Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 732 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective. The speaker was a queer-looking personage, and bé stood at the open Window of one of the tall tenement-houses of New York and looked into the street far below, He could see from bis lofty station the thou- sand and one ligbts that fringed the seemingly endless street; the roar of city lifecame that up to him as he had heard it time and again; but at that moment he was thinking of something else besides the sights and sounds among which he had lived all his life, Almost everybody, for squares around, knew the little person called Andy Atom, They knew, too, or at least some did, that he was the close companion—some said the spy— of aman known as Major Manilla—a dark-faced but handsome person whose taciturn ways had never extended his personal acquaintance or given him popularity with any set, The twain did not live together, but they met often, as high as six times a day, and whenever Andy could get out, which was not at all times, for he was crippled, the two were seen up in the Park or down under the battery trees in close conversation, lt was verging on to ten o’clock and Andy was getting sleepy. He yawned while he stood at the window, watching the figures that glided along the street far below, but did not see the man for whom he waited, At last some one dodged into the house and the boy turned away as he caught the sound of footsteps on the stairs, The sounds stopped at his door, which opened soon and aman, at sight of whom Andy Atom uttered a joyful cry, stepped into the room. It was Major Manilla. He was good looking, sure enougb, and tall enough to have made a soldier for the German king’s guard, ‘* Waiting for me, eb?” be exclaimed, coming forward and laying one of his soft brown hands on the boy’s sboulder. “That [ was, I thought you weren’t coming back any more,” The man smiled, ‘I'm like bad money—I always come home,” be replied. ‘'I was unexpectedly detained; in fact, [ran across an old friend and we had to chat awhile,” ‘‘You’ve met a good many old friends of late,” averred the boy, a tinge of sarcasm in his tone, ‘But, never mind that, only some of these Sieads may not prove the best of friends for all. Major Manilla smiled again and laughed. ‘* What do you know?” he suddenly asked. ‘* Not very mucb, butevery little is something, ain’t it?” 7 ‘* Yes, yes.” ‘‘ Well, ’'ve picked up something that may juterest you,” ‘* Then, let’s have it.” The boy, who looked older than he really was, moved to the table, where he took a chair, and the man followed his example. ‘*T went down to Mother Rockaway’s to-day,” Andy continued, ‘*The old woman is as slick asa weasel, You don’t catch her asleep, I tell you, She knows a thing or two, and whenever i try to trap her she puts on an extra bit of shrewdness and completely baffles me.” ‘* But, what did she say or do to-day!” “Suid very little, and drew herself into her shell like a verrapin.” ‘Then you found out nothing?” “Not by her tongue, that’s a fact; but I pick- ’ ed up this,” and the hand of the young speaker came out of his bosom and there dropped upon the table at Major Manilla’s elbow a letter, “You got this, did you?” he laughed, ‘‘ Well, this letter, coming from Mother Rockaway’s house, may be worth its weight in diamonds.” The eager man began to unfold the missive, watched by the keen eyes of the boy, and when it had been opened he commenced to read it. ‘‘ Do you think she knew you got it?” the major asked, catching the eyes fastened upon him, ‘‘ I’m pretty sure she didn’t,” ‘Well, it is a find, and no mistake. It is worth its weightin first-water brilliants—worth a fortune, Andy, my boy!” ‘I’m glad to hear that.” Major Manilla reread the letter, which took up a whole sheet, and then folded it carefully and stowed it away in an inner ket. His expression showed that he had made a ‘startling discovery—that the letter so cunningly obtained by Andy, was very valuable to him, and he again thanked the boy, but inquired if he thought the woman called Mother Rockaway ewould suspicion bim, ** How are you getting alopg?” asked Andy. rrr Le ee LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL — — The major looked surprised, ‘* What do you refer to, Andy?” he demanded, ‘Come; I don’t want you to think that ’m poking my nose into your business; but, what’s to your advantage is to*mine, as well, for are we uot pardners?” ‘*' Yes, yes. Ob, I’m getting along very well, and, with no mishaps, we’ll soon have a pile that will do your eyes good to look at,” The major bade the boy gcod-night and de- parted, admonishing him as he left to watch out for Mother Rockaway, and if she accused him of purloining the letter, to deny it to the last, he man with the dark face went down the steps and out into the night, Andy seeing his figure for a moment on the street aud then los- sg, among the passing throng. ajor Manilla drew acigar and lighted it ere he had gone far, and, ten minutes afterward, entered a saloon, through which he passed to a rear room, where he found a man who appeared to be waiting for him, Meantime Andy Atom prepared for bed. This did not take much time, and soon he was lying on his hard couch, thinking of the letter and Major Manilla, The night was warm as midsummer nights are in a great city, and the door opening into the hall was left ajar for air. Andy had passed some years in that room, and had slept with the door open. He had never been robbed or disturbed, Now and then a policeman would look in upon him and withdraw, as if he were not the person wanted. He had noticed that, since his meeting Major Manilla, these visits bad been more fre- quent, and more than once he wondered why it was thus, but had never said anything to the major about it. He was at last fast asleep, when a step came up the stairs and stopped at bis door. By and by this was pushed open, revealing a woman, who glided into the almost furniture- less apartment and toward thesleeping boy. She was apparently forty, with a sharp face and a pair of keen eyes which let nothing escape them. She smiled once or twice while she con- templated