Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 857 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Stier Bob in Now York THE MAN FROM’WAYBACK, BY WILLIAM G. PATTEN, | AUTHOR OF ‘‘ NOBBY NAT, THE TENDERFOOT DETECTIVE,” ‘‘ SHARPER STOKE’S DOU- BLE DEAL,” ETC., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. BOB SPOTS SOMETHING CROOKED, By 6:30 o’cloek Pp. mM. the rush of people for the Elevated Station at Park Place and Church. street begins to slacken somewhat, although there is still a great throng anxious to get up-town as soon as possible by the Sixth avenue L, One night a bright-looking, clean-faced, fairly well-dressed boy of about sixteen stood 6n the curb not far from the newsman’s stand that is situated at the foot of the stairs leading to the ParkPlace station. In his hand he held a tray covered with black vel- 'vetecn, on which were scattered a large num- ber of patent collar-buttons and cuff-sup- porters, ‘*Here’s where you get ’em, gents!” he cheerfuliy called. ‘*Here’s the only and reliable cuff-holder that’s got a double back- action grip as won’t let your cuffs slip. down and take a bath in yer soup when you eat your dinner, And they’re only ten cents—a dime a pair. Silver-nickel plated and right up to the rush of progress. Who has an- other pair? Business is business, and busi- ness is rushing on my corner. Have a pair of cuff-supporters, sir? Ten cents. Thank ou.” . His bright face and cheery manner were in such contrast to the face and air of the usual street vender that many hurrying in- dividuals glanced at him with mild surprise, not to say curious interest, For all of the fact that it was a bad time to sell goods when people were in a hurry to get home, many of them having to yide far beyond the Harlem River, he did a very good business, and his stock in trade gradually diminished. Although he was bright and shrewd, as could be seen at a glance, there was some- thing in his appearance which indicated that he had not been brought up as a street waif, his speech, for all of the fact that it was not always correct, being far from the dialect of the gamin and gutter-snipe. That he was city-bred, probably the son’ of “poor but respectable parents,” was equally apparent. That he had not come from the country could be told at a glance. His dark eyes saw the face of every man who passed him in the throng; not one did he miss, whether he was making a sale or not. Even though he was teidine strictly to business, it also appeared—or would have appeared to a keen observer—that he had an- other purpose besides selling collar-buttons and cuff-supporters, ‘‘Have a patent collar-button, sir?’ he called, holding up the article, ‘‘ Gold plated and pearl backed— goes at the back of the neck and clinches the collar-—has an exten- sion point that gets a grip on the necktie and keeps it from crawling up and tickling yer ears. Only five cents—a nickle—to night, and ye may never have another chance to get ’cm for that. Take one? That’s busi- ness! Here you go.” : The collar-button and _ five-cent piece changed hands in a twinkling, and the boy Spotter Bob in New York. a ee bother you when I first saw you there, and I won't have you cutting into my trade. If ou don’t take a tumble and get a move on, ‘ll ornament your dark eyes with a beauti- ful fresco that you'll carry right around with you for the rest of the week, Git, Dago!” The Dago promptly moved. At length two men, who immediately at- tracted the notice of the boy, came down Park Place from Broadway, Both were plainly and non-expensively dressed, but the garments of one did not sit well on his person, as if he were accustomed to clothing of another sort.' Hie was the smaller. man of the two, and he walked with the swing? ing lope that always betrays those who dwell beyond the limits of city or town and walk much over uneven ground. His face was smooth-shaved and very pale, as if he had lately recovered from a severe illness that had confined him beneath a roof for a protracted period. The second was a city man, and he was certainly not of a very respectable order of society, although he was plainly attempling to appear at his best while with the other, He was a powerfully-built fellow, and the hand-me-down clothes he wore fitted him as if they had been made by a Broadway tailor. His face might have appeared fairly pleasant at a distance and while in repose, but there was something about it that told a charac- ter-reader its owner was a ruffian by nature, ee matter how much he tried to conceal the act, . The city man was talking with great ap- parent earnestness, while the otver listened attentively, now and then nodding or shak- ing his head, but never speaking. The eyes of the boy fakin glistened when he fairly saw the face of the’city man, ‘‘That’s Budge Farrel!” he muttered; “and Budge knows the man I’m lookin’ after, He’s a crook from the ground up, but t’other feller don’t look sneaky. Wonder what’s the lay? I have it! en to one Budge is workin’ the confidence game on that man. If so, I'll block Ads little racket, or I’m not Spotter Bob, the Rogue-Crusher!” The men passed but did not ascend the stairs to the Elevated Station. Instead, they entered by the swinging doors of the saloon at the corner and disappeared within the drink resort. As they passed the boy, Spotter Bob—to give the young fakir