Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 765 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

es s poet — . i ~~ = - 3 - sf — = ) SE “a, -. = ——- Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. 13 His expression promised nothing favorable. ** Men,” he spoke, abruptly, “‘ you have looked your last on the light of day!” ‘* How’s that?” Flipper asked, a little at fault. ‘** You have won one point, here, but it is less a gain than you may think, You are life pris- oners; you have looked your last on the world!” ‘* W’ot new scheme hey you got?” ‘**T cannot recede from the position I have taken, I have risked all and must take the con- sequences, It is not in me to be an assassin, but further than that I am as much your foe as ever. Your lives are saved—at least for the hen but you will both remain my prisoners, ou, boy, have seen fit to go against me in my plans. The result of it will beseen, I am going to make you a prisoner, too, and you will be well taken care of.” ‘Mister, you hev done one good deed ter- night; why not keep it up an’ set us free?” ‘*T refuse to talk with you. Be still!” He stepped to the door and called for Old Spicer, who came promptly, and they conferred in low tones, Neither of the prisoners inter- rupted. They felt it would be useless to try and move them, and they had to be as near satisfied as was possible, Flipper Flynn, however, was not in a down- hearted mood, He felt be had won one glorious victory wap he could afford to be content where he could not better matters. He luvoked at Issac and nodded in a confident way, and the original prisoner was as grateful as a man naturally would be when bis life had thus been saved, The captcrs soon settled upon a plan. Old Spicer went out. When he returned he bore a rope, and this he proceeded to attach to the chandelier in an ingenious way. When it was done, Flipper was led to the spot and firmly lege a novel device making the restraint, per- ect, ** Here you stay to die of old age,” Gilbert an- nounced, pitilessly, CHAPTER XVI. SOMEBODY IN DISGUISE, TWO persons came along the street. One was & woman of rather shabby appearance and ec- centrically-made garments; the other was a girl of diminutive stature. In the latter person we recognize Betty Gray. ** Ain’t you afeerd?” she asked. ** No,” her companion answered; ‘* I am afraid of nothing.” ** ‘You don’t look so brave.” “*T was not, a week ago!” ** You feel this bad, Miss Viola—” ‘“*Husb!” was the quick warning. ‘* Don’t speak that name again, Remember, Iam only Zvipba, the wanderer.” ‘I won’t ferget again,” ‘This is the house, Now for a bold pusb. Be calm, Betty; I don’t believe you are in any danger, and if you are, they certainly would not do anything serious to one as young as you, ‘“*Guess you don’t ’zactly know ’em, but I ain’t goin’ ter git skeered, ou see if Ido!” There was a spice of defiance in Betty’s voice, showing that she resented the aspersion, as she understood it, upon her bravery, and she rung the bell with a steady hand. The door was soon opened, and Mother Jacobs stood before them. ‘* Betty Gray!” she cried; ‘you here? Why, child, where have you been? We thought you was Ivst.” Betty had her opinion of the sincerity of this eeting, but she did not see fit to quarrel with other Jacobs when her chief ambition was to be well received by the woman, “Well, I sorter got strayed away,” she mut- tered, ** but I ain’t lost, as you kin see,” ‘‘ Was it the fault o’ that cabman? I have all alone stuck to it that ’twas; an’ I’ve done all I could ter find you ag’in. Did that rascal] git you lost?” There was sincerity in the woman’s voice, and Betty began to waver in her belief that she had been deliberately ‘cast off by the gang. From the first there bad been wonder that Mother Jacobs should wish to lose one who had been such a hard-working, uncomplaining slave, and Betty was impressed with the belief that the sep- aration might, indeed, have been due wholly toa cabman who had been paid for bis work, and had no check on his impulses, Ow, however, Mother Jacobs suddenly gave attention to Betty’s companion, si W ho is this?’ she asked, doubtfully, It’s a lady who has been kind to me, an’ kept me, an’ she has been teaching me ter be a clair- voyant doctor,” sudden change came over theold woman's | my abode, rrr Ss face. She dropped a deep courtesy, and re- marked: ** Your servant, ma’am!” ** Daughter, be of good cheer!” spoke Viola, in a deep voice, ‘‘ All is well with thee, for thy star is burning brightly.” “Praise Providence!” uttered Jacobs, de- voutly. ‘** The unseen powers know their faithful ones, They have them in their keeping—yea, always!” “ An’ I am one of ’um?” ** Thou art one!” ** Glory! glory!” Mother Jacobs seemed delighted beyond meas- ure; she took on a rapt expression, and was forgetful of all the practical things of life, It was no chance hit that bad brought them into her good graces, While with her, Betty had learned many things more than she had been given credit for being capable of taking in. No one had ever said in plain words that the old woman was particularly susceptible to sbams, things mysterious and things obscure, yet Betty, as observant as she was silent, bad learned the points of Mother Jacohbs’s character well. It was this which had brought them there so fully prepared to work on ber weaknesses, will be going, now,” added Viola, care- essly. “No, no!” Mother Jacobs implored. ‘ Ef you see any good in me, don’t desert me so soon, Them like you are always welcome at my home,” ‘*T suppose I might tarry for awhile,” **Come in; come in, ef you will. You honor Come; you are very welcome, Mrs.