Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 483 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Lae ee — . Te ee ee — jr - +~* _* <7 + - = ~ yee - =e tem Urs x rn, ets Fe: a — ~~ > - »” - 4 ee ee ee _ Flower Girl, and, as she had little dreamed that he was a detective, he had made a few import- ant discoveries, before he had been kidnapped by Elegant Ed and taken on the cruise, which had so nearly ended fatally for him. He made his start in finding the young girl, by going at once to her old shop; but, try as he miigat, he gained no clew there. le questioned ihe policeman on the beat that went by the florist’s, and the nearest neighbors, and yet he could only learn that the pretty Flower Girl aad been seen one evening by several and the next morning she had been game. Foxey was in a quandary; but he was not dis- couraged, and he went to the Lodging House of the Boys’ League for his supper. After supper he started forth again, and was assing by the door of an up-town theater when e suddenly paused. It was evident that some idea had suddenly flashed across the boy’s mind. ‘‘She used to have theatrical dresses, I re- member, and she could dance like a fairy, and sing like a canary bird, too. ‘“Then I know she used to recite stage lines, and maybe she has took to the theater. ** It's but a suspicion, but here goes to find out! So saying he went up to the box-office, bought a ticket and entered. ‘‘Tll go to every theater in town and see if she is on the stage,” he muttered as he took his seat, which was a good one in the orchestra circle. Looking over the programme he saw no name that he recognized, but then he muttered: ‘‘T never knew her ’ceptin’ by the name of Flora, the Flower Girl— Ah! here’s a Flora ft and she sings and dances, and it reads of er: ‘‘¢ Ther beautiful, young and talented,’ etc. ; but then that’s what they ox, of all of ’em, even them as is ugly as sin and old enough to be my mother, ‘‘ But Pll see who this Miss Flora Dale is!’ In half an hour the person named on the bills appeared, and Foxey sprung to his feet with— “Tt’s my girl, by gosh!” Seeing that he attracted the attention of those about him in his excitement, he quickly subsid- ed, and then sat breathlessly listening to the young girl, asin an exquisite soprano she sung some operatic selection. She was dressed with perfect taste, and she louked very beautiful; and Foxey was all of a tremor at having found the one he sought. A spontaneous encore followed the song, and returning she sung a pretty ballad. : Again she was recalled, and Foxey started as suddenly she began upon a song that seemed to burn into his heart and brain. ‘Lordy! oh lordy!” he said, as he sat trem- bling in his seat. ‘‘ Where did she get that song, I wonder?” When she concluded the song the tears were in the boy’s eyes, and seeing that he had again attracted attention to himself, he left his seat and the theater. Going around to the stage entrance, he asked the attendant how long before Miss Flora Dale went home. ‘‘Sho has just finished her song act, and will soon b2 out,” was the answer, So Foxey took his stand not far away in a doorway to watch for her coming. Just then two men came around the corner, and Foxey heard one say, as if continuing a conversation: ‘‘T tell yer ther gal gits a cool sixty dollars a week for her dancin’ and singin’, and she gets paid off to-night for the two weeks she’s been at ther theater, and we might as well have it.” ‘I’m yer pard then, and she wears jewelry too, that sh’u’d be worth something,” was the reply of the other. ‘She does, and we'll make a good heul: but let us watch for.her to come, and then run on to ther vacant lot near where she puts up, and nip her there.” ‘‘Ts she sure to go that way?” ‘ Yas, for she has never missed. ‘‘She takes the car to the street, and walks from whar she gits off,” ‘I'm yer man,” and the two men, who had halted near Foxey, and had been watching the stage entrance to the theater, now walked on. But they halted once more further on. Phat they stood until a female form sudden- ly gli out of the stage entrance, and stood waiting for a car. Instantly the men started off at a rapid pace, -and Foxey gazed upon the one who was evident- ly their intended victim. r - | orem to go,” was Foxey’s rejoinder. She wore a long circular, that completely en- Ot ota”) . i eal i oer Bes * ae 7 < av Pad Ua ae re oes . teh +.~%7 Fy — "ot. - ° - 7 Dee ' <r Fie « *-* The Ferrets Afloat. — — —— ee Se eee ee ee veloped her form, and a soft felt hat with a white plume was upon her head. Soon the car drew up, and, as the young girl ot on the rear platform, Foxey sprung on in ront, He glanced through the window, and though the one he was watching wore a vail, he saw rae she was none other than Flora, the Flower tirl ‘So it is the Flower Girl these rascals intend to rob, is it? ‘¢ We shall see,” said Foxey in his quiet way. CHAPTER XIII. CATCHING A TARTAR, WHEN Flora left the car, at the street which she wished to take to go home, she was surprised to hear her name called. She started, turned, and beheld Foxey. ** Don’t you know me, Miss Flora?” ‘*It is Foxey,” cried the young girl in a tone of delight. ‘‘-Yes, Miss Flora, I am Foxey, and no mis- take: but I hain’t got no time to talk now, for I heard two men plan to rob you at the vacant lot, on your way home, ‘‘ They said you got paid sixty dollars a week, and had some jewelry too, and they watched to see you come out of the theater arid then put off for the place, so I want your bat and circular, and won’t you please look up a policeman and bring him here?” Foxey had given the young girl no time to ask a question, and as she hesitated he added: ‘‘T must have your bat and cloak, and you find the cop.” ‘‘ But they may hurt you, Foxey, and—” ‘‘T hain’t afeerd o’ bein’ hurted, Miss Flora, and I must step lively, so do as [I tells yer, please, afore