Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

0. ‘‘ ve seen you with him,” broke in the girl. ‘‘ T suppose you met him accidentally.” “Quite so, I assure you. Do you know him?” ‘Only by sight, and I have no desire to get acquainted with bim. I am interested in a friend who may have fallen into a web which Mr, Paget knows something about, and the per- son who can give me any information about my friend—my cousin to tell the truth—will earn my lasting gratitude,” The keen eyes of the newsgirl saw Tatsy Holcomb start at these words. He moved un- easily in his chair, crossed his legs and uncrossed them again, ‘“‘Do you mean that, really, Miss Melly?” he asked, ‘* Indeed I do,” was the answer, ‘* 111 do what I can for you,” said the dude, ‘TI don’t know much about the webs of the city, but I’ve been around, and—really I—I—say Miss Melly, would you let me call if 1 should find your cousin?” The newsgirl smiled her sweetest. ‘“T feel that I could not object,” was the reply. Five minutes later Jerry Jump and Mrs. Paster stepped from the little room and Melly sprung toward them with a joyful cry. ‘Follow Tatsy Holcomb; quick!” she cried to Jerry. ‘He knows where Fred is,” The Jersey boy was gone. CHAPTER XI. BACK IN THE WEB. Tarsy Hotcoms had some good traits and lots of ambition. He was anxious to shine as the accepted admirer of Melly, the newsgirl, and was willing to do almost anything that would secure the favor of her smiles, Therefore, when he left her house he had made u his mind to set Photograph Fred free from the we into which he had precipitated himself, We need not stop here to mention how Mr. Hol- comb came to fall in with “ Baldy” Paget, the schemer and companion uf Simon Sharp. The two had been friends for some time, though the young dude had never assisted Paget in anything really bad. He had agreed to meet * Baldy” at the house where Phil was caught, and there the sharper had proposed a plan to Tatsy which involved get- ting even with Old Hawkbill for the treatment re- ceived at his hands. This was the real matter under discussion when Fred stole into the house and was captured, and how Tatsy had resolved to rescue the Camera eo asa passport to Melly’s love. Followed by Jerry, the dude pushed down the street until he reached a certain corner, where he boarded a passing car and continued his journey. The Jersey boy was not long following his example, car, looking as independent as he could. The car was not very full when Jerry boarded it, but by and by it filled up, and he was squeezed into one corner by a large woman, who appeared to take great delight in rendering him wncomfortable. All at once Tatsy rose and went toward the door. Jerry, who had been watching him like a hawk, attempted to follow, but found that he could not extricate himself from his corner. He saw Tatsy leave the car, and bv a prodigious effort he freed himself and reached the door. He was getting off when he felt a hand at his collar, and looking round, found himseif face to face with Simen Sharp! It seemed to Jerry that his blood would freeze in his veins. He had just escaped from the spider’s trap, and here he was in the grasp of the same br oe og ‘ . on’t be in a hurry, young man; J’m going to get off here,” said Simon, with a grin, which Jerry rightly took for a grin of wt and suiting action to words, the city sharp alighted, still holding to the Jersey boy’s coat, and the two stood on the street together, *‘You didn’t want to stay at my house, eh?” laughed Simon, “You know 1 did not after what passed between us,’’ was the answer. “I hadn’t anything to keep me where I was, and everything to take me away.” Jerry, while he spoke, was lookiug after Tatsy still in sight, though he would disappear in a mo- ment, and he did not want to lose him. “‘Let’s go elsewhere and discuss this business,”’ continued Simon Sharp. Jerry pulled back with a good deal of force, but the sharp did not relinquish his hold. ‘*Don't be stubborn,”’ said Simon, “And don’ age carry your game too far,” was the quick retort. “Ha! I'd like to see you do anything. I know more than you think I do, but we needn’t discuss that here. The more you kick against us the worse it will be for your cause, per? Jump looked straight into the eyes of the n “Tl understand you thoroughly,”’ said he. ‘* You would say that the more I disobey you, the worse it will be for my father. You need not conceal your real words, Simon Sharp, Sharp by name and sha and in a short time he was ensconced in thesame by nature. You will unhand me right away, or I Il call the police and see what right you have to hold me in the streets of New York.” If Jerry thought that these words would secure his immediate om he was mistaken, On the ; vf on, Oa “¢ Seed Ye P . 