Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 559 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

os - ‘ ; ¥ ~ vy ry, < = -— wry v ha a) > ee tae a Poh & ™ ~~, . ae r. ~ 4 OAS Cae 10 just re-entered the parlor when the door-bell rung, and in a moment more Neil was again in the room, Cordova had again raised his hand to his forehead with a weary gesture, and this prevented him from seeing that his esteemed cousin looked excited, “ Hello!” he exclaimed. robber here?” ‘©No.” Cordova replied. “Took at him now. By some mischance I took the wrong coat when I went away —took yours and left mine, I’ve come to swap back. Had you noticed the change?” “Ves. I wanted something from my coat, but we found it gone. I suspected the truth, and there is no harm done.” He rubbed his hand acfoss his forehead heavily. Neil opened his lips to speak, but closed them without a word. ‘‘ Pl rectify the mistake.” ‘‘ Pedro will bring your own—” ‘No, no; never mind. I'll get it.” Dickerman hurried into the hall. The first thing he did when he reached his own coat was to run his hand into the inside breast-pocket. His fingers closed upon the blue bottle, and a look of relief passed over his face. He took off one coat and put on the other, and then moved toward the front of the hall. A thoughtful look was ou his face, and when be reached the par- lor he paused atthe door, Once more he seemed ou the point of saying something important, or asking a question, but instead, he hesitated, and then made an insipid remark about the weather. This done, he left the house. His face bore an expression curiously made up of relief and anxiety—strange combination !|— and as he went away he presse ! his hand against his coat over the blue bottle. CHAPTER XI. DETECTIVE WORK. JacK returned just too Jate to see Dickerman at all, and as no explanations were made to him he did not bear about the blue bottle or the accidental exchange of coats, He completed the errand which had been given him to do, and then left the house. ‘+ Mr. Cordova has been all shook up by what’s happened,” he thought. ‘‘He looks bad. Of course 1 couldn’t question him while he was that way, but I do wish I knowed jest how he made out at Heckley’s, an’ whether he’s been ter the perlice. Hullo! p’r’aps Harvey knows, [ll call on him, though he'll no doubt give me an- other blowin’ up.’ He called upon the secretary, who justified his expectations, and gave him the “ blowin’ up” in due order. Stannard still disapproved of Jack’s course, and told him so plainly. The visit was not a failure, however. Stan- nard knew the result of the Brazilian’s investi- ations; at least, he told Jack that Cordova had pose shown documentary evidence that proved beyond question that the Royal Bonanza was sound, When asked if their employer bad been to the police, Stannard answered in a tone of horror that he had not— ‘‘ Certainly not!” Jack had heard enough. Good-humoredly refusing to quarrel with Harvey, he left him and made another call. This time it was upon G. W. Grimm. He wanted an ally, and had determined to eniist the eccentric shanty- dweller. True, Grimm was against him in his theories, and might refuse to be convinced; but if he refused, he would have one virtue left— there.was no danger that he would betray any confidence reposed in him. He found Grimm alone, and as jolly as ever. “Drop down som’ers,” he genially said, ‘“P'paps you'd better keep nigh the door, fur 1 may hev a malignant attact 0 hydrophoby, an’ you’d want ter run. Bow-wow-wow! Tell ye what, Jack, it’s a sorrerful thing ter be in my way. Bit by a mad-dog, I’ve had chronic hy- drophoby—bow-wow !—govin’ on thirty year, an’ it tries my personal system mortally. Offer me water an’ I'd howl like p'ison, but whisky gin- erally quiets me. Odd, ain’t it! Bow-wow!” Jack let his friend have his say, and then came to business, In as few words as possible he told his reasons for believing that Cordova was in the bands of sharpers, giving 4 full account of his adven- tures at Heckley’s rooms, The latter part shocked Grimm, who held up his hands in shocked surprise when he heard 0 the boy’s narrow escape, but to the rest he gave close aud serious attention. ‘The fact that the Governor of Idaho knew nothing about the mine impressed him as being si ificant. Not being well informed in geograpty he was not + ST me & Aa an jai Ay ae EOE re my ~ - ee eet ee ye - — se 4 - gos ~ a a . - — — ~ : 7 ‘Neg ven death anid iat % as yay i ih a ‘ 7! € eet @ ‘ Col sat ‘ ‘ Ay . ) vor 7 7 ey : > & g 4s BOs ty oe .