Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 850 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

, = ie. 7 a - ~ ae » ———— , “7 om, a ~ .... te : and ann. Dae 2 . — — . ary Ot _— - . ~~ S “= 12 The reply was not intelligible. ‘* Hey?” questioned the visitor. The taciturm boy muttered something out of which Calee distinguished the words “ last night.” Whether they aperet to Mrs. Beck be could not tell, but they cheered him somewhat. By this time the second floor was reached, and, as he turmed around the balusters, the Castaway had view of the hall-room at the fur- ther end, There stood an aged woman, and he felt a thrill of delight as he saw that it was, in- deed, Mother Beck herself. He was about to utter her name when the guide pushed open another door. ** In there,” he tersely directed, lt was a large, rather cheerful room, and Caleb walked in without delay. ‘‘ Sit down!—come pretty soon.” With this encouraging statement the boy of few werds cjosed the door, shutting himself out, and the adventurous Castaway was alone, He was in high spirits over his success in running down Mother Beck, but he assumed a dignified air and sat down like a substantial citizew. Until he had seen the object of bis uest, he had not dared to believe, really, that the two Becks were one, but now that he was ou the scene, he began to ask himself how he was to deal with her. What questions was he to ask? Really, he had no proof that she knew any- thing about the case which interested him so much, and as Proctorham had spirited her away, it was to be presumed that she was under the influence of that evil genius and his money. Would she be likely to divuige her secrets freely to a person as young as her present visitor? Caleb was still wrestling dubiously with this conundrum when the door again opened and seme one entered. It was not Mother Beck, but a man, and the boy felt a thrill of uneasi- mess as he recognized the fellow who had tried te rob Mrs. Richardson on the train. | The man sat down deliberately. ‘* You’ve dropped in, I see,” he observed. ** ‘Yes,”” Cinders admitted. ‘¢ What do you want?” “‘T want to see Mrs. Beck.” **T represent her. State your business!” The speaker’s manner was cold and calm— as cold as ice—and there was a gleam in his eyes which the youth did not like. **{7 had rather see Mrs, Beck,” was the reply. ‘* You can’t see her.” Curtly making this announcement, the man drew a revolver and laid, it upon one of his knees. ‘*You have got to deal with me!” he sig- nificantly added. ‘*Do you talk with guns?’ uneasily asked Cinders, ‘**WhenI run up ‘against such a meddling sneak as you,I do! I’m on to you, you cur! You're the fellow who tried to get me arrested on the Elevated Road.” Caleb was alarmed, but his apprehension was not of a craven sort, ** Didn’t you deserve it?” he retorted, - ‘No matter; you beat me out in a job I was anxious to do, When you stood eying this house, a few minutes ago, I saw you, in return, by chance, as I looked down through the blinds. hen you rung the bell, l at once told the boy to admit you—otherwise you would not have got in—and here you are! How do you like it? ‘* The person I want ter see,” Caleb distinctly announced, ‘‘ is Mrs. k—” ‘* You won’t see her! You will deal with me, and don’t you think that I will fail to deal with you! I’ve heard of folks being trapped, before now, but you have walked’ in on your own ac- cord. Now you’re here, you will stay. If you trv to ge eut, this ‘ barker’ will stop you!” He raised the revolver and deliberately.cocked it, CHAPTER XV. FRESH DISAPPOINTMENT. Wuen Alton Norway set out for the office of the Commissioners of Charities and Correction hé went very well clothed. The fact that the superintendent bad thought it necessary to turn to a human dictionary, and explain his words according to dictionary methods, still rankled in Norway’s mind, and he hoped that it would not be repeated. Although he had been dressed as a well-to-do New Yorker generally was durin g business heurs, he thought it best to show the officials that if, as appeared to be the case, they 23m 0) =~" ~~ ~ an long dealt with the poorer classes that they did not aap any applicant to understand ordinary English, and mistook all for the more ignorant ones, he, at least, was able to wear good clothes, There was no unworthy motive in this resolu- tion; it was partly because his pride had been | Caleb Cinders, the New York Castaway. thought Norway, ‘‘is given careful attention. Now to see how these high city officials are im- ressed by the case of a lady who wishes to ow who she is!” ot ag second Commissioner sat down at the 10. ‘Aro you a relative of this lady, sir?” he hurt before, and partly because he knew that | asked... good clothes did have distinct influence: but he went with a tall hat and a cane. He saw the influence of these before he had been long occupied in his work. Reaching the building, he entered promptly. The scene he had before witnessed was being re- | eated. There was the same melancholy line of | ill, broken-limbed, maimed, ragged and suffer- ing unfortunates at the station of both the superintendent and the subordinate officer. ‘Heaven pity them!” he thought. . it was a gratifying feeling to believe that their wants would be duly regarded by the pro- | per officials, and he proceeded to banish them temporarily from his mind. As he could see no other possible place he de- cided that the Commissioners’ office must be | somewhere beyond the passage be had seen on | his previous ‘visit, and he marched in that | direction withont a wordtoanyone | As he ascended the short line of steps and passed the pile of applicants he saw the plump policeman look at him doubtfully, but be did | not pause. In the passage he encountered a | young man who seemed to bea clerk, or book- | keeper of some sort, and he asked for the office |! of the Commissioner at whose dwelling he had called.” ‘*T have an appointment with him,” he added. “‘ The visitors’ entrance is by the other door” —indicating a second passage, where Norway saw a dozen men standing around—*“‘ but,” con- tinued the young man, regarding Norway’s tall hat, ** you can go in here.” 6 indicated a door near bis elbow, and then himself opened it. Nerway was thankful forthe favor. Was it due to the