Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 841 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

tern s — the street, Mr. Graff. Let go of my arm, and Pll tell you how I got out.” . nae , tell me, then,” and Graff let go his Old. ***T suppose you are not the only one who has a key to that door, are ‘you?” asked Max. ‘¢ No, ’m not.” ‘‘And it is quite natural that the others, knowing that you had a‘curiosity locked up there, should want to see it, eh?” “What of that?” ‘*This, When you put me in there I had con- siderable in my pocket, a part of which opened the door for me, and like any other tragedian, I exited, see?” and’ Max turned and darted away on a run, leaving Kilian Graff under the im- ression that one of the men there had been bribed to release the captive. But he was not to be foiled so easily, be told himself. He was becoming more and more con- vinced that the boy knew many things which he as the nephew of Mr. Mordaunt, deceased, would like to learn, and keeping Max well in sight, he hurried along after him. hey were going toward the Bridgeat a rapid pace, Graff not knowing precisely what he would do, but determined to get the boy where he could force him to talk, if possible, ‘‘ Hello, Kil; whereaway so fast?’ suddenly exclaimed a rough voice, just as he was going in at the Bridge entrance, ‘* Just the man I want!” cried Graff, seizing the person who had addressed him and draggin him along. ‘‘Come with me,” he added, ‘‘an Yl explain as we go,” and they hurried through the gate toward the stairs, up which Max had already disappeared, 5 The new-comer was of that nondescript class which infests the streets of large cities, who are always well-dressed; who usually have money about them to spend, but who seem to have no occupation whatever; who look like gentlemen, and when occasion requires can play the part very well, but who are really entered upon the municipal book as ‘‘ shady,” which, being trans- lated, means that they are of the criminal class, but have as yet managed to avoid detection in their transactions, This particular one was faultlessly attired, and upon his shirt-front sparkled a diamond of the t water. He was a large man, though not remarkably so, with dark, piercing eyes, restless and wary, while a heavy black mustache concealed the lines of a hard, cruel mouth, His name was—or wassupposed to be—Charles Prince, though among his familiars he was known as Prince Charley. ‘‘ Where are you taking me to?” he growled, as Graff hurried him along toward the cars. “‘T am going the other way, man, not to Church- town,” ‘‘Come ahead,” replied Graff. ‘‘ Pll explain assoon as I get you on the cars; it’s important.” They were just in time to step aboard the last car asthe bell rung for it to start, and Graff, noticing quickly that Max was not in that car, drew his companion into a seat by the rear door to explain, but as he was taking his seat, he lanced from the window, just in time to see fax, who was standing upon the platform past which the cars were by that time running rap- y. \ The messenger-boy was kissing his fingers through the window to him, and he sprung to his feet with an oath, ‘‘Y,o0k!” he cried, seizing Prince by the arm, *‘look quick! {want you to know that boy the next time you see him,”’ Prince looked, and saw Max quite plainly as he ne laughing heartily at the retreating tr ‘*f believe you are out of your head,” was his comment to Kilian Graff as he turned back into the car. ‘‘ What is the matter with the boy?” ‘“‘He knows too much for me to let him run wild,” said Graff savagely, ‘‘and 1 want you to find it out for me, will you?” ** Hasier said than done, Kil,” returned Prince, ** Who is he?” ‘* His name is Merry, and he is or was & mes- senger-boy in Brooklyn,” ‘Well, where does he live?” é ‘‘T don’t know, You must find that out.” ‘‘ What do you want me to do when I do find out? Come, explaim yourself, because I am not going to ask any more questions,” ‘* | want you to either coax him, drive him or drag him to some place where I can Jock him up and keep him on bread and water until he answers certain questions. The old man’s dead, you know, Prince, and he left the bulk of his property to a certain Maxwell Merry under very gates