Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 717 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

TT. > : =." _ 0 as ‘ ih eZ M +* a “he oe Y hy ‘ 4« ‘0 i ‘ a) a > , VR iat ae Pe : ¢«# . J . oe “ tf J. ' 7, * ~# t ¥ Shy Set ; Ti * ’ ‘ ‘e -- tp ee 8 \, amiably, mistake, take my word when [say Lam not this Bertram of whom you speak.” RKandolph’s manner had grown less aggressive, The young woman gave every evidence of real grief—even of sincerity—and he regarded her more critically than before. She had a kind of delicate comeliness which approached to beauty, hat was hke that of one who had seen more than her share of sorrow. **This thing should be cleared up!” asserted Mosquito Jack, thrusting bis unclean hands deep into his pockets and looking wise. ‘‘ Marriage ain’t no common thing; it’s an onspeakable cat- astruphe; a ynawin’ distemper o’ the heart; a calamity o’ mustangdonic proportions, It takes at least two ter git married, an’ sometimes all o’ the wife’s relations wants a voice in the bill o’ fair. Discords, dislocations an’ divorces then foller, Let us look inter this kerlamity joodici- ally?” - Tbe speaker turned gravely to Randolph: ‘‘Mrs, Lena Dalton here is a single married woman, an’ the only husband she’s got she ain’t got. He’s skipped an’ left her in the soup, but she ain’t ‘in it,’ an’ he’s ‘out o’ sight.’ She thinks you married her; you think not, You may both be wrong. Mebbeshe married you, but you didn’t marry her. Kin that be it?” Light and careless as the self-styled Hustler Gamin’s remarks were, they were not without ood effect. He covered a pause which enabled ena to dry ber tears in a measure, while Ran- dolph fully decided that be was not among per- sons whose object was blackmail. Of course he was uot thena fitsubject for such a scheme, but his expensive clothing gave a wrong idea of hisfinancial means, ‘** Let us settle this affair,” he continued, more **T don’t think we need to quarrel. Do you still think that I look like your hus- band?” ** You are my husband; you are Bertram Dal- ton!” Lena insisted, but in a hopeless way. Randolph made a deprecating gesture. ** Will you kindly tell me your story?” She told it—a story tuld many times, with but slight variations. She bad been ashop-girl. She met a young man who was well-dressed, handsome, aristo- cratic and, judging by the money he spent, rich, He saw and admired her; made her acquaint- ance; courted and married her. He took her from the shop, freed her from all labor, bired confortable rooms, and was very attentive fora year. He had never been at home—at her home —regularly, but accounted for his absence at various times by saying he wasa commercial traveler, — Finally, he disappeared altogether. He left with her two bundred dollars, and a note which stated that he was going to Europe, and she would never see him again, . She never had seen him again—‘‘ until now,” she added, looking at Randolph. ** You still insist that I am he?” ** What else can you expect?” ‘** Naturally, I could not expect anything else; this is the one thing not to be expected, It is a case of mistaken identity, for I never saw you ? before, as I have stated. Lena looked at him with moistened eyes and saddened face, and then sighed. She was not a determined woman, and, having previously de- cided, that Bertram Dalton had deserted her permanently, and would never live with her again, she was ready to accept a refusal now— not willingly, but as a matter of necessity. Nevertheless, her faith that Randolph Fenton was Dalton remained unshaken, Mosquito Jack gave his bead a wise nod. ‘*Can’t you prove an alibite, mister?’ he asked. ‘** An alibi ?” repeated Randolph, impulsively. *‘Certainly! I can show just where I was all the time you knew Dalton, and prove that I was elsewhere—” He stopped short. He was no longer Ran- dolph Fenton, with rich and highly-respectable relatives to certify to bis good character. By whom could he prove what he alleged? Only the members of his father’s household could establish the fact that be had always been at home of nights, and, as he felt then, he would sooner go to prison than call on his father for help, | He bad given bis name to Mrs. Brown as Peter A Woods, and Peter Woods he must remain. _ **Le’s go right over and see yer alibites,” ad- vised the practical Hustler Gamin. ’ Randolph could not help being confused, ‘and each of the trio noticed it, Naturally, too, they ascribed his confusion to conscious guilt, _“ There is no haste,” he observed, awkwardly. “1 will, in due time, establish all I’ assert.” 