Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 686 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

jj eee ieee ee 7 a0 ee ew gl . ° Pe ete —_— y4 - Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. ‘‘Pardon me, sir,” was the polite greeting, **but is your name Bristol?” sé Yes,” ‘““T thought so from the description. we have something for you.” He passed over a letter, and Dick, breaking open the envelope, found the name of Peter Penn signed to a brief note. It read as follows: “Cannot get to the Hoffman House. Come here at once, for I want to see you on most important business.” Tien followed the signature and the name of Mr. Penn’s hotel, Dick had seen the old gentleman’s writing be- fore, and was sure that the note was genuine, He decided to answer the call. He did not like to leave the self-styled James, but he was not under any obligations to watch him, If Peter Peon wished to see bim at the Grand Union, he would obey the summons, Accordingly, he went at once, Whenmhe arrived there he found Mrs, Penn, but there was no sign of Peter, ‘* He’s gone out, but he told me ter ask you ter stay when ye came,” the old lady explained. i What is the important business he has on hand?” “ To mest Jimmy.” ‘* Has he gone there now?” ‘6 Yes, sir.” ‘¢ But he wrote me to come here.” ‘¢ T don’t know anything about that.” ie was something Dick could not under- stand, ** Looks suspicious,” he thought. ‘‘ Has Peter given his aid to decoy me away from the Hoff- man? If anything of the kind is contemplated it is a waste of powder; [am not engaged in the case, and care but little about it.” He did care in one way—Peter Penn had re- fused to take his advice; bad showed a good Then deal of obstinacy; and had wound up by sending | him on what looked like a wild-goose chase, Dick decided to consult his own preferences, so he left the Penns’ quarters and returned to the Hoffman. Perhaps he could find Penn or his son, When he arrived there neither was to be seen. The only pleasing sight was Billy Bucket. He had on a good suit of clothes, a clean shirt and collar, and a new Derby hat. ‘* Why, you’re looking well,” Dick exclaimed. ‘* Yes, and feelin’ well I met a man as took a shine to me, an’ nder reckon, from a remark he made, that he knows OU, ** What kind of a looking man?” * Well, areg’lar hayseed. Hails from Kan- ‘* Mr, Penn, of Kansas. Who was with him? Any one you know?” “Rather reckon Ido, He’s one of the gang what hangs outat my place. He’s known as wires 2 ‘* What is his real name?” “Well, dunno. I guess Joe Reed. Any- how, letters come to my place for him, under that name. Who from I don’t know.” ‘* What’s Reed’s profesh?” Bill hesitated a moment. He had been thrown more or less among bard characters since he took his saloon, and, though he had made friends with none of them, he did not like to confess, Nevertheless he was true to his friend, so he answered: **T reckon I can put you on track of the game, If I don’t, you may bet Ill find ’em. Come! We will pay a visit to my shebang. There, I guess, I'll be able to point out the char- acters you want. If not, Pll take you to Steve Brodie’s on the Bowery. If we don’t find tie old man there, I'll think up some other place, So I know New York from the Battery to Har- em,’’* \ | So to Billy’s place they went. Up-stairs—it was a two-story building —was a ten-cent lodging concern, Down-stairs was the saloon, Dick thought he had been in some of the toughest places in New York, but when Billy led him into this den, he knew he was mis- any for it beat anything he had ever encoun- red, Cobwebs and dirt, The supreme, and the odor was disgusting. The room was filled with a most disreputable-looking crowd, and of the very lowest type, with one exception. The exception was a dandified young man. is clothes were fine; bis