Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Bais dad mike eS os The Big Four of th Bowery ? DETECTIVE BOB, the RATTLER. BY JO PIERCE, AUTHOR OF ‘‘FIVE POINTS PHIL,” ‘‘ DENNIS DUFF,” ‘‘ TOM THISTLE,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER L. A MAN TO BE ARRESTED. A FLORID-FACED man came out of a build- ing near the Bowery and, holding a paper in his hand, looked up and down the street. ~ saw a boy approaching and called to im: ‘‘Here, young fellow, job?” _ “Wal,” replied the person addressed, ‘‘I am like the dog without his supper—waitin’ fer the feed.” It was not the most precise of replies, but it seemed to satisfy the questioner. ‘‘Here is a dollar, Will you take this letter over to the Bowery and deliver it for me?” ‘‘T am your plum; Dollars always get me, an’ this one looks pritty asa gal ina new bunnit.” ‘* Go at once, and be faithful about it.” «Tm off!” hd The messenger went, while the man re- turned to the building. His temporary em- ployee cast a look backward. ‘*T know you, Mr. Con Martin,” he mur- ‘mured. ‘‘ Your biz is sellin’ pools on the races, an’ you keep open the hole down - which fools pour their cash. However, that don’t interfere with my deliverin’ this letter, an’ my trotters will do the job. Addressed to ‘Henry Corliss,’ is it? I don’t know him, ie he is prob’ly some other shark like ‘on,”’ There was worldly wisdom in the air of this messenger, though he did not seem to’ care much about the matter, anyhow. It was his task to deliver the letter, and with the money in his pocket he need not worry more about the matter. He looked to Le about. fifteen years old, himself, and was unusually large and mus- cular for the age. He was not “especially handseme, but he had a broad, intelligent, good-humored face that was attractive to the eye, | In due time he reached the number indi- - cated by the address on the envelope, and he turned into the doorway. A woman, not - overclean, was engaged with some duty near - the door. ‘* Where kin I find Henry Corliss?” asked the messenger. ‘Second floor, back,” was the terse reply ‘Thank ye, mum; very much obleeged, ye know.” : He mounted the stairs and reached the door indicated. Voices sounded inside, but he knocked without any pause. A _ voice bade him enter and he obeyed. Once inside he saw three persons and sized then’ up with his quick faculty for such things There was a young man; a man of maturer years and a young lady. The mes- do you want a _. senger read them all, to a certain degree, at one glance, g 22% t, ‘¢ Young manis from the city,” he thought, ' ** while the other two are emigrants. But the gal is a good one!” ' She was all of that; the most exacting would have pronounced her very pretty, and if she did not have the look of an American girl she surely was above the run of emi- rants. No untidy and uncouth being she, | ss but a lady well dressed and intelligent in all ways. Bk, | iy fe a ae Phe older man, too, showed intelligence, —.. fhough not so strongly, while the resem- oe 1. ig ARN 1 2 ‘ : ; 5S ‘ mee” } 4 ,f ; , v4 ) we ae TF +a ‘ : PT a ey ae Te oe “ oe q = res Ft Sey 7 i —_— “No.” ' | the hall and a knock came at the door. t F , - b ATs su > +) . : ny “OL: we hte Be ‘ é {ifaw & ec = gy © Se OS ey 4 oa § Meee, Ghat i ae Peet. 7° TLS 7 Dra tS pw | > - ‘ 4 1 -' ’ ae ne > - / . ¥ wit a : rz 4 ¢ re af” 45 Las hd tele oy A oetn 3 A at ee petite: ft cal Spe iy Ay POD tt. ts rp The Big: Four of the Bowery blance between the two suggested that they were father and daughter. . The messenger readily suspected that it was the rather fine-looking city man be was to see, ‘* Henry Corliss?” he asked. ‘““T am he,” was the answer, not very graciously. ‘‘ Note fer you, with Robert Burns, alias Bob the Rattler, or Risky Robert, fer a bearer—which same is me.” ‘“‘A note? Let me see it.” Corliss seized the envelope and looked at the superscription. His face shadowed, and then he quickly open the missive. ‘You make much Money at this busi- ness?” It was the foreign-looking man who asked the question after a long survey of Robert, who smiled and narained ‘What biz?” “You carry the letter.” : “Oh! Wal, that was only one job. I ain’t in et reg’lar, ye see. I corral a dollar out o’ et, but may not strike a lead ag’in fer amonth. Want ter goin, yerself?” ‘‘T am looking for work. I look—ah! this very long while!” was the mournful ex- planation. ‘I came from Sweden with my | daughter, Hecla—my name is Olaf Petersen —but I find nothing here to get me the bread and butter we must have.” “Wal, that is sad, b’jinks! Out o’ work, eh? Sorry fer ye, an’ | wish I could help ye, but I don’t see the way clear, now.” “* What work you do?” ‘“‘Neighbor, I’m a bit ashamed ter say I ain’t a workin’ bee, myself. I happgn ter have a father who has some o’ this world’s goods, an’ he encourages me ter be idle. Bad scheme, his, an’ I don’t intend ter stick to et long. I’m goin’ inter his carpenter shop an’ go ter work, Fact is, I have some bent o’ originality, an’ lam goin’ ter try my ' luck as an inventor, b’jinks!” Henry Corliss had been dwelling on his letter. He now