Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 669 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

_~ _ ee cere mal a é By) Broadway Billy Abroad. 9 ing, “‘fur yez won’t git out av dhe room till Oi’m tould ter let ye out. Don’t be shpeakin’ about what yell give meter let yez go, fur it’s twice as much I'll be gittin’ter kape ye here. Av dhere’s nothin’ yez want, Oij’ll bid ye good- noight.” **You are heartless,” cried another voice. “You are keeping me from my home and chil- dren, You are aiding my villainous brother in his scheme to rob me, He has no wealth, while I have, and if you will only let me go—” The {rishwoman interrupted with a laugh. *“*Dhat is too thin,” shecried, “Jt is him as has dhe wealth, while you have none. Yez can’t blarney me dhat way. Oi am too old a bird—’ ‘** No, no, he has lied to you, indeed he has, If he has wealth, why does he imprison me here to force mine away from me?” ““There’s a square cube o’ logic in that,” thought Broadway Billy, ‘‘an’ we'll see how Mrs. McF addin gits around it.” ; ““Yis, bat Oi have seen dhe color av his money, while Oi haven’t av yours,” was her re- turn, **But you shall see it, I promise faithfully that you shall, Release me from here imme- diately, accompany me home, and I will place a thousand dollars into your hand the moment we reach there,” . ** An’ by kapin’ yez here Oi’ll git two thou- sand. Oi’m not so grane, Oi hope, as ter let ye bloind me loike dhat. Good-noight to ye.” ** Oh! do not keep me here! Do not—” But a door slammed shut, and the woman’s pleading ended in an outburst of sobbing. ‘Sweet pertaters!” muttered Billy to himself, ‘but I knowed it. I knowed from th’ first that there was a diffikilty b1ewin’,or th’ fever wouldn’t *a' took holt o’ me asit did. Now whats ter be done? How am I ter play th’ hero knight an’ rescue th’ imperiled female from her dilemmer? Let’s take th’ question inter debate an’ fizger it down, It’s most too early fer me ter go k- in’ about th’ house, so that ain’t ter be thought of fer th’ present. What then? Seems ter me tbat I heerd them talk mighty plain, considerin’ that they wasn’t talkin’ very loud. Why was that? Reckon this floor ain't very thick.” A candle bad been left with him, and by its light he proceeded to examine the floor, there being no carpet or other covering on it, Barely had he begun his exumination when he made a discovery, In the place where he had laid his head to listen was asmall square, about ten inches each way. It was on a level with the rest of the floor, and only the newness of the board that formed it had drawn his attention to it, He looked at iv more closely, and could not see that it was nailed, so setting down the candle, he took out his knife and tried to pry the board up. | In a few moments his efforts were rewarded, he could look down through a pipe-hole into the room below, ‘‘T¢ isas plain as th’ noseof the man in th’ moon,” Billy muttered, as, looking further, he found that there was a corresponding pipe-hole in the roof overhead. ‘This house has held a Chinese colony or two, at some time or other, and there being no chimbly near th’ room below, they’ve had ter build one of tin, Now, soon’s that woman will stop her cryin’ so that she can hear me whisper, PU try an’ open up communi- cation with her.’ The woman was weeping bitterly, but by degrees she became more quiet, and when he thought there was a chance of his being heard Billy put his face to the pipe-hole and whispered down: ‘Stop erying, lady, and listen.” The weeping ceased instantly. ‘‘ Don’t speak a word,” Billy further whispered, “but look up to the me gt and you will see a hole. Come under that hole and you will see a friend.” Steps were heard at once, and the woman came and looked up as directed. Billy could see her plainly enough, and she could see his face, She looked to be about forty years of age, and had every appearance of being a lady of means and refinement, ‘* Who are you?” she whispered. *T am a boy that will try to help you to escape from here, if it can be done, but you must be very quiet so that we will not be Jis- covered.” Thank God!” the woman exclaimed fervent- ly but cautiously. ‘Help me to escape from here, brave boy, and you shall be handsomely rewarded,” ‘‘Never mind about the reward part of it,” Billy whispered back. ‘Just keep still till th’ Na 5, ! ‘ y ay) “, ~* ‘Nr . ‘. ie a-% ac’ o\ > « . v .