boots of the best make, his necktie faultless. He hada smooth face, dark eyes, a pleasant mouth, an aquiline nose—in fact, he was a hand- ,’ was the on a PEOr : ki fore another. —-—— -— ‘‘ We will have a drink,” Billy said, to the warty-nosed individual who presided behind the counter. ‘‘ Seen Slater to-day?” ‘““No. He’d better show up, or I won't give him anything more,” ‘‘ Let him have all he wants, Mike; in fact, more than he wants. I want to sell out cheap, | and I reckon he’s the fellow as may take this | place.” ‘* Ye’r’ tired of it, eh?” ‘* Yes, I am; an’ then, too, I’ve had a bit of experience. Has Joe Reed shown up lately?” ‘* Haven’t seen a sign of him,” Dick did not remain long at. the saloon, for, after a careful survey of the congregation Billy announced that none of Slater’s crowd was there. ‘* We'll try Steve Brodie’s, on the Bowery,” Billy said. ‘‘ I reckon we’ll find out something there.” So to Steve Brodie’s they went, The bridge-jumper was not in, but sporting men of all descriptions were to be seen, Billy was evidently known, for several of the sports nodded to him, and the bartender smiled upon him graciously. ‘* Seen Slater to-day?” Billy asked. ‘** No, I haven’t.” ‘* D’ye know where he can be found?” ‘* No, I don’t, for he was not in here lately.” ‘* Seen Joe ‘‘ Yes, But only for a minute.” ‘¢ Where can he be found?” ‘* He said he was goin’ to the matinee, over at the London Theater.” ‘* Was there any one with him?” 6s No,” So Dick and Billy left Brodie’s place, and wended their way up-town again to the Hoffman House, where, to their surprise, they found Mr, Penn, of Kansas,,;in an exuberant condition, evidently from the effect of strong drink. He greeted Dick effusively, ‘ Aha! (hic) old bov, how aire ye? Been ex- ectin? ye. How’s the windy wind blowin’? less your heart! Been havin’ a jolly time, you can bet!” ‘* Wound your son, I suppose?” ‘‘No; but he will be here, ronan Come! We will have a nip, and I want to tell you some- thing. Can’t stand the prices here, but we can find a place near by. Here is the boy, again. Take it you know him, Who is he?” : ‘* A friend of mine.”, ‘* Then he’s all right; so come along!” They left the Hoffman, and started toward a neighboring basement saloon, ‘* Mr, Penn,” said Dick, ‘‘ you wroie me that you had important business with me,” ‘*So I did,” ‘‘ What is the business?” \ ‘*T want ye to help me select a bang-up, high- toned present fer my Jimmy, when tant him,” ‘Ts that all?” Dick asked, in disgust. “ec Yes. ” The old gentleman was at ease, but the de- tective would have left him had he not known that his present condition was far from being se gia tohim. Reaching the saloon, they en- tered. ‘* D’ye know ef the old woman is worryin’ a bit, Mr. Dick?” asked Penn, - “T shouldn't be surprised if she was.” ‘Well, et’s a long time sence I had sech a racket, an’ I reckon et’ll be a long time be- So it’s best to have et out now. What’ll ye take?” as they took seats at a table, * A cigar.” ‘And you?”—to Billy Bucket. ‘* Give me a cigar, too,” ‘*Whisky ferme, Thunderation! What will the old woman say, when she smells my breath? She’ll vow I’ve been drinkin’! Here, you bar- tender, bring us a whisky and two good cigars!” They were brought, and the old man tendered a crisp ten-dollar bill in payment. The bartender looked at it closely, and then passed it back, ‘* N. G.!” he said, ‘*N. G.! What d’ye mean?” ‘No good, We don’t take bogus money in this place!” CHAPTER VI. COUNTERFEIT. “Now, I want ter kncw what's the matter with that aire bill!” Mr, Penn declared, in- Senently. ‘* Why, blast your impudence, that’s goo | ** No good!” was the response, ‘‘ It’s a dead open-and-shut counterfeit, and, if ye don’t pay for drinks with good money, I'll have ye + 1 ~ ais ¥ i ‘* Ye will, hey? Now, look here, young man, ye