Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 854 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 It was Mother Halket / She had not seen the boy in the house, and although she would have recognized him in Sangville, where she had casually noticed him as in the employ of Hiram Haw- kins, she did not know him here. ‘There are wicked men after me,” she whispered, in agitated accents. ‘‘ Can’t you hide me somewhere?” ‘*Certainly,” answered Sam, who had no idea what to do with her, but was deter. mined not to let her out of his grasp, now that he had her, for he had no doubt that Smasher Jim was somewhere in the vicinity. He saw that the house near which they were standing was an empty warehouse, and that the door had been carelessly left open. Without hesitation he guided her into this doorway, just as Smasher Jim Walker came up, panting. He had evidently been having a hard run, and was exhausted. “Jim!” cried Mother Halket, rushing to the door. He turned and looked in the direction like a hunted animal, and then ran in and closed the door. ‘* We can stay here for awhile, anyhow, Jim,” said Mother Halket, in a low voice. ‘‘Yes. That fellow, the Secret Service detective, is right on our heels. Curse him! Tli get even with him yet. He seems to have the devil’s own assistance in getting af- ter me. We'll have to give Chicago the shake now, and try to do some work in the East.” **Look out, Jim! window!” Smasher Jim drew back, in response to Mother Halket’s warning and asked, care- ery ** Who is this boy? Safe?” “Oh, yes. He's a stranger. He’s all right,” answered Mother Halket, in a whis- per. Sam overheard the words, however, and muttered to himself, with a knowing smile: ‘** You bet he’s all right!” ‘I’m going to look outside,” said Smasher Jim, taking no more notice of Sam Stokes. ‘“* Better not.” “Oh, yes. They did not come up this way. And if they did, what could they do?” ‘‘T don't know. I feel played out,” an- swered Mother Halket. Jim opened the door, notwithstanding, and, stepping outside—found himself in the grasp of Hiram Hawkins, while Ralph Rapier held the muzzle of his six-shooter against his forehead, so that the cold steel made a shiver run through the frame of the counterfeiter, in spite of the courage he was iiccustomed to boast of, At the same instant, Sam Stokes, who had been carelessly feeling along the wall in the dark, without thinking particularly about what he was doing, came across an electric light button, and turned it, A blaze of white light illuminated the large room, for the button controlled a dozen good-sized incandescent lamps. ‘What's this?” cried Mother Halket, hardly knowing what she said. ‘*What’s this?” repeated Sam Stokes, with his usual grin. ‘‘ Why, it’s all day with you and the gang, and Ready Ralph is on deck again!’ For an instant, the four stood,in the posi- tions described, each waiting for some sign from the others, : ‘** Now you've got us in this way, what are you going to do?” demanded the Smasher, contemptuously. ‘Tam going to make you march this way to the nearest police station, and put you in a cell Then I will bring you up in the United States District Court, and charge you with counterfeiting and various other crimes against the Government of the United States. at is what 1 am going todo with you, James Walker, alias Thomas Rocket, alias Keep away from the oe - — oo ay ale ? — ———— : ee Robert Higgins, alias Colonel Fester, alzas Smasher, Jim,” answered Ralph, deliberately. Smasher Jim winced as Detective Ralph ran over his various aliases in the confident manner of one who was sure of his facts, but he laughed sneeringly, and then, like a flash, a peculiar light came into his eyes as he looked at something or somebody over the shoulder of the Reteativa and then dropped his gaze. ‘*He sees Rufe Rourke,” thought Ralph. ‘‘'Well, perhaps he will be fooled in him, too,” It was true. Rufe Rourke had come with Hawkins and Ready Ralph, because it was pu as well to have him with them, as to eave him in the house. The detective knew that he would not try to get away, be- cause he had become firmly impressed with the conviction that he could not escape, and it would be better for him to trust to the mercy of the court through the intercession of ready Ralph. But Smasher Jim did not know this, that was where he made a mistake. soon as Rufe Rourke had come near enough to the detective to touch him, Smasher Jim yelled, sharply, at the top of his voice: Behind you!” and ‘* Look out, Rapier! As he uttered these words in a startling shriek, the counterfeiter threw himself upon Ralph! There was a loud report, as the detective’s pistol was discharged, and Smasher Jim’s right hand fell useless at his side. The bullet had shattered his wrist. The Smasher had depended upon Ralph turning around to see what was behind him, involuntarily, at the warning yell, but the scheme did not work. ‘* Now, Sam,” said Ralph, as, with an in- voluntary cry of pain, Jim Walker took his wounded right hand in his left. ‘‘ And you, too, Rufe.”’ Rufe Rourke, seeing what was wanted, seized Mother Halket by the elbow, and drew her toward the detective, she making no resistance, and seeming, indeed, to feel that it would be more healthy for her to yield quietly, now that she was caught. } With a dexterous movement, Ralph, who had taken something out of a pocket with- out being observed, slipped a handcuff up- on Smasher Jim’s left hand, and another upon Mother Halket’s right, with a click that told how strong the springs were. ‘‘There, Smasher; that’s not a patent handcuff, but I don’t think you will get it off till I give you permission.” ‘‘Curse you!” howled the ex-convict, in his ing 3 ‘¢) wish Ihad you to myself ina room for two minutes. I’d teach you a les- ‘‘ Well, if you had me ina room, I think you would find me on deck. But, never mind about that. March !” ‘* Where to?” asked Sam Stokes. ‘To the police-station you could not find,” laughed Ralph, ‘“T’ll show yez the way, be gob!” put in Rufe Rourke. ‘* Been there before, eh, Rufe?” Rufe Rourke only smiled in a sickly way, and the procession moved off, with three pistols covering Smasher Jim and Mother Halket. Inspector John Gripp sat in his private office in Washington, with an open letter be- fore him, which he was reading half aloud to himself: ‘‘ James Walker, alias Smasher Jim, has had his preliminary hearing, and the grand | 855 The jury have his case, His conviction is certain. The particulars of his capture you have al- ready, in previous letters. Think I have made a good capture, and broken up one of the most dangerous gangs in the West, There are. members of it that I may take later on, but the two principals, Walker and ' ' ' | | 858 Dick Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. Mother Halket—a most dangerous woman— kept them so thoroughly uader control that they cannot do much harm without their leaders. The man Rufe Rourke has never been engaged in any serious work, so far as the evidence shows, and [| would suggest that he be allowed to turn United States’ evidence. In fact, I have promised him that I will work it for him, The bogus money, stamps, dies, crucibles and bullion found on the premises is in the possession of the court here, and will be shipped to Wash- ington after the trial. Respectfully, RALPH RAPIER,” The inspector smiled in a satisfied way, and then the smile became broader as he read a small postcript marked ‘‘ Personal:” ‘*] should like to be allowed a month’s leave. I want to stay with some friends cf mine in Sangville, Indiana. The fact is, | have become engaged to a aie: nice young lady, daughter of the Hiram Hawkins tle postmaster, whose assistance in this capture has been very valuable. I am invited to stay at their home for a month, and I should like rest. At the end of that time, court will be in session, and I shall have to be cn hand to testify against the Smasher and his slippery gang. By the way, there is a young fellow in the employ of Hiram Hawkins who v ould be nectat in the bureau, if you could find I told him I would write His name is £amuel room for him. to you about him. Stokes. Inspector are put the letter down, and actually laughed out loud. He had a tender heart, had Inspector Gripp, and he did not forget his own love-making days. ‘*Of course he shall have the leave, and I'll do what I can for this boy Stokes. As. for the girl, 1 do not believe she could find « better husband than Ralph Rapier, one of Uncle Sam’s most efficient detectives, ‘“*h hope the force won’t lose his services by rea- son of this new partnership!” And the excellent Gripp gave the young: special his ‘‘ Ged speed!” in good wishes. THE END. Next Half-Dime Library, No 855 Ths West Broadway Gamun ; OR, Toddles, the Tramp in Clover. A Story of Good-for-Nothing Jerry, Ex-Bootblack, BY JO PIERCE. This is the romance of New York street, tenement and attic life, wherein the struggle for exis encc makes strange bedfellows, and the fact is brought out that many agamin and ragamuffin hasr‘s good blood in his veins as the best high head in the Isn'. The West Broadway Gamin had a history—a vcry strange history; and that Jo Pierce has mace out of the cass a very strange and most interesting story every reader will admit, Beadle's Half-Dime Library. 849 Broadway Billy’« #100,000 Snap. By Cowdrien. 850 The Grand Street Arab. By Jo lierce. S51 The Tie-To Sport; o1, High Hustling at Sinners’ Fint, By Wm. R. Evyster. S52 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch, By Edward W heeler, Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. By Colne Prentiss Ingraham, 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective In Chicago Postmaster Among Buncu-Men. By George C, Jenks. eat Broadway Gaminy; or, Toddles, the Tremp, in Clover, By Jo Pierce. ; 856 The Bootblack Stowaway; or, Broadway Billy's Vlind. By J. C. Cowdrick, . 857 Spotter Bob In New York; or, The Man from ’Way- ac Back. By Wim. G. Patten. A New lesue Every Tuesday. The Half.-Dime Library is for sale by all newedealers, hve th per copy, or sent by mati on receipt o1 six conts each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Stroct, New York or, The Country