Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 742 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

/ as fo Mae? “TI te 2 Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective. All at once he was startled by a cry. ** Front?” Billy Winks sprung up, awake in an instant, and crossed to the desk where the last arrivals were now standing, These were-two men. One was taller than the other by at least two inches, and both were well dressed, ‘‘Here, Front, take these gentlemen to 291,” commanded the clerk, tossing Billy a key. In another moment the boy was leading the way to the elevator, which, owing to the lateness of the hour, he was compelled to manage him- ae and all were soon on their way to the third oor, There was nothing particular about the men to claim more than a passing look from the lad, He was used to seeing strange people, and settling back in one corner of the elevator, he let them talk without so much as trying to catch a word. ** Well, how do you like it?’ suddenly asked the taller of the pair, addressing Billy. *“* How do I like what?” ‘Why, being up at all bours running the ele- vator?” ‘* Oh, anything suits me,” was the reply. ** Been at it long?” ** 'T'wo years,” ** Got used to it, then?” - ‘This isn’t my part of the job. The elevator boy went home sick early in the evening, and I agreed to help him out,” , ‘So, What's your name?” ‘** Billy Winks,” Both men laughed a little at the oddity of the cognomen. * Billy Winks is a nickname, isn’t it?” queried the shorter man. ‘“‘T guess it’s all [ll ever have,” returned the boys ‘* ve had it ever since I can remember,” _ The elevator stopped, all stepped out, and Billy showed the guests to Room 291. He was about to quit the chamber when one of ween caught him by tbe arm and stood him at arm’s length, — ‘‘Have you always lived in New York?” he asked. “ Always.” ‘‘ Born here, then?” “So far ag t know. Oh, I’ve been out of the city, down to Coney and around; but never for long at a time.” ‘* Got any relatives?” ‘** None that I know of. [ve looked the Di- rectory over time and again, but I never could find any Winkses, It’s not very queer, though, for mine isn’t a familiar name, you know, and I guess I’m the sole and only Winks in the city. Once more the two men smiled and Billy was released, ‘¢Good-night!” he said as he withdrew and : the next moment he was moving toward the elevator, ‘“‘[ wonder if I don’t look like some one they’ve seen before?” his thoughts ran, ‘‘ They looked at me so closely that it must be some- thing of the kind, [ll go down and see who they are.” : } aah eae the night clerk half asleep in his chair. ‘* Where are they from, Chip?” asked Billy, going up to the desk and tip-toeing to get a look at the register. . oe smiled half dreamily and the boy read ows: ** Chuck Holcomb, Philadelphia. ‘Fred Phlox, 1. ‘*Quaker City gents, eh?” he smiled, turning away, and went back to his seat in the corner. In alittle while he fell into another doze to be ain awakened by the call of “* Front!” and when he opened his eyes he saw Chip looking at the room board back of the desk. ‘291 has called. Go up and see what is S wanted,” 3 . Away went Billy Winks, and when he reach- ed the room to his disgust he found the two in a game of cards and that they wanted a pitcher " of water. He had no sooner crossed the threshold than they began to eye him as before and one of them, the smaller of the pair, said spenagntly “Billy Winks, eh?’ That’s a funny name— y enough to be a nickname.” ‘“*T know it’s funny and you’re not the only gentlemen who have ewe attracted by it.” a4 Billy brought the water and when he came \ near the door, walking softly on the carpet in - the hall, he was startled by a sentences, i you he’s got the Pettibone eye and nose, I don’t let anything deceive me and this , ? isa hunt that must not be given up till success | ‘ 4 ae : e7 aS , . Ns Pi 7 5 : if io . " . "+ (Sg A eo ae ¥ aera ait | big why? ? 