Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 709 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

~ r re > " -weren’t no paper. The Curbstone Detective. foolishly and hastily the other day. I owe you some reparation,” He counted out some notes from the bundle in his hand, and passed them to Harry, ‘* Here is your reward,” he said. **Much ’bliged,” rejoined the boy, thrusting them into his pocket with as much carelessness as if he was used to receiving such sums, While he did this Mr. Wilson occupied himself with running over the papers in his wallet, ** Now I reckon [ll git,” Yarry rose and stretched bimself, slapped his pocket tosee if the notes were all right, and walked toward the door, ‘* Hold!” cried the banker, in an altered tone, Harry turned. A remarkable change of ex- pression bad come upon the old man’s face, He mae pale as acorpse and wore a look of deep right, ‘*The paper!” he gasped. ‘* Whereisit? The missing paper?” ‘‘ What missing paper, mister?” ‘**Do you mean tosay you have not abstracted a paper?” ‘Nary paper.” ** You lie, you young thief!” Mr. Wilson rose and rushed to the door. ‘Jones, run for a po- liceman! All of you see that this young rascal don’t escape! Ive been robbed!” CHAPTER III, WHO STOLE THE PAPER? THERE was considerable curiosity and debate in the outer office of the Wilson banking estab- lishment during the clerk’s journey ir search of a policeman, but in the private office quiet reigned supreme. After his first outbreak, and a few short ques- tions which Harry answered as shortly, Mr. Wilson relapsed into silence, dnd began again to examine his papers, with a very disturbed face, Harry, on his part, picked up a newspaper, set- tled himself comfortably, and began to read, They bad not long to wait. Within ten minutes the messenger returned, accompanied by a stalwart officer of the force. ‘* Here, my good fellow, I want you to take this boy into custody,” exclaimed the banker, more sharply than politely. Toe officer looked inquiringly from one to the other, while an expression of recognition marked his face as he gazed on the boy’s knowing coun- tenance. Harry, indeed, met his gaze with a decided wink, **On what charge?’ asked the officer ‘‘ Robbery,” returned the banker. him in charge at once,” ‘*T reckon not!” rejoined Harry. ‘* Why not?” ‘** He ain’t got no warrant, That’s why. Can't tetch this chicken ’thout a warrant,” “Very true,” rejoined the officer, ‘‘I have no right to arrest any one on an indefinite charge. You will need a magistrate’s warrant, What has the boy really done, if I may ask?” ** He has a stolen a valuable paper from my pocketbook,” ; ‘*Is there not some mistake, Mr. Wilson? I know this boy well. He bears an excellent reputation.” ‘“Ax him how I come ter have his smashin’ old book,” broke in Harry. ‘** He found it,” rejoined Mr, Wilson. ‘I ad- vertised for it and be brought it back. He has taken a paper from it worth far more than all the rest of the contents,” The officer looked at him inquiringly. Mr. ‘Wilson was evidently very much disturbed and agitated. He was certainly not his usual self, ‘‘ How much money did the book contain?” asked the officer, ‘* About two thousand dollars,” ‘Very well. And this paper, which is worth - ie to you, what would it be worth to this Oy Mr. Wilson hesitated and stammered. This question put the matter in a new light, ** Nothing, likely,” he managed to say, ‘*Then he has returned you two thousand in money, and kept a worthless piece of paper? This is not robbery, Mr. Wilson, If the paper is lost, it must have been by accident.” This was a common sense view of the case. The banker began to look as if he had been too hasty. sf never tetched the paper nor the money neither,” exclaimed Harry indignantly. ‘* You kuow me,” he continued to the officer, ‘* Did ye ever know me do anything that weren’t on the dead square? It’s all tad *bout that paper. He guv me ten cents fur findi and now he’s guv me a fifty. he wants ter git it back by rakin’ up that yarn "bout a paper. er’ “ Take a ‘ Ye igs # + gt P th ' 7 “sg Ja ‘. a. . » ~ @ J . ¥ : ’ ; — . g. * ke iy Mn ANA NY a Ge. oe ; . . led GE a : o- el ’ Peg. *: 4 a a” > Se Tot ae eee SIR n’ that pocketbook ; ier, . , ; ‘** How about