Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 837 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Folie aa —— ° “+ z2é" - . a? TE aS ‘*T have, as usual, written down directions for each of you, but further than this noth- ing positive is yet decided upon, ‘There will, however, be no great lull before we get & move on and make another raise. Our course is upward and onward.” ‘*Cap, you are a hustler. There may be men who rank high in diplomacy and states- manship, but what one of them is longer- headed than Cap Bunker?” ‘* That’s right!” cried the men in unison. ‘Gentlemen, you do me proud,” declared Jack. ‘‘I thank you for your good will, and I shall try to respond to it in the most practical way of all—by filling your pockets. Now, let’s have our beer and drop business fora time. Get out the lager, Mike.” One of the gang went to a kind of re- frigerator at one side and several bottles were duly brought to light and set out for themen. They did not neglect the chance to test their contents. Much to Bob’s disgust, however, they talked on trivial subjects. ‘‘ Say,” the Rattler whispered to Cal, ‘‘ be you onto their biz?” «< No. ” ‘* What’s their scheme fer gettin’ cash?” ‘They ain’t said.” ** Right you be, they ain’t.” , ln di =" a Sheer © . a" Fen tte af foe, - : : % first—it seemed as if there was a rain of boys. , The explanation was simple. The boxes which had held the young adventurers up had given way and simply shot them through the hole in the wall into the room. Detective Rob had come first, and he was quick to see that something must be done promptly or they would be ruined. He was not injured, and he leaped to his feet. The room was lighted by means of a kero- “a lamp, and this was on the table near im. He made one dive and reached the place; he blew with vigor, and the room became wholly dark. Out from the view of the dumfounded men went the mysterious in- truders, and they were perfectly bewil- dered. “What is it?” cried Con. ‘* Police!” suggested Pete. “ Guard the door!” called out Jack. ‘ Let no one escape!” CHAPTER VI. THE RATTLER IS PRODDED. DeETEcTIvVE Bos was doing a good deal of thinking, and there was ample need of it. He had much to work for—not only did he wish to escape, but he wanted to keep his nana Lhereatinemmaettiaatsil ia... a-< ante dis cock ae aad tea, ean ae The Big Four of the Bowery. ty ® » +e see ¢ o a > a . s . * . ‘*Up-stairs!”” gasped Cal. Even then it occurred to Robert that the jockey’s plan was not wise, but he was not. himself fully clear-headed. The pressing need of getting away dwarfed all else, con he yielded. The stairs were near them, and they sped up with long steps. “They ain’t got us yet!” cried Cal, defi- antly. ‘But where are we to go?” ‘* Up on the roof.” ‘<'What’ll we do when we get there?” “Go to the next roof,” ! ‘‘Mebbe you want to play tag up there with men who would not scruple to cut our throats, but et don’t suit me, Not any!” ‘What better can we do?” ‘Sure enough,” . “'They’re after us!” “Up we go, then.” The Rattler did not speak with his usual. vim and cheerfulness, but if he had serious. doubts as to the result, it was through the teachings of his judgment and not the result. of his fears. How they were to bafile the foe he did not see, though. The top floor was duly reached and they looked for the desired way of going further, but the darkness was so great they could see. nothing whatever. ‘hate ‘*T don’t believe it’s anything honest.” _| identity a secret, so that he could labor more ‘* D’ye see the ladder?” asked Robert. me ee ** My frien’, et wouldn’t surprise me an } successfully in the future. ‘‘ No, an’ they are humpin’ up the stairs: Pail: Sat atom ef they was regular crooks. They are He had seen Cal struggling to his feet be- | after us.”’ . a Bares a hard-lookin’ gang, an’ et would be about | fore the light went out, and he now made a ‘-Let ’emhump. Ef et comes ter that we Bh Ns ie, their size. Jack is the king-pin, an’ I don’t | quick movement and gained his side. will jest turn ‘pugilists an’ make the smartest ‘ee * > ~~ —~ < 7 7 “> > a we = 5 a wl * went OP BE a ete a — < DS ee re Sy go much on his looks, ef he has a kinder swellappearance. You an’ me swing around in an atmosphere of moral virtuc, but we ain’t n- innocents We kin see them fellers are law-breakers 0’ some sort. The question is, what? an’ that’s what we are goin’ ter find out.” tracks,” ’ Jack reached over for a fresh cigar, but as he did so there was a rattling sound in the next room and something remarkable fol- lowed. | Through the hole in the wall shot a human * being who only partially broke his fall, and ‘* Get a move on!”’ whispered the Rattler. aoe fer the door an’ go like a whirlwind. Go!” The jockcy could not fail to understand the plan, and they started together. There was an audible movement on the part of the foe to shut them off, but they comprehended had an idea that he presented a barrier that could not be overturned. “Try it this way!’ suggested Robert, pulling at Cal’s sleeve, and they made a new rush, this time for the rear room, though why they went there, the Rattler could not have told. , ’ . —————— — rr erm ee ee ——i— eC C=—*#éNS we ee 8 ee kind of a fight. Say, ain’t there no ladder.. an’ no skylight hyer?” ‘«T don’t see any.” “Me, too! B’jinks! gone ker-smack into a trap, an’ them blamed. skunks are right here, too.” . ** Lay low, or they will hear ye.” I guess we hev interest to Robert, for right there he was. crouched behind a box. ioe ‘‘Hurry