Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 744 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

? eh os Pa 3 bs e% 7 en . * ' “ « - “ om “ OS ew pd us a a ; ¢ ’ — : - A * + ’ Was the woman of the present case the same who had been “* Eve’s” companion? Silence did more than questioning, for Bat, after a pause, slowly growled: ‘*New York is jest rotten! The city puts a lot o’ blamed fools inter blue store-clothes an’ brass buttons, an’ gives’em a club, an’ them cusses goes nosin’ around in honest folks’ busi- ness,” } ‘**'You mean the perleece?” “é Sure 7 “They be fresh.” ‘* Fresh!” echoed Magoun, with a burst of tem- per; ** Why, them devils don’t give a feller no show fer life. His private affairs are meddled with, an’ he can’t breathe widout the lousy blue- coats measure his breath, ter see w’ot his chest kerpacity is!” And to strengthen his assertion the speaker added a few violent remarks, which need not be put on record bere. At this moment a slovenly-looking woman opened the door and held a bit of pasteboard out toward Magoun. ‘Wot yer got there?” he growled, ‘* A visitin’ card.” 6 A wot?” ‘‘A card with a name on it, sech as stylish folks use w’en they go a-callin’,” ‘* I b’lieve I’ve heerd o’ them, but I don’t care fer sech rubbish, T’row it away!” “But there’s a woman ter see yer, an’ this is her name,” ‘* Thunder!” Bat’s contempt changed to astonishment, and he wert forward and took the card. Holding it to the light he studied it attentively, but as no ray of intelligence appeared in his face, Dick strongly suspected that the tough could not read. **Tll go an’ see her,” he finally decided, ‘‘ You stay here, young feller, an’ I’!] see yer ag’in pretty soon, He went out, holding the card gingerly in his big fingers. ichard did not know that he had any inter- est in the woman, and certainly saw no way of seeing her, so he settled down to await Magoun’s return as patiently as possible, He had no in- tention of leaving. Magoun had interested him, and he wanted to learn the exact nature of the man’s scheme, ‘* He’s got a drownded woman that he wants put out o’ sight on the sly,” the Night-Watcher mused; ‘fan’ he was lookin’ inter that pertic’ler dock as ef he expected ter seo drownded folks cavortin’ around there, The question is, Was Bartholomew inacertain boat whenit keeled over an’ spilt its load inter the wet?” The sound of voices in the next room caused Dick’s meditative expression to disappear. ‘* You kin set down there an’ chin!” came in Magoun’s voice, harshly. | A woman’s voice answered, but Richard did not catch the words, and be obeyed a sudden im- ulse, and rose and went close to the wall. Their arrier was not thick or substantial, but the voices were now lowered so that he could not catch enough words to help him. Bat and the woman were talking in ill humor, which was all he could make out for some time, but, presently, she grew angry and raised her “voice, ‘*T say you are deceiving me!’ she declared, ** Prove it!” Magoun retorted, ‘‘Rather, it is for you to prove your inno- cence,” ““That’s my affair!” ** And mine,” , ‘* See here, d’ye think you kin bulldoze me? ain’t built that way. ” ‘* You are the one who is trying that course, but I wish to say that your efforts will avail noth- ing. You area man, and I but a weak woman, but I can match you in one way, if not with brute strength.” * What way?’ Magoun growled, ** By appealing to the law.” | **T ain’t broke no law.” ** Do you want to prove it in court?” ** [ want you ter hev some boss-sense!”’ ‘It is because I have that very article that you are now kicking. Iam wise enough to sus- pect that you're false to me, and playing into ‘Cyrenus Slade’s hands,” ‘“* Cricketty-jim!” The breathless exclamation came from Dick, who thus gained fresh proof that Bat was con- nected with the characters of the original plot. ‘* Instead of keeping your promise,” the un- known woman pursued, “‘ you have spirited away the persons I paid you to bring to me. I say you are a traitor, and bave sold your soul to Slade.” ‘** Ef Slade paid over three cents fer it, he got cheated !” Dick muttered. * —— wi ~—_—y, =p oe ~~ pee © Pee Le, ees Dick of the Docks , th He pricked up his ears, eager to learn more, but at that moment a footstep sounded behind him. He turned quickly and saw a revolver leveled at him, held in the hand of a burly ruffian. ‘*Spy and listener!” the latter grated, ** Pll stop your meddlin’!” CHAPTER VII. PLAYING A BOLD GAME, Nieut-WatcH DIcK was taken aback, He had supposed while he had proof that Bat Magoun could not enter and catch him acting the listener he was safe enough, but, now, he had undeniable proof that be was caught, and by one not inclined to show mercy. The new-comer looked like a fit mate for Magoun, and his face was even more brutal. The revolver still bore upon the boy, and he had good reason to fear an immediate and fatal shot, but his presence of mind did not de- sert him. Not betraying the trepidation he really felt, he put up his open hands, ‘¢ Hold on a bit, boss!” be requested. ‘‘I don’t want no quarrel) with you.” ‘‘Ob! you don’t!” was the sarcastic retort. ‘Wal, I didn’t reckon you did. i’m the one that is raisin’ my warble. Here a gent has took you in here as an honored guest, an’ you go ag’in’ him an’ act the listener. The penalty o’ that is lead !” ‘¢ Hold up, mister, an’ I'll explain.” ** How will you explain?” This was just what Richard Henry Brazer wanted to know, for he had been caught so fully and squarely that he did not see how he was to save himself. He put his wits to work, however, and managed to grasp an excuse without any betraving hesitation. ‘“* Al) Ll ask is a chance,” be returned, assum- ing an air of resentment, ‘‘ but it shakes a fel- ler all up ter look inter a revolver an’ see the bullet makin’ faces at him, an’ diggin’ its toes inter the cylinder in an attempt ter git out an’ gasb his flesh; it does, b’jinks!” ‘Come ter the point!” ‘¢‘ Turn that shooter away!” Dick spoke commandingly, and the rough obeyed. ‘* Now, heave ahead, spy. ‘*T ain’t no spy, but a feller took mein here an’ used me decent an’ square, an’ when be went out I heerd a woman a-threatenin’ on him in the next room—I didn’t ketcb the cause—so I made m mind ter take a band ef there was any racket. always stan’ by my friends,” ‘* You tell it wal, don’t yer?” ‘“‘T don’t ask you ter believe it. Jest you a gun away, an’ me an’ Bat kin settle this. e ‘*1’m Bat’s friend.” ‘*Do you use him ez you do me?” ‘*T always wing a traitor when [ see one,” ‘Wal, this ain’t your circus, Me an’ Bat kin run it alone, All we ask o’ you is ter mind yer own affairs. See?” | The man was not sure whether he saw, or not, but the Night-Watcher’s bold stand bad done more than any other course would. Dick had, at least, deferred trouble by bis nerve. After some hesitation the rough put up his revolver. ** You can sit down and wait for Bat,” be an- nounced, ‘‘ but Ill see to it you don’t listen no more.” ‘Oh! come off; you give me a pain, you do!” declared Dick, assuming a swagger suited to the society he was mixing with, There was no answer, and Richard went back to the chair, put bis feet on the table, and pro- ceeded to make himself comfortable. Vor awhile no: particular attention was given him!by the rough, but, presently, the latter began to study him‘ unostentatiously. By putting on the airs of a hard young citizen, Dick had made the man suppose, faithful or not, his young com- panion was of an extremely vicious class in life, and for a boy of that kind, a man, like the present one, who lived by his wits, always had use, But was the boy to be trusted? In a short time, though no more of the conver- sation between Bat and the unknown woman was audible, they were heard to leave the room, and presently he re-entered the place where the others awaited him. He greeted the second rough as *‘ Tom,” and then the latter promptly told what he had seen of Dick. : Bat scowled and looked ugly, but the object of their suspicion was equal to the occasion. He — e Night-Wiatch. coolly and nonchalantly made his explanation, and Magoun accepted it without much hesita’ _ tion. Really, be did