Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 583 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

, ies * Re att ta en Me te - 10 room next to it; a place in the middle of the house, without door or window to connect it with tbe outer world. As he was thrust in Phil saw it was well filled with household goods, seeming to be a sort of back-kitchen; and then the door closed and be was alone. It was not wholly dark; a single- sash window connected it with the next room, and he could see all that was necessary. He sat down and made up a serio-comic face, ‘*Up a stump ag’in, Five Points Phil!” he soliloquized. ‘‘ You’re a bad case fun gittin’ in- ter pestiferous scrapes, by ginger! This comes © keepin’ bad comp’ny. on you hadn’t b’en with Haskins ye wouldn't got yanked in hyar so roodly. Assooredly not!” He paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘“Wot’s inter this, anyhow? Haskins is nabbed, but what fur? Guess it’s a case out- side o’ my circuit, I only hope they’ll keep my b’loved corntemporary awhile, arnd give me a chance ter flourish ’round arnd investigate,” The fact that he could not investigate while he was a prisoner impressed Phil strongly at this point. He arose and looked through the window into the next room, Two men—his original captors—were seated at the table. They had produced a pack of cards, and, with pipes in their mouths, seemed per- fectly happy. The only way out of Phil’s prison was into that room, and there they sat where they would see him at once. He sat down again, rather mournfully, ‘‘They don’t give me a fair show,” he mut- tered. ‘‘ They’re wu’ss than red Injuns; when they hev a marn run the gantlet they leave a leetle gap so he kin start, anyhow, but these stiferous varmints don’t do any sech thing. : ouldn’t they howl ef I should git away, as tis! He looked around his narrow prison to the best of his ability. Few hopes of getting out of it, it seemed. ‘“‘ But I must,” he added. “ When I used ter live at the Five Points I wos considered a marn o backbone arnd grit. Mustn’t backslide now —Illl git out, or tar the roof right orf the pes- tiferous ol’ house!” Impossible as this threat was, it gave him an idea. He could not reach the roof, but the floor was directly under his feet, and it was a rough, worn, uneven concern, which looked as though much weight would crush it in. Was it possible to dig out? Such was the question in Phil’s mind. He cautiously examined the floor, Everything went to encourage him, but he saw that he must have something with which to work. He searched and found a hatchet. It was the very thing, if he was allowed to use it. All depended upon escaping discovery, The floor was a double, or had been—in some places the upper layer of boards had been en- tirely worn through. He inserted the edge of the hatchet in one of these worn places and gently pried. He had feared that some of the nails would hold and creak, but was happily disappointed. The board rose up quite readily, Phil’s eyes glittered; a little more of this and he must be on the road to somewhere—he did not know where. Working cautiously he raised three of the old, worn boards. This was enough of them; the next thing was to attack the lower layer. He did not believe that these would be nailed, and his greatest fear now was that the door would be opened prematurely, If this was done, the uptorn boards would surely be scen and his escape frustrated. He resumed work zealously, but cautiously. CHAPTER XII. A CLOSE CALL. Wuart secrets that ola house heid! Five Points Phil was working desperately for liberty, a blessing all the more - be desired be- cause he believed that Haskins was the man who had stolen Mrs. Austin’s property and he wished to hunt him down and learn why Mrs. Austin, apparently poor and humble, was such an im- portant person. There, too, was Haskins, a prisoner. What was the mystery with whicn be was connected? What events of the past had cast their shadows upon an bonored family, bringing trouble and dis- grace to them? There, too, were the kidnappers. Why had they seized Haskins?’ What object were they ng to achieve? es, the house was one of secrets, but it was no exception to the majority of houses of New ~r a Ve at - < d a: 7 . > Fa’ \. \ + ‘ = b. aoe =e — et ~~ - - t Te ba a ey — nw | ' é Wrestling Rex. York. Every household, almost, has its painful secret, and all too many houses have their evil plots and crimes. Five Points Phil raised one of the lower boards; it bad not been nailed at all. Thus far all was working well, and if they would only give him a little more time he would go—where? Through the opening left by the re- moval of the boards came the familiar odor of a cellar, His way was to this, but afterward— whet then? Could he go on, or would be be imprisoned in the cellar? It was no time to be troubled by this; he raised another board. The aperture was then sufficiently large to enable him to descend. He looked down—all was intensely dark below. He dropped a small piece of board; it fell only a short distance, and struck with a plain though dull sound? ‘¢T reckon thar ain’t no danger in follerin’,” he silently commented, He took one more look at the men, saw that they were still playing cards, and then prepared for the venture. A light would then have been a great blessing, for he did not know what was below, but such a thing was not to be had. ‘“Got ter go it in the dark, by ginger,” he muttered, ‘‘ but I ain’t ter be dashed. ade in, Philip—remember you was raised at the Five Points and don’t git scart. Scart! Great gin- ger! what would my old cronies say if I did ? Ain’t [ ez plucky ez when I wore rags outside my cuticle? al, I should remark!” Coolly he lowered himself through the hole in the floor until he hung by his arms, as far down as he could thus go. Then he dropped. Only a short distance did he go. He alighted upon his feet with hardly a jar, and was fairly started on his new adventure, All was dark and silent in the cellar, but when he moved forward he collided with a barrel. This taught him caution, and he went ahead slowly and systematically. In a short time he found the cellar stairs, but as these would only take bim back into some part of the house, be hesitated about using them, If he could only find another way of egress it would be greatly to his benefit. He tried and failed; the cellar was small, com- monplace and secure. He must either ascend the stairs or remain where he was, He at once arrived at a decision. Going to the stairs, he crept up with all possi- ble caution. Not a sound betrayed his move- ments. Hereached the door and listened; all was quiet beyond. He tried the door; it was not locked. Slowly and carefully he opened it a little. By chance, the first thing that he saw was a clock. The hands pointed to twelve o'clock. The room beyond was the kitchen, but on this occasion, at least, it was something more; it was a sleeping apartment. Three men were lying upon blankets spread on the floor, apparently fast asleep. Phil hesitated. In order to leave the house he must pass through that room; must run the gantlet, as it were, of these sleeping men, In doing it he might make some sound which would arouse them, and then the whole gang would be after him, It was a risk to take, but the mere thought of avoiding it made Phil smile. He had taken a good many risks in his career asa street-boy, and was not to be alarmed now, He marked the location of the outer door and entered the room, Stepping with all possible care he moved across the floor. The men slept on. He neared the door, Success seemed almost within his grasp, when one of the men moved uneasily, ane then turned over. As he did so his foot struck the empty coal-scuttle, and it went over with a rattle and a bang. Those were men who did not sleep soundly; hunted men, who had reason at every moment to expect the grasp of the law upon their shoul- ders, as a reward for their crimes, When this sound arose it acted like a spur upon the men, and they sprung to their feet in alarm, their hands instinctively seeking their weapons. Five Points Phil had made a dive for the door when he saw that secrecy was out of the ques- tion, but he collidet with one of the men and found himself seized in a tenacious grasp. ‘* Hold up!” cried his captor. ** Police!” hissed another man. ‘‘Down with ’em!