Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 849 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

— i _ ’ =e = > _ ~ . be ° : 7 z = et a e Se rs gt ithe lee ele - - * 7 : al a ee 7 os a 4 > ~ °~ > ' . *. ~ ; « . “ — a ‘ Py —_-s 7 _ << : | lt, la age ee lt am Ps - » > . —_ - * 3 be . 14 2° Mia, a a ee | easiest part of it all, You can carry a small | loose bundle with you when you go there, and bring the tin box away in it,” Lyddon spoke earnestly and impressively, and his bride’s eyes flashed, “TY will do it, Paul,” she said firmly. ‘I will do it if 1 bave to spend a month in that house to accomplish the object, We can afford to take our time about it, can we not?” ‘* By no means, There ig an accursed detec- tive at work, and there is no knowing when he may stumble upon the right clue, You must outwit him and get in your fine work first, After that wecan laugh at them all while we are enjoying life at their expense,” ‘* And this was what you wanted me to do when you first asked mo to wed you?” ‘Not at all. I thought then I should be able to get it myself, and loving you, I wanted to share it with you.” ‘*But now you cannot attempt it?” ‘*] came within a hair’s breadth of getting in a trap there last night. Only for that ac- cursed Broadway Billy I should have the treas- are here in my safe this minute. It would be too unhealthy for me to attempt it again, after the arrests that were made there last night.” ** You were not with those robbers!” ‘*Not by any means; I was alone, But, come, let us go and enjoy our first meal to- gether, and we can plan further while we eat. Hyven if we fail to get this great fortune, we can still be happy.” CHAPTER XIV, A TRAP DOUBLY SET, TICKET, the Trump, had a harder task before bim than he had calculated upon at the begin- ning. He followed his man with a persistence that was admirable, inventing numerous petty achemes as occasion required for hearing what he had to say to those with whom he talked. First of all he located the hiding-place of Tony Vangriff, and there good fortune bad particu- jarly favored bim, for be had been able to hear everything that was said between the two ras- cals, They had quite a talk together, after which Tony’s friend set to work, The object of it all was to lay a trap to catch Broadway Billy and bis pair of ferrets first, and then to make another effort to get at the bidden fortune in the Penrose mansion, The latter was considered dangerous, but the amount of money was a great temptation and they could afford to take big risks, Besides, it was planned now to go in consider- able force, Ticket wanted to get time to go and warn his perron of what was going on, but his suspect ept him constantly on the move and there was no opportunity given. The boy felt that the most important thing for him to do was to keepthe man insight and learn all he could, and then to hear the plans which he and Vangriff were finally to arrange, So passed the afternoon, and it was night be- fore Tony’s friend, Bowers by name, got around 7 to the place of concealment, he Trump was close after him, aud was speedily at his post of vantage. ‘Well, what luck, Bowers?” he heard Tony ask, ** Best o’ luck,” was the response, ‘ I think ther game is right in our own hands, now, if we work it well and nothin’ bu’sts,” ‘What's your idea?” ‘To go for then cussed detectives first of all,” ** Certainly; but, how will you doit? That is what I am trying to get out of you.” “Well, Ul give you the idee that’s worked inter my mind, Van, but of course you will have ter do the polishin’, You kin beat me at ther fine work,” ** All right, what is it?” ‘*We must go there to-night, make every livin’ critter in the bouse prisoner, an’ then go through the ranch like a pack o’ foxes till we find what we're lookin’ fer. Do ye see?” “ Yes, that is my idea, too; but, first let’s settle about the detectives,” * Ter be sure, That was what I was comin’ at. It seems young Sherwin has took up his _ abode in that house ter watch his treasure, an'—” **The deuce he has!” “ Zactly; an’ he will be a hard tooth ter pull before we kin git ter work. But, we'll be strong enough ter fix him out if he goes on cut- tin’ up any of his monkey tricks,” ‘ “ We must do it, at any cost short of killing im. ** Ef he gits killed it' will be his own fault. But, that ain’t what I was comin’ at yet. Broadway Billy knows that be is there, and somehow they expect ter work together in the matter, so we must play a trick on ther detec- tive and lead him into a trap and do him up,” ‘** Using Sherwin’s name to decoy him?” ‘You have guessed it, first crack. I have been over the ground and got the lay of the land, and I have got it all mapped out in my mind in the rough,” ‘* Well let me have your scheme,” *‘ It’s jest this: Send a note ter that detective feller, signed by Sherwin, tellin’ him to come with his boys at a certain hour and come to the house by the rear alley from the back street, We'll he there to nab ’em and have it all fixed to carry ’em off double quick,” ‘**Carry them where to?” ‘‘ Bring ’em here as well as not and put ’emin an empty room,” ** They’ll be sure to get out,” ‘**Not in a hurry they won’t, @ne can stay to guard ’em while the rest are at work, an’ as soon as we git ther boodle and git away we don’t care,” “If it wasn’t for the greater risk it would be a good deal better to put ’em out of the way for good,” ** And I’m fer doin’ that, if you are willin’.” ‘**'No, no, that mustn't be talked of. We'll pes ’em here so safe they won’t get away till elp comes, though, and that may be some days. While they are here we'll be making good our escape,” ** Then you ’gree with my plan?” ** Yes, certainly ; all it lacks is the filling out in detail.” ** And that’s fer you ter do.” Enough. Their hateful plot was fully ar- ranged, anc when they went forth, finally, it was to carry it out, “Jupety Jupe!” exclaimed Ticket, as he followed them, his mind troubled. ‘I have got a bigger load o’ mystery ’n I kin carry in both arms, an’ what be I goin’ ter do with it? Wish I could fall in with the boss, or Harry, or Seth,” He could now safely leave these rascals, but what would be the use of doing that since he