Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 559 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, 13 Cordova laughed. ‘* Pll bear it in mind, Jack.” By this time the Harlem lad knew that he was talking to no purpose. Doubtful as the Brazil- jan was, he was not inclined to meet Jack half- way. Asfor telling all that he knew, the lat- ter would not; thetime bad not come. Neither would it do to give Cordova more advice, He was very pleasant, so far, but a little more talk would get him out of patience, ‘** Pedro, you may pour me some wine,” added Cordova, in Spanish. _ The words were not intelli: Pedro’s movements speedily thtened him. His resolution was taken in a moment. He, too, moved toward the wine, as though to assist, but as he neared it, he struck his foot intention- ally against the rocker of a chair, lunged for- ward and struck the bottle, and in a moment more it went whirling down upon the marble hearth, where it was broken into a dozen pieces ‘a to Jack, but Jack gazed at the flowing wine in pretended dismay. ‘**Great Scott! I’ve done it now!” he ejacu- lated. ‘‘ I’m as awkward as a mule, by gracious! Mr. Cordova, don’t say a word, if you please, an’ you kin vake it out o’ my wages. But fur now, jest send Pedro arter fresh wine, an’ don’t blame me too much.” ‘*Don’t say any more, Jack, I don’t care for the wine, but, hereafter, let Pedro do his work,” Then Cordova turned to the Spaniard and told him to go for a fresh bottle of wine. Thus far Pedro was wholly in the dark as to what Jack had heard when behind the folding- doors, but, as to the wine, the boy had given him a few sly hints which were not lost upon the shrewd Spaniard. He suspected that the wine had been purpose- PB eae and knew there must have been some good reason for it. Jack made another excuse, and followed Pedro into the hall. Then followed a most earnest con- versation by means of signs, The boy was very anxious to get Pedro outside as soon as possible, and take him to their interpreter, while the Spaniard was equally anxious to know the re- sult of the late interview, By means of signs it was agreed that they eg meet outside at the end of half an our, This appointment was kept, and then they hurried away to see Lopez. They found that rson just preparing for bed, but he accepted is fate cheerfully and made no objection to act as mutual friend again. J eo at once poured a volley of questions in upon him, "Did you say you followed Anderson ter —— t ‘a Yes.” ** An’ that he stopped at a doctor’s house?” “A boy told me a doctor lived there.” “What was the doctor’s name?” ‘© Harbison.” ‘When Anderson came away he met Dicker- ? ee ves.” “* An’ give him a blue bottle?” ** Yes.’ ‘¢ What sort 0’ a blue bottle was it?” Small—like that,” explained Lopez, illus- trating. ‘The color was blue—oh! very blue. When the sun struck it, it shine like diamonds. Grand! Superb!” and the Spaniard lifted both hands in admiration. “ Jes’ so. Now I want you ter tell Pedro somethin’. Say ter Pedro that the Harbison who called on Cordova this evenin’ is an experi- menter in p’izens an’ pther drugs, an’ keeps a certain kind o’ p’izen in blue bottles. Then tell him that when Dickerman left the house this evenin’, Todd skulked out o’ the area an’ Dick tol’ him ter give somebody some * medicine,’ an’ that was why I spilled the wine. This was translated to Pedro, who at once be- came very much agitated. He required further rticulars, and Jack went into details. When Pedro understood fully, he told the story of the blue bottt found in Dickerman’s overcoat, when the latter accidentally changed he this tims P ke a leaf By me Pedro was trembling like a leaf, He understood J ack fully, and comprehended that the latter believed their employer’s life to be menaced. The matter was going from bad to worse, and the faithful servant was filled with horror. He was for the time as weak asa child, but the Harlem boy retained his calmness. He began to see his way clear, at last, If they had not got a sure hold on the Royal Bonanza matter, they had learned enough about the blue bottle plot to makea strong case. More- over, affairs had reached a point where it would not do to remain silent any longer. Happy Jack determined to call at Police Headquarters that very night, but there was one thing to do first, CHAPTER XV. SETTING THE SNARE. REOPENING the conversation, Jack asked sev- eral questions of Pedro, through the interpreter. ‘* Who is Todd?” ‘* The man-of-all-work at Cordova’s.” ** Where does he sleep?” ** In the basement bedroom.” “* Where do you sleep?” ‘* In a room on the third floor.”. ‘*' Wal, now see hyar, Pedro, I hev an idee that ef Todd is fryin’ ter p’ison Cordova by Dickerman’s orders, the blue bottle is now in his hands, Kin you git it? Put yer wits ter work, fur this is right-down important.” Pedro did *‘ put his wits ter work.” He saw the importance of getting the bottle, if it could be done, and he replied that he would watch for a chance and do his best. ** [ see now that ve made one blunder,” add- ed Jack. ‘I hadn’t ought ter broke that bottle 0’ wine, but saved it, an’ had it analyzed. I’m right sorry I did it, but it may not be too late. See hyar, Pedro, you go home at once an’ tell your master what’s up, an’ then hev Todd bring more wine, tellin’ him the fu’st bottle was broke afore Cordova could drink any, Or did Todd see you bring the fresh bottle, yerself?” Through the interpreter, Pedro said no. “Then go right home an’ git him ter bring another bottle. Make him understand that the first one was broke afore any o’ the wine was drinked. When you git the new bottle, make sure that.ye save it. Ef Todd puts p’ison in it, we'll catch the miser’ble critter.” good one, and Pedro pronounced the idea a hurried away to put it into execution. Harlem Jack went in the opposite direction. Straight to the shanty of G. W. Grimm he made his way, and burst in suddenly. Grimm was reparing to