Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 775 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ~~ —— eye on Mr, Rundle; and then to find Casmore we will keep Rosa in sight. Oo! it is a beauti- ful scheme they have in motion, but I think you and I will be enough for them, I am to call on Mr. Rundle early this afternoon, and after that perhaps I shall be able to“make a start in the case.” ‘¢ Then I can’t do anything till I see you again after that, hey?” ‘*No; unless you take up tbe trail on your own account and follow it insome direction to learn all you can. But, I haven’t told you about the case, It is right you should know something about it, now that you are in it,” “*l’ve got more in my noodle now than I can hold there,” ‘*Nonsense. I had a long talk with this old man, and it is plain that some one is bleeding him of his money. You have shown me just who the persons are, and have given mea big boost. Ill be able to surprise him not a little when I call on him. The case is, they have taken bimin his weak spot, and are spooking the ducats right out of bis pocket. We have got to open his eyes and stop the business,” ‘* Why, I had all that before.” “Yes; but here is a point you didn’t have, This man Rundle hasason here in New York, one Jonas Rundle, whom the old man has cut off in his will for the reason that he, Jonas, would not be a spiritualist, The old man is welcome to his opinion, but my idea is that Jonas has hoss sense, Anyhow, it looks so. Well, Jonas bas made threats that if he was not to have an share in the money no one else should, and lately the old man’s will has disappeared. Taking that, and this bleeding of money, it seems to me that Jonas may havea hand in it all. This is only a guess, you understand. And I’ll tell you what you can do,” ‘* What is it?” ‘¢Go and find this Jonas Rundle and size him up. You can let me know what you think of him when we meet at dinner. I am going in another direction. Take care you don’t give anything away, and more care tbat you don’t get into trouble,” ** How am I ter know where to find him ?” ‘** He lives at No. — street.” ‘* Ha! that’s more like it. Well, I’m off.” ‘* Yes, go it; and good luck to you,” ’ Gamin Harry turned a handspring over his box, bringing it up with him as he came right side up, and with itin place on his shoulder made his exit, “ [ll bet be is going to be a trump,” muttered Billy, when he had gone. ‘* He has the right spap about him, Anyhow, I'll give him a fair chance,” “pe! sat down at the desk and was thoughtful for a fewininutes, The boy had placed excellent clews in his hands, and it only remained for him to bandle the affair right, in order to arrest the guilty ones, Presently he arose, stepped toa dresser and opeued it, and from a box on a shelf took out an assortment of wigs and beards, From among the lot he selected a neat mustache and put it on. His whole appearance was instantly changed, and he looked to be a young man of twenty-six at least, : ‘** This will do,” he said to himself, as he looked ina glass, ‘“‘I will find this man Casmore if I can, and perbaps have a talk with him, I’m going to be a spiritualist!” He went out and locked the door after him. His room was not & great distance from Head- quarters; so there be proceeded, entering the office as though he bad every right in the estab- lishment that any officer on the force had. The chief glanced up, and recognized him at once in spite of the slight disguise, This was no surprise to Billy, for he knew well the power of penetration this man had. It would bea marvel- ous make-up that concealed his identity from this expert in detective science, “That you, Billy?’ he greeted, ‘ What brings you here?” CHAPTER VIII. BILLY PLAYS GREENHORN, BILLY responding to the greeting, at once made known his business, ‘*T want to learn something about a man,” he said—‘* one Gus Cassmore.” ‘* Hal what do you want with bim” **Il want to make his acquaintance and chum with him a little.” ** Well, I can tell you all abouthim, Heisa crook; my men have had him under surveillance more than once. One of his chief resorts is Brooser’s, down on —— street. The very information I was after. I want- ed to know where I would be likely to meet him. I have him booked for this case of old man Rundle which I have taken hold of. A strange case, that, by the way,” The great man laughed, ‘* What do you think of it?” he asked. ‘“*] thnk the old fellow is a victim of mis- placed confidence.” ‘* And that he is being swindled in the neatest kind of way, eh?” ‘* Exactly—played on for a fool.” ‘** Do you think you can help him any?” ‘*’m going to help him or bu’st, sir,” ‘*That’s the way to go into a case; but, then, that’s your style. Have you a clew? What points you to this man Casmore?” ‘* I’ve got not only a clew, but facts,” ** Mind telling me?” ‘*Not atall. The chief rascals concerned are this man Gus Casmore and a woman named Rosa Dubarre,” ‘*Rosa Dubarre? Why, she is one of the menses crooks in New York. Do you know er? ‘*No, Never have seen her,” Lo agp there to the cabinet and look at Num- r-—, Billy stepped over to the cabinet containing the photographs of rogues, and picked out the number indicated, ** So, that’s Rosa, is it?” he observed. ‘“‘That’s the lady of the light finger,” ‘* What is her lay?” ‘Everything: confidence, blackmail, lifting, decoy— The whole gamut of crime, For some time we have lost sight of her.” ‘* Well, I have found her, then, and she is now a spiritualist, She and this Casmore, and others with them, perhaps, are the ones who are duping oh Rundle and taking his hoarded dollars from im, ‘*Tt don’t seem possible that you could get at this so soon, Biily. Has the old man learned something, and was thus able to put you on their track?” _ ““No; be was as innocent asa child, The fact is just here: The woman followed him to my office, and fell in with Casmore down on the street. My boy, Happy Harry, was there, and took in what passed between them,” “Good for him! I have an idea you