Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 686 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

' | i ' : i | | ' { | : SP et” i ' ’ ot | l} , ¥ : i ' ' | ; : if =| é , : 7 | nef t A) : £ ’ a ' | ‘i > | ae tele ; - af «;\ +s é nie s'r a a eS Rae . - ; . > ie a - hh * “ ie ae v cr) ‘ 3 ix c ~ 7 ? oh q Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. He’s one of the big-bugs, you see. Now, tell you what! Jim issmart! He's made a lot o’ money, he writes, an’ invites us to come and visit him. So we sold out, slick an’ clean, and me and Maria aire goin’ to see the sights, and live with Jim,” ‘* He didn’t invite us to do that /” interposed Mrs, Penn, doubtfully. ‘**Ob! but he will,” said the old man, cheerily, ** You kin bet high on that, Maria,” ‘“If he’s got room, he will,” Maria agreed. ‘He wouldn’t be a Penn, ef he didn’t. It runs in the family, from William down, to be charitable among their kin, Then, too, you see, Pve got a lot of noney—just think! five thou- san’, clean cash!—an’ money’s what makes the mare go. What do you think stranger? Me and Maria hes worked hard, all our lives, and it’s about time we had a good old round-up, ain’t it? Deadwood Dick looked doubtful, ‘* Well, I should say that if your stock of cash is limited, you’d better be careful when you reach New York. There are hundreds of sharpers lying in wait for countrymen from the interior, only to gain their confidence at the ex- pense of a few drinks, suppers, and polite atten- tions; only to beat them out of their all, either by trick or device, or by absolute force!” ** Jingo!” And Mr, Penn looked astonished. ‘* Peter, let’s go home!” said Mrs. Penn. ‘If be should lose that money, what would become of us? ‘* No turn-back, now, mother. We've got no home, in the first place, and ef we hed, why, I’d not go back. We'll find our Jim; we're all hunk!” ‘* Have you got the letter from him, Peter?” és Yas.” ** And where does it say come to?” “To the Hotel Dam, eavens! what a name for a hotel! , [t sounds mighty frivolous, ter say the least.” ‘*‘Frivolous! It’s worse than that, Peter.” ‘It may be New York style,” “Then New York aire more wicked than ye thought of. Oh! Peter! just to think our boy should live in sech a place! Ob! it’s awful!” And Mrs, Penn’s eyes filled with tears, “My good woman,” Dick hastened to reassure her, ““the meaning of the name of the hotel is by no means one that need to trouble you. It is a very respectable place and, I believe, is quite popular with the theatrical fraternity.” ‘* Say!” said Peter Penn, eying Dick sharply. ** You’re a purty smart feller. Wreitrd a West- erner, l’ll swear. Who aire ye? an’ what’re ye goin’ to New York fer?” ‘* Private business,” **'Yomsay you know suthin’ of the town?” * Well, a little; and yet rot much, either.” ‘¢ Well, what’s your name?” ‘Bristol. What is yours?” ‘* Peter Penn, a direct descendant of the great William, Now, Pl tell ye what I want ye to help me do—find id boy, Jimmy. I ain’t ac- quainted in New York, nor I ain’t able ter pay so very much, but I’ll do as near squar’ as I kin, Onc’t I find Jimmy, I'll bet he'll give you five dollars.” | ‘When did he leave bis home?” “Lem’me see! Et war fourteen years, to- day. I give him a whalin’, fer not doin’ the chores. It was too cold fer me ter go out, Thermometer were twelve below the 0!” Here the old man paused. ‘‘ He ought not to have minded a little thing like that,” observed Dick, ‘But Jimmy had a bad temper. Although he was only ten years old, he run away; and we never saw him, nor heard from him, sence, until we got the letter from him invitin’ us to visit him,” *‘ Jimmy is now about twenty-four, then?” ‘* Almost exactly—twenty-four, in five days. Ain’t I right, Maria? Think, now?” ‘I guess you must be right, Peter, my dear?” ‘Of course I am. Ain’f I allus perfectly right? The Penns were always right—always will be,” ane the conversation rambled on, Dick soon secured a seat, and went to sleep. One experience in a sleeping-car had been enough for him, for the contracted quarters were not to his taste, Kansas City was reached, and a through car to New York was taken, at Dick’s suggestion. id fenn growled at the extra expense of having to pay a dollar for meals upon the train but Dick’s persuasion prevailed, and they ha elegant accommodations and as y passage, ‘hen they steamed into the Grand Central aja at New York, Dick aroused his fellow- iravelers, who had fallen asleep some time a -” . aa . 