Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 857 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 Spotter Bob in New York. - > = _— - . he fy od ey +t Vee re eos om, ‘‘ Something has happened to him!” cried ‘‘You can raise it some way—you musi 7 ™ - é 7 ~~. Fah en a Fz'% — Y . ~ as - ~_ se — — - ne. oe 7 : . 7 7 - wa Re a ae. — : = ae ae ~ _ , - eT Cd .. Pes + é 4, "8 xs 4 eee 4 be Tew . #2 ? we oor <a »% - . ~ <2. Y _—_ - ae —_ ~~, + eS a _ a ‘Very fine!” came cuttingly from his lips. ‘*] scarcely wonder you have aspirations for the stage. You are a natural actress.”. ‘There is no acting about this, Jack Snow! You are driving me tomadness! Stand there and sneer in ny face! Only a little while ago you were telling me how devotedly you loved me!” ‘* A little while—why, nearly six weeks, That isa long time. I am beginning to get weary of you, Jessie!” The shot did not have the effect he expect- ed, Instead,-she drew herself up still more proudly, as she cried, like the scream of an eagie: ‘And I was always weary of you! I onl married you because you promised to ad- vance me on the stage. How have you kept your word? I knew you had money, and it was for that reason I consented to become poss wife! Now, that I know you for the rute you are, I detest and loathe you!” With a furious snarl, the enraged man ad- vanced upon her, his fist clinched and drawn back. She did not quail, but there came a startling interruption. “* Stop!” The portieres were flung aside and Spotter Bob staggered into the room, his face cov- ered with bleod and his eyes glaring as he confronted Black Dirk, who fell back dum- founded. ‘¢ Strike her an’ I'll kill ye, sure’s there’s a God!’ came from the boy’s lips, as one shak- ing hand was pointed at the astounded vil- lain. ‘‘She’s my sister!” The girl uttered a cry and would have clasped him in her arms, but he motioned her away, ‘* Wait!” he gasped painfully. ‘<I dunno but I’m dyin’, an’ I want yer to hear what I say before I keel over. If you think—this man’s your husban’—you’re wreng. He’s fooled ye—he’s got another wife! He’s a mbler, a villain, a burglar and a sneak! +a a I can’t tell—I can’t— Oh, Jes- sie!” He swayed from side to side, his glaring eyes fixed on Black Dirk, then he reeled forward and made an aimless clutch at the man’s throat—missed—fell heavily—lay mo- tionless. The girl flung herself on her knees at his side and quickly lifted his head. Wildly she peered into his white, blood-stained face. ‘* Robbie!” she cried—‘‘ Robbie, brother, speak to me! I’m Jess—your sister Jess!” He did not stir; he did not breathe! ‘* Dead!” wailed the girl, and she fainted across his body. CHAPTER X. FRANK FINDS HER. In vain Silent Dave waited for the reap- pearance of his boy assistant, Two days pends and not a sign of Bob did the Man rom Idaho behold. He was filled with as- tonishment and wonder, for he did not be- lieve it possible the boy would desert him thus. If Bob had deserted him, then some- thing must have happened to the young fakir. The time when he had promised to show up and point out Black Dirk to the man without a tongue had expired and an- other slipped away with it, What charce prevented Silent Dave and Black Dirk from meeting it is impossible to say, for the man from the West was con- stantly on the outlook, and it hardly seemed Dirk tried to avoid his deadly enemy. It was fate that kept them apart. Something convinced the Westerner that the boy shadow had been dealt foully with, but how could he learn the truth? That was the question that troubled him. While he was puzzling over this, Frank Anson appeared and asked for Bob. An- son was not a little surprised and alarmed when the Silent Man had written out that his boy assistant was missing and had been missing for two days. ta & ma. - mm : ; yen we & rT } ere ‘ —_ ' ; + / - 7 Vor’ ~ . * i ’ . . - - Meee wee GL. nei CO ost Oe 7 : rae age Ah Po 2 _— i 3 eo ee “ oe oy - te ANI y o> 7” ¢ . | || q “A a oes wa) - ty » of rein o) a —- . — =~ >t =. a Ps s on -' a Vr. d phat - Pte) os i ro? Y a> wiih S| ° oa _~ a « 5 | ) Pi a _ _ F To te . - J - - —_ ~aee ~ 7" « “ - * - X \ i ‘ . wes : Pom ow a ots Vale ” * Va m ~y¥ T way tos m ne a ~~ am 2 > <<. a - — 7 . - . e -~ . ‘ - . . - F ~ oe re! as x ke * ee tee ‘eg ‘i | CR OS oe, Pre ¥ oad 7 . ta 4 c ¢ ore ‘ * ¥ ‘ . 5% — ~~ "> te x "a tir Beal sds 4 Soom i /, 4 . * + * is a ‘ * r. tt a e 4 bs . I accommodated you when you needed it,” ‘*T wish to God you hadn’t!” ‘It’s not my fault you lost.” ‘* How can | pay now?” ‘*There must be a way for a—” Frank lost the rest of the sentence, but he turned and looked at the two men after he had passed them quite a little distance, fixing their faces in bis mind. Little did he think one of them could have told him all about the missing Bob Brad- dock, That one was Mr. Walden White, alias John Snow, alias Black Dirk. The man to whom the scheming villain was talking was the young bank cashier Willis Steele. The time had come for Dirk to ‘‘ put on the screws,” and he was starting at it it in earnest. Steele began to under- stand the terrible box he was in. Frank strolled oa, but the face of Black Dirk remained before him, although he knew not why. He kept thinking of the man and of the words he had accidentally overheard. He realized the young man of the handsome face and blonde mustache was. in a serious fix and that other man, whom he bad instinctively set down as a rogue, was crowding the unfortunate fellow to the wall, All at once, he turned around and walked back. He knew not why he did so, but some influence, subtle but powerful, seemed guiding him. He realized he was going back to take another look at the face ofa man who was an utter stranger to him and a rascal at that, but still he feared Dirk would be gone when he reached Twenty- third