Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 815 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

fect died ie A ss a = Pe & ’ * ——_ e Tepe, yy ber, {rR ~~~ — ae 8 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. ‘Why did he not have this and the ticket with the bulk of it, then?” ‘*That’s so, it does look queer; I hadn’t thought of it that way atall. Itis funny.” ‘*Then you think he is innocent?” asked the officer. ‘© Yes, I do,” Billy asserted. ** Might he not have had this small sum by him just for ready money, and maybe sent the rest on ahead of him.” ‘* Possible, but not probable, It looks to me like a put-up job on him,” ** You don’t say!” ** Yes, I do.” ** Who could ’a’ done that?” **Oh, I don’t pretend to say that; it’s only a ee ell illy was looking sharply at the man Jones, but had to believe him innocent. His face had only a look of innocent surprise. And the boy Jack, he was still slightly pale, so that need not signify anything important. ‘*] never knew Willey had a foe in the world,” said Jones, ‘‘and even if he had, how could he open the bank, avd least of all, the safe? That is the sticker.” **That is one of the points to be found out, But, if Willey had intended robbing the safe and skipping for Canada, would he not have taken the money and got away as quickly and as quietly as possible?” ‘That does look mere reasonable, come to think of it,” the policeman admitted, as did Jones, “The fact of the matter is, the plotter has overreached himself,” Billy added. ‘Well, I hope you are right, and that you can prove him innocent,” Jones declared, earnestly. ‘** It remains to be seen,” rejoined Billy. ‘' By the way, officer, who was the detective who was here and took charge of the case?” The policeman gave his name, and with his new items of information Bully took his leave, He had a suspicion in mind that Master Jack was in the plot. CHAPTER IX, SETH STRIKES A SNAG, Srmurnt SETH lost no time in getting back to the neigliiborhood of the bank. In truth, he bad not left the neighborhood, so that word hardly fits; but no matter, He and Harry had come away only a short distance, not more than a few blocks, and he was back again in a few minutes, A little later, however, would have been too late, for bis man was juss leaving the bank when he got there, and Seth saw him look care- fully up and down the street as he came down the steps. Seth kept right on toward him at a moderate gait, The man favored him with a passing glance as he paused at the last step, but immediately turned and went away. The Silent Shadower kept on after him, as though be had no aim in view in his walk, yet appearing to pay no attention to anything as he paased along. R>viston’s destination was the Stiverson man- sion. Seth managed his game so well that he fol- lowed him all the way without arousing a sus- picion, as he believed. There he was done, though, for think as he would he could devise no plan by which to gain entrance to learn anything of the man’s busi- ness there, Robiston was in the house about half an hour. When he resppeared Seth bad changed his dis- guise enough to escape\detection as the same person the man had seen when leaving the bank, and was successful in keeping his manin sight to the store of Horace Shyrock,. On the way there be bad made up his mind to ous thing, and that was, that he had not per- formed much work of any value thus far. What would it benefit his chief to know mere- ly that Robiston had paid a visit to the Stiver- son mansion? He was determined, if possible, to learn more at the next place of destination. When he saw his man enter the store, be thought: ‘* Well, there he has gone, and how am I going to carry out my resolve? If Igo in there [ll have to have an excuse for doing so, and what will it be?” That puzzled him, W bile trying to hatch up something that would answer the purpose he had gone on leisurely to He turned in, without having as yet made up his mind to anything definite, and as he did soa card in one of the windows caught his eye, “SHIPPING CLERK WANTED,” He had it! Entering boldly he looked around him in his ever cool and calm manner, taking note of every- thing to be seen, He saw Robiston and Horace Sbyrock taiking together a little at one side, and knew their con- versation kad but fairly begun, since Robiston bad entered only a minute or so abead of him, He was not left long alone to reflect, for a clerk came forward to him, ‘¢ Something I can do for you?” he asked, ‘*Do you want ashipping clerk?” asked Seth in return. ‘* Yes,” was the rejoinder. job” ‘* Thought I’d see about it,” ‘‘ Very well, that gentleman there is the pro- prietor; he will attend to you as soon as he Is at leisure.” ** All rizhbt.” The clerk left Seth with that, and Seth moved slowly over in the direction of where Robiston and young Shyrock were standing. He was looking at the goods displayed.as be did so, and it would have been hard for any one there to have guessed his real object, Seth was careful when on & case, It was not long ere he was near enough to hear what was being said, ‘‘ Tho same boys?” he heard Horace question, ‘* Yes, the same,” ** Do you want the about it, I tell you that.” “Don't see why you need be,” ‘¢ Maybe I wouldn't, if it was anybody else but Broadway Billy.” ‘ ea dae own you are afraid of him?” , do, ‘Vou are getting frightened before you are hurt, What harm can he do you, I should like to know?” ‘*So would I, too. You know what that fel- low is, the very.devil at springing surprises, and that is what makes me uneasy aboutit, How is it he is mixed up in things so