Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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No loitering here, or l’llrun you all in.” **'This one,” added Pete, pointing to Hecla, ‘‘is a girl in boy’s clothes.” “What!” cried Hoskett. ‘‘ You don’t say so! Why, that’s aclear violation of law, and I’ll take her to the station, sure.” ‘*No,” said Jack. ‘‘It is my wish that youdo not do so. All I desire is that you ‘will keep her from annoying me, and this ou will please do.” ‘“*T will!” Again the patrolman moved forward. Hecla and her friends remonstrated, but it ‘was all in vain. Robert did his best to pre- vent the injustice, but without favorable result, and he soon decided that the attempt was a mistake, for when, seeing he could do no good, he turned again to look for Jack, he did not see him. The sport had taken advantage of the ex- citement to slip away. He had made ahead his escape. Resistance angered the officer, and, being aware that, despite Jack’s expressed wishes, there was danger of Hecla’s being arrested if the matter was not allowed to drop, Robert did what was prudent. He spoke to Hecla and managed to get her away in safety. Ina short time the now-vanquished Big Four were near the home of the senior Mr. Burns. . “Don’t look so down-hearted,” advised the Rattler, cheerfully. ‘‘This is only a temporary set-back, an’ you will see that we are stillin the swim. lam beginnin’ ter git Jacky Web down fine, an’ he can’t eseape me. Not fer a cent!” | | ‘‘We have seen his power, to-night!” sighed Hecla. ‘He will see ours next inning,” retorted Robert, ‘‘ an’ et will kinder shock him.” “Ef you don’t beat him ‘out I’ll never speak to you again, Rob Burns!” asserted Molly. ‘*My queen, when I’m done with Jacky he will look as ef the Post Office had fell over on him an’ mashed him flat!’ With this confident assertion Robert con- ducted his charges home, but after Hecla and Molly had gone indoors Robert and Cal lingered outside and the Rattler told Cal all that had occurred. '**T don’t s’pose et will do any good,” he added, ‘‘ but I must take one more turn ter see ef | kin find Henry. Jee-whiz! jest think o’ that pard of ours climbin’ around the streets o’ New York with his wrists hugged in handcuffs!” ‘** Big handicap,” agreed Cal, with a faint smile at his own joke. ‘‘Makes my hair teeter all over my head with emotion, Now, Calhoun, I’m goin’ out ter look fer our prodigal, useless as et seems. Are you with me?” _ ‘TI be, as long as my ‘mount’ stays in the race, With this understanding the allies sought the Bowery again, but not to linger there. With the irons on his wrists Henry Corliss would hardly venture to be seen there, and he was more likely to be found in the cross streets. 5 ‘* An’ I don’t see that he can go anywhere else,” remarked Roberty disconsolately. ** Lodging-houses seem ter be his only home, an’ he can’t apply to them with the irons on. ; Tell ye what, Cal, things are in a desperate ‘pickle, now, an’ ef we don’t score a win the goose is cooked,” ; - Aap » by "I a) : 4, ' ' * . m9 - . ; Le) Swe a ets.J 77 a | ; . , 9 : ; — ~ - y , - : ; a ’ i A) ee ne mem, ee ee Ne ~ oe . BF an, Ae I” FO TPP at #8C ‘ » > a re, 4 ; ' fs ’ ; «) y . d . 1 * in ee oT OF CNS 4 4 - . a, “7. - t%oa “— ree A me N, . The Big Four of the Bowery, CHAPTER XITI. A MYSTERIOUS WANDERER. A MAN walked into an alley with slow and furtive steps. street, where his manner had been equally peculiar. Hé had sxulked along like one afraid of notice, turning to get wholly out of sight when he chanced to see a policeman, and uvoiding all persors, So might a hunted man have gone abroad in Gotham. There was another singular thing about this man. During all his walk he had ecar- ried his hands concealed under the front of his sack coat—a most unusual thing to do. It made his appearance awkward, and, as the weather was not cold, would have at- tracted attention if he had met any one who was suspicious, When he entered the alley he did not make any change, Looking sharply ahead he moved cau- tiously along the dark way. ‘* All seems silent and deserted here,” he muttered. ‘‘ It may furnish an opportunity for me to rest for the night—to be free for awhile from danger; and if I gain this re- prieve 1 may be able to remove these things.” He looked down at his coat, but his mind was not on the coat, so much as the hands under it. Something about the hands, in- visible though they were, held his attention. Into the alley he went even deeper. It widened into a little court, or, more proper- ly,a space where several back yards were without dividing fences. Two or three old buildings stood there; small, tumble-down structures which had seen their day, even in this district of poverty, and the man hailed them with pleasure. ‘* Hope!” he muttered. ‘‘IfI can be free to myself I may be able to do something.” He went on until the