Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

—* Se ee ee eg re ee ne wr ee eee ee ee eS ee oe ee —— an — > - eee es = Se af. = -_ . ¢ net = re —— « .— ae » Say — '-) - = a. oe ot Sr > . es a - _* — 4 £3 ~.. a! ~ . ee a “ol ld ¥ - a i Greggs, or 4 North River Nat. Se BaY 0b ee EE that I can for them, and I have deliberately exposed myself to this danger. I slept last night with my windows open. The result is that I already have pneumonia, and the end is near!” This statement Was made in a firm voice, and he gazed unwaveringly at the Indian doctor. The latter looked dumfounded, and ill at ease. ** Really, sir, something must be done—” ‘To what? For what?’ ‘‘To save you from this deadly complaint! ‘You must bave the windows closed; go to bed and take a sweat—” **Thank you, no; J have been perspiring for weeks. I have had enough of it,” North River Nat felt like uttering a cheer, while Doctor Chippewa’s face flushed. ‘““My dear sir, this is alarming,” declared Chippewa. **T know it.” ‘** Allow me to feel your pulse.” se Go on!” * Fever!—very high fever! Mr, Beckwith, I implore you to retire and take due precautions: ** Pneumonia is not to be baffled, sir.” ‘‘There is yet time to save you; I feel sure of it. A monthago you could not have been saved but my medicines have built up your system and your strength greatly. .There is yet hope, if you will only obey me.” ‘*T am done with hope; what I want now is pneumonia, and I am going tohaveit. Itisa privileges of the rich to have such luxuries as they desire. I want pneumonia; | have it; and I am going to keepit. ’Iwill carry me off inside of a week, I shall retain you as my doctor to the end, and I will take whatever medicine you offer, but [ won't go to bed, and I will sit hero in the deadly draught from tie open windows!” Doctor Chippewa satin silence and stared at the speaker. Before bho had handled his dupe with ease, but this new freak utterly upset him. How was he to meet it? What could he do to stop the current of events! True, Beckwith had said that he would be retained as physician, but he was astute enough to feel sure that the end of his harvest was near; that he would soon be dis- missed. As soon as he recovered his wits he came to the conclusion that half a loaf was better than none, and as he could not bring Beckwith to his int of view, he once more prepared to humor is dupe’s whims. He asked many questions, and made all the show of medical knowledge that he could, and then said that he would go home and prepare a fresh lot of medicine, When his mind once more became free from business affairs he found time to look at Nat more closely. He did not like this boy. He did not suspect that Nat was acting the detective, but his face was too intelligent and sharp to please Chippewa. This being the case he suggested that the boy be sent away from the chamber, and kept away but Beckwith so curtly replied that Nat woulc remain that the suggestion was not repeated. Chippewa made a few of his most oily and bland remarks, and then left the house. Ten minutes later Nat emerged from the base- ment door and hastened away with long, quick steps. It seemed that he was going on import- ant business. What did it mean? —_—_—-----—- CHAPTER XVI. THE £HANTY ON THE ROCKS, ERWIN HESELTON was seated in his room on Forty-sixth street when North River Nat enter- ed. The boy seemed a good deal out of breath. and there was a trace of excitement on his usual- ly bp 7 face. eselton sprung to his feet. ‘* What is wrong?” he demanded. ‘Don’t know as nothin’ is wrong,” Nat av- swered. ‘* But you come in haste and—” “‘ Assooredly. My b’loved corntemporary, jest cast yer eyes over thart public dockymunt.” Nat slap a soiled half-sheet of writing- paper energetically down on the table in front of Heselton, ‘¢ Peruse thart epistle ter the Chippewas!” he added, a trace of exultation in his voice. Heselton saw coarse, sprawling writing on the note, and he read the following lines: ‘*Doc HoL_psworRTH: — “I would like ter noifTam 2be left aloan here awlthetime, Greggs and Parsons don’t cum near at awl, and I hev awlthe care ov the pris’ner. I can't gO out? gita ov fresh Air, and itt is tellin’ on My he’lth. It was the agre’ment thatt I was 2 hev help 2 keep the Man. but neether You, or ns, comes near, The sailor chap is a Reg’lar bengawi tiger, and He keeps me att It awl the time. I can’t leave the howse at awl, and I am losing Flesh I want some Buddy 2 help me keep him solcan gitfresh Air. | reedit Bad. Hither send Greggs or Si. €, or Come yourself by 2 Nite, * From yores respeckful, **Dave Moopy.”’ Just below this was a postscript which stated that the writer did not know as the recipient of the letter knew where to find him, so directions to that end followed. ‘‘ What d’ye think o’ that?” Nat asked, as Heselton looked up, $8 Y Jupiter! it looks like news of Foretop Tom!” ‘* Assooredly, it does. Obsarve thart the writer refers ter a ‘sailor chap.’ Who's thart, ef not Tom Beckwith? Arnd notice how he re- fers ter Greggs arnd Parsons,” ** Your suspicions are right,” ‘*Sartain, they be. octor Chippy_ hired Moody, Greggs arnd Parsons ter steal Foretop Tom, It was done, arnd they confined him in Moody’s house, but Greggs arnd Sime Parsons hev shirked their share o’ the work, arnd Moody is a-kickin’, Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things,” ‘* Where did you get this letter?” ‘Right from Chippy, by ginger! I was in Mr. Daniel Beckwith’s room this mornin’ when Chippy called. He laid his big hat down on the table. Iseena slip o’ paper projectin’ from be- tween the hat proper arnd the sweat-band. Now, ez a rool, f ain’t no pestiferous thief, but I’m hevin’ a lively skirmish with the Injun doc- tor, arnd knowin’ him ter be a first-class villain, I gobbled thart note arnd read it. Would you natrally expect me ter give it back ter him, arter I'd once readit? Assooredly net! Ifroze to it like a pooty gal ter merlasses candy. Jea’ so!” ‘¢ We will go to the police at once.” What fur?” ‘“‘They must be notified, so they can rescue Foretop Tom,” **Thart ain’t my way.” ** What is your way?” — ‘‘'The perleece hev hed due notice o’ Tom’s disappearance, buc they ain’t got him, hev they? No, sir! Wal, [ve gradooally worked this thing out, arnd now I want the credit, Youarnd me are enough ter rescoo Yoretop Tom—why shouldn’t we do it?” Heselton held out his hand. **T’'m with you, ny boy!” ** Come on, then.” And they left the house at once, The course was back up town, but circumstances enabled them to make the trip quickly. Ina conmpara- tively short time they approached the vicinity of Dave Moody’s residence, as indicated in the postscript to his letter, During the last few years no part of New York had changed more than that which lay to the west of Central Park. Only a few years be~- fore scarcely a building was to be seen thero with the exception of the suanties which clus- tered along the rocks, almost as thick as swal- lows’ nests under the eaves of a country barn, Progress and improvement had come, however ; the ring of the hammer had been almost inces- sant; the shanties had disappeared one by one, and in their place had risen scores of handsome houses of brick and stone, Some of the shanties still remained, as Hesel- ton saw when they reavhed the vicinity, and in some places they were numerous. They reared their heads on the top of high rocks, or almost hid them in depressions, but a more woe-begone lot of dwellings was never seen, lt was as though they knew that in a few years more the rocks would be drilled and blasted away, the de- pressions filled, and the shanties forever swept out of sight, The letter had said that Moody’s house was not numbered, but that, Once on his block, ‘“anybody ” could tell wbere he lived, Accordingly they stopped a boy and inquired: ‘*Dave Moody? Yis, I know where he lives. D’ye see de goat up on de rocks?” a ‘Assooredly.” 