than he could manage successfully, and it was << -.