Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 880 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

BY nw &er : . | ™ ad . « ,* 10 Broadway B They went up the next stairs, taking their three female prisoners with them, and enter- ed the room where Harry and Billy had been entrapped. Here they secured Fanchette to a chair, then Suzanne, but Julie was allowed her freedom. ‘“{ must find some brandy, to put life in me, the first thing,” said Harry as he search- ed around. ‘* You are welcome to it,” said Billy, “* but Then, too, it would. be unsafe What none for me. to drink what vou might find here. we need is a pint of hot milk apiece.” * And I will get it for you, if you will al- low me to leave the house,” cried Julie, eagerly. “Thank you, if you are honest, but we must first hear your story,” keenly alive to the situation at once. ‘“* To let you out of our sight is to place our lives in your hands.” ‘* Listen, then, and I will tell you every- thing.” | This she did, withholding nothing, and Billy and Harry were fully satisfied. Thus, too, they canie to learn of the latest doings in Anarchist circles—far as the latter were known. Of course, the Detective Queen had taunt- ingly told them all about the explosion in the Hotel Terminus. *“ We trust you,” said Billy and Harry to- ether. ‘‘ We will takehold of this matter,” illy added, ‘‘and if your father is living we will hunt him out and restore him to you.” ‘* And now for the milk,” urged Harry. Julie took a pitcher and went out, and Bill and Harry set about taking the first was ae had been able to take in several days. hen they were done they felt decidedly better, and as they had been well fed dur- ing their imprisonment, as we have seen, they felt almost like themselves again, and it needed only a copious draught of the hot milk to complete the change. * Now, Richard is himself again, even if his name is Willyum,” cried Billy, as he stretched his arms and expanded his chest. “* How is it with you, Harry?” ‘‘My name is Richard, too,” was the prompt and jolly response. Their two girl prisoners had much to say during this time, which we have no space to quote, They were bitter against each other, and the names they applied to one another were not by any means choice. Billy and Harry found their weapons in a cupboard of the room, where their captors had deposited them. 7 ** Now, what will you do?” urged Julie Helmann. “To get out of here is the next thing in order, mademoiselle.” ** And what about these girls?’, ‘Take them with us.” ‘*] have a favor to ask of you.” ‘* Name it.” “That you will allow Suzanne Plinquet to go free.” ** Well, that will much depend upon her- self,” said Broadway Billy. *‘ I have no ob- jection to it.” ‘The reason I ask it, she was willing to aid me to find my father, and it is realy to her that you owe your liberty, too.” “* That's the fact, I euess.” ‘It wasn’. so much to favor you, mad- emoiselle,” declared Suzanne, honestly, “‘ as it was to get even with this hussy here. All the same I'd like to go free.” Broadway Billy and Harry had heard enough to give them a thorough understand- ing of the wole matter. y knew how bitterly Sazanne hated im apteas and felt that they could trust r. ‘“* And we will let you go free, Suzanne,” said Billy, “if you will promise us one ; ~~ —_—-———_---—— rr Ee ee ——— ae a ee ee ee ee ee ‘* And what is that?’ “That you will keep secret what you know concerning our escape.” " Not likely that I would tell upon my- self.” ‘“* But, wait till I get free,” cried Fan- chette. ‘‘ Then we will see what will hap pen to you, wench.” ‘“* You are not free yet.” ** Nor will you be for some days to come,” added Harry. ‘‘ We owe you one, my beauti- ful Detective Queen, for leading us into this trap. But, what is to be done with her, Billy?” “‘Mademoiselle Helmann must help us out.” ‘*You have only to tell me how,’ Julie, eagerly. “The young woman must be made a pris- oner in your house,” Billy proposed. “* It shall be done.” ** And all we ask is, that she be well fed and well cared for, and that she be not al- lowed to escape.” ‘*Escape will be impossible, All I need to do will be to tell the servants she has had to do with my father’s disappearance, and that will be enough. They will watch her every moment.” ‘*'Then we need look no further for her prison,” declared Billy. ‘* But, do you promise, Suzanne?” asked Harry. ‘*'Yes, I promise. I will say nothing of what has happened, if you, on your part, will promise me that you will spare my father, Gilbert Plinquet.” “We have to come to your terms,” an- swered Billy. ‘* We will do nothing against him directly, unless to prevent his throwing bombs.” ‘* My father is not one of the bomb-throw- ers. Release me, and I will keep my parole dhonneur.” She was freed. “* You will come to grief forthis, you false trollop,” cried the Detective Queen with a vengeful look. ‘‘Not while you are under restraint, any- how, true trollop,” retorted Suzanne, equal- ly as vengefully and as spitefully. ‘* Well, enough of this,” said Harry. ‘‘ We must be off. To make your revenge com- plete, Suzanne, you must help us to get away with our prisoner, and that unseen.” ‘Yes, we must use you,” said Billy. ‘*T will serve you. Now that I am in for it, I may as well suffer for a big pig as a lit- tle one. Only direct me.” *“*Go down tothe street, you aud Julie, and see that the coast isclear. If clear, en- gage a hackney coach.” **Consider it done. Come along, Julie.’ The two left the room, “If you will free me,” said Fanchette, now, ‘‘I will tell you where the banker is imprisoned.” ‘You are not to be trusted,” said Billy. “You might tell us, but yet spirit him away before we could find him. You are more to be feared than a dozen Suzannes.” Thanking him for the compliment, the girl said no more, and Billy made a thorough ex- ploration of the house while the cab was waited for. When it came, the prisoner was put into it and all except Suzanne drove to the residence of Banker Helmann. ? cried > CHAPTER XI. IMPORTANT INFORMATION. M. Leprve, the prefect of police, was seat- ed in his office talking with some of his in- spectors and other officials. While they were thus engaged, a vailed young lady entered the room. That she was young was evident immedi- ately to the eyes of such men, for her form was supple and her step elastic. - address Monsieur le Prefect?” she mae inquiry. illy and the Bomb-Throwers. ’ ‘“‘Tam he,’ answered M. Lepine. “‘ Pray Ae: pies vail that I may know who you are, mademoiselle.” ‘Ha! how know you that 1 am a made- moiselle?” the caller asked in some surprise. “Certainly there is nothing in my attire that can reveal it to you, sire.” The word, as she used it, was complimen- tary. , How do I know? I see that you are young, your voice shows culture, your lan- guage exhibits education, the boot you wear is not in accord with the dress you have donned— In short I take you to be made- moiselle Helmann.” The girl instantly threw up her vail, show- ing a charming face that had upon it an ex- pression of surprise. ‘* Your guess is correct, however you have been able to reach the conclusion,” she ad- mitted. ‘‘I come to bring you important information, Monsieur le Prefect.” “That is what we are in need of, made- moiselle. I have been told that you set out to play the detective. Eas it been your good fortune to discover your missing father?” The others present were looking on and listening in wonder. Few could clearly see how the prefect had read so much in the girl’s appearance, and in so very brief a time, save the inspectors and detectives of ripe experience. ‘* No, sad to say, I have not been able to find him,” the young lady made reply, “ but l have been instrumental in finding and releasing two young gentlemen, one of whom is the famous young Amcrican detective—” ‘‘ What! you have rescued Broadway Billy?’ ‘* And his friend, Harry Freeman.” “Thank God for that! It was my inten- tion to place you under restraint, my dear, and hinder you from exposing yourself to danger. I shall not do so now. You are a detective suchas I may have reason to be proud of, and you may continue in the work you have undertaken ” ** Oh! thank you, sir.” “‘ But, tell me, where did you find these prisoners?” ‘« In the house No. 69, Rue de ——, whereI went tosearch for my father. I found them chained in the cellar.” All eyes were wide open with surprise, and all looked upon the brave girl with admira- tion. ‘This is remarkable, quite remarkable,” ejaculated the prefect, ‘‘ and the more so, since we have been searching for them for days. How came you to discover them, my fair detective?” ‘“‘That is something I do not care to dis- close.” ‘* And where are they now?” * That is a part of the information I have for you, monsjeur.” ‘ Then let me hear whatthe information is, and atonce, Your service shall not be lightly forgotten.” ‘‘ [may speak freely before these gentle- men?” ** You may.” ‘“* Well, I am here from Broadway Billy and his friend, to give you information that will place the famous Paul Bernard in your hands,” ‘*Wonderful!” cried the prefect. Similar exclamations escaped the lips of the others. : ‘* A man we have been searchin where,” the prefect added. “ the Anarchist chiefs.” ‘‘ But, this information?’ reminded one of the inspectors, ‘Yes, true enough, we have not heard that yet,” the prefect concurred. ‘* We are eager to hear what further you have to say, mademoiselle.” “It is this, Monsieur le Prefect: _Broad- way Billy has ascertained that Paul Bernard for every- e is one of a il ee a a ~~ -* . i> ad