Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 559 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

a — - 7 y a ag a ‘‘ No, I won’t! Keep still, you a rascal! if ycu use common sense, and don’t kick up any row, you won’t he hurt: but we are not men to stand any nonsense. We have certain plans, and they are going to be carried out.” ‘** I guess we’re in for it, Jack,” said the voice of G. W. Grimm, mournfully. ‘* Of course you are, old man,” “It’s pretty tough on us, ’specially on me. Dye know I’m the victim o’ chronic bydrophoby? D’ye know I’m a mere buman wreck?” ‘* We'll talk of that later, No more talk now, i warn you not to try and givo any alarm, for it will go hard with you if you do,” Grimm did not answer. Neither did Harlem Jack, but his mind was busy. A startling sus- picion was at work therein, Did he owe all this to Neil Dickerman and his. gang? And what fate was in store for the captives? CHAPTER XVI JACK’S DISCOVERY. HALF an hour passed; then the hack again stopped. The driver threw open the door, and the prisoners were roughly pulled out. They were marched directly forward, and then led in through a passage and a door—plainly, into the basement of a house, Next they entered a room, and the journey was over. The utter darkness around Jack’s blindfolded eyes suddenly disappeared, and he knew that the gas had been turned up. Then the silence was broken, ‘* You are in a place where you -will stay to- night. You are prisoners, but nobody will hurt youif you behave yourselves. Don’t try to es- cape, for it would be useless, Moreover, if we hear any disturbance here, to show that you are trying to get away, we will visit you again |” There was strong emphasis on the last words. ‘**And give you what you won’t like!” added the second man, warningly. ‘‘ Just so. Bear this in mind and be wise!” The door slammed behind: them; there was the click of a lock, and then Jack threw up his hands and east off the bandage which covered nis eyes, is and Grimm were the only occupants of the room, The latter hastened to free his own eyes, and then they looked around curiously, They were in a basementroom of the ordinary kind, ex- cept that both windows had been covered over with heavy boards. The only furniture was two chairs, while a mattress lay in one corner with a couple blankets thrown loosely upon it. There were two doors, but it did not need the subsequent experiment to convince them that they were locked. : “Wal, I guess we’re in for it,” muttered Grimm. ‘* Looks like it.” “‘Reg’lar Bastile, this is,” és Yes. ” ‘**Them winders hey got planks on 'em, an’ the planks are spiked down. No way out thar.” Jack did not answer. in a thoughtful way. “I say, lad, what does all this mean, any- way?” resumed Mr, Grimm, ** Now you have me,” ‘*Can’t be we’re abducted fur our money.” ** Scarcely.” “* I] couldn’t raise fifteen cents fur ransom, ef the Moors an’ Goths o’ Barbary was goin’ ter chop my head off, The only worldly possession I hev is the chronic hydrophoby, an’I can’t turn that inter cash.” All this was for the benefit of a possible list- ener. Really, they were in a very aggressive mood, and were resolved to get out if such a thing was possible, Half an hour passed. During that time they had heard nothing in the hall, and they decided that they were free from observation, They then discussed the situation seriously. They had looked the room over carefully, and had found no weak point, ‘I’m afeard we’ve got ter stay here,” Jack confessed. “ Think so?” ‘Yes. Don’t you?” ‘No, sir!” Grimm spoke with stubborn determination. “What can we do?” asked Jack, ** Ef them chaps ain’t on the watch, we'll dig out. ‘*In what way?” Grimm touched the wall, ** Only plaster an’ laths here.” is ane we ain't got nothin’ ter dig through with,’ He was looking about . Harlem dated old chairs and coolly wrenched off a leg. Without a word he advanced to the wall and began to dig into the plastering. ack suddenly remembered that he had a stout pocket-knife, This would certainly be better to dig into the plastering. He advanced with it, but Grimm shook his head. ‘‘ No,” he said, ‘* Wait! That is just w’at we'll need later ter cut the laths, an’ it’ll come in right handy. Keep quiet, an’ let me try this plan.” He worked steadily, avoiding betraying sounds as much as possible, and made some pro- gress. Men can aff work for a large stake, and in the present case it was liberty, if not life. He ground away at the plastering, and soon laid bare a small sec- tion of a lath. After that it was easier, and he steadier enlarged the opening. At the. proper time Jack’s knife was again produced, and Grimm cut away one lath after another, The progress then was slower than ever, but Grimm showed a good deal of ingenu- ity, and every minute saw more or less advance. The time came at last when a hole was made entirely through the wall. The dropping of plaster on the other side did not seem to have at- tracted attention, and the prisoners began to feel new hope. A light burned in the hall, and when the aperture had been sufficiently enlarged, Jack thrust out his head and took an observation. No one was visible in the hall, and he was about to draw back when he heard a peculiar sound on the basement stairs. He paused and looked wonderingly. A moment more, and a cat literally flashed into view, coming down the stairs as though very much frightened, and a dog followed after as fast asa lame leg would let him go, Jack started and looked keenly at them as they skurried to the further end of the hall, as though to escape some great danger. There was a striking familiarity about the pair. W here had he seen them before? He was still in doubt when human footsteps sounded on the stairs. He did not remember then thatit would be more prudent to withdraw his head; he was too much interested to think of anything but the fascination which the occa- sion held for him. Then the man came down the stairs and ap- peared to view. Harlem Jack stared at him with