Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 881 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Turkey Billy. ii not be ieft in detention a minute more thancould be avoided. On bis way to get the cars Harry passed the uare which Billy Turk made the center point of his business range. There was that young gentleman just putting the finishing touches on a shine. Pocketing bis nickel, he struck across to Mr. Westen with the cry: “Shine ’em up! you! And you've had good luck?’ The shrewd youngster bad read the meaning of Harry’s expression ata glance. “I think so. I believe l’ve hit the spot. Be at Mr. Plum’s office in an hour or so and 1’ll tell you all about it. I must go now.” “Tll be there; you bet on that. Plum and I did some neat work last night. We've got our bull by the horns. Tell you all about it when I see you at Plum’s. Got no time now Shine ‘em! Shine’em up! Who wants a shine?” The boy walked away, calling out his business cry loudly, and leaving Harry amazed by his independence. Continuing his journey, he at length reached the office of ir. F atria He found that geptle- man there, in company with a second personage, a slender, spectacied individual, with whom he was in earnest conversation. He ceased in- stantly on seeing Harry, and gave a sign to the other. “I did not t to see you these two days yet,” he said to Harry, rather coldly. ‘* I may be ready for work again to-morrow,” rejoined Harry, as he unlocked his desk. “Why! Have you learned anything?” “IT have concluded to leave the search to the detective. Iam not fit for that kind of work.” He had ed his desk, and was looking care- fully in one of its drawers. At this moment a messenger-boy entered the office and handed a note to Mr. Morton. This he opened and read hastily, while a marked change of expression came upon his face, “*Ha!l” he cried involuntarily, crushing the note in his hand. He was lost for a momentin thought, and then turned to the boy: “Can you take a message for me?” “ Yes, sir.” ‘Wait a minute then.” He seated himself and dashed off a note rapidly, sealed it.and gave it to the boy. “* Make haste,” he remarked. The boy shot away, while Morton turned to Harry, who had evidently obtained what he came for and was closing his desk. ‘*One moment,” he said in a somewhat stern tone. “Read this letter, Mr. Weston, and tel! me whatit means?” He took a letter from the table and handed it to Harry. The latter examined it carefully, and then looked up. ‘* Wellf asked Morton. ‘‘ How doyouexplain this? There is no entry of the amount on your “He is mistaken, that is all. tone. ‘*Not to my knowledge, at any rate. money did not reach my hands.” ‘* Then how do you explain this—and this?” He opened the cash-book, which lay on the table, and pointed to certain entries. ‘‘ What do these mean, Mr. Weston?’ Harry fixed his eyes closely upon the last item pointed out and examined it carefully for some time. Then he raised bimseif with a puzzled ex- pression on bis face, ‘*T donot know, Mr. Morton. That entry is notin my handwriting. I never madeit, Some- body bas tampered with these books.” ‘Ves. [believethatthoroughly. Thisgentle- man bas been examining them for the last two lays. and they bave certainly Deen tampered with, by —yourself.’ ““ What do yu mean,sir?” cried Harry indig- nantly. ‘Do you dare accuse—” “ f accuse you of improper use of my funds,” retorted Morton. ‘“‘ Your books show a defieit of four thousand dollars wituin the last three montha—Heaven knows how much before! No one but yourself has had access to those books, or bas bandled my money.” “No one!” cried Harry, ‘“* Yes; ome person The bill is not re you sure of that?’ in a very significant The “* Whor “ Yourself.” At this moment an official-looking personage enterei the room. “ You sent for me, Mr. Morton?’ “Yes.” “Por what purpose!” Want a shine?—Hello! it’s | ask for his arrest. | | | | | | — a ees ‘‘T charge this gentleman, Mr. Weston, my | confidential bookkeeper, with robbery, and ave you brought the warrant?” ‘“*[T have. Mr. Weston, you are my prisoner. The hand of the officer fell heavily on Harry’s shoulder. be CHAPTER XI. BILLY MAKES HIS MARK. BILLY did not fail to obey orders, He pre- | sented himself, as directed by Mr. Weston, at the office of the detective about an hour after the time of their encounter. Mr. Plum was now present, and listened with a great deal of interest to what the boy had to say. It was but little,indeed. He could only 2ak of the cheerful and hopeful expression of | r. Weston, and of his remark that he believed he had found the spot in which the abducted lady was held prisoner. But this was news of importance, and the de- tective and his visitor waited with some im- patience for the advent of Weston. In this they were destined to disappointment, An hour passed and hecame not. Another half- hour was added to this, and then the detective began to grow uneasy. ‘*I don’t like this,” said Plum. ‘“‘ Something must have bappened to detain him. A man in his state of mind is not held back by trifles, This must be looked into, You say he probably was bound for Mr. Morton’s office on leaving you?” ‘* That’s what I believe.” ‘‘A bad move. Morton is shrewd and un- scrupulous; Weston confiding and innocent. That man, I fear, bas found out Weston’s secret and played that robbery trick upon him. He bas put Gin out of the way until he can remove Miss Brownego a new hiding-place, This must be looked into,” ‘‘T"]| strike out for Morton’s and find out,” declared the boy.” ‘*Can you?” ‘‘T can try,” answered Billy confidently. ‘1 don’t often get left when I set out for a job.” ‘‘T wish you would,then, I cannot weil leave hers for an hour yet.” Billy lost no time in putting his design into execution. Just how he was to manage was not very clear. His former relations with Mr. Mor- ton were not of a kind to invite confidence on the part of that gentleman. But the shrewd gamin had confidence in his star, and started on his mission without a doubt