Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 769 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

_——- / ; - ¥ . ’ +a . ian aaa PS Ly Mei ‘© But, mom told me to stay bere, and said she would send for me when Skinny come bome,” ‘* Never mind what your mom told you now,” urged Billy. ‘* Close. up and lock up and come along. If there is anything to scold about Ill take the scolding. Get at it, now.” Jerry was glad enongh to do it, and since Billy was one of the bosses of the business he did not hesitate any longer about obeying. With Billy’s belp the stand was speedily closed, and taking Jerry by the hand they set out for Billy’s home. It was not a great distance away, and as they neared the place Billy saw and realized how truly poor and miserable his home was, He would better things in a short time, in this re- spect, he secretly declared. As they drew near the house Billy saw a cab tury into the street a little distance above, and recognized the one in which he had left Skinny and the old ranger. He had told his little companion where Skinny was, and now he exclaimed: ‘‘ Here he comes, now, Jerry, Hurry up, and we'll meet bim at the door. But, don’t make too much fuss till we get in the house, or folks will think,you are crazy,” They reached the door about the same time that the cab drew up, and the driver greeted Billy with an exclamaticn. ‘*Here you are, hey?” ke cried. ‘* Well, we holed ’em, and if they ain’t a p’izen lot, you can use me for a foot-wipe.” ‘** Tl know they are,” declared Billy. ‘‘ Where did you hole them?” ‘* Why, at a miserable den of a house, No. — —— street. That poor girl is a prisoner, and only that I knowed you was on the track of ’em, l’d ’a’ told the police.” ‘*T’m glad you didn’t do that. I and Skinny will take care of them, just as soon as we can mow, Don’t saya word aboutit. By the way, what do you think of Skinny now?” Skinny and tbe old ranger had got out, and the driver took a survey of Skinny, a broad grin ou his face, ‘* Tt ain’t possible!” he cried, Billy could bardly believe it was, either. Now that he saw Skinny hereon familiar ground, and the picture of what he bad been came to mind, it did not seem possible that this could be he, ‘* Tt don’t seem possible, and that’s a fact,” be admitted, ‘‘but it is, all the same. Skinny, don’t be too big to notice old friends. You know Patsey, don’t you? Give bim your little hand, now, like a man,” ) Whether it was Skinny or not, this was Billy, sure enough, and after a bearty laugh anda shaking of hands, the jolly driver drove off and left them, Skinny was now making himself known to his g»piog brother, who could not believe it possi- ble that this monster could be the Skinny he had known only two sh ort years ago, . Now,” Fatty-Skinuy soon exclaimed, “ let’s go up, ‘**ifold on just one minute,” requested Billy. *“*This is my castle, and not yours, you know, frail youth. I have a request to make of you,” “Well, what is it? Don’t fool any now, but hurry up.” ** All right; Pll rattle it out of me just as fast as ever I can. You see, it is some time since you have seen your nother, Skinny, and it will be too much of a shock for ber to gee you all at once, asit were. It will be too big a surprise, sotosay. I want to go abead and announce it to her, so she will be a little prepared for the great change in you.” ** Do you mean that, Billy, bonest?” “Of course I do. Do you suppose I would stand here and chin to you if Ididm’t? Wouldn't I prance up the stairs like a frisky colt and hug my mother ’most to death, and never a thought about you, if I didn’t love you? Come, what do you say to it?” “ Well, if you think it’s best, why—” “Of course it’s best! Besides, I haven't got my life insured, and if we all go in together, and I say you are Skinny, your mother would light on me and brain me with anything sbe might Jay ber hands on, I don’t want to takeany risk, This is a serious thing, Skinny, and you must spare your mother all the shock youcan, It will be great enough, goodness knows,” ‘** Well, go abead, then,” “ There, that’s sensible. You keep Jerry here with you, and follow on up in about two min- utes, or less, [ll open the door when I want you to step in.” * All rigbt,” _ “Don't forget, Now, Roger, you and me for it. I will lead the way and you follow right on behind and I'll introduce you