Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 701 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

J ~ ane —_ Bers... = Bee ee eee — ~—_ — eit ee ee a ' * Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 5 and no face like the one you have just shown me, ‘‘ What became of the article you brought to Old Hawkbill?” **T brought nothing,” smiled the man, with an- other glance at Jerry. ‘I came to talk trade, with nothing to catch the old rascal’s eye. Do ‘you think be has gone away because he choked me a little too hard?” ‘That is to be found out,” was the reply. ** Why don’t you prefer charges of assault } against the old chap? ‘*T don’t care about spending time on such truck, He would wriggle out of it, and I’d have some cheap notoriety for my pains. By Jove, but ’'m hungry.” The police of the great cities do some unac- countable things sometimes, and on this occa- sion, instead of taking Mr. Paget to the station, they escorte1 him to the door of Old Hawkbill’s shop and let him go. **Come,” said Photograph Fred, clutching Jerry’s sleeve, ‘‘Onr work begins here. We wmust shadow that fellow, for he is the possessor of the drop shoulder and the man I saw with Simon Sharp. He may have told a straight story of his doings with Old Hawkbill, as far as be went, but he didn’t tell the whole truth. Did ‘you see how he eyed you on several occasions?” ‘*Tiwas watching him all the time,” replied Jerry. ‘*The dropped shoulder is plainly visi- ble now, Don’t lose him at this stage of the game.” ‘* Not for the world!” asserted Fred. ‘‘I *“caught’ him when he started off, and now we've got the pair. It may be a long chase, but Mr. Paget is too valuable a person to let slip through our fingers. He may not have taken anything to old Jacob’s last night, but 1 didn’t like his look when he made the assertion. He has proven to me beyond doubt that he knows Simon Sharp, and that rascal knows about the stolen diamonds, if not all about your father’s fate.” The two boys hastened after Paget, and con- clucted the shadowing so well that they tracked him toa house in Division street, the door of which he opened with a latch-key, CHAPTER V. JERRY JUMP IN THE WEB. THOUGH the bovs watched the house on Divi- sion street for some time, the man called Jasper Paget did not oblige them by coming out, He weemed content to remain indoors after his adventure at Old Hawkbill’s, and having waited for him long enough,Fred’and Jerry went away, promising to come back before long and see what had become of the man they had shadowed. Melly was on duty at her news-stand and they thought they would drop round and see ifshe had seen anything of her liberal patron, Simon Sharp; but the girl had nothing new to report. While they were chatting with her, a man came along and gave Jerry a quick and pene- trating look which sent a thrill through the @Jersey boy. **Did you see that?” he exclaimed, turning to Fred, ‘That man seemed to look me through at a glance. That is the fellow, with the drab coat and the wide shoulders,” ‘“* He’s built like my patron, but not dressed like him,” said Melly. ‘* Healways buys a paper whem he sees me, but maybe he’s a little short this morning.” | By this time the man being discussed had reached a t some distance fron the trio, and ’ Fred was about to start after him in order to catch him with the camera, if necessary, when he turned suddenly and came back. Without noticing the boys he approached the mews-box and asked Melly for his morning paper. Photograph Fred adroitly threw open his coat and in an instant had “caught” him. The stranger folded his paperand tossed a quarter upon the board in front of the girl, who thanked him, though she could not help glancing know- inglv at the boys. 4 ‘Tt is Simon Sharp,” whispered Jerry. ‘*That is the man who came to Rosedale aud ut up at the hotel. For heaven’s sake, don’t et him get away from us; keep him in sight!” This was unexpected luck, and when the man started off he was shadowed by the boysat care ful distance, and eagerly watched by Melly un- til he was out of sight. Not far from the scene of the encounter Simon Sharp stopped at a small cigar store and pur- chased a smoke, after which he sauntered on again enjoying the weed, and apparently uncon- scious of being followed. At last he dodged