Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 543 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

— ee — . - 2 4 PO BD OO i — ee - ee i § = ms at p Gd ay Mo ay _ G x =e Dodger Dick’s Double. 11 “Ts this the way you report?’ continued the man. ““T haven’t been here long, I dropped in awhile ago. It can’t be late yet, for—” ‘* No, it’s early!” And the speaker caught the close curtain at one of the windows and pulled it aside. Tony Ted could not keep back a cry. Another day had begun! CHAPTER XII, TAKEN IN. *‘ MEBBE you’ve made a pretty mess of it by sleeping here,” continued the disturber of Ted’s repose, who was no other than Foxcraft, the City Hercules. The big man wasin no good-humor, and the boy double knew that excuses would not palliate the offense of sleeping on duty; therefore he did not try to offer any more. Foxcraft listened with lowering brow to Ted’s report of his mission to Bessie Bullion’s house, ‘‘You must go again,” said he in tones of command. ‘‘ Back to that den where they try to choke people to death,” cried Ted. ‘‘ I won’t go!” “The girl, Lucy, is there!” “So you think. 1 say that a thorough search of the house would not reveala single trace of her.” Ted spoke with a confidence that impressed the giant. “‘ Give it one more trial, though, Ted.” “No. I am resolved not to go back to Bes- sie’s. [don’t intend to tempt her to make an- other mistake,” Foxcraft found the boy immovable, and biting his lips vexatiously, he did not press the propo- sition. “* Mebbe you want to get out of our employ?” he growled, fixing his dark, evil eyes on the ** You wouldn’t release me if I did, I reckon,” bantered Ted. Foxcraft laughed. ‘* No, not just yet,” he assured. ‘‘We want you to find Lucy for us, After that we will di- vide and part company.” ‘* [iJ find the girl if you’ll let me look for her where I think she is,” ‘* Look for her where you please,” A few moments later Tony Ted was on the street again; but this time he did not direct his steps toward the Bowery fortune-teller’s, — Foxcraft, who had stealthily followed him to the sidewalk, watched him out of sight, and then went off in the opposite direction. Ted was soon afterward singled out by a man whose eyes fairly glistened at sight of him, and his bands opened and shut eagerly while he fol- lowed the boy double with the stealth of a cheetah. ‘* Will wonders never cease?” exclaimed this individual, watching Ted. ‘* Fortune has thrown this young spy across my path, and ’ma chump if I don’t fix him for good. No more attempts to keep my game in Bess Bullion’s cage. The dock ferret, Dodger Dick, got away last night, because she didn’t keep him secure, of course. l’ll attend to this street weasel myself. I guess I’m equal to the occasion.” The boy double was followed by this man un- til he brought up in front of a plain two story brick house. ‘*What does he want there?’ muttersd the trailer as Ted handled the knocker and was answered by a good-looking. elderly woman who asked him in a pleasant voice what he wanted, ‘‘T would like to see the young lady here,” answered Ted. The woman started. “The young lady? Haven’t you reached the tone house? “Oh, no,” replied the boy with a light smile. ‘‘T have some important business with Miss Lucy Lukens, and—” ' *T will see the boy,” broke in a sweet voice, and Ted heard the rustle of female garments us a young girl came down a flight of steps into the ball, sue woman stepped back and left the two to- ether, Be" You are Miss Lukens?” asked_Ted, though he kuew he stood in the presence of Norris Gibbs's ward. me | am.” } ‘Shall we talk here?” and Ted looked around aprpicioneys ‘*No, Come into the parlor.” The boy was usbered into a room at the side of the hall, and the young girl turned to bim with a face full of expectancy, » + Pye been looking up that mysterious robbery at Norris Gibbs’s,” began Ted, ’ Lucy smiled. ‘* Well, what have you discovered, my boy?” she asked. ‘* Not very much, I presume, if the affair bas bafflec the efforts of some of the best detectives of New York. Do you think I can give you a clew?” “JT don’t know. We get clews sometimes where we least expect to find any. You were at home when the robbery took place!’ sé Yes.” ** Would you mind telling me what you saw!” Lucy Lukens Inoked searchingly at Ted a few seconds, and then replied. **Are you playing detective, or do you pro- fess to know something about the business of discovering crime?” ““[’m no Captain Coldgrip—I best sleuth in the city now—but I do profess to know something about catching men who violate the law. My name is Ted Tompkins, and I would like to hear your version of the robbery.” ‘*T am very sorry, Mr. Tompkins, but I can- not oblige you with my story,” was the answer. ‘** Don’t you want the robbers hunted down?” “ That will be done in time.” ‘Not by any of the cops who are beating the bush for them now!” ered Ted. ‘‘ You mean by your answer that you know sometbing, but that you don’t hone to give it out to Ted Tompkins, I’ve met with several such cases before,” The boy double picked, up his hat as he fin- ished, and said, in an apologetic tone that he was sorry he had disturbed Lucy. ‘** Do you think you would get the five thou- sand dollars offered as a reward by Norris Gibbs if you should discover the criminals?” she asked, quickly, her face aglow with a merriment which Ted could not understand, ‘I don’t see why I would not,” returned the boy. ‘* He is very anxious to get the robbers and the important papers they carried off. By the way, Miss Lukens, those papers are said to be worth a good deal to you.” Ted thought the young girl started slightly over his last words, ‘* Who told you so?’ asked Lucy. ‘* We detectives understand it that way.” ‘* ‘Yes, those documents do concern me, but,” with another pleasant smile, ‘tI suppose I can live without them.” pont you care whether they come back or not‘ ‘*T would like to have them.” ‘* But you don’t want to give a detective any information,” laughed Ted. “It’s all very