Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 767 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

~~, “4 ~ os yt tha, > - =: | ) eS +e + ‘*. 4 Se bs + 4 - Se sii) -f. mY 9 10 to the stranger, who “‘ bled” freely, and invari- ably remarked, as be paid for the drinks: ‘“There’s plenty more where that came from,” Mac’s (new) countenance was decidedly knav- ish, aud, as the constant repetition of this re- mark attracted bis attention, Wilson set down the cockney as an English crook. ‘Pil cultivate bim,” decided the ex-convict, partly with a vague idea that be migbt be able to make use of ‘**’Arry Roser” (Mac’s new name), but principally because he | oped to ascertain where that ‘‘ plenty more” was to come from, An hour after the detective entered the saloon, his new-found friends departed, leaving bim with real reluctance, but 16 was still too early, and Mae too sober, to attempt any ‘‘ funny ” busi- ness, so, having something of importance to at- tend to, the party broke up, Wilson, bowever, remained, and as they con- versed, hinted his suspicions of the detective’s character, which the latter tacitly admitted to be true, Thus encouraged, the ex-convict came out boldly, asking: ‘**What’s your line, Roser?” ** Hanythia’ from pitch’n’ toss t? manslaugh- ter,” was the reckless reply. The last word seemed to peculiar force, and be asked: ‘* Ever done any of that?” ** Hany hof w’ot?” ** Manslaughter.” “Say, w’ot’s your lay?’ demanded Roser, looking very suspicious, ‘*Safes, generally, with an odd burglary,” carelessly replied the felon, (**Sneak-tuief and pickpocket,” was the memo, under his photo, 1n the Rogues’ Gallery.) Roser gazed admiringly at the speaker, and in- quired: ** W’ot did ye ax that for?” ** Well, it’s not in my Jine, but I know where there’s money t’ be made for a littie job o’ that kind—it’s safe, too,” replied the other, adding: **But I suppose you’ve got too much ‘ dust’ to do anvthin’ for a while? ** No—Hi’m ’tendin’ t? business ball the time. W’ot’s yer little game?” ** Well, it’s a detective—” ** A detective?” interrupted Roser, *“'Yes. Scared already?” sneered Jack, **No! Hi’d just like t’ get a chance at one Hi knows of!” was the savage reply. ‘*Scotland Yard, I suppose,” remarked Wil- son, with a malicious grin. ‘* Then you’ll take the job?” he continued. ‘* Tell me somethin’ about it, ’n’ Hi’ll tell ye. 70» is he? his bit t’ be done ’ere?” Wilson regarded the cockney long and care- fully before answering. He was favorably iw- pressed by the other’s cautiousness, aod finally replied: ‘He’s a private detective, and it’s t? be done here—right back of this house! ‘“* It’s a safe an’ easy job, ’n’ 1t’s worth a pretty nny—but, come, let’s go into the rear ’n’ talk t over.” Passing out the side door, and back through the hall, Dick Wilson led the way across the yard into a tumble-down, two-story frame house, which appeared to be deserted, he house was situated at the end of a long ard, fully one hundred and fifty feet from the nt house, and almost entirely hidden from view of the latter by two trees, with low, wide- spreading branches, This house, and there were many like it until quite recently, looked old enough to have been, and probably was at one time, on the line of the ** Bowerie ”—the old Boston Post Road. When the ex-convict said that the intended victim was a private detective, Mac’s heart leaped, connect ng this fact with Miss Barret’s declaration that Jack Austin had been *‘ taken care of,” Mac noted the isolated situation of the old house, between two noisy streets, and offering every facility for the secure commission of crime, or a rendezvous for criminals, and wondered if this was a trap. He did not hesitate, however, but on reaching the door, demanded. **Stop ’ere! Let’s ’ear w’ot ye’v’ t’ say, before we meet th’ cove.” . **Scared again?” ** No, Hi hain’t funkin’, but Hi want t’ know ** w’ot Hi’m habout,” ‘* Well, you won’t get any further than this room, until I’m sure you'll go ahead with the job, an’ not then, if you don’t swear silence,” While speaking ilson was unlocking the