Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

¥ een eee ee eo ooo as innocent and unsopbisticated as a child. ‘‘Now, North River Nat, you will blease go mit me. Der prother of der missing man, Mr. Daniel Beckwith, wants to see you mit himself.” ** Jes’ so—come on!” Phil slap his hat upon bis head and was allready. Such celerity rather dazed Snyder- ham, but he recovered and lifted his bulky form out of the chair, They left the house, walked | to Sixth avenue and took a train of the Elevated he? road at Eighth street. UE While they were traveling up-town Phil asked . many questions, and received a very full history of the Beckwith family. Snyderham admitted that one Katie McKeevin, who was Eudora Beckwith’s maid, was the source of his infor- mation, and Phil was not slow to perceive that the honest trolman had a very high opinion of the said Katie. One thing only interested the listener. Daniel Beckwith, an invalid, was being doc- tored by a ‘‘ wild man from der Vest,” as Sny- derham called the Indian doctor. ‘* That’s queer!” exclaimed Phil. ‘What vas queer?” ‘‘ That a rich marn should hev sech a doctor.” ‘Do you know,” gravely replied the German, ‘TI pelieve dot mineself.” ““Pve heerd it said thar is a heap o’ good in roots arnd yarbs, ef properly a’plied, but I ain’t no faith in sech a critter ez you describe. Ev'ry leetle while sech a crowd shows up arnd tries ter cure all ills marn is heir to. ebbe they do, but afore you take Injun medicines, you warnt ter be sure they was dug in the West, not in Jarsey or Connecticut. Assooredly!” ‘*Doctor Chippewa looks to be from der West.” | ‘* I must see the gent.” Phil’s wish was gratified much sooner than he expected. When they reached Daniel Beck- with’s house they were admitted by Katie McKeevin—a bright-looking young Irish girl— but bad gone no further than the hali when Doctor Heldsworth, himself, came down the stairs. Five Points Phil gazed sharply at the doctor, and the latter hesitated and looked suspiciously at the visitors, He had just come from Daniel Beckwith, and had been told that Foretop Tom was missing. He was tempted to go back and be present at the interview which, he saw, would soon take place, but speedily abandoned the idea, He regarded Snyderham as too stupid to be dangerous, while as fcr Phil—why, he was only es a boy! This disposed of him in the estmation ye of Doctor Chippewa. | Without a word or nod to any one, be passed them with a supercilious air and left the house, Snyderham pointed after him with one fat finger. ‘* I don’t like dot man!” he declared, ‘* Loike him!” exclaimed Katie, ‘* ld sooner loike a rattlesnake. I tell yez, Misther Snyder- ham that mon has got a heart loike a tiger an’ I know it. We all knowit. Miss Endora, she’s down on him, an’ so is that brunette gent, Franklin Betts; an’ it was only yisterday that a. honest Mr, Tom, may de Lord bliss him, nigh | threw de spalpeen out ave de house.” | * 'W hat’s that?” demanded Phil. Bhs pit Katie looked sharply at the questioner. wie ‘‘My tear Miss McKeevin, explained the Pei policeman, “‘dot poy vas my witness, und you rae may answer dose questions vot he ask.” * Assuredly!” put in Phil, ‘* Answer ’em, by all means. Did the Injun doctor arnd Foretop ‘ | Tom hey a row yesterday?” iat ‘They did, that.” nae ‘Come ter blows?’ ne ‘No, but they talked quite warrum!” a ra ‘What erbout?” eae ‘‘Mr, Tom didn’t want de quack doctor ter come here wid his Bey medicines, an’ he tol’ t b aah te him so plain, an’ they had a great row, I can Rt ity ‘Wax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things. oe Tell me the bull story ef ye please. My mind is of a joodicial arnd inquirin’ turn, arnd I’d like Sg , . ter hear the fax.” pie Katie had been a listener to the trouble in the Soe hall, and she gave a Vivid account of it, Her aie recollection of the exact words uttered was but SS dim, but she stated thateach had threatened = the other, and that Doctor Chippewa had only une entrance to his patient after a stormy in- ward declared, when talking with Miss Eudora, that he would help Chippewa out if he had to barricade the door. “aad