Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 460 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ‘“*My dear boy, my dear boy,” expostulated Hare, ‘‘ we will not touch Lorimer’s property at all. It is only Tripp’s desk.” ‘* What is in his desk that you want?” again asked Luke, bluntly. ** Not money, I assure you.” ‘* Well, it would be just as bad to take other things.” Ebenezer sighed dismally. ‘“ Now, I wouldn’t think this of a level-headed boy like you—and after all I’ve done for you! Suppose 1 was to tell you that Marmaduke Tripp is a bad man, and that I wish to right ducther man—a noble one—whom he has wronged?” It wes not Mr. Hare’s pathos, though that was indescribably harrowing, even as his expression was harrowingly mournful, which made a sparkle leap into Luke’s eyes. He thought of the scheme of which he had an inkling, and wonder- ed if Hare knew of it. ‘** Has it occurred since I’ve been in the office?” he guardedly asked. * Oh, no; years ago, and—” The landlord stopped abruptly, as though he had said too much, and then added: “Tt is an old affair, but I can’t tell you about itnow. Still, I assure you that justice ought to be done, and, knowing me to be a man of ir- reproachable character, as you do, such a level- headed boy as you ought to be willing to aid the cause of right.” It was on Luke’s lips to say that he was tired of having the term ‘“‘ level-headed” applied to him as a means of over-persuasion, but it sud- denly occurred to him that, situated as he was, he needed a level head, and he resolved to try strategy on Hare, Possibly, if the landlord was strongly opposed to Tripp—and from his unguarded facial expres- sion, now and then, the boy suspected that the dislike might even reach bitter hatred—he could be used as an ally in the case upon which he had stumbled. Considering all this, Luke answered very shrewdly for one so young; expressed a desire to do all he could to help any one who had been wronged; spoke of his gratitude to Mr. Hare; and ended by asking for a few days in which to consider the matter. The landlord believed that victory, was half won and his eyes sparkled perceptibly, but he ~ ne shrewd enough not to press the matter then. He said a few words calculated to enlist his sup dupe’s sympathies still more, and then took himself out of the room. He would have been less confident had he seen the look of indignation which swept over Luke’s face when the door was closed. ‘*So that is ie he secured me a_ place!” thought the boy, his eyes flashing. ‘‘ He had designs on Tripp’s desk, and got me into the office merely as his tool! Well, I am dealing with a pretty lot of rogues all around, and they must either think me a rascai, myself, or as weak as putty in their hands. Perhaps they can make me a party to their crimes, and perhaps not! So Hare would make a burglar of me! Well, I’m afraid he will get badly Jeft. Tl try to show him, and Lorimer, tco, whether I am level-headed, or not!” Luke went to bed, but, before he fell asleep, he puzzled long over three questions: hat paper had Lorimer and Tripp stolen from the church? Who was the man he had seen in the grave- yard? What were the papers which Hare wished to get from Tripp’s desk? He reached no satisfactory answer, but fell asleep with a strong determination to go on and learn more about the strange affair—to become a veritable shadow, and run the truth down at all hazards, If he was unsuspected he would continue at the office, and gain all the information he could. When he reached Lorimer’s in the morning the clerk was already there, but the lawyer did not come around until late. When he did, Luke saw with some alarm that the blows he had dealt his employer in the church, in his efforts to escape, had left their mark, One eve was partially blackened, and on the side of bis. nose was a bruise. Luke felt alarmed: the more so because Lori- mer was in very bad temper; but his coolness soon returned. Not only did the men show no signs that they suspected him to be the Shadow in the church, but a few words caught from a low conversation between them, in which both agreed that ‘he must have been a tramp,” put him a good deal more at ease. Both the plotters, however, seemed troubled a The Lawyer’s Shadow. about something, and they held a long consulta- tion in the subdued manner so suddenly adop- ted boy seemed busy, lowered his voice a trifle and replied: ‘You are, of course, aware that in England Several times, when they were busy, Luké | there is a good deal of so-called ‘ unclaimed glanced toward Tripp’s private desk, which, as usual, was fast closed. What was in it that Hare so much desired? What did all the mys- tery mean, anyhow? bout three o’lock in the afternoon a man walked into the office and up to Lorimer’schair. He was, it seemed, about forty-five years old, but his garments when new would have been more appropriate to one a score of years younger—when new, for, like himself, they had left youth behind, and were decidedly seedy. Despite this, the man had the airs of a sport, and his stylish cane, boyish hat and small, waxed mustache were all of the sort adored by a dandy. He carried himself mincingly, and might hive been mistaken for a harmless old ‘** swell,” had it not been for a certain air which might be called icy composure, and a latent ex- pression of face which was hard, calculating and cruel. Reaching the lawyer, he deliberately said: ** You sent for me, and I am here.” Lorimer looked at him doubtfully. ‘*T haven’t the honor of your name,” he an- swered, dn ‘*No? Well, I am Peter Littleton, gentleman of leisure.” The lawyer quickly arose. ‘* My dear sir, 1 am glad to see you—glad to see you. So you received my message?” ‘* Informing me that if I would call I should hear something to my advantage. Just so. Well, I don’t throw blessings over my shoulder this year. What’s the row? Have I been ap- pointed to a fat Government posish?” Mr, Littleton had seated himself, both hands in the pockets of his sack-coat, and his cane pointing up from one of them like a telegraph pole. Everybody in the office had grown interested. Luke knew that he was not only looking at the father of the boy who had been a vicious rival in business, but at the