Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 669 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

j bm ~~ ——— af ee . . = 12 Broadway Billy Abroad. **Ts it so bad as that?” ** You can’t seem to realize that it is serious, sir, because she is in the hands of her own brother, but I wouldn’t be s’prised if he tried to kill her if she held out and refused to sign.” ** Well, well, he shall be prevented from doing that. But give me the street and number.” Billy did so. ‘*And now, who are you?’ the banker next asked. ** Well, that don’t particularly matter,” Billy responded, ‘‘ but we are two chaps from New York, abroad taking in some of the sights.” ‘* But your names?” Billy gave them. *““T am not inclined to disbelieve you,” the banker observed, *‘ but it seems to me a little strange that such a neat-appearing boy as you should catch on behind a carriage and follow it to its destination, like a street/ Arab might do; and past for fun, as you called it.” ‘** 1 see [ have got to unfold myself to your in- spection,” Billy remarked, and he took his letters from his pocket and handed them over, “What!” the banker exclaimed as he read, **a letter from Jonas Herman, of the —— Bank; why, I know him well; and others from promi- nent New Yorkers, to say nothing of this one from a professional detective. My lad, let me shake your hand.” The banker held out his hand in earnest frank- ness, and Billy grasped it in a hearty manner. “Now that you know all about me,” be said, **[Pll go further. I was in disguise last night, if it can be cajled that, though this style of dress is more like a disguise for me. I was in my boot- black outfit, and was a genuine Arab, just as | used to be in New York,” The banker banded back the letters, saying: ‘“‘Itisallexplained'now. Iunderstand. Now, sincs you are really a detective, young man, allow me to consult with you. What had I bet- ter do in this matter? I mean, how proceed?” ‘* Well, sir,” was Billy’s response, ‘‘ my lay- out may not suit you, but [ll give it to you for what it’s worth,” ** Do so.” ‘*[ happen to know that that rascally brother is going to see his Ping og again this forenoon, We can nab him finely of you want to do it, We can go there, taking along a couple of police- mei, and if we arrive before he does, can lie in wait for him, If he is already there, which is not likely, we will be sure of him no less,” ** And you will £0 along?” “*To be sure. There is no fun in playing de- tective, unless you can be in at the death.” ‘* Very well, we will do that. I will send word to the bank that I will not be there this morning, and will order my carriage—” ‘That won’t do,” Billy interrupted, ‘‘for he would know your turn-out if he chanced to see it, ‘Yes, that isso. What is your plan?” ‘* Well, see how this strikes you,” answered Billy, bluntly: ‘‘Itis quite likely that the fel- low will employ the same carriage again that he has made use of twica before, That one is to be found at the hotel where it started from last night, very probably. We will go there, or somewhere else, and engage a carriage that he will not be able to recognize as yours, but we will know bis rig at sight.” ** That is a good idea, and— But, good gracious! here he comes now!” Mr. Goodwin had just caught a glimpse of a person ascending the steps, and recognized Goodridge Whitstone. ‘We'll dodge out of sight, double-quick,” ex- claimed Billy, ‘‘and you needn’t let on that any one ishere, This way, Skinny!” There was a big, hand-painted screen near at hand, and the two lads were soon concealed be- hind it. / No sooner were they there than the servant announced Mr, Whitstone. ** Show him right in,” the banker directed. In a moment he entered, ‘* Well, Vincent,” he asked, as he sunk down upon the nearest chair, ‘* any news of the miss- ing one?” ‘*'You need not ask that,” was the response, ‘Why not? Iam not a mind-reader,” ‘* If she had been found you would have been notified.” ** Oh, yes, pardon me, Well, well, itis terrible. I just dropped in to see if you have any new page I must go right on. Whose cab at the oor ‘‘A caller who has stepped out for a mo- ment,” | **Ab, yes. Well, I will go right on, for Iam bound to find my sister if she is in this city, or something about her if she is out of it.” * ** I wish you success, I haye been almost in despair.” ‘* She shall be found!” **T hope she may.” Whitstone hastened away, and Billy and Skinny came out from their place of hiding, ‘** That is nervy, anyhow,” Billy observed. **Ts he the same man you saw last night?’ the banker asked. ** Yes, he is the same rooster,” the lad declar- ed, “That settles his fate, then, He shall be arrested and punished, To think that he could come here with such a double face!” ‘**T bave an idea that be will watch to see who gets into that cab of ours,” Billy remarked. ** Will you let your servant go out and pay the man and dismiss him, Mr. Goodwin?” ‘Why, certainly.” ‘* Very well, send him this and tell him to go,” A servant was summoned, and the driver was soon paid and sent away, ‘* Now,” Billy further observed, ‘‘if there is a rear way by which we can get out of the house, let’s be going, for the sooner we are on the spot now the better.” *® ‘*T will be with you in a very few moments,” The banker went from the room, telephoned to the bank that he would not bethere, and then telephoned to a police station for two policemen to be sent to a street corner near the house where his wife was. That attended to, he rejoined the s and announced that he was ready, and conducted them from the house by a rear way, coming out upon another street, Knowing just where togo to get a carriage, the banker soon found one, and the three got in and were carried off toward the Chinese quarter. When they came near to their destination they saw two policemen standing on a corner, looking wonderingly about as though trying to imagine why they had been sent there, Billy stopped the carriage and motioned to them, and they came up. A few words of ex- planation and direction were given, and the carriage went on, the policemen following on foot. The carriage was stopped on the opposite side of the street from Mrs, McFaddin’s house, and there it waited, none of its passengers getting out. ang In about an hour another carriage turned into the same street, and coming on, stopped at Mrs, McF addin’s, Billy had recognized it at sight as the one they were waiting for, and called Mr, Goodwin’s at- tention to it. They watched to see who would et out, and sure enough it was Goodridge hitstone, ‘*That’s our chicken,” Billy exclaimed, full of suppressed excitement, ‘‘and we'll soon have him in the pot,” The man entered the house, and no sooner had he done so than one of the two policemen came forward and arrested the driver of the carriage and took him and his vehicle rit As soon as that was done, Billy and Mr, Goodwin and Skinny alighted from their car- riage, and Bully led the way up the steps to the door, the other policeman accompanying them. Billy rung the bell, and Mrs, McFaddin an- swered it. At sight of the policeman she wes frightened, but before she could think of resis- tance the officer had her hands secured, Billy led the others right on up-stairs, cautioning them to silence as they proceeded, Arriving at the door of the room where he knew Mrs, (food win was imprisoned, he knocked lightly. % Who is there?” the rascally brother demand- ‘*Tt is mesel’, Missurs McF addin, sure,” Billy answered, tryinz his best to imitate the land- lady’s voice; and he succeeded well, too, for the door was opened at once, and Goodridge W hitstone stood before them, “Up with your hands!” cried Billy from Broadway, presenting a revolver at his breast; and the fellow obeyed quickly enough, CHAPTER XIV. BILLY AND SKINNY AT HEADQUARTERS, A MORE completely astonished man than Goodridge W hitstone, is hard to imagine. Broadway Billy’s startling command, backed asit was with a weapon, was bad enough, but even worse than that was the sight of Mr, Good- win at his back. ‘*You dog!” the banker thundered, ‘‘ you de- serve to be hanged. I knew of your perfid when you were at my house an hour ago, and could hardly keep my fingers from your throat then. Your fate shall rest with your sister.” With this the banker pressed on into the room, and his wife threw herself into his arms, ‘That brave boy sent you here, then?” she asked. ‘“If you mean this young gentleman, yes,” was the