Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 583 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Wrestling Rex. but when informed that none of them were ** wanted,” they grew calmer and consented to listen to reason, Haskins was the man desired, and as he had sullenly held his peace while a prisoner, never giving them the least clew, they concluded to hand him over to the police rather than go themselves, Haskins was produced. ; He looked somewhat relieved at first, but his face fell as his gaze rested upon one of the offi- cial party. This man was Dra pion The latter nodded to him coolly, ‘* We meet again, sir,” he said, curtly. Haskins did not answer. ‘‘T hear that you are still doing Short’s most disgraceful work,” Drayton continued, ‘It’s alie! lain’t seen him for six months,” Haskins declared. ‘* Softly! Do you see this boy?” Drayton pointed to Five Points Phil, and the prisoner’s color changed perceptibly. He seemed too much alarmed to reply. ‘You see that you are in the toils, Haskins, A fit end for Short’s clerk. Well, are you going to confess, and get an atom af mercy? here are the documents you stole from Mrs, Austin’s trunk?” ‘*T stole?’ echoed Haskins, trying to appear innocent, ‘‘ I never touched—” ‘Softly, my man. Your career as ‘ Pfeffer’ is well known, and you may as well confess, Are the stolen papers in Short’s possession? Come, Short’s day is done, and you may as well desert the sinking ship. Will you speak out?” A shout went up from several enthusiastic persons, and those who were pleased put their sentiments in words: ‘‘ Hurrah for the Pride of the Sixth Ward!’ Wrestling Rex and Sam Upperly, the West Street Wonder, had at last met, and Rex was making good the expectations of those who had bet that he would win the match, Among the spectators were several persons well known tous. There were Matthew Solace, outwardly as bland and plausible as ever; Ger- ald St. Percy, with his méney up on Sam Up- perly, pale and anxious; Willis Landerson, half- intoxicated, noisy, and ready to bet even more on the Pride of the Sixth Ward; and Five Points Phil, cooi, watchful and alert. It looked as though Rex would win the first fall, =“ St. Percy turned his pale face toward So- ace, “In the devil’s name, Mat, do something. The young hound will win, sure,” “T can’t drug him; he won’t drink!” irritably answered Solace, even as he clapped his hands in simulated joy at Rex’s good work. ‘* Try him again!” groaned St. Percy. “T will.” Solace hurried away, while Willis Landerson moved up to St. Percy’s side. ‘“* Ha!” he said, exultantly, ‘‘how’s the Pride of the Sixth Ward now? Want to put up more money on Sam Upperly? If so, say the word.” St. Santi however, turned away with a mut- tered curse; he was furious. The wrestlers continued their work amidst applause. Solace approached with a well filled glass of some liquid—as a sporting man he was noted for making compounds to take the place of liquors, “This will give Rex new prowess,” he re- marked. A hand fell upon his arm, and he looked around and saw Five Points Phil by his side, ‘Thank you,” the young detective coolly re- marked, “but me arnd Rex ain’t drinkin’ ter- day! | What have you got to do about it?” angrily cried Solace. **T speak fur Rex. Put the pestiferous drink away!” ‘‘ Stand aside, boy, or ’'l—” ‘* Softly, my b’loved corntemporary. I’m up ter your dodge. I don’t mind sayin’ that I was in yer saloon last night,arud heerd you arnd St. Percy tell how Rex was ter be made ter lose this match, Stand off, mister; Wrestlin’ Rex ain’t goin’ ter drink no drugged mixture while I’m around!” and Five Points Phil assumed a menacing attitude which meant business, At that moment the room rung with the — of Rex’s supporters; he had won the first all. Solace looked sharply at Phil, hesitated, stood irresolute during the lull, and only stirred to action when the second set-to was about to be- n. He then advanced a step toward Rex, but the ogeeres him back sharply. atthew Solace’s florid fare ew pale, and the. hand which held the glass to his side. fore he had time to say more, however, his last chance to drug Rex was gone. Like onein a painful dream he saw the