Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 485 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Se ** Philadelphia?” ““No.”’ “Boston, Chicago, Brooklyn, Frisco, London, Jer- Bey City, Timbuctoo?” ‘No—no. And I think you are very unkind to laugh at me,” said Mis Vavasour, getting ready to cry. ‘Where do you think it was?” **T have it!’ “‘Thank Heaven!” *“‘T know where I saw him!” ** Where?” ** Pittsburg.” ** Pittsburg?” sé Yes, pe] ‘Where did you see him there, and when?” “The last time we were there. He was loafing around outside the theater, and I nelieve he had something to do with stealing my necklace.” ‘*T do not see why you should suspect him, be- cause he happened to be outside the theat~r, and is now in New York. Everybody comes to New York at some time or other,’’ said the gentleman, with a cool smile that aggravated his better half to an al- most unbearable extent, ‘Basil Montgomery,”’ said Miss Vavasour, solemn- ly, ‘‘ that litile man Has my necklace.” ‘* How do you know?” “T saw it.” “What?” “T saw it when he stooped just now.” ‘“‘ Nonsense!” “No nonsense at all. He has it in one of his up- er vest pockets, and when he bowed to mein that nsolent way, 1 just caught a glimpse of the stones shining there.” Basil Montgomery laughed aloud. ‘‘My dear girl,” he said, “you are an or'ginal., You see something glistening in the vest pocket of a man—a perfect stranger—and you at once jump to the conclusion that he is in possession of some diamonds that you lost several weeks ago in a city nearly five hundred miles away. \Vhy, even allow- ing, for the sake of argument, that he had some diamonds in his pocken you have no particular rea- son to suppose that they were yours. Do you know how many million dollars worth of dressed dia- monds there are estimated to be in the world?” **Now, Basil, you need not try to vhange my opin- ion by talking statistics.” “T only wanted to show you that with the num- ber of diamonds in existence, you could not be sure that you saw your particular diamonds in that man’s pocket, That was all.” “Tt wasn't the diamonds that I noticed,” ‘What then?” ‘*My large emerald,” *¢ Your emerald?”’ ‘* Vos. . “Are you sure about that?” ‘* Positive.” Basil Montgomery whistled thoughtfully. ‘That alters the case,’ he said, ‘* I will soon find out what he has in his pocket,” ‘“*How?” ‘{ will ask him, and if necessary, charge him with theft,” returned Basil, determinedly. ‘You walk on slowly. I will hurry after him,” * All right, dear. If you get my necklace back, I will say you are better than the whole detective force,’ said Miss Vavasour, with a delighted smile. Basil Montgomery, though his friends said he was a dude, who thought more of the curl of his mus- tache and the set of his collar and necktie than any- thing else, could be serious enough when he chose, Moreover, beneath the surface of carelessness and laziness, there was a good deal of manhood, He was a dead-shot with the revolver, could row a mile with the best amateur who ever sat in a boat, and could handle the gloves like a professional ugilist. He was a dange ous man to fool with when his blood was up, as more than one “tough” had discovered to bis cost ere now. He walked swiftly down Broadway through the crowd, trying to catch sight of Scrawny Will and his companions. It was no easy task, and he had traversed several blocks before he saw any signs of them. Then he saw them just turning a ccrner. Yes, there they were, walking rather faster than there seemed any occasion for, He quickened his pace, and saw that Crook was looking over his shoulder as if apprehensive of pur- t. 4 Halle, there! Stop!’ cried Basil holding up his n ; But Crook Crlppa's only response was to take May by the arm and hurry still more, ‘He evidently did not wish to have anything more to say to Basil Montgomery. Serawny Will was several steps ahead of Crook and May, and was making better time than any one. . - . * Hold on there, I tell you!” called Basil again, as he broke intoarun. __, He was rapidly diminishing the distance between himself and the others and was Just about to grasp Crook Orinps by the shoulder, when a burly fellow, just stepp.ng out of a doorway, came right in his way jostled against him. Who are yer shovin’?” said the burly man, ‘Get out of my road," said Basil. K “Git out o’ my road,” said the other.“ Guess you ain't got any mortgage on this sidewalk, hev yer?” Basil Montgomery saw that Crook Cripps was get- ting away from him, and that Scrawny Will had already disappeared. ‘mpetuously he put his hand on the stranger’s breast and gave bim 4 vigorous h. Pike a flash the right hand of the other shot out f a 4 yt are te Bal hy « is 4 as , * ds _ Bee .. ( - d ’ “f Pee ari ‘4% v, be ra eke “ % uP + ,er} re s , Ta , + aba ae 2 ee —, ak tC . Tay a4 Gg ’ ° . 