to my mother.” gu : ‘ of + ae is fr Pies ~. ¢ amagt le ‘ ss nee N. Broadway Billy, the Retriev It was evident that the women were not aware of their arrival, or they would have been out and down ere this, and Billy led the way up the stairs with light step, CHAPTER V, THE WELCOMING AND THE SURPRISES. WHEN the door was reached, Bill7 touched the ranger’s arm to enjoin silence, and fora moment he listened, It was his mother’s voice he heard first, and it gave him athrill such as he had not felt in many a day. It was a thrill of joy, and he realized what it was to have so good and dear a mother. ‘Oh! 1 know he will come home all right, Mrs, Callahan,” she was saying, ‘‘ My Billy bas always been a good boy, he never told a lie, and he never touched a drop of drink; indeed, he does not even smoke, I wish all the boys in this city were like my Billy.” ‘Sure, it was a good b’y he was,’*responded the voice of Mrs. Callahan, ‘‘and Oi do belave he was dhe making av my Jimmie, so Oido, It was only a thougbt Oi spoke out, Mrs. Weston, dbat maybe dhey would come home spoiled and not so good as dhey went away, but God forbid dhat. Me poor Jimmie! Oi am afraid be is comin’ home to die, so t’in he is gettin’.” Billy was smiling from ear to ear as he listened to this innocent talk of the two old ladies, and he now knocked at the door, Instantly all was burry and confusion within, with many an exclamution, and the next mo- ment Billy opened the door and sprung in, clasp- ing bis mother in bis arnis, ‘* Whoo!” screamed Mrs, Callahan, at sight of bim; *‘sure it is a man he .is now, so he is! And, phwere is me Jimmie, Billy? Pbwere is me Jimmie?’ And without waiting for a reply out into the hall she dashed, It was dark there as compared with the room, and sbe ran plump against the old ranger, catching bim in her arms with a whoop of joy and lifting him bodily into the room, She was a powerful woman, this Mrs, Calla- han, as strong as she was big and fat, and it was no effort for her to do this, Tue moment she got the old man into the light where she could see him, bowever, she dropped him with another whoop. This caused Mrs, Weston and Billy to unlock their embrace to see what was the matter, and Billy almost went into a fit then and there, ‘*[ beg yer pardon, ma’m,” the old ranger was saying, as, with bat off he made a bow, ‘but I guess I'm mistook fer somebody else, Billy, lad, jest interdoose me, and make me more ter home, will ye?” As soon us Billy could speak he said: ‘* Mother, aud you, Mrs, Callahan, this is our old friend Roger Watts, whom we have told you all about in our letters. It is the man who saved Skinny’s Jife when be bad the fever so bad, Mrs. Callahan.” ‘*And muy God bless ye fur dhat same, sor,” Mrs, Callahan cried, as she in her turn made a bow, ‘* But, phwere is me b’y, Billy?) Phwere is he, Oi sav? Sure, Oi took you to be him, sor, in dhe dark,” to Roger. ‘He is coming,” said Billy, then, ‘ You know, Mrs, Callaban, I bave told you in my let- ters that he is getting thinner than ever, and he is really so changed that it is bard work for bim to walk, He is coming, and will be bere as soon ashe can, You must not faint when you see him—” **Oh! me poor b’y, me poor b’y!” So the mother wailed, as she stood wringing ber hands, so eager to see her son. ‘* Sure, Mrs, Weston, it is proud ye should be to have so big and foine a man to come home to ye, and me wid me poor Jimmie comin’ home to die. Ob! it is too bad it is, so it is.” Billy bad closed the door, and now be heard Skinny without, *““T guess be is coming now,” he whispered, ‘Have a chair ready for him to sit down, mother. It is bard work for him to stand now.” ‘*Oh! me poor b’y, me poor b’y!” wailed Mrs, Callahan again, in low tone so that Skinny him- self might not bear, ‘* Do you think yeu can stand the shock, now, Mrs, Callahan?” Billy whispered. ‘* Yis, yis, let me know dhe worst,” the mother cried, ** Well, then, behold!” With tbat Billy flung open the coor and there stood Skinny in all the strength of health and all the glory of bis two hundred pounds of flesh and fat. ‘* Merciful heavens!” gasped Mrs, Weston. Mrs. Callahan, who had stood prepared to a ee cd te on. ce - De ee ot mk . - : - y - ‘ - me ire! a) : wd jeer Vv : a ne * et 4, + Hak . ‘ a ee er ae ee ts ~~ oe Fy ca | er Detective. 