Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 516 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

His manner showed that he had no especial fear of danger, and it was clear that he had kept out of sight so long, not because he knew that Tim Thistle was on his track, but from more natural causes, ** He’s in, but what am I ter do?’ mused the boy. ‘‘ Will he stay dere, or come out ag’in? Dat’s de question!” It was an important one in his mind, for upon it depended his own course. If Palgrave was to gO away again at once, the Tartar wished to be on the street and follow him. If he was to re- main in his room, the boy had a way planned for spying upon him. The two houses in the pale were of one building, so to speak, and Palgrave’s and Tim’s rooms were side by side, with only the brick wall between them, Furthermore, each window had a small balcony, and the two were not over four feet apart. Believing that he might some time wish to listen at Palgrave’s window, Tim had long be- fore conveyed to his own room a board which, laid upon the two balconies, would bridge the intervening distance. Hence his present anxiety to know what Pal- grave intended to do, While he hesitated he saw something more. The burly form of Tip Higgins loomed up, with another man as his companion, and the two ad- vanced and entered the next house. ** Dat settles it!” cried the Tartar. ‘‘ They’re goin’ in ter see de cap’n, an’ it’s meself will hear what they say ef it's in de books. Look out, ye schemers! I’m a-comin’!” He hurried across the room and drew the board from its place of concealment under the bed; he carried it to the window; he crawled out upon the balcony; he carefully placed the board upon the two balconies in the bridge form before mentioned. It was an exceedingly narrow bridge, and a fall therefrom would doubtless prove fatal. He scarcely seemed to give this a thought, but crawled lightly and quickly along the board. He reached the second balcony; tested and found it firm; and was then ready for the next act in the drama, The window-shade was down, as he had expected, and the lower sash was raised; all seemed favorable for his venture. The sound of voices inside Was very plain, and with all the caution possible, he moved one side of the shade a little. Palgrave, Higgins and the other man were seated at a table, talking earnestly. ‘‘T wish to bring one matter to your attention at once,” said Captain Tiger. ‘‘I refer to Jed Jackley.” ‘‘That feller is a blamed traitor!” declared Hig ins, thumping the table angrily. ; ae my idea,” ‘‘ He may deny it all he sees fit, but I b’lieve *twas him that sot that infarnal boy onter us,” ** Beyond a shadow of doubt,” answered Cap- tain Tiger, ‘‘ he hired the lad to follow me, and if I had not been on the alert he would have— learned too much. The boy was a keener. Wonder what has become of him?” ‘‘ Don’t b’lieve he’ll come mousin’ round meno more,” said Tip, with a grin. ‘‘T am not so sure of that; you can’t tell what a boy willdo. That chap wassharp and shrewd, However, we won’t talk of him any more; prob- ms he has no idea where we are now.” Mr. Leonidas Palgrave had seen the small, eager face at the window he would not have been so sure of that, but Tim Thistle only al- lowed a small section of his face to be visible— he was watching with one eye only, ‘But about Jackley,” résumed. the burglar captain. ‘‘I regard this man as treacherous— dangerous.” ‘Looks like it,” replied the third burglar, “vet he worked mantfully when we did the job at the old maid’s house. He opened the safe well and carefully, and cautioned us not to leave any trail in the yard. He held the sponge to chiorof ‘m both Miss Sykes and the servant.” Tim Thistle’s eyes gleamed; he made one discovery, anyhow; he knew who committed ad burglary of which Five Points Phil had told “All this was natural,” Palgrave replied, “Let us admit that he did contemplate treach- ery. Well, events occurred which threw sys- (picion'upon him. How could he better remove t ace than by doing the next job in Ai sha ‘* That’s sound reasonin’,” quoth Higgins, with an emphatic nod, “Jackley’s guilty, Hobbs; ore ye rs otherwise,” mien” tiga m not opposing Captain Tiger,” re Hobbs, looking nervously ~ that person. “What the captain says, goes, Jed’s