9) 2 a Git Thar” Owney, the Unkno wri. Yo SRE Le Pee eh yrs FF 1k SATS Ces ey te A 2 SL a RETR RR en swans and gave Basil a stinger in the mouth that jarred | saw himself asa detective hunting down criminals him until he thought every tooth in his head was loosened. Basil did not stop to groan, however. handy with his fists for that. The knuckles of his assailant had hardly touched his face before Basil had countered and put one in the big man’s eye that sent it into mourning right away, “Oho! my fine sweil! You think you can spar, do you? Come on an’ L’ll paste yer till yer own mother won't know yer from a plate of East side hash.” It was a quiet side-street, and not a soul besides themselves was to be seen. Scrawny, Crook Cripps, May and the bulldog had all got clear away. Basil needed no second invitation from his big antagonist, and at it they went hammer-and-tongs. The blows flew thick and fast for a second or two, and then both men bad acquired a good deal of re- spect for each other’s science, The stranger, who had every appearance of the toughest kind of *‘sport,’? was rather surprised that a dudish-looking, well-dressed gentleman like Basil Montgomery, could give him such a whirl, while the latter realized that, however ignorant and unedu- cated the big man might be, he had certainly mas- tered the science of boxing, They sparred for breath, walking cautiously around each other and trying to get an opening. Then Basil’s left hand reached the other’s chest, while hig rizht lifted him under the chin. In return he got a crash on the forehead that made his head- ache and sent his silk hat spinning into the middle of the street. Slap! Slap! Crash} Crash! He was too Bang! Bang! A well-directed blow, straight from the shoulder, and Basi! stretched his antagonist at full length on the sidewalk, his head striking a lamp-post and knocking him insensible for a moment. Basil Montgomery picked up his hat and tried to smooth his ruffled plumage, just as Miss Vavasour arrived on the spot and fainted away at the sight of the blood on her husband’s face and the apparently dead man at bis feet. “Oh, Basil! What is the matter?” ‘* Nothing, my dear, only I have lost track of the little man who has your necklace,” said Basil, look- ing rather ashamed of himsclf, ‘But, Basil, you are hurt!” ‘*No, mum, be ain’t hurt,” said the big man, on the sidewalk, as he sat up and felt his head. ‘“ But I’m dog-goned if he aint hurt me. He strikes a blow like a thousand of brick, and I respect him. Didn’t think any swell could lay me out like that, An’ if there’s anything as Jim Cripps kin do ter oblige you, he’s goin’ to do it, now. You hear me, I saw a feller runnin’ away from you who I thought was dead, as he ought ter be. If you want to get the nippers on him I'll help yer all] can.” “That little man—do vou know him?” asked Basil, as Jim Cripps arose to his feet. “Know him! Well, I guess there ain’t no one as knows Scrawny Will better nor I do, and he’s played dirt 0» me, too,”’ ‘Can you tell me where I can find him ?”’ asked Basil, eagerly. ‘**] know where you can find bim next week,”’ said Jim Cripps. “Where?” ** Pittsourg.’ ‘*' You are sure of that?” “Yes. He’s a engineering a boat race there for the 6th of July, between an unknown and Stretcher Bull, an’ he’ll be there right along until the event comes off,’’ » * I’ve got five hundred on that unknown myself,” said Basil, “ but I didn’t know that little man had anything to do with it. Could you go to Pittsburg with me next week if I made it worth your while?” * Tl go anyhow. though in course I ain’t above making a ten-dollar bill in an honest way,” returned Jim Cripps. “Very well, Then call on me at ten o’clock to- morrow morning at 702 87 sireet, and we'll make further arrangements,” said Basil Montgomery. ** Good-night.”’ * Good-night.” answered Jim Cripps, as the lady and gentleman sauntered away,. adding: ‘‘ Gosh! He does strike a heavy blow, Id like to see him in full trainin’, Well, the two of us ought to be a match for Scrawny Will, even if he can fall off a house without gittin’ burt.” CHAPTER XI. THE DIAMOND NECKLAOE TURNS UP AGAIN. WHEN ‘*“‘Git Thar’ Owney felt bis head strike the arch and found he could not get his mouth and nostrils out of the water he gave himself up for lost. He had held his breath so long that his brain was reeling, The force with which he had come in collision with the arch when he arose was sufficient to send him down again several feet. He ceased struggling for he felt that it was of no use trying to swim any longer. and besides it is doubtful if he could have done so anyhow, for his senses were fast leaving him, while the fearful singing and rumbling in his ears were getting louder and louder ° He seemed to forget where he was, and the pain of suffocation that had at first caused him such agony was giving way to an almost pleasurable sensation, while. like 4 panorama all the events of his short but busy life passed in review before him, He saw himself. a curly-heoded boy playing at his mother’s knee, in far-away Pitrsburg. Then 'e was trying his streng'h and skill with the oar on the forest-lined waters of the Monongahela or be- tween the grassy slopes fringing the Ohio. Anon he i ¢@ in theslums of Pittsburg or among