Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 765 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 The Patrol was prompt to take advantage of» his anger. ‘You've been misused shamefully, Mr, Ja- cobs!” he asserted; and then proceeded to sup- plement the statement with otber remarks which would please the listener, The artifice was successful, and Jacobs was soon of the opinion he had found those who could appreciate his ability. With this idea started if was not hard to get him talking on the matter nearest to the Patrol’s thoughts, In- troducing the subject guardedly, Abe was soon under way like a race-horse, ‘*My wife isa had woman, an’I don’t care who knows it!” he declared, ‘‘She has been the ally of crooks ever since I knew ber—though, of course,” was the hasty addition, ‘I never approved of it, Yes, she isa bad woman!” e paused to shake his head dolefully over this fact; then went on less sorrowfully: ** But you want to know about Isaac Moss, Well, ’ll tell you all I can, You see, my wife has been the dive-keeper for the crooks she has been in with; an’ her two best bowers hev been Old Spicer, the tramp—be needn’t wear old clothes, ef he didn’t see fit ter—an’ a feller named Gilbert Dunning.” ‘* W’ot of Harold Dunning?” asked Flipper. **Never heerd o’ him, but there are‘men in the gang that I never hev seen. Wal, it was Gilbert who brought Isaac Moss there. He an’ Moss was rivals fer the band o’ some girl, an’ Gilbert found a way ter get rid o’ the rival, He give Isaac some drug tbat took his wits away, an’ brought bim to our ranch, He’s been there ever sence,” ‘* Rivals, eh? Be you sure it wa’n’ta money affair?” sé Yes,” ** W’ot’s Isaac’s real name?” ** Dunno!” ** Lionel Hethington?” ‘* No; that’s another case.” Tt is?” ‘Yes. Lionel Hethington is an Englishman, They hev got him, too; though 1 don’t know much about it. But Isaac ain’t no Englishman,” Now the fact was presented to his notice, the Patrol was obliged to admit, mentally, that this was probably the case, Certainly, isaac had none Of the distinguishing traits of the foreigner; though Flipper had not paused to think of that before. He now blamed himself for the fact. af: had he not used his judgment in the case? ** There was movey in the matter of Hething- ton,” went on the cast-off, ‘‘ an’ they hev got him shut up, somewhere. Thatis all I know about him. But it is lsaac we are speaking about, I know be was downed because he and Gilbert were rivals; that is all I do know.” ** Well, where is the den your wife an’ her pards have taken Isaac to?” asked Flipper, after @ pause, “I don’t know. They are bound I sha’n’t know, either. They’ve shook me; an’ they think mer have got a clear coast,” @ paused to shake bis fist tragically, giving the impression that he did not agree with this opinion; and Flipper went on skillfully. He found it hard to believe that Abe was wholly ig- norant of the new refuge of the gang, but Abe declared such to be the fact, and there was no reason for doubting bis good faith. It was plain that the Patrol must still rel upon himself; the way to success was still sbrouded in darkness, “One thing is clear,” he remarked to Betty, ““we hev got ter rescue Isaac by hook or crook, an’ we'll do it ef it takes a rib out o’ our anat- omy. You hear me?” CHAPTER XII, A MAN BACKS DOWN, ABE JACOBS was ina vindictive mood, and ready to catch eagerly at any plan which promised revenge upon his wife and her com- panions, Asa result, he also agreed to remain at the house for the time being, and give Flipper Flynn a chance to “‘see a friend,” who was, though Abe was not informed of the fact, De- tective Moran; after which, he averred, he was ready to proceed against the gang as zealously as the Patrol could desire, Knowing he was not so trustworthy as his oo indicated, the boy asked Betty to keep im under her espionage, and try to prevent his departure from the house, The Flipper made another effort tosee Moran. It was as fruitless as the previous attempts, a Wal, this is getting stale!” was Plipper’s disgusted comment, ‘‘I ain’t goin’ ter monkey no more on these lines, Mister Moran kin run his engine; I’ll run