Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

9 Me, ee ae , Se hat a | ry eed en ‘4 . . & Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. . My 3 | tain of this. Why, since I took this trail he has been [carried from one house to another by Simon Sharp and that within the last few hours.” ‘* What sort of things has Thomas Jump made?”’ “T can’t tell you much about them. For one thing he has made a wonderful cloc< from which a skeleton steps and at the right time blows a horn.” ‘Did he ever make a small brass moJel not much big er than a walnut, a wee little piece of machinery which works like a charm?” ‘*L cant say; but what do you know about a thing of this kind.”’ ‘**T’ve seen it in ‘ Baldy ’ Paget’s room.”’ ‘““Was that what took him to Old Hawkbill’s?”’ ** Not that particular model. ° 2: — one took him there, then?” eagerly inquired ed. ‘* Yes, and when a came to this house and got caught, we were tal ing about bis trip to Old Hawk- bill’s. He wants to get even w.th the old man. He was robbed of his model by the old rascal and choked hesides.” “Then, Paget knows where Thomas Holcomb is,” said Fred, - Before the boys left the room they madeit app ent that Fred had freed himself. They cut the cords in several places as if the captive had finally reached his knife, and when they had done this they crept through the back way and went off. ‘*A good word for me to Melly,’’ were Tatsy Hol- comb’s parting words. ‘“‘If Il had a cousin like her I'd be in clover upjto my ears all the time, I'll see you later, Mr. Paster. You know where to find me,”’ and a moment afterward Fred, feeling as light as a feather once more, was walking down the street with his head in a sort of whirl. Instead of proceeding home, he went to Old Hawk- bill’s shop and found the old fellow in. | Old Jacob started on seeing the Camera Sharp, but took him back to the little private room and care- fully shut the door. ‘You don’t want to fall into the hands of the cops, do you, Jacob?” asked Fred, at which the old man turned pale and shook. *e men have [ done to get there?” be nervously asked. ‘They say that you robbed the man with whom you had the difficulty the other night.” ‘My God! what could I take from him?” cried Old Hawkvill. ‘*His model,”’ answered Fred, looking at the per- son before him, ‘“ Mr. Paget came here with a model but did not go away with it. Hewas robbed in this shop. Was itin this room, Jacob?” The old man seemed to etare at the boy as if he was looking through him at something beyond. ‘You belong to the police, don’t you?” he return- ed atlast. ‘‘ You help them whenever you can, and chey pay you something for your work. I know rou *““Never mind what I do. Just now I know that ‘Baldy ’ Paget was robbed, that he was robbed in this house, and he says—” ‘That I did it?’ broke in Jacob. ‘Certainly. I want to see that model.” Old Hawkbill almost sprung from his chair, The next moment he was leaning forward with eyes that seemed to start from his head, and Fred saw that the ends of his fingers were buried in his yellow ish palms, , ee haven't got it,” he said, ‘He lies if he says I ave,” ‘* But you don’t deny that you took it, do you?” “*T haven’t got it—tnat’s what | say,” was the an- swer. “A pretty slick reply, Jacob,”’ smiled Fred. “You've simply put it out of your hands till the clouds pass by. fendered these things. They're old, Jacob.” “But I’ve been robbed,” cried the old man. ‘‘ That weep, broken open and it was taken, 1’ll swear is. Photograph Fred fell back in his chair and looked at the genius of the evil shop. “What would a common burglar want with a model which he knew nothing about?” he asked quietly and in a way which told Old Hawkbill that his assertions were not more than half-believed. ‘Ifacommon burglar took it it must have been through mistake,” said Jacob. ‘You see it was heavy like, and s> wrapped that it would lead a fool to thinkit wascoin. That's the way I think about it. When the thief discovered what he had he dropped it somewhere, or sold it in another sh>p for a song. I swear that this is true, boy. I have n robbed. It would have been all the same if I had given ‘ Bal- ay ’ Paget his outrageous price for the little thing. ow, what are you going to do? tell the police what I’ve told you? ‘“‘T don't have to, Jacob,” answered Fred, “ You are mistaken when you think that I run to them with every thing I hear. Lam working up & vase on my own hook just now, and if successful, ‘ Baldy ’ Paget will never get even with you for that choking and his night in your cellar.” is seemed to please the old man. ‘ia ee a ytd who Bree mid ps by which . Paget an s pard get rich?” sudden} k Old Hawkbill. Sper = 1 do, but just now he’s lost to me.” at: And you wan* to find him, eh?” Yes, that is what will baffle the two scamps and them from doing you any injury.” A sudden idea seemed to strike the old man for = sot a quick glitter. here!’ he cried. ‘“ Let’s go snooks, eh? The man who stole that model from this safe hasn't thrown it away, for then it would fall intothe hands of the police. He’s ‘put itup’somewhere, I know all the shops in New York, and they include a good 7 > : . 