Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 669 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 Broadway Billy Abroad. afeerd o’ drawin’ too much ’tention, fer folks won’t be able ter see ye from th’ sidewalks, so awful thin you’ve got.’ Sam Foo Chow listened to this in an amused way, and started toward his carriage, the boys following him. ‘*You have too much ter say, Billy,” Skinny complained as they walked down the sandy slope; ‘‘ you'll be gittin’ inter trouble th’ first you know,” ‘‘ Tt wouldn’t s’prise me a bitif I did, Skinny,” Billy owned, ‘‘ Somehow, I feel trouble in my bones, Don’t you be alarmed, though, fer it will have ter be awfu! close-wove trouble that cculd hurt you.” ‘You want ter remember that you ain’t in New York,” Skinny cautioned, ‘‘an’ that folks don’t know ye here as they dothere, You've got no friends ter call on ter help ye out o’ scrapes,” ‘‘That’s a cold fack, Skinny, an’ about the trutbest truth you ever uttered, and I'll keep yer advice in mind—if I kin. But here we be at Mr. Sam’s gorgeous turnout, Whew! ‘but we'll ride back ter town in state,” Their new-made friend invited them to get in, and when they had done so he got 1n after them and settled himself upon the back seat, telling the driver to go ahead. The team was a good one, and the open car- riage went whirling away toward the city at ood speed. ‘* How likee it?” the Chinaman asked, ‘* Bully!” cried Billy; ‘‘ an’ you are a hoss, If you ever come ter New York, you see ef we don’t do th’ white thing by you. We'll have th’ Fire Department turn out ao’ escort ye ’round Paradise Park, to th’ tune of th’ Conquerin’ Hero; hey, Skinny?” ‘'That’s what we will,” Skinny agreed, ‘*?Melican boys vely much good fellals,” Sam Foo Chow exclaimed. ‘Me likee you vely much,” ‘‘Glad ter. hear ye say so,” cried Billy. “ It shows yer good judgment, an’ yer power o’ dis- crimination, Some folks can’t tell real diamonds from paste, but it is plain ter be seen that you ain’t one o’ them, You have got hold o' real ems this time, Sammy, an’ that’s a fack, kinny don’t quite come up ter size an’ weight, but he makes up fer it in purity and goodness, He hasu’t a flaw, exceptin’ that two o’ his back teeth is gone,” ‘*Say, you want ter let up,” Skinny pro- tested. ‘* Pardon me, Skinny, I know jest how retirin’ you are in disperzishun, an’ |’1l try ter be as con- siderate o’ yer feelin’s as I kin. Somebody has got ter boast of yer good p’ints, though, fer you won’t never do it, an’ strangers wouldn’t find ’em out in a thousand years, so I take it upon ae ter blow yer trumpet as well as my own, ‘‘T see that th’ sooner we git back to New York th’ sooner we'll be out o’ danger o’ gittin’ inter a loonytick ’sylum, fer you'll keep on—” ‘*- Yes, I know,” Billy interrupted; ‘‘ I men- tioned that p’int to yer mom afore we started, but she allowed that if I done most o’ th’ talkin I might be able ter git ye home ag’in all right, **Oh! you shut up!” **Couldn’t do it if I tried, Skinny, an’ you know that. But, I was about ter return Mr, Sam’s compliment when you put in your lip. Please don’t do it no more, my gay an’ festive ard, Yes, Sam,” turning to the Chinaman, ‘I am mighty glad ter know that you fully *preciate th’ honor that we have conferred <3: ye, an’ I kin say that we like you pooty well in return, You seem ter be a decent sort o’ feller, an’ I’m glad we’ve met ye.” . Sam Foo Chow had allowed a smile to play over his face all the time Billy was talking, as though he understood well and appreciated ' everything, as perhaps he did. “Melica boy vel F itaoh good fellal,” he said . ‘**Me much likee havee ’Melican boys go home allee same Sam Foo Chow, see Gleat Con- sulate Gen’lal.” ‘Sweet pertaters!” cried Billy, ‘ that is jest what I was gom’ ter propose myself, Nothin’ would suit us better, and I’msure his Royal Higb- ness would be tickled ’most ter death ter see us. vee Sammy, old feller, so that is settled.” ty light Sam Foo Chow he likee that.” The age rattled un, and so did Billy’s tongue, and in due time the two lads were back again in the city. e carriage headed for the Chinese qua ’ y agen off his cap and _ bowin tbe wondering crowds, mu Skinny, Broadway Bi here and there | to the displeasure of the more retiring and to the amusement of the Chinamen, Finally