Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

~ 9 ~~ ‘ ae aos pre Photograph Fred, the Camera S *“*1 m both lost and in a fix,” was the reply. ** This is a great city, isn’t it?” . ** Well, I should say so.” ** And there are some people in it who are not exactly honest?” ** There’s thousands of that kidney, You can’t count the rogues of New York on your fingers. ‘You don’t seem to live here?” ‘*IT don’t. I came in the other day, and I be- lieve 1 was decoyed to the city. [ had some money wher I arrived, but now I haven’t a cent in my pockets. How am I to get home?’ ‘*Maybe Ican help you,” was the prompt re- sponse. | ‘“*Tf you wouldn’t mind telling me your story—’ ‘** [ll do that with pleasure, for I feel the need of a friend in a strange city like this. My mis- sion is a singular one and there are some rascals who ought to be behind bars,” “Just where lots of them don’t get, But come with me. Idon’t live far from bere, and I guess there’s sometbing in the cupboard, fur you look hungry.” Both speakers were boys, one better dressed than the other, and almost any one could have told that they belonged to different parts of the couutry—that one was from the district beyond the river, while the other was a typical city lad. The city boy led his new acquaintance down several streets, and at last conducted him up the steps of a tall frame building and into a room where sat a woman who looked up amazed when they entered. “This is Mr, Jerry J amp from across the riv- er, mother,” said the city boy, by way of intro- duction. ‘* He’s ina stew from what he’s told me. In other words, he’s fallen among thieves, and I think somebody ought to be ticketed for Sing Sing.” The woman who had a sorrowful but kindly face, spoke pleasantly to the country youth and then, at the other’s request, went to the larder and win, out the remains of a supper which had been discussed not long before. * You can eat and talk if you want to,” sug- — the city boy, Fred Paster, ‘* mother and will listen.” ‘“‘T shall have to begin some years back—ten at least. About that time my father was living, and we had a very happy home over in Jersey, Father was very ingenious and invented some labor-saving machines that brought ina great dealof money. In fact, we soon became rich, but instead of investing our money in land, where it would be safe, father foolishly bought a lotof diamonds. He used to say that they could be sold at a handsome profit at any time and that, besides, they were easily hidden. I often warned him not to put bis wealth intosuch stuff, but he would not listen, and sometimes would get very angry whenever we mentioned the matter. “Well, things went on in this shape for some time. It seensed to us that every dollar father got went into diamonds. He bought some mag- nificent ones, and soon the whole country knew what he was doing, Five years ago he suddenly said that he had made enough out of his patents, aud, against our wishes, sold out every one of them and invested the whole sum in precious stones. We began to fear that his mind was af- fected. One night the diamonds disappeared. I never knew just where they were kept, but I knew that they had been stolen by finding fath- erin the woods,araving maniac. We never found out where he had hid the gems, for he could not tell us, and, to add to our affliction, he disappeared soon afterward, and to this day bis fate is a mystery.” ‘** But awhile ago you seemed to speak of him as dead,” suggested Fred who had not lost a word of the narrative. ‘* Perhaps I did,” was the reply. ‘ Mother is convinced that he is dead, and I sometimes fol- low her convictions when speaking of him, As for myself, I don’t know what to think. After the theft of the diamonds and father’s vanish- ment, we made another terrible discovery. He bad involved us all iu ruin, for bis passion for gems had caused him to secretly sell the farm, and when we came to look for our bome we found disaster staring usin the face. But, we managed to live on the place for some years, owing to the kindness of those into whose hands it had passed; but now we livein town, and mother takes in sewing to help us along. ** What brought me to New York? I’m com- ing to that, Several weeks ago I saw a man in our village who sported a very fine pin. He came on