Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 849 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“sae. -_ 2-7 <= ye _—— +, Ee * Py ft rm be a . aad ~ " (area oe Rey = es a =~ _- > er = Se Sere, et? & er r + ee eo a > > ~~ ae vv 12 Broadway Billy’s $100,000 Sn The bar had sighted him, and was looking at him questioningly; then acting upon his plan the young Arab stepped up to the bar. He had to stand on tiptoes to see over. ‘‘ Well, what do you want?’ the barkeeper demanded. ‘Please, sir, 1’m orful hungry,” Ticket answered, in a timid voice. The man laughed roughly. ‘Well, I can’t help that, can I?” he retorted. ‘‘T could, though, sir, if you’d only let me git at that lunch-table.” ‘*T don’t doubt it; but, I won’t, so you may as well git right out of ‘here at once, That’s only fer customers,” ‘‘That’s it, an’ it ain’t no fair. <A big duf- fer comes in an’ takes a man-o’-war of beer fer five cents, an’ then he fills in forty-five cents’ worth of grub an’ it’s allright,” “Well, you hit it close, fer sure; that’s what some does.” “An’I say it ain’t no fair. I don’t want none of yer beer, but here’s five cents fera taste of grub, an’ I must have it.” With that Ticket flipped a nickel on the bar and darted away to the lunch without waiting to hear what the proprictor might have to say about it, but that worthy only smiled and said nothing. Time had been lost, Ticket felt, but on the ether hand time and much else besides had been gained. . With ears wide open the Arab listened while he attacked the viands. ‘Yes, and he’s goin’ to git even wi’ that Broadway Billy, you kin bet,” he caught first, and it was Tony’s friend who spoke. ‘‘He’s aright ter, 1 should say,” another growled. ‘‘ He’d orter murder him an’ his belpers together, curse ’em!” ‘‘He’ll do it, don’t you never fear; he’s sweared he’ll fix ’em out fer it, an’ he means it, too.” At that moment another man joined those at the table, and he was eagerly welcomed. This fellow cast a suspicious look at Tick- et, but that was all. ‘ What’s the word?” questioned Vangriff’s friend. ‘‘Did ye see Van? What does he have ter say ’bout it?” ‘Yes, I found him where you said, an’ he’s ragin’ I tell ye. Has ter lay low fer fear he’ll git took. He’s trusted it to me, till dark, an’ then he’ll be with us,” ‘* Not here, though?” “No; he’s safe where he is, and won’t stir from there. I’m goin’ to take the thing in hand now and git p’ints, and then I'll see Tony and together we'll hatch a plan that won't miss fire.” At that moment the man at the bar called out to Ticket, ‘* Here, now, boy,” he shouted, ‘‘ you have had your money’s worth, and more, sos’pose you just take a quiet sneak,” There was no help for it; there was no ex- cuse Ticket could offer now that would not bring suspicion upon him, for all the men at the table.had turned to look at him. ‘‘ All right, sir,” he answered promptly, Se hee af final portion with each hand, **1’'m off.” “You talked about big duffers gorgin’ forty-five cents’ worth,” the man commented, ‘T never seen one lay it away like you did in my life.” ‘‘Had ter do it,” the Arab responded. ‘« Expected every second you'd choke me off an’ I wentin ferall I could git before you choked. See?” The men all laughed, the man at the bar with them, and Ticket went out. ‘‘ Jupety Jupe!” he exclaimed to himself, as soon as outside, ‘‘ but I wish Broadwa Billy was here, or Harry, or Seth, I wouldn't care which; it’s bigger’n I kin handle, that’s a sure thing ow if I was cb what Broadway Billy was when he was a kid, I’d - of ‘some use; but, but I ain’t, an’ sol n’t. ” He was thoughtful as he walked a little - rt rr rn stopped and looked back he said further: to tackle it. No use thinkin’ of goin’ to tell the boss, fer I can’t be spared here. He’d box my ears if I dropped this clue, when it’s so ripe an’ promisin’, Must win the con- fidence of Broadway Billy somehow, and here’s as good a chance as I'll ever git, if I don’t make a flunk of it. Let’s see, where did I leave off thinkin’ ?” He scratched his head. ‘¢ Yes, he’s the man I must ‘hitch to, sure enough, Heisthe one who knows whereo Tony is hidin’, an’ if I drop him I lose the hull thing. It ain't to be thoughtof, Ticket. You have got to do somethin’ now if ye ever did. You are on trial, an’ it is now or never —most likely it’s goin’ to be never, anyhow, but that won’t be your fault if 7ou try hard. Let’s see: this feller is to gather up p’ints, then he is to see Tony, and then they are goin’ to hatch a plan, are they? Plan fer what? Plan fer puttin’ Broadway Billy— Well, not if Z know it!” Tho little fellow ended with that, as firmly as a man might have made the decision. Waiting near the saloon, but taking care to keep out of sight as much as possible, following such points as he had gathered from reading about his patron prototype and such instructions as he had received personally since he had come to know him, he finally had the satisfaction of seeing his man come forth, alone; and then it was that Ticket entered boldly upon a task