Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 754 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Billy Winks, the Boss Boy Shadower. . Captain Ortiz drew off and looked at Simon Sly boots. ‘Well, are you going to let the boy be found?” **T guess not.” ** Of course not.” ‘*T understand that he is to be lost forever.” “Certainly. Nothing comes to you if he is found,” A curious smile overspread the face of Simon Slyboots, ** You know what you are doing, I’m sure you | do,” the captain went on. ‘‘By the way, did you ever hear of a boy detective who has the faculty of hitting on puzzles and solving them?” ‘‘T should say I have heard of him,” and Simon laughed outright. ‘‘ Have you run across him, captain?” There was no reply for a moment, but the face of the Cuban captain was a study. “They call him Billy, don’t they?’ Simon wenton. ‘‘l have bad him on my trail for some time, but I manage to give him the slip so easily that he hasn’t even bothered me any of late.” **T guess he won’t bother any one any more,” said the captain significantly. By and by Simon’s hand stwle up over the edge of the table at which they sat and he said: * You got my letter, captain?” sé Yes,” ** Did it suit?” ‘It was all right. You said in it that when we met again you would have proofs of death.” Simon Slyboots took from under his coat a small box which he ss cee cautiously. The moment the Cuban captain looked into the box he fell back and stared at the plotter. ‘Is that proof enough?’ grinned Simon. ‘You knew! couldn’t bring the whole body and I thought I would fetch you a bit—enough to let you know that I carry out my parts of the programmes,” The object that had chased the color from Captain Ortiz’s face was a human hand which lay in the box and he was almost willing to swear that it was the hand of a young person, “Don’t you think,” he said in a whisper, “that if the old man had proof of the boy’s death he wouldn’t last much longer himself?’ ‘* T shouldn’t be surprised.” ‘* Then, why don’t you furnish the proof?” ‘That wasn’t in my part of the bargain.” Captain Ortiz must have thought of Mother Magog’s words when he looked at Simon Sly- boots. He was a cool fellow and knew how to play a deep game for himself, ‘*‘l am aware that it wasn’t exactly in the bargain, but you might do that much without extra pay.” In an instant Simon seemed to get angry. ‘“*You want us to take every risk,” said he, “while you sit back and rake in the big stakes,” i a a nothing of the kind, Iam willing or every service | get out of you and Sloper.” ‘* That’s a horse of another color.” ‘*T want the proof of the boy’s death to reach Old Man Gregg, and in the form of a shock, * Well, that will be worth two thousand ex- tra, The figures seomed to take Captain Ortiz’s breath, but he did not betray himself, ‘*T consent,” be said. ‘I will pay the price you name for the extra service, The money will be paid when the old man closes his ac- counts with mortality.” Simon nodded and got up. ‘* You seem to have the entree to the house,” remarked Ortiz. ‘‘ How did you get it?” ** Ask no questions and get no lies. I tell you I am risking my precious neck every time I en- ter that house, for it is watched by the police, and Napoleon Gregg’s money has employed the best detectives in Gotham.” ‘* But you are shrewder than all, eh, Simon?” ‘*Catch a weasel asleep!” laughed the great rascal, and in a minute they were again on the sidewalk, and some distance from the place of consultation they separated and went different ways. ** This is only the beginning,” muttered Simon, looking after the Cuban. ‘‘ You won’t bave a dollar of the pile when we get through with you. I know a good thing when 4 see it,” CHAPTER VII, THE NOTE UNDER THE DOOR, MoTrHerR MacGcocG had a son who had been criminal in some of his acts and a full knowledge of this was the “‘club” which Simon Slyboots se, for some time been holding over the woman’s tain Ortiz that she feared the sharp, and so she did, for he bad threatened to expose her boy and get him into serious ti ouble, Soon after his interview with Captain Ortiz, Simon made his way to Mother Magog’s house and was met at the door by the giantess, Her start when she saw who her visitor was enough to confirm her statement that she actually feared him when she was strong enough to hurl him against the wall and choke him to death. Simon slid into the house without the sem- eras invitation and immediately asked for ‘Jim, Mother Magog, who loved her son despite bis character, told the rascal that she did not know where he was at that time, whereupon Simon smiled one of his malicious smiles and hinted that it would be best for Jim to be about when he was wanted, Mother Magog sat and eyed the man, wonder- ing what would be his next word, and be was for some time silent, ‘*Tell Jim I want to see him when he comes home and say it in such a way that he will know that it will not do to disobey the summons,” The woman started and seemed to shudder. ‘* Will he get into trouble if he obeys?” she asked. ‘* He will if he doesn’t,” was the quick retort. ** Why can’t you leave Jim alone, Simon Sly- boots?” The villain laughed, ‘| know that you happen to know something about Jim’s past, but I don’t see why you should all the time hold it over our heads like a club, Let the boy bave a moment’s peace; give hima chance to be an honest man.” “Who? Jim?’ grinned Simon, ‘i'd like to see bim be that even if he tried. What’s bred in the bone—” He did not get/to complete his sentence, for like a tigress the woman sprung up and her face was almost dark, ‘“*That will do! You sha’n’t assault the mem- ory of my husband, for that was what you were about to do. He was honest, and if it hadn’t been for men of your stamp, Jim wouldn’t have goue astray, and you know it.” He looked at her towering above bim like a mountain, and saw that ber hands were