Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 744 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

es de g — -. a >~* ~~ .°-—r— eee OS “~er- a a. - met ast ah 7 ie aie ‘sf. > @ $ -_ aay : Dick of the Docks, the Night-Watch. ~eS — a ae ae See Gee ew aa - ————— a “ . . 3 j ? 4 became clear that he had been felled by the others, who bad then run away, Quickly he bent over the unknown. He saw a well dressed person with thick gray hair, The latter was lying face downward, and gave no evidence that he was conscious of the condition of affairs, or of Dick’s presence. ‘* Hullo! w’ot’s the riffle?’ the Night-Watcher inquired, | There was no reply. ‘* Be you burt?” the speaker continred, “Go away!” was the faint response, followed by a groan. ‘* You have killed me; now be decent enough to let me breathe my last in peace,” ‘* Hold on a fraction, boss! I ain’t the man that slewed you. Them gallus chaps hey let out a link an’ skipped, an’ I’m a good Samaritum, See? Be you stabbed, or shot dead?” The unknown turned his head slightly. ** You are a boy.” **T be, this year.” ‘it was pot you who assaulted me, they really left?” “They hev, fer sure. did they fall onter you?” ** The villains! the cowards! to one, and [ an old man,” “Ef you’ve got a wound that is bleeding, it needs ter be seen to, mister.” ** Give me your hand,” Dick obeyed, and the old man turned and slowly rose toa sitting position, He then put his hand to his head, ““The burt is here,” he explained. ‘* They struck me repeatedly with some blunt weapon; possibly, with a slung-shot.” ‘‘They was after yer money, wa’n’t they?” The old man felt in bis pocket and drew out a small roll of money, which he counted, *“* They have not taken anything from me, and I am left in doubt as to the motive of their assault, I don’t know that I ever saw one of them before, They may have been influenced siinply by motives of malicious mischief, or, possibly,” he more thoughtfully added, ‘‘ they were set upon me by some of my enernies,” Moved, evidently, by a sudden thought he thrust his hand into the breast-pocket of his coat, Then his expression suddenly changed and he felt about burriedly, ** Gone!” he exclaimed, ‘* What?” There was no immediate answer, and he con- tinued to search for some time. Then he gave auP, and his face told that the loss was keenly elt. ‘** All is now clear,” he finally announeed, ‘T have been robbed, and there is no mystery about the assault. Those men did not even look for my money, but seized the paper and ran away. I can surmise who set them upon me. ‘* Was ‘ the paper’ vallerble?” ‘Yes, very valuable,” ** Wal, that’s hard lines, but ef you know who set them on ter you, you kin teli the perleece right off, an’ hev them arrested,” ‘*That’s not so easy;” and the old man shook bis bead. ‘Why not?” ‘‘Tcan’t explain, nor can I take any step, at present, to punish them at law. I’ve got to manage the matter delicately, and,” he added, with a pause between each word, ‘* get my roperty back the best way I can—if I can get t at all.” Up to this time be bad been leaning against bi building, He now dispensed with ' this », | Have Who was they? Why They were three ‘*“My head swims dizzily,” he remarked. **Can I get you to go home witb me?” ‘Sure, mister! I’m always glad to give a feller-citizen a lift,” ‘*Let me rest my hand on your shoulder, then,” The order of march was begun as planned, and they walked away just in time to escape being interviewed by a slow-moving patrolman, who was treading ponderously toward the spot. It was somewhat of a walk to their destina- tion, and the old man was nota sociable com- panion, Dick was anxious to learn more about the affair, but the old fellow’s mind was run- ning wholly on his late adventure, showing that the loss of the paper had been a severe shock to him; and he wholly ignored some of the boy’s questions, ‘ All the latter learned was that the old’ man was named Aleck Goodwind. After awbile they reached and entered a plain, old-fashioned house. Goodwind led the way to the second floor, passed into one of the rooms, and dropped heavily into a chair, ‘**T