conditions, That Maxwell ry is either this boy’s father or the boy himself, Oe ceS\_ Qe ee eg Messenger Max. and I begin to think the latter. At any rate, I want to find out, andif itis the boy, we'll just make him fork overa partof his pile. Ill let him know that when one deals against me, I’m only the more likely to win on the next.” ** How in blazes did you manage to dash into the train and leave him on the platform?” asked Prinze. ‘*‘T did not: there was no one on the platform when we boarded the cars, He must have seen me and jumped off after the train started.” Such was indeed, the fact. Max bad gone to the front platform of the forward car and had | seen Graff hurry on board the rear one just as they began to move, though in fact, he had not noticed Prince at all. Making up his mint! instantly he had pulled the gate open, and crying out to the brakeman that he had forgotten something, he had leaped to the gangway of the Bridge before the man had time to inte~fere. Then he stood still, wait- ing to see if Graff would notice him, and when he did, Max could not resist the temptation of blowing a kiss from his fingers toward the mov- ing train, ‘* Where shall I go now?” he asked bimself. ‘That fellow proposes to make it rather warm forme, I imagine, and I’ve got to change my clothes, that’s certain,” He turned and left the pridge. meking his way through the narrow streets leadir g toward Roosevelt Street Ferry. Meanwhile Graff and his friend Prince Char- ley had’ reached the Brooklyn side of the river, debarked from the Bridge-train, and were soon standing over a neighboring bar laying their plans for the capture of Max. Graff had said enough to excite the cupidity of Prince, for that individual was ‘‘ always on the lookout for ‘shekels,’” as he elegantly ex- pressed it, Graff had proposed waiting and watching a few trains come over,in the hdpe that Max would be among the passengers, but Prince had scoffed at the idea, ‘“‘That boy is smart,” he said. ‘‘ Do you sup- pose he would walk rigbt over here into your claws after taking all the trouble he has to get out of them? Besides, we don’t want him now. I think I know a trick worth two of that, but I want to find out where he lives.” ‘“ Very well,” said Graff. ‘‘ We will go to the main office of the District Telegraph Company and ask the manager. He will probably know, or will find out for usif we tell him a straight yarn. ‘‘ Right! Come on, and before morning, Pll have the youngster in my little particular den where I lay by and muse when the community gets too warm for me, He can’t get out of there, you ‘can be certain, unless you or I let him out. It is a favorite little nest of mine where nobody but myself ever goes, and where I have got things fixed very comfortable and’ nice. Just now, there is alittle company there —friends of mine who wanted to keep out of sight ‘for a day or two—but they had to get in the same way you will, Kil—blindfolded, for [ wouldn’t let my own brother know to find me there. Once we get his nibs in that spot, we'll have him where he can’t wriggle till he pays for the pleasure of it. Right!” CHAPTER IX. THE GAMIN—A HEAVY STAKE. As Judge Curtis was leaving his residence on Montague street shortly after eight o’clock the morning following, he was actosted by the fa- miliar cry of: ‘‘Shine? Shine ’em up’s bright ’s a dollar fur a nickel.” He shook his head and walked rapidly on, for his boots did not need shining—they never did, apparently, being nearly always capable of re- flecting the brightest kind of a dollar, and par- ticularly so on that morning. But the knight of the box wasnot to be bluffed off, and either could not or would not notice how brightly the judge’s boots already shone, and he followed on persistently for nearly a block, constantly repeating his monotonous ‘Shine, boss? Only a nickel—shine?” At last the judge became out of patience and paused abruptly. ‘* Boy,” he said, sharply, ‘‘I do not want a shine, as you can see, but if you will stop your clatter I will give you a nickel.” ‘“‘Thanky, boss,” said the boy, ‘‘ but I'd ruther earn it; better Jet me'shine ’em up; that shine’s no good! De covey w’ot-done it ain’t got his trade learned, he ain’t.” My ody ‘Well, it is good enough for