4 e ’ Ss) é fe * -—.. ’ $y 7 As, Ws 785 ms rr gr es eee ee CUCU OC CN OQ aa SS eee **T half believe you’re right, Chuck, but, what surprises me is, that we should strike the trail so soon, if we have struck it.” ** Look at his eyes when he comes with the water?” In a moment Billy was at the door and when he opened it the two men fell to their game, But all at once the gaze of Phlox was fastened upou him and he felt himself drawn under a strange influence, There was no questioning this time, and when the men had looked at him awhile one tossed hin a half dollar and he went out. Billy Winks now had something to think about, and when he was again seated on his. bench he did not fall asleep, but kept his bright -eyes wide open and thought of what he had overheard at the door of 291. ‘‘] wonder if they meant me?” he thought. ‘*They looked me through, as it were, and I thought ey would pin me to the wall with their eyes. I don’t know any onein Philadelphy, never was there to my knowledge, and, as I told ’em, I haven’t a living relative in the world,” Billy Winks was relieved from duty early in the morning and when he touched his hat to Chip, 9s was his wont, he went out upon the cool street and made a bee line for home. ‘“The bell boy’s home was nothing great in the line of homes —only a little garret-like room at the head of a flight of steps, and when he bad opened the door with a pass-key he threw ee self upon the rough couch with a sigb of relief, Not many moments elapsed before the scene at the Metropolis was forgotten in sleep and the breathing of the boy was all that disturbed the silence of the cbamber, ‘*Billy? Billy Winks?” called some one at the door, and the bell boy springing up and rubbing ‘his eyes went forward and opened the door. **T thought you was going ter sleep all day,” and a queer looking specimen of city bumanity slipped into the room and took a chair, A little old man past sixty with a quantity of gray hair, rather feeble of step, but bright-eyed, and good-looking. ‘ve got another idea in my head,” he re- marked, with a smile, as he drew from beneath his coat a bit of work which looked like a little model of some new invention, | ‘* Tf I thought Edison would treat me fair, I’d take it to Menlo Park and show it to him, It’s all right now and all [ want is capital to get it started.” He placed the machine on the table, touched a spring and away it went, humming like a hundred bees with its wheels and fans, ‘‘It works well enough as a model, Pappy Pink,” said the boy, gazing at the litte thing so busy on the table. ‘* I wish I had ten thousand dollars to start you out,” ** Bless your beart, you’d give it all to me, wouldn’t you? know you, Billy Winks, You’ve got a beartas big as Vanderbilt’s for- tune; but you'll never get the ten thousand as long as you are a bell boy at the Metropolis.”. ‘*Right you are. There’s no fortune there for a bell mOys We boys don’t strike big tips there ae 75 I did get a balf-dollar last night.” ‘ No. ‘Here. Look at the shiner, Pappy Pink,” and the boy tossed the silver piece on the table, ‘* Take it and buy something for the machine,” ‘‘ Where did you get it?’ asked the old man, picking up the money and eying it closely, **One of the last arrivals gave it to me—Mr. Chuck Holeomb from Philadelphy. There are two of them and they eyed me like hawks and asked me forty questions about myself.” ‘They did, eh? Now, look here, Billy! I’ve always said there was a future in store for you and that -you’d turn out something besides a mere bell boy. Does everybody whom you take up in the elevator look at you and ask you ques- ons about yourself?” ‘* Not one in a thousand,” Pappy Pink seemed to reflect for a moment. ¥ sae they there yet—these two men?” es Ten minutes later the little old inventor had taken his departure and Billy was alone. If he had followed Pappy Pink home he would have seen*him write a few lines which he sealed in an envelope and took in person to the Metropolis Hotel. am Handing the letter to the clerk he said it was to be delivered to Chuck Holcomb, Room 291, as soon as possible, , CHAPTER II. It ha PP inchvckall bor was 6 ond Ir ed that no y was yet on du at the Metropolis when the note was filivered, : P ‘ * . ; . ‘| : ' ‘ o', , in - ? . j P , yh. US ues 0 j@er < /. VEE ie 4 . . vig i) ag oink ge . Nate rae PS 1 | i he =. - nal : . za"? weet f “2 -* » Pan ws Mit Fi oat 4 Z 3 ~ At ! ; b wal ol PR! yr yS a. RS : ay 5b rk * ‘oy Fs" 2+ ge pie P gay ee a . *: +2 ss by * \ we AS 2S r oot 5 % ” cal Fo i rT Pte Crh fan AB ate el! Mae Vidi me ee tal te hl Lee ee a ' ‘ YT, % “"- = : ‘ ~ oy . - : Ie ? - ere rd te d . ws i ; ‘< a © Ai io hha "ot ‘ } Les TE , ‘ *, Lens a , is? + ,, . .. Syl so Peete on, om) 4 - , * . * Se therefore the cler’- placed it in the