Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 655 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

: se | Plucky P —— *“Don’t sign that paper,” he exclaimed. ** Orders from headquarters,” Mr. Ellis dropped the pen, and sprung to his feet. ‘Who are you? What do you mean?” He recognized Roger’s face at a glance, Te rest of the party looked on, speechless with sur- at fell | it fell. ** The young fox has sharp teeth, but I reck- prise at this interruption. ‘‘Mr. Burnaud sent me,” rejoined Roger. ‘““T’ve made time, you bet. Double quick. Here’s the orders.” He passed a folded slip of paper through the window to Mr. Ellis, who quickly seized and opened it. A moment sufficed for him to take in its contents. He turned to Squire Grimes, with a surprised and excited face. ‘This changes the affair,’ he said. an order from Mr. Burnaud not to sign. will hold the money until further advices.” The sharp-faced man sprung angrily for- ward. ** What does this mean?” he indignantly de- manded. ‘‘ Are you making afoolofme? The urchase is made. The papers are ready, What am 1 to understand by this?” ‘“ You can understand that I am an agent, and am acting under orders,” answered Mr. Ellis calmly. where the hitch comes in. All Mr. Burnaud says is that he has discovered that a clear title cannot be given to the property.” A decided change of expression came over the face of the previous speaker at these words. Roger was still at the window, drinking it all in with avidity. ** All right?” he demanded, ‘*Yes. Thesale is off.” ‘Lucky I wasn’t a minute later.” He was gone as quickly as he came. He had not entered the house. Nothing remained to indicate his visit but the sheet of note-paper ‘ that dangled in Mr. Ellis’s hand. But that wasenough. It had checked the wheels of the whole affair. In ten minutes afterward Roger was again be- hind the blacks, bowling rapidly back toward Loring. It mattered little to him what time it took to return. He was a thousand dollars richer than he had been thrge hours before. t It was half-past four when they again enter- ed Loring. Roger sprung from the carriage ‘ near the railway station. ‘Tf the judge raises any row send him to me,” he said, with an odd look. ee AY, ay \?? The team drove away. | Roger entered the station and inquired the time of the next train. None would pass till six o’clock, Hehadan hourand a. half to spare. ‘Lucky I’m not in a hurry,” be concluded, th) ‘* ll take a stroll around and see the place.” Y« He failed to notice that the man who had to: heard his name in the stable-yard was watch- ‘ing him. Nor did he perceive that he was fol- ‘ lowed in his stroll, wo After observing the town he took a road that ‘*T have You Om =—s ~ m ™ : Pr “to led into the open country, and walked on for ple half an hour. He then turned to go back. To wi his surprise two Men were facing him with per threatening looks. ‘ “Hold fast, my young sprout,” said one of jet these, ‘‘ Don’t hurry back just yet. We've got ter a trifle of business with you.” b : tio CHAPTER X. whi IN AND OUT OF A SCRAPE, ‘ RoGeER looked at the man who had so rudely is :accostedhim. He was ayoung and well-dressed **T know little more than you | j ] wee eee ee hastily to one side. lowed him with his eyes. stick held by the other villain. into the air. on we’ve drawn them,” he said, with a hoarse laugh, ‘‘ Double-quick now, boy, or by the blue blazes—” ‘* Don’t shoot,” cried the other, hastily. ‘‘ Do you hear, Roger Wilton? You are in- our | power now, and you'll be wise not to cut up i | | hesitate to use it. | } | SS any capers.” Roger looked from face to face of his cap- tors. It was very evident they were in ear- nest. His hand pained severely from the sharp blow it had received. And the fellow who had captured his pistol looked as if he would not ‘*What do you want with me?” he asked, sternly. ‘* We want your company. Turn now, while your skin’s whole. time.” Roger turned. The speaker caught him by the arm, and led him forward. The man wit the pistol walked behind. They