Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 754 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

f CHAPTER XVI. AN EXCITED RASCAL. MORB than once, Mother Magog’s son caught himself wondering what had become of Billy Winks, the boy detective. He did not know that be hed entered the em- ploy of tae most dangerous man of the whole gang, Captain Ortiz himself, and if he had dis- covered this he would have feared for Billy’s safety. Meantime the young ferret had his eyes open and was watching every move made by the cap- tain of the Centipede, He knew that discovery meant danger, and he was resolved nct to let such apn event take place, Captain Ortiz was so puffed up with the suc- cess be had achieved, that be was relaxing his watcbfulness, and Billy observed this with a good deal of secret satisfaction, Tom Wagner, awaiting the course of events at Molly Mark’s house, was forming a friendship which promised to become permanent. Tve sew~ ing-girl told him her history as she knew it, and led bim to bave a deeper seated hatred for the Cuban who had played such a bold game against him, The night after Billy’s adventure with Simon Slyboot-, in Captain Ortiz’s house, Tom and Molly were in the little sewing-room occupied by the girl when a rap sounded on the door. In an instant the boy sprung bebind a curtain that hung acro-s one corner of the place, while Molly slow)y opened the door to ber visitor. What was her surprise when the artful Simon presented hiniself! The rascal was gotten upin style, and when be bowed to the irl, there was a sleek smile on bis newly-shaven face, **] thought | would call ona matter of busi- ness,” said he, crossing his long legs complacent- mh ** You see, Miss Molly, | bave an inkling of the fate of your father, an event that happened long ago. (sit trus that he was lost at sea in his vesse}?” Molly |.oked at bim, wondering what interest he could be taking in her private affairs, _ **I can not see how the event, saying that it is true, can interest you,” she began when he stop- ped her, “I beg your pardon, but it does all the same, Iam anxious to get at the truth for, though years have passed and the vessel and its gallant souls are at the bottom of the sea, we may make discoveries that will put a new face on the mat- ter.” “Do you mean tosay that the story of the Fleetwing, as it bas been told so often, may not be the true onef’ “Stranger things than that have happened.” Molly told as much of the story as she knew, but left out any reference to her father’s duel with Captain Ortiz on the latter’s plantation, Simon Slyboots listened with asmile at his When he was gone, Tom Wagner came from ‘behind the curtain and said: ‘That villain has a motive io all he does, and be wanted to hear your story for the purpose of blackmailing some one,” “There is n> doubt of it, and who would he blackmail but Captain Ortiz” “The very man! I wonder what has become of Billy Wink-? The boy ought to know of this visit, He can fathom the man’s duplicity, sud Iam anxious to get back into the old house.” ‘But you won't risk yourself on the street whilethese mep are in the game?” “T muet if Billy dum’t soon come... — want to spring the trap on Captain Ortiz and his friends, and it ean’t be done without the boy detective’s help.” “Tam for giving bim the glory of the catch,’ said Molly, with a glow of pride. ** Billy Winks is worth bis weight in gold, and Lam proud of the boy.” To this Tom assented, and the two talked on about the man whohad just left, and were can- Vassing the dark scheme that was being played when Moll!y’s uncle came in. Simon Slytoots went back to his rooms and threw himself into a chair with a laugh. ** Ho! I haveanother hold on him, That was a lucky visit I made to the girl. I will hold him tight with the new ropa, and it will be worth a good many thousands bhef.re J let go.” The felliw was in his element, and he smoked half a dozan cizars over bis thoughts. Yes, he had another hold on the man be was bleeding; he eoyld pull Captain Ortiz’s purse, strings and draw from the purse itself more money for his needs. Presently in came his partner, Reck Sloper, and the moment Simon saw the face tefore bim he knew that something bad happened, Billy Winks, the B I i ee TE a owes ge ee. Boy we ~ I AE GER tna on Te a ee ee eee —_—— Sa Sloper took a chair, and with the sullenness of a beaten wolf, saica in hoarse tones: ‘*T cuess we're in for it, now. The rats are out of the trap.” ‘* Out of what trap?’ cried Simon, starting in spite of bimself, ‘* Why, ont of the cellar in the old house—the house once occupied by Violet,” For a moment there was no reply, ‘*T mean every word | say, for I have been there and seen for myself,” was the answer, * I bad a dream tbat would not Jet me rest one mo- ment until | bad investigated, and so I went to the spot and found the rats gone,” ‘And Violet?” “Of course; she wasn’t there waiting for me.” The clinched hand of Simon Siyboots came down upon the table with erophasis, ‘* A thousand curses upon the head of that woman!” he cried, ‘That won’t mend matters, I am going.” A sneer curled the lips of Slyboots, ** Cowards a) ways run off and leave the brave to figbt the battle single-handed,” he said. Reck Sloper looked at his old companion, “You and the captain ought to be able to take care of the game as it is now,” he replied. ‘*T have something to live for—” ‘* A neck to save, eb?” “Just as you thiuk,” grinned Reck, ‘‘ Since you bave said it, my neck is as deur to meas anything I possess, I don’t want to look out from bebind bars, for ’m a young man yet,” ‘“*Of course, Mr, Sloper, there is the door. You can go!” Reck Sloper fell back, looking at his old pard, and reacbed the portal before be spoke again. ‘*Good-by, Simon,” he said, No answer, ‘*T wish you success, bu!, of course, I can't help you.” ln an instant Simon Slyboots was on his feet, and his eyes were flashing fire. “Get out of the house, or by the holy stars! I won’t answer for what takes place,” he roared, ‘*T have put up with your cowardice Jong enough, and the wonder is you haven't betrayed me to the cops before chis,” “1 don’t do that, Can’t you give a fellow credit for some