round a corner and when tke young shadowers turned it they almost ran against him, for he bad stopped and was looking €e wit ae. “Fh (Vee 7 ard over the paper. Jerry, who in his eagerness was in the advance, fell back with a light cry which drew the man’s attention upon him and the next moment he was addressed by the hunt- ed person. ‘“See here, I want a boy of your size,” said Simon Sharp. ‘I was on the spur of advertis- ing for one, but if you want a job, lll give you a trial.” Jerry with rare presence of mind seemed to recover in a flash. ‘*?’m not particularly in need of a job,” said he, ** but—” ‘** But you won’t let a good thing slip away, eh?” broke in the man, The Jersey boy looked at Fred and saw “ go” in his eye; then he came closer to Simon Sharp and asked what be had for him to do. ‘*] want an office boy, one who can write a fair hand, Ihave a good many letters to be addressed, and the work is light and the pay good. You can handle a pen, can’t you? You look smart,” Jerry said that he was not so slow with a pen, and the following minute he was walking away with the man, who towered far above him with his large bead and broad shoulders. “This is luck with a vengeance,” exclaimed Fred, catching Jerry and Simon Sharp with the ‘*detective.” ‘* I'll hear from Jerry before long, and then we'll know more about the case we're working up, The Jersey bey is in the web of the New York spider; but I guess he’s sharp enough to get out.” Let us follow Jerry Jump and see. Soon after picking up the boy in search of his father, Simon cape put his paper in his pocket as if he had suddenly lost all interest in it, and turned his attention to Jerry. The boy walked nimbly along, easily keeping pace with his new acquaintance and taking notice of the route they were traversing. After turning several squares the pair reach- ed a building in the middle of a block and Simon conducted his companion up two flights of steps to a back room, ‘** We can’t always get rooms in front,” he ex- plained, ‘‘so we have to put up with some in- conveniences, This is where I do business,” Jerry wondered what sort of ‘‘ business” he did, for he saw no signs of any about the room, and while he wondered, Simon Sharp opened a drawer in an old-fashioned table and produced a box of envelopes. ‘*Sure enough, he’s got some addressing to do,” thought the Jersey boy, and just then Simon turned and beckoned him forward, ** When did you come to the city?” asked the suspected map. Jerry started. ‘You see l can tell a tenderfoot,” continued Simon, with asmile. ‘* We city people are ex- cellent observers of human nature, and don’t miss it once in a thousand times, You haven't been here long?” ‘* Not very long, sir,” answered Jerry. ‘Do you want me to go to work right mo Oly The boy had taken a seat at the table and was in the act of picking up a pen which lay near, A a look came into Simon Sharp’s eyes, He seemed on the eve of saying something, but suddenly checked himself, and Jerry appeared to catch a gleam of triumph in his look, ‘*'Yes, go to work,” said he, ‘‘ Here’s the list,” and he spread before Jerry a list of names which was quite long and new, fresh from a List Agency, the boy had no doubt. Anxious to conceal his face, which he was afraid Simon Sharp might recogvize, Jerry went to work, keeping his chin close to the table and paying much attention to his task. It ap- peared to him that Simon Sharp had stepped back and was eying him like a hawk, though he did not look up to see just what he was about. ** You'll have employment there for a time,’ suddenly continued the man, ‘‘Copy the ad- dresses carefully and [ll look at your work when I come back,” He heard the man walk across the room and strike a match; then he caught the fragrance of a fresh cigar which vanished with Simon through the door. Jerry almost sprung erect when he found him- self alone in the der of the city spider. Had he really found the man who had stolen his father’s diamonds, and the villain who knew what. had become of that parent? Had he fallen intoa net spread by the spider for his destruction? And was he to remain a prisoner in that room until Simon Sharp, and probably bis friend, Jas- per Paget, could determine wbat should be done with him? These thoughts went like wildfire through Jerry’s