Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 717 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

_—_ ae = ¢ ; | 4 \ : : , re ane ‘ - « : \ é ‘ ; ‘ in no time; they would know the game was be- ing worked, and investigation would lead to dis- covery. Yow are too bold, Johnson—reckless, would be a better word,” ‘*The races don’t pan out blocks of dust in winter. Your line, though, is even all the year around, and if [ were in your place I’d make Wall street shake,” ‘* Look you!” Cheslington returned, with evi- dences of annoyance, ‘‘{ am playing a fiddle with one string. Suppose that string breaks, where am I? Again, putitin this light: I de- pend wholly on the old man and bisclhients. If I go in too deep I run two risks: first, | may, by making business poor, drive away all the old man’s customers; second, I shall surely raise his suspicions so that he will investigate and learn just how we get pointers.” ‘** You may be right.” “Tam,” ‘*Do you know how the old man takes it?” ‘* Word comes to me that he is beginning to | hop like a cat on a hot stove. There are losses in his business: there is a constant drain; ven- tures that ought to succeed well go to the dogs; when he bas a pet scheme all ready for action, somebody steps in and plucks the plum just ahead of him—and all this in spite of the iron guard of secrecy he throws about his office.” Johnson laughed, ** Ten’t it funny ?” ** While tne lucre comes our way—yes.” “* Keep itup, old chappie!”’ ** The very latest report,” added Cheslington, thoughtfully, ‘‘ is that the old man is beginning to look darkly at his son—his trusted utility man. I’ve been thinking, this evening, that it wouldn’t be odd if the son fell under suspicion and got fired.” Suddenly, the window of the wash-room was | flung open. One of the members of the club put out his head, and, naturally, Randolpband Jack | became objects very much visible to bis eyes, ** Spies!” he cried, **Scud, mister!” exclaimed the Hustler Gamin, burriedly, catching at young Fenton’s arm, The latter was all wrapped up in the conver- sation in the office, which, deeply interesting from the first, had just reached an absorbing point, and the interruption was most unwel- come. He actually hesitated to leave, but the words spoken by the man in the wash-room as an exclamation was repeated as a shout, and Mosquito Jack forcibly pulled bis ally back. ‘* Down the fire-escape, or yer name is Dennis K. Mud!” he declared, sharply, Randolph needed no more urging. Their arch-enemy was yelling like a trooper, and cap- ‘ure certainly would follow if they lingered. Fenton began to scramble down the small rungs, closely followed by the Hustler Gamin. e who had given the alarm had ceased to be sO noisy, but many voices, in a lower key, were aow joined in a chorus, which made a confused humming above them. Questions were asked so freely and rapidly that answers were far from distinct, but, just then, Randolph looked up and saw a man on the fire-escape, Pursuit was sharp, Just then, too, Randolph found himself at the end of the iron ladder, though not down to the ground, ** Go on!” urged Mosquito Jack, ** But the ladder stops here.” ‘*'We mustn’t, ef that does. Drop!” Fenton hesitated. He had due regard for the solidity of his bones, and did not like to put them to such atest. He looked up anxiously, and saw men peering down all along the flooring above. ** [ see him!” cried one, ‘* Give him a shot!” Randolph hesitated nolonger. Releasing his hold, he moved toward the ground in swift, helpless flight. CHAPTER V, THEY FACE THE POLICE, RANDOLPH’S thoughts at that moment were not so much of the probability of getting injur- ed as of the position he would be placed in if, maimed and captured, be was takea into court aud charged with being a common thief, or any other offense which the members of the club saw fit to specify. Truly, in such a case, bis stern father would believe that he bad reached the limit of infamy. He alighted heavily and fell to one side; a for- tunate occurrence, for Mosquito Jack bad come after him recklessly, and might otherwise