put it away with an air which attracted Petersen’s attention. ‘‘TIs it bad news?” he asked, “It is not good,” admitted Corliss, gloomily. ‘“‘ It—it is not from Jack Webber?” ‘Ah! why do we not hear from him?” The Swede sighed as he spoke, and Robert saw a quick change pass over Corliss’s face, He did not seem to find the subject pleasant. ‘¢T would like to know about the bond,” added Petersen, ‘* Let us hope all will be well.” ‘«Tt will be—it must,” remarked Hecla. ‘ Woman’s faith!” sighed Olaf. Corliss regarded Heela in a peculiar way ywhich Robert did not fail to see and under- stand, ‘* He’s in love a pile o’ trouble,” thought 'the ‘messenger. ** Wonder what the racket is?” Anxious to learn he delayed, even though his work was done. He heard footsteps in with her, an’ they are all in ‘*Come in!” called Olaf. The door opened and two men entered. They were keen, alert-looking men, and Robert, whose eyes had been sharpened by, the experience he had had with life as it was, at once thought he saw a strong resemblance to officers of the law in them. They looked around and then asked: | ‘Ts Henry Corliss here?” The person addressed- was regarding them with doubt, even apprehension expressed in his face, and he remained silent, but Olaf answered: oe) ‘“This is he,” and pointed to the man named. ow | TBs 7 One of the strangers advanced and bowed stiffly. — Y | : “ We are detectives,” he added, ‘‘and we | are here to arrest you.” — To arrest me ?” gasped Corliss. — « ad * - \b : ay ~ cn . 2 ty - ; ‘ 7 yh Its ', (ooh yt grvie€ ) ~—> * bit 7h WY OS. “Why?” ‘‘ You were lately an employee of Morris & Finnerty. They make charges against you, and you are wanted at Police Head- quarters.” What feebly. ‘Probably you will learn when you see the superintendent of police. Our duty is only to take you there. Here isthe warrant, Do you want to know more?” Risky Robert was watching with the keenest interest. His errand to the house was bringing him far more of excitement than he had expected, and he was deeply concerned with all he saw. The blow had fallen as sharply as such things usually do. Not only was Corliss very pale and alarmed, but Petersen and his daughter were not less moved. Whatever their interest in the ac- cused man it was plain it was nota light one, and so three pale faces met the gaze of the boy as he looked and tried to sum up the case, . | Corliss made an effort and recovered the power of speech. eee ‘“Where is Mr. Morris? , Where is Mr, Finnerty?” he asked. ‘‘We don’t know,” replied the officer who had spoken before. * This isa most unjust accusation.” ‘““If you prove it at your trial, you will have no more trouble.” ‘But I want to see Morris, or Finnerty, now.” “Of course you will realize I can do nothing about that. I do not know where they are, and I could do nothing if I did. Our duty is simply to serve this warrant.”’ ‘‘T was never an employee of Morris & Finnerty!” cried Corliss, growing excited as he saw that the work was to be pressed on. ‘‘T was, and am, a member of the firm, and it is an outrage to arrest me thus.” “Do you not. see,” asked the detective, with commendable patience, ‘‘ that we have nothing to do with what you speak of? I have next to no information on the subject, anyhow, for I have had no share in working it up. -I only know I have been given this warrant to execute, and I must do my duty.” ‘¢ And arrest me?” ‘© Yes.” . | Olaf Petersen had been looking and listen- ing with the keenest of interest. As he saw the detective move forward, he interfered quickly. ‘No, no!” he cried. it!” ‘Sir, you would not oppose officers doing their duty, would you?” demanded the de- tective, with some impatience. ‘But I can’t lose Mr. Corliss. me.” : ‘‘T know nothing about that.’ ‘Henry,’ added Petersen, “can’t this be arranged?” 3 ‘“‘T know of no way,” gloomily replied the young man, — ogy d ‘But what am I to doif you leave me?’ Corliss looked at Hecla. ‘‘Heaven knows; I don’t!” Bante: ‘‘ Who will manage about the bond? How is it tobe managed? I do not understand how to actin the case.” | » T could kill myself /” ARI ho Pad The words escaped Corliss’s lips in a voice so low that only Risky Robert heard them, yet with the deepest of feeling, as if they came directly from his heart—from a heart torn with the keenest of sorrow. His head fell and he gazed only at the floor, € ‘‘Come, are you ready?” impatiently de- manded the officer, ray PRE A te ‘“Asmuch nowasany time”) = _ Henry put out his hands, but Hecla, who eharges?” demanded Corliss, ‘You must not do Tt will ruin. anxiously, had thus far been looking on with a pale, scared face, suddenly roused to action. With a cry unpleasant to hear, so full of © Ne s ’ , 4 ; re ‘ > 4 ” ’ ” . ; - rif ‘ a o> ‘54 . - : — ‘7 bgty, »” . 4 ma 4 . 4 ° - * : + . a “~~ t. 7 . ‘3 ' . . > ~~. | . _* ; {eta oe. Ae . id tbh ; ; a | ~ ; a 4%. —— — & press WT otas be A * 3 “ > w | Gi = sf »4 Ps \ *y) é : qet ~ r | — : ‘ i > | ~- , 4 ve foe ’ pe a 7 _ 6 : | q , & \ \ Shi are ae) ', BEA ee i. > 4 = 5 J ”~ “Vs 2S = ow wt. nr ke . a4 85 ye er. oa" A rey 6 zed yen “he v «Ot Bye rte! 4 4 - vn