Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 452 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

) | | That must ’a’ been Andrew, ter wit, namely, an’, now I think on’t, he said ez much. Wal, why didn’t he? *’Cause* Dorcas” spoke right out in ther synagogue. Who’s Dorcas! Andrew’s wife, o’ course. But w’ot did she shout in Andrew’s ear that knocked him sick?” Here was a knotty point, but Bob went at it in an analytical style, and his face soon bright- ened, ‘** Wot could she shout?’ he continued. ‘* Wal, ef Andrew is robbin’ ther Bonanza Savings Bank, an’ Dorcas knows it, she wouid only hev ter say so, an’ she’d make him ez sick ez a cow with aringbone. That's it, bet a cent!” Bob hung around and thought for some time longer; but, as there seemed no chance that he would overhear more, finally decided on a new point. Taking his cap he went outside, and, at a convenient point, waited for Bargrade to re- appear. At the end of half am hour his patience was rewarded; Bargrade came out, and, after a look about the vicinity, made his way to a car bound down-town and took passage. Bob promptly boarded that just behind. _ There was one thing about him in the pursuits unless his new clothes proved a disguise, Bar- grade would recognize him, and this he wished to avoid. He therefore kept out of sight as far as possi- ble. Bargrade rode to the head of the Bewery and | several streets beyond, and then alighted, took a cross street and wallred toward Broadway. He did not seem to fear pursuit, and did not once look behind, so bob had no trouble in following, Reaching Gotaam’s main thoroughfare, Bar- rade walked south wntil he came to a saloon. his he entered. Bob knew the place of old. It | was not one of the best; indeed, he had heard it said that hard crowds assembled there nightly, and ‘‘ made night hideous.” As everything was quiet then, be promptily followed his quarry. The saloon had a wide sweep toward the rear, and was fitted up with tropical plants and statues, among which was a variety of tables, and atone of these Mr. Bargrade was already seated. He was not alone. Another man had plainly been waiting for him, for the two had just shaken hands. Bob’s quick eyes took in the situation, and he saw that he had a good chance to get near enonrgh to overhear what thoy said, screening himself behind one of the statucs. He ordered a glass of sarsaparilla, and then moved toward the seat he had selected. Bargrade and the other man were by this time talking earnestly, and the Bowery boy ex- pected something of mrportance. His movements brought him where hé could see the second man’s face, and, as he saw it fairly, he came to a halt through genuine sur- prise. CHAPTER XItL. DANGEROUS DRINK. No wonder Bob was surprised. He recognized the second man as Mr. Zadok Playfair, President of the Bonanza Savings Bank, and knew that his presence there meant a good deal. Bargrade, as he had already learned, was spying on the cashier of the bank, ard try- ing to learn ali about him, and here he was, after a visit to Wellburn’s hotise, immediately in con- ferencé with ths president, ““Bgosh!” was Bob's first thought, “ éf thar ain’t a breeze risiw’ "round Andrew’s head, I’m a promiscuss liar, I be. He’s been a-walltin’ in dark an’ devious Ways, an’ ther hull b’ilin’ on ’em is onter his racket, No wonder he wants a helper—b’gosh! he orter hev a guardeen !” ith these ideas in bis raind he made his way td a seat, and then beget sipping his sarsapa- rilla. Mr. Playfair was speaking, and his words were distinctly audible to tho boy. “ And you still lack a clew? “tT do” ** What is your theory?” “Well, I think Wellburn iy a mighty shrewd chap, and he is working some big game,” rd oie still reject the gambhng theory?” ‘¥es “T don’t.” ‘*T know him better than you, oldman. Fact is, he is the stupidest mari at all game that I ever saw. He gamble! not much.” “Then what thé dickens is he drivitig at?’ Mr. Playfair asked, with a frown. “ Now, you have me.” —-—- - — ‘Can it be he is less. of a fool than we take him to be?’ ‘‘Bah! He hasn’t the grit of a louse. Dor- cas rules him with a fine Italian hand, and so may any one rule him. Do you suppose that, if he had common pluck, he would have been con- tent to remain so long in the bank, under the conditions he has endured?’ Playfair did not answer. He sat smoking thoughtfully for several seconds, and then broke out: ‘*‘Hang it! I don’t like the situation at all. Wellburn could undoubtedly make it warm for us if he tried, and this last thing we have tum- bled to looks bad, 1 must say. Confound it, man, we must have a regular detective on his Hotspur Bob, the Street Boy Detective. track, if you can’t find out what’s in the wind.” | ‘**T wouldn’t trust a regular detective ” ‘* Bah! there are men in New York, im the business, who can be boucht for a song. them well, and they will wink at a robbery or murder ” A conversation of several minutes followed in regard to this matter, but. Hotspur Bob did not hear it. His sarsaparilla was drank, and he was asleep. Slowly, undetected by him, irre- Sistible, anyway, a lethargy had stolen upon him, unlike common sleep, yet more pow- erful. Unconscious of everything, ho now sat in his chair and, b eathing heavily, was off the trail he had followed, and in creat danger. One of the barkeepers approached and shook him. He did not stir, Then the man picked him up lightly, for the boy was not heavy, and earried him toward a door a few steps away. Opening this, a small room was revealed in which were several chairs, | a tablo and a sofa, He leid Bob down on this, and then stood erect, smiling. He was an evil looking fellow, though well- the Bowery boy slept so scundly. At one side of the room was a telephone at- tachment, and he went to this and sounded a call. An answer was soon returned. The fol- lowing conversation then took place: ‘¢ Are you there, Steve?” ‘Ves, What is it?’ ‘¢ The boy is here.” ‘What boy?’ ‘* Don’t you know?’ ‘*Po you mean the one who got away from Bet?” sé Yes.” “ By Georze! that so? Keep him, sure!” ‘‘T will. He’s taken some of the stuff, and is good for a sleep of some hours. You must at- tend to the rest, and get him away before night, Can’t have him here then, or there may be trouble.” ‘* All right. Ben and Til be over and fix him.” “Say, there’s somebody else here.” ‘} Who?” ‘‘ The tall man.” ‘¢ The deuce he is! ITs he drugged?” ‘No, and I don't dare try it. There’s an- other bloke with him who’s a nabob. It won't do to touch him.” “We must know who he is, anyhow!” ‘Send Ben over as quick as you can, and let him"’dog the bloke when he goes out.” “ NV vight. Is that all?” * “Yes.” “ Good-day.” Conversation ceased, and the man, after an- other glance at Bob, went out and locked the door behind him, putting the key in his pocket. He had scarcely done this when the Bowery boy stirred, rubded his eyes, sat up and again rubbed his eyes. He had the appearance of one just aroused from sound sleep, and a dimness of vision was accompanied by a severe head- ache, Gosh all pertater-bugs! w’ot sort o’ a measly serape is this? Apnveerently Pve got in over my collar-button! Been drugged by that gallus crook, sure ez red hair an’ onion-seeds. Lucky I wasn’t exsassinated. Terrmble risk Pve run— worse than playin’ football wi’ dynamite. Hel- lo, you !” This salutation Was addressed to the telephone attachment, which he then viewed critically. ‘¢- You're a daisy, you be! You've helped me ter an extensive acquaintance wi’ ther measly sharks, So ther blear-eyed inebriate who p’ison- ed me is an ally 0’ ther chap who left me alone with gentle Bet, ther full-proof brunette belle? Jes’ so! This hyar is 0’ vital interest, as ther drunken man said ter ther poor whisky.” Bob arose to his feet and shook himself. Luck had so far been in his favor to a degree. Pay | LL — — —_—-- --—— ——’ He bad drank only a part of his