* > = house is all asleep, but mind that you don’t fall asleep yourself, and when I think that it is safe for me to move about [ll call down to you again and we'll have further talk.” OE well, I will do just as you have direct- e The woman walked away, and Billy sat down to wait for time. CHAPTER X, BROADWAY BILLY HEARS SOMETHING, Azim McDUFF was an ash-cart man, Mrs, McFaddin was a widow, and Azim was one of her boarders, The ash-cart man was paying court to the widow, and was Syne to win ker heart and hand in the honorable bonds of matrimony. One night each week the widow allowed her lover to enjoy her. company, and the night of which we write happened to be one of those enjoyable occasions, Hence it was that Broadway Billy waited in vaia for the house to become quiet enough for him to set to work to assist the woman prisoner to escape, He had opened the door of his little cockloft room, and the constant sound of voices came to his ears faintly from the lower part of the house, He had a watch, at which he glanced frequent- ly and impatiently. When one o'clock came around, and the sound of voices was still heard, the uneasy lad mentally exclaimed: . ‘Sweet pertaters! ain’t they goin’ ter roost ter-night? What do they mean by stayin’ u till this onseemly hour? Snap my fore-royal- stay, if I don’t steal down into th’ regions below and see what’s goin’on. If I’m discovered lll make out that I’m walkin’ in my sleep. It won’t do fer me ter let too much timeslip away, an’ that isa fack that ain't ter be despised, Time is money, an’a good many other things besides, an’ if I want ter keep solid in th’ corn- ferdence of Inspector Br— Hello! there’s th’ female below a-whisperin’ at me. I reckon she’s gettin’ oneasy, too.” Getting down and putting his face over the hole, he responded to the call. ** Here I am,” he said, “‘ as wide-awake as an owl with th’ toothache.” ‘*Tsn’t it late enough yet?” the woman asked. ‘* It is one o'clock, and plenty late enough,” Billy informed, “‘ but th’ fack of th’ case is th’ house don’t seem ter be inclined ter go ter sleep. I was jest on th’ p’int of goin’ down and scoutin’ around a little ter see what th’ lay of th’ land is, I reckon we'd better have our little taik first, though, so that in case I git nabbed and don’t have any chance to help you, I'l! be able to in- form your friends where you are, Jest goahead, ma’am, and give me yer name and other pints of infermatioh that will be helpful.” ‘* Yes, that I must do,” the woman whispered back, ‘‘and you are very thoughtful to mention it. Are you listening?” ‘* Yes, listenin’ with both ears,” Billy assured. ‘* Very well, pay close attention: My nameis Mrs. Emma Goodwin. I am the wife of Vin- cent Goodwin, who is president of the Placer Bank. My home is at No. — California street, If you get no chance to help me outof here, go to my husband immediately and inform him where lam. Tell bim that I have been brought here and imprisoned by my brother Goodridge, who is trying to force me to sign important apers,”’ ‘* Is that all you have to say?” Billy asked. T think that is al] that isnecessary, is it not?” the woman responded, ** Yes, that’s plenty ter work on, but I thought mebby you might have more to tell. I’ve got it all down pat.” “*Can you remember the name and address of my husband?” ‘You bet. Ihave stored th’ p’ints shag? in th’ vacant space where my brain orter be. Find it handy ter have loft-room in my upper-story, sometimes. Now I’m goin’ down ter see what’s goin’ on, and if I don’t come back, you jest keep a stiff upper lip and I’ll see to it that your hus- band is put onto th’ racket in good shape.” ‘* What is your name, and how old are you?” * Didn't you hear me tellin’ all that to th’ landlady this evenin’?” ‘1 heard you/ talking, but could not dis- tinguish your words.” ‘“ Well, my real name is Broadway Billy, which you don’t want to mention, and I mig be tooken for a kid of fifteen, I spose. I’m from New York. Mind, not a word of this to any