Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 767 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

A sly glance revealed that the keeper was rue- fully examining his wrist, and seeing what was wrong, the prisoner arose, saying: ‘*Putin your hand and stand close to the door. I'll fix that wrist for you.” Although suprised by the sudden awakening, and the quiet, sensible tone and demeanor of Barret, the keeper obeyed without hesitation. ‘*Your wrist isout of joint—a sudden pull will, probably, suap it back. Steady, now— so!” Andy felt a little twinge of pain as, with the last word, Barret jerked him against the grated door. Then his hand was released—and it was all right. : ‘*Are youa doctor?” he asked, after looking at his wrist. ‘No, but I’ve had plenty of experience at that sort of work, through football and boxing.” Had he tried, Barret could not have made a more interesting statement—to Andy. The big keeper was an ardent admirer of the manly art, but his knowledge of it was confined, almost altogether, to what was to be gathered from **Somebody’s Art of Self Defense,” and to newspaper accounts of meetings between gladi- ators of the fistic arena, He hadasetof gloves, but was too big and powerful, to be able to induce the other keepers ani attendants to practice with him, so, Andy was coinpelled to be content with theory—until pow, “Kin you box?” he eagerly inquired. ‘** A little,” replied Barret. ‘* Well, P'll come up after breakfast—” “at y stopped short, looking rather vexed, and asker: ‘You were awake all the time—just sham- min’? ‘*] was,” quietly admitted Barret, ‘Well, ye heard the orders, of course, and J see what the game is. ‘** You’re no more crazy than I am?” ** You look pretty level-Leaded,” returned Bar- re **'Yes, but don’t ye see what they’re up to? You're to be driven mad! ; ** Oh, it isn’t such a bard job as you may think,” he continued, as Barret shook his head doubtfully, ‘‘ Clubs, an’ cold water droppin’ for hours on yer bare-shaved skull, wil] work won- ders with the hardest head!” * But Iam mad already—at least, I shall pre- tend to be,” rejoined Barret. ** No, no; that’d be too quick. Whoever put e here, knows better than that, an’ these devils’d suspicious,” Andy paused, and, after thoughtfully regard- ing the patieut for a few moments, continued: ‘D’ye know who put ye here? Have ye any sure friends, or money, if ye got out?” ‘* Both friends and money,” replied Barret, ig-. noring the first question, and alinost regretting that he bad revealed bis plan of feigning mad- ness, The big keeper, however, meant bim no harm, and hurried away, saying: “*T must be off! Tuere’s no time to talk, now, but l’ll come up to-night. ‘* Breakfast will soou come along, Don’t stir for it—act as if ye were stupid from the drug. T'li report that ye are, and mebbe they won bother ye t’-day. ‘I'll bring ye a bite, after a while.” These words both cheered and depressed Bar- ret. That he had a friend in Andy he felt pretty certain, and that was comforting; but ‘* mebbe they won’t botber ye t’-day” brought to mind ** clubs an’ cold water,” and he shuddered at the thought. Soon the clatter of pans and clanging of doors warned the prisoner that breakfast was bein served to the violent cases, and that observant eyes soon would be upon bim. In a few minutes, two men bearing a large wooden tray covered with tin pans and cups, stopped before Barret’s door for a moment, but after one glance at the inmate, (sitting on the floor with his back to the wall, staring stupidly at the ceiling,) passed on, Coming back, he was in the sarne position, and after another momentary stop to observe him, they disappeared, CHAPTER VI, - THE FRAUD DETECTED. _APTER an hour’s absence, Andy made good his promise to return, appearing tefore Barret’s cell, carrying a small parcel, the contents of which proved to be sand wiches—chicken!, ** {fere, take these,” said the big fellow,and as the age obeyed, drew a small bottle fs»m his pocket, A at th Te oni Pied . “ape Peay yz Pe var, » 5 ‘ . aa 2 - , * Mac and Jack. the Invincibles. *“That’s good claret,” he