followed the road for about a quarter of'a mile. Then they left it, at a place where it was crossed by a small run. Their course now lay along the valley of this stream for two or three hundred yards, and ended at a small hut, on the bank of the rivulet. It was a decayed wooden edifice, and seemed deserted. The two men entered it with their egal and closed the door, which hung on ut a single hinge, The place contained no furniture but a moss- grown bench, on which Roger’s captor signed to him to sit, ‘*l am quite obliged to you for taking a walk out this way,” he remarked. ‘‘It has saved me a heap of trouble.” ‘What do you want with me?” demanded Roger, angrily. ‘‘I have offered you my mo- ney already. Takeit, and let me go.” ‘‘We don’t want your money,” came the answer. ‘‘Keep quiet now, and answer my uestions truly, and no harm will come to you. ut if you try any trick on us it will be a sorry day for you,” ‘*T don’t see how I can keep much quieter.” Roger was dismayed, but he was bound not to show it. ‘*‘Go ahead with your questions.” ‘*’‘You have some valuable stolen papers. It is them I want, and must have. You have come out here to-day for the purpose of dispos- ing of them. They are either on your person, or you left them at the place to which you drove this afternoon, You see [ am well informed. You will find it dangerous to trifle with me. Where are those papers?” Roger heard these words with deep surprise. So Mr. Bernaud was right, and he had played the fool. Old Slink was after him in good earnest. He thanked his lucky stars that he had left the papers in good hands. ‘**I don’t pretend to know what you are talk- ing about,” he answered, putting on a show of stolid surprise. ‘‘ You are welcome to search me, and to keep all the papers ycu find on me.” ‘* That is what we are here for.” In the next ten minutes Roger was most thoroughly searched. But without effect. ‘* Where did you drive this afternoon?” asked I'll not ask you a second an man, not bad-looking, though with an evil eye | his captor, sourly. me and marks of dissipation on his countenance. pir His companion wasa sturdy, bluff-faced fel- * low Ro; his white hands, which were evidently not used ** toh ork. of ti ** id do you want with me?” asked Roger, ‘* You will be kind enough to take a little broiwalk with us,” will ‘*Oh, yes, No objectionin the world. Ifyou hunure going back to the town.” ‘6 ) sé ut we ain’t.” **} **Then you will have to do without my com- 1 gin as a .*. ‘You area smart youth. But you'll do as vel say, for all that. Come, this is our way.” Hel ‘* But it isn’t mine. What do you want? ter My money ?” men ‘‘ No.” then ‘‘Do you want this? If you do, come and Rc ake it.’ ‘and: In an instant he had in his hand the pistol ‘‘}vith which Mr. Burnaud had provided him, huncie cocked it with a quick motion. turn. “* Now get out of my way, Iam only a boy, ican pull a trigger.” } i that might have been a quarryman but for | ‘*To Squire Grimes’s, in Millstone. Ask Smart, the livery man.” ‘‘Did you leave the papers there? Answer me truly, if you value your health.” ‘¢T left a paper there,” ‘¢ What was it?” ‘‘ Likely Squire Grimes will tell you. You wouldn’t believe me,” The man looked sternly at the imperturbable face of his prisoner, Roger was working for time, Something might happen to rescue him from these kidnappers. | ‘*T must have those papers, declared his cap- tor, with a stern look. ‘‘ You will not leave here till I have them. You had best tell me the truth at once. If 1 fail to get them it will be a Sorry day for you.” . ‘* Will you believe me if I tell you the truth?” asked Roger. ‘* That depends.” ; _‘* Well, then, they are in an iron safe in thé city of New York. You will not get them if you keep me here fora year, They will only be irr! to myself in person. Do you believe a The man who had been speaking stepped Roger incautiously fol- aul, the Boy Speculator. ' | | far. | | | 11 His captor looked at him closely. — - ‘* No,” he answered. ‘‘I must have an order The next