door, aud as he finished led the way in, “Take a seat,” he said, after carefully closing strike Wilson with oe and locking, the door, which Mac quickly saw was anything but the frail, worm-euten affair it appeared to be from the outside, being strengthened by heavy planking and cross-pieces, from top to bottom! Again, the suspicion flashed across the detec- tive that be was being led into—if not already in—a trap! There were but two chairs in the room. One was near the wall, which Wilson took posses- sion of, and the other in the center of the floor. Dim as the light was, Mac instantly de- tected the faint lines of a trap-door about the chair! Standing just outside the line of danger, with both hauds turust into the pocket of his loose sack coat, Mac looked very inoffensive, as be de- clared his intention of standing until their busi- ness was concluded. Yet the first sign of treachery would have cost Dick, the felon, bis life, for tue detective bad learned the Australian trick of shooting through the pocket, and each band rested on the butt of a revolver, CHAPTER XVIII. IN A BAD BOX. ‘‘ aut right, suit yourself!” rejoined Wilson, on hearing the cockney declare bis intention of standing. ‘* Now are you ready toswear you’l] keep your trap closed about this, and anything else you see?” he continued, “Swear be ’anged! D’ye think Hi’m a bloody fool—t? put ha rope round me bloomin’ neck ?” This was a very convincing argument, and Dick added: ** All right! DPve told you who this duck is, and now I tell ye it’s worth a cool five hundred t? rap him over the head ’n’ drop him through that trap! Now, are you ready t’ earn the dust?” ‘“‘Hi am, but, why don’t you bearn it, your- self? Hit’s a tidy lump t’ pick bup so heasy.” ‘Well, I don’t want it! It’s not in my oc and I can’t, and won't do it, I tell ye!” (The latter part of this was uttered as if the speaker was in conversation with some third person, causing Mac to surmise that Wilson was under orders to, bimself, put the prisoner out of the way—out of the world.) ‘Where is ’ef’ asked the cockney. ‘*Up-stairs. Come on!” “Wait a bit! Ye don’t s’pose Hi want bany witnesses, do ye? When we bring bim down ’ere, you've got t’ get hout.” Wilson hesitated a moment, but apparently too anxious to cbhject, agreed to this, saying: ‘*Very well; I'll give you fifteen minutes: but don’t stand talkin’ all night! Come on!” Unlocking another door, the excited scoun- dre] led the way to the next floor, where, amid piles of merchandise of every description, Mac distinguished the form of a man Jying on the floor. The prisoner was not gagged, and as they entered moaned: ‘‘ Water! For God’s sake, water!” Paying no attention to the piteous appeal, Wilson stooped to lift the prisoner’s feet, but see- ing that‘his corfederate made no movement, de- manded the reason, ‘Give ’:m ba drink!” was the reply. “Oh, what does he want with a drink?” ex- panda? the ruffian, adding, with a brutal ugh: ‘“He’ll have plenty, when he strikes the sewer!” ** Water!” moaned the prisoner, “Give it bim, or you does the job yerself,” threatened Mac, ‘‘There’s none on this floor,” sulkily objected Wilson, ° ‘** Go for hit!” Cursing the English obstinacy of his com- pe the heartless ruffian ieft the room, and ac stooped to look at the face of the prisoner. , As he hoped and prayed—it was Jack Austin! The latter, however, was almost delirious, and did not recognize his anxious partner, who felt inclined to throttle Wilson when be returned with the water, ‘*You’re darn careful of him,” sneered the ruffian, seeing Mac raise the prisoner’s head, and, supporting it on his knee, hold the glass to the latter’s lips. | ‘The common ’angman will do has much for you!” retorted the other. ** What’s that?” “Hi said, the common ’angman ’d do has much,” | “Ob! Well, burry up!” wa . Mac and Jack, the Invincibles. a Eee Lae ed ~ on * - ? — ’ > — rs é- — = ‘ = = $ aan tt , . po oe ” wwe * eo ay a “| —-<—. » * al ° Ves _ of re . . - - = a 7 4 * t . a P “ fa . ‘ore - ; 4 ate ~- ae *, . pa , ; “¢ a - ad - ” 7 os .? . ui . . - - . 