Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 857 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

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Steele whirled, a savage exclamation com- ing from his lips. ‘‘What’s that?” he cried, stepping down to catch Bob by the shoulder. ‘‘ Don’t git rattled,” was the lad’s calm ad- vice. ‘‘If you want to save your own skin an’ git ahead of Mr. Walden White, jest you take me somewhere that we can talk comfor- table without bein’ overheard. Tl give you a lay-down that'l) knock ye clean daft.” ‘‘What do you know of Walden White and I. O. U.’s?” ‘*Come over here on a settee on the Square an’ ['ll tell'ye. It’s interestin’, you bet!” Only a moment more did Steele hesitate; then he followed the boy to a settee, where they both sat down, the cashier saying: ‘* Don’t try any foolishness on me now!” “Straight goods you git.” Then the lad tol:| Willis Steelea few things that made that young man’s eyes giare like those of an angry lion, e exposed Black Dirk's little game from start to finish, telling all that he and Frank Anson had overheard. After this, he was forced to let Steele in a measure into the facts of his own case. To end with, he tried to induce the cashier to lead Dirk into an at- tempt to rob the bank, as the rascal had planned, but Steele firmly shook his head. ‘‘He must be shut off some other way,” he declared; ‘‘for the whole matter would come out then, and 1 should be disgraced. We must devise another scheme.” And devise a scheme they did. Bob was the originator of it, but Steele perfected and filled in the details. The young man’s face cleared wonderfully, and he caught the boy by the hand, exclaiming: “By Jove! if this is all straight and works, I shall think you a trump! I like your appearance, and I believe we'll corner cute Mr. White!” “That’s what we will!” chuckled Bob. «* We'll make him squirm.” ‘“*T will get off to-day and see to the mes- sages. We'll work together, I must get off, for tbis game must go through! We must manufacture a message from your sister that will not fail to bring him to the flat.” “That'll Dea cinch!” CHAPTER XVI. DAVE FINDS HIS MAN, Tne Spotter took good care that his sister should remain at the flat in Twenty-fourth street that evening, for he sent a message purporting to come from ‘‘John Snow” that said Snow had found the missing Bob and would bring him to the flat that evening, Other messages were sent out, to ‘‘ Mrs, Walden White” and to ‘‘ White” himself, who was at Sheepshead, having found it im- possible to keep from the races that day, even though he had a big scheme on foot. The rascal had not intended to return to the city until the last train that night, but the message brought him in so he could reach Jessie’s flat before nine o’clock. _ At 8:80 Bob and Frank Anson rung the bell at the flat and were admitted. Jessie Was astonished when she saw them together, paeetttn she caught Bob in her arms and kissed him again and again. Ce / Spotter Bob in New York. She gave her hand to Frank, who took it half-fearfully. ‘‘ Where is Jack—Mr. Snow?” she ques- tioned. -‘‘He sent a message stating he would come with you, Robbie.” ‘He'll be along later,” was the boy’s re- ply. ‘‘ But I’ve got bad news for ye.” She led the way into the parlor. ‘‘ Mother—?” she cried, her face very pale, The boy shook his head. ‘* No, father.” ‘‘ What has happened?” ** He is dead,” The girl sunk upon a chair, burying her face in a handkerchief, ‘*Poor papa!” she said, huskily. ‘* Did he forgive me?” e982’ There was little time to talk of this, as they had arrived at the flat later than they intended, so Bob went on: ‘* Mother is sc lonely; she wants you to- come back. That is why I an’ Frank came here to hunt for ye.” ‘* Does she know I’m married?” ‘* How could she know?” Then the girl asked Bob why he had not, come to her sooner after being discharged from the hospital, There was a bandage about his head now, but he assured her the injury was slight. Then came the most difficult part of the whole matter, Frank Anson knew what was coming, and express- ing adesire to get a breath of fresh air, he stepped outside. Within fifteen min- utes Bob called him bac. Frank saw that Jessie had been dreadfully shocked. She was pale as death and her dark eyes were glowing with a mad fire. She paced the room like a caged animal, evi- dently trying to repress any show of violent emotion. She had shed no tears. ‘‘ Now,” said Boh, ‘‘we must be ready for the others, They should be here now.” A ring at the bell came. The black girl announced a strange young gentleman. ‘* It’s Steele,” said Bob; and so it was. Barely hac the young man made his way into the parlor when the bell rung again. woman was