% . n » “ ~|' Csr A eR Otay ET A Passa eto its ih | = eee yp erie te pe Seal C aa) @ re ’ 7 - 2 oTF Po. va e > ae > | a a 4 & ‘ ‘ ‘ = - 4 % : A ee z . 4 Pe a a bales ph Setar ‘‘Have you seen a} be aware of the fact. —‘shadder’ Heckley. an’ with a chance o’ gittin’ pulled inter court, ought ter shadder him, takin’ turns, an’ makin’ sure he don’t leave the city.” him arrested right away.” an’ I begin ter ain't had sence I raised my fu’st mustache, I ain’t sure but I was born fur a detective, an’ ef Inspector Byrnes, or some o’ them other notable characters. name o’ G. W. Grimm, detective, in all the papers, an’ hailed by his admirin’ feller-citizens as the peer o’ the great French detective—a— we hev bim arrested ef he tried ter leave the city? Is the proof so strong that a perliceman on medicine, owin’ ter my battle with chronic ' oe oe - 2 tl a : : . hn : : we — ~ — J a 7 — —_—— Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. $< aoOoOoOooo>oeFyaelemmmo tion, and he went about it at once. He walked boldly in. Just then there was nobody in tbe corridor. The doors of the two rooms occupied yf Heckley were closed. How was he to learn if the Western man was inside? He went near the door of the office. The key- hole, as he had noticed the previous night, had a cap on both sides. He looked at the transom. There was a means of observation, provided he had a chair to stand upon. He lacked this article, and, besides, it would bave been very reckless to employ such means. Some one might ~ any moment enter the corridor and detect aware that Idaho was nearly eighty-five thou- sand square miles in area, and that it was con- stantly undergoing changes, but he did havea great respect for governors, and he took it for granted that if there was a Royal Bonanza Mine, the chief magistrate of the Territory must Reasoning from this point of view, he at last thought as Jack did. ‘Suspicious, very!” he declared, when the neg tk was told. ‘*T think so.” ‘Good many knaves in New York, blessed city though it is.” ‘You are right.” ‘¢ We've dropped on some on ’em.” ‘‘ Pity Cordova didn’t see ther perlice.” “* Right you be, lad.” ‘“‘ Heckley ought ter be shaddered.” “‘ True as ye live.” ‘He's got Cordova’s money, an’ now he’s got warnin’? that Cordova is s’pishqus. What’ Heckley do? Why, he'll skip.” “Too bad, by sixty!” ‘There is one way ter prevent it.” ‘6 How?” ‘‘ Fur you an’ me ter take the job.” sé Us q” ‘‘That’s what I said.” ‘¢ What kin we do?” ‘What L tol’ Cordova ter hev the perlice do Thar is a_ possibility that they think the Brazilian is so talked over that he won't say nothin’, an’ that danger is hlowed over, but I’m afeerd it’s tother way, Heckley is grumblin’ ’cause business is so poor, im. While he was hesitating a voice sounded in the room, singing in a deep base voice. No fur- ther proof was needed; Heckley was there. His musical effort wasa song of the mines, and was very brief. No conversation followed, and Jack decided that the Westerner was alone. He returned to the street. It was not a good place to “kill time” in a natural way, and he felt that his ingenuit would be tried, but he was not discouraged. e sauntered to and fro with an assumption of careless ease. An hour passed. Then there was a sudden change in the situa- tion. Heckley emerged from the building. Jack at once became on the alert, but allowed no sign to betray him, Heckiey yaused, looked both ways, set his broad-rimmed hat a little fur- ther back on his head, thrust his hands into his pockets and sauntered away toward Fourth avenue, his manner indicating that he was out for an idle ramble. Was this appearance genuine, or was he play- ing a deep game to deceive possible watchers? Jack mentally asked this question, but was wholly at a loss for the correct answer. He was, however, there for business, and he did not allow himself to be left behind. He sauntered after the man from Idaho, taking care to keep well back eng 4 had seen him at Cordova’s office, and though he might not recognize him if he saw him again, it was highly desirable to avoid his notice. Heckley wandered on slowly. He went up Fourth avenue, turned into Union Square, and then paused before the theater and idly read the pig-lettered bill of the play. Then be