4a (rrr ern eee Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. Lena regarded him in the same mournful man- | his mind might not make Sunday-school peroo- ner, a fact that appealed to his sympathies strongly. **T suppose you feel hurt,” he pursued, ‘‘ but I | his bills. | sin’ matter, Everard is a gay young buck who dresses like a royal dook o’ London, an’ pays That’s all my respectable aunt, wish to disabuse your mind of the idea that you Sariah Brown, widder, dares ter ask him, are receiving fresh wrong from your husband, Whatever he bas done, he does not enter into | this scene; I am not he,” | ‘“*She don’t b’lieve you, mister,” remarked | Jack, | ‘* Wor her sake, I wish she could.” ‘* What erbout your sake?” ‘*T repeat, I can readily prove that I am not ‘Dalton.” ‘“‘ Wives do git mixed now an’ then,” declared Jack, philosophically, ‘*‘Our courts are jest jammed with cases where women claim men who don’t want ter share their matromonial afflections. I allow it must be that gals ain’t critikel enough when they git married; they should take a good, square look at their hus- bands, so’s ter know ’em next time, Mebbe a better way would be for each gal ter brand a private mark on her hubby, as the Texas cattle- owners do on their steers, "Twould be a good idee, I allow!” The Hustler Gamin looked thoughtfully at the ceiling, and then emphatically added: “°T would, by Ebenezer!” **Mrs. Dalton,” continued Randolph, touched by her patience, ‘‘ you can rely upon me to help you all I can, I wish you would get rid of the idea that I am a heartless knave, and regard me as an honest man who is willing to help, not in- jure you.” It was asking a good deal of her, when her faith in her own judgment was so strong, and it was but natural that her manner remained tbe same as before. “Mr. Woods,” said Mrs. Brown, ‘‘ I'll tell you how you can settle this.” sé ow?” ‘Take her to your home, and let your parents testify that you are not, cannot have been, this Bertram Dalton,” Randolph hesitated. ‘‘T have no home,” ** Parents?” ‘** No!” he answered, bitterly. ** You hesitate and are confused. if you are telling the whole truth?” ‘*T have not advertised to tell all my private affuirs; I simply say I can prove I’m not Dal- ton, ‘* By whom?” < Tbat you will learn when I see fit to prove it! Randolph, still smarting under his own mis- fortunes of the day, was not in a mood to be cross-questioned so suspiciously, and the manner of his answer was quite as ungracious as his words. Mrs, Brown was not a resolute or vixen- ish woman, but she bad seen a good deal of the dark side of life; enough so she had little or no faith in mankind. As a result, she now believed Randolph guilty, and, on receiving his last an- swer, turned to Lena aud nodded knowingly. The young man saw this movement, and felt freshly aggrieved, He was going out of his way to offer aid to Lena, and was only met with doubts. He saw the folly of continuing the con- versation. ‘“*Mrs. Brown, the room of my door bas no key,” be remarked, abruptly. ‘‘ If you willgive me one, [ will return there.” The key was handed over at once. ‘Mrs, Dalton, if you will refrain from spread- ing this absurd rumor about me, you can ae upon me to belp you to the extent of my abil- ity.” Adding these words, Randolph turned and went up-stairs. He was about to close the door of his room when he saw Mosquito Jack in the way. The youth had softly followed. ‘“Ef you don’t mind, mister,” he remarked, as Pil come in an’ talk politics an’ policy with yer.” . Company would keep Randolph’s mind par- tially from bis home troubles, end he allowed Jack toenter. ‘* Women is queer critters!” asserted the Hust- ler Gamin, gravely, ‘ Is this common?” ** What?” ‘ Fer lonely, lovely an’ lorn maidens ter claim you fer a cash-pervider,” ; | ‘* You mention cash, Do you think this Mrs, Dalton is a blackmailer?” ‘* Bless your dear beart, mister, no! Lena ain’t on the