Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 821 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Cal - ce At first glance they might have been taken ' _~ forman and wife, but a close observer would have soon decided otherwise. They had met at the ferry, and in the train occupied one seat as far as the Junction, when, after changing cars, the man went into another car and they did not exchange recognitions afterward. The woman was well dressed, fair looking, and her face showed intelligence and her speech no lack of education. When they had taken their seat in the car, on beginning their journey, the woman asked: ‘* Well, what success?” ‘*Excellent,” the man made answer. “And so had J,” the woman rejoined, ‘though I don’t know whether it amounts to anything or not.” ‘“ You followed him, then?’ ‘Yes, as well as a woman could. It would have been better had not the dread of recognition stood in our way.” ‘‘No doubt it would, but still I found no trouble in following the woman. She came to the city for the purpose of employing a detective, and was successful in finding one.”’ ‘Do you think he is one to be feared?” “Tt was no other than Broadway Billy, you have read about in the papers more or ' less.” “Then there is danger ahead, is there not?” ** Not for us.” ‘* And why not for us, if danger at all?” ** Because, what can he do? He will be bafiled, the same as others have been. The job will try his grit, I tell you.” ‘Do youknow when he is going to begin the work?” ‘He is on this train.” “Indeed!” “Yes, But, what about your work? Did you find out anything to his hurt? Or any- thing that you could use to your advan- tage?” -‘*Nothing. He came here on _ business, that was plain enough, and when that was done he idled away the time till he came down to the ferry. I had success in follow- ing him, but little in learning anything.” ‘Then he, too, is on this train?’ ‘¢ Yes,.’ “Tl see if Ican find him. No matter Tf he should recognize me, I have all the rights here he can have,” He left his seat and walked through the train, and upon returning, reported that he had found the man in conversation with the detective. How they had come to know each other did not appear. . CHAPTER VII. TAKING UP THE NEW CASE. Broapway Bry arrived at his office about an hour late on the following morn- aS = he : - Le am 2s SES » sare 4. ‘ vi eo +. . * ER LeT Os WET ee Bsc : ova 2 . a) Py J at; op a Masts’ wy) 5 APS RAF vO Le CPt es - : ‘) oe 4. ‘ “ s -— “Nae Ne 5 £15 § oe + a , ae PEO PRIRTT ~ 4 7. = is o “h- 4a Fi mer a s Oat. ot a Et Pour PISA A J p et * 7 my, , b¥-or / Aa: me 7 + ‘a * an A, ing. mi He found Harry and Seth there awaiting him, and both eager to learn what he had " en ek accomplished, though Harry was the only one to show it. ** We have been waitin’ for you, boss,” Harry assured, the moment Billy entered, ‘“We knew ye had got home, but mother - gaid she wouldn’t call you till you got up » yourself.” oe -- < ** T was tate apuing in, and took an extra pee -* hour’ or. 80. 2 you the little I.have learned.” Se ae gave his apprentices the main points of his night's adventures. ~~ ¢*Christopher Columbia!” ejaculated Harry. “Didn't [ say there might be a'ghost in the case? We have tackled ghostseys before, and I guess we'll tackle this one.”’ _ ~- ** Yes, you are right we will,” asserted the _ chief. ‘My getting frightened off was a eI NG 9% Tite ort ee “in a oD. ST: TT irate = " > , “s ¥ . « at ¥ ort le ’ - ad So yee a4 i ne TY MASS “5 ' = an? : se a, ’ gid sh ~ oun ; it ar W*) A. 4 4 ne 7. ae - By a - ~ ' 4 - = b — >. ‘\ a, eh ‘? \ A é ‘ o's ie, ~, ra * of ee j oe ee ty blind, as of course you understand.”’ __ **We understand that. But, boss, see this eae ’ ¥ -__. = oe Sei Pithite LAK tS * ba 4 j ‘; pT rae ey ell, sit down and I will tell | } | Sy wel Dig PES tm Nias = om : . 4 a aes BS . - —— * Broadway Billy’s Bluff. He gave Billy the message that had been left for him by the man who had come in soon after his going’ away on the previous afternoon. ‘This is a queer note,” Billy observed, as he read it. ‘‘ It is more like a telegram.” “That's jest what Seth and I said. And that’s why we called it a sham.” ‘‘As I certainly think it is.”’ | The boys then gave their chief a full account of the visitor, as well as a descrip- tion of him. ‘But, one of you followed him, did you not?” Billy asked. ~ ‘Oh, sure!” “Well?” ‘Te went to the ferry,” Harry informed, ‘‘and there he fell in with a woman and they took the train for Brisbane.”’ ‘Took the train at the criticized. ferrics—” “Oh, you know what I mean,” Harry interrupted, ‘‘ I crossed the ferry with ’em, to give it to ye right down, and I saw ’em take the same train you did,” ‘Ah! that is getting at it in better shape. Did. they appear to pay any attention to me?” “The man had his eye on you, and there was another fellow that the woman seemed to have interest in.” Broadway Billy was thoughtful. “What are you going to do?” asked Seth, ‘What would you do, were you chief?” ‘Wonder you wouldn’t ask me what Jd do, once in awhile,” complained Harry; but it was only a joke, as his smiling and happy face betrayed. ‘Very well, what would you do?” silly turned the question upon him so quickly that Harry was trapped, “Why, I think I’d lay my plans for going out there in disguise to begin the business.in dead earnest.” ‘‘ Just what Pm going to