1 PF a oY ‘ contrary, Simon Sharp looked down into his face and laughed, , “Call ’em if you want to,” he said. ‘I guess the cops and I would get along very well together. There's one now,”’ Jerry had already caught sight of the burly police- man on the pave, and taking Simon at his word, he hallooed at him, attracting his attention, and the next miuute he was beihg escorted toward the side- walk by the scamp. , “Here’s a boy what has a notion that he wants you,” remarked Simon to the policeman, The effrontery of the sharp was amazing. The big guardian of the city straightened and looked down upon Jerry as though he intended to club him at once, but he seemed to change his mind for he asked him what he wanted. ‘*T want to be loosed from this man,’’,said the boy. **He has no right to hold me.”’ **No right? By Jove, that’s pretty cool,”’ laughed Simon Sharp. “I reckon a boy’s guardian has a right to take care of him when he catches him run- ning off?” '** Of course he has,”’ responded the officer. “ * But he’s no more my guardian than you are,” rsisted Jerry. ‘‘ This is Simon Sharp, a man who s against me. and one who knows what became of our diamonds, if he don’t know where—”’ “Are fo paid to listen to the story of a run- away?’ broke in the New York sharp. ‘*No, I’m not; take him home if there's where you think he ought to go,”’ and to Jerry’s chagrin the policeman turned away and left him in the grip of the biggest rascalin Gotham. The Jersey boy could see by the eyes that looked down upon him that Simon had scored another vic- tory; besides this, he had lost Tatsy Holcomb, and consequently the clew to Fred's prison, His blood boi'ed within him, and when Simon Sharp started off with his hand at his wrist, Jerry pulled back and cried lustily for help. The spectacle of a boy struggling in the grip of a men on the street, was one not very common in that quarter, and the pedestrians stopped to look at it for a moment. The policeman who had gone a few steps glanced back and smiled. . ‘‘ Help, help!’ cried Jerry. ‘This man is Simon Sharp, thief, blackleg and burglar!” “Oh, I’m anything but a nice man just now,” re- plied the fellow. ‘‘I am your legal guardian and you know it. I guess I havea right to overhaul a runaway boy on the street and take him home where he belongs.’ Simon with a brazenness which became him so well appealed to the gatherlng crowd as he spoke, and Jerry, who looked in the same direction, saw that the people had very little | apathy for him. They were with Simon who, well dressed, did not look like a seoundrel. **Come along and do not obstruct the walk,” said the spider, and despite his strength Jerry was dragged off and whisked round the nearest corner. The reader may imagine the boy’s thoughts when he found himself once more in the grip of Simon Sharp. His heart for a moment sunk within him and he was on the eve of givirg up the battle. “T nabbed you just in time,’’ smiled Simon. ** Who let you out?” Jerry made no reply. He was resolved not to be- tray the woman who had freed him from the nest, and when Simon drew this much from his silence, he laughed that it wouldn’t remain a secret very long. ‘*'This is what I ca’l luck,”’ continued Simcn. “I got a glimpse of you from the sidewalk and in a jiffy I was on the rear platform of the car waiting for you to get off. Didn’t that old woman nearly crush you in the corner?” The boy from Jersey was in no humor for joking. ‘*T shall escape again,’ he suddenly exclaimed, looking up into the rascal’s face. ‘“ All the bolts and bars you have, sha’n’t keep mein your clutches, T am going to get out and expose you. It is war be- tween us to rhe end, Simon Sharp. You know all about the d'amonds and my father, and I am de- termined that the secret shall be found out and the guilty made to pay for their deeds.” *‘That’s a nice prospect ahead,”’ grinned Simon. ‘*You’re not very complimentary when it comes to praising me, Where were you going on that car?”’ ‘* That is my business,’’ answered Jerry. ‘You seemed to want to get off after the dude. Do you know Mr. Holeomb?” ‘*Do you?” retorted Jerry. ‘*T’ve seen him, but I don’t keep company with dudes.” ‘“Y-ur partner does, though.”” “My partner?” “Yes, Jasper Paget.” Simon Sharp started slightly at mention of the name. ‘I know now; you were following Tatsy Holcomb. You were playing spy for a purpose. What's be- come of your pard, the boy who carries the “ detec- tive’ under his coat?” ‘*Tatsy Holeomb knows.” “ de does, eh? And you were after him to find out? Well, it looks to me as if your friend with the camera was in trouble. I think I shall look into this myself.” Simon Sbarp said no more for some time and he and Jerry walked along in silence. The hend of the sharp still gripped Jerry’s wrist and the boy made no more appeals for release. It seemed to him that the world was against him. — It was a long walk to Simon’s quarters, but at last they ascended the stairs they had ascended be- fore together, and when he was pushed into the Photograph Fred, the Camera Sh gm RR arp. i rt * 7» 4. a \ ’ , ee “> 3: Tie-4> any ahs, ao = ° oe a a. ‘i ee a Fa »-. room "with which he was somewhat acquainted, Jerry’s heart sunk within him, ‘*We'’ll come to terms before you get out,” said Simon, looking coldly at him. “Ido know some- thing, but you are not cute enough to pick me up. Your photograph friend has some shrewdness but he’s not sharp