Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 720 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

the hall, to gain his room without being de- tected. Skinny went ahead, and the first thing he did was to turn the light partly down, which,was likely to favor Billy all the more. He, Skinny, had gained the door of their room, * and Billy was coming, when suddenly another door opened and a glare of light flashed out, falling full upon the half-blackened young de- tective, And in the door, in the midst of the glere, was the Mexican! He was coming out, but at sight of Billy he stopped short. And then, as he noted the black on him, reached out his hand and caught him by the shoulder. ‘‘ Ha! what merry lark havc you been up to?” he demanded playfully, wheeling Billy around facing him, “Only having a little innocent fun,” was the response, “‘Got any "bjections to it? If ye baven’t jest remove yer hook from quarter-deck, an’ J’ll sail on.” ** You have been up to some sort of mischief, ll bet,” laughed the Mexican, as he let him go, **Or maybe,” he added, * you have been trying your hand at detective work,” ** Detective work be hanged!” growed Billy. ‘When I get back to New York, if the Fool Killer don’ get in his fine work on me before I do, I’m going to get a situation as dish-washer in a Bowery hash-house; I think the caliber of my intellect will just fit me for that sort of work,” The Mexican laughed, and they passed on their ways, but no sooner had the Mexican turn- ed than a cloud came over his face. ** Cascaras !” he bissed, ‘* was the young hound following me? If I thought he was, ’d— But he didn’t learn anything, he couldn’t learn any- thing. I shall look out for him.” Billy had gone right on and followed Skinny into the room, * Kick me, and kick me hard, partner,” Billy requested, as soon as the door had been closed. Skinny, remembering the blow from the whip which Billy had laid on bis legs, did not wait for a second invitation, but sent his foot to meet Billy’s person with considerable force, ‘‘Thank you; now I feel better,” Billy re- marked, quietly. “It was what I deserved, only a good deal more of it,” ‘* What are ye findin’ fault with yerself about now?” *“l’m sorry I was born a fool.” **So am I; but that don’t alter th’ facks of th’ case any, What particular bit of foolishness is it that is grievin’ you?” “That I ever run the risk of comin’ in here with this black on me, I ought to be taken out and tied to a mule’s tail and kicked to death. Why, I ought to have gone ten miles, if neces- sary, to get cleaned up before comin’ here, Now he will have an eye of suspicion on us, and it will be bard to play the spotter on him,” ‘‘ And it’s too bad, for that’s what’s got to be done, He’s a bad one, I tell you. But, let me unload my cargo, so’s you kin understand what I’m talkin’ about,” ‘* Wait till wash up. That won’t take long, and it will be done with,” Billy set about the task immediately, and was soon himself once mvure and ready for his thin partner’s revelation. Skinny went abead and told all he had heard, with an attention to details that proved his memory to be good, ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy cried, when he had heard all, “This yanks the tart, sure pop.” Their conversation was in such tones that no one out of the room could overhear, ‘Just what I think myself,” assented Skinny; ‘“‘and that woman is the Tartar of the whole batch. She’s a terror!” “Perror! Thatis no name for her, Skinny if my old mother wasn't a woman, I'd hate the whole tribe of ’em worse’n p’izen; I couldn’t help it,” “They ain’t al) bad, that’s one blessin’,” Skinn responded. ‘*'T his one is evil enough to make up for a good many of ’em. But, we’l] bring her up with a round turn, I’m thinkin’,” Just then came a light tapping at their window. They looked at each other in some surprise, The tapping was repeated. |. What's that?” whispered Skinny. You know as much about it as I do,” an- swered Billy, or. beet hesitotion he leaned over toward the n ew Hes darkness, out the light, plunging the room at done, he went to the window and drew back the curtain, peering out to see if any person was there, as he naturally supposed there must be, Yes, there in the dim light was the outlines of a man, and as the curtain was pulled aside the man motioned, for the window to be raised, Billy took a revolver from his belt, and then obeyed. The window lifted a little, the man took hold under it and ran it up silently as possible, and dropped into the room. ‘* Don’t be alarmed,” he whispered, ‘‘ it’s only Ferret, ‘Guess we're not frightened very bad,” as- sured Billy. ‘‘ You would have had a fight for it if you had meant harm,” ‘If [ had meant harm I could have done it without coming in,” was the answer. ‘‘ When in a lighted room, my lads, don’t sit with your shadow on the curtain. It givesan enemy too good a target.” “Never thought of it!” cried Billv. ‘* No matter, seein’ that we baven’t any enemy to be popping away at us, Much obliged for the pointer just the same.” ‘* Don’t be too sure about that. Detectives always have enemies, more or less, and it’s often more,” ‘But, what’s the reason you didn’t come by the hallway?” _‘* Eyes are around, A man has been trying to listen at your door, but has gone away disgust- ed, J guess,” ‘“‘Sweet pertaters! Is that so? Well, he’s welcome to all he heard; eh, Skinny?’ He re- lighted the lamp, : ‘* T should say so,” the thin partner returned, ** Who was it?” asked Billy. ‘The Mexican,” ‘*IT thought so, 1 bavegotit in for him, and he wants to look out, We have got more points now, Mr, Ferret.” ‘* May | come in for a share of them?” ‘“* Tf Skiany is willin’,” answered Billy. “It is his findings, and he has one eye on you with some suspicion already.” Billy eyed the man keenly as he said this; the detective smiled, and Skinny grew red. ‘**I guess he may safely trust me,” the detect- ive remarked, “Suspicion is a good thing not to be out of, however.” The facts were laid bare, and the trio held a long consultation about the matter. It was understood that this Mexican, Pablo Costo, or Miguel Mendez, was guilty of some crime, and that he must be watcbed. What the crime was they could not tell yet. Finally the, detective took his leave, going back the way he had come, and when Billy and Skinny had made door and window doubly ant ihe they sought their bed for the rest of the night, CHAPTER XV. COMING AT THE TRUTH, Tue work of the ncxt day, for Billy and Skinny, was to allay suspicion, if possible to do so, The Mexican seemed purposely to put himself in their way, but they paid no more attention to bim than to anybody else; in fact not as much, Nor had they need to, There were other eyes upon this man, the eyes of the keen-scented in- surance detective, e had put himself to this a of the work, leaving the New York pards ree, Once, when opportunity offered, Billy en- gaged the landlord in conversation, when the Mexican could overhear all that was said. In the confab Billy gave it as bis opinion that Waldmar must be guilty. He didn’t see how any one else could be suspected, with the proof against him so positively. The Jandlord could not get around the proof, but hated to think it was so. He had known Waldmar too long and too well, and he was of the same Opinion as Mr, Rentaway, that he was not the guilty man, All the talk, of course, was for the benefit of the Mexican, The idea had struck Billy, and he had kept the thought to himself, that possibly he knew some- thing about it. Billy made it bis business, when the oppor- tunity was favorable, to pay a visit to Mr, Rent- away, ; He found the old gentleman looking even more aged and worn. , ‘*Have you learned anything?” was the eager demand, | “* T suspect something,” was Billy’s answer, ‘What is it?” ** T must ask questions first.” ‘Very well, ask them. Anything to bring Broadway Billy’s Full Hand. 13 —————— this awful thirg toanend. I must see the mur- derer arrested.” ‘‘Then you still believe in the innocence of Waldmar?” ‘*T do, firmly. That boy never killed my Harry; never! It would be bard for me to be- lieve it, had there been eye-witmesses to the crime,” ‘* And I agree with you yet, though you may hear that I have said otherwise, I have said so, but for a purpose. I bave been told that you used to live in Mexico,” ‘* Yes, that is true. I married there, and my boy was born there.” ‘* Do you know anything about a Mendez fam- ily down there?” ‘* Heavens!” ‘** What’s the matter, sir?” ‘That was the name of my wife!” ‘‘The merry deuce it was! Havel struck “ile a’ready ?” ‘‘My wife’s name was Dona Elena Mendez; she was a belle of the Mexican capital.” “Sweet pertaters! Dm gettin’ thar, sure as land and water make mud! Bet I can lay my finger on the man who killed your son.” he bereaved father sprung up and caught Billy by the shoulders, ‘Tell me his name, lad,” he cried. ‘* Tell me who he is. Let me see his face, only once, and—” ‘* And you’d get yourself into trouble by tak- ‘ing the law into your own hands, N:, sir; you don’t get me to tell.” ‘What! Would you shield the murderer of my son from justice? Tell me who he is, lad, or it will be worse for you! I will shake it out of you!” ‘*Hold your hosses now, and cool off a bit,” suggested the composed Billy. ‘‘ You can’t shake it out of me, for it don't lie so near the surface as that. Let me unwind in my own way.” ‘* But, Weston, the murderer of my boy is at large!” : ** What if be is? We bave our eyes on him, and he can’t get out of this town, Let him try it on, that’s all,” : ‘Well, well, what is it you know? Tell me soon as you can, for this awrul suspense is kill- ing mea, Why was Harry shot down in that cowardly way? What had he done? Are you going to tell me something that will leave a stain on bis memory?” ‘* Nixey!” Billy cried. ‘‘ His record is clean, far as 1 know, I want you to teH me why he barge pore ‘** W ould to heaven that I knew!” ‘*'You say your wife was a Mendez.” ‘Yes: she was,” ‘* And then your son had Mendez blood in his veins,” ‘To be sure; and proud he might be of it, t. ugh there are some who disgrace the name,” ‘* Did you ever hear of a Miguel Mendez?” “Certainly; a very wealthy man, very old, and in fact almost the last of his line,” **Good, gooder, goodest! We are gettin’ thar, Eli, with both feet. But this isn’t the one I mean, Isn’t there a younger Miguel Mendez?” ‘*I believe there was—yes, there was, 1 never saw him thougb, and certainly never beard any good of him, He ought to be a man of thirty to thirty-five, if I do not mistake,” ‘*He is about that age, somewhere, and is mighty rich, accordin’ to his own tell, I take it \ he has come into the old man’s shoes,” ‘““What! Is old Mendez dead?” “That's about it.” ‘Then my boy—” ‘Your boy what?” ‘‘ It is too late now; it comes too late,” ‘¢ What comes too late? Would he have come in for ashare of that money?” ‘‘ Yes; and undoubtedly a good slice of if, too: but it is idle to talk about that!” ‘‘Sweet pertaters!” cried Billy, and jumping up, he caught hold of the ccrners of his coat an began to execute a quickstep, “Zounds!” cried the old gentleman, ‘‘ have you no feelings? Don’t you know the bony of my dead son lies in the next room? Shall I throw you out of doors?” ; ‘“Your pardon, sir,” said Billy immediately, and in earnest tone, ‘ I should not have acted so; but I am overcome witb the success of our hunt for the murderer. I have him now, sure,” ** Who is he?” ‘“Miguel Mendez, as sure as shootin’,” ‘But can you prove it? Why should he kill my boy— By heavens !” ‘Ha! you grasp it now, do you?” said Billy. “T thought you would, sir. ou see how it was,” COmMmICcDOOKS ; rr ” <J »™ —