Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 769 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— oe > 10 _—-—--— ‘Nonsense, Iam going to put this case of Mr Pender’s into your bands, where it nowis, and let you work it out in your own way. When you have wound it up I want you to come and see me,” ‘** But,” said Billy, ‘‘I came here toask help, sir. I don’t—” ‘*Here is all the help you need, and I guess this is what you would /ike to ask for, anybow, Take it, and call on any of my men at any time. If San Francisco can honor you with a badge l guess New York can do tbe same.” To say that Broadway Billy was proud and happy would but tamely express in words his actual feelings. “Thank you, sir,” he said, ‘‘Tll do as you say, and [ll try and take care nut to disgrace the badge,” ‘*T know you well enough for that. Now, Mr. Pender, you confide everything to Mr. Weston here, and trust him, and everything will come out all right. I had no hope of being able to help you much, when you told me our story, for once let such rascals get lost in New York and it takes time to find them. You see what Weston bas done already, and | guess you can have confidence in him.” With that the inspector dismissed them, turn- ing at once to his papers, and there was vothinug for them to do but withdraw. Billy led the way out, and together they left the building. ‘* How soon will you get the young Jady out of their hated power?’ Pender asked as they walk- edaway. “*T could do it right away, I suppose,” Billy answered, **Then why not doit, and let every other con- sideration slip?” ‘* You heard the reasons I gave the inspector,” ** Yes; and, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t have much confidence in you, only for the name he has got, and the way he seemed to think so well of you.” ‘* Well, if you can havea little confidence, so much tbe better. You won’t be so likely to spoil my fue. But, I want to know more about this business, Will you tell me all about it?” ** What is it you want to know?” ** Well, what is the rascally game this sleek Green is playing?” “Why, this Robert Howmark is a nephew of his, you see, aud he bas selected bim as a husband for Miss Wardley. He, Green, is her guardian, you see, and means to get ber fortune away from her if he can, or some of it, anyhow, He is giv- ing Howmark this chance, on condition that Howmark is to pay him ten thousand dollars when be gets bis hands on the money.” ** The old rascal!” ‘You may well say so. He tried me on that bait at first, after | and the lady were secretly engaged, and before I knew anything about her expectations, and he got his answer in few words, After tbat he forbade me the house, and sent Laura away. It was some time before I learnod where she was, but at last I found out, and tried to help her, but that brute of a Burke Wedger was always around to balk me. I bad my eye on them, however, and a secret spy after them, and no sooner had they taken train for New York than I was informed, and I came here in a hurry. But, I was too late, for they had got into the city, and were, as the inspector said, lost.” ** Well, the lost is found, now, and if there isn’t some rattling among tbe dry bones, it will be funny. I want you to go with me to-night, Mr. Pender, and you can bave the satisfaction of seeing the rascals trapped.” ‘** Nothing would suit me better, and I will tell Green what I think of him, too, although he knows that pretty well already.” ** Sweet pertaters!” **'W hat’s that? What did you say?” ‘** That’s only a way I have of going off, when an idee hits me hard, that’s all, and one hit me just then pretty solid.” The young man laughed, ‘* What is it?” he asked, ‘Wry, we'll play them a good trick, if every- thing works so wecan. How willthat suit you?” ‘* It is according to what the trick is.” Billy explained it as they went along, and Pender fell in with the plan at once, If every- thing worked favorably, there was going to bea surprise for somebody before many hours passed by. No need to explain what it was here. CHAPTER XI, NAILING SOME FACTS. THE ‘‘ Rev. B. Greene Graceaway” and bis u@-, in their rooms at the hotel, received a caller late in the afternoon. Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective, This time the personage wasa clergyman in fact, and avery well known one. He greeted Graceaway ina proper brotherly fasbion, and sat down to learn the business that was required of him, He had been sent for and requested to call at the hotel at this hour, ‘*T will tell you, sir, what it is,” said Grace- away. ‘*l am the guardian of a very self-willed young lady, who bas set my authority at defiance in more ways than one, Her latest caprice was to run away and come here to New York.” ** Indeed.” ‘*Exactly. You see, sir, she fancies she is in love witha yourg man who isin no wise her social equal, ard whom she positively must not marry, On the other band my nephew, rich and talented, is eager to marry ber, and at last I have partly got the girl’s promise to marry him,” ‘*Then you bave found her?’ ** Yes; and, like the prodigal, she has seen the error of her way, bus hada taste of the bitter side of life, and is ready toadmit that perhaps we, my wife and I, know a little more than sbe, and that we are her best friends after all.” ‘* Well, there is some hope, then, I sbould say.” ‘*Exactly. Now, the final arrangement is, to have herand my nephew meet bere in these rooms at ten to-night, and have the ceremony erformed. I desire you to be here to officiate. being ber guardian prefer to have another tie the knot for them, you see.” ‘*T see; and though the hour is rather later than I could wish, I will be on hand,” ‘That is something that cannot be helped. You see, we bave had to order some suitable clothes for the young woman, and woman’s clothes cannot be made to order in a moment.” ‘* True, true,” ‘*‘ However, your reward will be-such as to make up for the iuconvenience of the hour.” ‘*T will be bere, I promise, Brother Grace- away.” There was some other talk, and the genuine clergy man took his leave, while the sham preach- er turned to his wife, rubbing his sleek hands, and they exchanged a meaning smile. An hour later they bad another caller. This time it was a member of the legal frater- nity, or one who claimed to be. He was, in truth, a ‘‘shyster,” one who was ready for any sort of work that came to hand, particularly such cases as his more respectable brethren declined, ** Gracea way ?” be inquired. ‘*The same,” was the response. Fudgley?”’ ‘* At your service, sir. Whatis the nature of the business I understand you want done?” ‘* Sit down and Jet me explain in full.” The shyster sat and the sleek rascal began to unfold his tale, ‘*| know thekind of man you are, Mr, Fudg- ley,” be began, ‘‘and let me tell you rigbt at the start that this little business is going to put two hundred dollars into your pocket, if you serve me well,” “Ab!” the shyster exclaimed, rubbing bis hands around and around vigorously, as though to clean them of everything else for the time being. ‘* You may count on me, sir.” ‘‘T know it, sir. 1 know toe man I am deal- a” witb,” udgley washed his hands some more, ‘* You flatter me, sir,” he declared. ‘*T don’t mean to, though; I mean to hire you for a certain bit of work, paying you well for it. I will give you the price I said; a sum that many a poor devil has to toil a month for. ‘* Longer than that, sir.” ** We are talking of men with any claim to a profession. Professions are supposed to yield more than trades. But, this is not to the point. Give me your close attention, now.” “rou have it, sir. Not a point shall escape me. ‘* Well, to begin with, Iam the guardian of a young lady. Nothing strange about that, in itself, but this particular young lady is worth a cool quarter of a million in her own right.” sé Ha!” ** That is the point.” ‘*{ should think so, if there is any point to it at all.” ‘*Now, Lam going to be plain with you, and let you right into the whole thing, so that you can see just what is required of you.” ** That is right.” ‘*‘This young woman has her mind made up to marry acertain young man, whois as poor as a mouse, and who is only after her money. You see?” ‘¢ ‘You are aS EAS SE **T see,” ‘*On the other hand, I have a nephew who is going mad about her, and yet he is not aware that she is worth a dollar. Do you see?” 1 eee," ‘** Now, for the reason that [ will tell you pri- vately, lam more in favor of my nephew for ber husband than I am a stranger.” ‘*T think I see that, too,” “Well, think wbat you please about it, that is the fact, What is the use of allowing this money to go out of the family?” ‘* Sueer madness to do so,” ‘| think so. My nephew will come in for the bulk of it, and he will see that 1 donot want, for pany the golden opportunity in his way.”” at F” My ‘* Now, here is the thing boiled right down, I want you to draw up a legal paper for this lady to sign as soon as she becomes the wife of my nephew, in which she does willingly and freely, and so forth, transfer everything to her husband, Can you do that?” ‘*To be sure | can,” ‘That is the idea, then. She is to be married here to-night, in these rooms, and you are to be on band. As soon as the knot has been tied you will bave the paper ready for her name, and I will see that she signs it, willingly, Thenit will be properly witnessed, and the deed is done.” ‘* How does she hold this property, sir?” ‘* It is money, sir; hard cash. It is to be hers when she comes of legal age, which will be three years hence, Or, it is to be hers when she mar- ries, no matter what ber age may be.” ‘Then it is all plain sailing. Now, sir, the names of these persons, and I will be prepared to serve you truly and well.” ‘‘The name of my nephew is Robert How- mark, That of my ward is Laura Wardley. But, bear in mind, at the time of her sgning this document her name will be Mrs, Robert Howmark,. Don’t forget that.” ‘*Ha! that isso, 1 wil) bear that in mind. But, I will make it all right, sir; 1 will make it all right, and it will be so binding that nothing on earth can alter its force when once it has been signed.” “That is good; that is the way I want it.” ‘That is the way you shall haveit. And, the two bhundred—”’ ‘* You shall have it, all in bright new bills like these, as soon as the job is done,” He displayed a wad of fresh bills as he spoke, to whet the shyster’s appetite for the reward that had been promised. There was some further talk over the matter in band, and the shyster took his leave, washing his bands all the wey down to the street, a broad smile on bis face, When he was gone from the room the pre- tending parson turned to his wife. ‘* Tt is working well, Naucy,” be observed, ‘* Yes, if the girl can only be made to do our will,” ‘* And she shall, if we bave to half kill her, that I swear.” ‘‘ Yes, for it won’t do to fail now, after all the trouble we have gone to in the matter.” ‘¢T don’t know any such word as fail, in this business, I have another plan in mind, if she does refuse out any out.” ‘ What isthat?’ ‘‘The one I have binted at before. Getting some one else to play her part in the busi- ness,” ‘* But, would it stand in law?” ‘* Every witness would have to swear to what he sees,” ‘* True; but the identity of the persor. How would you get around that? Iam afraid there is but one way.” ** The ** parson ’ scratched bis bead. “That is the sticker,” he had to admit, ‘* Well, all the more reason why she must and shall marry Robert.” ‘* What time are we to go where she is?” ‘* We must be there not later than nine,” ‘* That will give us scant time.” ‘* Shall we make it an hour earlier, then?” ‘‘ Yes, I think you had better do that.” “T guess you are right. I will send word around at once.” No more was said, and a few moments Jater the ‘‘ parson” left the room and went out of the house, Let us take a look for a moment in an adjoin- ing room, This room was part of a suite, and between the two apartments were large folding-doors, now locked. This is no unusual thing in the larger hotels. When the full suite is wanted, there it is, but, when smaller apartments are wanted, but equal- comicbook:s oe oe eu re >; = . Pete's . v4 Vas SET PRA 2 ao? g V "> bap! « : y or, +. ce eee nn ah ~ i. oe as > es oe ‘. —_ - aa 7 RPh ed ed ~_