Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 868 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

7 . uswat- —_— — SEAR a, . tk . . 7 > + w Sa Pe ‘ ae r — > od es + ee Ss — se Oe Ses ee — ps : - f ~ ¢ « os _* - . -* "4 RN eee * -“e =‘ : » . ray See 4 _ : i ” a sn Ce Se. Sew Sey a -— > P 22 4 Ps) * “~* a | a ean > —_ = L Ry * . a ¥~ : — ~ »* e 7e- oe * pre ys ~~ _- ye "he ty aS a . an 2 . ) « 6? —— ae ped ¢ - ‘ € . _ nothin 14 —— a here and engaged a room of me for the night. She paid me the price and I gave her the key. I did not know her, and did not care who she was, She went up to the room, and that was the last lsaw of her till lsaw her come in at the time you speak of, and I did not see either of them again.” Billy was sure he was on the right track, and ushed bis inquiries to the extremity, question- ing every person in the house who had any re- collection of the events in which be was interest- ed, but to quote which would be to extend our paar to the length of a double number, al- mos —-—- ~~ oe CHAPTER XVII. A STREAK OF LUCK. WHAT information Broadway Billy gathered here may be set forth in a few short para- graphs. One young woman had noticed a slender young man leaving the room in question about an hour after the time when the head of the bouse had seen the vailed woman enter if, He locked the door after him, said nothing, passed quietly out of the house, and that per- son saw him no more. Another, however, at a very early hour in the morning, saw the vailed woman leave the room, with a bundle under ber arm, leaving the key in the lock. Broadway Billy was satisfied. He was, as said, sure he was now upon the rigbt trail. One question more would complete the case, **Madam,” he reminded, ‘* you said mee about a bundle when the vailed woman applie to you for the room?” ‘I did not think of it, sir, but she had a parcel under, ber arm. But, T see nothing in that; it was a change of clothes, of course.” “ Of course,” Billy agreed, but with mean- ing. fie took his leave, after cautioning them to remain quiet and say nothing. ing a hansom, he gave the address of Mrs. Neilson’s house, and settled down to study while jolting along. While he was thus engaged he paid little at- tention to the passing panorama without, but gazed rather fixedly for a time at the bottom of the vehicle. And while he sat thus, something finally claimed his attention, It was a tiny white line, in a crack near one corner of the cab’s bottom, and had the appearance of the edge of a bit of paper. Bcoaping over, he found that was just what it was, and with a pin he worked it out from its hiding- Not that he thought of finding it of any use to him; he did it id y while thinking. Ae instant he looked at it, however, he gave as It was like this: is very important that you I will then explain Saas I ou can order the driver to fail me if you love me. CE HURST. What had caused Billy to start was the sig- nature, and not that alone, but the writing, for Hh recognized it at sight as that of Horace urst, What had he discovered here? He could not answer the question. To whom had Horace Hurst written this message, and on what date? What did it signify? The words “if you love me” impressed the detective. Could it be true, after all, that Hurst was the one who had lured Alma Keeler away from her home, and was he now playing a clever role in order to divert suspicion from himself? Billy could not believe it, and certainly Hurst had had “4 to w . ith the tt pide ut, how bad come this fragment of paper here in this cab? * Billy thought of goin but on second thought driver irst, Pushing open the small trap-door in the roof of the bansom, he changed his directions to the cabman, telling him now to drive to his own wats 75 He had a scbeme in mind, At the next corner the cabby changed his course, and in due time stopped before Broad- way Pine lodging. direct to see Hurst, ecided to interview the me in and help me with my luggage,” sig. requested, as he sprung out, ' He tossed the driver a tip at thesame time. Down the cabby sprung, secured his horse with a curb-weight, and followed