Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 850 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

‘* Rest assured, I will not allow myself to be | of ejectment. Somebody could not, or would deceived by any such trick.” ‘*Then we are ready to go.” Despite this assertion Norway hesitated, and it was plain that he was not wholly at ease. Neither was Claribel Garland, A crisis was at hand in her own affairs, as well as in her child’s, and, lacking the strong nerves which some women have, she was nervo1w and apprehen- sive, W hat would the near future bring forth? Norway finally aroused, spoke to Caleb, and they went out together, The Castaway at once experienced a feeling of exhilaration as he got in motion, but his companion was thoughtful and silent for sometime, Then he threw off the mood and talked in the kind way which was so natural to him, questioning Cinders as to his past life, and showing marked interest in the account, ‘*He’s about as good as they make ’em!” thought the Castaway, with great satisfaction. ‘* if thar is ter be a fight, 1’m with him fur the whole war!’ in due time they reached the charitable in- stitution, the location of which need not be stated definitely, and the boy was left outside while Norway went in, The latter saw two good-sized rooms which were connected by a double-door, and a young man sat at a desk in tne further one, He arose politely when the caller appeared, and the case was soon stated concisely to him. He had but one question to ask, and this was rather superfluous in view of the information already given. Was the object of inquiry now of mature years? Being assured that she was, herself,a mother, he unhesitatingly took down a time-discolored book and opened it before the visitor’s eyes. Norway had become elated by such rapid prcare™, but he was doomed to disappointment, andwiched in between many other similar re- cords was the brief entry which certified that Claribel Moer was received at a given date from . the Department of Out-Door Poor, and sent to Maine, three days later. After this was a record of each occasion she had written back to them, as she grew older, and nothing more, Norway’s face had become downcast. ‘* You see how it is,” announced the represent- ative of the society ; ‘‘ the child was really never in our keeping, and was with us in noshape over three days; so you will have to apply to the office of the Out-door Poor, It is at the corner of Third avenue and E'eventh street.” Norway was aware of that, but he disliked to give up the quest there, He had mcre confi- ence in the society than in the department to which his quest now took him, He remained in conversation for some time, but finding no more was to be learned, went out and rejoined Caleb. ‘*Tam going to Third avenue,” heannounced, “*but not in the best of spirits. Ihave a feeling that [ am going to meet with a discouraging ex- perience, On the whole, [ think that you need not accompany me there, for my movements are very uncertain. How wouldit suit you to go where you please during the forenoon, and meet me at my house at one o’clock*” / ‘* A prime idee!” the Castaway agreed. **Then take this dollar and amuse yourself as you see fit.” Cinders did not know whether to accept the money or not, but Norway overcame his hesita- tion by thrusting it into his hand, and then they separated, he Castaway had no very clear idea of what he would do to occupy his time, so he wandered on aimlessly. One moment he thought that he would call upon his mother, but the notion was speedily discarded, ‘*?Pain’t goin’ ter do until I kin carrya better report,” he degided, ‘‘ She’s had worry enough over me, an’ef them amiable kids of her second husba.d’s learn Pm out o’ a job ag’in, wouldn't | they jest howl with joy! Wal, they would be welcome, but I don’t want to worry my poor oli mother, She’s stuck to me through thick an’ thin, an’ I wouldn’t hev her think I’m a bad egg fur all o’ Madison avenue as a bridal pres- ent ter me!” ; Occupied with these thoughts Cinders strayed on until he was aroused to active life by a scene uliarly one of the big city, First of all he saw a number of childrenin the street, gathered at one side, and then he discov- ered that