the train from this city and put up at our only hotel. I happened to be there when he came, and the moment J saw the pin, a tarill I cannot describe ran through me. My bead seemed on fire, and I found myself looking not at the man himself, but at his pin, which was a | day?” he asked, his breath coming quick, show- \ a fine diamond, Now, among father’s gems was one just like it; I bad seen it often, and that’s why I could not help looking at it at every op- portunity. Well, the man did not stay as long as it seemed he wanted to. He made some in- quiries about father, and the landlord up and told him all about the robbery and father’s dis- appearance. Then the man said he was a de- tective, but when the tavern-keeper told him that I was Thomas Jump’s son, he did not take any more infere-t in the robbery; indeed, be paid his bill and went away. ‘IT did not know of these things until after the stranger had departed, He had said that he was doing business on the Bowery, and when the landlord asked him for bis card, he said it wasn’t necessary, but said that his name was Simon Sharp, and that he could be found at ail times without difficulty. The more | thought over the matter, the more convinced I became that that man knew something about the rob- bery of the diamonds, and I sat down and wrote a letter to Simon Sharp, Bowery, asking him if he would take the case in hand,” ‘‘And of course got no answer?” eagerly asked Fred, with asmile, The young man from the country ran one hand into bis bosom and produced a letter, at sight of which the eyes of the city boy fairly snapped. ‘This is what I got,” exclaimed young Jump. “It was some days before I heard anything, but it came one day, and the next morning I packed up and came on,” While he spoke he extended the letter, which Fred took and opened, “Tt’s a slick bit of rascality,” said the city lad, glancing up at Jerry Jump’s anxious face, ‘The writer of the letter wants you to come to the city, and even sets a day for your arrival. Did you come on time?” ‘No, I got here a day in advance.” ‘*And spoiled bis plans!” cried Fred, ‘‘I presume you’ve been through the Bowery look- ing for Simon Sharp’s office?” ‘“*T confess that I have. I’ve tramped every foot of the Bowery from end to end,” ‘* Looking for a needle in a haystack!” laughed the other, ‘‘If you had come on time, Mr. Sharp would have been on hand to welcome you. It’s a good thing you missed him,” ‘*T think so myself,” assented Jerry, ** He’s ony one of thousands of rogues who infest New York. He has a den somewhere on the Bowery, else he wouldn’t have received your letter.” ‘* But, what did he want me to come on for? I had no money,” **Ob, he’s up to some trickery,” asserted Fred. ‘‘I wish lbad bim in my Rogue's Gal- lery, for then you might recognize him.” ‘You migbt show Mr, Jump the photographs anyhow,” put in Mrs, Paster. Fred left the room for a minute, and when he came back he was carrying in his arms a book of corpulent proportions, ‘*T catch them on the wing,” he explained, depositing the book on the table. ‘‘ The detect- ive camera is a great thing, nowadays. You can get a fellow and he don’t know it. I make some odd dimes at the business, for I now and then ‘‘catch” a face that is of some value to the police or the Secret Service men, and they buy the picture,” Already Jerry was leaning over the book, gazing at the many faces displayed while Fred slowly turned the leaves, **'You don’t mean to say that you take pho- tographs on the street?” he queried, in undis- guised astonishment. ‘Yes; I used to bein a gallery, and there’s where I learned the art of catching ’em on the wing. I carry the camera under my coat and all I bave todo is to touch the button, and I have my customer, all O. K. It’s done in a jiffy, and the.fellow caught is none the wiser for it, either, Overon Mulberry street, at Police Headquarters, they sometimes call me Photo- graph Fred, the Camera Sharp. I catch ’em all the same,” and the young photographer laughed triumphantly. ; “Where do you find your subjects?” quefied erry. ‘* Everywhere; on the street, in the Park, along the rivers, before the theaters; I’m pick- ing ’em up wherever 1 go. Now, there’s a chap I caught yesterdav, Of course he knew noth- ing about my little game, or I fancy he would have