Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

(=~ " aN pas 4 oe 10. ---—- Detective Bob was tempted to make some sound which would put him on the alert, but he thought better of it and kept quiet. Watching, he saw the searcher go to other inclosures and peer within, but he gained the end of the row without betraying to the boy that he had made any discovery. Then followed another lull, but Robert was so sure it would be broken that he did not return to bed. Shortly after the detec- tive appeared at the door which led into the the room and surveyed the guard keenly for awhile, after which he crept into the room, himself. Across the floor he went like a cat. When he did not look at the guard his gaze was on one of the stalls, and the Rat- tler was not slow to suspect that he had an idea where: Corliss was. ‘This must be stopped,” thought Robert, ** but how?” The detective reached the curtain. He ‘ paesed inside, | “*Count me in!” muttered the watcher. Cautiously he left his own inclosure and made his way across the floor. Vague as all things were he was looking for some- thing which would be unpleasant for Henry Corliss, and he intended to have a share of it. At that time he forgot utterly. that it was a struggle between an accused person and an officer, and remembered only that his sympathies were with Henry, The Rattler was liable to do something he would be sorry for later on. He, too, reached the curtain. _ Pushing it aside he saw the detective in- side, stooping over one of the two sleepers. In such poor light Robert could distinguish but little, but the officer, bending over his men, could do no more. He seemed to satis- fy himself, for he suddenly raised his head, fumbled in his pocket and took out some- thing. What was it? / For a moment Robert’s wits did not work with their accustomed rapidity, but the truth then flashed upon him. ‘*Handcuffs!’' he thought, with a start. “* Jee-whiz! ef he gets them on et’s all up with Harry!” | Acting impulsively the boy leaped for- ‘ward. The detective heard the first sound of alarm, as his slight movement told, but he ‘was not to be turned from his purpose. There was a click and the sleeper was ironed. ’ A sleeper he ceased to be in short order, for he started up with acry like one from a nightmare, ‘Save me!” he cried. It was not asystematic appeal, but it work- ed just as effectually as if he had clear com- prehension of the situation. Robert had ut- terly forgotten all except that the man in whom he was intorested was in great danger —it was nothing to him, then, that an officer was opposed to them, for the simple reason that he did not remember it—and he leaped forward to the rescue like a young catarnount. Twining his arms around the detective he cried : : ‘“‘ Let up, ye pesky snake! You can’t work yer game here!’ | The assault was so fierce that the detective was for the moment powerless against.it. He reeled back and barely managed to save him- self from falling. _ Recovering in a measure he turned a sav- age face toward his assailant and exclaimed: ‘* Hands off, you scoundrel!” , ‘“‘Nary off!” retorted Bob. “Take that!” ) The officer intended to accompany the words with a blow, but he aimed but poorly. He failed to ‘‘ find” the Rattler, and the lat- ter still hung on tenaciously. | Inthe ryser. at or ironed man, who was, as Robert wa » suddenly that he was a good deal stupefied, but he was slowly recovering his wits. His | é i s ' ¢ ‘ e Weve ed | Ps 2 ‘=. ¥ 5 ; ’ ‘¢ ty ‘ph’ 1 i rt} W. } Dae ; » Sy . . - Lh ee sy ¥ 5 wd ty 2 . * al om shock. now sure, Henry Corliss, had | been sitting up. The shock had come go The Big Four of the Bowery. past apprehension of dauger, the struggle near him and the irons on his wrists all served to enlighten him, and he now leaped to his feet and fled from the stall. Just then, too, there was a crash, and the two struggling persons fell to the floor to- gether, Robert began to be rattled. It occurred to him that he had undertaken a big contract, and he became willing to give itup. The detective had a firm grasp on him, but the boy did not let that .have undue influence. He managed to wriggle away just as the guard came rushing in with hasty steps. ‘What's goin’ on?” roared the guard, fe- rociously. ‘‘Tll learn ye not to kick up a row here!” This he proceeded to do, and heavy blows fell impartially upon Robert and the detec- tive, ‘‘T’ll mash ye all inter bits!’’ he reiterated. The detective did not like the plan, and he remonstrated warmly, but without avail. Fast as ever fell the blows, and the officer grew angry. He grappled with his assailant, and they began to fight with zeal. ‘This is my chance!” muttered.the Rat- tler, and he fled from the inclosure. Once outside he looked for Henry, but nothing was to be seen of him, Theregular patrons of the lodging-house were now awake, and they perversely added to the racket by shouting with anger or derision. It bade fair to be a lively scene before it was all over. Out into the first room went Bob. Henry was not there. | “* B’jinks! he’s gone inter the street,” add- ed Robert. ‘‘ 1 must look fer him there.” So the Rattler followed, but when the street was reached he saw the disadvantage of starting late. Time had been allowed Henry to get away from the house, and he