Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 860 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

i "ed 7 Sen gt ie I ‘> rr » - y n pend a _* » 5 ~< wt ~ SS > * — = nS AS a PS ,? ne ; / “i Wives oe An Bo Vites 3.07 av t A erie) Ok aw", "i AARP ages! ” ‘ + . ' A t . y 4 ad in oe 4 aes + y St: P, 45 e Pee LY, ™ an excuse, Te rt XO ae Ah oe i ¢ » 4 rome TK, ; Res all eG ae OO | _ Kit Clipper, the Boat-Club sleeping-room, and Kit thought these were never fastened, Moreover, the library, he be- lieved, had nothing of value but books, Cer- tainly, these would not tempt the thieves, Arguing thus, he glided into the room, and, finding a table he remembered well, concealed himseif behind it, ‘he moon was just right to act a part in the scene, and it threw a long, silvery bar of light on the carpet, one end extending almost to the do. dle doors, These doors, as Kit could see, were open, but all was dark and silent in Stephen’s room, What would bappen next? The young detective asked the question men- tally, and with a good deal of anxiety. His ef- forts to form a pian of procedure had not re- sulted in anything more definite than to alarm Leechmere, This he might do at any moment, but he preferred to let the burglars go on for awhile and envelop themselves hopelessly in their web of crime. Faint whispers came from the hall and showed the burglarsinconsultation Then one of them entered the washing? f {t was Horace Paulson. No noise betrayed his movements, but, with quick, light steps he moved to the old-fashioned ‘secretary ” which stood near the window, The old cracksman did not fo!low, and it appeared that he had remained in the hall, either per- manently or temporurily, to watch for possible breakers. Horace reached the secretary, but turned his face toward the double doors and stood like a statue, Kit read the pause well; the fellow had been astonished to discover that the doors were open, and the fact alarmed him. No doubt, he realized that no active work could be done until they were closed, After a long pause, he turned and retraced his steps, Across the carpet he went softly, al- most to the hall door. Then he stopped as short as though checked by a heavy hand. The door was closed ! The fact which startled him was as much of a surprise to Kit Clipper. Horace had left the door open; the mascot had not seen it close, yet closed it was. ; Paulson gave every evidence of alarm, but after that involuntary recoil, he started for- Non again as though an enemy was at his eels, ‘ Only two steps did he go. In his path rose a figure clad in white, and a hand was stretched out in a pantomimic command, The face was in darkness, but it was not bard to comprehend that the new actor in the scene was Stephen hmere, ‘* Stop!” the old gentlemgn ordered, in a voice which, though low, was eloquent in its way. Tabade stood speechless with disma a ** You are foiled!’ Leechmere added. Still the profligate and thief had no reply to make, . ** You have entered this house to rob me,” the uncle went on, ‘‘ Nobody knows better than PP aah ra a — — —E ! ‘*T have detected youin an attempt at rob- | ‘ -a ~ os 7 - oe ~ ’ : 1” 9 - Mascot. '* bery, and intend to hand you over to the po- | sion. lice!” Horace’s eyes flashed. ** Don’t you dare try it!” he exclaimed. . ** Why not?” ** Because, if you do, ’ll—” ‘“What?” calmly asked Leechmere, as the hot-tempered man paused. ** Don’t ask me!” Paulson growled. ‘*T cansurmise, With your ruffians at your back you think you can rule here, and, rather than be arrested—perhaps, rather than be baf- fled in your attempt at robbery—you would murder me!” ‘t Then let me alone!” ‘*{ insist upon seeing you arrested!” Leech- mere returned, in an inexorable voice. There was a pause, and Kit Clipper scarcely ventured tobreathe, He realized that the old | gentleman was immovable, and, having seen so much of the burglars, he knew that they were dangerous men. Woe be to Stephen Leeci- mere in the collision which must come, un- less chance was unexpectedly on his side, Paulson was in a dangerous mood. Perhups he meditated an attack upon his uncle, but it nee not destined to come as he would naturally plan, There