the carriage turned into Clay street, where the pace of the team was slackened as they toiled up the steep hill for a distance, and presently the driver drew up in front of a house on which was flying an ensign consisting of a blue and crimson dragon rampant upon a field of orange. ‘‘This Gleat Consulate-Gen’lal him’s house,” Sam Foo Chow informed, as he proceeded to get out; and the two boys followed bim, Dismissing the carriage with a wave of his hand, the Chinaman led the way into the house, which was in no degree a palace, but only an ordinary dwelling. Going up-stairs, he threw open a door, and in- vited the lads to step within, saying: ‘‘’Melican boys wait; Sam Foo Chow him come back,” ‘All right, Sammy,” said Billy, and he and ene entered, and the Chinaman closed the oor. ‘‘Sweet pertaters!’ Billy cried, as he looked around the apartment, ‘‘ is this real lite, Skinny, or is it a sort o’ Rabian Night dream? Hang me if I know. Brace up, now, Fatty, an’ have some style about ye, fer Sammy has gone ter fetch th’ Great Mogul, an’ we must ‘pear at our best. Draw in plenty of wind, Skinny, an in- flate yer clothes as much as ye kin, so’s he'll be able ter see ye when he comes,” CHAPTER IV. A WOMAN’S SCREAM, THE room into which tlie two lads had been shown was, in its way, quite gorgeous, It was decorated with carved work, was heavily gilded, and was hung with a good deal of scarlet and orange. It had, besides, teak- wood tables and stools, and screens, lanterns, etc., in abundance, One of the tables bad a white cloth over it, and held some finely painted china which went to suggest that this was the dining-room of the great personage whom the boys were to have the honor of meeting. In a little time Sam Foo Chow returned, and he now invited his guests to follow him to yet another room, They were conducted along the hall to the front, and shown into a room fairly eclipsed the other for splendor. Two broad windows opened upon a balcony, and they were hung with crimson and gold. Be- tween them, on what was no doubt meant to be a chair of state, sat the Consulate, a plainly dressed servant on each side of him, The Consulate was a slightly fat individual of forty-five or fifty, clad in the finest of blue and purple silks, and was evidently trying to look as pats as be could, though he carried it to the extreme and was blinking as solemnly as an owl. At his right, in front of the servant on that side, stood another Chinaman in semi- American dress, who soon proved to be the official interpreter. 4 Sam Foo Chow bowed low as he approached, Broadway Billy —— the same, and Skinny, taking pattern after Billy, following suit. As soon as that was done, Sam Foo Chow said something in his own language to the Con- sulate, waved his hand toward the boys, and stepped back as though he bad no further part in the proceedings, / The Consulate then said something in a slow, sing-song way, and as soon as he closed his lips, the man at his right began to repeat his words in English. ‘The Gleat Consulate Gen’lal extends his best lespects,” he began, in fairly food English, ‘‘and thanks the ’Melican boys for the service they bave lendered to Sam Foo Chow. He asks their names, and where they are from.” ‘“‘He can’t talk English, then?’ Billy ques- tioned. ’ This was immediately repeated in Chinese to the Consulate, thus proving to Billy that what- ever he might say would be similarly trans- lated, provided the interpreter was equal to the occasion; and when the great man in the chair said something in answer, the interpreter passed it along to Billy. | ‘‘ He informs you that I am his ears and tongue,” he said, > ‘* That bein’ the case,” commented Billy, *‘ I'll have ter make th’ best [ can of th’ situation. Hate like fun ter give an’ receive news second- hand, though, but it seems it can’t be helped. Well, jest return our best respecks to His Royal Highness, an’ tell him that we are powerful par ter see him lookin’ so well, an’ that if he s no objections we'll shake hands with bim. Nothin’ has been said about our stayin’ ter tea, but we'll do him that honor, too, while we’re ‘the bay and its surroundings. about it. Nothin’ mean about us, Our names, by th’ way, are Broadway Billy, an’ Skinny, my pard; an’ we’re from th’ big town of New York. Tell bim