street. As he was hastening eagerly along, he saw & person approaching with nervous steps, his face white and set, a desperate gleam in his the blacksmith, his rugged face taking ona look of alarm. Silent Dave nodded an agreement, ‘*] wondered he had not been to see me,” continued Frank, who had, been told by the hotel clerk of the Westerner’s peculiarity in pever speaking, although he could hear as wellasany one. ‘‘ Weare the very best of friends and always have been since I took his part one time when he was set upon by a gang of young ruffians, He was fighting like a little tiger, but they were too many for him, and he was being punished un- mercifully. If I had not appeared they would have beaten him senseless. As it was, he was so used up I had to get him home, In that way I met his parents and his sister.” Frank hesitated and flushed a bit on men- tioning Jessie. The eyes of the tongucless man were fixed upon him, and a light of comprehension flashed across Silent Dave’s face. The gleam was gone in a moment, but the speechless man understood the plained. Dave nodded again, but this time it was an invitation for the blacksmith to proceed. ‘*T took a liking to the plucky youngster,” Frank went on; ‘‘and I used to visit his home. His folks were poor, but Bob had snap and goin him, and he. earned lots of money faking. He went at it when he was quite small, and his brisk way of making things hum led the kids to call him Old Business, : ‘‘Of course my interest in the family rew,” added Frank, his eyes failing to meet Silent Dave’s steady look. ‘‘ Bob’s father is dead. His sister came to New York to go upon the stage, for which she had an apti- tude. Bob followed her, and, as he isa negligent rascal about writing, although he | eyes. sends his mother money regularly, Mrs. Frank recognized the young man to whom Braddock was worried and wished me to} Dirk had been talking—the man who had come on and find him. protested his inability to pay his I. O. U.’s. ‘*That is about all there is to tell. Ifound him searching for his sister, whom he had | way, a feeling in his heart which, until that not found. I was to assist him, but he has | day, he had ever been a stranger to—a feel- not shown up at my place.” ing of bitter rebellion against fate and a Silent Dave paced the room, his head bent | hatred for himself and his fellow-men. _ und his eyes on the floor. For nearly five ‘*Poor devil!” thought the blacksmith, minutes he did not glance at his visitor, and ' although Steele was dressed in the height of then, all at once, he paused in front of Frank, | fashion and Anson wore very plan clothes. to swiftly say: | ‘‘He’s in hard luck and ready to do some- “His foe is my foe. thing he ought not to. It’sajl on account days of grace, although he was bound to me | of that man of the black mustache.” by agreement. That time is up, with one| He feared Dirk would be gone from the day added. It looks bad.” corner, but the plotter was there, having ‘Tt does,” agreed Frank. lighted a fresh cigar, at which he was com- ‘‘ Will you go to the police?” fortably puffing, just the trace of a triumph- ‘*Tf you think best.” ant, satisfied smile on his face. He did not. Dave nodded. look like a» man who was in desperate need ‘Tell them about the boy and his missing sister. Give them your address, and ask them to communicate if anything turns up. Give descriptions, names, ages, etc. It is the best thing now.” There was little more that could be done, save keep a lookout themselves, and that did | | situation as well as if it had been fully ex- I gave him three had just madea strike that let him in on ye | street. ondering why he did so, Frank halted where he could watch Black Dirk delib- erately drawing on his gloves. The adven- turer fitted the gloves to his soft, white hands with all the delicacy of a daiuty maiden, his crook-handle cane hanging on his left arm as he walked. He eyed with smiling, percent leer every pretty girl who passed, his evil meaning being written so plainly on his face that a glance from his. eyes was an insult, . Frank Anson grew to hate the man in & few seconds. life on his face, and he wondered if the truth were not as plain to every one who saw bim. He was astounded to think a bright-appear- ing, open-faced young feilow like not promise much. Frank left Silent Dave, neither feeling greatly encouraged. The police were duly notified, but no great interest was shown over the affair. The dis- appearance of an ordinary boy seemed too commonplace to arouse them to gig Street lamps were gleaming when Frank passed two men at the corner of Fifth avenue and Twwenty-third street. For some reason, he noticed their words distinctly, ‘“T tell you I must have the money,” a large man who wore a ccal-black mustache was saying. ‘‘I have met with terrific re- verses in the last two days, and there are bets I must meet or be ruined. I hold your | scoundrel, 1. O. U.'s.’b Although “For God’s sake, White, don’t press me ; Frank was a natural character-reader, now!” entreated the other and younger man, Having finished drawin who was a handsome fellow, ‘‘I can’t raise | Black Dirk flicked a bit o the money unless—unless—” - > 4 s - i » £ - . v * r m Siu . "' tye yt @ dha th, ": 7. fo w 4 ‘ Ate yrs i ' em « *) 4 fA 4 ce < 4 : d * PY - - > ae}, 4 wet 4 A~ ~~ EJ € * —_ | o% . 7 * = Willis Steele swept by, heading up Broad~-— ee of money; rather, he looked like one who © He read the oar of Dirk's. — me ‘liso Steele could be insnared by so palpablea =~ "4 o~ a es he was not aware of the fact, it his cigar and then turned to saunter toward : ES > ~ ary - Sea) ¥ » * &/ . ne c= . + - Cd ath 4 eo } : 7 - . te € {ae *; yi * * > ih J ‘ ‘ . : ~* ¥ , » - 5 * . + i ie Re Oy oe ri: ; 4. Ps 4, ¢ = - ed on his glov Ree; flaky ash front py * ° ; . i . : .