answer, / ** Are you the lad who was in the room above me last night?” the woman inquired, ‘**[ guess I am,” Billy answered. ** But, what is to be done with this scoundrel?” the benker demanded. ‘* Arrest bim,” was the sister’s firm response, **and let him feel the weight of the law for once, 1 disown him forever.” ‘If you’re thinking about making a break,” ’ the voice of Broadway Billy rung out, ‘‘ don’t you do it, unless you want to feel a cold pill in- side of you. I mean shoot, right from the trig- ger, The man bad been contemplating just sucha move, but Billy had nipped it in the bud, and he cowered under the fire of the lad’s black eyes, Just then, too, the policeman came in, having left Mrs. McFaddin secure below, and Whit- stone was taken in charge by him. He was handcuffed, and when that was done he was led down-stairs, the others following. When they reached the hall where the land- lady had been left, that good-tempered lady broke out into a torrent of abuse, directed main- ly at Billy, whom she now recognized. “Fire away, old lady,” Bill asuxhingly in- vited, ‘‘ I guessI can stand it, Iam your Denny McGoogin, just as you suppose, and I came here last night to play just this very trick upon you, You area smart woman, but the best of you will get tripped up once in awhile.” The officer took his prisoner off, Mr. and Mrs, Goodwin going in the carriage to make a charge against them; and Billy and Skinny set out afoot for their hotel. Mr, Goodwin insisted upon the lads’ accom- panying him and his wife back to their home, but Billy would not bear to it, He was, how- ever, obliged to give the banker his address, ‘*Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, as soon as heand Skinny were again in their room, ‘‘ but this is jest makin’ Rome howl! Let me get back inter my old bootblack rig, my gay an’ festive fat partner, so’s I kin give satisfyin’ expression = my feelin’s. Can’t do it in this attire, no- ow,’ In spite of Skinny’s protests, then, Bill y pro- r ceeded to make the change. “There,” he cried, when he once more stood forth as the Bootblack Bravo of old, ‘‘now Richard is himself again and th’ world moves. Take a reef in my mizzen-course if this ain’t life worth livin’?! Whew! but we'll have tales ter tell when we get home, Skinny!” ‘* If we ever do get home,” Skinny croaked, ** And what’s ter hinder us from gettin’ home?’ Billy demanded, *‘ We are alive and well, and have got th’ rocks ter pay our fare, We could start to-day, if we wanted to. What are ye whinin’ about?” ‘*It would be th’ best thing that we could do, too,” Skinny declared. ‘*Not much it wouldn’t. My fun ain’t com- menced yet. What, go home an’ let that bank be robbed? Well, bardly. Come, my gay an’ festive lieutenant, don’t forget your promotion, and don’t try ter throw your wet blanket upon my pet skeems.” ‘*That’s all right, Billy, but bere you are togged out again in your old bootblack outfit, an’ cso gig Dan will be sure ter know yeif he sees ye. ou must keep shady, I tell ye.” Billy was serious, but he was determined. “Can't help it, lieutenant,” he responded. ‘‘I™ feel right at home in this rig, soniehow, when I’m on th’ war-path, and I don’t mean ter lay it off again till this case is brought to a focus, There’s one p’int that ye remind me of, though an’ that is this: I want you to take charge of these letters of mine, fer I don’t want ter lose ’em, and if I got nabbed I certainly would. Put ’em in yer pocket—there, that’s right; an’ now let’s set out ter see th’ chief o’ p’lice. Sweet pertaters! but we are beginnin’ ter make our mark in Fan Santisco, an’ I guess we will stand all right in th’ conferdence of Imspector Br— Come, though, we must bustle.” They left their room end the house, and when they appeared upon the street Billy inquired the way to the place they desired to find, He was directed, and they set out, | Billy was walking abead, for Skinny had de- clared that he would not walk with him; and they had gone some distance when Billy sud- denly heard the loud barking of a small G08 an OB» exclamation from Skinny, a yelp from the and then the angry voice of a man. It all took place in about one brief second, and ») i" 7 D> AD | “s ss . 4 : € — Sa \ tes