Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 561: Deadwood Dick — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

as they sauntered lalong. Deadwood Dick in Boston. SS OO —eeeE———e—eEeE—E———EE———EOE—E——E—EEEOEEEEOE Silly Jake scrutinized the directions on the en- velope, beforeanswering. . ‘Jack Brady give it to me,” he said, ‘‘ an’ a dollar to deliver it!” “Ha!” withastart. ‘* Let me see it!” and Dick snatched it from Jake’s hands, ‘Oh! give it back! give it back!” Jake cried, in alarm, ‘Jack yi, would kill meif he knew that got out o’ my hands!” ‘‘Don’t fret. You shall have it back, after I find out what it contains!” Dick coolly replied. “T think I’ve struck a lead.” The envelope was addressed thus: **To Moses Mums, Pawnbroker, No — Hanover street, Please give this to your tenant, Mrs, G.” Deadwood Dick gave a low whistle of aston- ishment. ‘‘ Ho! ho! I am pretty sure this ts of interest to me!” he soliloquized, and deliberately tearing open the envelope, he extractéd the note it con- tained, while poor Jake stood speechless with terror. The letter ran in substance as follows: ‘‘Maa:—I visited the horse, but it isn’t dead, yet. I reckon it is about on its last legs, however, ill visit it again, to-night. Haven’t found the other one yet. Yours, ** JACK!”’ Dick slowly folded the letter, a peculiar ex- pression upon his handsome face. He did not speak his thoughts, however, but turned to Jake, and said: ‘* Come, I will inclose this in another envelope, direct it, and you can take it to its destination. No one will be the wiser that I opened it.” Jake looked greatly relieved. They entered a neighboring stationery store, where Dick procured an envelope, and inclosed the letter in it. The directions were then add- ed, in nearly the same handwriting as on the original envelope, which he had put in his pocket. He then gave the letter to Silly Jake. ‘*There, You can go now,” he said, * and when you have done your errand, come back to the vicinity of the Revere.” The young man eagerly seized the letter, and hurried away, while Dick and Rats made their way back toward the saloon, where Jake had seen Jack Brady. ‘‘ Well, what’s the racket, boss?” Rats asked, ‘* Any news?” ’ ‘‘T’m not sure, but I’ve an idea I have struck a lead that will pam out well,” Dick replied. “I can tell better, when I’ve given the matter fur- ther investigation. As for you I’ve got your work mapped out. This man Brady, whom we will fiud in the saloon, isa hard character, and must be shadowed, and you’re the very lad that can do it, to the Queen’s own taste.” ‘Don’t be too sure about that, boss. Ye know I ain’t in N. Y.!” ‘‘That makes no difference. Once you get vour peeperson your man, you don’t want to jose track of his movements, He’s going some- where to-night, to see a sick horse, and if we can find out where he goes, interesting develop- ments are likely to follow!” ‘* Goin’ to see a sick horse?’ echoed Rats. ‘* What the blazes has sick horses got ter do wi’ your case?” : A ree deal, perhaps. The sick horse re- ferred in his letter, may mean a sick man— may mean Calvin Cool!” ‘Dick, you’re a daisy at surmisin’ things!” Rats exclaimed admiringly. ‘‘ I'll bet my shirt agin’ a plate o’ Boston beans you're right. Any- how, if there are any sick horses to be inter- viewed, I shall be on hand about the same time Brady is.” | ’ They reached the saloon, by this time, and entering, approached the bar, and ick ordered a beer for himself and a soda for Rats. The saloon was a third-rate groggery, with a low ceiling, and was not remarkable, either for cleanliness or for its fragrant smell. Behind the bar was a burly, red-headed Irish- man. Seated at a table were a couple of roughly- dressed, villainous-looking men, one a swarthy Italian, and the other evidently an Irish- American. A glance at them convinced Dick that they were Jack Brady and his pal, Ignatius, for the Italian’s companion had a livid, oblong scar up- on the cheek. ; ‘“They’re my men!” was Dick’s decision. ‘‘Tough-looking customers, too. They’d