Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 521 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

aN a ——~ ~~ om * —_ i * Sew . e a ar 6 — —>-~ wa ews Be eS Og meee mee Sec Pe. ¢ . * » : - « 4 i “e' ~? p ‘ : - t " v as. Se ee “fh oi . oo - —— =... . P . 2 ~= = eS - - = pa se , - ~~ . . . ae. one ~? =t 4 * i * ee Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. The boy is to report at the house on Bleecker street; he is to drop the address into the letter- ‘box if he does not find either of us in when he calls. We want to be around the place a good deal within the next two days, for Burt Bluster, my spy, looks like a shrewd lark, and is likely to discover something within that time. Would you mind giving me Nell’s address, Roy?” **Certainly not,” was the prompt reply, and the young sport took from a memorandum- oe a bit of paper, which he handed to Des- pard, The New York sharp uttered an exclamation of surprise when he glanced at the directions, ‘* She is in a quiet neighborhood, sure enougb,” he cried. ‘“T thought so,” smiled ’Roy. ** What is the house like?” “it isa plain, two-story brick, with shutters. The girl lodges there merely, no more, I am satisfied. She works for her meals at the old frame eating-house, as we have already discov- ered.” Despard took acopy of the address and handed the original back to his companion, A few minutes later-the couple separated on the street, and "Roy received instructions to be at the Bleecker street house a good deal during the coming day for the purpose of receiving ' Burt Bluster’s report. If the two rascals had suspected that Burt was the Dodger who had played a neat trick on Despard, they would not have taken so much stock in bis expected work. Despard looked at his watch as he turned from his younger pard. The hour was not late, for he had been lucky enough to find "Roy soon after the collision on the sidewalk, ‘** ll take a look at the premises for a visit to- morrow before Nell goes to her post,” he said to himself, turning into a street at his right. ‘‘ The neighborhood is almost too quiet to operate suc- cessfully in, but we must not stop on that ac- count. Ione is impatient, and Thalia is not un- like her, though she does not sayso much, I confess that I’m eager to see the game atan end, and [ know that ’Roy wants to change his clothes.” Not long afterward, the figure of Dan Despard mer into one of the quietest streets of middle ew York, and his eyes singled out an unpre- tending brick house with shutters tightly closed, and not a sign of light visible. It was the building briefly described in a sen- tence by 'Roy, as the one into which he had tracked Newspaper Nell. oe ei inspected it from roof to foundation with the caution of a 6 aes views a fort in- tended to be assaulted. He had a keen eye, and on this occasion nothing was permitted to es- ey him, e tried to speculate the particular room oc- cupied by the girl, but of course he had to give over the attempt. Suddenly the front door of the house was ip just a little, as if some one inside was ewing the land without. The next moment a female came foi th. Despard started at sight of her. **Tt is the girl herself!” exclaimed the Gotham rt, as he drew back so as not to be seen by ell. ‘“‘ I wonder what draws her into the street at this hour?” At that moment the figure of the Dodger’s friend flitted by, and then Despard followed. It was not the first time the cool, calculating villain bad followed people through the tortuous streets of New York after dark. He was as good as any human ferret for keep- ing them in sight, and he had a knack of doing it without being seen himself. There was a gleam of victory in Despard’s eyes. The girl had changed her dress since supper, and the change was calculated to deceive many who were accustomed to seeing her selling pa- pers at her old stand. Nell did not seem to think that she was fol- lowed. She walked ranidly, but not like a person chased, and Despard had no little difficulty in keeping her in sight among the night pedestri- ans, _ She led him toward the river, a strange place for a young girl to visit alone after sundown. ** She isn’t going to throw herself into the wa- ter!” cried Despard. ‘‘ By Jove! I don’t know whether I would attempt to rescue her or not. If she wants to be “* One more unfortunate, Rashly importunate,’ why, let hergo ahead! It would make the field TE LL ~~~ sett clearer for us, and get us rid of a peck of trouble.” But Newspaper Nell had no intentions of add- ing a new name to the river’s victims, for, instead of pushing to the edge of the wharf, she turned suddenly aside, and disappeared in a house when Despard looked for no move of the kind. ‘¢ What can her errand be?’ muttered the city tiger, while he looked at the building and won- dered who mightinhabit it. ‘‘Shedid not come down here for nothing; that is certain. She wants to see some one. This is the spot said to be Dodger Dick’s ground, for this is Pier Num- ber —. It can’t be possible that Newspaper Nell knows the wharf rat who has hired to Merle Mallot in the capacity of ferret? Her beat is somewhat up town; his is down here by the river.” Despard was puzzled. There were not many people to be seen about the place, and the few were those who were seldom visible during the day. The New York spcrt selected a convenient post and began to watch the house, for he did not deem it advisible to follow Nell beyond the threshold. Five, ten, twenty minutes passed away. They were hours to Dan Despard. At length a boy came gliding past his post. ‘* Hi, there!” called the tiger, leaning for- ward. The wharf rat started like a person caugh’$ in an evil act. ‘*T want to see you, Johnny. I’m no cop,” continued Despard. The little fellow came up emboldened by the assurance and waited for the man to proceed. ‘*What kind of a house is that?’ resumed ta ig designating the building just entered by ell. ** That’s Baldy’s place.” ‘** Ah! who lives there?” ‘* A good many people. much for his rooms, and ton can get a ten-cent bed in the upper stories, hy, bless you, cap’n, some 0’ us wharfers geta little high-toned some- times, an’ we sleep at