Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

> -— eo oe -— oa —_—_— eo rr ci 14 wall, but soon she ran, bounded up the steps, and listened a moment in the room above. The man below was pounding on the door; every blow went to her heat and chilled it with fear. ‘‘ Heavens! he will kill me it he gets out!’’ the poor creature cried, CHAPTER XVII. SHARP VERSUS SHARP. Srmon SHARP did not go back to the house where he had left Jerry Jump until near midnight. The scamp had “ business"’ that kept him from the lace, but if he had known anything of the situation he would have curtailed that business and gone home earlier. When he did arrive, however, he found that his door had been beaten in by an ax or some other sharp tool, and that the bird he had left so well- caged was gone. or some time Simon could hardly credit the evi- dence of sight, but there was the broken door and the empty room, and when he fully realized every- thing he sprung from the apartment and strode to- ward the room occupied by Polly Ping and her sis- ter. Here another disappointment awaited him, for the door was locked and his sharp raps failed to elicit any response. “The women let him out—I know it!” cried Simon, “Just let me see them and Ill warrant that they wen’t break down any more doors to get even with me. I’lisee’em later. Just now! must be on the lookout for the pigeon that got away, and the first thing I do must be to go back to the other house and put Ada on guard.”’ He did not think of looking at his trunk or he would have made another discovery equally as startling as the one just made, for he would have seen that he had been plundered, as well as outgen- eraled; but — to post ** Ada,’’ whoever she was, be tore down the stairs and into the street. The rascal made ashow of himself for some dis- tance, or until he cooled down and saw what he was doing. If a policeman had seen him he would have wondered what was the matter with the human spider of the Bowery, and in all probability have s opp him; but Simon managed to quiet his nerves and before long was himself again. He did not take thecars but crossed the city to- ward the east side where he ran up three steps and jerked a bell. As no response came as soon as he expected it, he pulled a key from his pocket and opened the door. ‘“*T wonder where Adais?’’ hesaid aloud in the _—" s eu TF Photograph Fred, co] 2 ~ og . ~ = — 2 — 7 rom oa = ™ = Cae Paget stood some time in the light, glared at by Simon, and when he moved it was to come straight towaru his watcher, who drew back and waited for him, holding his breath for an, encounter, for Paget was as quick and as warg as a cat. “Halt!” rang out from Simon’s throat, and at the same time he let his uplifted hand drop epee **Baldy’s ” shoulder while he thrust the revolver into his partner’s face. Jasper fell back as far as he could owing to his situation and turned pale. ** Getting even, eh?’ cried Simon in derisive tones. “You said you would, you know, but it seems to me that you’re taking a queer route to It.” Paget by this time had fully recognized the man in whose grip he was, and the menacing revolver rendered him very uneauvy. ‘“*T’ve taken nothing,” he began “Oh, don't lie tome. You ve helped him off and have hidden him somewhere—you know where,” **Upon my honor, Simon—”’ ‘““Your honor? You never had any,"’ broke in the mad rascal. ‘* You’ve turned traitor as you threat- ened to do becauseI wouldn’t give you everything, Where is he?” The six-shooter pressed closer to ‘‘ Baldy’s "’ tem- ples and he drew back again. ‘I’ve told you the truth,”’ he cried. “But you came here for a purpose, and I know that I didn’t tell you that he was here. You've been following me.” To this Paget made no reply for it was the truth. He had tracked Simon to the house and had learned by watching him where the inventor was. ** What became of Ada?”’ ‘TI don't know her. If you mean the woman you had on guard here to see that nobody not wanted in the house came—”’ “That’s who I mean, What became of her, I say?” Paget shook his head. ‘*‘T see. You are determined to, play a game of silence and bluff,” continued Simon. ‘* You want all the swag yourself, ‘ Baldy’ Paget. Don’t you know that dead men tell no tales? You've robbed me, not for the first time, either. You took a model— the best one he turned out, and tried to sell it to Old Hawikbill, but failed and had it stolen in the end. Not satisfied with this, you conspire to rob me of the man himself, and I guess you’ve succeeded.” Paget protested that he had not taken Thomas Jump away, but it was evident from the look he got that the man to whom he was talking did not hall where the gas was burning dimly, and then he | believe him. went to the end of the corridor and into a room where he found a door open. “This door was to imon, ‘‘Is this the way Adais attenaing to busi- ess?’ He went down a flight of steps revealed by the + py door and found another one in the same con- ition, ‘* Heavens, | wonder what’s happened?”’ he cried. “This door open, too? Why, here is his workshop and sleeping room.”’ He sprung into the apartment just ahead and turned on the gas which was burning very low. The pext moment he staggered back with a wild exclamation, The room before him was not occupied by any one but himself. There were traces of hasty desertion, and Simon grew pale when he saw them. ** He is gone!” ejaculated the conspirator. ‘‘ Some- body has been here and beaten me out of my prison- er. Who did it?” He looxed wildly around and discovered that the door had been broken open and by some one from the inside. ‘Can it be that he gotout himself?’ he asked. ** Why should he want togoaway? He was perfect- ly contented, had forgotten all about the Jerse folks and was wrapped upin his models. But he’s gone—that’s very plain. Now, where is Ada? She “— to know something about the affair.”’ imon left the room and went up-stairsagain. He found alittle apartment on the second floor and knocked lightly at the door, but received no reply. After awhile he tried thé latch and finding it ready to his hand wentin, He wasin Ada’s room, but no Ada was there to greet him. The puzzle grew deeper, and was fast becoming too deep for Simon Sharp. He was on the eve of giving up the hunt in the house when a sudden noise struck his ear and he listened. The front door had opened and shut, In amoment the sharp stood in the hall where there was no light, listening, with his hand ou his revolver. The steps did not come up the stairs, but seemed to move toward the room which no longer held the model-maker, Thomas Jump,the missing Jersey- man, Simon Sharp empped down-stairs and listened once more. Presently he heard an exclamation of sur- piise; then he saw aman emerge from the work- ane? and stop in the light of the jet near the thresh- old. “IT guess I’ve found the thief. He’s come back for something. He said he would get even with nie for taking the lion’s share as he calls it, and thisis bis work. He came and helped the man off, having first bought Ada off or disposed of her in some other way.’ kept locked,’ growled | faith in you, Baldy. A All this time Simon was glaring like a tiger at the | man who stood within a few feet of him, and who was, in truth, his pariners Jasper Paget. Jasper was totally unaware oi Simon’s presence in the house, or he would not have exposed himself to the man with a@ finger at the trigger of a six-shooter., ‘* Pil give you just two minutes in which to tell me the truth,’ said Simon, savagely, “I have lost all You’ve been a half traitor all along, and I was a fool for trusting you atall. Two minutes, I say. Now, take advantage of the time.” Mr. Paget looked at the revolver and then into the stern eyes of his partner. He read no mercy there. and saw that he would not be believed if he should again deny that he knew anythiu of the captive’s flight, which was the truth. He did not know what had become of Jerry Jump’s father. He had come to the house with the intention of getting even with Simon for taking the lions share, but he was not responsible for the captive’s disappearance, Jasper suddenly noticed that the grip on his shoulder had loosened somewhat, and thought that he could shake it off “T can take advantage of him. I believe I can force him against the wall and get away. IfI don’t there will soon be a dead man in this house, and his name will be Baldy Paget.”’ So Simon found himself suddenly pushed back, as if a tiger had leaped upon his breast, and then he was hugging the wall, with the blazing eyes of Paget in front of him. ‘I've told you the truth,” cried the assailant. “I don’t know what became of him. He must haverun off of his own accord, or been helped away by the person you call Ada. You must not accuse me of everything, or by heavens, I'll peach! You must ee to give me my share of the spoil—my full share, mind—or you'll wish you had, when too late.”’ Simon could not help laughing, despite the situa- tion. “You talk about peaching,” he cried. ‘**‘ Why, the gallows wants you now.” “Thats no difference,’ answered Paget. ‘‘It wants another man oe ad bad. Shall I have my share after this? Will you give me my just dues if I let up?” Simon saw the light that burned in the eyes of the desperate man who had completely turned the tables upon him, ‘*Quick!"’ continued Paget. ‘You minutes; I give you but two seconds!’ ‘“You shall have your fu!l share,” replied Simon, **And I will see that I get it! Remember that!’ and the hands which held the head rascal against the wall fell off, and Simon Sharp was free. CHAPTER XVIII. SIMON FINDS THE LOST BIRD. Tae Sharp from Sharperville did not breathe free until he found himself once more on the street and fairly out of Jasper Paget’s p. He knew that his partner was a desperate character when aroused and he did not want to excite him too far . ‘*T must find Ada if possible for she ought to know something about Tom Jump’s eseape,’’ communed Simon. “It looks a little like the man who broke the door down and got away without help. Ada may be out looking for me, and in that case I may encounter her on the pave. She swore eternal fidelity and I had every reason to believe that she meant it, Yes, I must find Ada,” and with this one gave me two the Camera Sharp. thought Seperm net in his mind, he sallied forth, hig