Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 543 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

~~ 44 Bi “* Reac it out, Dingle.” Leaning toward the light the fellow called Dingle read Dick’s letter as follows: “‘Dopa@er Dick:—Come to me on receipt of this. Your double has been here trying to make a dis- covery, but I think he got no news. I am anxious to know how goes the battle, and whether you are ‘naking progress. Lvuoy.”’ “Lucy is it?’ smiled Francis with a puzzled countenance, ‘I wonder who Lucy is?” Dingle soberly shook his head. ‘‘ Well, never mind. We'll show the letter to ous friend. Mebbe she'll want it. Bring up the cab.’ One of the men went out leaving the other with Dick. ' Twenty minutes passed and then the noise of wheels was heard. Dodger Dick was beginning to come back to himself, ‘* Alls ready,” said the voice of Dingle, and Dingle himself showed up at the door. The next moment a handkerchief was cla: over the boy ferret’s mouth, and he was lifted up and borne from the house. A closed carriage stood in the gutter, and Dodger Dick was carried into it and placed on one of the seats. Francis entered after him closing tbe door, and Dingle climbed to the box. ‘‘Make good time,” called out the fellow in- side, and away went the horses, their shoes striking sparks at the crossings they rapidly made, Meantime the boy detective’s thoughts had come back. There was a hand at one of his wrists, and the grip told him that he was still in the clutches of the men who had set a trap for m. He lay quiet and did not inform his com- panion that he was himself again, but he tried to tell where he was by the lights that were passed by the cab on its journey. At last the rapid motion of the vehicle ceased, nd Dodger Dick felt that he was about to be introduced t » the second part « f his adventure. The carriage was guided ‘up to the eurbing, and Dingle sprung from the box and appeared at the door. A second later a cloth was thrown over the boy’s face and he was lifted from the seat. ** All’s clear,” he heard some one whisper, as the night air penetrated to his cheeks. ‘‘ Take him right in to Bess.” The name sent a nameless thrill through every fiber of the boy spotter’s frame. Bess! Was he coming back to the fortune-teller of the Bowery—back to the trap from which he had but lately pen ‘a With the vengeful fingers of Bess Bullion at his throat again, would he ever get back to the trail he was following with success? Dodger Dick realized his situation in the full- est sense of the term. It was but a step from the gutter to the door of the house in front of which the vehicle had ys and the Dodger was carried forward. ‘‘Now or never!” thought Dick. ‘‘AmTIin trim to give these tools of Bowery Bess the slip? ft can try.” ° The following moment he actually jumped from the ruffian’s arms, and before either of be twain could recover, he was off like a young eer, : ‘*Heavens! between cup and lip!” growled Dingle. CHAPTER XVI. TIMELY INTERFERENCE. WHEN Chubb Copeland, the lawyer, had suc- @eeded in dragging Tony Ted, the Boy Double, into his office from the street, he inwardly con- gratulated himself on what he called his good fortune. He had no doubt that he had caught the per- son who, despite the combination, had despoiled his safe, taking off the valuable papers for spine the best detectives of the city were still ooking, Moreover, he had discovered Lucy’s hiding- lace which he believed was also the home of hor lover, a young man whose suit had never met with Norris Gibbs’s approval. ‘‘ Tet me finish with this boy first, and then lll attend to the runaway,” thought Copeland, as Ted sat before him fastened to the chair by the contrivance which he had clapped to his arms. ‘‘ He must tell me where the papers are, or his future liberty may be sorely abridged.” As for Ted, he looked coolly at the lawyer and waited for him to show his band. ‘*Oh, you can’t jump up and run away,” sud- denly faughed Copeland, glancing at Ted’s hands. “Tf you think you can, just try it.” Dodger Dick’s Double. But the boy did not, ‘*'You’ve been here before?” continued the broker’s attorney. ‘*T, Mr. Copeland?’ responded the boy with an innocent air. ‘“You! Come, don’t try the innocent dodge. It won’t work with me. I can tell you that. You were here when I was not in a condition to protect my property. You took papers from that safe.” The semblance of a smile appeared at the corners of the boy shadow’s mouth, ‘* Where are they, boy?” asked Copeland. ‘¢ Where are what?” rT My papers.” ‘* What were they like?” The boy’s question startled the cunhing lawyer. ‘* Never mind, You can answer the question yourself no doubt. I want a direct reply; no slipping out of it like an eel out of a fellow’s hand, Now, proceed.” The lawyer put on an air of determination and Khaned back in his chair with his cold dark eyes fixed on the boy ‘You have a cool way of arresting a person,” said Ted. ‘‘I might have asked for your au- thority, but I would have got no satisfaction. I am accused of opening your safe and taking out something of value to you. Don’t you lock your safe, Mr.Copeland!” ‘*T do,” answered the it Aa biting his lip. ‘¢ A eombination lock, eh?” ce Yes. ” ‘‘T’d like to know how [I could get in,” and the yi double burst into a little laugh. ‘ Do you talk in your sleep, or, perhaps you paste the combination on the safe door?” ‘“T’'m nochump!” vociferated Copeland, ‘* No- body ever pasted his safe combination up like a bill of sale. You got beyond the door of my treasury.” ‘¢ When?” The Poy a8 aggravating, and it was evident that the New York lawyer was rapidly losing his temper. “Great Scott, boy. If I knew when, I wouldn’t be here asking these questions amd de- manding my property,” he cried. ‘‘I give you just two minutes in which to decide what to do.” And he took out his watch and opened it in the palm of his hand. Tony Ted watched him with a peculiar look not at all indicative of fear. He was near enough to hear the watch tick the seconds off, and he could have