Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 771 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ir? a5 cul 4 : : ‘* ror 7 an ’ | ¥ Ti a) a i+ at e inl f j ® "* 4t wn Ps Jorg ‘ Re BS SS iyi di alee es APs an) ave ; , . 7 bi » 8 ee re re — a ~- “ CS "7 ; Foxy Fred’s Odd Pard. through womeoa, and I expect to hang for a wo- | his eyes and ears? If she was recognized she , some one I’ve seen before, though I fail to place man!” There was no mistaking what he meant. face told the story, and Mrs. Stannard knew that, as far as be could control] her future, she was doomed. His anger because sbe frustrated his plans had gone on until it had become a mania, and it was she who was menaced. Surely, there was good reason why she should sit silent and dismayed. Berthrong had freed his mind, and he, too, remained silent. He gnawed at bis mustache and stared almost wildly at vacancy. ‘You ought to put this out of your mind,” advised Berlong. ‘* No good can come of it,” ‘*T am studying how to work it,” the convict explained, ‘'I think the way to locate her is to shadow the boy, Foxy Fred, Patience will en- able us to dog him straight to where she lives; then I will find some way to get ather, I never shall prosper until—” He made a significant motion, and then ross, went to the mantel and lighted a cigar, ** Young man,” he added, addressing the Cu- ban, *‘ take warning from me, You are young, and bave yet to grow the first down on your upper lip, Let wisdom steal a march on your mustache, Keep your mind from women, or you may get a wife who will do you up,” ‘*You see,” explained Berlong, ‘‘our friend had a wife who handed him over to the police, and that, too, when he had always been very indulgent and kind to her,” Mrs. Stannard remembered how Percy had first neglected and then abused her; bow he had deliberately flaunted crime and his criminal associates before her, to shock her; how he had tried to cast her off and marry another woman; and how he had more than once beaten her, And now all the blame was laid to ber! Berthrong evinced a strong inclination to get interested in the supposed Cuban, and was about to press the acquaintance, as the latter saw with alarm, She did not feel able to endure it, Luckily, the danger was for the time averted, Other men entered the room, and the fore- most spoke hurriedly: ‘‘] think, Brown, you had better go to The Nest?” ‘* Why?” Berthbrong asked, ** Men are sulking around there, and they don’t look at all like the police, We think they must be of the gang who were in the stable, last nigbt.” ‘* Ah! then they are after—” ‘i Yes,” The messenger finished the ex-sport’s sentence, after the latter paused. The Cuban would have given much if Percy had said all, They were after—whom? Was it Clarice Walbridge? Berthrong meditated. He did not seem to be greatly discomposed by the tidings, but did re- cognize the gravity of the situation. He walked across the room several times with his head lowered, while every one watched him, and no- body more anxiously than the spy. Would he betray what she so much wanted to know? ‘*T suppose I may as well go over and see about this,” he finally remarked. ‘‘I run the risk of being pulled in, every time I step outside, but I fancy my race is not yet run, It’s a feel- ing of triumph to walk right among the police and not have them recognizs me.” The Cuban did not wonder that, kaving es- caped the view of those who actually knew him, Bertbrong had not been suspected. His hair, which had been cut:close when he was a “‘ sport,” and worn long and straight as Brown, the printer, was now rumpled up in a disorderly way; he had a heavy, drooping mustache which locked very real, and a few artistic lines in his face had made him appear ten years older and twenty pounds lighter. He suddenly turned to the visitor. ** Costa, do you want to go with me?” The Cuban’s beart began to beat fast, ‘*T shall be pleased to,” was the answer, made with difficulty. ’ ‘*Come on, then,” Whither? This was the question in the Cuban’s mind, Had he been recognized? But no; long acquaintance with the man and his ways made the Cuban feel safe on that point. The only danger was that the discovery would come later, It was clear that Perce had taken a fancy to Mr. Costa, and really