mine.” He was near the house to which Roger Flipper Flynn, the § —— — > 9 Hethington had first conducted bim, and as he was passing, he instinctively glanced up at the windows, The result gave him surprise, Roger was there looking out calmly. ‘* Howlin’ hyenas!” The Patrol was astonished. He had given the Eaglisbroan up as a lost man: vet there he was, and nothing showed him to be ina bad state, physically or otherwise, Only for a moment did Flipper hesitate. Then he crossed the street and gave the bell a sharp ring. Nobody objected to his going up to bis sometime employer’s room, and be soon found himself confronting Roger, ‘The latter did not appear surprised to see him, ** So it’s you?” he saluted, ‘*Kz fer ez [ know, it ain’t nobody else, gen- eral, Kin you say the same fer R, Hethington, E-quire? B’jinks! I thought you was gone up the flume, sure!” i My movements must have seemed strange to you,” ‘* So they did, an’ I ain’t got over it, yet. I’m all primed fer a narrative of the facts, how- ever.” ‘* When I went up to the room in the hotel I did notexpect to be gone overa few minutes, but I was delayed,” ** What by?’ ‘* Business with a gentleman.” Flipper looked hard at the speaker, and saw unmistakable signs that he was not going to be taken into the secrets of the case, His hopes took a drop, and he dryly inquired: ‘** Did he shed your blood?” Roger became more interested, if appearances went for anything. ‘* Was there a disturbance over my disappear- ance?” ‘* Why do you think that?” ‘* When I arrived, the gevtleman was suffer- ing with an obstinate bleeding at the nose, Some of the effects were to be seen on the bed-spread, I hope it did not lead to any foolish misconstruc- ious?’ “Well, J thought you must ’a’ had a quarrel with the unknown gent.” ‘‘ There was none; our interview was of the most friendly kind.” ** You skipped out kind o’ sudden.” “The gentleman thought he | pment could get some information for me, and we went out together. That was all there was of it, Really, I hope no old cranks made a row about it?” Roger looked bard at the Patrol. He evi- dently was somewhat concerned, and wished to know just what had occurred. On the other hand, Flipper was the most disgusted person in New York, at that moment. ‘** Ain’t you made any discoveries?” he asked, ** No; and Iam tempted to give up the whole matter and go back to England,” **T wouldn’t, ef I’s you!” ‘* Why not?” ** Because you'll only get some one hold o’ the case that won’t be lukewarm, like you! R»ger, I’m dead onter you! You think ve kin set on yer chair an’ lie ter me like a 2:10 hossina free-fer-all, but you makea big error. Let up on it, Britisher! You didn’t meet no friends, up in the botel bedroom; you met an enemy, an’ you had aright-smart row with bim, Ob! I'm ee you an’ Gilbert Dunning, Esquire. You t! Flipper flung out these words as if each one was a bullet, nor could he feel tbat bis ammuni- tion was wasted. Roger first looked startled; then bis face took on a peculiar pallor, ‘* You talk at random,” he muttered. **T talk to the point, an’ don’t you forget it!” ** What do you claim to know?” ** Enough so you'd better tell me more,” and be Patrol shut one eye and nodded emphati- ca y. Hethington looked disturbed, but after meidi- tating for a few moments, his courage returned, aki ve he saw how unlikely it was that Flipper could know enough of his case to place hii in any position ditferent from that he now occu- pied. Pretending to smile with amusement, he answered: ” “Don’t let your curiosity run away with you, ee lad. There is no secret about this matter, and— ‘* Does your lost brother think so?” Flipper re- torted, ‘“* Happily, my brother is found, all right.” ‘* Gammon!” “What?” ‘* Ef you see fit ter throw me over, all well an’ good; but don’t ye think you kin set there an’ stuff me fer a clam, It can’t be did, general. You know, an’ I know, that Lionel Hethington is still in quod. Et would be sorter interestin’ treet Patrol. ter know who his worst enemy is, but we ain’t - discussin’ of that point, now. W’ot we do say, mister, an’ we say it stroug, is: Don’t get the idea in that British bead o’ yourn that you kin sell an Uncle Sam kid fer a blind man. See?” Flipper Fiynn was angry, and he made bis points with a realism that was very unpleasant to the gentleman from the British Isles, Roger flushed deeply. “Your language is remarkable, and it is inso- lent. Such being the fact, I do not think it necessary for me to carry on the discussion. I have already paid you all I agreed to when you entered my service, but if you are disappointed at losing a situation, I will add toit, Here; take this bank-note, and let us part friends—” ‘Pocket yer cash, colonel! I ain’t built that way, b’jinks! I’m a fellow who can’t be bought, sold, give away nor takenin, Them is my sen- timents!” Flipper arose in offended majesty and glow- ered upon Roger like a Bowery tragediav. He was much disappointed that his hold on Hething- ton was lost, he also felt offended that any one should think he was to be deceived so easily. He went to the door and there paused and gave Mr. Hethington a further illustration of Bowery stage cffects, The Englishman was troubled by this rebellion. He tried to smovth the matter over, but did it in a way which did not improve the situation. He did not offer to tell what bad taken place since he saw the Patrol, and it was plain he would not do so, Flipper let him talk for a while; then abrupt- ly announced: ‘c Tm off !” With this statement he marched out of the house, and Roger did not see fit to try and stop him, The Englishtnan was troubled, but he underrated the boy, and did not suspect his ag ore! for barm, lipper went out with fong and heavy steps, ‘* Dumped!” he uttered, tragically, ‘‘ 1 bev got the g. b., which is grand bounce. Yes; an’ I’ve got one thing more: I know, now, that my first impressions of Roger were correct. Jest w’ot is chewin’ of him 1 don’t know, but he ain’t no angelic cherub. Has he formed a union with them who was hisenemies? Looks like it, but in any case, l’m glad I ain’t in his brother’s shoes, The other Hethington bids fair ter get did up > Hello! who’s that?’ Old Spicer, the tramp, b’jinks! Say, I’m goin’ ter foller that feller ter his den, Ill hive him!” CHAPTER XIII. FLIPPER FLYNN'S PERIL, THERE was a good deal of spite, as well a® detective zeal, in the Patrol’s decision, for be had not recovered from the shock Hethington had given him; but it was all detective caution as he fellin behind the ragged member of Mother Jacobs’s gang. ; li Spicer seemed to be in an unusually chipper moxd, He whistled and hummed snatches of songs as he went; and inevery way acted like a man whose conscience and digestion were alike in the best of order, For these things Flipper Fiynn cared ry but he was bound to bring mutters to a crisis ¢ such a thing was possible, — Old Spicer did not change his general direction once, and in due time he entered a bouse which was evidently bis home, whether the gaug bung out there or not, a dd ‘‘ Dusty, musty, rusty an’ sdspicious!” com- mented Flipper. ‘Old cbhap,.kin you get in there?” He made a feint to pass by in an innocent manner, keeping bis eyes open for all chances, and be was not disappointed. The basement door was ajar; more than that, he could see no one near it, Acting on a sudden impulse, be walked boldly down the steps, ‘T's touch an’ go, old chap; you don’t want ter get ketched in bere. Keep an eye out!” The timnely warning did not prevent him from entering the door, He gazed around sharply, No one was visible, but from the next room, the kitchen, it seemed, came the sound of voices, ‘* B’jinks! I must see ’em!” With him to resolve was to act, and he crept noiselessly down the ball. View of the kitchen did not exbilarate him to any great ezree; be could see no one there except two women who looked like servants, They were doing the housework, and gossiping as they worked, “Pretty times these are!” obse i are liable ter bring up in Sing Sing yet. **T don’t like it.’ 3 ’ ‘‘Nor I: but we get paid for the risks we take. I’m willin’ ter venture it, ain’t you?” the worst way. ‘‘Sure, sure! We’re in for it, and there’s no if y, : gts elie. oh 7 ” > oun) hy “i “9h aii | ze. 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