Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 869 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 ‘¢ Didu’t intend to let me have it. I knowed that. But I earned it, ’cordin’ to contract, and Ive got it.” He grabbed the last of the notes, slipped un- der Grip’s grasping fingers, and sprung for the door, ‘* You'd best slide like a pound o’ butter off a hot plate,” he cried, to the new-comers, *' This is a ugly hole, an’ there’s ugly customers around,” He darted for the stairs, followed closely hy the bootblack, and at a little distance by the infuriated Grip, The latter, as on a previous oceasion, began to shout at the top of his voice: ‘Stop him! Don’t let bim escape!” The sound of a slamming door below showed that Lhe alarm had been taken. The next moment a new thought came into the villain’s mind. He had no doubt that Bur- ton heldthe paper. The boy had in some way ahah conveyed it to him. He was the one to go for, not the boy. He turned sharply on his heel, while he cried to Joe: ‘*Lock the door! Don’t let them out! They shall not-go till they return that paper!” He wastoo late. Itisidle to fasten the cage after the bird is out. The two merchants had taken the alarm given by Ned, and rushed from the room. Grip turned to find them close beside him, and Joe following them, He placed himself across their path, with the intention of stopping them, but burton, the largest man of the two, grappled with him, flung him vigorously aside, and rushed tor the stairs. Jones followed, giving a back-handed blow to Grip as he passed that sent him reel- Ing, The villain, however, was but an instant in 4 EMon, recovering. He rushed after them, with Joe em close on his heels, yelling as before to his confed- erates below: et ae eA “Stop them! Don’t let them past! A hun- via ags dred dollars to the man that stops them!” aN Down the stairs went fugitives and pursuers, . in headlong flight. From the bar-room below “Se 9 severe harc-faced customers emerged. It was = hae a dangerous locality, and Messrs. Burton & aT OF Jones were likely to find it no easy matter toes- cape from the hornets’ nest which they had en- ‘ tered. . Meanwhile the two boys had continued their flizht, Not to the lower floor, however. Ned had had his eye-teeth cut. He remembered his former experience, heard the warning cries of ry his enemy, and determined not to fall into the i! same trap again. (ea “This way,” he cried to his companion, ++ What’s your name?” ** Dick.” ‘“This way, Dick. chaps like us,” Hedarted into a rear room onthesecond floor, the one from which he had formerly seen the woman looking. He had not forgotten that the window of this room opened upon aslanting roof over the kitchen door, It took bim but a minute to reach the win- dow, throw up the sash and spring out upon the roof, Down it he ran to the lower edge, let himself down by his hands and dropped to the yard below. He had not far to fall, Dick, with the agility of a young monkey, fol- lowed him. In amoment they stood side byside in the yard, Contrary to his former experience the gate stood ajar. He looked into the kitchen; it was ery Down-stairs ain’t safe for tun a 7 Fa « - - = ~, vee ~~ b , >. ~ . - > ‘ . ~ - ju i, She . id 2 / oi iw S £. aes “ee ; <P : : = = (prey gy Pi a Ss > - B et < » <* - -~ . : ~~ - os — ‘ ry =A — > ee AP. Y= = “ ae - i = >. “SQ = Se ; 2 -_ Les taf “ ‘ oe » a ; ’ re ty. Them’s lively papers!” cried Dick, enthusi- astically. ‘‘ Let's git.” Theagile youngster hadclung to his box, which still hung over his shoulder, ‘6 Wait,” answered Ned. I s’pose you’re in for fun?” ‘* Ain’t If Whatcher take me fur?” | ‘‘Onen your ears, then; there’s some slap-up <i! old fun a-comin’.” In fact, threatening sounds, the rush of buman forms, furious shouts, threats, answering cries, i couja be heard from withinthe house. Evident- "> |. lythings were becoming critical, The boys ven- Bt ' tured into the kitchen, attracted by these signs te of warfare, and eager to discover what was go- = - ~~ ‘¢There’s no hurry. ee _— | hit ing on, topes Ned looked curiously through the inner door. “tata There stood his old enemy, the woman, and op- <a posite her the bartender, with a couple of hard- x faced customers behind him, The sound of steps could be beard on the stairs, as loud almost as if a dozen »xen had been coming down at a | Junge. The voice of Grip sounded above all: at “Stop them! Don’t let them past! A hun- es dred dollars for their bodies!” 