crossed to the square proper and paused in front of the statue of Lafayette. Evidently it was new to him, for he viewed it carefully on all four sides before he was satisfied. Next the electric-light tower claimed his notice, and he stopped a park Lag etree and asked several questions in regard Oo this. Jack was growing more suspicious, This idle curiosity seemed too innocent to be genuine. From the square Heckley sauntered east and walked through Seventeenth street, and for the next half-hour the pursuit was continued with- out incident of importance. The miner made unexpected turns at times, taking a course de- cidedly zigzag. but, despite this, he steadily ap- proached the East River, Reaching it, he paused and looked idly out over its broad surface, The scene appeared to interest bim. To him it was new and novel. He watched with almost childlike curiosity. After a while he looked at his watch, and then started away at a brisker pace, his course now being north. “‘ Tt’s comin’,.” muttered Jack. ‘‘ He ain’t out without an objeck, an’ I’ll soon see What it is.” _Heckley did not look around. Turning to the right after walking a few blocks, he went straight to the river again. The slope of the bavk for a moment hid bim from Jack’s view. The latter hurried forward. He again saw the Westerner, and then stopped short in dismay. Heckley was in @ boat, and was steadily receding from shore. CHAPTER XII, DRAWING NEAR. For a moment Jack was incapable of_action. He had felt a vague impression that Heckley might have come to the place to meet some other person, and the celerity with which the man from Idaho got away from land startled him, and raised new suspicions in his mind. “« He’s seen me follerin’ him, an’ now he’s give me the slip!” thought the boy. ‘‘ He’s goin’ ter skip away from New York!” ecovering power of action, he hastened nearer to the river, and swung up one hand to Heckley’s boatman. * Hold up!” he cried. takin’ a criminal away !” Both the boatman and Heckiey looked back, but the former did not cease using the oars. I'll tell ye in one I say you an’ me what'll he be likely ter do? word—skip! That’s why ‘¢ S’pose he tries ter leave?” ‘Then whichever on us is watchin’ will hev ‘‘ By Jinks! you've gota head on ye, my boy. feal a glow in my blood I I go inter it I may git up 4 reputation ekul ter It would look right wal ter see the what was his name? Lemme see! ‘‘ Vidocq, d’ye mean?” ‘6 Jas? so, Bow-wow! Graylock?” But see hyar: Could would take him in, ef we said so?” Jack’s face lengthened somewhat, “ Do ye think it ain’t?” he anxiously: asked. ‘That's whar you hev me. Is it, or ain’t it? 1 never studied law, though I’m pooty wal posted hydropboby. Bow-wow! I’ve always thought I'd let the law be, ef the law would let me be. But now I feel a fever ter be a detective. An’ the fu’st question is, as matters stand now, would they arrest Heckley ef we tol’ ’em to?’ They proceeded to argue this question at some length. A more experienced person would have told them that they had no direct evidence whatever against Heckley. There were several suspicious points—points which a wide-awake detective would readily have taken hold of and investigated, bat, as the case then stood, noth- ing which would have justified an arrest. Jack and his friend, being eager to see every" thing ina certain light, were naturally guidec by their wishes, and they decided that it was the duty of any patrolman to arrest the man from Idaho whenever they said the word. This point decided, Grimm readily agreed to assist Jack avd take turns with him in dogging Heckley. Of course they were to do this secret- ly, and avoid being seen if possible, but if their man tried to leave New York, they would at once demand his arrest. With this understanding they separated, and Jack went down-town as fast as the Elevated Road could carry him. He soon reached the vicinity of the building in which were located the offices of the Royal Bonanza Company, All was as quiet there as could be expected. It was an hour when the other offices in the building were open, and there was a general stir about the place. Nobody seemed to do a rush- ing business, however, and the scene was nothing like what one might see on a larger street. Jack had one question to solve before his espion- e began. as Heckley in the building? here was only one way to settle this ques- ‘6 Hold on, thar; you’re