brain, He had heard Simon Sharp go down the steps and his footfalls had died aways and he was the sole occupant of the little back room! All at once he threw down the pen and sprung up. Heran to the door and grasped the knob, It would turn, but the door did not open, He had been locked in! ‘* In a trap sure enough!” cried Jerry. ‘* This is what I get for allowing myself to be roped im by a first-class rascal. This is just the opportu< nity Simon Sharp has been looking for. I won- der if Photograph Fred followed us? No, he went back; I remember now,” The Jersey boy went to the window and saw that it looked out upon a cramped back-yard, He tried the lower sask but it would not move. ‘‘ If T escape I won’t make apy discoveries,” thought Jerry. ‘‘I came with Simon Sharp to find out all I could, and I’ve discovered nothing yet. I guess I'll stay and brave the spider a litle longer. This man knows sometbing. What did Meily say about his weoring a big dia- mond? I won’t try to escape yet, but will stay bere till the man comes bac...’ Jarry went back to the table and tcok up the pen once more, He did not seem in any hurry to complete bis task, but slowly addressed the envelopes, copy- ing from the list. He was doing this whea he heard a footstep in the hall. **He soon returned,” said Jerry to himself, thinking of Simon Sharp. “I don’t want bim to think that I’ve put inany time nosing round,” and he went to work while a key clicked in the lock and the door opened, Taking it for granted that the person who bad entered the room was Simon Sharp, Jerry did not look up until he heard a sharp ‘‘ hello!” when he paused in his work and raised his head. If the dead had come to life before him he would not have been more surprised than he was by the apparition near the table. Mr. Jasper Paget, the late prisoner of Old Hawkbill’s cellar, was standing at his elbow! -y By the jumping jingo ! when did you come here?” exclaimed the man, as much startled as the Jersey boy. ‘‘I’d as soon lIcok for Davy Crockett here as you. Why,I left you—” He broke his own sentence as if he was gettin on dangerous ground, and falling back hestar at Jerry, as though he was not sure that the en- counter was an episode in real life, ‘*I’m employed by Mr. Sharp,” said Jerry. ‘* You are? Hired by him to addres circulars? Where did he run across you?” ‘* We met accidentally on the street. He was looking for a boy, and I came in bandy.” It seemed to Jerry that Jasper Paget did not know whether to laugh or swear. ‘*Picked you up on the street? Luck, luck! Well, this beats my time all to pieces. Where ig he? ‘He went out awhile ago.” **Say when he would be back, eh?” ‘** He did not.” Jasper looked once more at Jerry, this time with a cunning light in the depths of his eyes, and then moved toward the door, ‘*There’s a good deal of the snake in that man,” ran through the Jersey boy’s minc. “I believe he’s really more dangerous than Simon Sharp if let alone. I wish Fred could hear of this encounter.” Mear time Paget had reached the door, but all at once he came back, and laid one hand on hig shoulder. ‘Say, don’t tell him that I called, will you” he said. ‘* Not if you desire silence,” was the reply. ** It’s not necessary for him to know it,” con- tinued Paget. ‘‘ You see, I come rather often, and it’s not worth while to tell him every time, ‘You won’t mention it, eh?” “*I won't,” .promised Jerry, and with a ‘“‘thank you,” the man went back to the door again and went out. The moment the portal was shut, the youn hunter sprung across the room and leaned again the door, for Jasper Paget was muttering to himself in the hall. ‘Great Jehosaphat! who'd have thought it?” he heard the mansay. ‘ Ran across bim on the street, too! Got him in the trap slick and clean! First one pigeon and then another. It’srobbing the nest completely. If I hadn’t met with my misfortune last night, I’d be a thousand better off than I am; but the old hawk was too mach for Baldy Paget. I’ve got to play another game, but, thank fortune, there’s more nest egas where I found the one I lost. The brain is still at work, and all we have to dois to keep him busy. But the boy inside? I wonder what Simon intends to do with him? I know what I'd do, ha, ha!” and the laugh that rippled over JNA EN be OLN 0 oe ee | IC ce) | ¥ ¢ }