Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 839: Broadway Billy's Big Boom — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. ee 6 pie: ~, eon date ae : . - _— At 4 é tay. Ae * » See) os & He ras ie , he - iA fo a . b ” oe Ss ae A Nuh 2 —. Alege lh Meg» * Ce ee ie + bd 4 » . a big feller, and there ain’t a man in our ward kin lick him, either.” ‘Then he must be the man I saw going into the saloon you came out of. That was his name that was over the door. You are right, he isn’t very small, Tip.” “That was him, sir.” ‘‘Is this Broadway?” ‘* Yes, sir.” “Then let’s us stop a minute and get our wind. Do you work anywheres, Tip?” ‘*Nixey; 1 don’t have to work, for my dad has got the scads, he has, and lam goin’ 1s learn to keep bar and be a big man like mi’ Noble ambition! ‘““Why, thought you worked for Bigwell & Granson,” Seth now pushed the matter. ‘Didn't I see you with their badge on your cap yesterday?” The freckled fellow looked at Seth wonder- ingly, eyes wide open. ‘* Where did you see me?” he demanded. ‘Didn't I meet you on the street in com- pany with a good-looking man with black eyes?” ‘‘Mebby you did; I dunno.” ‘‘Or, maybe it was in the store I saw you,” “Nixey, for I don’t work there. That cap was only a fake, that was all. But, come on, if you’ve got your wind.” ‘“‘ We'll finish this business first,” decided Seth. ‘‘Now look here, Tip, I want to know where you took Broadway Billy yester- day, and what became of him. Don't try to run, or I'll break every bone in. your body,” The boy had paled, so badly that his freckles stood out in bold relief, and he was edging off. ‘*I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, boss,” he declared, ‘‘If you want me to take you to that number, come on; if you don’t, say so.” ‘‘ Well, then, I don’t; all I want of you is what I just asked you. Now, you tell me, or lll hand you over to a policeman and have yourunin. Broadway Billy has got to be found, and you have got to find him.” ‘* You'll have to ketch me, first, old duff.” And with that the boy darted away as fast as he could go, down the street by which they had just*come out upon Broadway. Kven yet he had not penetrated Seth’s dis- guise,and no doubt counted upon runnin away from him with ease; but he had | His proposition upon an unknown quantity. Seth sprung after him, and before a block had been covered he had him by the collar, ‘Well, the old duff has got you,” he cried. ‘* Now, you tell what you know about that matter, or ll hurt your feelings for you. I mean if, so don’t monkey aboutit. Where did you take Broadway Billy? or where did you see him last? Speak out.” ‘*T took him to Bigwell & Granson’s, of course,” ‘‘ You did, eh? You said that cap was only a fake, and that you didn’t work there. Don't try to lie, now.”’ ‘* Well, I was workin’ there then; they sent me from the store.” ‘* That’s a lie, rightout plain. Ihave been to the store, and no one there sent for him. Now, you tell the truth, or you'll sleep in the Tombs to-night.” ‘‘I—I don’t know who sent me; it was a man met me on the street, and he said take that note to Mr. Weston and bring him to oe store. And that’s what I done, nothin’ else.” ‘* Want me to call a policeman, do you?” ‘* No, no; don't do that; I’ll tell you all about it if you won’t, honor oright I will.” ‘*Then why don’t you?” ‘* You won't believe me anyhow, even if I do tell true.” + a ‘* Never fear; I’11 know whether you are telling the truthornot. Come, now, unwind ryourself,”’ J Who sent you after him? | ‘“ What will ye do with me then?” ““Tll let you go, then, if you satisfy me with what you tell.” “Tell you what I’ll do.” ‘*What’s that?” ‘ ‘‘Tll take you to the house where I took im.” ‘All right, do that. But, how did you get him to go with you, when the note said come to Bigwell & Granson’s?” ‘Oh, I had more to tell him, when we left the office, you see, and he went along with me all right. Come on, if ye want me to show ye, [’ll easy dothat. Then you must let me go.” ‘‘ Lead the way.” | So they set out, the freckled boy in th role of guide. The Silent Shadower tried to get more in- formation out of him as they went along, but the little fellow was sharp and a remarkable liar, On this account Seth was looking out for him, not knowing what trick he might have in mind, determined that he would not be caught napping, and that the boy should not get away till he had learned what he knew. What T*p had in view was not to appear, for something turned up that took the re- sponsibility off his hands. They were getting back into one of the worst quarters of the city, by this time, and suddenly they came face to face with the two men who had come out of the house with Bob Feeny. Seth saw them first; the next moment he saw them recognize Tip, and from the boy they looked hard at him. As they passed, the thin man made a grab at Seth’s beard, and off it came. The Silent Shadower sprung back a step, reaching for a weapon with which to defend himself, but the men had him before he could act further. No persons were near save a lot of brutal- looking Italians and other foreign loungers, and the respectable appearance of the