Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 516 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

x 6 Miss Frazer’s eyes glittered, and she waved her cane until the bright spike seemed to send out flashes of indignant lightning. ‘‘That’s it, sir, that’s it!” she cried, ‘‘ The monster, Man, is up and doing. He 1s always up and doing, greedy to crush my persecuted sex into the dust, and the grime and slime of crime. Oh, monster, Man, what does not Woman suffer at your red hands!” ‘Is this a lecture-room?” sneered Maudston. **It would be a temple of holiness, were it not for the presence of one of that sex whose name I blush to speak.” Maudston instantly put on his spectacles, and stared at the eloquent disciple of woman’s rights. ** Where’s the blush?” he sarcastically asked. i** Let us have it caught, and put on exhibi- ‘ tion.” Up went the pointed cane, and it seemed as though Miss Frazer would surely commit as- sault and battery, but Miss Sykes interfered just in time, and a few whispered words from rg. Witherell subdued the belligerent Miss Frazer. Five Points Phil heard these secret words. ‘** Be calm—be calm, or we will not get any money,” Mrs. Witherell had said. Like an echo came Miss Sykes’s closing sen- tence: . “Do let us have peace, and I will give you both a check before you go!” Light had dawned upon Five Points Phil’s mind- What he had seen, together with the ‘faces of the visitors, had been a revelation. He ,saw in Miss Sykes a simple-minded old woman in the clutches of human hawks, whose only ob- ject in life was to bleed their fellow-creatures for seifish ends. Maudston claimed to represent the Association ‘for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cats. Whether there was such a society Phil did not know—he doubted it—but, it seemed, Maudston regularly secured money from Miss Sykes, Miss Frazer was a champion of ‘‘ woman’s rights.” Phil had heard of her cause before, and, from. his practical standpoint, it was only a union of crafty adventuresses, who secured an yeasy living by championing a cause their sen- sible sisters never bestowed a thought upon. Miss Frazer was plainly a red-hot advocate of “‘the cause,” and, like Maudston, she had aroused Miss Sykes’s sympathies, and was get- ting all the money out of her that she could. The harpies evidently found a good field of labor; unsophisticated Miss Sykes, imaginin that she was helping two good causes, harided over her money freely. Possibly she had sup- rted these unscrupulous wretches for years— or Phil did not believe that the money they ac- quired went out of their own hands, The boy’s face flushed with indignation. It was bad enough to seea swindle succeeding any- where, but he had seen so much of Miss Sykes’s unpretentious goodness, in various ways, that in this case the crime seemed far greater than in any other. y uddenly Phil’s eyes brightened. ‘*T’'m goin’ ter hev this ‘sit’ with the good old lady,” he thought, ‘‘ andef I don’t find a way ter make them pestiferous bloodsuckers sick, afore 1 git through, 'm a mightily mistooken individ- ooal!”’ Conversation then touched upon details, and Maudston and Miss Frazer made known their wants. The former stated that an amiable, unmarried lady in New Haven wished to aid the suffering cats of that city, but had not the means, A check would be very grateful, and, if made out to Mr. Maudston, he could convey it to her, Miss Frazer reported great destitution and dis- tress among her followers. The women of Porcupine Peak, Montana, had actually never heard a lecture on woman’s rights—and wrongs —and were in a condition of lamentable dark- ness; in some Louisiana town the women wished to try and elect one of their own sex over the present official—who was a monster, Man; and a scheme was on foot to print enough ballots so that every woman in the United States, if she could not vote, could, at least, have a ballot framed and hung on the wall. All these things, Miss Frazer observed, re- quired money. She and Maudston did not openly renew hos- tilitiés, but each glared at the other as the re- uests for money were made, and it was clear it their feud was as bitter