Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

= . « “ ~~ * * _ Eagerly he looked about for a Was in sight. | a ne up his. and and ss butt the latter thoug Panta on, “Do yer want ter git squar’ with him?” ** Do lt? Sbarksan’ anchors! Idoan’ I will!” __ ** Assooredly ! Nat returned, in bigh glee, | case, myself, and 1 reckon the Injun doctor is nigh the end o’ his rope. Come on, fellers, arnd we'll fix his flint right off, quick!” CHAPTER XVIIL THE INDIAN DOCTOR AND HIS NEMESIS, ‘‘Say! thar’s Dan’! Beckwith!” It was North River Nat’s voice, He and his companions were passing near the lndian doc- tor’s tent on their way to Mr. Beckwith’s, and had been looking somewhat suspicously at a cab which was standing on across-street. When they passed it, Nat made the above exclamation. The gentleman he had indicated was, indeed, Beckwith, and what was more, he was in the lot and going directly toward the tent. This ‘he soon entered. Foretop Tom had had an account of his broth- er’s late movemen's, and was not so much sur- prised to see him there, but as it became evident that he was secking the Indian doctor, the old sailor’s face flushed. Tl] put a stop ter this right hyar an’ now!” he exclaimed, striding toward the tent. ‘Go it, boots!” cried Nat, running to keep up with him. Through the lot they went, and Nat in his enthusiasm outstripped his companions, He reached the entrance of the tent and gained a view of the interior, The so-called Indians were there, squatted down at one side, while Holds- worth and Daniel Beckwith were at the center, Beckwith, leaning slightly upon his cane, was reaching out his disengaged hand to receive a bottle of medicine which Doctor Chippewa was extending to him. Suddenly Chippewa’s wrist was grasped by a strong young hand, and the indignant face of the boy detective met his gaze, ‘*Hold on thar, ye white Injun!” cried Nat. ‘*' You can’t peddle arly more p’ison medicine in New York!” Holdsworth stood in a species of stupefaction, and then Foretop Tom rushed into the tent, ‘Right you be!” he cried. ‘* You’re at the end o’ yer rope, ye land-shark, an’ you an’ me Lave got an account ter settle, 43 eptune!” ‘‘Thomas!” exclaimed Mr, Beckwith, joy- fully. ‘* Tt’s me, sure as you live, an’ I’m a man.o’- war jest now. Holdsworth, you scoundrel, you did a big thing in shutting me up, didn’t ye? Wal, it’s my turn now, an’ PU shut you up, with ther perleece fur jailers.” Doctor Chippewa recovered his coolness re- markably. ‘My dear man, what do you mean?” he cried, **T don’t understand a word you a ee “Tell th.t ter the marines! This hyar boy hez the note writ ye by Dave Moody—” ‘* Assooredly,” interrupted Nat; ‘‘arnd I’ve been over in Hoboken arnd seen Sime Parsons, Oh! yer jig is up!” A quick change appeared on the Indian doc- tor’s face, Hesaw that all was known—he had already discovered the loss of the fatal letter— and one idea only remained in bis mind. He must escape]! Quickly he made a’rush to pass from the tent. The old sailor sprung in front of him, but was hurled aside as though he bad been _a child. Chippewa’s strength was surprising. He rushed out and ran rapidly across the lot, ‘‘ He's makin’ fur that cab!” cried Nat. ‘‘ Head him off!” There was a rush, but Holdsworth start, and he proved himself a remarkable run- ner. He reached the cab, gave an order, sprung inside and the vehicle went rattling away. Plainly, is had previously been under engage- ment to him, North River Nat was far from being recon- ciled to see him escape. After all he had under- gone he felt that he ought to have the satisfac- tion of seeing the man in the grasp of law, and he certainly deserved it. tal Forgetting all about his allies in the excite- ment of the moment, he darted in pursuit. policeman. None Still he ran on, though the cab was gaining and rapidly drawing away from him: at that rate it would soon be lost. é; He began to lose his breath, and the cab in- creased its lead, The prtenars was discourag- ing, but just as he felt that he must give up, an- other cab came rolling slowly along. Nat threw gaspingly the driver stop, trick and kept had a good p gly bade t it a boyish ‘“7’m inter this | North River Nat. re — se Nat drew a dollar-bill from