Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 685 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

. : - * ; - j ~~" ¥ —, ai ° t - Ip wv. a. ae 14 —_— =) a ; i as" ii “ ——$ - ~~ ——- & — = : ; ie. ct . ¥ sd . ® - ee | 5 . ~ Pe hy er Jes - wouldn’t take it. Well, I ought to pay for my ar The patrol kept on until Joly reached the ac- cident ward of a hospital where his hurts were examined. “Will I gothis time?’ he asked looking up into the surgeon’s face, ** -guess not; we can’t spare you,” was the re- ply, accompanied by a grim smile which Joly understood. Such was the “ peck of trouble” in which Joly Jenkins found himself while Phil Phelan was ransacking Denman’s room for a clew to Happy Hugh. If the detective bad known of the struggle for the missing registry leaf and its results, he might have gone to the hospital and found Joly very penitent; but he was not to hear of these things until too late to profit by them. It was the end of Joly Jenkins. For once the doctors missed their guess, for at midnight, when one of the nurses went to look at the occupant of cot No, 12, he found him very quiet, and his experienced eye told him that the ‘** Eureka” had lost its manager! Burt Denman had naught to fear from Joly now. He could play spider as before; he could keep the secret of Nelly Axtell’s whereabouts without Joly hunting for it; he could keep also what he knew about the boy fox of Gotham: but he did not know that another had picked up the skein, nor that the ‘‘ dead” was to come to life to plague him again. is web never looked stronger and, to his no- omg there was no fly it could not catch and CHAPTER XVII. PHELAN PLAYS ‘** FLY.” Patt PHELAN, the detective, could think of nothing but the new trail he was following and bad resolved not to give it up until he had cleared up the mystery which surrounded his young friend’s disappearance, The finding of the boy’s flute in Burt Den- man’s room weighed heavily against the city spider, in Phelan’s mind. I[t confirmed the writing he had found on the wall of Hugh’s room —to the effect that he bad gone away with Den- man, * [’m afraid the boy presumed too much upon his own abilities,” said Phelan to himself. ‘‘He wanted to try bis hand alone on a big case and the result is that he has fallen into a trap and many be dead,” he detective had given young Somers his ad- dress, and once when he went back to his lodg- ings he found the young man waiting for him. ‘** Well, ’'ve found Ahijah Axtell!” exclaimed Somers, the moment he saw Phelan. **That’s quick work,” smiled the detective. ** Yes, but accident helped me,” ** It helps all of uz at times, Where is the old man?” a He is stopping at a snuggery on the west side, ** Did ae speak to him?” ** No, I did not disturb him at all.” “That is good. Let him think himself entire- WV lost to you, for you are the cause of his sud- en change of quarters, Now, let me show you something.” Phelan took from bis pocket the latest edition of acity paper and handed it to Somersy desig- nating a certain paragraph with his finger. The young clerk read for a moment and lJook- ed up astonished, “That’s news to me!” he exclaimed, for he had just read a brief account of Joly Jenkins’s death at the hospital, ‘Our friend Denman has lost his partner,” remarked the detective. ‘Joly, the manager of the ‘‘ Eureka,” has passed over the river, and I'll bet my head that Denman, when he heard of the circumstance, did not drop a tear.” Somers did not speak, but by his look invited Phelan to proceed. **T have just come from Noah Natchett, the old lawyer, and the man whom Joly assaulted,” the detective went on. ‘* The old man is secre- tive and careful, He refuses to tell why he was attacked, but I can see that the incident hasa bearing on the case we have in hand. From his story, the wonder is that he escapec with his life. Joly was desperate; he went to the lawyer’s dén to obtain something which he did not get,” “What do you think {¢ was, Mr. Phelan?” asked Somers, ‘“A document of some kind,” was the reply. “* A paper that bears on the Axtell case,” At mention of the name the clerk started. ‘You have found no clew to Nelly’s where- abouts have you?” he cried, ‘No; Happy Hugh first with me, now.” ‘**Do you consider him in the web?” “He is there, but I have rescued bis flute,” At the same time Phelan held up the boy detective’s flute, which at once caught the clerk’s eye and held bis gaze. ‘*Next to finding the boy himself, is the dis- covery of the flute,” continued Phelan. ‘“ It’sa link in the chain and avery important link, too,” ‘What am I to do next?” asked Somers after a minute’s silence, ‘*Keep an eye on Ahijah Axtell, and, if you should see Denman abroad, follow him; but don’t molest the scamp.” Somers promised to obey and soon after both were down on the street again where they speedily separated. About an hour later a rather well-dressed man crossed the threshold of the ** Eureka” and walked up to the counter behind which on his stool at the registering desk sat Nips, with a sad east of countenance, for be had heard of Joly’s untimely end at the hospital, ** Good-morning!” saluted Nips, to the new- comer. ‘‘ What can we do for you?” The man addressed sent a quick glance to- ward the door of the private office which stood slightly ajar at that moment, ‘** Is the p! oprietor in?” he asked. Nips was perplexed, He did not know what to say, for, knoWing that Denman was in the private office, he did not like to assume the re- sponsibility of introducing the visitor to him. ‘‘Ahem! I register names and answer ques- tions,” said Nips, evading the query. é ‘* But you are not the proprietor, I believe,” ‘* No, I am not, but—’ **T have called to see him on important busi- ness.” Nips slipped from his stool and went to the office door. Poking his head into the sanctum, he ex- changed a few words in low tones with some one, and then, drawing back, told the person waiting at the counter that Mr. Denman would see bim, The next moment the caller entered the office and the door was closed. Burt Denman was half-enveloped in cigar