Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 744 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

- . © . ° . - i 4 + 7 - e- * > * @l« <tr tee m8 He paid, and so liberally that Dick was not sorry they had met. The Night-Watcher ac- cepted his rebuff and made no effort to learn more, Feeling that he was on his way to success, already, he left the house and went back to where he had found a refuge for the water- waif, When he entered it so happened that he did not encounter any of the family, but, entering the bumble sitting-room, first saw the rescued irl. She was seated in an easy-chair and ooked pale and down-hearted, but her face brightened at sight of Dick, **Oh! I’m soglad to see you!” she exclaimed, ‘So you know me?” ‘* You’re the brave boy who saved me,” ‘‘I’m that goggle-eyed kid,” Dick confessed, ‘** Now, I hope you’ve found out who you be,” ‘*T have not,” ‘¢ What? you don’t remember nothin’, yit?” ‘* Not a thing.” ** That’s bad,” “The past is all shut out from my mind. All that bas occurred since I recovered conscious- ness on the pier is very distinct, as you will see, but back of that there is only a blank.” Dick experienced a feeling of keen disappoint- ment. He bad hoped that rest and sleep would ‘restore her memory. ‘** Don’t remember nothin’ about goin’ ter the pier, eh?” 7) No,” “** Nor about the other woman?” ** Not a thing.” ** Ever hear of Aleck Goodwind?” ‘** Not that I remember.” . ‘“*Or Cyrenus Slade?” sé No,” ‘ ‘Wal, b’jinks! we’rein fer it, an’ hev got ter worm our way by inches, I guess,” ; Richard rubbed hig nose doubtfully, and felt ‘that the ‘‘ worming” process was a serious mat- ter, but he was not inclined to giveup. He was interested in the water-waif, Ste was about twenty years old, pretty, and naturally intelli- gent. er belpless state appealed toall his sym- pathies, and he was determined to do all for her he could. ** Yes, sirree!” he asserted, ‘‘I’m in this fight ‘ter stay, Miss— Wal, we don’t know yer name, do we? S’pose we call ye ‘ Eve,’ fer short?” ‘* Anything will do,” ‘‘ Kt’s pretty late ter give ye a front name, but the first Eve was older than you when she was born, ef | rec’leck right. Et will do, any- how. Now, Ill prance down ter the pier an’ see ef there’s anything new in that section. The patrolman who bad that beat, last night, agreed ter be there this mornin’, tuo, but be may got tired ©’ waitin’ fer me an’ turned his heels on the river-front, 1’ll see,” Dick weut, but his blue-coated friend was not visible. The day patrolman had been told of the affair, and he said there was nothing new, but that the police were keeping the matter quiet, and hoped it would not get in the papers. Observation of the pier and vicinity had brought nothing new. So Richard went down on the structure alone and sat down where be bad been at the time he first saw the unknown party, the night before. ‘be dock was quiet enough, and gave no hint of _ the tragedy, but on Dick’s memory was vividly impriated recollection of the moment when the boat overturned, He was meditating on the affair, and thinking of the woman who, be supposed, was drowned, when footsteps sounded beside him, He looked up and saw a man who looked as if he had just stepped out of a sporting paper that made a spe- per of cuts of pugilists. ' ** Hullo, younker!” greeted this man, ** Hullo}” ** Fishin’?” ** Wal, general, when I fish I ginerally hev a hook an’ line, or some other belongin’ of the trade,” and Dick held up bis empty hands, “Right, younker; never mind that, Been here long?” ‘ ‘Wal, I ain’t timed myself, but £ guess no mor than a day or two,” | ‘** Dou’t be so fresh, younker; you gives me a pain,” returned the pugilistic individual, with a grimace; then he grew more mild of manper and added: ‘ You’s a likely lookin’ iad,” ** Mister, w’ot ax hev you ter grind?’ Dick de- manded, bluntly, The stranger looked disconcerted, “T ain't got none, an’ dis isa square deal. I's Sonia fer company ’cause |’s lonesome an’ iltin’ fer a chance ter talk, See?” — ee te Cte eS sa--+ y= - - - wa? " © eg Py Pee shy eg oe ——— 7 . : ae ; el 7. - . - ' 1 i ee DP ee + ewe —_— SO Fe A ee eee er ne rr Oy en er eee ee ee ye ee mee 5 ae ‘* Oh! fire ahead, general; I ain’t a-tryin’ ter rebuif ye.” ** Fine place, here,” : ‘*'Yes, W’ot yer peerin’ inter the dock af- ter? D’ye expect ter see a mermaid?” Again the rough-looking man appeared dis- concerted, but he pulled himself together. ‘* Kt comes natural ter me ter take notice of the water, cause 1 used ter be a sailor. See?” ‘* Why, cert! I see, though I ain’t much of a sailor, an’ couldn’t furl the anchor nor run the boom up ter the mast-head.” ‘*You’s a comic kid, an’ I like sech. Now, Pll bet you know more than you let on erbout sailor ways. Ef. not, you'll come to et. I’ve learned a good many things in my day, I’ve been a sailor, a miner, an explorer, a soldier, an’ more things than you kin shake a stick at. W’ot d’ye s’pose I be now?” ‘*You look like a bouncer in a one-hoss sa- loon,” This frank statement plainly irritated the stranger, but he overlooked it. He continued to talk in a way meant to be friendly. He said his pame was Bat Magoun, and though be did not claim great wealth, or Knickerbocker blood, he conveyed the impression that Mr, Bat Magoun was equal to the best of the human race. Dick bad seen at the first that his good will was clesired, and as Bat persisted in the attempt after repeated rebuffs, it became evident that the man had an object of no small importance, Then, again, no matter upon what subject he talked, he had a habit of looking down into the water every few moments, bis manner being furtive after Dick’s pointed question at the be- ginning of the interview. All this impressed the Night-Watcher, and brought vividly to mind the previous night’s scene there, when the boat was overturned. Was Magoun one of the men who bad figured on that occasion, and had he returned to learn mare about the results of that affair? @ was &@ man whose personal appearance made him a fit subject for all kinds of suspi- cions, He was rough and unkempt, and his heavy jaws, flat nose, small eyes and bulging brows did not make a prepossessing face, Ricbard ceased to irritate bim, and their acquaintance went on very smoothly, outwardly. inally Bat abruptly asked: ‘** Want ter go over ter my den?” ** 'Whar’s that?” ‘*'T’ree or four blocks away.” ‘‘ All right, general; heaveahead. I’ma gent of leisure, av’ allays ready fer a change. Me city meu kinder git stagnated at times. cee Mr. Magoun agreed with this fully, and they left tne pier aud walked away. Dick was by nomeaus certain that he was acting wisely, for bis companion did not look :ike one who would let scrupjes stand in the way of a settled pur- pose; but as the Night-Watcher could not see what Bat was to gain by injuring him, he took the risk, He was conducted to an old rick bouse whose exterior told of neglect, even as its in- terior spoke loudly of dirt, Dick had seen bumble and poorly-kept homes before, but never one quite as bad as this hi use, Mr. Magoun did not heed the dirt, but whis- tled a cheerful tune as they went up-stairs, Theroom they entered was a little worse than anything seen before, and scattered around was an array of old clothes, sporting papers, boxing gloves, pipes, tobacco-bags—mostly eg POS other articles which almost bewildered Richard, He was invited tosit down in an alleged easy- chair, but in the seat of which were divers 2 which were all too prominent; and then Bat filled a pipe. ‘‘ Have a brain-weakener?” he asked, hoiding up a half-used package of cigarettes. “© T pass,” ‘‘ Shows yer good sense, Pi an’ cigars is all.wool an’ a yard wide, but cigarettes ain’t fit fer bumans. Fift’ Avenoo dudes is jest their size, but I would prefer old rags from an Eye- talian den fer my smoke.” Bartholomew did justice to his black pipe and talked volubly, but Richard was sure that he had not been taken up ‘or any trivial purposes, Finally bis companiou inquired in a Careless way: fy Sa-ay, you’s related ter Nick Brazer, ain’t ye?” , ‘** Yes; he’s my uncle.” a ) an! he’s an undertaker, ain’t he?” es, ‘* S’pose I kin git him ter do a job fer me?” ** W’ot kind of a job?” “The fack is, my young frien’, I’ve got a woman w’ot I want buried!” ' @. Ait CHAPTER VI, DICK FACES A REVOLVER, MAGOUN tried to make his manner careless and matter-of-fact, but the whole matter was so irregular that Night-Watch Dick tooked at him in wonder, ‘** You’ve got a woman you want buried?” he repeated, +6 Yes.” ‘“*Is she alive?” . ‘“*Great Scott!’ of course not. Wot would I want a live woman buried fer?” ‘*] can’t see no pertik’ler need of it, my- self. Wal, my unc isin the biz, an’ you hev only ter step around ter his place an’ give the order.” ' ‘‘T ain’t much used ter cemetery joints,” Bat Po teuee. **Couldn’t you do the biz for me Richard was not so simple as to remain un- suspicious in the face of this irregular proceed- ing, nor was he foolish enough to give utterance to his doubts, ‘** Mebbe,” he returned, quietly. ‘* Whar is the dead woman?” ‘*We don’t jestly know where we will hev the obsequious ceremonies,” was the answer, Dick made a pretense of examining his shoe to see if it was sound. ** W’ot did she die of?” he inquired, There was a significant silence before che answer came, but the Night-Watcher did not betray undue interest by looking. Finally, Ma- goun replied: ** Drownded!” Dick’s eyes glittered. it might not mean anytbing, but he remembered how Bat nad gazed down into the dock—the place where the boat had been upset. Nyaa o’ yourn?” innocently mquired Rich- ard, ‘*Naw! Old enough ter be my mother,” ‘“ Wal, ef you see my unc an’ put up the scads, | kin promise. he will Bive yer a fune- ral that’l] make all yer neighbors green with jealousy,” asserted Dick, assuming a ‘‘ tough” air, ‘That ain’t the kind [ want, younker, Ye see, the diseased wuz a modest woman, she wuz; an’ she wuz so averse to vain show dat it wuz her last request that she should be buried bumbly. Them wuz her dyin’ words, an’ jest like her.” Mr. Magoun sighed deeply. It occurred to Dick that they were rather singular last words for one who had perished by drowning, but he let the matter go. His companion leaned forward on the rickety old table and went on: ‘* Yer see, we want this matter quiet, young feller. We don’t want no show, @ want her buried in the cemetery of the Evergreens, an’ we will be there ter water the grave with tears; but we want yer uncle ter drive his wagon inter an alley w’ot is beside ube house, load in from the side door, an’ drive awa meses ee same as Aunt Matilda ordered, See ‘*You say she was drownded, MHez the coroner set onter the case?” ‘*No, but Ive got a doctor's ’stiffycate that she died from nat’ral causes, See?’ He drew a folded pa passed it to Dick, The latter did not know enough about such matters to be able to tell whether it was in due form, but the name of the doctor cigned to the document was enough. It was that of a person who bore a most unenviable reputation, ‘he Night-Watcher clearly perceived that Bat wished to work a scheme which he dared not have the light.of day shine upon, and the only puzzling thing about the burial was the natural question, If he wanted a secrot burial, why did be not follow the example of many a New York evil-doer who had acted before him, and sink tbe body in that bolder of guilty secrcts, the North River? 1 ‘Where kin my uncle call around an’ make her ready fer the funeral?” Richard asked, care- | lessly. . ‘* All yer uncle has ter do is ter drive inter the alley, take the box—which will be all ready -—an’ go ter the Evergreens; an’ when he agrees ter do the work—do it ez I want it done—I'll . say where he’s ter drive. See?” Taere was a half-sullen way about Bar- tholomew now which told that he Jid not want to be questioned further, and Dick was too wise to irritate him. The Night-Watcher would have given a good deal to know where the unknown woman had been drowned, but Bat’s furtive interest when on the pier was not forgotten, : + of ; e oe - ee ve ae \ | ; . ‘ . - oh - P ~ s ” cd A > a ee + «&. ", >. a _ "1 ° i4 Dick of the Docks, the Night-Watch, => < 70, but I want your address, for I may want - toemploy you again.” dae r from his pocket and | e - | a - 4 * ‘ tot = . LS eS 1 es, ad ~ eae 5, + - 4 .com *