his pocket and waved it desperately. The bait was too much ! firm step, though his eyes were Yowre jest my buckleberry,” for the cabman, be paused, After thata brief | colloquy settled the rest; Nat mounted to the box beside the driver, and the pursuit began. Holdsworth’s vehicle was still to be seen, and = to see you safely back. the second man whipped up his horses and tried to run him down, but Nat had soon discovered ' | that his driver stood so much in awe of the law | against fast driving that he was not likely to | cover himself with glory, Only for that,every*hing would soon have been settled,for the leaders, beheving that the pursuers had been distanced, had moderated their pace, though still going fast enough to cause patrol- men by the way, to look at them sharply. Nat was ina fever of impatience. If Holds- worth eluded them then he might afterward be taken, it was true, but in that case the police would share with the boy detective in the honor of running the man down, and Nat felt that all honor belonged to him, He believed that his cabman might have ended the pursuit if he cared to, but all that he did was to keep the fugitive in sight. A long mde followed, the course being down Ninth avenue to Fourteenth street, thence down Hudson, Nat grimly consoled himself with the thought that Manhattan Island ended at the Battery, but they did not go as far as that. The foremost cab finally left Hudson street and moved toward the North River. The boy urged on his cabman, and they rapidly closed the gap. They reached We-t street and saw that the fugitives bad stopped, and. valise in hand, hastened upon a pier with long strides. Nat took in the situation at a glance, A Long Island Sound steamer lay beside the »yier, with every indication of speedy departure. Night was drawing near, and it was about leaving for Boston. Doctor Chippewa’s plan became plain; he hoped to leave the city. The boy pursuer ran after him, Holdsworth strode up the gang-board just as the deck hands seized the ropes to pull it aboard, and turned around with a relieved expression on his face, The sailors pulled at the ropes. Just then a boyish figure darted forward, ‘*Stop the boat!” shouted North River Nat, ‘That Injun doctor is wanted.” And he pointed one finger at Chippewa. The words checked the deck-hands for a mo- ment, but the next instant they gave another pull, They, at least, would take no notice of the interruption. Nat turned in despair toa stout policeman beside him, ‘Say, mister, don’t let that pestiferous critter | Mr,-Beckwith. escape!” ‘* Who are you?” the officer asked, ‘“l’m Five Points Phil, arnd— Say, they’re goin’ ter start the boat! Stop ’em?!” ‘* Yes, stop ’em!” roared a deep voice, ‘‘ Stop ’em, or I go as a passenger!” Big Foretop Tom shot past Nat and, unheed- ing the absence of the gang-board, leaped to the deck, of the steamer, At the same moment Erwin Heselton grasped the policeman’s arm, ‘* Officer,” he cried, ‘* the law wants that long- haired scoundrel.” ' All these excited speakers could not be disre- garded, and preparatious for starting — the steamer ceased, Auother policeman joined the pe and their purpose to investigate was evl- ent. Holdsworth saw himself cornered; he could retreat no further, To attempt to secrete him- self on the steamer would be useless, especially as he had no state-room engaged. He deter- mined to face the danger cool , and did so, Unfortunately for him the weight of evidence and outward respectability was against him, and when he had tried a little bluffing without avail, he decided that his best way was to sub- mit quietly, meet the charges, and rely on the ssible inability of the accusers to prove that a had any part in Foretop Tom’s abduction, Accordingly, he surrendered with as good grace as possible, Foretop Tom | sailor his hand, ‘‘ | need hardly say thit od 2 P ; “ v4 - F t a ¢ “ bs Fans = i‘ J a d oli: ° | aia | . / \ ‘ty - * es i 45 OATES EE EES EE A AS A SNS Mr. Beckwith arose and approached with a strangely the old ani glad You are very welcome, andin the future 1 will make myself a more agreeable brother than in the past!” ‘Then the speaker moved to the next in the line. ‘Mr. Heselton, [ am glad to see you back at