did not know where to find Broadway Billy? The office was closed, and he did not know Billy’s peeraee address, and hence could not reach him, Ris only way, therefore, was to stick to the suspects, ‘*That’s my holt, by Jupe!” he decided. ‘When they send that decoy note I’ll foller the chap that takes it, and if he finds the boss so will I, and there will be a fancy oil polish put on somewhere, I’m bettin, Think this is the best plan, anyhow. Guess we'll git thar, Eli, if our wind holds out,” Vangriff was in something of a Singita, and avoiding places where he was best known he and Bowers led their youthful shadower off into a strange quarter of the a: Their destination was finally reached, and there were found four or five fellows of like stripe, among them Hugh Higgin, Fortune again favored Ticket and he heard what was said, ‘*'Yon’re sure you know where he lives?” Tony demanded of one of the fellows, ‘*Bure,” the disdainful response, ‘ Didn’t Bowers set me to find out? I done it, you bet, I know where he is when he’s home,” ** Well, dare you take the note?” ** Certain.” ** All right, that’s all that needs be said about eet "ll fix itupand you can be off with Much more was said, all around, but this was the essential part for Ticket, and from that mo- ment the fellow who was to carry the message was his a aye subject or suspect. When the man left the place of rendezvous the young Arab was not far behind, and Ticket did not once lose sight of his man, The boy was fast getting onto the trick of this part of detective duty, The fellow had told no untruthin declaring he knew where Broadway Billy resided, for he went straight there, and was just in time to see the peerless young detective enter the house, He hastened forward, rung, entered, and in due time came forth agaiv and went away. PR aren him to get out of sight, Ticket rung e e It will be remembered that Billy still lived with his mother, Mrs. Watts, and that the family occupied a comfortable flat. Ticket was not tall enough to put his mouth to the tube in the hall, to to the call that came down from above, but be shouted his name in aloud voice and the door promptly opened, Broadway Billy’s $100,000 Snap. Billy met him at the head of the stairs, ‘* How did you know where to find me, Ticket?” he are : ‘*Followed that chump,” the boy promptl answered, ‘“ He’sa fraud.” yee ** Is it peeenie? Tben he successfully deceived me, for 1 was suspicious and questioned him closely. But, come in.” Ticket was taken into the rooms and in- troduced, and that done, Billy began to question him to learn what bad brought him there and eae he knew, and Ticket speedily unfolded his e, ‘* Ticket, your are a trump in deed indeed!” cried Billy, when he had heard all. ‘* You needn’t go any further to win my confidence, for you have won it already. Only for you we might have got into a serious fix, or at any rate would have had something of a squabble to escape it, but now we are on the winning side sure,” Ticket was so proud he could bardly speak. ‘Glad to hear ye say it—that I’m some good, boss,” he managed to say. ‘I went in to win, anyhow, an’ I’m glad I have, But, whatdo you want me ter do now? I want to be doin’ my share, now that ’minit. If there ain’t nothin’ I kin do, let me go with ye, fer I want tu see the fun and havea handinit. The little I have had makes me hungry fer more,” ‘* Pll tell you what you can do, and you will then be on hand to see the fun when it is ripe, Go back and keep an eye on Tony Vangriff, and should he escape when we spring the aaa must not lose sight of him but follow him to his hole, ‘‘ All right, Broadwa Billy, V’ll do it; you kin trust meif Iam little. If [have won yer confidence, as you say, I’m goin’ to try bard to keep it, you bet,” Ticket having recited to his chief all he had heard, with that accuracy for which he was al- ready famous, he now took his leave and made haste to get back again to the place where the rascals were gathered, He made his little legs fly, and had the satis- faction of arriving iu time to see the man he had followed reach the place just ahead of him, Ticket quickly got where he could see and ear. ‘Well, what word?’ demanded Vangriff. “*He’s played fer a sucker, fine,” was the smiling response, ** You think he bit, then, do you?” “T know it. He swallowed hook, line an sinker, an’ even wanted ter gulp down the pole The fellow then told how cleverly he had play- ed his part, and he did not have to draw upon his imagination any, either; and when he had done, was highly complimented, Success for their scheme seemed now assured, and they drank to each other’s health all around, They only waited for time, now, and finally all rose to go, Ticket fell in with the procession, as rear guard, fully determined to carry out bis part of the work, The men did not go farin company, but separ- ated and wert different ways, but the Trump did’ not fora moment lose sight of Tony Ppa 2h though more than once he had to use his wits to escape detection. CHAPTER XV. THE CLEVER TRAPPERS TRAPPED. IRENE ATHORNE, or now Mrs, Paul Lyddon cleverly carried her point and got herself nvited to remain all night in the Penrose mansion, This was the first and the ee ee wr to- ward success, Having gained this, she had little doubt but the rest would be easy. Whether easy or otherwise, she was determined to succeed, The chief obstacle in the way was Norman Sherwin, but Lyddon had promised to remove him for the night if possible to accomplish it, Ermina Merrett was in the reception-room with her guests when there came a caller to see Sherwin, The colored footman brought in his card and delivered it, “A stranger to me,” Sherwin remarked as he lanced at the name. ‘‘ With your leave, Miss errett, I will step into the hall and see the gentleman.” “You may invite him in here if you wish,” the mistress of the mansion made haste to say, ‘‘Thank you, but [ will see him first,” the re- joinder, With that Sherwin went out into the hall where he found a dark man with a full beard awaiting him, ‘* You desired to see me, sir?” he added, a ae Fa ie « / : * IOOK a_¢ _, —- Fe F =) ..6g . + s . >. Se e 7+ i« “Tow igien Ae a ayo — ae ~» % . = — : ™ Dye ey os) ,_ «