Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 880 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

3 a 2 D cme were prevented by, a loud-speaking woman just behind them, who was saying to her companion: “* Poor little Sidonie! become of her, now they have murdered her father?” She referred to Vaillant’s daughter, who had appealed to President Carnot to pardon her father, but had appealed in vain. One of the rough-looking men turned in- Stantly. ** Don’t you trouble yourself about Sidonie, woman,” he cried. ‘“ Anarchists are going to take care of her.” Ee considered himself far enough away I wonder what will | sure enough,” Billy declared. the crowd rapidly thinning out the further they proceeded. ‘Well, now you have opened the ball, you think you are going to do, Harry, any- how?” ‘* Getting jealous? 'ed out half a dozen fine cases since you came share of the honors, isn’t it? from the police, now, to make it safe for him | to talk. ** We'll show them whether they can murder us or not. One would think they Own all the world and that we have no Tight in it, but we'll show them about that. | Paris will be lying in ruins before the flowers | Our | else, and Harry drew Billy into a cafe where | bloom and the summer winds blow. ‘Vaillant shall be avenged!” ** Yes, yes, so it shall!” ** Better have a care how you talk about it,” | cautione| Harry. Both the desperate-looking men turned upon him instantly, eying him sharply, and one demanded: ** Who and what are you?” *‘One in sympathy with the cause,” Harry answered. | Other eyes besides those of the two men | were upon them, and several men hemmed | them in. ** Where do you come from?” “*I come/ from London, my friend from New York.” “What proof can you give for what you claim? We take no man’s bare word.” * Would you expect us to carry badges of distinction around with us? What do you take us for?” | As stated, Billy and Harry had been en- joying the opening of the carnival, and Were in semi-disguise, and they had nothing about them to reveal their identity. “Well, come with us and we will see whether you are what you claim to be or not. There is one way of finding out, and that is by putting you to thetest. If you are Anarchists you are ready.” ** We are ready,” Harry coolly declared. Broadway Billy would have hesitated about getting mixed up with these fellows, but Harry had sprung the trap suddenly up- on him. “You have got us in for it now, Harry, sure enough,” he said in English, ina guard- ed tone. ** Just where we want to be, Billy.” on Le so?” “If they are going to blow up Paris, we ‘want # hand in it.” He spoke loudly enough for the men to hear, and watched to note whether they understood his words or not. Segre they did not. “What is that you are saying?” one of the rough fellows demanded. “Tsay if you are going to blow up Paris, we wantto have a hand in it, was all,” Harry translated. Working people who had tarried at the Place de la Roquette were hastening to their respective places of labor, and little atten- tion was paid by any one to these seditious remarks. ' ** If that was what you said it’s all right,” the worst of the desperate-looking fellows growled, ** but we can’t swear to it. How- ever. we'll see. Say no more, and do not follow us, but cometo Rue de la -—, No. 382, in an hour, if you want to do anything for Anarchy.” “ We'll be there.” They were af at a corner, and the two men tu into andther street. Billy and Harry continued on their way, to France, and have made yourself solid with Monsieur Lepine, the prefect of police.” ‘*That’s all right.” ‘* And it’s all right for me to to want a gather in a bag-full of victims for my offer- ing. There is going to be more trouble, sure as you live.” ‘‘T knew you couldn't keep out. We'll work it together, if you say so. But, here's, a chance for breakfast.” They had money with them, if nothing the smell of rich coffee and hot rolls made their mouths water, after the long, chilling night. The cafe was one of the poorer sort, but that made no difference. It was well filled, and none of the tables being entirely vacant, Harry and Billy sat | ‘* What do | Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers. guess, sir,” Harry answered, now in French. ‘* Weare Anarchists, and here is my hand.” ‘*] thought you could not speak French.” ‘*T did not think it prudent to do so, just coming from the scere of the execution, _ Monsieur Breton.” Here you have work- | Iam going to | ‘Ha! you know me, then?” ** You are a writer for the Parti Sccialiste, and your likeness has been in the press. It was you who said that if Monsieur Carnot approved of the death of Vaillant nobody would pity him if his wooden carcass was dislocated by a bomb.” ‘*Chut! do you not know the police are after me for that very remark? But, who and what are you, and your friend?” ‘Well, I’m with you, since you are in | | earnest.” ‘‘T have told. you what we are. I am | from London, while my friend here is from down at once at atable where two men were | sitting. The moment they sat down Harry gave Billy a signal. It was that they should speak only Eng- lish. the tableas an Anarchist leader, and thought he might learn something. Billy caught on at once, anc fell in with the plan readily. He and Harry had been New York. We expect to be at Rue de la ——, 32, in an hour.”’ ‘What did I tell you?” and M. Breton turned to his companion. ‘“ You seem to have guessed it,” the re- sponse. ‘* What is your name?’ M. Breton asked. “My name is Henri Coutant, and that of my friend is William Mast—” ‘‘Ha! you are some relation to Herr Mast?” interrupted Breton, addressing Billy in English. ‘*He is my uncle,”- Billy promptly an- | swered. His hand was taken and warmly wrung, _after which Breton introduced his compan- ion as Emile Henry, a stanch friend of the | cause. He had recognized one of the twomen at The four then fell into confidential conver- sation. ‘‘I tell you we are going to make Paris "weep for the death of Vaillant,” declared M. together su long, now, that they understood | _** They say the debt shall be paid at the rate each other thoroughly. The waiter came immediately, and Harry addressed him in English. The fellow shook ns head. ‘* Don't you speak French?” asked the man ; Harry had recognized as an Anarchist whose picture he had seen in the papers. ‘‘Not a word,” answered Harry, ‘‘and we haven’t our conversation book with us. [If you will help us out, you will greatly oblige us.” ‘* With pleasure.” | ' ' Breton most emphatically. ‘“* So others are saying,” responded Harry. of a thousand for one. We are here to aid our brothers in the work, even to the death, if need be.” When all had finished their breakfast they paid the score and set forth in company for the Ruede la , No. 32. The place proved to be a narrow street in a low quarter, and the designated number was a building of particularly forbidding ap- pearance, being dark and frowning in front. There was little sign of life about the Billy and Harry stated their wants, which | place, were translated to the Waiter, who went off immediately with a smiling face. ; . M. Breton opened a door with a pass-key, and the four passec in, the door being care- Harry thanked the ntin opposite him, and } fully closed after them. at once began talking to Billy in a common- | place way, and finally mention was made of the execution in the Place de la Roquette. “Ha! did you witness that?” the Anar- chist asked. “‘Should say ** Tt was horrible.” ‘* Yes, a horrible murder,” the Anarchist emphasized. ‘‘ But, wait.” A dim light was burning in the hallway in which they found themselves, and proceed- ‘ing along this hall, they came to a staircase | which they descended to along, low room His manner spoke as loudly as his words, | and he turned to his companion and contin- ued his conversation with him. ‘*These two are English, or American,” he said. them. And, I am not sure that they are not with us in our work for the cause.” “1 doubt it,” the other disputed. ** We shall find out, if they are present at Rue de la ——, 82.” When the man bad said this, Harry reach- ed his hand across the table to him, yet with- out speaking. CHAPTER IIL IN CLOSE QUARTERS. Bota the men looked at Harry, and from him to Billy, yet without speaking, Harry still eons’ his ve hy ‘What do:you mean?’ the last speaker finally demanded. He spoke in English. ‘You have made no mistake in your : ) underground, we did,” answered Billy. | Here were a number of lights, and through the smoky air it could be discerned that about forty men were present. A cheer greeted their entrance. ‘* It is the bold Monsieur Breton!” cried one. ‘‘ Monsieur Breton, who dares to speak in | black and white!” ‘‘We have nothing to mind in| ‘** Long live Monsieur Breton!” The socialistic writer responded with a | wave of the hand, and introduced his new acquaintances, when the two desperate-look- ' . ' : | ing men whom Billy and Harry had first en- countered came forward. ‘‘ What did I say, Pierre Marchaunt?” one demanded of his-companion. ‘“‘ Did 1 not say they would prove all right? Monsieur Breton, do you vouch for them?” ‘* Certainly I do, Jacques Gallichon. [I have heard of Henri Coutant, and we all re- cognize the name of Mast.” ‘“‘ What is more, you may look for twenty while | others from London in a short time,” added Harry. ‘**Long live Anarchy!” There was a cheer, at that, which, how- ever, was quickly suppressed. “* You have the accursed police dowm > ¢ < OY iy & “a in 900KS.com 5 z = & = —