enough to get ahead of me, Simon Sharp, from Sharperville. So Tatsy knows where your pal is, does he? Well, I'll look into this.” The next moment the door shut on the figure of the New York sharp, and Jerry, completely over- come, was again the sole occupant of the room from which he had already escaped. He sat still for a time when be sprung up and bounded to the door. He seized the knob and turn- ed it violently but it would not open. ‘Merciful Father! is a rascal like Simon Sharp to triumph?” he exclaimed. ‘‘Am Ito fail in my hunt for the lost parent? No, no, it cannot be. must get out of this den. I must gledden mo- ther’s heart with a happy solution cf the mystery. These infernal scoundrels shall be unmas! ed and brought to justice! I devote my life to this task.” CHAPTER XII. A SINGULAR COMPACT, _. Mr. Tatsy Hotcoms was as good as bis word, for he went straight to the house where he had left Photograph Fred bound and gagged in the dark room. The young dude did not possess a key to the house, so he had to approach it from the rear at the sacrifice of a pair of ay ah pantaloons ¥ hich were ripped while ciimbing the fence; but he kept on and entered the place through the basement. He did not stop to think that he might incyr the hostility of * Baldy ” Paget, but ascended the*stairs and reached the door of the room where Fred had been left Tatsy found the door locked, but he forced the lock with a piece of iron which he found in another ro m, and appeared suddenly to the Camera Sharp who was still helpless in the chair. When Tatsy let some light into the room the boy was astonished. The dude was the last person looked for. 4 “Your Cousin Melly—mighty fine girl, too—wants to know what’s become of you,” said Mr. Holcomb as he removed Fred’s gag. ‘‘I thought ] would please her by releasing you. Inever did go in for treating you in this manner; now, there you are— free, and by tbe hand of Tatsy Holcomb!” t The cords had been severed by the dude’s knife and Photograph Fred stood up and stretched him- self after his jong confinement. ‘*Pll remember this, Mr. Holcomb,” said he. ‘‘Oh, don’t mind it. All Task is that you say @ good word for me to your Cousin Melly—audacious fine creature, that—and thet’ll make us square.” Fred promised that he would gladly do this for the services just rendered; but the next moment he made Taisy Holeomb start, ‘‘What’s between you and that prison bird, “ Baldy ’? Paget?”’ he asked. ‘Ts he really that?’’ queried the young dude. ‘““Of course he is, and nothing else. He's bound to see the inside of a cell before he’s much older and. if you stick to him you're bound to go with him. What were you two talking about when I was caught in this house?’’ ; Tatsy seemed to hesitate, “It’s all right, if you don’t want to ted,” con- tinued Fred. ‘lam going to wage wer against Mr. Paget and Simon Sharp and not stop till they’ve dis- gorged and restored the man t' ey ve stolen.” ‘The man ther’ve strlen?” echoed the dude. “ Heavens! have they done such a thing?” “Yes, and, what is more, you've made yourself an sar” eas, onc \ The dude got white and shook with fear. ‘By Joye, I didn’t think I was getting into & pickle of this kind, really 1 didn’t.”’ he exclaimed. ‘ But you’re there all the same,” was the.re ply. ‘““Yousee that the law wouldn’t let up on you if you came before the court with a plea of ignorance. ou’re in very bad company, Mr. Helcomb., and you don’t expect Melly to thin anything of a man who refuses to tell the truth in order to shield a rascal, do you?” - . This was a proposition that fairly staggered Tatsy. ‘és if I’ve said.’ resumed “I'm a little anxious to get out of this house. tell if you would rather see wrong succeed,” Photograph Fred was walking toward the door when he heard the voic> of his liberator and the next seeond there was a hand on his sleeve. rm don’t want wrong to succeed any more than you flo,” said the dude, , “You don't eh? Well, I confess that your silence don’t confirm you words,” “ae ah ‘**1’m afraid he wouldn’t like it.” “Of course he won't like exposure,” smiled Fred. “ You would incur the enmity of Mr. Pagetif you ou don't want to tell me. why, all right, as Fred, in an indifferent manner. tell the truth, but he can’t hurt you if you keep out of his way till we get through with him, ‘** Will he be arrested?” ‘It’s very likely.” ** When?” “When we get tive evidence against him.” ‘Positive evidence of what?’ “Of conspiracy with Simon Jump family of the diamonds, and then to get Thomas Jump. the father. into their clutches for the purpose of further enriching them,”’ “ How?’ asked Tatsy H lcomb eagerly. “Thomas is an inventor who can make almost by the . : e has been drawn into the tra anything, He | Lis 10 villains for the parpose of making models o ventions. He is some : ‘ 4 * , ‘ P ‘* ‘a > Den? a ‘ i, Ce ak 7 . “ ‘ ; * 4 es ‘ e4 ue: mee 4 e af — ; : ~ *y ig *% > sd : . vA < ’ #44 ¥2 5s rE ~ Vir atte : “4 , Pi gr ee ee - | ss JA. O , } | Don’t | to rob the | where in this city, Iam cer Paar >>: rai £6and Cictten ot)? ~ . m= is ks.com / —s a aa | *