throat still sore from “‘ Baldy ’’ Paget’s clutch. It was one thing to resolve to find Ada, and quite another to find her. Of course he did not know where to look for her for she had no particular haunts, but he hoped to find her somewhere. The escape of the model-maker bothered the city spider not a little. At the same time he recalled his promise to Jasper to give him hereafter his share of the spoil of their, game, This need not trouble him a great deal, for he believed he could = out of this by some sharp practice; even if he ad put Jasper out of the way—a case of wolf turn- ing on wolf. Simon was on the lookout for Ada when he came across a person who seemed to be studying him with a good deal of curiosity. This individual was a young familiar look, and all at once the newsgirl. Knowing that she was acquainted with Photo- aph Fred, the sharp attempted to avoid her, but he found that she still followed him and that she was not disposed to give him up. ‘You are followed, sir,” said a voice at his elbow and iooking around he saw the very person he had been looking for—Ada! * At last!’’ exclaimed Simon. ‘I’ve been rummag- ing the whole city for you. I know I’m followed; but I'll get clear of the spy. She’s nothing but a girl, irl whose face had a e thought of Melly, and she won’t shadow me very long. You let him get away, did you?”’ ““T couldn't help it,” answered Ada. ‘‘If you had been in my shoes you could have done no better. He came back to his senses and became a tiger in his eagerness to get out, I never saw anything like ‘‘ Why didn’t you knock him in the head?” ‘* Heavens, I never thought of that; I had to hide for my life. He seemed to be seeking somebocy's life, and if he had found me I wouldn’t be here tell- ing you about it. Don’t blame me, Simon. I did the best I could.” ‘** Well, maybe you did, Ada,’’ assented the sharp; ‘I'm willing to think so, anyhow, Have you seen him since he got out?’’ ‘Fes, sir,” ‘*Where?”’ eagerly asked the sharp. ‘** Down by the river. It was not long ago. He was seated» on the pier looking across into Jersey and muttering to himself. 9 ‘Show me where,” cried Simon, starting off. *There’s no time to be lost now. We must get that man back to the house or get into trouble our selves. I'll throw the girl cff the scent; don't mind her, Ada, Show me where you saw him.”’ Simon could not conceal the excitement that danced in his eyes. He could think of notbing but recapturing Thomas Jump, and hoped to find his victim still at the wharf, looking over into the coun- try from which the scheme of two rascals had taken 1im, Ada, who knew the city as well as Simon himself, named the pier where she had seen the old man, and the sharp started toward it, not in a direct line, but by a roundabout route, for the purpose of throwing Melly Noonan off the scent. The newsgirl saw the movement, and resolved that the fellow should not carry out his intentions. She, therefore, started after him, and was gliding in the shadows of the street as much as possible when she was suddely struck by a man who seemed eager to avoid some unseen person, and thrown vio- lently to the sidewalk. Melly, quick on foot and active, Sprung up as soon as she could, but the accident had cost her some little time, and just enough, as she discovered, to lore Simon Sharp and bis guide! For a bewildered moment the newsgirl looked everywhere for the sharp. but he bad vanished asif the pavement had opened and swallowed him. “‘T told you so, but that was a bit of luck,” smiled Simon to Ada, who had witnessed the accident to Melly. ‘‘ We are rid of the child now, and she won't know which way we went when she recovers.” The pair darted into a small, dark street, which ended at — river, and in a few moments they er, ht yonder,” said Ada, pointing to a iled. *‘I stood in the shadow of those bales and watched him some minutes,” Simon Sbarp started forward with agile steps. Ada followed close at his heels, Suddenly the sharp from Sharperville stopped and looked over his shoulder at the woman in_ his His eyes had a gleam of victory in their depths. ‘* He has found him!” cried the woman. ‘“ He has actually run across the man who got away. Ah, how shall we get him back?” Yes, Simon Sharp had found some one, for his keen eyes had discovered a human figure lying among the bales—a man asleep. The sharp leaned forward and looked down upon the ere face revealed by the light of the near-at- hand pier-lamp, It was a sad, pale face, and it struck the scamp that its possessor was very : He had probably fallen asleep among the bales while waiting for a boat to come and take him across the river to Jersey. There was no doubt of the man’s identity. It was Thomas Jump, and no mistake! Ada stole to Simon’s side on tiptoe, and looked down upon the man, then glanced up into the sharp’s face and nodded approving? Simon looked cautiously around, but saw nobody in sight. All he had to do was to reach down, get a good grip on Thomas Jump’s arm and escort him to the street they had just left, where he could geta were on the “Tt was 1 certain spot where some bales were shadow. _ - i asa, ai " : , - ‘ nicbooks.com