Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— = a ° > > SITE SAE . Ss Sse ~ = — « — ’ ~ > » he, _y = _ 2 — * . -_ = = - -_ ~ "P °_— . ill << = =. <> rm. tr-* i= ~ - ~ a ' er =, ve aks oF . ~~ a? ~ > rw _ a ‘ aa -g~ 4 aoe a © m ’ —- a = * » 3 _ ? - * * .. | — F - A . ae - —_ -— . ee 7 a aS > . os = * < —3 bs % — _ Sa a - ~ tee 10 Sg Re Pm en. em eae ret ttm ree ee er errr nt me mm er ee er nt mem pe et meee ee . Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport's Kid. CHAPTER XI. DENNIS TO THE RESCUE, “GREAT Cicero!” Dennis uttered the exclamation in dismay. Then he added: ‘* Sure, you don’t mean it; you can’t!” ‘* Well, that’s what I’m afraid on,” Molly amended. ‘‘ They hev captured bim, an’ taken him away in a boat, an’ if they ain’t goin’ ter drownd him, what is it?” **Gobbled Tom Tracer?” “Sure!” ‘“Where? When? How?’ Dennis was startled and excited. His admira- tion of the Headquarters detective bad increased since he entered his service, and be wanted to win glory side by side with that gentleman. But where did the alliance, the glory, and Tom Tracer come in, if the latter had gone to the river-bottom? ** lt was like this,” Molly explained. ‘‘I was over by the ferry with my basket of fruit as late as I felt like stayin’, an’ then I walked up West street. When I got ter the pier where Ti.n Kil- lion used ter watch, [ see how much darker it was than when Tim took care of it, an’ while lookin’ that way I see three men,” “Tom Tracer was one?” ‘**-Yes; an’ be was behind a bale o’ somethin’, pipin’ the other two. " ‘ Jest like Thomas; thar ain’t no sand-fleas on bb ‘‘T had jest made out that ’twas him when the other men left the further end o’ the pier an’ walked toward West street, They went care- less-like, an’ I hadn't no idea they meant any harm. I guess Tom Tracer hadn’t, neither, fer he kept still where he was; but when the men got there, what did they do but turn quick an’ just jump onter him,” ‘¢ Sneezin’ cats!” ‘‘T was that scared,” continued Molly, with a deep sigh, ‘‘ that I couidn’t get a joint ter mov- in’ for a while, an’ all the toilme them three men was thrashin’ about like they were crazy. Then I got a move on an’ went for a copper, but I didn’t find none,” : ‘¢ An’ Thomas got drownded?” ‘‘ When I got back a boat was jest leavin’ the pier an’ three men was in it, an’ as the light o’ the lamp fell full on them for a bit, I seen one was Tom Tracer. bine had him prisoner.” * Did ye know them?” ‘ ** No. ‘* Where did they go!” “Straight out on the river until they disap- in the dark.” r Mary Katherine, be you sure it was Tra- cer?’ ‘“*T be, that,” Dennis shook his head, ‘*No more sleep fer me, ter-night. I’ve got ter go an’ rescue my boss, I don’t b’lieve they ve sunk him in the river, so I won’t take no hook an’ line, an’ I ain’t got time ter buy anny bait. Ive got an idee. You come with me, Molly, an’ we'll see if we kin get track of these measly ab- ductionizers.” They hastened to West street. ‘*There’s the watchman, now,” added Dennis, ‘‘Tt’s Mart Meroigan, a good-hearted feller; but he will sneak away from his post now an’ then. Ef he’d been there, there wouldn’t ’a’ been no abduct, 1 take it.” The speaker marched out on the pier and ac- costed Mr. Meroigan abruptly. The latter at first denied having been absent, at all, but the > ag of evidence forced him to confess, lly. ? As Dennis had said, Martin wae a good- hearted fellow, and he became interested, at once, on hearing of the alleged kidnapping. * Sure, it war Water Bill who did it!” he ex- claimed, ** W ho’s he?” “A waterman that Oi know no good of,” ** How d’ye know he did it?” **Oi seen him an’ anither mon sneakin’ around with a boat, an’ I once thought he had come in under me pier, but ~i could foind no signs avehim, Water "Bill is a sneak-thief ave the river, an’ we have ter look out whin he’s around, He’s the wan, begorra!” Dennis thought the evidence weak, and said so, but Meroigan persisted until even the doubter began to believe. ‘Sure, ef Oi was off dutv Oi’d take me boat an’ row you’s over ter Water Bill’s store- house.” \ “Where is it?” “In Jersey City.” “ But where?” “‘ Mum is the word, Dennis, an’ ef Oi tell you, you must kape it