buildings were reached. Then he had a severe shock, for a voice suddenly sounded; ‘** Hallo, stranger!” / He gave a nervous start, and then turned his gaze toward the direction of the voice. He saw three men sitting on a box, ‘*Sit down and have a talk with us,” added the last speaker. The new-comer tried still harder to see just what they were. ‘* Probable they are tramps,” he thought, ‘‘andif they are, they may help me.” It wasa singular conclusion to arrive at, but the new-comer was singularly placed. He thought he had reasons for believing that nis might be the best friends he could ind. ‘*T don’t care if Ido,” he answered. He went forward and they made room for him on the box. He sat down somewhat stify, for the position of his hands did not render motion easy, and then felt uneasy himself, because he saw he was being made the focus of every glance. . One of the trio shoved forward a can, “Try the growler,” he requested. “Lam not thirsty.” ‘“<Tt will cheer you up.” ‘*T am quite cheerful,’ now.” _“ Pshaw! have a drink, man!” ‘‘T can’t do it: Beer goes to my head, and I feel like a fool after taking it. much obliged, but I can’t drink.” The explanation was all right, but, while it was being made, the can was held under the new-comer’s nose and he never moved his hands from the novel place where he carried them. The beer-offerer looked down at the coat and added: ey ‘* Are you a man without hands?” Something made the stranger flush deeply. He replied hastily: ‘*T have a trouble of the arm, and am al- most a cripple.” | sc Oh!”’ To the new-comer his explanation seemed He had just come from the. I am very transparent, but it was not questioned, It had served to put the brief curiosity out of their minds, and it was successful thus far. They said no more about drinking, He was not so much at ease. He had found that he was notamong tramps. Plain men they were of the honest laboring class in life, if he judged correctly, and the fact that one of them carried what looked like a night watchman’s stick showed even more of their rank. He thought he had no use for them, and began to study how he could get away speedily, and without exciting comment. While he was thus occupied other footsteps sounded and another man walked into the court. The person with the hidden hands almost fell off the box as he saw that it was a police- man, If his face could have been seen in the darkness it would have proved very pale, just then. Much to his relief the officer was gazing at the others. : ‘Well, gents, how goes it?” asked the blue-coat. “« Allright. How is it with you?” ‘*Great! Nota row on my beat, to-night, so I thought I'd slide in and see if the growler was working.” ‘‘It is, sure, and here’s the proof of it. Take a pull.” ‘*T will.” ! The officer did so, and seemed to enjoy the feast. Evidently he was in the habit of see- ing these congenial spirits, and accepting their invitations. Having satisfied his thirst he began to swing his club carelessly. ‘*Any news?” asked one of his friends. ‘Murder over on the West side—too far away to interest me.” ‘‘ People are too good around here for that sort of thing,’ remarked the night-watch- man, with a smile at his own wit. ‘Queer order out, to-night,” added the ~ blue-coat. “What?” ‘*We are to watch fora man with hand- cuffs on him.” He who was a stranger to all there gave a slight. start. He looked at the patrolman, and then at the entrance to the alley, as if speculating on the chances of flight. ‘‘A man with handcuffs on?’ repeated the watchman. ‘* Yes,” ‘* What do you mean?” ‘* Escaped prisoner.” ; “The dickens! Is he really wandering about the streets in such condition?” “So we are told, thougb he may be housed before now. lam keeping a nay lookout, and you can bet your last dollar don’t get my eyes on him without getting the pull on him.” ‘Whois he?” : ‘Corliss by name. Wounded a policeman some time ago, and the force only got sight of him to-night./ Got the irons on him, and then he give them the laugh and chased him-, self out of view.” ‘You want to pull him.” 4 4 ‘‘Can’t do it unless I see him, but this much is sure—let me see him and he is my mutton,” : The stranger of the party again gazed at the alley. He desired to run, but was well aware he could do so but slowly with the poor use he had of his hands, while an effort to go away slowly would attract attention to his peculiar way of holding those hands. He was about as ill at ease at he could be, and wished himself well out of the party. The patrolman shifted his gaze directly to the stranger. . ‘You've added a new member,” he re- marked. | SY Ca ; ** Live around here, mister?” This question was addressed to the ger, and he had to say something. He swal- . o : ‘ L} | . , J es \ ax Gi @ (0) a Gi stran- : }\ ; fF ‘ = we, s ? . ~ * ¢ ; Ae ay Oe pi Aw “s * a Behe <= 4a 2 4 a ay ae >. ' we. > ne ee et ewe * fees