Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 859 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

_—s——oo but not one at night, though all knew the the slums are dishonest, for crime and evil deeds are found in the fashionable homes as well as in the lowest quarters of the city, | only they are more generally hidden from | league, for [I have one to make known to view. His dealings with the chief of the Secret | Service Jack determined should all be of a The lads obeyed, glancing timidly at the inscriptions upon the slabs so near to them ‘I told you that we had fourteen in our fou to night who has joined us, and who am sure will be our mascot. ‘* Who she is, for it’s a girl,tyou will not mysterious nature, and so it was that he set | know, for she will be masked, and will be his boy police to gleaning all the informa- | known to you only as our mascot and our tion of premeditated crime, and notifying | queen; but I will vouch for her as one of the chief of it in a way that the source could not be traced, CHAPTER XXII, THE MASKED MASCOT, THE night came on dark and threatening | ' ! us; and one who will help us in many ways. | ‘Now, lads, you pitch in here and feed yourselves until my return, for 1 am going after the mascot,” and Jack suddenly slip- | ped out of the door and the ferrets were left rain, the wind howled among the trees, and | sent the leaves skurrying along through the old graveyard with a sound like rattling bones. The Gamin Detective had built a fire in his vault and made all as comfortable as pos- sible to receive his guests, while he had laid out on the table quite a spread for them, which he knew would be appreciated. fitng feeding, ' } alone, They looked at each other curiously at first, but then they felt there was safety in numbers and Shinny set the example of ” and soonall pitched in and en- joyed the repast, which Jack had supplied, Then they begun to discuss this new mem- ber of their league, and several shook their heads dubiously, while one remarked: ‘*] don’t like her being a gal, for in my ex- At the time appointed he walked out of perience no gal kin keep a secret,” his ruesome abode and looked about him, his threatening storm makes the old | | place still more gloomy, and I almost fear | some of the lads will back out and not come, though what they are afraid of I do not see, ” and he walked over to the wall near the lane where he had agreed to meet his comrades. He had just gotten there when a form that was standing inside the wall darted away like a deer, and with a bound was out of the graveyard flying in terror. But, Jack was quick to give a call, a pe culiar whistle which the boy police all knew, and the Tying form came toa halt, just as i —S ee he was stampeding half a dozen others who | were creeping cautiously into the lane. ‘* It’s Jack, you scared idiots!” said the first one to fly, and one of the lads answered: “Oh, we wasn't scart, only we was a-git- ' ‘“'That’s so,” one remarked. “She'll git us all hanged yet,” urged an- other, ‘* What fer? ‘‘We hain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong, but is really running down crooks, with ther per- lice chasin’ us ourselves as crooks ” ‘*'They is away off, for we hain't crooked.” And so the discussion was going on, when suddenly the door opened and Graveyard Jack stood before them, But he was not alone, for by his side stood a slender form dressed in black, and witha sable mass covering her face completely. ‘* Boys, this is our Masked Mascot, and she is our Queen as well.” The crowd very nearly broke out into a cheer, but were silenced by mutual consent, while the Masked Mascot saidin a voice that tin’ out o’ your way, Shinny, for you was a-. won them all: comin’ in great shape.” A low laugh followed this: rally, but the ‘*T must shake hands with those who are to be my comrades, my fellow-ferrets in a laughter seemed like hollow pe capet | in that good cause, so tell me your names, for I will t spot and they stood in silence un signal was a second time heard, hen they began to scale the wall, while others who had come into the lane and stood | Masked Mascot warm] afar off now came forward. ‘*One, two, three,” counted Jack as the came over until he had discovered that all were there, and he said: ‘* Yes, we are all here—thirteen,.” **Cap’n, they tells ine thirteen is an un- common unlucky number,” said one. ‘There are fourteen of us, boys, for there is one for you yet to meet,” and Graveyard Jack led the way among the graves to his own quarters? The boys kept close at his heels, none of | ; Jack's | not forget you.” The ferrets were won at once, and each one gave his name, or nick-name, as the grasped his hand. ‘‘ Now, comrades, Jack here has told me of the good work you have done, and I am with you heart and soul, and will help all in my power. ‘* After a short while we will have another / place of meeting, less weird than this, and each week we will meet and compare notes, them seeming anxious to bring up the rear, and all of them gazing about them at the spectral-looking stones, **'Thar’s a ghost, sart in as I live,” whisper- ’ ed one, ahd