still, Sure, we watchmen along the water-front have all we kin do ter look out for river-thieves, annyhow, an’ wance we get them down on us, our lives would be miserable, Besides, there’s no knowin’ what foggy noight they would sneak up an’ give wan a bullet.” The young detective had heard this before, and did not wonder at Mart’s caution. ‘* So,” the watchman added, ‘‘ though Oi know where Water Bill’s quarters are, Oi wouldn’t dare tell the police unless there was a chance Bill would be railroaded fer ten years, or such a matter.” ** Wal, you jest vociferate the p’int 0’ compass ter me ina husky whisper, an’ I'll help ye keep the secret. You’re a Ballyragget man, an’ | won't throw ye down,” ‘“*You know where Pat Norris’s schooner lays” ‘Sure.” ** Well, over beyanst the landin’ you will see an ould buildin’ which looks as ef it had been built a thousand years—” **T remember it.” ‘Water Bill lives there, all alone. Ef the lice were ter raid the ould hulk they would oind Bill’s plunder, but it is supposed ter bea deserted place.” ‘** Mart, will you’s loan me yer boat?” ** Do ye be goin’ there?” **I be, Martin!” ‘* Water Bill will gobble ye.” | ** Not with my permission. I mean ter be sly, but ef I do get set on, why, I'll hey ter take my medicine,” | Mart protested further, and so did Molly, but Dennis was not to be moved. He did not intend to do anything reckless, or pit his strength against the river thief’s, but he could not rest easy when there were indications that Tom Tra- cer bad met with trouble, Mart finally agreed to loan his boat, and made it ready. Then Molly furnished a diversion by insisting upon accompanying her ‘‘ cousin.” ‘*'You” cried Dennis. ‘*Sneezin’ cats! who ever heerd of sech a thing? Sech business ain’t built right fer girls,” ‘*T ain’t afeard,” she persisted. ‘*T’m afeard for you.’ **T guess I can go where right fer you ter go alone, I’m goin’, too. Now, there!” Denaois found it harder to prevail over her than with Mart, and considerable time was wasted, but the watchman came to the rescue and declared that he would not let the boat go if a girl was to dare the river by night, and its natural dangers, t So Dennis went alone, but the last thing he saw as he rowed away in the darkness and fog was Molly standing on the pier, looking after him fixedly. ‘Sure, that girl is a trump!” he murmured. ‘“There ain’t many cousins so devoted, an’ she only me great grandfather’s great granddarter, But she’s after ‘resemblin’ Brian Boroihme, who me mother tells of, a good bit, an’ she’s a hero, T reckon ef she’d been old enough when the war was down South she’d been a major-gineral, or corporal, or some high officer.” olly faded from view, and the young adven- turer pulled on across the river, He was one of the many New York nove who, from abundant practice, were able to pull a boat with wonderful skill when current and tide sent the waters of the old North River strongly «end fiercely toward the bay. More than a bundred times he had been out, wholly at ease, while in- experienced persons stood on the piers ard wondered whence came the strength that defied the swift, curling water; and the present expe- dition was nothing, as far as the river was con- cerned, The river was crossed uneventfully, ar he approached the other shore all was quie He brought his boat up to the pier and se- cured it, Then he clambered up and looked around, Satisfied, after a few moments, that no one was watching, he left the pi r and sought the building said to be Water Bil!’s lair. Its a;pearance corroborated what Mart had said about it, and Dennis could see no sign of ou kin, an’ it ain't ou can’t go alone; life. It stood in an isolated position, and he was able to walk aroundit, Atno pint did a light show, - This at first caused him to doubt the reliability of his information, but a little reflection showed that if the river-thief was using it se- cretly, he would, of course, avoid all betraying gns, Dennis listened at the door and windows, but could hear nothing to indicate that it was : . ry, y : J at ¢ DADE we wl et. se ; occupied. He found, on examination, that the PY a : door and windows were fastened, He hesitated to act further. If he forced an entrance