Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 583 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IX. THE VICTIM OF THE ROUGHS. UMBRELLA EPH bent over the picture. His eyesight was not of the best, and he had to rub his spectacles before he could satisfy himself, Rex watched him closely, yet only with cu- riosity. Something like wonder became expressed upon the old man’s face; then it gave place to doubt; and that, in turn, to surprise, as he di- rected kis gaze towar.l bis wife. ** Why, L believe—” Thus far he had spoken impulsively, but Mrs, Toffling put her hand over ber lips, ‘* Yes, it’s a clew,” she interrupted; ‘if we can only find out who he is,” ‘** But it seems ter me—” ‘* Yes, yes; of course we'll investigate. The cbildren understand that, father; now don’t say anything you can’t prove true. Don’t make any promises; don’t say anything; we'll do what we can. Now let me finish looking through the box.” Umbrella Eph was silenced, and when his gaze wandered to Rex’s face, it was suddenly averted, as he.saw that Rex was looking at him. Rex was an active-minded boy, and he had not been blind to the outward meaning of this scene; its real meaning he could not surmise, He knew that both Mrs, Tofflmg and Eph had seen something in the picture which was not only familiar, but which sarprised them: and that the old man would have given utterance to his thought, under the impulse of the moment, had not his wife so resolutely stopped him,” - Whatdid all this mean? x was surprised and perplexed, If they had any idea who the original of the picture was, why did they not mention it? Above all, why did they look at him so peculiarly, as though he was the one who was interested in the case? The youth’s gaze wandered back to the box, where the old lady was just reaching tle bot- tom, and he noticed that her hands trembled. This was something unusual for ber, and he felt sure that it proceeded from agitation, ‘‘There 1s nothing more,” said Mrs, Toffling. ‘*Then the picture is the only clew?” returned Rex. ait ‘* Who do you suppose it represents?” ‘*T don’t know, Rex.” ‘‘ Have you never seen any one who looked like it?” ** Never.” Mrs. Toffling answered quickly, too quickly for the boy to have much confidence in her statement. What was she keeping back? He could not guess, but he knew them so well that he felt sure that they were not withholding any- thing from a dishonoradle motive. They were thoroughly honest. ‘* Ella,” said the boy, after a pause, ‘‘ will you go to my room and see if you can find my knife?” It was a simple device to get her away for a few moments, and it worked well. Glad to oblige him, the child lighted an extra lamp and glided away. ‘* Now,” continued Rex, ‘‘may I ask what you have discovered?” ‘* Discovered!” repeated Mrs, Toffling, with a start. bs Yes.” ‘*T don’t understand,” ‘‘? could see by your manner, and that of Unele Eph, that this picture told you some- thing, What wasit? Do you know the man?” pe Bavan't I just told you, No?” asked the old lady, a troubled expression upon her face. ‘** Ah! but Ella was here then.” ** So you think that we kept something back for Ella’s sake?” ‘“Yes. It was plain to me that both you and Uncle Eph were agitated when you saw the pic- ture, and Uncle Eph would have spoken plainly if you hadn’t stopped him. Now I am nota ehild, and Five Points Phil and [ want to help Ella. I wish you’d tell me what you know about the picture—for I know you saw some- thing familiar about it.” Mrs. Toffling was too much confused to reply at once, while Umbrella Eph, catching up the paper, tried to read the weather predictions aloud, His eyesight was very bad just then, and he made a wretched jumble of it, ‘‘For New England an’ Eastern New York, slightly warmer, snowy weather; generally fair, with heavy fall of rain, an’ mercury below zero.” Having read this remarkable prediction, which existed only in his mind, for«he had rot seen a word, the old man looked up with a reso- Wrestling Rex. lute determination to turn conversation to the subject of weather and umbrellas, but Mrs. Toffling laid her hand kindly upon Rex’s shoul- der. ‘* My boy,” she replied, ‘‘ I see that it’s no use trying to hide anything from you. Now let me ask you one question: If I tell you it is best so, a'e you not willing to let this explanation wait a while?” There was only one answer to make when his kind old friend spoke in that tone. ‘*T will, a0 beg but please bear in mind that Five Points Phil has regularly taken up the trail to find out who Ella’s friends are, and if you can help him and me—” ‘** We ought not to keep anything back, Iagree with you, and we won’t, for long. But, wait a bit, Rex; wait just u little.” ‘*The weather predictions for the West,” in- terrupted Uncle Eph, ‘‘are ter the effeck that rain may be looked fur, I wish we was in St. Louis or Chicago—the rain will stir up the umbrella trade amazin’!” The old man looked benignly over his spec- tacles at his wife, while Rex went to the window and looked out, Nosign of Five Points Phil. Rex shook his head gloomily; he had grown de- cidedly anxious. As he glanced at the clock he saw that it was half-past ten, and, beset with fresh fear, he went out to the street. Several persons were going anil coming, but there was no sign of Phil. ‘‘T’m afraid he’s in trouble!” muttered Rex. ** Tt looks as though those scoundrels had trap- ped him, and if they have, I’m afraid it’s allover with Phil.” Rex bad not lived all his life in Gotham with- out being aware that there were scores of men in the city who would as soon take human life as that of a beast. While he stood there he had a practical illustration of the fact, Looking down the street he saw a man ad- vancing whose every movement proclaimed that he had drank altugether too much liquor. He staggered as he walked, and his progress re- sembled that of one so far gone in intoxication that his movements were purely mechanical. He was young and well dressed, and as Rex noticed the gold watch-chain which dangled “ee, masta from his pocket he shook his ead, ‘* Bad place for a man like him to be at this