sarsaparilla, Be- cause he noticed an unpleasant. flavor about it. and had thrown the rest.in the cuspidor. What he had taken had been exough to put him to sleep for a few minutes, though he had known perfectly well when the kar-keeper was fumbling over him in his chair. He lacked the poser or will to try and say anything, and ay passive while being brought to the small room, He had, however, heard the telephone talk. and had aroused as soon as left alone, He now looked out of the window, and saw that it opened on a court from which he believ- ed escape would be easy. He saw that he could reach the court; but the sight of a paper on the table led him to pick it up with a definite pur- pose in view, ‘* Rum-shop newspapers usually hea ther sub- scriber’s name on ’em, an’mebbe— Yas, hvar ‘tis—Rellix.. Jes’ so. It seems that ther gentle Steve runs this place; but whar is his caboose from which he telephoned?” The table had a drawer, and Beb mechanical- ly pulled it out, As he did so a pile of business cards in one corner attracted his attention. He picked up one and read as follows: “SURE-RES£ RESORT, “ Broadway and Sr ele. ‘“Choice Wines and Liquors. Peace and no inter fereuce. “COME ALL! | “No. — Broadway, » Streryen K. Rei.” ‘“* No. — Grand street, A subdued whistle fell from: Bob’s Tins. ‘* Wal, I should smile! Reckon I ketch onter that, like a red-nosed politician ter a‘ ball.” No. — Grand street is ther gamblin’ ’stablishmunt , | from which Andrew, who is surnamed Well- dressed, and nobody knew better than he why | . eee: OSS burn, came t’other night when he was in sech a beastly corndition. Jes’ so: an’ it seems that Steve runs ther place, Didn’t. know that afore. Wal, | begin ter hev a faint idee o ther whys an’ wher’fores 0’ this complercated complerca- tion,” le stowed the card away in his pocket, and then unfastened the window and lowered him- self to the court. From there he easily gained the street, and was soon partially concealed in a deep doorway. It was now his intention to watch further de- velopments, and he beheved be would see some- thing of importance. Certainky,there would be commotion in the hearts of Reliix and his tools when it was known that their prisoner had es- caped; but Bob's mind was chiefly om Mr. Zadok Playfair and Bargrade. His opinion of the President of the Bonanza Savings Bank had received a severe blow, and he suspected more than he knew. Playfair’s conversation with Bargrade had re- , Vealed the fact that both were against Andrew TT —— = | | | Wellburn, while it had done nothing te decrease the boy’s opinion of the cashier, True, the latter was suspected of drinking dnd gambling, but Bob had suspected that before. But the talk of the two men had led Boh to suspect that Wellburn was more sinned against than sinning; that he had been made the cat’s- paw, or something of the sort, of bolder scamps, chief of whom was, as the Bowery boy would have expressed it, “‘Zadok Playfair, ter wit, namely.” Otherwise, why had the président said: ts Ms schaaana could make it warm for us if he tried.’ ‘“Pve got afoul o’'a gallus skeem, ez sure ez ther youth o’ eggs is brief an’ fleetin’. Jes’ w’ot 1 banker fer, an’ I’m goin’ fer clear up ther hull thing or f’ar my east boct-heel off, b’gosh !” . The young detective kept_his place resolutely, and, at theend of half an hour, Was interested to observe the arrival of one of fhe men who 7 before captured him—Rellix’s assistant, 3en. He lost no time on him, however, for Rellix & Co,.’s standing was pretty well settled in his mind, but, when he saw Playfair and Rargrade come out a moment later, he was at once on the alert. ‘“ Now, then, we'll shuffle ther keerds an’ hev a new hand all ’round, an’ I’m a measly. blear- eyed, defunct stateo ef I don’t run ‘em ter their holes!” CHAPTER XIII. BOB BRARDS THE LIONS. THE two men hesitated when they reached the street treet cars the sidewalk, and Jooked up and as though in search of a carriage.