Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 686 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

“> ES ao « ; Deadwood Dick, mf r. a“ 4 : 2 4 oo : i ; pe a Rie . —_ familiar in av < “Oh! yes, I see he is a gentleman! He wauts—” ‘‘ The best the house affords.” ‘‘ That ain’t very much, sir. Wekeepa cheap place, and we expects folks ter put up with what ye hev.” ‘“ Well,” replied Dick, ‘‘I guess I can get along here; I simply want a decent room.” *€ An’ he is good pay,” added Billy. ““ By the way, mom, I know one o’ yer reg’lar customers, ls Mr. Sam’l Slater nigh, jest now?” ** No,” she made answer, he isnot here. What do you want?” ‘Oh! nothin’, only a friend wants to see him! o you know where he kin be found?” ‘* He will be here to-night,” ‘* At what time?” *‘ About midnight,” she responded, after some hesitation, ‘¢an’t we see him before that?” ** He may drop in,” The woman eyed them in a critical way, and it was plain that she had some doubjs, She had known Billy as a saloon-keeper, but She distrust- ed Bristol, as she did all such keen, wide-awake * men. They were liable to be detectives, Young Bucket set out to allay her doubts, and his glib tongue was not used in vain; she began to feel decidedly more at ease, Deadwood Dick did not think that their chances of seeing Sawdust Sam were of the best, but, they were nearer to the game than bey. suspected, he door suddenly opened, and in walked Slater, with Joe Reed close behind him, It was a surprise all around, but Sam had the worst of it. He had not suspected danger, and, when he saw Dick, he stopped in dismay, ‘* You here!” he ejaculated. The detective quietly arose. ‘¢ Ves, I am here, and come to see you!” Sawdust Sam changed color. Was his pre- sentiment of trouble about to be fulfilled? ‘What can I do for you?” he asked, trying to appear at ease. ‘¢'You can produce young James Penn,” *‘T do not know of any such person,” “That will do, Mr. Slater; you can’t runin any such stale device as that, I know you and your ways. You are Sawdust Sam, the handler of counterfeit money, and your phiz ornaments the Rogues’ Gallery. As for your plot against . e Penns,.some of.your gang have squealed. P¥iiandsome Hal has found that New York ‘* climate is bad for his blood, and has taken a quiet skip. Before he went he opened bis mouth, and I pappen to know that Jimmy Penn—the genuine Jim—is held prisoner in this house!” °* ** Tts false!” cried the old woman. ‘** Valse as perdition!” added Slater, savagely. ‘True as yer lie is false,” amended Billy. ‘‘No use to kick, Slater,” Bristol pursued. ‘You may as well take your medicine, and thank your stars it’s no worse,” **T never heard the name of Penn before,” Come off!” Do you think you can bully me?’ ‘“We think we can get Jimmy Penn, and we propose to do it!” ‘*De you know whose house you are in?” ‘‘T know I am in a thieves’ den; and I am going to pull you right in, unless you do. the right thing. Your reputation would hang a saint, Sam, and it will land you in Sing Sing, yet. The question is, sh«ll we drop all mention - of green goods, for this time, and confine our “talkto Penn? It all depends on you.” & Well, Lam going to kick you out!” exclaimed ns plucking up all the courage he could mus- ‘ter - _ “Try it, most amiable crook, and the kick will give you prison walls to look at for a good long period to come!” the detective retorted, The door again opened, and another man en- _ tered. One look was enough to show that he ‘was not a member of thegang. He had an hon- est, but very alert manner, and his face was | ue way to Dick. Our backer, by gosh!” cried Billy Bucket, Sure enough, it was the required officer, He was a sergeant attached to Captain Mc- Cullough’s precinct; was ove of Mr. Byrnes’s ; favorite officers, and stood high among the police » workers of New York, os | 3 , . fact, he Was counted as among the very hie Oe ’ : __ -He recognized Dick at a glance. ee ae werly. are