5 cover her face with her hands, stood and simply stared in speechless amazement. ** Don’t you know me, mother?” Skinny asked. ‘*Saints presarve me!” screamed the woman, “Is it possible itis me Jimmie! May dhe good angel furgive ye, Billy Weston, fur dhe sthory ye tould me!” With that Skinny jumped in, very much alive and quite able to stand, and caught his mother in his arms, or as much of ber as he could get hold of, while she did the same by him, Impossible to quote all that was said during the next minute or two. Finally, after a long embrace, the woman pusbed her son from her, and laying ber hand on his head took a long look at his face, Then she rubbed his chubby cheeks, laughing as she did su. Then she walked slowly around bim, taking a good long survey of him on every side. W hile this was being done, Mrs. Weston, Billy, and the old ranger, all were enjoying the beartiest kind of a laugh. ‘‘ Well, Oi would never bave belaved it, had ye tould me in your letthers,” she declared, ‘It is dbe most wonderful change Oi ever saw in me loife, soitis, Sure, Mrs, Weston, Oi have more av a b’y nor phwat you have!” ‘* You certainly have,” Mrs. Weston had to acknowledge, ‘‘That is the reason we did not tell you, Mrs. Callaban,” said Billy. ‘‘We knew you would not believe it if wedid, and so we thought we would let you see for yourself.” ‘* But it was a m’ane thing av ye, Billy Weston, to be afther tellinsme how awful t’in me poor b’y had got, and bavin’ dhe heartav me allina flurry.” To tell all that was said during the next hour, would be to leave no room for anything else, so it must be passed over hastily. The two mothers could not keep their ad- miring eyes off their sons, and while Billy and Skinny told something of where they bad been and what they had seen, they went about pre- paring a dinner, The savings of many a day had been ex- pended lavishly, to make this a feast, and, as Billy expressed it, the fatted calf bad been killed in honor of the prodigal’s return. The old ranger was made to feel at home, too, and needless to say the party was @ joyous one, Neighbors came in to welcome Billy home again, and there was a great time generally. Every vow and again Mrs, Callahan would brexk outin a fit of laughing, as she looked at her son, and Billy would havesome droll remark to make that would cause them all to roar, Skinny took it all in good part, since he could not we)! do anything else, Billy said nothing about the business he had on band untilat dinner, when be made it known. ‘* Well, mom,” he said, ‘you will have to let me off this afternoon, for 1 bave got business on hand that won’t be put off. After that is at- tended to l’ll give you a whole week just to look at me ani do nothing else,” ‘* Business on hand?’ the mother repeated, “Yes: a detective diffikilty, and one that has got to be done right away or not at all.” ‘* Now, Billy, that will not do, and I am not going to Lave it so,” Mrs, Weston declared. ‘** What on earth bave you got bold of so soon?” Billy told the whole story, and wken his mother bad heard it she was more willing for him to goahead, Still, she suggested that he tell the police, and turn the case over to them, ‘‘Nixey McGinnis!” cried Billy. “I don’t give my bones to other dogs just now, mom. No; Skinny and I have got to attend to this, just to let folks know we bave got home, and to keep our hand in, But, we'll soon wind it up, and then we are yours for a week,” Argument was useless, Vi hen the dinner was over Billy and Skinny set out from tbe house, leaving the old ranger there to entertain their mothers with tales of the wild West, This the old man was glad enough to do, for he declared New York was a trifle too big a place for him. And it goes without saying that he talked more about Billy and Skinny tban about anything else. Billy and Skinny set off in the direction of the old corner stand, which the “ lean” lieu- tenant declared ie was dying to see, and as they went sions Skinny asked; ‘“ Well, you found out who the man and wo- man was, eh, Billy?” ‘“Yes; and that is to say, I found out who they claim to be,” Billy answered. ‘ They claim to be a preacher and wife, from Wash = ington.” ‘ But you don’t believe they are, eh?” ‘* Not a bit.” ’ . ® - a’* a - , / _ ™ a a ———) ix a ba, > | aay a a . é‘ Y 4 4 YP ~ i : , va Fe \ : | , (“Sas Fv » “Fr 7 sa Pe 7 is ee SS! Ve AT! yon ll