this?” asked the officer of Mr. Wilson, ‘* May you not be mistaken about the paper being in your pocketbook?” ‘‘No. It was there. There is no question about that.” ‘* | never tuk it,” exclaimed Harry. opened the blamed old book.” ‘* That doesn’t agree with your former story,” rejoined Mr, Wilson. ‘* You said you found my name and address on some of the papers—and come to think of it, that wasa le, My address is not on any of them.” ‘*T reckon it is, then, Bill Fisk found it. Here itis. He wrote it down for me.” Harry produced the written address, ‘* Bill Fisk!” cried the officer, quickly. ‘* How was he mixed in it?” ‘Tell ye bow,” rejoined Harry. ‘ This is the way it was: Bill Fisk said as how ’twasn’t hon- est ter keep it fur a reward, and axed me ter fetch it right back. He said he’d look through it and find where the owner lived. And go he did. And this is what he found.” He pointed to the written address. ** Bill Fisk? He did this?” ** Sure as shootin’.” The officer whistled in a knowing manner, ‘*You know this Fisk!” asked Mr. Wilson, quickly. ‘*He’s one of the keenest rascals in New York.” ** Then he has the paper,” ‘** His show of honesty is suspicious, anyhow, You ieay. your address is not in the book?” “é oO, ** Did any one know you had lost it?” ‘Yes. I talked of it some,” ‘* Who knows the value of the lost paper be- sides yourself?” ‘*Only one person in the world, And he is in the Rocky Mountains.” ‘* You are mistaken, Mr. Wilson,” rejoined the officer, confidently, ‘‘ This man, Bill Fisk, knows about it. He has the paper, and intends to use it.” ‘“*He hain’t!” cried Harry. “I was kinder feared of him and watched him sharp. He didn’t take no paper.” ‘*Sure of that? Didn’t he distract your atten- tion?” 1 §< “Dunno what you mean by ’stractin’ my tention. He did drop some o’ ther papers on the floor, but he picked ’em right up ag’in.” A slight laugh broke from the officer’s lips. ‘*You’re not old enough, my lad, for Bill Fisk, He has done you neatly. Do you see how it is, Mr. Wilson?’ be continued, ‘ The boy is innocent, This rascal’s ihe pp to honesty is proof enough toat he had some scheme in train. He has the paper. Think a mo- ment. Did you ever know the man? Can you recall him?” Mr. Wilson shook his head. ‘*He knows you, then. He knows the value of that lost paper. And if it gives him any Squeeze on you, he’s going to use that squeeze for all it’s worth. Take my word for that.” Mr. Wilson looked at the officer admiringly. ** You should have been in the detective ser- vice,” he said. ‘‘ You are wasting your talents on the street force, Youareright, This Fisk has the lost paper.” ‘*Then the scootin’ blackguard’s shet up both my peepers!” exclaimed Harry, in a burst of passion. “I Itstruck me comical when he guv me all that taffy ’bout honesty’s the best policy. If I hadn’t been the biggest fool in New Tose and that’s bein’ a scrougin’ big one—I’d seen through his little game. But, ’m goin’ to git ere him. If I ain’t, salt me fur a mack- erel, ** What is to be done?” asked Mr, Wilson of the officer. ‘*This Fisk must be looked after, arrested, and searched. His rooms must be searched,—I am afraid this plan will be of little use. The fellow isno beginner.—But it is the first thing to be done.” ** What next?” ‘“* There isn’t any next. The next don’t begin till the first is through,” **T know where he hangs out,” announced Harry, excitedly, ‘*And 1 know some of his sportin’ places, I’m on this lay!” ‘Will you take the job?” asked Mr, Wilson of the officer, ‘I will pay you handsomely for the return of that paper.” _ “You will need a detective. I have not the time nor the experience for such work,” ‘Can you recommend a good detective?” ‘*T never “Yes, By the ve I will be off duty in half an hour, If you w sb, I will, with the boy’s aid, look up Bill Fisk and search his rooms, He may not yet have got rid of bis prize. If you aa a ’ a ; a's a ' t * | ) CL. iS it~ Fede * 5 ar. : a * 4 ee me Ss ‘ 4 ¥ Fa J . : , ~ 7 , e " " \ ‘ ~ ow . net ‘ ‘ * * ‘ ’ - ‘oe +a4 Poy - 4 cs - f > eA EE . rt, re, 4 A mr cf Me, will obtain a search-warrant, Mr. Wilson, from the nearest magistrate, I will return in half an hour.” “Very good. I will do so,” ‘*And [ll hang ’bovt here and see