4 +) ee all o« ° a ge ae a ae £ an ‘ a 7” . @ ahi nied | he ogg “y “oe ' a) a,’ rt. ad ’ o a ——— et ee ee — before, and were unconscious of everything earthly. ‘* New York!” announced Dick. ‘Come, get up, my good friends, and take a look at the city !” ‘* New York!” ejaculated Peter, drowsily. ‘** Now York!” sighed the female Penn, ‘‘ Then, just tell ’em to truck us around ter where our immy lives!” CHAPTER ITI. MR. JIM PENN. By this time Dick was getting pretty well dis- gusted with his journey, and, as it was late in the evening, and there was no liability of find- ing Inspector Byrnes at his office, he concluded to get rid of the Penns by inducing them to re- tire for the night, He would be fettered in his movements with them around, and, the nearer they drew to New York, the more inclination they evinced to cling to Dick. Overruling their objections, he took them over to the Grand Union Hotel, The feminine element of the Penn family wanted to go to the Hotel Dam, but remon- strance from Peter quieted and convinced her, Dick registered the party, sent them to bed, and then set out for the Hotel Dam, which is in the immediate neighborhood of Union Square. There he inquired for James Penn, ‘* No such a man here, sir,” was the answer. ‘“* Ever been here?” 4s No. ” ** Do you know such a man?” ‘* Never heard the name in my life.” The detective prince turned away and left the hotel clerk without an explanation, ‘* Here is a mystery,” Dick thought. ‘‘ James Penn, in his letter to his parents, gave his ad- dress as Hotel Dam—or did Peter read incor- rectly? If bis son really wrote ‘ Hotel Dam,’ I'll look into this, I must see the letter, In some way or other I must get at the facts, or Penn may come to grief. Was the letter really from Jimmy? Or wasit from a New York swindler? Possibly, young Penn may have gone wrong, or be in a plot against the old folks, I'll look into it! Having come to this conclusion, Dick returned to the Grand Union and retired for the night, He arose the next morning at six, There were but few up when he went down- stairs. Breakfasting, he went over to the depot and had his baggage removed from there to Clinton Place, in the neighborhood of University Place, -There he was welcomed, having patronized the place before, After making his ablutions he returned to the Grand Union, but Penn and his wife had not yet made their appearance, being engaged in mak- ing up for lost time in the way of sleep, Dick wrote a few lines in which he explaineg his fail- ure to find Jimmy, and then, stating that he would return shortly, left the note-for the old couple when they awoke, This done he went down-town, making his way at once to Police Headquarters, When he arrived he was informed that Inepastee Byrnes was absent, and that it was uncertain when he would return. More delay appeared to be inevitable, but, fortunately, it was avoided by the speedy ap- fac of the renowned chief of detectives, imself, Dick was at once recognized, and was invited into Byrnes’s private office, There he was given a chair, and the chief sat down opposite him. “You bave answered my call promptly,” ob- served the inspector, ‘*That’s a way I have,” Dick returned. ‘I presume you are not sorry?” ‘Decidedly not. You were, perhaps, sur- prised to receive a at bopg but [ could think of no oe oe our past suecess speaks for ou, and, in this case,a comparative stranger e New York is needed,” ei ‘*T am at your service,” ‘*Good! Now, Ihave a rush of business on hand, and will come to the point at once. The fact is, we are having an epidemic of confidence men, bunco-steerers and green-goods men, just now. “And you want a cure for the epidemic?” ** Just so,” ‘*T would suggest an application of the law, | taken in allopathic doses.’ ‘* With Deadwood Dick, Jr., as the doctor?” “If you wish,” replied the detective prince, with a smile, | ** That’s what’s I do wish,” declared Byrnes, ‘I desire you to wage secret war on them, All our city detectives are well known to the various swindlers, but you can work to better advan- a 4, . ‘ ,r dh ~ tage. Go slowly and cautiously, and let them try to take you in, if you wisb, and Can pass as a fit subject. Perhaps you can assume a dis- guise and appear as a countryman—but that is only a suggestion. Use your own judgment.” ‘111 do what I can,” ‘*{ want you to look particularly to the green- goods men, who are working off a good deal of counterfeit money, On this sheet of paper you will find a list of names, All aréwell known to the police, and all have reputations almost national, unless it is Sam Slater.” The inspector laid his finger on the paper where the indicated name appeared. ‘Slater isa dangerous and wily fellow,” the speaker added. ‘‘ Among his gang he is known as Sawdust Sam, and is a thoroughbred con- fidence man. Another man named here is Joe Reed, who works in Slater’s company a good deal, but is only a small fish in comparison with Sam.” Byrnes then went on to give what information was necessary, to all of which Dick listened at- tentively. Nothing escaped Byrnes’s keen ob- servation, and he was pleased to see his new recruit give the same discriminating notice he would have bestowed himself, under reversed circumstances, The inspector concluded in these words: ‘The kings of the green-goods game are the ones whose names I have mentioned, You will find, on the list, the addresses of all except Slater. What we want is positive evidence, and then we will give them the law, We've had Slater up several times, and Reed once but they have managed to escape the grasp of justice, You know how hard it is tosecurea conviction in such cases.” ‘‘Tf Il can rope them in I shall be glad to rid you of such black sheep, Now, allow me to ask a question in return.” ‘By all means. Proceed!” ‘**Do you know of such a man as James Penn?” | **T do not!” ‘“‘T understand that he is a very wealthy man.” wee in yrom whom did you gain your informa- tion Per hae ‘From the father of James Ponn. It ap- pears that James wrote to the old gentleman and told bim be was very wealtby, and wanted the old man and wife tocome East and pa him a visit, He gave his address as the Hotel Dam, adjacent to Union Square, I find that no such party is known there, I, therefore, de- duct the conclusion that it was a decoy letter. What do you think?” ‘*\ Inve you consulted the Directory?” ‘Yo There is no such name there,” “Iv » wealthy New Yorker would be likely to be omitted,” ‘* Decidedly not.” ** You know the circumstances better than I do, but, if you think any rascality is afoot, look after it. The case may be right in the line of the work you havein hand, The villains are up to all kinds of games to decoy the unwary.” This was just what Dick suspected. He did not yet know of the second letter which Peter Penn had received before leaving Kansas, and, consequently, was without any definite clew, but be had no faith in the letter alleged to have been written by Jimmy Penn. It looked like a trap. He let the matter drop, however, and, after some further conversation about Sawdust Sam with the inspector, Dick paid a visit to the various police stations in company with one of Byrves’s right-hand men, and received official introduction tothe different captains, so that whenever he needed pulice aid there would be no hitch in getting it. He then paid a visit to the Grand Union Hotel, and found the Penns astir at last, They hailed his arrival with great eagerness. ‘* Any news yet?’ Peter demanded, ct: ‘** No; not of your boy!” ‘‘ Strange he wa’n’t at Hotel Dam!” ‘He was unknown there, and the case is very suspicious, Are you sure that the letter which you received was in your son’s own writ- ing?” ‘ We ain’t seen his writin’ before sence he was a boy.” ‘* True; and that would be no clew. Time works changes inall ways. Well, I have no news—” . ‘* But we have. There was a man here a bit ago who said he thought he could find Jimmy if ue give him ten dollars.” suppose you gave it to him?’ e You bet!” si ** Then good-by to your ten!” “* ‘ e7i wh * : ‘ ‘ oJ ae” Yd + id 4 “J ” yy sd wt ke ns ye Ai * - . vert ee nel a Ow 7 « 5 = . oy ee > “G - ote) A ghee Oy ‘ eit ai —~ a, ~ » , EDOOKS.com