Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 742 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

she is the right girl all the same, and we have the fly safely in the golden web,” For a few moments Blake Belden sat at the table and drummed thereon with the tips of his white fingers. ‘* ll take a little money now.” ‘* Certainly,” acquiesced Belden, with a start. He crossed the room toa safe in one corner and threw back the steel door, revealing some- thing that made Spanker’s eyes glitter, *“* How much?” *“* Five thousand.” “What!” and Blake Belden turned upon Spanker, with eyes widened with amazement. ** Five thousand, Do you think lam going to take all the risk for nothing? Why, you are the one who will reap the harvest, and you must remember that Simon and I are the ones who are risking our necks that you may sit at your ease, and get your clutches on the biggest estate in Jersey.” Spanker spoke coolly, and with his eyes on the open safe, and Belden evidently saw that he was in thé villain’s grip, for he laid his hand on a pile of bills. ‘ The next time it will be ten thousand, won’t it?’ ne queried, coming back to the table. ‘*Never mind what it will be. What would it amount to, anyway? Why, fifty thousand wouldn’t make a hole in the pile, and bere you are kicking on five!” Spanker subsided and watched Belden count out the bills and when the last one had fallen on the table he put out his soft hand and raked them in. ** Are you sure the girl won’t get out?” asked Belden, Sam Spanker fell back in his chair and burst into a laugh. ‘“‘'m no fool, Blake Belden, I know where my neck is now, and if you think I have lefta loophole you are the worst fooled man on this island, Safe? I should say she is safe.” ‘*The boy who came between me and Phlox gave me a shock—I don’t know why.” ¥. ie A because you acted the fool and gave him a letter to carry to me,” ** Tt was the same boy.” ‘* And I got the letter—a very foolish one for you to intrust to anybody. Don’t you know that a letter can be steamed and so adroitly opened that the game can’t be detected?” ‘* But mine wasn’t treated that way?” “*T hope not,” ** Did you look at it?” sé Yes.” “Well?” ‘‘ T couldn’t detect anything wrong.” ‘* [t's all right, then.” ** Don’t you ever commit another blunder like ‘ that,” warned the tool, Belden’s verv looks promised that he wouldn’t. ‘**T would like to know where the girl is,” he said, ‘ Not that [ don’t think she is safe, but I would like to talk with her—” 7 **And put heron ber guard? If you want to see ANY One go and talk to Pappy Pink.” But Belden seemed to shrink within himself, ‘‘ Td rather see the girl,” he answered, Sam Spanker smiled, but made no reply. He had the five thousand dollars in crisp notes in his pocket and picking up his hat, strode toward the door, **Ob,” said he, stopping suddenly, ‘I forgot something.” He came back, at the same time looking sharply into Belden’s face. ** Do you recollect Betsy Snipe?” : '§ Beaver yes! You haven’t found her, too, ) ‘i believe I have,” replied the other. ‘She was the half-witted servant who lived with the Pettibones at the time of the fire, She went off a few days before the event and from that time to this has never been heard of, If I am not mistaken the woman is here in New York,” oh Belden listened in no easy frame of mind, ‘It seems to me that all have gathered to. ether here. Betsy Snipe isa woman [ would e to see; but you may not have found her after all.” ‘* Well, then, [ have seen her counterpart—a hatchet-faced thing as sharp asa brier and for all the world like the same Betsy Snipe who has been accused of carrying off the Pettibone cbildren,.” * Where is this creature?” ** Down on the Bowery.” ‘* Living alone?” ** Yes, but in a human bee-hive,” * What does she do for a living?” “TI don’t know,” “*Give me her number.” _—_—CC-: er -- Or > SS This Sam Spanker did without hesitation, and wben he left the house Blake Belden stood in the middle of the room looking at the paper with careful eyes, ‘*What if it is the same woman?” he said aloud. ‘* Whatif this is the same Betsy Snipe? —the creature. who did me a favor years and years ago?” He went back into his private room, put on a hat be seldom wore, crushed it down over his forehead, put a pistol in his pocket and went out. ‘**T must see this woman at once—before Sam Spanker sees her again,” he decided, and then hurried away on his mission, CHAPTER X, ‘KEEP OUT OF THAT MAN’S WAY.” LitTLE did the head of the Golden Coil sus- pect while he threaded the streets of New York that he was going to the same house occupied by Billy Winks, He was bent on meeting the woman called Betsy Snipe, not dreaming that she was so near the boy destined to play such a part in the fell conspiracy against the Pettibone fortune. He reached the house and looked up at it some time before he made up his mind to enter. When he rung he was confronted by a girl who in reply to his question told him where Betsy Snipe was to be found and in a momert Belden was mounting the flight to her room. Three minutes later the man stood looking into the little eyes and peaked face of the woman who had opened his letter for Billy Winks, ‘‘ Are you Betsy Snipe?” he asked. “*'Shat’s who I am and no mistake,” responded the woman, in shrewish tones. ‘‘I’ve been Betsy Snipe for fifty-nine years and I guess Ill remain the same person to the end.” She was looking into the plotter’s face as if it recalled the past and all at once she fell back with a cry. ‘*T know you now! when did you turn up?” ‘* Hush!” warned Belden, springing fcrward and seizing her wrist. “FT don’t want to be known here and itis to your interest to keep a still tongue in your head,” Making no reply Betsy Snipe ‘stood off and gazed at the man. ‘You live alone here, don’t you?’ Belden asked, ‘* Yes, alone,” ** How long have you been living in the cit7? ‘* Nearly seventeen years. I came here soon after— You know what, Blake Belden.” ‘*T understand you. In all that time no one has recognized you?” ‘**T didn’t care to be recognized.” ‘Yet you didn’t drop your name?” ‘“No. I thought too much of my dead hus- band todo that, Iam true to the memory of Jack Snipe ever to give up his name for any cause, ou look a little older and I suppose you are rolling in clover.” ‘* Moderately so,” answered Belden, looking at the woman with more and more intensity, ‘I want to ask you, Betsy’—and he lowered his voice—‘‘ what ever became of them?” In an instapt the face of the woman seemed to change. ‘*T don’t know,” she said firmly. As she spoke she averted her gaze and tried to look away. ‘You were said to have taken them off the night of the fire because of some slight John Pettibone put upon you.” “*T didn’t like bim—that’s a fact; there was no love between us, They accuse me of taking the children off, do they? Well, if they hadn’t been abducted don’t you think théy’d have escaped the fire?” Blake Belden was trying to keep back some- thing that seemed to struggle to his lips, ‘‘T know you did it, Betsy Snipe,” he said. ‘You did not carry out my instructions,” ‘“‘T didn’t have to,” snapped the woman with fire in the depths of her eyes, The man glared at her with the mien of a human tiger, ‘* Listen to me, Blake Belden, since you have taken pains to hunt me up,” she wenton. ‘I haven’t seen you for years and have hoped that we would never meet again, Are you still after thechildren? Aren’t you satisfied with what fell to your lot? I know you have had the enjoy- ment of the fortune all these years—that you are even now ‘rolling in clover,” as they say. If I knew where the children were do you think I would tell you? Do you think that Betsy Snipe, who once helped you to the wealth you have now, would betray them? You have come to the wrong house; you have sought out the wrong In the name of heaven, Oe thine pene ee eR SR ES EP SETS a Se et Ee ee Se ae, a a Cs See ee ee eae Gs ee ee ee ee Se ee woman. I haven’t many years to live, but I won't add another blot to my life.” She stood before Blake Belden with her angular figure drawn to its full height, and he almost re- coiled from the angry flashes of the sunken eyes, Betsv Snipe could be a tigress when aroused, ‘* Who told you 1 live here?’ she demanded, ‘One of your paid spies, ’ll be bound. Yes, I’ve been leading an honest life these many years, but there is one thing 1 can’t forget and that is the past, If you want any information I have none for you, I don’t give up my secrets. I guess they look like their mother, ha, ha, ha!” The woman’s laugh seemed to chill him. ** You do know where they are!” he cried, **T haven’t said so,” ‘* No, but you have just intimated as much.” ** Just as you please,” and Betsy dJaughed in his face. ‘*The boy especially resembles his mother.” ‘* Thunder and guns!” cried Belden, reaching for the woman’s arm, but she backed out of bis way. ‘* You know all about them. You did steal them that night, but you failed to carry out my instructions, You took my money, you was glad enough to get that—” . Well, you had enough and to spare, didn’t you? A quick movement on his part and he had the woman in his grip though she tried to squirm out of it, but failed. ‘‘Pll shriek if you don’t let go,” she warned. “T am still Betsy Snipe; but there’s no murder in my heart any more.” Hoe looked at her and grated his teeth, but dropped the arm he bad taken and looked say- agely at the woman. ** You won't tell me?” **T won’t. 1 want to die here without bein any man’s agent. I won’t tell you what, know.” ** They are here--in this city?” There was no reply. ‘You don’t have things in plenty bere,” he went on, glancing around the room, ‘* You are right, Sometimes I am pinched for the necessary things of this life. I have known what it is to shiver through a long winter and even now I am very poor, but I don’t want ont dollar of your money—not a copper of it ‘You needn’t get so independent; I haven't offered you any yet.” ‘*But you did once and 1 took it! It burned a hole in my soul, too. It brought me lower than the angels who fell from heaven, It cal- loused the better nature of Betsy Snipe, and made her too contemptible to be noticed by her fellow humans,” ‘* Very well; stay here and starve when there are riches at your door,” he snapped and started as if to go, ‘‘T can do that; I’ve done it before,” she an- swered, ‘‘Starving’s nothing new to Betsy Sag oe e opened the door and looked out into the hall, when, all of a sudden he returned, bis eyes fairly blazing. ‘* Don’t you ever try to betray me,” he hissed, ‘** Don’t you ever sell me out, Betsy Snipe.” She merely laughed at him. ** Sell you out?” she cried. ‘‘I don’t want to bandie any money that would be in any way connected with you, Get out of my room! Bad as | am, your presence stains the floor I tread.” He went toward the door again; this time he stepped out into the ball, when she slammed the portal in his face as she bade him begone! She was a picture of rage, and when he was gone she st in the middle of the apartment aud shook her skeleton fists at him. ** Sell you out?” she cried, repeating her own words, ‘‘I would like to do it for I know you would dance on a gallows; but I won't, no, not yet, at any rate,” Betsy was locking her door against a recur- rence of the visit, when some one seemed to reach if, ‘‘ Mother Snipe?” called a voice from the out- side, In an instant the door flew open and there stood Billy Winks, the boy ferret. ‘You, Billy Winks?” cried the woman, bend- ing down and looking into the sparkling eyes of the young shadow, ‘' What on airth brings you here at this time o’ night? You haven’t got an- other letter for me to steam, have you ‘‘ Not that, Mother Snipe; but I’m hereon im- ortant business just the same,” ‘¢ Well?” ‘You have just had a visitor. A man has just quitted this house, He came here tosee you and you alone, Mother Snipe. I want to know who he is and why he should come to see you.” 5 MURR TES sill SY Ve Sea ey ia HOS gel XS! aw COMICDOOKS.COM