Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 886 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

and what the boy is.” t happen?” n't know, but I’ve had an awful lot of fie. Lremember being with my own folks men J was young, but somebody took me away. I lived over on Avenue A until Monk Merry took me,” ‘* W hat’s his objick?” ‘‘He never would tell me, but I overheard him say to a man that I was a mine of money.” sé Hum’ ? “1 think he means to make somebody pay for me, ‘*T speck so, but he don’t want ter give no receipt fur the money until he’s counted it. He may not gitit. We are on deck, my frien’, an’ liable ter upset their plans alarmin’,’ Kell gave his head a sharp nod, and his air was so confident that Vincent brightened up a good deal, but the Prodigy was far from feeling as cheerfui as he acted. He wandered back into the hall and took an- other look at Nicolo, and then made a journey to the front room. These natural, but useless, eee were kept up during the hours that followed, princi- ly because Kell was nervous. The expected call from Mrs. Pride did not come, and the boy could only infer that she thought he had tired of his task and run away. Nicolo did not remain in the hall all the time but he kept the door cf his room open, and Kell noticed that the slightest sound down-stairs brought the Italian out, after which he would peer over the balusters and listened sharply. Kell remained a prisoner, practically, and he watched in vain for Mrs. Belden to appear. As the afternoon wore away he was forced to be- lieve that his messengers had played him false, or that the lady did not intend to answer the summons, _ After along sleep Monk Merry awoke. He rubbed his discolored eyes and looked around stupidly. Kell was in the front room, and Monk did not remember meeting him there, at all, so Vincent escaped questioning. Monk had an unnatural thirst upon bim, and he was uot long in taking steps to satisfyit. He went down the first flight of stairs, and was about to proceed further when Nicolo showed that he was duly watchful. He suddenly dodged out into the hall, and he and Monk stood face to face. The recognition was mutual, but neither spoke at once. Monk looked troubled; the Italian was evidently as radically pl ; _ ** We meet!” he finally exclaimed. ‘‘ Good! I am glad.” ‘** Don’t know ye, mister!” growled Monk, try- ing to pass. Wait! I would have a word with you. Where is the boy?” He had caught Monk by the button, but the ragged man shook off his hold roughly. ** Don’t know no boy,an’don’tknow you. Git out o’ my way!” Nicolo remained in his path, ana kept his com- ure admirably. ‘‘ Wriend, be not hasty,” he urged. ‘‘I know ou will not throw away two dollars to get one, There ig money in the boy. You and I know it. You have him, and hope to make money, but you can do nothing alone, With me and m friends at your back, all things can, and shall, be done, and riches shall be ours, Don’t reject my offer; don’t reject the power that can hel you. Look you! the boy is up-stairs, now, can take him by force if I will, but Iam no robber. Come into partnership with me, and we will win together.” Nicolo spoke rapidly, but with a measure of peenen not usual tohim, It was plain that 6 wished to convince Merry, and he had made an impression, The listener regarded him ear- ag ted ‘‘ Kin you do all you claim?” he asked, ‘ Sefior, I can.” ‘How ?” ** Come into my room and I will explain—no; let us go up-stairs. We are too near the ground ' floor, and somebody might listen. Has any one else a room up-stairs?” ‘No, but my room ain’t fit fur company—” ‘‘ We will talk in the hall,’ returned Nicolo uiet smile showing that he understood Monk’s elumsy evasion. ‘‘Come!” He took Merry’s arm, and led him a captive, and not wholly a willing one, to the ya hall, Curly Kell nearly closed the door of his room, and prepare to listen. ; ‘‘Wriend,” the Italian went on, rapidly, ‘‘ we must be allies; let us be frank. You know who mar It was not a question, but an assertion, yet _ Monk slowly answered: s “Curly Keli, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. cc Yes,” PR uy you ever hear of the Sons of the Stilet- éé Yes.” ‘* 'W hat are they?” ‘“Ks I hear it, they was a secret serciety in Europe, which worked its way into a perlitikel pie, thar, an’ become the men what did secret work for the politicians, but the scheme failed, the leaders kicked out the Sons of the Stiletto; an’ then the Sons give Europe the slip, came ter America, an’ exist here asa body wholly sepa- rate from politics,” ‘Right! But,” Nicolo darkly added, *‘ those who kicked us out have paid dearly for it— how, f will notsay. But if morerecentattempts in Europe at political agitation and liberty had had us back of them, the result would have been very different. Hnough of this; the Sons of the Stiletto now owe allegiance to no one but themselves, They number many men and wo, men, make much money, and are all-powerful Woe unto those who incur their anger!” nA see! I see!”” Monk exclaimed, ‘t But erbout iz ‘‘It is in my power to take the boy away from hays forcibly, but you have earned a re- ward by getting and keeping him when he was all adrift. Join me im this plan, giving me equal preprietorship in the boy, and you shall have one thousand dollars,” Monk’s eyes glittered greedily. ‘*An’th band will see that we git it?” ‘6 Yes.” ‘* When?” ** To-night!” **Tt's a bargain!” Nicolo grasped the speaker’s hand. ‘‘Bnough bas been said, After this, work is the word. I do not hesitate to say that the boy’s father will be here within two hours, Before midnight,” the Son of the Stiletto darkly ac led, ‘‘ the boy will be the only one of the family that need interest us!” CHAPTER XVI. BEAUCLARE ENTERS THE TRAP. HAVING arrived at an amicable understand- ing, Monk and Nicolo went dcwn-stairs and had a drink in the latter’s room of liquor which the Italian had slong with him. Curly Kell felt that more of interest would be said, and tried to overhear it, but they were not where their words were audible. Neither