soon?” ‘* My belief is that you are neadlessly alarm- ed. Maybe the story the lads told was straigbt,” ‘*Maybe it was; it is the uncertainly that troubles me,” ‘¢ Well, I don’t mean to go into mourning till somebody dies, that is sure; you may do as you please about it.” a We must see the young fellow as soon as we ar hy?” ‘* He looks weak and will need bracing up.” ‘6 Don’t think he will blow out, do you?” ‘*No, maybe not that; but it wouldn’t take much pulling to draw him out or muchcfa scare to scare bim out, either.” ‘*That must not be allowed, We'll meet him promptly at the time and place we named, and give him something to put in his pocket to lend him courage. Too bad we had to use him.” “You are right; but his own safety will make it necessary for bim to keep a still tongue.” Just then Horace observed Seth. ‘* What do you want, young fellow?’ he de- manded, Seth tarned himself around in his slow way and looked at the questioner, ‘* Speak to me?” he asked. ‘*'Yes,” Weil, I see by the sign in the window that you want a shipping clerk,” ** And you want the job?” ‘‘ That’s according to—” ** To what?” ‘What there isin it.” | **Oh! Well, sit down there, and I'll talk with you presently,” He indicated a chair that was a little further away than where Seth had been standing, so the Silent Shadower learned no more from their conversation then. What he did note, however, was that Robiston: cast a glance in his direction now and again, and he half feared that he had been recognized. That suspicion, however, was presently brushed away. : Tae two men finally shook hands, and Robiston took his leave, — , Shvrock then turned to Seth, saying: ‘* Now, sir, come with me into the office and I'll talk with you about the position.” Seth rose and followed him, se . rock closed the door but did not latch it, leaving it about an inch ajar. The Silent Shadower noted it, but thought nothing of it, It was probably his way of leaving the door, he thought, and thought nothing further about it. ‘* Now, then, what is your name?” the young merchant asked, ** Mart Sethin, sir.” ** How old?” “ Twenty.” ** You look young, even with a mustache,” ‘‘ Twenty isn’t very old,” “That’s true. Well, what experience have you had?” ‘** None,” Seth wanted to be refused the place as quickly as possible, He wanted to be off after Robiston, to take up the trail again, He would have followed bim from the store at once, but to have done so, he thought, would have been to arouse the suspicions of young Shyrock, and that he did not want to do. “What!” the young merchant exclaimed. ‘You come to get a place in a line of business you know nothing about!” ** Rverybody has totearn, sir, and I thought I could pick it up pretty quick, as your store is nota big one. If you don’t want me, though, Pll go—” The door opened and Robiston stepped in, Silent Seth felt at once that he was in for it, that he had been recognized after all. Robinston closed the door after him, and secured it, ‘* Well, what have you got to say this time?” he demanded, looking keenly at Silent Seth. ‘‘T don’t know what you mean, sir,” Seth re- spouded, blankly, as cool as ice in bis manner, “That won’t go down, sonny, for I know yov,” cried the other. ‘* You can’t fool me again.” Seth looked at Shyrock in a wondering wey. . ‘* What does he mean?” he asked. ‘YT guess he'll tell you fast enough,” was the stern, grim answer, “Yes, I will tell you,” cried Robiston, ‘I mean that you are ove of Broadway Billy’s cubs, and that I mean to know why you are shadow- ing me,” Seth was now upon his feet, but there was no chance for escape. ‘‘Are yon crazy, sir? or am I dreaming?” he asked, in the most puzzled manner he could assume, ) ‘‘] begin to believe it is a mistake, Beau- mont,” young Shyrock spoke up, Setu’s playing had convinced bim, ‘* Well, you can bet I’m going to be sure before Ilose him,” cried the other, showing he had a doubt himself, HHe stepped forward, and before Seth could guess bis intention bad laid hold upon his false mustache and pulled it sharply, and it came off in bis hand, ‘* Ha! what did I tell you?” he cried, “That was a pretty quick shave, anyhow,” observed Seth, quietly. The two men confronted him menacingly, but tbe cool lad did not show the least degree of alarm, CHAPTER X. HARRY AND SETH DISHED. WaxEN Happy Harry left the office with his latest commission, he set off in the direction of Horace Shyrock’s store. This was a case that was not proving exciting enough to suit his taste, but he was determined to get all the interest out of it that was to be had, at the same time doing his best work in . Billy’s behalf. ‘*Christopher Columbia!” he exclaimed to himself by the way, ‘‘I wish something would turn up to make ’er whoop. It would be a relief to get into a consarned diffikilty, if notbin’ more. S’pose it would be a relief to get out again, too; it ’most always is,” He was in disguise, as we know, but all the same when he drew near to his destination he began to use caution, Glancing at the oumbers, he picked out the store before he came to it. As he drew nearer a sudden surprise was sprung upon him, or sprung itself upon him—to be exact, Beaumont Robiston came out of the store and turned down the street toward the avenue from which Harry had just come, and a meeting seemed certain. Harry felt secure from recognition, and kept steadily on. “ic | a It does look queer, that’s the fact.” ‘And it is just so queer that lam uneasy a rr ee Oe eee eee | : the store. When they entered the little office young Shy- | At the same time he was looking around for : ee a7 2 ; aa Comicbooks.com |