Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 860 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

eager OF OE ALE or ms «9 y f\ « +. Pr oa — ™ ‘ . : it - % wy = Se . a wr eee “6 p< : ~~ “a e ‘ ” et 2 . _ ae eae, ?: ‘ f ’ ; ri e he ) es it | i $ a “ das a Ie,. \ | oe v aay ‘a . P o aa o* , on) Qs : ve ° 4a? het “4 ‘o ; ’ 3 ur eer en oe ss . uw 4, ¥ : 7 = 1h ‘ 7 o ‘ Or: ae oe , . hn, A » at > ‘ . tC oer aa a oe Pit, Kit Clipper, the Boat-Club Mascot. Last _ past, they had no cause for fear. » ¢ upper window was raised, and, before the startled Sea-Horses realized what was intended, a revolver began to work rapidly, Shot after shot was fired, end no bullet went far from the target. One passed so near Kit Clipper’s head that its whistle was very plain to him, and a second cut through Bat Brogan’s arm. It seemed almost impossible that one man was doing all the damage. That fusilade settled the matter as far as any robbery was concerned; it not only showed that a stout-hearted defender was inside, but the sound would inevitably bring assistance in a short time. ‘‘ Break away!” Hamblin called out; and at the command the Sea-Horses took to their heels willingly and ran at full speed. Kit Clipper was not a rear guard. As he was mixed up in the affair, his safest course was to get back to New York as soon as possible. It was not far to where their boat had been left, and they went tumbling, scrambling and rattling down the bluff in a way which almost frightened their waiting comrades out of their wits. Never before had the Sea-Horses got under way as expeditiously as they did then, Sounds of alarm in the rear gave them an impetus, as it were, and they were soon afloat and making away from land. But they were not to escape tamely. They were near the middle of the stream when a hoarse bail drew their attention_to one and they saw two other boats ridg out of “ Boat ahoy !”’ added the man who had hailed before. , Not a word answered the Sea-Horses. A brisk breeze was fanning their sail, and they were as anxious to leave those waters as was Coleridge’s ‘‘ Ancient Mariner.” The noise in the village and the silent flight of the boat, told a story to the other crews, and in short order their crafts were pointed in pur- suit. Down the river went the three at full speed, Bat Brogan shook Kit by the arm, ‘‘Now, mascot,” he cried, “‘show us your arts. If you are what you claim, bring us luck an’ get us out o’ this danger!” The mascot started nervoudly, for he saw cap- ture and disgrace staring hiriin theface, buthe rallied nobly to meet the crisi}. He sent back a joke, and a cheerful assuran.e that all would end well, : But soon another danger menaced them, The pursuers were armed, and they took re- venge for their disregarded hails by opening fire ape the fugitives, Bullets splashed the water all around the foremost craft, and one Jump of lead found lodging-place in a Sea-Horse’s leg. ‘it Clipper plainly saw that cruising with the modern pirates was no joking matter, and he vowed that if he escaped arrest for the present offense, he would never risk his liberty and srpatastee on another voyage. captured with them, nothing could save him from being regarded as one of the band, and as guilty as they were. In such a case, amateur detective-craft would meet with a downfall. _ he pursuers evidently exhausted their am- munition in a short time, and their revolvers were put away, but the race didnot end, Fathom after fathom they raced down the Hudson, but the Sea-Horses were not yet at the end of their rope. Little by little they gained on the pursuers— go slowly that the advantage in each minute was imperceptible—but so surely that, at last, running in deeper fog, they shook the enemy off and made good their escape. CHAPTER XIII. THE UNDERGROUND REGIONS, Ir was the following evening, and Kit Clip- er was in the Sea- Horse Club-House. The day Pad been very quiet and uneventful, and the rsons who had participated in the adventure of the previous night had kept close to their uarters. | “ As far as Kit knew, there was no reason to suppose that suspicion was directed toward the Sea-Horses. They had mage the return trip / successfully after shaking off the pursuers, and é if cheir luck was in keeping with