Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 857 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

¢ - “mast — sre he ak 3S «< all - ~ 5 a” “3 es . <- a OT LAS ** T promise.” To Bob’s own astonishment, he had tri- umphed, and he drew along breath of relief. If he could not find Jessie in three days, he would keep his pledge; but he believed Black Dirk would lead him to the runaway girl. ‘You must hate this man heaps,” he ob- served, curiously. ‘‘ Did you swear never to talk till you ketched him?” The Silent Man’s hand flashed across the pad, and he wrote one word: ‘* Look!” : He pointed at his mouth. Bob arose and looked, as directed. Dave opened his mouth, and the boy uttered a cry of horror. that was literally wrung from him by what he saw. Spotter Bob in New York. weapons, as Bob was well aware, and were he to be searched by tke police, that would count against him. ore “Tain’t no easy job.” i ‘‘T told you that in the first place. He’s a fighter, though what he has been through The boy could not quite wash his hands } ought to have taken the gymp out of him of all responsibility, no matter what hap- pened. Even though Black Dirk richly de- served any did not like to feel that he bad aided in | him about being in an Eastern city, bringing retribution down upon him. some. But he can shoot like a devil, and he’d as quick use his guns as his fists. It fate that might befall bim, Bob | wouldn't make a_ particle of difference to If he wanted to shoot, he’d shoot. And I believe But Bob was most eager to find his lost | he has sworn to take a crack at me on sight,” sister, For all of the fact that Dirk did not immediately lead him to the missing girl, he still believed the rascal knew where Jessie was to-be found. One night Bob followed the man to a! Bighth avenue, where all kinds of | am going to offer greater inducements. saloon on resorts are to be found, ‘There was a bower The Man from Idaho had no tongue! Jt) of trees, cedar and fir, in little tubs arranged had been cut off clean at the roots / Little wonder he never spoke! CHAPTER VIII. PLAYING THE SHADOW, For. two days Bob shadowed his man without succeeding in his purpose. Itseem- ed that Mr. Walden White suspected he . was watched and took especial care to baftle the boy. This was not really true, but that made no difference so long ag the man did std lead the young fakir to the missing irl, Bob played his part well, sometimes ap- pearing as a youth bubbling over with busi- ness, having « strong desire to sell patent collar-buttons and cuff-supporters, and some- times seeming to be nothing more thana werthless young loafer whose only care was to ‘‘sneak” a ‘* butt” from the gutter and smoke it on some comfortable corner, Once or twice he saw’ Frank Anson, but it was only for a moment. Anson wanted to assist him, but Bob knew better than to have it, so he went it alone, which was much bet- ter and safer, Silent Dave seemed to regret his promise, although he did not say as much outright; but he did say he would quite forget his boy assistant were he to meet his old enemy face to face. Bob expected that, so it did not worry him at all, His only fear was that the three days would expire before he had accomplished his purpose, and he would find it necessary to keep his word to the man without a tongue, Bob never thought of Silent. Dave’s mis- fortune without a shudder of horror, What a terrible thing it was to have no tongue! He wondered how the man had lost it, but never had he possessed ccurage to ask, Something in the mysterious man’s manner forbade questions on that point; but the young shaulow knew well enough Black irk was responsible for it all. What would happen when the two men stood face to face? The young Spotter asked himself the question scores of times, and when he remembered the Silent Man’s looks at the mere mention of Black Dirk, he trembled. Would it be right to bring the two men together? Bob had not thought of that at first, but now it was troubling him. A. ter- rible tragedy might follow such a meeting, in which case, would he not be responsible in a measure? | The boy’s position was peculiar and try- ing. He could not tell his story to the police without being laughed at,‘he feared, and even if they listened seriously, it would be like turning traitor to Silent Dave. This he could not think of, for it was not in his nature fo betray an honest man. That Dave's grievance could not be ad- justed by the law, Bob well realized. It was something beyond courts of justice. The interference of the law would simply work to the advantage of the black-hearted villain who deserved punishment, as it was quite probable Silent Dave would. be ar- rested asa dangerous character, The Man from Wayback carried concealed ‘ / av';* yt - a ‘% : ; ae « teh \ ee NG Moke 2: ah, oe pee 3 ~ * we a * aX. . ro \e e . >a. ¢ SES Bg 73, A) dh Satie aansntohs oe RIS ORS A. pik nm SNROS pls epee tins a <n Pe * - CO Oe ne ®t iy wae + A hs 1 ll ee ee ade ee st ee eee » 3 - vi ‘rk ae ‘s pn /F ace ab, ; by Pe ~*~ ag : Fa * - * - r ‘”* > - ; ee ae , , * } - ' ~ 3 he oe ute 4 ot {ae Oe) he, < prt 4 \ : af Ashe S44) a OE ow FF" My J | Deis eee eas Winget Beh lk Neh DOL 9 eigeeten = Sater. : 1del> it FA my N Sam ¢ Ae ‘s , - ; 4 7% ‘ i ex Sra Peet Se lee Beet ‘x 4 lo. an rey aE Be, «8 vabe 5 tas gh by PTA, eee * in Oe Sel ve Lite “ ? sgt GA Bie : vy ¥ ag p m, ‘ t ra oR iy. J ~~ ~s ay f > 4a , . . 