Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 767 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Foe =_—e - >speaker was looking at Mac, who presented @ sorry appearance, with face and bands cov- ered with dust and dirt, and bis clothing both torn and dirty, from his apparently frantic struggle. ‘OK got loose, ye see—” began Mac, but Wil- son held up bis band warningly, while he whis- pered to the leader, who, when the former ceased, said: ‘“ That’s O. K.—as far as the noise goes, but it don’t explain this,” He touched his cheek significantly, shouted: ** Nail him, boys! He’s under cover!” Instantly Mac was grasped by a dozen hands, and borne to the floor, ’ In tumbling about on the floor, he had lost one of his mutton-chop whiskers! and CHAPTER XIX, A STARTLING SHOT, Nor for an instant did Mac lose bis wits, and the first words he uttered as, bound band and foot, he struggled to a sitting position, were: « Well, this his ha bloody fine go!” ‘Come off!” growled the leader of the gang. ‘*Ye might as well drop that; it’s played out, and so’re you!” © ‘* Hi should say so,” returned Mac, ‘‘ hand so would you, bif ye wor me,” ** Keepin’ itup, eh? What about them whis- kers?” asked the leader, with a sarcastic laugh, ‘* Why, ye don’t think Hi’m such a bloomin’ ijit has t? come ‘ere t? be ba mark for yer bloody — hagents, Hi ’opes!” replied Mac, scorn- ully. “Name a man on the other side that ye know,” demanded the other after a moment’s thought. ** Piper Smith!” ‘‘ Never heard of bim! Where does he live?” ‘“ Whitechapel Road—keeps a ‘* pub,’—’is num- ber’s 1400 A,” This prompt reply seemed to stagger the skep- tical leader, and after another pause, he said: ‘‘T’m goiu’ to test your story. if it’s O, K., you won’t be sorry for havin’ got in here, but if it’s crooked, you can bet ye will! ‘Tip goin’ t? cable, What’s this Smith’s full name?” ‘¢ Peter— Peter the Piper, they calls’im, But, Hi say! W’ot sort bof ba game d’ye call this? Hi does ha little job, band Hi get tied bup, hin- stead hof gettin’ the blunt,” Wilson whispered something to the leader, fin- ishing aloud with; “It’s a fact, Billy. I saw the coin, and so did the rest,” ** Billy ” paused in the act of handing one of the gang a message for transmission to London —(to which the reply would come, within an bour, that there was no such person as Peter Smith at the address given)—and looking doubt- fully at the speaker, ordered: ‘“*Turn out his pockets!” Two minutes after Mac’s bonds were severed, and, (although showing no sign of it,) he was the most astonished man present. The clothes bought at the costumer’s were not new—that would never do—and almost the first thing taken from the detective’s ket was an a ed envelope postmarked London! bat settled it, Noone noticed that the post- mark was over & year old, and names, of course, amount to nothing among criminals, ‘* What’ll ye drink” asked Billy. ‘* Hi think babout ba pint bof ‘ bitter’ would be the proper thing,” phe ore Mac, adding: ‘Hand I say, Mister Wilson! ‘Hif you'll ’and hover the coin, ye know, Hill stand treat.” Dick squirmed under this, and looked uneasy as he answered: ‘*T haven’t enough—tbat is, I'll fix you up to- morrow,” , Mac saw io this the opportunity be was wish- ing for to leave the place, and apparently in a thundering rage, exclaimed: “ No, you won’t fix me bup t’-morrn’! Yow’)! fix me bup t’-night—thbat’s w’ot yell do, me downy cove!” “ But L baven’t got that much now,” protested Wilson. ‘‘ Wait until the banks open in thea morning, and—” : A derisive laugh from the other interrupted him, and he looked appealingly at Billy, the leader, who said: A s9 “‘Give him what you’ve got,” and turning to the pretended cockney, continued: ** Ye can’t get blood out o’ stone, Take what he’s got. l’'ll see that ye get the rest to-morrow, ** Satisfied?” Without waiting for a reply, the speaker ordered some of the others to get drinks from Mac and Jack, the Invincibles. ll the