Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 471 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

= ee = a ——e \ = o-~ old lad, in the camp, who dresses very ragged, goes very dirty, and has a shock of red brick hair?” ‘Yes, I know him.” “Well, he’s the chap who brought me the note from Dark Demming, and the one who brought the note for Miss Earl, which purport- ed to come from John Jones.” ** Indeed!” ‘Just so! Now, who is this lad, and where can he be found?” ‘‘I can answer the first question, better than the last. He is called Reddy, and 1s the adopt- son of Jake Jug, the bullwhacker. Where Jug got him, I don’t know, but he’s the worst scamp, of his age, in Christendom. He'll lie, and steal and swear like a pirate, and is always on the lookout for some mean trick to perpetrate. I wouldn’t trust the young whelp with a straw, ou can bet, for fear he’d use it to play some rick on me with. _ Such a pest is he to the camp, that he has to skurry about on the sly, and lay shady, for if the miners should get hold of him, I do believe they’d skin him alive. Noone knows where he sleeps, and he only shows himself when he thinks there is no one around to nab him.” ‘‘ Humph! Perhaps it is this man, Jug, then, who is playing up Dark Demming?” ‘**Pooh! no! He never gets far enough away from the whisky shops of the camp to play up road-agent.” ‘‘ Well we must look up Janet, first, anyhow. In case Horace Hinton has decoyed her into a trap, where would he be most apt to conceal her?” Harry did not answer, for a few minutes, but seemed to be deliberating on the situation, ‘‘T don’t know,” he said, finally. ‘* There are a number of deserted cabins, around this part of the country.” he said, ‘‘ where a person could be held in captivity, and likewise a number of mountain caves, so that it would be a hard mat- ter to distinguish which particular one Horace’s fancy might select. here did you say the glove was found?” ‘* About two miles up the gulch. Eh, Ay- alanche?” “Yas, jest about two mile, nigh as I kin judge,” the Annihilator replied. ‘Well, then, there’s a cabin, about a mile fur- ther on. It is tenantless from the fact that it is reputed to be haunted. Nobody will live in it, or has lived it, since I came_to these parts.” “The very place Horace Hinton would be most apt to place his captive!” Bozeman Bill de- clared, quickly. ‘* Perbaps you are right.” ' ‘At any rate, we must go and investigate the place!” Bill declared, ‘‘ Janet shall not be a prisoner long, if I can help it, you bet! Are you ready?” Both Harry and Avalanche signified that they were, and the trio were about making a move, when Colonel Corker approached. ‘“ Friend Bozeman,” he said, ‘‘ here’s another note that was just left for you.” “Who left it?” Bill quickly demanded, as he seized the envelope, and opened it. : - 64 The same lad that brought the note for Miss ar. ““Vory well. Much obliged to you.” The colonel then withdrew, and Bill read the message aloud to his companions, This is what he read: ‘Mr. BOZEMAN: — “Dear Sir:—I have met Mr, Jones, and he says that in order to establish my claim, it'will be neces- sary for us to start at once for Pierce City, where the late Mr. Hinton’s last will and testament is on file. So I shall have to go without bidding you good-by. But I will return shortly, and further employ your services, and liberally reward you. As Mr. Harry Hiuton is one of the legatees, 1t will also be to his interest to come to Pierce City, at his earliest con- venience, Please advise him, accordingly, and, be- lieve me, I remain, our friend, ‘JANET Earu.” CHAPTER XT, MR. FINK TALKS TO BILL’S pigroy,. As Bozeman Bill finished Sie the three men stood staring from one to the other, inquir- ingly, it appearing as if each one was trying to read the other’s thoughts. “Well?” finally said Harry Hinton, interrog- ativel an Lb Bill t ell?’ quo ill. ‘‘ Unwell!” declared Avalanche, grimly, “ By ther great ham-bone -that exasperated the larnyx of old Joner! that’s too thin!” “ Just my opinion!” agreed Bill. ‘But it sounds all right and reasonable enough,” Harry said. ‘‘If she hadn’t said for Bozeman Bill of Big Brace. in ee — eee ee me to come to Pierce City, I shouldn’t think so much of it.” ‘‘That’s only a bluff, to make the letter ap- pear all the more genuine.” ** Then, you don’t think Miss Earl sent it?’ ‘* I know she did not!” ‘* How do you know?” ‘* Well, in the first place, the chirography does not correspond in the least with Janet’s. Sec- ondly, she is too shrewd a young lady to go away with an utter stranger, without first seek- ing my counsel. Thirdly, if John Jones were an honorable man instead of a rascal, he would have come here to see her, instead of asking her to come out of town to see him; and lastly, the very fact that the boy who delivered me Dark Demming’s message, also delivered this, puts the stamp of fraud on the whole business!’ ‘* By ther great ham-bone, yer right!” spoke up the Annihilator, ‘‘ right, old boy, as ther op- posite direction from left!” ‘Well, maybe you are right,” Harry was forced to acquiesce. ‘‘ But if Janet didn’t write the letter, who did?” ‘* Your esteemed step-mother, most likely, cites at it—see if you recognize the chiro- graphy. Harry did as directed, and then nodded his head affirmatively. ‘Yes, [recognize the hand,” he said. ‘‘ The letter was written by my step-mother. I know her Sach trad ‘e’s * and ‘h’s,’” ‘Just so. Well, I recognized the fraud at once, You see it was a very clever double scheme—first to deaden any suspicion that Janet had been made a captive; second to decoy you to Pierce City, en route for which place you would no doubt have been waylaid and mur- dered. Thus, your uncle and step-mother would have triumphed. See?’ ‘I see!” Harry assented, ‘It is a diabolical lot, from beginning to end. Even now, poor anet may be dead!” ‘I hope not,” Bill said, doubtfully. “ At any rate we must delay the search no longer. So come, let’s be moving!” “One moment,” said Harry. ‘‘ I want a word with you in private.” . He took the detective by the arm and led him to one side. ‘* Well, what is it?” Bill demanded, considera- bly surprised. “This. I want you to remain bebind and let me and Avalanche conduct this search alone.” “Alone? Why?” ‘‘ For a number of good reasons, among which may name the fellowine’: Firstly, 1 have no doubt but what we shall find Janet at the haunted cabin, and if so, two of us will be suffi- client to effect her rescue. Secondly, there is plenty of work here for you to busy yourself with, and thirdly, I have a particular reason for Wishing to be the one of the two of us who is concerned in Janet’s rescue,” ° And why tbis third reason?” _ * Well—I—I—you see, Bill, old boy, the case is just like this, I’ve seen this Miss Earl a couple of times, and taken a decided fancy for her, and being heart and hand free I would like to cultivate her acquaintanceship and get into her good graces in a way that would cause her to look upon me with favor, Now, what better coaching could I have than by coming to her rescue in an hour of distress? See the point?” Bozeman Bill smiled broadly. ‘* Well, a blind man ought to be able to see that point,” he admitted. ‘ But you are taking a one-sided view of the matter, are you not?” ‘“ Why so?” ‘‘ Because, how do you know but what J may have a hankering after the fair heiress prospec- tive? Harry colored and bit his lip, ‘* Excuse me,” he said, * 4 {was not aware that you had any weakness in that direction.” ‘“Ha! ha! Neither I have,” laughed Bill. ‘So go ahead and sail in, old boy, and win the beauty if youcan. If you do, though, I am to have the first dance with the bride. Now, that’s fair enough, ain’t it. eh?” ‘ ‘‘ It’s a bargain!” Harry declared, apparently very much relieved. “T’'ll away to the rescue now, and you need expect neither Avalanche uor myself back until we find Janet.” ‘‘ Hold a bit! You spoke of there being: oe here for me todo. Did you refer to anything in particular, may I ask?” ‘* Well, yes, I have about come to the con- clusion that Phineas Fink may know as much about Janet’s being summoned to Big Brace as any one else. He is a cunning scalawag, and may have an eye on the fortune himself. There’s no telling.” ‘* Very true. There can be no harm in inter- ‘ 11 viewing him, at any rate, and I'll pay