Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 415 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

: Ss r- A . «tN i pi oP) he » oe ; » ie ve i Fr 4” ies ae 4 fj i 4 Whe Jae, ; Wass, > Satine. Saat ; ce Ys 7 f. BP hn tis = et! Ay ey . a? 2 The person who thus lamented his ill-luck was a boy of about fourteen years. He was standing on the sidewalk near Trini- ty Church, watching the double stream of peo- ple that flowed through Broadway, and regret- ting that none of them seemed to need his help as a detective. He looked like anything except a person en- gaged in that business. Detectives are not sup- posed to be fourteen-year-old boys, much less such ragged young lads as this particular one, We shall hear more about his detective busi- ness soon, however. Whatever he was, it was plain he was no yeeey, He had a face as sharp and shrewd as hat of a rat, if we may use the comparison Without disrespect. A clear-cut, wise face was his, intelligent and precocious beyond the ave- rage of his years, and yet thoroughly honest. He was ragged, but he wore his tattered gar- ments. with a grace and dignity worthy of a duke, and more than one passer-by had smiled at sight of him. New York is full of boys whose circumstances compel them to work hard as soon as they are large enough to perform any kind of labor. Having no choice, they become, in many cases, bootblacks, newsboys, or something of the kind. To them has been applied the general name— street Arabs. This particular boy was one of this class, and, like the rest, his wits had been prematurely sharpened by contact with the world until his mind was far older than his body, though that seemed as tough as a knot. He was standing as before mentioned when a hand was laid on his arm by a man he had not before seen. He turned and stood facing a rather flashily- dressed man of about thirty years, but who probably imagined himself as well made up as any man on Broadway. he boy, however, was not favorably im- pressed, ‘* Here, young fellow, are you busy?” abrupt- ly asked the new-comer. ‘ * Can’t ye see I am?” **No; what are you doing?” ‘* Watchin’ ter see that Prinity steeple don’t fall over an’ mash nobody,” the boy coolly ob- ‘served. “Thats enough of that kind; I’m not in a joking mood. The question—do you want to earn a dollar?” ‘““Ef I don’t Pll. never chaw India-rubber steak ag’in, boss. .Ef you’ve got a lonesome dol- lar ter mortgage, jest roll yer tongue an’ lemme inter ther scheme.” ‘The matter is simple enough. Do you see this package?” The man pointed to the bundle which he car- ried in one hand. All the boy could see was a brown wrapping-paper, but his poor opinion of the stranger led him to inquire: ‘*’Tain’t dynamite, is it?” ‘‘ Nonsense! It is a very simple package which I want carried half-way up-town. Iam too busy to go re and want to hire some boy to carry it. ill you take the job? Speak quickly now, for I am in a hurry.” ‘*T see you be, but ye needn’t be squintin’ ground fer any other chap, fer I’m ther hoss fur he money. Perdooce yer stamps, an’ Til be off. ‘You know where Houston street is?” ‘* Bless yer boots, yes. Who don’t?” ‘“ And will you take the package faithfully?” ‘‘ See yer, mister, do I look like an emb’zzler or road-adjutant? Wat d’ye take me fer?” ‘Oh! I think you’re all sag ve but you see I have some bananas here fora friend, and I want him to get them as soon as possible. Here’s the package, and here’s a dollar—yes, and here’s a ea more. Take a stage and go at once. e odd change you can keep, but don’t open the package !” ‘Strikes meI don't impress ye oyer-favor- able, boss. D’ye s’pose I’d ruin my reputation fer a banana, ora Havana, or even fer Susan- nah? Not any, zo. some | I am one o’ ther solid business men o’ Gotham, an’ ef you'll go ter ther Board o’ Trade, or Shoeblack Ex- change, you'll find I am square all ’round,” a Thaow you're all Peltt, boy; don’t make so much talk. Get a stage at once and be off, Waitwhat’s your name?” . “Wal, ’m ginerally, called Bowery Bob, or Bob 0’ the Bowery. er rest o’ my name was lost outer ther baggage-car when I come ter - town, an’— ~ “That'll do; that'll