Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 869 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ae oe le - cig ow hy: SE . = Pe. a Sa: nad 2 ao Se & J» ae 10 | wwe a ee es not done with him, Grip & Gorley have played me an ugly trick, my lad, which | had suspect- ed for some time, but had no evidence of until {i received that torn letter. I don’t regret what that cost me.” ‘Then you're a-goin’ for him?’ demanded Ned, eagerly. ‘‘ You’re a-goin’ for him flat- footed? He served me mighty shabby, and I hope you'll pinch him lively.” ‘T will if [ can, you may be sure. I am taousands of dollars out of pocket through his operations, anil have breught suit against him for fraud and bribery of a Government agent.” ‘(j;oin’ to make eee squeal?” asked Ned, eagerly. ** That I can’t say,” rejoined the merchant, in atone of doubt, ‘‘ Though I gave a bundred dollars for this piece of paper, it may prove of very little use. Uniess I can hunt up some other evidence, I fear I will not be able to prove my case, I would give a thousand for the other half of this letter.” ‘“You would?” cried Ned, his eyes opening rr ‘‘Willingly.” Mr. Burton looked up at the : boy. ‘*Do you think it possible—” “To git t’other half? I’m ’feard there won’t ' be no moré chance than to cotch a *possum asleep, And old Grip’s a’possum of the worst . But a thousand dollars is worth tryin’ or, ‘‘T should fancy so. There are possibilities, Ned. They made a blunder about this half, Who knows but they may have blundered about the other? I have no hopes, but it is too im- portant to let go untried.’ ‘‘That’s my notion,” said Ned, in eager en- thusiasm. ‘' You mean it solid ’bout that thou- sand ?”’ ‘‘T do. Bring me that paper, and I am on honor te pay you a thousand dollars.” ‘* Pm a-goin’ for it, you bet,” cried Ned, joy- fully. ‘‘I moughtn’t get it, and then ag’in I mought. See here, Mr. Burton, can’t you give me a piece o’ ‘poner jist the size o’ that? ’Special- ly the tore e get l want to know t’other half when I see it.’ ‘‘ A good suggestion,” rejoined the merchant, ‘¢ I see you know what you’re about, my lad.” Taking a whole sheet, he laid the torn sheet upon it, marked out its outlines with pencil, and finally cut it along the pencil marks, tak- ing great pains to get the shape of the torn edge very close y. ‘*There,” he said, ‘‘ that’s your guide. Now what do you intend to do? How about the money you have left out of your five hundred and fifty dollars? Is it safe to carry it about in your pocket?” ‘‘ I’ve got most four hundred left,” answered Ned. ‘* That blow-out made a big holeinit. I was goin’to ax you to take care of it, but I’ve kinder changed my mind, If I’m goin’ for that ere money mought come in handy. Maybe 11 have to pay somebody lively for a chance to *vestigate.” ‘“‘Verytrue, Well thought of.” ‘¢T don’t reckon as nobody’ll go through me, T’ve had my eye-teeth cut.” ‘“ And what are your plans—if you have any?’ asked Mr. Burton. ‘‘ Hav’n’t had no time to make none yit. It’s jist bout this way. Old Grip took that sheet o’ pene: out of the waste-basket in his office, tore t in half, and flung t’other half back, I see’d him do that. Now maybe it’s there yit.” ‘*No, no; 1 hardly expect that,” ‘* Well, then, what does folks do with waste- paper in stores?” ‘It maybe burnt. I fear the contents of that basket have been, It might be heaped away somewhere, ready to sell to the old paper-deal- ers. It will probably end by going to the paper- mills, [fear you have your thousand, Ned.” ‘¢ Who sells it to the old paper-man?” ‘¢ Probably the store porter. He would most likely have charge of such matters,” *‘ Allright. That kinder clears the sky, any- how. I’m beginnin’to find out which side of my bread’s buttered.” ‘What are your plans?’ asked Mr. Burton, curiously. **' To go back to Philadelphy fu’st of all, and spy ‘round. It’s bout a week now since I rot that paper, and every day counts, What I kin come at to-day mought be gone to-morrow.” ‘‘ Very true. You have the right idea.” ‘‘ And I want to take Dick back with me.” ** What for?” ‘“7Cause he’s as sharp as a steel-trap. Old Grip knows me too well. If he sees me’bout the store he mought smell a big rat. And maybe he mought snatch ine and lock me up for steal- but a poor chance for Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. ) in’, Ther’s nobody there knows Dick, and I reckon he’s sharp enough to ’bey orders.” ‘‘ Very good,” cried Mr. Burton. ‘‘I see my business is safe in your hands, my boy. And, Py Jove! I want you after this affair is over! ou shall have a good place in my store, and be put on the track of making your fortune. You are the kind of metal I like.” ‘‘That’s the ticket!” cried Ned, delightedly. ‘‘That’s what I’ve been lookin’ out for this year past. Dll earn my wages, anyhow, I won't loaf on nobody. ‘There’s one thing more, Mr. Burton. Who’s goin’ to pay the expenses of this business? S’pose we don’t hit it? Meand Dick ain’t got much money to spare,” ‘¢*That’s business. I like you all the better for that. I will pay all expenses,” ‘*Then it’s a bargain. [ll go and hunt up Dick straightaway. He ain’t got no daddy nor mammy, and I reckon there won’t be no trouble with him,” After some further conversation and arrange- ment of details, Ned went in search of his com- panion, He found him at his headquarters at City Hall Park, as busily engaged in polishing the ‘‘understandings” of a countrified indi- vidual as if he had not lately become a capital- ist. Ned waited quietly till he had finished his ** contract,” and then slyly beckoned him away. He had matter of too much moment for the ears of street urchins. ‘¢ Where can we go for a solid chat where no- body’ll hear us! I’ve struck ’ile since i seen you, Dick, and you’re in it.” ‘¢ Yer ain’t sayin’ ther’s some more fun?” cried Dick, eagerly. ‘‘You bet I’m yer hoss, slap from the shoulder, Come ahead. I know where nobody’ll bother us.” He led the way, Ned following. What was the surprise of the latter to find, on reaching their destination, that they were in the identical alley in which the two boys had first struck up an acquaintance. Dick looked at his companion quizzically. ‘* Reckernize the place?” he asked, ‘*T should imagine so.” ‘‘Ther’? won’t nobody bother us here, ‘cept ther’s somebody elsein quod up yander,” point- ing to the window whence Ned had first, discov- ered him. ‘If ther’ is we'll yank him out, jist as we yanked you out, Yere’s my box to set on; I'll squat on the bricks, Now peg in; ’m a-listenin’,” Ned proceeded to detail the bargain he had made, and the plan he had laid out, Dick listen- ing with the utmost interest. He was sharp enough to take in the details of the scheme with- out repetition. ‘* Tt’s jist jolly!” he shouted. ‘‘ Will I goin for’t? Well, you bet high. Kin I doit? ell, I guess [ kin try. Jist i keep me posted every step, for I’m in for makin’ old Grip howl, And I’d jist as lieve as not peg out fur Philadelfy, ’ause York is gittin’ played out. Folks, nowa- days,is mean enough to ax fur a five-cent shine, The biz ain’t like it used to was, Ther’s too many Dagos gittin’ in it.” ‘* All right, Dick. If this affair comes out pe up, you can drop your box. You can’t e polishin’ shoe-leather all your life. You're gettin’ too big for that.” ‘‘l’ve been proud and sassy ever since that blow out,” rejoined Dick, ‘‘Orderin’ around them there servants kinder put me’bove my bizness. I’m ’feard it’s jist "bout sp’ilt me for a shiner.” ** Tell you what, Dick, I’ve got an idea,” cried Ned, eagerly. ‘ Come with me. I like you, and Um goin’ to hitch hosses with you.” , He sprung up and led the way, Dick follow- ing. His course this time led to the store of Burton & Jones, through which he walked with the step of an owner back to the office, Dick followed with his head as high as if he had the deeds of all New York in his pape The two partners were in the office, and looked up in some surprise at their visitors. i ‘* Here’s Dick,” said Ned, as an introduc- on, ** How dye do, Dick?” greeted Mr. Burton. ‘* We ain’t started over yet.” 7 **T see that,” came the dry answer. ‘‘Goin’ fore night though, I wanted to say somethin’ ’bout Dick first,” ‘‘ Very well. Say on.” *‘ You said you’d take me in the store after we'd # oe this thing through. If it don’t make no difference to you I’d sooner you’d take Dick. He’s got as much go in him as me. I’ve got more education than bim, and can git a job somewhere else.” **See here! whatcher