Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 869 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Ned i ‘* What became of the waste in that basket?’ he asked sternly. ‘* f don’t know, sir, but [ think the porter sold alithe waste paper in the store last night. The old paper-man comes round Wednesdays, I be- lieve.” ‘* Ask him.” Tne clerk went out, and quickl7 came back wita the word: ‘“{ was right. He sold it.” ‘'Confound him! Why— Butnomatter; it’s all right. That will do, Mr. Brown,” che young man withdrew, and took care, be- -ore going back to his desk, to advise the porter that he wasin hot water for selling waste with- out permission, ‘¢ Something in the basket, I suppose, they did not want to lose.” ‘¢]’s allright, [fancy,” inferred Grip. ‘‘ The paper-mill is as good asthe grate. Like dead mén, neither tell any tales.” Allthis was far fromsure. When one sets a ball in motion there is no. knowing how far it will roll, Something happened which Messrs. Grip & Gorley could not heave conjectured. Their porter was well aware of the temper of his employers, He had been called to account for trifles more thanonce. Their ‘t very well” cid not end a matter always. He might yet “catch fits” about the contents of that basket, and thought it best to be on the safe side. So that night he sought the den of the old paper-dealer, looked through his gatherings for the day, and was soon able to sort from them the contents of his employers’ waste-basket. ‘* Put this stuff away till your next round, he said to the man. ‘It may be asked for, and I want to know it is safe.” ‘Allright, Ill take care of it.” It was mid-morning when Joe made his ap- mearauce at the store. He at once went back to the private office, where sat his employers talk- ing with one another; with a blue look on their faces. Mr. Grip sprung up on seeing Joe. ‘* What luck?” he asked. ** l’ve mailed him.” ‘* You have? Good!” ‘* His house, 1 mean. The boy lives with his grandfather, out Callowhill street. Didn’t find aim, though. He’s gone,” **Gone! Where?” ‘*To New York.” The merchants looked at one another. ‘* How? By train?” ‘‘No. His grandfather tried to keep him back, but ropes wouldn’t hold him, He’s a regular young steam-engine when he gets start- ed. Hehad no money, so hestruck out to walk, He'll fetch New York, money or no. The boy that piled them bricks would fetch Hong Kong, af he started for it.” Mr. Grip tapped the floor with his foot. ‘¢ When did he start?” ‘© This pce. ‘“¢ He'll steal rides to get there. He must be stopped. Joe, would you like a trip to New York?” ‘¢ Yes, sir,” ‘‘Get ready, then. I want you to go over with me in the two-o’clock Express,” CHAPTER III, A FOX IN A TRAP, Messrs, Grip & GORLEY were correct in sup- osing that Ned Norman would reach New Fork. Wide-awake as the boy was in: some things, he was as innocent as a child in others, and really supposed that the Pain given him was good for fifty dollars. Fifty dollars was like a fortune to him, and he would have gone to New York on hands and knees for it. It was about noon of the succeeding day when he landed in the great city beyond the Hudson River. He had walked part of the way, and traveled part of the way on freight- trains. On reaching Jersey City, he had just money enough in his pocket to carry him across the ferry. Landing in New York he gazed in surprise on the bustle and rush of business in the streets near the ferry, and the great rows of tall busi- ness houses leading up into the city. Ere he had gone far he started in alarm as, with whirr Lg a train shot past in the air over his head. **Whew! This beats Philadelphy,” he mut- tered. ‘* There’s ncise enough here to fit out two cities, and leave some over to spare, That's the Elevated, is it? Whew! but it’s a stunner.” But Ned was not the boy to dally. He had business to do, It would be time enough after- ward to admire the city. A short distance further and he found himself in the roar and turmoil of Broadway, the flow- ing river of wagons, stages, trucks and people almost taking his breath away. Mis head