5 | ‘“‘ An’ de shanty jist beyent it, wid a stove poipe chimbly in wan corner?” ss I do.” ‘Wal, dat is where Dave lives, Et ye go dere, look a little out fur de goat, fur he may butt you wan when ye ain’t a-lookin’,” The informant walked on, and so did Nat and Heselton. After a little consultation they de- cided to apply boldly at the shanty door. Its size indicated that there could be but one room, or if there was more, that there would be no more of a division between them than a blanket or something of that kind, Nobody woul rr rr TTT TT think of putting a wall across such a small building. Nat had formed a plan by which he hoped to get inside the shanty quietly, and with Heselton at his beels he marched to the door and knock- ed. It was promptly opened; a shaggy head and brutal face appeared; but the man inside kept the door at an angle which left onlya small opening. “IT want ter see Dave Moody,” Nat an- nounced, ‘*1’m him,” ‘*Then I want ter see ye. I’ve come from Doc Holdsworth,” and here Nat lowered his voice, “ arnd Dve got a letter, ye see,” ** Give it ter me!” ‘*Not byar. Doc told me not ter let an see me give it ter ye, [ll step in a minute,” ‘No, ye won’t!” Moody quickly replied. ** No?” ‘*No, sir! I don’t low nobody in hyar. Ef ye hev a letter, hand itover. What’re ye 'feered of?” Erwin Heselton had taken due notice of Moudy’s manner, and in his opinion it srk cno- firmed all suspicions against the man. He de- termined to delay no longer, and with a sudden movement flung his whole weight against the door. The shock was unexpected and resistless, and it not only dashed the door open but sent Moody spinning several feet backward, Heselton sprung inside, followed by Nat. The latter immediately uttered a shout; almost the first thing he saw was the honest face of Foretop Tom, The latter was not in good shape to receive him, however; he was bound to an upright post, and a gag was in his mouth. Nat darted toward him, thinking only of re- leasing him, but Moody uttered a roar of rage, caught up a club at started toward him. Heselton sprung forward and caught the rough’s arm, and a desperate struggle began. Heselton soon found that he was no match for the big ruffian, but he clung to him 1] ke a burr, and managed to save himself from injury. He was whirled about hke a top. Suddenly a roar filled the shanty. ‘*Oh! ye land-shark, I’ve got a chance at yo at last, hev J?’ cried a deep voice. And then Foretop Tom came down upon Moody like a hurricane. His captivity had not stiffened his joints, and the way he used his arms was astonishing. He took the whole case into his own hands, end showered blow after blow upon his Jate captor, driving him back- ward, and finally ended by giving bim an upper-cut, which landed him senseless in the corner, ‘Sharks an’ anchors!” the honest sailor then exclaimed, ‘I wish it wa’n’t ag’in’ the rules an’ regerlations ter hit a man when he’s down, I'd like to hammer ye fifteen minutes longer, jest fur luck!” : ‘Say, you're Foretop Tcm, ain’t ye?” asked Nat, eagerly. ‘‘T am, by Neptune!” “Thought so, Knowed ye by yer pictur’, arnd a «lim resemblance ter Dan’l Beckwith.” ‘Hey! do you know Dan’l?” *¢ Assooredly !” ‘“‘Sharks an’ anchors! I’m glad ter hear it. Shake!” 3 The old sailor “shook” with both his res- cuers, then turned suddenly around, ‘“Look byar, messmates, the quicker we git away from hyar, the better. All Shanty-town is in favor o’ that land-shark, an’ they'll be on top on us ef we don’t up-anchor an’ git away un- der full sail. We'll leave Aim fur now, fur he’s got a good thrashin’. Now, light out!” t was good advice, and they went accord- ingly. No more was said until they were well beyond the sbanties, and then Tom’s tongue began to work again. “Sharks an’ unchors! but I’ve had a bard time, messmates. Got a letter askin’ me ter meet an old friend on a North River pier, an’ it proved ter be a contemptible Ta, Once on the pier I was set upon by land-sharks, knocked senseless, chucked ina beat an’ brougbt up here- away; an’ I’ve been confined in that miserable hovel ever since, Sbarks: an’ anchors! [ve sailed the sea thirty year, an’ I never was so mad before as I’ve been durin’ that time.” ““Do ye know who kidnap ‘*T do, that, Him that he named Moody; them who kidnapped me was named Greggs an’ Parsons; but the one one who was at the boltom on it all was a diabolical scoundrel] named Holdsworth.” ps ye know all this?” em talk it over. Besides, Ho one , | Ids- me bad some trouble, an’ I know his , ) : s fad fa he . A Spas SaaS CN ae ApS hes ay ; a4 | ra . . > * » w ee oe a Pe, an 2 ve ics oO “ - 0 eV hase Uae 4 >a =>. » tu Po ‘a ¢ s - Lye J Crary i e?” Nat asked. me thar was ] Ye ple Ex ea - hl r , > a ee ‘eae | wt yay * Rt. =~ a re ~~ Eomicbooks.com