Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 821 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

Harry laughed at that. “Till bet if you get a fair crack at that eye, boss, you will put it to sleep, sure ” ‘“'There’s one thing in the way, now,” Billy mused. ‘* What is that?” ‘“*T can’t get out to Brisbane without their knowing it.” ‘‘ What's the odds? You can throw them off the track, with your disguises, and they'll have to get up early to get onto you,” ‘“'That’s all right, but we have to allow for a full complement of brains on the other side every time, Harry, boy. They may be sharper than Iam myself, you know, and that would be odds against me.” ‘It’s a pisk you will have to take, though, boss.” ‘‘ Haven’t you a plan, Seth?” ‘‘ Well, I don't pretend to be brainy,” an- swered Seth, ** but 1 would suggest a straight trip to Granton first, and then a disguise next time.” ‘“And get killed the first time,” objected Harry, ‘‘and the second trip would have to be laid on the table indefinitely, as the Al- bany reporters get it in when they show up doings that way.” “That is my plan, though,” Billy as- sured, ‘* More proof that Seth is the brains of the concern. Well, I dan’t. care, I’m the tongue,” ‘* Yes, that is what [’ll do,” Billy repeated. ‘‘[ see there is a train out in about forty minutes, so [ll make ready and take that. Pll be back again‘to-morrow if nothing hap- ens.” <a And you want us to keep house, of course,” Harry remarked. ‘Certainly; keep the office open till clos- ing time, and open it again in the morning as usual.” * We'll keep it straight, you bet!” “ And, if I do not return, but want you, I will telegraph to you here, using the usual cipher,” ‘“KXerreck, boss.” ‘What if you do not return, and we do not hear from you?’ asked Seth. ‘‘ Hello! Brainsey has spoken again,” ex- claimed Harry. ‘‘ Had somethin’ to say, too, like he always does,” “In that case,” Billy answered, ‘‘ you will know something~has gone wrong. Il tell you; if you have not heard from me by to- morrow this time, you will know that some- thing has happened, and you will have busi- ness at Brisbane and Granton.” ‘“There, now we have got it as straight as a string,” asseverated Harry. ‘‘ And if we do have business out there, you bet we'll make things hum, boss, till we find rou,” : ‘But, you will have to use caution—ex- ceeding caution—not to get into trouble.” ‘We'll try to, you bet; anyhow I will, and Vi) ae to keep Seth under my wing.” ‘ak was preparing for his trip while they talked. ; Presently everything had been arranged, and.the young detective chief took his leave. ‘Well, what do ye think of it, Seth?” queried Harry, when he had gone, -“T think there is business ahead,” was the answer, von ‘‘So do I, you bet! and | think we are go. ing to come in for a share of it, if my fever don't lie. J tell you what, Sethy, old boy, we are in this combination to win, every time What say?” ‘We are here to silent partner replied. _ Broadway Billy had not been gone a great while when u stranger entered the office. He was @ man about thirty years of age, cer. tainly not any younger; well dressed, and one who would have passed muster for good acoks, | do our little best,” the : / , * < ‘ Broadway Billy’ s Bluff | ‘“This is the office of Weston, the de- tective?” he made inquiry. ‘* Yes, sir,” he was answered. ‘*But, Mr. Weston is not in, I take it?” ‘* No, sir; he has gone away.” ‘When will he return?” ‘* We look for him back to-morrow, sir.” “To-morrow, eh? ‘That will be pretty late for this case.”’ ‘“ Did you want to engage him?” inquired Seth. 6 | «Yes, if I could get him at once; as it is, I suppose I must look for some one else.” ‘‘Just as you think about that, sir; you might leave your name and address, and give us an idea of the work required, and we will inform the chief when he returns,” ‘‘Where did you say he has gone?” “We didn’t say yet,” answered Harry. The man smiled, ‘ ‘“‘IT see you are sharp, youngsters,” he re- marked. ‘‘ Well, I will do as you suggest in the matter.” ‘ All right, sir; here are writing materials; sit down and write whatever you have to say, and we’ll see that he gets it.” Silent Seth said that, offering Billy’s chair, and putting out pen.and paper for the man to use. At the same time, the silent partner caught Harry’s eye and signaled, Harry took the hint and was quiet, Won- dering, ‘“q don't know that it’s necessary to write what I have to say,” the man said, musingly. ‘‘ You boys can tell him, .can’t you?” “ Certainly, sir,” assumed Seth. ‘‘ You will want to write down your name and ad- dress, though, so there can be no mistake about that.”’ ‘* Yes, that’s true. But, what’s the differ- ence?