—don’t be taken alive!” snarled the third rough. ‘* Where be they?” Rr i eee Eo EOE Ee closet has its skeleton, eve | ‘* Who have we here?” ‘‘ Why, it’s the boy!” All these questions and exclamations had been poured out rapidly, but it was clear that the men would soon learn that the alarm was a false one, and then all attention would be centered upon “the boy.” Phil realized this, and acted accordingly. Calling all his strength to his aid he made an effort to wrench himself from the man’s grasp. He succeeded: the hold was broken, and he darted toward the door. ‘* Stop him!” cried one of the roughs. ‘‘ Pl shoot the little fool!” He who had lately held him drew a revolver, buta cooler-headed companion knocked it aside. ‘‘ No!” he exclaimed. ‘* Would you have the police onto us?” Phil wrenched open the door. The dark alley was beyond; a low, dirty, repulsive place usual- ly, but very friendly of appearance just then. Phil took one more step, and then a heavy hand fell upon his shoulder. ‘* No, you don’t!” cried a voice. Phil slipped like an eel from that grasp, and fled through the alley. Once there be deemed escape certain, and he turned and sent back a defiant, mocking retort: ‘‘- Yes, I do, my b’loved corntemporary !” Heavy footsteps sounded behind him, and he darted along. The alley was only a few yards long, and he was soon upon the street. Once there be felt; safe, for, like most boys, he was master of the art of dodging and running. The street was nearly deserted, but he ran lightly along toward the Bowery. Looking back he saw the roughs come out of the alley, but they did not pursue him further, ‘¢ Score one more fur me!” murmured Phil, as he moderated his speed. ‘* Dunno why ’tis, but I sorter hev a knack o’ squeezin’ out 0’ pesti- ferous scrapes! Comes nat’ral ter me, I reckon, ez freckles does ter some kids, Now, I s’pose them toughs expeck me ter let loose the dorgs 0” war onter ’em, but I won’t. Why? ’Cause [ hope they'll keep Haskins right thar. Assvored- ly! I want time ter investigate. I hev an idee that ef I see Pratt, the carpenter, arnd find out what old-time fam’ly he used ter labor fur, L may git onter the track of Mrs. Austin’s mys- tery. Jes’ so! Wade in, Philip!—but fu’st o’ all. go home arnd sleep.” He took this good advice, and passed the re~ mainder of the night in peaceful rest. The next morning he arose, ready for action. Knowing that changes might have occurred in the Baxter street house where Mrs, Austin had died, he went there first of all, and great was the joy of Wrestling Rex to see his friend safely Soak. ‘Why, I’ve worried terribly about you,” he declared, winding up an explanation. _ Phil looked at him in reproving surprise. ‘‘My b’loved corntemporary, never do so agin. B’ar in mind thart I am a pecooliar marn. I’ve been in a heap o’ pestiferous scrapes, but not one on’em kin keep me down, Never worry erbout sech a s’perienced detective ez I be —no reeson for it. Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things.” ‘‘ T won’t do so again,” replied Rex, laughing. “ Any noos, my frien’?” ‘We have a sick man here,” ‘* Not Pfeffer?” ‘‘No, indeed; his name seems to be Willis Landerson.” ‘Don’t know him.” ‘““Nor I, He was attacked by roughs last. night, severely wounded and left near our door, Isaved him from actual death, possibly. He was very drunk, so, at his own request, we help- ed him up to our rooms. This morning he isn’t able to go out.” ‘6 All the work o’ rum?” ‘¢- Ves; I think so.” “Strange what a heap o’ harm that stuff does; it lowers a marn ter the rank o’ a hog—it does, by ginger! Ef I’s ter hev my choice, hug a swine or a drunken marn, I'd give the swine a most lovin’ embrace.” “This man,” pursued Rex, thoughtfully, ‘6 doesn’t know who I am, yet he last night re- vealed the fact that he had a bet an on me, in my match with the West Sireet Wonder. Vm sorry it is so.” 447 This information tendéd to make Phil inter- ested in Willis Landerson, and . he went in to see him. The wounded man, bowever, was not in condition to receive him properly; bis mind was wandering, and he could not talk coherently. Phil remained in the house an hour, and then started to see Pratt, the carpenter. The boy was eager to get further clew in his detective work. -books.co , . >» 4 7 “hair ' Fy oh 4 ‘’ 4 4 * . » . ‘ TaN : , ¢ . + . Y oe ee | ; fa a oe e