Furthermore, Thomas Beckwith had after- ? - ‘ an <j “ ‘> =. bd 3 ry © nt cee linn, plement Pg om sea os 2 ee Te Le NN eee "Five Points Phil saw a good deal in this. He | > REE eee EE EO ——O—OOOOOOOO—O—E—E—E—————_———_————————————————————————————————————————————————— EE —— ll 7 ee __—— a nnSSSSSSSSSSSSSSFSSeSESSeSeeEeEBE “ar North River Nat. had seen Holdsworth; he had noticed what a cold, cruel face the Indian doctor had; and if he had felt any faith in the Westerner it would have vanished at sight. But there was more, The doctor and Foretop Tom had had a bitter quarrel; threats had been freely used, and the old sailor had tried to help Chippewa away from Daniel Beckwith. The great question now iu Phil’s mind was, had Chippewa, to prevent being defeated by Tom, removed tie latter from bis path by vio- lence? Phil did not mention his suspicions, for neither Katie nor Snyderham seemed to entertuin any clear idea in the same virection, but asked nu- merous questions and acquired all the informa- tion he could. Finally be and the patrolman went up to Mr. Daniel Beckwith’s room. The invalid sat in his big chair, as usual; the temperature of the room was as high and the air as stifling as usual; and, as usual, B. Frank- <¥ Betts stood demurely behind his master’s chair. Officer Snyderbam was evidently in great awe of the rich man, and he walked forward with a ponderous attempt to step lightly. ‘‘ Dot vas der poy, Mr. Beckwith,” he an- nounced, ‘* Ah!” said the invalid, with a heavy sigh. ‘* Come here, boy, where I can see vou.” ‘* Assooredly,” Phil coolly replied. ‘‘ Hope I see you wal, my b’loved corntemporary.” ‘* Well?” cried Beckwith; ‘‘I baven’t been well for years.” ‘‘ Now [| obsarve ye more closer, ye do look sorter played out, by ginger!” ‘‘T am fast nearing the final home of man,” lugubriously added Beckwith, ‘Goin’ ter move, be ye?” ** Te-he !” Solomon B, Franklin Betts had done a ver ° improper thing. His solemnity only being skin- deep, he had laughed in a peculiar, balf-smother- ed way. His master at once grew mournfully displeased. ‘** Franklin! ‘* Yes, sah.” ‘* Did you laugh?” ‘*No, sah. I ’most sneezed, but I choked it off ’cause (’s afeerd it would make yer left knee swell more,” Mr. Betts made this explanation as seriously as though he bad never laughed in bis life. ‘*! am glad to hear it, Franklin,” ** Yes, sah.” ** Now, boy,” continued Beckwith, ‘‘ I shall be glad to hear what you know about my missing brother,” ' ** Assooredly. It ain’t much, but you’re wel- come to it, sech as tis.” ith this preface Five Points Phil went on and told the whole story of his experience on the pier. It was soon told, Despite his resolu- tion to investigate Foretop Tom’s disappear- ance he was pot in the least inclined to confide in Daniel Beckwith, or advance any theories, 80 the latter obtained only dry facts. _ * Several questions occur to me,” said the in- valid, with a heavysigh. ‘* You say there were but two men in the boat?” ** Tbart’s all thart I seen.” ‘What do you mean?” ‘‘Tbar might ’a’ been another layin’ down in the boat.” - ‘‘This had occurred to me. You are gure there was no cry for help, nor of pain?” ‘‘ Didn’t hear no sech man’festation.” ‘* Yet my poor brother might have been mur- dered and sunk in the water just. beyond the ier. ‘* Assooredly.” | ‘‘ What is your theory?” 4 ‘Can't sav I hev a posityve one; it might ’a’ been either way.” ‘‘Dat vas for me_to learn, Mr. Beckwith,” said Snyderham. ‘‘ You vill remember I vas one of der finest—a boleesmans of dat New York. shall der trail pick up mit my sagacity, und clear der whole mystery blain,” ‘*™o this, and you shall be well rewarded,” earnestly replied Beckwith. ‘I feel sure my poor brother has met with foul play—solve the mystery, and I will pay a good round sum!” ® CHAPTER IV. THE INDIAN DOCTOR HAS SOMETHING TO SAY. THis offer made Officer Snyderham’s eyes twinkle perceptibly. ‘ ‘*Dot vas good!” he affirmed, ‘‘und I vas going to earn dot money, marry Katie, und start a corner grocery, p ove. Cood cra- cious! I spoke out pefore I think—Katie vould sit down on my ears mit her hand if she heard me say dot!” The