Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 543 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

i | <— - >> a > . <_<! P an = = es = 12 i a ET ~ yy > i pe: ty r; a oe a te ee , aia seas ~ ee Bee Dodger Dick’s Double. ea He lit a cigar and appeared to enjoy it while he waited. Dick could not see his face, but his restless movements told him that he was anxious and impatient, t last a person came up who looked around, and then dropped to a seat beside the waiter on the bench, . ** Have Ikept you waiting?’ asked the new- comer, ‘* Not very long.” ** We can’t always be on time,” ‘* Of course not.” A slight pause, ‘** How much have you brought me to-night?” was the stranger’s interrogative, ‘*Not as much as you would like, perhaps,” and the young man drew something from his pocket and extended it toward his companion, ‘‘What news from the girl?” aka the man who took the money, for money the article un- doubtedly was. ‘* We have no news from her.” ‘“* Aren’t they looking for her?” ” ae are ‘The police?” = No.” ** Who is the man-hunter?” ‘** Chubb Copeland, the lawyer.” ‘That shrewd but foolish fellow?’ was the rejoinder, accompanied by a laugh. ‘** He’s pretty smart, I think, and not much of a fool either when he wants to help himself to a fortune,” ‘* Maybe not. What do you think of the hush- money scheme?” ‘*f hardly know what to say.” ‘* They will not be exposed?” ss No. ” ‘‘ But they might not think we had the proof, isn’t that what holds you back?” ‘* I confess that it is.” ‘‘Then let me remove your scruples. You need not go back to Norris Gibbs. I will go in your place, and he will have to pay a good round sum to get rid of me.” ‘* When would you go?” ‘*'To-morrow some time—say at two in the afternoon.” ‘“*He is at honie at that hour, but—” * Well, what is it?” ‘* Something unexpected has happened.” ‘“*To Norris Gibbs?” se Yes,” ‘* How does it affect him?” ‘It casts him dcwn. He has lost something of value, and within the last forty-eight hours, too. ‘* Something besides Lucy?” sé Yes,” ‘‘Maybe the fox has been robbed by the weasel,” laughed the young man’s companion, ‘*T think that is the case. In truth, I heard him tell Lawyer Wopeland to-day, that if he knew where the papers were he would feel easy.” , ‘That is it! The robbers have been robbed! It gives me a firm hold on him, and I can strike him for a thousand to-morrow. He has that much always in the house?” ‘Ten times that amount,” ‘It is settled. Iwilldoit. Here is a harvest for us, my boy. We kuow what none of the de- tectives of New York suspect. We know who robbed Norris Gibbs, and for what. You need not go back until after my visit. He does not suspect you. He knows that. you discovered him tied in the chair the morning after the rob- bery, and of course he isn’t going to incur your resentment by accusing you of treachery. You are safe, Robert, and we can make a splendid raise without lowering you in Norris Gibbs's estimation. You can go down to the hotel if you want. I shall not see you again till after the visit.” ‘“‘ For fortune’s sake don’t overdo the thing, Russell.” ‘* When did I ever do it that way?” ** Never.” ‘* [ thought so.” The two men rose and left the bench, leavin Dodger Dick, who had overheard all in the dark shadow of the protecting bush. As they moved off, the boy kept them in sight until they separated, when he followed the young man, who led him to a small hotel un So Bob Bland ) andy is playing double, is he?” exclaimed Dodger Dick. “He keeps in poe Gibbs’s good graces while he associates’ with Russell Ralph, one of the coolest and shrewdest black-mailers in New York. This is the game that is to be played: Russell is going to the broker’s house to-morrow and intimate that he knows the truth concerning the great robbery. Bob Blandy has given him pointers enough to tell him exactly how to proceed, “he black- mailing rascal will demand and probably get one thousand dollars, If the papers that were taken from the broker’s safe that night have been lost the second time, he may try to nego- tiate for their return. I see how the police of New York have been deceived, and why Norris Gibbs put forth the tempting offer of five thou- sand dollars reward. It is the shrewdest game I ever saw played, and all to cheat Lucy Luck- ens out of Ler own. Maybe tke scheme will miscarry. I don’t know but that it will.” Instead of quitting the hotel to which he had tracked the young man who had employment at Norris Gibbs’s house as a private secretary, he boldly entered and asked for Bob Blandy. ‘* He has just gone to his room,” answered the clerk, ‘* T have business with him,” ‘You, boy?” and the speaker stared over the desk at Dick, who did not look like a messenger- boy, but for all appeared above the run of New York street youth. ‘Ts your business very pressing?” asked the clerk, it. 18,” ‘Then go up to number twenty-three, second floor. Mr, Blandy cann.t have retired yet. [ will take the responsibility of disturbing him if your business must be transacted before he re- tires.” Dodger Dick did not hear the last words, for he was already on the steps, and a minute after- war.