Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 859 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a se - 0 FB POE ; { * But a ship was in sight and I was taken on board just in time to save my life. ‘I reported to the captain that I was a oung sailor on the coasting crafts that sailed the Sound, had no home, and had been driven out tosea by the storm, so was will- ing to ship with him as cabin-boy, and I sailed under the name of Nat Chase, and was also known to the sailors as New York Nat. All seemed glad to have me aboard, and I really was happy; and as the ship was bound to Africa, 1 felt I never would be found by my enemies, ‘‘ Well, miss, it proved to be a long voy- age for me, and | went from port to port in foreign lands, serving on different vessels, because I did not want to come home. But, at last | was wrecked, and our crew picked up by a steamer bound to New York. SoI had to come here again. ‘‘] was alarmed, for fear of being recog- nized, but I had grown considerably, and, having saved up my money, I had enough to give me two years in a good boarding- school. ‘I had Jearned much in knocking about, and, studying hard, I readily acquired knowledge of a different kind, ‘*But, my money gave out, and I came back to New York to get work of some kind. ‘“‘It was no easy task for a boy without a reference, or a friend, and | took to selling papers and blacking boots at odd times. ‘It was a hard life, and all that there was of wickedness in the lowest sections of the city, | saw, yet I would not become bad my- self. ‘*T associated with the worst men and boys; I saw the vilest crimes committed, and got to know all the crooks by sight. ‘* But, one night I saw a murder commit- ted, and under circumstances that I knew I would be heldas a witness, if not an accom- plice; so I went into hiding. ‘| had seen this old rookery, and I came here, for no c.ie was here then, and I soon learned that there was an iron ladder in yon- der chimney, and which was hidden by a lid, closing up one flue, ‘* That is the way I came and left, and J made money as I could, honestly, for ] would not steal, no matter what wasthe temptation; there was something within me that forced me to do right, that protected me, ‘One night as I was coming home, my usual way, I heard voices, and, just as I did to-night, [ came in time to do good, for that old man was being attacked by two robbers. * They fled at my approach and he escaped with his life, saving his money also, while I retreated as I had come, he not knowing who had saved him, or how I appeared and de- parted. I was glad enough to hate saved him for I recalled that one day while swimming in the Hudson, I was seized with a cramp, and Miser Max came to my rescue and saved my life, as I have-told you, ‘“‘ Well, thus finding that the old house was to be occupied, and learning that the oc- cupant was none other than Miser Max, and that he really owned the premises, I felt I must find other quarters although he had al- ways been kind to me, ‘‘ In the old cemetery in the rear I often used to go, and found therea vault—the Maxwell vault, This I opened and discovered what to me would not be uncomfortable quarters, ‘‘IT got a cot and some other things to make me comfortable, and there made my home or quarters; and after that I was seen so much, going and coming, that every- body gave me the name of Graveyard Jack.” ‘* And whatare you doing now for a liv- ing, Jack?” asked the girl with deep interest in the strange youth. ‘‘] make my money in various ways, miss: but in truth Jam an unknown shadower or detective for the police,” New York Nat, the Gamin Detective, Se a ee ee a + ee er eee + 00 err ‘‘] don’t exactly know what you mean, Jack?” ‘ Well, miss, 1am shadowing crooks and secretly reporting them,” was the whispered | those fellows off from their attack on response, CHAPTER VII. THE MISER’S TREASURE, THE two, the young girl Olive, whose life had been such a strange romance, and the youth Jack, or New York Natas he had been called by his sailor comrades, whose career had becn one equally as remarkable, looked at each other with eyes that seemed to wish to read the very suul of the one they so intently regarded. Had ay heard the truth in all? Had each one told truthfully the story of his and her life? Was there nothing kept back? Could it be that such strange romance, such reality could be in their lives? If such thoughts flashed through their minds they did not reveal upon their faces the doubt and anxiety that must arise. Upon the face of the boy there was only {rust in the one whom he had thus met and served so well, Upon the face of the woman there appeared to be an expression of joy in having met one so a‘lied to her by adversity, sorrow, suffer- ing ond romance, ‘Do you believe my story, miss?” So asked the lad, when minutes had gone by and not a word had the girl spoken. Her answer revealed that his