Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 815 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

> -€f.-3. "9 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. 1r —- * All right, get out with you. Becareful, and keep your eyes and ears open, too,” ‘*T will.” ** And, if you learn anything you think we ought to know, don’t fail to get it to us as soon as you can,” ‘* Tll take care to do that, you bet.” A word or two more and the lad went off. The studious student behind the newspaper had not moved or stirred, but seemed to be ob- livious to everything. ‘* Well, what do you think now?” As he put the question Robiston glanced at Harry, and drew nearer to Shyrgck, dropping his voice yet lower than before, “I think there is cause for alarm, now, for I am afraid of that young fellow,” was the dismal eresponse, just Joud enough for Harry to over- hear and no more, ‘“ There is not enough mar- row in his bones,” ** Well, what can we do for safety?” ** Not a thing,” ‘* We'll have to trust to circumstances, eh?” ‘** Don’t see what else we can do, A few hours will tell the tale, you see, If Jack can hold his areas aud Willey is' convicted, then we are safe. “And if it don’t work that way, if the worst comes, what then?” ‘We'll have to light out, oroneof us. No need for botk of us to be dragged into it, is there?” ‘‘ Tt means both, if either,” They were thoughtful for some moments, a hen do we divide?” Horace presently ask- ) _* Any time you please, unless we find suspi- cion has dropped our way, when we shall have to be very careful about our actions.” _ * That is so; but I want my share of the prof- its the same as [ have had my sbare of the work and the danger, [ wasn’t in it so much for gain, but may as well have my share,” ‘* Have you seen Florence since?” ** No, but I’m going to see her just as soon as Willey gets in so he will stay. May go before; can’t say sure,” ‘You ought to strike while the iron is hot, and make it as bad Sian Willey as you can, and you may win. hatever you say against him Pll back up for you, you know.” ‘** That’s the bargain, i believe, Well, we had better sparate, I think. You had better come to the store to-morrow and ante up, I can make good use of about that sum just now. By the way, where is it? Where you said? Well, she will take good care of it, I’ve no doubt.” CHAPTER XIII. SILENT SETH STIRRED UP. Happy HARRY was filled with delight. If he hadenvied Seth the good stroke of work he had done at the store, now he felt that he had done a better. And, best of all, he hadn’t been detected! It was self-evident that no thought of suspicion had entered the minds of these men against bim, and he hoped to get off without it, He was so full of exultation that he could hardly contain himself, too. Unless he got a chance to give vent to his feel- ings soon, he felt that he would explode then and there. The suspense did not last much longer, for the two men now shook hands and parted, oing out one after the other and each going n an opposite direction on leaving the place, It was not Harry’s intention to follow either of them. To do so, he felt, would be to gain nothing, and he had something more important on band. The information he had gleaned was such that his chief ought to be in possession of it as early as possible, and Harry meant to get to the office with as little delay as he could, When toe two wen had been gone about a couple of minutes, Harry sprung up, tearing his news- paper in two with a sharp jerk, and after exe- cuting a turo in the middle of the floor, to the amazement of all observers, darted from the bouse and away up the street, “* Christopher Columbia!” he eried, as soon as out on the street, ** but that was a rare streak of clear luck, that was! I[ feel as though I’d like to yell like a wild Injunabout it, I must do somethin’, too, or Vil never be able to stand it till I get to the office. Must work off some of this high pressure somehow, sure, Ha!” He had just reached the first corner, and there was an Italian busily grinding away at a peanut roaster. Harry was smiling broadly, almost laughing, and bad never felt quite so happy in his life be- fore, he beiieved. And he must have excitement of some sort at once or die of high pressure, ‘* Here, Dago, catch on!” he cried, and laying hold upon the Italian, who was no larger than himself, be pulled him away from his roaster and forced him into a waltz around on the cor- ner of the pavement, to the amusement of the crowd that collected in a moment. ‘*Hi! What-a for you do-a dis?’ the Dago cried, ‘* You-alet-amego! Gil I tell-a you let-a me go! Dam! you are a crazy fellow, that asure-a ting. What-a for you mean? Let-a me go!” ‘* All right, there you go!” Harry cried, letting go his hold and leaping lightly away. ‘* Can’t you take a little fun? Christopher Columbia was a Dago, you know, and I feel so glad he dis- covered ’Merica that I feel like hugging the whole lot of you. I tell you what, we are the people!” . With that, and a hearty laugh, Harry ran away and headed for the office, making a record against time, When he arrived, though,.neither Billy nor Seth was there, so he had to content bimself as best he could while he waited, Meanwhile Silent Seth bad been prompt in carrying out his latest commission, Going straight to the Stiverson mansion, from the office, he rung the bell, asked to see Mrs, Stiverson, and was shown into the par- lor. In a little while the lady appeared. ‘¢ You want to see me?” she said. ‘Yes, if you are-Mrs. Stiverson,” Seth an- swered, ‘¢ Well, IT am she,” ‘Mr. Robiston sent me, ma’m,” ‘‘ What did he send you for?” “YT do not know, ma’m,” ‘‘That is very strange, I must say. How am I to know what he wants?” ‘¢7T don’t know, 1 asked what I should say to you, and he said—nothing at all; you would know.” ‘¢ But, I don’t know.” ‘¢Then I'll have to go back and say 80,” : Does