puttin’ through yer” broke in Dick, indignantly. ‘‘ Much you'll do ee ee ee EEE EE —————EEEE—————— a that! S’pose I’d come yere if you’d told me & that taffy afore? I ain’t made that way.” ‘* Nonsense, Dick. [ll have money enough to start business on my own hook.” ‘‘Dry up now, won’t you? I hope you don’t think, misters, as I’m on this,’cause I ain’t. He’s jist sprung iton me. Ifheisa fool, I ain’t a hog, and that settles it.” The merchants looked at each other curiously while this conversation was going on. At its conclusion they burst Into a laugh, ‘** (jood for you, Dick!” cried Mr. Jones, ‘* And good for you, Ned,” cried Mr. Bur- ton. ‘‘ I wonder, Jones, if we couldn't find two jobs? It would be ashame to part these Siam- ese twins,” ‘* We'll find them or make them,” said Jones, ‘* You don’t mean it?” cried Ned, joyfully. ‘* Yer ain't foolin’?” exclaimed Dick. ‘‘ We mean every word.” ‘* Bully for you! be no slouches. Come ahead now; let’s peg out for Philadelfy, and put this job through.” ‘Much obliged, Mr. Burton and Mr. Jones,” gba gratefully. ‘‘ We’re off now. Good- y. That night the two boys slept in the good. City of Brotherly Love. CHAPTER XI, DICK IN BUSINESS, ‘¢ THE case is just this,” said Mr. Burton. He was sitting in the office of a United States Commissioner, in the Federal Court buildings. at Philadelphia, MS hs FOpRerCaaing the firm of Burton & Jones, of New York, put in a bid last winter in re- sponse to an advertisement for a large supply of linens and other goods, to be delivered at the United States Arsenal at Philadelphia. There were several other bids entered, but our only competitor of any importance was the firm of Grip & Gorley, cf this city.” ‘*T remember the case. But I do not recol- lect the name of your firm among the bid- ders.” ‘*Hixactly. That is the point in question. Our bid was sent in late. An oversight made it later than it should have been. However, it was mailed in New York on the second day be- fore the bid closed. The fate of closure was the 17th October, I mailed the letter myself on the morning of the 15th.” ‘‘Time enough, I should say. What fol- lowed?” ‘Our bid was not acknowledged, and the contract was given to Grip & Gorley, at a higher figure.” ‘*T see, And your letter?” ‘‘Came too late, they say. We made strict inquiry, of course, but Jenkins, of the Arsenal declared that it did not reach him till the 18th too late for admission. It had on it the letter- carrier’s mark, showing that it had been left by mistake at a small down-town drinking-place called ‘The Arsenal.’ This, of course, delayed. its delivery.” sb l, what follows?” ‘‘T had some suspicions at the time, but could discover nothing. Inquiry was made at ‘The Arsenal,’ but no one remembered the affair. Then the letter-carrier who had delivered the letter was looked up, He said that Jenkins was right. ‘The letter had been delivered to him by mistake at the drinking-saloon, ‘ Arsenal,’ and been returned to him late the nextday. The neil-mark of wrong delivery had been made y him, and was in his own handwriting.” ‘*That looks straigbt enough. Ican see ne loose threads there. Is not the fault your own? Or rather is not accident to blame?” ‘*T thought.so at first, and gave it over to the chapter of awkward accidents, But that was not the end of thematter. Sometking happened that opened my eyes.” ‘6 Another loose thread, eh?” ‘‘Exactly. Business called me a month ago to Cue & Gorley’s store. Whom should I see there, ina somewhat confidential position, but Joe Starling, the letter-carrier in question. On inquiry at the Post-Office I learned that he had been months before. >° > He had, immediately after- ward, been given a position at Grip & Gorley’s,” ‘* A sort of hush-money opening, eh?” ‘*T thought so, [knew nothing more, how- ever, until a few days ago, when this fell into. my hands, e withdrew from his pocket the torn letter, opened and smoothed it out, and handed it to the commissioner. The latter looked at it with a puzzled expression. ‘¢‘T can make nothing of this,” he said, ‘It | is addressed to ‘H. Jenkins,’ to be sure, But a. You bet Ned and me won’t — ischarged for some shady operation six | 7 ~*~ J ~h - >: ’ f eat ae . ‘ Ce [ «¢ / | / a 1icbooks.com