Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 428 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

-_—— ew cs - . 0 Fred Fler, the Reporter Detective, — _— — - <i -_ ————— rope in his pocket, for fear of giving a shock to his family. Then the next day we might bring him to life again. Make it out all a case of strabismus. That will satisfy the public, and stretch out the item.” ‘*T think you are a decided case of moral strabismus,” laughed the editor, as he snatched up Fred’s manuscript. ‘‘ Away with you, you young rascal. You will destroy the character of our paper if youkeepon. Bring insomethiny true and lively. if you can. And keep clear of lies.” ** Lies!” answered Fred, as he seized his hat, ‘* Just let any fellow of my size call me a liar, and I’ll plug his head. You're too big for me, so [ll let you off. But I'll tell you this, if you were to prune all the lies out of any newspaper there wouldn’t be much more than a blank sheet left. S’pose I don’t know?” Fred left the room with a merry laugh, and ‘lashed down the stairs like a foot-ball that has veen well kicked, It was in crossing the ferry to Camden that bs read the newspaper item which we have given at the head of the last chapter. The boy was thrown into a brown study. Here was tronble ahead. That item would set the whole pene on the lookout for Mrs. Brierly’ It was znown that she was missing. That she wasa bey m of importance. No offer of a reward for 1er recovery was in the paper he read, but such an offer, and a description of her appearance, would very likely be given in some of the pa- pers. ‘‘ Tm afeard there’s going to be a blue time in getting her over the ferry,” said Fred to him- self, as he set his lips firmly. ‘‘ There might be a thousand sharp eyes on the lookout. But it’s got tobedone. I ain’t going to be discounted in this game, nary time. Lucky the folks she’s with ain’t the sort that reads the newspapers. Ive got to get her away before they hear what’s in the wind. There’s no odds in this business, I’red Flyer. You’ve got to be spry, or you'll eet left, [tell you that. You'd best get on your thinking-cap, instanter.” I'red settled down to a deep study of the situ- ation. But he had reached the house where his protegee was in hiding ere he could come to any definite plan. He had made up his ming to take her over the ferry, but it might not be sow easy an undertaking. The runaway wife had a very disconsolate look upon her face when Fred burst cheerily in. If Nog we! owned the world, and had just lost it, she could not have looked more gloomy. But he was as bright as a blue-bird, and her face lighted up on seeing tis cheery countenance, ‘‘T have been in such a way!” she declared. ‘Tt is so long since I saw you. And I was so afraid of being found.” ‘* ve been working, Mrs. Brierly,” he cheer- ily answered. ‘‘ You've got to get out of here, that’s flat. But I’ve got a safe place laid out. Haven’t been any strange noses poking around here, have there?’ ‘* What do you mean?” she asked, in alarm. ‘*Folks prying about, Trying to pick up items, None of that sort, eh?’ ‘‘No, All has been quiet. Why do you ask? Is there danger?’ Her face grew pale, and a shudder of fear ran through her, ‘*Dunno,” said the boy, as he threw off his hat and seated: himself before the trembling fu- gitive. ‘*He’s waking up, Mrs. Brierly, that’s afact. Folks are hunting you. But you needn’t get skeered about that.” ‘*What is to be done?” she asked, wringing her hands helplessly. ‘* Pll tell you what’s to be done,” began Fred, noe vg ‘* You've got to get up some back- bone, ou’re going to be like a wilted-down leaf, the dog’s dead. Just look at me. I was never skeered in my life; and I don’t believe I could be. Now, just take after me, and we'll go through swimming. Twish I was only a little more like you,” she replied, looking with admiration into his open, steadfast face, “If I only had the least bit of your courage! I don’t know how I will ever repay you for your kindness,” * Oh pshaw! that’s all nonsense. You don’t s’pose I'm a pig, to let you get snatched up again? Why, there ain’t a boy in these dig- gines that wouldn’t do as much and more, too. Just you shut down on all that nonsense. See here, Mrs. Brierly, there’s only one trouble, We've got togo across th» ferry, and I’m