his fare into the house and to bis room, Broadway Billy Shadows London Slums. Billy stepped to a corner and jerked out a fat traveling bag, upon which he knelt, trying to buckle the strap which passed around it for additional security. ‘* Lend me a hand, will you?” he asked with- out looking up. ' The cabman stepped forward and stooped to lend his assistance, when click! a pair of hand- cuffs were upon his wrists in a twinkling. Broadway Billy sprung to bis feet instantly, then, asmile upon his lips and a revolver in his hand, and faced the pale and trembling cabman who was fairly quaking in his boots, ‘* T’ve got you at last,” spoke Billy, sternly. ‘*Wh—wh—what does it mean?’ the cabman managed to gasp. **Sit down there and I'll tell you,” answered Billy, pointing to a chair. . The fellow obeyed, and Billy continued: ‘* Now, sir, 1 want to know what you were up to one night last week,” naming the particu- lar‘time, : Lor’! Hi ’ave been hexpectin’ hof it,” the driver managed to say. ‘* But, ’ow hever did you find me hout, sir? Who are you, hany’ow?” ‘*] am Billy Weston, of New York,” Billy saw fit to satisfy him. ‘* How I found you out does not matter, so long as I have landed you. Now, sir, I want you to make a clean breast of the whole business,” ** Hi don’t wonder they calls you the London Lecoq, sir. Yes, Hi’ll tell you all habout it, sir, Seein’ as ’ow Hi’m in for it, Hi want to get hout again, for Hiam as hinnocent as you har’, sir, hof any ’arm to banybody. My name is Sam Quart, an’ Hi’m a honest man, sir.” ‘* Then why didn’t you go to the police like a map and tell what you knew?” ** Lor’! Hi was hafraid hof gettin’ tangled hup in it, don’t ye know. Hevery man for ’imeelf, says Hi,” ‘** Well, your story, then.” ‘* Hit is soon told, sir. That night a young woman with a vail ’ailed mean’ gave me ha note an’ a card to take to ha certain ’ouse, She said Hi would get a fare there, hand she tipped me ’andsomely, Hi went, has you may suppose, hand there Hi was told to wait at the corner hof the street. Hi waited, and presently ha young een appeared, gave me directions, and got it 1 ‘e ‘* What was the direction?” asked Billy. The driver gave it, and continued: ** Hi went to the p ace, where the young wo- man got bout, and tellin’ me to wait for her she pulled the tinkler ban’ went in. Hi waited, hand it was a good long wait, too. Hat last she came hout and told me to drive to the corner ‘hof the same street where Hi ’ad picked ’er hup, hand there Hi left er, She paid me well, and Hi thought no more habout it till Hi saw ’er face hin the pa rs next bhafternoon, and tke news that she ad b been murdered, and Hi made hup roe Sone that the best thing for me to do was to keep shady.” ‘* And that is all you know about it?” “ It is,” ; + the young woman you took to that sar was the same One who came away with ou ** Why, to be sure hit was. Ai ’ad me heyes with me, eir, and Hi’ad several good looks at ’er face. Hi knowed ’er the hinstant Hi saw ’er face hin the ree * All right, I see Nas are honest about the matter, and I understand how it was, now. bave no reason to hold you, so I let you go free,” removing the handcuffs, ‘* I am not done with you, though.” ‘* What more do’e want, then?” ~% — you to drive me to that same house. Do not attempt any tricks, or 1 will land you in Scotland Yard so quick it will make your head swim. ‘* Hi ’ave no desire to try to trick you, sir,” re- oined the driver, humbly. ‘* Hi will take you ere, hof course. Come halong,” Billy bad read his map and knew he could trust him, now, He bad every reason to believe his story was true. They went out, and in due time were at their | destination. | ‘* Anchor your horse again,” Billy directed, ‘“‘T want you to come in with me, for I may pave use for you. Serve me well and [Jl let you off easy.” ba driver obeyed, and then: Billy pulled the It was a miserable, old-fashioned house, very small, and was in a very old and narrow court. The door was opened by a weazen-faced old man, who merely showed her face in the woman crack, but Billy forced the door open wide open -and seized ber immediately. 