retire, and one suspender hung oosely over his hip. He had been just ready to cast off the other, but paused in amuzement at sight of Jack. ‘Grimm, I want yer help!” cried the boy. 4s Eh a ‘* I want you ter go ter Perleece Headquarters with me!” ‘*’Way down ter Mulberry street?” “Fes.” ‘“‘Bow-wow! It’s pretty tough on a man with chronic hydrophoby ter git him out at this time 0 night—” ‘Tbe business won’t wait. Come! will you go? I kin go alone, but they won’t pay due at- tention ter me, I’m afeerd. [ want a man with me, an’ you are the only one I kin ask.” ‘* Bow-wow! I ain’t goin’ ter refuse—not ef I know myself. I 8’pose it’s about Cordova’s case, an’ I know you hev hoss-sense enough ter do the proper thing. Chuck me my shoes; [’ll be ready in a jiffy.” He made due haste, and was soon ready for the street. They took the Elevated Road and rode to Houston street, and then walked to the Central Station. An officer was on guard at the door, but a few words with him enabled them to on. Jack saw a corridor which seemed to cut the building through from west to east. They en- tered a room at the left, and were in an office where Jack saw several men at work, Grimm did not pause, but through another door nearly opposite to the first. They were then in another corridor, smaller and more ancient- looking than the first. Passing along this for several yards they entered still another room. At the further side a space was partitioned off by a bar, and there a stern-faced man was on duty. Grimm walked up to him and asked for In. spector Byrnes. -* Not in.” Then he asked for Mr. Adams, knowing that he was the chief’s right-hand man. € was in- formed that Mr. Adams was not in. Jack’s face lengthened. ““What do you want, anyway?” demanded the Man on guard, somewhat peremptorily, ‘We've got a case ag’in’ some p’igon rascals, an’ we want ter tell about it,” promptly an- Swered the boy. he questioner looked at him hard. but at that moment another man apperred from the pa e@. rs Here is a detective, Mr. Bobson. He will look out for you,” the guard announced. Mr. Bobson was a tall, dignified man, witha benevolent face, but a pair of keen, steady eyes, “If you haveanything tosay, I will hear you,” he announced, coming to business at once, By the time the story was told he decided that: ee had something to say. hen all was told he sat for several moments in silence, “I hope you kin see a casein it,” said Jack, breaking the silence. ‘*T can, and [ shall take hold of it at once, Stephen Heckley and the Royal Bonanza shall be looked to,” ‘I’m afraid he'll run away, sir.” **He won’t, unless he does it right quick.” ** An’ what about the blue bottle?” “That is what puzzles me. I wish that I knew how your friend Pedro will come out im his venture. I hope he will succeed.” His manner showed that he attached due im- portance to this part of the case. “ Anyway, youcan go home now, both of you, but I want you, Jack, to be at Cordova’s house at eight o'clock, sharp. I dare say the hour will be early for him, but he must give us audience. Be careful not to give i ing away, and remember that I am Mr. Briggs, a man with stocks to sell. See?” Jack said that he did, and then they were duly dismissed. He and Grimm walked toward the Houston street station of the Elevated Road. ‘*Tbem perleece fellers ain’t a bad lot,” ob- served Mr. Grimm. ‘‘ They’re sociable, an’ ef a man ain’t afflicted with chronie hydrophoby, as T be, he might enj’y himself with ‘em. But when a man’s temperature is one hundred and four; his pulse up ter a bundred an’ thirty: an’ hydrophobic peins rend him almost limb from limb, he ain’t got that keen love o’ society some men hey.” By this time they reached the Bowery. Cross- ing that wide thoroughfare, they ascended the ““L” steps and were soon whirling up-town. They left the cars together and walked home- ward. They Neither one had a ee of danger. had been over the ground at that hour before, and always safely, and it did not occur to them that their late efforts—especially, those of Jack —might have drawn down upon their heads danger that wonld otherwise have passed them by. They were soon shown that danger was abroad. They bad nearly reached Jack's home when they came to where a hack stood by the curb- stone. On the other side of the sidewalk was an old shed. It was a gloomy-looking place, but neither heeded it; they were on familiar ground. Jack noticed that a man stood talking with er driver of the vehicle, but thought noth- ing of it. nd manesitntinday ahead, they reached the hack, Then the scene sess changed. One of the men seized Jack, and before the aston- ished boy could make a move in the way of de- fense he was tbrust into the back, At the same moment, a man darted out of the cover of the shed and grappled with Grimm. The latter had been a strong man, but he was no longer young, and his joints were stiff with rheumatism. He bad two men against him, and was thrown into the hack about as easily as Jack had been. Then the two men entered after them. A whistle was sounded, and the vehicle rolled away. When Grimm had been thrown in he fel? against Jack, and both dropped to the bottom of the hack, Jack squirmed and twisted, and finally managed to gain his knees. The hack was bowling along rapidly. A hand was lsid upon the boy’s arm with a painfully-tight grasp. “Be silent!” said a stern voice, ‘* Dare to utter a cry, and I will make crow’s meat of u! ‘‘Great Cesar!” ejaculated Jack, ! “You are a prisoner. Keep quiet, and all will be well.” “Who in thunder are you?” indignantly de- manded the boy, as he squirmed in vain, ‘* Your master!” ‘¢‘ What do ye want o’ me?” ‘¢ Never mind,” ‘*See hyar! I reckon thar’s a mistake—” ‘* There is not,” **D’ye know who I be?” ‘Jack Brandrege,” “‘Fack, sure’s you live, but I don’t see why I’m sot upon in this way—” ** It is not necessary that you should—” “T think it is. If I ain’t interested, who is? hyar, let me go, will ye?”