up!” urged Jack’s voice. ‘“‘ Get. the young whelps out.” ! ‘I’m after them,” replied Pete, with a punch of the stick. | ‘‘Go right in there, if there is a re- Dy ‘I’m with ye,” agreed Cal, with enthusi- | the value of a headlong rush, and were not ‘Cal, wrap yer ear around this think; eH Bhs asm. wholly without hope. We must watch our chance an’ take another vite Ba he) ‘‘ Don’t talk no more, now.” Robert took the lead. He plunged for- | skip. Your notion o’ goin’ by the air line ee By sa All they had said had been in a very low | ward like.a battering-ram. ) will do fer thinkin’ on, but et ain’t worth a es Teo rae tone, but Robert was wise enough to see Just when he knew he must be near the | continental fer practice. Our way is down | ts) “i et that they were running risks with every | door, he saw a dark form before him, and he | the stairs ag’in, an’ we must look a little out ey ie a word. §o he called the halt and nothing | lowered his head, placed his shoulder for- | an’ be ready fer the heat when the flag Ae | oe more was said, -| ward, and went into the form like a thun-; drops. See?” . Boies! ~ The Rattler had a general plan in his mind | berbolt. | ‘“* Yes,” tet oe’ which was by prudent, and which was! The collision was telling, but Robert had | There was time to say no more. The in |e "3 that they should keep their place until they | the advantage of his own impetus, and the | enemy were already on their floor, and a. | tet mC were able to get out of the house unseen and | man was sent sprawling on the floor. He | though the darkness shut out discovery, at. ah Oe unheard, but plans do not always work as | had received a fall which jarred both him- | once, the searchers were all in earnest, rigs ane arranged. self and the house, but he retained the power ‘‘ Strike a glim,” suggested one. be Nie’ Wap The men continued their conversation. of speech and used it tothe fullest extent. ‘‘There ain’t any gas up here.” | rf Bk ieee ‘*‘ Jack,” said one of them, ‘’is it safe to “Yah! yah!’ he yelled, wildly. “I’m “Then getalamp.” | | : Ease) |e ae be on your racer for the second event to- | murdered! They have broke my neck! I ‘¢ Don’t waste the time,” added the author- ae eee Pte morrow ?” amadead man! Yah/ yah !” itative voice of Jack Webber. ‘‘ We can a re ‘‘Hanged if I know,” replied Jack, in- ‘‘ What is it?’ cried Jack. capture them in ashorttime. Their fighting ae ih hy: _ differently. “The fiends seem to have broken loose!” | days are over.” eae | oh Yea. ‘Is he in good condition?” added Con. The Rattler made a grimace. He had his With | ae Bee ‘*So they say.” “Yah! yah!” opinion of the statement. There might be Peal: Ma BS ake ** What do you say?” The fallen man continued his yells, which | another surprise party. 7 | u s eZ a Shae ““Why, man, I don't know a race-horse | were simply those of pain and fright, but he | ‘‘ Pete, you know this place the _ best. Bee a hada . poy from a car-horse. I’m no judge of such | was sitoxeting to get up, and as his friends | Push ahead and root them out. Of course \ aa | Nal things. The horse looks trim to my eye, | hurried forward, two of them fell over him | they are in some recess, and it will be quick cam ae q. i but that’s all I can say.”’ before they realized the danger. work to secure them. Go on!” i ie ie 3: ‘* You are a queer racing man.” In the mean time the boys had been im- ‘‘T’ll soon have the little snipes out.” eae tau AS ‘*Of course you know my ownership is | proving their chances to the best of their} With this confident assertion Pete moved a oe ah BS, alla blind. Curiously enough, I am not, at} ability. They had reached the hallallright, | to his work. He had secured a stick like a cum Fe ee oie tS heart, interested in racing, and I only owr | but there they encountered the guard. He | cane, and with this he felt/his way. wna, tae the brute so that it need not be said that/i | was fully on the alert, and, when they tried ‘* Lots o’ crannies about here where they pet ab ry am without visible means of support. The | to pass, they found him an obstacle of no} might put their beeks an’ not be seen,” he ad —_. trick has worked well, and the police know | mean kind, , observed, ‘‘ but I do know ’em all. They Alas Bee Pak) me as a sporting man, and never think of Their rush was checked, and both were | ain’t in there!” s Die BL Pe Ed e ~~... Jooking into my affairs.” flung back against the wall like mere chil-| He had prodded with the stick and satis- pat 7s “*’'You are long-headed.” dren. fied himself as to one recess. He now moved ey * vee ¥S ‘“‘T trust I know enough to coverup my | The reversal bewildered them, and they | to another, and it was something of great. Me the conversation stopped short as the men| But now the other men were in the hall. | cess.” ; | RG 3 0 Stay Mar A Lae saw a boy sprawling on the floor, Big grew} ‘‘ Cut them off!” ordered Jack. ‘“‘T’m no shadder, an’ I can’t go inter ahole: |: jee. 4. : ; their eyes, but attention was directed else- | Robert found men in the way he had | made fera rat, but I kin tell ef the kids are. ae ; ca ~~ a — € ie es . a4 —4« Sires Ye So rs ee oe, -~ ar +. a sl -" . «- ~ ~ a, oo “aia ~-> ¢ - as eS ges og ee sae - —, ry Se ~ a , i - va es ~ ee ; = = tet Vt ‘ > ~” x a * — 3 where asa second boy came flying after the J : f Wwe = - . “4 #), ° “ ; . , wen * - marked out. there.” i . ‘ a” '* 7 o , js ; .* : Wr) é ! . { ; 7 "so Wis : | aah : j : : i . ' - ' ; 7 y - . 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