Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

‘ > ars = + = £0" - rere . = — --_- Se se ee? OOo - ————_—_————— = — a ee ee eee — : Png _~ “@ ap ey ee + a 7 oa. Tih 53 gs vat the meanwhile the man in brown had - ‘walked briskly to Greenwich street, and then north until be found Dennis and ° an Decker on a corner. The latter looked sheepish and un- easy. mrs Well, this is fine business for you!” exclaim- ed his adult friend. ‘¢ T—J couldn’t help it.” ‘‘TIf we hadn’t run you out, the cop would have run you in.” ‘*T know it, an’ I’m sorry.” ‘You never got this way before,” ‘*That’s a fact, but I took a little spirit fer a toothache, an’ it flew ter my head,” ** Hev that tooth yanked out!” gravely advised Dennis. ‘Whisky is a demon that should be let alone,” ‘Listen ter the Brown Sport!” Dennis added. “The Duffer and I never imbibe,” pursued the man in brown, ‘‘and you see the result, Clear heads and full pockets, The drunkard has only a thirst and a pain up in his cranial depot, which would bea head if he gave it a chance, But I won’t reproach you, Van, for the best of men make slips now and then, Suppose I see you home, for I want to talk with you, Dennis, may call to see you, soon,” ** All right, boss,” ** This kid,” the Brown Sport added, ‘‘ is my right hand man, He’s young, but there’s coal enough stowed in his bins to keep a fire the year around. If Lever send him to you, trust bim fully. Eh, Dennis?” ** Right you be, boss! pairs.” ‘*Here’s balf a dollar. Buy something for yourself, Come on, Van Decker!” The man from Oil Gutter had now so sobered off that he exhibited but slight signs of his po- tations and walked without a lurch beside his companion, but, no sooner than they were out of Dennis’s bearing, the Brown Sport exclaimed: ‘* You fool! what have you been doing?” ‘* Don’t say a word,” Van Decker humbly re- quested, ‘*T shall say a good many words, You have insulted Irene Elliston and been knocked down by her brother,” ’ ‘* Curse him!” **Curse yourself, rather. mit this folly?” ‘*The infernal whisky was in my head, Mon- tague. But, I didn’t say nothin’ rude ter the gal; 1 only tried ter git a ride in her carriage Me an’ you work in Why did you com- —a fool game, [ admit, but it might ’a’ been worse,” ‘** You have shown the Ellistons just what you are,” ‘“*T ain’t showed them what I can be.” **Don’s bully, even here. Roland Montague and Vandevere Van Decker must be respectable intheir eyes, or our game never will work. Thank fortune, I was not mixed up in your break.” ** Anyhow, they’ve got ter dothe right thing.” ‘‘Leave that tome, You are too aggressive, How many times must I tell you that soft and easy is our watchword? Tl bend the Etlistons, or break them, but it wants heads, not hands, to do it, If you will be sensible we will win, yet.” While the men were retreating, Dennis Duff was having a conversation on the corner. They were barely gone when Molly McGinnis made her reappearance, ‘* Denny!” she spoke rather sharply. “ Hi! Molly; you there?” *‘ Pye been watchin’,” 46 Good )”? “« J ain’t seen no good,” 4s No?” ‘You took money from the Brown Sport. I ~ -wouldn’t be after doin’ that, meself,” ** Why, he’s my boss,” **I know he is, an’ that’s jest what worries me. I don’t like him, Denny. Molly made the assertion with emphasis, but Dennis opened his eyes in surprise. ‘“‘ He’s a sport, sure, but every wan says he’s the squarest man in the business.” **T don’t like him!” _ ‘He plays the races,” pursued Dennis, warm- ing to his subject, ‘* but he does it above-board. He hates a ‘ tout,’ and won’t take pay for tips, though w’ot be don’t know about hosses ain’t no ood, sure, He goes ter the tleayter, but when t’s over, he goes home an’ ter bed. e’s a poli- _ ‘tician, but says it’s a shame ter barter votes. Now, then, what could you’s ask fer a squarer ‘man than the Brown Sport? Ef my word don’t 89, ask anny wan. ve body knows him, “cause he dresses in brown all the toime, an’ men who niver heerd bis reel name o’ Roland Monta- ; a } gue kin tell ye of the Brown Sport,” | ai debe 7 1; a. fy- 3 i gly “rss i¥ ee 4 - . > a - = ® - 2 i Feb, we —" ‘- ; : i) ennis Duff, the Brown =. Sport’s “You've been after doin odd jobs fer him, fer at least two years, Didn’t you’s never catch him in anny crooked work?” ** Niver!” th ell POR ie ere eke ay | | ‘ —_ wlr-s é Kid. then, and supposed to look to everything per- sonally, but Robert was the only one who knew the entire business, day by day. It had been soever since, Young as he wag *““Tbey call you the Brown Sport’s Kid,” re- | he bad since bad unlimited authority, and, with marked Molly, *‘an’ you’s stand up fer him as loyally as you do fer all yer friends, Maybe it’s all roigbt, but I don’t like the man, you’s’ll get into some trouble along o’ bim, enny.” - ee judgment ain’t good,” returned Dennis, a twinkle suddenly appearing in his eyes, ** Sure, yours niver fails!” she retorted, ‘¢'That’s right, Molly.” ‘An’ all because you’re a traveled man! Didn’t yer father come all the way from Bally- ragget, Kilkenny county, in the steerage?” ‘Ab! me jewel,” retorted Dennis, chucking Molly under the chin, ‘‘ but he didn’t work his passage,” ** Who did?” ‘* Sure, I don’t know, but I’m after remember- in’ that Mr. Patrick McGinnis told me once the r’ason he growed a beard whin he landed was because he had no money ter pay fer a shave,” ‘*He could have got shavedef he’d madea trade with thim I know.” ¢é W ho?” **T’m callin’ no names, but Mr. Michael Duff towld me once he’d got enough city mud on bis clothes whin layin’ pavements ter make a farm, an’ niver paid no tax on it.” Dennis laughed good-humoredly. ** It’s tax enough on Mr, Duff and Mr, McGin- nis ter hev kids like us,” ‘* Sure, an’ we can’t twit each other, fer ain’t we cousins?” “Your father an’ mine both say so, but your gran’-father wa’n’t mine. They were cousins, too, an’ it’s twistin’ relationship inter a cork- screw ter say the same of us, But then, wasn’t your father an’ mine both born in Bally- ragget? Sure, Kilkenny air keeps the heart o’ man fresb, fer our elders say so.” ‘New York air must affect the heart, too,” asserted Molly, with a pout, “Why?” “Cause [seen you wink at Maggie Meehan, Friday week.” ; ** An’ what of it? Friday’s an unlucky day, an’ a wink give then always means nothbin’.” “You're a flirt; that’s what you be; but I'll forgive you ’cause you’re me cousin, But won’t you go over an’ see me mother, now? Ste was after tellin’ me this mornin’ that she wanted to inquire how Mrs, Duff’s rheumatis was doin’.” here was much good will between the Duff and the McGinnis families, and Dennis and Molly shared in that good will, They had been reared in the very part of the city where they then were, and Greenwich street—the street where merchants keep the bulk of their goods on the sidewalk—was as familiar to them as Fifth avenue was to the children of the wealthy. But Dennis and Molly liked Greenwich street. It was hoine, and they and their surroundings fitted as if made expressly one for the other. CHAPTER ITI. TRE BROWN SPORT’S DIPLOMACY. THE Elliston residence was on Madison avenue, and was one of the many that stood in the fashionable part of that city thoroughfare. Colonel Carlisle Elliston was the nominal head of the family, but age lay heavily upon. him, and he bad retired from all active business. He was weak physically, and far from being in his old mental strength, but was passing tha last years of his honored and honorable life in digni- fied and happy rest, He was a proud man, and his pride was of a kind strictly of the world, Rich and poor friends, business associates and servants ha alike always found him one of the kindest and most considerate of men, but under the surface lay the feeling that he, his ancestors and bis children, were equal to the best, and far superior to the mass of men, rich or poor. After he left the army, in 1865, he had establish- ed a banking business in Wall street, in partner- ship with Mr, Andrew Iber. They bad prospered ; their reputation for good judgment, solidity and honor was high; and around the house of Elliston & Iber the colonel’s affections hung as firmly as ever man’s did to anvthing. “Mr. Iber was still able to be at the office every day but he was old, and the management devolved upon Robert Elliston and a