was a clicking of the lock of the door, and all realized that the old cracksman was trying to force back the bolt, enter and join his y. Leechmere sprung toward the door, but he thereby left himself unguarded, Horace, too, ra ji forward, and he caught his uncle’s arm before the latter could reach the door. Realizing that his one hope of escape was to get help from his ally, he lost all control over his evil passions, and made a long stride toward attaining the infamy that had attached to burglars befure then by adding murder to the lesser crime of housebreaking. He pulled the old man violently back. ‘* Perdition seize you!” he hissed, ‘‘ you want to look out for yourself!” ‘* Scoundrel, unhand me!” Leechmere ex- laimed, ‘*To let you send me up? Never! You're bound to ruin me if you can, and you shall take the consequences |!”’ So saying he flung his uncle to the floor, and then, standing over bim with his face distorted with fury, raised his hand to strike a blow. CHAPTER IX, FIGHTING THE BURGLARS, Tuus far Kit Clipper had been an idle, but not a disinterested spectator. Events had press- ed so rapidly upon each other that he had not moved, but now he realized that Stephen Leech- mere’s life was in danger. Young Paulson’s hand was empty, but the fret blow might be followed by others, and the tective had ample proof that-the desperate housebreaker was armed, With a few quick steps he had left his place of hiding, and, when Horace’s hand was drawn * you that money and valuable papers have been | baer for the blow, he caught it and spoiled the ept in yonder secretary. You came here hop- ing to steal them, but you will fail, You gammot have them, even though you and the ruffian the hall may murder me!” ‘* T did not mean—we do not want—we came to—to—” Horace stammered like one bereft of coherent speech, and then came to a halt. ** Proceed!” Leechmere ordered, tersely. ‘You are wrong.” ** In what?” ** As to wby we are here,” ‘You may say why you came,” . **Because—” The tidy made a desperate attempt to find jut failed. What explanation could be regarded as likely in the face of the fact that they bad broken in? ‘* Well?” questioned Stephen, eopnaenice ts ‘‘Hang it all! you’re tough on a feller!” growled the young reprobate. _ ‘* What do you deserve?” ‘* Decent treatment,” ‘* Have you accorded me that?” ** Well, hang it! a young feller must sow his wild oats!” ** Misguided boy! To-night sees the fruit of our early rearing. The ‘Don'ts!’ which you eard from parental lips were either uttered Deaanely, or, if authoritative, were not en- forced, You were well started on the road to _ the gallows, and you have done one best to ‘Keep up t t to-night?” he pace. Do you take _“*What do you mean?” 6 final step a6 & HH | 4, - eee ry i erin: - oe] og? 4 - - ¢ * a | P ole a> hel Po ‘ + ‘ r ad > Pa . . J "TS - ~~. an’s te eee ; ‘*Stop!” Kit uttered, in a voice which sounded strange even to himself, Horace turned, The light merely revealed the fact that another figure was there, but did not enable him to recognize the interferer. It showed, however, that his own danger was even Exeorer than he had thougbt, and he wrenched his arm away and plunged his hand into his pocket. It came out grasping a revol- ver, and his purpose was strong to use it. hmere sounded a startled warning, but Kit was fully equal to the task he had under- taken. He struck Paulson’s arm a heavy blow, and the revolver went rolling across the floor, But this step was not enough. Horace was much the stronger of the two, and only ready action could avert a tragedy. Kit remembered the fall his enemy had once given him, and did not hesitate to returnif now. He struck Paul- son with all the force he could command, and tbe would-be assassin measured his length on the floor, But the danger was not over. The clicking at the door had continued, and the latter now swung open. The old cracksman entered, and the moonlight, falling upon his nd, revealed a revolver there, He was ready to back up his younger ally at any cost, it Clipper had gained fresh confidence since his first vice: and he darted {upon the cracks- man. The latter’s gaze had first fallen upon Leechmere, and