case does look bad.” OO rr cr " - po | P * . . ee r ; @ * ‘**[’'m in favor of putting him under restraint,” said Palgrave. ** How?” ‘* Confine him in this room.” ‘* Kin it be done?” “Why not?” ‘* First, the folkses 0’ the house might kick—” “They will not. I know their way, and for a few dollars they will hold Jackley in a vise- like grip until we find a better place for him— or silence him !” The tone in which the last words were pro- nounced brought an involuntary shiver to Tim Thistle’s form. He was dealing with a desper- ate man; woe be to him if he was detected, ‘But it strikes me this is a mighty poor prison,” Hobbs observed, lookind around, ‘*We will tie Jackley up, gag him, bind him to the bed, and let him rest, @ won't give any alarm, [ think, and in a day or two I will re- move him to a’safer place.” ** That'll work.” ~ * Are you with me?” ‘“‘T am,” said Hobbs. ‘* So be I,” added Higgins, ‘Hark! I hear footsteps. I think he’s com- ing. Keep mum!” A peculiar knock sounded at the door. Pal- grave arose and opened it, and Jed Jackley en- tered. He spoke to all the other men bluffly, and assumed the air of one whese conscience is clear, but even to Tim Thistle it was evident that he was illat ease and nervous. He took the fourth seat at the table, and a brief, ominous silence followed. Jackley brush- ed his hand across his face, ‘and remarked that the room was very warm, ‘** Hadn’t I better raise the shade?” he added, glancing toward the window. Tim Thistle heard the question with dismay. If this was done all his hopes were ruined, to say the least, and there was no knowing what Captain Tiger would do with one twice detected asa spy. ‘The Tartar breathed freer as he heard Palgrave’s reply. ‘*No; let the shade alone. I don’t hold con- ference here with uncurtained windows, so that every prying old woman can look across the ards and see us. Not much! Jed Jackley, I ave a word to say to you!” His voice had grown hard, and Jackley chang- ed color perceptibly. He wished then that he had curbed his idle curiosity, and been content to let Captain Tiger remain an unknown. ‘* Circumstances,” continued the burglar cap- tain, ‘‘ lead me to believe that you are not what you should be. You have been a member of my and for some time, and I have regarded you as an average man. Recently, however, you €V1- dently decided that you ought to be better in- formed. In leading the band I have been visi- ble only on the surface. I marked the game and you bagged it, but, while you suspected that I was leading a double life, you did not know any- thing about me except that I was Captain eb You, Jackley, led by undue, womanish curi set a boy to dog me—” **T deny it; [ never did!” Jackley spoke vehemently, while his pale, per- Spiration-dotted face told of great alarm. ‘* We believe you did.” **Cap’n, I sw’ar that | ain’t guilty!” ‘Of course you do; you would be a fool to confess. Well, without arguing the case further —I positively decline to do so—let me say that we have weighed all the testimony, and—we find you guilty.” , Jackle broke out into wild, energetic protes- tations, but the leader cut him short. ‘*No words!” he ordered. ‘* Don’t think that you miserable life is in danger, for it is not; am no assassin, and would scorn to kill such a creature as you, anyhow. This much I do propose to do, however: The interests of the band demand that you be kept a prisoner for a week or so, and we propose to tie you up, bind you_to yonder bed, and leave you here awhile. You will be a prisoner, but food and water will be freely given you.” As Palgrave spoke, be removed a coil of small rope from under his coat, and cast it upon the table, and then he drew a revolver and held it where all could see, ‘¢Bind the man!” he said, Jackley did not have the courage to fight three men, with Palgrave’s revolver already drawn, and he could only yield quietly and hope for the best. He was bound to the bed and gagged, being rendered wholly helpless. This done, the captain repeated his assertion that no bodily harm would be done him. He must remain there alone, a prisoner, but he would be properly fed and, in due time, set free under conditions to be named later. -~ Fe oe iA « Sau, ~~ “ c - " - s '; a 0 + » ied? abut << es yn ie) esl s > ‘ >. ee we o " ot Af tea) « ee 7 « . 