force of salaried men, Robert, thus trusted with the sole conduct of a great business, was twenty-six years old, He was thoroughly able, and, really, had been the manager from the day he was twenty-one, The colonel and his partner were both at the office, . . + ee ~ —_s _ Or 4 - NS OR an - s' ~ - —— #4 : as 2 “pag sie cy a Ras . _— — | the singular lack of care not uncommon in busi- ness circles, was not required to give any ac- I’m afraid | count of bis ‘* stewardsbip,”’ Clerks in the office had expressed wonder be- fore then, one to the otber, why such a shrewd manager as Robert did not overbaul all the books | and learn just where, and how, Elliston and Iber | stood, The old partners never bad done this, | but Robert ought to be up to modern ways, and aware of the lessons taught by modern failure and embarrassments, not to speak of defaications, Later in that same day when the age gy oF recorded scenes occurred, a cab rolled up Madi- son avenue and, finally, paused in front of the Elliston residence, A man dismounted, and, going to the door, rung the bell, He was clothed elegantly, but in a color far from common, Every visible garment was of brown, A servant, black and uniformed, opened the door promptly, and tbe caller inquired: ‘*Ts Mr, Robert Elliston in?” ‘*T will see, sir,” replied the discreet servitor. ‘Very well.” The caller presented his card, which was duly carried to voung Elliston. He read the name, ‘* Roland Montague,” and a shadow passed over his face. He hesitated for a moment and then directed: ‘* Conduct bim here!” The se. vant retreated, “Trouble ahead!” murmured Kobert, gloomi- ly. ‘*Van Decker resents the blow I gave him, and Montague will use it to harass me further, Would to Heaven I were free to meet him as I wish; I would welcome poverty rather than this persecution, but it would kill my father, T must temporize further.” The Brown Sport came in quietly. He wasa sleek and aristocratic person, and though well aware that be kad Elliston in a hopeless predica- ment, did not show any airy or insolent sense of power. He bowed blandly. ‘*T trust I don’t intrude?’ he questioned, ‘* Be seated, Mr, Montague,” was the evasive reply, which Elliston felt obliged to make lite ** Thanks!” Montague sat down, and gently brushed his smooth face, ‘*T was afraid I should not find you at bume,” ‘**T came back early.” ‘‘ And Miss Elliston? I trust she did not ex- perience any ill-effects from that unfortunate affair?” ‘* How could it be otherwise?’ ‘*T am deeply annoyed, There is no real ex- cuse for Van Decker, but you see he is in from the country, aud ke yielded to the power of the villainous saloons end drank too much, That is the story in brief. He is now sober, repentant ani ashamed, and has requested me to come bere and apologize for him,’ . Robert could not answer as he wished. He made virtue of necessity, and returned: ‘*T hope the future will prove him sincere.” *Sodol. Itis painful to be mixed up with such a man,” ‘*T am well aware of it!” Elliston exclaimed, impulsively, ** ‘You refer to the Eldorado Oil Company?” a Yes,” ‘*T hope that matter can be straightened out.” ** Van Decker will not allow it. ‘‘Heisa miser!” the Brown Sport declared, warmly. “Itis absurd to try and get more rooney. out of you, The work is unworthy of im. ‘‘Is it not in keeping with bis character? His demand is blackmail, ag and simple. If he were not a scoundrel, he would not make the demand. Game and man are off from the same piece,” . ' ‘“T wonder you ever invested, Elliston.” ‘“‘Have I not explaived before? It was the folly of youth; it was a fatal mistake; it w 8 criminal! Simply because I knew the business | well, my poor father and Mr, Iber thought 1 was worthy of being trusted with the business of the house of Elliston & Iber, They bad specu- lated wisely, cautiously, moderately, 1 was a boy of twenty-one, trusted unreservedly. Fatal error! Fatal, criminal folly on my per ” ‘My dear sir, you wrong yourself—” Unbeeding the Brown Sport’s bland interrup- tion, Robert went on with suppressed vehe~ mence: | 4.9% ; - i " .~ a ee ee ae he comicb (eye) ie ri ~ fi ww : Y ad J A* ks:.com aiew ES ~_ " ~