Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 720 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ee. # te - a SE ee tt YS eye a oh ol he™ 2.4) Soper ae Fh ens e x | - ~ mR ™ Agbag fe “ze mr el et ae : : ' * ot 5 * a We gig, \ 10 Tes. * a " 7 % Broadway Billy’s Full Hand. “ Guilty, think you?” ‘‘ No; innocent.” es Bu ly 1” Skinny went on with his task, while Billy laid off his disguise, and in a short time Billy was ready to help him, * Tell me all about this note,” Billy asked, as he set about trying to match the fragments, ** How did you get onto it?” “Why, 4 was lounging around in the bar- room, and Pablo was there, and one of these half- naked Indian boys came into the room and handed a note tothelandiord. He went off again without a word, and I[ thought that was the end of it. But, when the landlord had glanced at it, and then called to Mr. Costo and said it was for him, then I was interested, you bet!” ‘**T should reckon, thin one,” ‘* Well, the Mexican took it and opened it, and it seemed to interest hima gooddeal, He locked mighty pleased over somethin’, and walked the floor with the note in his hand a good while, and finally went out and walked on the piazza the same way. I had an eye on him, without seemin’ to have, Pretty soon he tore the note all up, just as you see it, couldn’t ’a’ tore it any finer it he bad tried; and then at the end of the piazza flung it off into the back yard.” ‘* And then you went for it. Bully for you, Skin. [’m goin’ to promote you, sure as you have got a name,” “ Yes; | went for it, but not right away. I waited till the fellow had gone off, and then out I went, and the way I did scour that back yard was a caution to tom-cats; and here’s the re- sult of my scourin’, But hang me if I believe we will ever be able to put it together in the world,” ‘‘Sweet pertaters! Skinny, we'll put it to- gether if it takes all the restof theday. Itmay not pay us for the trouble, and if may. Any- how, you bet we are not the chickens to throw it away without seeing what there is in it,” They worked with untiring patience, and the O60 hour found them still bending over their At that time they had some of the pieces matched, in patches here and there, but only about a third of the whole lot. It looked like a gigantic task, and indeed it was, but the lads were determined to master it. After dinner they tackled it again, and work- ed at it faithfully till three o’clock, when they had it done, The note was before them, just as it bad been read by the Mexican, with only a missing piece here and there. CHAPTER XI, A\COUNCIL OF WAR. “GrvE us your hand, skeleton pard!” Billy wee ‘“‘ Here it is, what there is of it,” responded Skinny, cheerfully. They shook hands, and then embraced and waltzed around the room in their delight, When they had thus given vent to their feel- ings in the only way they could, as it seemed, then they went back to the table and looked at the result of their long and hard labor. There before them lay the note, in hundreds of pieces, but matched carefully, and it read as follows: * DEAR MIGUEL: — “Tsend you this to let you know that I will see ou this evening. You cannot imagine how pleased was to meet you, and how happy I am to know you are still dearto me. Go out this evening, down the street past the paeee of our meeting, and there I will make myself known to you, I shall be in dis- lise, for it would never do for me to be recognized. have much to tell you. Do not fail, if you love me still. Nine o’clock. With fondest love, ‘Your Ata.” “What do you think now, Skinny?’ Billy asked. ‘* [think there’sa nigger in the fence as big as a house,” was the reply, ‘‘ Bigger too,” declared Billy. ‘*‘Ob, but we are after something, Skin, and I will bet high onit. If we don’t rattle up the dry bones I’m no prophet.” ‘You bet we will! What a hard case this woman must be. She’s got devil enough in her to supply a whole regiment, Wonder what new string this is that she is working?” **T give it up; but you bet we will find out, or lose a leg tryin’. If we ain’t on’ hand at that meetin’ it will be because we can’t get there, that’s all. Oh, but the fever has got me now the worst way. You are a jewel, Skinny, for going for this note, and I don’t care who knows i ‘* But, what is this Mexican to that woman, Billy? And what is he sailin’ under false colors for? Them’s p’ints that I'd like ter have made clear to me,” ‘* Give it up, tender plant, Don’t let it worry you, but wait with patience for the coming of the appointed hour, and then we’ll see,” For them the remainder of the afternoon dragged wearily enough. They met the Mexican in the bar-room and on the piazza, and they could see by his actions that he was at loss how to kill the time. They took care not to let him suspect that he had any interest for them, and their remarks to kim, when they passed any, were of the most commonplace sort. Toward night an old man, a Mexican as any one could tell by a glance at him, came into the hotel and registered. When he had been shown to his room, Billy made it his business to take a peep at the regis- ter. The name he had inscribed there was Don Alva Paso, Billy gave Skinny the wink that it was their man, the detective, and after awhile the boys had business in their room. They had not been there long when there was a light tap at the door, and the door being opened, in stepped Mr. Ferret, in his disguise, as he had promised to appear ere long. Billy closed the door, turned the key in the lock, and then shook hands with the detective, The conversation that followed was in low tones that could not possibly be overheard. ** Well, you see [ am here as [ promised,” the detective remarked, ‘* And you’re as welcome as the flowers of spring, too,” responded Billy, ‘** You seem to be glad to see me, Is it possi- ble that vou have news for me so soon?” ‘**T shou!d smileif it wasn’t! We have yanked the biggest old persimmon of the wholedot, and the skeleton in the closet is out for a holiday. You hit the nail right on the head when you fixed your eye on Clever-so-clever, and he’s your mutton, sure /” “Indeed? Tell me all about it. You have done more, and in sborter time than I would have believed