Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 849 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

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It was on the same evening of the events recorded in the preceding chapter, that a man rung the bell at the basement door of the Penrose mansion. _ He was not a bad-looking fellow, and was smartly-dressed, but there was that about him which would have “‘ given him away ” to the practiced eye. He had upon him the stamp of the Bowery crook. His ring answered, he asked to see Kate Kreuger. Invited to come in, he was shown intoa neat little room used by the servants as their reception-room. In a few minutes a rather buxom young woman came into the room, with a smile of ‘welcome upon her lips and a merry twinkle in her sl ‘* Hello, Tony!” she greeted. ‘‘How are you, Kate?” the cheery return. The man held out his arms, and they embraced and kissed. After that they sat down, and for some time their talk was nothing to concern our story. ** Well, how do you like your new place?” the man presently asked, **Oh! bang up,” was the slangy response, “<T've got a genuine pudding of it here.” ** And how do you like your mistress?” : “‘ First rate. She’s one of the girls, you et.” : ‘She seems to have plenty of the ready rocks to handle.” ** You bet she has. There’s nothing mean about her style, I tell you,” ““Maybe she has found that tin box you were telling me about, if that wasn’t a fake.” ‘“‘ No fake about it, Tony; but, she hasn’t found it yet, that I know for sure, She looks for it every day.”’ ‘‘And so do you, I do not doubt, my Mae AS Kate.” ‘“Well, I have got one eye open ‘for it, that’s so, and if I find it you bet I will set up in style.” : *‘And then you’d discard a poor a like ame, I s’pose. But, you are not very likely ‘to find it, I guess, after they have hunted a month.” ‘Oh, no, I wouldn’t bounce you, Tony; and as to finding it, 1 don’t know; it’s as likely to be me as anybody, for I go nosin around every chance [ get, be sure of that.” ‘‘T hope you find it, then, if you’d share with me, Isn’t your mistress afraid of rob- bers?” .** Not ony How could they rob her of what can’t be found?” ‘Well, that’s so, too. a boodle, to open in the style she has. was pack before, wasn't she?” “Oh, yes, she worked; was forelady in some shop or other; they are the proudest kind, you know. Yes, she’s got rocks now; the old lady left her the bank-book, you know.” ‘Then that accounts for it. No chance for robbers if the green is in the bank. Be- sites, I don’t suppose they could get in, any- LOW.” 5 **Oh, I don’t know about that,” ‘* Could they?” h knowed the _ “They might, easy, if they “* Then you had all better be careful how Still, she must have She ut the shebang.’ ee ee you let the weak points be known, or it ee invite some of the gentry to make a CA eS ‘*T guess there’s no fear of any one finding out, but there isa window in the rear that can’t be fastened tight, and it would be the easiest thing in the world for a visitor to get in that way.” ‘‘ Yes, if he could jump over the house to get at the window.” ‘‘Oh, he could come through an opén alley between two of the houses in the rear on the other street.”’ ‘* How about the fence?” “It’s pretty high, but the burglar who couldn’t get over a fence wouldn't be much of a burglar.” ‘‘Ha, ha, hal No, I guess you are right. There’s little danger, however; I guess, if theres nothing here to invite them, and it seems there isn’t. I hope you'll find that box, though.” , ‘*So dol, Tony. You know I am honest in most things, but I’m not honest enough to resist temptation if a cool hundred thousand fallsinmy way. Just think ofit! Why, I expect when Miss Merrett and Mr Sherwin get married they’ll tear down the house but they'll find it.” ‘*Hal they are going to marry?” ‘Well, that was in the will, I hear saying around, I know she is willing enough, whether “e is or not.” ‘‘How many servants are there here now, did you tell me?” ‘'There’s five of us, including the big darky footman. He’s the only man in the house,”’ ‘* He’s the bouncer, I suppose, I suppose he would make it warm forthe burglar we were talking about, eh? Ha, ha!” | ‘*T don’t believe he would at all. He’sa great big booby. The bravest thing about him is the buttons on his uniform—if that’s what you call it.” ‘*Oh, well, we'll drop the burglar. He isn't likely to appear, anyhow, and no use making you nervous for nothing. But, I must be going, for I have an appointment at nine and must be on hand.” ‘‘ What! going so soon?” ‘* Yes, I must.” ** Maybe you have got another girl—” ‘‘ No, no, Kate, honor bright; it is