make their mark out West, as Al ruffians.” Aloud, however, he said: ‘‘Take something, gentlemen?” The two men at the table looked somewhat surprised at this invitation, coming from a total stranger. Both arose, however, and advanced to the bar. ‘‘T’ll take rum and molasses!” was Brady’s choice. ‘*T take gin!” the Italian added. The drinks were quickly forthcoming, and all drank. ‘‘T dunno as I know who I have to be obliged to for the h’ist, stranger, but I’m obliged, all the same!” Brady said. ‘‘Oh! that’s all right, I guess, most likely, you’ve beard of me, tho’ l’m never heard of doin’ much good, I’m Sharkey Collins!” Deadwood Dick, during his New York experi- ence, had incidentally learned that ‘Sharkey’ Collins was a noted crook, and expert cracks- man, Jack Brady stared when he heard the name. ‘You don’t say so?” he ejaculated. ‘*‘ Why, I’ve heard of you, lots of times, and am glad to meet you, for I used to know your brother Jim, before he got drowned. Shake, old boy!” The detective and the crook clasped hands, and then Dick was introduced to Signor Ignatius Frizello. ‘* And so you’re Sharkey Collins, eh? Noone would take you for a crook, Ever been ** No.” ‘‘Then, youw’re luckier than most of the boys. What are you doing here, in Boston?” ‘Oh! scouting around, seeing how the land ays.” ‘‘ Better be careful. The detectives and cops are getting mighty fly, of late!” ‘Pooh! they’re not fly enough for me, Well, I must be going. Hang around here much?” ‘“ Yes, considerable. Jf you get hold of any snaps and need any help, let me know.” ‘All right; I will, and you do the same.” **T will.” Dick and Rats then left the saloon. ‘“‘That’s your man, niy boy, and don’t you lose track of him till you tind out where he goes, to-night!” **Tll try not to, sir.” ‘‘ Have you money enozgh for present needs?” ‘* Plenty.” ‘Well, then, good-by, and success te you. When you have any news of importance, come to the Revere,” and sbaking hands with his pard, the Wild West detective hurried away. ee ee CHAPTE RRR, DECOY LETTER—THE BREWING OF A STORM. LEAVING Rats to watch the movements of Jack Brady, Dick hurried back: up toward the business center of the city. ‘‘T may be mistaken,” he muttered, as he strode along, ‘‘ but it strnek me, in an instant, that the letter Brady addressed to Moses Mumbs’ tenant, Mrs, G., was for none other than Mrs. George Glenroy, and that the horse re- ferred to was Calvin Cool, who was somewhere imprisoned, If the letter was for Mrs. Glenroy, she must be sojourning under the roof of Moses Mumb. ‘In that event, what would it signify? Has the Jew proved a traitor and scoundrel, and taken advantage of the information he got from me to work a scheme of his own? Blamed if it don’t look so. T'll mighty soon find out if Mag and Mrs. G. are my game.” He made his way direct to the Adams House, and entered the office, which, at the time, chanced to be pretty well deserted of the usual loungers, so that he had vo difficulty in getting a word with the clerk. ‘‘Ts there a lady stopping here by the name of Mrs. Glenroy?” Dick asked. ‘* No, sir. e was stopping here, but left yesterday.” “Indeed? Do you know where she went?” **T do not, sir.’ ‘Think she left the city?” ‘*T haven’t the slightest idea, sir.” ‘* How did she leave here?” “A man called for her, and she and her daughter went away with him, That's all I know about it, sir!” ‘What kind of a looking man was he?” per- sisted Dick, who wanted to tease the clerk. ‘“T don’t know dnything about it,” was the sharp retort, and Mr, Clerk turned haughtily away, | er But, hold on a minute!” cried Dick, reach- ing into his pocket and drawing out a half-dol- lar; “ take this!” The clerk stared. ; ‘* What do you mean?” he g " ‘Why, take it. It’s a tip! You want some- thing to volunteer such elaborate information to an ordinary human being.” : THE ; P The Adonis of the hotel office glared at Dick, for a moment, through his gold-rimmed g and then, with a muttered imprecation, turn to answer a bell-call, while Dick, with a tanta- lizing laugh, left