Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 470 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Felix omitted nothing, and not once was he interrupted, though Simpson at times seemed about to do so. ** That is my story,” said Felix, when he had reached the end of his narrative, the principal events of which are well known to the vendae. ** Now give me your story, Simpson, and we’ll put our heads together and beat this shrewd ang. ‘** Beat it?” laughed Shrewd Simpson. ‘* We’re bound to be at it. They'll be on the lookout for us, but what does that matter? They may try a new hand, but it willavail them nothing. You want my story, eh?” ‘‘T am waiting for it,” said Felix. “*T will begin when { went to Baxter street to confront Moses, the Jew,” continued Simpson. ‘‘T was confident that I had connected that sleek old fellow with the mysterious disappear- ance of the Nabob. When I reached the shop, and found him in the door in company with Harris Hotspur or Harris Hodge, as you know him best, Felix, I would have bet my head that I was not on the wrong trail. WhenI got into the store and marched Moses back to his treas- ure room, I knew beyond a doubt that 1 had made no mistake. I told the old rascal in plain language that I wanted to know where the Na- bob was. He spluttered and went off at a great rate declaring his innocence, and finally called in his tigress wife who came like a storm. ‘* Jehu! may I never meet such a living being again!” exclaimed Shrewd Simpson, after a ause, as if the memory of his encounter with Mrs. Meek caused him to shudder. ‘* She came at me like a maddened beast, and before I knew it her two hands, armed with clawsas it seemed to me, were at my throat, and my senses swam before I could lifta hand. Moses came to her assistance, and I heard words that convinced me that that infernal pair knew something about the Broad street banker. To get to the end of the first installment of my story, I was choked into unconsciousness and knew nothing until I found myself half under water in a smal] Jlace that had stone walls. In an instant it flashed through my mind that I had been thrown into a we)l, and a minute’s inspection even in the dark confirmed it. I believed that I had been dumped into the place for dead, and my first thought was of escape. The water was not deep, but the narrow place was intensely dark, and the air was almost killing in its impurity. ** As soon as I could get to work I was climb- ing the stones, which served my purpose admi- rably, and I soon reached the top, Everything was quiet about the premises when I lifted the covering of the well and crept out, There was no noise in the shop, but above in the third story there was a dim light at one.of the windows. I determined to get into the shop again at all hazards, for I had not done with Moses and his secret. I found my wey into the treasure-room, and thence into the dar a where I was when Moses received a visit “rom Harris Hodge, who, [am sure, came by some underground passage from somewhere, The tigress took Hodge out to show him the pit into which she had dumped me, and during their absence I happened te make a noise which brought Moses into the shop. “As luck would have it, the old Jew came suddenly upon me, and so great was his fright thatin a moment i had the old fellow at my feet inaswoon. Tohim Iwasa person back from the dead, for he had seen his wife drag me in- sensible from the house but a short time before, Not wishing to remain in the shop, which [ knew would be searched when the woman and Hodge should discover Moses, I made my escape. ‘‘Tt was one of the narrowest escapes of my career. By Jupiter! I can feel the claws of that tigress at my throat now. If you don’t want to enjoy their clutch, Felix, keep away from the Jew’s wife.” “T mav have to deal with her before this came has been played out,” said Yelix. sé After you left the shop what adventures did you have?” “After midnight I accidentally ran across a certain man who wore heavy gozeles and a beard.” ‘* You did?” exclaimed the boy spotter, ‘* Why that man was—” ee ‘* Rogers Marxe, eh?’ laughed Shrewd Simp- | son. “It was nobody else. knew him by his gait, which can deceive no person who has ever watched him. When I saw him alone on the down-town streets at that hour I became his shadow, and I thought he would lead me back to the Jew’s. But_I was disappointed. Kogers Marxe led me to Papa Picklock’s.” __ Felix Fox gave vent to an exclamation. **Larry Lolap has a room there,” be said. The Boy Shadow. ‘* IT know that. Marxe went up to the little office on the second floor. I wasn’t far behind. Papa Picklock was on guard himself in his usual after-midnight condition—asleep in his chair behind the countar. Iwas certain now that Rogers had come to see Larry. When he started across the*room to waken Papa I opened my mouth, and he turned like a person shot. There is where [I missed it again, Felix. They say I am too fast for a man-hunter and I guess they are right. Maybe I should have let Marxe rouse Larry, but I didn’t. I told him that the goggles and beard became him well, but that lL knew himallthe same. He was thunderstruck. I told him that I wanted to see him on private and important business, and that we would adjourn. He made no reply. I had Rogers Marxe at my mercy then, and fool-like, thought I could keep him there. But I didn’t.” Shrewd Simpson smiled ashe finished. The boy spotter was eager to get to the end of his narrative. ‘“*T got that man down on the street,” con- tinued the detective. ‘* Not a soul was in sight.” I am Sbhrewd Simpson and you are Rogers Marxe, I said looking him in theeye. ‘I can hold you for the abduction of Mark Morey, the Broad street Nabob.’” ‘That was bold,” said Felix. ‘Of course it was, but they say I rush things sometimes. What do you suppose Rogers Marxe did when I said this?” ** Denied the charge, of course,” said Felix. ‘‘Hedid nothing of the kind,” was the re- ly. “* All at once he flew at me like a panther and I was thrown against a building before I could resist. It was the unexpected that hap- ned that time, I tell you. I think I must have left the impression of my body in the well [ struck; it was nearly as bad as falling into the hands of Mrs. Meek. Rogers Marxe got away as he could easily do in the stunned condition I was