Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 815 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ** Guess we can, boss,” assured Harry, now, with his happy grin again on his face, It amused him to note the change that had come over their foes at the mere mention of Broadway Billy’s name, ** Prove it, then.” The two lads opened their vests, and there on the suspender of each was a badge that had been furnished them by Billy, badges telling what they were and referring to Billy as their atron, ‘* That seems to settle it, sir,” said the police- man to Rohiston, as be drew back. ‘I have no desire to meddle with Broadway Billy’s team,” ‘*Then you think their story is straight?” ** No doubt about it, I guess,” **If you doubt it, just come along with us to the office,” suggested Harry, * ane boss will soon convince you,” added eth. . ** Well, if that’s the case, that you are his boys, of course that settles it; but, that don’t explain why you used my name,” ** Would you tumble if the house fell on you?” asked Harry, ‘* You may take a tumble under something less than that, if you don’t have a care how you ad- dress a gentleman,” growled Robiston, *‘ even if yon are Broadway Billy’s cub. I don’t believe 6 approves of your impudence.” ** That’s a fact, he don’t,” Harry acknowledged. “But, to answer your question: You see, we thought we’d getaway from here without letting on who we were, and when the cashier there lighted upon us as he did we bad to have some excuse off-hand, and I gave your name,”. ‘* And how did you know anything about me or my business?’ » “* Why, we heard you talking at the store, and knew you had expected to get a boodle here this morning.” Se ER ' t “Yes, that’s 80; aiid, Se6 here: Have you been following me around this morning for any pur- pose? Because if I thought you had I’d break every bone in pour bodies, sure,” ** What would we follow you for?” “ That’s what it would puzzle anybody to guess, I merely asked you if you have been doing it.” ‘* Why, no, certainly not; looks more like you are following us, don’t it? We were at the store when you came in there, and we came here and here you walk in on us again,” ‘*That’s so; but, 1 have better business than following lads like you around town, It is plain that our mesting has been accidental, and it is all rignt, but youdo not want to make use of my name again or you may get into trouble,” ** All right, we'll take the hint.” ** Well, now that we know who you are, what have you learned about the case?” ‘* Nothing.” * ‘W hich is equivalent to saying that you would not tell if you had,” ** You can take it that way if you want to, but it is the fact all the same, this time.” ‘By they way, young men,” spoke u clerk behind the partition, *‘ does your employer snow that Mr, Willey has been arrestad?’ **Don’t know,” answered Harry; “ haven't seen him for au hour or more,” ** Look here, then,” cried Robiston, ** how did you know he had this case at all? And itis mighty certain that he didn’t send you here himself, I’m not satisfied yet that you are what you claim,” ‘*Come with us to the office, then,” Seth re- quested. “No; you answer my question, that is all. How did you know your chief had the case?” ** You are talking through your hat,” cried Harry, disdainfully, ‘‘We might tell you any host story, and you would have to believe it or ook furtker for proof, Tll give you the facts, though,” “That's what I want out of you.” ““ Well, didn’t we bear Witherton telling you all about it at the store? And if Broadway Billy badn’t a band in it we knew he’d ought to have, so we came right here to pick up anything we happened to find lying around loose; that is, in the way ofaclew. See?” The fact was, Witherton had told them after Robiston had gone out, but there was no need to give him details; the less so, since that had first been in their minds anyhow. ‘You needn’t look for further proof, sir,” spoke up the policeman, ‘' That is just the tune of Broadway Billy and his Beagles, every time.” ‘*[ guess you are right,” Robiston agreed. * The only thing is, they must not use my name again, . ** We'll take care not to, sir,” said Seth. And with that he and Harry left the office, the Stee eit te SL —————— ————— Ee rh Oe _ O,O DDD leaving the others to think and say what they pleased, ‘*Seth, I want to be kicked,” said Harry, as soon as they were a little way from the building. ‘*And you deserve to be,” responded Seth, soberly. “ Why” **'Why do you want to be?” “*¥For shooting my mouth off too quick, that’s what,” ‘* And that’s just what you deserve it for, too- It would have been all right, though, if Robis- ton hadn’t dropped in as he did.” ‘But he did drop, and so it was all wrong. But, Seth, do you know that Iam of the mind that the fellow isn’t as clean inside as he looks on the outside?” “That so?” ** Fact.” Seth waited for the explanation, and it came at once. ‘*That’s jest what I do think,” Harry de- clared, stoutly, ‘*There was no reason for his thinking we were after him, and if he hadn’t had a sore on his conscience he wouldn’t ’a’ felt it touch him. See?” ‘* It looks that way, Harry.” *‘ Christopher Columbia! Should say it does! May be nothing in it, but [Pll bet he needs watching. Seth stopped short. ‘‘What’s up?” asked Harry, in the same breath, ‘*Tf you think he needs watching, now is the time to take up the trail and do it.” ‘*'You are right, as you always are, Which shall do it?” ‘* Toss up a cent to see,” ‘© Up it goes,” ** Head |? Aid héad it came down, and Seth was elected, So to say. “ Just your luck,” cried Harry. ‘‘ Well, go for him and see how much of him is gold and how much brass. I'll go to the office and wait for the boss,” Seth was already adjusting a mustache to his lip, and that done, he put on a pair of eye- stnases and his disguise was complete enough to answer the purpose, It did not seem possible that so great a change could be made by so little alteration. * Am I right?’ he asked. ‘*' Yes; wouldn’t know you if I met youin a dark alley on a dark night,” Harry made an- swer. Seth said no more, probably thinking he had been giving too much play to his tongue as it was, but set off at once in the direction from which they had just come, \ ‘* Well, he corked up mighty sudden, any- how,” muttered Harry, as he gazed after him. ‘‘That fellow is a queer one, no mistake, Wish I had his weight of brain, though. He’s got the real stuff in his head.” Harry ccntinued on bis way, after that, and ip due time was at the office, Broadway Billy was not there yet, but some- body else was, that is to say, was waiting at the dour, The personage was a young woman, one who was ratber good looking, and who appeared to be slightly nervous in her manner, She eyed Harry clcsely as he approached the door. ‘** Do you belong here?” she asked, when Harry unlocked the door, ‘* Yes, ma’m,” was the response, to see Mr, Weston, ma’m?” ‘¢' Yes, Can you tell me when he will be in?” ‘Expect himatany moment, Will you come in and wait for him?’ ‘‘ Yes; for it is quite important that I should see him ag soon as possible,” She entered and took a chair, and there the waited in silence for the coming of the chief, Happy Harvy eager to learn what the new case might be. “ Waiting CHAPTER VII, BILLY REAPS RICHLY, IN the mean time Broadway Billy, conversing with Horace Shyrock, had gone with him to his place of business, He bad endeavored to get something out of the young man that would serve him as a clue, but had been unable to do so. It was evident tbat Horace knew no more about his father’s secret business than any one else, Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. I OOS eee eee ~ ' ing, and he was willing to give him the bene of a doubt. Billy was shown into the young man’s private | office, and Horace excused himself. He was not gone long, and when he returned,, said: ‘‘ Now, Mr. Weston, I am at leisure, and am ready to answer as many questions as you want to put to me,” : ‘‘ Well, sir, I have asked a good many already,” responded Billy, ‘‘ but have not been repaid for the pains. Itis clear that you are as much in the dark as I am myself, so far.” “T guess you are right in saying that.” ‘¢-'You have said you are not aware that your father had an enemy; that you do not know, anything of his secret movements; and in fact, nothing about him that is not known to every- body else who knew him at all well.” ‘That is about the size of it.” ‘*T suppose you remember well enough when your father opened his branch store in Phila- delphia?” ‘* Ob, yes,” ‘‘ It was about twelve years ago?” ; ‘“Yes, about that long, if I remember right.” ‘‘Can you recall persons who were your father’s most intimate friends at that time?” ‘‘ Going away back there to strike the trail, eh?” ‘‘T see you readily guess my purpose. Yes,, that is my idea, for it has only been since about that time he has been absenting himself from. home,” ** And you think you can find the in rere : of the motive? Well, you may be right, but am afraid you have come tothe wrong person to get your start. You know I was only a boy then.” ‘Yes, Iknow, but some boys at twelve are not by any means idiots,” ‘‘ Well, Lcan recalla few friends whom my father had at that time, but some of them are dead now.” ‘* Name them.” ‘There was Judge Grow, now dead; and Mr. Henry Wade, whereabouts unknown; and John Davids, dead; and—and—Gaffner Stiverson, the banker now. That’s about all I can bring to mind.” ‘“‘ Gaffner Stiverson, eh?” ‘Yes, I know they used to be very friendly, and I suppose they are so still, or were before father disappeared.” : ‘Do the two families visit?” ‘‘WNo: it was nothing more than a business friendship, I guess; favors done for each other at different times.” ‘‘ Then it is possible, were Stiverson well, that he would be able to throw a little light upon the matter,” “Very likely he could tell you something that might help you.” ‘Then I must make it my business to see him when he can be seen‘at all, if [ cannot learn in any other way. Well, I won’t trouble you further, Mr. Shyrock, or you will tire of me.” ‘‘ No danger of that; call again, Mr, Weston; and, if anything turns up, I'll let you know at once,’ A few more words, and Billy took his leave. He had gained his object, namely, to get the name of some one with whom Mr. Shyrock had been intimate in the old time. ) It was unfortunate for the caso that Mr, Sti- verson was sick, but yet fortunate that Billy bad another case on hand in which he bad inter- est. It would probably give him opportunity to see the man as soon as well enough, When he reached the office he found Harry and the young woman there. He glanced around for Seth, but made no in- quiry for him before this stranger, and Harry quickly said: ‘¢ This, madam, is Mr, Weston.” Billy made her a bow, with the remark: ‘* Did you want to see me?” ‘‘Ves, sir, if you are the gentleman called Broadway Billy.” ‘That is my handy name,” Billy admitted, with a smile, ‘*‘ And it was you’ who were recently at Mrs. Shyrock’s?” té Yes,” ‘* Well, I am Miss Shyrock, I did not see you, but mamma told me you had been there,” “Then vou have come. with some news of your missing father?” ‘*No, not so, but on another matter entirely. You heve heard of the ‘robbery of Mr, Stiver- When they arrived at Horace’s store, Billy | gon’s bank?” was invited in, and accepted, for he wanted to size up the young man leisurely, His first opinion of him had not been flatter- $6 Vue.) “ And that his chief clerk bas been arrested?” ‘6 Yes,* 900 ¥ 4 an > b » “” ¥ ; Rone i~ \