3... hastened to say. Ls a Be ah >: imo AN) \ > ae > * A 7d ¥ s gin ~ ‘ 7 = a _— ** au | = a ay = She was scared half out of her life, and her effort to scream was only a poor little croak, — ‘‘Shut up!” Billy commanded. ‘ No one is going to hurt you, old fool!” ‘‘What do you: want, good gentlemen, what do you—” ‘* We have come for the lady.” Ree The old hag tried to parley, but Billy im- préssed upon her that be meant business, and she was soon willing to lead the way to a cer- tain room, The door was secured on the outside, but she opened it, and as it swung open it revealed Alma Keeler standing in the niiddle of the room, miser» ay clad in old garments. er face was pale and wan, and her eyes showed signs of much weeping, and she looked at Broadway Billy balf in hope and half in fear, hardly knowing whether to hail him friend or foe, A word from Billy assured her which it was, promptly enough, -_- Ch OC CHAPTER XVIII, IN THE TOILS AT LAST, DAN QUART, the cabby, was gazing at the ery woman in open-mouthed amazement, “ Hif it isn’t the young woman Hi brought ’ere, Hi’m blowed!” he ejaculated. ‘“‘ But, blarst it, ’ow is it? This can’t be this one, but the hother.” ‘‘ Yes, it is the one you brought here,” agreed Billy, ** but not the one you took away with you.” Then turning to the unfortunate prison- er, ** Miss, we have come to take you away from ” ; e, ** Thank God!” the glad exclaim, ‘‘But, you must decide where you will be taken,” Billy added. ‘“ Shall it be hometo your uncle? or to your lover, Horace Hurst? or to Clark Summerfield?” At mention of that name the girl’s face grew ashy for one second, but the next moment it was aflame like a rose. ‘‘ Where is he?’ she demanded breathlessly. ‘¢ What do you know about him?” ‘* He employed me to find you, at any cost, and he is at the Hotel awaiting report from me,” ‘* Take me to him.” “ Very well. Old woman, bring the young lady her proper clothes,” ‘* They are no longer here,” the young woman ‘““They were worn away by that other.” ‘* Then hers must be here,” said Billy. ‘* Bring them, Do you hear, old hag? If you do not want a cell in prison, get a moveon you, and do my bidding!” The hideous old thing scrambled away, mum- bling to herself, but present)y returned bringing the things required, and all withdrew from the ae while Alma made the exchange of rai- men As soon as she came forth Billy conducted her to the bansom, and ordered the cabby to drive them to the otel, Arriving, Billy led the young lady immediate- ly to Summerfield’s room. ; The young man was there, waiting for news, He sprung to bis feet, seeing who it was, and for a moment the lovers stood staring at each other, The next moment they were clasped in each otber’s embrace. | “‘ That settles that part of the business, I take it,” Billy observed, smiling. ‘' You had better callin a minister and make a go ofit, But, Mr. Summerfield, dowt goaway from here, for l will send for you soon on important business,” ‘*T’ll take your advice in both matters,” the young man answered, his face aglow with hap- piness, , Billy burried away, taking his cab once more, . This time it was to Horace Hurst’s, He reached there just in time, for Hurst was leaving the house-as the cab drew up. ‘Come and get in,” Billy called to him. ‘‘ Was coming to see you, but we can talk in the cab just as well. I have made a discovery.” Hurst entered, ig 2h; enough, and Billy di- recting the cabman back again to his own lodg- ing, they rattled off in that direction, Andas | soon as they had started Hurst asked: ‘‘ What have you discovered?” , ‘* This,” Billy answered, He handed him the fragment of paper he had found,” | | | : Horst took it, looked at it, and then in a mo- ment his face grew pale and red by turns, — “When did you write that, and to whom? Billy severely demanded. | - : + ‘“T did not write it,” was the answer, “I never saw it before in my life Mr, Weston.” a, : eo "<= 7 ‘ st . ) % ‘ - i “ant 7 : - ¢ A - . ¥ “ = ieee Pa a . i« "~~" ’ ev - ae 7 aS : i ag : : j rer et oe [" ; * , . # oy De | , Gal | > | - hal a | | | ‘¥ %.- fi a» a ‘ i ~—- = F - > ‘ +>. 4