make, There’s Cheslington dead gone on her, an’ a-sighin’ like a bellus fer ber, an’ a-beseechin’ ter love him; but she won’t even say ‘ Boo!’ ter him.” **Who is he?” Why is this, eteny [ ain’t a mind-reader, an’ ef I wuz, | Ketch on?” ‘‘] infer that he’s a man about town who—” ‘“P'm that, too, but I don’t find the Unele Sam dollars that Everard does. Man about town! Say, | kin show you ez mucho’ New York as any guide-book kin tell, Want ter be piloted round?” The boy spoke eagerly, and Randolph was not at a loss to understand that he wished to earn ajdollar, “ I know too much of New York, already,” was the bitterly-spoken answer. ‘*Show! Go way! Why, it’s the boss city o’ the world!” ‘“* Granted !—for those in luck.” ‘“That’s why it suits me wal!” quoth Jack, with a humorous smile, This pew acquaiptance amused Randolph. **Do you sappose you could show me any- thing new?” “Do I? ‘Wal, I should exclaim, Ebenezer! What sball it be? I hev it! All young bloods like ter specerlate; I kin show you a broker’s orfice in a garret, where deeds are done that rattle the king’s o’ Wall street!” CHAPTER III. RANDOLPH GETS INTO HARD COMPANY. MosguitTo JACK had unconsciously touched a tender spot when he alluded to speculation, and Randolph was about to stop him short, but the conclusion of the sentence was so unexpected that the Fenton outcast changed his mind. ‘* A broker’s office in a garret?” he repeated, ** Jes’ so.” ** Where?” **Ob! down yonder.” ‘* Why is it in a garret?” ** Owls an’ foxes operate mostly at night, but they git more cbickens than bawks, Dark deeds need dark nights!” ‘** Don’t speak in metaphors, You have inter- ested me, and I would like to know more about this place, ‘Down yonder’ is very indefinite, but I infer that the place is far from Wall street and financial centers. Why is this? Who ruvs it? What is there irregular about their mode of doing business?” ‘*T kinder stagger under the weight o’ your questions, but I never lose my feet. As a dic- tionary I ain’t much, as a guide, I am the best sence Daniel Boone. Ef you want ter see the pace, ante up one dollar, coin o’ the realm, an’ foller where I Jead.” ‘* But I want to know more of this place—” *Can’t tell yer nothin’; a painful impediment in my ears prevents me from talkin’ much; butef you want ter see, my ears won't interfere with yer eyesight—or ef they do, I'll pin ‘em back out o’ yer way.” ‘* But bow can we gain access toa place where all is done on the quiet?” ‘*There’s a club-room where all kin goin ef they bev’ the password, an’ the broker-: flice is nigh it. Thbat’s all I kin tell.” That was all Randolph learned, at any rate, for Jack proved to he too obdurate to yield to persuasions, He bad interested his companion, however, and Fenton determined to make the -venture. That it was a venture he was well aware—it might be one of great danger—but he was accustomed to night-life in New York, felt able to care for himself, and bad been rendered reckless enough by Colonel Fenton’s treatment to dare dangers he would bave avoided at any other time, ‘* Pll go,” he announced, ‘**'You don’t want ter wear them clo’se, mis- © ter. You are goin’ where poverty rubs shoul- ders with itself, but not with purple an’ fine linen. You must hev’ soine old clo’se.” Here was a rock of difficulty, for Randolph had only the suit upon his back, but the self- styled Hustler Gamin was equal tothe emergency, There was a store near at hand where a suit could be bad fora very few dollars, If Ran- dolph went, be must purchase, Bitter and not,a little discopraged, Fenton had a vague idea of blossoming out asa coal- beaver, street-laborer, or something of the sort. Why not find his level at once? He went out with Jack and purchased a suit at a price he considered almost a mere nothing, True, the garments were very coarse, aud did not promise to endure hard service well, but he thought them just suited to his new level. W hen he had put them on even Mosquito Jack | You Jook smiled gravely. **Wouldn’t know ye, by Ebenezer! ‘ ae i« ’ VAS aft ' . -comi + - 3 ~~ Py eS s > ae iw ol t - . - % om at * ‘we _* *. Pee ae) «ft S Sess © - ~ +s me, Gly ¢ pe ~~ , " “ge JS ¢ Nay hehe F —— — + * a Seed fo - - ot et ellen Soe y « - e _~* 2 pat bd oe i F > > e v nn" heme