virtues? Good-by, Simon,” Sloper sbut tbe door in Simon’s face and went down stairs, ‘* Escaped? That may not be true, butif it is they could not bave got out without the conniv- ance of Violet. That woman did not look at me when we parted for nothing. I thought I saw wickedness in ber eye, and this is what she has done,” He put on his hat and followed Sloper to the street. , , He glided under the lamps, keeping in the shalows of the buildings as much as possible until be reached the house formerly occupied by Vir let, Opening the door with a key which he tock from bis pocket, he went in and made his way to the dungeon where he bad left the young cap- tives, Billy and Tom. It was locked as usual, but when he opened it and looked into the darkness abead, a cbill swept to his heart. The very silence told bim that the birds had esca ped, ‘I will get even with her! I think I know where to find the traitress,” he growled, ‘‘Ste can’t get out of the reach of my arin, no matter where she goes, Ah! won’t I have vengeance for this?” He tore back with his anger at white heat. He left the house, locking the doors bebind bim, aud did not breathe free again until be was on the street, An hour later he was standing on the sidewalk looking closely at a certain house, ‘*She used to come to this house when she got out of the old place for a spell, Her sister ow p- ed it when sbe died, and I believe left it to ber. But I will see.” The h: ur was not very late, and he rung the bell that sent a musicul tinkle through the ball. A woman’s face appeared at the threshold, and catehing a glimpse of it, Simon forced his body into the house and stood before Violet, He had found the Woman who had betrayed \im, ‘“‘ Heavens! you?” cried the woman, whose face was u hite, ‘“Why not? Did you expect to escape me? I would have followed you to the ens of the world, I am here to demand an explanation, and then to punish,” For a moment there was no reply. ‘I could not see them die in that trap—” oss Boy Shadower. oa CO— Ce eee 13 ee ae ee ** When in Simon. of stone.” To this there was no reply, but the next mo- ment the door at the end of the ball opeaed and a tall, muscular female came forward, “Great Coesar’s ghost!” exclaimed Bimon, falling back, ‘1 did not look for you here,” “I guess not, but | am here all tbe same. Stand where you are,Simon Slyboote I want tu talk to you,” He kept bis place, for the speaker caugbt him by the shoulder, and with bis vaunted ecurage oozing out at his finger ends, he looked up inte the fuceof Mother Magog. CHAPIER XVII. THE DEAD COMES BACK, SHUT up in the bouse occupied by Captain Ortiz, the cool head of the plot, Bully Winks found a good deal to occupy his time, He had to Keep his eyes open, and net one movement of the captain escaped him, Of course he could not follow the Cubana upor the street—that was not bis business—but he could watch those who came to see him aad take all the mental notes he could, On the second day Captain Ortiz made an elaborate toilet and went out, This was just the opportunity the boy detec- tive had been waiting for, He wailed some time after the man’s departure and thenslipped into the room generally occu- pied by bim, He thought that perbaps the Cuban bad gone for a visit to the Centipede, and that he would bave a good deal of time on his hands, Ina little while the young ferret was looking througb the captain’s private room, Of course he found everything locked, but witn a bit of wire which be found in the house, he picked one of the numerous locks, and soon fell to looking at the contents of the Cuban’s desk, Billy discovered there a good many papers, the most of which bad no especial siguiflcance in his eyes, but all at once be came acroes a pecu- liar-looking package, which he turped over and over in bis hands, At Jast becorefully untied the strings that held it togetber anu found init, among other things, a copy of Napoleon Gregg’s will, ‘It's very natural that this will should be here,” said the boy detective, ‘ But here is another paper which looks a good deal hke it, I don't see why there should be two ccpies of the same document, It looks tome like somebedy has been practicing,” and be carried the paper pear- er the windoW and fell to examining i( with more curiosity than ever, “The whole thing isa fraud!” be suddenly cried, ‘* The will that gives tbe money to Cap- tain Ortiz isa forged document, There papers prove 1t, Son e-how-cr-other it was substituted for the real one which is missing. Captain Jarillo, as be cails himself now, never was the old man’s heir in any light. I see through the whole thing, He bas been at work long before the game really opened and has frathered bis nest, perbups witb the secret he!p of Simoa Sly- boots and bis pard, Reck Sloper,” The reader may imagine the excitement that filled Billy Winks’s heart when he made this astounding discovery, He bad never seen anything like it. For some time he could not credit the evidence of sigit, but the papers in bis band spoke for themselves and he had to believe. After awhile be replaced the package as care- fuliy as he could and shut the desk. ‘If 1 don’t spring the trap soon the birds will getaway,” he said, ‘Captain Ortiz is liable to discover our escape from the old bonse six) then the whole game would be up, The gang could go aboard the Centipede which, hoisting the Cuban flag, would steam away for foreign parts and I would bave my troable for my psins—the first failure since 1 have been plaving ferret,” He was waiting anxiously for Captain Ortiz’s return when he heard a footstep on the stoop and the bell rung. Billy, bounding into the hallway, opened the door and looked at the person who faced him, A well built man who seemed to be somewhat discuised, sand when he mentioned Captain Ortiz’s name in harsh tones he was ndmitted, & Ain’t at home, ef ? cried the caller, pashing past the hoy and entering the captain’s room, “ Where is he, any how?” Is he going to get away from mein this manner?” ‘7 ean’t tell you, sir,” “You can't, eh? You are his young spy, i did you get chicken-hearted?” broke “T always thought you had a heart presume?” “J am not, but am in bis employ.” books.com