Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~ lifted it. Tearing open the bundle at one corner, Fred Paster caught the gleam of something bright, like polished brass, and in an instant he had made a startling discovery. The bundle contained a little machine, every part of which was perfect and the most delicate workmanship! ‘“*Here’s a link,” thougot the young detective, “This issome more of poor Thomas Jump’s work, and it still further establishes the identity of the man who was taken away from Sarah Sackett by Simon Sharp.” Down at the bottom of the trunk the boy found another package not quite so large as the first, and it contained another model of different construction, but finishedin every part. Ilow his eyes glistened while he looked at the evi- dences of the spider's guilt. The trunk contained no diamonds, though Fred searched it thoroughly, and wher he rose, he had a gleam of triumph in his eyes, _ ) ‘Simon Sharp will discover his loss when he comes back, and the next thing he thinks of will be flight unless he can turn thé .tables on me,” thought the Camera Sharp. “I will have to play a 2 yee hand to get ahead of the pair, and if they catch me nap- ping, I won’t get to boast of the outcome of this case,”’ He carried into the room near by the two models he had taken from the sharper’s trunk and found that the sisters had brought Jerry back to con- sciousness for the Jersey boy smiled at Fred and put out bis hand, “Do you know these, Jerry?’ asked Frei, show- = models, at which Jerry looked a long time before he spoke. “That I do,’’ he said at last. ‘They were in the box in the out house when father went away. They were stolen since I left home as mother wrote me, you know. You found them in that room?”’ * In Simon Sharp’s trunk,” answered Fred. “The rascals stole them!” Jerry was handling one of the models. “I think there’s been something added to this one within the last few days. Look how new some of the work looks. Here’s a new wheel which I know wasn’t attached to»the model when I saw it last.” ‘** What does it prove, Jerry?” The face of the Jersey boy instantly brightened. “It proves that father is still among the living!” he exclaimed. ‘eg in the grip of the conspirators, eh?’ said red. ‘Yes, in their hands.”’ Then a pny es Fred told Jerry all about his discoveries, how he had nearly found the man who had made the skeleton-guarded clock which had frightened Johnny Miggs and how he had fallen into Jasper Paget's trap to be rescued by Tatsy Holcomb; in short, there was nething that he omitted. To all this Jerry listened like a person in a maze. His Sa would snap sometimes, or bulge out from wonder, and when Fred ended he seized his hand and thanked him for all he had done. “We'll go back to the trail together now!” cried he. ‘ We'll find father and send these two scoun- drels to where they belong.” ‘It won’t be cg Sh al Jerry,” rejoined Fred, with a shake of the head. ‘I know that from my own experience in the _ hands of Simon Sharp of Sharperville. When he Ce pomaued himself my guardian and hood- winked the policeman, I knew he was all he is said to be—the greatest rascal unhung. How’s Melly?” Fhotograph Fred almost laughed aloud at the abruptness of Jerry’s question; but he managed to keep a straight face and tell him that the newsgirl was doing very well, and that she would be delight- ed to hear of rescue. A few minutes later the two boys went down the stair and slipped out into the street. Polly Ping and her sister said that they would manage to keep out of Simon Sharp’s way, and, thus assured, the boys went off. We'll go to mother’s first,’ remarked Fred. “From there we'll branch out and try totrip the conspirators, If Simon comes back soon he'll get the start of us, but this is an age of telegraphs, and very few rascals like him get away, though they give one a good deal of trouble for a time.” ‘* But the fellow may turn his attention to father,” said Jerry, quickly. **Heis the goose that kee .the gang. They expect to patent his models and reap a fortune. They may have done go already; but there is one they haven't got to realize on—the one “ Baldy ’’ Paget tried to sell to Old Hawkbill. We know where it is and in time it will come forth as a witness against the scoundrels,” ; The boys had reached a certain corner as Fred finished, and Jerry, seizing the young shadow's arm, directed his attention to a be ean man lighting a cigarette under a lamp on the opposite side of the street. ste is Tatsy Holcomb,” cried Fred, darting . ‘‘I don’t want to let him get away, / the eten eggs for across the street. M for he may have news for us. Jerry followed leisurely in the boy detective’s wake and saw the dude start violently when Fred touched 5, What do you know, Tatsy?” eagerly inquired Photograph Fred. Not very much. I’ve been keeping pretty dark ce I rendered you that service for your cousin | Leila sake, Isaw Mr. Paget just now and took a aie hs at his heels,”’ ou?” ‘ I wan see where he was going, you know,” first thing he saw was a well-wrapped bundle which he pounced upon and found very heavy when he i { that they had seen the advertisement of one on that wy te " y Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. +. And you found out?”’ ‘He went over into W——street and looked sus- piciously at a certain’ house which I thought at one time he was going to enter; but he came away with- out doing so, though I’m nearly sure that he would like to have gone in."’ ‘What was the number? that, Tatsy?’’ The dude smiled. ' ‘* | couldn’t help seeing that for I was uncommonly curious. It was No. 666, not hard to recollect, you know.” ‘*Three sixes; that’s easy, Tatsy. Well, I'll see you later.”’ ‘““My regards to Melly; boss girl, that,” returne] the dude, and Fred rejoined Jerry. The Camera Sharp almost dragged the Jersey boy into the street designated by Tatsy Holcomb, tell- ing him in hurried sentences what he had discov- ered, andin a few seconds they were in the neigh- borhood of No, 666, “There it is!” whispered Fred, ‘It may amount to nothing but—”’ He did not get to say another word for the door opened and to the surprise of the boys Simon Sharp came out and coolly lit a cigar on tLe stoop. CHAPTER XVI. COMING BACK TO LIFE. THE presence of Simon Sharp on the ste Of course you noticed of the house to which Tatsy Holcomb had tracked Jasper Paget, was enough to rouse tke suspicions of ihe two spotters. They were, in fact, ready to believe that something was wrong in the building, and when they recalled the removal of the model-maker from Sarah Sackett’s abode they began to feel that they had located him. lor a few seconds Simon smoked on the steps, as if undecided just what to do, and when he moved off he was watched out of sight by Fred and Jerry. ‘* We must know what brings the rogue to this house,”’ declared the Camera Sharp. ‘‘He took things so coolly on the step, that he seemed to be familiar witb the premises. But, how to get be- yond the door is the question.” ‘That house may not be kept by another Sarah Sackett,” suggested Jerry. * True, Jerry. The people with whom we have to deal now may be body and soul in the employ of the spiders, and, this being so, we may have trouble; but we must see beyond the door and get a look at tbe inmates of 666 as soon as possible.” Nearly opposite the suspected house was a small store kept by a man who did not impress the bo;s very favorably when they entered. e had a mo- rose and sour look, and from the first regarded our young hunters with decided suspicion. * Photograph Fred who acted as spokesman pre- tended that they were on hunt of an empty house, very street, but he had forgotten the exact number, and did not have the paper with him. ‘* It seems to me, though, that it was near here,” rele ng the boy shadow. ‘‘ Could it have been 3 oy ‘‘T rather guess you're off there,’’ replied the grocer. ‘* The people over there don’t want to go away.”’ ** You’re sure of that eh?”’ ‘**T ought to be,” snarled the man. ‘See here, the next time Lig start out to look u you're right before you budge. wapt a house ae 4 bad, do you?” He looked Fred squarely in the eye as the ques- tion was ents but the young sharp did not quail. “Tf we didn’t we wouldn't be in this city after dark. Come, Tom,” with a loo “‘we'll have to look elsewhere. the right trail before long.” The boys quitted the store followed by the keen eyes of its proprietor wh» even went to the sidewalk to see what became of them, They saw this move- ment of his and went on, turning the first corner, but there stopped for consultation, ‘* Does the shopkeeper stand in with Simon Sharp?” asked Jerry. “Tt looks a little that way. I don’t like him at all. He knows something about the inmates of No, 666 if he does not train with Simon.” ‘* He seemed to suspicion us,”’ “‘T more than half believe he did. We must be very careful. I don’t intend to quit this neighbor- hood till we know more about that house, I have a plan. It may not work, but it’s worth a trial. It may give us a glimpse of the inhabitants of 666, and I’m gow to work it for all there is in it,”’ When Fred had explained his scheme, the boys found a small stationery shop where Fred purchased an envelope and a sheet of paper: the former he di- rected, putting down the whole address, but blurr- ing all with the blotter thatit would have taken a Philadelphia lawyer to have deciphered it, Thus armed for the venture, the boys went back and Jerry stopped a b'ock from the suspected house while Fred went boldly on. In a little while the Camera Sharp steps and jerked the bell. He heard the sounds in a hall beyond and waited for the answer. Seconds seemed hours to Photograph Fred when he heard footsteps in the corridor and the door was opened just an inch, **W rat's up?” asked a voice, evidently a woman’s. “I've got a letter.” “Hand it here, then,” was the reply, and a hand was thrust out for the message. I may not be at the right door,” said Fred, doubtingly. “I want to be right, dase know. It. would ruin me to make a mistake.” m Then take your letter elsewhere.” And fail todeliver it? That would never do,” . a house be sure guess you don’t art of the at Jerry, Maybe we can hit mounted the By this time the door was open