Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 815 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

be, owing certain things as I do, Iam not so greatly surprised as I might He has been cutting a pretty high figure for some time.” ** That so?” ‘ST have noticed that, too,” said Horace, ‘* but I wouldn’t want it to get out, for I would not want to appear against him,” ‘Oh! nor I, either!” cried Robiston, ‘It was just a remark. I wouldn’t tell it where it could get to the ears of the detectives, for it is no funeral of mine, as the pat saying is.” ‘‘Will it shut up the bank, do you think?’ asked Horace, **Ob, no; the man Jones is capable of running it; in the absence of Willey, and no doubt he will take hold,” “Well, I’m disappointed, but can wait,” ob- served Robiston, “I'll drop in again to-mor- row, Witherton, Are you going my way, Horace?’ Horace was, and they left the store together, ha Witwverton gave attention to Harry and r) CHAPTER V, HARRY AND SETH SLIP UP, ** Well, what brings you here?” he asked. ‘We put our feet into it and bad to wait till ou came, to carry out our game, sir,” answered arry, ss What do you mean?” ‘* Well, you see, the boss sent us here to size up the shop, so to say, and we made it our ex- cuse to ask for him when we came in, and as he wasn’t to be seen, and as you had gone out, we said we'd wait.” “Tsee, But, what did Mr. Weston think to gain by sending you here?” * Anything we could pick up. He likes to begin a case by knowing all about it in the first lace. He wanted to know all he could about r. Shyrock and his business, and the men he basin his employ. We have got about all the points we want, so we'll go,” ‘* And what have you got?” ** Not much of anything, forafact, But, say, Mr. Witherton—” ** Well?” ‘* Who were those men who were just here?” ‘*Why do you ask that? What have those men got todo with the case [ have given your chief?” ‘*T ask because we want to know, that’s all; Don’t reckon they haye got anything to do with the case, but we never let anything slip when we are on the lay for points.” ** Well, one was Mr. Beaumont Robiston, and the other was Horace Shyrock, son of the miss- ing man,” ‘We got onto his identity all right, but not t’other fellow’s just as bard as we wanted to. W hat does he do for a living?” ‘* Which one?” ‘* Mother fellow.” ‘* Nothing; he is a wealthy man.” ‘That’s it, eh? Well, that’s all, I guess, un- Jess Seth here has something to inquire about.” Seth shook his head in the negative, ‘You sev,” said Harry, “Seth fs bashful, and I have to talk for both of us when we are out, Well, that’s all, I guess, for this time, We'll pedestrianate, if you don’t kick,” “Go or stay, just as you please, If Broad- way Billy thinks there is anything to be gained by watching here, you are at liberty to camp right here for a week, if you want to. You won't find» out anything further than I have told him, though, for there is nothing further to be found out.” ‘* We agree with ye, boss, At the same time, though, no need to let on who we ara or what our business was, We gave out that we want- ed to see Mr, Shyrock on some special matter.” ‘All right, no_one need know who you aro. You heard what I said about the bank robbery just now, of course,” ** Cert.” oe gs your boss has taken hold of that al- ready. ‘*Whoop-ee! Is that so? Seth, here’s a double case on band, sure as you live, We may get some ’citement out of it yet,” Though Harry spoke enthusiastically he spoke in low tone, “ We'll never get anywhere or do anything,” observed Seth, ‘if we stay here all day to the tune of your chin,” ‘*The dumb speaks!” cried Harry. ‘Never ‘speaks unless he bas something to say, either. ‘Guess he has said it this time. Well, come on, then, silent one, and I’ll bustle so tall that you will have bard work to keep up with nv,” Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. Witherton smiled at Harry's playfulness, an’ no one else could guess what had passed, Pays and Seth took their leave from the store. ‘** Where tu now?” asked Seth. ‘* Back to the home base, I s’pose; don’t see as we have any other lay.” **Why not drop around to that bank and see what we can pick up there in the interest of our chief, seeing that he has the case?” ** Bally! Just what we will do, and he'll find that we are wide awake, even if we doliketo hug fast to the bed in the morning, We'll be up to bim and he won’t know it,” So, they bent their steps in the direction of Stiverson’s banking office, and just as they ar- rived they saw a young womanentering hastily. ‘* Wonder who that is?” quoth Harry. ** Wait, and I'll run right up and ask her,” re- sponded Seth, dryly. ** Yes, do!” They weut on leisurely, however, and mount- ing the steps, entered theoflice, where they found a@ policeman on guard for some purpose or other, The young woman was at the window talking extitedly to the mau on the other side, ‘‘ And they have taken him to jail?” she de- manded, ‘They took bim to the station, at any rate, Miss Stiverson,” the clerk made response. ‘** How could they do that! I know that he is innocent, Mr, Jones! 