shown in. “Mr. White?” she questioned, looking from one to the other, in surprise, ‘*‘ He is here? He sent for me.” “Then you are Mrs. Walden White?” questioned Bob, ‘‘ Well, Mr. White’ll be here right away, I think.” Willis knew the woman, and she was laced more at ease when he came forward, Ie took her ihto a corner and talked earnest- ly with her for some moments. He did not tell her the whole truth, by any means, but obtained her consent to step back behind the portieres when her husband cane in, Scarcely had all arrangements been made when there ¢ame a significant ringing of the bell. ‘Tt is he!” said Jessie, excitedly. Inamoment the others moved back be- hind the portieres, where they could not be seen. Jessie unfastened the inner door and stood waiting the man near the center of the room. He came in with arush. woof! ‘‘Hello!” he cried, in evident surprise. ‘Thought you were sick and in trouble.” ‘Tam in trouble,” she‘answered, as calm- ly as possible. ‘‘ Don’t ‘kiss me! I have a question for you. Am I] your lawful wife— your only wife?” ‘‘Of course you are!” he exclaimed, ina moment. ‘‘ And you are the dearest little wife in the world!” Out from behind the portieres stepped ‘‘Mrs. Walden White.” She spoke not a word, but was pallid as death and shaking in every limb, ‘Good God!” gasped the paralyzed man, éé Emily f? ‘Yes, Emily, your wife!” came icily from her quivering lips. ‘Oh, you miserable wretch!” 15 For a moment the tricked rascal could not utter another word; but he had nerve, and deliberately attempted a cool bluff. ‘* Well, somebody has played me a dirty trick in bringing you two together,” he ob- served. ‘‘l'd like to see the fellow.” ‘‘ Jest take a look at him!” and Spotter Bob stepped into the room from behind the portreres. The man could not repress a great start. “You?” hecried. ‘Why, I thought—” Then he stopped, ‘* You thought I was ene cared fer by your pal, Budge Farrel. Well, Mr. Ex-Con- vict Budge has taken my place fer a wile, an’ I’ve dropped round to sce how you're gittin’ along with your two wives. Do-you know what they call me sometimes? ell, it’s Bob, the Rogue-Crusher. I’ve decided todo alittle crushing in your case, seeing how yow richly deserve a felon’s fate.” With an angry snarl, Black Dirk stepped toward the boy, But he did not lay a hand on Bob, for Frank Anson suddenly appeared and blocked his path. “You can’t touch him!” Now, Dirk was surprised. ‘‘Are there any more behind those cur- tains?” he cried. ‘*One more!” said a calm voice, as Willis Steele came into the room, ‘ Steele!” “Exactly.” ; ‘* Well, you people have arranged a fine little surprise party for. me!’’ sneered the Villain, with affected nonchalance, ‘* What do you propose to do about it?” ‘‘T do not know what these ladies will do,’’ replied Steele. ‘‘ But you have a few I, O. U.'s of mine which I want to collect.” ‘*So, that’s the trick. Well, I’ll pass them over with pleasure when you have the money for them,” ‘“You will before, I surmise, You have been defrauding me and planning to ruin me from the start. Now, the tables are turned. You are welcome to what mone ou have squeezed out of me, even though could send you up; but those bits of paper you must surrender.” ‘** You fool yourself. I won’t!’ “Then Budge Farrel shall be given a chance to peach, as he wants to, in order to clear himself. He is ready to swear you and he plotted to rob the Home Bank, ou can see the kind of a box you are in,” are rascal’s face grew black and then pale, ‘If I give up the I. O, U.’s—then what?” he questioned, ‘You can sce I donot care to bring m connection with you before the public. Vl, agree to press no charges against you.” For once in his life, Black Dirk’s nerve was broken. He made Steele swear it, and then he surrender the I. O. U.’s. ‘* What more is expected of me?” he sneer- ingly inquired, as he looked around at the scornful faces. ‘Well, we have kinder got ye on the hip, Mister Black Dirk,” spoke up Bob. ‘1 think the only chance fer ye is to git out this country pretty lively. My sister intends to bring suit against ve for bigamy.” ‘‘Tf she didn’t, I would!” cried the first wife, excitedly, .‘SOh, you wretch! After all have endured from you!—after I have stood by you through everything!” She broke down. Frank Anson walked up to Dirk, his eyes burning like fire. ‘* Dastard /” he grated through his teeth. “Tf it were not for.the ladies present, I would leave the score of my fist on your vile face! Get out of this house, you heartless scoundrel!” ‘An’ as ye go,” added the young Spot- ter, ‘‘be happy in the thought that there happens to be another feller lookin’ for ye— a feller what means to shoot on sight. 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