Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 669 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

There was no time to get out of sight except in one direction. There was a very narrow space between one of the columns and a huge flowering plant, and into that space the lad dodged, It did not look large enough to admit any one, but Skinny found no difficulty in taking ad- yantage of the space. Barely had he taken up his position when he heard these words: ‘Broadway Billy!” Skinny’sears were wide open in an instant, and he looked to learn who it was that had spoken his partner’s name, Just on the other side of the big plant, seated in chairs, were two men, and Skinny could not peat have had a better position for over- earing what passed between them. He could partly see their faces. One wasa young man, about twenty-six years old, and the other, was about forty. Both were rather flashily dressed, and they had the appearance, at first sight, of sporting men, ‘How do you know it’s him?” the younger mah demanded. ‘Curse him!” the elder fiercely hissed, ‘* don’t you suppose I’d know him among a thousand? Didn’t he help th’ police of New York to bring me up with a round turn not more’n a hundred years ago? Besides, didu’t you see his name on his box?” ‘*T know I’ve heard you mention him often enough as one of th’ shrewdest boys in New York. No, I didn’t notice his box, But, do you think it is possible that a boy, and a boot- black at that, could come all the way from New York to San Francisco? It looks just a little unreasonable,” ‘* Anything is possible with that chap, Just as likely as not he is here in the interest of some detective.” ‘* But, it takes money to travel, and it isn’t capt! that he ever owned a ten-dollar bill in his ife ‘‘That’s where you make your mistake, I have beard that that fellow has got several hundred in bank, and I guess it’s so, I happen to know that he has been rewarded more than once, and he has any number of friends there.” ‘‘ Well, of course you'd ought to know, but even if it is Broadway Billy, we have nothing to fear from him,” ‘‘That’s true, but he has somethin’ to fear from me. lowe bima grudge, and if I could find where he is hanging out, and could get a fair chance, I’d fix him for the whole score, It would be easy enough to do for him, out here,” “It would be easy enough, but you'd better leave him alone, You have nothin’ to fear from him, He don’t know you're here, and -perbaps would not know you if he was to meet you. Wehave got bigger fish to fry than at- tending to boys,” ‘* Yes, that’s so, but all the same it will be healthy for this Billy to keep out of my reach, and I can tell him that,” ‘* What became of the other chap that was with him?” “What other chap? I didn’t notice any one with him,” : * Didn't ye? Why, he was a little thin fel- er. _ ‘Then it was Billy’s chum, sure, I think he’s callea Skinny, Ididn’t notice him at all, but then I was lookin’ at Billy all the time.” They both looked around in search of Skinny, and that slender individual had reason to thank his lucky star that he was out of their sight; and not only that, but that he was where he could listen to what they had to say. Dan’! Webster, meantime, bad passed on out of sight into the main corridor, and the coast was all clear for Skinny to make his escape, but now he had good reason for choosing to remain. ‘‘ He must have gone out,” the younger of the two men observed, as they failed to see the ob- ject of their search, ' ‘Yes, I guess so,” the other agreed, * Well, as you were saying?” ‘““T was about to give you the lay-out of the job we have got on hand. “Well, go ahead,” ‘“We must take care,” looking around to see who was near, ‘for it will not do to be over- heard in this,” ' ©€QOh,no danger; _ twenty feet of us.” _ Skinny, almost breathless with excitement, Was not more than three feet away from them, _** Well,” the elder man went on, ‘ to-morrow night is the time set for the work. [t must be ' no bungled job, either.” mn ‘* Soon as that?” ‘What are you talking about? Haven’t we there isn’t a person within Broadway Billy Abroad. spent two whole months preparing for it? Livery thing is almost ready, and there’s no need to wait,” ** Yes, I know, but I thought you would take a few days torest upin, and to get the exact lay of the land.” ‘*No need of it, not a bit. I’ve been doing that right along, all the time we have been working through that wall. Weare ready to step through into the bank at any time, and to- morrow night at half-past one is the time set.” 5 Phen. what have you laid out for me to 0 ‘* You are to play policeman and secure the watchman,” ** And then what?” ‘*Then you are to give the rest of us the sig- nal that the coast is clear, and in we'll come and the job can be done in less than an hour.” ‘But, do you think that I can get a uniform at such short notice? as well have told me about this a week ago?” ‘The uniform is all right. Demson was go- ing to play policeman, and he had a uniform made. He has a lame arm, now, though, so he can’t doit. I guess you are about his sizs, so you needn’t trouble your head about th’ uni- form,” ‘That is better. Well, you can depend on me to do my share of it.” ‘“‘ We meet to-morrow evening at the office, to discuss the thing thoroughly, ard to arrange every detail. Do not fail to be on hand prompt- ly at nine.” “Tl be there.” “This was what I wanted to see you for, Enos, and I thought this was about as good a place as any to tell you to meet me at.” ‘* Must grip fast ter that name,” thought the listening boy. ** You couldn’t have named a better place,” the young man declared, ‘‘ This happens to be one of the nights when the band plays kere, and it would be simply impossible for any one to overhear, even were people right close around us, and you see they are not.” **T considered all that. I have considered every move we have made in this big game. There is not a screw in it that has been left un- turned, and yet somehow, as I must confess, I feel uneasy.” ‘“Pshaw! what is there-to make you uneasy?” ‘* Nothing, that I can see; but the sight of that boy from New York has put a damper upon me. I feel as though his appearance here at this