Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 821 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

& cy“ Yes, seein’ that it’s daylight, but you couldn’t git me to stop there at night fer a farm. And if it was late, then you wouldn’t ketch me comin’ this road, I tell ye.” ‘‘ Have you seen the ghost, then?” *“T guess I have!” ‘*Ah! this is interesting. like?” ‘* A big white thing, allin a blue smoke, and its voice is enough to raise the hair on your head.” P They stopped under the great old tree, and by the gates. ‘* Where did you see it?” Mr. Kyne asked. ‘* Right there by the big vault, sir.’’ ‘‘Didit come out of the vault, do you think?” ‘*T cidn’t stop to ask it, sir,” witha laugh. ‘‘T had business at home, and I got there as soon as I could,” “The door of the vault looks rusty.” ‘ Oh, yes, it is; they say it hasn’t been opened in sixty years, and I guess it’s so, too. They couldn’t get it open now, no- how.” _** Well, drive on, hunting to-day.” The man laughed, and they rode on to Granton, the man pointing out the Ruins as they passed a point where it could be seen. At Granton inquiry was made for Mr. Lycurgus, and he was found in the village hotel. The Englishman had his driver put up the horse, being just then unable to say when he would want to return to Brisbane. He entered the hotel with Lycurgus. * You are, I am told, in the employ of Mr. Germain, the man who is known here as tke Mad Chemist,” Billy broke the ice. “Yes, sir,”. Lycurgus answered, at the same.time favoring the stranger with a searching look, **T have already introduced myself, and now I will make known my business, I have come to try to buy Mr. Germain’s place. Do you think he will sell?” ** You are just in time, sir, for I happen to know that he desires to sell the place.” ‘* Indeed! then I am in luck.” “Yes, if you want the place, you are, Have you seen it?” ‘* Only from the road, as we came along. ae you know what price will be asked for t?y | ‘* No; but as the man wants to sell as soon as he can, perhaps you can get it at quite a bargain.” : *‘T hope I can, if I find the place suits, or I think it would suit. And let me tell you something, will you?” “‘ Yes, anything you like.” ‘* If you will use your best efforts to get a low price on it, I'l! slip a hundred or so into our hand for your trouble,” ‘*T’ll do that. But, who is this Lord Duf- ferin?" ; What is it I don’t care to go ghost- =- +a es * le ated - co - 4 Ow ’ aT > ows é > é se a sh te endl . e+ Broadway Billy’s Bluff. ‘** Zen sell it to him, but do not bother me in my studies.” ‘Come with me,” the secretary requested, at that, and he led the way to a door on the other side of the room, The Englishman followed him promptly, and was conducted into a small room that had the appearance of being a sitting-room, or resting-room, It was neatly furnished, having easy-chairs and lounges, but there was not a book or paper of any kindin it. It was evidently what it appeared,a place of retreat from books and study. Sit down,” Lycurgus invited, closing the door. ‘He indicated a chair, and took one himself quite near it ‘‘“You see just how mad the man is, now,” he spoke. ‘‘He is -so deep in his books that I might give away everything he has got and it would be all right,” ‘‘He is fortunate in having an_ honest secretary, | would say,” the Englishman re- marked. “Yes, indeed!” laughing, ‘It would be easy to rob him, if one cared to do that, The other men do play upon him terribly, but he seems not to care.”’ ‘* Well, he bas given you leave to sell the place, I find?” ‘“ Yes; what will you give for it?” ‘* What do you ask?” ‘Twelve thousand dollars, nine thousand to the owner and three to me for the bargain I am offering you,” ‘© Tt isn’t worth it.” ‘Tf you don't take it at that figure and on those terms, then the price is fifteen thou- sand cash, hard money down.” ‘Whew! And that is the best you will do?” ‘“The best. Do you want to see the place before you decide?” “ Yes, and then I will report to m’lord. But, I want to make my own bit out of the transaction, don’t ye know.” ‘‘ Make the price thirteen thousand, then, and you can have one, Wait a moment and I'll get help to take you through the place, and let you see just what it is,” ‘That will work if m’lord will stand it. lll see what I can do with him. I hope I can trust you not to say anything about this little private understanding between us.” ‘*Of course you can trust me.” ‘The secretary had risen while speaking | and moved to the door, and now stepped out into the other room. The door closed after him with a spring, and the Englishman looked about the room while alone as though taking considerable in- terest in his surroundings, As soon as the door had closed the secre- tary stepped to the Mad Chemist. “ T suspect this fellow,” he said, | | ‘Well, make sure, then,” was the re- now, man gasped. ‘‘I don’t