Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 655 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

_are stolen; vanished; gone! himself, and was rcs: 12 fired at the helpless boy. Thenshe bounded out, menacing the two men Plucky Paul, the Bo ec canara maemaar eae ees eaeeaan ee ear words. He turned with a violent impulse and | up. And I have advertised a reward, and no witb the weapon. They drew hastily back, and | ina moment he dashed away down the course of the run. Mr. Ellis rushed hastily%into the hut, in doubt whether murder had not been done. But he was quickly reassured. ‘* He didn’t touch me,’’cried Roger. ‘‘ I roll- ed off the bench. Here, cut my:hands and feet loose. Don’t you know me? I’m the boy that brought you the order, out at Squire Grimes’s.”’ “Ha! Isit you? And what in the world are ‘you doing here?” As he spoke he cut Roger’s bonds with his pocket-knife. Instantly the freed boy sprung to his feet. ‘*{ don’t altogether know what brought me here,” he ejaculated. ‘‘ But I know what’s go- ing to take me away, and that’s a pair of lively legs. Off for town, Mr. Ellis?” ‘ Yes.” : *‘Soam I. . Missed the train, though. Look for your rope and let’s get out of this. It’s un- healthy. Ill tell you all about it outside.” A piece of rope was found, after some search. They then hurried to the carriage, which had been left in the road. While the driver tied up his broken harness Roger gave a rapid account of his late adventures to a deeply interested audience. There was only one point on which he was non-committal— the character of the papers which his captors had attempted to force from him. A half-hour more brought them into the town of Loring. The six-o’clock train had passed, There would not be another till nine, _ The time sufficed for Roger-to give, before a magistrate, a description of the assault that had been made upon him, and of the appearance of the persons who had attacked him. One of them was out with Smart, the livery man, and would probably be back in an hour or two, The return of Smart was awaited with some interest. He drove in, about eight: o’clock, alone. : He had driven a stranger over to Millstone and back, he said. But his fare had been hailed by a friend, about a mile out of town, and had left the carriage. {It was evident that the vultures had taken the alarm, and made their escape. At half-past ten that night Mr. Ellis and Roger reached the New York station. At eleven they were at Mr. Burnaud’s house, They found the merchant still awake and up, too full of anxiety for sleep. ‘¢ What have you to say?” he cried, eagerly. ** Won or lost?’ ‘sé Won.” : ‘*Then the promised prize is yours, Roger, my boy,” he gladly responded. ‘*There’s one thing more,” answered Roger, eagerly. ‘‘ They are after those papers, hot. I hope you have them in a safe place.” Mr. Burnaud’s face fell. ‘They have got them,* he acknowledged. ‘‘T have proved an unfaithful keeper. They They have beaten us, Roger.” CHAPTER XI, WHAT A YEAR BROUGHT FORTH, A YEAR has passed since the date of our last chapter. It has been a year full of incidents, far too numerous for us to mention. We must very rapidly run over the story of our charac- ters during this interval. One mystery yet remains undivulged. The papers which so mysteriously disappeared from the floor of Mr. Burnaud’s office have not been found, It was at first supposed that they had been stolen by an agent of Simon Slink, and return- ed to thatindividual. But this theory has been disproved by Simon’s own behavior. His spies have continued to follow Roger Wilton through- out the year, and have hung around every place which he is in the habit of visiting. To make the matter sure Roger managed, on one occasion, to get his mother and the children® off on an excursion, and leave their rooms vaeated. He himself kept on the watch, and was rewarded by seeing a man, whom he recog- nized as one of Slink’s spies, enter by a false key, and make a complete search of the rooms. On another occasion he called on old Slink his behavior, that he was not in possession of the lost papers. ** Whoever has them, it is not Simon Slink,” he said to Mr. Burnaud. ‘*Then who hasthbem? They would be no use to any sneak-thief that might have picked them - od —EE | questions