time is an illomen, I can’t help it.” “You don’t want to let such a thought as that trouble you for a moment. If I had any idea that there was any danger ahead, I would hunt him up and dispose of bim for you, but I haven’t. He may have done some cute things out East there, as I have heard you say; but he isin a different part of the world now, and if he bothered us his life wouldn’t be worth a pistareen.” ‘‘¥You don’t know him, and Ido; that’s the difference. But, as you say, we have nothing to fear from him. There is no way in which a could get onto our racket, and so I'll just banis him from my thoughts.” ’* That is more like it.” ‘* Well, I must go.” Saying this the twain rose, ‘* Shall we part?” the latter asked. ** Yes, we had better,” was the response. ‘¢ All right.” ** Don’t forget; the office, nine o’cleck sharp.” **T’ll be there.” With a wave ofthe hand, then, the leading spirit turned and went hurriedly out, and ina few moments the younger man sauntered leis- urely off into the main corridor, As soon as the way was clear, Skinny emerged from the place of hiding that had served him doubly well,” ‘Great ginger!” he exclaimed under his breath, ‘* but I feel some of Billy’s fever workin’ on me, sure as shootin’, Wish Billy was here. As he ain’t here, though, I'll have ter dothe only thing that is ter be done, an’ that is to foller this feller. fer their talk was so mighty close-mouthed that ey didn’t give away many p’ints.” hus debating the matter with himself, he went in the direction the young man had taken keeping a sharp lookout for Dan’l We , and at the same time not being in too much haste, for he remembered that it was the younger man who had taken notice of his talking with Billy. His man was going forward toward the street, when Skinny got sight of him again, and the lad went after him. . As they approached the street, Skinny drew oo Why could you not just. What am I ter do? If I don’t, do that I won’t have a single clew to hand over, 7 nearer, in order not tolet the man get out of sight again. Vell he knew, as has been seen by his reflec- tions, that unless he followed this individual and learned where he lived, or lodged, he could make no use whatever of what he bad overheard. The young man stopped at the entrance fora moment, lighted a cigar, and then he set off up Market street, Skinny crossing over to the opposite side and following him, keeping at a safe distance, A walk of about fifteen minutes brought the young man to a cross-street into which he turn- ed, and going down that street for a little distance he entered a house, letting himself in witha latch-key. The latch-key was evidence enough that this was his home, temporary or otherwise, but still Skinuy waited for at least two hours, thinking that perhaps he would conie outagain. As he did not, however, the lad finally es up and set about finding his way back to the hotel where he and Billy were staying. CHAPTER VIII. BILLY WINS ANOTHER FAVOR. BROADWAY BILLY, with his box on his shoul- der, stood Jike a soldier on guard, He leaned against the bind wheel of the car- riage, where a friendly shadow happened to lie, and watched the door of the house. When he had been standing there about fifteen minutes, and there was still no sign of the man’s coming out, he muttered: ‘‘ Sweet pertaters! it begins ter dawn upon me that I haven’t got as much good, sound hoss- sense as th’ law allows. What be I standin’ here fer, anyhow? Here I am, tryin’ ter poke my nose inter other folkses business, when I’d orter be ’tendin’ strictly ter my own, I can’t help it though, no more’n I kin help eatin’. I guess I must ’a’ been born so, What has become of Skinny? Id orter be kicked fer leavin’ bim, an’ that’s plain. S’pose somethin’ happens ter him. Here’s a fog comin’ on, too, an’ jest as like as not he'll git lost in it, bein’ so awful thin. Don’t know what I'll do with him if he gits any thinner, an’ that’s prime truth. I mustn’t de- sert him in this way ag’in, an’ I won’t nuther, It ain’t safe, nohow. But I’m wanderin’ from th’ p’int at issue, which is: What be I standin’ here fer? I’m glad that I’m so fur away from home that one person can’t witness my Tom- Fool work, an’ that person is Inspector Br—— Hello! here comes my prize chicken!” The door at that momeut opened, and the man ste out, followed by a large, masculine- looking woman. The woman accompanied him down and out to the carriage. ‘‘-Yis, sor,” was the response; ‘Oi couldn’t ‘ake wid yez inside, as yez guv me no chance, ow long do yez want meter kape dhe leddy, sor?” The man lowered his voice as he r nded: — “Keep her a close prisoner, Mrs, McFaddin, until you see meagain. [ll be here again to- morrow, and then if she won’t sign— Well, no matter; just see that she does not escape.” “It is big money she is offerin’ ter be set at liberty, sor, an’—” ‘“‘Pay no attention to her,” the man exclaimed. ‘‘She has no money to pay you, and even if she bad, I'll give you twice as much to hold her, Don’t forget this.” “ All roigbt, sor, Oi’ll kape her.” ‘** Don’t fail to do so.” With that the man got into the carriage, and the woman stepped back. The carriage was off at once, and Billy, in order that the woman might not see him, ran along beside it for alittle distance, keeping it be- tween himself and her, finally dodging to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. He had heard the man’s directions to the driver, and knew that the carriage was going back to the hotel. The man, he had noted, was of middle age, and well-dressed. | ‘““Sweet pertaters!” the lad cried, as he stop- ped to corsider the case, ‘‘ I was sure that there was a pizen diffikilty a-brewin’, an’ now I’m surer of it than ever. That woman that was tooken inter that house is bein’ held there as a prisoner, an’ th’man wants ter force her ter sign some sort o' ‘paper, I take it. If she don’t ign, then— Then what? I didn’t like th’ way that he spoke, not at all, Buckle my vest if I ain’t interested in earnest now, an’ [’m goin’ right inter this matter an’ see what it means. If — there is any p’izen crooked business goin’ on, an’ everything seems ter indicate that thereis, they kin count me in.” ° ,, id Ni : > ys h % =: > rl » i 4 .