have picked up a jewel in that lad, Billy. What did he learn?” ‘**Much, And, when the old man left the office and the woman accosted bim and talked with him, then the boy learned more, He is a trump.” Billy laid the facts before the chief, since the case bad been put in his way by him and he had a vatural interest in it; and his patron congratu- lated him heartily upon his good fortune, Billy soon took his leave and bent his steps in the direction of the place where he would be likely to find the crook Casmore, _The man Brooser, whom the chief had men- tioned, kept a disreputable saloon, or dive, on one of the disreputable streets of the great me- tropolis—a man who had a hard name, and whose place had more than once received atten- tion from the police. Arriving there, Billy walked in, looking around him with the air of astranger who found himself in a strange place. It being daytime, and an hour toward noon when business was dullest, not many persons were present, but Billy quickly discovered Casmore, seated at a table a back in @ shadowy corner. He had a bottle before him, and was smoking. Walking down toward him, Billy paused near him and asked: ‘“Would you mind answering a question or two, sir? I’m a stranger in New York and have to ask in order to get around,” fhe shark surveyed Billy keenly before an- swering, He evidently made up his mind to be agree- able, for he pushed out a chair on the opposite side of the table with bis foot and said: by, yes, certainly. Sit down, and I'll es you the best I can. So, you are a green- orn, are you?” | Billy accepted the seat. ,Yes, I suppose that’s what you would call me,” he answered, “4 W here are you from?” ul m from Bucks county, Pennsylvania.” Well, you can’t be supposed to know much about New York, then, Still you don’t look like a bayseed,” “Ob! our town is quite a big one, and we are civilized out there; but it ain’t to be compared to New York, I hadu’t any idea New York was so big.” ‘Yes, it’s quite a village. Here, won’ have something with me?” » Won’t you f . - a . ¥ . Ne it. Vv Pipe ot. i f Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase. Z ‘‘Thanks, but I’ve got a heart trouble anid can’t drink or smoke at all. Doctor won’t allow it. ‘*That’s bad. Well, what do you want to know about this town?” ‘* My uncle warned me about talkin’ to stran- gers when | set out, but you seem to be the right sort.” ‘“You needn’t be afraid to talk to me, | as- sure you,” ** You see, I have just stepped into a consider- able fortune, having just come of age, and I thought I'd like to see the sights.” ‘That’s right. The man that baesn’t seen the elephant, hasn’t begun to live, and bas no right to.settle down without seeing it, If that is what you want, I’d like no better fun than to show you around,” ‘* Would you do that, really?’ ‘Yes: and it won’t cost you much, either, [ won't charge you a cent, only of course you will have to ante the footing for both. You know what that means? You will bave to pay the little expenses as we go along.” ‘*Oh! [Vd expect to do that, anyhow. say you know it all, eh?” ‘Well, there isn’t much [ don’t know about New York. I guess I can show you the elephant You from the tip of his trank to the tip of bis tail.” “Then it’s a bargain, and ’m glad I dropped in bere,” ‘* By the way, I believe I have got something on hand for this very night that will just suit you. How long are you going to stay here?” ‘* Ob! a week or two; just as long as the fun holds out.” ‘*That’s good. Then wecan take this thing in to-night nicely. Do you believe in spiritualism?” * Well, [don’t know much about it, but my uncle, he is just crazy over it. I wish I could pick up some items about it here, to tell him of it when I go back.” ‘“‘Well, you are in luck, then. I am partly a believer in it myself; in fact, they say 'm a medium, and I know they do make me have spells when I go there, To-night there is going to be great seance, and we'll go.” “Bully! That will just suit me,” ‘* Then it is settled. Where shall we put in the afternoon? Had your dinner yet?” ‘‘No; and I can’t be with you till night, either, can find her, and she’ll keep me to dinner and ’most all the afternoon.” ‘* Know where to find ber?” ‘“‘That’s what I wanted to ask vou about. W hat’s the nearest way to street? You see I’m green.” ‘Why, you can take the L and ride right up there. Wiat number is it you are after?” ‘¢ Number —.” Billy gave the address of his own home, ‘It won't be a long walk when you get out, and any one there can show you the direction.” ‘* All rigbt, and much obliged to you. You see, this aunt of mine thinks I’m an angel, and will read me any quantity of goody-goody lec- tures, but I won’t say a word about you and what we are going to do.” ‘** That's right.” ‘*T’l] have my fun on the quiet, you know, What's your name?” ‘* My name is Gus Casmore, What is yours?” ‘Mine is William Weston. I’m sure we are going to get along famously together, Mr. Cas- more.” ‘*'You bet we are. But, where shall we meet?” ‘**T can come back here.” ** What time will you come?” ‘* Any time you say, after supper.” ‘** All rigbt; you be here at eigbt, and we'll go out and coax the elephant out of his jungle,” Billy laughed. ‘*] think there is going to be some fun,” he declared. ‘I’m glad I. fell in with you, By the way, how much money will I want in my pocket? I’ve got slathers of it,” ‘‘Ob, you won’t bave to spend a great deal; but it won’t be bad to bave some on hand in case it’s needed, Money is your best friend in New York. I always carry a couple of hundred hid Of course | wouldn’t tell any one else ‘* Certainly not. I’)] be well fixed in that line, then, with some loose change bandy for use, That's the way my uncle vold me todo it. Well, I bad better go, or I wil] be late finding that ae oe my dear old aunty and her pet cats, a, ba —_—_——_—_- -— CHAPTER IX, HARRY VISITS JONAS ‘“‘CRACKERS AN’ CHEESE! Christopher Co- lumbia!” d ee +p ( ef" 6) \ (| _ 6 4 ' ee i Ne | a ie ] I have got to go and see an auntiflt .