funny to me, Miss Lukens, but perhaps you know just why you withhold your testimony. Tll go ahead anyhow, and if I succeed, and I never fail, mind you, ('m afraid it will not be by your help.” Ted ended his speech at the door and walked into the hall, followed by Lucy, whose face had again one of those inexplicable smiles, ‘“Call me a gudgeon if she isn’t a puzzle,” ejaculated the boy double when he had been dismissed at the door with a cheery ‘ good- morning.” ‘She goes just so far and no fur- ther. he isn’t going to be drawn out by any play of mine. DPve found her, though, and that’s what I came for, I told Foxcraft she wasn’t under Bessie Bullion’s roof, and because he insisted that she was [ almost got my walk- ing papers from the delights of this world.” Nearly opposite the Touee where Tony Ted had found Lucy, a man had lurked during the interview just witnessed, He did not nee to be a spy, yet his move- ments denoted that he had not happened there, The large trunks of the shade-trees hid him from view, and he watched Lucy’s new home, with unwearying eye until the door opened to let Ted out. At that r:oment he caught a glimpse of the young girl’s face, and let outa cry of exultation, “ « Found at last, my young chit!” he exclaimed, ‘¢T wouldn’t make a bad detective if [ took a notion to go into the business, The people in yon house are the friends you spoke of during your visit to my office. Stay there till we want you, It won’t be very long.” And the speaker glided away and followed vimble-footed Ted, The bdy, all unconscious of the espionage, kept on until he struck Union Square, The man was close behind him, ‘‘ Maybe he intends to peep into my office,” suddenly cried the tracker, ‘'I’d give my head almost if he would take a notion of that kind. You will be welcome, boy, if you make the call, and I promise that I won’t keep you waiting.” Ted crossed the Square and struck the pave- ment almost directly bencath the windows of Chubb C»peland’s law office, uess he’s the a 7 ——— All at once he threw a look up at the building and his eyes got a quick glitter, By this time the man who had followed him was at bis heels. ‘** | have no business up there just now,” mur- mured Ted. ‘I wonder, though, if the old law- Shark has an idea who manipulated his combi- nation lock while he dreamed of millions a few feet away! I guess not, though he’s cunning in court affairs. I could send you toSing Sing, sae et Chubb, Mebbe you'll get there any- ow. Ted was about to quit the spot, indeed he had taken a step forward, when he was touched by a hand that closed on bis arm, ‘“Not so fast!” said a voice as he turned wd looked into the face of the Union Square lawyer himself. ‘* I want to see you up-stairs on a lit- tle business.” Ted shrunk away involuntarily, but Chubb Copeland's grip did not relax. “Tt won't take us long,” continued he. ‘* My business is very important, and you will say so m just up-stairs here, second 5 when l broach it. floor.” The boy double was walked toward the open hallway with a force which he could not resist, and almost before he recovered, his thoughts he was half-way up the s.eps with the lawyer. ‘Pll see the thing through, but it looks like [I had to whether I like it or not,” on through Ted’s mind. ‘‘Chubb Copeland will find out that I’m a hot iron which he’ll be glad to drop,” A moment afterward the broker’s lawyer opened the door of his office and escorted Ted across the floor, ** Take that chair,” he said, seating the boy in a large arm-chair at the table, while he reached toward the nearest drawer. The dock spy’s double wondered what was coming next, but he soon found out, All at once Copeland’s hand left the table, and something glittered before Ted’s eyes, and then clicked, It was nota revolver, as the astonished boy could see, for revolvers do not possess flexible clasps. " Now, my young thief, what have you done with the papers you took from my safe?” asked the lawyer, settling back in the chair in front of Ted. The boy made no answer. He could move his head and his feet, but his\ arms had been se- cured to the chair by a contrivance from which there was no escape, It had been the work of a sccond, and the triumphant glare which lit up the rascally law- yer’s eyes told Ted how pleased he was with his diabolical success, CHAPTER XTII. DODGER DICK’S THUNDERBOLT. DopGER Dick, who had effected his escape from Bess Bullion’s house in time to save him- self from the vengeance of the female * fence,” was eager to get back to the exciting trail he had been following. | We left him last, as the reader will recollect, on his way to the quarters frequented by Fox- craft and his partner Noxie, and shortly after his street interview with Tony Ted, his young double. Finding nothing that promised to reward him on the trip, the dock spy set off in another di- rection, Not long afterward he reached the near vi- cinity of Norris Gibbs’s house, Despite the lateness of the hour, a light was burning in the second story front room which he knew was frequented by the broker, and for some time he watched the house from a conven- ient cover. All at once the door of the house opened and a young man tripped lightly down the steps and made off up the street, « That is my fellow!” cried Dick, quitting his ost at_once and follcwing the pedestrian, ‘I fnink [ know enough of him to play a hand he isn’t looking for.” Dick continued to follow the young man until he entered one of the city syuares and took a seat on a bench as near the center as it could ‘“* There’s going to bea meeting of some kind,” thought the Dodger. ‘ Let me see if I can’t get to hear something important. I’m out for that purpose to-night.” Passing to the rear of the bench the boy spot- ter approached the youth cautiously, and at last he dropped to the ground and half-crouched ene a bush which had not yet shed its heavy oliage, For some time the occupant of the seat was not joined by any one. burly se ; CON ese ae i ae Ba shu | : - tai ae DOOKS;GCOM - eu