Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 685 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

oy Vea % + = ie, eo = FL ’ as i ame es _— Kiowa ~ * ~ i:10 i ee ‘*'You’re as deep in the mud as I am in the mire!” he said at jast. ** What of that?” laughed Denman, ‘*You planned the scheme; you crossed the water—”’ ‘* And left you to commit murder at home, eh?” Joly who had flushed whilespeaking, got white again. ** Who’s deepest in the mud?’ continued Den- map. ‘* You went to the house last night; but you didn’t see Nelly.” ‘*‘She was there, though!” ‘That woman lied to me!” ‘* Nelly was in the house all the time, but the nest is empty now.” ** The bird’s flown, eh?” Mr. Joly Jenkins was seen to bite his lips. ** Now, look here,” Denman’s voice was stern again. ‘* You’re just mean enough to betray the whole scheme because you’ve grown tired of waiting for the stakes, I’m willing you should retire. Give me the missing paper and get out of the game, I’m disgusted! Eversince you’ve been at the head of the ‘**‘ Eureka,” I’ve been blurted Joly. “.% — +0. - —— ~ o- *« Happy Hugh, the Boy-Mus nee ten =e ew we ooh e y > come interested and the two had resolved to leave unturned no stone in their search for the girl and the bringing to justice of the conspir- ators. The young shadow thought that Joly would go direct from the office to the missing document which he (Hugb) believed had been secreted at the manager’s lodgings, and when Joly emerged from the Bureau he wasseen by a pair of keen eyes, Burt Denman was left elone and Joly was shadowed. Jenkins still showed signs of the ordeal through which he had just passed and Hugh saw him turn into a street which would not take him to his quarters. He followed him, however, and track- ed him at last to an open hallway alongside of which hung a tin sign that informed the public that Noah Natchett practised law and fleeced his clients up-stairs. Joly did not remain out of sight very long. He came out ina hurry and inno good humor, Evidently his mission, whatever it was, had been unsuccessful, and Hugh was near enough to hear him curse his ill-luck. ician Detective. had found a young lady who knew something about the same kind of music; but still he was surprised to see Denman in his room, ‘“Atit, Isee!” smiled Burt, glancing at the flute which had dropped intu the boy’s lap. ‘** Not very much,” answered the boy detective, ‘**'To whom am I indebted for this visit?” Denman had come forward with evil in the depths of bis eyes, ** No, thank you, Hugh offered him a chair. “I want to talk with you opa matter of business which con-— cerns us both: bnt not bere.” ‘* Not here?” answered Happy Hugh. ‘* Why not here? But you haven’t told .me who you are,” ‘* Oh, my name is Nicholas,” said Denman, at which the young flutist could bardly suppress a smile, for ‘‘ Nicholas” was the name under which the sleek scamp had tried to ingratiate himself into the good graces of Ahijah Axtell. sr Well, Mr. Nicholas, you waut to see me, eh a1? **T do, on important business, but not here,” ** 'W here, then!” ‘In my own lodgings which are free from systematically robbed; but I’ve borne with you ‘*He’s given me twelve bours,” muttered | prying ears, and not far away, either,” because of our business relations-in the past. | Joly. ‘‘ That’s pretty good grace, and there’s no Hugh was anxious tosee bow far Burt Den- You can’t make the girl your wife. Ihave a say as to whom she shall marry and when. Do you know who died at the hospital of rage and exhaustion?” telling what will happen before the time runs out. I wonder where the old shark lives? [| never thought of looking before. If he hadn’t taken that sudden turn on mel wouldn’t be here man would go, He wanted to knuw what new piece of scheming the fellow was up to, yet, he did not like the thought of going with him to his room which might be a trap as well. “Of course I do,” said Joly. ‘And, what is} now in this muddle. I guess I’m in Burt's ‘‘ If you knew the importance of the business more, the moment you saw the man who called | clutches, but I needn’t stay there. No! and | you would bumor me,” continued Denman, himself Dan Sooey you knew him,” Denman said nothing, but smiled. ‘*And you knew that you made a mistake,” he replied at last. ‘*] made it at your suggestion if I did,” re- torted Joly, “Ho, ho! I'd like to see you make the courts believe that,” laughed Burt Denman. ‘ My dear Joly, | don’t intend to depose you as man- ager of the ‘ Kureka.’ You nay remain here and filch a little now and then as you have been dving; but I want two thingsdone. I want you to leave off playing for Nelly, and I want that missing paper—the page from the register—pro- duced right away.” **You ask for the impossible,” said Joly, with aneffort. ‘I can’t turn it over.” ‘“You mean you will not? Come, don’t be stubborn,” ‘*T mean what I say—lI can’t.” ** Has it passed out of your hands?” There was no reply. Denman drew back, and for a full minute looked at Joly without speaking. ‘* You must produce it!” he said at last. ‘I will give you twelve hours of grace. Your words acknowledge the theft. You are playing a game of your own, but it won’t win. Another step in the direction you are going, and I will see that somebody’s mistake is paid for. You mean, miserable wretch, you are willing to ruin the best friend you ever had. I lifted you from the gutter. I’ve let you fleece me without a word. Ican speak and send you to the gallows} you know it. At the end of the game I will make you so rich that you won’t bave to rob anybody to keep your hands greased with gold. Get me that paper—within twelve hours, [ won’t ask you where it is. You’d probably lie to me if 1 did. All I have to say is: Get it or suffer the consequences,” When Denman ceased Joly looked like a corpse in his chair, At last he pulled himself together and got up- ‘**T will,” said the white-faced_ man in a whis- per what is more, I don’t intend to!” There was resolution in the last wo ds, and Hugh thought Joly’s eyes flashed as te spoke them, Joly was followed to a drug-store, where he procured a directory, which he consulted a few moments. Closing the book with a bang, he came out upon the sidewalk, took his bearings, and hurried away. Determined to keep at his heels a while longer in hopes of fiading out what he was after, Happy Hugh continued to play shadow, The manager of the *‘ Eureka” led him a long chase to the heart of a quiet street, where he stopped in front of a house which he eyed from eave to step with much curiosity, ‘‘That’s the bouse he’s been looking for,” thought Hugb. ‘* Now, who lives there?” Joly did not seem to muster up courage enough to ring the bell for some time; but all at once he sprung up the steps and laid bis hand on the knocker. But the next moment he drew back as sud- denly, and muttering something which Hugh could not catch, he came down and bolted away. The truth is Joly had lost courage at the last moment, In spite of the threat which hung over his head, he had fled from Noah Natchett’s house without ringing the bell, and the paper which he bad promised to produce was still in the old Jawyer’s grip. “Your hart failed you, Joly,” said Hugh, smiling to himself. ‘*t You showed the white feather ut the last moment. Are you going to let Burt Denman carry out histhreat? Face the music, Mr. Jenkins!” Happy Hugh tracked Joly to his lodgings, where be left bim and sought bis own, The boy sbarp was tived. Joly bad led him a long chase, and, then, he wanted to think over the exciting interview which had taken place between the two rascals in tbe private office of the *‘ Eureka.” there he could lie at full length on the cot and aid reflection by a few tunes on the flute. ‘‘But I have never seen you before, Mr, Nicholas.” ‘“What, do you want reference?’ grinned Denman, bursting into a laugh over his own remarks, ‘* Not that, of course; but—” **By Jove! I’vea mind to let you remain in the dark!” broke in Denman. “ You ought to know that a house like this—a human bee-hivye— is no place for private matters. Nobody’s busi- ness is everybody’s affair here, I can’t talk under this roof, andif you don’t want to hear what I have to say—and I repeat that it is very important—you must remain in the dark,” ‘‘[’'m always ready to accommodate people,” rejoined Hugh; *‘ but, to tell the truth, there ig something mysterious about this matter.” ‘* Something suspicious, you mean?” ‘7 did not say so.” ‘*No, but one can draw bis own conclusions, You don’t want to trust a gentleman, I see that.” Happy Hugh: was afraid he was going to lose both Denman and a knowledge of his last bit of rascality. ““{ will go with you, Mr. Nicholas, if I can | come back soon,” said he, ‘You can return at the conclusion of our interview which will be short,” was the re- sponse, | “Dil take the risk,” thought Hugh, ‘ Noth- ing ventured, nothing gained. Mr. Burt Den- man is playing anew card. He wants to pump me, perhaps about Joly who has been my pupil, V’ll go to his lodgings with my eyes open, and if he catches me napping I'll give up the fight.” The boy ferret got ready to go at once with Denman alias Nicholas, He deftly concealed his flute in an inside pocket and turned out the gas so suddenly that Denman started. “In a moment, Mr, Nicholas,” said Hugh, stepping to the wall in the dark. The following second he took from his pocket be on his feet, To do this well he knew of no better place | @ pencil and leaning toward the bare wall wrote | Le * Will you get it?” asked Denman. than his own little room in the tenement, and | in large though not very handsome letters across it these words: I can’t stay,” said he, as 3 Tr. * June 17th, 10 p, ms—I have gone away with Burt . The next moment Joly tottered toward the The boy was soon at bome, and taking the | Denman. If I don’t come back, hold him responsi- . door and Denman stopped in front of the open | flute from its pocket on the wall, he began to } Die. Hues,” - . = WK Sy wn 7 safe. “ By Jove!” exclaimed Happy Hugh at the window. “I wish Somers could have witness- ed that interview. CHAPTER XII, HAPPY HUGH, A FLY iN THE WES, It was plain to the boy detective that Joly Jenkins was in Denman’s power, on the Axtell estate in Jersey, all he had learned about the mysterious case in which he had be- play. The soft strains which he drew from the instrument floated out through tie open win- dow, and while he played he seemed to forget the trail he had just left for a time. All at once Hagh heard the creaking of the stairs that led up tohis abode, He stopped in the middle of a tune and listened, ‘It’s no visitors of mine,” said he. ‘‘ Joly’s home, ’Hijah Axtell’s disappeared, and--” There were steps in the carpetless corridor that a boy who could play the flute to perfec- tion bad called at No 555 on a certain street, and -_—_——- —- —_— The man waiting with triumphant face at the door could not see Happy Hugh at work for the gloom which prevailed, and the first thing he knew the boy detective Was before him saying that he was ready. They went out, Hugh shutting but not locking the door behind them, and in a little while were on the street below, ‘‘We won't take a car as it isn’t a long walk,” said Burt, looking down at his companion, ; While both were undoubtedly in the plot just beyond his door, and suddenly he heard a ‘1m willing,” answered Hugh. ‘ My legs - aguinst Nelly Axtell and her fortune, the one | heavy knock. need stretching anyhow.” . feared the other, Jenkins was in bis employers’ Hugh lowered the flute and turned toward the A walk of five minutes brought them to Den- We gt elutcbes and the threat which Hugh heard portal, man’s lodgings, or to a house which Hugh sup- ate Denman utter during the interview at the office ‘* Come in,” he said, posed was such, Sy was evough to make Joly promise. to restore the The next instant the bolt clicked, the door Burt unlocked the front door and led the way ie missing paper, opened and Burt Denman stood before him! up-stairs, a Hugh had told Somers, bis new acquaintance Of course Happy Hugh knew nothing about ‘Here we are!” be exclaimed, entering @ wa and Nelly’s lover, when she was a lass of fifteen | the letter received by the sport informing him | room where he lit the gas after locking the door. “Now, my youngspy, do you know where you are?” Jak i 7 4 > é \ 7 Sue me “ & J h “ . ‘*E77 at ‘ * ve . ar J Ah : ; ae : ' > . 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