smoke when he found himself face to face with his caller who looked like a man of forty with rather abundant brown whiskers and a pair of expressive eyes. **My name is Compton,” said the Spider’s visitor, dropping into a chair nearthedesk. ‘‘I have just learned of the death of Mr, Jenkins, your late manager, an event known to you, of course.” Denman nodded with a smile at his lips. ‘*T have some money to invest in a paying business, but I have no desire to become a silent partner,” Mr. Compton went on, Denman smoked and said nothing, ‘*T was thinking that perhaps you would like to fill the place vacated by Mr, Jenkins’s un- timely death,” pursued the stranger. ‘‘I be- lieve I would find it congenial, and, then, I have some plans for enlarging the Bureau which might meet with your approbation,” Burt had begun to think what a sleek-tongued fellow be was listening to. With his net al- ways in trim and ready to hold every golden insect that came in contact with it, he thought if here wasn’t a chance to add to his wealth, ‘*T don’t know what’ my own plans for the future are,” said he, ‘* You see this sudden death, which fills me with sadness (this was, as the reader knows, a downright falsehood), has put things ‘at sea,’ though, when we have straightened out the tangle, t may be ready to entertain a proposition from some energetic man.” - nee wait till then?’ quickly asked Comp- a “ might find another place for my money and— ‘* How much would you like to invest?” There was in Denman’s tones an eagerness which he could not conceal. ‘My limit is, for the present, ten thousand,” was the answer. ‘* Where do you reside, Mr. Compton?” ‘““When at home I am to be found at Number —, Eighth avenue.” enman made a note of the address on the blotter before him. “Mr, Jenkins was well up in his business, wasn’t he?” queried Denman’s visitor. ** Joly knew all the tricks of the trade,” smiled the spider. ‘* Met witb an accident, I hear?” _ ‘* Yes; he thought he had been swindled by a Happy Hugh, the Boy-Musician Detective. lawyer and the old shark threw him down- stairs,” ** Causing his death?” ** Just so.” ** Any arrest?” ‘* None that I’ve heard of,” ‘* But there will bs, I presume? You will see that the old shark, as you call hirm, is made to answer for depriving you of such a help as Mr. Jenkins?” Denman seemed to turn uneasily in his chair. ‘‘The law ought to and does attend to these things,” he said, and then he smiled as he went on: ‘*But, why push the matter? You can’t bring the dead to life, and it would be ’might hard to convict an old law-shark like that, j may look at your proposition with favor, Mr. Compton.” ‘Soon?’ ‘* Soon, if at all,” ‘*[ would request that you give the matter thought before night.” ‘“* That is soon,” laughed Denman, ‘* Lain liable to go elsewhere at any time, My money burns my fingers, and I want to give the ‘ Eureka’ a new start. J think I have the right plans. We could make it the agency of the city. ‘No doubt of that,” and Denman rubbed his silken hands, ‘* Shall I come for a reply?” asked Compton. ‘* You can.” When?” ‘Say at nine o’clock to-night.” ‘* At your private rooms? ‘*No; here. We shut up at six, and I'll drop in bere in time to meet you. Mr. Compton bowed and promised to be punctual. Denman offered him a cigar, which he took with another’ bow, and then looked after him witha cunning smile as he left the office, “* The web’s always set!” laughed the spider, falling back into hischair, ‘It isn’t often that a fly of that size gets into it, and when one does come you have to seize itcarefully. I think I went just far enough. Ill hold him till nine, and then proceed to enmesh him beyond all hope of escape. Ten thousand dollars, eb? I need that sum to complete my play. Joly has stepped down and out; the boy-fox will run no more trails, and I will basten the matter be- tween myself and the fly in the up-town web. I’m hard to beat when | play with all my cun- ning; l’m Denman, the Invincible!” He smoked away until he grew tired of con- templating himself in the role of victor, and then left the Bureau, after giving Nips some instructions, He walked to the first corner and took a car, by which he was carried up-town. A smite of satisfaction still illumined his face, In ons corner of that same car, with a news- oe before his face, sat the very man who ad lately left his office. Denman did not see Compton, but Compton Saw the spider, and when tbe latter quitted the car he also alighted. “ The trail grows warm!” chuckled Compton, shadowing the proprietor of the ‘‘ Eureka” toa quiet-looking house. ‘“‘ Phil Phelan, you ought to be congratulated on your morning’s success!” So “Compton” was Happy Hugh’s friend, Phelan, _—_—_——— CHAPTER XVIII. BREAKING THE WEB, ‘‘THIs is a web, sure enough! Burt Denman knew what he was talking about when he said his net had caught me, and was strong enough to hola its victims, The rascal robbed me of my flute, and I can’t solace myself with its music, If I had only let Phelan into the secret} If I had only thrown out a hint to Phil, there might be some show to get out of this trap, but as it is—” The speaker paused as though a command had broken the last sentence, but a moment later, striking bis leg with his clinched band, by way of emphasis, he went on: . ‘*No, | won't give up the game. I'm in a tight box, ’tis true—a very tight box, but Dye been in’em before, and always got out, Of course I don’t know how I got from Denman’ lodgings to this place, wherever it 1s, though T must have been unconscious when I made the journey. Therefore, | don’t know where [ lost my flute; but I’m sure I had it when I accom- panied Denman home.” While he spoke thus he occupied a three-legged stool, and was leaning @gainst a4 stone wall, Across the chamber, which suggested a cellar from its wall, and higher up than he had been +7" j hades i (a rh —_—s I” ot hoe erie , ‘ - “/ : ’ } , 7 r * U “4 ~ ¢ » os fi : ‘ ~4 - i Va Pe amas w AN 7 . © Ste 2 ; ‘ ‘¢ i > : [ | . fer a ny ARS ; - wo a i — Sa vi . me , f set > Ga . ae, ot aa 4 s qa Ls lig — +70 oo , a 4 ld ae 3 J