instant | on Squire Grimes for the return of the papers there came a quick upward stroke from the | you left with him. It caught the boy’s hand and knocked the revolver spinning The man skillfully caught it as I saw you drive out with Smart, and know that your story is true, so Here is paper and pen. Write me an order on Squire Jacob Grimes for a return of all papers which you left with him to-day.” He drew from his pocket a slip of paper, and a stylographic pen. A piece of board that lay on the floor of the hut served as a desk. He dictated an order, which Roger wrote without hesitation. ** Will that answer?” a” The man spoke a few words aside to his quiet companioh. Then, tearing a handkerchief inte strips, they proceeded to bind the prisoner’s hands and feet, ‘*This is only the first step,” said the man sternly. ‘‘ I willtake Smart with me and drive to Millstone. Everystep you have taken to-day will be traced. If they are not there, then [I will have an order on your mother to deliver them, And I will know how to work on her fears. Meanwhile I leave you in this man’s care. You willnotescape. Nobody is likely to come near this hut,” He walked out, leaving Roger in the hands of his grim and silent keener. The boy stretched himself on the bench. He was decidedly in for it,and he felt that he might as well take it easy. A half-hour passed without a word. The ee was seated in a crouching attitude on a broken stool in the corner, silent and surly-look- ing. ‘*IT don’t see what you expect to get out of me,” remarked Roger, tired of the long silence. ‘‘This nonsense about papers is all twaddle- Let me go, and keep my pistol as a present.” The man made no answer. ‘Take what money I have. See here, old fellow, I ain’t used to this sort of thing.” The keeper kept as motionless as a statue. ‘* Deaf, dumb, and blind, I suppose,” growled Roger. ‘‘ Might as well talk to a stone wall. Well, then, Pll go to sleep. Got to kill time somehow.” The man continued voiceless. With a groan of spite Rogerrolled over on his bench. In ten minutes he was as good as his word. He was sound asleep. A half-hour passed. Then Roger was sudden- ly wakened. He rang. hastily to a sitting posture on his bench. ome loud sound had come to his dreaming senses. The keeper appeared equally startled. He was on his feetand at thedoor. Hearing Roger move, he turned savagely toward him. ‘* Tf you whisper a word, youngster, I'll put a bullet through you,” he growled out. There now came a repetition of the sound that had roused the sleeping boy. It was a heavy rap on the door, as if with the butt end of a whip. ‘* Who’s in there?” camealoud voice. ‘Open the door. We've had a break-down and want a bit of rope to tie up the harness.” ‘‘T haven’t any rope,” answered the keeper through the door. ‘* There’s other houses down the road. You can get some there.” **' You needn’t be so gruff about it,” came an- other voice, which Roger recognized. ‘‘ We’re ready to pay for what we get.” ‘* Pay somebody else, then.” The sullen fellow menaced Roger with his pistol. But the daring boy was ready to take the chances of a bullet. ‘**Mr. Ellis!” be cried loudly. ‘‘I am here! Held prisoner! Break open the door!” The keeper sprung toward him in a rage¢lev- eling the weapon. ‘Shoot, if you want to hang for it,” cried Roger, boldly. ‘‘The mischief’s doné, and a bullet won’t save it.” There had been a momentary silence out- side, following Roger’s words. Then the cry came: ‘‘There’s some rascality going on here, O the door or we’ll break itdown” pe: The loud hammering was resumed. After a moment’s hesitation the surly rogue turned toward the door. ‘¢ Hold up there, you fools, growled. He threw back the bolt, flung open the door, and faced them, pistol in ba ‘* Is this a way to break into a man’s house?” he roared fiercely. ‘‘ Now get away while your skin’s whole, or I’ll shoot the pair of ye.” “‘['m here, Mr. Ellis! A prisoner!” cried Roger. ‘‘ Breakin, He daren’t shoot,” The keeper uttered a savage oath at these I’ll open it,” he