Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 775 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase. | x * But, the spirit of my dead daughter-— there can be no swindle about that part of it.” ‘* My opinion is that it isa humbug from be- ginning to end, sir—a bald, bald humbug, notb- ing less,” ‘** My dead Betty’s spirit a humbug!” **Oh! no; 1 suppose Betty’s spirit is all right; but I don’t delieve it is in the habit of coming to you and telling you to deliver your money into the hands of these miserable crooks, + Do you?” The old man bowed his head in thought, *“*T cannot understand it,” he mused aloud. ** Who but the spirit of my daughter could re- mind me of things which vo one but she and I knew? Aud this has been done at these seances of Madam Dubarre.” ‘* We shall find out a!l about that, sir. It will be explained somehow, and in a perfectly ma- terial manner, too. Now, a word about that will you made, and which is missing. You de- clined to say much about it at the « fice.” ‘* What do you want to know about it?” *“*T want facts, sir, and nothing else, Who would have the most interest in stealing it from you, your son or these good spiritualists?” ‘Young man, young man, are you deter- mined to shatter my faith in everything it has been firmly fixed upon for many years?” **T want to knock out all these spiritual props that are not the genuine article, sir, And, your answer in that manner answers my question fully. You suspect the spiritual frauds more than your son,” ‘*T’ll make a confession to you, Mr. Weston.” ** W hat is it, sir?” **My will was made in favor of my son, with only a fair sum given to a society of spiritual- ists here in the city.” **Ha! now [ begiu tosee daylight ahead, You were urging your son to become a spiritualist, and even while you threatened to cut bim off, you had already made your will in his favor.” sé Yes,” ‘*That was a cute trick. Now, who knew about this will besides yourself?’ ‘* My lawyer, and my old housekeeper, who wit- nessed it, The other witness is dead; died some years ago. The will is not a recent one.” ‘* How long has it been missing?” ‘* A year or so.” “It was missing after you made the ac- quaintance of this woman Dubarre,” ‘* Yes, yes.” ‘*Exactly. Speak still in low tones. please. Have [ opened your material eyes sufficiently for you to see the truth?” ‘Yes, yes; and may Heaven blight these in- famous knaves for the evil they have done.” ‘* Amen! to that, sir. Now, a few words more and I[ will go. I am going to be at the seance to-night,” sé You?” ““Yes, I have made the acquaintance of Cas- more, and he will introduce me. He thinks I am a greeny from the country, with considera- ble money, and he is going to relieve me of it if he can. Now, you must go there, just as you intended; do not let it be seen that you know anything against them; fall in readily with whatever they want you to do; and do not let on that you know me, And now, call your housekeeper and tell her to show me the door. Pretend rage, and say I have tried to make you believe false things. Do not, however, say one word to her, of the truth. Do you understand?” It had taken considerable time and consider- able talk for Billy to impress it all on the old man’s wind, but at last it was understood fully, and calling the housekeeper, the old gentle- map directed her to show the visitor out, seem- ing in a hot rage. CHAPTER XII. CHATTERBOX HARRY CHATTERS, WHEN the old housekeeper had closed the door after Billy, she returned to the room where Mr. Rundle was. ** What was he trying to do, sir?” she asked. ‘*T will remember his face, if he ever dares to come here again. Shall I have him arrested, if he does?” “Hum! Hum! Hum!” the old gentleman nted, seeming likely to choke in a well- eigned choleric fit. ‘‘The rascal! Wanted to make me believe our faith is a humbug!” ‘Can it be possible! I'll scald him, if he comes here again, if you say so, Mr. Rundle,” “Yes, give it tohim! Ill teach him a les- son, if he bothers me again with his lying non- sense !” ** W hat did he tell you?” ‘Why, I have been weak, and this is the fruits of it.” cA F Ts An YY ; oe ‘Na ' ii ‘ FP . " “ , a il F mee = ‘ i ‘ ie ia e* if 4 : ee * | - ht Art + * a d : yi a : ke een. bebe : : £ va **’'You have been weak, you say? You mean weak in the faith? I am sorry to hear that.” **T suppose you will call it that. Sol call it, now. 1 wanted to know what use was made of the money Betty’s spirit came for each week,” ‘““Awful! Asif you could not trust your dear child unquestioned.” ‘* Exactly, and I see it now.” ‘* And what of the young man?” ‘*} consulted him, and he suggested the possi- bility of my being imposed upon and swindled,” ‘* Worse and worse)” ‘Yes, you are right,” * And what did you tell bim?”’ ‘**T ordered him out, as you saw,” ‘* And then you don’t believe his lies?” ‘*How can 1? He declared Betty’s spirit was a fraud.” ‘* The—the—I can’t find a name bad enough for him, Asif you would not know better than that.” **So I told him. Hasn’t the dear child told me of things which only she and I knew? How could an impostor do anything like that?” ** How, indeed!” “Yes, | have been weak, but I'll repent of it in sackcloth and ashes, No matter what tbe next demand is, it shall be granted, even if it is to give up my last dollar and become an object of public charity.” ** Nobly spoken, sir, nobly spoken.” ‘*] have not told you the latest.” ** What is it, sir?” ‘*T am going to die.” sé Die 7 ‘Yes, and soon. Betty has revealed it to the society. I was told of it this morning very gently by Miss Dubarre.” ‘*Oh! is it possible! I am so sorry to hear it; and yet, ought we not rather rejvice? We know it is only a harmless change into a bet- ter condition. It is nothing that can hurt.” ‘*] know it, I {know it. I am resigned, It is a dreaded thing to meet, but it cannot be avoided. And, now, being aware of it, I can feel that I am growing more and more feeble. The change is coming soon, I know. For that reason I have a work to do in the world,” ‘* And what is that?” “To obey Betty’s last request, no matter what it may be,” ‘* Yes, that is true,” “Tam going to the meeting to-night, and it may be the last one I shall ever attend. I feel that critical resuJts will follow.” ‘It is possible, sir,” ** You have been a good housekeeper for me, and I shall not forget you. When I am gone you will find something laid away for you. hat is yours alone, and cannot be given to the society.” ‘** | had rather see it go that way, sir.” ** No, that is yours; but, everything else is to go as Betty may direct.” They talked for some minutes longer, in about the same strain, when the old man requested the woman to leave him, saying he desired to be alone, She withrew, and as soon as she had ‘gone a smile lighted the old man’s face aad to himself he muttered: ‘* Well, well, the seed has been sown, and if that young man’s suspicionis correct it cannot help bearing fruit. e shall see, we shall see.” He lapsed into ae silence, In the tnean time what of Happy Harry? Separating from Billy, be laid his course in the direction of the low saloon Billy had mentioned. **Crackers an’ cheese!” be exclaimed, as he went along, ** but I would like ter do somethin’ ter make myself useful in this case, Seems ter me I ain’t gittin’ there the same as the ’riginal Billy used ter do, Wonder what’sthe matter? Guess it must be because I ain’t got any inner workin’s in my think-box.” W hat be was going to do, or what he could do, did not make itself clear to him, He recalled what he bad read of the adven- tures of bis model, and tried to fit some of them to the present case, but not with much success, There seemed to be a difference all around, and the one wedge that would not seem to apply anywhere was himself. And the more he thought about it the less he believed he was go- ing to fill the bill. ‘* No use talkin’,” was his final comment, as he neared his destination, ‘this business and me ain’t goin’ ter fit. I ain’t a Broadway Billy, not by any means, and never will be, Now, if it was Billy bimself, he