continued, putting the bottle between the bars, ‘* You go ahead’n’ eat-—I'll watch.” ‘* Where the deuce did you get—” began the patient, but Andy stopped bim, ** You go ahead ’n’ eat—this ain’t no time for talk!” remonstrated the good-natured, if un- grammatical keeper, Barret obeyed, and while be was eating, Andy continued: ‘1 stand in with the cook, ’n’ often used to bring the poor chap, whose place and name vou’ve taken, little outside bits, so you keep up the starvation dodge, ‘* Eat a little once a day, or every other day, an’ play bein’ very weak ’n’ silly.” The prisoner nodded, and kept on industrious- ly demolishing the sandwiches, while Andy watched in silence, until the last bit and drop were gone, Then he said: ‘*T wouldn’t get nervous over it—but the head devil is comin’ t’ see ye in a little while, ’n’ unless ye kin fool him—an’ that’s a tough job—you’re t’ get a dose 0’ the shower this morning! ‘When ye get the order t’ strip, don’t make no fuss—that’s what they want, for then, they’ll have an excuse for the clubs, ‘*T hope they won’t order me t’ be there, for if there’s trouble, they’ll expect me t’ jump in— and—I—won’t ! That’s flat!” The danger he was in appeared to act as a nerve-restorer on Robert Barret, ‘‘How many, generally, are present at this devilish work?” be said. ‘The boss, Lamb, and maybe one more, ‘““]’m here only a few months, but I’ve got it from the others, They’ve got me here, just because I’m bigger ’n’ stronger than the aver- age, so I suppose I'd be the third.” ‘Well, you are bigger, and look stronger, than the average man, but, if you are the third, keep out of my reach, or down ye’ll go!” Barret smiled wickedly as he uttered this warning, causing Andy to stare at him in ad- miring surprise, ‘* Well, you have got nerve!” exclaimed the big keeper, adding: ** But, look hetet One dose o’ the shower won't kill ye, an’ it won’t drive ye crazy—” though it’s powerful weakenin’—an’ the easy way’s the best, so if they don’t try t’ rile ye, io easy, ’n’ Jet on that the effect is terrible. Play weak, ’n’ faint, ‘Hello! He’s comin’, already! So sit down, ’n’ shiver ’n’ sbakeas if ye were afraid t’ stir. I’ll swear I’ve been lickin’ ye, Don’t mind what I say!” At the moment he interrupted himself, Andy had discovered Dr. Salter stealthily approacb- ing, but, when the latter came within earsh he found that the big keeper was cursing an abusing Barret. So stealthily had the rascally doctor come, that the start with which the keeper greeted bis first words, was more than half genuine. ** W hat’s the trouble?” he asked, ‘“*Eh! Oh, I didn’t notice ye comin’, ‘¢There’s no trouble of any account, doctor, I’ve just been givin’ bim a few thumps, t’ kind o’ break him, Mr, Lamb said he was an ugly brute, but he’s tame enough, now.” octor Salter smiled, (showing his teeth in an unpleasant fashion,) and appreaching the door, looked sharply at the cowering wretch on the floor; then, turning to Andy, asked: ‘* How was be when he came to?” “Shaky first, then ugly until I stepped in.” Salter turned to Barret once more, evidently somewhat puzzled, and after another long and sea ching look, said: ‘* Be very careful in dealing with this man, Andy. He’s dangerous—treacherous—and you have begun the right way. Keep him in fear of you, and don’t hesitate about braining him, if he shows signs of fight!” {Lat “There ain’t much fight in him, now,” re- marked Andy, “No, Keep him so,” ‘Well, you’re out of it this time,” observed the big keeper, as the doctor left the corridor. So, the game was playod—Andy pretending A be abusing Barret, and the latter feigning iocy, There were eertainly some odd thumping- scenes in Barret’s cell—the big keeper making an excuse of thumping the patient to take les- sons in boxing! The gloves were kept in Barret’s cell, Andy pointing out a secret receptacle in the wall, dug by a former occupant, As may be imagined, becoming so friendly with the keeper, Barret endeavored to com- municate with the outside world, but in vain— ; -, - _ iSmJ <s. on ‘ soe rs y bs ey ite uae figs > > ° mi =% - ae 3 ’ a Y a4 “J —) Sli = aoe : me tr) a > am © : ie | P Andy would neither carry, nor send, a¥ of any kind, . ihe ** No, sir, I’m sorry, but I can’t do it,” he sam when Barret mentioned the subject. ‘* When 1 was hired, | swore never to take ; or send any kind of a message further than the office, and, right or wrong, I’ve always kept my word,” ‘* But,” be added, fiercely, ‘I didn’t swear I’d not break their skulls, and if they lay a fin- fier on ye, Mr, Barret, Pll spread them out like sheep! ‘* And, I know how t’ do it, now—thanks t” ou,” With that, and Andy’s consolatory assertion, thatsome of bis friends would look him up, Barret was compelled to be satisfied, and, so, the days and nights passed, until] Lamb, without any apparent reason, grew suspicious of the night visits, and watched one performance with the gloves from the opposite corridor. Next morning the ‘tdeputy sberiff’ appeared at ren docr, and, with a saraovic smile, said: ‘** Well, you did fool the old man, didn’t ye? But, yer uncie got onto ye last night, and yer pupil’s gone this morning! ‘*No more use for the gloves, Mister B., so we’)l take them while you’re takin’ a bath ! ‘* And the best of the joke is, your pupil will consider the oath he took when he came here, just as binding as if he was still with us! ‘* Oh, how you will get it for losing us such a good man!” Tbat was in the seventh month of Robert Bar- ret’s lunacy, CHAPTER VII. THREE MONTHS AFTER, It ig evening of the first day of spring, and a fire in the grate of the rear parlor of the old- fashioned mansion of the Barret family, made it only comfortable for the occupants—a lady and a gentleman, The lady—a young and strikingly beautiful brunette, is saying: ‘* Heed my warning, George, or you will soon regret it!” ‘* Don’t worry so, my dear girl, Everything is moving smoothly,” responds the tall, elegaut gentleman, leaning against the mantel. The carelessly soothing tone irritates the young lady. ‘Yes! And, so, everything moves smoothly, until the match is touched to the fuse! ** You are st nding over a mine, George; be- ware of the match!” ‘* But, my dear girl, what harm can she do? Ske knows nothing!” protests the gentleman, in a weary tone, that indicatesto his companion — come tired of the topic he is, and she gives it up with: ‘* Very well, but I bope you will not rue your carelessuess—she ix acting very strangely.” ‘*Thank goodness!” ejaculated the gentleman, under bis breath, while the lady continued: ‘* And, now, tell me, George, by what lucky chance did you obtain such wonderful influence over Robert Barret?’ ‘* Luck had nothing to do with it,” calmly re- turned the other, ‘‘ it was al] planned out. ‘‘To begin with, I studied the man’s charac- ter, found out bis weak points—and er ed upon them, until, from being a mere clerk, I became an indispensable companion, as well as assistant, “7 soon was thoroughly acquainted with bis rivate affairs, and with every detail of the yusiness, until 1 knew more elout bis matters _ tian he did himself—although be was very shrewd in all bis business.” The gentleman appeared to enjoy his story, and pausing, lighted a cigar (as though accus- tomed to smoke in the presence of his com- panior), after which, bo continued; “As we grew more intimate, we became somewhat convivial in our habits (that is to sr y he did, while I pretended tc), and soon, 1 iad almost fall charge of everything. ** Almost, however, Was not enough—1 must have all, so I bad to save his life!” J ‘* Had to save his life!” echoed the young lady, for the first time interrupting this strange story- «Yes, and I flatter myself that wasa stroke of genius,” replied her companion complacently, — as spe to knock the ash off his cigar. *« We bad been drinking one afternoon, an suggested a ride—to work off the effects. _ ** For a joke, (and a five-dollar bill,) the groom ave him an ugly, runaway, beast. 40 ak A ne horseman—sober—but, when I accidentally struck hia borse—I was a little behind—the beast cut % terribly, and would probably bave killed him, had I not been present. . i. an [a ~. » ; > . «4, ’ - . . 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