Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 850 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

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Her name is down as Claribel ~~ 2 Caleb Cinders, the New York Castaway. sion, trying to dispel the grave look on Clari- | pants, and he regarded them with mechanical 7% % bel’s face, ‘‘ {feel sure that there is something , curiosity. in the records, and we will have it if such a | It was thus that he chanced to see an interest- “(n't that singular?” Nerway asked, dubi- one ‘Records were very incompletely.made at that time.” ‘‘ As some information was gleaned, it must be thut applicants for aid were questioned then as they are now,” and the young man indicated the melancholy line, the inembers of which were going to the pigeon-hole one after another to be ut through the mill of interrogation, ‘* Such ing the case, why did the officials of that day asce: tain that the mother was named Huldah, and that she was of Jewish parentage, and yet learn ne more?” ‘*Tt was owing to a loose system,” ‘* And the mother’s surname is not given?’ “ No,” ; ‘* Or tho date of the child’s birth?” éé No.” ‘* And there is no clew to the father’s iden- tity?” ‘*There issnot. Our city departments were net then so attentive to tcchnicalities—by which I mean the points peculiar to their busi- ness.” Norway experienced & sense of resentment that the superintendent should feel it necessary toact as a dictionary, but passed over the cause of offense, ** Will you allow me to see the paper?” indi- cating that which cdntained the copy of the record, ‘* { have told you all there is.” The superintendent stirred in his seat as though the interview was at an end; the plump liceman stirred as though the subject had, in is opinion, reached an end of necessity, if not of justice. Norway, alone, was irresolute. CHAPTER IX. CALEB CALLS FOR A HALT, CONFLICTING emotions beset Norway. He felt sure that he had not been given all the in- fermation which the records contained,but he was uncertain how to proceed. What were his rights in the case? Hedid not know, and this pares him at a disadvantage. He certainly edamoral right to.all that was there; if he had been sure that he had a legal right, he would have demanded to see the record. As he was not sure, he thought it best to pro} a moderate course and not arouse any prejudice against bis cause, e asked some further questions, but gained no light. Others were waiting to see the superintendent, and, as it dawned upon bim that he was block- ing the wheels of the city government, he ssed slowly by the plump policeman, down he steps, by the melancholy line of poverty- stricken applicants, and out.of the building. The fresh air was a great and welcome change from the stifling atmosphere of the room he had just left; it reinvigorated his body, but there was nothing to exhilarate his mind, He had failed in his quest, and the failure was annoying—he was next to positive that something bad been kept back, It was not hard to surmise why this had been done, What was known about Mrs, Garland’s early life—or, at least, what was told by the record —was not favorable; and it had been thought best to keep all such unfavorable information secret, ! Norway, however, was not ready to admit defeat. , ‘*T will go further!” he thought, resolutely ; **T will apply to the Commissioners of Charitie and Corrections, They are the head of the Department, and I may be able to convince them that every person has a moral right to what is known about herself,” Small events often prove irritating, and so had the superintendent’s manner, The latter had not been curt, harsh or ungentlemanly, but had adopted a course such as one would use to soothe and pacify a child. It had produced the opposite effect upon Norway, and the fact! that the superintendent had thought it necessary to explain a simple word was not flattering to the young ‘man’s mind, He was not in a cheerful frame of mind, either, when he reached home, Caleb Cinders was thare ahead of him, and nothing had occurred to disturb the house- hold. Allan was safe, and his mother was. contented. Norway told his story in the presence of Mrs. . Garland and Caleb, “We are mot defeated,” he said, in conclu- a thing is possible. First of all, I shall consult a lawyer who is a personal friend of mine. Hois himself employed in one of the city depart take charge of a hostile campaign; but he will tell me what the law allows you.” ‘*Tsitbest to gofurther?” Mrs, Garland asked, ‘Why not?” **T am afraid of the result.” Ordinarily, | would not urge you, but, in view ot the suspicions which Irving Proctcrham has put mto my mind, { really think we had better persevere.” ‘¢ We will do so, then.” ‘‘Wemust know whatisin the record. It is absurd to suppose that if your mother brought you to that place they would ask her first name and her nativity, and not learn the last name or her husband’s name.” ‘¢ T/did not catch her name,”’ *¢ Huldah,” ** W hat’s that?” The question, quick and excited, came from Caleb. Ha had been waiting patiently and si- lently to tell Norwav of his new encounter with Proctorham, Like Mrs. Garland he had failed to understand the name at first, but if now pro- duced a marked effect upon him, as the questién showed, Norway turned in some surprise. ‘‘ Huldah Was the name.” “oP wa’u’t Huldah Joy?” ‘*The last name was not given. Why? Do you know a Huldah Joy?” /** Heerd the name ter-day; J did, b’jinks! it was a false name fur a sartain Motber Beck, a woman who was paid fur a secret, an’ has been trampin’ the streets ter find her banker ag’in; an’ she has jest got some money out 0’ Proctor- ham!” ‘*T don’t understand,” ‘* Nor me!” ‘I mean that I don’t understand what youare endeavoring to convey. Explain!” ‘* So I will, short order, fur I think it’s p*ison suspicious!” And then Cinders rapidly told the story of old Mother Beck, giving