Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 637 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

the broker really believes that the boy in his house is his son it will take tough work to un- mask the scouadrels.” At this moment a figure appeared in sight, and, to the alert boy detective’s surprise, it mounted the steps of the Kingdon house and rung the bell. ‘‘ Mr. Waffles in his new feathers!” exclaimed Dick, ‘‘Mr. Betts I should say now. Mollie was right when she said that the bird had come out in new plumes, Waffles, rascal, transformed into Betts, gentleman! Wait till the game ends, We'll see who laughs last.” By this time the summons had been answered and the man admitted. When the door was opened Dick thought he caught a glimpse of a girlish face and figure, and for a moment he was almost tempted to run forward and expose the character of the visitor. Not far from Kingdon’s home there was one of those delightful parks that dot New York, and when the door had closed on Wat Waffles the boy of the docks took possession of a park settee from which he could see the Jamplight on the steps. From this position, while he formed one plan after another for future action, he kept an eye on the house, and the moment be saw a figure come out he bounded uv and prepared to follow. Coming close to the person who bad emerged from the dwelling he found Wat Waffles as Mr, Betts in new broadcloth and armed with a cane, Dick thought he Getected a smile of satisfc- tion on the fellow’sface and the longer he looked the surer he became that one was there. Waffles led the young lynx to a very respecta- ble quarter of the city where he entered a large house that contained furnished rooms for gen- tlemen. ‘‘ That’s his nest now!” thought Dick as he surveyed the house, carefully noting the num- ber. ‘* The spider will weave his web from this quarter and thither he will come after his suc- cesses, but always as Mr, Betts,” Dick for a while stood before the house in a quandary, Ie wanted to learn something of Wat Waf- fics as Mr, Betts and he hardly knew how to go about it. At length he bethought himself of Pappy Powder in his grotesque picture gallery and the next moment he was hurrying toward the old man’s quarters, He had not seen Pappy Powder since his almost fatal collision with the ferry-boat and when he surprised the little old fellow he knew that his mishap had not been reported in any way. opm glad you’ve come!” exclaimed Pappy Powder the moment he shut the door on the boy. ‘* You went off like a flash of powder and I’ve been wanting to ask you something ever since. But, first, have you heard that Custer ork em is home again? ‘*I’ve seen the papers,” answered Dick with- out delivering an opinion. ‘It’s all square, I guess,” pursued the old man. ‘This Mr, Betts who restored the broker’s heir has feathered his nest and no mis- take. «He has beaten all the detectives and we’ve got some shrewd chaps in that line in Gotham, But that is not what I wanted to get at.” Dick made no reply, but waited for Pappy Powder to proceed, waited with a half smile, as if he could guess what was coming. ‘What do you know about Wat Waffles?” eagerly resumed tho tenant of the basement home. ‘' You let the name slip from your tongue just before you went off, and I’ve been between pickled and stew ever since. Now what do you know?” ‘I think I ought to ask you, Pappy Powder,” laughed Dick Doan. To his surprise, the old man settled back in his chair and answered: ‘*Go ahead, then. I know something abouta certain Wat Waffles, and 1 don’t think there are two persons with the same name.” ‘* What sort of a man is the one you know?” ** He used to be rather stumpy, with a good figure for all that,” replied Pspey Powder. ‘‘He was always hatching up a scheme for making mcney, and he wasn't particular bow crooked it was if he could feather his nest. That’s the sort of chap my Wat Waffles was, When they caught him at last—” ** Ah! did they catch him at his tricks?” ex- claimed Dick. ‘* Yes. He played too deep a game one time, and the cops nabbed him.” ‘* What did he get?” The old man did not reply until he had reached up among some dustv shelves overhead and taken down a dingy-looking scrap-book ‘Here it is,” he went on, leaning toward Dick 0’ the Docks while he ran his chocolate- colored finger over the page before him, ‘* They gave him a full year up the river, and he served bis time out, too,” ** For what?” ‘* For forgery, boy; but they didn’t know who they had when they were trying him,” ‘*Did you know, Pappy Powder?” * Didn’t I!” faitechies the old man, * Didn’t he impersonate a wealthy woman’s California brother, and line his pockets with the root of all evil? I had ceased to thin. of oim until you mentioned his name several days ago. JT’ll wager my head that he hasn’t forgotten his old tricks of money-getting.” ‘‘Indeed he has not. Now, Pappy Powder, what would you say if I should remark that Wat Waffles is well acquainted with the Mr, Betts who brought Custer Kingdon home?” ‘‘'With Bolivar Betts?” cried the old man, ‘* Well, I don’t let anytbing surprise me DOowa- days. I see what you are driving at. You seem to think that Wat Waffles and Bolivar Betts are one and the same person,” Dick’s expression at the time these words were spoken was answer enough, ‘* T can’t think that,” continued Pappy Powder, with a shake of his head, ‘In the first place, Carlos Kingdon is satisfied. One account says that Mr, Betts prcduced a garment worn by the boy at the time of his disappearance. It was fully recognized by the father. That looks pretty strong, doesn’t it?” Dick was silent. ‘‘Then, the boy ascame home had a birth- mark which Custer had, and that’s another strong proof,” the old man proceeded, ‘If you can prove that Bolivar Betts is Wat Waffles the old jail-bird and then show that he has deceived Saul Kingdon why your name and fortune are made, You needn ing.” Dick Doan felt the force of Pappy Powder’s words. ‘*T know it is a tremendous job, but I am con- vinced that Carlos Kingdon is the victim of one of the cooiest scamps alive,” he replied at length, ‘‘T am going to try to make it plain, ou