would ’a’ had this beast by the tail, and would ’a’ yanked him out of his lair by this time, and spilled him all over the street. Why is it I can’t do the same? ’Cause it ain’t in me, that’s all,” From this, it can be seen be was not in @ very confident mood when he reached the neighbor- hood of Brooser’s dive, As he drew near he observed Gus Casmore standing in front of the place idly picking his teeth. ‘‘ Shine, sir? Shine?” So Happy Harry cried, unslinging his box and preparing for business, ‘Yes, I don’t mind if ye do,” responded the tough, and he braced himself against a post and lifted his foot, Harry was upon his knees in a moment, his box was in position, and bis brushes were plying away with all the rapidity the skilled expert’s hand could lend, ‘*What’s your name, boy?” the customer in- quired, ‘‘Bob Jinks,” was the gamin’s prompt an- swer. ‘*- You don’t belong around here; never seen ye afore.” ‘“‘ [ uster be down by the bridge, but I had ter move out 0’ that.” ‘‘ How was that? The police chase you away? Mebby your fingers got too light in the pockets of the crowd.” ‘No, ’t wasn’t that; "twas jest spooks !” ‘¢ What:do you mean by that?” ** Speerits,” ‘What the dickensare you talking about? Are you crazy?” ‘No, I guess not; but you asked me a ques- tion and I’m allus willin’ ter answer civil ques- tions with flush facks.” Shar ‘* Well, just explain yourself, will you?’ A sudden idea bad come to Happy Harry, and taking pattern after Billy, he was acting upon it. He knew this fellow was at present inter- ested in spiritual matters, and he thought a little fiction in the same line might lead toa conversation, It seemed his idea was about right. Rt Give me yer other foot,” Harry invited, having finistied one. It was promptly given, and again the fellow urged for an explanation of wkat the boy had said, “Why, it got too spooky around there,” Harry enlightened, ‘‘and I had ter give up a good snap and mosey out, that’s all.” “That ain’t what I want to know, though, boy. In what way did it get spooky? Did you see ghosts around there? Come, you have in- terested me in this thing.” ‘*Mebby you're a reporter,” Harry remarked, “Td jest like ter show that old codger up in print.’ ** W hat old codger?” ‘*The man that spooked me.” ‘Well, maybe lam a reporter, my boy.” “Crackers an’ cheese! Areye,though? Then I'l tel] ye all about it. Ye see, this old codger, don’t know bis name, he used ter look at me bard when he'd cross the bridge, and every time he did that I'd go off.” és Go off?” ‘Yes; get spooky, you know, I[ would seem to go out of myself, and couldn’t do nothin’ only what he told me, Then he’d make me talk, and I don’t know but be made capital out of the in- fermation he got out of me,” The tough whistled, ‘‘ Tg this the truth, boy?” be demanded, ‘“* If you knowed me you wouldn’t have ter ask that,” Harry answered. w ‘‘There may be something in this, boy,” the rascal said thoughtfully. ‘‘How long has it been going on?” ‘* Long enough fer me to get enough of it, you bet. I wouldn't go to the bridge at this time o” day fer balf a dollar, you bet on that.” “Why, is this about the time the old gent is there?” ‘‘ Yes, about now or a little later. There ye are, sir; flip me yer nickel,” ‘6 Here’s a dime this time. Il want fo talk with. you a little more about this matter. Won’t you come in here?” : ‘Time is money ter me,” objected Harry, *Ohn! hang that. VU tip you @ guarter when. you have told me your story out in full,” “ All rignt, on them condisbuns I'l] be yer calla lily, every time, Ill tell ye all about it, and in short meet ’er, too.” Gus Casmore led the way into the saloon, Harry following bim and congratulating bim- self heartily upon the success of bis simple ruse. What was going to come of it, anyhow? Once within, the tough seated himself at a. table, pusbing a chair for Harry at the same time, and called for something to drink, of which be invited the boy to partake, But, that was : . a 3, iF 4 es 16: 4. ya, fT aa Deine ee aiden: quae ws _ A . ee ee a t «