no need ter mention th’ little service we have rendered to his right bower, There, that’s about all you can handle at one dose, I guess,” The interpreter stood aghast at this flow of words, and it was not until the Consulate turned an inquiring look upon him that he ventured to translate. What he said the boys never knew, but it was probable that he conveyed the gist of Billy’s re- marks to the official ears, The response of the Consulate was at length. ‘“Tam glad to know two such brave boys,” the interpreter said, as though he were speaking for himself. ‘* You have saved the glave of my dear son from being disgraced. I thank you both vely much, and will shake hands with you. You shall take tea with me, Sam Foo Chow has informed me of your blavery, in fighting in defense of the glave of my son, and of your lescue of him from being lobbed of his watch and bis lings, if not leally saving his life, and if I can show you any mark of my legard for such conduct, let me know in how way. ‘‘ There!” cried Billy, as be stepped forward and held out his hand to the Consulate, *‘ that is what I call real white, and it proves that you Chinees ain’t so bad after all. I like to shake such a hand as yours, old feller,” shaking it with all vigor, ‘‘an’ no doubt you'll say th’ same of mine, “Skinny,” turning to him, “step up an’ do th’ honorable,” and he made way for bis thin partner, who came forward and gave his hand timidly. ‘ As ter theré bein’ anything you kin do fer us, Noble Duke,” Billy rattled right on, ‘*tbere’s nothin’ I kin think of at short notice. If anything comes ter my mind later on, Pll make haste ter Jet ye know about it, Now, what about that tea you mentioned? We're ready to sample that.” | Sam Foo Chow and the interpreter looked both frightened and amused at the boy’s ‘audacity, but the Consulate and the two servants, who un- derstood never a word, looked on blankly. The interpreter repeated the main part of Billy’s remarks, and after several questions had been answered to the satisfaction of the Con- sulate, he gave some directions to the servant at his right, who immediately left the room, Further instruction was given to the servant at the left, then, who set about spreading a cloth upon a table on the balcony, and placing cups for the Consulate and his guests. In a little time tea was served, and Billy and ame, 2 seated opposite to their host, proceeded mbi . ’ Billy’s tongue rattled away atarate that set the interpreter at defiance, and frequently made Skinny go off into uncontrollable fits of laugh- ing, which caused the Consulate to look upon him in some surprise. ‘‘“Ye mustn’t mind Skinny, old hoss,” Bill explained, when Skinny went off into one of his heartiest laughs, ‘‘fer he has spells that wa whenever he takes tea, Ye see, he hasn’t muc covérin’ to his nerves, an’ th’ tea takes holt quick an’ sharp. He'll come out allright. Tell him his tea is superfine,” turning to the interpre- ter, who stood behind him; “it goes i home, Never tackled it in sich small doses as this, afore, though. Sweet pertaters! but one of mom’s cups would hold as much as six of these. No matter, it’s good, jest th’ same. Drink her down, Skinny, fer this is probably th’ first an’ last occasion of this sort of our lives, Nothin’ hike makin’ sun while th’ hay shines, e know. Here, J ohn,” to one of the servants, “ fill her up again,” When the tea-urn was finally emptied the soiree came to an end, and the Consulate rose and led the way back into the room, where he took his former place on the chair between the windows. i Billy and Skinny remained on the balcony for a moment to take a look at the scene that lay spread out below them. They could look down upon the greater portion of the city, and upon Of course neigh- boring buildings shut out a good deal from view, but the scene was well worth the moment they gave to it. Just as they were turning away, a woman’s piercing scream was heard in the street below. “Sweet pertaters!” Billy instantly exclaimed, ‘*there’s a diffikilty o’ some sort, Skinny, sure’s e’re born!” ; Both leaned over the balcony rail to learn what the “ diffikilty ” was, . On the opposite side of the street, just a little further down, stood a carriage, one of the closed sort, and two men were just carrying @ . On ee ee ee, ee Me