Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 765 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. \ 7 friends; and prepared to initiate war if he dis- | it were, Gilbert was not in the least like | no other steck in trade. He was tempted to fall covered them, But the history of the beginning was the history of the end; not a person could he unearth any where. ** Done up!” the Patrol commented, as Moran reappeared. ‘** We are baffled, surely.” ** Dye s’pose they got onter my visit?” '“* Tt matters not, since they are gone,” **'Yes; an’ Isaac is gone with them, Lixe- wise, Betty; a trim little maiden I got a good bit interested in. Say, sport, it goes awfully ag’inst the grain fer ter be done up in this way. It ain’t my style ter lose all my eggs out o’ the basket; an’ this time they are plum’ gone, an’ the basket with ’em. Tough luck, by gum!” To ease his feelings, the speaker kicked over one chair, and then sat down in another in a melancholy frame of mind, AWE are you going to do now?’ gsked oran., ‘* What kin I do?’ * Will you give it up?” “Will I? Say, general, I guess you don’t know the huckleberry you are addressing of, do ye? Give up? Notfor Jeremiah! 1 bev took an interest in this case thet 1 don’t ginerally take in anything: I hev. Result, I'm goin’ ter see it through or bu’st in the seein’, Themjis my sentiments, Michael,” ‘IT am rejoiced to find you so plucky. This is, I do believe, a case in which all honest persons should feel an interest; and as upholders of the law, we clearly have a sacred duty to perform,” ‘* Dunno about that; but we’re goin’ ter knock the stuffin’ out o’ them measly critters!” Flipper declared. ** Put it as you will,” “Ef I kin, Pll put it with a thump that'll make ‘em see stars,’ * Well, this house is unoccupied. Whatever we do must be done with outsiders. Can you oui § 7 eal 0 ‘* Then we'll try iuterviewing the neighbors,” They ‘-ent out, but the plan did not work to acharm, No one had seen the Jacobs party leave, or if they had, they did not see fit to say so. When interrogated as to the character of Mrs. Kate and her associates, they professed eS ignorance, ere was a chance that this was not the must reliable of information, but they had to let it go at that. When inquiry of cabmen in the vicinity bad been made without avail, both Flipper and Moran were ready to give up for the time being. ‘**I’m going to keep at it, though,” added the detective. ‘* Will you meet me to-morrow?” “Pil try ter,” ‘*Doso. You will, Iam sure, find this a case of rare interest. We read about men who lose their identity like Isaac Moss, but such cases arerare, I never saw one, before. Naturally, this novelty is very interesting—” ‘* Yes; ter all but Isaac!” “The point is well made; Poor fellow! he has my sincere sympathy. Well, good-night! Come to my office to-morrow; [ will be there, or will leave word so you can find me,” He hastened away with the air of a man who is bound for bed and glad of the fact. Flipper Flynu thrust his hands deep into bis pockets and muttered: ‘*So-long, my friend, an’ may yer dreams be happy ones, Ez fer me, I don’t e t ter dream right away, though I inay bev the worst kind of anightmare, I ain’t forgot I am due at Gilbert Dunning’s boudware, an’ ef I cast my shadder on the wall I want ter be about it, by gum! It ain’t so early as it was.” He looked again at the address; then hastened away, " Pim goin’ ter get the cobwebs out o’ my eyes right away,” he pursued. ‘I’ve got too much biz fer one small youth, an ef it wa’n’t fer keep- ing my word, I should never deliver this letter o’ mouth. As ’tis, lll git it off the hooks on the rush.” He was reckless to go near Gilbert, and he knew it, but, arriving at the place, he boldly rung the bell. He was informed that the person Was in, and was soon in his presence. CHAPTER VIII. | THE HEAD VILLAIN, _FLiprer Fiynn knew Gilbert at first sight. He had heard him described, and bis face was not one to be in doubt about, The red hair and florid face furnished their own identification, as : | a a, a ee oy Harold Duaninvg, 1n appearance, but be was very much like bimself, as the Patrol aptly ex- pressed it, ** Yuu wished to see me?” Gilbert inquired, ‘That wuz the objict of my supernat’ral ap- pearance,” Fhlpper gravely returned, ‘* You see— Before he could explain more the door sudden- ly opened and a man entered unannounced, assuming an aspect tur from pleasant to bim., The new-comer was Harold Dunning! ** Hello!” saluted Gilbert, carelessly. ** So your friend is still with you?’ returned the brother, stopping short, ‘*My friend?’ **This young man,” and he pointed to Flipper Flynn. ‘** On! be’s only a chance visitor, who dropped in just now. Inever saw him uutil a second ago, Harold looked surprised, and the Patrol 7 gaan it was time for him to come into the ‘* This gent is right,” he admitted, ‘* You see, there wasa mistake at the other ranch. The gent from the clover-fields of the Adirondacks was doin’ all the talkin’, an’ be did it so well I had ter let him wiggle; no chance fer a modest youth ter get a word in edgeways, He jumped ter the conclusion I was a friend of Mr. Dunning, an’ I let the guess run, It dian’t matter much, anyhow.” Harold seemed to believe what he said, but Gilbert gazed at the glib speaker sharply. ** What’s all this about?” he asked, suspiciously, ‘* Nothing,” the other brotber returned, impa- tiently. ‘“‘It is a mere trifle. Have you duly delivered my message, boy?’ ‘“* Not yet, fer I was delayed on the way by an accident I couldn’t git away with. I'll do it now, though, mister: yer brother would like fer ter see you at yer earliest convenience!” ‘‘ A great fellow you are ter run an errand!” retorted Harold. ‘‘Get out of here, now; we have no use for an unfaithful servant, You can O. , ** Wait!” ordered Gilbert. ‘* Il may want some- thing to sey in this case. Sit down, boy; you and I will have a talk, later on.” ‘** All right, general.” In every way the florid-faced man betrayed the fact that be was full of suspicion, but Flip- per was not to be frightened. He had confidence in himself and his ability to get out of trouble, and it was an excellent chance to study Gilbert, while he was in the same business himself, Hence, he was perfectly calm, and when he was directed to go into the next room, he went non- chalantly, Unfortunately, one of bis plans came to grief at the start; when he set out to act the listener, he found he could hear nothing. Evidently, the master of the place was as sbrewd as he was sus- icious; he compelled Harold to talk in tones so ow that nothing was audible in the other room, Now, the Patrol was not wholly certain he had done wisely to put himself so fully in Gilbert's power, but he did not even look to see if there was a way of escape. ‘*I’m in fer it,” be soliloquized, ‘“‘an’ I’m bound ter see the whole figger danced. I’ve got Mister Gilbert sized up, already; he’s a fly gent of the first water, Can’t say pousirny whether he’s a crook, but his mug would get him admis- sion to the Tombs on suspicion, Wonder w’ot be would say ef I come out boldlv an’ asked bim where Roger Hethington is? Mebbe, old chap, you’d better not do it, though.” Before the delay bad grown unpleasant, the door opened and Gilbert appeared to view. He pau-~ed on the threshold and looked attentively at the Patrol, The pause grew burdensome before it was broken, ‘*Say,” observed the Flipper, at length, “ it won’t cost you a red ter say something!” ** Boy,” Gilbert returned, ‘* who are you?” ‘*T’m my fatber’s son!” . ““Granted! What else?” ** Nothin’.” | ** Have you no explanation to make?” ** Dunno ez I hev,” ** You know me!” ** Do I?” “Surely; and if you are my friend, you will speak out.” Flipper Flynn was nonplused. He had the nerve to take advantage of this natural mistake on Gilbert’s part, but be did not know how to do it properly, Headlong assurance might simply make him ridiculous, and he could have | back on denials, but thought better of it and, suddenly looking up, made answer: “Well, boss, lam square when I say I ain’t onter yer biz, much, 1 know you get a livin’ the hest way you kin,”—be watched