7 An instant moreand affairs werelively enough .. te suit even Dick. A dozen men seemed mingled Ned Norman, the —- --—— Gamin Negotiator. | ‘©Come ahead!” he shouted, ‘Lively! The gate’s our dodge. Let out, my lad!” ‘¢ Let out’s the word. Dig inand ’marter you in mortal combat, and blows were being given and taken with indiscriminate fury. The two fugitives bad sprung from the stairs, and were seeking with all their strength to | like a cat arter milk.” force their way through the group of their; The gate, as we have said, wasajar. It was foes. ' the work of a few seconds only for the agile The first onset leveled the two bloated rum- | boys to reach it, fling 1t open and gain the alley mies to the floor, but the burly bartender, and | beyond, Down this they fled like a pair of wea- the little less burly woman, still blocked the | sels, the sounds of pursuit behind adding wings way, and in the next instant Grip and Joe , to their speed. sprung down and joined the fray. | Pursuit began too late. The fugitives were in Burton andJones were by no means weak- the street’ beyond before their pursuers had lings. They were both strong men and fought | gained the gate, A lively run quickly put hard, while they called lustily for help. But, | them beyond all danger of being overtaken, the odds were against them, and in that street ‘Did you git it, Dick?” help was the more likely to be on the other ‘“ You bet yer level dollar. My eye, didn’t I side, fotch him prime! - Never nad sich a lark in my Hard blows were given and returned, the born days. Here it is,” combatants were down, up, struggling asif for He pulled the captured prize from his pocket dear life, tearing and rending like demons in a and handed itto his companion. fray. ‘‘ Bully for you, Dick. That’s it, sure enough. he two boys sofar had been mere spectators, Tell you what, boy, this thing’s worth a hun- though Dick was dancing with eagerness to take dred dollars, and it’s yourn., Burton’s got to part, and swinging his box threateningly, Ned fork over if he wants it, but I reckon he won’t kept more cool, watching his chances, and in kick,” doubt whether be bad not better go for the ‘(TY don’t want mor’n half,” protested Dick, police. ‘You've got to take all, Why, Dick, I got His chance soon came. His old enemy, tho | fivehundred out of old Grip, Vm richer than woman, had taken advantage of Mr. Burton’s Vanderbilt. tot ’most ’nough to buy a steam- back being turned to her, raised a heavy poker boat,” which she had brought from the kitchen,and; As_the boys walked onward talking they was about to bring it down with a stunning | saw before them two downcast-looking men, blow on his head. At that instant Ned sprung . with torn clothes and generally-disreputable ap- into the fray, tripped up ber beels from behind, pearance. 7 and cave her a thrust that sent herlikea logto | They were the merchants, Burton and Jones, the floor, the crack of her head on the boards! The boys came up close behind them, curious sounding above the noise of the fight. to hear their conversation. This divefsion was momentarily in favor of ‘¢ Confounded fvol that I was not to leave that the defendants; but, the odds were too great; a | paper at the office !” vrowled Burton, vigorous blow sent Jones revling to the floor; ‘‘ Grip’s got the whip-band cn us,” another hurled Ned upon the woman, who was: ‘‘ Yes; we've no evidence without that. It striving to get up, and brought her again to the | called for a hundred dollars for the boy; I'd floor, while he came down upon her asa soft ; give that much money this minute to have it cushion to break bis fall, | back in my fingers.” While this was going on Mr, Burton ‘was ‘tT, at's hokey! That'll befifty apiece,” came seized by the strong arms of Joe and the bar- | a gleeful voice behind him, ‘*Say, mister, you tender, and held too firmly to move. Grip took | kin fork over now, fur here’s the dokyment.” instant advantage of the opportunity, sprung What was the surprise and joy of the discom- upon his foe, and began to search his pockets fited merchants, on turning, to see behind them with the adroitness of a pickpocket. | their late confederates, one of, them waving his Less than a minute sufficed. From Burton’s | cap in the air, the other the captured. paper. vest pocket he extracted the highly-treasured | maple. ae ie document. The merchant, not foreseeing such | CHAP? FR IX an affair as this, had carelessly thrust it in this THE BOOTBLACKS’ BANQUET. insecure receptacle. One hasty glance con-| A VERY amusing scene was beng enacted in vinced Grip of the value of his