Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 512 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

well! L bs eras 6 o} ary A i a py che - % 4 ee a a ‘ . a 4 ? + oy ie re. nq Tie + oe = ‘ hata " Dodger Dick. ce s + ; 4 7, * ale v* ra” ‘(ad d ; ** Certainly,” exclaimed Fleece, without hesita- tion. ‘‘Allthe law in Christendom couldn’t | cheat the heir.” ‘““A thousand thanks,” and Larry’s hand reached forward for the documents. * That is all for the present, Mr. Fleece.” ** All?” echoed the old heir-finder, leaning back in his chair and giving Larry a sharp look through his glasses, ‘‘ You could have trans- acted this business at my office. Have you dragged me to this place to get an opinion which could have been given anywhere?” “T have a method of my own,” spoke the: young man rather sharply, though the next mo- ment his voice melted into a softer tone. ‘“‘I pecseenes privacy away from a _ business office, . Fleece,” he went on. ‘Don’t you want my services?” asked the title-hunter. **] may need you.” ‘* Which opens the door for you to employ some one else!” snapped Fergus Fleece, ‘* Very You are at liberty to employ whom you piease, There are better offices than mine up- town. My furniture wouldn’t bring twenty-five dollars, but Fergus Fleece wouldn’t swap places with the richest title Jawyer in New York.” The old fellow had left his chair and stood mid- way between table and door with an antiquated hat in bis hand. His eyes sparkled like the little orbs of a teased serpent. ‘* As] am dismissed I will say that my bill is twenty-five dollars!” he exclaimed, ‘*PDo you want to break a man up?” cried Larry. ‘‘ Twenty-five dollars; consultation and exam- ination,” was the cold reply. It was more money than Larry had on his person at that moment. ‘* I'd better pay the old leech,” muttered the young man. ‘‘He has given me more than twenty-five dollars’ worth of counsel. I can now afford to put the matter into other hands.” ‘* Wait a moment,” he said, to Fergus Fleece, and then disappeared from the room. In a little while he came back with some bills in his hands, The title-hunter stood where he had left him, and it took but a moment to pay him his de- mand. ‘‘Tf IT want you again I will call,” sneered Larry, as Fleece got to the door. ‘‘’m at everybody’s service,” was the reply. ** Good-night, Mr. Lang.’ Fergus Fleece went down the stairs, and Larry heard the front door shut behind him. ‘‘This is a pretty good night’s work!” ejacu- lated the young man, as he began to gather up the papers which Fergus Fleece had gone over. ‘* There may be the founcation of a colossal for- tune in this little by-play of mine. I— What has become of the last paper Fergus Fleece ex- amined?—the important one?” Larry seemed to hold his breath as he ran over the papers with care. He looked at them one after another and laid them on a pile. ‘*It is gone!” he cried. ‘‘The old shark has robbed me. He knew just what to take, too. The remaining papers are worth nothing with- out the one he carried off. I was a fool to leave him alone a second. I must beat him. I can’t have him arrested. No! I dare not do that!” CHAPTER IX. A SLEEK RASCAL. THe next morning before Peter Prayne the merchant went down town to his place of busi- ness, he was visited by a boy whom he had never seen before. | The girl who opened the door to the youth’s ring was about to dismiss him when he said in a raised voice that he desired to see Mr. Prayne on very important business. The merchant himself heard the words and the caller was admitted. ‘“*T am Dick Sly,” was the self-introduction, asthe boy, well-built and good-looking,confronted him in the library. ‘‘Well, Richard, what can I do for you?” was the response. ‘*T came to say that you are going to have an important visitor to-day.” | ** At the store?” asked the merchant, seeming- ly interested at once, ‘‘ At the store if he cannot find you at home, where I think he prefers to see you.” ‘*He has a preference then?’ smiled the mer- - ehant. nodded. “The visitor, who is