| he rapped on the door of room twenty- three. ‘*Come in,” said a voice on the inside, and the boy ferret opened the door to see a young man balf undressed and with some wonder- ment in his eyes, ‘* Excuse this late call,” Dick said, as he went forward, ‘I think I have good news for you and your employer, Mr. Gibbs.” A slight start on Bob’s part did not pass un- noticed by the boy. ‘*] think I have traced the missing papers up,” continued the Dodger. You do, eh?” and then the young man changed color, as if he had discovered that he was proceeding a little too fast, ‘* Let me ask to what papers you refer?” Dick could scarcely suppress a sraile. ‘* Why, to the documents carried off by the men who tied Norris Gibbs in his chair and then robbed him.” : ‘*T understand now. But, in the first place, who are you?” ‘*[Pm Richard Sly, one of the many who want to pocket the reward offered for the rob- bers and the papers,” ‘¢ A boy sleuth, hey?” ‘¢ Perhaps.” ‘* Well, go ahead, Mr, Sly. What can I do for you?” ‘*T thought you would like to hear the news.” Bob Blandy looked disappointed: Was this all? ‘*You anderstand that the reward is to be paid for the robbers and the papers and not for either,” he suddenly resumed, looking search- ingly at Dick, ‘*T know how it is. Now, Mr. Blandy, what can you guarantee me for the documents?” ‘*l am not their owner,” responded the young man, quickly, « Certainly not. but I thought I might deal with Mr. Gibbs through you. The truth is, I was rather roughly treated by your master when I went to his library to get some informa- tion the day after the event, and I prefer to deal with a gentleman.” Dodger Dick spoke with a spirit that caught the young man who listened. ‘* Of course it would be pleasant for you to re- store the stolen papers to Norris Gibbs,” Dick went on, ‘‘I fancy it would lift you a step in the broker’s estimation,” ‘* When can you get them?” cried Bob Blandy, Dodger Dick drew slightly back from the eager young man who was leaning forward with a new light in his eyes, **Oh, I can touch them within the next twenty-four hours perhaps,” was the answer, ‘* Not sooner than that?” ‘“*T can try.” ‘* The sooner the better.” Dodger Dick threw a look toward the door which he had left open an inch. ‘In return for those papers, Mr. Bob Blandy, would you be willing to tell me all you saw in Norris Gibbs’s house after sundown on the night of the robbery and before six o’clock of the next day?” he asked. In an instant the young man recoiled and his face pap ghostly in the gaslight. ‘* What do you mean to insinuate?” he cried, but the sentence was spoken in gasps. ‘* Only this,” and Dodger Dick looked the youth steadily in the eye. ‘* You have assisted In one of the meanest schemes of robbery and fraud that ever took place in New York. Not only that, but you have just consented to help Rus- sell Ralph, the money leech, to blackmail the man who has befriended you. Now, I want the truth out of you, or you go up the river for a dozen years,” The private secretary was spellbound, CHAPTER XIV. TOLD UNDER PROTEST, THE young wharf spy detective could not have schemed a more direct blow than the one he had just delivered. Bob Blandy was a young man who had fallen into evil ways, and the mere intimation that they had been found out was enough to blanch his cheek. Therefore, he nearly lost his head when Dick coolly threatened him with a term in Sing Sing if he did not tell the truth about the Gibbs rob- ‘y. ‘* What is it you want to know?” stammered Bob, when he partially found bis tongue though his paleness had not ahiatad one jot. ‘You are ready to talk, then?” ‘Perhaps; but I am in the dark as to your wishes,” ‘*T want to know web, about the Gibbs case,” resumed the boy. ‘* You are the person who is said to have discovered the broker tied and gagged in the chair the morning after.” The young man acknowledged the words with a bow. ‘‘ At what hour did you find Norris Gibbs in that situation?” ‘* About five o’clock.” ‘* At five o’clock, and the alarm did not get out of the bouse till ten?” There was 10 answer, ‘* What kept the news back, Mr. Blandy?” ‘An inventory of the contents of* the safe. Mr. Gibbs wanted to see exactly what had been carried away.” ‘* Did it take five hours to complete that work?” Bob Blandy moved uneasily in his chair, ‘* We wanted to be thorough,” he said. ‘© * We?” echoed Dick with a smile. ‘‘ Yes—Mr. Gibbs and myself.” ‘‘ Very well. Are you certain that the broker was unconscious when you found him?” ‘‘T have said so to fifty detectives,” “And you repeat the declaration tome? I don’t want you to go too fast, Mr, Blandy.” ‘‘ Well, he may not have been wholly uncon- scious,” snapped the young man, displeased, “You helped him toa more comfortable posi- tion than the chair after you untied him?” ‘**T did. ‘* What did he say?” Bob Blandy started. ‘*T have just told you—” ; ‘‘ Of course you have—that Mr. Gibbs was un- conscious, or nearly so. He spoke to you just after being released.” ‘* Who told you this?” eried the private secre- tary. ‘“Not Russell Ralph, you may depend,” an- swered Dick. ‘‘ You see, Mr. Blandy, I have not been working up this case for nothing. Didn’t Norris Gibbs keep you in ube library, and give you some instructions about your tes- timony? I want the truth, and I am in a posi- tion to demand it.’ For several seconds Bob Blandy looked at the boy sleuth with a mixture of wonder and rage, but he saw the keen, dark eye that did not quail and felt that Dick’s last words meant their full measure. ‘¢ What is to follow this interview?” he asked, cooling down, for he was at one time ready to break forth in a flat refusal and stand the con- sequences. I cannot say,” replied the Dodger. ‘‘AmI to be arrested and held as a witness against Norris Gibbs?” **T think not.” : ‘A Give me your word that this will not take ace,” ‘‘No,” spoke Dick firmly. ‘If you refuse to tell me the truth, I shall proceed as best suits m purpose, Shall I bid you good night at th juncture, Mr. Bob Blandy?” The boy slowly left his chair, but with his eyes stil] riveted on the unwiiling witness. ‘*T have not refused. to humor you.” ‘But you want to keep something back. Good-night.” i ; 4 - —— “e —_ . © aden Mee biareea ill ghtnses. the, » ae —— *