Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 774 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Wpeeeresth XO o -@« “ f My ter oe na Per 3 by a ® ; " be fe anit mal . ; aN , em a3 a Ae Aue Vs ‘ mas lew at z Fi Toe Sg . > : - r ~ ‘ se rte, Wy eas « a fe time! Dis business hain’t settled, boss, an’ On a fergit dat!” - “What would you doif you knew Hall was laying to get you where you wouldn’t bother bin any more?” ‘¢ Bur he’s taken a skip.” “Perhaps so; perhaps not.” Moore looked startled. ** Der boys said be bad,” “They may be mistaken,” said Cal, who be lieved it was not wrong to mislead such a man as Moore if by so doing an end desired could be reached, ‘‘ Well, Ireckon dey hain’t, Dey hain’t often wrong,” ‘* All the same, Hall may have blowed on ou.” ‘* Wat could he blow?” ‘‘He says you are a common thief, You are bothering him, aud he wants you out of the wa 2 @ Well, I’d like ter know if he’s better! He’s lived off der greens w’at killed hisself,” ‘¢ Charley Thornton?” ‘* Dat’s der kid.” ‘‘ But he denies it,” “Well, he lies!” “You know this?” ** Course I does!” “You'll swear to it, even though he tries to heap it on you?” “On me?” et Yes.” ** Ts dat cove tryin’ dat?” ** A peay.” ‘* Well, he’s a skin an’aliar—see? He’s der cuss w’at led der young feller ter der devil!” ** And you?” ‘‘T only done some of der pickin’, at der bottom of it all.” “Tf you want to clear yourself, I hope you can prove this,” ‘* Prove it? Why, dat sneak can’t prove der odder way! I tole him der kid was jest der kind ter blow hisself cold some time w’en he’d gone t’rough wid a big bood’,” ‘* He always had plenty of money?” ** Not alwus, but sometimes he had dead loads. Dat was w’en be’d made a pull,” ‘© A pull?’ ‘* Yes,” ** What kind of a pull?” A sudden suspicion showed in Moore’s face, for he began to perceive he was being skillfully ** pumped,” ‘*Youse are pretty sharp,” be growled; ‘* but I’mon, A pull at der bottle, of course! W’at did yer t’ink?” An exclamation of anger would have escaped Cal Carter’s lips had be been a less nervy man, for he had considered bimself hot on the trail of a discovery, and almost at the moment of vic- tory he bad been thrown, “That is all right, Moore,” came quietly from his lips. ‘*I don’t care whether you talk of that or not. Hall bas made his charges against ou, and you can do as you please about clear- ng yourself. If your record is as clean as you pretend, it will be for your good to make a straight break, Butif tse score stands against Hall was ; _ why it is the best to cover your tracks, ut the chances are that Hall will be believed.” “Ob, come down! I hain’t swallerin’ every- ting pow! Did you tink T was a Johnnie?” ‘TI thought you sharp enough to look out for your own interest, that is all, ‘Well, w’at’s der matter anyhow? Der pidgeon is cooked. Who’s raisin’ der wind—der old gent?” ‘* Perhaps so,” “Well, [don’t blame him, Der pape’s make it out be’s in a box, but, den, reporters are big fools, See? Der old bloke never blowed dat bo .” e Perhaps not; perhaps he did.” “Well, he didn’t! Dat settles it P. D, Q.” ‘* Other people are not so certain ae you,” ‘6 Well, dey’re fools—dat’s w’at’s der matter! Der old gent t’ought too much of dat boy, Why, didu’t be fork like a prince w’en he had dem spells!” ** Spells?” ‘és Yes.” ‘*T didn’t know be was generous then,” said Cal, seeking to lead Moore on. ‘I thought it was right the other way.” ‘* An’ dat’s where you’re off. He didn’t fork wen he was O. K., but be turned out der stuff w’en he was havin’ one of dem spells. Dat is, be did till a while ago, an’ den he kinder shifted, Der greens had been hard to der wind fera whole mont’, Der last bood’ der gov’ forked didn’t pay debts, an’ he’d bin losin’ big der day be- ore, ¥ an 2 ahs * _, Os 2 * ; > ae 7 Sh . J - Clear-Grit Cal. Here, Cal felt, was an explanation that repaid him for bis trouble in coming to Tired Moore, for it revealed how Charley Thornton had obtained the money that he had squandered, Captain Scudd bad ‘‘ forked over” while