Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 881 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

’ . ‘ : ; 9 ee eee oe ee / ' A ee ean take life easy.” \s he taus soliloquized, he was walking about the office, peering with a boy’s curtos:ty into whatever attracted his attention. Passing be- hind the screen, he looked out of the window in- | toa brick-paved area, back of which was an- other wing of the building. As he stood there steps were heard, and some one hastily entered the room. Billy, thinking it washis new-made friend, was about to show him- self, when he paused as the sound of a voice reached his ear. The tones were familiar to him, but they were not those of Harry Weston. Yet he had heard then: somewhere very re- cently, though just where he could not remem- ber. ** Nobody here yet, eh? Weston is not a very early bird. However, it is better so, for 1 want the coast clear. Come in, Jenkins.” Harry started at this name. He knew the voice now. It was that of the man up in Madi- son Square who had sworn vengeance on Harry Weston! The shrewd boy, who bad been on the point of showing himself, drew back, Here was some- thing interesting. He must hear this thing out. The second man, who now entered, was the slouching reprobate who had been put on the track of the lovers. The lurking boy found a smal! break in the screen through which he was able to survey the two persons in the outer “Now,” cried the first speaker, angrily, ** make short work of it. I told you never to come here. [f you show yourself in this office again, I'll have nothing more to do with you.” ** Don’t get rily, boss,” answered Jenkins, with a leer. ‘‘I ginerally go ’most where I want, and I rayther guess you best not git on the hichstrikes with me. If l’dlet my cat outer the bag, vou mought git scratched,” ‘**1 don’t fear you, you rascal!” exclaimed the | other, but Billy could see that his face turned a shade pele. ‘“‘ You may save your threats. Come to the point at once. You watched that pair?’ ** Like a cat artera mouse.” ** And what did you learn?” “| didn’t learn enough to build a house on. They were kinder cool and scratchy, it looked to me. They kept in the Park and sot ona Tnillionaires? Them’s the only kind of people | towin her! Turkey Billy. He started to walk like a caged lion up and down the office, muttering in angry tones: “Ob! ain’t you a precious pair of ducks!” queried the screen spy to himself, as he watcbed the irate merchant. ‘‘ Who'd ever thought I'd drop Gown on a jub like this? Jenkins knows too much, hey? Wonderif I badn’t best pump Jenkins? l’d like to know too much as well as him. If I did I bet ’d make you squeal!” ‘*Harry Weston is in my way! He must be removed!” hissed the irate man. “Tl have that woman if I have to dare the State Prison Whatshal/ ldo? Letmesee.” He walked on,seemingly lost in thought. ‘** Oh!” he cried impatiently. ‘*‘ 1 must get out in the air, I cannot think in this close room, He sha]l be ruined, buc I must do itsafely. Yes, ruined! Thatis the game for me to play and it shall be played!” Thrusting his hat upon his head he left the room, His steps could be heard traversing the hall to the street-door. Assoon as he was fairly gone, Billy left his lurking-place and sprung out into the middic of tke floor, his eyes danc. ing. ** Bully for our side!’ he cried gayly. ‘‘ If I ain't gettin’ the best beans out of that kettle of soup, there’s no usetalkin’, My eyes, ain't they a lovely pair! it’s lucky for this chicken they didn’t freeze onto my little game, or they’d salted this Turkey’s watties right on the spot! He's going to ruin Harry Weston, ishe? Not if this chicken can put & spoke in his wheel, and this bird is going to do his leve] best!