clinched and that fire was flying from the depths of her eyes, ” Mother Magog glanced toward a door across the room, and Simon feared that some ally was within call. But what would a woman of her strength want with an ally? ‘* Well, do just what you Jike, but mind you, you take the consequences,” he went on. ‘1 want Jim, and he will do well by calling on me as soon as possible,” Mother Magog drew back and again looked toward the door. ** Who’s in that room?” asked Simon, The next moment the door flew open and a young man, whose face bore a hunted look, came forward, It was Jim bimself, ** Here you are, eb?’ said Simon, ‘ Been in the house all the time, and your mother would never have told you to come forth.” There was no reply for a little while, and Jim, standing in the middle of the room, looked at Simon Slyboots with a strange glare. ‘* You want to see me,” he said at last, ‘‘ What is your business with me?” ‘This is not the place for business of the na- ture I want to transact,” **’'You will proceed, for by Heavens! mother and I understand one another, and whatever you have to say to me you will spit it out here or keep still.” For a moment the oily rascal seemed to draw within himself, but the young man continued: ‘Say it here, I tell you. will listen to you powheres else. a At the same time Mother Magog planted her- self more firmly on the floor and smiled at Jim, ‘* You told me the other day that you wanted a job,” said Simon, ‘I have found a place for you, and one that will pay big wages for little service,” sé Eb Q”? *‘] can get you inside One of the finest houses in the city and where an old man needs a little care while he is dying.” Mother Magog started. ** Do you tnean Napoleon Gregg?” she asked, * aloxggim Slyboots looked ather with a sudden stare, ** What do you know about that man?’ he ex- claimed, ‘** Never mind; go on with your talk to Jim.” ‘* Well, I can get you that job,” continued The reader will remember that she told Cap | Simon. -_oooo----oo--—- eo: Oo Rk — eee a eee ee eee “Tt won’t cost you much labor. Al? zo have to do is toreport to me every few ours the progress of the old man’s disease and follow out a few other instructions which you may receive from time to time,” Jim threw a swift glance toward his mother. **T will take the job,” said he. ‘‘ I won’t run any risk, will I?” ‘“*None whatever. You will use your eyes and deliver a certain letter which you will find under the door—deliver it to Napoleon Gregg and to no one else,” ‘* How do you know I can get the place?” ‘* | have already secured it for you.” **’You are very kind. Whenam I to take it?’ ** As soon as possible, I have just come from the house'and they have agreed to accept the nurse I am to send,” As Simon Slyboots rose to go, the soft step of Jim’s mother approached him and when he look- ed back he saw her eying him intently. ‘Jim is going to Napoleon Gregg’s bouse,” said she, ‘* He will serve you as far as he can in the interests of justice; but he shall commit no crime for you.” ‘** | haven’t asked him to commit one,” was the reply. ‘‘ All he has to dois to deliver a letter to the old man himself, That’s not very much, is it?’ Simon laid his hand on the knob and opened the door, If he had looked at Jim he would have seen a singular expression on the face of that young man who was eying him like a hawk, An hour later Jim presented himself at the door of the Gregg mansion and was admitted, When he said that he was the nurse sent by Simon Slyboots he was placed on duty and for the first time looked into the face of Napoleon Gregg, Tom Wagner’s grandfather. For some time Jim watched the dying man who was propped upinbed witb pillows, and when he thought him asleep, he stole from the ha and at acertain hour went into the front all. He discovered a bit of paper protruding from beneath the front door, and taking itin his band, knew that he had theidentical note which he was to hand to the old man, Jim, the criminal, felt his fingers tremble while he held the paper. He was alone and the old house was quiet, He went back to the little parlor near the old man’s chamber and closely eyed his find. What did that letter contain? He stood there undecided, thinking, no doubt, of the hold Simon Slyboots had on him, and of his mother’s last words, A hundred times did the young man turn .the sealed note in his hand, and more than once he walked toward the door, only to fall back witha shiver. ‘*T don’t believe it can kill him,” suddenly said Jim. ‘‘ It is something which Simon wants him to see all by himself, and that is why I was to deliver it to him alone.” Jim left the room and went over to where old Gregg lay. e opened the door and stole into the room on tip-toe, The patient had fallen into a doze, and he stood and looked at him some time. All at once the eyes opened and were fixed upon Jim. ‘* What is it?’ asked Napoleon Gregg. ‘‘ You bave a letter forme, 1t is from Tom!” If Jim had tried to hide the note he would have been unsuccessful, for the keen eyes of old Gregg had already discovered it, and advancing across the room, he placed it in the wrinkled bands, Napoleon Gregg’s eyes lit up with intense ex- citeinent, Jim was alone with him, ‘*Open it for me,” said the old man, ‘It is from Tom, and I haven’t strength enough to break the seal.” Jim took the letter and opened it. ‘* Hand it here!” cried the dying man, ‘ You must not read it first.” But Mother Magog’s son did not heed the last injunction. e Opened the paper, and in an instant bis face lost color and he looked toward Napoleon ouey ** You can’t see this,” he said, “IT must! I must! It is news from Tom, and—” ‘** It is as cool a plot as was ever hatched in the brain of man,” was the answer. Napoleon Gregg held out his hands imploring- ly, but Jim drew back with the letter, ‘* Give it to me! plot yourself,” boo © If you don’t, you are in the