Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 485 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— en a 10 Something soft and active had dropped on his bare neck and then jumped with a splash into the water. Owney drew his knife from its sheath and tried to look into the shadows above him. Again! Another squirming, hairy something came on his neck, while what felt like the end of a wet rope struck him on the cheek! ‘Rats: shrieked Owney. The thing like the end of a wet rope was a rat’s tail, and the terrible creatures were falling on him from all directions cats—fierce, cruel and eager for blood. ence, They were jumping from above and alighted on his neck and should«rs apparently by accident. Owney had been carrying the taper and matches | in his left hand, while bis right held the knife, He put the former in his pocket and pressed rap- idly on, not as small as the former one. The rats continued to fall on him occasionally, each time causing bim to shrink and flourish hi; knife with the usutterable horror: that the bravest of men teel of these pestilent vermin. How much longer should he be before he reached the outlet? And when he did get there, would it only be to meet with a horrible death below the foul waters? Owney was no coward, ani he looked on his chances with a calmness that is but seldom at- tained even by men who bear a fair reputation for personal courage. Still he did not hide from himself that his situa- tion was a desperate one. To go back would be impossible, while in going forward he knew that at any moment a rise in the river from any one of a multitude of commen caus*s wonld mean a back-water in the sewer, that would drown him in spite of all his efforts. ‘“*It don’t make any difference,’’ said Owney to himself, as these thoughts rushed over his brain. ‘*L said I'd ‘ git thar,’ and I’m going to do it!” The rats kept on playing around him, and in the phosphorescent light he could distinguish one great gray brute, with yellow fangs showing beneath his whiskers, and sharp eyes that ssemed to be trying to read his thoughts, leaping, swimming, splashing along by bis side, as if with the intention of accom- panying him to his journey’s end. More than once Owney swung his knife aloft as he thought the gray rat was about to attack him, but each time he found his apprehensions were need- less. The gray rat’s intentions were evidently peace- able—so far. The water was getting deeper, and Owney began to think he must be reaching a point where the end of the sewer should be visible. The arch was larger than any through which he had yet come, and as he arrived at another bend he saw in the distance a faint glimmer of light on the surface of the tumpb)ing water, like a suggestion of the moon’s rays, The gray rat by his side saw it, too, for he sprung far out of the water and swam ahead of Owney, as if anxious to reach the spot. Owney could hardly walk now. The water was up to his armpits. A few more steps, and, with his knife thrust into the bosom of his vest, the young oorsman threw himself forward and struck out for the beacou 2 which '\e hoped would show him the way to liberty. The light became plainer as he swam rapidly on with the current. He could see that it streamed through a narrow space between the surface of the water and the top of the sewer arch. Not more than an inch or two of space was there, and Owney felt ashudder run through him as the truth was forced upon him that there was not room enough to swim through. He would be compelled to dive for it! The old gray rit was still swimming by his side, pear ease so near that his body touched Owney’s He kept his eye on the glimmer of light, and tried to calculate when he should plunge under so as to rise outside the sewer. Just as this thought struck him, the light disap- peared. In another instant it was there again. Then it again vanisheu—this time fora longer pe- riod than at first. Horrors! Theriver was rising and filling up the opening of the sewer, He would be drowned like a dog in a sack unless he acted quickly. aS was pitch-dark now. The light had gone alto- gether. For the moment even Owney’s strong . nerve threatened to desert him as he felt the gray rat rub- bing against his face in that supernatural darkness, and he felc as if he must shriek aloud! But he restrained himself. ! ; “Vll git thar’! he hissed to himself. ‘They can't knock me out so easily.” The water was getting higher and higher as he neared the river, until he felt the top o grazing his bair. He must dive now. He calculated that he was near enough tothe arch | go there just now. Things are altogether too warm. to clear the edge when he came up if he struck it just right. . Should he miss it, however, and hit the arch inside it would be certain death! He could not swim any further. The