honest patrolman grew very red in his: embarrassment, and though Beckwith’s melan- choly was proof even against this, Phil and Franklin Betts were very much amused. Phil winked at the colored gentleman, and then the latter hag. to clasp both bands tightly over his. mouth to avoid laughing vociferously. ‘*T stand ready to keep my promise, officer,” replied Beckwith. ‘‘ Go op and do your best.” e then turned his gaze upon Phil. ‘* What is your name, my lad?” ‘* North River Nat.” ‘* That's a peculiar name.” ‘** Assooredly, but’ ye see thar was sech a big fam’ly on us thart they thought a change would be beneficial in my case. Thar was too many Smiths, arnd not enough o' other creeds, arnd denominations, Hence, my cognomen o’ North. River Nat.” ‘¢ Are you busy?” ‘‘ Not ter my knowledge.” ‘‘T would like to have you about here until this matter is settled, tor you may be able to identify the men you sawin the boat. Can I hire you for awhile?” ‘* Great ginger, yes! I’m out o’ a job jest now, arnd I’d jump at the chance,” , Phil meant all that he said; he had become interested in the case of Foretop Tom, and as he already had a theory in the case, it would aid him greatly to be given the freedom of the house. : ‘‘ Consider yourself engaged, then. [ don’t imagine there will be anything in particular for you to do, unless. it is to run an oceasiona errand, but [ want you where you can be found. Will four dollars a week, and your board, be pay enough?” hil would as readily have come without any pay at all, and he accepted the offer without. argument, Snyderham was then directed to escort him to the lower part of the house, and present him to Miss Eudora Beckwith in his new capacity. Phil kept bis own counsel, and as Beckwith judged him wholly by his humble garments, he did not dream the boy was so situated that employment was not an object. udora proved to be a very pleasant young lady, indeed. Having lived nearly all ber life in Herkimer county, she had grown up strong and healthy, and she so combined these qualities with real beauty, that Phil mentally pronounced her ‘‘as pooty as a pictur’!” She showed no reluctance to admit him to the house as a member of the domestic department thereof; she was strongly attached to her miss- ing uncle, and if the boy could help to find him, he,was certainly very welcome. So Snyderham went away alone, and Phil re- mained as directed. He gave his name as North River Nat, and as that was hardly satisfactory to Miss Eudora, added the surname of Smith. Then he fairly entered upon his new career, and for the present we will know him, as did the family, xs North River Nat—otherwise as Na- thanael Smith, During the afternoon he made himself as famil- iar as was possible with the state of affairs, and the more he heard aboutjDoctor Chippewa Holds- worth, the more he was inclined to suspect him. : He was getting a good deal of money out of Daniel Beckwith. but Foretop Tom had threat~ ened to rive him out of the house. If the Indian doctor was a rascal, and the boy believed that he was, it would be the most likely thing in the world that he would try to remove the obstacle to his success, That evening Chippewa called again. He had been calling twice a day, and that was not strange, but something unusual occurred this time. | When Kate McKeevin opened the door Nat was li tening near the top of the basement stairs, and he heard the Indian doctor ask to see Miss Beckwitb on important business, Katie was surprised, but she felt so sure that her young mistress would refuse to see him that she went at once to the parlor, where Eudora was sitting, and delivered the message, Greatly to her surprise, the young lady said she would see him at once, and Holdsworth en- pnee the room with a look of triumph on his ace, As he walked in, North River Nat entered the back parlor. [t was not the proper thing to do to act the listener, but the boy was determined to overhear What occurred. a roving commission, as_ it were, and he intepd- ed to shadow Holdsworth closel If he was discovered, be ‘oontt tell Miss Beck- ees a, He had been given _ ' ~ “he ne a od —— i is Es . -