Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 726 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— > ‘e 7 « , = - . wt —— 7 ~ oe -—~ <> ; - es ~ ~ St SINS PO Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid. ‘* You are not to fill that role.” ‘Bully! Anything but a ‘slim’ fer me.” ‘‘You simply are to go in the hack—or, rather, on the the seat with the driver, and de- liver the letter. The result of said letter will be that the receiver thereof will leave her house, enter the hack and go to a place mentioned in the letter. You will continue to ride with the driver until the corner of Canal street and Broadway is reached, when you will alight, go to Cob Tolman’s and wait until I join you. ou know the place, don’t you?” ** Sure!” ‘ Very likely the lady in the case will ask you certain questions, Jf she does, you are to know ' nothing whatever except that a business man, | whose name you do not know, gave you this let- ter and told you todeliver it with all possible haste, See?” ** Sure!” ‘* Don’t mention me in any way.” ** Certain, not.” ** And don’t know any more than I told you.” **?’'m mum.” ‘* Here’s the letter, Now, come around to the stable and I'll see you off on the hack.” “They went, but the Brown Sport repeated his directions before he let Dennis out of bis sight, showing an anxiety not usual to him. And when the vehicle rolled away he stood looking after it in a very thoughful way. Dennis was by the driver’s side and inclined to be sociable, but bis wishes were not gratified. The driver was surly and curt, and gave no word that was notin keeping with his nature, Under these circumstances the Brown Sport’s | Kid soon took refuge in the company of his own thoughts. **Wonder w’ot the boss has got under way, now?” he meditated. ‘‘Some hoss-race, or pugilistic work, I guess, though why there should be a woman into it [ dor’t know. They play the races, but I didn’t know the Brown port bad any on’em under his wing. He looked anxious, an’ [ll do the job up brown,” The driver knew their destination, and Dennis did not look at the address on the letter until they had drawn up infront of an elegant resi- dence on Madison avenue, Then he read the name on the envelope, *** Miss Irene Elliston!” I do believe that’s the same as had the adventure un Murray street, though I didn’t lay it up. No matter, thougb.” He rung the bell and sent the letter in, and then returned to the vehicle and mounted to the box. He was sitting there in a placid mood, when, a few moments later, Irene Elliston came out of the house bastily, equipped for the street. She hurried to the hack, and then looked at Dennis. ** Come inside with me!” she directed. ** Miss, I’ve got on ol’ clothes, an’—” ** Never mind your clothes. Come, and be quick!” Dennis noticed that her manner was agitated and troubled, and his naturally strong sympa- thies were aroused at once, She was pretty, re- fined, gracious and ladylike, and he took a fancy to her. He obeyed at once, and leaped down from the box. “Drive back with all then said to the driver. He made a surly reply, and Miss Elliston and Dennis entered the vehicle, ae you personally see my brother?” she as . ‘* En?’ the boy questioned. ‘*Did you see the gentleman who was in- jured?” **[ didn’t know nobody was hurted, miss,” ‘* Where did you get this note?” “A gent give it to me ou the street. He didn’t give his name,” ‘*Then you have no later report?” ‘“ No,” “‘Put didn’t you hear if he was dangerously injured?” persisted Irene, not willing to takea negative reply, ** I ain’t up in the case, nohow, It’s asI said: I don’t know nothin’ about it, except that the letter was give me as I said.” Dennis spoke the truth, but his mind was bardly at ease. The young lady’s remarks in- dicatei that sbe hs been informed in the letter that her brother was injured, and he doubted if such was the case, <A wave of suspicion rolled over him. Was she being deceived? If so, why? ‘See if you know this place,” added [rene, extending the letter and pointing to a certain lace. ‘‘Itis wherelamtogo, Do you know if it is a business house, or