Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 769 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ly well located, then the suite is made into two smaller ones, In the other room, then, at the time these things were taking place, with his ear pressed into service, was no other personage than Broad- way Billy. | With him, too, was Bronson Pender, now with a false beard on, in order to escape recog- nition in case he should meet his enemy in the hotel. Billy had taken the precaution. When the rascal left the other room, Billy and Pender sprung up and clasped hands ina hearty shake. Both were smiling, and were delighted at the success Of a plan Billy bad happened to think of after their leaving Headquarters, ‘* What do you think of it now?” Billy asked, in low voice, ‘They deserve prison, the whole lot of them,” was the answer, “You are right; that is to say, all but the genuine preacher, He will be useful.” ‘Yes, thatisso, But, we must be moving, or | something may turn up to balk our plans, [ | could never forgive myself if anything bap-|to marry. He has told me all about it. pened to Laura,” ‘Don’t worry about your Laura. My part- ner will have his eye out for ber, if she gets away from one place and is taken to another, But we must be up and doing; so, come along.” CHAPTER XII, SOME UNDERHAND PLOTTING, FATTY-SKINNY’S report concerning the man he had been set to watch had been correct, of course, Jake Washers—that was the fellow’s name— had gone to the home of Gil Brand, which was also his own home, and there Skinny left him, Like Billy when afcer Brand, Skiony had made sure it was the fellow’s abiding-place, and that was all he cared about for the present. He ave up the trail and returned to the home- ase, When Jake Washers entered he sought Gil Brand at once, and found him at home. ‘* Hello!” Gil exclaimed, when he saw who it was, ‘“‘what brings you home at this bour? Whatis wanted? Come for me?” ‘* Well, I wanted to see ye,” was the answer, **How would you like to go in with me and make a fortune? I think l’ve got one right where I kin lay my hands on it, and a sure thing,” ‘* Nobody but a fool would refuse ter make his fortune if chance offered,” Gil declared, immedi- ately. ** Then you'll do it?” ‘*Sartain, if it’s reasonably safe.” ** Well, it is as safe as anything you gen’ly take hold of.” ** What is it?’ 2 e Help me geta gal in my power and marry er, ‘* That is a new thing in your line, that is sure. When do ye mean ter do it?” * Right away to-night,” ‘*Can’t do it; ve got somethin’ else on hand.” ‘* What is it?” WP esol in which another gal is concern- ‘* How much is there in it?” ‘* A hundred.” “Vl give ye two hundred, if you'll help me.” ‘‘ Where would you git two hundred dollars?” ** Well, I haven’t got it now, that’s so; but it is there, sure pop, and as soon as I git holdof the gal it’s mine.” Jake had dropped into the free and easy man- ner of speech that came most natural to him, though be could use better language, as we have seen, He was not a bad looking fellow, a little older than Robert Howmark, and he believed he would able to carry the point be bad in mind; that was, he could make the girl marry him. “It won’t do,” Gil Brand objected, ‘‘ Ready one | comes before money promised, every ime, ‘Then I'll have to get somebody else to take hold with me, that’s all.” zs I guess you'll have to.” You see, Gil, 1 thought I could bring the gal here and youand your wife could hold fast to her for me till I had carried my point.” **Can’t be done. One cese of that kind on hand ata time isenough, We couldn’t do any- thing with two stolen gals in the house at once, Burke Wedger has got first chance—” “Burke Wer ger!” **That’s what I said,” el, * “wm ; ve ae ee Ue tee et eee a P<. ru Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. ‘* What gal is it he is interested in?’ Jake had sprung to his feet, now, and appear- ed greatly excited, ‘““Why, some gal he is going ter wring some money out of. But, what has come over ye all of a suddent?” ‘*1’ll bet a dollar it’s the same one!” ** Ther same gal?” és Yes,” ‘Git out! How kin it be ther same one? Who is this one you mean? What bas Burke got ter do with her?” ‘*T cell you what it is, Gil, it is the same one, and here’s a double chance for you to make a big stake. It is the same one, and I know it,” ‘* How do you know it?” ‘* Because Burke isn’t interested in but one gal just now. He brought her from Philadelphia this morning, and she is going to be forced to marry a fellow to-night, against her will—” ‘* Tt is ther same one, Jake, and that’s a fact, How did you git onto it? What interest have you init? Tell me ther bull story.” ‘*T happen to know the fellow they want os e owes me money, and has been telling me of this thing for a month or more. As soon as he gets hold of the girl’s money he is going to square up, But, I have got a game worth two of that,” ** What is it?” ** Haven't I told you already?’ ‘“ Not that I know of.” ‘Yes, Ihave, The girl is rich in her own name, and the fellow she marries is going ‘to be fixed for life. I made up my mind to knock Robert out and marry the girl myself.” ‘* Not a bad idee; but, would she have ye?” ‘“‘She’d have to, whether she wanted to or not. lll make her do it, or it will be the worse for her. And if you will cheat Burke and help me, there will be a big thing in it for you,” : You said thers was a double chance for me in it, ‘** And so there is.” ‘ How?” “Why, if I fail in my plans, then we can make Burke come down handsomely and give the gir! back to bim,” ‘It looks good enough, Jake, but you don’t want to forget as you go along that Burke Wedger is a mig ty bad sort of man ter cross.” ‘*T am not afraid of him.” ‘‘Nur me, nuther, but be’d as leev shoot a fel- ler as not,” ‘‘Wecan all play at that game. But, what do yesay? What is bis game, anyhow, that he wants you to take the girl?” ‘‘ Why, he-is goin’ ter make the other fellers come up higher ‘fore he lets’em have her.” ‘Tt isa sort of sbarp game all around, then, ain’t it?” e Yes; and the sharpest man is going to win ‘‘And there’s another thing about it, too, Jake,” ** What is that?” ‘* Why, it looks as if we have either got to pull together, or else fight bead against each other.” ‘‘That is a fact. You have either got to help me, or lose all, and I will be the one who will count the dollars all alone.” ‘*Mebby you will. I kin expose your little skeem to Burke, and so balk you all around, See?” ‘*And that won’tdo atall, Gil, if we work together we are going to win, and nothin’ can stop us, Come in with me, and I'll go halves with you,” ‘* Even if you marry the girl?’ “ec Yes,” ** 711 do it, by great guns!” ‘And if I can’t marry her, then we'll bleed Burke, and you can go shares with me in that,” ‘“T don’t know about that, That is my own case, and you hadn’t orter come in for a sbare of that.” ‘‘Then it means a fight between us on that, We had better have it all understood before we begin.” ** That’s so.” ‘‘ Ha! here is the idea, and more money in it, too!” ** What is it#” ‘** Say you’ll share and sbare alike, all around; that is, you ang me: and I'll put you onto the best thing yet, that is to say, providing my plan don’t work,” ** Well, all right, if I must. What is it?” ‘* You swear you'll keep your word?” oY Yes.” ** Well, if the marrving game don’t work, then we'll step over Burke’s head and deal with the man that is most interested, and make him -* 1z come down with a cool thousand. How does that strike you?” ‘* Ha! now youare talking. Tiatis something worth fighting for.” The two rascals sbook hands over it, and begam to lay plans, trying to leave nothing undone to insure the success of their villainous plot. Night came on, and when it was about dark Gil Brand went to keep his appointment with Burke Wedger. He found Burke waiting for bim, and im- mediately they began planning the scheme, Pievious to this, Broadway Billy, in rough attire, bad paid another visit to the house, and bad bad a few words of conversation with the prisoner, as before. “Well,” asked Gil, in low tone, *‘ how are ye going to work it?” ‘‘T have been tryin’ to think out a good plan,” answered Burke, ‘‘ but can’t seem to get hold of the right thing.” - Well, let’s bear how close ye have come to it. ‘‘The only thing I bave half-settled on is two things; that is to say, ove of ’em, whichever vou think is best,” ‘*Out with ’em, then.” ‘“ Wel), one is, to take the gal right cut by force, and take her to your bouse and bave done with it,” .. ** That’s a good one, if it wasn’t that she might make a fuss, draw tention, and so make a mess of the bull thing for us, What's t’other?”’ ‘* Well, that was, to let her bave a chance to get away, and when she is on the move bave your wife meet her and get her to go home with her— ‘*That won't do. gettin’ away.” “That’s what I thought, and I think the first is best.” ‘*And that won’t do, fer the same reason, Now, let me tell ye a plan I have in my head.. 1 bave been thinkin’ some about it, too.” ‘* Well, what is your idea?” ‘*“You, and your wife, make a bargain with the gal, offerin’ to let her escape if she will promise to pay you five bundred dollars when she gets her boodle, She will bite at that bait quick enough, Then, to impress on her mind tbat you mean biz, make her sign a paper ’fore ye will let her go. See?” ‘‘Thatis the best yet,” spoke up Burke’s wife. ‘*T b*lieve it 1s,” agreed Burke. ‘¢ Then,” continued Brand, ‘* when it has been fixed all right, so as to blind the girl and make her think it’s all a real thing, you offer to go out and get a cab for ber, telling ber the driver will take ber to a place where a good woman will care for ber till morning, when she can go back to Philadelphia.” ‘‘ First rate!” Burke cried. ‘‘ That will do it right brown, Mary Ann, you go right in and tell the girl the story, for you are just the one to do that, and if she agrees to the plan we will carry it outin a hurry. We have got to be quick about it, anyhow, for the parson is com- ing here an hour earlier than we looked for him.” Too many chances of her CHAPTER XIII, FROM FRYINGPAN TO FIRE. THE woman went into the room where the fair prisoper was, Of course the foregoing conversation had been in too low a tone for the girl to overbear, ‘* Well, how are you, pretty one?” she asked, ‘Oh, if you would only take pity on me, Mrs. Wedger!” the girl cried. ‘* Are you so determined not to marry the man your guardian wants you to marry, poor child?” the woman asked, Her softened tone surprised the girl, ‘‘Oh! if you could only know!” she cried. ‘* Won’t you please let me go, Mrs, Wedger?” The woman sat down and paused in a thought- ful way, ‘¢ We bave been talking this thing over, Burke and me,” she said, ‘‘and we have made up our minds that it is playing it rough on you. But, you see, if we let you go we lose money.” ‘No! No, you will not lose money! Only let me go, and when I get my money I will pay you double what that wretch would give you, I promise it—I swear I will do what l say. Won't you let me go?” ‘* How much would you promise to pay?” ‘* Anything you demand; anything that 1 can ay.” x Would you pay five bundred dollars?” “Yes! Yes!” ‘‘ But where will you go if we let you out?” ‘ 00 | ©