swam fora moment until he was able to take in the situation, ‘*Market street ain’t bad,” he said, ** but Broadway takes the cake, This ain’t biz, though, Where does Burton & Jones hang out their shingle? That’s the p’int jist now.” It did not take theshrewd boy long to find out. He had not been given the adress, but soon learned where he could see a Directory, and guickly found there the name of ‘*‘ Burton & Jones, wholesale linens and ducks,” with street and number. Armed with this information, it did not take much inquiry to put him on the right track, He had not been more than an hour in New York before he found himself in a narrow street, with lines of tall, stone-fronted warehouses on each side, which he was following with open eyes for the number given in the Directory, ** One, fifty-eight; must be near it now,” he muttered. ‘‘I thought Philadelfy did business enough for the country, but there’s a little done here, too, I s’pose York picks up our leavin’s, One, sixty-six,” “Why, hallo, youngster! what in the world are you doing here?” Ned looked up hastily at the sound of a voice that seemed familiar to him. To his surprise he saw a face which he well knew. Lt was one of the men in Grip & Gorley’s store! ‘* Hallo, Joe!” he returned, glad to see a famil- iar face. ‘‘ What’s up? Didn’t expect to run across you,” ‘* And I thought you werepiling bricks, What brings you here?” ‘Biz, that’s’ what. lookin’ fer Burton & Jones’s store, somewhere Jong here,” ‘¢ What makes you think that?” ‘¢ Why, I looked it up in a Directory.” ‘* Nonsense, boy; that’s a year old! People move here about every six months. Those folks kept here long ago. I happen to know where they are now, and you're two miles away.” ‘*Ts that so? Can you tell me where to find them?” ‘¢*[ can show you; that wili be better. I am going that way. Come along, young chap; I want to have a talk with you. Without a thought of distrust, Ned accom- panied his new friend, chatting eagerly as he Uap about his adventures in getting to New ork, ‘* And what do you want here?” This question froze Ned up. He had early been taught not to talk about business, ‘‘T want to see Burton & Jones,” he an- swered, ‘ Got some busivess with them,” ‘* Very likely,” answered Joe, dryly. ‘* You wouldn’t walk to New York without, But I judge you must be hungry, from what you say about your rations.” “fm hollow enough to hold a shee joined ‘Ned, with an expressive look. ° elin’ does make a feller hungry.” ‘*I'm a little that way, too. We'll go get something to eat, and you can see Burton & Jones afterward.” ‘* Pd sooner see ’em first,” ‘* Nonsense! They’re not going to run away. You can’t find them without me, and I’m going to lunch before I do anything else.” Business before pleasure was Ned’s idea, But he could not belp himself, and he was hungry enough to make Joe’s offer very tempting. So he trotted on willingly beside him, Little did he dream that his seeming friend had been set as a trap to catch him, and that he was walking into the net of an unprincipled Pal c= be Winding through some narrow streets, Joe at length turned into one that was little better than a court, and entered a tall, dingy house, with a drinking saloon sign in front. Walking into the bar-room, he said some words in a low tone to the bartender, while Ned stood in the rear. ‘* He said he'd be back in an hour, gone ’most that time now.” ‘Very well; send us up something to eat; plenty, for we’re both hungry.” Leaving the room, Joe beckoned to Ned, and led the way up two flights of stairs to a room on the third floor, ‘*Grub will,be up in a minute,” he said, ** Tt’s a low place down-stairs, so | thought we'd take our dinner private.” Ned looked around him. It was a my- looking room, with chairs and table, and a bed in one corner. ‘* Are you stayin’ here?” * Yes, for a day or two,” Ere many more words could be said a man Got a contract. I’m Ought to be ,” re- Trav- He’s been ——— om owe ee ee Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. 