Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 415 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

The Vagabond Detective. - - - — ee 3 fer be without it. I came in by an erroneous blunder, an’ now I'll bid ye farewell an’—” Bob was interrupted, The old man had stamped on the floor, and a burly negro suddenly darted forward, closed the door before Bowery Bob could retreat, and then placed his back against it. ** (ood! good!” cried the old man. have him! We will cut his tongue out. Nelva!” At the last call a girl emerged from the alcove —a girl of about fifteen years, though she was so small that one would have thought her not over twelve, at first sight. i ‘* Here!” added the old man, ‘‘ bring a knife— bring a knife. Malediction! we will cut this vagabond spy’s tongue out!” ‘‘ Now we Nelva! ‘Now, hold on, Cap,” said the boy, still cool outwardly, though he was far from being pleas- ed with his situation, ‘‘ an’ jest evolve ther idee that this hyar is a free country, an’ that J hev got a vote in this int’restin’ caucus. W’at sort 0’ a chromatic chap be you, anyhow? Reckon this hyar’s ther Cannibawl Islanc s, hain’tit? That’s right, little gal, you freeze ter ther floor, an’ keep on stayin’.”’ e last words were spoken because he saw that Nelva, as the girl seemed to be named, had not stirred, but stood looking from the old man to Bob, and then back again, deep trouble ex- pressed on her face. ‘Do you hear me?’ shouted the old man, again stamping his foot. ‘‘ Yes, I hear you,” the girl slowly replied. ‘Then why don’t you obey?” ‘¢ Because I can’t do it. have not sunk so low as to obey such an order. I will not get the knife.” ‘* Hooray for our side!” put in Bob. The old man, however, uttered a dog-like snarl and started for the aleove. Nelva darted in ahead of him, and in a moment more came a crash of glass. The villain paused as though amazed, and then Nelva reappeared, her face pale but calm. ** You'll have to look in the back-yard for the knife, Mr. Riddle,” she said, steadily. The old man almost choked with rage. ‘* Malediction!” he cried; ‘*‘ how dared you?” ‘*T don’t know,” she answered, ** but I guess I’ve got where I don’t care to live. Before Pll help you to do what you said, you may kill me !” ‘‘Now, you hol’ on right about hyar,” said Bob. ‘‘Seein’ ez how I’m a leadin’ figger in this disturbance, I want ter exercise my jaw. W’at’s ther racket hyar, anyhow? [ve told ye once I’m inter this hyar coop by mistake. I wos ter call on Miss Reddington, ter wit, namely, an’ I swung ther wrong door. W’aton’t?, I’m ready ter ambulate, I be, an’ ye needn’t make sech a row. B’gosh, you’ve got more ears than a balky mule, you hev!” Despite this unfavorable comment, the old man grew much calmer, and he turned to the giant negro. ‘* Jocko, did you leave that door unlocked?’ he asked. ‘‘Gorry, I reckon I must ’a’ did so, Marse Rid- dle.” “Tl kill you for it.” The me ah looked sober until Riddle’s gaze “was turned from him, and then ane In the meanwhile Bob’s mind had been busy, and he had drawn a conclusion from this at- tempted secrecy, the rage and dismay of the old man in finding a stranger in his place, the hum- ble appearance of these ple, and the pile of what seemed to be gold coins on the table. His conclusion was that the money was bogus, and that these people were counterfeiters. The only point against this theory was the fact that the young girl, Nelva, did not look or act like a criminal, but it would not be strange if she was entirely under old Riddle’s control. ‘* Reckon I’ve put my foot inter it this time,” the boy thought, ‘‘ but ef these cannibals think they kin keep a st like me in hock they is °way off their pedestal. It can’t be did—not fer Joseph!” . Here old Riddle turned to him. ** Boy, who are you?” y name, august sachem, is Samuel Samson Short, ez you kin diskiver by inquiry at_ City Hall. I’m known thar perfesh’nally, ez I fur- nish them with fresh-baked peanuts ev’ry day when biz is so they kin raise ther bullion.” + ‘Why are you here?” ‘*T’ve tol’ ye severial times that I’m here ’kase I made a blunder. Wanted ter find Miss