Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee I eS ee — meme with all, and trust to her common sense to par- don bim. By the time he had gained position near the hanging curtain between the two rooms Chip- pewa had made his opening speech, whatever that was. ‘*T suppose, Miss Beckwith, that you are sur- prised that I should ask for you,” he added. ‘‘Somewhat, I confess,” Eudora coldly re plied, ‘*T wish to speak of your uncle.” ‘* My uncle!” “Yes, Is he still missing?” ** He is, sir.” ‘* What is your theory in the case?” ‘“‘T confess that I do not know what to think.” ‘Isn’t it possible that he has gone to sea, again?” ** Decidedly not, sir. He promised to stay with us all summer.” ‘““T may be wrong,” continued Holdsworth, assuming a thoughtful frown, ‘but I have a theory. Iam told that a West India ship sailed last night, on which, owing to the unpopularity of the captain, they found it very hard to get a crew. There are rumors that some sailors were impressed—in other words, kidnapped.” ‘** And do you think Uncle Thomas was one of them?” ‘*Such a thing is pos: ible.” ** How could they get him?” ‘*Did he say where he was going when he went out?” ‘“‘He said he was going out for a walk along the piers,” Eudora confessed, ** Ah! doesn’t that confirm what I said?” Chippewa had not been told what Snyder: ham and North River Nat saw on the pier, and Eudora had no intention of making it known, ‘“Why are you interested in my uncle?” she bluntly asked. ‘*T am your father’s doctor.” **'You owe Uncle Thomas no thanks for it; ‘you and he were not frien ‘s,” ‘*My dear Miss Beckwith, I trust that I have a mind above the petty antagonisms of life,” bland!y answered Chippewa. ‘‘ Mr, Thomas Beckwith was opposed to me, but I should be sorry to have him come to harm, if for no other reason than that such a thing will inevitably make your father worse..” Eudora was silent, and after a brief pause the Indian doctor added: ‘If you, Miss Beckwith, would only give me credit for being an honest man, I would be greatly pleased. Your good-will-would be inex- | pressibly dear to me!” The man from the West lowered and softened his voice, and watchful North River Nat opened his keen eves wider than ever, “Great ginger!” he thought, ‘ the pestiferous critter is goin’ ter make love ter her, sureas mer- Jasses!” ‘*T have not said that you lack my good-will,” | Eudora coldly replied. ‘Ah! but yon have been opposed to my at- ‘tendance upon your father, I fear.” ‘+That is true,” “Is he not improving under my treatment?” ‘Sir, the best _ obstacles or dangers might confront him, octors of New York have said | North River Nat. ae eC eS t—SO eo ae ee em was nota pleasant smile, There was something of chagrin, anger, menace and confident power in it, and though he bowed low as she passed out of the room, watchful North River Nat, ob- serving all from his covert, was somehow re- minded of a snake about to make a meal. The Indian doctor went up-stairs to Daniel Beckwith, while Nat sought Miss Beckwith, and asked leave to ‘‘ go out and look around a bit.” This was readly granted, and he went at once. His movements after he was once clear of the house were liardly those of one who is anxious to explore a locality. The vicinity lacked a good deal of being fully built up, and completed dwellings were mixed with those in process of erection, and with vacant lots, North River Nat took position beside one of the unfinished houses, sat down and proceeded to wait patiently. Half an hour elapsed. During this time sev- eral persons passed, and he gave each one care- ful attention, but did ni t seem to find anything of interest about them, Finally quick, firm steps were followed by the appearance of the | atta i doctor, and the boy became at once all attention, Chippewa went unsuspectingly on, and Nat fell in behind him and followed like an Indian on the trail. CHAPTER V. NORTH RIVER NAT’S ADVENTURES. PLAINLY, Holdsworth did not have any suspi- cion that he was liable to be followed, for he did not once look around, If he had, it is not likely that the young pursuer would have been de- tected. e kept well back, and the darkness acted like