residence? Read the the address!” Dennis read, and his eyes dilated. The place was Purgatory Coop! possible haste!” Irene * | } CHAPTER IX, AN EXCITING ERRAND FOR DENNIS, ‘* T WOULD like to know,” added Miss Elliston, ‘‘ whether the building is one devoted to business, | or if my brother is in a private residence where | he can receive good care,” | ‘* What does the letter say?” Dennis Duff asked in a low, peculiar voice, ‘** Read it!” He obeyed, It was as follows: ‘Miss IRENE Evxiisron:—I regret to say that my friend your brother Robert, has met with a painful and serious accident, Ido not regard his injuries as necessarily dangerous, but the situation is extreme- ly grave, and I weuld suggest that you come here immediately. Robert is eager to have you near him. The bhackman will wrive you to the proper address. Sympathizingly yours, ; “EK. D. CLinton.” Then followed the street and number, to which Dennis’s attention had been drawn already, and Mace the infamous house known as Purgatory “The driver is going very slowly!” exclaimed Irene, ‘‘ Why don’t he hasten? I want to get to my brother.” ** Had you heerd o’ his bein’ hurted afore you got this?’ “ec No,” Miss Elliston was too much bound up in her troubles to place any hidden construction on the question, but Dennis was looking at ber in a fixed way. A painful and startling theory had been forced upon him, She was being decoyed into a trap! By whom? He studied the handwriting of the letter. Had the Brown Sport been deceived, also? The writ- ing looked unfamiliar, at first, but as the mes- senger scanned the words further, well-remem- | bered peculiarities in the formation of certain letters began to reveal something more to him. It was Roland Montague’s own cbirography, disguised, but not completely masked. The Brown Sportv’s Kid was dumfounded, Why did that man want Irene to go to Purga- tory Coop? Michael Duff and his wife always bad been poor, but they had given their children the most valuable inheritance of all—bhonor! By means of precept and practice they had taught the great lesson well, and Dennis had been a good pupil, Dishonesty and meanness he shrunk from and despised, and, now, he would not for a mo- ment think of aiding to do wrong to Miss Ellis- ton. But was not wrong intended? ‘“ Purgatory Coop ” answered for itself, and the fact that Mon- tague was luring the girl there was equally em- phatic. The Brown Sport’s own reiterated com- mands that be was not to be mentioned was the blow that clinched the nail; it showed tbat he was working an underhand game, and had some- thing to conceal. Ligbt broke suddenly upon the boy; he knew Montague as he was—knew that a great wrong was intended, Dennis’s own course was quickly decided upon, re Bie l’s you, miss, I'd go ter yer brother’s office, first off,” he advised. " iY you know E, D. Clinton?” ry re. ‘‘Did yer brother hey any business in that section?” ‘* Not to my knowledge,” ‘*Then,” said Dennis, with the air of a dis- coverer, ‘‘ you kin depend on it that the Robert who is hurted ain’t your brother Robert. Some other feller, sure!” / Irene’s face brightened, but only momentarily, ‘* How can that be, when the message came to me so direct?” she asked. The boy was equal to the new emergency, ‘When Robert No, 2 was burted they looked in the Directory, seen Robert No. 1’s name, an’ s’posed they got the right one. Now, you take my advice an’ go ter your brother’s office, first off, It’ll only take a bit longer.” ‘* But the other place is this side of there?” ‘* Yes, but—” ‘“‘Then I will first stop there, If there isa on that is the quickest way of learning t. Dennis saw that he must come to the point. ‘‘ Ef you value yer life an’ safety you won’t do it!” he declared, plainly. ‘“‘I wanted ter save the facks fer yer brother’s ears, first, not yours, but here goes, Miss, 1 do know that house, an a worse you'll not be after findin’ in New York, Confidence-men, bunco-steerers, gamblers, an’ a good share of the Old Nick’s children hang out there, an’ you’d be no safer than a lamb among * wolves. Thisis alla plot ter decoy you