Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 839: Broadway Billy's Big Boom — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

— Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. and Seth waited until he heard a signal that had been agreed upon between them. He went out, then, and was quickly con- ducted into a rear yard and to a narrow pas- sage, and thanking the girl again for the favor, made all haste to get out and away. As soon as he was gone the girl went back, entered the cellar-way and closed and fas- tened the door, coming up then by the stairs by which Seth had been carried down by his captors. By this, she could declare her in. nocence of any knowledge about the pris- oner’s escape. ‘“Well, now what?’ Seth asked himself, when he felt safe. He didn’t answer it immediately, but put himself down to some hard thinking as he walked leisurely along. He had been despoiled of the hair and beard that went to perfect his disguise, but still had on the clothes, and had another, though different, wig and whiskers in one of his pockets. ; These he now put on, to the surprise of those who saw him in the act, but he was not satisfied yet. The clothes might let out the secret, for he had promptly decided to venture again on dangerous ground. So, he changed his course and went home, for a double purpose. There he could perfect his disguise, and at the same time could learn whether any- thing had been heard from Billy or Harry. His arrival there broke the terrible sus- ense, to a degree, for the absence of the trio d caused much worry. Telling all he could, and making the icture as bright as possible for sake of illy’s mother, he was soon off again, in a new disruise. This time he was a typical bootblack, with his box on his shoulder, and with a face remarkable far dirt. He had taken care to leave plain word where he was going. In due time he was in the vicinity of Hob Feeny’s miserable den, where Tip was sitting in the doorway. It was night—if we have forgotten to mention that fact, and the saloon was lighted up and appeared to be doing a thriving business. . There were a good many rough-looking fellows lounging around the bar, and on the other side of the room was a free lunch spread - out as a tempting bait for any one who had a nickel to drop. Seth sauntered in, and he was about as hard-looking as the worst of them. Hob was not present, but another ruffian had his place at the bar, who eyed Seth as he entered. The bootblack was not disturbed by this, however, but went straight to the free !unch and began to eat with a hearty appetite. ‘Say, hold on there!” the man at the bar soon sung out. Seth looked around, hand and mouth both full, as if wondering who was question- ing his rights. ‘“‘T say hold on!” the barkeeper repeated. ‘‘Maybe somebody glse would like to have a bite o’ that. We don’t furnish free meals.” ‘“‘ Free lunch, ain’t it?” demanded Seth. He pointed at the placard. ‘“‘Yes; but not afree snap fer suckers. You’d better git!” ‘‘And who’s a sucker?” Seth wanted to know. ‘‘ Not me!” ‘«Tt looks like it, anyhow.” ‘“What’ll you charge, then, to let me fill u 1 i re It orter be worth a dollar, judgin’ by the way ye have commenced at et.” “And let the first guzzler that comes along fill up fer five cents, hey? I don't call that no fair. Here, here’s the price of a schooner; I don’t want the stuff, fer it makes me sick, but this lunch goes right home.” He tossed a nickel to the man, and as there was no longer good room for ar- gument, he was allowed to continue nib- bling. Tip had come in and stood near, watching him. ‘Do you.a want some, too?” asked Seth. “Tf you do, and ain’t got no money, I will put up a nickel fer ye.” ‘Naw, I don't want none!’ was the stiff retort. ‘‘I belong here, I do, and my dad owns the hull lay-out. I was watchin’ that ye didn’t swoller the dishes, that was all” The laugh was on Seth, and he took it all in good part. While he stood there he heard cryingin a rear room somewhere, as if a woman in sore distress, though the pleading voice was more like that of a young person, ‘‘ Tip,” the bartender presently growled, *‘you go tell your old woman to shut that gal’s mouth. If she don’t, yer dad will do it when he comes, and she kin ’pend on it. “pte don’t want to hear no sech wailin’ out 1ere,”’ Tip left the den to obey, a blow was heard, followed by a scream, and then all was still. CHAPTER XIII. BILLY AND SETH IN LINE. Wuen Broadway Billy and Edward Franklin reached the very mouth of the sewer, with the water about to their waists, the cool, fresh air was delightful to them, after the foul poison they had been breathing so long. * Can you swim?” hey asked. ‘‘Yes, 1’m at home in the water,” the reply. g That's good, for we’ll have to swim for itnow. We’.l get to the side of the dock out there, and we’ll get up somehow,” ‘“‘This must be right along the street, ain't it?” ‘* Yes; place where ship rides in the dock, but none happens to be here now.” ‘‘ Well, say when you're ready, and I’m with you. never expected the honor of sharing an adventure with you.’ ‘‘ Not much of an honor, but it's better to share the adventure than to share a grave to- ether in these miserable sewers, I take it, t isn’t the first time I’ve been in them, but this is the worst dose I ever got,” ‘‘T’ll tell you, they ought to be named and lighted, Mr, Weston.” “Yes, I'd urge that, if I expected to come this way often.” So they talked on for a few minutes, while they made ready for the plunge they had to take. While they stood thus there was a scrap- ing sound overhead, and some dirt and small particles came showering down into the water in front of them. The next moment something heavier came, and there was aloud splash. \ ‘‘ What’s that?” whispered Franklin. Even before the words left his lips, how- ever, Broadway Billy had left his side, plunging into the river. Franklin waited to see his head appear, before following, and in a moment it did appear, near at hand, with face turned to- ward him. ‘Catch hold and pull mein,” Billy gasped, in low tone. ** All right!” the response. A couple of strokes brought him near enough, and laying hold upon him, his com- rade in misfortune aided him in gaining a footing. ‘‘Lift with me, quick!” Billy directed. ‘“T’ve got something or somebody in a bag, and it may be the girl we are in search of. pe thought came to me when I heard it rop.” He had not waited, while speaking, nor had Franklin, but together they lifted the sack partly out of the water, and a quick in- vestigation by feeling showed them that Billy’s guess was partly right, anyhow, for the bag contained a human form, and they’ held the head carefully above the water, ‘Got a knife?” asked Billy, Yes.” ‘“‘Rip the sack, carefully.” Billy held it, and in a moment the ripping operation was commenced, and in a few min- utes completed. It was light enough for them to see the form of the person they had rescued, but not the features, and they knew it was a boy and not a girl, as at first wildly guessed. A careful cut with the knife removed the gag, and then the poor victim gave full vent to his choking and splutterings, out of which, finally, came forth the half-articulate exclamation: ‘““ Krs—chew /—fer—owghh /—K\lm—chew £ —ya!” ‘* Happy Harry! as I live!’’ cried Billy. ‘One of your own boys?” echoed Frank- lin, in astonishment. ‘“Yes; and what could have happened more providentially ?” ‘‘Nothing, 1 guess, for providential it surely is.” Harry it was! en ly his handsand legs were freed and: Billy and his companion assisted him in get- ting the water out of himself. It took some time to do this, for Harry had been pretty well strangled, but at last he was able to talk and give something of an account of himself. And he did so.’ ‘‘Crackers an’ cheese!” he exclaimed,. ‘‘but I thought that was the last of me? And it would been, too, boss, only fer you; I'll never forget it.” ‘‘T was only the instrument in a greater Hand,” answered Billy, impressively. ** Well, you got there, just the same, any- how, and now if we don’t jest more’n curl their back hair for ’em it will be funny.” ‘We have got to get out of here first,” Billy suggested. ‘That won’t be much trouble, if you cam all swim like me.” They plunged in for the effort, and, after a considerable effort, all three were safely out and once more upon the street. ‘‘Now,” said Billy, ‘‘a change of clothes,. and then something to eat. I’m like a fam-. ished wolf,” A little walk brought them to a street. where second-hand clothing abounded, and there exchanges were made that were per- fectly satisfactory all around, and each was more or less in disguise. Billy himself had selected a suit that was long out of fashion, with a hat to match, and he looked like a typical countryman, in to see the ‘‘ elephant” for the first time in his. life. And when he had attached a pair of thinly-settled side-boards on his jaws, the: effect was heightened. The others need not be described. ‘‘ Now,” said Billy, ‘‘I think we’ll have to part company for atime. Harry, I want you to go home and.report us alive, and earn where Seth is, if you can; and you, Mr. Franklin, had better send word to Miss Laurence that we are still on deck, and after that keep yourself well out of sight.” ‘All right, as to the first, but as to the last—I’d rather take a hand in the business of seeing this thing to the end.” “Very well, then; you and Harry stick together, for it is pretty safe to say that Harry will get into it again’ before it is ended, and will perhaps need help. You and he stick together.” “All right!” from both; and so they parted. Billy intended going to that alley . where he had first been entrapped, to begin his in- vestigation there. Harry had given him all the points he had been able to glean, of course, and he was now armed with the names of the chief