the youngster, and seemed to sneer at his slumber, as if she did not more than half be- lieve it gennine. All at onée she stooped at the odge of the conch and began to go through Andy’s scant wardrobe, Her hands flitted in and out of his peck and nothing therein escaped her adept ngers, The woman heaved a sigh of disappointment when at last she gave up her task. She drew back and looked madly at the boy, and for a moment seemed on the eve of pouncitig upon him like a hawk; but she restrained her se heh to throttle him and arose and stood over iim, . “The young snake-in-the-grass came to my house, aud I missed the letter after be was gone,” her thoughts ran, ‘if I thought it was in the house somewhere, I wouldn’t go away until I had it in my bands, It’s worth more than its weight in gold to me and to others, as well.” For some time she continued to scrutinize the sleeping-boy, but at last withdrew, Stopping at the door, she gazed back and ground her teeth. ** Woe to the person into whose hands that let- ter has fallen,” she mentally cried. ‘‘I will beat him, whoever he is, and I think I know the man whose heart would leap for joy at the con- tents of that missive,” She turned away and went down the steps more like a tall shadow than a human being and did not stop again until she entered a room some squares from the house, 0 “T came back empty-handed,” she remarked to a huge black cat that purred up to her as she came in, ‘‘ That letter was in my bands when that boy came, but I haven’t seen it since,” The cat answered with a mew and Mother Rockaway said no more, Bright and early the next morning Andy Aton opened his eyes and started up in amaze- ent. His garments were not where he had laced them upon retiring, His coat had falle from the stool and lay on top his pantaloons, contrary to the usual custom, and someof the contents of the pockets were on the floor, ‘‘By Jupiter! some one has been here!” he cried, He searched the clotbes, but did not miss any- thing; still this did not satisfy him. Jumping into his clothes he ran down-stairs and into a dirty room occupied by a little man who scowled at sight of him, ‘*Was the ghost up to see you last night, Andy?” this man demanded. ‘* What was it like?” ‘*A tall woman in black, as thin as a with a hatchet face and all-seeing eyes,” The boy started. ‘* Mother Rockaway!” he gasped. CHAPTER II, THE ENIAAPPED PENNSYLVANITAL, WHItk Andy Atom was speculating over what he heer! from the man on the Jower floor, Major Manilla was watching the arrivals in the Union Depot in Jersey City. The handsome fellow had crossed over at day- light and was on the alert taking in the crowds that left the incoming trains and letting no one escape his eager eyes, He bad stationed himself where he coulds see all who moved toward the ferry and had been ov guard ever since entering the depot. All at once hestarted and uttered an exclama- tion of satisfaction, A mau well in years had aligbted from the train and was coming toward the ferry-boat witb an old-fashioned traveling-sack in his hand, The major watched him closely and after a while moved forward and accosted bim, ‘*Good-morning, Mr, Pine!” he saluted. The old traveler fell back and stared at the speaker. ‘¢ Are you Mr. Lester?” he asked, ‘*That’s my name,” ‘* Bless me, but I thought from what Susan wrote—” **One of Susan’s tricks, perhaps,” broke in Manilla. ‘‘She told me she intended giving you a surprise and so described me as looking quite unlike my usual self, [ hope you’ve had a pleasant journey.” ‘* Only tolerable, But which wa It has been so Jong since I was in don’t know the way any more.” Tbe major had taken the old man’s arm and was conducting bim toward the boat, In reply to a question, he assured him that ‘¢ Susan ”’? was quite well and would be delighted to see him, whereupon the old gentleman re- marked that he hoped Susan had kept the big secret, and that he would find things well under way when he reached her. ‘**T’m glad to see you, Mr, Lester,” he went on, completely duped by Major Manilla, “I think you are a tip-top gentleman to come over here to meet me, Susan couldn’t come, I sup- pose?” ‘* She would have come, but the hour was so early, you know, and I had nothing on my hands, so 1 thought I would undertake the job.” The couple had reached the boat by this time, and in a little while it put off, the old man a re its movements with the delight ofa child, Arrived at the New York side, Manilla guided his charge ashore, and the two were soon swal- lowed up in the crowd of passengers and people, “ This ain’t Susan’s carriage, I hope?” said the old man when a cab, hailed by the major, came up to receive them. ‘No, but it will take us to her,” was the an- swer, and in a jiffy they were thumping over the streets. The drive did not last very long. When the cab stopped the major assisted his charge to alight, and after walking half a square, showed him into a house, the number of which was n0 longer or the door. ‘We'll take what you’ve brought with you,” said the major, looking sharply at the old man, who fell back with a gasp of fear. ‘What do you mean, sir?” he demanded, ‘What, aren’t you Caleb Pine, of Harris- burg?” ‘‘That’s the name my parents gave me fifty- nine years ago,” “IT thought so. Yes, Mr. Pine, we'll take the documents you’ve brought tothecity, Are they in the grip?” The old gentleman sat horror-stricken. His tace grew pale and bis legs trembled. The traveling-sack which lay at his feet was suddenly jerked away by Manilla, and, with a wild cry, which told too well that its contents were very precious in the traveler’s eyes, Caleb Pine got up and made a grab for the bag, “Not yet, | guess!” laughed the major; “T want to see what you have in here,” “ My God! where am [? Surely this is not Susan’s house! You cannot be Luke Lester, of whom she bas spoken so often.” ‘‘] might be some one else, that’s a fact,” grinned the conspirator. ou won't find everything true to name in New York.” do we go? ork that I The Pennsylvanian stood spellbound in -the — middle of the room. He seemed to realize that he bad fallen into the clutches of villains—that cboo ‘ *) "\ «fs com = *