Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 881 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ‘You ain’t, eh? Don't you want a shine, mister? I'll give you a jolly one for half price, and won't And it'll take a good deal to polisa you up.” ‘*Slide while your skin’s whole—yovu and your polish.” ‘‘ You'll get a shine, then, Mister Man, free gratis for nothing, for Im going to take the | Pm going in | shine out of you the worst way. to see Mr. Weston, and don’t you forget it.” He turned and walked away, leaving the gate- keeper wondering what his impudent visitor meant. What Billy meant was precisely what be had said, and he was the boy to carryit out. He proceeded directly to Mr. Plum’s office, and ob- tained an interview with that gentleman, who had already received his note. He told him in few words what had happened. ‘*1t’s Morton that’s blocked up the jail ag‘in’ me, I'll bet a cow on that,” declared Billy, af- ter he had completed the story of his late ex- perience. why.” ‘** What is your notion?” ** Just this: thing, and he’s let the cat out of the bag to Morton. In consequence that robbery trap’s been sprung, and he’s been yanked off to prison, and an order’s been given that nobody's to see | ! | sudden renewal of excitement. ‘“‘I have dis- | face of the street. But it wasto hima matter ° Turkey Billy. | covered where Miss Brown isimprisoned. That | ‘barge nothing extra for polish. | is why lam here, My lawyer is out seeking bail. I must get out before night. I | fear she may be removed.” “That is why we are here,” rejoined the de- tective calmly. ‘* Leave that matter tome. I am better fitted to deal withit than you. Tell me what you have learned and I will take your place in the work of rescue.” “We will,” corrected the Turkey. a finger in that pie.” ‘* Yes; we will,” rejoined Mr. Plom, with a laugh. ‘“* Let us bave your story, Mr. Weston.” Harry proceeded to describe his adventure of the morning, and to give his reasons for being sure that be bad discovered the location of the missing girl. He was not sure of the exact “lve got ' house, it is true, but gave the location of the ‘*And I’ve got a notion / know | Mr. Weston has found out some- | bim. What Morton wants is to stave us off til] | night, so as he can have a chance to work.” ** Well, and what do you propose?” = “For you and me to go to the Tombs to-| gether. They can’t block you out, and I want that smart coon to see me walk in before his | squint eyes.” ‘*Good,” cried the detective, with a laugh of | | two hours to work in since the arrest of hisclerk, amusement. ‘* You’re no fool, my boy. And it may be that you've hit the mark. rate, it is important to see Mr. Weston at once, At aby ; Taking his hat, and exchanging his office coat | for a street coat, Mr. Plum led the way, bidding Billy to follow, Half an hour brought them to the Tombs. Here Mr. Plum met with a very different recep- tion from tbat lately given to his companion. | He was well known, and no objection was made | other. to bis entrance. ** But this boy can’t go in.” “Why? ** Orders.” ** Whose orders?” ***lhe prosecutor’s, given to the warden.” **Does Ae control the city prison’ What right has Ae to send such orders! 1 want this boy. He must goin with me.” “ Thatisa different matter, Mr. Plum. But we don’t open our doors to every bootblack.” ‘**Not for a shine, hey?’ demanded Billy, thrusting his tongue into his cheek as he passed the gatekeeper. “I told you | was guing to take the shine out of you, and I reckon | hore /” “Maybe you have, boy; but, don’t brag. It | won't pay.” Turkey Billy looked up in the face of the | sturdy gatekeeper with a change of expression. ‘“Maybe it won't,” be admitted. “It’s the dogs that bark and bite both that’s worth money. Them that's al! bark ain't of mach ac- count.” ‘* And the best dogs are them that bite before they bark,” rejoined the keeper. Billy walked on after the detective, thinking over this bit of worldly wisdom. Every door of the prison opened readily before the **‘Open Sesame” of the detective, and very g00n they were in the cell occupied by Harry W eston. They found him full of indignation and in a high state of excitement. **I am bere on a villainous ch clared hotly to the detective. “ done it. the books; and why?! to put me out of bis way: to rob me of my betrothed, the infamous scoundrel |” ‘*This is easily said, Mr. Weston. prove it?” “That may be difficult,” admitted Harry, with a Show of dejection. “He has laid his trap well. And | have been too careless and trusting, or | would have discovered long ago that the books were being meddled with.” e, he de orton bas “You have been too full of love to attend to | business, | fear. Nocareful bookkeeper should bave let such a thing escape him. The affair looks awkward, Mr. Weston.” “| fear it does,” answered Harry dejectedly. “But is there any l reason why you have been arrested to one which seemed to him most suspicious, ‘* This is importantinformation, Mr. Weston,” The villain somehow knew | of it, and bad me sent here. of life and death, and he set his teeth desperate- ly as he clung on with all the strength in his flesh and bones. Fully a mile was passed in this difficult posi- tion. Then the carriage turned the corner of 4 street so abruptly that the boy’s hold gave way and he was flung violently to the pavement. He was bruised by the fall, yet in an instant he wasupand in pursuitagain. He was wearied, sore, nearly worn out, yet with anyielding grit he held on to the pursuit. And progress was now more difficult,as the pavement here was more crowded. They had now reached a much less aristocratic part of the city. As the carriage swung round a corner into | apother street a block In advance, a sense of | despair came upon the boy’s beart. Should he No, not while he could move one foot When he could run no longer he He give up! after another! ) would walk on the track of that carriage. | would win or die in the traces, said the detective. ‘‘I shall act upon it at once. | | And I have the best of hopes, from what you | say, of the speedy release of the kidnapped pris- oner.” ‘* And just you keep a stiff upper lip,” broke in Billy. ‘* Morton thinks he’s got you railed, but maybe l’ve got an eye-opener for him, Wait till they bring you up before the judge. I'm going to be thereand have something to say then.” That work was necessary was