saloon, and Mac saw him slip a piece of tbe others had passed into the house, took up paper, with whispered instructions, to one of the | the position indicated—with his face toward men, | the door, ‘*lv’s the cable! Time to git!” decided Mac, | ‘There was scarcely any light in the yard, but and, as Billy turned toward them, snatched the | Mac could distinguish the form of a man stand- roll of bills which Wilson was proftering. ‘ing before the door leading into the saloon, ‘What! Not satisfied yet?” inquired the | whom he rightly surmised to be on guard, leader, | Dropping lightly to the ground, he motioned The messengers were unlocking and unbarring | Jack to do the same, and whispered: the door, there was no time for delay, and Mac | ‘When you see that fellow at the door fall, started to leave, sullenly answering: | come as if tse Old Boy was after ye!” ‘‘Gott? be, Hi s’pose, but Hi'jl take the rest | Wuthout waiting for a reply, Mac walked hout bof ’is ’ide some day.” boldly toward the saloon entrance, The guard ‘* Hold on! Where’re you goin’?” at the house had his back to the detective, and ** Goin’ bout!” the soft earth gave back no sound to Letray ‘Oh, no. We can’t let ye go that way.” his presence. Watching from under the trees, Jack saw lim walk up to the guard, and the mext Jn-!aut the latter fell, Then, the watcher lv came a runuer and so quick a one, that be was at the saloon door, when Jim turned to look for the cause of the noise, Quickly realizing what had happened, Jim gave the alarm. But, it was too late; Mac and his partner, were already lost in the crowded Bowery, having passed through the ballway adjoining the saloon, ‘lurning into the first side-street, the detec tives entered a saloon, in the back room of which all traces of the “late disturbance” were re- moved, and while this was being done, Jack kept eying kis companion. 4 As may be supposed, Mac was well aware of the scrutiny be was undergoing,and baving great command over the facial muscles, kept chang- ing the expression of bis face—intending to finish with the ‘* bod-carrier ”—but before he bad time to do so, Dick uttered a sigh of relief, and in his quiet way, remarked: ‘If you would dye thut bair, or wear a wig, you would deceive the devil!” Then, Mac knew that his identitv was fully discovered, and laughingly replied: “ Faith, it tuk ye a long time, Jack, me boy!” ** But,” he continued, bis tone and manner changing to terrible sternness, ‘‘ that hair will never be changed, Jack—never tll the man that turned it gray bas a chance to look at it, as he goes to the rope!” CHAPTER XXII. HOW JACK WAS TRAPPED, JACK had never seen his partner in this mood, nor bad he ever before referred to, or in any way touched on the latter’s prematurely gray hair, and now, before he could make any re- mark, Mac became bimself again. saying: “ And, now, we’d bettber be off an’ talk over things.” ** Hid like t’ see ’co’s goin’ for t’ stop me!” ‘* Keep that bar there!” ordered the leader, and to Mac: ‘*' You sit down, and wait for yer beer !” He was emphasizing the command by drawing a revolver, but found bimself staring into the muzzle of Mac’s ‘* bulldog.” ‘* Now you sit down!” ordered the latter. A moment later one of the ruffians—who had been paralyzed by Mac’s action—seized a bottle, but, as he was about to.,wirl it, a shot rung out and the man fell. a All turned instanvfy in the direction of the stairs, from which the shot came, and with a yell of terror, Wilson dropped on the floor. Standing at 'he foot of the stairs, the deatbly pales of bis face showing through streaks of lood, stood Quiet Jack! It was but a momentary view—another shot rung out, the lantern was smashed, aud the room was at once in darkness! CHAPTER XX, ' THE ESCAPE, Or all in the room, no vne, except Wilson, was more astonished to see Jack, than bis partner, who had supposed him to be safe out of the house, . Unlike Wilson, however, Mac had no idea that there was anything