Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 771 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

—s - we es a % — f . a ha Ms << s = > _— . — > _ at nt @.2%3 ~ & 3 <t hs ¢ “game J ¥ me UT ay ~ ay a ‘ oe ’ pala’ A } 5 . 4 a 7 it utr 4 rs eh Ne i We idee, ever suspect who you be.” ‘‘T am going to test it thorougbly.” ‘* How?” ‘By bearding the lion in his den,” ‘* You don’t mean Perce?” ‘* Have you noticed the similarity in the name, You look it ter the life, an’ nobcdy would Berthrong, and that of the keeper of the printing- office, Berlong. name. man moved in, They were crooks,” ** An’ you now think you're right?” ‘*T think this Berlong may be Percy’s brother, and I am going to improve my knowledge of bis [think tidings | associates to go into bis circle, Once, when I was with Percy, | something occurred which made m3 think he had a brother, but the man did not bear the same It was Berlong, aud in looking into the matter, | found out just what circles the other — ! Foxy Fred’s Odd Pard. CHAPTER X. A DESPERATE CHANCE, THE disguised woman bowed quietly. ‘** Good-morning,” spoke Beriong, somewhat stiffly. ‘* Will you be seated? I shall take pleasure in learning who you are,” ‘*That is easily told. By name I am Juan Costa ; by nativity, a Cuban. I bring a card to ou. mo So [baveseen, Is it yours by right?” ‘By gift, ouly. My health,” and the alleged Cuban smiled, ‘* requiring me to leave the land of my birth, I wished to meet those here whose ideas would match mine. A friend gave me the card, I came with it, his blessing, and a miser- ly sum of money.” ‘* Who was he?” ‘* His name was John Ambrose, once of New may be had of Percy, and of Clarice Wal-j; York.” brid ze,” » * You'll run a p’izon big resk.” “Think of my motives—to save Clarice; to | enough to bave a list of members, or not. . | save my own Jife, perbaps, for lam sure Perey Berthrong will strike at me again.” Here the ** Cuban” took a risk. He did not | know whether the ‘‘ Society” was systematic If one was kept, the fact might expose his false claims, Berlong, however, gave no sign of fresh Foxy Fred was not yet satisfied, and a long | suspicion. conference ensued, but Mrs, Stannard was firm, aud he bad to yield. Dangerousas it was, it was arranged that she should go at once to the crooks’ quarters, and that Fred should hover near the place, after going there by another route, ready to watch for signals and belp her if needed, They had breakfast, and Mrs, Stannard then left the house. She had added a tall hat, a cane and kid gloves to her attire, and looked like a genuine Cuban sport. This character she tried to strengtben by assuming an appropriate air, and, Fred had declared, with great success, Sbe did not allow her jaunty manner to lessen as she approached the place of danger. The place bad its pecularities. It was under the control of a ‘‘ society ” of crooks. Looking at it in front the chance observer would see two buildings. One was a wide concern with a mat- ¢er-of-fact, honest business carried on upon the ground floor, and offices above; the other was a di welling-house, Noone not in the secret would suspect that there was any connection between the two, but, if the woman detective was not misinformed, such a counection did exist, She boldly rung the bell, and, when a ser- vant appeared, airily inquired: ‘* Lady of the house in?” ** She be, that.” ** Give her this, please,” A card was handed over. It bore a somewhat unique and mysterious inscription: ** Lock HEART, New York. **B. B. B. Soc., W. Div.” The servant gazed at it for a moment, and then phlegmatically bade the applicant enter the parlor, This done, she disappeared with the card, When she returned Mrs, Stannard was not surprised that a man, instead of a woman, accompanied her, He was a commonplace-looking man. There was no trace of suspicion in his manner as he intently gazed at her, ** This is your card,” he remarked. *tT¢ is,” ‘The inscription is strange,” ** Not to those in the secret,” ‘For what?’ ‘* Booty, Blood and Beauty, the three Bs.” The man smiled. ‘‘The Western Division of the Society wel- comes you, Come up-stairs, and you shall talk with one higher in authority than [,” Mrs, Stannard breathed a sigh of relief that her first effort had succeeded so well, In the old days she had gathered a little of the forms and secrets of the particular fraternity of crooks to which Berthrong had belonged, The card was a part of their secrets. Anv one holding a copy was thus introduced, and if he could give the password, as she had just given it, he would be received as a friend if he fur- ther proved satisfactory. Thus far all bad gone well, but it was only a inning. Pie woman detective followed her guide up the stairs. On the next floor he threw open a door, bidding her enter, and she obeyed, ber glossy hat and stylish cane held in a jaunty manner, — There, a man rose to receive ber, and she stood face to face with Berlong, the crook printer. She saw at once that he would be more Critical than the other man, for he fixed a keen and searching gaze upon her. * af ~~ : ’ : : . “tp © . 4 " , AL Are dU Tis w * ; ~ a’ + - « es te ._' Pb oe: " 5 i 28 96 ¢ i Mage ‘i. J ‘« . ¥ 1 , 7: ' aj —— Oe ea eee $$ testes ‘* What do you, wish to do in New York?” he asked. ** Live!” ‘* How?” ‘* By my wits!” ‘** How did you live in Cuba” ‘*In the same way.” Juan Costa crossed his legs, assuming an airy manner, and lightly added: ‘*T wish to be frank. Ill confess that I was born tired. Work and I never seemed drawn toward each other. The only attraction money and I had for each other was when the precious stuff stuck to my fingers. 1 early decided that I would let other men work and go down to their graves bonored and happy, while I would live on them, vulture-like, and probably wind up my career with the bangman’s noose around my neck, I carried out my views in Cuba until I was forced to skip. I am pow in New York. My money will last a fewdays, After that I must get more, Perhaps it will be by hignway robbery, but I hope to find friends who will show me a neater way.” As this explanatiou advanced, Berlong’s brow gradually cleared, The visitor assumed the air of a reckless ad- venturer so well that the listener could not fail to be favorably impressed. *You have come with the card of the soci- ety,” be remarked, ‘‘and that is supposed to be a satisfactory recommendation, Tell me more of yourself,” ; Juan Costa obeyed. The lesson had been thoroughly learned, aud the alleged bistory of his life was rolled cff glibly. His manner was never that of a braggart; it was simply good- natured, airy and reckless. Before he was through, Berlong had Jaughed more than once, and the battle was won. The latter would not be foolish enough to be- tray dangerous secrets, but he had nodoubt that Costa was to be trusted, and would prove a faithful belper in any crooked work they might lay out. He therefore welcomed the new-comer cor- dially, and showed him the quarters of the soci- ety. The house they were in was a boarding- place for crooks who made up the organization, and, in addition, they bad a large room at the rear*of the adjoining building. A secret door led tothe latter place, and furnished a way of retreat in time of necessity. When Costa had seen everything which the host cared to show, be invited the entertainer out to walk. Berlong shook his head, ‘*’'m in retirement now.” ) ** For your healt?” laughed the Cuban, ‘Yes, A very unlucky thing occurred last night. I hed a place where I did a matter-of- fact business, but made good pay by taking in work which could not be trusted to Tom, Dick and Harry. A bad affair has ended my busi- ness, and force me to keep under cover,” ** Detectives, I suppose.” ‘* A woman!” Berlong scowled and forcibly added: ‘A crook has no business to look at women, or think of them. If he does, he is sure to get into trouble, It’s always so,” ‘*] know, but we can’t be of ice.” **Some men can’t,” This surly rejoinder led the Cuban to believe the speaker was thinking of Percy Berthrong, but no more was added. ** You’ve got a jolly place here,” remarked Juan, anon. ‘If kidnapping can be carried on in New York, this would be a prime place to hold folks prisoners.” | oe en ‘* Kidnapping be hanged! I don’t like it.” ‘Suppose I wanted some one shut up here, would you allow it?” - ‘* Decidedly not! I have fought the--idea at alltimes. The