having one of his ‘‘spells,” and that meant that he had fur- nished Charley with money while influenced by his wife’s wonderful power. Being in love with the young man, the woman had exercised her influence to cause her husband to provide Char- ley with all the money he desired, Cal sought to get more out of the wounded tough, but Moore suddenly became sullen and would not talk to the point at all. ‘*T’ve chinned too much now,” he said. “ You fellers may think I’m stuck on workin’ me tongue, but you're ’way off. See? I guess yer best git out. Some of der boys is comin’ round, an’ dey’d make it hot if dey found yer,” ‘‘And do you think after I faced a gang of two hundred I’d care for ‘some of der boys?” ‘“ Well,“ dey hain’t no chickens, an’ youse wouldn’t have a gang ter run like a flock of sheep an’ lug yer out. Dat was a slick trick, but it wouldn’t work in here, me friend,” ‘* Here come der boys now,” calmly observed the woman, ‘“ By der sounds, I tink dey’re all bringing dey’re jags wid ’em,” Cal and Shark thought so, too, Twenty men seemed stumbling and cursing up the stairs. Tired Moore balf-startei up. ‘** Dey bas dey’re war-paint on,” he couckled, ‘an’ I bets dey dooes you blokes up.” The sounds were really alarming,” but Cal was as cool as usual as he arose to his feet, ‘* Shark,” he said, ‘if they try to ride us, we will lick the packing out of the lot,” Moore fell back with a gasp, and stared at the nervy detective, CHAPTER XIV. HARD MEN TO DOWN, THEN a heavy foot kicked open the door and a map shambled into the dingy room, He was followed by four otbers, oue of whom was try- ing to sing a ribald song. They all halted and peered in astonishment at the detective and his assistant. ** Wat be dey?” ‘* Git onter der Johnnies!” ** Are dey livin’?” “ Wax-figgers, boys!” Then the fifth man observed: ‘““[ guess you has got some visitors, pal. Mebbe we hain’t in dis?” ‘** Yes, you is,” Moore hastened to say, ‘* Dese blokes came in widout no invite, an’ dey makes demselves ter-home like dey owned der town.” At this four of the men growled in chorus, and the fifth one laughed hoarsely, ‘* Den I guess we’s jest in time,” observed one. ** Jest about,” replied Moore, who was delight- ed at the prospect of a general row for his enter- tainment. ‘a You hain’t got no furder use fer dem?” ‘ No,” The biggest man of the crowd began to take off bis coat, 3 ‘* Where do you fellers want to be buried?” he asked, **'You needn’t concern yourself about that,” answered Cal, ‘But before you tackle us you had better make sure your accident policy is all right. It would yi be well to call an ambu- lance before the engagement comes off. That will save us the trouble of calling one for you when it is all over.” This coolness was more than the big follow had expected, and his under jaw dropped, The possessor of the hoarse laugh pulled the a and sprung it again, appearing really amuse this time. ‘** Ob, youse hain’t got no popinjays,” warned Moore, ‘ Dis mug is Carter der detective,” All five of the men involuntarily started back toward the door, $6 A fly !”? ‘* Dat’s w’at,” aftirmed Moore. ‘* Here ter pull ye?” ** 1 dunno,” ‘* Course he is!” ‘* Well, he’s only a private.” ‘* He don t pull no sick man!” ‘* Wipe him!” Cal saw they meant to do him harm now, and he knew it was to be a fight against odds, The woman sat looking on with a sort of apathetic interest, as if she did not care whether the men fought or not, which was the truth. The detective’s keen eyes bad taken in the whole room, and he saw they must fight their way out by the door through which they had entered. The five ruffians were between them and the door, ne a |) ee —e ” ~ b~ - o al ~< : - Ts . 