one. My name here is Denny McGoogin,” ‘* Well, well, no matter about that, I suppose. *e You are a stranger to me, but if you will bring about my release from this horrible place I will see that you are rewarded handsomely.” ‘** Don’t say a word about that, ma’am., Now I’m goin’ down below, lll be back in half an hour if I don’t git nabbed. If I do, Yi make enough noise ter Jet you know it,” ‘** All right, I shall be awake.” Billy got up, replaced the board over the hole, and opened the door again, as he had shut it while talking with the prisoner, He had long ago put out his candle, in order that its light might not be seen, and in consult- ing his watch, had held it over the hole in the floor where the light from the room below was sufficient to show him the time, Having shouldered his box, for he had no de- sire to lose it if he happened to be discovered and put out of the house, he stepped silently from the room, At the top of the very narrow staircase he listened, and the voices were still to be heard. Cautiously he made kis way down, When he reached the first landing, he felt for the door that opened into the room where the prisoner was, At first he did not find it, but presently, on proceeding further along the ball, he discovered it by the light that came under the door and through the keyhole, Stepping up close to the door, he tapped light- ly upon it, and whispered: ‘*Mrs. Goodwin!” ‘* 'W hat is it?” was the immediate response. ‘‘T wanted to make sure of your door, that’s all, Now I’m goin’ on down.” , ** All right,” Of course Billy had given some attention to the plan of the house when he had entered, and reer a little trouble in finding his way in the dark, Slowly and cautiously he proceeded, and final- ly found himself on the ground floor, where the voices were wore distinct, and where a light under a door guided him to the room where the persons were talking, Advancing carefully, he was soon in a position to overhear what was being said. A man was speaking, “I hardly know phwat to make av it, Missurs McFaddin,” be was saying. ‘As it is none av me business, though, Oi suppose Oi had better kape still about it,” ‘'Yez say ye foind dhis in dhe ash-can every marnin’?’ asked the voice of the landlady. ‘**Every other marnin’, Missur3 McFaddin.” ‘Oh, yes, you only go there every other day to be sure, Well, it is raythur strange, and dhat is true. You say it 1s jest so much of foine plastherin’ and brick, every toime.” “So Oi do, :Missurs McFaddin. Dhere is about a hatful av it in dhe ash-can assureas dhe marnin’ comes round,” ‘And how long has dhis been goin’ on, Azim?” ‘* Oi have noticed it fur several weeks past.” ns And you say ye have some suspishun about it? ‘* Dhat same Oi have.” ‘“* And phwat is it yez suspict?” ‘‘Pay attintion, Missurs McFaddin, and Oi will disclose it to yez. Ye know dbat all dbat neighborhood, ‘’speshully perchune California strate and Bush strate, and Sansome strate and Montgomery strate, is dhe great finansbul part av dhe city. It is in dhat-neighborhood dhat dhis house is, and roight next dure to it is dhe Placer Bank. Now, it bas entered me head dhat it is robbers thryin’ ter work dheir way tru from dbhat house inter dhe bank.” ‘Jest as loike as not yez are roight,” the landlady exclaimed. ‘*And dhe question is, What should Oi do about it? If dhere was any reward ter be gained, begorra Oi’d put dhe perlice onto dhe’ ame,” ‘“Which it isn’t loikely dhere is at all at all ow, if yez could watch and foind who puts dhe shtuff in dhe ash-can, an’ threaten ter blow on ’em onless dhey came down wid dhe rocks, yez moight make somethin’ out av it.” ‘* Faith, and Oi bel’ave yez are roight, Missurs McFaddin. Oi hadn’t thought av dbhat. Dhis is dhe noight, too, and Oi’ll go dhere and take a look in dhe ash-can before Oi retire.” ‘It may be money into\yer pocket if yez can only catch dhe dhirty rascals at dbher work,” Mrs, McFaddin encouraged. ‘* Begorra, but if it isn’t in dbe ash-can yet, Oi’ll wait and catch dhem,” the man declared, ‘** And av Oi catch thim,” he added, “ 0;’ll give dhem a scare as sure as me name is Azim Mc- Duff. Oi'll be takin’ me lave now, Missurs McFaddin,” ‘ 900 (E COh j ; = eos