Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 717 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

LO CHAPTER XI. FLIPPY JIM. In his bewilderment Randolph had not before | thought of the theory which Jack now advanced, but it wasso striking that he could not fail to give attention to it. ‘‘There can’t be more nor a bushel o’ fellers that look like you,” pursued the Hustler Gamin, ‘6 an’ as we know by Lena that there’s one, why not kinder sift the chaff an’ see ef there’s any grain in it.” ‘*Do you suppose this man was there to see Cheslington?” ‘*Duono. He was talkin’ with a chap who wuz a stranger ter me, but Everard might ’a’ been close by, jest out o’ my sight. Say, hardly v’lieve tvat wa’n’t.you, by Ebenezer!” Randolph reiterated his denial, and fully con- vinced his young friend, but the latter harped upon the subject until the unknown became a person in whom both felt a keen interest. Who was he? What was he doing at Cheslington’s house? Was he really Bertram Dalton? They only abandoned these speculations when Randolph returned to the subject of Mosquito Jack’s unlucky érrand. What was to be ex- pected from it? Jack was back safe and sound, but wily Cheslington now knew that some one was working against him, and would be a hard person to catch. Randolph was almost dis- couraged, and spoke of giving up the struggle. ‘Don’t yer doit!” his ally advised, with em- phasis, ‘‘ I don’t know the secret o’ the bee that is stingin’ you, but I say, le’s fight it out! I’m interested, I be; an’ now we hev saddled the hoss, I want ter ride him. Cheslington is a mean scamp, that’s sure; he’s legitermate game, an’ we’re nat’ral hunters, Le’s foller right at his heels, do no barkin’, but pull bim down when we kin,” Fenton did not answer. It was a matter of keen regret that they were no nearer solving the mystery of Everard Cheslington’s secret busi- ness than before, and Randolph was tempted to give up. After all, what proof had they that the sharper had meddled with Colonel Fenton’s financial affairs? ** Perhaps I had better go to work somewhere, and think no more about proving myself inno- cent in the eyes of a man who has driven me out of his house,” was the bitter reflection. Officer O’Dowley now appeared, fresh from his special duties, and eager to learn the result of Mosquito Jack’s venture, The report did not please him, ‘* Begorra! Oi’d give me nixt month’s wages to get wan crack at dhat crook’s, head!” he de- clared. ‘*‘The way they abused ye, John, was atrocious, but niver you moind. Move-on Moike is sthill on ‘deck, an’ he’ll give thim a lesson they won’t forget. Dhis is just dhe chance Oi’¥e been lookin’ for, an’ if the Goddess ave Liberty an’ the Constitution don’t go dead back on me, Oi’ll earn a sergeant’s berth by baggin’ thim scoundrels!” The honest patrolman was as enthusiastic as usual, but, this time, he did not fire Randolpt in like manner. ** How will you do it?” the latter asked. **How? Not by a saloon pull, for Oi have have none, but by me wits, begorra!” Fenton did not find anything very encourag- ing in this statement. It was a good deal easier to talk than todo. He therefore sat in silence, while Move-on Mike continued his words of ay ape yg. In this line he captured Cheslington, xed guilt upon him, had him brought before the court and sentenced; and then contemplated himself as a sergeant. All this pleased him, but did Randolph no good, and matters remained at this point when O’Dowley went out to go on bis beat. Fenton was not in good humor, and, rejecting Jack’s quiet hint that they could enjoy them- selves that evening by “ telling stories,” he left the house and set off on a lonely walk, He had no definite destination in his mind, but, half unconsciously, went toward his old home, A block away he paused and hesitated to go further. There was danger that he might en- counter Colonel Fenton, and this he would not do willingly for many dollars, but the fascina- tion was so strong that he could not resist. ** Til go on the opposite side of the atreet,” he thought, ‘* and ought to escape discovery.” He was soon facing the family home. No perceptible change had come over it. Lights burned in the parlor, and in his father’s room, but no one was visible. ; ; ‘* T wonder if they are