capture. Hold- | one of the fashionable New York restaurants, a ing it aloft, ho waved it round his head with | scene such as never before bad been beheld in the triumph of a victor, and shouted in tones of that home of wealth and gastronomy. | Inarichly-furnished apartment of said restau- lee: “lve got it! Vve got it! Letthem go, Out | rant, around a bandsomely-covered dining We've got no further use | table, sata group of boys, “bo were certainly | | | OE of doors with them! much out of place in sucn a scene, for them.” | While he continued to wave his prize in tri- If. their ragged and begrimed attire had not been sufficient, the brush-and-blacking boxes umph, bis assistants obeyed thisorder, Burton nd was rushed violently to the door by the twomen | which reposed behiud each chair would have in- who held him, and thrust out reeling upon the | dicated their profession—that of bootblack, avement, The other two men grasped Jonesas | They were indeed the guests of our two friends, Ned and Dick, who bad decided on having a e rose staggering to his feet, and hurled him i into the street after his partner. Grip looked | grand blow-out in consequence of their success and to spend some of the cash to which they on with a grin of irrepressible triumph, still ex- citedly waving the captured treasure, fallen heir, It seemed for the moment asif he had won the | The proprietor of the restaurant had natural- battle, and distanced all his opponents. But | ly objected to the proposition, as we!l from the there is many aslip between the cup and the lip, | character of his guests as from doubt of their. as he was destined to learn. His triumph was ' financial ability. But when Ned, in a lofty about to be converted into defeat from an unex- ! manner, asked him for his bill in advance, and pected quarter, | ate down the necessary funds, and when Dick, as we have said, had stood outside the | Jick insisted on his compliance with all the as- fray, dancing with excitement, and looking | surance of a City Hall*‘ shiner,” the proprietor eayerly for a chance to joinin. His chance had | gave way, looking on the affair as a stupendous eome, As Grip for the iast time waved his | joke. rize above his bead,a crushing blow came on And now, with Ned at the head and Dick at is arm, almost enough to break it, The paper | the foot of the table, and a dozen of sharp-eyed flew fluttering from his hand, and the arm fell | ‘blacks ” ranged along itssides, everything was disabled to his side, ready for the banquet to begin. Dick had got his work in. Swinging his| _ The waiters who stood behind, inall the splen- wooden bootblack’s box around by the strings | dor of black coats and white cravats, almost with which he carried it, he brought it down | choked themselves in their efforts to preserve vigorously on Grip’s arm. With a leap like | the gravity fitting the occasion, and dared/not that of a cat he sprung for the fluttering paper, | look at one another for fear of exploding into and caught it before it reached the floor. laughter. » ‘¢ Hurrah for our side! Let’s git!” he cried to ‘Now, fellers, you’re here to eat; don’t you Ned, who had just then ctnihie YhAg himself from | forget that,” began Ned. Tain’t often this ths woman and struggled to bis feet, here place gits such a distinguisued crowd, end Ned was not quite ready. He saw one lastop- | I want vou to let em seethat you know some- portunity to get even with the enemy, Grip | thin’, Don’t nobody dig in, ’cause these here stood writhing with the pain of the blow he had | flunkies is here to wait on you. They’re paid rechived. One lkick on his heels from Ned’s , for it, and they’ve gotto earn the’r dough.” heavy shoes knocked his feet from under him, Bully fur you!” cried Dick. ‘‘ We're gin’le- and down he came like a log on the broad.of his: | men, you bet! The feller as cuts up any shin- back, falling with such force as to half stun digs is goin’to be Wisted, and I’m the chap that’s him, goin’ to hist him. You hear ne.” _ One quick leap took Ned into the kitchen, | ‘‘ Dry, up, and let’s pile in.” excleimed one of whither Dick had already preceded him. the larxer urchins, ‘‘ While you’re givin’ us ~ had j ‘ae F tesx >»* an? : . ' + ah, ’ ; 7) x 7 ~ 7 rp ; -' au “e i ’ s ' ~ s, wy a * 3 ; >. : > a itt: v > * “eS G he A of : ae : * ** a . ; were ts * e a] 2 ~~ @ 7 yh A ia - ° An * i ee ey) Ayes ge - : an ce- 7e le . . ’ . id ¥ ’ - : | . Fo oe ; ’ ee » oe ma ~ i , y, 4 a J wi > = *y ‘e Lee ~ a - COMICK CS. rs ‘46 \ : a Ue he le * i oe .