water was r J ¢* is j ‘ iE Pit " x ifn : wig Bo, Ce PE hier ee es iret * Sh) | = - ; ry " U . | Se Pdings Topi > r) > ee cz : A c rou >: al 7 > . “et of ae i . “ Git Thar” Owney, the Un i Sees Ae et | 4 the arch | ———Ee — getting higher every second, and the top of the arch was forcing his head down. The gray rat was close to his face, like fate. ‘** Now for it,’? he thought. ‘Now to prove that ‘Git Thar’ Owney is worthy of his name.” _The foul, rushing water had reached Owney’s It hung to him lips. The fateful moment had arrived. Owney pushed the gray rat away with his right hand. e did not want to be bothered with any- _ thing just now. Great, powerful creatures, as large as good-sized | | foeman whose prowess had been tried in a hundred Se far they seemed to be heedless of his pres: | He felt hike a man about to cross swords with a battles, while he was but a novice in combat. There was no more time for besitation. He turned over on his back and floated for half a minute, to gain strength for the approaching or- deal, Then he drew in a long breath, gathered all his nerve, and with a strong effort, plunged beneath the | water, Soon he came to another smaller archway, though | Down, down he went, until his hands touched the bricks at the bottom of the sewer. The gray rat was still with him! Owney swam as swiftly as he could, with the wa- ter thundering in his ears and the gray rat rubbing against his face, Would he be able to swim far enough to clear the sewer, cr would he find bimself inside when he tried to rise to the surface, and b» held beneath the foul flood until he floated out at low tide a corpse? The thouzht was horrible! He was a strong swimmer, but he was fighting against fearful odds. The water se-med to be pressing on his head red- hot, like molten leaJj, and his eyes and ears felt as.f they would burst! He could not stand it much longer! Would the gray rat rubbing azainst his face attack him as soon as it discovered, by its wonderful in- stinet, that he had given up the contest? The thought nerv: d Owney to further endurance! “TT will * git thar!’ by heaven, I will!’ he deter- mined as he made a few more strokes, Then he was obliged to concede that nature could stand no more, and he slowly rose, The thick water precluded the possibility of his seeing anything. He would know in a few seconds whether he was rising to death or liberty! If his head struck the arch it would be all up with him! Two more strokes and it would be decided! One! Two! His head hit the arch! He was inside the sewer, and the turbid waters would share their prey with the gray rat! CHAPTER X. | A DOG-FIGHT AND A ‘’ SCRAP.”? WHEN Frank Burton appeared on the scene in the hallway of the Broadway saloon and so effectual! closed the mouths of the two pickpockets with h revolver, Scrawny Will was mad enough to have killed every bony present if Le had had the power. As it was, he knew he could not helo himself, and, with a muttered threat that he would beat Frank Burton at his own game yet he told May to follow him and went out on Broadway. He felt satisfied on one point. He had possession of the valuable diamond necklace, and unless Crook Cripps could prove very conclusively that it was his ove peop» honestly obtained, he meant to cep 1 Scrawny Will’s principle was to take everything he could get, and to hold on to it to the lust possible moment, He walked slowly down Broadway with May, try- ing to think what he should do next, Fim Cripps of course could not be used now to try and fix Stretcher Bull. Tbe quarrel which had so marly culminated in murder on the roof of the boarding-house could never be patched up, and he would not employ Jim again. “T shall put him in jail as soon as I have a little spare time,’ was Serawny’s amiable reflection. ‘*At present [have too many Other matters to at- tend to, so he can enjoy bis liverty for a few weeks longer. The bloodthirsty, ungrateful scalawag!” * Where are we going?’ asked May, timidly. “To find your father.” ““Do you know where he is?” ‘*T chink I know where he may be.” i ‘In New York?” ‘7 Yes.”’ ‘* How far is it?” ** Not far.” * Can we walk there?” yea, : May did not trv to get any further information from Scrawny. He was evidently out of humor and was not inclined to answer questions, | ‘* Hallo, Scrawny!” Both May and Scrawny Will turned quickly. ‘* Father!’ was May’s delighted exclamation, ** Well, Crook, where did you spring from?” said Scrawny. ‘“* Why, May. where have you been, and how is it you have found an old friend?” ‘“Tt’s a long story, Crook,” said Serawny Will. ‘““ We were just going down to Baggs’s to see if they had heard anything of you there.” ‘** Not much,” returned Crook Cripps. ‘‘T dasen’t My main object is to keep out of the way of Tom Blodgett. e wants me, or thinks he wants me, for one or two jobs.” ‘Only thinks so, I suppose Crook,” said Scrawny, sarcastically. . “vr known. am ee a re ee eee sr w> ‘In course. I’m just a gentleman of leisure, with ataste for sport, and the thick headed police al- ways make a dead set on gentlemen of my habits.” ‘It is an outrage, Crook, but they will do it,”’ said Scrawny, with mock sympathy. ‘*Yes. Sol’m going back to Pittsburg with my lttle girl,” ** w hen?” ** To-night.”’ * Oh, that necklace. Will you give it to me now, lease?” said May, addressing Scrawny. ‘**What necklace?” said Scrawny, innocently. “What necklace is that?’’ put in Crook, anxious ly. - You have that one I gave you safe, | hope, Well, Crook, it is safe enough, because I have it. But it looks very much like one my aunt lost a week or two ago, and Lam goirg to show it to her,” said Scrawny Will. sneermely, : ‘“Scrawpy Will, I want that necklace.”’ said Crook Cripps, in a dangerously soft and sweet voice. “Crook Cripps, you will get tuat necklace when my aunt says it does not belong to her,” replied Scrawny, in the same tone. “Pil go with you to your aunt’s,” said Crook Cripps, as_ be made a motion to walk on with Scrawny Will. “All right, Crook; come along. She lives next door to a police station, and her husband is a police- man who was detailed to work up the Montville Bank case at the time the job was done, and who gives all his spare hours nuw to Jooking up points connected with it, Comealo-g. Ill introduce you to him and to my aunt, too. You'll find them very nice people.” Crook Cripps ground his teeth. } **See here, Crock,’’ said Scrawny, cvunfidentially., ‘It isno use getting mad, Ill take care of this necklace for a few weeks until [meet you in_ Pitts- burg. I don’t believe it is my aunt’s. and Pll fix things all right with you on the day my boy wins thet race from Stretcher Bull. Do you tumble?” ‘* You mean—”’ ** That’s it,”” ‘“That your boy has got to win?” ** Exactly,” ** Honor bright?”’ “Straight up and down.” ** Where is the boy?’’ “That's what I don’t know.” “Think any one’s been fooling with him ?’’ * That’s whatI do,” said Scrawny, scowling fierce- ly. “ Who?” ** Never mind. I know.” ** But who d’ye mean—F rank Burton?” y! AS el pacer Yes.” . ”” ‘Why don’t you get even, by working his man | will, if I Can, “i : “Trouble is, Stretcher Bull is so ridiculously square that you can’t do nothin’ with him,” said Crook Cripps. ‘* I know it,” acquiesced Scrawny, disconsolately. The three were walking slowly down Broadway during this conversation, when suddenly a great hubbub and shouting behind made them all turn. * Call your confounded dog off!" said a handsome gentleman with plug bat and fashionable garments, as Crook Cripps met his eye. In an instant Crook, Scrawny and May compre- hended the trouble. - ; Sting, who had been modestly walking behind them, attending strictly to bis own business, had been attacked by a little yelping black-and-tan, who had presumed to bite him on the leg. No well-regulated bulldog could stand such an in- sult, and so Sting had gaught the other deg by the neck and was giving him a wholesome shaking. For the moment it looked as if Sting would be called off too late to save the life of the yelper. When a bales shakes anything he does it for all that is in him. ; However, Crook rushed at Sting, caught bim by his leather collar, and with some difficuity pulled him off the other dog. The black-and-tan shook himself together and ran yelping behind a handsomely-dressed laagy who was with the gentleman. The lady and gentleman were our old friends, Miss Vavasour and Basil Oe as the actors who had commissioned * Git Thar’? Owney to flud the stulen diamonds, ‘*Oh, my poor little Juno,” said the lady, lookin down at her still whining dog. ‘They have kille ou!” a: Not a bit of it, madame,” said Scrawny, with a low bow ‘The dogs was only piaying.’ 9 . Miss Vavasour gave Scrawny a look of indignant contempt, Which suddenly changed to one of eager astonishment. ‘‘ Basil,” She whispered to her husband, breath- lessly. ‘** Well, my dear?” “] know where my diamonds are.” “The deuce you do! Where are they?” ‘That man has them.” q Scrawny had turned away, and with Crook Cripps and May was walking slowly down town by time. ‘*What man, my dear? I’m afraid the unpleas- antness betw:en Juno and that ooldes has upset your nerves so much that you imagine things which do not exist.” . ’ “No. I do not,” said Miss Vavasour, positively. “*} know that little man has my necklace. Moreover, I have seen that other big fellow before.”’ "ar * Where?’ ; “T don’t know exactly, but somewhere.” ‘In New York?” ‘““N—o—o,”’ hesitatingly, ‘ ; * Pe a : bo 4 17. re rr | ~ mr. = a 4 ? ey pers py : +s > 7 a: . : in QIMLEdovoOoc oar ae ow - ‘ pO 4 treet} DA Fs + ™~ sopecrnay a wF a . ay we ~ ~ . k 4 i 2 ny Bae _” ; ~~) “~ — fi