a good-looking, stylish young, man, is coming to see you about your ¢ 4 The merchant started, and a cloud of sadness instantly enveloped his face. ‘‘Am I to be bled again?” he exclaimed. ‘* ‘What does this fellow know, my boy?” ‘That is just what I want to find out!” de- elared Dick, as his eyes got a bright gleam. Peter Prayne looked puzzled, ‘*The man to come is named Larry pe ok the boy went on. ‘He is to call here at ten o’clock. Can’t you manage to let me hear what he has to say?” ‘* This is becoming a mystery,” remarked the merchant. ‘‘I am to havea visitor, a perfect stranger, and you, a boy whom I never saw before, want to overhear the interview. Who are you, and what brings you here on this singular errand?” The dock detective took a step toward Peter Prayne. ‘“As I have told you, I am Dick Sly,” he re- plied. ‘I spend most of my time on the river front spotting the river rogues,” ‘*Maybe you’re the boy who furnished the police with a clew to the wharf rats who tam- pered with some of our goodsa yearago. Are you that boy?” ‘* Maybe I am,” answered Dick with a flush. ‘Then [ am almost ready to grant any re- quest you want to make, hat is it, sir? You want to hear the interview between Mr. Lang and myself, I believe?” ** That is it.” ‘*Then you shall, every word of it!” A sparkle in Dick’s eyes showed that he was delighted. ‘*T can conceal you behind yon curtain that conceals some. books,” continued Mr. Prayne. ‘*Is this Mr, Lang honest in his business?” ‘*By no means. He is merely a go-between for others.” ‘*Then I am to treat him accordingly?” ‘*By no means!” demurred the boy quickly. **T would like to bave him go aun with the impression that you believe him the pink of honesty.” **T will do it. have been annoyed so much since I lost m boy that we seldom admit anybody. I will give orders to have Mr. Lang admitted when he comes.” As it was approaching the hour for Larry Lang’s expected call, Dick Sly did not quit the house, but remained in the library, | At last the clear tones of the bell echoed through the mansion. ‘‘ Larry’s on time!” ejaculated Dick. ‘Fix yourself behind the curtain. answer the ring in person,” and as the Wharf Spy Detective disappeared the merchant left the room. He presently returned accompanied by a man whose voice the boy among the books instantly recognized, : ‘“‘T am pleased to see you, Mr. Lang,” said the merchant with well feigned politeness that sent a satisfied smile over Dick’s face. ‘*To what business am I indebted for this call?” ‘*T have called to talk about a matter which I know must be always near your heart,” was the answer. ‘‘ Some time ago you lost a son, a mere child, who disappeared mysteriously in the streets of New Vouk.” ‘That is true, Mr. Lang. ‘Years have passed since that terrible catastrophe, and the mystery remains unsolved, like the mystery that en- velops the fat: of Charley Ross.” ‘*But you haven’t given up _ hopes, Mr, Prayne?” asked Larry, who had taken an arm- chair near the merchant’s private desk. ‘* While there is life, hope lasts,” was the an- swer. ‘*One would think that I had exhausted all the means of discovery.” ‘* Yon have followed up many futile clews no doubt?” _“Scores of them! Some of the best detec- tives in New York tell me that the lost will never be found, but I have hopes that the unex- pected will happen.” ‘That is why I am here,” ejaculated Larry. ‘*T believe the unexpected is about to happen.” ‘* Concerning my son?” “Yes. A certain person who does not want to appear in the transaction came to me recently and asked if the reward you offered for your son’s return was still good.’ ee “Tt is good as ever,” was the response. ‘‘Then I believe hope has found a tangible foundation. Now, all preliminary remarks aside, Mr, Prayne, I am here to say that your son can be placed in your arms for a certain sum. Larry paused and looked at the merchant as if to note the effect of his announcement, . ‘“*T have been deceived so often that—” It is almost ten o’clock now. I poor I will ‘‘ But this is no deception!” And Larry leaned forward and laid his hand on the merchant’s ar 3 Ji . ‘es . ant) - ? 