there, you bet!” Irene was startled, and, for a few moments, rendered speechless, When she rallied, her first | question was practical and to the point: | “If you are advising me right, now, why | did you act as the decoy you mention{” “’Cause Iwas tooken in as bad as you, an’ hadn’t no idee where you was ter go until I read it in the letter, You goter yer brother’s office, first, an’ef I’m wrong you'll know it cheap, but | ef you go ter Purgatory Coop you'll git yer ex- Q. perience dear, See?” ‘*T will obey you, I think,” ‘Decide quick, fer we’re most ter the Coop, an’ there’s no backin’ out when youstrike there!” ** Tell the driver to change the route,” Dennis obeyed, but the surly backman jogged along and did not even turn his head. The boy called again, and again he was ignored, ‘The man is in the plot!” cried Irene, chang- ing color. ‘He is determined to drive to that pees anyhow. Great heavens! what can we ** Do?” echoed the Brown Sport’s Kid, sharply. ‘*Ef he don’t let up Pll show ye—yes; an’ lll show him! I'll smaSh his measly old hack inter flinders!” Raising his voice the indignant speaker ad- ‘* Hi there, you gorilla on the box, you drive where I say, or lll send a shock o? ’lectricit along yer spine that'll tear all the buttons o yer weskit! You bear me? Obey orders, or (Jl smash outa winder an’ yell fer the police like acyclone. Thbat’s biz! Dol yell, or do you cave?” | The driver turned sullenly. ‘* What do you want?” ‘‘ We want ter be drove where I said.” ‘* But the man who hired me saidJ—” **Don’t keer w’ot he said. Do one o’ three things, mister: Take us whar I say; drop us out here: or ‘let me introduce yer to a per- leeceman. Ketch on, cabby?”’ The driver saw that his ‘‘ fares” were not to be trifled with, and he drew up by the curb- stone. ‘*Git out, ef you want to!” he growled. ‘*Sure, you’re wonderful koind. Did the cop- per over beyanst be after changin’ yer moind?” There were times when Dennis broke forth broadly in the Irish dialect he beard talked so much at home, and now be was sufficiently elated to feel his best. A policeman and a cab were in sight, and the Brown Sport’s Kid was ci lm as he assisted Irene cut of the back. Ina short time the second vehicle was engaged, and they were on their way to Robert Elliston’s office. The first person they saw on reaching Ellis- ton & Iber’s was Robert, strong and well, giv- ing orders to a clerk, and Dennis’s veracity and judgment were established in Miss Elliston’s mind. She could bardly control herself until they were in the private office. Then the story was soon told, Robert listened, surprised and startled, but when he knew the facts, he shook the boy’s hand warmly. ‘‘ You are a trump card!” he cried. ‘‘ Yes, but not the knave o’ trumps.” “You are ace-high. Believe me, my lad, I shall not forget this great favor,” ‘* Don’t mention it, boss,” ‘¢ Robert, from what, from whom has he saved me?” Lrene asked, tremulously. ‘¢ Does not suspicion point all one way?” ‘* Tt points to one of two men,” ‘“My lad, will you clearly describe the man who bired you to carry the note?’ Robert re- quested, ° ; Dennis was ready with his answer. For months he had done errands for the Brown Sport, and had admired that person greatly. Believing bim honorable and “‘square” he bad never thought to question bis works or bis mo- tives, and had been truly faithful, but, almost as swift as the revelation, had been the change of his opinions and allegiance. The Brown Sport certainly was guilty, and his ** Kid” wanted no more of bim. ; ‘* Et ain’t necessary fer me ter describe him,” he replied, ‘‘ Miss, when you asked who give me the letter I told you he didn’t give me bis name, He didn’t need ter, fer I knew it already. It was Roland Montague!’ Brother and sister looked at each other in silence, ‘‘ He told me not say who I got it from, an’ I didn’t, but I never s’pected mischief was afoot till 1 see where we was going, by the letter. But I knew that house, I did; an’ | kicked right off,” \ P tl je 62200 ena ae ‘ fe of J » whe é - * ; wy : . i - a wikel- “hes = i L\ @ L\ C) ™ “_ aN OC } || | \ + ae