all came to a halt. Biss Don’t be a fool, Pepper, for it is a marble image of an angel,” said Jack, and he went forward and placed his hand upon the monu- ment, Thus reassured, yet ready as mustangs to stampede, the boys went on until tbeir leader halted at the vault where he had his rters, heavy blanket hung over the iron door to keep the light from showing to distant windows when it was opened, and Jack ushered his ferrets into the vault, all shud- jering as they entered. Several had been there before by daylight, graveyard and that Jack had made h quarters there both day and night. ‘Now, pards, I have things to say to you: so sit down there on the cot and the board bench, for I rigged that up to-day for you.” _ idle, and [am to be your treasurer, so when you need money, send me word by Captain Jack, and he will tell you the work you are to do, Good-night all!” and the Masked. Mascot left the vault, accompanied by Jack, who led her from the graveyard and then back to the cot- tage of the Widow Herbert, where she had found a pleasant home. ‘*T tell you, Olive, those ferrets are never They go everywhere, pick up all they hear, and the reports they bring in have given me several most important criminal secrets which I make known in a mysterious | way to the chief, } ‘“‘T ve got a post-office now for the boys to deposit their reports, so we'll be receiving them all the time, and they are getting places as hotel boys, messenger boys, an other employment that will help us greatly; but you are home now, so I must go back and get the boys out of the cenyetery,” and Jack returned, and to the great cbight of his ferrets, guided them out of tlhe burying- ground, while he went back alone to his gloomy home, CHAPTER XXIII. THE VAILED LADY. Tue chief had heard nothing from his | Unknown Shadower correspondent for some New York Nat, the Gamin Detective, 13. time, and he and Captain Williamson were- discussing the many services he had render- ed, when the attendant announced a lady visitor. She was admitted, and was stylishly dress- ed and graceful, but wore a vail that was impenetrable, ‘* Be seated, madam,” and the chief placed a chair near his own. The lady sat down and looked toward Captain Williamson, as though she wished to be alone wtth the chief. The captain saw her look, understood it. and with a bow retired. ‘‘Are you the chief of the Metropolitan Secret Service, may I ask, sir?” ‘*l am, madam,” ‘* Are you acquainted with one who calls. himself The Unknown Shadower?” The chief started and replied: ‘*T have had communications from such a. person, madam,” ‘Tecan only explain my call upon you, sir, by stating that I was called upon at m home by a youth who asked me to bear this. letter to you, and his excuse was, for request- ing me, a stranger to be the bearer of it, that he dared not come himself.” The lady banded over an envelope bearing’ the well-known seal of The Unknown Shadower, and addressed to the chief in the: handwriting of the other communications, ‘*May I ask, madam, who it is that I have to thank for this service?” asked the chief courteously. In response the lady took out a card from a well-filled and handsome purse, and said: ‘*T wish, sir, to remain unknown, save to ou, in this transaction, the nature of which am ignorant of, but as the young man told me that it wasacase of life and death, I could not refuse him the earnest request that he made of me to bring the letter personally to you, soi ordered my carriage and drove here at once,” ‘* Again I thank you, madam. You shall not be known in the matter I assure you,” and the chief glanced at the card, which held & name and address upon one of the fashion- able streets. As the lady arose to go the chief asked: ‘Will you describe this youth to me, madam ?” ‘*A young man of seventeen or eighteen, well dressed, courteous in manner, and one- who had the look of being sincere and honest,”’ ‘*A description that will answer to thou- sands,” muttered the chief, while aloud he said: ‘“* Gave he no name?” ‘* Upon the card he sent up was the name: John Oliver, sir.” ‘Thank you, madam,” and as the chief escorted the lady to the door he glanced from his window and saw a stylish carriage with a coachman in livery. Then he pressed a button and Detective Gordon appeared, “Quick, Gordon! Follow that carriage: and find out all you can about its occu- pant,” The detective darted out of the room and two minutes after was in a cab following the carriage of the vailed lady. The chief having sent a shadower on the track of bis visitor, returned to his seat and opened his letter with the remark: ‘‘Now what is it this time, I wonder?” As he read his face slightly change? color, and rising he went toa door and called for Captain Williamson, ‘‘ What, another one, chief?’ queried the: captain as he entered and saw the letter, ‘* Yes; read it.” The officer read aloud: ‘‘You have been requested to come alone: to-night to hear the confession of a dying” woman of a crime committed years ago. ‘* You are going to a house where there is: comicboo te te) : J * Ai + ‘é '? Ps ‘ ; ; / A 2 4 # ‘4 ’ P | \ ; > 5 oy ADs 7 ¥ «* ¥ - a ’ .