—Ill jot down the points of the case while I’m about it.” He sat. down, took up the pen, and wrote rapidly for a few moments. © ‘‘There,” he observed presently, getting up, ‘‘that is ail I need say. If he can take the case, ask him to telegraph at once to that address. He may telegraph anyhow, so I will know.” ‘ ‘* All right, sir,” said Seth. it.” Both Seth and Harry had noticed one thing, and that was, that this man had eyed them both sharply, as though fixing their features in his mind, He exchanged some further brief remarks with them, and took his leave from the office. ‘Follow him, Harry, and see where he goes,” advised Seth. ‘Then we'll know if this is a fake.”’ : “You think it is one?” Harry asked, making haste with a disguise. -** Yes, I do; I believe this has something to do with the very case the boss has taken in hand,” ‘*Christopher Columbia! you don’t say so! What makes you think that? You are a seer, that’s what you are; secing a mare’s nest in every bush. | ‘No time now to explain; tell you all when you come back. Get a move on you. Can't both go. This writing is just like that of the note the boss got before he went away, and I think this is the man who wrote that note. Git!” ‘“You bet! Crackers an’ cheese! if that’s the case we are going to get into this thing clear up to our ears, and don’t you forget it! Now I’m ready, and he ain’t more’n at the bottom of the stairs. The jeebeeb will have him jeebed on his kos in about two jeebs of a jeebung! Selah!’ CHAPTER IV. BILLY MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE, Wirn that Happy Harry was off, leaving Silent Seth reading over again the brief note the stranger had left. ‘* We'll see to : ‘Tl bet I am not mistaken,” the } Shadower mused, ‘‘ I'll bet this is the vel party who sent the other note, and if that is: the case, there are two of tiem. One has. followed the chief; the other has played this. dodge to get a look at me and Harry.” This was the note the stranger Lad left: “To Mr. WESTON:— ‘You are wa’ ted in Hartford to take charze f a mysterious case, murder and robb ry tog the . Desire you to come, bringing your as-istants, as- quickly as possible. Telegraph immeJiately up on receipt of this whether you can take the case or not,. ** HENRY RUBERT, ‘* No. — —— street.”’ ‘‘Yes, sir-ee, that is a fake, right on the face of it,” Seth further mused, talking more to himself than he would have done had he. not been alone. ‘‘ That reads as if it had been sent by telegraph, and in such a case it would have been sent that way, too; this. fellow lacks a button somewhere. We'll get onto his haze, I’m betting, before he goes: far.” He settled down to await the return of Happy Harry. It was about closing time when Harry bounded into the office with a whoop. ‘‘ Christopher Columbia!” was his shout, “vou were right, Seth, an’ you "most always: are! The fellow set sail for Brisbane!” ‘‘T knew it!” declared Seth, warmly . for him. ‘They are overreaching themselves: in fine style this time.” ‘* What was the note he left?” Seth showed it to him. ‘ That’s the fellow!” Harry decided, ‘‘ It is the same writing as the note the boss got ‘fore he wentaway. ‘The fellow hasn't got all his harness on, that’s what is the matter with’ him.” ‘* He don’t know us,” Seth suggested. ‘“You are right; he don’t, for a nickel’s worth!” But our interest lies in following their chief. Billy took the train for Brisbane at the hour in licated on the time-table. About the time the train started a young man Gai ne into the car and sat down in the seat with the young detective, and opening & paper, began to read, Billy noted that he had passed one vacant seat, and two or three that -had but one occu- pant, so he made up his mind this person had taken the seat beside him for a purpose. And, too, he at once connected him with the — warning message he had received. The train started, and for some time the young man read his newspaper attentively; then he found occasion to turn the paper, and, in doing so, hit Billy’s arm. ‘‘T beg pardon, sir,” he made haste to apologize. ‘‘No damage done,” Billy assured, ‘Going far, sir?’ : ‘* Brisbane.” ‘‘Ha! that so? That’s my destination. We have to change at the junction, Isuppose | : you are aware,” ‘That was w not sure about it, I never worry much about changes till I hear them announced. It’s the conductor’s business to see that lL ae ; . go straight.” ‘“‘ Yes, so it is all the same.” ‘“Do you live at Brisbane?” sé Yes.” ‘‘Large place?’ ‘Eight or ten thousand,” ‘* Quite a place, then. from there?” “ About eight miles. Are vo to that place to night? Youll fiu some road. “ Yes, I’m going out there. ; but people often go astray , going out hand to this fellow, believin taken the seat purposely to draw him into | » € hat I understood, but I was | d ita one- —— ~<+ How faris Granton ) Iam going 4 on a matter of business.” : eee Billy designedly intended to show his the man had —