asked, but it hasn’t brought them.” ‘* It is a mighty queer thing,” reflected Roger. | **T wonder if Edward Homer is hanging around here in disguise, and if it is he that has | got them,” Mr. Burnaud gazed at the boy for a minute with a look as if he thought him out of his senses, and then burst into a loud laugh. ‘* That is what comes of having an imagina- tion,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Try again, Roger. | That’sa neat guess, Seeif you can’t beat it.” ‘¢ Anyhow there’s just as queer things happen | in this world,” answered Roger, a little vexed at this laugh. ‘‘ But never mind that, Mr. Burnaud. The papers are gone, and if wasn’t your fault. They may turn up again. If they | don’t I will have to get at old Slink some other | i I am not going to let up on that blood- sucker if it takes my lifetime.” Mr. Burnaud looked at him as if he did not quite like this bitter spiriZ of revenga But he changed the subject. ‘‘ What are you doing now, Roger, in the way of business?” ** Just wn, a cargo of bananas,” answered | Roger, quietly. ‘* What’s that?” Mr, Burnaud almost jumped | from hischair. ‘‘ A cargo of bananas! What | do you mean, you risky young speculator?” | ‘‘[ got them dog cheap,” answered Roger. ‘*T’ll tell you allabout it. It seems there was | a case of sickness on board, and the captain run the quarantine. He was afraid all his ba- nanas would spoil if he was kept back. Well, the quarantine officers were after him, and he had to get away double quick to save his bacon. I knew that, and I made him a lump offer for the cargo, which he jumped at. The fruit is all landed, and the vessel off. Five thousand dol- lars cash, and they’re worth ten thousand, for there’s hardly another banana in the city.” Mr. Burnaud lvooked at the quiet speaking buy with open eyes and mouth. ‘' Five ehidtisgad cash? But where did you get it? I know you haven’t two thousand in the world.” ‘*T paid what I had, and got a commission man to advance the balance,” rejoined Roger, easily. ‘‘l’mto pay him ten percent. But I | can do that.. The bananas are going off like hot cakes. There won’t be one of them left by Saturday morning.” Mr. Burnaud continued to eye him with a strange expression of face. He finally jumped up and caught Roger by the hand and shook it | warmly. ‘*T believe it now,” hecried. ‘* You will be rich. You've got boldness, and judgment, and luck, and they’ll make any man rich.” **’You bet I will, And then won’t I put a snap judgment on old Simon Slink? I Fr.) want to get rich to get even with him.” This conversation will give some idea of Roger’s operations throughout the year. His speculation in bananas was not quite up to his calculations, but it yielded him a clear three thousand profit, which, added to his former gains, gave him a capital of about five thousand dollars. This was but a specimen brick of his year’s | operations. Eager to get rich, he took the most | risky ventures. But luck stood by bim, and be won where most men would have lost. But his most daring operation was to buy at public sale a property of considerable value, which went ata ruinous figure, on account of the title being disputed. It was then in litiga- tion in the courts, and the case seemed so doubt- fut that it was knocked down to Roger at a very low bid. : Mr. Burnaud shook his head very seriously on being told of the operation, ‘* Why in the world did you not consult me?” he demanded, half angrily. ‘‘ You can’t go on in this reckless way forever,” ‘* But look how cheap it went.” ‘*Cheap! It brought more than it’s worth, for it’s worth nothing. It’s about like that property at Millstone, that I backed out of in time. The lawsuit is bound to go against your man, and if it does you are seven thousand dol- lars out of pocket. Every cent you have in the world gone at a whiff.” ‘* Butif my side gains I can sell it to-morrow for twenty thousand. ‘Don’t 1 tell you your side can’t gain? The case is as clear as daylight. Iamangryat you, boy. I know your luck, butthis is tempting Providence. You might as well have bid three thousand as seven. Nohody would have bid against you—Well, Mr. Ellis, is that affair all right?” This was to his confidential clerk, who had just entered. | y Speculator. — 7 _—-_ — ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘** And what is the news on the street?” ‘*Why, I hear that there is a strange turn over in that Lincoln estate lawsuit. A paper has just been offeredin evidence that compietely upsets the prosecution. They say the defense is bound to win.” Roger sprung up and cracked his heels. ‘*What do you think now of @ dumb risk,” Mr, Burnaud?” he cried gayly. ‘* Luck’s on my side again.”’ ‘‘The Old Boy helps his imps!” answered the astonished mercbant, striking his hand heavily onthetable. ‘‘I give itup. I wouldn’t have given five hundred yesterday for that house.” ‘*You can have it to-morrow for twenty thousand,” said Roger. ‘*‘T won't take it, my boy, for it’s worth more. In that location it ought to bring thirty thousand. I'll believe in everything now. Go ahead. “If the moon is put up to-morrow, buy it. You’re bound to make off of it, if you have to retail it out for old cheese.” Mr. Ellis and Roger laughed heartily at the earnest manner of the merchant. The lawsuit turned out as Mr. Ellis had pre- dicted. The defense won the case, and Roger got his property witha clear title. Within a month he sold it at the price Mr. Burnaud had suggested. He wasa clear thirty thousand dol- lars ahead of the world, It was a splendid start fora boy of twenty, ardent, hopeful, sharp, full of spirits, and the very picture of luck. His vow that he would be rich looked in a fair way to be fully real- ized. But yet the affair with Simon Slink remained unchanged. No sign of the missing papers ap- peared, and Roger was in despair of ever see- ing them again. As for Simon Slink, men said that he was growing richer daily. Those who knew best declared that he was secretly speculating, and that he was using the funds of the Trust Vo, in this manner. But he was rich enough and suc- cessful enough to snap his fingers at all such ill-natured remarks, Roger listened to all this with deep interest, Speculators sometimes meet with a serious tum- ble. He prayed tat such would be the fate of Simon Slink. Meanwhile a new ideacame to himself. There was more money for a lucky manon Wall street thanin the channels of trade. It was there that men with capital got rich rapidly. The bold boy felt like bucking against Simon Slink in the stock market. It was about this time that he madea new ac- quaintance. Being one day in the establishment of Cox & Co., the shirt manufacturers, he was introduced by Mr. Cox to a fine-looking young man, to whom Roger took as if by instinct. ‘“You two ought to know one another, for you are both the picture of luck,” said Mr. Cox, with alaugh. ‘‘ Whatever goods Wilton touches turn to money, and it is thesame with Harry Plum’s stocks. You ought to hitch horses.” ‘Ts this the young Mr. Wilton that there was so much talk about for the lucky hit he made with the Lincoln property ?” ‘* The same.” ‘‘ Then he beats me hollow. I have been three years at it, and haven’t made that much yet,” ‘‘ In the brokerage line?” asked Roger, ée Yes.” ‘¢ T wish you would tell me something about it. I don’t understand the thing at all.” ‘‘ You've asked the right man, then,” said Mr. Cox, with a laugh, ‘‘ Harry has it all down at. Puts and calls, blinds and straddles, bulls and bears, he can tell you all aboutit. You can’t put yourself in better hands.” The two young men walked away talking as intimately as if they had known each other ten years. ; Roger proved anapt scholar, It was notion before he knew the modus operand? of stoc speculation. T'wo months afterward he made @ proposition is new acquaintance which was quickly ac- cepted. Roger Wilton entered the rokeias business in partnership with Harry Plum. He had first dabbled a little in stocks, and made some successful hits on ’change. . Roger had now raised a fair mustache, and no one dreamed that he was below the legal age, as he had the wit to keep his age to himself. It was noted, however, that the new firm ot Plum & Wilton entered into bolder operations than Plum alone had ventured. There was new blood in the veins of the firm, Another yearpaseed gape away. The youn speculator reached the age of twenty-one. An he did so with a personal cash capital of sixty o/s ag Plt ae bs ae i ~* ma, © : a by Jig 3 7 wt 7, «i j fo! a t 7 \ o . , cal} a CAR