Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 639 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

: y ' > 11 - Saul hastened to obey this order. ** Ketched him right in the act, jest as he was king a picket—I mean, picking a pocket. uess that means the offered reward fur me, an’ promotion ter a conductor’s berth. Well, I should smile!” ** You darned fool, let me go!” cried the pris- oner, vigorously. ** Why, it’s Abner Plunket!” exclaimed Saul. | | ' Sunrise Saul. center of attraction. He realized that he was under a serious charge, and was a good deal broken up, but he found an eloquent de- fender, ; . Emmie was as emphatic in asserting his in- nocence as before. He was closely questioned ; he told a straightforward story; anc persisted in the statement that he had been merely looking for his pocket-knife. Mr, Enonbridge Sure enough, the man under the brakeman’s | spoke in his favor, believing bim to be just what knee was the gentleman from Haybottom, ‘* Ketched him in the act,” repeated the brake- man. ‘Jest look at him! Ever see a more ruffianly face?” ** Oh! oh!” groaned Abner. ** Looks jest like a murderer!” ** Say, dew you know who I be?” * Some cut-throat,” ‘* 1’m a deacon o’ the Haybottom church!” “ Deacon o’ nothin’!” **[’'m Mr. Plunket, an’ [ sell cabbages ter two members o’ the Legislature.” *“* You're a pickpocket an’ sneak-thief—that’s what you be!’ ‘* Me? Say, gosh-all-hemlocks! you say that ag’in an’ I'll punch ye! I’m a deacon, but I kin lick two of you with any kind 0’ a show. Mea thief? Say, let me up, an’ | willthrash you like Cain, by sixty!” Mr. Plunket was ina state of great indigna- tion, and he tried to carry out his threats, but was obliged to yield to superior strength. The assengers were crowding forward, anxious to now the cause of the disturbance, ‘** He’s a sneak-thief,” the captor repeated. ** John, [ think there is a mistake,” urged Saul. ** How so?” ‘** | don’t believe this man is a thief.” ** Ketched him at it!” ‘* But perhaps be can explain—” “He can’t. Ketched him in the act,” John stubbornly reiterated. ‘‘ There’s the man he tried ter rob, now,” and he pointed to Mr, Enon- bridge. “No, [ didn’t!” Plunket declared; ‘‘ but that air is the seat I had afore the smash-up, an’ adel a-lookin’ for my pocket-knife, Ive lost it. ‘*Gammon!” es Hey?” ‘* No lies go down here,” ‘Why, darn you! I’m a deacon o’ the Hay- bottom church, an’ I wouldn’t lie, nohow.” “Take him off!” interposed a passenger. “6 He's guilty, of course.” A lady moved quickly, but quietly forward. It was Emmie Enonbridge. ‘*T do not agree with you!” she declared, “* Kh?’ questioned John, the brakeman. **T do not think Mr, Plunket guilty.” ‘Why not?” ** We talked with him dnrring the day, and 1 think him an honest man.” ‘* But I ketched him in the act!” ** What proof have you that his explanation weiUntrue! Why, it * Untrue y, it was as thin as church lemonade, "T'wouldn’t deceive nobody but a numbskull ova woman!” , In the excitement of the moment the brake- ‘man forgot the politeness required of his class, and his manner was as rude as were his words. ve! was soon shown that he had made a mis- take, Emmie confronted him with flashing eyes, ‘* Take that back!” she commanded, ** What?” ‘Whatever may be my mental deficiencies, I do not allow any one to class numbskulls and women together in my hearing. Apologize!” The littlke woman stamped her pretty foot upon the floor, and her eyes glittered more than ever, James Enonbridge was dumfounded, while the other passengers looked on in admira- tion. Half the men were er to become her champions, but it occurred to all that Emmie was quite capable of fighting her own battle. As for the brakeman, he was speechless at first, but his wits soon returned, Ho flushed ** Miss,” he humbly said, ‘I beg yer pardon. I didn’t mean half so bad as I seemed ter, and what I did say was the result of being flustered. It’s a mean man that will be rude to a lady, and I hope you can find it possible ter excuse me.” ‘Sir, pray don’t say any more,” Emmie an- swered graciously. ‘“‘I know you meant no harm, and I apologize for my temper!” Some one proposed a cheer for Miss Enon- bridge, and it was given with a will, Just then the conductor made his appearance and asked for an explanation. — nn | he seeemed—a very green old farmer—and the conductor was at a ioss what to do, Sunrise Saul came to the front with a sugges- tion. Why not look for the pocket-knife? This was done, and, under the seat where the Enonbridges had lately been, a knife was found which Abner claimed as bis. Nearly all regarded this as good proof and called for Plunket’s release. The conductor saw that it might be the artifice of a cunning mind—if guilty, Abner or a confederate might have placed it there as a shield from possible trouble—but he finally decided that there was no actual evidence upon which the prisoner could be held. Accordingly, he was released, The train-robber remained to be caught, Saul was greatly disappointed by all this, for he felt sure that the real robber, whoever it might be, would remain quiet thereafter dur- ing the night, but other developments followed, Two passengers suddenly discovered that they had been robbed,*and, when the pocket- books found outside the car were produced, the men readily identified them. Two new, genuine robberies were added to the long list the road had rolled up in the past ear, And, as usual, there was no clew to the per- petrator of the thefts. The conductor talked with tbe losers, who, at first, demanded a search of the other pas- sengers, but a consideration of the facts led to the withdrawal of the demand, Neither of the victims could identify any of the lost money, and. it was, plainly, a hopeless undertaking, The thief had rid himself of the pocketbooks, and it was not likely that he had retained any incriminating evidence. ‘‘He’s cunning