they suspects suthin’. ‘See, I is fixed,” and Foxey displayed a re- volver. It was but the work of an instant for Flora to transfer her hat and circular to Foxey’s head and back, and he certainly looked like a women, as he hastened away, saying: ‘‘Retch a cop as quick as you kin, Miss Flora.” The girl, bare-headed and cloakless, darted away, while Foxey, at a brisk walk turned the corner and started uP the street, a car having ey peg up to allow an old gentleman to alight. he street was‘a dismal one, only here and there built up, and opposite some vacant lots, on the side that Foxey walked, was a row of dwellings just being built, so that it was a good spot for a bold deed of villainy, such as the two robbers proposed. As he neared the vacant lots, Foxey saw the, two men crouching down bebind a pile of panes and he knew that the moment for action ad arrived. As he drew nearer to them they arose and came toward him, and, just as they approached one said: ‘‘Good-evening, Miss Dale; we are sent by the manager of the theater to see you.” They had approached so as to beable to grasp the supposed maiden upon either side; but to their utter amazement Foxey’s right arm flew out, a dull blow followed, and one man dropped, while the boy covered the other with his revol- ver and said; ‘* Down on your knees, sir, or I'll bore a hole in your head! he man was taken wholly aback, and un- nerved, he quickly obeyed. ‘‘Now up with your hands, sir! there, that will do,” and quick as a flash Foxey had hand- cuffs upon him, ‘* Who are you?” stammered the man. ‘‘ A wolf in sheep’s clothing,” replied Foxey, with a light laugh. ‘¢ You are not the girl?” ‘* No, I’m the boy.” ‘‘ What do you want with me?” **'To jail you.” ‘*T hain’t done nothin’.” ‘No, I did’t give yer time.” ‘‘-You has killed my pal,” ; ‘‘No, I bain’t, I only stunned him a little, for 1 know just how hard to hit, and he’s playin’ ssum. ‘Come, Jake, git out of that and help me,” said the ironed prisoner. ‘‘ Jake’s name will be among the death no- on in the papers if he tries it on,” Foxey said. ‘‘T’ve got money that says it’s yourn if you lets us go.” ‘‘’ve got lead that says it’s yourn if you at- ‘¢ Who are you, boy?” « ee me mn ee —— ‘‘T don’t care to increase my circle 0’ ac- quaintances by tellin’ yer, but here comes a gent whom I'll interdooce to yer,” and Foxey pointed toward a policeman who was hurrying toward | the spot. A moment after he arrived, and said: ‘A young lady told me I would find you here, and two thieves who intended to rob you, be. lieving you to be a girl.” ‘‘ Yes; here are the gentlemen, and I heard them plotting to waylay Miss Flora Dale on her way home. : ‘*So I borrowed her circular and hat, and here we are.” ‘‘ And these men attacked you?” ‘‘They intended to do so, but I was a little too previous for ’em,” ‘‘Ts that man dead?’ and the policeman ~ pointed to the prostrate and motionless form of the man whom Foxey had felled with a blow of his revolver. ‘* No—scared,” was the laconic response, and marie called out to the man: ‘‘ Come, get up, and let us see you!” But the man did not move. ‘Officer, he’s kilt him, I knows, for Jake wats as though he was dead.” “Tf Lkilt him Vl fetch him to,” and Foxey bent over and touched the man, A yellof pain, a curse, and the man sprung to his feet, to be seized by the officer. Foxey laughed and said: ‘‘T tell yer a pin kin raise a heavy weight,” In spite of himself the officer laughed, and having placed handcuffs upon the other pris- oner, be said to Foxey: “You'll come along too?” ‘* No, Pll stay here.” ‘‘But you must come as a witness against these men.” ‘‘T’]] be there, officer,” and calling him aside Foxey whispered something to him. ‘‘No! Well, I’m glad to meet you, for I’ve heard much of you boys,” was the reply. | ‘‘T’ll be on hand in the morning, officer; but where is the young lady?” asked Foxey. ‘¢ She said she would follow me,” ‘‘But she hasn’t, and I'll look her up, for I have her hat and circular,” and Foxey walk off in the direction he had come, while the po- liceman led the prisoners the opposite way to the station. But in vain was it that Foxey searched for Flora, the Flower Girl, for she could nowhere be found! CHAPTER XIV. THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, NEVER in his life had Foxey been so non- lused, as he was at not finding Flora, the ere Girl, at the corner as he had ex What could have become of her he could not, for the life of him, imagine. Had she purposely run away from him? He was aware, from what Wizard Will bad told him, that she knew him to be a detective, and had been while in her employ. Her delight at seeing him, he argued, was at knowing that he had not been foully dealt with by Elegant Ed, who she knew had taken him with him upon the yacht, | Then, remembering that he was a detective, and not wishing him to know of her dwelling~ place, she had fled from bim, after sending the officer to her aid, ‘¢ But can this he the reason, I wonder? . Sa “Hardly, for she must know I can find her out at the theater. “T will go there to-morrow and see what they can tell me about her; but now to go to the lodging-house, and get out of this female © 2 % . bonnet and cloak. ‘Gosh! She’s got my hat; but it’s worth abous ten cents a dozen, while her hat and cloak is very valuable. — | ‘‘T}] have to tie my head up in a handker- chief.” So saying, Foxey tied his handkerchief about his head, and wrapping the hat in the cloak, he started for his retreat in the lower part of the city, He was certainly a suspicious-looking pe hatless, and with a large bundle under his arm, e and several times he was “picked up” by the faithful guardians of the city’s peace. But showing his insignia of office got free, and at last he arrived at the young ferr | quarters, and found most of his comrades ready in bed. 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