key-box be- longing to Room 291 and went about his business, He did not think of the letter any more that day. Holcomb and his friend came down toa late breakfast, finished it and went out, ™ They did not return until evening when the 4 clerk suddenly thinking of the letter in the box, if ‘called “Holcomb up to the desk and delivered it. i. It was evident that the guest of the Metropolis h was surprised, and when he broke the seal and a glanced through the contents of the sheet his ; astonishment increased, a The letter was brief and little better than a 7 poor scrawl, but Mr. Holcomb was more than i surprised, ‘*Here’s a stunner in the right direction, 4 Flash,” he said to his companion and in a ro- q ment Phlox was reading as follows: a “Mr. Cuuck Hoitcoms:— ‘‘Tam here in the city and want to see you right off. I think Iam in possession of the very information you want, and if you can trust me I will put you on the right track. Come to me at once, and don’t let any one see you, ; \ ‘‘ Pappy PINE.”’ “‘1t looks straight,” said Chuck, looking at his friend whose astonishment seemed as great as his own. ‘* It’s a windfall if it is anything,” was the re- ply. ‘* You must go at once. We want to strike the trail as soon as possible for I want to get at the stakes,” a” Holcomb looked at his watch and glancedat © the seat usually occupied by Billy Winks, bat the bell boy had not returned, ‘*Stay here and watch the boy,” he suggested to the Phlox, ‘I tell you he has the Pettibone face, and I dreamed: of him last nigh!. Don’t render him suspicious by questioning him, but let us work under cover, and not spring the mine till everything is ready for it.” Chuck Holcomb, with Pappy Pink’s fetter in his pocket, sauntered out in the street and walk- ed off. Directions for finding the old man had been given in one corner of the sheet, and he ; resolved to walk the whole distance, as the hiring BiGh of a cab might attract undue attention. It was a long walk, for the house oceupied by Pappy Pink was across the city, and he was yet three squares from it, when he was stopped by a man, Holcomb turned and saw a tall, dark-faced | person, with a full beard, which was very black. on At thesame momenta closed carriage drove up to the sidewalk and halted, Y | ‘‘That is the gentleman I wanttosee, [am | © quite sure of it,” was remarked as the door of “4 the vehicle swung open and Holcomb saw a face e) on the inside, — ee ‘The gentleman’ wants to see you, sir,” said 5 ae the man who bad stopped the Philadelphian. “You will oblige him by stepping forward for a moment,” , es Suspecting no trap, Chuck obeyed, and stepped =| _— to the open door, when he was seized bya hand — that seemed to have a grip of iron, and with the — assistance of the man who had.hailed him on | the street, he was hustled into the vehicle and | the door was shut on all. if) iia ** Not a word, Mr. Holcomb!” warned a men- |. acing voice, as he was thrust back into one of *| — the dark corners, while something likea hand- (| kerchief was placed over his mouth. it, ‘What right have you to seize me in this — m manner? You—” a ‘*Hush! You talk at the risk of your life. | We know what we are doing.” | Mp Air ‘Pm Away went the carriage, and the hands at his — Pos throat, choking bim almost into insensibility, | | prevented him from uttering another word, 2 es Holcomb thought of the letter in his pocket,, | — and tried to reach itfor the purposeof throwing | | it into the street, but was prevented by one of — the men, and afteralong drive through apor- | , tion of the city unknown to him, the cab halted | and he was helped out, Pie 2 a He now found a cocked revolver at bishead, | and was walked intoan alley, where they found ~ re. a door, and Chuck was led into a house, ° a ‘Place bim ina chair, Simon,” and the en from Philadelphia wasconducted toa seat, while (| — the gas was turned on, and for the first time beak 1 saw two men with whom he wasdestined tohave | some lively adventures. Pay (cae Both were determined looking fellows, and it ~ was plain to Chuck that they were highly | amused with the success of their trick. Pet ta “Turn out your pockets, Mr. Holcomb,” or- Ne Betee dered one of the men, F <i Bae Chuck Holcomb looked indignant. 3S Vo, aun _ “You are playing a game liable to get you {| into trouble, and the best you can doistoletme _—-_ { ae ont cm, * '