was chance given for him to make his escape from the house, When in the front room Kell had noticed that the wall between that and the rear room was dilapidated and cracked, and as niente was close at band, and a view of Vincent might be very im- portant, be went back to see what the means of observation were. He found that the partition was only one of a single line of boards, and the wallpaper pasted upon it was broken in several , At a crisis, he F ieved he could burst the boards away. . This he was w sing to do for Vincent's sake, though he was sensible enough to see how weak his efforts would be against the men, Once more he went to the window and looked eagerly for Mrs. Belden, but there was no sign of her, The ae Mt ah delay had grown wearisome and discouraging. He could only decide that his messenger bad proved faithless, and that he would not see her at all. Just as the day was waning he heard move- ments on the stairs which betokened the ascent of a woman, and he peered out curiously. | He had a fresh shock when he recognized the person who had given the name of Madame Lapierre. ell aware that, at that moment, Nicolo was down-stairs and Monk in his own quarters, Kell ran to a good point cf observation in the broken wall to see what would occur next. He was treated to a dramatic tableau. Madame Lapierre had paused at the door, and was calmly looking at Vincent and trea The latter had risen and was looking at ber in consternation. He was speechless, and, alter waiting awhile, she srailed scornfully and broke the silence; ‘“‘Perhaps you would like to run again, my me) * 4 speak onk did not change his position, or . **'You beat me ont at the lod g-house, but only because I did not know what cards were in our hand,” she added. ‘This time I know he s here!” She pointed to Vincent. ‘*T'd like ter know,” cried Monk, flushing with anger, ‘‘what business you hev ter come here?” My business is with you.” — 13 ‘“T don’t want to see you, an’ you kin get out: as soon as you please. Skip!” Monk advanced threateningly, but stopped short when Madame Lapierre suddenly drew a revolver. ‘* Did you wish to see me?” she calmly asked, Merry scowled savagely. Some women could not have frightened him with a revolver, but he made no mistake in the Frenchwoman; he knew that she had abundant nerve, and suspected that she could send a bullet straight to the mark. ‘* T’ll have you arrested!” he stormed, ‘* No, you won’t, that would put you in the soup, so to speak. The police would get their hands on this boy, and your case would be set- tled.' Better be wise, and meet me as a friend,” ‘* What do you want?” ‘*‘ Possession of the boy.” ‘What fur?” ‘**To put him in a quiet retreat. ** Guess you’re on the off side o’ the ace, ‘*T certainly don’t want him to go to France, and he shall not go.” ‘“You speak pretty confident, seems ter me.” ‘Look you, Merry, you and I need not quar- rel, I have my plans, and they are going through. The only question is, will you be dum on the rocks entirely, or wil you come in with me and share the money I am sure to make. Take your choice at once!” Monk looked at ber in uncertainty and be- wilderment. He was willing to join hands with some one, in order to make money out of Vin- cent, for he was well aware that the case was too deep tor him to handle alone, but he did not see how he was to be the ally of all these persons who were applying for a chance, He was helped out of his dilemma when the door again opened and Nicolo came in quietly. Madame Lapierre retreated a step and raised her revolver, but the Italian smiled and spoke in a soft tone: , ‘‘Be at ease, dear lady; we are all friends here,” ‘‘ How do you know we are?” she retorted. ‘* Because our interests are alike.” ‘* How do you know that?” ‘*T have listened at the door!” 4c S y ) py } Nicolo put out a deprecating hand. ‘‘ Amiable lady, do not misunderstand me,” he gently returned, ‘‘ Far be it from me to do what is wrong, but I have my own interests to defend. In this case, we three—you and I, and worthy Mr, Merry—all have a common aim. i: Fl we pull against each other?” is hy should we pull together?” Lapierre re- ‘‘ Because union means success; contention means failure. There is money to be made if we manage the matter rightly, but lack of har- mony will ruin all. Suppose we quarrel? What then? There will be trcuble; the police will come into the case; the identity of acertainchild will be established. How, then, can we make money by keeping him from sight?” For once, Nicolo was in earnest, is manner convinced Madame Lapierre, and after some hesitation, she consented to sit down and talk with the Son of the Stiletto. | Their voices became so low—they wished to be unheard by Vincent—that Cay ell could dis- tinguish nothing, nor was he disposed to stop and listen. Believing that he hada chance to leave the house, he determined to go out and no- tify the police at once. He went as far as the head of the stairs, and then stopped short. ‘ ae second Italian was on guard in the hall elow. Cobwebs retreated to the front room, seized aper and pencil, and hurriedly wrote these nes; “To vam Potice:—There is a Murderus Skeem bein’ hatched in This hous, iff the offisers would save Life Let them cum ab yunce. Them Who is « in it is Nicolo Mazzeo, Monk merry and Maddam lapier. Proof will be Giv iff you will cum. but the riter can’t git owt. Help! J. KELLAR.”’ So far all was well, but it was another matter to get a policeman to respond to the call, He isnot up and down the street for one in vain. Twilight had come and passed; darkness was. gathering, and but few persons were on the side- walks. For several minutes he watched for a blue- coated officer, and then, growing nervous, called to a small boy who chanced to pause below ‘‘ Will yer take this letter to a perleeceman?” ‘¢ What fur?” was the reply. ‘Because it’s important. ’ ‘Ef you says so, I will.” It was an indifferent reply, but it was all Kell could hope for, and he dropped the letter. The, boy picked it up lazily and sauntered away, aoe)