— gobble—gobble—gobble!” ana thé gamin emit- ted so perfect an imitation ot the tom-turkey- gobbler that any one hearing it would have sworn a real gobbler was in the room. Billy seated himself in his favorite attitude on his box, dropped his chin into his hands, and lost himself so deeply in thought that he failed to hear a coming step. The new-comer entered the outer offce, and gazed with surprise upon its occupant. ‘* Hillo!” he exclaimed. ‘“* Oh, it’s Billy the The boy looked up hastily. ‘* Good-afternoon, Mr. Weston!” he saluted. ** Good-morning, isn’t it?” ‘*My mornin’ begun siz hours ago! | folks sort of take it easy.” bench thar, keepin’ as fur apart as lam from | you.” “Is that so?” “T ain’t much on the lie, Mr. Morton,” ** Wasthere nothing more?” “Wal, Il reckon. What I see’d was cnly a bit ofa hurrycane. Arter while the wind went down and they sneaked closer together, till Shey £08 sniggered up all in a heap like.” ‘+ a 7 Mr. Morton’s face grew red. ““An’ jist as they was ‘bout ter leave, they looked round ‘em kinder sly and sheepy; and ** Wal, somethin’ went off like a fire-cracker. | Iswow if he didn’t buss that gal right afore company! Don’t s’pose knowed I was thar lyin’ low.” **] wish I’d been there to fling mudin your eyes,” said Turkey Billy, to himself, in disgust. ** You’rea sneaking cur, that’s what you are.” ** Did be kiss her? [s that what you mean?” asked Mr, Morton impatiently. ** My Dictionary says buss, but you kin call it kiss if you like. I jedge it’s "bout ther same thing.” The man strode angrily up and down the office, with clinched hands and biting his lips. * Anything more?” he asked shortiy. “Guess that’s "bout the sizeof it. That were a good-by buss. They got up and shot out dif- ferent ways. That’s all I seed ” “Very well, Jenkins, That wil! do, Now get out and don’t come back here again. he’d ‘a’ done it if he’d | | he said to himself. **So, young man, that’s the way you begin business, by calling me to account, eh?” ** [reckon if I take hold of this enterprise folks have got to be spryer than this.” “Pm afraid.of you, you young martinet!” laughed Mr. Weston. You | ‘**i’m only a clerk, but I | suppose you'll be going for Mr. Morton, my em- | ployer, next.” ‘*Goin’ for Mr. Morton? Just bet your bot- tom dollar on that, I’m goin’ for him worse than a blizzard fora Kansastown. When! get done with him you can draw him through a key- hole.” ‘* What do you mean?” asked Weston, struck by sorae hidden meaning in the boy’s tone. ** Never you mind what! here to take that job of cashier that you prom- ised.” ‘*I'm afraid we can’t put you on just yet as | cashier,” laughed the youngman. ‘* How would office-boy suit as a beginning?” “Allright. ‘Most anything. lar, What's the emoluments?” ‘*? fear | shall have to give you a week’s trial first, my lad. Wecan fix the wages when wesee what you are worth.” ‘What ’'m worth? Why, I'm worth my weight in gold! Put meonand Ill show you my caliber.” Mr. Weston looked at the handsome and in- telligent face and the well-knit form of the lad, I ain't particu- 3 : and I'm going to make the dust fly while it lasts.” At this moment Mr. Morton, wko had re- turned from his walk, entered the room. As he did so be broke into a choking cough, spcttering and swearing. ‘** What the deuce does this mean? What are you af, boy? Drop that brush, or I'll brain He snatched the brush from Billy’s hand and flung it angrily across the room. The boy turned and looked at cally. ( : the dust,” he said, *‘ so I’ve been tryin’ it for them.” ‘** Blast ycur eyes, it’s enough to choke an ele- phant! And what's this?” he continued, laying bis hand on the bootblack’s box. “< f you try no monkey-shines with that!” don’t let {t's a Dou’t warned Billy, hastily seizing it. ‘I nobody t ‘ fool with that bank. specially chartered instertution—it is.” '** What are you doing here? Who told you to iso that brush? Get ovT!” é ** Ain’t you kisad of previous, old Mortuary? I'm left here torun this shanty, and I can’t say mt me + as I want any help. if you're after the job you'd bestslide. You won’t suit.” ‘* Why, you impudent rascal—-” ? " ’ ¥ ‘* Take a seat ard afan,and cool off a bit! said Billy, seating himself and flinging a palm- leaf over to the now thoroughly incensed mer- chant. “I ain’t got no ice-water handy, but if you’ve come in to talk business, peg away.” Mr. Morten fairly gasped with rage as he looked at the impudent intruder. Overcome for the moment by his emotions, he dropped into a chair and grasped its rounds flercely with his hands. *That’s right,” encouraged the lad. what can I do for you, Mr.