a very clear account of how he found that woman expelled from her room to the sidewalk, and how she had made a raise from Irving Proctorham; | He did not forget to tell how, according to a neighbor, Mother Beck had lived for years on the proceeds of a secret. ** And this old-woman was once called Huldah J we thoughtfully replied Norway. es ‘* There are probably a good many ‘ Huldahs’ in New York,” observed Mrs, Garland, ’ ‘* The name is not common,” ‘* Tf you think Proctorham was the evil genius o’ this lady’s early life, an’ there was a Huldah init, 1 presoom it might not be lost time ter look arter this Huldah who so skeered Proctor- ham that she got money out on him!” This terse presentment of the case by Caleb a er aa be impressive, and Norway quick- y replied: **'We will look to Mother. Beck.” ‘‘ Better do it right off,” ‘* We will have lunch and go immediately.” ‘* Surely such a woman as Caleb describes her to be cannot be my mother—at least, 1 think not!” Mrs. Garland hesitatingly observed. ‘‘ Decidedly not; but you will see that there is} more to it,if anything. By following Caleb's course of reasoning we are, perhaps, rushing to wild conclusions, but if it should prove that she was the Huldah who carried you to the charity department, and that Irving, Proctorbham had an interest in the case, we can see at once that she was not your mother, thovgh sh® may so have represented herself.” This statement greatly encouraged Mrs, Gar- land, and she was decidedly hopeful when they went to lunch, When the meal was finished Norway and Caleb went to the Elevated Road and took a down-town train, The former felt that they were doing a good deal of is prem gnessing, and that it might end in total disappomtment; and the conscious- ness rendered him silent and thoughtful. Cin- ders was not taken that way. Having the im- petuous spirits of youth, he was confident that they were going to run the mystery to earth at once, , Being at ease mentally the Castaway devoted his time to using his eyes, and managed to see about all that was going on in, and outside, thecar. The latter had only a very few occu- ing pantomime, On one of the cross-seats sat an elderly lady | who wasrichly but modestly dressed, She had ments, and, consequently, would not cvre to | in her possession a small hand-bag which she ) nad put beside ber on the unoccupied half of the seat. She was deep in meditation, Back of her,on the long seat, was a youo man whose arm rested on the back of the shor seat. Civders was first led to notice bim by the fact that he was regarding the lady close- ly: and then the Castaway discovered a peculiar fact. The young man carried a band-bag pre- cisely like the lady's, and, while keeping a very innocent look on his face, was slowly and cau- tiously lowering it into the seat which she occu- led, * Caleb was on the alert at once; he would not have been a true, wide-awake city boy if he had not become suspicious, Lower sunk the hand-bag without being noticed by the lady. Whenit reached the seat the man released his hold and as cautiously grasped the lady’s hand-bag; then his arm be- ean to rise, holding the ill-gotten property. Cinders sprung to his feet. ‘* Stop, thief!” he cried, hurrying forward, CHAPTER X, A MISSING WOMAN, Tum words were of a nature to create excite- ment on any occasion, and they did so now, Every gaze became fixed upon Caleb Cinders as his clear command ‘‘Stop thief!” rung out in the car, The interest did not die out when the Castaway paused in front of the stranger, lev- eled an accusing finger at him and indignantly added:. , ‘‘ You give that lady’s property back, you measly critter, you!” The purloined hand-bag was in the strauger’s lap, aud he tried to look innocent. ‘Aro you drunk or crazy?” he demanded. ‘¢ 1m sober enough an’ sane enough fur you!” coolly declared Cinders. ‘' Give that hand-bag back!’ ‘This is my hand-bag.” ‘¢ Not much, it ain’t; it’s the Jady’s.” The lady, after the first natural start, had shown commendable calmness, and she quietly observer: ‘* My hand-bag is here.” Ske pointed as she spoke, but Caleb’s answer was ready. “Took inside it, an’ see! I say that his light- fingered nibs has swapped one on ter you jest like it. The lady changed color and made a clutch at the hand-bag, but the stranger fairly bristled with anger and assumed indignation. ‘What do you mean by such an infsm>ous charge?’ he demanded. ‘I have a good mind to smavh you. Do you know who I am?” *¢+No; Lain’t acquainted at Sing Sing!” Cin- ders retorted. The stranger flasbed a glance toward the lady and saw that she was opening the hand bag. Tthere may have been a mistake,” he amit- ted, with a trace of fiustration. ‘‘My hand- bag was on the same seat, and I may have taken the wrong one—” ‘* Gammon!” As the Castaway made this terse interruption the lady succeeded in opening the bag, ‘‘'This is not mine!” she cried. ‘* Tol’ ye so!” The lady sprung to her feet. ‘¢¥ have valuable papers, and they are lost!” she exclaimed, ' ‘6 Not ef we head off this p’ison pilferer!” The thief was evidently an old hand, and he . kept his composure remarkably. Now tbat the alarm was given he could not get away with the plunder, and he knew it. The next best way was to use his wits and get outofit, Alton Norway and the only other adult male passen- ger were at hand, and only great good luck could save him from being turned over to the lice. rie raised his hat politely. ‘¢ Madam, it is quite possible that l have taken the wrong bags though I assure you that it was. a mistake. You will notice that they are much alike, Allow me to examine the one you hold, and if it proves that I have accidentally ex- enauaes, shall be as glad as youto make it right, ye That won't save ye from the Tombs, mis- r! So/spoke Caleb, readily, and the thief turned upon him in a rage. nic es | . Py =, , he 4 te ‘ 2 3 as " fis a a a F ping ot of — -_ os ee ee - ' . i}