Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

me: | & no ——™ a young man of such varied qualities that no- body had ever yet been able to decide whether he was wise or foolish. He had been left an orphan at the age of eight vears, and had seen bard experience until old Ben took bim in charge. Under that tutor he had risen above his old level, and what sagacity he possessed was not a little due to the ex-sailor. Rob Wiley bad decided to sleep in his great- uncle’s house for a while, Tony was over on an errand for Ben, Thetwo had met by chance, and, standing near Bond’s house, under the cover of a tree, bad seen something which im- pressed Rob as suspicious, That evening a fog had settled over the coast and the town, which shut out almost everything else, and made pedestrians almost liable to run into each other. Despite this state of affairs, Rob had noticed a ragged, disreputable fellow approach the louse and take a deliberate, careful. survey of the premises. He had a vague recollection of hav- ing seen the fellow before, but could not say positively, The stranger Jooked as critically as though he thought of making a purchase, but did not go near enough to make himself liable to direct charge, ‘Ef he’s a burglar,” responded Tony, ‘he’s had poor luck in the past. He's a man of rags, verily.” ‘* He may have diamonds in his pocket.” ‘* A diamond on the buzzom is wu’th ten in the pocket!” proclaimed Mr. Bristles, gravely. ‘* He's going away.” ‘* See the dirt on his face wrinkle as he walks!” Tony’s eyes must have been sharp if he saw what he asserted, but the speaker gave Rob no chance to investigate. His legs were long, aud his steady retreat caused him to beenveloped in the fog soon after. ‘* Only a tramp, I guess,” Rob commented. ‘* A tramp’s heel makes mile-posts on many a road,” quoth Tony Bristles. Rob did not pursue the subject. His eccen- tric companion was nota person to consider a matter seriously or intelligently, so it would be a waste of time to linger under the tree with the fog settling all around and adding new gloom to the scene every moment, They separated. Tony started back to the Giant’s Boot; Rob went into the house, Carona had already retired. She was in a condition far from that of good health, and rest was something very or eevee Her recent ill- ness, the unpleasant affair aboard the Singing Sally, and the wreck—all had combined to upset her nerves, Rob forgot the ragged man for awhile, and talked with Bond and his wife on trivial mat- ters, but, when he had retired to his chamber, the scene he had just witnessed returned to his mind. Who and what had the stranger been? The Life-Saver had fears that Carona might be menaced, but he could not see why she should be. That there were persons who thought ill of her was not to be denied, but why should they molest her? ‘‘T reckon I’m nervous,” Rob finally decided, smiling. ‘My imagination is too keen; Ill go to bed and to sleep.” This wise resolution he adhered to so closely that, in half an hour, he lost all consciousness in slumber. In the meanwhile the fog and the darkness wrapped the town in close embrace. Few per- sons were astir. Over on the beach quietude was beginning toruleagain. The ocean seemed to repent of its fury, and the rollers that broke on the shore lacked the impetus, and the crash previously seen and heard. From the Giant’s Boot a boat crossed to the mainland, Its occupant was Tony Bristles. There was a period of inactivv at the Giant’s Boot as far as fishing went. Foratop Ben did not intend to do anything atit until the matter of the wreck was settled, and it was thought that work could be begun on the Singing Sally by the next day, Tony was of a different mind, He wanted to resurne fishing, and though Ben pointed out that the fish would not bite well until the effects of the storm passed, and the water rid itself of mud, Tony was not convinced, He was obstinate, and, after a long talk with Ben, he had crossed to the mainland, bound to an certain preparations and be out at day- reak, Having crossed the neck of the water, he secured his boat and went to the town, His way was past Bond’s house, and when he reached it he saw a light on the back piazza, Some one was there whom he took to be Rob, r Wh, | a yo J A 1 ) a 4 “—. : as ea we Si cde’ eres) oh P d P ; : i au ra (\ : °¢ : a . ‘ ‘ oo tk ves < TT 2h -_ 7 r : baie P< 4 “ a I . , . ; . «' “I * : at Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. and he hastened to join him and ask for his company on the fishing-trip. W hen he reached the piazza he found that the door of the kitchen was open, and that some one stood just outside with a lantern in his hand. ‘* Hullo!’ greeted Tony. The unknown turned quickly, and Tony saw that it was neither Rob nor Otis Bond. There was a brief silence, and then the stranger made reply: ** Hullo!” ‘* What ’re you doin’ here?” Tony asked, sus- piciously. ** Lookin’ at you,” ‘* You don’t live here,” ** Don’t 1%” ‘*No. I’ve seen you afore.” ** Hev you?” ‘*' Yes. Seen you prowlin’ around some hours ago. You’rea Caxtlae I’m a detective; I ar- rest ye hereby an’ herewith.” The stranger, who was the ragged man of the early evening, held up his lantern until its light fell full upon the fisherman’s face, ‘* Tony Bristles, you’re drunk!” he declared. *T be?” ** So I said.” ‘‘ [ ain’t so drunk but I kin arrest you, an’ I'll do it!” asserted valiant Tony. ‘““No, you won’t, Why? Here’s the reason!” The stranger’s hand had been under bis coat, It now came out quickly, and Tony suddenly found the muzzle of a revolver only aa inch dis- tant from his nose, ‘Surrender, or DPll blow your head off!” growled the tramp, in a deep base. ‘* Ho-ho-hold on!” stammered Mr, ‘¢ Wor the Lord’s sake, don’t do it!” His desire to make an arrest went out like a feeble candle-flame, Courage was not an in- gredient of his nature, and he wished himself safely back at the Giant’s Boot, ‘‘T think I shall have ter kill you,” the ragged man continued. ‘‘ That’s the only way ter make sure that you will keep mum.” ‘Don’t, don’t! Tll do anything; [ll be yer slave. Don’t kill me!” ‘Will you swear ter hold yer tongue for- ever?” ‘*Oh! Lord, yes!” ‘*Then perhaps [ll spare ye. come with me!” An imperative motion of his hand caused Tony to enter the kitchen, and then the stranger shut the door. ‘‘Now, we're goin’ up-stairs. You'll keep along with me. You'll step like a cat, an’ do all you kin ter avoid bein’ beard. Ef you don’t, Ill blow yer head off. See?” ‘’ Yes,” groaned Tony. ** Come on!” The simple-minded fisherman dared not resist or object. His philosophical element, which usu- ally flamed up occasionally, was now dead and turned to ashes, He was frightened clear a ta and perfectly obedient to the tramp’s wishes, They ascended the stairs. It was like a death- march to Tony Bristles. He knew that not only was Sky-Rocket Rob on the alert, but that he had secured a revolver. If he should awake and use that weapon, be, Tony, might speak only from the cemetery after that terrible night, His knees wabbled painfully as he went up, and he knew just how a condemned man would feel upon the gallows, The house had been built for honest peovle, and there were no locks upon the doors, The tramp paused before one of these, and deftly fitted a cover over his light which transformed it into a rude dark-lantern. Then he motioned to Tony to follow, and entered the room. Poor Tony was a monument of perspiration, and trembling with fear, but he dared not diso- bey. He entered, The room was a bed-cham- ber; its occupant was Carona Dane, Tony gazed at her in a species of fascination. Would she awake and recognize him? This she did not do at once, and, after a terri- ble pause, his gaze wandered to the tramp. The latter, keeping a wary eye upon the sleeper, bad advanced to the table and set down his lan- tern. Then he knelt on the floor, and, removing several things from his ket, one after an- other, thrust them under the edge of the carpet, where it met the wall. Bristles, [ll see. Well, Large grew Tony’s eyes when he saw that at least one whole handful of this stuff was green- backed bills—paper money. Strange possession for a tramp to have! Stranger yet for him thus to part with! When he had concealed under the carpet