had improved the opportunity. ‘* Nowhere in sight,” muttered the boy, disconsolately. ‘‘This is what I call tough. Here I am, ready ter help him, but where is he? The feller has skipped, an’ I'll be shot ef he ain’t gone with the irons on his wrists. Whew! ain't he in a peck o’ trouble?” Robert stood still, his gaze wandering quickly about. He felt that he was the only one who could help Corliss, and Corliss was gone, Pursuit was necessary, but which way was the pursuer to go? Sounds above indicated that the detective was likely to be on the seene shortly, and it would not do to hesitate longer. Unless he wished to be arrested, himself, the, Rattler must get out of sight. Acting blindly he moved off down the Bowery. | It then lacked but half an hour of twelve o'clock, and the street was beginning to lose the density of the throng to be seen there at a time a little earlier. Thus, Robert could. see pretty well in advance, and there was no Corliss visible. “Turned inter a side-street, like ez not,” was his comment. ‘‘ I'll bone somebody round here an’ see ef they kin shed light on | the subject.” This he did, but his cautious questioning failed to develop anything. He dared not ask if a man had been seen who wore a hand- cuff, but nobody would admit having seen a person who resembled Henry. Robert was still working on the blind clue when a hand was laid on his arm. He turned suddenly and saw what appeared to be a ‘youth of about his own age. “Have you found him?’ asked this per- son. “* Found who?” returned Robert. The answer which followed gave him a : A CHAPTER XI. _ THE BOWERY WOLVES. ‘TI REFER to Henry Corliss!” The words fell forcibly upon Detective Bob’s ears, | | nT, ~~ 1B” : ) rd ¥s a: met ‘ ~ ty ‘? F * ha oe : Ag). (ay fi ate toa es ns Le" * t . aS Aor ie) Ne ‘ a ' tay nae) P y si SU ie . ' é 7 ni Ure ate ins heii; sor echt “y poy Be a ee a eee, gt eases) Via es, fe Bett si ah es erp * om SRR ve 6 — | bers of the Big Four scattered - "prs ‘ , : ' i’ : . ty atenrd < FLA Re ks Eh et & om ‘Say, what be ye givin’ us?”he replied, It was an attempt at bravado, and not very successful, though well planned. ‘The other questioner looked surprised. ‘““Are you not searching for him?” was asked. ‘‘ Never heard o’ sech a feller,” stoutly de- clared the Rattler. “Why, don’t you know us, Robert Burns?’ demanded another voice. The Rattler turned his gaze, and what he saw almost caused him to fall in a fit. An- other seeming boy was there, but this time he was not deceived. He flashed a glance to the first speaker and then whistled softly. ‘“« Great guns!” he exclaimed, ‘f What hev I struck here?” For he was face to face with Hecla Peter- sen and Molly, both dressed as boys, and it gave him a decided shock. ‘We are tryin’ ter find Henry Corliss,” added Molly. ‘You'll find somebody else, first, an’ that is a copper, b’jinks!” asserted Robert. ‘‘ Hev you two gone clean crazy? Molly, you're a New York girl, an’ you ought to hev known, better than this. Don’t ye know it’s ag’in’ the law fer you to be dressed up as you be? Why, great Cicero, ef the perleece see you are gals in disguise they will pull ye in so quick et will make yer back teeth rattle!” ‘“They ain’t seen et, yet.” “But they will. A gal may put on & bushel o’ boy’s clothes, but she con’t look like a boy, an’ she can’t prance aronnd like one. She steps with a teeter, an’ she wob- bles her shoulders until they make bows ter each other. Oh! you can’t come et, Molly.” ‘¢Now, don't you think you’re smart!” re- torted Molly, with spirit. ‘‘ What you know about girls would fill a thimble, ef the thimble wa’n’t too big. We've gone around so fur all right, an’ we'll keep et up, Mister Burns!” Robert shook his head dismally. ‘« Ain’t we part o’ the Big Four?” added Molly. The Rattler brightened. ‘* You be, fer sure.”’ ‘“Then don’t snub us.” ‘*Correct, old lady! do all I kin ter help ye. Henry?” ‘* No.” “Funny where he is,” ‘Have you been searching?” asked Hecla. cé Yes.” ‘““Where can he be?’ and Hecla sighed deeply. ; Again the Rattler shoak his head. He did not see fit to tell the latest news about Corliss, for he knew they could do him no good until be was found, and to tell all would be to frighen Hecla without any cor- responding gain. | Molly’s anger had begun to disappear, and she became more communicative. Briskly she explained: ‘Hecla wanted to do somethin’ herself ter help, an’ I told her et was nomore than | right that all the members o’ the Big Four should be up an’ doin’, so we put on these boys’ clothes. Now. ain’tet jest great?” | ‘¢Et must be, ef you say so,” ave ‘« Ain’t we jest ez likely to find Henry as you be?” RES h igh if CBee | ‘Wal, that is our line 0’ biz.” | ‘“Keep et up,” answered Robert, more — amiably. | Go yer gait, an’ Tl Hev you seen ‘“‘Let’s all scatter, now, an’ sorter patrol a Br, the Bowery.” ‘All right. But see here, girls, ef you | find Henry, et ain’t likely he will be in his swell clothes. He will want a disguise, so he’s likely to put on old clothes, a good ’eal _ like atramp.” — ‘ | Wit knew | allowed the work to begin. Thethree mem- — along the { . Ly ake —~ _ 7 Re mee PH A Ae Oe — | ' ; j a hk iio this hint of the condition he really =| | he hunted man to be in, Robert |} | “ ; ss owe , p : ’ - A a ie Rh Pr we : + An bys ~~