that of the / spoke skeptically of his powers as a mascot, but no one who doubted him. He redoubled his efforts to make himself agreeable, and was uni- versally regarded as a very ‘‘ good fellow.” Despite this, he would not have been there that night had it not been for an unexpected circumstance. He was tired of mixing with burglars and thieves, but he saw his way, at last, to sever the connection in a manner which would please him better than to step out with- out further adventure, During the day he noticed Wash, the old col- ored cook, come out of the mysterious base- ment, lock the door and secrete the keyin a place which seemed tobe perfectly safe. This was contrary to Levi Adonis’s understanding of the arrangement, for the second colored man had plainly stated that the cook was not allowed down there; but Kit was not surprised to learn that Wash was villain enough so that the Soa- Horses were willing to trust him. Having learned where the key was kept, Kit resolved to remain awhile longer and make a bold attempt to see the basement. It was a risky piece of work, but his courage was good. One other incident should be mentioned. Levi Adonis came to grief during theday. He incurred the anger of a leading Sea-Horse, and was rewarded by the application of a cane in chastisement. He appealed to the old sailors and Hamblin, but the matter ended in his dis- charge, This seemed a risky step to take, but he really knew but little about their misdeeds, and they trusted to bis inferior position in life to save them from trouble if he went to the police. Trouble came of it, but notin the way most to be expected. Kit Clipper had selected eleven o’clock as the hour most favorable for his visit to the base- ment. By that time the Sea-Horses would, asa rule, be more or less under the influence of liquor, and less attentive to him, while he would be able, if successful, to get away before they would leave for the night, When he moved, he found a factor in the game that he bad not expected, the scene over, to make sure that he was not being watched, and then he slipped away and strolled to where he had seen Wash hide the key. It was still there, and he drew it out with a feeling of triumph, but, as he did so,a hand was laid upon bis ar He started with dis- may, turned quickly and saw—Levi Adonis, The latter, though discharged, did not end his services until the Sea-Horses disbanded for the nigbt. For a moment the two looked in silence, but when Kit remembered that Levi was no longer in his employers’ good graces, he grew hopeful suddenly, ‘‘ Wal,” he said, carelessly, ‘‘ w’ot is it?” ‘+ Tt’s a, key,” Levi answered, sé ev? ‘¢ You’s got de key to de basement!” f ‘¢ Nonsense!” ‘‘No use denyin’ it, Massa Mascot. I’s got eyes in my head,an’ [’s usin’ ob dem these days, Now, doan’ you think dat I’s off-color, fur [ ain’t. ‘¢ Mister Adonis, you'll obleege me greatly by eloocidatin’. W’ot be yer drivin’ at!” ‘* You want ter sce de basement,” the negro returned,clearly. ‘* Don’t change yer mind fur me, fur I ain’t no telltale. You's seen how I was discharged hyar, an’ I don’t like de Sea- Hosses no moah, Jes’ you tuke me into comp’ny wid you, an’ you won’t be sorry fur it, Massa Mascot.” ‘* Wot d’ye want ter do?” | ¥ ae down dar,”4nd Levi pointed to the base- ment. ** Can’t yer go alone?” ‘No. I ain’t got no key.” ‘*Can’t ’magine w’ot thar is down thar ter interest me,” ‘*Come, now, doan’ le’s us pull ag’in’ each other no moah,” urged Levi.‘ ‘* You know I's done hyar, an’I kin see you ain’t friendly to de Sea-Hosses. Now, i'll bet my last dollar dar is suthin’ in dat basement dat will interest both of us. Why can’t we go into comp’ny, an’ visit de place, an’ see w’ot we kin diskiber? Two is better dan one, Mister Mascot; an’ won't, you take me as a partner?” f Kit had been analyzing Levi Adonis’ as ca He had devoted considerable time to looking _ “All right,” Kit responded. ‘“‘T'll take you in ef you'll stick by me,” ‘*T will, fo’ suah,” ** W’ot’s down below, anyhow?” ‘* Dunno, but thar may be goods not got law- fully. That’s fur we-’uns to see,” ** An’ you’re read; ter go dead ag’in’ the Sea- Hosses?” sé I am,” ‘* Then foller me!” 4 Fully decided, Kit wnlocked the basement oor. A flight of stone steps was