don’t know who ye’r’ talkin’ to!” ‘‘ No, nor do I wantto. What I do want is my money. I’m responsible for what drinks T serve, and I want my pay. Ye can’t shove off no queer on me,”’ ‘*Gol darn your picture! TPl—” ‘*Be quiet, Mr. Penn,” interposed Dick. ** I'll pay for the drinks.” And be did so, and the dispenser returned to the bar. m After the man had gone Dick turned to Peter enn, ‘* Now, Mr. Penn, be kind enough to tell me where you got the bill. But, first let me see it.” Penn gave him the note, and Dick examined it minutely. He wasa good judge of money, and at once decided that it was counterfeit, but a clever one, to say the least. ‘¢ Where did you get this, Mr Penn?” ‘¢ 4t the Hoffman House.” ‘ From whom?” ‘‘From a personal friend of Jimmy’s—one of the slicktest-lookin’, young men I’ve metin a dog’s age!” ‘‘ What’s his name?” Dick asked, ‘‘ Joseph Reed—a gent I heerd from afore I left Kansas, in a business way. I’ve seen him, now, an’ I feel betterfor it. Oh! he’s a fine fel- low. Why, darn it; he must have spent ten dol- lars at the bar, andit needn’tcost meared. Tell e what, ye don’t find them kind of men out in Cansas this feller was A 1, and no mistake!” ‘One of the biggest crooks in New York!” ‘* Crooks! What’s that? ‘‘ Beats—swindlers, scoundrels. How did you come by that bill?” ‘‘ Well, you see, it was thig way. He was settin’ "em up, right along, an’ I begun ter think et was my turn!” sé Yes?’ ** So, as [ hadn’t nothin’ but a hundred dollar bill,L asked Reed could hechangeit. He said he could, and he did, He gave meten tens, and this is one of them,” ‘*'You’ve been taken in for a greeny. The change he gave you was counterfeit, but a clever one. Did he offer to sell you anything?” ** Yes,” ‘What was it?” ‘‘He offered to sell me a thousand ten dollar bills for one hundred dollars, guaranteed to pass for genuine.” ‘*T suppose you took up the offer?” ‘‘ Yes, Jam to meet him to-night.” ** Where?” ‘*He would not tell me where, but said he would meet me if I was in the neighborhood of the Grand Union Hotel!” A Deadwood Dick looked in pity at the old man. He was naturally honest and respectable, but had started on the wrong road since leaving Kansas. He had disgraced bimself by drinking more than prudence would allow, and was on the way to something worse. ‘‘Mr, Penn, do you understand what this money is that you are to get so cheaply?” the detective asked. ‘Oh! it’s some new-fangled ony ance,” Peter replied. ‘‘I reckon the stocks,” ; “Does not your experience in trying to pass that ten-dollar note give you a clew?” ‘“That blockhead said ’twas counterfeit,” ‘That is just what every dollar you get from Joseph Reed will be.” ‘*Say!” cried Penn, ny pew" my Jim ‘~ contriv- y call it “do you know that Reed is a friend o my?” ‘¢T hope he is not.” ‘He is, an’ I shall stan’ up fer him. See? Jimmy wouldn’t mix with knaves.” ‘‘ Mr. Penn, listen to me—” ‘““No, I won't! You insult my friends, an’ ‘| that I won’t hear.” ‘‘Have your own way, headstrong man, L hope you won't bring up at Sing Sing, but if you do, remember [ have warned you, So Reed is to meet you?” | ‘ Yes,” ** All righ. “We will?’ Mr, Bristol, I positively come alone !” ‘Exactly! 1 will be near by, however, for I want a glimpse of Mr, Reed,” rg ine This did not seem to suit the fancy of Mr. We will be there,” - Wi ia was instructed to — enn. ‘Well, as long as you keep out of sight, all right,” he said, ungraciously. ‘For I know that any interference of yours would spoil my chances of making a fortune.” y ' ‘All right, You propose to buy the green ) some man, aged about thirty-five. ocked up!” goods, then?” , ‘ . ; ‘ : . ihn dee eye) v4 : peptone SA 5 ; Yi \ ‘4 Py ® 4) : ye, 4 *h bn > 7 2) , ; x , . Sees "a e PO GA : fe ot > + eye t, % A - ‘ . 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