afeard, somebody will be on the loolout there.” ‘The ferry?” she answered. ‘* What shall we do? Could I not disguise myself somehow?” ‘*T had a notion of bringing over a suit of my clothes,” rejoined Fred. ‘‘ We are about of a EN > oa se SS sss LLL LLL LLL ttt s "a, - 7 ‘ size, and I thought you might dress up as a boy, and go over that way.” She looked at him for a moment with an ex- pression of bewilderment, and then burst into a ringing laugh. ‘*Dear me, what a figure I would be!” she merrily exclaimed. ‘If that isn’t a boy’s idea! No, no; I can’t do that. And it would only make things worse. I’d be sure to be recog- nized as a woman,” ** You might cut off your hair, and comb it like a boy’s,” rejoined Fred, pleased to have roused her from her depression. ‘‘ And I could get you some newspapers or shoe-blacking to sell. I think it would be prime.” ‘* Thank you for the idea; but I do not care to lose my hair! And what is to be done with the baby? Boys don’t carry babies.” ‘* Don't they, then? That’s all you know about it,” cried Fred, with energy. ‘* It’s queer if I haven’t carried babies enough. Regular little squallers, too. Why, there’s half a dozen young ones in our house. And when they get on their muscle, you bet it’s fun to carry them! I’ve been through that mill, and I know all about it.” She laughed again, at Fred’s comical vehe- mence. He had certainly roused her up into cheerfulness, ‘* But how are we tomanage about the baby?” she asked. e Fred looked at her with a serious counte- nance, ‘** Could we not put it into a pillow-case, with some feathers?’ ho suggested. ‘* Then they'd think it was only a pillow. We could cover its head up in going over the ferry.” ‘* And smother the poor dear.” ‘* But it would only take about five minutes. Queer if it couldn’t stand that much. It might start howling, though. Thev always do howl when you don’t want them to. Don’t believe it would work all right to have a howl coming out of a pillow.” ‘‘lam afraid you will have to give up the jonage project,” answered the amused mother. er face had wonderfully lightened up during Fred’s absurd propositions, ‘* There!” he cried. ‘‘ Just you look like that, and nobody will ever take you for a yunaway wife. You can pass anywhere fora lively young girl. And, see here. It’s a woman with a baby they’re looking after. Let me take the baby. I know how to carry them now, you bet. You can come behind, and see that I don’t run off with the pet. Wecan play that we don’t know one aactiean® ‘*An excellent plan!” she joyfully answered ‘* [t must work. will fix my hair to look very young, and try to keep a smile on my face. Let us goat once. I am so anxious to get away from here. What shall we pay these people for their trouble? Give them this. They have been very kind, and deserve to be well paid.” She handed Fred a twenty-dollar bill. ‘“*Much [ll give them that,” heanswered. ‘If ou fling cash around that way you'll be poor fore a week. And you’d only make them think there was something wrong. Just let me settle it. You get ready while I go tosee the good woman.” Fred went in search of the woman of the house, leaving Mrs. Brierly to get herself up in the role of a young girl. CHAPTER VIII. AN INFANT ON THE WAR-PATH. It was approaching the early night of mid- winter when a pair of wayfarers passed along the quiet streets of Camden, at a short distance apart. A cold wind was blowing inward from the river, that turned every drop of water it touched to ice, and sent chill shudders from nose to toes of every soul it encountered. Of the two persons in question, one was a well-grown boy, who walked briskly along, Clasping in his arms a bundle that might haye been either a baby or a package of dry-goods, so closely was it wrapped up. The other per- son was apparently a young lady of sweet six- teen, to judge by her fresh, smiling face, her clustering ringlets, and the nimble way in which she tripped after the boy in advance, Occasionally, however, the smile faded from her face, and was replaced by a Jook of deep care, while she gazed about the vicinity with the timid look of a hunted fawn, The boy dropped back as they reached a de- serted street. He fixed his eyes on her face with a look of warm admiration. ‘*Tf you only knew how pretty you was,” he declared, ‘‘ you wouldn’t never wear your hair any other way than in curls.” ‘* Go on, now,” she laughingly replied. ‘* If you ee have nothing more sensible to talk about tham that, you had better keep ahead.” “T don’t see anything prettier to talk about,” he roguishly continued. ‘‘Do you know this is the nicest baby I ever carried? Why, she just: cuddles up like a caterpillar, and there ain’t never a sign of a how] in her.” ‘* Like a caterpillar? That’s a nice compari- son now, I declare. Oh, do go on now! There are people ahead. We must not be seen to- gether.’ ‘Never mind them. They’re no account. Wait till we get to the ferry. My! ain't it scorching cold? Hope you ain’t freezing.” ‘*T am used to cold weather,” she replied. ‘‘ It is nothing here to what we have out West. fe mo have the baby awhile. You must be ired. ‘* Me tired? With this little chip? I guess not, Why, she ain’t heavier than a base-ball. I could carry her in my pocket, and think it was only a suga 2 gpoepedt red moved ahead with a laugh of amuse- ment, leaving the young mother highly gratified by the compliments to herself and her child, Peo- pie were growing thicker now, and it was neces- sary to be circumspect. It was not long before they reached the vicin- ity of the ferryy Fred halted and looked inquir~ ingly around him, A look of satisfaction came to his face, as he heard the rumbling sound of car-wheels, ‘Just in the nick of time,” he declared. ‘“ There’s a train coming in. We can get into the crowd, and nobody will ever think of notic- eg aa e pushed through the ferry-house, paying: his fare as he passed. Just inside lounged a, sharp-faced person, whose eyes keenly observed. every one who entered. hey fell for an in- stant on Fred, who walked on with an air of indifference, clasping the bundle in his arms as: though he were taking some soiled clothes to the washerwoman. he boy caught’ the keen eyes, that seemed to pierce him like a needle, e looked up in turn into the thin, sharp face of the observer. A dozen thoughts rushed in a crowd through the wide-awake brain of the shrewd lad. This fellow wasn’t here for nothing. The police had been put on the watch for Mrs. Boietty. There was danger in the wind unless he could he thrown off the track. Inan instant Fred’s plan of action was laid out. A look of impudent dis- dain came into his face. ‘* Guess you'll know me the next time you see me, won’t you, Johnny?’ he said, with a pro- vokingsleer. ‘Who are you talking to?’ cried the man,, angrily. ** Thought you’d dropped something, that’s all. ’"Tain’t no use boring a chap with eyes like auger-bits. I ain’t. got none o’ your duds, if’ that’s what you’re looking for.” ‘Pass on, now. I want none of your slack. Yow’re a good deal too fresh for a boy of your’ size. Move ahead, or I'll stir you up with some- thing sharper than a pole,” Just try stirring me up if you want some fun,” answered Fred, impudently. ‘‘ You'll find you’ve stirred up thunder and lightning. I ain’t: no slouch now. And I’ve paid my fare. Nor it wasn’t no counterfeit neither. It’s a high old ferry company that puts cops to watch their passengers.” The man started as if his youthful antagonist: had made a home-thrust. He started angrily forward and laid his hand on Fred’s arm, ‘* What have you got there?” he sternly asked. ‘*Some stolen goods, I fancy.” Fred did not flinch, nor let his eyes drop be- fore the keen suspicion of the man’s looks. ‘Maybe you'd like to take charge of it,” he said. ‘‘ It’s only a baby as I was sent out with to tumble into the river. The folks got tired of itathome. Ifyou want to adopt a nice healthy brat, that can squall like all sin, I ain’t got no objection.” ‘* Not much,” answered the man, with a short’ laugh. ‘‘lam not doing any adopting. Push on now, my hearty. get into trouble with that saucy tongue of yours. Slide now, while you’ve got a whole skin,’ ‘You won’t take the baby, then?” ‘Not much,” ‘Allright. Then I'll have to heave it over-! board, Is’pose. You bet I ain’t going to carry the little rooster round all creation. Good-by,” Fred pushed on into the crowd that was com- ing from the train. He had gained his end. Instantly guessing that this person was a detective on the wate for Mrs. Brierly, the sharp boy had decided to. make him angry and throw him off his guard And look out you don't , a | |