possible,” Billy narrated the events’that bad occurred, so far as they interested this man. ‘You are a trump!” the detective compli- mented, ‘*Give me your hand, my lad. I do not wonder at your enjoying the reputation you do. Now we will arrest this man, as soon as possible, and—” ‘Just put on the breaks right there!” inter- rupted Billy, with a wave of the hand, ‘* Hold your hosses, as it were. ‘There’s another mare’s- nest that has got to be looked into before we go off and spoil everything, That woman is the p’izenest critter of the whole p’izen lot of ’em.” ‘* Why, what else bas she been up to?” ‘‘That’s what we don’t know yet, but we are going to find out to-night, or bu’st a buckle.” ‘*Whatdo you mean? You have interested me more than a little,” ‘Well, we’re willing to let you in on the ground floor with us, but if we do, it is with the understanding that we are to boss the business, It’s our puddin’, and we want to do the dishin’.” ‘Ob, I agree to that, The only thing I ask for myself is that you will do nothing that will enable my rascals to give me the slip.’ “Trust us for that,” said Billy. chickens, Mr. Ferret,” ‘*T can well believe that.” Billy went ahead then, and laid everything out for the inspection of the insurance detective, When he had done, he and Skinny were com- plimented again. ‘*Never mind compliments,” waived Billy; “they are likely to sour on the stummick ifa fellow takes in too many. Just tellus what you think of the business all the way round.” ‘*T can’t help complimenting where it is de- served,” was the response, ‘Good luck has helped you, we can’t deny; but it is the way you have taken advantage of every chance, that has counted, Why, your work on this torn message is a thing that would have made a veteran tear his hair,” ‘Sweet pertaters! own,” Billy cried. bet he lost flesh.” ‘* And now you want my opinion further, eh?” ‘* Jest as far as you can reach,” assured Billy. ‘Well, then, it is that you should go abead just a’ you have planned. I will lie back and take it easy, and let you have all the glory that comes of it. If I see a chance to chip in and help, I'll do it.” ‘* Good enough! that murder case, don’t fail to grip it, case is dragging behind the procession,” ‘We're no I felt like yankin’ out my “And as for Skinny, VU And if you get a pointer on That ou. That promises to be a “I agree with will keep my eyes open for stubborn affair. you. care not to let it be known that I am not what I seem,” ‘*T’l) take a squint out and see if the coast is clear,” announced Billy, ‘‘and if it is you can scoot,” He unlocked the door and took a survey of the hall, and there being no one around, the detective slipped out and went to his own room, When Billy turned back into the room he found Skinny with an exceedingly long face. ** Hello! got your wet blanket on, have you?” ‘*T think it’s about time there was a damper of some sort put on,” muttered the lean lieuten- ant, ‘¢ Why, what’s the matter now?” asked Billy. or Don’t you think you’ve trusted this man too far? ‘‘No further than he trusted me with his business, Skin.” ‘‘ Maybe not; but, suppose he fools us, dnd gets around us and scoops that big reward?” ‘‘T don’t believe he’d try it, my son, and it wouldn’t be healthy for him if he did, you can bet on that.” ‘¢ What could you do, after it was done?” ‘*T believe I’m big enough to take satisfaction out of his hide, if it was to come to that, that’s one thing I could do. But, there’s no danger, and your fears are groundless,” ‘¢ You don’t know that, though. He may be a deeper man than we figure on, and for all we can tell, may have had a hand in the murder himself!” “Oh! get out! You are batty in the upper story, Skinny. There’s no such thing the matter with him,” ‘You don’t know it, I tried to get your eye to make you stop onwinding to him, but it was no use, and now he knows as much as we know ourselves,” : ‘* Yes, I saw you drawing all sorts of mugs at me,” admitted Billy, ‘* but I was deaf in one ear and couldn’t see outof the other. Let me lay some pearls of logic out before you,” ‘* Well, what is it?” ‘¢ You see, we have brought this case to a focus for him, almost, If I kept anything back, it ougbt to have been that fact. Having let that out, it was necessary to go further and impress him with the necessity of letting his case hang fire for a time till we could see what else is to follow. See?” ‘‘T hope it’s all right. 1 wouldn’t ’a’ done it, that’s all I’ve got to say about it.” ‘‘ Well, now that you have made me make a speech, just take off your wet blanket and put on your smiling face once more, It gives me the creeps to see you goin’ around lookin’ so sad.” ‘© Why does it?” “Why, you’re so thin you make me think of death’s-heads, grave-yards, and al] such stuff.” Skinny made a kick at him, and they fell into their horse-play for a time, till Skinny was brigbtened up & little, : About that time came a knock at their door again, Opening it, there stood Cleverdale Finck, ‘How d’e do?’ Billy greeted, cheerfully: *¢ come right in.” The young insurance agent entered, smiling as ever, and took a seat. ‘You boys seem to be having some fun all by yourselves,” he remarked, ‘ You evidently miss the ranch life, where you bad more room to vent your spirits,” ‘Ob, we were ouly having a little frolic,” de- clared Billy. ‘ You see, [ bad bet Skinny that he couldn’t jump through my bands faster than I could open and sbut them, but he’s so thin be won every time, Can’t hold bim any more than you could bold the tailend of a shadow of noth- ing. ‘No, I suppose not,” the agent laughed, ‘1 thought I’d drop in on you and ask what yon 4 thought of Mr. Ferret when you saw him. What sort of detective do you take him to be? and what of bis case? Wasn’t that the weakest thing yet?” ‘‘T Should say so,” Billy sneered. ‘ There was no case at all, and any one could see that, I wouldn’t monkey my time away on if, and [ hope he’s bad the good sense to drop it by this time, He didn’t impress me very strong, any- how,” Mr. Finck looked gratified, if not actually — relieved. He seemed satisfied that these younger . ferrets were not trying to worm avything out of the case, And now I will leave you, for I must take _ a ee