am lucky to get here alive,” he declared, clasping his head, ** Don’t you want a doctor?” ‘‘No. A doctor is a butcher of men; I won’t have them fooling around me. I think I shall be all right in the morning. Will you stay with me to-night? [ have three rooms bere, and you can lie on yonder lounge. Will you stay?” Dick thought of the young woman he had rescued from the river, and felt that he ought to return to see her, but as she was in good hands, he decided to oblige Goodwind, He gave bis decision accordingly, and then, at his companion’s request, aided him to retire. The latter was still in poor condition, but Dick believed he would be all right in the morning. When he was disposed of, and stowed away in bed in the next room, Dick returned to his own quarters. He looked around critically. **Good, plain, comfortable outfit,” he com- mented. ‘‘Reckon Aleck is a gent o’ some financial means— Great Scott! w’ot’s that?” CHAPTER ITI, RICHARDS OBSCURE MISSION. Dick's roving gaze bad gone to the wall, which was ornamented with pictures of various kinds, all of which proved of no interest until his observation reached a portrait done in crayon. At this he Jooked in open-eyed surprise. ‘* B’jinks! et isthe gal I fished out o’ the dock!” he declared, He could not have met with a greater start. He had been thinking of the nameless girl, but not for @ moment as one who could be connected with his later experience, Hence, it was a total surprise to see the portrait. ‘* Yes, sirree, it?s ber,” he added. ‘* Same eyes, nose, mouth an’ gineral make-up. Looks ez much like her as two peas arealike, Gosh all pitchforks! w’ot is her picture doin’ here?” {t wasa hard question to answer, and all his efforts only landed him deeper in bewilderment, He was tempted to go in and question Aleck Goodwind at once, but finally decided not to be so precipitate, He walked around and viewed the portrait from various points, It was of large size, and the subject seemed on the point of speaking, so natural was the likeneas, ‘* Ht beats me; don’t hardly seem possible. Ef her an’ him know each other it is right queer [ bev run ag’inst both on ’em tbe samenight. But it must be they do know each an’ t?other. But— Wal, et ain’t no good ter lose time in specula- tion.” Despite this decision he could not dismiss the matter from his mind, and even when he had turned off the gas and lain down on the lounge the matter kept him busy until be fell asleep. It was daylight when he awoke, aod as he heard Goodwind stirring in the next room he rose hastily and prepared to meet him, It was not long before the bost made bis ap- pearance, He was pale, but Dick decided from his appearance that he was not suffering from his adventure to any great extent, ‘So you are astir,” Gooiwind began, ‘I looked in awhile ago, but you were sleeping so peacefully that I let you rest.” ‘*?m afraid Pve played glutton on thesleepin’ racket, but I’m on deck, now. How do you come out, mister?” ‘** My head is very tender to the touch, and I feel weak and ‘ broken-up,’ but, otherwise, am all right. My mind is dekny and I feel sure I have no fracture of the skull. In fact,” the speaker added, assuming a cheerful air, ‘I feel like doing justice to breakfast, which I have ordered for two. Here it comes, now!” . There was a knock at the ball door, and when Good wind invited the applicant in, a servant ap- peared with a well-laden waiter. He set the table aud left them alone. ‘* Fall to, without ceremony,” Aleck directed. His manner was unusually bluff, and Dick was not at a loss to see that the speaker realized the difference in their worldly stations, and wished to put him at ease—though whether his motive was one of unalloyed kindness was an- other matter. So the well-dressed old man and the shabbily- clothed boy sat down together. Dick was not in the least embarrassed. ‘* You’ve got a fine lay-out here,” he observed, calmly, ** I like the good things of life.” ** Me, too, but I don’t git them often,” ‘* Kat hearty, now.” “Pll try to make my mark.” Richard fully carried out bis plan, and show- ed an appetite which put his bost’s completely