don’t know Mother Scanmmon do you, Pappy Powder?” ‘‘Never heard of her. Wat Waffles had a wife once,” ‘When he was sent up?” ‘* No, before, He told me that she died leav- ing him childless, but the fellow knew how to twist the truth into every conceivable shape.” ‘**Ts he dangerous?” ** Ah! I was just coming to that!” exclaimed Dick’s odd acquaintance. ‘‘ Criminals apap noo are dangerous people. Wat Waffles—tke one knew, mind you—was a cool, crafty, merciless scoundrel. If he knew that you suspected him, he would be on your track this minute, He generally worked his schemes alone, but some- times he called in help from the right quarters, Watch him if you are going to fight him, boy, I don’t want my Shrimp to feel the Waffles fingers at his throat. We’re too good friends for that, you know,” and Pappy Powder was smiling still when Dick said good-by and left the den, As he ran up the steps to the sidewalk a mo- ment later, he brushed an object that fairly startled him. . Looking back from the last step, he saw a man at the bottom hugging the wall like a Spy. ; There could be no mistake though the light was dim, It was Wat Waffles! t skim the river for a liv- CHAPTER VI. FACE TO FACE. Dick, however, passed on without showing, by any outward signs, that he had detected the mer among the shadows near Pappy Powder’s OOr,.", All the time bis heart was beating faster than ever, and some minutes elapsed before he re- gained bis composure, ‘* The rascal suspects, and I amin forit now,” mentally exclaimed the boy. ‘*‘He must have followed me from the nest to which I tracked him from Carlos Kingdon’s, He has gone back to his old feathers, as it would not look nice for a man dressed as well as Bolivar Betts dresses, to, be seen about a den like Poppy Powder’s.” Dick 0 the Docks looked often behind him, as he went back to his old quarters near the docks, He could not return to his old duty even if he had wished to, for the ferry-boat had deprived Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 5 him of the Lady Skimmer, He would have to get a new craft before he could resume his task on the waters of the docks, When he found that he was not followed, he went straight to his room, and on entering, dis- covered a young girl quietly waiting for him in his arm-chair, It was Mollie, ‘* J though’ I would find you some time!” ex- claimed Mother Scammon’s ward with a smile of feng cadhe ick was delighted to see the Jersey City girl, as there was much he wanted to say. ‘‘T know what has been done,” Mollie went on, before the boy could get started. ‘* They have restored a lost boy to his father, and the act has brought them a great amount of mon- ‘* Yes, Wat Waffles and Mother Scammon have made a raise, but by the basest trickery I ever beard of,” ‘* Of course it is a plot, but how are you going to prove it?” Dick was silent for a moment. The girl's question evidently puzzled. him. ‘*] did something before I left the house that wasn’t very nice,” continued Mollie, when the boy had remarked that the task ahead was a stupendous one, ‘* What was that?” ‘**T peeped into certain places where I was not welcome,” ‘*Oh,” laugbed Dick, ‘I hope Mother Scam- mon did not.cateh you at work.” ‘*Fortunately for me she did not,” smiled Mollie in return, ‘*‘Sbhe was absent, when I managed to open her treasury, which consists of an old-fashioned wardrobe, which, while it does not contain many clothes, holds some Valu- able things, There I found a lot of old news- papers, nearly fifteen years old, and some mark- ed articles about a lost boy, with large offers of reward, On top of the pile lay a fresh paper with a piece marked just like the rest, an when I looked I found it to bean account of Custer Kingdon’s restoration to his fatber. All the other articles referred to the supposed abduction of a boy of that name about fifteen years ago,” ‘* Your discovery confirms my suspicions, Mol- lie,” said Dick. ‘‘ Mother Scammon knows something about how the broker’s son disap- peared, She hasn’t lived the most correct life, though since you’ve been with her she has not been known to do anything very wrong.” ‘*Y never heard of it,” answered the girl. ‘* When I saw the late paper put away witb the others, I suspected the truth,” ‘*Of course. Wat Waffles and Mother Scam- mon are the scbemers, They have filled Carlos Kingdon’s heart with joy, but I am sure that they have foisted upon him a boy in whose veins there isn’t a drop of Kingdon blood.” ‘Why not goto the broker and expose the scheme?” ‘‘ Without proof I might be repulsed. I want some evidence first. I know that Wat Waffles or Bolivar Betts has served a term in prison; but that is not énough. If I could get a hold on the true identity of the supposed Custer King- don, I would have the scoundre] fast.” ‘‘[T may help you out,” said Mollie, taking from her pocket a package, which was found to contain several old letters, at sight of which the boy’s eyes lit up with intense curiosity, ‘**'W here did you find these, girl?” he asked, ‘‘ Where I saw the old papers, I will watch my chance and restore them be?ore Mother Scammon discovers her loss, They speak of a boy, and as they were received some time ago, they may throw some light on the trail you are following.” Dick took the letters, three in number, and leaned toward the light. “These are important though mysterious,” he suddenly exclaimed, glancing at Mollie, ‘* Mo- ther Scammon or some one else got them eight years ago, Even then the writer was schemin to play a game like the one that has succeeded, He talks about the progress a certain boy is making, and says in one place that he grows more and more like the family likeness every day.” x Look at the signature,” remarked Mollie, Dick o’ the Docks turned the letter over and gave utterance to a sharp cry. ; ‘’ The ‘* Wat” of this letter is our old friend Mr. Waffles!” he exclaimed, ‘ Now, it seems to me that a copy of these letters and ten minutes’ talk with Carlos Kingdon ought to convince him that be is the victim of one of the coolest money-getting schemes of the day,” ‘* T would think so.” ‘‘ Tt ought to be done before the boy who has INA MICDOO!