wrestlers face each other again, and with a muttered curse he turn- ed the mixture upon the floor. He feltsure that Rex would win the second fall—which would ive him the match—and the great man of the sixth Ward had put his money on Sam Upper- Rex was wrestling without anything to mar his work, thanks to the fact that Phil had dis- covered the plot. The style of wrestling was collar-and-elbow. The young gladiators met for the second time. The spectators moved restlessly, and a subdued murmur of voices arose. No one was more silent than Gerald St. Percy. If Rex won he was five hundred dollars out, and all on a mad wager. Landerson was not subdued. Liquor was working in his brain, and as the wrestlers-stag- gered to and fro in their determined grapple, he cheered like a madman. He could see that Rex was the better of the two, and his exulta- tion knew no bounds, ‘‘Hurrah for the Sixth Ward Pride!” he shouted again and again. Rex’s most ardent supporter did not cheer. This was Five Points Phil. He was all absorbed in the contest, and watched with eager atten- tion, but he had other things to think of, Solace had failed to drug Rex, but there was no knowing what other trick might be played. Phil eyed Solace and St. Percy with watchful attention that never flagged, Rex’s work was remarkably fine, and those who did not know of his resolution to retire from the life, freely prophesied that he would one day have a reputation fully equal to that then enjoyed by Evan Lewis, Joe Acton ‘and **the Jap.” Suddenly a.loud shout arose. Sam had been fairly thrown for the second time, and Wrestling Rex had won the match. Confusion at once reigned, and the spectators moved about as they pleased, but above all other sounds arose the united cheer: ‘* Hurrah for the Pride of the Sixth Ward!” i Landerson touched St. Percy upon the shoul- er. “Tm going to take in the stake now, friend,” he said, laughing. ‘*Didn’t I tell you Rex Peters would win easily?” Once more, however, St. Perey turned away with indistinct but bitter muttering. His five ee ag dollars were lost, and it was a severe ow. Five Points Phil accosted Rex as he was mov- ing toward the dressing-room. ‘Get on yer plain clothes ez quick ez you can!” the young detective urged. ‘‘ Thar’s work fur us ter do.” ‘* Do you think St. Percy will try his game?” Rex asked, with some anxiety. “Thar ain’t a doubt on’t. He’s downcast now, but he’ll brace up arter a little, arnd then Willis Landerson will be in pestiferous danger. Hurry up!” CHAPTER XVIII. A FAMILY AFFAIR. ‘‘Rex PretTwRs will make one of the greatest wrestlers ever seen!” Willis Landersen made the assertion in a thick voice, looking across the table at St. Percy. The eyes of the former were bloodshot and nearly closed,.-and it was clear that he was nearing the last stage of intoxication, He had secured the money won on Rex’s victory, and St. Percy, apparently fully recovered from his discomfit- ure, had called to congratulate him in a breezy way—at least so it appeared. ‘* No doubt,” the gambler replied. ** He'll show ’em all—hic—by and by!” Willis asserted. **f am fully converted to your views, Mr. Landerson. Suppose we drink to Rex’s future glory once more.’ * ‘We will,” Landerson grasped the bottle which stood be- tween them, and was about to pour out a quan- tity of the liquor, but as he held it at an angle the door suddenly opened and Five Points Phil marched fnto the room. ‘**Hold on thar!” cried the boy. ‘‘ Don’t ye touch any more o’ that stuff. Can’t ve see that shark is tryin’ ter git ye drunk? Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things, by ginger! He wants ter steal back the wager money!” Landerson looked stupidly at the new-comer, but St. Percy started roril to bis feet, ‘You young scoundrel!” he cried, ** how dare you interrupt us thus?’ ** Dida’t do it ‘ thus,’ mister,” retorted the ir- ‘ i o) - es \ es id v To a OO LL RT 7 -. oe. + age en A on pm of ae -- ~ i= png 4, em ‘ fl a ‘ ; ve . | - 7 — ~~ o* ‘. eed repressible Phil. ‘‘ I did it ’cause I wanted ter arnd in me ye see the stern front o’ outra jestice. Assooredly! Look out, Gerald, fur thar’s trouble out, arnd yow’re the man in dan- ger. Come in, folkses, arnd le’s hev a joobilee, so ter nog OF Steps had sounded in the hall, and now several other .persons entered, Three were men who, somehow, looked very much like officers of law, while the others were Solomon Richmore, Mr. Drayton, Pratt, the carpenter, Eph Toffling and Wrestling Rex. St. Percy started to his feet, and an alarmed look appeared upon his face. He knew one of the first men to be an officer, and knew, too, what his own record was. The officer nodded to him, ‘* Hallo, Pat Glynn!” he saluted, coolly. The gambler could find no words of answer. ‘* You’re wanted, Pat—or, perhaps, I ought to call you Mr. St. hey T believe youre a gentleman now. The law wants you, all the same, for abducting a small girl named Ella, ‘*T never heard of any such person!” St. Percy declared, recovering his wits. ‘‘Of course you never did, Pat. We don’t want you to confess, for we have the thing down fine. You knew that Ella Austin’s real name was Ella Trescott, and that she was grand- daughter of old Mortimer Landerson. You be- lieved, too, that she ought to have the property which Willis Landerson—he’s gone tosleep, I see; whisky has done it—which he has been squan- dering. You started a neat game, didn’t you, Pat? Well, it’s all over now, and you are to go through the mill for kidnapping the child, whom you hoped to use to force money from Willis nderson.” St. Percy was trembling. with mghteous indignation. ** But I swear that I am innocent—” ** Oh! sroteoms & certainly, Pat! I won’t trou- ble you to explain. You’re not the only one who is in a fix. Ambrose Short, business agent for the Landersons, is at Police Headquarters. He is worse than you. He was always the enemy of Estelle Landerson Trescott, after she declined to marry him, and when she eloped with Trescott he played the rascal ever after. It’s a big tumble Short has taken. ‘¢ Rstelle Trescott is dead, rest her soul! but her daughter lives—Ella Austin, they call her. It seems strange that she who was so lately liv- ing in the slums of the Sixth Ward should step into property, but so it is, It’s no thanks to Short that the child is to bave herown. He learned that Mr. Drayton, the lawyer—this gen- tleman by my side—actually had a faint clew to the whereabouts of the long-lost Estelle, and he tried to ruin all, ‘He sent a tool of his named Haskins, alias Pfeffer, to work against her, but the poor woman died suddenly, of heart disease. Pfeffer robbed her trunk and secured valuable papers for Short, and the child, Ella, was 1. ft without a clew to her ancestors, her father, too, being dead. I doubt if the truth would ever have been known had it not been for this boy.” He pointed to Five Points Phil, who smiled and quietly replied: - ever mind me, my rary. a I shall ‘mind’ you—” ‘*And so shall i” interrupted Mr. Drayton, ‘* The lad’s quick vit has done wonders for the Landersons, and as the family lawyer I sball in- sist upon rewarding bim,” ‘* All right, gin’ra); send around a dray-load o’ Gover’ment bonds arnd [’ll try ter take ‘em in. Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things.” Drayton smiled, and then his face grew grave and he pointed to Willis Landerson, ‘* See that wretched young man sleeping there like the sot he 1s! Thank heaven! he is not the rightful owner of the Landerson money, and he will have it no more to squander, St; Percy, when you chanced upon the secret of Ella Aus- tin’s ancestry, you did not learn all. She is not heiress to the Landerson property. Behold the true heir!” At the last words he pushed Wrestling Rex gently forward. : ‘* This young man,” he added, with great satis- faction express in his voice, “is, really, Ralph Trescott, grandson of old Mortimer Landerson, and brother of the so-called ElJa Austin!” It was a surprise to no one except St. Percy, and he was too much stunned to answer. ‘‘That man Short was a most atrocious vil- lain,” pursued Mr. Drayton. ‘‘ He never for- gave Estelle for refusing him and marrying Trescott, and when their first child was born be had it stolen, Fortunately for the child, the He tried to answer bD’loved corntem- - ' .* A a] 4 * a —_—— wr _ ——— te a TE = ee qn oe = 9 ee —-——, — . — = - ® - x - —— |