father of the boy whom Lorimer and Tripp proposed to make the bogus heir of the Bertsinteocke wealth. ‘‘ Nothing of that kind,” the lawyer replied, ‘* but a good deal better thing.” ‘* Better? Egad! you must—but go on, go on. Explain! Elucidate! Divulge! Belch it out!” ** Mr. Littleton, if I can put you in the way of a fortune—ready-made. understand—are you willing to pay handsomely for it?” ‘* gad! you shall have one-eighth of all the bullion you can entice to my pocket.” ‘*Do you mean it?” ‘Do I? Sir, look at mel Behold my rags, my squalor, my woe, my misery! Behold them, and then ask, if you can, if I will hesitate to re- ward in princely form the man who will restore to a gentleman of leisure the glittering magnifi- cence of a past long lost in a career of horrible want and woe!” Here Mr. Littleton flourished his cane around his head tragically, buta cold sneer ran through his extravagant speech. There was more than absurdity in his manner. ‘* And you promise to pay me one-eighth of what money I may get you?” The lawyer was sticking coolly to business, and paying no attention to tragedy. 4é do.” ‘* Mr. Tripp, draw up an agreement.” Littleton looked a trifle uncertain as he saw this evidence of business, and he carefully read the paper brought him by Tripp. ‘* Hallo! what’s this?” he asked. ‘‘‘ We joint- ly and severally promise to pay,’ and so forth, such a share of ‘the money or property that may be obtained for us.’ Who the dickens is ‘we’ and ‘us,’ and all that sort of thing? AmI a king or an editor, that I sign in the plural number?” ‘‘ We want your son’s name below yours.” ‘* The dickens youdo! Thenameof a minor?’ ‘¢'That’s my whim.” Littleton threw down the paper. **T sign nothing until I know all!” he declared. “You will know nothing until you sign,” coolly rep'ied Lorimer. ‘“ Do you run any risk? You say you need money. Do you know of any way to get it? Are you asked to pay a cent un- less we get what we claim we can get? Is there any chance for vou to losé?” ‘‘ Bead! no, for ’ve nothing to lose. Well, I SSS lS — ee ee eS eae hate to think, for it’s deuced hard work, sodown | goes my name.” He scratched it off with a flourish, and then resumed his old attitude. ‘* Fire away!” he added. Lorimer glanced toward Luke; but, as the money,’ and property left by deceased persons. there, to which no heir isknown. Immense for- tunes are so situated, and the business of find- ing the heirs occupies many men. There are those in this country who devote all their time to it, and find all they can do.” ** Yes, lve heard of such cases, but those who try for these boodles might as well smite stones to secure water.” ‘*To a certain degree you are right. Wherea score, or a hundred people who think they are heirs, tut cannot prove it, enter into such a uest, their case is most unpromising, but when the actual heirs are known—” . At this moment another person entered the office, and Lorimer motioned to Tripp to attend him, and invited Littleton to the inner room. The latter followed, but, as he reached the con- necting door, his gaze fell squarely on Luke’s face, and he came toa sudden halt and remained staring fixedly at the boy. CHAPTER VI. A SOUND BY THE BED. UP to the time when this stare became appar- ent Luke had been secretly watching Littleton, but he now thought best to be as much interest- ed in his work as he seemed to be, Could he have continued watching, unseen b the man, he would have perceived surprise fol- lowed by uncertainty, ind this by a flash of hostil- ity; but in a moment Littleton was himself, and he passed through the door, which was closed by the lawyer. This stopped all chance of Luke hearing more, and he wrote away mechanically and thought about the visitor. So far as he knew he had never seen him before, but it was not hard now to tell where Percy Littleton got all his disagree able ways, _He was a *‘ chip of the old block,” except that time had given the elder Littleton a knowledge of men and of the world which made him more dangerous, It was near the hour of closing when the door reopened and the two men came out. Luke glanced at them and was convinced by their expression that they had arrived at a satis- factory agreement. It was not to be wondered at. Clearly, Littleton was not so overburdened ae conscience thet such a deed would trouble im The boy, however, was scarcely prepared for one swift passing glance,the glance Littleton shot at him; tut that so filled with enmity and menace that Luke was startled. Perhaps Littleton had not expected to find him looking, for he passed quietly on, said good- night to Lorimer and left the office. That glance, however. haunted the boy. What had he done to incur the hostility it expressed? True, he and Percy were not friends, but no great trouble had occurred between them. Again, Littleton did not lock like one liking to take up a boy’s quarrel. | Little time was lost in closing the office, and then Luke was once more free. He reached the street and hurried away but did not see the figure which stepped from a doorway and followed him. The pursuer was Peter Littleton, and the gaze he kept on the boy was not more friendly than the one in the office. Luke did not return to Hare’s house, but anxious to see the old sexton of the Gray Stone Church again, set out for that place at once. He arrived in due time, and found the old man busy in the graveyard, as before. On the way he had asked another boy what the sexton’s name was and, learning that it was Jacob Harmon, he greeted him by it. The sexton seemed pleased to see him, and soon mentioned that a rich man near by had promised to put a new stone over William Hal- lock’s grave. ‘* By the way,” he suddenly said, ‘‘ you didn’t drop a glove near there last night, did you?” “A glove? No, sir; I did not have any with me.’ ‘* Some one else did, then, for I found an old one right here, by the suicide’s grave, early this morning.” Luke remembered the man whom he had seen by the grave the previous evening, and became interested. If the stranger had lost the glove, it might yet lead to his identification. ‘Was there any name on the glove, sir?” st No.” ** What kind of a one was it?” ‘ A yellow-colored kid, old and soiled.” ‘* Have you it now?”