not like the matter at all, but, being well aware that be had already put him- self in Dick’s power to a certain degree, he saw fit not to make trouble, To bind the boy more fully to bimgand his in- terests, he proceeded to be very friendly, out- wardly, and to give the impression that if a young fellow wished to get a good start in life he could do no better than be in union with Bar- tholomew Magoun. Dick took all this for what it was worth, and acted the amiable part, himself, but Tom was not inclined to follow their lead. The second rough was disposed to let Bat manage his own affairs, but he could not forget the picture he had seen when he detected Richard with bis ear pressed close to the wall, He did not trust the boy in the least degree, After considerable talk the Night-Watch an- nounced that he woulé go, and Bat did not ob- ject, The latter only asked that he would see bis uncle at once, and Dick not only made the promise, but kept it. He went to the second house without delay, His uncle, Mr. Brazer, heard the story with undisguised suspicion, ‘The whole thing is an unlawful conspiracy !” he declared, ‘“*Think so?” Dick returned, ‘*Of course, The doctor you name has served time in prison, and ought to be there now; he has considerable practice, but it isall in ‘shady ” cases, I would not spply for a burial permit on his certificate, nor would I bandle a subject of his, in any case, where there was the least chance of my name being associated with bis,” ‘*T want you ter take this case, unc.” **T decline!” ‘*Oh! Pll stan’ between you an’ harm,” ‘* Richard, you are getting too self-conceited, and I shall advise your father to spank you at nine o’clock, every night, and put you to bed, instead of letting you act the detective,” The Night- Watcher chuckled witb delight. ‘*That’s all right, unc, but you are a trifle off yer pedestal, I don’t want you ter injure yer perfesh’nal rep, bet jest lay a trap fer Kar- tholomew.” sé How 9? ‘* Carry out the first part o’ his plan, an’ then riot the perleece at yer elbow ter swipe the cof- Dp. Mr, Brazer looked thoughtful. ** Murderous Magoun has set out ter work an unlawful game,” Dick pursued, ‘‘ an’ he. will do it ef he bas ter use the river fer a grave; which is jest about w’ot be will do ef yer show suspi- cion by refusin’ of the job, Now, why not ac- cept, right off, an’ then slide around an’ tell the perleece the whole biz, an’ hev them at hand ter gobble the coffin, once you git hold of it?” r. Brazer’s expression bad changed during this address, and after a moment’s thought, he readily answered: ‘Your head 1s as level as usual, Dick, and I will follow your plau. We will do our best to foi) this iniquitous scheme, whatever it eos be, Perhaps your father had better not span ou. 7" Uncle and nephew laughed heartily, for they had the best of feeling for each other, and then they arranged their plans more fully, It was agreed that Nicholas Brazer should see Magoun, and after sundry apparently cautious questions, as if he were guarding against danger to himself, he was to accept the duty of consign- ing the body of the unknown woman to the cem- etery. This matter being arranged, Dick went his way. e I’ve got hold of a mighty big case, I reckon,” he soliloquized, *‘ but it’s a big tangle. Eve, my water-waif, an’ her companions who wuz in the boafare mixed in some way with Cyrenus Slade an’ Aleck Goodwind, and ef Bat Magoun ain’t in the same swim Pm ’way off my guessin’ pivot. Gota drownded woman on bis hends, hez he? An’ he was lookin’ down inter that dock as ef he expected ter see strange sights. R. A. Brazer, ef you kin git a hip-lock on this case, glory will be yourn!” The speaker wanted to be doing more active work, but, not seeing how he was to accomplish it, just then, he wandered down to the North River. That noble stream had never Jooked more ma- jestic, and he sat down and watched it thought- fully. Few persons knew more of the water front than he, Since he began his peculiar work as an ally to the police he fairly haunted the vicinity between the Battery and Christo-