Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

- ” | fare ie Ss 4 wr Pee has Ye ' - . - ae at 4. * an 4.\°¢ AP ed » Fe . * =F va iss. + 1 7 . : bd 7 ho . 4 , . 7) . 4 aK » + : - 4 Pi - t er or evs! : ee y . : yo " ~-. 4 . * Pe -, , etic , j y* ‘ A 4 >. od ~ m J -———— 4, 7 pn ally * a Pay .* Lk a4 ~~ <2 oh wr sep ‘ 2% E<*% t w fi - . = ~~. ’ : f * y <} ESF . Py 5 \4- ma iNet mp. % iy . ’ ~" AB a ‘ ~ J ft ' + ts ee" % *;% - . ‘ ‘ a > ‘ 7 * : | r . ‘ : 14 a ee el , Pr a a < poe : wh peo > ar wT a Lh aa 7 Ate 7 oe’ a> | ¢4.*> pt ‘ -< @ A ve = 7.) oe : * EA \ r a i o a : “tb ai" ; A , i - The Big Four of the Bowery. al s besgent . > eee a Ln . “ ied — --e ee eo geese : > ; , ‘" 4 : . é ‘ 7 , Po - >, iT 28 ~*~ ‘* What have I to use? Something must be had, sure. But what? I can’t twist them off, I fear, without breaking a few dozen bones in your wrists, so we must find some- thing decent to do the job with.” ee What?” ‘‘T don’t know, but I do know of a man ‘who can tell ina jiffy. He has had such an experience that he is an adept, and it won’t be long after I get his orders before I can yank them off and never hurt ye.” ‘“T prefer to wrench them -clear with something you may be able to find.” ‘* Tt can’t be done.” ‘‘T am not experienced in such things, but it seems to me it can.” “NO... ‘‘T will risk the pain.” ‘* Yes, but it’s impossible.” Corliss was not convinced or satisfied, but, | as his companion seemed to be sincere and in- terested, he turned to the alternative. ‘Ts it safe to trust the man you mention?” +S -¥ C8. ** And you think he can suggest a way?” ‘| reckon he kin furnish a key that'll un- Jock them things as well as the one that Jocked them.” : “Then go to him. Say to him that you want to do this, but do not be too confi- dential. Kindly omit particulars,” ‘*T don’t know particulars, myself.” ** You shall know all when I can tell you,” evasively replied Henry. | ‘‘ All right. This is the first time I ever found a feller being wandering around the streets with handcuffs on his wrists, but Ill curk my curiosity and see you out of it, by thunder!” ‘*Good! Do this and you shall not suffer for it, Ill pay you well as soon as I[ can.” “That can be arranged all right, [ reckon. Now, you just stay here and I will have the key if it can be had. Don’t carry the light into the next rooms, for you will have the police in here. This is supposed to be a deserted building.” ** Tll be careful ” ‘And don’t get discouraged if I am not back at once. want just the man | have named, and it won’t be prudent to get any other,” ‘“‘T agree with you.” ‘* Well, ’'m off. So-long!’ Brooks went out, and Corliss was left alone. It was a good deal of a relief to him to see a little hope, but he would not feel eeey until it had materialized. rooks did -not seem to be so poor, finan- cially, as he claimed to be. He took a car and did some riding in an easterly direction. When he came to a stop it was ata house near the Bowery. The» hour bad grown so late that no one was astir, there, but he rung _ the door-bell and soon gained attention. Being admitted he was shortly after in the room of a man who rose to receive him. -* Well, what is it?” asked the latter. “Cap, I’ve come on a queer business, but there’s a certain fellow in trouble, and I think if we help him out we may add a valu- oe member to the band. I want you to see Singular turn of fate! The person whom he had adressed as ‘‘Cap” was none other than Jack Webber. And it was to Jack Webber he had come to secure aid for Cor- CHAPTER XV. A GENERAL SURPRISE. Tun following day Detective Bob was pursuing his way toward the East River. return! , He paused, consulted a note he carried and | on the prairie, but we kin do our pootiest as then murmured: Oh Me. , ‘“‘Must be near here, unless Molly has made a mistake in her geography. Mebbe et’s that pier.’’ Fie ve % - He walked out'on the structure mentioned. | 4 : y “C A r \ © te» bale Ons ; f' . Z yk) Sarai A - a! ff potee ' ‘ vw IGF Rare Mua w ie recrihlg thal: Wi os > | found more. Truly, Corliss had cause to dread the Aq), 4s) pr us i 4,46 Nothing was to be seen there except a man who was sunning ltimself on a box. “Stranger,” asked Robert, ‘‘ kin you tell me where one Silas Spruce has a coal an’ wood office, nigh here?” ‘ Down there,” was the brief reply. ‘*In the water?” ‘* Next pier.” “Oh! I see, an’ much obleeged ter you. So-long!” Robert went his way, and on the next pier he found the coal and wood office. He Molly was there, and her face brightened at sight of him. She was sitting on a box near the office, and, before his ar- rival, had been attentively watching for something or other. Robert hastened to secure a seat beside her. ‘* Great place, this,” he remarked. ‘‘ What is that chap doin’ over yender? Call the stuff he is handlin’ coal an’ wood?” ‘* There’s two businesses here,” Molly re- plied. ‘‘ Fruit is landed here by other par- ties, an’ you can see that they are bandlin’ that,” ‘*So I do, my angel. me—” ‘“Robert, Henry Corliss has been seen around here.” _““The dickens he has!’ ‘Yes, my uncle saw him.” Well, you sent for ‘* When?” ‘* Late last night.” ce Aha!” The revelation suddenly interested Robert. If it was true, the fugitive had been there after his escape from the Bowery lodging- house, and there was a clue in the direction he had taken. _** Tell me all about et,” he requested. ‘* Uncle was down here late at night, and as he was going away he saw two men leave the pier above. One looked like a rough, but he says the other was Henry Corliss. He had seen him before all this trouble be- gan, for he visits the house where the Peter- sens live. He knew of Henry’s trouble, and that I was interested, but his wits did not work quick enough to act then. After- ward, when he thought it over, he just sent fer me.” ‘Wal, where is Henry, now?” ‘7 don’t know, an’ I’m jest worried ter death over it. He will be took sure.” Molly’s very serious expression proved that she was worried, but. Robert hid his own feelings in order to encourage her. ‘* Now, you be calm,” he advised. ‘‘ This will allcome outright, Ef he’s been around here we kin find him—mebbe!” Consoler though he was, the Rattler could not help adding the last word. Far better than Molly he realized how desperate was the situation of their friend. ‘Where shall we look?’ asked Molly, practically. ‘* Ain’t you no idee?” ‘No; though I was stayin’ around nere an’ keepin’ up the watch until*you come. I am all broke up over et!” ‘‘ Molly,” replied the Rattler, ‘‘ our friend ain’t been arrested fer that shootin’ scrape yet, an’ he won't be ef we kin prevent it.” “ But the police are chasin’ him every- where.”’ “Police!” retorted Robert, with a smile; “what be they? Ain’t you and I,’ Molly, their match?” “Do be serious. Don’t laugh!” _ “Bf I laugh I kin do more,” replied the Rattler. ‘‘I’m goin’ ter save Henry from his enemies, an’ don’t you forget et!” Suddenly growing more earnest, the speaker added: | ‘We can’t trail Henry like as ef he was et is. But whereisthe clue? Mebbe he jest come here an’ rons aga inter the water.” ‘*Oh!” cried Molly, startled at the ia «But I don’t think et,” resumed the Rat- \* <8 , a ra } kK oé ee 7 Fr . . Ag 1 a pats wa ¢ obs tke ai a" ce 7 af Voda, Re eden: Teak Ve oe ee ' ' " 4 ~ "te : ‘ " - > . : : : i . - } \ bie 1. - oT tes . ‘ ° . . hy “Ts j ( ¢ 8 4 f : tf, t ; ey | . 4 i s Md , . ay 7 ~ 4 ) y he - ~ , ‘ ten : i & i 4 s~ = + Py i J : : ‘ * *. 4 os + “Fe oF (@ ) , . .? | $ ~ yw titek ae 4A Teas v3 pod Pw oy UT "Ee et on ine De 4 es Sie) #2 = 7 ; mATY ra a J: , 1 = SS tler, hastily. ‘‘ No; he would not be so foolish. He will show up all right, or we shall get clipped of our reputations as de- tectives. Now, I reckon he made friends with that feller he was with, an’ he must be around here, now. Result, Pll look fer him,” ‘Do it, Robert, and [ll stay herean’ watch ter see ef he comes back near here.”’ The plan was well laid, but it did not satisfy Robert. Well did he understand how serious a matter it was for a man to be roaming the streets of New York under the circumstances with which Henry Corliss had to deal. If he could be found and con- ducted to some refuge it would save him for the time, but if he could not be found— where, then, did hope lie? The Rattler made a thorough search of the vicinity, but nota clue did he get to the missing man, All the while he was under the weight of fear that’ Corliss had tired of the unequal fight and sought an end to it in the. dark embrace of the river, and it was discouraging, to say the least. Early in the afternoon Bob took a trip over toward the Bowery to see: if there was any news in that quarter, but there was no- thing. The only result was that Cal Demorest asked permission to join Robert in the search near the East River, and was al- lowed to do so, It was nearing the time of nightfall, and the two allies were roaming about when Molly suddenly appeared. Her face was full of excitement. | ‘*T’ve seen him!” she panted. ‘“Who?’ asked Robert. ‘* Henry!” ‘* Hi! that so? Where?” ‘* He’s in an old buildin near the pier.” “Wal, that’s rich. How do ye know?” ‘‘He come ter the winder an’ I see him.” “‘Did ye speak?” | ‘No, fer he went out o’ sight right sii 6 é ‘Tell us all about et.” ‘*T happened ter be lookin’ up toward the winder, an’ I see him look out. He didn’t stay there long, but seemed afraid 0’ bein’ seen by others, so he kinder dodged back an’ that was the last of it. He’s in that buildin’, though.” " “Be you sure, Molly?” ‘Why, certain, I be.” ‘“ Then in [ go.” “Et looks like et. was a deserted build- > 3 in “So much the better, Probably et’s a - place he spotted an’ crawled inter. Any- how, in I go, an’ ef he’s ter be had, Pll have him,” The Rattler had learned to place con- fidence in Molly, and he no longer doubted that she really had seen Corliss. If it had not been directly in line with what had been learned from the dealer in wood and coal he might have been more reluctant to accept all so quickly, but, as it was, he took the story as proven. . : . The next thing was to get into the house. He looked it over and saw it would be no easy task; but he was not to be discouraged. After some thought he planned it all, and then only waited for the arrival of full dark- ness, | This came, and he made the venture. It meant a good deal of climbing along danger- ous ways, -kut he was successful, and finally stood in the building. | ‘Black as Egypt!” he.muttered, looking ahead. ‘‘Ef I had a light with me I sonia need a second one ter find: the first b’ ginger!” | ; rt Similing at his own conceit he moved along by sense of feeling. It was not difficult, for the way was firm and safe, and he went from one room to another slowly, but with-_— i 4 a out result for some time. | | He was thus occupied, when he suddenly stopped short. tes Sa ay 2 PAE 1 ; . * i- > ae we _ ®.-7 - ™y - 7 ? + . “i jas : 1 <—<_—4 d . - ad fi ? — — tn. ~ P i ee ~ = _—_ 4 4 + ~ yore be i ' - ms . . . ae - 4 4 ; or Si * . <7 i So ~*~ eS * = 7. > a - i a “> ” “Pw Pm) “Hs Pe + M7 >. — - ore a eS +. segs _ —— pita? 3 : : > 7 Rib > a. ey t he & _ aa ee, - = - ie a5 —-s a f¢ / ' sf ai nm ¢ zeta Se ie pa ~ , Se i> s as J ge at r ae « fs a —~ ee <= Speen ‘ 2 »* oe. F : L . *» =e i aT er ; ¢ *& . ~ ‘ ' - ‘ i t'a% / é rans . . Oo OY “gd a ~ *‘# ’ om ra a ’ we q x . % ] re ) . Pi a i ? " : “ ae * ae &: 4 . : 43 ; 4 wer Dey ey, ‘ 4 ’ cys, aaa ia ; ; a“ a ‘y+ oe a 7 ; d dy Ne } ve .y 4 ' > te ' Z * > £ > «A hae ; a hk he ae Pe ' : va . e ~ Food - ’ laa is s ee, i 4 ai i oF y i Plan. aM aX * vi, 4 +: Pe Ly zi kL. Sea) ‘ 4 : 7 rt . ‘" a ri. ee fol som pA 8 ~ ay % i