4 - - r ~ om . ie o- “ar? oe oye « < : i Stn ae '> r “<s Od ee P 5 *. y _ 2 ae } . . Neat Sects ie T. ; . ti SE. AN si NS “*Tf you fellows are in search of blood, we will try to accommodate you,” be calmly observed. ‘* But after it is all over, it will be a case of ‘ wish I hadn’t’ on your part.” ** Dat’s bluff. e’re goin’ ter knock your eye out! See?” Sbark had remained quiet, but he was ready to act when Cal gave the sig: al. He had been brought up in the streets, and he really enjoyed a fight, but just then he felt as if the prospect was decidedly against them. ** You is goin’ ter see some fun, pal,” said the big fellow, addressing Tired Moore. ‘“ Dis is our day, av’ we’re on it. We eat dese kind of cbickers, Peel, pals.” The other tougbs began to take off their coats, Cal knew the time for action had come, If they waited till the toughs were prepared for the struggle, the odds might be too heavy to surmount, for these men were evidently fighters not to be despised. But they had been drinking freely, and, with the advantage of & sudden assault, the detectives might break through and escape down the dark stairs, Cal gave a covert signal which Shark alone understood, Then a surprising thing occurred, Like a flash, Carter snatched up the old chair and knocked the big fellow down! Then the two men hurled themselves on the toughs. The chair was used again and broke in a dezen pieces, Smack, smack, smack! sounded the fists of the two men as they were driven into the faces of the men who were hampered with their half- removed coats. With a suddenness that was simply wonderful, they cleared a way to the open door, ° ‘*Ta, ta, chumpies!” called Shark, as he fol- lowed Cal down the stairs, ; What howls of pain and fury came from within that room! ‘ After dem!” bowled a voice. ‘* We'll have der street wid us! Don’t let’em git away!” So the five ruffians came tumbling down the stairs inv pursuit of the nan who had so easily worsted them all, Calknew the danger was not over by any means, for the locality was a bad one, and the toughs of the street would join in the chase. Weapons of a deadly nature might be used. But the detective’s eyes were wide open, and never yet had ,bhe been caught ina trap from whicb he could not find any way of escape. As be sprung out of the door and reached the narrow sidewalk a dray happened to Le passing.. oe Onto this!” he cried: and Shark followed im, Together they leaped upon the dray, and the driver was amazed when Cal snatched the reins and whip from his hands and lashed the horse into a wild gallop. ‘*Whatin blue blazes you doin’?”’ snarled the driver, and he would have tried to recover control of his cart had it not been for Sbark, who grasp- ed him around the body from behind. Both men fel] struggling to the bottom of the cart. For a short dist: nce the toughs pursued along the street, but they were forced to give up the chase and confess themselves outwitted and beaten. A policeman made a most unexpected appear- ance and tried to stop the cart, but Carter did not wish to make any explanations then, so the officer failed in his purpose, At the corner Cal drew up somewhat and Shark released bis hold on the ‘driver. Then the two daring men leaped from the dray before a crowd could collect and disappeared beyond the swinging doors of a saloon that was on the corner. As Cal had suspected, the saloon had another entrance that was on an alley-like street, and by this they left it, thus easily throwing those who might bother them with questions they did not care to answer. They took the first horse-car they came to, and when be was fairly seated within it, Shark gave vent to his mirth, laughing heartily over their adventure. ‘*We can afford to laugh now,” said Cal, ‘but the laugh might have been on the other side, We were certainly in a bad scrape.” ‘‘ Yes, but they were played in great shape. They will not forget that very soon.” ‘*T guess not, and I got a point from Moore, Now I know how the young fellow got so much money to squander, 1 do not fancy Moore knows anything of real importance against Silky Hall—anything that would criminate the gambler—although be may.” They were alone in the car, so they could freely discuss the adventure. Back to the office they went, aud there Cad a a , & . »«* . b k - i , . a4 yt. ‘2 s.com mone, ¢* a a ae bd ST ei a Pm t ~~