— I don’t know your name,” “Tl am Madam Zylpha, clairvoyant, seventh daughter of a seventh son, far-seer and natural physician!” it was an imposing load for one person to carry, but Viola bore ter assumed honors with due grace and dignity, and Jacobs was more than ever impressed. She eagerly asked the great. woman in, and proceeded to make her comfortable, Self-styled Zylpha and Betty were in a state of expectancy. ‘Thus far their plot had succeed- ed as wellas any one couid dare to hope, even with their knowledge of their companion’s weak- nesses, They were in the house, and received with warmth where they would bave been shut out entirely had the truth been known, They were conducted to the dining-room and a chair was set for the honored guest, Betty was forgotten, entirely. Now, tney had not come there merely to see Mother Jacobs, either to play upon her credulity or otherwise to make a trivial gain. Instead, they had business of vast importance, in their opinion, It was for this they had planned with care, that Viola tad assumed a disguise, that she had claimed greatness in a line of which she a no knowledge until Betty bad oe to let drop the secret of the old woman’s obby. Unknown to any one else, they had come into danger, to the company of desperate characters, And their motive—it was no idle one, Jacobs had much to say, and she was humored to her fill. In return, the great Zy]pha told ber of great good that was coming to her—when, it was not exactly clear, The first step was taken; they were under the roof; and after that it was not hard to so work upon the hostess that, of her own free will, she invited Zylpha to become her guest for a time. The chance was not refused, Thus they entered upon a work which might bring ruin to them. Mother Jacobs was not a person of unlimited leisure, and after a time she had other duties to perform, but Zylpha showed no inclination to make free with the bouse. She kept in the kitchen; her behavior was beyond censure, When supper bad been eaten Jacobs had more time, and there was another period given up to humoring ber fancies, Night fell, too, and the hour drew near when something must be done if the plans of the adventurous two amounted to anytbing, They could not bope to remain a very long while in such company and not meet with i good as Viola’s disguise was believed to Betty had sunk into ber old round of labor and was fully occupied. She used her senses of investigation as well as possible, and discovered that there was a locked room on the floor above; a fact she succeeded in making known to Viola, but she could penetrate no further, To enter this room became Viola’s ambition. As the night grew older the elder visitor claimed to be weary and was given a chance to liedown. This enabled her to be left alone and she began to scheme anew, There were men ip the house, This she had been told b ine and there was other evidence to that effect. If she encountered them, her chances bade fair to melt away like dew. She was ina little rocm off from the hall. When the proper time seemed to have arrived, she rose and left the place. With lightsteps she ascended to the floor above, Pausing she listened with fast-beating heart, No one was astir, as far as she could discover. Sbe wenton. It was not hard to locate the room Betty had mentioned, but, as was to be expected, she found the door locked. Turning, she passed into the adjoining room, Only the double doors were in her way, then, and they were secured by a bolt, She laid her hand on the obstacle and paused. What lay beyond? She had her opinion, but it might all be wrong. In any case, it was danger. The bolt was pushed with trembling fingers. She opened the door, No light was burning beyond, and, at first, she could see absolutely nothing, Then her eyes be- came accustomed to the gloom, and sbe made out a form in the corner—some one occupying a big chair. She advanced with wavering cour- age. The person was looking at ber, and she thought his manner enougl-:like that of a pris- oner for ber to hazard speech. ‘* Who are you?” she asked, tremulously, ‘* Madam,” was the very polite reply, ‘‘if you will answer your own question, I will give you my interest in the first gold-mine I find!” ‘*Sir? [don’t understand.” “‘Nor [, Madam, I salute you! run in the same channel,” ** Are you a prisoner here?” ‘*l bave no doubt of it. Yes; as farasmy knowledge goes, lama prisoner, Consider the fact proven!” This erratic speech swept away her last doubts >. and she eagerly inquired: ** Are you Isaac Mos?” “Regard that matter as proven, though I don’t know a ein 2 about it. I am called Issac Moss, beyond doubt; who I am, I don’t know.” ‘*T bave come to rescue you!” ‘Ah! that’s to the point!” ‘** Have you yet recovered so you can walk™ ** Unfortunately, I have not. I am still @ wreck, But who are you who has undertaken the dangerous task of getting me away? I tell you fairly that it is death to those who gointoit, If you are thinking of pitting your solitary strength agaiust that of my foes, stop while you can! [ say, itisdeath! Keepaway! The only hope is to go to the police. This I beg you to do, not so much for my sake as for that of another who bas become involved in my desperate fortunes, Go! Go to the police, or go, never to return. Don’t ruin yourself for me!” Isaac made the appeal with far more than hi® usual earnestness, and rose as far as pcssible from his chair. He know the danger, and was not willing to have any one else suffer with him. ‘* No!” Viola replied, firmly; ‘tI have the best of reasons for not wishing the police to be in this matter, at all, 1am going to get you out alone!” ** Woman, you are ruined if you attempt it!” Isaac spoke warningly, but she was not to be moved. She put her hand around bis waist and firmly directed: ““Come! This is a matter of will. Let noth- ing weaken your resolution, and you wil] win!” t was a doctrine which past experiences bad rendered non-persuasive to the prisoner, but he felt the need of doing his best, This he was en- deavoring to do when tbe door was suddenly opened, the key having turned noiselessly in the lock, Viola sprung up and faced about, She could not misunderstand what it meant to her; it meant the very worst, A match was scratched and the gas lighted. The blaze sprung up and made the whole room bright in a twinkling. She was face to face with a man whom Isaac readily recognized, It was Old Spicer! Viola was no person bardened to danger by long contact therewith, and she gazed in silent. dismay at him who bad 80 untimely come on the ecene, It was left to Old Spicer to show un- bounded amazement. He had no thought of finding a woman there, nor bad he knowledge of the fact that one besides Mother Jacobs was un- der the roof, Seeing her, he could only look in open-eyed wonder. ** Wal, I'll be durned!” he finally found breath to utter. Viola said nothing. “*Say,” be added, “ who the dickens be you? W’ot ye doin’ bere? Don't you know it is sure Great minds | mm (Gi 0) JOCKS