as ever. Miss Sykes, poor soul, gave a tear to both classes of sufferers—womeén and cats—and gave something more. She filled out two checks, and gave one to each of the leading vampires. This aroused Phil’s indignation anew, but he Tartar Tim. was too wise to say anything. Just then he had no influence, but he was determined to secure the position with Miss Sykes, and ultimately foil the monsters who were preying upon her. When the checks had been secured the callers were evidently not anxious to remain longer, They arose and, somewhat to Phil’s surprise went out together. Before they disappeared they each bestowed a sour glance upon the boy, and it was plain that they were not pleased to see him there. The door closed behind them; they went down stairs, with Miss Frazer’s cane thumping loudly; the outer door clanged, and the house was rid of their presence. Miss Sykes sighed audibly. ‘*It is dreadful wearing to be a public charac- ter,” she observed, looking at Phil with some- thing like her former placid expression. ‘Should say so, assooredly.” ‘** Charity, however, must have its due.” Phil resolved to give the good lady a few points on practical charity, when he could, con- trasting the needy poor of New York with the Woman’s Rights crusade and other myths and humbugs. but the time was not yet ripe. They resumed the discussion of business, and if was soon settled that Phil should begin work the following morning. Miss Sykes had taken a fancy to him, and she offered good terms. When all had been settled the boy left the house and started for Macdougal street. ** Wa-al,” he soliloquized, when once by him- self, ‘‘that beats all the ’sperience I ever bad. The time when I helped Solomon Richmore is nowhar, arnd the same may be said o’ my career ez Jaggers, the butcher-boy. Ive see’d a menagerie; 1 have; arnd ef a Bowery museum kin beat that last lay-out, then they’ve got new ‘freaks’ sence I was thar. Freaks! Miss Sykes’s habitation isfullon’em. It’s a reg’lar house 0’ freaks, so ter speak.” He smiled in his quaint way. ‘** ’m dead sure I’ll be monstrous fond o’ them cats. I ain’t nevér seen none o’ the feline race afore ekul ter Charley Maun, Low-Creature Gor- geous, Lunkhead, the Crew-Slayer, arnd the rest—never, by ginger! But them vampires—I don’t feel fond o’ them a bit. They’re pestifer- ous critters, they be; arnd ef I don’t cause a slight rattlin’ o dry bones, ’m a new case 0’ Dennis. Rob that old lady, will théy? Wal, ef they do, then Five Points Phil never’ll look’ on Paradise Park ag’in fur shame. Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things!” Meditating thus he walked briskly along until he reached the house on Macdougal street where he and Tim Thistle had their room. He hasten- ed in, anxious to tell his experience to his friend. Tim was not in the room. ‘Wal, now, this is sorter queer!” muttered Five Points Phil. ‘*Supper-time—no supper— no Tartaric Tim. Queer, I must say, fur I never knowed him ter neglect his juty afore like this, But I'll git supper, and charge ter his account.” He did his part of it—the landlady always helped about the cooking—but he ate alone, Tim did not appear to partake of his share, Another hour passed—two hours. By that time Phil had grown uneasy. He had a presentiment, vague but troublesome, that his partner had met with misfortune of some kind. CHAPTER VI. TIM THISTLE PROVES HIMSELF A TARTAR. THE words of the ruffian could not convey any more of menace to Tim Thistle than his looks and actions had already done, but the whole combined was enough to frighten the bravest man, not to mention a boy. There stood the big desperado with his drawn revolver, and his companion just bebind him, and Tim’s days seemed numbered. It is not to his discredit to say that he was frightened. ‘You won’t need the shooter, Tip,” said Hig- gins’s companion, With a coarse laugh, ‘* 'You’ve scared the little varmint ter death,” ‘*He’s got venom left, an’ don’t ye doubt it, Abe Briggs. I kinread hissharp face. Young- ster, be ye all ready?” ew flourished the revolver. ‘“ Hold on!” directed Briggs. ‘‘ That shooter’ll brin the p’lice down onter us. Use a knife, in- 7 