the disused coal mines and woods of the surrounding country. Next a sweet face that he had seen only a day or two before, but that had impressed itself upon his youthful imagination like a beautiful dream, effaced everything else, and he thought he wes talking to May, the young, innocent girl whom he had found so suddenly and strangely throwr on his protection in alarge city. ‘Ihen—bluckness! He lost consciousness, with the water gurglin in his ears and his curly hair thrown hither an thither across his white face with the action of the stream, while the gray rat swam around him and seemed to be wondering whether he was really dead. ‘Haul up, Dave! By Jehoshaphat, I believe I’ve got something.” ; “What is it?” *T you tell me I'll give it to you.’ ‘What do you think it is?” “Tl tell you in a minute.” The speakers were two men, ip a stout yawl, who were fishing for anything that might turn up at the mouth of a great sewer in the East River. Their fishing tackle consisted of two stout ropes attached to a large round basket, with grappling- hooks hung around it to seize any stray article that might escape the basket. The sewer where they were fishing was that through which “Git Thar’? Owney had been trying to make his way tothe river. The men were of the regular river rat description, All was fish that came to theirnet. Sometimes it was jewelry, sometimes bank-notes, sodden and almost destroyed, but which could often be redeem- ed. when the printing and numbers could be de- ciphered at all by the aid of powerful magnifying glasses. Sometimes bundles of clothing, table linen, dry goods, or what not stolen in some midnight raid on a large store, and which the thieves, not dar- ing to keep on account of a hot pursuit. had cropped. into the ever convenient sewer, Sometimes the “fish” would be «f a ghastly kind—the corpse of some victim of robbery and murder, sent to finda nameless grave in the river that flows so swiftly to- ward the Atlantic. Whatever the ‘'fish”’ might be, it could nearly always be turned to the profit of those who angled for it. ‘‘1iw’s mighty heavy,” said the man called Dave, as be tugged at the rope. **Never mind; pull away.” responded the other. “One more, and—there sbe is.” ‘*You're wrong. It ain’t no she. It’s a_ he,” laughed Dave, cheerily. *“* Blest if I didu’t think it was a stiff, from the way it pulled.” “lt'ga a Dave.”’ ‘“Well, I know it. A blind man could see that. Give me a band till we get him into the boat.” The two men seized Owney, and, with a simultane- ous swing, lifted him over the gunwale and laid him flat on the bottom of the yaw). ‘*Guess he’s a goner,” said Dave, looking down at Owney’s white face. “Dunno about that. He ain't been in the water very long. that’s sure. 1t’s worth tryin,. Grab that other oar and give way.” Without another word the two men dropped into their places at the oars, and with a few long, power- ful strokes, rowed to the dock near where the mouth of the great sewer was hidden under the water while Owney’s white face shown like a marble mask in the cold moonlight, For half an hour did the two rough but kindly ‘fishermen ’ spply all the orthodox remedies for the restoration of the apparently drowned, The rolled the patient on a barrel; they rubbed an pounded him; they stood him on bis head to pour the w: ter out of him, and they lifted him to his feet to try and set his heart and brain working. “Tm afraid he is gone, Dave,” said one of the men, as Owney still showed no signs of life. ‘*Dunno but what he is, myself,’ responded Dave, regretfully. * Ahoy, there!” shouted a voice from the river, ‘ 2 ae answered Dave and his companion in & reath. A man in a light boat. resting easily on his oars, was visible in the early morving light. He wore simply an undershirt and drawers, and was evident- ly an athlete taking bis daily practice, ‘What are you doin’ there?” asked the man in the beat. “Trying to worry scm: life inte a drowned boy.” V ithout another word the man in the boat pulled vigorously to the shore. end ran up the water-worn steps of the dock to where Owney and bis would-be rescuers were. The new-comer gave one swift glance at pallid face, and said: ** Just what I thought.”’ “What?” asked Dave. ‘**Look here. stranger,” said the athlete. this boy, and he’s as square a man asl ever met, We have go/ to bring bim arourd, Stretcher Bult ain’t goin’ to see him wiped out //7s way if anything can save him,” ‘Gosh! Are you Stretcher Bull?” asked Dave, in admiring tones, **'That’s what I am.” ‘Then let me shake hands with the squarest mar as ever stepped into a boat, I ve got a fifty up om you for the sixth of July race, and i know you will win my money for me.” “Til try,” replied Stretcher Bull, as he permitted the other to wring bis hand. ‘But that ain’t the Owney's | point just now I want to save this boy.” ’ ~ As he spoke Owney heaved a faint sigh. “Jump into my boat and give me that brandy Te ; . ; ; oe : f vA ¥ } ro L “ r] - ¥ “ os kal Cee re Co ) re ( a a aN EF PS Se? te ' = “Tknow | isa ge a + ne .