Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 849 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Broadway Billy’s $100,000 Snap. i Another point scored! “But, how can he know that I suspect him?” Billy quickly demanded. ‘*Oh! I understood that he was aware of all that. If such is not the case, and he did get the money, close watching may give you proof sufficient to press the charge against him.” ‘*That will be probably the only way to get at him. Well, we'll be going. Should you learn anything, Mr. Lyddon, don’t fail to communicate at once with me or Mr. Sherwin. The slightest point may be of greatest value, you know. A word, some- times, Means a case won,” The lawyer promised, and Billy and his client took their leave. ‘““What is your opinion?” Billy asked, as they walked away. ‘*He’s innocent; he must be,” Sherwin declared. ‘‘He didn’t turn a hair under your hot fire.” “Well, I don’t agree with you, at all. I’m positive, now, that he is the man I ppled with last night behind the curtain; mas sure of it as though I had seen his face then,” Sherwin looked amazed. *‘T can't understand it at all,” he de- clared ‘Well, you did not pay the attention to details that I did, of course.” ‘Tell me about it, then. I want to know what it was escaped my notice for I thought I was watchful.” ‘* You could not help noticing that he did not ask who my suspect was.” ‘That is so, now you remind me of it.” Billy then recounted other little points, which the reader must have noted, and Sherwin was converted to his way of think- ce Still,” he urged, ‘‘all this is only sus- icion; there is still the chance that you may mistaken, Mr. Weston.” **T would admit that, were it not for the proof my little Arab has furnished me. ‘*That is so; no doubt you are right.” ‘**Now, a word of caution: ‘This man may approach you, skillfully, to get out of you just what I know and what I suspect, and if he does it will be further evidence of his guilt. He isa cool one, and deep, but not so cool and deep that we cannot land him if we are careful about it.” ‘‘And you don’t want me to let him know any more than you have already given him?” ‘« That is it exactly.” ‘“‘But, have you not now put the matter in his hands?” . *‘How do you mean?” ts ce if guilty, he knows you suspect m.”’ ‘* Just what I wante’. I thought of that, you may be sure. In te first place, he will ave to work so extrem /y cautiously, if he works at all, that his cluc can be of little use to him; and then, if he finds I am getting too close for comfort, he may suddenly discover a clue among his dead uncle’s papers,, you see,” “Then everything depends upon him now?” ‘Not everything, but a gooddeal. There is still Miss Athorne, you know.” So they talked on, till finally they parted, when Billy sought his office and Sherwin took his way to the Penrose mansion. Miss Merrett greeted her cousin cordially, glad to see him back again so soon, she said. “Thank you,” responded Sherwin, ‘‘ but this time I have come toask a favor of you.” ‘“‘ And it will be yours for the asking, I am gure,” she rejoined. ‘*T hope so; and here it is; Will youallow me to lodge here for the present, in order that I may peat the lost treasure?” ‘‘There! I have my wish!” ‘Your wish?” s : ‘‘Yes; I wanted to invite you todo just ‘ this very thing, but felt delicate about doin so, and I wished that you yourself wonia suggest it. Yes, come and welcome, for it is rightfully your home as well as mine.” ‘‘T cannot agree with you in that; there are many other heirs who might set up a similar claim.” ‘You and I are nearest, remember.” ‘*But this house is yours only; I have no right here save as you permit me to stay. I thank you for the permission you have granted.” ‘‘Have you any clue to the hiding-place yet?” ‘* Not the slightest, Ermina.”’ “There is one way to find it—the treas- ure, I mean,” ‘* How is that?” ‘*‘ By tearing down the house.” ‘‘Not to be thought of. Suppose we did not find it, what then?” ‘* Well, what then? You wouid know of a certainty that there was no tin box of money here.” ‘While you, you would be without a house and I could not afford to build you stack No, no, that is not to be thought O 20 “It is to be thought of, Norman. I will take the risk myself. You know the ground could be sold at an advance that would more than cover the value of the house, and I could buy another home.” aA had not thought of it in that light; still—” “There is only one condition to be ob- served, only one agreement that I would exact from you,” ‘* And what is that?” ‘‘TIt is a delicate matter, but I will brave it. You know the clause in our aunt’s will referring especially to you and me,” ‘‘Yes, I recall it,” ‘*Well, if you fail to find your fortune, I want to share mine with you—in the way suggested by our aunt. If you do find it, then I want you to share yours with me, in the same way.” Sherwin was thoughtful before he an- swered.’ When he did reply, he evaded an answer by saying he would think about it before deciding. The fact was, he wanted tosee Broadway Billy again, for here, he thought, was further proof either for or against Ermina Merrett. And which was it? He could not decide, but finally he gave her the benefit of the doubt, CHAPTER XI. TICKET STRIKES A TRAIL, MEANTIME Broadway Billy had found his three aides at the office, awaiting his return. Their chief saw at once, by their faces, that something serious had taken place, but before he had time to inquire Happy Harry cried out: ‘‘Christopher Columbia, boss, we have got the work all to do over again! Our prisoners have ’scaped, and there’s the merry dickens to pay in general. Got to dash on our war-paint now, sure enough.” ‘‘ Which prisoners do you mean?” asked Billy. “Why, Tony Vangriff and Hugh Higgin, the pair we bagged so neatly last night ” ‘‘How did this happen? Seth, you tell me about it, in fewest words,” ‘“‘Why, they were taking them to the Tombs, when a gang of fellows attacked the police and rescued them, and they all scat- tered before help could be had, and every one got off.” ‘“‘ How did you find out about this?” “Ticket saw it all.” ‘‘Ha! You again, eh, Ticket? Did the gang seem to be lying in wait for the police- men to come along?” ‘*T couldn’t tell how it was, sir,” the Arab answered. ‘‘It was done so quick you couldn’t tell jest how it had aranmenen There they was, and then they was gone again,” ‘* Tt must have been planned, for it could never have been worked so successfully if it hadn’t. There will be trouble now, sure: enough. But, Ticket, how came you there? What were you doing? You seem to tumble in at the right moment, somehow.” ‘‘ Why, I went there to git a look at ’em when they took ’em off, that was all, an’ when the procession started I fell in behind.” ‘‘How many policemen had them in charge?” we, 7 ‘* And didn’t you try to follow either of the fellows?” ‘You bet I did, but I got left. A feller tripped me, and down 1 went, and ’fore I could get goin’ again it was too late.” ‘Well, we have got that work to do over again, Harry, just as you say,” Billy ob- served. ‘‘ And, too, we have got to look out for squalls, for these fellows may try to do us up.” ‘* You bet they will, if they get a chance.” “And they’ll make the chance, if the can, We must hustle and get in our work first. Ticket, you said you had known Van- griff, or something about him; do you know where he hangs up? Or, do you know any of his intimate friends? I’ve work for you if you do,” ‘* Yes, sir, you bet; both.” ‘* All right, you go where he will be most likely to be seen, and look out for him in disguise. If you see his chums talking, shadow the one you think the most likely to lead you to him.” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘All right; now hustle?’ The young Arab was off like a shot, and Billy gave attention to Harry and Seth. He heard the report of progress they had to make upon another matter, and that done, left them there at the office while he himself went around to the station from which the prisoners had been taken, ‘‘ How did it happen, sergeant?” was his: immediate question there. ‘* It was planned, Billy,” was the reply. ‘‘ A fellow dropped in to see Vangriff, say- ing he was a lawyer, and that must have been the starting of it.” ‘‘No doubt it was. Tony probably told him what was at stake, and directed the scheme, The chief knows about it before this, of course? The officers can’t be held to blame.” There were few points to be gleaned here, so Billy’s stay was short. Let us follow Ticket, the Trump. In all haste he made off to the disreputable saloon where he had once before neatly tricked the rascals, He had to be as wise as a serpent and keem as a fox, but, being a child of the gutters he was both, and could invent excuses as fast as they might be required. His attention was drawn to & man with whom he had seen Tony in company, om other occasions, who was talking to a group of four or five others at one of the tables with which the place was fitted. Ticket cast about him for a scheme where- by he might overhear, A plan came to him quickly, and immedi- ately he acted. The saloon boasted a free-lunch counter,. and the tempting tid-bits were arrayed on a table just behind the one at which these men were seated. If he stepped up and ate they could hardly suspect him. But, a great difficulty had to be sur- mounted; how could he reconcile the pro- prietor? It was daytime, remember, and the saloon was not crowded. It looked like an impossibility, at first sight, but Ticket’s bump of invention was quite well developed and the idea came quickly, ‘