me,” said the judge, with a frown,and tossing the bootblack * a nicke] he turned and was about to continue his way toward his office when another voice ac- costed him, ** Judge,” it said. The preeinan turned sharply and looked all around, but no one was near except the boot- black, who was very busily engaged in studying the motto on his five-cent piece. ‘*Strange,’ muttered the judge, ‘‘I thought some one called me,and I thought the voice was ig of young Merry, but 1 must have imagined He turned again to pursue bis way, but again was brought to a sudden halt by the same voice uttering the same word. _ The bootblack was still studying the nickel as intently as though he had forgotten everything but that he possessed it. ‘* Boy,” said the judge, in his most authorita- tive tone, ‘‘ come here,” The bootblack raised his head and went toward the judge slowly. ‘** Did you speak to me just now?” questioned the man of law. ‘*'Ye-up,” replied the boy. ‘‘I axed yeif yer wanted er shine, an’ ye Said naw, ye didn’t. Had ye forgot it already?” ‘‘Did you call me judge, when I turned away ?” ‘‘] did, judge, surely. Don’t you know me?” ‘© W ell—wel!—well!!!” exclaimed Judge Cur- tis. ‘' Maxwell, you surprise me! Know you? Not at all! You are completely dineias’. I doubt if your own mother would know you. Even now that I know it is you, [ findit hard to trace any resemblance to Maxwell Merry,” And well he might, for a tight-fitting wig of bright red had been placed over the dark curly hair which grew on Max’s head, and his face and hands were so disfigured by streaks of blacking that even the shape of his features seemed changed. A ragged pair.of pants much too large for their wearer were:held in their place by means of one suspender strap which went over a very dirty shirt. His feet were in- cased in shoes which might have fitted the judge’s feet with ease. He looked a veritable gamin, evidently much to the judge’s astonish- ment. : ‘* Walk on your boots,” said Max, hastily; ‘‘ spoil your shine somewhere, for I want you to take meinto your office without my being recog- 7 » The judge’ took in the situation instantly, and with each boot spoiled the gloss on the other, and then telling Max to follow, led the way toward his office. When they reached the office, a gentleman was waiting to see the judge, and rose as he entered. ‘¢] will see you in a moment,” said he; or just as soon as this boy shines my boots for ‘‘But I merely want to ask one question.” ‘“Well, what is it?” ‘‘Can you tell me where I can find a t hebata man by the name of Maxwell Merry? I have been to his house three times—twice last evening and again this morning—but he had not been there since yesterday morning.” Both Max and the judge started when the question was asked, but if the stranger noticed it he made no sign, “T know such a boy,” said Judge Curtis, slowly, ‘‘ but as to where he can be found— um! perhaps he has gone fishing, if he isn’t at the messenger-office where he works,” ‘t He does not work there now,” continued the stranger. we ! in that case I should presume his home to be the most likely place to look for him.” ‘‘ Perhaps so—tbanks,” and the stranger was about to depart. % Stay,” said the judge, carelessly, ‘If you are anxious to see him and will leave your name and address, I will see that he is possessed of it at the earliest opportunity.” “Thanks,” returred the stranger. *‘‘1f you will ask him to meet me this evening at seven in the Astor House rotunda, I will be there. I know him by sight, so he will only have to go there and wait until Ispeakto him, My name is Earl, Good-morning,” and he vanished through the door. ‘‘ Come in, boy,” said the judge, and in a mo- ment more he and Max were alone inthe private office. rr Do you know him?” asked Judge Curtis. “No. sir: never saw him before, butI think I - 3 ’ know what he ** What?” cs Me. ” Wh laughed the lawyer. is after.” yes, of course, since he asked for you.” - 900 IC tbs" ' Ar") a oy ‘ - . ° : - : - _ oh ‘ : © . . - a aye ay ia i > * , oo; 7 PY ’ we. n .. a } Adipeet wre 4 “ 1, bo x9 * aa * oe F% uf d f 2 Say oy be. PY. it B * J. oe . a i : - bar y et , ref =) bs 4, te RO at Pe Saw DO. — ; ae ; ‘ . 4 as woe b : ’ , Le Wire. wih si a je ets . ae ee e ‘ ; rd