spoiled it,” The next moment the Jersey boy bent closer to the page before him and began to stare at the face referred to by the young photographer, ‘*Did you really take that picture yester- harp. » ‘* Hedid so fara fa: ‘ to - o> a ' ’ ‘ » Pe ” * ? ad | ‘4 » * ing excitement. ‘*T ‘shot’ bim on Broadway,” assured Fred. ‘‘ Why, that is the man who came to our hotel — and called himself Simon Sharp, detective.” In an instant Photograph Fred was holding his breath, and his hand caught Jerry’s wrist. ‘‘ Be sure of it!” he exclaimed, ‘Don’t make a mistake about that face,” ‘‘T would almost swear to the identity of that face,” avowed the young Jerseyite, reso- lutely. ‘That is Simon Sharp, the rascal who decoyed me to New York, and who knows something about the lost diamonds, if not all | about the mystery that overshadows my fath- er’s fate,” Fred carried the album to the window where the light was stronger, and Jerry eagerly fol- lowed him. ‘*T am positive now,” said the latter, when he examined the little photograph under a mag- nifying glass. ‘' He has a scar at the corner of one eye. You caught even that, I see, That scar establishes bis identity. Do you think you could find bim again?” ‘* Since you want him, he shall be found!” de- clared Fred. “I am willing, to devote my life to the clearing up of the mystery which brought you among the vultures and sharks of Gotham, From now on Fred Paster and his camera are at your service, Jerry Jump, for I’ve taken a great liking to you and will stick by you like a brother!” The Jersey boy seized Fred’s hands and poured out his thanks, CHAPTER II. MYSTERY NUMBER TWO, ALREADY a strong bond of friendship existed between the young Camera Sharp and Jerry Jump, and the Jersey boy accepted Fred’s invi- tation to make his headquarters in his humble home where they could consult at all times, and from which they could sally fcrth in their search for Simon Sharp. Night was not far off when the boys met for the first time and shortly after Jerry had recog- nized the photograph which Fred Paster had taken on the sly, they left the house and went over into the Bowery, ‘You'll find everybody here if you watch long enough,” announced the youthful photo- grapher as they turned into that famous thor- oughfare. “I catch many of my subjects on the Bowery, and here’s where the detectives find many of their prizes, We won’t look for Simon Sharp’s sign, for, ten chances to one that he never hung one out; so we'll just keep our eyes open awhile and then go down and call on Melly.” The Jersey boy looked at his friend, but asked no questions, and for some time they were employed in scrutinizing every face they saw. ** You don’t see him, eh?” the boy photogra- pher queried at last. ; ‘Not yet, but I’m not discouraged, for haven't I just seen the rascal’s picture?” ‘* Did Simon oe come to Rosedale alone?” s I know,” answered Jerry. ‘** How long did he stay?” ‘* Two days in all.” ‘*T asked you because such rascals don’t gen- erally play all their games alone, They have zome pal, some fellow like themselves with whom they share the swag, Now, Simon Sharp is just the sort of a man to have a pard, and if we can’t find him we might pick up his pard and thus strike his trail, I recollect now that when I took him on the street he seemed to be waiting for some one, and soon after he was joined by a chap with whom he walked away. didn’t get to catch them together, and there- fore lost the other one entirely, but I noticed that he had a game shoulder—that is, one a little lower than the other. Don’t forget this while youre taking in the people on the Bowery.” ‘“‘ Which shoulder was the lower?” “The left one, But, let’s go down and see Melly. I helped to start her up in business, a little time ago, and I’m sort of anxious to see how she’s coming on. ' Jerry, as his look indicated, was curious to know how Fred, a boy like himself, could set any one up in business, and he immediately evinced a desire to see Melly.” Photograph Fred led the way from the brilliantly lighted Bowery into a darker side street, and ten min- utes later the boys halted before the low door of a small house whose exterior told of very plain things within. ‘This is Melly’s,” said young Paster, leoking at his companion, ‘‘ You’ve seen finer houses “COMIE ey