in the shade, When they were done Goodwind lighted a cigar and proceeded to busin ** Last me os he remarked, frankly, “I did that which I should not have done had | been in my usual mental condition; I invited a boy who was a stranger to me to stay here and make bimself at home, You could have robbed me and left the house, and the fact that you did not leads me to regard you as a very worthy youth,” ‘*General,” Dick returned, with dignity, ‘‘a faller who would hcv took advautage of yer broke up state would ’a’ been a Hottentot, an’ though some would, I ain’t built that way.” ‘*Good! And now—excuse me, but you don’t look like a rich boy.” 7 Dick calmly turned one of his pockets inside out. ‘*That’s my bank, mister.” ‘* And empty! Your answer is brief and de- finite. Well, | take it you are not averse to earning money. How is it?” ‘*Correck! I’m lookin’ fer ducats ef they comes bonest,” ‘“Then I will hire you, if we can make a bargain, Lust night 1 was robbed of an im- portant paper. I believe—in fact, [am sure— that I know the source of the attack, but 1 wish to get evidence to that effect, I want to send you on an errand to a certain man’s house, The mission will be one requiring shrewdness, but I think you will meet with no danger.” “Ts it ter git yer lost paper back?” é, ** No; for such an effort on your part would be folly. The errand is very simple, except that you will have to be at once polite, bold, natural, and ready to repel possible suspicions, In brief, you will go to one Cyrenus Slade and say that you are an office-boy for Park & Woodley, lawyers, and that your employers wish to know if Slade has yet gained evidence enough to goon with his lawsuit,” Dick closed one eye meditatively. ‘‘ General, wo’t’s the riffle?” he inquired, ‘“*T cannot give you particulars, Slade is my enemy, and we are liable to lock borns at law, at any time. If he says to you that he is ready I shall be sure that he’s got my paper. That’s all you need to know, for your errand is simple. You willrun norisks.” © ‘* S’pose I git arrested fer false pretenses?” ‘* How can you?” ‘Wer claimin’ ter be office-boy ter Park & Woodley.” ‘* Why, even if he disbelieves you, he willonly refuse to talk with you,” ‘*T ain’t so sure o’ that, but ez there don’t seem ter be no great wrench at the hip-joint o’ the law, I reckon Dll go abead an’ do the errand,” Good wind’s face brightened, and he expressed his approval of Dick’s decision. He also gave more minute instructions, and made the boy’s course as plain as possible, Dick listened in due form, but he had an- otber idea in his mind, and proceeded to work it &t first opportunity. Pointing to the portrait he observed: ‘1 wish I’s one o’ them fellers,” ‘* 'W hat fellows?” ‘* That makes sech ‘Ob! an artist. to all.” ‘** That’s a fine pictur’; looks as ef she was iy goin’ to speak, b’jinks! Isshe yer daughter?” ‘*T have no daughter.” ** Niece, then, mebbe,” ss No,” ‘* The face kinder attracts me. Who is she?” ‘*No one you will see bere,” Goodwind re- turned, curtly, ‘Is she alive now?” ‘* The matter is one of no importance, and we will dismiss it, Let the subject rest, and I will get you a more respectable suit of clothes, You would never pass for an office-boy in your pres- ent costume. prove on your English, and taik more like an educated person?” ‘*T kin sling on cart-loads 0’ out, boss,” Dick avowed, modesty. He saw that his question in regard to the picture bad irritated Aleck, and that the latter was not likely to give bim any information, so he let the matter rest. He was, however, more interested than ever. He felt sure that Good- wind knew the gir! he had rescued from the river, and that his host bore ber no good will. The Night-Watcher then and there resolved to sift the matter to the bottom, and, if she had been wronged, to see that justice was done her. She was his charge pow, he proudly felt. Aleck took bim out and purchased a suit of clothes, and Dick, for once, thought he looked unmistakably fine in the outfit, i ictur’s.” ell, the profession is open a Ag when I set without undue 3 i. et Ty And by the way, can’t you im- | “a