revealed below, He locked the door after them, and then they descended. This took them toa subterranean hall, the walls of which were evenly built and the floor cemented. There was nothing, thus. far, to tell of unlawful secrets. ‘* Be you armed, Levi?” ** 1's got a revolver,” ‘*So hev I. Hang ter fur we may need ’em yit.” ‘*Dar’ll be an awful upheaval ef dey ketches on us.” ‘ ‘*T b’lieve you! Now fur diskiveries.” They gswent on, but discoveries were not as common as they had hoped. The doors which opened out of the corridor were locked, and there was no sign of any key until they bad gone some distance, Then they found a closed. door in which a key remained, Kit was inclined to be cautious, thinking that, rhaps, some one of the Sea-Horses was inside, ut the negro was positive it was notso. The decided that the key of\ the door bad been left. there by accident, The door proved to be unlocked, and, after appre riating the Key they entered. At that polut there was no light, but lamps were abund- ant and they soon had one lighted. The ex- ploration continued, The room, which was large, proved to be a store-house, and almost everything was there. One glance was enough to reveal the fact that it was a depository of stolen goods, but the variety astonished even Kit. In no way could the extensive operations of the gang have been more clearly shown—evi- dently everything that came to their net had been fish, and they had taken, about all they had been able to lay their hands on, The greater part seemed to have come from d welling-houses, and included scores of urticles with which the rich fit up their homes. There was to be found the exolanation of many a mysterious robbery, Besides these articles there were many that bad undoubtedly come from stores, and whole pieces of rich goods met the explorers’ astonished. eyes. ‘** Gosh all hemlocks!” the mascot muttered. ** Dat’s a fack,” Levi agreed, incoherently. ** Wot a boodle!”’ ‘* All de rich men ob New York couldn’t pay’ fur dem.” : ** Wal, it would test a common pocketbook, ite these Sea-Hosses has been trottin’ a fast. gait.” ‘* Dey’s bad, cl’ar fru’.” ‘* This don’t answer one question I had in my mind, Levi, whar was the mason-work done down here?” ‘* S"pect it was ober yar to de norf.” ate we want to go north; but how do we go ** Dunno,” ** Must be a passage, som’ers, I ain’t seen it, but it may be layin’ around loose. his: stolen property ain’t o’ much interest ter me, | bnt thar is one thing I’m bound ter find out ef ii ain't sot down on.” He referred to missing Charles Birdston, and. his interest in that line never wavered. CHAPTER XIV. A CREATURE ON ALL FOURS. Nor long did the explorers linger in the store- room. Leaving it, they began the search for another passage, but were not successful for some time. No passage could be found, and no evidence that mason-work had been done there recently. Kit and Levi were perplexed, but the secret. was finally discovered by chance, As the mas- cot stood by the wall he reached out, half-un- consciously, and struck what seemed to be the. solid partition of rock, Nous It proved to be nothing of the kind, but a curtain eight feet square, so skillfully painted to represent. stone blocks, laid and cemented, yer weepon, partner, _* rs ho ga Fe << rg . os : ‘ 4 ae y a A ae 4i'g™ . that the explorers had been wholly deceived, Back of this curtain was anothercorridor, and they followed it with fresh confidence. Kit led — the way, lamp in hand. ** Mebbe it goes a mile,” Levi suggested. ‘For years the gang had been at work, and most’ wonderful Tortansé bad attended their ___ efforts. nd great shadow having been cast upon fully as possible, and he bad arrived at_a_con- clusion, From the first be had regarded the negro as a man far superior to his employers in honesty, and it looked as though events had shaped themselves to make him a natural ally. - roe ‘ é rl ne oe ¥ war cs ae a ay SAY vag 4 a oR * On free ~< EER Ce eee Ee ee TTT hd . he club. _*' As for Kit Clipper, there were some who il * “fc » « * a re, + G + ped - va) a A >a! , Fae by * * ” - FF J , e ° : * . . . 4 7 ae P > * 4, : ‘ - . ! 4 : st 's 2 ; s ua ® s _ ‘ : | Vy . | . 4 “ / \ = I } | ) ea | | i A : } \ ‘ = 4 * fs eg > *s) =o ~*~ a é “4 a ‘* : =) bs fe