all happy but me?” he muttered, bitterly. ‘* Aunt Evelyn, sister Althea and brother Wayland were always affectionate to me, but the human mind accommodates itself to situations as a pliable garment yields to the Mosquito i I aay joyfully. - —_—_——_S——O————o_O_- —-—__-_- ----————— SO ee EE ———_————_ eee — ——— ——$—_—_——_ _— ——— ee Jack, the Hustler Gamin. | form of its wearer. Iam an outcast now, and I dare say they are all reconciled to it.” he had the best of reasons for believing it false. | grief in the Featon house, |” But who could be a philosopher at his age, when unjustly banished from home? After awhile he walked on and was fast leav- ing tbe neiguborhood when, turning a corner, | he came face to face with a second young man, | Fenton stopped short, but the other pedestrian after a moment of surprise, seized upon bis hand ** Randolph!” be cried, ‘* Thank fortune you are here again!” ‘Yes, Wayland; it is I.” ** You have just come from the house—” ‘Wrong! 1 have not been near the house,” **Then 1 am just in time to go with you—” ‘*No, Wayland; I am not going.” ** But you have seen father?” sé No,” ‘* Let me call him,” ** Most decidedly not; I will not see him!” ‘* But Althea and Aunt Evelyn—” ‘*Not even them! Mind you, brother, I bear them no ill-will—how can I?—but [I am an exile main. I should not have seen you bad we not chanced 5 one another, Understand me, Wayland, I do not care less for you, and Althea, and Aunt Evelyn, than I did of old, but [am no longer a Fenton, and, until I am able to with a dollar of my own, lama stranger to all the family!” “*My dear brother!” cried Wayland, ‘* don’t talk like this}”’ ** How would you have me talk?” ** Don’t make the innocent suffer for the—” ‘‘Wayland, I know I owe you only good wishes, I know how kind and brotherly you are— ‘“Don’t speak of me, Think of Althea and Aunt Evelyn.” ‘* T do—with kindness,” ‘‘Then come with me and see them.” sé No )? ‘* But why not?” ‘* Because I am exiled from tbat house. There, there! don’t argue the point, Wayland, I bope” —here the exile’s voice grew sarcastic-—"* that Colonel Fenton’s business has prospered to-day, now I am out of the way.” “On the contrary, all bas gone wrong.” ‘* Strange!” ‘This morning he planned a deal, but, in the closing hours of business, when he would have plucked the plum from the tree, somebody nabbed it just ahead of bim, It was the old story, but he can’t lay this to you, Randolph. As he planned it all after you left, you can’t have been the rock in his way. I judge that he realized this, for there was a very grave and thoughtful expression on his face. He probably realized—he must havé done so—that he had accused you wrongfully. Vl wager something that if you now go to the house you will be re- ceived warmly by him.” **T shall not go!” **But, Randolph, Althea and I are _ heart- broken by this affair. For our sister’s sake, come home!” ‘** No!” was tbe firm response, ‘* You urge the point in vain, Wayland. I should be a clod were I to overlook the treatment father gave me. Iwas innocert, yet be drove me out of his house, I shall never enter itagain; I am an outcast; [am no longer a Fenton. Ay; I even have changed my name, There! say no more; you can’t move me. Who has taken my place in the private office?’ ** No one,” ‘‘Isn’t there a person in New York that the colonel can trust?” ‘“T don’t know. I feared he might ask me, but I should have refused the invitation. I want nore of the secrets of the firm, and, in ay case, would not take a position from which you had been ousted so unceremoniously.” For half an bour longer the brothers talked, and Wayland used all of his persuasion to change Randolph’s purpose, but in vain, They finally separated, and ‘* Peter Woods” started foward his new home, He had refused to inform Way- land where he*was staying, being resolved to sink from sight entirely, as far as his relatives were concerned. Although he did not wish his father further financial misfortunes, he experienced consider- able satisfaction from the fact that the reign of « “ - - 7 ‘ - ? Pon a é diel Ln o! ~ F.