Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 637 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

struggle ceased, he loosened his grip and let the inanimate body sink to the floor, It was well for Waffles that the contest ended when it did, He was exhausted, and for a little while lean- ed against the wall, as weak as a cbild. When he lit a match, he saw the shapely fea- tures of an unknown man, ‘* A detective for the world!” exclaimed Waf- fles. ‘‘ Heaven knows how soon another may come. I can’t go through another tussle like that. It would be the end of me. Dead men tell no tales, and this one belongs to that silent family!” He did not tarry another moment, but left the room in the greatest haste, and disappeared on the street above, He inwardly cursed bimself for having gone to Pappy Powder’s place, but when he finally reflected he rather rejoiced that he had visited it, for, by doing so, he had put a dangerous spy out of the way. At the time of the struggle in the dark, a boy was watching a youth of his own age, as he walked back and forth in a park, as if waiting for some one, Dick o’ the Docks was the watcher and Custer Kingdon the person so closely watched. ‘* A fraud? Of course you are!” exclaimed the young detective. ‘‘If I were to pronounce the word ‘Tony’ at your ear, you would nearly jump out o’ your shoes. Are you waiting for at Waffles, the sly old fox who is playing you for the golden stakes? He may not come to- night, for Cuyler is looking after him, and he may fall into the trap that caught Mother Scam- mon.” Dick continued to eye Tony a few moments longer, when he drew nearer and got a better view, which seemed to make his eyes snap. ‘** Pll strike up an acquaintance,” thought the lad of the docks, ‘‘ He won’t object to giving a fellow a light from the way he smokes,” The following moment Tony was startled by a voice at his elbow, and when he turned be found Dick there asking for a light for a very iow cigar, which he held between thumb and nger, ** Certainly, boy,” responded the broker’s heir, drawing forth an elegant silvered match-box, which he extended open to Dick. Young Doan helped himself and slowly light- ed his cigar, at the same time looking askance at his companion. ‘* Who are you, anyway?” inquired Tony. ‘‘Me? I’m Tom Teller o’ Bleecker street,” Tony laughed. ‘*T know that old street well,” said he, “Do, eh? Lot’s o’ fun there?” ‘‘T used to have it—when I went after it,” added Tony, catching himself, ‘* Don’t you go any more?” **T can’t.” Dick put on a puzzled expression. ** You might take off your good duds for a while, and go over just to have a time,” said he, looking Tony over from head to foot. ‘* 'd like to. There’s no fun here,” ‘* Tl take i place,” It seemed Tony’s turn to laugh, and he did so right heartily. ‘* Where do you live on Bleecker street?’ he asked, ‘+? Tost anywhere along it,” ‘‘That’s not very definite,” ‘‘ Mebbe not, but it’s about as definite as I can get. Do you know Uncle Noll’s Nest?” Don’t I?” exclaimed Tony, his eyes snapping with delight, ‘* I’ve been all over it,” ‘*Not lately, I s’pect?” ** Not very.” ‘*This summer?” **No, nor Jast for that matter, there thougb.” Dick thought for a moment, “'Tomm Nolls’ is dead,” said he, ‘I used to like him,” ‘*So did I,” was the response, ‘‘ He was fond of playing fortune-telling with his wizard cards,” ‘ “So he was. He was run over by a butcher’s wagon and died in the hospital.” By this time the boys appeared be to on the best of terms, It was evident that Tony did not suspect. the true character of his companion, and such seem- ed to be the charm of Dick’s acquaintance that he was anxious to prolong the conversation. But Dick did not want to remain too long, West Waffles might steal up unawares and then the jig would be up. I’ve been * Well, if you can’t go back to the old stamp- Topp, the little lame boy at Uncle. Dick Doan, the Dock Boy rr mm LL LLL LL LLL LLL ALLL LLL, **T wish [ could, but [’m tied at home just now. Some of these days I want to run over and see you all again, bat did you say your name was?” “Tom Teller. Don’t ‘Tommy’ me, if you please. I’m ’most too big for that.” ‘Tl ask for ‘Tom?’ Teller when [ come. At Uncle Noll’s, is it?” ** Yes.” The boys parted. Dick o’ the Docks walked away more than pleased with the results of his clever ruse. ‘*Pve picked up one link anyway,” said the boy to himself. ‘* Before I shut my eyes if I shut them at all to-night, Pll pick up another,” He did not look back to see whether Tony continued in the Park or went to his new and luxurious home, but rapidly crossed a certain quarter of’the city, dodging in and out among the shadows until he appeared on a street that still contained a good deal of life and ran into a monstrous frame building built on the old tene- ment plan. This place was known everywhere in the neighborhood as Uncle Noll’s Nest, and Dick had barely entered it when he was captured by a fluffy old fellow of uncertain age, and held out at arm’s length in a comic manner, **'You’ve come back at last have you?” grin- ned the man, ‘* Where have you been so long? Don’t you like the Nest any more? Well, it ain’t the old nest, but ’m here yet, ha, ha! Yes, Uncle Noll is here.” The speaker was the proprietor-in-chief of the tenement and when he set Dick down he sudden- ly grew serious and led the way to a little ‘* office” at one side of the hall. ‘*T want to kuow something,” said the his **T thought so. I can always read ‘“ busi- ness” in your face, boy. What is there in this?” ** A good deal, Uncle Noll.” ** Enough to pay?” ** More than enough,” Ns The old man took a chair, crossed his legs with the help of one of his great hands, and told Dick to proceed. ‘*T want to know if you’ve forgotten Tony,” began the shadower of the docks, The man put bis hand to bis forehead and re- flected for a moment, ' ‘Pm a leetle forgetful of late,” said he. ‘Tommy will know him, Can I call Tommy ?” ‘*'Tommy isn’t as dead as I said he was awhile ago,” smiled Dick. ‘* Yes, let the boy come in,” ‘¢ Tl) fetch him,” and Uncle Noll of the Nest left the room. [In a few moments he returned carrying in his arms a boy who bad never walked a step in his life. His lower limbs were shrunken and his arms looked unnaturally long, but his face was as bright asa dollar and his eyes uncommonly clear, He gave utterance to a cry of delight the mo- ment he saw Dick, and when Uncle Noll placed him ina chair alongside the young scavenger of the harbor he made no efforts to conceal his Joy. ae hen was Tony here last, Tommy?” asked ick, ‘* Last summer,” was the prompt reply. ‘* Be sure of what you say,” ‘*T am, Dick, I set down in my diary about his going away, how I told his fortune with the wizard cards just before he left, and I’ve still got the little keepsake he gave me,” ‘* What was it, Tommy?” ‘‘His picture. Ho» slipped away one after- noon and came back with a tin-type which I was glad to have.” ‘¢ Where is the picture?” ‘* In my room,” Without another word Dick lifted the crippled boy out of the chair and carried him with ease to his room. ‘This is it” said Tommy Topp, opening a drawer and taking out a portrait which he hand- ed to Dick, The young detective gave one look and flushed with triumph. ‘This is Custer Kingdon, sure enough!” he cried. ‘* [’ve got them now!” ‘* What do you mean?” broke forth the aston- ished Tommy. ‘* That is Tony’s picture.” ‘* Yes, yes, Never mind what I said, Tommy. One o’ these days you'll know more than you do now,” and Dick, oblivious of surroundings, fell to studying the picture again. CHAPTER XIV. ‘UNLOCK THE DOOR,” Iv was amusing to see how eagerly Pyrnrey ing-ground [ll have to go alone,” remarked | Topp, the cripple of the Nest, watched Dic Dick, throwing his cigar away. while be studied the picture of the boy Tony. Detective. Lu ee a Tommy was anxious toaska hundred ques- tions about Dick’s