he might get into trouble, for there was no proof that Tom Tracer was there, or that Water Bill had molested the detective, The only evidence was guess-work on Mar- tin’s part. For awhile Dennis wavered, but he finally resolved to take the risk, If he went in he would be able to settle the matter one way or the other, and if Water Bill had not been con- cerned in the fight on the other shore, he prob- ably was away on some marauding expedition. It_was not bard to pry up one of the old windows, and he entered, He was in a big, silent, musty-smelling room, Lighting a match he looked around, and found himeelf the only person present, He located a door and went on, and, in a short time, had looked through the lower part of the house, Except for a small quantity of decay- ing furniture, nothing was to be seen there. He ascended the stairs, Above, a door stood open, and he went on into another rgom. Then, suddenly, he saw a gleam of light ahead, and one which seemed to come from under a second door, As he made this discovery, and came to a halt, there was a loud bang behind him, The door at the head of the stairs had blown to with a sound audible through the whole house, CHAPTER XII, THE MAN IN THE BOX, DENNIS was startled. It was clear that some one was in the house, and he did not see how any one but a deaf man could help hearing the noise. Mel par, it bring immediate discovery upon im He retreated to a corner of the room, and made himself as inconspicuous as possible, and © the precaution was taken just in time, The door beneath which the light showed was open- ed, and a man appeared to Dennis’s view. In his hand he carried a lantern, and the light re- vealed a figure remarkable for its breadth, and a bushy beard which framed in a red face like a glade iu a forest. ‘ This person advanced across the room, His gaze was directed straight ahead, and as the young detective was not m range, and the lan- tern’s light was by no means brilliant, no dis- — covery followed at that moment, , Dennis was satisfied that the big man was | Water Bill, and it looked very much as if the man knew intruders were in the building, and intended to seize them. It was just the time for bold action, and, be- lieving t!iat Tom Tracer must be in the other room, bis ally was about to make a quick move- ment in that direction when, through the open door, he saw a second man, He recognized Calvin Garland, Sight of the thimble-rigger checked Dennis’s lan of action, and the chance was soon lost. Vater Bill opened the door at the head of the stairs, looked into the dark expanse below for a moment, and then calmly reclosed the door and locked it. This done, he returned to the other room. ‘“‘Caged, by St. Patrick!” 5 Dennis muttered the words in a seriv-comie way, but to most persons there would have been only what was serious in the situation, The locking of the door cut off bis retreat, and he practically was a prisoner. Before entering he bad noticed that the win- dows were clear on the outside, but examination, now, showed they were boarded up on the inside, More than this, the boards were thick and sub- stantial; they seemed to be nailed securely; and there was no chance to push or pul! tt em off, Dennis had entered a veritable place of im- prisonment, and the chances of getting out were not promising. ‘An interestin’ applesade, by ginger! My thirst fer adventure bids fair ter be gratified, un” I-guess it'll be a reg’lar Noah’s flood. By the time I git clear I won’t be thirsty an artom, an’ the police force o’ Gotham may losea bright an? new-found star. There would be weepin’ among the Ballyragget contingent, an’ fer their sakes I’d kind 0’ like ter pull through. I don’t want ter be mean!” His thoughts drifted away from the general house of Duff, and ics cousins, ‘‘Cal Garland is in there. What does that mean? Is it merely a game 0’ the thimble-rig- gers, ter git square with Tom Tracer fer robbin’ them o’ their prey, t’other nigbt?” Dennis was reeovering his nerve, He easily” perceived that Water Bill had " ‘ attributed the _ J 4% Py , ‘ oe , th 4) wt Mae ty F + J TT ; of 44 , ‘ . ! Wh if "| somirebooks.co mas el i ae A ail J i \ | a : « ‘* te - ~~ Ped £ af ‘e? “ss ~ “