my house. I shall not be a rock in your path moist, ‘Brother Thomas,” he said, givin any longer—I dare say you and Eudora can Holdsworth leaped out, | ' who saved Foretop Tom, i | | | settle the rest!” He released the young man’s hand and took that of Nat. ‘*To this boy,” he continued, with a tremor in his voice, ‘1 owe more than I can well express. lL bave been the victim of delusions which made my own life, and those of all about me, miser- able. How 1 gainei the idea that I was sucha sick man, and why I persisted in the idea against reputable physicians, 1 don’t know, I can only believe that | was for the time a monomaniac. ‘*My mind is now clear, and the reaction dates from tke time when this boy unimtentionall made me angry. Acting in this angry mood found out that I had nearly all my old strength, Since then J have been thinking, and the ex- posure of that quack doctor bas < gun, my eyes thoroughly. I am a fairly well man, | know it, andl will prove it. No more close chambers and drugs for me; while | am as well as at pres- ent, fresh air is my best medicine. My b y, it was you who opened my eyes 80 that I could see myself as I was, and it was yy I owe you much. To- night, my warmest thanks are yours; later, I will give youa sum of money large enough to last you many a day.” The old gentleman’s voice was trembling, and he paused, ‘““T ain’t greatly in need o’ hard cash, my frien’,”’ the young detective replied, ‘fur I hev a iib’ral guardeen in one Solomon Richn ore, whom I once give a lift when pestiferous critters had him down. Fax is fax, arnd they’re stub- born things. Your friendship I shall be right glad ter hev, though. By the way, 1 drop the name o’ North River Nat arter ter-night, arnd resoom that by which I’m ginerally knowed— Five Points Phil. It sorter fits me better, fur I growed up ’round Paradise Park, arnd hev a deep arnd abiding affection fur the lively old Sixth Ward, Assooredly!” ‘* All this we will speak of later,” answered ‘*Kudora, my dear, will you ring the bell?” She did so, and B. Franklin Betts appeared, his face wreathed in the old tranquil ex- pression. ‘* Franklin!” ‘* Yes, sah.” ‘* Please tell Katie to serve dinner at once.” ‘* Yes, sah.” And Mr. Betts bowed and withdrew. © The grasp of the law fell wpon the whole clique of plotters, and Holdsworth, Greggs, Parsons and Moody were found to be old of- fenders. They were tried, convicted, and sent _to Sing Sing in a short time. It was proved ‘* medicines” were gathered within fifty that the Indian doctor’s worthless roots and herbs miles of New York City. Sun-that-Shines, Walking Bear and War- Wolf were found to be white cowboys Holds- worth had brought with bim from the West to carry out his scheme. As there were no charges against them, they were allowed to return. Mr. Beckwith is again wholly himself, and no one could be more reasonable or kind. Foretop Tom has given up the sea, und the brothers seem to be renewing their youth, Eudora is now Mrs, Erwin Heselton, and they make a bappy couple, B, Franklin Betts remains in the household, and is more frisky than ever, but Katie has and Heselton had reached the gone. Officer Snyderham, convinced that he is place by following Nat’s cab as his had followed | not a great detective, has resigned from the the doctor’s, and they were free to confess that the clew would have been utterly lost only for him. down. An hour later Foretop Tom, Nat and Heselton entered, Danivl Beckwith’s house, As none of the three had akey Katie admitted them, and at once informed t i were in the parlor and wished to see em. They entered. | | em that Mr, Beckwith and | police force, and, aided by money advanved him xy Mr. Beckwith, is doing a fine business in the coveted ‘*corner grocery.” Mrs. Snyderb Between the three, Holdsworth had been run | WhO makes him a devoted wife, was, it nada hardly be said, once Katie McKeeyin, Five Points Phil is nearing the day wben he will have other matters to attend to than detec- tive work. When his education is complete he will have a good business situation. In the mean while, he often calls on the Beck- withs, and when they speak of his skirmish with the Indian doctor, they still call bim North River Nat, ‘ THE END,