you doing here?’ he demanded, 48 Sih PEC Oh! I’m trying to impress it on the mind of _-Mr. Slater that, if he doesn’t produce a certain man, I shall have to take him in, That’s all!” ee —— — —— sé + ‘* Does Mr. Slater object?” ** Decidedly.” ‘*¢ How is this?” the sergeant asked, turning to the crook, angrily. **Tt meant that this fellow can’t bulldoze for acent, He comes here asking me about some- ‘thing I know nothing about!” ‘* What did you ask him, Bristol?” ‘‘Wor James Penn, who is a prisoner in his power,” ** He’s not!” asserted Slater. ‘*T'll swear to it,” declared Reed. ‘Your oath is of no use,” retorted the ser- geant. “Well, what do you want here, anyhow?” demanded Slater. ‘‘ We don’t want you! We’ve done nothing.” **Tamnotsosure of that. old game again, I understand.” “What old game, pray? You talk inriddles,” “The green-goods biz.” “That is false! I have reformed, and joined the church. So has Joe. Vm doing more to convert crooks than any other man in New York, and you can bet on it!” ‘Convert them ter villainy, [ reckon,” put in Billy. ** No; to honest ways.” * That won’t work,” interrupted the officer. ‘When you turn to be a convert, Slater, or Reed does, the heavens will surely fall. You're two of the rankest crooks in the country—all- around villains; and, as soonas I[ get onto any positive evidence against you, in you go, ona run, You've had one trip up the river, already. Maybe another would do you good! Don’t you think so, Bristol?” ‘’m sure of it, sergeant. 1 am likewise sure that these two crooks, Slater and Reed, are con- cerned in a deliberate scheme to rob Mr, Peter Penn, of Kansas, out of. about five thousand dollars, They have already got much of it. Now, we are positive that Jim Penn, junior, isin this house, If heis, why, 1 want to find him. Under your command, a search can be made!” ‘“‘T don’t know. This is not my precinct,” ‘No. But you bave the power to makea search?” , ‘‘Not much!” cried Slater, ‘* This is not my house, but Iam boss here; and the first man, or the second, who attempts to explore these quarters, drops in his tracks!” With this remark Mr. Sawdust Sam drew a revolver and stood on the def ansive. He evidently did not intend to sell out without astruggle, And it looked as if a big row would be the result. But, luckily, it was averted. Mr, Billy Bucket caused the diversion. Yowre at your CHAPTER XIV, A CLEAN ‘‘ KNOCK-OUT,” Wirn the agilty of a panther Dick’s young artner sprung forward, and, before any one ully realized his intention, he bad knocked the revolver out of Slater’s hand, It was done so quickly thatit took both crooks entirely by surprise. | ‘*Now’s yer time!” cried Billy, ‘‘ Go fer ’em bald-headed!” . ‘‘ We will that, my lad! Will you surrender now, Slater?” the sergeant demanded, *¢ Never!” The officers sprung forward and made the attack, . It wasa severe tussle, for the two desperate crooks fought like demons, but again came the timely intervention of Billy Bucket, Grasping a club, which stood near by, he gave Slater a blow over the head which dropped him, Then be went for the second crook, and polished him off in a very handsome manner, and this settled the affray. The crooks lay senseless on the floor, and, in less time than it takes to tell it, they were hand- cuffed, ** Now, we will search the house!” declared the sergeant. ‘* You bet we'll find all there is here, too! I want to‘vent my wrath on the thugs who are preying on this community, and they will find that I am able to do it.” So, the old woman having taken her departure to some other portion of the house, the search began. The floor comprised five rooms—dirty, smoky and illy furnished, The raid, however, turned out to be fruitless in one respect. Mr. James Penn was not there. In the search, however, a large collection of packages was dis- covered in the corner of a room, Each was neatly wrapped, and of a size that at once gave the experienced sergeant an