1 know he could not do such a deed, I will go his bail, no matter what the amount is, They shall not hold him!” ‘*] think as you do, Miss Stiverson, that he is innocent,” the clerk declared, ‘‘ but the appear- ances against him are terrible. Some of the money was actually found in hig overcoat pocket. And then, who else could know the combination? Iam sorry for him, very sorry.” ‘*The fact that money was in his pocket proves him innocent,” the girl cried. ‘‘ Heis no fool, and he would not carry the cash with him, if he had taken it,” Happy Harry gave Seth a nudge at that, and whispered: ** Horse sense, Seth, every time,” Seth nodded, ‘*T have toagrea with you,” the clerk had to admit, ‘* Bui, will the police look at it in the same light?” “They shall be forced to recogniza the truth, Mr. Jones! I will employ the very best detec- tive talent in the city and have the matter sifted to the bottom,” ‘*T am glad to hear you say that, Miss Stiver- son, Iam bappy to inform you thet Mr. Willey himself employed Mr, Weston, called Broad- way Billy, the very first thing after the dis- covery.” ‘* Further proof that he is guiltless!” the girl cried, ‘*He would never have dared to invite the inspection of that young man, if guilty. I have read about him in the papers, and I con- sider him as good as the best. Oh! Vance is innccent, of course be is, and it isa shame that he has to suffer.” ‘‘ Will Mrs, Stiverson ba down to the office, miss?” the clerk asked. ‘“‘T can’t tell you,” was the reply, nothing about her movements, down.” ‘‘ The reason I asked, I am taking full charge here, and would like to have her approval of my action, since [ suppose it is impossible to trouble Mr. Stiverson with the matter.” ‘“ You are doing right, sir; do what you think is best.” With that the young woman hastened out and away, leaving the clerk and the officer gazing after her, “Who is thet?” the policeman asked, ‘Old Stive’s daughter, I take it, from what I’ve heard said,” ‘His daughter, yes; and as fine a young lady as ever lived, too,” ‘*Must have a liking for the young man, I should imagine,” “She has. What can I do for you, young gentlemen ?” This to Harry and Seth. “Boss wants to know what’s the amount of the loss here, sir,” Harry declared, unblusb- ing. He bad to say something and say it quickly, and that was what popped into his head first of all, so out it came, ** And who is your boss, as you call him?” the clerk asked. ‘‘Mr, Robiston,” answered Silent Seth, as promptly as Harry had done before, He remembered what Robiston had said at the store about the money he expected that morning. ‘*T know She may be ‘‘ What Mr, Robiston?” demanded tbe clerk, ‘‘Mr, Beaumont Robiston,” Harry quickly supplied, catching on. ‘Oh! Well, tell him it is about twelve thousand, First time 1 knew he had any one in his employ, though.” ‘¢ Ju-t au errand, that’s all,” explained Harry. ‘* Why didn’t you say so, then?” ** You didn’t ask.” Harry and Seth were moving to the door, glad to get out of an awkward situation, when to their consternation, the door opened and Beaumont Robiston himself coafronted them. He gave them a quick look immediately, re- membering them as the lads he had seen so re- cently at the store. Harry put his nerve right to the effort and said boldly: , ‘* He says the loss is about twelve thousand, sir. ~ ‘* What? What do you mean?” ‘The man_there says the loss is about twelve thousand. We were just returning to tell you.” ‘‘Confound it, are you crazy?” the man de- manded, ” ** See here, I want to know what it is you are trying to get through you, anyhow.” It had*been Harry’s plan to give this excuse for the benefit of the clerk and the police officer, and quickly get past the manand out, | but now the way was blocked for them.” ‘‘Didn’t yoa send them here, Mr, Robiston?” asked the clerk. ‘‘ No, of course not, Who says I did?” “They do,” | ‘‘Confound your impudence, then! What do you mean by it? What business have you to use my name? Here, officer, I have an idea that these lads will bear a little closer inspection, ‘] begin to think so myself,” the policeman agreed, stepping forward with his club ready for business, ‘* Who and what are you, anyhow?” ‘“T can answer that now, straight,” answered Harry. ‘*We are apairof the worst ninnies you ever saw, Take us and box us up some- where, before the fool-killer finds us,” ‘‘ We want a straight explanation out of you that is what we want, and no foolishness a ut it,” cried Robiston, *‘Mr, Jones, it may be that these lads know something about this rob- bery, and that they are here with no good inten- tion now. I think the officer had better take them in,” CHAPTER VL AND HOW IT CAME OUT, HARRY and Seth were in a dilemma, Under his breath Harry was mutteriug all manner of imprecations against himself, but Sath was taking it as coolly as he took every- thing, _ That is what I think myself,” admitted the officer, in rerponse to what Mr, Robiston had said, ‘* Young fellows, you are my prisoners, and you don’t want to make aby resistance,” ‘ Where’s your warrant?” asked Seth, ‘Right here in this stick,” was the reply to that, ‘“Maybe you had better go slow,” warned Harry. ‘ You might make a mistake,” ‘‘ What we want is a straight explanation out of you,” reiterated Mr. Robiston. ‘* What busi- ness bad you to come bere and make use of my name?” ‘¢T guess we had better give them the straight tip, don’t you think so?’ and Seth turned to Harry. “Dd like to, straight from the shoulder, if I were only big enough to do it, and no other way,” Harry growled, anything but ‘“‘ happy” just then, . B ‘Teke care!” warned the policeman, raising his club slightly. ‘‘ You are a young rascal, that’s what you are, and I'll have to deal with you as one, if you don’t look out sharp.” ‘Pm no rascal, but a fit subject for the insane asylum. If you take me in, that is going to be my plea; crazy as a bedbug! Or, worse than that, a natural born howling idiot. Don’t you think that’s a straight tip, Seth?” “7m half inclined to believe you area fool,” growled Robistor. “ But, come, explain quick, or this officer shall drag you in.” “ Well, we'll tell you straight,” said Seth. ‘Thats whet we want.” ‘‘You are aware, I suppose, that Detective William Weston, known as Broadway Billy, is interested in this case,” “Thunder!” ejaculated Robiston, ‘ You don’t mean to say you boys are his two helpers, do you?” “That is the long and the short of it, sir.” ‘*See here, can you prove it?’ demanded the policeman. ' | a fe