Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 639 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

i 12 man named Hardy. Now, in the possession of one particular Hardy, be found this evidence. The key was a large, brass one, such as would naturally be used in a store-door, and appeared to be of fresh manufacture, Triumph beamed in Saul’s eyes, Clearly, he argued, Hardy had been in Ralph’s house, obtained an impression of the genuine key, and then had a bogus one made, ‘‘What in Judas hev ye found?” Jockway asked. For answer Saul put the wax in atin box which was at hand, and then thrust that and the key into his pocket. He was about to leave the desk when he saw an envelope addressed to Hardy. A letter was within; he withdrew it and saw the name of ‘* Liz Lorimer ” signed to it, This was evidence worth preserving, and, though he could not stop to read it then, he put it in bis pocket with the other articles. ‘“Say, d’ye want any more stuff?” Buck asked, with some irritation. ‘‘ This is valuable matter, friend Jockway.” “* In what way ?” The question sounded froma point near the door, and both Saul and Buck turned quickly. A man was standing there whose entrance had not been observed even by the keen-eyed Westerner. Jockway swung his revolver around, but the unknown at once held up an empty hand, ‘* Hold hard, messmates!” he advised. ‘* We needn’t fight, for 1 have no bone to pick with ou. ‘‘ What are you doin’ hyar?’ growled Buck, suspiciously. ‘The same interrog might be flung back at you, cully, but it won’t pay. Unless you want to get masticated, I advise you to slope!” ‘ Why?” ‘* Hardy and his heelers will soon return,” ‘* You know of them, it seems,” ‘*OF course I do, blockhead; but you are a fool to stay here and talk it over, Relying upon the supposed strength of your prison, ardy and his pals have all gone out to absorb liquid ruin, but they will soon come around agaiv. Jockway, curb your Samsonian desire to pull this house down on Hardy, and get out while youcan. You don’t want this boy killed, do you?” ‘*T want Hardy.” ‘*You’re a fool to try for him now. Go away, and I may succeed in giving you a lift, later.” ‘* What's yer name?” ** Mose Deegan.” **Wriend o’ Hardy’s?” Deegan made an impatient gesture. “Should I advise you to slope if I were? Come, man, don’t bea fool! Go away, and let your crusade against Arad rest until Sunrise Saul has solved the Enonbridge mystery!” ‘What do you know about that?” Saul de- manded. ** More than you do,” ‘‘ Then you’re the man I want.” ‘*T’m the man you can't have—at least, not at present, You have some evidence in your hands, post now, and I advise you to hold fast to it. But you are not wholly on, yet; there’s a discovery coming that will amaze you, and I resume that I shall be the one to make it pub- ic, ‘‘ Mr, Deegan, if you will tell me—” ‘‘T won’t! Will you get out of this, or will yon stay and be wiped out by Hardy’s gang?” Deegan spoke impatiently, sharply, and Buck, glancing toward Saul, reluctantly made an- swer; ‘* We'll go. I reckon my vengeance kin keep, an’ I see that I hev no right ter take others inter the jam. But, stranger, I'd like ter see you outside—”’ : “You can’t!” declared Deegan, ‘‘Go slow old fellow, and you sball have the rigbt end of the tangle later; l’ll see you again. But, for now, I’m off; you can stay here and get chewed up if you wish,” With these words the man turned and left the room, Jockway shook his head as though he did not apereve of the course of events, but unhesi- tatingly observed: “We'll go, too, pard. Ef we kin help the Enonbridges by bein’ a little slow on the wait, we don’t want ter let the chance slip. Come on! Really, the miner’s concern for Saul was his guiding principle. If he had not been afraid that bis young friend would get hurt he would not have left, and, as it was, he could not help ¢ Fv ” d _* 4 b a] ' . CS 2 5 : J 7 wey ’ ory Ph “ee eS Pe , LP ae 2D 4 « - Ya 0 Po. Pax a° ¢ o> a , ee aS 5 Rae x a greet Cr. 4 ae é oe Nee wig’) POTS Vy ‘ 7 7 a= be i he . a. Sunrise Saul. cherishing a secret hope that they would meet Hardy on the way out, They did not, and they were soon in the street, No one interfered with their retreat. ‘* Whar away?” Buck then asked. ‘* [ think [ shall go home, at once.” ‘* W hat’s the letter ye found?” ‘*T don’t know, yet.” ** 1d sort o’ like ter, afore we part.” **'You shall,” No other at being convenient, they went to a saloon. There, seated at a table, they read the letter. It was as follows: “Dear VILLATN:—Yours has been received, and I hasten to answer. I shall be ready to go East when- ever youare. I have been having a jolly time with Sammy Dean’s dollars; have kept a carriage about all the time, and have visited all our old friends. I like to drop in to the old resorts and set ‘em up for the boys. Wonder if Sam Dean’s partner has re- turned to Lame Horse, yet, and found his money gone? ‘*T feel confident as to our new enterprise. The stake is well worth playing for, and I, for one, shall be on my muscle; we must win. We have made fools of our Western brethren many a time and oft, and it will be the simplest of all easy jobs to do up those Eastern clams, There ain’t braims enoug east of the Mississip' to stock a aires ‘*Come home, dear fellow Villain, and we will get away tothe East and bamboozle ourgame. Whoop! I get excited when I think of a million—more or less—at stake. Come! .I am weary of inactivity. Let us do something villainous! Hurrah for the Enonbridges. ‘‘ With love, I remain your unterrified demon and tiger-cat, Liz LORIMER.”’ The letter bore date of a year previous, and appeared to be written from Denver. ‘* Ske’s a devil!” Buck muttered. ‘‘ What can be their game here, to which they refer?” ** Ralph Enonbridge, of course.” ‘** He has not a million.” ** Hardly!” ‘* This letter perplexes me, Do you remem- ber that Mose Deegan said there were some ohne in the game we had not yet grasped?” o> he Be ‘* What did he mean?” “Give it up!’ Jockway was not so much interested in the Enonbridge case as Saul was, and, even if he bad been, he would not have found it possible to an- swer the question. Neither he nor his young partner could understand the mysterious allu- sions to the Enonbridges, nor why such an effort was being made to ruin Ralph, It occurred to Saul, when considering ths reference to the *‘ million,” that’ Ralph’s wife might, really, be the obect of the attack, and that he had been put into trouble in order to get him out of the way. After some further conversation the pards left the saloon and separated, The destination of each was his home, but the two lay in different directions, Buck’s temporary lodging place being at a hotel on Causeway street, Saul wanted a car for the South End, but the hour was so late that such a conveyance was not to be found easily. He walked south along Washington street until be reached Court street and tben paused on the corner. A few minutes passed, and then a hack came briskly toward bim from the direction of Scol- lay Square. He gave attention to it as one will to what seems a trivial matter, when time hangs heavily on his hands, The vehicle had one occupant only, and that was a lady. As ae turned into Washington street the light fell squarely upon her face, and Saul stood like one dumfounded. He had recognized her, and the recognition was a great surprise, He remained gazing blankly after the vebicle, a eed Enonbridge!” he muttered, mechan- ically. This was something wholly unexpected. That the girl should be in Boston at that hour of night showed that something unusual was afoot. dee there some new complication at Somer- ville : Anxious to be of all the service to the family that he could, he ran after the vehicle and soon overtook it, A call to the driver caused him to | sf and then Saul hurried to the open win- ow. ** Miss Enonbridge!” he saluted. Emmie looked at him in surprise, ‘* ‘You here!” she exclaimed. ‘* Yes, Miss Enonbridge. What is wrong? Can I help you?” Her expression was so troubled that the first question seemed very timely. ‘‘ This is a surprise to me,” murmured the girl), ‘* And to me, also, at Somerville,” ‘‘T wish [ were!” sighed Emmie, ‘* This work is wearing upon me, and [ am as nervous as can be. But you, my boy—ZI will not trouble you.” ‘* But I shall be glad to help you, miss,” ‘‘Then enter the hack, and 1 will explain as I thought you were still we go on,” Saul obeyed, Emmie directed the driver to continue, and they rolled away down Washing- ton street, CHAPTER XVI. AFFAIRS BECOME MIXED, EmMir remained silent so long that Saul turned to her and was about to speak, but she forestalled bim., ‘There is nothing but trouble for us!” she murmured, in an unsteady voice, ‘‘ What has happened now, Miss Enonbridge?” ‘‘ Nothing new, only [ am trying to get infor- mation,” ‘*Tt is late—” ‘*Uncle Ralph is so placed that we cannot stop for small obstacles.’ “True, but—” ‘‘Tf my judgment is as good as my courage, I hope to get important news, to-night. I have not undertaken this errand without a clear ob- ject in view, and_ we shall soon see bow it will transpire. I shall be glad of your company, for this big city, and these lonely streets, are not a fit place for me at this hour. I realize this, but I must go on.” | The hack had turned down Essex street, and it came to a stop at the corner of Harrison avenue, | ‘Here I will leave you for a moment,” she added. ‘Our journey is only just begun, but I must ask for some information before going further. Please remain in the hack, for it woul injure my chances if the parties I am to ask information of should see any one witk me.” She had alighted while she spoke. *: Have you far to go?” Saul doubtfully asked. sé No.’ ‘‘ This is not a safe locality.” ‘‘T have only a step to go, and will soon re- turn, I cannot be a coward when [ have so much to work for. Wait here for me!” She hurried along until Oxford street was reached. On the corner she paused for a mo- ment and looked back, It seemed to Saul that her courage wavered, but she soon resumed her way and disappeared around the corner. ‘© She is a heroine!” the youth thought. ‘‘VYoung feller,” observed the hackman, **yvou’d ought ter gone along, too.” ‘¢ T believe you,’ . “This ain’t a fit ge for a modest young woman like ber to be at this hour, without a protector.” ‘* We are in trouble, and she is trying to help others out,” was the boy’s vague reply. ‘¢] wish her good luck, for I kin see she’s every inch a lady, but thisis just the region that such a woman ought ter keep away from.” These words added to Saul’s apprehensions and, when several minutes had passed without any change in the situation, Emmie’s prolonged absence began to grow serious, he thought, After some delay he walked to Oxford street, Emmie was not visible. Looking south as far as he could see, there was no human being on the street, nor were there signs of life about any of the houses, What had become of Miss Enonbridge was a mystery, and he began to be worried. She had said that she had “only a step” to go, and would soon return. W hat had occurred to delay ber? Was she in any of the houses? Or had she met with harm? These questions became more and more im- portant as the minutes wore on. Emmie did not return, and he was left to face the probabil- ity that she bad run into fresh trouble. He con- sulted the hackman, after which they laid the case before a policeman. From the latter they obtained but little pei thy. Accustome/ to the criminal side of life, e could not bring himself to think well of an one placed as the missing girl was. His indif- ference disgusted Saul, and as he did not know in what way to request aid, he soon dropped the blue-coat. But Emmie did not return. An hour passed —two hours—three hours, Saul was patient and persevering, and he re- mained where he had been directed to await her until all hope that she would come was gone, _ a ‘= SE a Pee 4S mah * a ee Ye =—"comicbooks : - —- a sae) e com