4 ; r 2 A C eS eee r ao bes Me to —. . aise - nl | FP wey 2 When all had been said, Palgrave, Higgins: and Hobbs departed. J ackley =e left alone in the room, but not quite so deserted as he thought.. ren Thistle was near, and full of activity and ideas, The Tartar had determined to release Jed at. once, if he could, but some caution was neces- sary. He first retreated to his own rvom, and watched to see if Palgrave and his other men really left the house. e had the satisfaction of seeing them come out and walk away, and then he hastened back over the balcony bridge. Jackley looked very much astonished when he: saw the small boy craw] into the window, but a look of hope suddenly flashed over his coarse: face as he recognized Tim. He tried to speak, but only produced an indistinct mumbling. The Tartar, however, promptly liberated him,. and, holding up a warning finger, spoke before ded could do so, ‘* Hush! nota word, It’s yer life depinds on allenic now. Foller me, an’ I'll git ye out ave this. Jed hesitated at sight of the aerial bridge, but, his fear of Captain Tiger was so great, he was. ready to run any danger to get away from him, He crawled along the board, feeling the bal- conies tremble under his weight, and was soon in Tim Thistle’s room, Then he grasped the young rescuer’s hand with effusive gratitude: ‘*By George, boy, yowrea trump keerd! [I thought I’s gone fur sure, but you’ve pulled me- outer the fire, so ter speak. Ef you ever wanta friend, say so, an’ I'll shed the last drop o’ my blood fur ye, by thunder!” ‘*T want one now,” quoth Tim. Jed’s ardor suddenly cooled, as though touched by frost. “Eh? You do?) In what way?” ‘“* Pve helped ye out ov yer fix, an’ now I want you ter tell all ye know about Cap’n Tiger an” de Sykes robbery.” The burglar’s eyes opened widely. “Say, wouldn’t ye like the hull State o’ New York?” he asked, ‘All I want is what I tol’ ye,” Tim quietly replied. “‘ Till what I said ter a detective, or magistrate, an’ Pll ax no more.” _** Modest, you be, by thunder! git myself inter Sing Sing, don’t yer?” “De gang has gone back on ye; why shouldn't yez do de same?” ‘* Because I won’t, that’s why.” ‘You must!” said Tim, with sudden firmness. ‘* 'm int’rested in this case, an’ bound ter see it: through. Ef you don’t do what I ask, it’s me self will hand yez over ter a p’liceman, an’ den. it’ll be too late ter turn State’s ividence,” ‘*Yowll hand me over? growled Jackley,. viciously. ‘*'Yis, I will!” the Tartar doggedly replied. ‘You forgit we are in this room, all alone!” the burglar hissed. “‘Try ter molest me, an” Ill strangle ye like the young hound ye be!” ‘ That’s all right, but I ain’t scared,” the boy’ firmly answered, ‘‘I mean business. Will ye: do ez I said, or shall I call a p’liceman?” —_—_— _ ———- CHAPTER XT. STELLA TELLS THE SECRET. HAVING arrived at a decision, Brown, the detec-. tive, acted promptly, He went to Mr. Bainbridge’s of ea and was soon in the presence of Harry thelby, ‘Glad to seé you, Brown,” said the young man. ‘Js there any news?” ‘‘T suppose you mean in regard to Miss Fielding’s. jewels?” the detective grimly answered. ‘“ Certainly.” ‘* Allow me to ask when you saw the young lady- ast?’” * Last evening.” ‘* Were her jewels mentioned?”’ “Casually, perhaps. but not particularly 7 “Did she say anything about abandoning the. search for them?” Shelby looked very much surprised. “ Certainly not.” he answered. “Well, she came to me this morning and re- uested—almost commanded—that the search be wholly and permanently discontinued, and the jew- els allowed to go.”’ * Surely, Brown, you are jesting.”’ “then tis i the most Sneompreh ‘Then S the most incomprehensgib ‘ ever heard of. Stella asked to have the te I Want me ter whandoned? You must have dreamed it—but, ex- — cuve me; I have no right to say that. ° however, amazed, Pray tell me everything dnst'as it - vera ed _ ie rown obeyed. He told of Stella’s visit and her directions to him, and being resolved to make a clean b of it, he described minutely the signs: which had led him to believe that she was in mental trouble of some sort, ‘I can’t understand it at all,” he said, in bewil-. derment. . t “Nor I,” Brown grimly replied, : oe a bi* oot oe ~Ts) LJ » . . —— * “CO ~ hs GR erase micbooks. eee aia ea » om * P|