bith « a visit at once, I may be able to learn something: to our advantage, anyhow.” ‘* If he is close mouthed, scare the wits out of bim,” Harry suggested. ‘‘ He’s an arrant cow-. ard, and [ll go you one he'll knuckle under, if you tackle him in proper shape.” ‘Very well, Pll see what I can do with him. If any one can bring him to terms, I’ve the con-- ceit to believe ’'m that man.” They then rejoined Old Avalanche, and Harry and the Annihilator took their departure, while Bill set forth to make the proposed visit. . Fink’s office was in a front room over a gro- cery store, and was accessible pny by an out- side covered stairway. Bill had no difficulty in finding the place, and he ascended the stairs, opened the door and en~ tered the office. It was a small, uncarpeted room, whose only furniture consisted of a desk, a writing-table and three stools. Fink himself was seated on one of these stools, smoking a short-stemmed clay pipe, when Boze- man Bill entered. He was a tall, awkward-looking individual, thin as a rail, and with a pinched, sallow vis- age. He was beardless as a boy, his hair was of a tow color, and though his features expressed no intelligence, his small gray eyes were bright: and keen. He wore what had been a broadcloth suit in its earlier days, but now looked anything but that, so faded and greasy was it. He gave Bozeman Bill a quick stare as he entered, which seemed to say: ‘Well, who are you, and how much money is: there in ae Instead, however, he said: , ‘*Good-day, sir! Walk right in and have a seat. Is there anything I can do for you in my line of business this morning?” _ , ‘¢*T don’t know but what there is,” Bill replied. as he seated himself upon a stool near the door. ‘*'You see, Mr. Jones, I called to learn a little about this Janet Earl case. The young lady is: here in Big Brace, and anxious to learn why you sent for her, since, cn her arrival here, she finds Hamilton Hinton’s widow in posscssion, Some explanation is surely due the young lady, and I have been detailed to seek it.” Bill spoke as if he meant just what he said, and. while he was speaking, he watched the lawyer with a steady gaze. At mention of the name of Jones, hesaw Phin- eas Fink start a trifle, but only a trifle, and he at once answered, ‘*T see that you have made a mistake in the erson. ‘There is no sucha person here as Mr. ones, My name is Fink, sir—Phineas Fink, attorney at law.” ; ‘“Your name may be Fink, all right,” Bill re- plied, quietly, ‘‘ but I am aware that you some- times sign yourself Jobn Jones!” “T insist that you are wrong!” was the sharp. retort. while the superannuated disciple of Blavk- stone flushed red with anger. ‘I never signed mvself John Jones in all my life!” ‘Bill laughed coolly, “Oh! Lexpected you would deny it!” he said, sarcastically. ‘‘ But it will do you no geod. You will find that in dealing with me, the easiest way is the best, by far. Do you know who I am?” “T do not!” “Then I will enlighten you. Bozeman Bill, the rascal-roper! of the law, and a detective,” Fink betrayed no surprise.or uneasiness, at this announcement; cn the contrary, his coun- tenance was perfectly passive, ‘Well, what has that got to do with me?” he demanded, refilling and hghting his pipe. ‘You'll find it bas a great deal to do with you, if you don’t act sensi ly, sir. I am nota man to be trifled with, by any one, and most es- pecially by you. The matter of it is, Fink, you've got yourself into a box, and the only way for you to save your skin is by acting like a man, and making a clean breast pf it!” | ‘You are certainly speaking in riddlesto me, sir!” Fink persisted. ‘‘ First, you dub me J ones: and now you would have me makea clean breast of it. at do you want me to dc—to say that. I am a thief, a road-agent or a murderer?’ ‘‘No—simply that you are a forgeranda low- lived rascal!” Bill retorted, bluntly, ‘After you admit that much, you can do as you see fit. about the other crimes!” ‘¢ Well, sir, I shall admit nothing of the sort, and I defy you to prove anything of the sort against me. Moreover, if you have come here with a view of insulting me, or to pick a quar- I em called I aw an cflicer