boys have their games going on, but they can bring nobody here, man or woman,” Berlong spoke freely, and the Cuban was satis- fied on one point: Clarice Walbridge was not there. He longed to continue the questioning, but saw no possible way of doing it without in- evitably arousing the suspicions of his compan- ion. The only way was to gain his confidence, and this be set out to do, Talking freely, be made himself as agreeable as possible, and seemed toscore a success, but Berlong did not touch on the subject of interest. Juan finally decided to leave, and was about to mention the matter When footsteps in the hall were followed by the opening of the door, The Cuban looked up and saw a man enter. It was Percy Berthrong! A From the first the crook’s wife had foreseen the possibility of meeting her former busbaud, and had schooled herself to doit calmly, but even her courage was not sufficient then. She felt the blood recede from ber browned face, and an icy chill seemed to assail her heart. What if she was recognized. Nothing but her death would satisfy the man who hated her so bitterly. The ex-sport was looking out of trim and out of temper; indeed, his face was scowling and ugly, and he looked at the other persons like an ill-tempered bulldog. ‘‘ Mr. Brown, this is Senor Costa,” remarked Berlong. ‘*How are you?” With this surly recognition of the introduc- tion Percy passed the others, went to a writing- desk in the corner, seized upon pen and paper as if they had done him some personal injury, and began to write. Berlong took this manifestation as a matter of course, and began to speak to Juan again, but the latter found it a vast task torecover due nerve and coolness, Berthrong’s wife bad prac- ticed speaking ina disguised voice, but dared she trust herself in his presence? Would he not recognize her tones at once? She clearly saw she had overestimated her strength, but this very fact caused all her energy to remonstrate against her weakness. Making a supreme effort she managed to command ber voice, She answered, and watched the effect upon Percy. He wrote without raising his head, Berlong spoke on, and the ‘‘ Cuban” took due part, anxious to get away, yet dreading the effects of too much baste, and anxious to see if his companions would not let drop some clew to Clarice Walbridge. . Berlong finally chanced to mention the word ‘ woman” casually, and at itssound Percy finish- ed his writing with a vicious sweep of the pen and turned toward his companions sharply. It was clear that he had something to say, CHAPTER XI. IN STRANGE COMPANY. ‘““ WoMEN!” cried the convict, bitterly. ** Why do you forever prate of them? Why don’t you expunge the word from your vocabulary ?” ‘*It strikes me you bave more cause to do that than I,” dryly returned Berlong. ‘‘T know them better,” retorted Berthrong. ‘Who knows them better? I’ve married one, and tried to marry another. The latter would have made me rich had 1t not been for the for- mer, but she had to stepin and ruin all. I ex- pect to hang for her!” Again the chill settled over the Cuban’s heart, but Berlong impatiently returned: . * Nonsense!” ‘‘ Nonsense, is it?’ the convict replicd. ‘‘ We shall see. Everybody knows that when a man starts out inycrooked work he practically makes a bid to be handled _ by the bangman, as a wind- up to his career, While bovest men go their even way, the crook marches on step by step in crime; he never knows when he lies down at night how soon a cell dour may close upon bim; be never knows when a detective’s hand will fall on his shoulder, If he keeps bis liberty he goes the whole race of crime. First step, fast young man; second, petty thief: third, general swindler; fourth, robbery with violence; fifth, murder and the gallows. That crooks ere there is because they die a trifle too soon ‘** What has that to do with women?” ** With me, much!” Berlong was silent, and Percy added: ‘‘ All the set-backs I have had bave come i le ~ ’ cars ‘4 Oe ae . al » “ * * - 2 al Ss “< <2 atte deed wars . ¥ ‘7 . ; : QO ! _ am ) o- ‘ ( ( | | ) | | i oe @ t | | tat a . .* “tes com : ' i+ ; Ps o* & => P * ’ ad i”- “si . , °\ foe : ‘ » : J ss é . e . Oat’ aig . - J ? : , . “ Ao &. « -