understand you. Are you, too, mad? You surely must be- What do you mean?” ‘CHAPTER XII, IN A TIGHT PLACE NOW. Tue secretary to the Mad Chemist had risen from his chair, and stood peering dowm into the face of his helpless prisoner, We have heard from his own lips what his: suspicion was, but.the man before him cer- tainly did not bear a very striking resem-~- blance to Broadway Billy. He had reddish hair, a decidedly freckleé face, and thesclothes he wore bore the un- mistakable impress of Piccadilly, And them too, his mannerism of speech was decidedly English, - The Mad Chemist himself came in just then. ‘* Well?” he demanded, shortly. | ‘ T'll be hanged if I know,” Lycurgus nad to admit. ‘Well, you bave done it now, anyhow.” “Yes, you are right, and we'll have te hold him till we can clear ourselves of dan- ger,” "What can you mean?” the Englishman asked, in great alarm now, ‘* What was the reason for making me a_ prisoner like this? Are you a band of robbers here?” “Oh, no!’ Lycurgus assured. ‘* But, we took you to be a foe of ours, in a disguise, and we wanted to be sure of it before we. let you get out of our hands, I suppose you cau prove who you are?” ‘Why, to be sure, sir... Come with me to New York, where m’lord is stopping, and see what he’ll tell you.” ** And get ourselves in a fix for this bit of work, eh?” ‘‘ How do you mean?” ‘“Why, you would have us arrested for this trick we have played on you, and there. we would be,” ‘“No, ‘pon me honor I would not.” | ‘You say so, but that don’t make it, so, No, we'll have to detain neh here a few days,... till we can attend to a little private — ‘business, when you will be set at liberty.” ‘“No, no, good sirs! I cannot remain away over night. M’‘lord would dismiss me if I did that, and I should be out of a situation,” ‘‘ What made you suspect the fellow?’ the — | Mad Chemist demanded. ‘His eyes. They are too keen for that kind of a face, or that was what I thought. about them,” The Mad Chemist himself stepped forward, _ at that, and looked more closely at the pris- oner, | “The eyes of a cow,” he said disdainfully, — “You ited ere ete them flash,” rejoined the secretary. call it.” | ‘*£ Well, it won’t be much trouble to see ‘They are asleepnow, asd ‘ [can give you his lineage from away back, if that is what you mean; but I do not think it is,.so ll say simply that he is an Englishman of position and wealth, who in- tenis to settle in this country for a year or two, or during the great Fair.” * “Oh! that makes it. plain. Well, let’s ride out and see the place.” _ “That is what I would like to do.” _ Lycurgus provided the conveyance, and _ in due time they were at the Ruins. - - « Tt was a grand old place, or could be made such, with a reasonable outlay of money in addition to what the Mad Chemist had ‘spent. +’. + They entered, a man taking charge of the horse, and the stranger was conducted to a room where the Mad Chemist was found, his black cap on his head and himself deeply _ buried in books. | \ “A man to see you about buying the place, sir,” the secretary spoke in English, — -_ ** Res zat all?” the chemist asked, — _ ** Yes, that is all.”’- sponse. ; ‘‘And if I find I’m right, what then?” ‘¢ We'll hold him.” ‘Allright. Ill trap him now.” ‘‘T'll come in when you have done that.” Lycurgus stepped back into the little room again, and sat down as before, ‘*Mr. Germain will go with us,” he spoke. ‘Just keep your seat till he comes, if you please.” ‘Of a sudden, as the ‘fellow spoke, steel , arms circled around from behind the heavy, old-faShioned chair in which the Englishman sat, and he was helplessly bound to his seat, barely able to move. ‘“Wh—what means this?” he gasped, in exclamation, ‘‘ Wh—whatdoes it mean? I take it you are playing a joke on me,” ‘No joke about it, Broadway Billy!” was the response. ‘* You are our prisoner for the present. I suspect you, and we are not or a s ray + 4.9 e * © ed Pig ‘pals SEES s a a if whether the man is in disguise or not, that is certain, for you have seen the other and you ought to decide,” The secretary laid hold upon the prisoner's red hair, at that, and pulled, " It did not yield, and he was about to let- go when he felt something give way and off came a wig in his hand, Saas 6 The hair it disclosed underneath was black, and the freckled face stood out in ridiculous: contrast to it. Exclamations of surprise es- caped both men, as they looked. . - ‘*T was not ROBE: after all, you seé,’” Lycurgus cried boastfully. ‘* 'This is Broad- , way Billy, in spite of all disguise. Wehave got you now, you detective bloodhound! Your conning hasn’t served you this lay. You have put your foot in it now, sure.” ~ 0.00 “Do you think so?” was coolly asked. It was Billy, of course. a ‘We don’t only think it, but we knowit. = 9 taking any chances with you, you see. 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