question, and the boy detec- tive’s promise that be should know more in the future did not satisfy him. ‘* Yd like to sev Tony again,” said the cripple. ‘* He was a downright clever boy and I was be- gioning to like him when a man came and took him away.” ‘* A man, Tommy?” | ‘Yes, Tony wept without any coaxing, too, as if the two were acquainted.” ‘* What was the man like?” “*T didn’t get tosee much of him for he kept bis hat pulled over his eyes, though he was a heavy-set man not very good looking and had a harsh voice,” ‘* Wat Waffles for the world!” mentally ex- claimed Dick, ‘¢ Where is Tony now?” queried Tommy. ‘* Living in clover,” ‘‘ And that’s why he doesn’t come here any more is it?” ‘‘T think so.” The two boys now went back to the old man’s room, Dick carrying Tommy in bis arms as be- fore, and not long afterward he took his dgpar- ture, promising Tommy to come back ere long with some good news, Plased with the success of his movements Dick ©’ the Docks started out to find Cid Cuyler the detective who had left him for the purpose of ferreting cut Wat Waffles the schemer, If Dick bad known of the combat in Pappy Powder’s house between Waffles and the very man he (Dick) was hunting, he would have gone thither, but, ignorant of this thrilling event, he hurried to another part of the city where be ex- rected to find the detective. Suddenly there crossed the sidewalk just ahead of him a figure which despite the brief view he had of it caused a thrill to pervade his frame, It was Wat Waffles. There was no mistaking the well-known figure of the Gotham sharp, and before it could disap- ear the shadow of the docks was in pursuif. ick seemed to forget everything else in the chase before him. If Cid Cuyler had missed Waffles he would keep him in sight, and he thought be knew the by-ways of New York as well as the quarry ahead, Suddenly however Dick found himself in the grip of a hand whose owner had turned on bim before he could get out of the way, The boy of the docks fell back and uttered a sharp cry, but he was not réleased, To be agaip in the hands of Wat Waffles was a catastrophe he did not relish, Lt was danger- ous to his enterprise and threatened to prove fatal. ‘‘ Heavens! I thought— Well, never mind! This catch is worth a gold mine!” cried Waffles, ** Unband me!’ demanded Dick, ‘* You bave no right to arrest me.” ** Haven't I?” was the rejoinder, ‘' If I have- n’t the right to spoil your little play, I'd like to know who has,” ‘¢ You thought I was still in Mother Scam- mon’s trap,” said Dick, ‘““T did, Lut I'll take you to a better one.” Dick o’ the Docks was escorted from the scene of bis capture by a man whoseeyes bad a triumph- ant flash. Wat Waffles kept in the shade of the build- ings and not jong afterward unlocked a door beyond which he led the boy and pushed him toward a cbair in a small room. “ All’s fish that comes to my net,” laughed Waffles, eying his prisoner with a good deal of satisfaction. ‘ Youre no sbrimp if you are small. Why do you follow me?” Dick made no reply. ‘¢ Don’t waut to talk, eh?’ continued Waffles. ‘Don’t you know thatIcan bury you out of sight forever?” ‘ T know nothing of the kind.” j Waffles crossed the room and took several pieces of cord from a drawer, The door was locked, an operation which Dick had witnessed on entering the room, They were on the third floor and a leap from the win- dow meant death. But the alert boy detective had no notion of perishing tamely at the hands of such a scoun- drel as Wat Waffles was known to be, When he saw the fellow’s back turned he left his chair and caught it with a firm grip. In an instant Waffles wheeled upon bim with the cords in his hand, but the resolute boy did not yield an inch, ‘** Drop that chair!” commanded the plotter. ** Unlock the door!” was the response, Waffles took a step forward, bis bands clinch- ed and bis eyes on fire, ewe & =, \ )“ ‘ «va "1 s : 7 oa wy 4 : ' Wa ; CcCbDOOKS. V _ |