a curtain to help him. The Indian doctor went a few blocks, turning at right-angles a few times, and then Nat saw that they were approaching his destination, In ' a vacant lot just ahead the dull, white outline of a tent became visible; this was where Chippewa | had settled down with bis red-skins, to cure whatever bodily troubles might beset the people of New York. me) He went promptly te the lot and inside the tent. It now became Nat’s great desire to see the inside of this place, and be did not know what Pos sibly Holdsworth would have one of his Indians , on guard. Nat studied the state of affairs, and then slow ly and cautiously approached the rear of the tent. At first he had been afraid that he would bave some trouble to get a good look without injur- ing the canvas, but chance favored him, Some other boy, with far less important an object, had cut a slit which had escaped notice, and when Nat pulled it wide open there was nothing more to baffle him, There was, with the exception of the men, lit- tle inside to attract attention, but on an im- provised table stood an array of bottles which contained medicine all ready to be passed over in exchange for that more substantial article— New York money. nr a me em... + sti“ ee ee ee ‘Ha! is it you, my dear Greggs?” he ex- claimed. “Glad to see you—come in! And here is Parsons, too. You're both welcome,” He shook their hands, and then motioned to- ward the squatting figures at one side. ‘*' These are my noble red-men, Walking Bear, Sun-that-Shines and War Wolf,” Chippewa then arranged camp-stools for his guests. ‘* Sit down, and be happy,” he said, ‘‘Can I cure you of anything?” Greggs, who was a flashily-dressed, shrewd- Lookins man, evidently a New Yorker, laughed ryly. z t don't think you can, Doe,” “Plenty of medicine on the table.” < That’s for rich folks, who have more money the n—- ‘Yes, yes; I know,” hastily agreed Holds- worth. ‘“‘I am glad you’re not sick, Any news?” sé No.” ‘* All lovely, then?” sé Yes,” ‘*Where’s your other man—Moody?” ‘¢ He’s making himeelf useful—” ‘“That’s all right,” poke hic Sa Chippewa, ‘* So everything is quiet on the Potor ac?” ** Just so.” ‘Glad ye think so,” muttered North River Nat, who was listening greedily, ‘‘Ef you chaps ain’t got asecret onderstandin’, my name is Dennis. eep it up, ye pestiverous critters; I'd jest like ter hev ye put me onter yer little game, by ginger!” ; This they did not seem inclined to do. Either Chippewa did not trust his red-men, or he had heard the old saying that walls may have ears. Whatever Greggs might have said be promptly checked. The impression was strong in Nat’s mind that such a revelation would interest him, for he be- lieved that the visitors were as big rascals as Chippewa. Parsons, in particular, wasa coarse, brutal-looking fellow, At last the two men arose to go, Chippewa snd kg outside the door and exchanged a few words with Greggs, but Nat had no way of hear- ing what it was; he eould not get near, and their voices were lowered, Only a little was said: then the doctor return ed to the tent, while Greggs and Parsons walked away. “They're my game!” muttered Nat. ‘J dau’t know who they be in perlite society, but ] warn't ter most tremenjus. They come ter say suthin’ private ter the white Injun, arnd it be- hooves me ez a joodicial arnd honest citizen ter git onter their game. Look out, Greggsy—-Um a-comin’, by ginger!” And he fell in behind them, resolved to track them to their lair, wherever that was. After a few turns and a few minutes’ walk they reached Ejightv-first street, and then pvo- ceeded westward, Beyond the Elevated Road building operations were in full blast—though, of course, not being prosecuted at night—and half-finished structures arose on either side, while the middle of the street was filleé with piles of bricks, lumber and sand, * all a 5 Be that his ailments are purely imaginary. This is | _ Holdsworth and his Indians were there. The| Past all these went the men, still continuing ' By p| not a pleasant thing for a daughter to say, but , doctor had taken position on a camp-stool, | on Highty-first street. 