Rosa- ton—Reddington, I mean—an’ got inter ther wro pen Jest call her an’ she'll give me a lean bill o’ health.” *€ Miss n, eh?” ‘OM i is 4 Yes. 7? **T will see her.” Riddle left the room, but Jocko remained by the door and there was no chance for Bob to escape. He employed his time with using his eyes freely, but without discovering anything new. The pile of coins remained on the table, and looked as genuine as could be, but Bob did not change his opinion of them. He looked closely at Nelva. She was a very pretty girl, but she looked sad and weary, and all his sympathy went out to her. There was now a shadow in her dusky eyes which he believed came of his own adventure, and after looking many times at him and the bi negro alternately, she walked to the alcove an disappeared. Bob was anxious to see what this place con- tained, but when he started to get a view of it he was stopped by Jocko, and as the negro was twice his size he had to obey him. In a few minutes the door reopened and Rid- dle entered. His ugly face did not look any more amiable, but he nodded to Bob and said: ‘*T have seen Miss Reddington, and it is all right. You can go to her. Jocko, show him the room.” Bob did not care for the escort, but, thinking it best not to be obstinate, he said nothing. It was at this juncture, when both the men were looking elsewhere, that Nelva came out of the alcove. She held something in her hand, and, seeing her chance, she tossed a bit of twist- ed paper on the sofa beside Bob, he latter, seeing that she looked even more troubled than before, quickly interpreted the secret act, and gathered the paper up with quick but quiet skill. Neither Riddle nor Jocko had seen this by- play, and, without any perceptible break in his movements, Bob followed the negro out of the room, putting the scrap of paper safely away. Jocko conducted him to another door and pushed it open. ‘* Hyar’s de place!” he said. Bob took one step forward, but he then saw that it was not the place. This new room was dark, having no window, and he saw at one glance that Miss Reddington was not there. He tried to turn, but Jocko gave him a sud- den push which sent him half-way into the room, and then walked in after him. ‘** Set down!” he directed. “Thank you, but I don’t keer ter set. Allow me ter ask whar my friend, Miss Reddington, is? ‘* She'll come purty soon.” ** She will, hey?” ss es ? ‘** Wal, I don’t keer ter loaf ’round hyar an’ do nothin’, fer I’ve got an engagement wi’ ther mayor which orter a’tended to. This is her biz, not mine, an’ ef she can’t come I’d prefer ter 0.” ‘You can’t go,” said Jocko, sharply. **T can’t?” se No. 7? ‘* Now, you see hyar,I ain’t used ter bein’ talked to like that. D’ye see arything about me that looks ez though I was a hirelin’ o’ any man? Not any fer Joseph! I’m a free-born rockin’- hoss, I be, an’ef you don’t git outer my way you'll see me kick, an’ squeal, an’ r’are like sin! ‘* Mebbe you kin make me git outer de way,” said Jocko, belligerently. ‘* I won’t take my swear on that, fer there is a pile o’ flesh onto ye. °‘Cept fer some draw- backs, you’d make a good Bartholdi statoo but all ther ‘lectrie lights in New York an Siam couldn’t make ye look purty. Still, ef ye’ve got any liberty instincts about ye, I'd like ter hev ye prove it.’ ‘You talk too much, you do,” ‘* Ef ye don’t like my way, why don’t ye let me git out an’ be red on me?" ‘“You’ve got ter stay hyar wid me.” ““Thev? D’ye mean ma pris’ner?” ‘* Dat’s jes’ it.” ‘Tis, hey? Now, see hyar, my colored frien’, [ ain’t wal impressed by sech words, Don’t take ter ’em fer a cent. You'd better let me go or thar’ll be a epidemic. I'ma blue-blooded ammany warrior, 0’ ther forty-ninth degree, an’ ef I pi on war-paint an’ take my tommy- hatchet, I give yer ther straight tip, gore will flow. Lemme out, or I'll paint ther town red!” Bob tried to look as fierce as he talked, but Jocko was not to be so easily moved. He kept his place and there was nothing for Bob to do but remain quiet, The little room in which he now was, connect- ed with one on each Side, but he was wise enough to be sure that both doors were locked. As has