he expect you to bring anything to im? ‘‘T rather think he does, but I’m. all in the dark.” ‘‘ Well, itis a strange matter, that is certain, W hy did he not tell you something deiinite?” ** You will have to ask him?” ** Where did you see him?” ‘* He was at Mr. Horace Shyrock’s store,” ‘* Ah! then I think I understand it better. He ovilently did not care to trust you with se- crets.” ‘* That’s about the size of it, I guess, to speak plainly.” ‘* And you think he expects you to bring him something?” ‘‘ It must be that, since be didn’t send me to get any information.” ‘* Yes, I guess so, too, particularly as he sent you from Horace Shyrock’s store direct, Buti, I do not understand it, even so,” ‘¢ And of course I don’t, ma’m,” Silent Seth was playing the part: f innocence in the matter. He was merely pressing the but- ton, as the pat saying has it, leaving it for the woman to do the rest. He was eager within, but outwardly as undisturbed as ever, What would be the outcome? “That is quite plain,” the woman rejoined, ** Well, wait a few moments and I will prepare a package for you.” ** All right, ma’m.” Seth, had he been of Happy Harry’s disposi- tion, would have found it hard to contain him- self, but he was differently constituted, Tue woman left the room, and Seth waited quistly and patiently. She presently returned, ‘* Here,” she said, extending a package to him, ‘is probably what Mr. Robiston wants, Take care not to lose it, for it contains some papers of value to him, though they would be of no use to any one else,” ** I'll not lose it, ma’m; don’t be uneasy.” _. There was grim truth in that statement, even if Seth had been using some pretty strong fic- tion before, He certainly had ‘no intention of losing the package, for once he got clear of the house with it, it would find its way direct to the office of the young detective chief, ‘¢ And tell Mr, Robiston if that is not right, to send me word what he does desire, or to come himself,” ‘¢ Yes, ma’m,” Seth had risen and was moving to the door, He was more than eager to getaway, for he feared something might turn up at any moment: to balk him, ‘*T am taking a risk in trusting you,” the woman remarked, half to herself, “* but 1 can- not see but thatit must be all right—” “Ob! it’s all mbt, if this is what he wants,” Seth assured. ‘And Ill make all the haste I can, for he appeared to be in a hurry to get it— He was moving out as he spoke, was now at the hall door, and nothing short of force would detain him now, ‘‘ Well, take care,” warned the woman, “‘and say to Mr, Robiston that I shall be anxious to hear from bim as soon as he can make it con- venient—” ‘*Yes, ma’m, yes, ma’m,” Seth hurriedly as~ sented: and having opened the door, he was out and away before she could say more. He walked with moderate haste till he had turned the first corner, when he broke intoa run and made for the office with all the speed he» thought safe to assume in the street, ae When he reached the office he broke in like a moderate whirlwind, ‘¢ Christopher Columbia!” cried Harry, spring- ing to his feet, ‘‘the world is coming to an end, sure as Goshen!” ‘Why?’ asked Seth, ‘“%C0ause you have waked up out of that ice sleep of yours,” ‘“Tucky it is not you, Harry, for the office couldn’t hold you if it were. 1 wish you would stand on your head for me once, just to relieve my feelings.” ‘‘ Crackers an’ cheese! What has happened, anyhow, Seth? The office had a bard enough job to hold me as it was, and now it will bulge out and kerflummux for sure. Tell me, quick.” “T have to, Harry, for Inever felt so much like talking in my life.” ‘¢ Thougbt nothin’ could move you.” ‘So did I, but ’m moved this time, is the boss?” ‘1 don’t know, but I’m jest dyin’ to see him. Hope he'll soon come,” “Sodol, Idon’t know whetherI can wait till he comes cr not, for I’m ina fever to know what’s in this package,” ‘¢ Where did ye get it?” “Mrs, Stiverson gave it to me to take to Rob~ iston.” ‘‘ Whoop-ee!” yelled Harry, and in an instant he was standing heels up and executing a dance upon bis bans, ‘‘ What’s the matter?’ demanded Seth, “Oh! Christopher Columbia! Crackers an’ cheese! I’m going right outof my head with excess of joy, I know I am,” ‘¢] half believe youare. Whathasstruck you now, so bard?” With alight leap Harry was right side up W here again, ‘Pl tell you,” he cried, *‘ I bet I know what’s in that package.” ‘6 What is it?” ‘¢The boodle that was stole from the bank!” ‘“Do you know, Harry, that same idea has been buzzing in my head, Wonderif it isthat?” “ Sure itis! Dll bet you ten cents to a spank- ing itis! Ihave got onto their haze in grand style, now, and now I’m only dyin’ to see the boss to report.” ‘© Wonder if ke’d care if we opened it?” “ Better to open it than to die of curiosity, don’t you think so?” ‘Yes, I do, for I think Broadway Billy would forgive us sooner for curiosity than for suicide,” ‘Open it, then, for goodness’ sake, just as soon as you can, and let’s have the agony over with, We thought there wouldn’t be any ’citement in this case, but if I had any more I'd go off, sure,” Seth said nothing, but sawed wood—figura- tively speaking. He broke the string, unfolded the papers with eager haste, and soon the con- tents of the packet were laid bare, There were several packages of bank-notes! They had made the best haul of their lives! CHAFTER XIV. SCOOPING MASTER JACK. On® glance at the rich contents of the packet, and Happy Harry went tearing around the room like a crazy fellow, ‘Hold me, Seth! hold me! hold me!” he called out, ‘If you don’t I’ll bea howling idiot before the boss comes, sure as youlive! I’m likely to grab that boodle and strike a bee-line for Candy —I mean Canada,” And at the same time Silent Seth, showing more of excitement than he had ever manifeste:! before over any event, was standing with his thumbs and fingers pressed together in front of 77”