idea, ‘** Green-goods!” he exclaimed, , After the Queer. ee oe em 11 And so it proved—‘t sawdust,” neatly pack- aged. ‘* This is evidence enough,” the officer added. ‘¢ Now, we will take ’em in!” But, he made an error; he did not ‘* take ’em in.” Billy Bucket had been given charge of the prisoners. When Dick and the sergeant return- ed to the room where they had been left, the prisoners were gone! On the floor in a pool of blood, lay poor Billy Bucket in an unconscious condition. A gash over his left eye told the story, He had been ‘‘ knifed,” most likely by the old wo- man, Tenderly, Dick and the captain raised him and laid him on the lounge, ‘* Ts he dead?” Dick anxiously asked. ‘‘T guess not, But he’s marked for life; no mistake about that, I think the most sensible thing we can do is toring for an ambulance, and have him sent up to the hospital!” ‘* Not much ye don’t, boss! I’ve been there once, an’ once is enuff, I’m all right, ef you'll only bind me head up. Did them crooks git away ?” lt was the voice of Billy Bucket, but his utter- ance was unusually weak, He had lost a considerable amount of blood, and it told on his strength, though his pluck was not impaired. ‘Well, who hit you, Billy?” asked Dick, “ That darned old woman!” was the reply. ‘‘ Dye know what happened afterward ?” Yas, They clubbed me over the head till I went to sleep!’ ‘* Who did it? Now be sure!” ‘¢ Gol-darn it, has a feller got to tell ye two times? The old woman carved me, and then she took off the men’s handcuffs—I dunno how— and they slugged me. Oh! Jiminy! Didn't they soak it tome, though! They got in their work, now, in great shape!” ** Billy, you bad better go the hospital. Don’t be foolish !” ‘** Nary hospital, Dick! I was there once, and when I git mutilated ag’in, ll try the Rlevated Road. But, wait; Pll help you out, an’ no one else kin. I know where them fellers are aimin’ ‘for, and don’t you forget it!” | Dick glanced at the sergeant inquiringly. The sergeant nodded, ‘“ The boy i$ well posted!” he admitted; ‘ bet- ter than half the men on my force, These street- boys are wonders,” e turned to Billy Bucket and added: ‘You're not strong enough, Billy. Better tell us, hadn’t you, and let us go?” ‘*But you can’t find ’em, and I can jest wait a few minutes, till I git my head about me; an’ then I'll show ye.” He began to rub bis forehead, and act in such a peculiar way, in general, that the sergeant shook his own head gravely. ‘We must disregard his wishes, and pack him off to a hospital. He is delirious, already.” **T don’t think so,” ‘6 No?” ‘¢There isn’t a more Jevel-headed lad in the country than thisssame Billy Bucket!” The object of this strong praise suddenly leaped to his feet, ‘‘ Much obliged fer yer compliment, boss!” he exclaimed, with a grin. ‘“ Billy Bucket ain’t gone up the apous yet—he’s been thinkin’, Say, while I laid here, an’ they thought I’se dead, I heard them crooks talk. Boss, git old Peter Penn, an’ I'll Jead ye to the genuine Jimmy!” “Where is he?” ‘111 tell when we git Peter in tow. Don’t ask me afore that,” Billy stuck grimly to his point, so they went out and separated from the sergeant. Next, they went to enlist the Kansas farmer. Billy could hardly spare time to bave his wound dressed, and showed no weakness, Peter Penn was soon added to their party, aa do you propose to take us?” inquired ick, | ‘Over to Hoboken,” replied Billy. ‘Slater has a sister there, an’ the chances are that you will find not only him there, but Reed, too,” - So to Hoboken they went, and, taking a Market street car, they rode to the end of the line. Near there was a tumble-down shanty which must have been built when Hoboken was first started, to all appearances. 4 Bidding Dick and Peter Penn remain bebind, and out of sight as much as possible, Billy ad- vanced and pounded briskly on the door, The summons was answered by an elderly woman, : “Good-morning!” saluted Billy, ‘Is Mr. Slater in?” |