an attack from another source was not to be expected, ? : * . en ” ’ ae? y af. '’ a ' ve Jail hs item piel Ts i First, he wrested the revolver away. Next, he flung his arms around the cracks- man’s neck and tripped bim neatly, falling heavily upon him intentionally. | ‘**Q@aick !” he then cried, to Leechmere, ‘‘ don’t let him get away!” The master of the house responded commend- ably t»thecall. He threw his weight upon the burglar’s neck and beld him so that he was not able to put out bis strength to advantage. Yot, the intruder did not yield tamely. His courage was good, and abundant gray hairs did not prove that his strength was all gone, He struggled, and Leechmere and Kit had their hands full to keep him down, As it was he whirled them around in various wild circles and angles, and Kit expected every moment that he would get the advantage. Another thing was upon the mascot’s mind, Where was Horace Paulson? Every one of the aforesaid moments he ex- pected to feel Horace’s heavy hand, but the dreaded interruption did not come, Kit saw ttat Leechmere was growing ,weak, but, just as the figbt grew more critical, the boy saw something else. Glittering in the bar of moonlight was the revolver he had wrested from the intruder, and which had dropped to the floor. it was only a moment’s work to catch it up raise the hammer and turn it upon the old cracksman, ‘* Yield!” exclaimed Kit, in a voice low but intense, ‘‘ Surrender, or I'll shoot!” The burglar at once ceased struggling. “ :. e mean business?” he coolly asked. 6s oO, ‘* But you wouldn’t shoot a man, eh?” ‘‘ Pd shoot a wretch like you!” ‘Sonny, don’t do it; you’d be sorry in after years, For your sake—to keep you out of crimc—l’}] do as ycu say. I’m too old to kick about here all night, anyhow, I'll yield, and do you bear witness that I do it gracefully.” “Don’t turn the revolver away!” ordered Leechmere, pantingly. ‘-[ certainly shall not.” Oh | guess the young chicken is fly enough,” added the cracksman, calmly. ‘* He impresses me as a fellow of wit and nerve, as much for—” He paused and looked around the room, It was plain that his thoughts were dwelling upon his confederate, Horace was not forgotten by the others, and Leechmers bastened to light the gas, Young Paulson was not visible, The old cracksman’s lips curled scornfully. ‘* The cowardly cur!” he muttered, Kit threw up the bac. window, and saw the other two burglars hastening away. Neither carried, a pack, and it appeared that they had gove in such haste as to abandon what had been gathered before, \ The mascot quickly made known the situa- tion and asked Loechmere’s advice, ‘* Let them go,” wasthereply. ‘‘ We should lose them if we did give an alarm, and we ma as well keep quiet. I think my wretched nephew can be located afterward.” ‘**T, for one, will help you,” growled the old burglar. ‘‘ He coaxed me into this—not that I was too good, but I thought the game too small for the hunting—and now he’s abandoned me, Destruction take the coward! I could wring his neck with D eras ny te There could be no doubt that his expressed disgust was sincere. He made no claim for himself, and accepted his lot philosophically, but the treachery of the man who ha him into the burglary filled him with anger. Kit noticed that Leechmere was regarding the cracksman in a strangely attentive way. hs 4 kid and I are done!” the housebreaker added. ‘¢Man, who are you?” Leechmere demanded, ‘*Me? Oh! I’m John Smith,” ‘*- You have another name.” ‘* Have 1?” ' ‘¢ ve heard of a burglar in days past.” .** Such things are /possible.” ‘‘ His name was Dan Decker.” ‘* A good name!” Ay ‘*Yoware Dan Decker!” _ yaa The cracksman laughed lightly. " “Perhaps you know me better than I do my- ‘*T know you well, and it brings the past back vividly. Another robbery comes to my mind, and you were the central figure in it— Wisb I could sa you and a wretcbed servant-girl whose weak — . mind was not proof against yourarts. Shewas trusted by her employers; by undermining her — iw y . . : = e ‘ » * ys Py Leal 7 : ° j » , B* Pig at i" . > 4 : : x 7 ° * I : : oS eke ~ € ie a H 4 eS The mascot did two things in rapid succes- enticed | 4 ww ne ~ - >