do. your say.” . “Well,” spoke the Silent Shadower, ‘I think I’d go to Hartford in response to this message.” ‘ “My own idea exactly,” Billy admitted. “There is a big combination here some- where, and now that we have begun to play into their hands we'll play right on and let them have all the rope they want,” ‘‘But you won't waste time to go clear to Hartford?” questioned Harry, ““We start for there at once,” was Billy’s answer. ‘‘Get ready our things, and while you are doing that I’ll write some letters ” ‘* Guess I see through it,” Harry remarked. “We'll go there on a blind, but bend our trail toward Brisbane. Are you going to telegraph, as the man wanted you to do, boss?” : “ Yes; since that isa part of their plan, we'll fail in with it, Just ring up a messen- er.” : Their preparations went forward at once, with careful haste, and when a messenger came a telegram was sent to the address given by the man, saying the combination would take the train at eleven o’clock, A notice was posted on the office door, stating that the detective had gone to Hart- ford, but would he back again in a few days. That done, the trio set out, Billy posted several letters at the nearest box, and at eleven o'clock apey were on @ train and rolliug out from the Grand Central, The talkative Harry had had but little to say, for him, up to this time, since leaving the office. : He was now able to hold in no longer, ‘Christopher Columbia!” he exclaimed, “You ain't really goin’ to Hartford, aresye, boss?” : . » ‘*That’s where we are bound for, Harry,” Billy assured, b ferry, eh?” Billy “Things have changedeat the Now, Seth, | «But, I thought it was only a sham.” | Serr, +; chtae'D v. wire | é* ~ ” 7 La i ; waht Mie rea 7 s a ‘Tt does not look like it, does it?” ‘* No, bless me if it does, But, you mean to get off at some way-station and turn back.” _ ‘‘No, we are going through, the same as we telegraphed, and we are going to take the case, if we find there is one to take. What do we want to be hunting ghosts for?’ There was, however, a merry twinkle in Billy’s eyes. , Silent Seth was as sphinx-like as ever, ‘Crackers an’ cheese!’ Harry expostula- ted. *‘ You will have a fmeral on your hands the first ‘thing you know, boss. I can't never stand thjs fever that’s ragin’ in my blood if we-drop one ease to take up an- other. Stop the train, and let me go back and tackle that job alone!” Billy langhed, and explained his plans in full to his spirited ‘* team,” ‘The trip to Hartford was without incident worthy of mention, and certainly without one that has to do with our story. Arriving at their destination, they imme- diately sought- the address that had been given by the man who had called at the office in the absence of the young chief, And their man was in. The office was on the second floor of a business building, and a sign indicated that it was something in the way of a banking and broking concern, One man was in charge, and by a signal agreed upon, Harry and Seth conveyed to their ehief the in- telligence that this was not the person who had called at the office in New York, . “Are you Henry Rubert, sir?” Billy answered, - ‘*T am,” was the prompt answer. ‘‘Well, Lam Detective Weston, from New York.” ‘“ Wa!as I thought. May I have the honor of shaking hands with you?” The man put out his own hand in a fawn- ing way, and Billy allowed him to take his. ~ **You are welcome to do that, if you con- sider it an honor,” he said. $5 end these are your helpers?” ~ Yes, | ‘T must shake hands with them, too, I have heard all about you, boys, and I am proud to have this great pleasure, 1 assure rou.” “Don’t gush too much,” advised Happ Harry. ‘Weare young, and it might spoil us, you know.” | «? _ ee The man laughed, | “Well, sit down, sit down,” he invited. ‘We will talk over the matter for which you have been called here, In the first place, do you ask your pay in advance? If you do—” “No, don’t mention that,” Billy waived. “Wait till we have carned the money and then we'll settle.” ‘‘ Very well, if that suits you. My partner was going to thecity yesterday, and I told him he had better employ you, if he could, and send you on here at once,” ‘Well, here we are.” | tilly had been looking around the office in his casual manner, but taking in every- thing he saw, He was scarcely satisfied that the office was just what it pretended to be, for such a business is usually carried on upon the ground floor and open to the street. It look- - ed like a policy shop, : ~ Still, there were a safe and banking furni- ture, and he admitted to himself there was . a plenty of room for a mistake on his part. — ; ‘| suppose my partner told you what was — wanted, did he not?” Mr. Rubert made in- — quiry. rt eM ‘He said it was a mysterious case, rob- — bery and murder together.” Ree Pt “Yes, that was it. You see; the janitor of this building was found deadin the lower hail one day last week, on the same morning et: that we found our safe had been robbed. | * = ~ * | We connect the two matters.” > Un i: = Pas 2 4 ae < + i As ‘ re '. ’ + 5 #4. ~ ~ — - A F is ~ - eS . a , J +. 9. ee SS Pe, - at eas wv -- ts eke ae 2 wear J" >” ’ oS ee Se Se VS. —" a > ™~ be UPS ? ~- ere Bae - - a + = it SS wb —_ 7 wd y a , i Sere \ 2 ; . — ge —- “one - ~ — re + eb» at 1g ee ¥ a oe ' > . he eae 7 ne , |. . & ; ® —s a soe _ 2 2 wy - > . .* ho %y a eit #