2 pI such is the tact.” , while the red-men were squatted down almost Nat began to have a theory as to where they Ys ee ‘Really, I must disagree with these learned | like so many statues. were going, He remembered that after passing i doctors. At the time I took charge of the case, | An active conversation had already beeun, | Tenth avenue there was a vacant lot on either Wd your father was approaching a most critical , but not one word of it could North River Nat | side, and then the character of the neighborhood -—- point. Because those doctors failed to under- understand, He was willi:g to believe that it | abruptly changed. Modern buildings were al- ‘i Dp stand his trouble, they have no right vo thus was in the Indian tongue—it was certainly gut- | most unknown there, and more or less humble ’ oe . gross] wrong & suffering man,” tural and complicated enough to fill his idea of wooden houses were mixed with a segment of range bare ‘s We will not discuss that.” the language of the noble red-man. “ Shanty-town,” these structures only ending ‘‘ So this ere is the gang that does the big doc- | when Riverside Boulevard was reached. | “And you persist in having a poor opinion of | | 1) me?” ‘i tor act!” thought Nat, scornfully. ‘* Great. He at once leaped to the conclusion that ‘s Say (Es Tam not your patient. ginger! I wouldn't trust’em ter doctor a sick | Greggs and Parsons would either go to one of te ee Wn The evasive answer did not overpower Chip- | cat, let alone a hooman individooal. They look | these huts, or cross the Boulevard and the Hud- . eat. 3 ," ‘pews. j | like cut-throats arnd p’isoners—they assooredly | son River Railroad, and take to a boat. bel Fly ix ed n I would be your friend, Miss Beckwith,” he | do! Don’t see how that big tough kin so bam- His first idea proved correct. The men went : ee ie! ‘said, ype and his eye rested upon her Inaway boozle Dan’! Beckwith, but a marti may smile | on to the collection of wooden buildings, and ; DENY en which made her start. : -arnd be a villain still.” entered a shanty which looked as though a te a “Excuse me,” she returned, hastily, “ but His estimate of the quartette was certainly | strong breath of wind would blow it down in a —} have you business with me?” correct, as far as outward signs went, From a | hopeless ruin, oa sis eh, 3 ‘* Have I not spoken of your uncle?” ** pale-face’s” point of view no Indian is hand- Nat paused, looked around, and was impressed "i eh “Yes, Have you said all? If so, I shall have | some, but Chippewa’s red-men really looked | by the humorous side of the case, ; ie! ~ ‘to ask you to excuse me,” , ‘ brutal and dangerous to an extreme, “This hyar is w’ot I call classic ground, by ~~ aa Holdsworth bit his lips with mortification and | Nat was interested in them, however. He had | ginger!” he muttered. * The street ain't so ele- }, 9 . anger. | oy «ax Sen similar combinations in New York before, | gant as it might be, nor the sidewalk as pooty, 4 ieee, **T wish to aid you to find Mr, Beckwith, if I but never one which particularly attracted his | arnd the habit o’ teamsters 0’ usin’ the king’s * eve. Gam,” | attention, Aap highway ez a stable fur their Wagons ain’t ac- % i ‘You can give your theory to my father.” | Unless all si ens failed he was destined to | cordin’ ter my idees 0’ hooman fitness, but these ye iat Endora rose as she spoke. “What she had not | have considerable experience with these men, | habitations are romantic arnd noomerons, arnd 5 | *before suspected came to her like a revelation; and he looked them over carefully. they hev the flavor o’ antiquity erbout ‘em. im . ____ this man, whom she so disliked and feared, was | While he was thus engaged the tent-entrance | I’ll bet a counterfit ten-cent piece Mr. C. Colum- “ > actually placing himself as her admirer. The | was suddenly darkened, and two white men ap- | bus erected these palatial structures. Think I'D gt 5 idea frightened her. ; _. | peared there, buy one myself, arnd hev my post-office ar’dress ie : wet A @ appeared on Chippewa’s face, but it | Holdsworth promptly rose, changed ter Eighty-first street!” ‘‘ ae er : a eS a WS ahi iia pes oe jas Dele! — hos EC eS EN eyele O