Thar’s some hoss-sense in that. Ill do it.” Higgins put up the revolver and drew a long e . ‘ ‘* Now, bub, I’m arter ye!” he said, and ad- vanced. This lull had been sufficient for Tartar Tim to recover his ‘‘nerve” somewhat, and with re- turning courage came a plan for his safety. He felt that it would be folly for him to try to resist the assassins, but there was another way besides resorting to such a measure. ‘See hyar, Tip Higgins!” he exclaimed, with unexpected coolness; ‘‘do ye want ter scare de life out av me? Have done wid yer nonsense, fur" you don’t want ter carve me up.” He seemed so honest and cheerful that Higgins: involuntarily paused. ‘The blazes I don’t!” he remarked, ‘* And. why not?” ‘* Because [I’m vallyble to yez, me good friend.” ‘Tn what way?” **Do ye know Jed Jackley?” This was an all-important question, and Tim listened eagerly for the reply. If the assassins did not know Jed, the hope of staying their mur- derous hands was too small to be considered. If he was known to them, all hope was not gone. Higgins lowered the knife, but a suspicious scowl appeared on his face. ‘Yes, I know Jed.” ‘‘Wal, don’t ye carve me up until ye see Jed.” ‘Why not?” ***Cause he’s my frien’, an’ I’ll give yez this tip: There is more in dis case than you think, Ask Jed.” “Is Jed any better than the cap’n?” ** He kin tell you some things de cap’n won’ti tell, an? don’t know. Stick a pin dere. Ask Jed, an’ see what he tells yez, me boy.” Tim was talking hae confidently by this time, for he believed that he could secure a re- prieve. Who Jed really was, and what his rela- tions were with ‘‘the cap’n,” Higgins and Briggs, the boy did not know. Clearly, how- ever, if he was saved front immediate death, it would be by the power of Jed Jackley’s name. Higgins looked confused and uncertain. His was a dull, stupid head, through which an idea. always had great trouble to go, and the situation. impressed him as being very strange and com- plicated. p ss This may be a trick,” he observed, doubt- ully. ‘* [t’s no trick, Tip: I’m tellin’ ye de straight facts,” | ** Jed ain’t hyar ter settle it.” ‘Go an’ bring him, thin.” ‘*T could do that.” ‘¢ Av course ye could.” ‘‘ But Jed might take yer part.” The desperado was growing suspicious again. ‘* Nonsinse! Haven’t I towld ye that he will give ye good r’asons why you needn’t care ter kill me? Ain’t there anny one in de ring but: you, Tip Higgins?” ‘** You're mighty young ter be in.” ** Ask Jed.” *¢T will!” , Higgins thrust his knife away, rattling it down into its sheath. ‘*Tll go fur Jed rigut away,” he added, ‘‘ an’ when he comes, ef 1 find ye'’re lyin’, all New York can’t save ye. Mark that down! Zounds? I don’t have much faith in ye, anyway, an’ Ill be blamed ef you shall be left alone. Abe Briggs, you stay right hyar by the kid ontil I come back.” ‘* Who’ll mind the bar?” ‘¢ Hang the bar!” ‘Hang the luck, ef I’ve got ter stay hyar, like a statoo!” Abe looked dissatisfied and surly, but Higgins: reminded him that he was only an employee, and told him to obey orders. ‘He prepared to leave. He would have taken the key, igcking. Briggs in with Tim, but his assistant protestec so stoutly against this arrangement that Briggs. was finally given the key, himself. Higgins de- parted, leaving Tim and his other captor. ‘‘Now, Tim had no great amount of faith in the result of Tip’s investigations, As he had gained from one source and another, these two men, Jackley and ‘‘Captain Tiger,” were in some way united, the latter being the leader. Tim suspected that they were part- ners in evil-doing, if not in extreme crime. Evidentiy, Jackley had a traitorous vein. He did not know who Captain Tiger was, but. had hired Tim to discover, Tim had failed, and had been captured. What was more prob- able than that, when Jackley learned the facts, he would become alarmed and, to save his own, neck, deny all knowledge of the boy. ‘‘That’s de way it’s likely to work,” thought: the Tartar, an’ when Higgins comes back, PR be in as bad fix as ever.” ; He looked at Briggs, and Briggs looked at him. “Dull, ain’t it?” asked the latter. éé Yes.” << of 0) | x - . ‘ ~~ s Ky et -} y > Sg 7. ih «7 =