Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 839: Broadway Billy's Big Boom — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

~- — eee Tie started to lead the child from the room, but Billy stepped in the way. “You ain’t goin’ out o’ here till I know more about this hyer matter,” he fearlessly cried. ‘‘ I don’t care if you are biggest!” ‘* Why, you country yam, I'll eat ye if ye don’t get out o’ my way!” ‘Try it on, and see if it ain’t the|biggest job ye ever lackled,” was the defiant re- joinder. ‘‘I kin throw ary one o’ dad's oxen, an’I guess I kin take a fall out 0’ you!” ‘‘ You kin, hey?’ The big, low-browed, murderous-looking viliain let go of the girl’s hand for a second, and grabbed up a big bottle that stood on the table. All the others sprung to their feet, and the frightened Tip ran toward the corner of the room where he took shelter behind an- other table and ‘some chairs, while the girl flew to Billy. Burk Burret had whipped out a formida- ble-looking knife, and would have leaped at the supposed countryman had not Job Heron thrust his right arm in front of. him to stay him. He evidently knew the temper of the man, that he meant nothing short of murder. “Hold!” he cried. ‘* Would you spoil all your chances?” All this in a moment, for it waseven while Feeny was grabbing up the big bottle. As Hob wheeled around he raised the bottle to strike the daring countryman to the floor, but in the same moment a change came over the face of Mr. Brown, and with left hand protecting the child, his right came up with a cocked revolver. The flashing eyes and resolute lips of in- trepid Broadway Billy had now no assumed expression. i Stop!” he cried. ‘‘ Drop that, or I'll drop you |” He was now recognized, and a look of in- tense murderous hatred came instantly into the face of the big ruffian. He drew back his arm regardlessly to hurl the bottle at the detective’s head, Quicker than thought, Broadway Billy fired. It was a shot thdt saved his life, un- doubtedly, for the arm was in motion of throwing the bottle when the bullet bored its way through his muscles. The expression on the man’s face changed to one of keenest pain, and he almost let the bott.e fall, but in his resolute, dogged des- peration he raised it again as if to throw. “Hold!” the young detective cried. ‘‘I spared the bone that time, but if I have to fire again I'll shatter it for you. And if that does not do, I'll drop you in your tracks where you stand!” This had the desired effect, and pretending that it was all through intensity of pain, the fellow let the bottle drop to the floor, By this time others had crowded into the room from the saloon proper, and among them Silent Seth. Nor was he alone! Happy Harry and Edward Franklin, hav- ing made hasty work of what they had un- dertaken, had been able to get on the track of Feeuy and the others, and had trailed them to this den. ‘ So, coming in, Seth, Harry, and Franklin, each whipped out a revolver and all ranged themselves with Broacway Billy, covering the now cowering and astonished knaves, Harper Heron, too, had just come in from the hall, and he, too, was neatly trapped. He stood just within the door, and as Billy ended speaking to Feeny, Happy Harry cried out: ‘Shut that door, there! Don’t you try to dodge! If you do, down goes your shanty, and don’t you forget it!’ and his weapon was turned full upon the F pte rascal, The fellow cowered and obeyed the order. And there they had them, hard and fast in a trap of their own setting. semi-disguised CHAPTER XY. SCOOPING THE RASCALS. ‘“COHRISTOPHER CHICAGO COLUMBIA!” cried Happy Harry, now as happy as he could be. ‘‘I want to know if this don’t take the cake! Creepin’ crackers! I should just say it does!” Kven imperturbable Silent Seth allowed a light of exultation to gleam in his eyes, for the victory was a signal one. They had their men covered, and though the odds was against them they could not well lose now, for everything was in their favor. But, it was not done yet. ‘‘Surrender, every man of you!” Broad- way billy sternly ordered. ‘‘ You thought you had removed me when you put me in that cellar with the rats, but you didn’t figure just right, you see. Broadway Billy has come out on top of the heap again, as he always does! Into that corner, every jack or you, of [ shoot to kill!” ‘The order was not to be disregarded, they all well knew, and,with sullen looks the crooks obeyed. Not only the principal raseals, but others who had rushed in to their aid from the saloon were thus cornered, and Billy held them securely. ‘*Now, Harry,” the young detective chief ordered, ‘‘you go for police, and we'll hold the fort till you return with them. It’s not far around to the Station. Bring half a dozen at least.” Happy Harry, revolver in hand, sprung to obey. Through it all, the little girl was clinging tightly to Broadway Billy, well phoabising her friend and protector. ‘“A pretty scheme you tried to work, Job Heron, and you, Burk Burret, uncle to this helpless child!” Billy scornfully denounced. * You thought to rob her of her fortune, at the same time sending her to a fate worse than death. Shame upon you! and may the law deal with you in severest measure!” ‘It’s a lie!” cried Heron. ‘‘ What are you talking about?” ‘‘Fool! to attempt to deny it,” retorted Billy, in contempt. ‘‘It proves itself, and the bes. proof is this child.” ‘‘T know her not, sir; what foolish claim do you expect to make for her ?” “Little girl, what is your name?” Billy asked. ‘* Zita Burret, sir.” ‘What is your aunt’s name, the lady with whom you live?” **Vivia Laurence, sir.” ‘Why did you go away?” ‘*] didn’t, sir; these men took me, when I was on the street one afternoon.”’ ‘Which men?” She indicated Hob Feeny and Harp Heron. ‘That is enough,” said Billy, ‘‘ You will only hurt your case the more by trying to deny it, you infamous rascals! You are un- der arrest, and whatever you say will be used against you.” “And this will not be the only charge against them, either,” spoke up Mr, Frank- lin, referring to the attempt against his own life. P ‘No, youare right,” echoed Billy, *‘ You did not recognize Broadway Billy when you opened that iron door last night, Hob Feeny.” _ The big ruffian’s face grew more pale than ever, and not his alone, either. It was plain that a big haul had been made, and that there was more to be brought to light than the one simple case. ‘*T didn’t open no iron door last night,” he growled. ‘‘ Don’t know what you're talking about,” ‘You mean you don’t want to know.” ‘“T know I’ll git square with ye, fer this hole in my arm, that’s what I do know!” ‘‘Aud you had better let one of your friends there dress it for you, to stop the bleeding while you wait, hadn’t you?” Broadway. Billy’s Big’ Boom. : 15 This the big ruffian evidently thought too, for he quickly availed himself of the privilege and asked one of his fellow-pris- oners to assist him. In due time a police -sergeant with half a dozen officers came in, led by Happy Harry, and ina few words Broadway Billy gave them the key to the situation and they took charge of the prisoners. Two officers were left in charge of the den, with orders to allow no one to go out until further instructions were given. The prisoners were taken away, and duly taken care of at the station. ‘‘ Now,” said Billy to Mr, Franklin, ‘‘ you had better take this little girl and restore her to Miss Laurence, and tell her about the matter. Ibave no doubt you can do it far more agreeably than I,” ‘*T’ll be proud to undertake the task,” was the response. ‘“Then do so, and I'll see the lady to- morrow.” So the happy lover set forth upon his agreeable mission, with little Zita clinging fast to him for safety. The hour was not early, by this time, and the Laurence residence was dark by the time he arrived, but he rung the bell in a determined way and finally came a voice de- manding who was there. ‘It’s I, Edward Franklin, with impor- tant news,” he explained. ‘‘I must see Miss Laurence at once.” ‘‘Admit him, Susan,” a voice further away ordered. It was Vivia herself, she having recognized her lover the moment he spoke. The door was thrown open and Franklin walked in, leading Zita by the hand. Miss Laurence screamed, too, but it was an outery of joy, and rushing down the stairs, regardless of the fact that she was arrayed in her night-robe, she caught the child to her heart. se ‘But, Aunty Vee,” the child quicky said, ‘““you must not let Susan get away, for she is a bad woman. It was she that helpea them to get me, and she told the bad men when you were going to the police, so they could kill the good men who would come to get me. I heard—” ‘*Susan Coolidge!” With that chilling exclamation the youn lady turned upon her trusted servant, anc the woman dropped upon her knees before her. ‘‘ Forgive me! oh! forgive me!” she cried, ‘They promised me so much money I could not help it!” ‘* Who promised you money?” ‘Mr. Heron, and he said it was Mr. Burret, too. It was a good deal of money, enough tc make me rich, and I could not re- sist—” \ ‘“Wretch! Wretch that you are! To sell the life of this sweet child for a little riches —wealth that was to be stolen from her! Go! Go at once! Never let me see your hated face again!” Her scorn was so great that it overcame her judgment for the moment, and the woman was about to take advantage of her mistake when Franklin interposed, ‘*Don’t be going quite so fast,” he ordered. ‘*She will be wanted, Vivia, you know, as a witness against the villains. I'll detain her and hand her over to the, police,” “Spare me! Oh! Spare me!” ‘There is only one way in which you will be spared,” said Franklin, severely, ‘Pll do anything—anything, if you will only spare me, sir! Only tell me what you want—” ‘Yes, you have shown yourself capable of doing anything,” was the interruption from Miss Laurence. ‘‘Tll arrange that you can be a witness against these rascals, and so get your own sentence lightened; that’s the only mercy | comicbook