as they make them!” the con- ductor asserted. ‘‘As soon as he commits a robbery he gets rid of the pocketbook, and then he is safe. Bank-notes cannot be identified-un- less their numbers are known.” on latest losers acquiesced, and dropped the matter, Abner Plunket felt himself awkwardly placed and insisted upon being searched. Upon him was found a sum of money which, he stated, had been selected after careful figuring by his wife and himself as just what he would need on his trip to Boston. It was small, and nobody clai‘ned it, Piunket was generally considered an honest man. All this being done, the conversation ended and the passengers settled down to finish their interrupted sleep. Saul rejoined his friend, Jim. ‘‘ You kin use my head for a foot-ball!” ob- served the brakeman, with a deep sigh. ‘* We either ain’t smart or we ain’t lucky. The rob- ber is both.” ‘That he is.” ‘¢ He won’t never be ketched,” ‘‘ Don’t know about that; he may.” ** Kin you do it?” Saul shook his head. ‘‘T am not a detective.” “Turn ter be one. Nab that man, an’ the company will do anything in the world for you.” These words raunted Saul. He had an aged mother and younger brother to pecd ree and he was doing it cheerfully. His ambition, how- ever, ed been to get a more complete educa- tion than could possibly be obtained while the family resources were so small. If he could detect the robber, the offered re- warc’ vould enable him to satisfy bis ambition. (6 was o pleasant thing to think about, but he was not sanguine. The robber was cunning; cood detectives had already failed either to catch him or to suspect his identity; and: it wrt ai of the question for Saul to accom- plis He studied on the point, however, until he fell asleep, sitting on the platform of a car. When he awoke it was daylight, and there was a new matter of interest, Workmen bad arrived to repair the track, and they were It was soon , likely to get out of their prison before many given, and Abner Plunket again became the hours. CHAPTER IX, THE MAN IN IMPRISONMENT, WHEN the damage to the track had been re- aired sufliciently, the train resumed its way. « ‘he locomotive was found not to be seriously in.” jured, and when the veteran engineer fownie himself once more at his post, he forgot his ow bruises in the pleasure of finding bis iron steed” fit for work. As the train neared Boston, Sunrise Saul was approached by Mr. James Enonbridge. **Do you zo right back, my lad?’ asked the old gentleman, “Not to-day. I am too late for my usual trip, so I shall stay over here until to-morrow.” ** Shall you be busy?” ** No, sir.” ‘‘ Do you know Boston and vicinity well?” ‘* Pairly so, sir.” ‘‘Can I engage you to act as my guide?” ‘‘ What do you want to do?” ‘*T may as well be frank, My son is under arrest in a city just outside of Boston, and I am geing to see him, encourage him, and help him alll can. My granddaughter is with me, but neither she nor [ can claim acquaintance with this part of the country, Since my son located here he has come to see me often, but my age and feeble condition have prevented me from going to him.” ‘** I see, sir.” ‘‘ My granddaughter—her name is Kmmie— knows but little about any part of the Hast, She was born and reared in the West, and only came to this part of the country a short time ago. She came just in time,” the old gentleman added, musingly. ‘“‘My daughter, aunt to Emmie, with whom I had lived, had just died, and I was thinking of breaking up my home, Emmie came like a ray of sunshine, and is the staff upon which I lean in this hour of adversity. But this is not to the point.” Arousing, Enonbridge proceeded more prac- tically: ‘*‘ As neither of us knows anything about Bos- ton or vicinity, I desire a guide.” ‘*T think I can go with you.” ‘*T cannot pay you much,’ ‘* Never mind the pay, sir.” Saul spoke beartily, and looked with friendly interest and respect at the kind old face before bim. ‘‘My time isn’t worth much, and Pll go for uothing, sir,” he added, . “ But I can’t ask that—” we ‘*Never mind; we'll settle it later, May I ask what your son is under arrest for?’ ** Poor Ralph! Why, the boy is charged with embezzlement. He worked for a business house and was its confidential manager. Money be- came missing, and there was what seemed to positive proof against him, It is this which shows me that there was a deep plot.” ‘* How so?” ‘“‘ Tf it were only a matter of suspicion, then, to those who did not know my son, I suppose he would be thougbt of first. But be tells me that there was an abundance of direct evidence, all of which pointed tohim. Do you see what I mean?’ ‘* Not exactly.” “No guilty person would leave evidence to a him, which shows that there was a plot. Saul was silent, ‘‘ The real criminal put the evidence there to throw cereicion upon Ralph.” ‘* Well, I hope you'll be able to prove it, sir.” Saul spoke heartily, but he hardl shared Enonbridge’s confidence. He did not know the particulars, and Ralph might prove to be a model young man, but it was a fact that the friends of an accused man never do believe him guilty. The old gentleman’s opinion was an honor to his heart, though it might not be so to his head, < | They arrived at Boston while still talking, and Enonbridge then had Saul accompany him to where Emmie awaited his return. ‘My dear,” said he, “I have engaged an ally.” i Emmie looked her surprise, ‘ ** An ally!” ) “Yes; this youth.” ‘¢ J don’t comprehend.” ‘‘ Knowing the inconvenience we must suffer, as strangers hereabouts, I have secured the ser- vices of = competent guide—this boy.” | Saul saw a shade of annoyance cross Emmie’s ce. ‘Out to Somerville?” she questioned. ‘“'Yos; and as long as we remain.” ‘* T do not see the need of it.” : ‘ But we are strangers.” d ; (a no ' . ‘ ak Sas 4 - rare ee, ee by - ares rereret M a ¢ =. Pad - _ y at . 4 c “« bd | & om ¥ x —" ’ £ a i's . sd ; » f hOokS.com