that was to be the real test of his worthiness for the place he coveted in the confidence of Broad- way Billy. OHAPTER XII. BILLY LEARNS SOMETHING, Tue day was waning when finally Broad- way Billy got around to call at the Penrose mansion, This time he was alone, and the door was opened to him by the big colored footman, Washington Jackson Snipe. ‘Well, Jack, how is everything?” the detective asked. ‘Oh, bully,” was the response. ‘*Ffad no more housebreakers here, eh?” ‘* No, sah,” ‘¢ You want to look out for them to-night, then, for they may come in force,” ‘‘Sakes alive! Am dat so? Hadn’t we better have de police on hand in force jes’ de same, to meet ’em wid?” ‘‘1'll attend to that part of it, Jack.” ‘* But, who am comin’?” “Why, the fellows we caught last night have escaped, and it may be they will try it again. I believe Mr. Sherwin is going to stay here; have you heard anything about it?” : ‘Yes, dat am de plan, sah, He is to sleep down in de dinin’-room, sah.” ‘That is a good idea, for noone isso good a watchman as the owner himself, you know, I don’t believe your ghosts will be so numerous, do you?” ‘‘Mebby not, sah, mebby not,” with a grin. ‘ ‘Well, tell your mistress I desire to. see er,’”’ In due time Miss Merrett came down to the reception-room. “ Another official visit?” she cheerfully greeted. ‘‘Pray what is it this time, Sir Detective?” | a manner was very cold, and ere she ceased speaking a slight pallor had come over the young woman’s face. ‘A serious question is coming uP, Miss Merret,” he made answer, ‘“‘and it is con- cerning that I have called. There may be trouble ahead for you,” ‘*For me?” She was now pale indeed. ‘sé Yes,” ' ‘But, Mr. Weston, I have done nothing ap. distance away, and when presently he! that could bring me into trouble; [ amat loss to understand what you are coms at. can f By Jupe! Ican’t git out of it; I’ve got | Please do not keep me in suspense, for 4 | stand anything better than that.” ‘‘Well, I will come right to the point, then: I have had a talk with Mr. Lyddon, about the whole affair, and I asked him where your means came from.” The young woman showed nervousness, striving eagerly to concealit, as the keen- eyed detective thought. ‘‘T bat is something he could well answer, sir,” she said. ‘¢ He could not answer it at all.” ‘‘T cannot understand that. He knows what my aunt’s will was, that this houseand all in it should be mine, to say nothing about her jewelry and bank-book.” ‘‘Her diamonds, perbaps, were quite valuable, and you may have disposed of them. Mind you, Iam not pressing you in this matter, but trying to give you the chance to escape a serious charge,” ‘¢ A serious charge?” ‘‘ You may come to be accused of finding the tin box belonging to Mr. Sherwin.” The young woman now laughed, and her face brightened up. She did not appear to look upon this as serious, ‘That is impossible, sir,” she said. ‘* Mr. Sherwin knows very well that did I know where it was 1 would be the first to bring it to him. But, I do not know.” ‘‘Yet it appears that you have been spending a considerable of moncy since you took possession here, while you have taken nothing out of the bank. Have you any objection to telling me where it comes from?” ‘Sir, that is none of your business.” A tinge of red now came into her face, and her eyes snapped. ) ‘“‘ Very well,” Billy coolly rejoined, ‘‘ per- haps it is not, but I should hate to see you arrested,” “When you get proof that I have found the box, Mr. Weston, arrest me; until then I know you dare not do so. But, I tell you candidly I have not found it.” ‘‘Then why not tell me as candidly where your means come from, so that I can defend you if the charge is made?” ‘‘Do you mean to say you would defend me?” ‘ ‘‘ Yes, if you can satisfy me that you are innocent of deception in the matter.” “T might easily do that, but I do not know whether I ought to trust you or not, Mr. Weston. Would you keep a secret for me?” “Tf it did not conflict with my duty to Mr. Sherwin.” ‘Then hia: are all for him.” **T am for him first.” ‘‘ Have you geen him recently ?” ‘¢ Not since early in the afternoon.” sf pe certainly not since he was here?” ec 0,” ‘‘ Well, he could now tell you of a propo- sition I have made to him. I will tell you what it was.” ‘‘- You may do so, if you desire.” ‘*T will, to set myself right in your eyes. I proposed tearing this house down to find his treasure. I know of no other way, Mr. Weston.” ‘And then you would be without a house, if you failed to find it.” | “ Yes, but the ground has so increased im value since this house was built that I could sell it and well afford to buy another else- where.” ! tart ‘‘And if you do not find the treasure, what then?” ‘Well, the condition was, to speak plain- ly, that Norman should marry me, as our aunt desired,” ‘‘Ha! I thought it could not be without some condition. What did he decide?” ‘‘He is going to think about it before he decides. Now, making him an offer like : ’ 7 oF PD a . an i : / i” bel — “VOOKS. : ‘ , ; . Lat oe « £464 ee oe * or