3 came up with their dinner on a tray. It was coarse but abundant, Ned had never been used to luxuries, and was hungry enough to make a royal bauquet on bacon and beans, so hepinnged in heartily, giving his companion trouble enough to keep up with him. ‘* Jerusalem! but tnat corned beet’s good, And them pertaters is jist prime, I! never eat anything that went down better,” ‘““Go ahead: don’t leave any; it’s all got to be paid for,” Ned obeyed orders, and emptied the platters, ‘‘There! Ireckon | won't eat any more,” he said, looking at the bare dishes, ‘¢? wouldn’t either, unless you would like to top off on the table.” Ned laughed heartily at this wooden joke. He had eaten himself into the best of humors. ‘* Hadn’t we better toddle on now?” ‘¢ Not just yet. It’s too soon after Junch.” Joe seemed listening, At that moment there came the sound of steps on the stairs, and his eyes lighted up with satisfaction, The next in- stant the door opened, and a man entered the room. Ned’s eves opened wide with surprise as hesaw him. It was Mr. Grip! ‘* Hallo!” cried the latter, as if in the greatest astonishment, ‘*‘ You here, boy! Where did you drop down from? I thought. you were in Philadelphia,” ‘*T picked him up in William street,” said Joe, ‘‘and brought him here for lunch,” ‘* Why, you sent me to New York, yourself,” rejoined Ned, ‘I was to come here and call on Burton & Jones.” Mr. Grip looked at him with an aspect of great surprise. Then he burst into a laugh, ‘‘ Mercy!” he cried, * you did not take that in earnest? That paper? Why, it was only a sell, boy! I gave it to you to get ridof you fora day or two,” ‘You did!” exclaimed Ned, opening his eyes. But, he was getting his eyes Open in another fashion. Was his meeting with these two men uite by chance? Maybe Mr. Grip wanted his dtty-do ar order back, ‘‘And you came all the way over to New York with that paper! Ha! ha! that’s too good! It’s too bad, rather. Why, boy, the order isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” , ‘‘ Then what made you give it to me?” ‘* To get rid of your bother.” ‘‘ Anyhow, I came to New York to give it to Burton & Jones, and I reckon I will,’ | ‘* It’s too bad to bring yon here, that’s a fact. You ought to have somet Give me the paper back and I'll give you twenty-five dollars; that will pay you for your journey.” Ned looked at’ him closely. He had offered only ten dollars before, for finding the roll of bills. Now he agreed to pay twenty-five for what he called a piece of worthless paper. That was not like Mr. Grip. Ned grew more suspicious every moment, If Grip was trying to make a fool of him, be would let him see that be was not the stuff thoy make — fools of. ‘‘ Twenty-five?” he queried, ‘¢‘ Yes,” assured Mr. Grip, taking out his ocketbook, and counting out the money in new bank-ntes on the table, ‘?Tain’t enough,” decided Ned, ‘‘I reckon somehow that paper’s worth a hundred dollars. I ain’t sellin’ below price. [ am a paper negoti- ator now, ye see!” | ‘* Why, you unconscionable young miser! I am offering you tenfold its value,” ‘*T calculate not. Grip & Gorleyare business men, and business men don’t go back on their word,” ‘“Ha! ha!” laughed Mr. Grip, as if bighly amused. ‘'That’s a settler. You're learn F boy. Well, lay the paper down there, and I i make my word good with another twenty-five,” **T reckon not,” answered the boy. ‘‘ Why not? You don’t want a fortune for a scrap of paper?” ‘‘ You're two to one, This is a lonely room, away up op the third floor. Come down-stairs where there's folks about, and’'then Til deal. I prefer the street for such negotiations,” A cry of anger that sounded like a snarl, came from Gfip’s thin lips. ‘¢You blasted young villain!” he exclaimed. ‘“Do you want to call me a thief? Shut the door, Joe! We will search the hound. He’s got to give up that paper, if I have to skin m.” He seized Ned as he spoke. Joe shut the door and came to his assistance. The boy fought bravely, but he could do nothing in the arms of two strong men. After a minute’s struggle, Joe got a firm - os : « «em . ee eee ————— - a — ee) ing for your trouble, | TI’) a a iid L2 Yon rae -e —— ns’ -