how they make money out o’ paper,” broke in Harry. ‘* It’s a nice little trade as I’d like to learn, Tt beats blackin’ hollow.” The officer laughed as he walked away to his: post of duty. Mr. Wilson followed him quickly to obtain the warrant, Harry seated himself in a corner of the banking office to learn the skill- ful art of which be bad spoken. ‘* How is this, young fellow !” asked the elderly clerk who had spoken to him before. ‘ Mr. Wilson sent for a policeman to arrest you. How is it you are at liberty?” ‘* He bit off more than he could chaw, that’s the long and short o’t,” rejoined Harry. ‘He tried to climb up the-wrong tree.” ‘* 'W hat is the difficulty, my lad?” ‘* Tt’s a bit o’ flummery, that’s what!” ‘** Yes, but the nature of it?” ** Tt ain’t got no nature, It’s all huckleberry puddin’,” ‘** But what has happened? What did he ac- cuse you of stzaling? All the other clerks were listening curiously. ‘* Don’t b’lieve he knows that bisself. He’s off his base, the old man is.” ‘* But there was some charge, to let you off?” ‘* He got holt of a hot tater when he picked me up. Burnt his fingers and had ter drap e ’ How came he ‘* But what did you steal? Or what did he say you stole?” ‘How much do you git a day fur pumpin’, mister? Yer ought to git paid mighty well, fur it’s goin’ to be mighty hard work ter fetch ’ile.”” ‘*Why, you cantankerous young rascal! are you poking fun at mef” Harry’s answers and the laughter of the others bad considerably riled the questioner, ‘‘Nary fun, But it’s ’way down arte, and you'll have ter pump hard. I know Mr, Wilson wants me to keep shady; and [’m the shadiest little coon you ever see’d when I sets out fur it,” A roar of laughter followed, and the boy’s questioner retired discomfited. ‘* You found his pocketbook?” asked another. sé Yes.” / ** What did he give you?” ‘*Ten cents, An’ didn’t even offer mea hogs: and cart to haul it home in,” ** What did you do with it?” ‘*Fiung it back and told him to buy poor- house soup with it.” ; ‘‘You were a confounded little fool, then,” rejoined the other, ‘‘ You don’t know Mr, Wil- son. He is not the miser he seems.” ‘* He plays it well, anyhow!” ‘* He is peculiar,” rejoined the clerk, ‘ That is one of his old tricks. If you had taken the ten cents he would have rewarded you prop- rly.” “You bet he has, then,” returned Harry, slapping his et. ‘I’ve got a fifty here. I’m just the richest little snoozer this side the Atlantic.” Further conversation was prevented by the entrance of customers, and during the remain- der of Harry’s stay the attendants were too busy to ask questions, At the end of the time fixed Mr, Wilson re- turned, and soon after the policeman entered, dressed in citizen’s clothes, 7 The remainder of the day was spent by Harry and his ‘‘ friend on the force,” Will Wallace by pai in search of Fisk. But no Fisk was to be found, Harry had known him for several months, in a boyish way, and had been somewhat culti- vated by Fisk, who liked the boy’s shrewd wit. He therefore bad some knowledge of his ordi- nary places of resort and associates, But in none of these was he to be found, and no one could give any information concerning him, His place of residence was next visited. He occupied two roomsina shabby house. There was little furniture in these apartments, and the search of them did not take long. It ended as might have been expected. No trace of the missing paper was found, Fisk had not been fool enough to leave such a document lying round loose, Harry spent the next day in search of his. recent associate, He even enlisted a corps of bootblacks in the service. The policeman, Wal- lace, joined jn.as soon as he was relieved from duty. But the search ended as it had done the day before. No trace of Fisk was forth- coming. , On the succeeding morning Wallace, the po- bh 4 5 sal . ve / . 2 y ae? So : A Rie | +27 ee? » inl, | MS J ' nah! ‘s Yi oy (; i [ iy ( 4 7 k v > is eer : £ —_ an - : é - - TH = = | * a“? . —— tin ae “neg, det Ogle - _ , - , mm 3 , << « 4. i * . > - “ ° é See it - * . — ort Poe Me™ a or —— rf ~~ a - ‘ , wet Zz - - own ~ — ae OS ar al s 7 —— an ¥. 7h. i * of a > oy Y — ; Wy A — dns > ._i. . - - as ey Te im P. . “y $ ~ ; * %& anil ». > — * ne, ° ._ —— bal » 7 = od =