Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 720 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

a a nat _ een ae ‘ - a4 es 4 _ - . ¥ , s 7 —— - -— > nw a ‘ re ee ee —_— LE ORE BEMIS ete YT <e +e s. re | Broadway Billy’s Full Hand. sf When he went away, it was with the belief that he had done a clever piece of playing. Billy and Skinny had a good laugh after he had departed. CHAPTER XII. SKINNY HAS THE LAUGH ON BILLY. Tuer New York delegates had work todo. And they were awake to the importance of it, Some time after supper, and when night was about at hand, tkey set out from their hotel for another stroll, They went off leisurely, paying no attention to any one, and aimed for out of the town on the north side, with a definite purpose in view, By the time they were out of the city, or nearly so, it was quite dark, and when they came to a stop it was in a lonesome place, where they were not likely to be discovered. Here they proceeded to make changes in their appearance, Vhen they had done, no one, unless by close inspection, would have taken thet to be the same fellows, Billy was a darky, as dark as the darkest, while Skinny, with a whito beard, and walking with a crooked back, was an aged man, They were ina gully, and had lighted their work with the use of matches new and again, and when they were finally done, they both struck matches for mutual inspection. Both enjoyed a quiet laugh. ‘* Golly!” exclaimed Billy, ‘‘1 reckon yo’ is de nddad to Noah, ain’t yo’?” ‘Young man,” spoke Skinny, in excellent imitation of an oid man, ‘‘do not jest witha man of my years.” **Wouldn’t tink ob doin’ sich a ting,” de- clared Billy. ‘* If you isold *cordin’ in p’portion as yo" is thin, old "Thuselah would be a boy to 0 ‘* And if you are sinful within in any similar degree as you are black without,” returned Skinny, in cracked and measured tone, ‘the Old Boy would be a saint compared to you.” Both laughed quietly, and their matches went out, ‘* Well, now for it,” said Billy. ** And we'll be in time, won’t we?” ‘*'Yes, we've got half an hour and a little more, Twenty minutes will see us on the spot.” ‘‘Good enough! Let’s be off, and if we can do as well on this lay as we did last night, I won’t kick. We'll git thar, You bet.” They made their way out of the gully, where on another occasion they had so nearly met their death, and were soon once more on the streets of Sante Fe, There they parted company, with the inten- tion of getting to the appointed place of meeting in as short a time as possible. Billy made haste, but when he finally reached the street where the woman had appointed the meeting with the mysterious Mexican, he found that Skinny had anticipated him. Skinny was there, an aged man, and was beg- ging alms of every one who passad by. ‘* Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, ‘* but that little snoozer is a good one, and no discountin’ that fack.” Billy went on down toward where the lean lieutenant was standing, and at his approach Skinny held out bis hand with a melancholy whine. “Help a poor old man,” he implored. ‘‘ Give me a trifle that will help me to get a bite to eat and a place to sleep. My days ain’t many more, and [ll be numbered with the majority.” Git out, yo’ ol’ duffer!” cried Billy, playfully. “Tf yo’ had saved when yo’ was young yo’ wouldn’t be heah now, Dat’s what I is tryin’ to do, sah, an’ yo’ git nuffin’ out ob me, yo’ jes’ bet of boots yo’ don’t,” ‘* How dol do it? Skinny asked in whisper, as no one Was near, “Bully!” Billy complimented, “It’s a good idee. Roop it up, if you want to. Ha! here’s our ’sinemon.” ae Billy indicated the direction with an inclina- tion of the head, and immediately moved on, as the Mexican, Pablo Costo, was leisurely ap- proaching. Billy passed him, face to face, and gave him _ severy chance to recognize him if he could, but the man no more than merely glanced at bim, keeping straight on his way. ' n a moment more he was where Skinny was ' stationed, “Have mercy on a poor old mau,” Skinny whined, putting out his Jean band. ret out, mendigo!” the Mexican snapped, Skinny drew back immediately, without further parley, ~ Ae rrr nD ee The disguised Billy paused and smiled to see that Skinny’s make-up had stood the test, ** The fellow hasn’t the least idee who we are,” he said to himself. ‘‘ And now let the female part : the combination appear as soon as she wants He moved on in the direction of the Lodgelaw house, and was passing the corner when he saw a figure emerge from a sido gate, as on the other occasion. It was the figure of a woman, as before, and this time that of an aged woman, bent and feeble; but Billy bad no doubt as to her identity. She moved down the street in the direction in which the Mexican had gone, Billy following at safe distance, Skinny, after the Mexican had passed, bad ba to the other side, and was now out of sight, Billy kept his eyes upon the woman, following carefully, and finally she came up to the Mex- ae when she put her arm in his withouta word. Pablo Costo did not seem in any wise surpris- ed, and the pair went on from that point as though they had come arm in arm a long distance, Billy kept a lookout for Skinny, but the thin partner was not to be discovered. Why he had disappeared, and where he had gone, Billy could not imagine, ‘*Some new thought must have popped into his head, I reckon,” Billy mused. ‘'I can trust Skinny, anyhow, no matter what is going on. My business is to see what is to be found out here.” He pressed on after the pair, keeping them in sight, but taking extra precaution against being discovered following them. In the mean time Skinny ‘had made a move that was not looked for by Billy, who was not into the secret. Getting away from the scene as speedily as possible, he had dodged around a near corner, where @ waiting carriage was standing. It was a box-seat vehicle, with a fall top, and intended for two persons, Into this Skinny got, with all haste, andina moment more was curled up under the seat, where there was just room enough for one of his meager bulk, with little to spare. A word of explanation will make everything clear in this connection, Arriving in the neigh- borhood