another inch and’ the boy saw a sharp, hatchet-like face and two keem eyes that seemed to look through him. “My letter is for a gentleman named—Let me: see.” Fred had the letter in his hand and wasleanin toward the door under pretense of trying to rea the superscription, but in reality, trying to get into the house. ‘““A gentleman, did you say?’ exclaimed the woman, ‘*There’s no man about these premises.” ‘* But isn’t this No. 6667"" ‘“‘That’s the number exactly, but I tell you—”’ “Maybe you don’t want;the letter. I find some people like you, now and then.” The matter was becoming desperate with the boy detective. He saw the very object of the stratagem slipping from his hands. lt would never do to quit the field defeated. The next moment he had pushed the door opem and slid into the hall before he could be checked, and was pretending to make out the name on the: envelope, with the woman staring at him for his. audacity. It was make or break with Photograph. Fred, now. The very impudence shown by the young sharp seemed to mollify the woman. She put out her hand for the letter, but Fred drew back, as she might tear it open and expose the whole trick, * Couldn’t you turn ue the light a little moze so that I could ‘see what I’m doing? The address ig somewhat blurred, as they often are, and, as 1 said awhile ago, I don’t want to blunder.”’ There!” cried the woman, turning on the gas tilk the whole hall was bathed in light. ‘* Now do your errand and get out of here. I’ve told you that we have no men in this house.”’ At this moment the sound of a hammer striking stee] somewhere came to the boy’s ears, and it was with difficulty that he did not start! The sound was distinct, and full of metal music; though it came,from some distant part of the house,, and Photogra sh Fred could but listen te it while he- pretended to he busy with the blurred superscrip- tion. **I guess it’s not for this house,’’ said the boy shadow. “I think Isee my mistake, and if there are no men here, as you say, why, of course, I’m wrong.”’ ‘*That’s what Itold you at first, but like other to depart, and the next mo- boys you wouldn't listen. Now git!” red was now read ment he found himself on the sidewalk almost pre- pared tosend up a cheer of victory. He hurried direct to eet § who had waited for, ; him with impatience. and the boys were soon re- joicing tor ether as Fred narrated his adventure. ‘| heard him at work; there’s no doubt of it!’’ de- clared the boy detective, ‘‘I was a little too sha for the dragon on guard. The letter racket worke pretty well, though I expected to be led out before 2 was ready to go. We've got no common woman te deal with in that house. She belongs to Simon Sharp; she’s got no conscience like Sarah Sackett. Now, let’s go home,”’ ‘‘And lose him?” cried Jerry, grasping Fred’s arm. ‘‘My fatheris in the house back there. He ses be taken off again. Let’s go and get the- police.”’ ‘And get Simon Sharp warned?’ ‘* Who would warn the rascal?’’ “The woman on guard!”’ aes was forced to abate his eagerness, and con- cluded to trust everything to his alert companion. Meantime the woman who had been so cleverly: hoodwinked by the Camera Sharp had closed and locked the door. She next went down a flight of steps and applied her eye to a keyhole in the dark. e looked into a room of small dimensions, but one witn strong shutters which were supplied with bars of iron for fastenings. The room one ten- ant at the time, and he was a man who sat at a work-bench hammering a bit of steel which lay across a little anvil before him. ** He’s there yet, safe and sound,’ murmured the woman at the keyhole. ‘I guess the boy didn’t: hear the bammer, though I did, and it sent a cok? chill through me. I wonder what he’s pre son | alb the time? Simon knows, and if it wasn’t something: acetant he wouldn’t keep him hammering all the. e 9 She looked a little longer and then got up. At the same time the occupant of the room stopped hammering and threw the hammer across. the apartment. “I believe I'll go back!” cried he. ‘I’ve been. away a thousand years it seems to me, What have I been doing all this time? Who have I been work-. ing for? Something seems like adream. 1 haven't: been myself all this time, but now I am Thomas. Jump once more! My head seems ready to fly open, L have come out of a trance—a working trance! Why all these tools, and where am I? This ain’t the Jersey workshop! Where are my diamonds? My~ God, f must keep cool or I will go mad!” he woman on the outside heard these wildly spoken words and came back to the door. ‘‘T never heard him talk like that before,’’ she gasped. ‘‘He may be crazy; who knows? And I am here alone with him!”’ 7 - All at once there came a knock that threw her al-. most off her feet, and she fell against the nearest. wall, ‘*T want out!’’ exclaimed the man inside, striking~ the door with his fist as though it were a mer. “I’m going back to Jersey—to my ae’! and wife, I’ve een ¥ a dream for a long time, Let me out,. ou devils!”’ / The woman gasped again and staggered along the — / . . e J 4 -» | | ‘ WA er! ! \ } | ~ i \ (ale) Ao) ——e ue & a oe