confession was believed, for she said: “Don’t call me mzss—call me Olive, as I will call you Jack or Nat, as you prefer.” ** Jack let it be, for the present, until I find out more about myself, as I am bound todo. You believe me then?” ‘*Of course I do; why should I doubt you any more than you do me?” ‘*] could not doubt you, miss.” “There you go again,” ‘*T meant Olive.” ‘“And I could not doubt you, Jack. ‘Then we are to be friends?” Her answer was to hold out ber hand ‘‘ But, what are you to do, Olive?” ‘1 don’t know. “What shall I do?” ‘We must talk it over,” ‘&'¥ 6a!” “Your grandfather is dead.” ‘* Alas, yes. I am all alone in the world now, for I do not know of a single relative I have,” The youth silently pointed to the chimney and as Olive said no more he remarked: ‘IT don’t know why, but after ade run liser Max, I often kept an eye upon him, ‘*Maybe it was because I liked compan on winter nights, and found the vault ecld, its dead folks no company; but I did come here, climb down the chimney and often heard Miser Max talk to himself, for he used to say a great deal, 1 heard him add up his accounts, count over his money and, time and again, speak of Lawyer Brackette—I think he said Adam Brackette, who had his will in keeping, and yet he hinted that he did not know all that he was worth.” ‘‘ He told me that he was daily striving for money, that people called him an old miser, yet he was laying up riches with one sole purpose in view. ‘* He said it was all for me—that I was his sole heir; but has he money here?” ‘Yes, and that is why the Masked Angels came here to rob him. ‘They could not force him to tell where it was, so killed him.” ‘“My poor, poor grandfather!” and Olive looked sadly down into the face of the corpse, whose hands Jack had folded upon his breast. “I know where his treasure is hidden,” * You know, Jack?” “5G. ‘* Where?” ‘Up in a closet in that chimney.” *©Oh, Jack!” “It is true, for there he kept it hidden, and no one would suspect it. ‘“Come, peer up the chimney, It looks like one flue—see—well, one is the chimney | proper, the other a false flue, and, by raising this iron the ladder is revealed—see!” He had taken the Jamp and led Olive to the fireplace, explaining all as he spoke. ‘*Now hold the Jamp and I'll bring you the treasure,” He pushed up the iron shutter, drew him- self up into the chimney, and, ina few min- utes, came down again, When he did so he had swung about him several canvas bags that seemed very heavy. These he placed upon the table with the re- mark: ‘There is Miser Max’s treasure, Olive, and you are his heiress,” Seeeneneineineeeeee? CHAPTER VIII. THE TWO DETECTIVES. Ir anything in the way of doubt bad lin- ‘‘ What did your grandfather intend you | gered inthe mind of the young girl, as to the should do?” ‘‘T do not know; he told me that Iwas and strangely crossed her path, his act in the heiress to all of his riches, and that his | honesty of the youth who had so fortunately bringing to her the treasure of the miser will was so made, and placed in the hands of | could not but have removed it. an attorney, while his every effort had been to make money to leave me, ‘He told me all this in coming on from New Orleans, for I left school and met him, by his request, in Memphis. ‘‘He wished me to spend the vacation with him and then return to school in New York, where 1 could be near him, for he told ‘“‘ Tow long have you known of this treas.- ure being there, Jack?” she asked, ‘Oh, for a long time. I stumbled upon it when I hid in the chimney one day, for I thought | heard some one entering the brown house,” ‘You are an honest fellow indeed, Jack.” ‘* Because I don’t take that which is not me he had a presentiment that his death was | mine? not far off, but when he died I would be his heir, and to a very large fortune. ‘* You know that I told you we had just arrived, only to-day, and that is all that I know,” ‘‘ Did he tell you that he had money not in the bank, or in his attorney’s hands?” <é No. 4? ‘Did he say who his attorney was?” << No. 9 ‘But his will was made out and in his hands?” “Yes.” ‘«T know who his lawyer is.” ‘You do? Whois he?” “His name is Brackette; that much I know.” **How do you know, Jack?” ‘‘Oh no; I would not steal, and I never told the secret of its belle there to any of the boys, for the,only one I can vouch for is myself—and you, now,” ‘Thank you, Jack, for the trust in me. ‘* But now, about this treasure?” “ Yes, and those, pointing significantly to the bodies, The girl seemed at times to forget that she was in the presence of the dead, her position was such an odd one to her, She had seen much of wickedness, misery, crime and tragedy in her earlier years, and her school days had made her regard the. past almost as a dream. But she had not forgotten the experience of her girlhood and took matters calmly. Now, recalled to herself, her surroundings : boo cS spe ~. ee >