appointment mentioned, or to the tall | He never knew. | ’ i hat! Entering the sacred region beyond he found himself in a room which, for an office, was of good size, It had a decided air of business, and seemed to be the quarters of busy men. In the center stood a desk-table about ten feet long. Upon this were papers by the quantity, all | showing more or less orderly arrangement. Only two of the Commissioners were present, The President of the Board occupied a chair at the head of the table, and was conversing with a stranger on business, The Commissioner in whom Norway was especially interested was moving idly about, Norway had only had time to take in the gen- eral aspect of the office when the other visitor mer hg by the second door, en Norway addressed the Commissioner, ‘*T presume, sir, that you remember my call- ing at your house?” ‘Ido. Sit down, sir!” was the business-like, but not ungracious direction; after which the speaker turned tothe President of the Board, ‘* This gentleman,” he proceeded to explain, “has called upon me in regard to one of the children in the care of this Department eeay years ago, but now grown to womanhood. Acting for her, he wishes to make a copy of the record concerning her, as found on our books,” The president listened attentively, but said nothing. ‘*The lady in the case,” pursued’ the last aker, ‘is ignorant of her parentage, and of all facts relating to ber early life, although she several times made inquiries in the past.” The president maintained a thoughtful si- ence, ** Let me have the name,” added the Commis- sioner, ‘‘ and I will see the superintendent,” Norway made a few remarks which he tried to make appropriate, and gave the gentleman a slip. of paper on which was written Mrs. Gar- land’s childhood’s name and the date when she was sent by the Department to Maine. The Commissioner hurried out anda new ap- plicant was admitted by the second door to.see the orogens = He was a young man who spoke English with a. strong rman accent, He stated that he was studying forthe medical profession, and wished for additional facilities to see the workings of tho hospitals of New York and the cases therein. He received courteous attention, and was re- ferred to a suitable person, with instructions to return if not successful, He was bowed out just as the subordinate Commissioner entered, ‘* A man who wishes for medical knowledge,” their young a Caleb did not return. ‘*T hope to be her husband soon, sir,” was the frauk, but grave reply. ‘‘Is this why -you wish for a copy of the record?” Norway understood the insinuation, ‘‘ The event I have mentioned, sir,” he quick- ly replied, ‘‘ will not be influenced by my in- vestigation—it cannot be. My purpose is fixed,” ‘*T judge that the lady occupies a good posi- tion in hfe?” ‘* She has enough of worldly goods, and is re- spected by ajl who know her,” . ‘* Do you think she would be happier to know the particulars of an unfavorable past?” ‘*]T believe that where information has been so stoutly denied’iv the past, the most un- favorable facts cannot be worse than what one would naturally imagine under such‘circum- stances,” ‘* itis my opinion, andin this the superinten- dent agrees with me, that where a record is not pleasant, no good can be served by making it known, Of course we are willing and ee to make known all reasonable matters, but why divulge secrets which cannot but.cause unhap- piness to those concerned ?” The very air was full of an unfavorable deci- sion to come, and Norway was correspondingly downvast. He was earnestly regarding the grave presi- dent of the board, and, though that official showed a decided disposition to let his fellow- Commissioner settle a case be had begun, Nor- way was about to appeal to him when the sub- oon ee derted a glance at his chief and briskly added: ‘* However, we are disposed to deal well with all, and this case shall have my earliest atten- tion. To-day-we are very busy; so busy that I cannot stop to examine the record, ’ I must ask ou to excuse me now, and leave your address, instead. I will look at the record, and write to you within a day or two.” Norway was dissatisfied, hut what could he do? To insist upon seeing the record would not only turn the Commissioners against him, but, no doubt, he would be ejected promptly. All he could do was to rely upon the promise he had received, and resort to threats when more harmonious measures had failed, At the same time he had no faith in the prom- - ise ; he believed that it was the intention to tire out the investigation and the investigators. He spoke further, making as strong a plea as he could for his cause, and then left his name and address and took his departure. The Commissioner saw him to the door. ‘¢ You shall hoar from me in a day or two,” he repeated; ‘‘I will use you as one gentleman should another,” And with this promise ringing in his ears Nor- way went out—out through the passage and the big room with its melancholy line, and out to the street again. | He did not go in a very agreeable mood, *¢ Delay follows delay !” he muttered, ‘* Where willit end? I suppose that I must be patient, but I disiike to carry this news to Ciaribel!”’ There was no help forit, and he went home and made his report, It was a sad disappoint- ment to Mrs, Garland. ‘“*T am the only person known to be living to whom the record relates, and it is refused meby , those who have only the coldest. blooded interest possible!” she exclaimed, bitterly. ‘¢ Remember the Cornmissioner’s promise,” re- plied Norway ; but hisown manner was dejected. Caleb Cinders bad not returned. They wait- ed for him, hoping that he would bring good news, but he did not come. ) Noon se eye and stijl there was no sign of y. By that time Norway had grown anxious, re- membering that cne attempt had already been made on the boy’s life, and he started for Bond street. There he learned that Caleb had come and gone, so he went home to wait egain. It was a long wait. The afternoon passed and evening came, Every effort to find him was a failure, and Norway had grown very much alarmed. He decided thatif there was no change by morning, he would notify the po ce. The night passed, and morning came, oe — a ee EE ~ yr.» .& are ot s J 4 - * '¢, a . ° et prow + * 4 git as tt ‘ ; ee wy _ ‘