man with the high hat and side-whiskers over- awed them, evidently. ‘‘We'll fix you, pickpocket!” the well- dressed man cried. ‘' Out of the way, men, while we drag him to the police!” Spite of his struggles, Seth was over- come, and was hustled around a corner in a moment, and in the next moment was forced quickly as possible. Tip, the boy, had taken to his heels and started for home, as soon as escape was pos- sible, and here was Seth, in the toils as badly as Happy Harry, with the fate of their chief unknown and altogether uncertain. It ' looked as though luck was against them this time. Seth was quickly overcome and bound, | the two men seeming quite at home here, / and that done, was taken down into a.cellar and pitched into a corner much after the manner of a bag of meal, and there left. Broadway Billy and his boy invincibles were downed at last! It looked as though their season of useful- ness had come to an untimely end. CHAPTER VL. HOW BILLY FARED. AnD Broadway Billy, whom we left in a terrible situation, in total darkness, bound hands and feet, and with a hundred hungry rats ready to attack him:—what of him? No sooner had the light been removed from the foul-smelling cellar, as stated, than the rodents were heard scampering over the floor in great numbers, and it was only a moment later when Billy felt them running over his person. The young prince of Metropolitan detec- tives had been in many a tight place in his ‘time, but never in all his experience, he ' thought now, had he been in a more deadly, ‘dangerous dilemma. It would have been TTT TE Ss sts---ssessessili-ss-snsssteens=ten i rr into a house, where the door was shut as: bad enough, even with the use of his limbs, ° but bound as he was— No wonder he felt the creepy sensation SOR OE, or thata chill for a moment seized im. All this quickly passed, however, and shutting his teeth hard Billy faced the or- deal as he had faced many another, with all the steel of his nature at high tension nerved to face death if it came to that. When the rats were thick about him, and when he expected their attack, then he gave vent to a shrill whistle, followed by a sharp hiss, and away they scampered, giving him a little respite. But well he knew this ruse. would not long serve the purpose; they would become bolder presently. ti His captors had not feared that his cries. for help could be heard, and hence had left him ungagged, and the prisoner himself felt that they had been perfectly safe~in so doing. In a few minutes the rats were Cae 3 around him again, as thick as before, an the bolder ones were running over him. This time Billy gave a yell and rolled over quickly, aad: two at least came to an untimely end Billy followed up his cry with a louder one for help. His voice seemed to be stifled in that place, however, as in truth it was, and he doubted whether it even reached to the floor above. The hero of a hundred desperate straits was certainly in a bad fix this time, and it really looked as though there could be no way of escape, but still he did not give up. + ‘‘ This beats them all, I believe,” he said to himself. ‘‘ But, while there is life there ishope. There’s no use giving up as long * as I can wiggle, and there is a good deal of wiggle left in me yet. Sorry I didn’t tell one of the boys to follow; but, who would have dreamed of this?” He thought hard. Hew to get out—that was the question. Ere long the rodents were at him again, evidently famished and eager to make @ feast. Billy allowed them to gather as thick] as he dared, and then, with another yell, rolled over as before, crushing’ two or three more and causing another general scam per. This time,. however, another danger made itself known, for in the act of turning Billy rolled upon something that gave him a painful hurt in the side, and moving so as, to feel with his fingers he found it to bea. part of a broken bottle with jagged points. “Whew!” Billy whistled upon making the discovery. ‘‘This danger is as bad as the danger from the rats, If this had caught me on the wrist and severed an artery, 1 would have been done for sure enough— Ha! the very idea! Can’t I manage to cut these cords on the broken glass? Never say dic, Broadway Billy! You’re good for an- other round or two!” And hope filled his breast immediately, With extreme caution he moved so as to bring his bound wrists over the edges of the glass, and at once began rubbing the cords: carefully over the sharp notches, * He’ had reason to believe it was going to be slow work, and he had barely begum operations when the rats were around him again, more venturesome than ever, and @ sharp yell did no more than to drive them off to a little distance, .They were soon at him again. It might have been Broadway Billy’s last adventure, but fortunately the jagged glass had an edge like a razor, and contrary to his expectations the cords gave way, after only a moment’s effort, and his hands were: freed! ‘Thank God!” Billy reverently exclaimed. ‘‘Now we'll see who will get the worst. of it, I or these accursed rats!” and snatch- oe ~ ' : >. ert 3 IM L a 7 > a ‘ y= ~~ ( 4 x A wie 2 ys 3 ie : aie, 2S ae 2 ~~ .