—” ‘“* Whatcan you do for me?’ The angry man fairly burst into a langh in the stress of his emotions, but if was a savage laugh, ‘** What can you do forme? Why, you can get out of here with your box inside of two minutes, or you'll bave a crack in your skull that won’t be easy mended,” **'Won’t you take a shine?” queried Billy. ** Polish them up nobby fora dime. Hist your continuations on this box, and lll rattle you off in a jiffy! ‘You puppy! ll) rattle you off!’ cried the furious merchant, springing up and seizing the Jong- handled brush. Billy darted behind the table and stood on the defensive with his box. Mr. Morton made a furious blow at his head, which he deftly par- ried. At this juncture Mr, Weston entered the office, and looked with surprise at the scene be- a . ** Now, fore him. ‘* What is the matter?’ he demanded, “ What | has the boy been doing?” I just toddled down | Under the spirit of mischief in Billy’s eyes he | could see indications of energy and intelligence. | ““The boy bas the making of a man in him,” | “this room is dusty. Take the brush yonder, If I want | you I'll seek you at the old place, 17 Hazey | street.” “Git out? Yes, arter you shell out. What sort er coon are you, takin’ me fur?” “This will pay you,! fancy,” putting some money into hishand. ‘ Hurryout, now; I don’t went Weston to see you here.” There was not much haste in Jenkins’s move- ments, as he slouched in bis usual manner out of the room. He acted very much as if he had the whip-tand of Mr. Morton. and go over it carefully. I am goins out again, but will be back in half an hour.” ‘*T reckon I can let you off that long,” an- ‘* Here, Billy,” be remarked, | swered the gamin, looking at the clock, and | seizing the brush he began operations witha vim that soon filled the room with a cloud of dust. | Mr. Weston hastened out, flying from the vigor | | it bad long settl Toe latter watched him with angry im-| tieace. “Confound the hound!” he exclaimed. ‘I'd ve a cool thousand to be rid of him, He wes too much!” of his young lieutenant. Round and round the room went the boy, making the dust fly from many a corner where ed undisturbed. Stumbling over bis box, he picked it up and planted it in the center of the table<lesk that occupied the middle of the floor. “You stick there,” he said. “ Maybe I'm done with you, and maybe | ain't. I’ve got a sneaking notion that I won’t hold this job long, sion, blast him!” roared the ‘What is he doing here? Did you ‘*Taking mercbant. bring him?’ “Yes. He is my new effice-boy.” ‘““IJshe? Well, he is a jewel.” ‘** You bet I’m a jewel,” retorted Billy. “‘I'm a whole string of diamonds. I’m a bushel bas- ketful of rubies. I’m a sugar-barrel of pearis. But I’m going to throw up my situation. The weather is too sultry ’rourd here for me, I started to raise a dust, but didn’t calculate to kick up such a cloud asthis. Good-by. I’moff. I don’t think 'm cut out for a brush cashier.” The two men looked after him in astonish- ment as the boy sailed independently out of the | room. CHAPTER III. THE TURKEY TAKES BED AND BOARD. “You won't mind sayin’ over ag’in how much a week's your tariff?’ ‘“‘Suore, an’ ye can have it fur a dollar the week in advance, or two dollars if ye pay arter- wards.” ‘* Ain't that a big difference, Mrs. Malone?” “I'll tell yiz this: Most chaps like you take the two-dollar plan, and pay me wid a sight o’ their heels afore the week’s out: soif I'd ax tin dollars ’d-be sorry a ha’porth tbe better off,” The speakers were our friend, Billy Burke, and an ancient Irish lady, mistress of the house, No, 17 Hazey street, New York, out of which she made a living by subletting its rooms, The room about which they were cbhaffering was a narrow cell, hardly wide enough for a shake down, and with the plaster fallen in large patches from its walls and ceiling. “Faith, if that’s the way, I'd take the once