they were grouped around a collection _of household goods, The latter were arranged in a neat, compact row ou the extreme edge of the sidewalk, and it meeded no explanation to see that it was a case not, pay rent, and the result was that he, or she, had been put out against her will, probably by process of law—put out against her will, for it was evident that the exiled tenant was a wo- man, She was there in all her grief and desolation, a gray-haired, slovenly-looking person, who, sitting on the very “3 of her ejected goods as though it were her last earthly resting-place, wrung her hands and whimpered in a style which amused the grinning children around her. Curiosity is ever activein the youthful breast, and Caleb Cinders went closer to see her. He was the largest boy present, and the mo- ment that the old woman saw him she broke out in eager words addressed to him. ‘** Little boy, won’t you go to your mummer an’ get me some money? fi ve been throwed out in a heartless way, Deary me, deary me! an’ me so old an’ good, Always kind an’ helpful to others, an’ now come to this!” She wiped away her tears with her apron, whimpered some more, and, as the crowd in- creased, addressed its members collectively. ‘* Won’t somebody get me some money? I’m good old Mother Beek, an’ ev’ry one speaks wellonme. Never hurted nobody,an’ kind an’ helpful to all; an’now I’m throwed out in my old age because I had no money to pay my rent. Deary me, deary me! it’s hard lines for an hon- est old soul!” ‘* Honest!” retorted a scofling voice from the crowd, ‘* How long isit since you sailed under the alias of Mrs, Huldah J oy pele ‘*Who’s a better right?” returned Mother Beck, her manner less amiable than before. ‘‘It’s a poor person that can’t have two names,”’ ‘* |t’s a suspicious one that bas to have two!” “Go away, you trash! What is it to you? Huldah Joy was an honest woman—I’d be hon- est ef my name was Smith, Deary me! I had money when my name was Huldah Joy! Yes, yes; l had rich triends, then!” ** What crime did you do for them?” ‘*Hey? What’s that? Crime! Nobody ever dared ter say a word ag’in’ me afore, The rich folks give me money because I was good an’ aoe yes, an’ he’d doit ag’in ef I could see im! Mother Reck stopped her whimpering, and a cunning, peculiar gleam appeared in her eyes, “Hof she added; ‘I'll bet that 1 know how ter get my rent paid Sg She gave a final dig at her eyes with the apron, blinked several times, grew cheerful, and, glancing around, fixed her gaze on Caleb Cinders, ** Little boy,” she cried, ‘* P’ll give ye a dollar ter run an errand fur me!” ** Thank ye mum, but I ain’t in the biz,” Cin- ders replied, ** Pll pay ye good money, good money.” ‘If you've got money, why didn’t you pay our rent?” asked a skeptic in the crowd. “*T ain’t got it now, but I'll git it. WhenI send the message, the money will come,” ** Blackmail money ?” The gleam in Mother Beck’s eyes became a blaze of anger, as it were, and she caught up a fire-poker which was near at hand and flung at the audacious ker viciously. ** Liars!” she shrilly proclaimed; “all liars! You think it cunnin’to abuse the old woman, but she knows more than all of you! Deary me, deary me! if only brains was money !” The melancholy fact that brains were not money set the old woman to whimpering again. In the mean whilo a hansom cab had been coming through the street, and fastapproaching the scene of Mother Beck’s harangue. A crowd had been steadily gathering to hear the woman talk, and the hansom cab would soon find its progress checked. Its occupants were a lady and a gentleman, both of middleage. __ Once more Mother Beck addressed Caleb. ‘** Little boy, won’t you go the errand fur me? Won’t you go to the rich man? He will give you money, for he dassen’t refuse, Ho! Id tell what I know about the rich lady,ef he did!” The cunning sparkle reappeared pber eyes, but, just then, the hansom cab bore Hown upon the crowd, whicb piled rather roughly upon Mother Beck’s goods toescape. The old woman turned angrily, but flushed with joy as she saw the occupants of the cab. One moment she looked doubtful; then she almost screamed: ‘¢ There they are! Give me money, or I will tell your’ secret !”’ Caleb gazed with breathless interest; the man in the cab was Proctorbam! , Caleb Cinders, the New York Castaway. CHAPTER VII, THE MYSTERY OF MOTHER BECK, Tur Castaway was spellbound, for events had come with a rush. in a vague way he had noticed the approach of the hansom cab, bunt had felt no interest in it until the old woman had her sudden attack of violence. It had been a study to see Mother Beck’s face. Her geze had fallen upon the occupnts of the vehicle by chance, and only as upon the cause of the disturbance, but her expression had changed like a flash. W onder succeeded anger, and doubt followed but almost delirious joy came in the track of all others. Her bony hand shot out, one finger pointed straight at the hansom cab, and the words were flung forth with great excite- ment. The uniformed ramrod—otherwise called a fau—who occupied the lofty seat, and had the vact honor of being the driver, had been about to order the crowd to make way, but the words died away on his lips and he gazed in surprise as the wild words sounded from the pile of household goods. Caleb had made no mistake. The man in the cab was Irving Proctorbam, and he and the lady ‘who kept him company mechanically turn- ed their heads as their driver had done, They saw a peculiar sight. In her excitement Mother Beck scrambled to her feet, but not to plant them on the sidewalk. She stocd on the pile of household goods, her hand still stretched out, and her wrinkled, un- pleasant face working oddly as she towered above the crowd, ‘* Here I be!” she cried; ** don’t overlook me, You know me,an’I knowyou/ Iremember you well. Deary me, deary me!—it’s a long while sence you come ter me, most respected madam, but Mother Beck don’t forget. I did your work, an’ I did it wal!” She might have been a madwoman, but ap- pearances did not indicate that Proctorham and his companion thought her to be such, Caleb Cinders’s gaze was riveted upon them, and he saw the richly-dressed lady change color and impulsively grasp her companion’s arm, but Proctorham’s expression became positively furious, ‘* Drive on!” he shouted, to the driver. The latter gorgeous individual had allowed the reins. to slacken, but he gathered them up, tightl again, ‘Make way!” he cried, swinging his whip to- ward the crowd. ‘Don’t ye do it!—don’t ye dare ter do it!” shrilly warned Mother Beck. Evidently the driver at least had no fears, and he was about to force his way through, but the old woman leaped from her perch with the agility of youth, elbowed the obstructing per- sons aside and reached the hansom cab. She thrust her hideous face forward as a con- tortionist might, and the lady recoiled, ‘‘Stand back, or I will order my man to drive over you!” Proctorham angrily ex- claimed, “Do it, if you dare; do it; an’ all the world shall know what I can tell. Velvet-faced lady ” —here her voice changed to a whine—‘‘ you re- member me, don’t you now, deary ?” She leered amiably, but the startled lady in the cab feverishly, yetfaintly; replied: — ‘* No, no; I don’t know you; I never saw you before!” ** No?’ cried Mother Beck, the violent side of her nature showing again. ‘‘ Well, I think I se make myself understood! I think 1 kin tell— | Caleb Cinders saw Proctorham’s ape move, and felt sure that something was said for the old woman’s private ear; then that gentleman spoke in a voice audible to all: ‘*HWar be it from me to refuse the claims of worthy sufferers, What, my good soul, did you say was the trouble?’ I’m fired out o’ my home,” Beck meekly an- swered. ‘Infamous! What was the reason?” ‘*T had no money ter pay the rent, yer Honor,” ‘¢And such things really occur in: our wealth-teeming city! Melancholy fact! or- thy woman, what do you owe for rent?” , ‘Twenty dollars, sir; bless your Kind soul!” ‘‘ Here ’s your money, with enough left over to pay some one for carrying your goods back. I will bring your case before thecity authorities, and see what can be done for you.’ | ‘* Bless you, sir!’ mumbled Mother Beck, as she gathered in several crisp bills. Once more Proctorham’s lips moved as he. made a low-voiced speech, inaudible to the ojele) <mal 4 ‘ bs P . oS ’ : + ™ ¢ - , y , ‘ . Rs ih Am, LY —~- O — « * ‘ . -_ 8 a hog ~ i<- a) le : we j io" ~ mr -; =") Mm