sharply to see the result of bis venture—‘“‘ an’ ‘that is about ail Idoknow, Can’t claim yer acquaintance, nor that of any of yer bosom friends; but,1 do know some gents who are as fly as they make ’em. The Patrol drew a quick breath. Matters were | That’s all I hev ter say.” Plainly, Gilbert was favorably impressed by this statement. ‘* All right; but I really thought you had com® here on some secret errand, I didn’t want m7 brother to get onto it,” ** Ain’t he safe?” ** He don’t know of all my work.” “The Englishman, fer instance?” Gilbert looked puzzled. ** What do you mean?” ‘** Ob! ef you don’t know, I guess I won’t tell you, Never mind, Gil; you an’ I understand each other.” The master of the place did not agree to this statement, nor did he deny it. He answered evasively, and a general conversation followed, It was onein which the Patrol bad a deep in- terest, He wished toso win bis companion’s con- fidence that he would throw caution away and Jet the boy into his secrets, ina measure. Tothis end Flipper worked,but when the interview was over, he could not see that he had made any visible advance, The host had been sociable, he had been willing to talk on almost any subject; but had skillfully avoided saying what could be used against him in the future, directly or in- directly. He finally yawned and observed: ‘*It is bed-time, and I shall bave to turn you out. However, I'll call on you, some ,time, if you'll give me your address,” “Will you?” thought the Patrol, “I'd bea clam ter put youin that way until I found out jest how you stand. You kin bev an address, but while it will be one where! sball bear ef you call, you can’t find me there ter drop on!” Aloud, he answered in an innocent way, and then prepared to go, Gilbert had religtteda balf-smoked cigar, using a piece of paper and the gas-light near him. He then made a cast to throw the remnant of the paper into the fire, but only succeeded in throwing it on the floor, Flipper could afford to be obligin z, so he stoop- ed to get the burning fragment and save his companion labor. He had the paper over the fire when he chanced to catch sigut of a name on its surface, ‘* Isaac Moss!” It might mean nothing, but the thing did not reach the fire. The Patrol’s back furnished a sbield to his operations, and he quickly and neat- ly thrust the paper into his pocket. Gilbert bad seen nothing, and he puffed the Cigar in a contented way as his visitor went out. **T’ll see you again,” he promised, once more, * All right, mister; you shall!” The promise bad a deeper meaning than Gil- bert suspected, but be was not enlightened fur- ther then, Flipper lost no more time on the way, and was soon on the street. He chuckled as his feet pressed the sidewalk, and winked as if he bad bappened on a good joke, “You're pretty fly, Gil!” he acmitted, ‘‘ yet you wa’n’t in it, that time. I’ve fooled you a good bit—unless you’ve fooled me wuss than I know on. We'll see.” He paused near a street-lamp to look at the paper thus aaggyeior ty | acquired. Words were written, there, and he proceeded to decipher The fire bad consumed the Serer pert of the page. and but little was left. e read the remnant: them, “Tsaac Moss is not likely ever to be any bett’m but yon will make no mistake by being careful, Mr. unning. Caution is the silent partner of success. Come and see him when we get him moved. You need have no fear of being recognized; he wou'd nit know his own mother. G. D. would not awaken a thought in his darkened mind. Come, by all means, » and see your man. S e how his past has been swept away; see how little fear you have of ever meeting him asarival. Heis—” This was the end, Flipper whistled softly, - Well, by gum!” he exclaimed, “ that’s nice, So Gil is in that game, too? Well, he’s a cork- er! There could be no doubt that it was Gilbert to whom the letter was addressed; the initials ‘‘ G, D.” served to prove an alibi for Harold. Flipper was surprised to see his two cases run together, but while he was considering the point, he was startled by the laying of a hand on his shoulder,