very evident. Four or five hours bad passed from the time when Weston had heard the call for help from He gained the corner of the street into which the carriage bad last turned. As he looked quickly down it a sudden gush of hope replaced the despair in his beart. The carriage had drawn up. There it stood, about half a block down the street, while the two men were carry- ing what seemed a heavy package from it into | an adjoining bouse. the Thirty-seventh street window to that in | | which the detective and the boy left the prison with this information. and an alert villain might have done much in that time. Ss ‘* We must get to work at once,” declared Mr. Plum, ‘“* There is no time to be lost. Do you take the Elevated and hurry up to the spot | named by Mr. Weston. Keep a sharp lookout there till lcome. I must get a search-warrant to prevent trouble.” e hurried away in one direction, Billy in an- | the stepsof the Elevated Road acarriage dashed | across the street right m front. | : He looked at it casually, when, what was bis surprise to see the well-known face of Jerry Jenkins on the box be- side the driver! To see was to act. In a moment the Shine- ‘am-up Detective was plunging down the street a* bis utmost speed, in full pursuit of the car- riage. Seeking the sidewalk for better footing, he kept up his pursuit, darting in and out among the promenaders with the agility of an eel. More than one hasty exclamation was made, as the gamin brushed hastily past some quiet walker, but it was all lost on him, That car- | riage was in his mind, and he bad no room for thoughts of anything else. | Just what was in the carriage he had not He has tampered with and changed | Can you | y? Billy bere thinks| This was no easy stopped tothink. It was coming from the di- Morton had had at least | —— Less than balf an hour found the alert | | boy in Thirty-seventh street. As he descended | This package was long and slender, and close- ly swathed in a covering of dark cloth, It was of the shape of, but larger than an ordinary woman, but its extra size might be due to the enveloping cloths, That it was the form of Nelly rows the youthful ‘pursuer had nota moment’s doubt, Yet he had lost sight of the carriage for a minute ortwo. Was it possible that this was thesame? One of those men looked like Jerry Jenkins, but he could not be sure at that dis- tance. He hurried up, therefore,and made a closer examination. Yes, there could be no doubt: there were the marks and scratches of his muddy shoes on the freshly-painted springs. Billy, with the instinct of tne detective, looked at the number of the carriage, and took it down on a slip of paper, preferring not to trust to his memory. He then withdrew into a lurking-place and waited developments. Presently the driver , came from the house, took a large bundle from ——— = rection which Mr. Weston bad indicated, and | Jerry Jenkins was on the box. That was enough for him, He must find ovt where that carriage was bound. It would be time enough then to learn what it contained, Billy was a fast runner, and therefore the earriage gained but litile on him, though the horses were kept at good speed. Biock after block was passed in the flight and pursuit. The pursuer’s strength began to fisg and he | ran now with distress, while the carriage was | slowly gaining. One block, a block and a balf, two blocks ahead! was impossible that be should keep up that pace for a hundred yards more. Earnest and eager as he was, he felt impelled to give up the chase, aud dropped suddenly te a walk, utterly broken in wind. Disecouraged and out of spirits, he looked /abead. A sudden hope dawned in bis heart. | The carriage bad we oe also! A street car with a balky horse jammed the street. An altercation seemed to be going on, but at length the jam was broken, making a passage | for the carriage. Itdroveon. Butit had peo an extra ) senger in the interval! Bill | advantage of this stoppage, bis feet on the springs, bis bands firmly ) tehing the rim of the top. position, It needed all his to bold on as the rapidly-driven car- there is.’ : strength Yes, yes,” exclaimed the prisoner, with a/ riage plunged and bounded over the rough sur- eee wee eae And the ardent boy was worn out. It | had taken instant | Billy!" she ejaculated. : d run up with re- | see ye I am; furl thought ye'd quite desarted | gained breath, and was now clinging desperate- | yer old friends,” : | the carriage, and returned with it, He quickly reappeared, and mounted the box, but did not drive away. He sat thus, with reins in hand, for five minutes more. Then Jerry Jenkins made his appearance, apdentered the carriage, which was instantly driven off. The young shadower was jubilant. He bad done a splendid piece of work. He bad no doubt in his mind that the abducted girl had been removed under the influence of some sleep- ing potion from the Thirty-seventh street house and brought to this new den for imprisonment. What would Mr. Plum say when he heard of it? Tois brought the remembrance of the de- tective to Billy’s mind. He had agreed to wait for him at the other den. What would be think? ‘* Well, let him think what he the boy to himself. ‘*I' soon m different, I bet high.” CHAPTER Alli. THE DODGER’S ARTFUL TODGE. WHAT was next to be done? There was no use to wait there anylonger. Nelly Brown was there, and would stay there tili wanted. Yet Billy bung round, with a vague fancy that Morton would make his appearance, and a strong desire to satisfy himself that there was no mistake, that it was really Nelly Brown he had seen carried into the house. A half-bour passed: then a woman left the house and walked down thestreet. Billy looked at her with a startof surprise. He recognized the form of that old Irish lady at sight. She wasa laundrywoman with whom he bad long had an acquaintance, and she bore with her 4 bundle of what probably were soiled clothes. He followed with a new idea. Her residence was not far distant, and, as she entered, Billy followed ber. ‘*The top of the morning to ye, Mother Ca- bill,” he greeted. ‘* Why, bless me two eyes, if it isn’t the boy ‘Sure, an’it’s glad to vleases,” said re bim think “‘Not quite, Mrs. Cabill. You see I'm here ou come out of a house up the wed you.” now. Isaw street, and fo ‘*T wash for mapy of them big folks, whether iiligant custom ye'd bel’ave it or no, and it’s an . - : ee :