followed them almost in his mind, All at once there came a rap at the door, a rap so sudden and distinct that Chubb Copeland seemed to be lifted from his chair by it. ‘* Silence!” he whispered, leaning toward Ted. The next second the rap was repeated a little more emphatic than before, but not the least reply was given to it. [be lawyer wanted no visitors just then. ‘* He'll go away in a moment,” thought Cope- land. ‘I think it is Gibbs himself, but I can’t afford to run the risk of opening the door. Let him call some other time,’ There were no indications of the caller going off without some more persistent efforts to get into the office, He rapped again. | ‘*Must think I’m here,” ejaculated the law- shark. ‘‘ Acts like he’s bound to interrupt the business [ have on hand. Well, he'll do nothing of the kind.” At that moment a loud * ahem!” sprung from Tony Ted’s throat, and in a flash tae wrath of a lifetime seemed to leap from the lawyer’s eyes. fe You young rascal, [ ought to choke you to death!” grated Copeland, darting toward the boy, whose act had not been performed without deliberation. ‘‘ You’ve betrayed my presence here with the hope of effecting your own re- lease. Precious little capital you'll get out of the scheme.” Rage had crimsoned the lawyer’s face, and his hands fairly trembled, Again the summons sounded at the door, and a voice beyond it commanded Copeland to ‘* open up.” rowling out something, he left his chair and went forward. “T have a client with me just now,” said he, with his lips close to the door and speaking to the y outside, ‘* Why didn’t you answer before? A client, eh? Maybe we want to see him too. Open the door, please, Mr. Copeland,” In a moment it seemed to dawn on the law- er’s mind that he had a policeman for a visi- tor. ee ————— hr OovCOOn an ee ee err nn wee —EE = The voice and the words indicated this. ‘‘In a moment, sir!” responded Copeland, stepping back. e leaned over his boy prisoner and jerked off the apparatus that held him to the chair, ‘* Keep a still tongue in your bead or ill be the worse for you,” he whispered in threatening voice. ‘‘ I know enough to lock prison doors on you, and Chubb Copeland plays no boys’ games|!” Then he went back to the door, and opening it, found himself face to face with a tall, broad- shouldered man, to whom he began to apologize for keeping him out so long. A smile lit up the man’s eyes when his look fell upon the boy double who had turned and was gazing at him with mingled delight and curiosity. “A kid client, I see,” observed the visitor, with a glance toward Copeland. ‘* Well, I pre- sume you lawyers have all kinds.” ** We have,” was the answer. Ted could hardly hold his tongue. He wanted to protest against being classed with Chubb Copeland’s clients, but a lucky thought admon- ished him to keep quiet for the present. ‘“‘T understand that you have been robbed,” suddenly resumed the tall man. ‘‘ Sir?’ cried the lawyer, coloring. ‘*‘ Robbed? I don’t see how that impression got out.” ‘‘They get out just the same. I am Halford Hall, private detective, and I pick up informa- tion everywhere. It’s my business,” he added, with a smile. ** But, sir,” the lawyer said, with unblushing effrontery, *‘ I have not been robbed,” ‘‘Indeed? Beg your pardon, then, I make it a point to follow up reports of this kind, If you should ever need the services of a detective, don’t forget Halford Hall,” and a small white card fell on the table like a snowflake. Chubb Copeland felt vastly relieved. ‘‘ Good-night, sir,” the private detective went on. ‘You can go back to your client, and I beg your pardon again for interrupting you.” ‘No trouble at all,” answered Copeland, re- joicing that matters were not worse, ‘ Dll not forget you, Mr. Hall, should I ever need the services of a gentleman of your profession. Just now-- It was Ted’s leaving the chair that broke the lawyer’s sentence, ‘¢Sit down, boy,” exclaimed Copeland. ‘No, thank you. I have business outside,” and. Dodger Dick’s Double was at the door be- fore he could be detained. Chubb Copeland was forced to submit to this, and the following second he saw his young pris- oner vanish, and heard his rapid fvotsteps on the stairs that led to the sidewalk below. ‘‘T wish that sneaking detective had been in Halifax!” cried the lawyer when his unwelcome visitor had withdrawn and left him alone. “TI had the young thief just where I wanted him, and was about to get the truth out of bim when who should spoil it all but one of those ferrets who creep about looking for a job? I panehs the right boy—there’s no doubt of that—and I bad him completely in my hands, Cenfound it! the bird has got back to the bush. Who inti- mated to Halford Hall that I have been robbed? I’d like to know that. But those fellows have many ways of getting news. Some of them stand in with the crooks and make money by it. I believe bim to be one of this sort.” Speculating with an empty chair before him, and with the bird flown, did not add to Chubb Copeland’s enjoyment, e was no nearer the missing Y coke ranted than before, and he once more roundly abused the private detective for his interference. ‘Oh, well, I know where the girl is anyhow,” he cried, consolingly, ‘‘The big man and his pigmy pard may keep the boy crook in their employ, but it will do them no good, The rs are worth nothing to them without the virl And they sha’n’t get both into their elutches.” Then Chubb Copeland proceeded to quit the office which he did, carefully locking the door behind him and going down to the street with eyes on the alert. He walked rapidly away and did not stop until he had been admitted to a certain house on the Bowery. _. ‘‘ Would you like to have a boarder, Bess?” he asked the woman who faced him with sin r flashes leaping up and then dying in the depths of her eyes. j | ‘‘No! No more boarders of the kind you bring,” she exclaimed. ‘But it may be a young lady this time.” ‘‘No, I say,” and the fortune-teller of the Bowery leaned toward the Union Square law- —__ =. , <=" 8 900ks.con™