the room. Leisurely he made his way toward the Revere House, his mind busied in thought and surmise, ‘‘ That settles that much!” he mused, ‘* Mrs. Glenroy has taken refuge under Moses Mumh’s roof, and I can assign but one cause for it. She has heard of the arrival of Cora and myself, and, stricken with terror, has sought to hide herself from us, over the Jew’s pawnbroker shop, thinking that would be about tbe last place she would be looked for. ‘‘Of course she must have received her in- formation from Mumb—who else could have warned her? And, that signifies that the Jew is working with her. ‘* Now, the question is, had I better go to the wnbroker’s, and make an open demand to see er, or accomplish my object, by strategy? In the first case it 1s probable I would be met with a blank refusal, and at the same time increase her desperation to escape from me!” ‘* No, that won’t do. I must figure out some other way of getting an interview.” When he arrived at his hotel he found Silly Jake waiting close in the vicinity. ‘* Well, di asked. ‘* Yes,” ‘Who did you give it to?” ‘‘The bloke what keeps the pawnshop.” ‘* What did he say?” ‘He looked at the envelope, an’ said, ‘ All right,’ and then giving the letter toa young man, told him to take it up-stairs. I come away n you deliver your message?’ Dick ‘* Well, all right. Come around here after dinner, and I shall likely have something else for you to do,” Dick said, and entered the hotel. He did not call upon Cora, as he bad nothing of particular importance to tell her, but took a seat in the reading-room to deliberate over his next plan of action. at’ hardly know just where to begin,” he mused, ‘‘I’d like to get Rats’s report before I take any decisive steps. At the same time it is important that I should have an interview with Mrs. Glenroy as soon as possible. I might scare her into at least returning the jewels and what money she has left. Now, let me see.” He reflected a while longer, and then bis face brightened. **T have it!” he ejaculated, mentally, “Til write her a letter, and appoint an interview.” To think, with Deadwood Dick, was to act. Procuring ins materials, he seated him- self at the center-table with which the reading- room was provided, but, before beginning the letter, he carefully studied the chirography on the torn envelope. ‘*T reckon I can imitate that well enough to bear inspection,” he mused, ‘“‘ although I don’t allow I was ever cut out for a forger. He set to work accordingly, and in due time bad a letter indited that Jack Brady would have decided was his own handwriting. When finished the missive read as follows: ** December —, 18—, ‘*MacG:—Must see you on a matter of importance, Can’t come near pawnshop. The detectives are watching me. Have been shadowed all day. but I don’t know who by. Meet me on the Common to- night, at west end of lake. Night will be cold. so there'll be no one around there at ten o'clock. Will wear heavy false beard, big overcoat, plug hat. Don’t fail. Look out for spies; the woods are full of ‘em. JACK.” ‘There, I reckon that ought to do!” Dick mused, regarding his work approvingly. “I don’t think ‘ Mag’ will recognize that that is not Jack Brady’s handwriting.” He inclosed the letter in an envelope, and di- rected it in precisely the same way that Brady’s letter had been. He then had to wait for the arrival of Jake, as he desired him to take the missive as he had the first one, Shortly after dinner the youn man put in an appearance, and Dick dispatched him with the letter and necessary instructions to the pawn- broker’s, In due time Jake came back, and announced that the message had been delivered. Dick then gave him money, and bade him linger around the vicinity of Mumb’s place to see and hear what he could. While, as for himself, the detective went up- stairs and had a chat with Miss Cora, giving such reassurance of probable success as he thought judicious. The slightest news was welcome news to the be é, * t..# . ‘ a a 6 ne a Pun - ve oe 4 L 7 - — 1GDOOKS. | ®| aa ) S . ei. i «me , d « ey