Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 628 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

on 2 —- —— Ce —— Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. —— — door closed behind his back, leaving him stand- your admission does not gofor much. Weknow ing alone in a very queer place—seemingly a kind of Eden Musee Chamber of Horrors, ap- parently arranged with special reference ‘to terrorizing everybody who ventured, or was thrust, into the uncanny room. It was, as the boy was pushed in, aglow with a red glare, which came from a grim chandelier overhead, whose globes were seven skulls. By this light be found himself confronted with a heap of bones on the floor beneath the chande- lier—evidently the skeletons .of the victims whose skulls radiated the red light, Around this heap s@éven swords were standing upright, their points in the floor. Behind each of the swords was a stool, covered with a square of black cloth, the four corners of which just. touched the floor, The prisoner, for such he evidently was, it is needless to say, was our whilom street friend, Broadway Billy—the irrepressible Billy, and now, to all appearances, in a desperate situa- tion. ‘* Sweet pertaters an’ goose-grease!” he ejacu- lated, with additional emphasis, as he had looked carefully around, ‘** but this beats th’ Dutch, this does! This is what [ would call a surprise-party fer one! Golly! but (d like ter have Skinny here! Bet a hair-pin he’d be skart until his bones rattled in bis breeches.” Billy had been ‘‘skart” enough himself, at the first shocky but now that was passing away, and his natural coolness stood him in good use. He was gritty and brave, and had faced so many dangers, that he had become in a measure hardened to them. ‘** If I only had th’ use 0’ my hands,” he chat- tered, ‘‘] would be a little more at lberty nor what lam asit is. It was very thoughtless o’ my friends ter turn me loose in this den with my hands tied; an’ there ain’t much of a ‘turn loose’ about that, anyhow. Wonder what they mean ter do with me? They got th’ bulge on me tbis deal, an’ no error about that. Mostly my own fault too. Wonder if I ever will have any brain in my head, where th’ mush an’ milk now slops around in place o’ brain? There is nothin’ more useful to a feller than brain, an’ I uess I wasn’t around when that was dealt out. f ’d had any, mebby [ wouldn’t be in this fix, But, here I be, an’ there’s no use mournin’ over that fack, What I want ter do now is ter try an’ git out ag’in. How in th’ name o’ wonder did I git in?” Unable to give himself any satisfactory an- swer, Billy sat down upon one of the seven stools und was silent for a time. ‘Skinny has often told me,” he presently broke out again, “that I would keep on until [ got myself into a diffikilty that I wouldn’t git out of, an’ it looks asif [’m inter it now. Th’ way out o’ here isn’t by any means plain ter be seen, thatissartain, If it wasn’t fer th’ smilin’ faces up there above me,” with a glance up at the hideous chandelier, ‘tI really believe ld be lonesome. I wish Skinnv ie: § take a peep at me just about now; I’d like ter hear what he’d remark. But there is one feller that I wouldn’t care ter have see me in sich a fix, for it might lower me in his estermation, an’ that is Inspec- tor Br— Sweet pertaters! what is up now With that exclamation his meditations ended. Of a sudden the lights in the skulls bad shrunk toa mere glow, and the room for the moment was plunged into almost perfect darkness. At the same time a noise was heard, as though of many feet hurriedly entering the room, and in a moment more the lights were turned up again to their full, and the apartment was as brightly illumined as before, But a change had taken place. Seven persons besides the boy were there assembled. These were seven men, clad from head to feet in flowing robes. The robes were perha white, but under the red light they took on the general color of the room. For a moment the men stood silent and looked at Billy, and then advanced toward him, while Billy, at the same moment, rose to face them. ‘* Broadway Billy—” ‘* Present,” eee Billy, promptly, cutting