do. Be éff, now!” The man fairly shoved Bob away, and though ‘3 LO a Be -_* . « eae © iP. fl Me aE de é yp ae -r’ = a ee - The Vagabond Detective. TT nn | broke the latter was far from being pleased with his manner, he felt the money still in his hand and was not anxious to lose the job. Accordingly, he obeyed the last direction and was soon seated in a stage and rolling up Broad- way. He looked back once, but his employer had already been swallowed up in the thick mass of humanity that crowded the sidewalk. “*T don’t reckon I'll git inter ther detective biz by dealin’ with him,” thought the boy. ‘“‘ Ef I ain’t lost ther faculty o’ readin’ character, he’s a gent o’ off-color. "['wouldn’t s’prise me a bit ef he’s a bunco chap, or some sech crooked char- acter. Wonder wat made him so nervous? He kep’ lookin’ around ez though he ’spected a copper ter fall onter him, an’ he was in» creat passion ter git me‘away. Wal, that’s «1 re- sult o’ bein’ a crook. I don’t ’spect Id be more’n half happy ef I was one o’ them kind o’ cattle.” Bob sniffed at the package. ‘‘ Them bananas smell sorter good, an’ IT don’t know ez it’s so very odd that silk-tile chap was slays ’'d open ther bundle, but I ain’t in that iz. Sng looked at the card which had been given im. ‘‘Ethan Eames, or Rosa Reddington,” he read. ‘‘Sorter poetic names, them be, but I reckon they kin chaw fruit ef they do drink poetry. Hold yer breath, Ethan, fur Pm a- comin’ !” The stage made its trip in due time, and Bob alighted at Houstonstreet. Thedesired number was not far away, and he was soon pulling at the bell of an old-fashioned brick house. It looked respectable, though not very high-toned. The door was opened by a sharp-nosed ser- vant, whose face grew positively vinegarish at sight of the boy. ‘What d’ye want?” she demanded, in a way which somewhat disturbed Bob’s placidity. ‘*'W’at d’ye s’pose? D’ye take me fer a book- agent, or a gas-meter fiend? I ain’t neither— not fer Joseph! I lack ther lip fur ther one an’ ther national bank bill o’ t’other. W7’at I do desire is ter intervoo Mr. Ethan Eames, Esquire.” ‘* Well, you can’t. He ain’t in.” ** No? al, then, mebbe her serene majesty, Miss Rosa Reddington is in?” “Wal, what of it?” ‘‘Ther whole of it,” calmly replied Bob. ‘*See here, madam, I[ don’t like ter make too much confab with anybody w’at I’ve never been interdooced to, but I'll inform ye in a casual way that this hyar bundle is fur oneo’ them two parties, him or her.” | ‘* Give it to me!” ‘‘Be you Miss Reddington?” ¢é No,” ‘Then you must excuse me. I was ter give it only ter them, and biz is biz in 1885, yer know,” The woman’s sharp nose seemed to grow sharper with anger, but she saw that Bob meant just what he said, and she made no more useless talk. Bidding him follow, she led the way up one flight of stairs and bade him knock at a cer- tain door. Then she bounced away with her old air of ac Tag & passion. Ps Bob knocked, and a low ferhinine voice bade him enter. He obeyed, and found himself in a very well-furnished room, alone with a tall young woman of rather imposin ied ie ge She looked as handsome and elegant as. a tigress, as Bob mentally expressed it, but she was buried deep in an easy-chair and looked in- dolent and dull. Her eyes expanded at sight of Bob, however. ; ‘Oh! I thought it was Hannah,” she said. ‘‘'That’s whar ye was mistook, ma’am,” Bob replied, ‘“‘but ye got mighty near ther bead- center o’ truth. ’Tain’t ‘Hannah, but it’s them bananas.” The woman made a sudden, violent start and sat erect. — ‘* What?” she cried. . : It was Bob’s turn to be surprised, for he could not see what there was in his simple announcement to create such a sudden stir. ‘“T said I had brought them bananas, miss.” “You?” she exclaimed. ‘‘ You have brought them? “ Right ye be, an’ you kin bet ther hull bun- dle on’ ” Miss Red dington held out her hand, ‘¢ Let me see!” she said. Bob over the package, and she at once t he trapper enough "prove his state- men t. | « ee is Jack?” she then asked. a) ? oe 2 . ‘ “ . ra _ -™ « rd . ‘a = ll “4 - =. a r ‘e ‘ i. * rv eS ‘ “4° _— fxs w ~ 2 Wa “eT re . “~ rf. LF “@ ~ : - oF ° « ¥ . : : . The boy understood this question to refer to the sender of the bananas. ‘‘Can’t say. He give ’em to me an’ dusted.” ** Where was he?” ‘* Down by Trinity Church.” ‘*And you mean to say that he allowed you to bring these all the way here—alone?” — ‘“Sart’in he did. Why not? Ain’tI s’ponsi- ble fur a few measly bananas? I s’pose ef I had on a striped suit an’a handcuff, you’d take me ter be jest out o’ Sing Sing.” _ Miss Reddington looked at him for a momen in silence, and then suddenly laughed. ‘* Do not feel offended,” she said; ‘‘I am not questioning your honesty. Still, I don’t—but never mind. You can go.”. ‘Correct. Ef you find any o’ ther fruit_mis-. sin’ yer kin apply ter me. My name is B. Bow- ery, Esquire, an’ I hev a peanut stand on ther classic street arter which m named. Call thar. You may not find me in, but Stumpy, my pard- ner, will be thar, an’ you'll find him well-roasted an’ three quarts to ther pint. I hev ther honor ter bid you good-day. Farewell!” And Bob bowed himself out with the dignity of one who feels that his honor has been unjust- ly questioned. ‘“Mighty queer why folks all o’ a sudden git ter takin’ me fur a pock-picket an’ embezzler. I don’t want no more job with that crowd; they thinks I can’t be trusted with six or eight ban- anas, an’ I reciprocate. I do, b’gosh! I b’lieve—” P His meditations were interrupted as a hand was laid on his arm, and he turned and saw © the, sharp-nosed servant, who seemed out of breath. ‘‘ Hello, is this you in ther flesh, or is it only yer shadder?” he genially inquired. ‘“You’re wanted back,” she replied. ‘‘ Miss Reddington wants you.” ‘* She does? What fur?” **T don’t know. She’ll tell you that.” ‘She will, will she? Wal, it wa’n’t in ther contrack that I should wear my patent leathers all out in this hyer job, but I’m a sort o’ public benefactor, an’ I ain’t goin’ ter be mean. Heave ahead, an’ pilot me inter port.” They returned, and Bob was soon ascending the stairs again, wondering why he had been called back. In fact, his mind was so occupied with such thoughts that when he reached the second floor he forgot that politeness required him to rap, and he unceremoniously opened a door and entered. His first view of the room showed him that it was not Miss Reddington’s, and he was about to retreat when something which he saw held him fixed to the spot. CHAPTER II. BOB’S SURPRISING DISCOVERY. Tuts second room was not so well furnished as was Miss Reddington’s, and was a very ordinary place in itself, but on the table which stood in the middle of the room was something quite unlike what Bob had been accustomed to see. A yellow pile of something glittered there, and oe to the amazed boy like a quantity of gold coins He had seen such money before, though little of it had ever passed through his hands, but its appearance was somewhat familiar. es, unless appearances were very deceptive, there lay many dollars in good, hard money, the coins ranging from diminutive dollars up to sturdy ‘‘ eagles.” ‘ The room seemed to be untenanted, too, and Bob was astonished that such a treasure should | be left unguarded—a treasure which he mental- iy estimated at not less than two thousand dol- ars. ‘“Reckon I’ve got, inter ther wrong nen this time, fer sure,” was his next thought, ‘an’ Dll be a-scuddin’ afore some Cerberiuster comes ‘long an’ a’cuses me 0’ bein’ a burglarious burglar.” He was about to act on this wise plan when a sharp cry sounded from the further end of the room, and it became clear that occupants were there, after all. To Bob’s wondering eyes there suddenly ap- ed a little, old man, who was so deformed at he looked more like an ape, but who danced out from behind the corner of an alcove and be- gan to shake his fist at the boy amd try to talk, was kept from doing so by hisextreme rage, — Cae. which almost choked him. ~ “What! what!” he finally mumbled, «Who is thist Why are you here? Malediction! I will cut your ep eut!” | “Don't!” said Bob, coolly. sorter reason why ye should. an article that would be o’ any market walue you, an’ *twould be mighty inconvenient ter me / “There aint DO <= a“? . - -—— oS ee .