4 - oe Te ; : * > mL Jack Austin was now lifted, and carnos the room below, where he was deposi od Om the trap-door, = ‘¢That’s the handle!” said the ex-convict point- ing to a knob projecting from the wall. “Pull that, and he drops in‘o the sewer con- nection |” ‘‘ Get bout!” commanded Mac, feeling that be could restrain himself no longer. “Dn offf Fifteen mimmits, remember. The gang’s liable t? turn upany time now |” With this startling statement, Wilson went out—lovking the door, to prevent intrusion, he said, from without. This upset Mac’s plans, for he bad calculated ou scaling one of the adjoining fences, with Jack, leaving the trap open, and the ruffi«n ip dcubt as to what had become of them, Now, he bad a half-unconscious man, a beavy door, and the prospect of a gang of cut-throats entering at any moment, to deal with. ‘Well, they'll be warmly received,” tmutter- ed McVeigh, as be stooped, and litted Jack from the trap. ; The drink of water seemed to have revived the latter, but he was still weak, and by no means clear-beaded, ‘“ Ob, for a little liquor!” exclaimed Mac, seeing the condition of his partner, ** Pocket!” murmured Jack. Scarcely deeming 1t worth while, Mac placed his hand on the otber’s breast, and, to his mingled delight and astonish ment, felt the thin, flat, silver flask in its usual place. The flask was full of tbe best French brandy, a draught of which seemed to put new life into Jack, who extended his hand, saying: ‘‘ That’s one I owe you, old man,” In spite of the danger, Mac chuckled—his partner did not recognize him! This was not because of Jack of light, for the former had found and lighted a railroad lantern. Grasping the proffered band, Mac solemnly rejoined: ' Faith, ye may bave many a chance t’ pay me afore we’re out o’ this din!” This speech proved more potent than tbe brandy, acting on Jack like electricity. ‘* Mac!” he cried, springing up in astonish- ment, ‘No liss!” was the calm response, in low toues, ‘But, ther’s no time t’ explain,” continued Mac, ‘* Ye bad only fifteen minits t’ live, an’ that lad’ll be back— ‘‘Hush! Be jabers, they’re conrin’!” As Mac thus abruptly interrupted bimself, the noise of a number of men approaching could be heard quite plainly. They were just having the saloon for the house. For a moment Mac was puzzled, He didn’t want to reveal bis identity by fighting, but had decided that they must, When his eye fel] upon two heavy iron screw-eyes on either side of the door, : ‘‘Where’s the bar?’ flashed the question through his mind, to be answered the next in- stant, as he saw it standing against the door- post, Quietly slipping the bar into place, and put- ting out the ligkt, Mac whiapered: ‘Get up-stairs— quick and quiet! There must be a window, and you can get into the next ard, ; me Wait for mein front! I’'msafe!” * Relying on the last statement, Austi slipped up-stairs, and as he disappeared from view the key was turned in the lock. “ What the deuce is the matter?’ demanded one, seeing the door still sbut. Mac, meantime, bad thrown himself on the floor, where he rolled and kicked like a mad- man. ‘* What’s that? Who's inside?” demanded the same voice—evidently that of one in autbority. ‘Wait till we get in’n’ I'll tell ye,” rephed Wilson, pounding op the door, and calling on ** Roser” to remove the bar, ‘‘Cawn’t do it, ye know! ’E’s—’e’s got me down—no, Hi got ’im!” As he uttered the last word, Mac brought down his heel with a tremendous bang, and then springing up pulled the eb which opened noiselessly, but flew back with a crash that shook the building. Then Mac lifted the bar, the door was thrown back, and a dozen men rushed in, . “Fits ball hover,” pauted the exhausted cockney, ** but Hi wouldn’t go through—” ‘‘ Hush!” interrupted Wilson. ‘‘ Lock that door!” ordered the leader, while another struck alight. _ : ‘‘ Now whbat’s the meanin’ o’ this?” The question was addressed to Wilson, but, t. & \ <a ae oN i. } if » aie I rk i") “* Aa) i 7 ; » 4 * re : , oo. are ™s f 4 2 = 37) La ped ? i “ ‘ ; - pds ify “ a J ‘ $a we ‘ ~< , C Ps. 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