a man I have got to see, and on business,” ‘* Well, I'll have to take your word for it, I suppose, but you don't want to let me ketch you foolin’ me, Tony.” ‘* Let me know of it when you do, Ducky.” ‘“ You needn’t be afraid * deaguar' and in a way you won't like, too.” The crook had now got the information he had come for, and as it was growing near the time for him to meet Hugh Higgin, as arranged, he soon took his leave. Kate followed him to the door, and out, and detained him for a few words at the area gate, but Tony pleaded lack of time and cut it short there and was soon going rapidly up the street, The girl watched him for a few moments, then went’ back into the house, ‘* Crackers an’ cheese!” exclaimed a voice in whisper, and a form emerged out of the hole in which the further basement window stood. ‘‘ Reckon it will be an easy racket fer burglars, with a helper inside!” Harry it was, and lightly leaping the fence he set off after Mr. Crook in a way that smacked of business. Broadway Billy’s aides were on duty, it seemed. It was easy enough for on i man in sight, for the fellow ha picion of being followed. He led the way straight to a disreputable- looking saloon on a street of about the same ene and there entered, Harry following him in : Higgin was there and waiting. a little later. igi So, likewise, was Ticket the Arab, in a to keep his never & sus- slight disguise and now trying to sell some gong papers to the patrons of the den, | That is to say, the little fellodw ha been so, engaged, but just now he was on,a chair behind one of the tables, all curléd up and apparently fast asleep. Silent Seth, too, was there, and as Happy Harry looked around the place he caught a signal from him and withdrew, Seth getting up soon after and going out, leaving the field to Ticket. ‘* Well, I see yer got here,” observed Higgin, as Vangriff sat down. ‘Yes, and on time, too, if you will notice. T have just come from seeing the girl | told you about,” ‘¢ And what did she hev tersay? Did yer git the lay of ther land down fine, so as ter make et reasonably plain sailin’? Did yer do that?” ‘‘Yes, yes; and that tin box hasn’t been found yet, Hugh, The fact of the business is, they can’t find it, and it may not be much use for us to try. What do you think?” ‘*T’m goin’ to give et one try, anyhow.” ‘‘ All right, then, that is settled.” “ T’ll do et ter-morrer night.” . NS Why not to-night?” “Can’t do et ter-night, nohow. But, is ther gal goin’ ter fix et so’s we kin easy git in?” ‘You don’t suppose I gave myself away to her, do you? You must think [ am crazy. No, we'll getin on our own accord, of course.” i ‘‘ But, ye say she gev ye p’ints.” ght pe ral of hei The fact is, I am working a double racket there, and she mustn’t know anything about my hand in this, don’t you see? Ihave got it all down fine all the same.” ‘“Well, give me the lay-out, then, so’s | kin be studyin’ of it.” ‘*Do you take me for a flat, Hugh?” ** Wot’s ther matter?” “Tf you can’t do the job till to-morrow night, that will be plenty time enough for me to reveal the scheme to you,” ‘‘ Well, then, blast et, we'll go ter-night, sence ye are so mighty ’fraid ter trust me. We'll tackle ther job about one o’clock, ef ye think ye kin trust me till then,” All of which, as well as all that followed, was faithfully noted by Ticket, the Arab; Broadway Billy’s human phonograph. CHAPTER V, MEETING WITH A SURPRISE, THe hour was growing late when Broad- way Billy rung the bell at the Penrose man- sion. A big darky in livery opened the door, and the young prince of metropolitan detec- tives asked if he might see Miss Merrett. ‘‘T doan’ know "bout dat, sah, at dis late hour; mebby she hab retired, sah. I will find out. Who shall I tell her it am, sah? Is yo’ business ’portant or otherwise, sah?” “Tt is both important and otherwise,” Billy assured. ‘‘ Here, deliver my card, and say that I must see her whether she has re- tired or not, Do you understand? Tell her it is on business of the utmost importance; also otherwise,” ‘* Yes, sah.”’ The darky pretended he understood it all, to which his face gave the lie, and hay- ing closed the door he pointed toa seat in the hall and disappeared bearing the card Billy had given him. In a few moments he reappeared. ‘De lady will see yo’ shortly, sah,” he in- formed. ‘‘ Please to walk right in heah, sah, an’ she will bedown d’reckly.” So saying, he ushered Bil tion-room, with its quaint, o there left him to await the coming of mistress of the mansion. . Billy had not long to wait. In a few minutes the door opened and Er~ mina Merrett came in. , y into the recep- d furniture, and the