7% 7 ad ‘ f AR avs e Per aie: Fem rx — _ e Wire lard ~~ € Anos ~ £——~ mae wete hs + She hee on the walk, with chairs and round tables amid them, where beer could be served. The hour was early, and it happened no customers were sitting around the _ tables when Dirk arrived. Nevertheless, he chose the most secluded nook and sat down all alone. Bob wondered what was up. The waiter brought the man of the black mustache a beer, but it was allowed to sit untasted on the table until the fuam fell and | the tiny beads ceased to dance in the glass, which indicated it had grown “‘ flat,” Then another man came and sat down op- posite Black Dirk. The boy started when he saw this man, for it was the thug known as Budge Farrel, The way in which the two men shook hands showed they were on a level, and Black Dirk sunk: several points in the boy shadow’'s estimation, ‘*Dat’s agreeable,” ‘*] don’t care to take chances, though I shall fight if we meet. Still, 1 had a great deal rather we wouldn’t meet. That's why I wanted you to do him for me. Na ; ‘] add two hundred more to my offer if you'll bring me proof before Saturday night that rou have downed the whelp for good and all, ° Vhat do you say to that?” ‘* He’s a corker.”’ ** Well?” ‘‘ Make it three hundred—” ‘It’s a go, but not another cent. You say you know where he is stopping?” Jes RE ‘“Where?” ‘*'Tower House,” “You'll have to get him out of that locality to do the work,” ‘‘' Trust dat to me. Fork over fifty to bind der bargain.” ‘‘ Nota cent. You know that I will keep my word when the work is done. I gave you fifty in the first place, and that goes.”’ Farrel growled a great deal at this, but the chief villain could not be moved. The boy under the table shivered as he The ‘‘flat’’ beer was sent away by the! heard this deliberate, cold-blooded plot to Waiter, who was instructed to fill two more glasses and bring cigars. He obeyed, and the two men were soon smoking comforta- bly, while they chatted over their beer, with their heads close together. Then Bob was seized by a desire to hear what they had to say, and he lost no time in getting as near as possible without being ob- served, This did not prove difficult, and, in afew seconds, a slight screen of bushes alone separated him from the plotters. But when that point was reached, to his disgust, Bob found he could not hear all that was being said. He feared he would miss something important, and that made him venturesome. Two of the little tubs in which trees were planted were far enough apart so the boy fancied he might be able to creep through between them. Where he was, the light of a street lamp fell full upon him, and the policeman on the next corner might grow suspicious were he to remain there too long. So, selecting a moment when the police- man’s attention was attracted another ‘way and no one seemed to be observing him, Bob flattened himself on the stones and crept through the opening with the swift- ness and silence of a squirming snake, Inside, the boy found himself right under the table at which the men sat, He found it necessary to take care he did not strike against their feet or legs and thus alarm them, And he could hear their words. ‘| played my game fer all it was wort’, boss,” Budge Farrel declared. ‘‘He never took a tumble, an’ I’d dumped him inter de street but fer de kid I was tellin’ ye of ” ‘Hang that kid!’ grated Black Dirk. **] reckon he is the one who gave me such a going over before Steele. But I fixed him! I gave him a lifter!” **He’s a tough nut,” nodded the thug. ‘‘T rapped him hard in de jaw der odder night, but t’ree fellers jomped me an’ he got erway while I was doin’ up der gang.” ‘‘T don’t care for the kid, but.I do care for this cursed silent sleuth-hound! That man must be put out of the way by hook or crook Farrel!’ a on qm ae ie en 0 C888 a ee Se wy : omit iy = ; ; *-% fee 2 wy = ee , or uy - commit murder—a bargain for a human life! Still, he was nervy enough to keep his place, even though he well knew what would be- fall him if he were discovered and captured by the ruffians. ‘‘ Speakin’ of Steele,” said Budge, how are you comin’ on wid him?” ‘* Fairly. Dve got a double-cinch grip on the poor fool, and I'll turn on the power by and by. I hold I. O. U.'s enough with his name attached to ruin him, and—” ‘*You’re workin’ ter git at der bank?” “"Sh! Lower! Of course. Ill get him where he’ll have to hit the bank, and I'll gather a goodly share of the proceeds to my- self. If possible, I want to work the game so he’ll skip to Canada nnd all the suspicion will fall on him, | If that can’t be done, then the bank shall be cracked, and you and I'll do the job. We can do the outside work all right, if I can get the combination out of the fool. ‘1 wonder if anybody could hear what we are saying if they were on the other side of these shrubs?” With that, he parted the bushes and peered through. He saw no one, But, at that very instant, Farrel moved and struck his foot fairly against the boy under the table. ‘*Hello!” he said, growlingly. ‘‘ What’s dat I hit?” - OHAPTER IX. THE TRAGEDY OF THE FLAT, “* CauGuT!” Spotter Bob very near! word aloud, as his heart mouth, What could he do? He knew what to expect from the hands of the two miscreants should they get hold of him, and he was frightened. Budge Far- rel was black-hearted for any act, and, know- ing the boy had overheard their plotting, the thug would be desperate and furious, Something must be done, and not an in- stant was to be wasted. | The young shadow wasted no time. Like an eel, he squirmed backward, feet foremost through the opening that had admitted him uttered the eaped into his we - 4 Ps sae De wie hss at ‘> . ‘ if, f ies en gs ass Set | « de a. an "es u : } t ea" 4 be ee + 70 ' tw ‘ ~~? _- + * y 4 ae gr ae af & ) at % hi ay Ses ie re 6 We ae eS he TIE ¥ + ae, ~~ - 7.5 + * 2 te a4 v* js « « a ~ - 4 * — . we y « > : ad ¢ = ‘ —~ : be : . - ; : * - & ° > . ‘ : >, — A ame mas —— 3 4 ae « *é_.. - . « 4 >. en ee ee OS ee oS Sy ASE » & a ee - » Z. , bee <2 ¥ <« — 5 7 « d -~ ~ Ore - bi 7 , . + Siow ofan git a e t- - a “rr oS ye ' a < - Te ’ sgt el | er ¢ oy ~ Fe oae , ‘ 7 os ws a . ts 7 & ‘Sy. . a N ~ @ ¥ Soe