Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

While the period of general hesitation was still unbroken, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs which led to the outer door. This would have been strange to no one bad the steps been quick and buoyant, or even uncertain like those of a drunken man, but they were slow, shuffling and deliberate, Ali looked with in- terest, ' Then a white, bushy head rose to view, and was followed by that of a young girl. Both reached the top of the stairs, and Dennis Duff actually turned pale. The girl was Molly McGinnis! Her young friend was borrified. Molly in that, den of vultures! What madness had sent her there? The man with her looked to be very old, feeble and poor, and, more than that, blue goggles told of poor eyesight. This ragged old traveler held out a bunch of lead-pencils and spoke in a cracked voice: ‘* Gen-tle-men, will you please help a poor old blind man?” Cal Garland recovered his presence of mind. ‘* Tl] help you down-stairs with the toe of my shoe!” he cried, starting forward threateningly. Molly extended one of ber arms, ‘* Don’t ye dare ter touch him!” she cried, de- fiantly. Mechanically the crook paused. ‘“*Don’t anny man dare ter touch him!” she added, ‘*Hullo! here’s a new Joan of Arc!” ex- claimed Cal, ‘* My opinion o’ you can be put in words that'll not be after needin’a dictionary!” Molly retort- ed. ‘*Only a coward would lay his hands on a blind man!” ‘‘Say, Dame Spiteful, how did you get in here, anyhow? ‘Sure, it was at the door.” ‘The door was locked.” ““We knocked, an’ an illegant red-headed Irishman let usin. It was no great trick, fer I watched an’ see how the rest ave you did it whin you knocked.” “* It’s all right, I guess. Here, old man, here’s half a dollar. Take it, and get to Halifax out of here.” ‘‘ Ab! kind sir, me brother and son are here, and I am wanting them to come home with me, the blind beggar explained, ‘‘Are they not here, daughter ‘“* There **'You bet, pop!” Molly responded. they are!” She pointed to Dennis and Van Decker, but the crooks were not so callow as to believe this. ‘“ Now you're lying! These fellows are noth- ing to you. Get out, before we'fire you!” “ We insist upon having the men,” continued the beggar, in a firm voice. “Ob! youdo? Well, for a blind man you are rather flip. Girl, lead bim down-stairs, “‘She will do nothing of the kind.” “Then Ill drive those blue goggles through your apology for eyes, Get out!” ** One so old as I must take my time,” asserted he of the goggles. ‘‘ Ag for your throwing me down the base my objections on the same basis that I demand the company of your uests, **'W hat’s that, you old idiot?” ** Because it won’t be safe for you to refuse.” Suddenly the speaker drew his form erect. He cast off the boggles and revealed eyes keen = ie The crooks gazed as if fasci- nated. ‘“‘ Gents,” spoke the beggar, ‘* you will do well to let me alone. Iam Tom Tracer, detective!” “Glory Ebenezer!” cried Dennis Duff, ** you’ve come jest in time, Mister Detective!” For awhile the dumfounded crooks had noth- ing to say. Nearly all of them knew Tom cer, und knew him as a man who stood hig | in favor among the detectives of Police Head- sie ghy Although still young, the very men- on of his name was enough to send cold shivers along the spine of the average law-breaker of Gotham. | Cal recovered his power of speech. “Say, Tracer, we haven’t done anything out Of the w ay.” * Oh! haven't you?” the detective retorted, ‘Fy Mg you object to parting with your ests ere don’t object, if you want them, sir,” ” “ Bure, an’ it’s good ter be wanted, ef the call _ Comes from the right quarter,” interrupted Den- ‘“No mermaids an’ cannibawls in mine, ef you please!” ‘And you?’ Tracer asked, addressing Van Decker; and that person, a good deal sobered, meekly replied: ; I want ter go home.” Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid. "4 ‘His mother’s after lookin’ fer him,” added Molly, tossing her head disdainfully. Cal Garland and his companions were all in a quiver of apprebension, and they began to assert their innocence of all wrong intentions, but Tom cut them short: ‘*T am not after you, at present, and need not bora words with you. Til bid you good-night. The direction was given to Van Decker, who went humbly down the stairs. Dennis and Molly followed, “Sure, ye jewel, you’s come just in toime!” the boy declared, admiringly. **Dennis Duff, you’d better go straight home ter i mother, an’ stay there!” , ‘Hold a bit, Molly, hat’s the riot?” ‘*D’ye know w’ot would become of yeef it hadn’t been fer me an’ the detective? I see you look out o’ the winder, an’ knew no good was afoot wid you in this house, I looked fera yeerry but didn’t see none, an’ I asked what thought was an old blind beggar ef he had seen wan; but it was Tom Tracer, an’ in we come, fer we knew the secret knock, an’ we fooled the doorkeeper. Now, Mr. Duff, where would you be ef we hadn’t come in? Sure, you'll be breaking the mother’s heart yet!” Molly was both frightened and indignant, but Dennis answered in pacifying tones: “‘Easy, me jewel, till you hear the verdict, We don’t hang nobody in New York until the jury sets onter him, an’ then ag’in, ropes ain’t fash’nerble sence the new law’s got ter toddlin’. Don’t be after scoldin’ yer cousin afore you know the fox, or there’ll bea break in the family at Ballyragget.” ** Dennis, I never wouldn’t scold, but ’'ve been scared so fer you.” ** Jes’ so; an’ I’ve been skeered fer myself, b’ mateney hile y this time Tom Tracer was through with the crooks, and descended the stairs with bold, firm steps. They passed out on the street and expected to see Van Decker, but found that be had taken advantage of the lull to beat a bur- ried retreat. **Let him go,” the detective directed. ‘I have notbing to say to him, but with you 1 have business, if you will tell what has happened.” ‘Sure, yer Honor, I shall be proud,” asserted Dennis, ‘* Then let us go toa more distant place and talk. My good girl, do you care to wait?’ ‘*T may be necessary ter see Dennis home, for it’s meself is thinkin’ he’s taken leave o’ bis senses,” ‘T’ll answer for that; he is all right. But keep with us, My business will soon be done.” CHAPTER VIII, THE BROWN SPORT SENDS A MESSENGER. Tom TRACER led the. way until two blocks separated them f:om the lair of the crooks. ‘Now, give me the whole story!” he directed. Dennis obeyed. The fame of Tem Tracer as one of the keenest of Headquarters detectives was well known to him, and he was glad to be of service. Detectives and detective work had a charm for him, too, and he was proud of being thus honored. Tracer listened attentively, and then re- marked: ‘“‘T am not investigating Purgatory Coop, just now, though it seems that somebody ought to, You have done well to help Mr. Van Decker out of the fix his bullet head put bim into. By the way, if be lives in Pennsylvania, what is he doing here?” ‘Very careless was the detective’s manner, and Dennis did not suspect that the question covered any deep purpose, ‘ ‘* Dunno exactly w’ot he is here fer,” the boy replied. ‘‘Sure, be’s sellin’? sewin’-machine ’ile,” ex- plained Molly. ‘‘ Petroleum,” Dennis corrected, ‘“‘He owns a farm where allhe bas ter do is ter take an auger an’ bore inter the ground, an’ up will come enough kerosene ter more’n fil] a Jamp.” ‘*T don’t bel’ave it!” Molly declared, ‘‘That’s where you git yer kerosene, anny- how.” : Tom Tracer smiled quietly at this argument, ‘So he is selling stock in the oil plant?’ he questioned. . **T s’pose so, but I dunno.” . ‘** Has be a partner?” **Can’t tell yer, boss, I’m sure.” ‘“‘ Haven’t 1 seen him with the Brown Sport?” ‘Yes; but I don’t reckon he is interested in ile, Roland Gustavus Montague ain’t the man ter s’ile his hands with ‘ile /” Dennis elevated his nose at the mere idea of =—---—— ---——-—_—_-_ —_—_—_—_—_——- ——__- - -eg—«v—X—xr"™—-—- > C—O OV — > - LLL LLL LL tt neces rr Sy SSSSSssssssssslslsssnssssssssienste his elegant employer dabbling in such a gross roduct, and Tracer saw that he would have to cautious, Honesty, plain and straightfor- ward, was perceptive in the boy in all ways, but it was also clear that he was devoted to the Brown Sport. The detective questioned him as closely as he dared, but witbout eliciting anytbing very im- portant. He was convinced that Van Decker and Montague were engaged in some swindle together, but just what it was he did not know. vidently the Brown Sport bad kept Dennis ignorant. Tracer decided not to press the point so as to arouse his companion’s wonder, so he smoothed it over and quieted down allcuriosity. He asked both Dennis and Molly to keep his share in events secret from all, and, proud of his confi- dence, they promised readily. Then he left them. They walked home, talking of Tracer and the recent adventure, and separated at the door of Molly’s home, There her bantering spirit re- turned, ‘“Wouldn’t it be well fer me ter call me father?” ‘What fer?’ Dennia asked. ‘Ter see you home.” “Say, w’ot d’ye take me fer?” he asked, indig- nantly. ‘‘ Name it, an’ you kin hev it, Sure J can’t name you after w’ot I’ve seen the night of your foolishness,” ** Miss McGinnis,” quoth Dennis, with dignity, ‘*T scorn ter be after noticin’ your dispersions on me character. It is very clear that the Irish blood in yer veins is gettin’ mighty thiv, fer there niver was anny Irishman before that wa’n’t generous.” Molly’s heart smote her. ‘*Sure, Dennis, you don’t think I meant it?” she asked. ** Didn’t ye?” ** Indeed, I did not; an’ you ought ter know I wouldn’t scold you, But you scared me so!” ‘* Mary, you m’ane well, an’ it’s all rcigbt; of coorse I know me cousin would not go back on me, Shake bands! That’s de stuff! An’ now Molly,” he added, in the old bumorous vein, “uf reckon the cousins in Ballyragget, Kilkenny county, will breathe freer. There’s after bein’ no danger ave a scrap between the Duffs an’ the McGinnises!” Both the young people knew it was impossible for them to quarrel. Even as children they had always been the best of friends, and the recent sparring had no significance. They separated; Dennis went home and to bed; and it was broad daylight before he was astir again, Darin the forenoon he kept watch for Van Decker, but saw nothing of bim, Tom Tracer or the Brown Sport. Purgatury Coop was calm and innccent, outwardly, and it was hard to realize that he bad gone tbrough such a narrow escape there, only a few bours before, Calvin Garland and his fellows were invisible, Perhaps they were enjoying what they bad won from Van Decker by thirr ble-rigging. Shortly after noon Roland Montague «ppear- edto his young associate, The former’s face was calm and contented, and it was clear that he did not know of Van Decker’s latest break, During the interview which followed Dennis felt that he ought to know, and experienced a guilty sensation that be should keep anythin ack, but the majesty of the Jaw, as personifi in Tom Tracer, was not to be defied. , ‘“‘ Well, old man, how are you?” Montague sa- uted. ‘‘? Way up in G, boss,” the Duffer replied. * All quiet along Greenwich street?” ““So-so! Ef you look you'll see every dealer has got bis whole stock o’ goods on the sidewalk, as usual, Say, ef I did biz there I wouldn't pay no rept, I wouldn't. Wry should I, when the sidewalk is my main store?’ , ‘The point is well taken. Great is Greenwich street; great for all things except pedestrians. They are notin it unless they can climb over the merchants’ goods, or keep in the middle of. the street. Are you busy, Dennis?” ts No,” ‘‘T have a job for you,” ‘Then you kin hev me fer a job.” “JT want a letter delivered on Madison ave- nue.” ara: ‘© 1m the lightnin’ racer fer the job. * You are to go in a back.” “St. Patrick defend us! Is it to a ball of the Four Hundred I am goin’? Why, I ain’t got no dancin’ pumps, nor cane, nor eye-glass; an’ I can’t walk like a dude, with my elhows stickin’ out like yards on the mast of a vessel,”