of success, Finally entering the building, he walked boid- ly into Mr. Morton’s office, with as much assur- ance asif it were hisown place of business, The merchant was present, and started up with an oath on seeing his youthful visitor. ‘* You impudent young rascal!” he cried, “‘do you dare—” ‘* Now, don’t get excited!” interrupted Billy, waving his band in token of amity. “It ain’t good for the nerves to get in such a flutter, I ain’t going to hurt you.” ‘You youngcur! DlUkick you out! What brings you here?” ‘*If you kick all fhe curs you run across, I reckon you'll have a busy time of it,” answered the boy, coolly, “‘if 1 was you, I'd begin by kicking myself first. What brings me here is to see Mr. Weston.” ‘‘Taxe yourself away, ther. He isn’t here,” ‘*— see he isn’t, Ill wait,” and the Shine- ‘’era-up Detective coolly helped himself to a chair, and as coolly deposited his bootblack’s box upon the table. Mr. Morton was red as a beet in the face, and seemed on the point of attempting some deed of violence. But on seeing this box he suddenly checked himself, while a look of perplexity came upon his face. ‘That box! By Heaven, boy, where did you get that box?” ‘Traded off with Jem Jones for an old one and ten cents to boot.” ‘* That box was in my office last night! did you get it?” How : : | i | j | ' | ee ee | the trap so soon, but had been forced to it ! | gazed at him with wicked triumph. ‘‘Mr. Weston? What have you to do with Mr. Weston?” Despite his presence of mind, Billy’s boldness and mysterious threats had brought a shade of pallor to Morton’s face. : ‘*]T want to have a little chat with that gentle- man, that’s all,” ‘‘ I'm afraid you won’t get it, then,” answered Morton, sourly. ‘“‘ Mr. Weston is in prison as a thief. He has been robbing me these six years, and I have had him arrested and locked up. You can see him ten years from now, af- ter he has served his term at Sing Sing.” ‘“‘ Whew!” cried the boy, as the merchant ‘“*That’s kind of rough on Weston! Tell you whaf, P’ll bet you this box I don’t have to wait no ten ears to see him; and Jil bet you all my rushes that you go to Sing Sing before he does —gobble—gobble—gobble !” ‘You insolent young hound!” cried Morton, with new rage. ‘* Leave my office this minute, or—” Heseized and brandished a heavy cane. ‘‘ But I haven’t told you about the box yet?” ‘‘Tell me about it, and at once,” roared the merchant, his curiosity for the moment getting the better of his anger. ‘“‘T left you a little drawing of mine to take its place,” rejoined Billy, coolly adjusting his box and walking toward the door. “ Only a pen- and-ink sketch. I hope you recognized the like- ness.” “You rascal! then it was you? Ill break every bone in your body!” screamed Morton, rushing toward him with the heavy cane trem- bling in his hand. It looked for the momentas if the aggravating boy was in serious danger of a cracked skull or broken bones. But the Turkey was equal to the occasion. . ‘*T haven’t told you how [ got the box yet,” he insisted, stopping in the doorway. ‘* Tell me!” yeiled the irate merchant, brand- ishing the cane over the head of the unmoved boy. ‘* Quick, you rascal, or Pll have you sent to jail for house-breaking and robbery.” “Don’t!” rejoined Billy. “It wouldn’t be healthy, as I said before. I comein and got my box last night, Mr. Morton, whilo you were tak- ing off them false whiskers and washing that brown stuff off your face. And,if you want to send me to prison you can always find me round Madison Square. Here’s my card.” He flung a blacking-box hd on the fioor, Morton fell back with a yery white face at this home - thrust, and the uplifted cane fell from his nerveless grasp, while the gamin with a comical wink, walked with an unconcerned air out of the office. He had decidedly spiked Morton’s guns! Billy gave way to laughter as he walked along the street, ‘‘ Wasn’t that rich and gay!” he said. “I couldn’t helpit,nohow! But, maybe I’ve piayed the fool. He’sscared badly, that’s sure, and the minute he comes to he'll be up to some new game. We must get in our work ahead of him, I’ve got to see Mr. Weston instanter, and find out what he knows.” Obtaining a sheet of paper and an envelope, Billy wrote a few lines to Mr. Plum, telling of what he had learned. This note be gave to a brother bootblack, getting his promise that he would deliver it at once.. He then proceeded toward the Tombs, to obtain the desired inter- view with Mr. Weston. In this. however, he was doomed to dis- appointment. Morton bad been ahead of him. CHAPTER XII. THE scheming mercbant had sent Weston te prison simply to prevent his releasing the ab- ducted women. He had not intended to sprin 499 circumstances. It was now his game to prevent | he had learned to any one elise until the captive | could be removed to another hiding-place. He at ‘*That’s my secret,” answered Turkey Billy. | ; ' por to permit sucta person to hold communi- . “I’m coming out for a sleight-of-band man, and ain’t going to give away any of my | tricks.” ‘**'You were here yesterday morning, listen- ing, and left that box behind you? Tel! me the truth this instant, you young hound, or I'll band you over to the police.” ‘**T wouldn't, if I was you! It mightn’t be healthy. If 1 was to to tell all I know about you, old chap, you’d go to State’s Prison a-kit- ing. So you'd best hold your level! Tell me what you all about the box.” : ain't ou’ve done with Mr. Weston, and I'll tell had therefore sent hasty instructions to the prison warden to admit no boy to Weston’s cell, cation of any kind with him, for important rea- sons. Billy, in consequence, found himself somewhat rudely repulsed, on his apphcation for an inter- view with the prisoner. ‘*I'd like'to know why,” he demanded. ‘It past hours yet, and | reckon I’m a respect able fellow-citizen.” “ You bave po order for admittance, and you ean’t go in. That’s enough,” was the g2t-- keeper's surly answer. “*Come, make, tracks now; I've got no time to waste in talk.”