dilated eyes. He saw Doctor Otis Harbison. A more completa surprise he could not have had, for thoughts of the old chemist had. not once entered his mind; but there Harbison was, dressed exactly as when Jack saw him in his room of experiments, Discovery seemed at hand, but it was soon shown that Harbison’s mind was on something else. * He carried his cane, and at once made for the dog and cat. Then those animals manifested great terror, both crouching back at the ex- tremity of the hall, and the dog whined pite- ously. The doctor had no pity for them. He descended upon them violently, and aimed a blow at the dog, but both esca his wrath and fled back along the hall, dashing up-stairs once more. Harbison followed fast after. His pre- occupation, and the dim light, had providen- tially prevented his seeing the hole in the wall or the scattered plastering. Happy Jack turned toG, W, Grimm with a face that had lost some of its ruddy color. ‘* We’re in the house o’ the Evil One’s right- hand man!” he at ‘‘AH is now clear, This is Otis Harbison’s den, an’ ef we git out alive we shall be lucky. He may torture us as he does the cat an’ dog!” CHAPTER XVIL THE ACCUSATION, DETECTIVE BOBSON was duly mindful of his appointment with Jack, and was near Cordova’s house at eight o’clock the next morning, He looked at everybody visible on the block, but the boy was not there. He waited half an hour, and StL H Jack did not come, @ determined to wait no longer. He was anxious to see Cordova before other visitors arrived, and further delay might deprive him of the coveted private interview. He rung the bell, and a servant girl opened the door. ‘* I want to see Mr. Cordova,” he explained, “Mr, Cordova is not up yet, sir—at least, he is not yet in bis office.” ** 'W hat about Pedro” ** He is in the office, sir,” ** T will see bim.” ** But he can’t speak English,” “Then I will speak Spanish.” Jack, the Office Boy Detective, The elder prisoner took up one of the dilapi- ord to be patient when they | ** But—” ‘Say no more,” Bobson replied, peremptorily, “I am a dealer in stocks, like your master, and my business can’t be put off, Show me to Pedro, and I wil] arrange with bim,” The girl demurred no longer She did aot have the least suspicion that she was talking to au Officer, and she conducted him to the office. | Pedro, who jealously refused to let any of the | women take care of that sacred room, bad just finished putting it to rights. He greeted the visitor wifh a smile and a bow, and pointed courteously to a chair, ‘* Good-morning, Pedro,” said the detective, in Spanish, | Pedro started and looked surprised. ‘* | understand that you do not speuk English,” Bobson added, still in Spanish. “St. Catherine!” Pedro ejaculated, ‘‘do you speak my own language?” ‘* In a fashion—poorly, as you see.” ‘*Senor, l am delighted, Few, here, know a word of Spanish, and I am almost siaut out from the sound of my own tongue.” ‘* Well, I speak it imperfectly, and\have come to talk with you. I come from Jack Bran- drege.” ** St. Catherine|” Pedro exclaimed, sudden ex- citement visible in his face, ‘* Is your master well this morning?” ‘* He is, senor—praise the holy Virgin!” ** Did he drink wine last night?” Pedro started violently. Bobson laid a hand gently upon his arm, ‘* Pedro, I think you are a discreet man, and attached to Edward Cordova?” ‘*I would die for him!” the Spaniard exe claimed, ‘*Then let me tell you something. See this badge? Do you know whatit means?” ** No, senor.” ‘* It is that of a detective, and such is my bus- iness. I am here as your friend, sent by young Jack. Iam a detective, and I want to aid your master, Let me ask if you got the blue bottle | from Todd, last night? Pedro’s hands were trembling with excite- ment. ‘** | will call my master,” he said. ** Let me ask you first—” ‘* Nothing,” was the firm reply. “The ways of this country are strange to me, and I know not how to act. Pardon me, senor, if I say that it is with my master you must talk; I have no secrets from bim; he knows all that I know,” Bobson understood that Pedro had madea clean breast of his sccrets to Cordova, and he re- monstrated no further. He allowed the man to go to his master, and Cordova appeared inside of five minutes. He looked earnestly at the de- eg but the latter managed to soon convince im, Keeping the conversation in Spanish, he sub- mitted the proofs of his position as a detective, pe then stated that he had seen Harlem ack, ‘‘ Acting on information received from him,” Bobson added, * I visited Stephen Heckley this morning at an early hour, tried to get bim to confess, but he would not. Then I arrested him, .I will not pause to tell you what proof I have against him, but this I will say: I should not have arrested him had J not felt sure of m case. The Royal Bonanza is a swindle, and am going to prove it, Let us leave the subject for now, though. Tell me what occurred here last night. Did you secure the blue bottle?” ‘* Pedro did,” Cordova answered. ‘¢ Have you it now?” Cordova touched his coat. ‘*Tt is here,” ‘Good! Hang to it carefully.” Cordova had been thinking rapidly, and he came to the conclusion that the best thing he could do was to make a full statement to this keen-eyed detective. He had had a full explanation with Pedro, and knew that when Jack upset and broke the bottle of wine it had been purposely done, be- cause the boy believed that the wine was poi- soned, He told this, and then added an ac- count of what followed Pedro’s return to the 10u8e, Coming in, he went directly to Cordova and poured out the whole story rapidly. The Brazil- lan was dumfounded; more than that, be could not believe it. He had had doubts of Dicker- man’s good faith in the Royal Bonanza matter, but that bis own cousin would try to poison him was altogether too much. Still, he agreed to let Jack’s plan, as explained by Pedro, be tried, Todd was informed that the wine he had brought had been wholly spiiled, and was di- 200ks*¢ t ) ; ( j ~ me ne -—. < Sr ae ;