Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

NCS cro ; As: ~_ ** Somebody stirrin’! Who?” There were footsteps below, and he stood still and waited. He heard men ascend the stairs. They came close to him. ‘* If he ain’t dead yet, we'll soon find him,” remarked one. : ‘“No danger of that with the supply of food I left him.”’ ' The last speaker opened a door, but there was no light beyond. ' “Hallo!” he added. There was no reply, “Speak up if you are Brooks.” 5 Some one stirred in the room. | ‘*T am here.” *“ Anybody here?” here. I am : ‘€Good! But where is your lamp?” ot «The oil has wholly burned out.” ‘‘Tll get some more soon, but, before I do so, let us talk a little. Ihave brought the a man I told you about. I am very sorry " there has been so much delay, but it was } Ge simply impossible for us to get here sooner. _ Now, you shall soon be relieved of those Bh: handcuffs.”’ an eh, All this the Rattler heard, but the last Mies (3 words were not Deere to give him the ata desired light. He had already recognized By te Henry Corliss’s voice, and he knew he had im 1 moved on astep. He felt like rushing for- di ward, but the fact that he did not know who he these latest comers were kept him back. ae Prudence would do no harm then. Brooks and the second man who had come ” PP, with him entered the room fully, and the is a latter became busy at one side. Realizing RT me that he was preparing the light, every one ead Brae waited patiently. He soon completed his | task and struck a match. , | ae ‘“Now we will have a social talk,” he re- Pate, marked, pleasantly. ’ hay Begs He applied the blaze to the wick. The e .: & light flamed up fully, and each person had J i view of the others. Robert directed his gaze eagerly to Henry Corliss, and was rewarded by the sight of him which had so long been desired. Henry 4 * - Ae. 9 = cae =f eee ~_ ee 1 at looked pale and eareworn, but not so much ah al ae: the worse for his experience as was to be im as fe expected. The Rattler drew a sigh of re- | Hef, but a sudden change of Corliss’s own |). expression attracted his attention. |. Henry ‘was looking at one of the new- “Tiles. comers—Brooks’s companion—with startled |. ~~ attention. Quickly Robert changed his own § — vegard, and what he saw dumfounded him. en a ~ The third man was Jack Webber! ere 8 | ee “Thunder!” gasped the Rattler. Mid Gea If he was surprised, Jack and Henry were ner “not less so, and they gazed in utter silence -f __._ for several moments. If there was surprise sa fon the one side, there was more on the oft Wii”, Se cae was stunned by the new mis- nee. = LOFtUNe. ie: ens fu ote Suddenly Jack broke into a laugh. ert _ ** By my life!’ he cried, ‘‘ this is rich!” at 4 Bg _ ** Webber!” murmured Corliss, half-un- fF consciously. Bite vod **Yes, it’s I, old boy, and I should say ff this is you / Why, I never heard of a stran- Nf ger thing! When I was summoned here, T Sey oat had not the slightest idea that I was to see as an old friend.” Friend!” echoed Henry, bitterly. yp te SS Am TD nose - Ay Jack Webber, you are a scoundrel!” A __ eried Corliss, hotly. ‘‘ All this trouble is b due to you—but for you there would be no A trouble at all. You have been my ruin. Listen! “i “Jam of a family as honorable as any in ‘ this city, but, unfortunately, one not blessed . Wy with riches. My father is an honorable man, ; but a poor man. [ got together a little _ Finnerty. They now charge me with fraud. _ liberty I could prove it. 3 Hota lneg Soin tek | eae siaiteae affairs growing out of _ Olaf Petersen’s sand, at igitive.” Natherd t Sars ie et Ast - ty ; 4 Pie wv , 7 - ies do re gt “ * ey . a ee - ) ro. Oe ‘ *. ’ . eS thought. Praag went into the firm of Morris & | case have made-me an exile 1H, 4 ~~ meT. is sn g a uf at kat? 4 oan Y - i” 4. Hy a! iA hy "4 . ) a4 7 ae Le Ts SO EAD ER ye ty Ale re : The Big Four of the Bowery. ‘‘] should say so. Aha! so you're the man who is wandering around with hand-. cuffs on his wrists!” ‘* All your work!” ‘*How so?” , ‘Where is thé certificate you stole from Petersen, knave?” Jack had been insolently good-natured, but the harsh words caused him to lose his temper. He whipped a folded paper out of his pocket. ““Here!” hecried. ‘‘ Hereis the certificate. Do you want it? If you do, do you know of any way of getting it?” ‘‘Man, I confided that to you—fool that I was!—under the belief that you would cash it and help Petersen out of his troubles. Now, you have stolen it!” ‘*Call it what you will, I have it and shall keep it. I have not yet negotiated it, and it’s the same asever. But PU keep it—Ha! what in perdition!—” The paper had been suddenly antl violently wrested from his hand. | ents CHAPTER XYVI. SQUARING THE ACCOUNT. JACK WEBBER Wheeled with the fierce ex- clamation on his lips. It was Robert who had thus deprived him of the paper. It was a step the Rattler would not have taken if he had been allowed time to think clearly, but, when he saw the precious document thus defiantly flaunted before him, he could not resist the temptation. He had made a quick movement and secured it, regardless of consequences. And there he now stood, facing the sport. Jack’s face was a panorama as he took in one feature after another of the situation, but it took only a short time to do it. ‘* Brooks,” he cried, ‘‘ who is this kid?” ‘** Blowed if I know!” ‘Is he wholly unknown to you?” “Yes, he must be a spy.” ‘* And a friend of Corliss. I'll see to thig!”’ He made a dive for Robert, but the latter Was not to be caught so easily. He realized that he had to face the situation as it was, and he ceased to think of his rashness and set out to save himself, Agilely he evaded Jack, and as he made the movement a, key dropped from the paper he held and went rattling to the floor. It was that which had been brought in the hope that it would unlock the ‘handcuffs. If Robert had known this he would not have placed much faith in the idea that it would be of use to him, He a not know it, so he jumped~to the conclusion that it was the self-same key that should unlock the irons. A. new hope came to him. Was it not possible to use the key and liberate Henry before anything could be done to prevent it? Quickly he proceeded to act on the He knew how to use a regular key in such a case, and he sprung to Cor- liss s side like a flash, ‘‘Hold up yer dukes!” he cried, eagerly. Henry did not comprehend fully, but there was no need that he should. Robert hasten- ed to introduce the implement of hope, and luck was with him marvelously. The first turn freed the hands of the fugitive; the irons fell away and he was clear of all im- pediments. | Lucky, indeed, had the Rattler been; the key had fitted as well as if intended for that especial pair of irons, and no delay had been caused by imperfect movements | That head. firmly poised, struck Mr. . | Webber square in the stomach, and with a | erunt he keeled over and fell flat on the One more dive Robert made, and the _ on the part of the rescuer. Bob laughed gleefully. ‘*The game is ours!” he cried. Jack Webber rallied. He had been too slow to prevent all this, but he was now on the’ alert. fugitive from officers of law—remembering only that there was danger of his own | treachery in regard to the bond being laid He forgot that Henry was a al ‘yy r’ ae 7. Vk. : es : , al +* ¥* a ie y hz ec 4 rh + ae 4 Pes MN ia ek. t 15 bare he determined to stop the work, secure the lost bond, and prevent Henry and his ally from leaving the room. “Guard the door!’ he shouted to Brooks. ‘« Don’t Jet them out.” Brooks hastened to the desired place. Corliss was on his feet, eager to act, but he suddenly found a revolver leveled upon him. ‘‘Stand where you are, or die!” added Jack, harshly. “What would you do?” asked Henry,-un- — easily. “Shoot you, if necessary.” ‘Why should you?” ‘Tam not going to be the victim here. If anybody goes down it will not be me.” s] ue I offered to touch you?” ce vO. >? ‘Then why should you shoot me?” ‘‘Tam going to have that bond back.” **So is your grandfather!” This chipper remark came from Robert, the Rattler. He had been staggered by sight of the revolver, at first, but all his coolness soon returned. He faced the sport resolutely. : “Ef you look at the bill o’ fare,” he added, cheerfully, ‘‘ you will see et is me that has got this dockymunt. Yes, b’ginger! an’ I’m goin’ ter keep et, too.” | The revolver was turned upon the bold boy. , | ‘*Come here!” | Jack spoke the words in a clear, deter- mined: voice, and Robert changed color a trifle. ‘* Eh?” ‘* Come here ‘What fer?’ ‘‘Come and give me that paper!’ ‘‘ Not much, I won’t!” “Then I'll shoot you. Iam not going to do any monkey business at this stage of the game. Ihave played it too far to give u now. I’m. going to have that paper, an you shall bring it to me. Come here!’ * Robert moved uneasily. He did not like ?? the looks of the revolver, and his opinion of | Jack was that he would just as soon use the weapon as not. It was an ugly situation, and it was no discredit to the Rattler that he_ was worried. ‘This paper ain’t yours.” ‘« That is none of your business. ‘* You will have to obey,” advised Harry, with a sigh. ' ‘Shall 1?” ‘* Yes.” ‘‘ Wal, I s’pose the easiest way is the best. Et goes ag’in the grain like thunder, I do de- clare, but you ought to be boss here, Wal, so be et.” | Robert moved toward Jack. The. boy looked meek and down-hearted, but those who thought he was quelled were wide of the mark. Jack was one of them, dreaming that a mere boy would have the temerity to resist, he lowered the muzzle of his revolver and put out his hand for the certificate. , Late It was the chance for which the Rattler was wishing, and he was not slow to im- prove it. Submission was far from his mind, and, as he could see but one way of firhting to advantage, he proceeded to put into execution, He was within a few feet of Jack when he suddenly lowered his head and madea dive oat, forward like a particularly festive ack dropped revolver was in his grasp. Nei «Rally; Henry!” he called, excitedly. ‘This is our innin’, an’ we want ter score. Git at them!” ' ‘ wf 5 Corliss was wholly taken by surprise OD EES - —_ ~ = v y q~ | ” [> ~~ » Bring it Not. . - P a - ~ 7 as A vee +/- => Vee Sead & > 0 55a -