before Billy, Skinny had seen the Mex- ican drive up in the carriage, tie the horse, and walk away in the direction of the Lodgelaw residence. It was after he had gone that Skinny had fol- lowed for a distance and taken up his stand in thd way he must return, playing the beggar. He had been there but a few isinutes when Billy appeared, and tbe return of the Mexican so soon, hindered Skinny from telling Billy any- thing. Billy now kept on, as described, and present- ly, coming around the corner to the point where the carriage stood, saw the pair stop, and ina moment more get into the vebicle and drive off, ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed. ‘* Here’s apretty go! This is something I didn’t figure on. How the merry deuce am I going to fol- low them now, [ wonder? If that bony pard of mine hadn’t gone off so sudden— But that wouldn’é help matters any, I don’t believe, There’s only one thing to be done, and that is, I have got to play boy again and catch on behind, as I have done many a time before.” Crossing the street, he ran speedily forward, after the carriage, and choosing the darkest place he was likely to, find, darted out into the road and caught hold bebind, The man and woman were talking, in low tones, but Billy’s running hindered him from catching their words to any extent. Presently a corner was turned, where it was quite light, and where a number of children were at my What Billy had dreaded, the moment he heard the,chatter of these youngsters. came to pass, Espying him, they raised as ‘it to the driver of the vehicle, telling him to* Cut behind! cut bebind!” Tbe Mexican looked around, and the next moment down came bis whip, full force across Billy’s back, causing him to let go with a how] of pain, c Sweet per—Lan’ ob goodness!” he cried, al- most coming ont with bis pet exclamation, but switching it off to s-mething else. ‘‘ What yo’ done hit me like dat fo’?’ he demanded, ‘| wouldn’t hurt yo’ blame ol’ go-cart, would [?” ‘You trv catching on behind again, if you dare,” the Mexican shouted beck, ‘Sand Pll hurt you worse than I did that time!” Seeing that if was useless to follow further, without a change of disguiso, and well knowing that the carriage would be out of sight before he could make a change, Billy fell out of the race, disgusted. ‘*More proof that lam a know-nothin’!” he muttered to himself, ashe burried beyon hearing of the jeers of the children who had caused his mistortune. ‘‘I believe I will go and bag my head, and then hire somebody to kick me. Wish I could get hold of Skinny now, and I’d take it out of bis bide, maybe.” This thought was some relief to his feelings, though of course he did not mean that he would do it, literally. He was retracing his steps the way he bad come, boping to find Skinny, and pretty soon thought he saw him just ahead, coming toward him, ‘das lief take another lickin’ as to have Skinny find out what’s happened; sweet perta- ters, yes! Vdnever hear the last of it, sure, Bet if he ever finds it out he won’t get it by me, But, bello! it ain’t Skin.” Now that the person was nearer, be could see this, and the pext moment he recognized who it Was, It was the insurance detective, in his disguise. ‘* What!” the latter exclaimed, ‘‘ off the track so soon?” ** Yes; he tumbled to me, and 1 dropped out of the race,” Billy owned. ** Your disguise is a good one,” the detective complimented. ‘‘I would not have penetrated it, if 1 hadn’t overheard you and your partner’s whispered words,” ‘You overbeard!” ce Yes,” ‘* Where were you?” ‘*T was near enough to hear,” ** Well, this case bus flunked, anyhow. Won- der where that walking skeleton went off to, Did you see where he went?” ** Yes; he is in that carriage, under the seat. pe cake is not all dough yet, not by a good eal. ** Sweet pertaters !” Billy managed to say that much, but got no further just then, ‘*‘Your partner is a good one, and no mis- take,” observed the man. ‘If you wait around here you will probably fallin with bim when the cerriage comes back.” “Yes, Is’poseso, [1] stay. If I had wings though, l’d take fligbt for New York instead. Don’t ask me why; you didn’t answer my ques- tion a minute ago. I’m not as great as 1 wus.” CHAPTER XIII. WHAT SKINNY OVERHEARD, In the mean time Skinny was in clover, Once under the seat of the carriage, he was all right, It was not likely that he would be discovered, unless by some unlooked-for mishap. When the couple had got in, and the carriage started off, then he felt secure enough, and was congratulating himself and wondering what Billy would think of his disappearance, Being so close to the pair on the seat, he could hear all they said, ‘* May we talk now?” asked the woman, when they were settled down and moving along the street. “Yes, Ata, we may talk now,” was the re- sponse. ‘‘ We cannot be too careful, and I thought this was about the surest means of not being overheard.” ‘** You are right. There is no danger that any one will hear us, And now tell me about your- self, Miguel, and what it is brings you here, Grey again that you do not hate me for what did.’ - “* Hate you! LI love od I will ever love you. ou were proud, andl was as pooras I well could be, f cawiet blame you that you married that old man and bis money. I[ suppose it was the woman nature in you, or at any rate your nature,” \ ‘But I never loved him, Miguel; believe me in this, I never loved any but you, never shall love any but you. He was rich, and could not live many years. Then I planned to offer my- self to you, ricb, and be happy in your love, But my hopes were dashed to the ground.” ‘“ How was that? Tell me everything.” ‘‘T will. I learned that his wealth was his only while be lived; that at bis death | would be a beggar, 80 far as any of his money would ever help me. I cursed the hour that made me his wife.” ‘Well, that was a set-back, truly. But what ° ’ i. ntahs . Se ee ee ae es ht te tan te et ee es 4 — Ss tite ev 2 cbhooks.com ° y ny . Pe oe a \ . * < y Lo A — — MT <———— OT EE a = be ar - > : ee the - - ree * ta 4 ee v's a> ey! 'F yi oe 4 d 4, pa PS 7 a - + Fd ¥ ' ya ai * we » | e + , , J. SAS - ° 7 : ‘ ° , x © a Gee » ie Fes 2 ale mt a 4 . ~~) *~ ,