supernatural about Jack’s Appearance on the scene, ith the light-destroying second shot, Mac fell to the floor, uttering the peculiar call of the Australian ‘hunter—‘‘ Co-o-o-ey!” as be went down, Then, on his hands and knees, be crawled to- ward the door, upsetting two of the gang, and thereby adding to the general confusion, on the way. ° Guard the door! °® ‘‘ Strike a light!” But, it was too late. Even as the leader uttered the second order, Mac’s band was on the * All right, ’'m ready,” responded Austin, bar, and the next instant the door flew back. | Accordingly the partners left the saloon, and ‘After bim!” velled Billy, as a dark form ! hailing a passing cab, Jack gave him the office shot through the doorway, and the whole gang | address. dashed out in pursuit, Mac had stepped aside on throwing open the | fix up, there, better than anywhere else,” he door, hoping for just such a rush, but was per- | explained, as be jumped into the cab, plexe.i by the fugitive. |. © Brith, yer’ gettin’ bigb-toned, avick,” re- ‘* Jack couldn’t have reached the door so| marked Mac, ‘‘phot’s the matther wud the quick,” be reavoned, and in a low tone called: caars?” “Jack, Jack!” ‘“T want to think—and I don’t want to be ‘* All right!” came the reply, and the speaker | seen,’ was the quick reply. and not another struck a match as he came toward the door. word was spoken uniil the office was reached, ** Was it you gave that call?” he continued, Tbrowing himself on the Jounge, Jack said: *“Yes, but Jet’s out of bere!” and pusbing Jack ‘“‘Mac, tell me whst has happened—what abead through the doorway, Mac started for the | brought you to that den—while I take a few lower of the flanking fences. minutes’ rest, for I’ve plenty to do,” EE — — ——— , ——— — * It was too late, however, for the gang were re-| Mac complied, and, for a few minutes after he turning (having discovered that it was cowardly, | had finished his story, Jack remained silent, terror-stricken Wilson they were pursuing), and | Ther, slowly, and weighing bis words, he said: the detectives would be shot down lke rats be- fore the high fence could be scaled, Perceiving this, Mac abandoned the idea of escaping by way of the next yard, ‘* Stand here!” he said, dragging Jack under a trees, and then, as a new idea occurred to im: ‘*Up with ye, quick !” In an instant Jack was astride one of the lower limbs, with his feet drawn up, to escape notice, while Mac was in a similar position in the otier tree. The gang came along, noisily and angrily discussing the recent events, Recrimination was rife, but on Wilson fell the brunt of the blame— Billy leading iv the attack. ' ‘You cursed cur, what'd ye run for?” he de- manded, as they passed the trees, adding: ‘Now, they’re over the fences ’n’ wit’ the street, while we’ve been huatin’ you!” ‘Here, you Jim!” he continued, in a savage tone, ‘‘ stand at the door, ’n’ shoot the first man | (like an idiot,) as 1 said so. that tries pass ye!” ‘“Just then, the clock struck, and she rung The fellow addressed fell behind, and, when ' for a servant, saying that every two bours she woman, you saw here!” ‘On leaving you,” be continued, ‘ I went tothe Barret mansion, asked for Miss Eunice Barret, and was invited into the reception-room, ‘Shortly after the lady appeared, and, al- though the room was not very bright, 1 saw that ber hair was bleacked—her eyes didn’t match it. ‘** Was it so with yours?” *““ No,” replied Mac, “ Well, no matter—it’s too late, for that part of it, now. ‘* When Miss Barret entered, I introduced my- self as coming from Mr. McVeigh—keeping a sharp lookout for eavesdroppers, “* She smiled sweetly, madesome remark about hod-carrying, and asked what I wanted, to appear there, yourself, and that I had a list of questions to ask ber—producing the paper, ‘* We'll be able to discuss matters, and I can. ‘‘] don’t think either of us saw the girl, or ‘*T replied that it would be dangerous for you | a ” ‘ > _- _ Ca i a4 ‘ihe