bave Struck on him, or a moment they sprawled on the ground together, but both were soon up. ** Over the fence, mister!” the Hustler Gamin ' : Fai taal Of all ( r i = </* aa Aes ej Ps > directed, hurriedly, | hoofs!” ““There they be!” declared a voice above, | ** Shoot them!” | It was the advice of some hot-headed person, and if any one had a revolver, he was prudent | enough not to use it, ‘* Down to the basement door, run them down yet!” cried a second speaker, Some of the club-men were not inclined to wait for a way so slow, and as Randolph poised on the top of the first fence, he saw a pursuer | | “We've got ter shake our and we'll dangling from the fire-escape, ready to drop. Randolph went over into the next yard, where agile Jack had already preceded him, ‘*It’s slow work,” admitted the boy, ‘“ but what bothers us will bother them, Jest keep the pot a-b’ilin’!” | Jack had not exaggerated in regard to the | first part of his remark, and as Randolph sur- veyed the long stretch of yards on both sides of them, his courage wavered, ‘‘How are we to get out of the square, any- how?" he asked, doubtfully. ‘* Thar’s an alley over yender. Jest keep up yer grit, an’ we'll svon be out o’ the woods,” ‘* Unless they make use o’ the street, and set a guard at the other end of the alley.” | ** True, by Ebenezer!” | Jack could not combat the idea of danger thus | advanced, and bis own spirits were pot much | lighter than his companion’s, Several pursuers | were coming after them in the same way they | were traveling, but of them there seemed to be little need of fear; everything depended upon whether the alley was guarded. They approached tie deciding point. ‘*T see no one, from here,” observed Randolph breathlessly, as he vaulted over a fence. ‘*Mebbe thkey’re bidin’ inside, But see here, Peter, I know the copper on this beat, an’ he’s ‘my friend; Move on Mike, they calls him, an’ | he’s a right good chap. Ef there is a ruction I shall act innercent, an’ Mike may be good enough ter let us bamboozle bim,” ‘‘ Here we be!” They reached the alley, and started through, but had gone only a few steps when they met several men who were moving quits as fast as themselves. ‘** Here de th’avin’ crathures be!” cried a deep, | oe voice, and a strong hand seized Mosquito ack, ‘** Hold up, Mike!” cried the quick-witted boy; ‘vou hev got the wrong pig by theear. We ain’t them; it’s only mean’ my friend, Pete, We're lookin’ fer them.” ** Is dat you, Mosquito Jack?” ** Sure!” **Oh! you've been lookin’ for dem?” ‘Yes; but nevera sign do I see,” ‘“‘ Begorra, Oi’ll soon yun thim down, Dey don’t escape Move-on Moik!” The patrolman swung hisclub fiercely and passed the fugitives, intent upon discovery. ‘* Keep right with Mike,” whispered Jack, to Randolph, ‘* We've fooled bim, an’ now the rest is easy ef we hev decent luck, Mike isa brick!” Led by the policeman they emerged from the alley, reaching the connecting back-yard just as two of the foremost pursuers vaulted over the fence, ‘Here dey are, de tha’ves!” cried the blue- coat. ‘‘ Begorra! if dis job don’t make a ser- geant ave me, O1 shall not bave me roights\” He pounced upon the pursuers, ‘* Yield, in de name ave Liberty an’ de Con- stitution ave de United States, or Oi'll club de Mien off ave yez!” he declared, flourishing his club, 1 ‘* Say, let us alone, will you—” ‘* Niver a let-alone, will Oi! ‘You'll be marched to de coort an’ tried for high tr’ason, begorra!” ‘** But you’ve got the wrong men—” ‘* Wrong nothing! Oi’ve got you, an’ Oi’ll hang on in de name ave de State ave N’ Yorrak!” ‘Say, Mike—” ‘Call me Officer O’Dowley, ye thafe!” ‘‘ But the thieves are gettin’ away all this while. Don’t you know me, Mike? I’m Ted Smith.” ‘* Saint Patbrick defend us!” The officer found ke had been shaking and menacing one of his personal acquaintances, and a member of the club, onsiderably abashed he released his hold, but his ardor was unchecked, ‘* We'll foind thim assassins, or tear dis block all to pieces|” he declared. ‘* They came right to this alley—” ** Dat’s phere you’s mistaken, for Oi was on de Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin., 3) lookout all de toime, Dey’re in hoidin’ near here Scatter, fellers, an’ search ivery yard. Dey can’t git away!’ Officer O’Dowley’s word was law, and the members of the club proceeded to assist him. ‘‘Keep right at Mike’s heels!” Jack directed, nudging Randolph, ‘* It’s the safest place, now, Ef we stan’ right up ter the crib an’ take our corn with the rest, nobody won’t suspect us.” This was sound advice, and Randolph imitated Jack in adhering to it. The young man was the most unhappy of the whole party. Danger of seizure was not past, and be was cbhagrined to find bimself in such a predicament, He had entertained bigh ideas of honor, and now only lack of identification stood between him and arrest. Move-on Mike had zeal, if not the best of judg- ment, and be beat around the back-yards for a long time, but, finally, he and his assistants were obliged to confess that they were beaten. It was the general opinion that the ‘‘ thieves” resided in the block, and had re-entered their bor-c by the rear door. Ail parties adjourned to the street, where the iniembers of the club bade Mike good-night an ir turned to their quarters. Only Jack and Raniclpb were left with the doughty knight of the locust. ** Begorra, Jack,” quoth Mike, ‘‘Oi shall get no serge:nt’s berth out ave dat!” ‘* Better luck, next time, officer.” ‘*Well, Oi should vociferate! Say, such a thing as dat cav’t occur on my beat an’ go ur- punished, Oij’ll have dem spalpeens or bu’st! Oi’ll cast out a drag-net, an’ get dem into it, alive or dead. You bear me?” ** Bet yer life, Mike: and you’re solid, too.” ‘Watch me doit, Jack! Watch de drag-net nab’em! Oi say, who’s yer frien’?” ‘* Peter Woods, is his name,’’ ‘* Peter, Oi’m glad ter see yez! Anny toime you want a favor on dis beat, call on me—any- thing in r’ason, you understand, Oi have no great pull wid de saloons, for Oi’m not a drinkin man; but Oi sthand by Liberty an’ de Consti- tooskun, ivery toime!” And Move-on Mike waved his club as if it were a battle-ax, with which he intended to me agg every enemy of his above-mentioned idols, Jack saw that Ranolph wished to get away, so they bade Officer O’Dowley good-night, and walked down the street. ‘*Quite an eppisod!” remarked the Hustler Gamin, dryly. ‘*Thank fortune we are out of it in safety!” fervidly added Fenton, ‘*Do you think yer got paid fer the fire-escape plot?’ ‘** Yes,” ** Queer pay!” ‘ *“‘T overheard something in Cheslington’s of- ce,” ‘Oh! did yer? I hope ’twas beneficial, fer T’ve cast my lot with you, stranger though you be; an’ ag’in’ them club chaps. Shouldn’t want ter find I’d spllt my chicken-dough all the way round,” ‘* Jack, you have been very useful to me, and I am grateful. What will come of it 1 don’t know, sol can say nothing definite at present. One thing, however, I desire further—absolute silence on your part concerning this adven- ture.” | ‘* Wal, [should echo! Don’t s’pose ’'m goin’ ‘round ter advertise the fack that I’s one o’ the so-called thieves, do yer?” ‘** No; but I wish you to be very quiet in re- gard tome. You and] have bee me acquainted in an odd way, but I like your style, and hope it may be kept up. We have a secret in which we are mutually interested, and about which we must say nothing. Further than that, suppos: we keep up our alliance? We may be useful to each other?’ ‘* Peter, you’re a trump! I couldn’t ’a’ said it better than you’s did, an’I admire yer elocu- shion, grammar, sentiments, eat scattery /— which is Latin fer ‘and so forth,’ Yes, we'll be pards; an’ I hope we'll continner ter hitch hosses wal, I like yer style!” Jack gravely shook hands with Randolph, and the compact was made, When near Mrs, Sarah Brown’s boarding- house, Jack left his companion to go on an er- rand, and Fenton entered the house alone, went to his room and retired, It was long before he slept; bis mind was crowded with thoughts which made him nervous and feverish, and he tossed and turned restlessly on the none too comfortable bed. The dav had been the most eventful in his career, For weeks past he and his father had