4 1° Rs, ii .. rr eset el CC: OC LL LL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL MDLLBLLDDBLDLDLLDLDLLLLL LL LLLDLLDBL_ BX BRL AA RL ‘fore you met me.”’ many you know nothing about. I want to look at the wodelagain. It would help to convict * Baldy’ Paget of robbery and eventually lead to the finding of the man who madeit. Shall we be pards, boy?’’ ‘*In this, yes, Jacob,’’ replied Sagem om Fred, and stretching his hand across the table he sealed the strange compact with the wary old rascal, and a few moments later walked from the close pre- cincts of the den feeling that ne had made good time since his rescue by Tatsy Holcomb. Having nothing pressing on his hands just then, the young detective went homeward, watched, though he knew it not, by a pair of sharp eyes whica happened to pick him up onthe street, They followed him to the very stairs which he climbed, to burst in upon his mother who sent up a shout of joy at sight of him, and while he listened to what iad transpired since his departure, the owner of the eyes was on the street below waiting for him to reappear When Fred obliged the man by coming forth with a look of anxiety on his bright countenance, he was instantly spotted, and when he had started off he had the fellow at his heels, If he had looked back he might have seen the shadow, for he was too big to be overlooked. Simon Sharp from Sharperville was on the boy de- tective’s trail, and‘when Fred joined Melly at her news-stand, the city wolf fell back and watched the two with evil on his face, ‘*Something’s up,’’ said he to himself. ‘I won- der if the boy knows that I’ve got the Jersey fly in the web once more? Something’s got to be done, or that young sharp may play the deuce with this little game of ours. Something shall be done,”’ and when Fred bade Melly good-by, Simon Sharp fol- lowed him again. CHAPTER XIII. WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT. THE aim of the Camera Detective now was to find a clew to Jerry’s whereabouts. He was almost cer- tain that the boy had falien back into the cunning web woven by eitrer Simon Sharp or his comrade, Jasper Paget. He no longer doubted the identity of the man who made the models mentioned by Old Hawkbill and, confident that the old man would keep his part of the compact, he was left to work another field. If he had suspected that Simon Sharp was watch- ing him he would have proceeded with more caution, but he was destined to make an astounding dis- covery before he had gone very far, Fred was moving along with the crowd which was hardly fast enough for him when there turned the corner rigbt ahead a man whose appearance instant- ly attracted bim. It was ‘‘Baldy”’’ Paget. The fellow was in a hurry. and as he came toward the young detective, he wondered if they would collide. But fortu- nately Mr. Paget who was not on the lookout for escaped prisoners just then, passed Fred, and when the boy turned his head to. look after him, he saw him stop and talk to aman on the sidewalk, ‘‘What. Simon Sharp?’ cried Photograph Fred. ‘* Have I had the rascal on my trail all this time?” and he slipped into a store that instant, much to Simon's chagrin by the language he used in ‘*Baldy's”’ presence, “You've made me miss the young scamp,”’ growled the sharp from Sharperville, ‘* Which cne—Pnotograph Fred?” ‘*Of course.”’ ‘I guess you’re off your base there. I’ve got the boy caged myself and was just going to tell you all about it.”’ Simon laughed derisively. “Your trap, whatever it is, holds nobody ver long, for the young face-catcher has just passed. Why, you must have brushed him yourself jus, be- Mr. ** Baldy ” Paget looked dumfounded. “Tf that is so, where were my eyes?’ he ex- claimed. ; ‘Not in your head, that’s certain,’’ was the reply. “ Don't you look for a breeze if your prisoner is at large?” The face of the listener showed that he did. He was uneusy. If Fred had «sce«ped, be might expect trouble, for would not the boy inform the police at once, and he be picked up at any time on the street, and the whole gawe collapse? \ Paget left Simon as soon as possible and went by a roundabout way to the house where he had cap- tured Fred in the act of listening to the confab be- tween him and Tatsy Holcomb. He wanted to see for bimself, and entered the building with his heart in his throat. It did not take him long to reach the chamber in which he had left Fred, and in a twinkling he was staring at the pieces of cord on the floor, and the truth of Simon’s assertion burst upon him. Yes, the Camera Sharp had escaped. é | ‘“Why didn’t I search hin?” cried “ Baldy.” gaz- ing at the bits of cord. ‘He's slicker than a weasel and I might have known that be had a knife which he would use to advantage as soon as he could free his hand. The next time I'll play a different game; but maybe there'll be no ‘next time.’ [ don't think Tatsy has been here since we went away. If he has and s en this, he’s out of the city ere this, for he's easily scared, und won't go into the scheme to Fh even with eld Hawkbill.” t was a good thing for the young dude that he was not suspected of treachery, for Jasper Paget was a bad man to betray, as he would have found out, and when Jasper quitted the house he took with him the cut cord and removed all evidences of Fred's captivity. rw | working atnow,” said he, when he gained the street. ‘*T made a failure with my scheme to sell one of his. models to old Jacob for a cool thousand, and now I must wait till he gets up another in which I think th-+re’s a fortune. ” Half an hour later Paget knocked at the door of Sarah Sackett's house and was admitted, The widow, who had been the model-maker’s keeper so long, looked strangely at him, but said nothing while he went toward the little workshop which she had shown to Photograph Fred, ‘*“ Heavens, what does this mean?” cried “ Baldy ”’ Paget, staggering back from the door and staring at the empty room. “ Where is he?” ‘* You mustn't ask me,’’ was the reply, and Mrs, Sackett smiled. ‘“Who took him off?” asked Paget. ‘“*‘ He hasn’t been gone long. Did the boys—”’ ‘He was not taken off by boys,”’ interrupted the woman. ‘I theught you would know all about it. since you came here often and spent some time watching him.” ‘* But 1 didn’t know anything of this. He didn’t escape, did be?”’ ‘T should think not,” the woman smiled again, noticing the palor which accompanied the last. question. A sudden light seemed to dawn upon Paget, ** Did he go off with Simon?” ‘*He went away with Simon.”’ The widow told him. She saw his lips move suddenly and not in the best: of humor. It was evident that he thought Simon Sharp guilty of treachery, that he was trying to work a game of his own, and he kept silent for sev- eral minutes, ‘‘T suppose you haven’t the slightest idea where Simon took our friend?” said Jasper. “Of course he wouldn’t tell you anything about it!” “T didn’t seek to know,” quietly replied the woman, J ge Paget did not remain long after this discov- ery. It seemed to crush him, and he did not breathe free until he was some distance from the house. * I'd like to see him play a game within a game,’” said he and he spoke with bis teeth shut. “‘Isaw him awhile ago and he said nothing about this: move. If itis square business, why didn’t he men- tion it? I won't stand any shenavigan, Simon. By Jupiter! there'll be two of us if this is the wa you're going to play for the products of that man’s: brain.”’ The more Jasperthought of the removal of the model-maker from Sarah Sacketw’s house the an- grier he became, ‘‘Simon took the lion’s share from the very start,’” he growled. ‘‘None but the biggest diamonds would do for him,and I had to take the smallest. though I risked my head getting them. And wher it came to meee | the fly from Jersey I hed to do all the work while he sat back and took in the prof- its. Then, when the models were to be transferred to this city, I had to go across the river and get ’em, And now what does he do? He goes to where the prisoner was and cooliy takes him off, without Jet- ting me know a word about it. I never saw such cool impudence. Simon Skarp, you can go too far with “ Baldy ” Paget. There can be a dissolution of artnership, and that on very short notice. Con- ound you, Vil ask for an explanation when we meet.’ Just an hour after coming-to this conclusion, Jas- per Paget dropped into a place on the Bowery and walking back came suddeniy upon a man who had just taken a seat at a round table. The man whom he had enccuntered was Simom Sharp, and the cunning scamp seemed to notice fire: in Jasper’s eyes and sniff a scene in advance. The two men sat eying each other across the ta- bie for some time, when all at once the hand of Paget came over the rim and rested on the greasy beard. “< So straigh ahead?”’ Cool Simon Sharp from Sharperville was not the least disconcerted by the sudden attack. ‘* When did you discover it?’ he coolly asked. “Just now. You hadachance to tell me, but kept our mouth shut, as se it were none of my usiness. Ain,t I interested in this game?” ‘‘T suppose you are. Yes, he was removed for safety. e’re watched.” ‘** By two boys?” “By dangerous eyes, no difference whose they are,” was_ the answer. him off; Mrs, Sackett’s house was a little too public, you see.”’ ‘‘ But he got along well enough there all the same. Where is he now?” , Simon Sharp seemed to draw within himself like a turtle. In an instant he became a sphinx. ‘*You don't want to tell me, I see,’ said Paget. ‘* Does he belong to you?” “ Didn't I just say that we're watched?” Jasper colored. He leaned across the table, wet: with the leavings of beer, and eyed Sam like a tiger, - *¥You want to break with me, I notice. You think I can be thrown off at pleasure and turned away. You want not only the lion’s share, which you've: taken from the first, but you want ell. You want to take the inventions as they fall finished from his brain and reap all the golden profits. Uve risked. my head more than once in this big scheme of ours. When I went down to Jersey and scooped in the models I came near being shot by an old farmer who was watching his own hen-roost. And what did I get for it all? Three small diamonds which ou took him off,” said Jasper. looking into Simon's face. “Was there danger *‘T'll go and look at him again and see what he’s disappeared long ago.” dd oy eh: Sa, bipay » “geht “. ' : > ...- /'~ « 4 /o a, _ a z <a 7 3 we A a a ate wn of vd “a ’ - y af ‘ bd a ‘ 4 “A “ - % ‘ - z oe is » ~ ; + 7 .F ’ — 4Bx: en and Te "6 Ait vt: x eS < ‘ @ AOE eG “T thought it best totake*