short whatever the man was going to say. ‘*T am not calling the roll,” observed the man, **so you need not be so prompt with your inter- ruption.” ‘* Beg pardon,” said Billy, ‘‘ but you spoke my name, an’ when anybody mentions my name in my hearin’ ['m goin’ ter chip in an’ have my say. * Then you own that you are Broadway Billy, do you?” ** Bet yer life I do. This is me, clear down to th’ foundation.” ‘““Good! We were sure of you, however, so you well, my boy.” ‘“That is th’ reason that I don’t try ter deny my ’dentity.” While these words were being exchanged the seven men advanced to the stools, and each had taken in band one of the swords. The man who bad been doing the talking was evidently the chief of the baud, or at any rate their spokesman. Hesoon proved that he was their leader, ‘* Be seated,” he ordered, waving his sword, + and this case shall be presented for considera- tion,” The other six sat down, The chief then, with the point of his sword, disturbed some of the bones directly under the light, and a square block was disclosed to view, ‘‘ Boy, take your stand upon that block,” he then ordered, ‘* Is it warranted safe an’ sound, an’ not liable to blow up nor go down, nor nothin’ o’ that—” A prod with the sword caused Billy to cut short his questions and obey. the order in a hurry, ** Sweet pertaters!” be exclaimed, ‘* you hadn’t orter do that; don’t you know that thing is sharp? An’ you hit mein a tender place, too. You orter be more careful.” ‘* And you want to learn to hold your tongue and obey orders without questioning, Do you know into whose hands you have fallen?” **Can’t say that I do, unless it is into th’ hands of the Philistines,” was the response, ‘* You will find that you have fallen into even worse hands,” the chief declared. ‘* You are in the power of the Sworn Seven,” ‘* You don’t say so!” ‘** Boy, it is no time for you to jest—” ‘* Jest so, sir. That is what [ was thinkin’, an’ so ll make it a p’int not ter do it.” ‘* Will you hold your tongue?” ** Pll try hard, if it will oblige ye,” ‘Tt will oblige us, and it will be better for you. Now pay attention to what I have to say.” ‘1m all ears, as th’ jack— But, I was goin’ ter hold my tongue. I almost forgot about that.” If Billy felt any alarm at bis critical position, he did not allow them to see it. He seemed as un- concefnea as if out upon the street, instead of in the power of these Seven Sons of Satan. ‘** Enough of this,” snapped the chief sharply; ‘listen to me. We are seven men who have sworn to rid this city of some of its detectives, and you are one whose name we have on our black-list.” ** Whew!” whistled Billy. ‘‘Is that so?” The chief raised his sword in a threatening manner, ‘* You are one,” he repeated, ‘* but, owing to your youth, we are willing to give you one chance for your life. You may take your choice of two evils, One is, certain death; and the other, to have your eyes put out and your tongue cut out. Now, which do you prefer? You are at liberty to talk.” es tS was a desperate situation for Broadway y: CHAPTER II. BROADWAY BILLY’S DOOM, ‘‘ Kin | orate, now?” Billy naively asked. **'You are at liberty to say what you please,” the chief assured. “Thank you! There is nothin’ that I enjoy so much as the liberty o’ speech, I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t talk at all. It would be awful, and no error about that. You see they got a tongue 0’ th’ female gender inter my head by mistake, an’ I can’t keep it still ter save me. It will go, an’ there’s no stoppin’ it, onless ye tie up my talker.” , ‘‘T have suggested a remedy for it,” the chief interrupted. ‘Ter cut it out?” * Yea,” ** Couldn’t think o’ sich a thing. Why, in my case th’ remedy would be a heap wuss than th’ disease, Ye.see I have got so used ter talkin’ that I ruther enjoy it. Oh, no, not any of that, if you please, An’as fer havin’ my eyes put out too, that is altogether out o’ th’ question. No, air-ee!” ‘* Then you prefer certain death?’ “Every time.” ‘*Then that is settled. You have had your choice,” ‘* You see,” the plucky boy rattled on, ‘‘ life wouldn’t be worth th’ livin’, if I had neither — Ren neers ae — eyes ner tongue, so I'd ruther shuffle off th’ coil right ter once, an’ have it over with.” ‘‘ Let me remind you,” the chief of the Seven warned, ‘‘ that you need not hope for a chance to effect your escape. You are well known to us, and we know that you have as many lives as a cat, apparently. e intend to make sure of death this time, as you have chosen death.” “That is all right,” responded Billy, ** don’t let your minds be troubled about me. If you mean biz, an’ I reckon you do, all that I ask is that you will give me a decent send-off; no tor- ture about it, you know.” **So it vill be. In fact, I think we can let you choose the manner of your death.” ‘** That will be decent of you,” ‘* What say ye, members of the Sworn Seven?” the chief inquired of the others; ‘‘ shall we give him the choice?” ‘* Yes,” they answered; ‘Sit can make little difference to us.” ‘* You hear the decision, boy.” ‘*'You bet,” returned the gamin; ‘and I thank you. I hope you won’t go back on yer word, now.” ‘* No fear of that; you have our promise.” ‘*That’s good. Now you want me to name th’ manner of my takin’ off, I should say.” ‘¢ Exactly.” ‘*An’it must be a way that will be a sure death to yours truly.” ‘* Of course; that is understood,” ‘‘ Very well, you kin turn me out an’ let me die of old age. That is about as sure a way as I kin think of, off hand.” The seven rascals had to laugh, ‘¢ That will not do,” declared the chief, ** This is no time for nonsense, and you know well enough what we mean,” ‘‘ Jest what I expected,” cried Billy, indig- nantly. ‘‘ You haven't kept yer word with me at all, You left th’ choice ter me, an’ then when I’d made it you won't agree ter it. Howis a feller ter know bow ter take ye?” ‘Well, but it must be death, prompt and im- mediate,” ‘*That is what that is, when it overtakes 4 feller, ain’t it? Seems terme you are mighty hard ter suit,” ‘¢ Boy, let us have no more fooling. Make your choice, and whatever it is, it shall be ac- cepted, barring your first choice.” ‘¢-You mean that?” és Yes,” ‘¢ All right, you kin take me over an’ drown me in th’ Red Sea,” ‘* Bosh!—to the Red Sea part of it, anvhow; but if you prefer to be drowned, we will dispose of ycu that way. Whatdo you say? We will parley no longer.” ‘* Drown itis, then, But, you are a purty set o’ galoots, you be! Ye ain’t men o’ yer word at all. You gave me a choice that wasn’t no good after all. But, goon with th’ funeral; I kin stand it if th’ rest of th’ fambly kin. Let me tell ye that ye want ter_ make a sure job of it, though, for if ye don’t, I will make it hot fer ” e. ‘* My lad,” the chief remarked, *‘ you are as brave as a lion, and it is really too bad that you haven’t led a different life. We would be proud to make use of you in our line of business, if we didn’t krow you so well, But, there is no use talking about that.” ‘* Right you are,” agreed Billy, ‘‘ so ye needn’t make no offers ter me.” ‘Do not expect any; we know you too well, But, as I war about to say, you are nervy, and would be a credit to our profession. You would ow up to be one of tue best leaders ever nown. It is too bad that you are nothing bet- ter than a contemptible police spy.” ‘We hold different opinions on that p’int,” Billy observed. ‘‘That is the truth, and itis for that reason that your doom is sealed. It would never do for us to allow Broadway Billy, the boy detect- ive, to become a detective full grown. You would be a terror, or I miss my guess. Why, you are a professional already.” ‘¢ Don’t,” protested Billy, ‘‘ please don’t. You will make me vain, I am afraid. I can’t stand flattery, an’ never could. But, it strikes me that it don’t speak very well for my cuteness, ter see me in your power, an’ ter think how easily I walked inter th’ trap.” ‘‘The trap we laid for you, my boy, might have fooled an older, hand tban you. It was well planned, and well carried out.” This was true. Billy had been cleverly duped; but, the particulars of that have little to do with our story. We have to deal with the results. ** As for flatterv,” the chief continued, ** you can stand that, seeing that your timeonearth — com * cboo so