the name he had called himself—heard the city man say: ‘‘Tf he’s in New York, I’m der man to find him, chummy,-an’ don’t yer fergit it! d’ve ot a rep asa private detective, an’ I can’t Be’ beat in dis town, if 1 do say so, myself, ‘* Well, that’s what I call gall!” gasped the boy street vender. ‘* Bud ge Farrel a private detective! That takes the bun, an’ no mis- count! Why, he’s done time morethan once! If I don’t git onter his neck this trip, I oughter go put myself in soak, Ill do it, bet yer pneumatic tire!” : Allidea of ‘‘business,” in that locality, seemed to vanish from his head, and he straightway sauntered toward the saloon, which he did not hesitate to enter. ; The two. men he was shadowing stood near one end of the bar, and Budge; the crook) was still talking earnestly, with an evident attempt to impress the other. Without attracting attention, Bob moved along until he was near enough to hear what ‘Farrel was saying, and there he stopped and began, ap cig to count over what re- mained of his stock in trade. “As he was clean, well-dressed and minus the gamin air, rattled on with his never-ending flow of | he did not immediately attract the attention b. An Italian shoestring-vender came and attempted to range up beside the young fakir, but the boy promptly turned on him, matty ‘Git off my preserves, you son of Sunny Italy!' Your place is up the street. Ididn’t ‘down ; As he stood there, he heard Budge saying: ‘‘Of course it won’t be no dead easy pie of the bartenders or frequenters of the place. to find dis cove in a city like New York, but, I'll ring him in’ time, an’ don’t yer fergit dat! Youse just want me ter find him an’ put ye on—dat’s all?” | ads a 74s »'f f ry te Le See , np 1‘ is * -- s 4 3 te Y's , * > ye sat 4% eS Ay soy. _ - . Fo Ome mk. » | ig a en ee eee The pale-faced man nodded, but did not speak, ‘* An’ you say he’s a gambler—can’t keep ' away from der game, eh?” Another nod, ‘‘Knowr as Walt Dirk, or Black Dirk?” Another nod. ‘‘Do youse reckon he’ll be wearin’ dat name in dis town?” A positive shake of the head. ‘* Ain’tethat jay got no tongue?” thought the “listening and watching boy shadow. ‘* He ain’t deef, ifhe is dumb. If I ain’t a Reub, He's from the wild and woolly West somewhere near "Wayback. He's got it painted all over him bigger’n a house. Id like to hear him vocalize a mite.”’ His desire was not gratified, for the pale- faced man spoke not a word, although Farrel rattled. on, now and then asking questions, When these questions could not be answered by yes or no, the stranger hastily scribbled something on a pad of paper he had ready for a purpose, using a stubby lead-peneil to write with, Thus it quickly became obvious to Bob that the man either could or would not speak, for all of the fact that he could hearvas well as any one. The two men obtained drinks at the bar and then they leaned on the rail to continue the rather one-sided conversation. Bob now saw that one of the barkeepers had spotted him, and so he quietly wander- ed out. He tooka stand not far from the door and ‘‘ made a bluff” at trying to do business, but it was apparent he cared very little whether he sold any more goods or not. He was waiting for the two men to appear. , nabout twenty minutes they came out and turned back along Park Place toward Broadway.” They passed the Elevated Station stairs and entered the first eating- rocm to which they came. Bob quietly sauntered up, and, through the glass doors, he could watch the two at the table where they were sitting. He held this position until they had satisfied their hunger and come out upon the street again. As they were very deliberate about eating, it was nearly eight o’clock when they stepped on the sidewalk once more. They immediately turned toward the L Road and ascended the stairs, Budge Furrel leading the way. In a twinkling, Spotter Bob’s stock in trade disappeared into his pockets, and then slap, slap, slap—ihis tray was folded into a small, square, compact block. Whistling ayly, as if thoroughly light-hearted, he a uP the stairs after the two suspects, slapped down his nickel, dropped his ticket in the chopper’s box, and was just in time to board the forward end of the last car but one of a train, his sharp eyes seeing the men he was after step through the gate upon the rear end of the same car. By this time, few people were riding up- town, the rush being over for the night, and‘it so happened that Bob was the only person to ride in the car he had entered, The rear car was also empty as he saw at a glance through the glass’ of the doors. Budge Farrel and the stranger remained on the platform, as if they desired a taste of the breeze they could obtain there. The young spotter dropped down in a seat where he could watch them, having walked more than half the length of the car. The brakeman flung the door open and left it so, much to‘the boy shadower’s satisfaction. | And now Bob appeared to be seized by sudden drowsiness, for he pulled his soft hat over “his eyes and seemed to be nodding be- fore Chambers street was reached. But the artful Robert was wide awake, and he noted eve ove of the two men. 506 “Next station Frapklin,"called the as he slammed -the iow Se earrensrnsntielineeesineeetineeen:cnenememneeensnnememeedtinenene: “gupeeeenees tne eREEE REE —————————————————————— illed the guard, gate shut at Cham.