hour, when drunk. He would make rare game for some tough, and he’s not in conditlon to help bimself,”’ Even as these thoughts passed through the boy’s mind he saw two rougb-looking men issue from a dark doorway and start after the drunken man. At the very first Rex recognized the fact that their intentions were hostile, and, obeying a natural impulse, he started toward them. He was not soon enough. They were already beside the drunken man, and Rex saw something raised which looked like a slung-shot. It desceniled, and their victim, heavily smitten, dropped to the sidewalk, Another moment and they were bending over him, There had not been sufficient time for Rex to prevent anything that had been done, but he was far from being disposed to Jet the men have their way. He knew that they would dare to stop only a short time, anyway—whatever he did must be done quickly. He uttered a sharp cry and sprung forward, The startled roughs paused in their work and looked up. One of them held the gold watch, but the chain had not been detached from the button-hole. ‘* Help! Police!” cried Rex, springing at the men. He was as brave as a lion, and cared nothing for the fact chat either of the men could un- doubtedly master him in a fight. The fellow who had the watch gavea jerk and the chain flew loose, but the delay had been un- fortunate for him, Before he could gain an up- right position Rex struck out with his clinched pec and the robber went sprawling upon his back. He sprung up as soon as possible, but, being really a very cowardly fellow, was strack with alarm as he saw that his ally was in retreat. He was dimly conscious that he had dropped the watch, but as Rex cried, “‘ Police!” again he decided not to look for it. Panic-stricken, he fled like the coward he was, Singularly enough, Rex was Jeft ulone with the prostrate man, Usually such an event would have attracted others to the scene, but not now, Rex picked up the watch, and ths young man endeavored to rise. His efforts bid fair to prove fruitless, but Rex gave his aid, Then he stood rr a NL C—O swaying upon his feet, a dull, vacant expression upon his face. The blow received had scbered him a good deal, so far as the liquor was con- cerned, but as he slowly put one band to his scalp, Rex suspected that it had badly injured his head, ‘* Are you hurt, sir?’ the boy asked. ' ** Hurt?’ mechanically repeated the man. don’t know. What has happened?” ‘** You were knocked down by tw6 roughs,” ‘*T remember that comething happened,” The speaker was looking dully, vacantly at nothing in particular, He suddenly staggered, and then, recovering his balance with Rex’s help, added in a tremulous voice: ** Do you live near here?” ‘** Right in this. house, sir.” ‘* Take me to your rooms.” ‘*'To our rooms?” echoed Rex. ‘Yes. I am badly hurt, and if I don’t get among honest persons [11 never get out of this section alive. [amadrunken fool, and not fit now to take care of myself. I don’t wanta policeman to see me—they know me too well, And I won’t trust them. I will pay you well. See! here is money!” He produced a big rojl of money, and Rex saw how dangerous it way for him to co wan- dering around. Tne boy had a precedent to go by—Mr. Toffling had once taken in a man who was in just such condition—and then Rex re- membered Five Points Phil. “Perhaps he is in trceuble!” thought Rex, ‘‘ and if he is, I should bitterly blame the person who would not help him, I'l] take this man to Uncle Eph’s rooms.” He did so, though it was no easy task to guide and help his companion up all the steep, narrow stairs. Mr. and irs, Toffling, honest and gen- tle as they were, had always lived among rough eople, and had been through experience calcu- ated to fit them for this new responsibility, They bathed the man’s head about where he bad been struck, and then bad him lie down, He was as docile as a child, and thanked them ip a way which told of good breeding. ‘*Tll sleep awhile,” he said to Rex, to whom be had evidently taken a strong fancy. ‘* You take care of my money, and it will be all right,” Receiving a promise to this effect he closed his eyes, but opened them after a few seconds, ‘‘There is less than half the thousand I drew from the bank in that package,” be said, rather vaguely. ‘*I bet five Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward.” And then he closed his eyes again and seemed to fall asleep. His last statement had made Rex start, and he paused with the man’s gold. watch in his hands. He bad read the name engraved upon the inside case—'t Willie Landerson” but he little knew how strange was the chance which had brought Landerson to that house. CHAPTER X. PHIL’S DOUBLE DANGER, THE way in which Pfeffer swooped down upon Five Points Phil and grasped him by the collar was very fierce and aggressive, and a person jess cool than the young detective would have been very much startled. Phil, however, was not one of the kind to be easily frightened. “Say, s’posen you lef’ go o’ my garment,” he coolly replied, ‘* Thet thar coat looks all right outside, but I bought it o’ Solomon Moses Silver- dish, arnd, you can't bet on’t fur acent. It’s liable ter s’plode like a can 0’ dynamite, arnd blow us both up. Ef you want any physical support ter stiffen yer weak legs, s’pose ye ketch p holt @ thart lumber arnd ease up on my gar- ment. Assooredly!” And the irrepressible detective looked down at his coat, as though the greatest cause for worry that he had in the world was that a lent would be rnade there. ‘You are a spy!” hissed Pfeffer, Phil looked up innocently. ‘* A which?” he repeated. 6s A spy!” ‘Great ginger! you don’t say so? What's that?” “Oh! come off!” Pfeffer impatiently replied. ‘“Y caught you spying upon us, and you are in for it. No amount of lying can help you out. Pratt, do you know this kid?” | ; ‘‘No,” replied the old carpenter, in a mild voice, “Of course not. He’s a spy.” ‘“*T don’t think he intended any barm,” ‘“-You don’t, eh? ‘Then why was he spying eT pi h | in h ood ‘many suppose he come ™ hereasa | boys do. Anyway, he ain’t done no Farm,” eT hundred dollars on. Lh, © 7) ‘ea 5 - i prt.