Baldy’s instead o’ among tbe bales an’ boxes along the river.” "7 rig Dodger Dick ever get above his sta- tion The boy laughed and threw back his head haughtily. ‘* Now you're comin’ at it!” he cried. ‘‘ The Dodger has felt his oats ever since he helped to find the lost heir o’ the uptown nabob, He don’t sleep on the wharf much any more, for he’s got a bed at Baldy’s.” A look of triumph lit up Despard’s eyes. “The puzzle isn’t hard now,” he murmured. ‘: Newspaper Nell has come down here to see the water rat of Gotham.” ‘‘What do you want ter know about the Dodger?” asked the boy. ‘* Nothing now,” was the reply. Baldy a just now I presume?” ** He might be.” ** Do you ever go inside?” ‘*No siree! I b’long to the wharfers who boy- cott Baldy’s. We don’t allow anybody to think us aristocrats. The Dodger an’ his ilk kin spend their money for pillows; but we don’t patronize the institution!” Despard had no further use for the gamin whose appearance was by no means aristocratic, and a quarter sent him off rejoicing, ‘“‘My tramp has not been for nothirg,” ex- claimed the city sport with a look at the house designated as Baldy’s.. ‘If Dodger Dick is Nell’s friend, and knows anything, he is doubly dangerous!” Baldy doesn’t charge ‘* He isn’t in CHAPTER VII. A THIN DISGUISE. THE next day Roy Surface was on guard at the Bleecker street house waiting for the boy known to Despard as Burt Bluster. As a mat- ter of course, the spy did not put in an appear- ance, for Dodger Dick was a little afraid to trust his make-up to the keen eyes of either of the city sharps in daylight. Despard had made up his mind that News- paper Nell had called on the Dodger at Baldy’s the night before, and he resolved to entrap the young wharf ferret as soon as possible, His first move after breakfast was to the quiet neighborhood where Nell lodged. He knew that the girl would not be found at her street stand until in the afternoon, and he was reasonably certain of finding her at the house. The Gotham tiger dressed himself for the oc- casion, and when he knocked at the door of the plain brick domicile, he Jooked like a well-to-do -| another. 2 a —————————————————————————— el ‘ wn gentleman with a good deal of leisure on his ands, He was met at the door by an elderly woman, shin’ looked over her spectacles in surprise at im. As Despard did not know the gir]’s name, or pretended not to, he asked for ‘* Miss Nelly.” The woman said she was up-stairs, and if Despard would step inside, she would come down and receive him. It was evident that Nell bad not told her landlady about the collision between Brandon and ’Roy, else Despard would not have met with such a cordial reception. In a little while there were light footsteps on the stair, and Newspaper Nell stood before the villain. An instant later the girl seemed to recognize her visitor, or, at least, to guess at his mis- ion. ‘*T believe you are the young lady who sells papers at the corner of Walland Broadway?” egan Despard, politely. ‘*‘l am,” answered the girl. ‘*T have come to ask if you don’t want cosier quarters, I have noticed that where you are you often find yourself exposed to inclement weather. Nell smiled, ‘It isonly for a short time,” she said, ‘* You may know that my stock never lasts long, and that i miss the morning showers and the evening gusts.” Her manner was gentle, but firm, and her well-chosen words were a rebuff which pierced the thick cuticle of the New York sharp. ‘*T can relieve you of much inconvenience if you will let me,” he went on. ‘Thank you. Your kindness is very flatter- ing, but I shall have to decline it, because I am content where [ am.” peata was not repulsed. ‘‘'Your mother lives a long distance from your stand,” he continued. ‘“*T have no mother,” she remarked, with a smile. ‘* The lady who let you in is Mrs. Hol- yb my landlady. Iam quite alone in New ork, but,” with a sparkle in her eyes, “‘one does not want for friends on that account.” ‘‘The very reason why I feel like repeating my offer,” said Despard. ‘‘ I did not think you would refuse a little assistance prompted by the best of motives. I am very sorry. Can’t I be of some service to you?” ‘‘T am afraid not,” returned Nell, well know- ing that this man, with a younger friend, had watched her covertly for some time, ‘t My re- fusal is final. I do not need assistance,” ‘‘Confound her! she is as troublesome to attack as a hedgehog!” growled Despard under his breath. ‘‘l am not going to give up the battle yet. There’s too much at stake, and this girl shall not spoil the game by a display of coolness,” He threw a rapid glance toward the door be- fore he resumed, and when he spoke again, he was standing before Neli, his dark eyes fixed on her face. ‘“You don’t want to run about after night,” he said in low tones. Nell flushed to the temples, ‘* What is that, sir?’ she exclaimed, stepping back and meeting his look with one full of indignation. ‘Did you come here to insult me at home?” ‘Insult, is it? ha, ha!” Jaughed Despard. **T am seldom abroad after dark.” “Why, you were out last night.” | “That is true. It was dark before I return from the place where I board.” ‘Ts that all, Nelly?” grinned the city sharp. ‘* Were you nowhere else?” All at once the girl thought that this mav may have followed her to tbe wharf, She did not look for spies on the journey, but his words and mien indicated that he knew something about the trip. ‘Tf I were out Jast night, and you knew it, I was watched!” she exclaimed. ‘I did not think I had a spy at my heels! After thisI shall look out for you.” ‘*T said nothing about myself,” replied Des- pard. ‘-T candraw my own conclusions, I presume,” retorted the girl. ‘‘ Let us fully understand one A man who will watch a y woman during the day, will not hesitate to play spy at night. This interview need not be pro- longed. 1 have some business with my news- paper people, and I wish to be punctual.” Nell intended that her reply should be final, and with the last word on her lips, she made a movement which emphasized her desire. ‘You will hear me a moment,” cried Despa shutting his lips hard. “I am not used to micbooks (GO) — i. a . + wpm AY - P«