in. When I got upon my feet again he was gone, and I[ had to walk off, beaten twice in one night. I came here to find you, Felix, and seeing you sound asleep, I dropped into this chair to wait for the end of your nap.” The boy detective said nothing for a moment after the conclusion of Shrewd Simpson’s story. ‘‘T’m afraid—” he began, but satchiie the de- tective’s eye at that moment he stopped, and his glance fell. ‘‘-Yes, [ made a mistake. I see it now,” said Shrewd Simpson quickly. ‘‘ Confound it! I fly at the game as soon as "pate it. I was never cut out for a detective. I'll throw up the sponge.” ‘* Not until we have found the Nabob and baf- fled these gold hawks of New York!” exclaimed Felix. ‘Lam not going to blame you, Shrewd Simpson. They will change their tactics now; they will get a new hand, and try to play it successfully, Larry Lolan may. have discovered before this that I am not in his trap, and Rogers Marxe will see that he is more than suspicioned; he has been accused. What will they do?? Shrewd Simpson shook his head. “They will do this for one thing,” continued Felix. ‘‘The hunted will turn hunters; de- pend on that. The game takes cn a new phase from this time. If the Nabob isalive he will be taken to new quarters, and we, Simpson, will receive the benefit of keen eyes and, perhaps the knife or the revolver.” “T am ready for the battle!” exclaimed Shrewd Simpson. ‘Hang me fora broker! if I don’t walk into the private office of Morey & aie a day, and play a hand that will be a daisy | = Going off again in a flash,” laughed Felix. ‘** No, Simpson, you will do nothing of the kind.” The hot-headed detective cooled down. “Til puta bit in my mouth that’ll hold me down,” he said to Felix, ‘* But, Jehu! don’t I want to pay Rogers Marxe for throwing me into that brick wall!” ** You shall do it,” was the boy’s reply—“ you shall doit, soon. Wait and see.” CHAPTER XT. LARRY’S FAMOUS PLAY. Ir Shrewd Simpson was astonished when Rogers Marxe turned upon him and threw him against the building, he was not more thunder- struck than was the broker himself when he heard his name mentioned in Papa Picklock’s, Followed and unmasked by a detective? Tt was something terrible to think of. When he saw Shrewd Simpson stunned by bis falling against the wall, he hurried away: it was no place for Rogers Marxe. He dared not go back to Papa Picklock’s, for —_—----- -- 9 the hot-headed detective might follow him there and actually arrest him. Of course, he wanted to see Larry Lolan, but he had to give it up. It was nearly day when the broker reached lodgings, “T must catch Larry early in the day,” he said to himself, ‘‘ He must not be permitted to play the Persian astrologer to Estelle. If he does, he will give the whole thing away. Enough has just happened to employ Larry and Harris. This man who calls himself Shrewd Simpson must be run down and put out of the way. Rogers Marxe did not sleep long, for he was up at an early hour and on his way to the Broad street office. He had Harris Hodge’s pledge that if Larry was found by his confederate, he should be sent to the office, but Hodge was not going to hunt Larry up for the purpose. At that hour Har- ris, with a part of the thousand dollars left, was taking a snooze at a place as disreputable as Papa Picklock’s, and Marxe was destined to wait in vain for the tool he was so anxious to see. Meanwhile the hour for Larry’s visit to Es- telle was drawing near, and between nine and ten o’clock in the morning Hodge stationed bim- self near the Nabob’s residence so as to get a peep at the Persian astrologer when he should appear. t ten precisely a carriage rolled up to the house and the driver opened the door to let out a man who was attired in elegant broadcloth, Bossy boots and hat and a waxed mustache, which gave him a foreign air. ‘Jehu! can that be Larry?” exclaimed Hod who was near by with eyeson thealert. “If he had not told me that he was to get bere at ten entirely transfigured, [ would not call that man my old pal. Ah, itis Larry! There goes the private signal for me if I am around.” The astrologer-crook ascended the steps in front of the mansion and rung the bell. hen his summons was answered, he presented a card and bade the servant carry it to her mistress, Miss Estelle. Upon this card gilt-edged and delicate was printed this inscription: THE GREAT NEZZUR-ADDEN, REVEALER OF HOROSCOPES To His High Majesty THE SHAH OF PERSIA. All languages spoken, This rather ostentatious card was carried to a beautiful young woman who glanced at it and with a smile told the servant to admit this im- at Na personage who had favored her with a call, In a little while Larry was shown into the éle- phant drawing-room, and for the first time in his life, he found himself in the presence of Estelle. The crook when ‘fixed up” was decidedly handsome. He seemed to have left part of him- self at Papa Picklock’s, and, to an innocent person like Estelle, there was nothing about him to indicate his true position in society. “My lady,” began Larry, after his obsequious bow, ** the stars have sent me to you, and I am here by a high command which I dare not disobey.” ‘In other words you have come to reveal something,” said Estelle, who seemed to place much confidence in Nezzur-Addin. ‘That is it precisely. Ah! to reveal some- thing! You are in distress, my lady. A dear friend and protector has disappeared suddenly and mysteriously. Iam certain that the stars have found him.” The young girl was seen to start. ‘**Do you say this?” she exclaimed, “Not I, my lady, but the planets and their mysterious intluences speak through me,” replied Larry rather Pompousy ‘““Tf this is the case | must thank you for this visit,” said Estelle. ‘“‘What did the stars re- veal?” “The secret of the mystery of Mr. Mark Morey’s disappearance, but, my dear young lady, the revealment can only take place under cer- tain conditions. I am controlled by the in- fluences of the planets. I have cast Mr. Morey’s horoscope because I became interested in his case. I have with me the results of my labors; they are here.” As he finished, Larry drew three small cards from an inner pocket and spread them on his band for Estelle’s inspection. One card was ereen, the second red, and the third pale yellow, They were covered with dots and lines, the dotg comicboo