* * . J > a * » — % - * « , WW a he ¥ ‘ / Vite. So ges Beka dy % 5 —. id " py *,. oe? F ‘ a : ot) ¢ , . ¢7 Z ‘>, * es j see He felt guilty when he conceived this idea, for Between himself and each member of the family | | the kindest relations always had existed, and ' there could be no doubt that there was deep ; match every one of Colonel Fenton’s dollars | rc rn Pd misfortune was continuing just the same as when he was at the office. His innocence was being established by the unknown enemy of the Fenton business house. In due time Randolph neared Mrs. Brown’s boarding-house, but did not reach it without en- counter. He was suddenly accosted by what he at first thought was a beggar, but what svon re- solved itself into a form whose rags and red face proclaimed him Flippy Jim, the rounder seen a% theclub-room, — ‘*Hallo, Peter!’ Jim saluted, voice. ** Hallo!” ~ ‘ Seen you at the club-room, yer know.” ‘ Y es,” ** Out fer a spree?” **] have no money for a spree.” ‘No? Sad fack! Melancholy spetterkle! Nor me, Peter; nor me\” Flippy Jim wiped his watery eyes, and ap- peared deeply affected. Randolph did not covet such company, for the old rounder was simply disgusting, with bis dirt and odor of Jiquor; but Jim had taken him by a button, and he was an unwilling captive. Jim rallied, ‘* Want ’er make some money?” he asked. ** Who does not?” ‘Youn me kin do it ef we work tergether, an’ I know the way. Ever you hear of a man in a wheezy from yonder house, and an exile I intend to re- | named Everard Cheslington?” CHAPTER XII. MORE NEWS FROM THE DOUBLE, Furepy Jr had caught Rundolph’s interest at one stroke; the latter no longer wished to break away from the rounder, and he lost sight of Jim’s rags and dirt. He was shrewd enough not to betray unusual interest, and carelessly returned: . ‘* Ever hear of him? I believe the name was mentioned at the club; was it not?” ** Very likely,” the rounder agreed, ‘Ts he a friend of you's?” Jim scratched his chin until the bristles there rattled loudly. ‘* Wa-al, I can’t exactly claim him as a friend, ter I ain't very often spoke to him, yer see; but l’ve drinked in the same saloon!” ‘ That’s about the same thing.” | ‘‘ Everard 1s a mighty fly boy.” ‘*Ts he?” ‘‘Bet ver life! Thar ain’t nobody in this ward who kin make more money than him, though how he does it has always been a mys- 'ry. He ain’t no great shakes at keerds, an’ when he sets down ter play poker he ginerally bas a pair o’ deuces, or @ bob-tail flush, an’ no better. Heucely, Ches can’t be gittin’ his livin’ at gambolin’. See?’ Flippy Jim seemed to be maundering on in ens bummer fashion, and Randolph encouraged im, ‘* What is your theory?” Jim looked around cautiously, and then low- ered his voice to a husky whisper. ‘‘ T think he’s bleedin’ some rich dooks.” ‘“‘ By blackmail?” ‘‘ Not edzackly, but by stealin’ their secrets insome way. I dunno how, but ef I could read writin’ ’d soon find out, cs How?” Flippy Jim produced a big brass key. ‘1 take it yer optics sees that? Wal, that’s a mascot, thatis. It’s the key—or one on ’em— ter Cheslington’s cffice, up in the club buildin’!” The key sparkled dully, but, nevertheless, it fascinated Randolph, ; ‘Where did you get it?” he asked. ‘‘Found it on the floor, where it fell out o’ Everard’s pocket. Jee-whiz! but didn’t I slew it inter my pocket on de run! Says I to myself, says I: ‘James, yer chance has come,’ an’ [ pocketed the key, Why? ’cause I’ve been in his office; often done errands fer him. Hev seen the papers that fill his desk; papers that repre- sentaheapo’money. Heerd himsay, once, that one little slip o’ paper he held was exquivalent ter bund’uds o’ dollars, ef put right end on fer the stock money... Great old pure is that office, Peter, an’ the papers in the desk is jest as good as gold. Here’s the key, yér see, an’ I could ae in an’ get all them secrets, but I can’t read. eee” . Rancolpb listened with rapt interest, The key to Everard Cheslington’s office! That meant a good dea! to him, and he covetéd the well- worn bit of metal. He said nothing, and Flippy - p ) Jim continued: ** Don’t s’pose you want ter ‘go inter company — . wid me, do yer? ' “Tn what?” : ' ‘‘ Makin’ a raid on that office, secrets, an’ then makin’ money out 0’ them,” , \ | * a? Ae ~ ‘ <¥~ ‘ f ? oe - 7 as ry A ae »* % ; CHAS a A ! as ; pe 900 4 Le e gittin’ his =| > eo L , A 4 i] 7 fs ay: , ce. Wa eee Sout sie Caer an , . 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