7% knee. ‘I happen to know something aboutthe = — man who came to me with the proposition. While there is a bar sinister against him—I am going to be fair with you, you see—he will keep every promise he makes. He has said tome un- der oath that for the sum of fifty thousand dol- lars your son will be restored,” ‘‘Hewas kidnapped then?’ exclaimed Peter rayne ‘‘T am asked to condone a felony, am Larry drew back, and the boy behind the cur- tain bit his lips vexatiously. _ ‘‘T am here to offer no opinion,” replied Lar- ry. ‘*My sole desire in this matter 1s to see you happy, and your son and heir under your roof once more, The man who makes the proposition which involves the payment of fifty thousand dollars for the return of your son, I believe is in a position to keep his part of the programme to the letter,” . A short silence followed Larry’s little speech. ‘“ When can the agreement, if made, he car- ried out, Mr. Lang?” ‘* Within forty-eight hours.” **Do you know where the boy is?” ‘* No, the secret is the property of the man. who makes the proposition. I only agreed to bring it to you from a desire to see the lost re- stored.” How disinterested Larry was! How eager the oung tapper of Solomon Strauss’s till was to ave justice done! The Eat brought asmile of derision to Dick Sly’s face. and hé wanted to rush from his hiding: p!ace and read a portion of Larry’s past for Peter Prayne’s benefit. | ‘‘ You are to convey my reply to the man, are you?” suddenly asked the merckant. ‘* T promised to,” was the response. * He requests an answer in writing. You have but to say that you accept his proposition and sign your name to it. Do you think he asks too much?” ‘““No. Ican easily see that he wants to pro. tect himself. What if I should refuse, Mr, Lang?” ‘*T can imagine that the man would become incensed,” . And never make a similar proposition, eh?” es. Peter Prayne turned to his desk and took up a n. ‘‘ When and how is the money to be paid?” he asked, with a glance at Larry. ‘¢ That, will be settled a little further on.” _ The next moment the merchant was writing slowly, and when he had finished he handed his work to the young scamp. ‘““That will do, I think,” remarked Larry, glancing oP from the writing which was aD ac- ceptance of the rw: lately made, ‘That is further than I have ever gone be- fore,” added the merchant verbally to the vote. ‘‘ T trust a great deal to your individual honesty ip this affair, Mr. Lang.” clerk ‘If I become an humble instrument in the hands of justice I sball feel honored.” | Meantime Larry bad folded the note and placed it safely in his pocket. A moment later he left his chair with an air which indicated that his business was con- cluded. . \ ‘¢ When will I hear from the—the negotiator?” uestioned Peter Prayne, turn from your store, delivered at your place of business.” “ That will do.” - When Larry turned bis back on the room and walked out Dick the dock rat came fromhis — hiding-place. His eyes had a triumphant sparkle. ‘The rascal knows how to play a game as coolly as his pal, Jack o’ Diamonds!” he exclaim- ed. ‘“ I didn’t think it was In Now, let me follow the trail I bave struck, sults.” the library, He front steps. _ y ‘Well, my boy— ‘** Not now, clutching the merchant's arm, ‘ your part admirably. The fellow isno slouch as a go-between, Now let me see what is going to come of it. I want to gat upon the street im- mediately, but not through your front doo ” : we ‘Follow me, then,” exclaimed the who seemed to appreciate the need of. he led Dick to a wicket, through which he mM Ae . . Sie r. Prayne,” dapat ace . ou a ‘on ¢ 4 a ee aS y ‘ ie stax) > C & ~ > ‘“‘T think you can trust me,” answered the ex. _ G is mistaken, it will lead to two important re — At that moment the merchant came back to _ al had just dismissed Larry at the — “— - - ‘ 4 ’ : » ot _ “wa © a ' J yO u A aw : ‘Sometime between now and the time youre- : A sealed message Will be - - 7