been said, there was no window to the room,but a faint light entered through an opening in the wall which led to the front room. From that at the rear the boy at one time heard a faint clicking, and he suspected that Riddle was gathering up the pile of coins. Bob took the situation quite calmly. He knew very well that he was among law-breakers; it was pretty sure they were counterfeiters, and he did not know what else; and as it was absurd to suppose words of his would move them, he made no serious attempt. He was, however, thoroughly awake. Before the flashy young man had accosted him at Trinity Church, he had been longing for a chance to do detective work. The chance had presented itself much sooner than he expected, and he was resolved to make matters lively for the gang. In thus deciding he did not forget that he wag still in the clutches of his enemies, nor was he at all certain they would willing let him get out. He had by chance stumbled on an important secret. Might not these men try to keep him from telling it by severe measures? CHAPTER IIL. BOB GETS LIGHT. HALF an hour passed. Bob took things coolly. He lounged in an easy-chair and freed his mind to Jocko occasionally, but did nothing belliger- ent. Now and then, though, he glanced long- ingly at the hole in the wall, which let in light from the next room. He knew he could quickly go through this if let alone, but the time had not come. At the end of the time before mentioned, there was a distinct rap at the door. Jocko opened it, passed out, then followed a click which told that the boy was locked in. He sprung to his feet at once. e was now alone, and free to act as he thought best. He moved the table toa place under the hole in the wall, mounted it and took a look at the nextroom. As he had expected, it was Miss wr ge but that young woman was not visible. Bob saw something else which was of interest —the whole room was in confusion. * Cricky!” he exclaimed, “‘Tll bet a pint of peanuts they’ve sloped. ’*Pears like ther young woman is inter ther gang, an’ they’ve taken ther scare an’ h’isted anchor!” He listened, but not a sound could he hear from the interior of the house. The rumble of wagons arose from the street, and that was all. or a few seconds he hesitated, and then, with a quick contortion of his agile body, he wormed through the window and dropped in Miss Red. dington’s room. Still, no one opposed him, and he went to the front of the room. The street lay just below. He raised the window and looked down careful- ly, noting the chances of a safe descent. ‘** Ef I can’t do better I kin go by ther air-line, but I rather admire ther ole-fashioned huff-style. I reckon them hoss-flies has gone, an’ Ill light out an’ ’form ther p’lice, and try ter make things warm an’ int’restin’fur them. But hol’ on a jiffy!” He had suddenly remembered the scrap of pa- per conveyed to him by Nelva, and he drew it quickly from his pocket... Upon it were a few lines in pencil, which he had no trouble in read- ing: ‘Escape at once if possible. These men are ter- ribly wicked, and I don’t know but they will kill you. If you can get away, inform the police and tel them I want to be rescued. Iam awfully afraid of these men, and they have got my father shut up asa slave. Oh! in mercy's name, help us, and i will bless you always. NELvA.” ‘‘Gosh ter all fish-hooks!” muttered Bob, ‘that air needs inwestigatin’. I ’member that coppers ain’t over-favor’ble ter me, an’ I’ll waltz right down an’ see Mayor Grace. Don’t reckon he'll low nobody ter be kept in bondage in his moonicipal arena, while ez fer Nelva, she’s pur- ty ae | ter touch any man’s heart, ’ceptin’ mine. I’m pledged ter another, an’ I can’t be perfiditious.” By this time he had the note put away, and he tried the door. It was not locked. He open- ed it and looked out into the hall. No one was visible. His opinion that the gang had hastily deserted the house was confirmed, but he paid enough at- tention to prudence to move carefully as he hastily went down-stairs, No one opposed his departure, and he was soon on the street. As he left the house he saw a keen-eyed mam