wanted his company. Ordinarily he was cbhary of confiding in a stranger, but he trusted in Berlong’s judgment, that man being noted for care and prudence in such matters, The ex-sport made ready for the street, and the ex-wife felt the greatest trialof her life was coming. Could she continue to deceive both His | | could expect no more than speedy attack, for his fury would break loose from all restraint, Sbe would have declined to go with him, | even at the last moment, had it not been for | fresh effort to get away, but at that moment an- her strangely firm resolution to aid Clarice Wal- bridge, They left the house, Then, for the first time, Percy had a chance to see his companion’s | | the resemblance now.” ** ve been told that all Cubans look alike.” Wit this comment Juan was about to make a other person appeared on the scene, He had come up unnoticed; a rough, slovenly, dissi- pated-looking fellow; and he pulled at Ber- throng’s sleeve before he gained attention. He face in strong light, but he did not improve ! gave Juan fresh cause for uneasiness, for he had the chance, His spirits had gone up with a rush, and he talked airily without reference to any serious subject. Presently, however, they met a patrolman, He looked narrowly at the supposed Cuban, and at him only, but Berthrong fancied the scrutiny was for bimself, This made bim cau- tious, and he thereafter used his eyes with un- ceasing vigilance. Suddenly he touched his companion’s arm. ** Don’t look around,” he cautioned; ** but we are followed,” ‘** Followed?” ‘‘Yes, A peculiar-looking man has been dog- ging us for three blocks, and how much longer I don’t know, Probably he is a detective, though, if so, he must be disguised. Somebody is after us, sure,” The ex-sport did not seem much troubled, but it was a peculiar feeling for the Cuban. Of course, a8 an associate of Berthrong’s, Juan would come in fora share of suspicion, It was not pleasant to be dogged. CHAPTER XII, A MYSTERIOUS SHADOWER, THE convict did not recover from his feeling of uneasiness, and presently added; ‘*Let’s us stop and light a couple of cigars, and while about it we will pretend to have trouble to find matches, Gradually we will face toward the pursuer, and not only have more chance to get onto his appearance, but we'll see how he will take our stop,” This plan was carried out. The Cuban pleaded a headache as an excuse for declining to smoke, but, further than that be entered into the scheme satisfactorily, While both pretended to hunt for matches, they secretly watched the ursuer, The latter did not come up to them, Instead, he no sooner saw them pause than he did the same, pretending to be deeply interested in a window and its exhibited goods. He was peculiar looking. He was tall and slender, and of ministerial cast in certain ways, He was dressed all in black, and his coat but- toned so closely, and so directly under his chin that, at a slight distance, no collar was visible, He had, however, a thin, but very long mus- tache, of deep black, which curved outward and downward over his mouth until it almost touch- ed the point of his ehin. There was something almost weird about him, and Berthrong arrived at a conclusion: ** Disguised, sure!” ** He looks like it,” “Sure! He’sapolicespy. Ten years ago he was probably a patrolman, intent only on flirt- ing with servant girls, and making saloons pay him for pot observing that they were open at illegal hours. He rose to be a detective, and that’s why he’s dogging us.” With this sammary of the supposed history of the unknown, Percy lighted his cigar and they moved on, ’ ‘The Man in Black follows,’ he added, *“Do you apprehend arrest?” Juan asked. ‘*T don’t know, but this much is certain: I can’t go where I intended. That trip is off. We will take a walk, and then go back. Sup- Pye we ride to Central Park, and stroll around a bit?’ This was just what the Cuban did not want to do, It was a constant horror to bein the ex- sport’s company, and as there seemed to be no hope of seeing Clarice Walbridge on that occa- sion, the sooner such dangerous company was deserted the better, Juan, therefore, pleaded lack of time, and Berthrong did not insist, They prepared to separate, avd this state of affairs brought them for the first time facing each other in good light. The ex-sport was saying something, but he stopped short and stared blankly at his com- panion, The Cuban’s nerve rose with the occasion, Producing a cigarette he drawled: ‘‘Give us a light, please. 