all that he wished, be arose, beld out bis revolver, , a 7 i \y ; 7 « Pe ‘ar sie * “ST a2 ¢ 9 7 . f urs Ve Ape Ea de oe eee eh > : ” —— = \ tapped an unwashed finger upon the barrel, and motioned Tony to }.recede him in retreat, They left the room. CHAPTER X. ROB RECEIVES STARTLING NEWS, THE following week brought nv important change in the situation, The entrance of the tramp to Otis Bond’s house had not been discov- ered, for he left no visible traces behind, and Tony Bristles, the only person who could, and would, tell of it, kept silent through mistaken motives, The tramp had sworn to kill himif he re- vealed anything, and, besides, Tony had a vague idea that he would be liable to arrest for entering Bond’s house. That a confession would be the shortest step to safety never occurred to him. Carona was still at Bond’s. Acting upon the jlan already outlined, Roger and Mr, Addison ad written such an account of her case as they thought proper, and bad sentit to New York for publication in a leading daily, hoping it would meet the eyes of her friends, This step they bad tried to Keep secret, Addison bad remained atthe hotel a while, but had finally taken a trip to New York him- self. Carter continued at the place, and was often in Mrs. Vincent-Brown’s company, He had made the statement that he had a full million invested in real estate at the metropolis, and the ambitious woman was not disposed to let such a fish escupe the hook, Her husband, a well-meaning, hard-working man, had made what little money he possessed —some five thousand dollars—by running a cheap restaurant. No one with a critical taste could make a. good meal there, but many who were not critical came, and he thrived in a small way. Originally as poor as she could be and live in freedom from want, Mrs, Brown used her bus- band’s few dollars for sails and was ever on the alert for a cruise. She aspired to be thought rich and ‘‘toney,” and worsbiped those who really came under that head. Amos Brown and the restaurant were rarely referred to by her. From Mrs. Hannah Brown she emerged into new radiance, signed herself Sybil Vincent- Brown, and admired berself greatly. She had a use for Wesley Carter. If he was worth a million he must know other million- aires, and have entrance to fashionable society. As his friend she might force the doors of that glorious circle, Happy thought! Sybil Vincent-Brown was in rapture, and she did all she could to impress Carter favorably. Tbe wreck had been looked to, and such arti- cles removed as were worth taking, but the bulk lay on the rocks, nearly bigh and dry at low tide, and never since the storm with her deck under water. Sky-Rocket had carried out bis intention of acting as detective, but even an older bead than his might have been discouraged with such a lack of evidence, Thus far he had made no discoveries, On the seventh day after Carona came to Bond’s house Rob and, Bristles had been out fish- ing together, As they were aware, Roger and old Ben had the same day gone twenty miles down the coast on business, The Life-Saver and his companion landed at the town, disposed of their fish at the botel, and then started for home, Their way was past Bond’s house, and Rob decided to stop there, Leaving Tony outside, he opened the door and entered, Mrs, Bond greeted him with a smile, ‘You ougbt to have come sooner, Rob!” tc Why?” ‘* Carona is gone!” ‘*Gone!” “Xen ‘¢ You don’t mean it?” ‘Oh! but I do; her friends came for her, and she went away with them,” ** When? here?’ demanded Rob, in great excitement. ‘‘Oniy a short time ago—in fact, I wonder ou didn’t see them, for their boat could hardly out of sight,” ‘*T saw a sail-boat going up the shore.” **1t was theirs,” ** And Carona has really gone?” ‘“Yes, Her friends came for her, and as they were in a hurry, she went right off. She wanted to wait until you and Roger came, but they had to make haste to carry out their plans; so she left her love, and said she would see you again.” Placid old Mrs, Bond talked quietly, but Rob was far from being in like mood. From the first he had been startled, and the progress of icbook . {