1 won’t search for any dayvilish matches,” Percy started, extended his lighted cigar mechanically, and then suddenly aroused. “Shoot me if you don’t look in the eyes like TL a been a neigbbor wben the ex-sport and his wife were together, and was a peculiarly shrewd per- son in many ways. Another danger must be faced, ‘* What is it, Con?” Percy asked. ‘* 1’'m after wantin’a word wid you in private, sor,” ‘Speak right out; it’s ail right, Con,” ‘* It’s about your wife.” ‘¢ Well, what of her?” ‘Sure, ’ve found out she has left Harding Otis’s, sor, an’ gone back to that whelp ave a boy, Foxy Fred. Ido be thinkin’ you would do well ter be on the lookout. There’s no knowin’ what disguise she might take this time, she worked it so n’ately before,” ‘‘She’s as cunning as the Evil One, but Pll beat her—unless she gets in the first blow.” ‘Your trouble is that you won’t know her whin you see her,” cautioned Con. ‘* Now, she niver could fool me; let me set me two eyes on her, an’ 1 would know ber in spite ave all the disguises she put on. You’re a good man, sor, an’ if you'll let me act as your body-guard, Ill agree to take care ave you. I'll look sbarp at ivery man who is near you, and I defy her to get in range ave me eyes an’ k’ape her saycret; ldo, that, I’d know her first off, begorra!” The Cuban had turned bis back and was look- ing at the goods in a show window. Con could not see his face; he dared not let him see it, ‘*!'m very much obliged, Con,” replied Ber- throng, ‘‘ but it never would do. ou and I were once neighbors, as many of my enemies know, and it would be a dead give-away if you were seen near me,” ‘* But I’d k’ape well back.” ‘*T know, but it would be a constant danger, all the same, One man can’t follow another without the fact being noticed by those interested in the person followed,” The ex-sport looked back uneasily at the Man in Black, who was still keeping up bis show of looking in the window, but Con, greatly disap- pointed, stood in silent irresolution, Then he looked at the Cuban, meditated, and made a de- cision, Stepping forward he brought bis big hand down heavily on Juan’s shoulder, with a hearty slap. It the world had gone to pieces with a crash it would not have been much more startling to the Cuban, His heart seemed to collapse, and he in- stinctively turned to face the danger, ‘*Say, young feller!” exclaimed Con, ‘‘ take keer ave the boss, will you’s?” If Con had been in the mood of ordinary dis- cernment the dismay and alarm on the Cuban’s face must have attracted bis attention, but he was so wrapped up in bis own ideas that he could see nothing, and understana nothing. ‘*You’s a friend of his,” the speaker added, ‘‘and if wedon’t stand by our friends, wko will?” The Cuban experienced another revulsion of feeling, When the heavy hand descended on his shoulder he bud felt sure he was recognized; now, it wasclear that Con was still unsuspicious, lt required a great effort to get control of voice, expression aud composure, but be managed to reply calmly: ‘Pll do what I can, sir, but, begad! I’m thinking | may need somebody’s care, myself,” An expressive shrug of the shoulders seemed to convey a good deal, and Con smiled broadly. ‘‘- You furriners is a queer lot,” be remarked, ‘*but your hearts are in the right place, Boss,” to Berthrong, ‘‘ you think me company on the streets moight not be healthy to you, so 1’m off, K’ape your eye open. I'll see you ag’in,” He went, much to the Cuban’s relief, and never suspecting that his boast of being able to recognize the ex-sport’s wife in any disguise had already been put to the test anc demulished. Bertbrong scarcely heeded his departure. ‘‘ The Man in Black troubles me,” he observed, seriously. ‘* Do you really think he is dogging you?” 66 Yes,” The Cuban looked in thoughtful sitence. He had no means of knowing who the shadower was, but he rather hoped that the man would keep'bis hands off, It was not time to arrest the ex-sport—Clarice Walbridge was not found, ** Let us move on,” Percy suggested, “I want