Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 887 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— “ie - pice a “ - e > > ’ | — > - . 2 Be 1 ~ = - 7 tel ¥ — ae ag = —— _ a. a ch. = ~ ... ee aoe See a oF x sei atte ss > La ™ ee are a — - — rr ar = = 3 = yee. —— ta so — re —_ a ° a“ + ren — * o_o 7 3 ig Pee > aT ee ae ss nF : wn eo — 10 Batter ee city, as soon as our work is.done and in shape, while we wait for the time to act.” “Well?” “T think we'll go to Long Branch. There is a game there, I hear, and [am anxious to tackle it for pastime,” ‘And what of me?” ‘*You need a place to brace up in, and I must see that you do it.”’ ‘‘You are generous, you are, after seeing to it that I have come almost to rags. But, go ahead.” ” ‘* Now, now, that is hard talk, Charley. You never had a better friend than I have been to you, in spite of the big sum you are in my debt. And am I not paving the way for you to pay it?” hile speaking thus, Gibson had folded the paper he had in his hand and returned it to his pocket. He did not, however, replace it in the pocket from which he had taken it, but thrust it in his hip pocket, which was the more con- veniently reached in the position he was sit- a 3 eeing this, a thrill passed through Bat- tery Bob. e meant to make an effort to get that pa- per, even if he got into trouble by so doing! It would be a serious situation for him, if caught in the act, but he was fully convinced that the end justified the means, though he would not have expressed it in the same words. When Gibson withdrew his hand, still talking, his coat caught over the butt ofa revolver which he carried in the same pocket, and was there held, leaving the pocket ex- posed and the tip of the paper visible over the top! Still, it would be risky for Bob. The dock-rat detective immediately reach- ed forth his hand, from the cover of the tree Pee which he crouched, leaning over the tub. , It was a corner of the room, as has been explained, and the table and the chairs had _ an excellent place, ‘‘And when are you going to Long . Branch?” asked Turney. ‘“‘T'm going to run down this afternoon and look at the place,” was the response given. ‘* But you will be back to-night?” ** Possibly.” . “And if you like it we'll go down to- morrow to stay?” ‘* Yes, till your cousin comes of age, and then the fun will begin; or, a few days after.” ‘* You must give me some money, though.” “Not a dollar, Charley. now your weakness, and if I give you money you will drink yourself into such shape that there will be norighting you. Remember, now, that you have promised to be guided by me in this.” . ‘No, I won’t drink a drop—” “1 know you too well, my boy. Not to be trusted. You havea Pee to stay, and everything has been paid for, so you are all right. As soon as the work is done you can go and drown yourself in jig-water, if you want to, but not now, You are under train- ing, 78 see,” ‘And mighty rough training it is.” “Rough training is necessary, when you expect to win, no matter what kind of a match— What the— Ha!” With a sudden break, Gibson had made a grab behind, at the same time half turning, and had seized the arm of Battery Bob, with the paper in his fingers, ¥ Battery Bob was entirely unversed in the art of pocket-picking, and with all his care he had not been cunning enough to remove the marriage-certificate without betraying himself in the act. , ; Gibson had felt him at his work. The gambler jerked the boy out over the tub, snatched the paper away from him, and his face was like a thunder-cloud. ie - tay* * ad v . 4 : 7 — ’ A; oe iin _ e : f 7 4 — * ’ wy ee Sv ; es 4 Kot ~ oe 4 ‘ _. a “ ys i : i é 4, j « Peay, BV. iy oud Seige 4 me O_O ees 8 i iz . or Od ‘alg : : Ae 7 Be | 7 ; ‘ ' —— = ——— —_-—— —— r oY , ’ , . ‘What do you mean by such work?” he ; fixed in my mind,” Bob made a.swer, in YR ‘‘Whoare you, and | fearless manner. hissed, but not loudly. what did you try to take that paper for? Answer me, before I wring your neck for 1? rou a I guess I made a mistake,” said Bob, simply. ‘Yes, I should say you did, dast you! Seems to me I have heard of you before, my fine fellow, and I think you will have to be taken care of, Ihave a place for you, and I'll take you toit, and if you kick I'll hand you over to the police for the pickpocket you are.” ‘*Wish you would,” said Bob, ‘* They would send me up Salt Creek and I wouldn't haye to worry about grub for a srell.”’ ‘* What’s the matter here?” asked a waiter, seeing what was taking place, ‘‘T have a little account to settle with this lad, that’s all,” answered the gambler-sport, ‘“What’s he been doing?” ‘‘ That don’t matter; he knows and I know, and I’ll see to him,” Gibson had risen from the table, still hold- ing Bob by the wrist, and of course the lad was no match in strength for him. In fact, he made: no effort to struggle or get away. He had a hope that had sprung rom certain words the gambler had uttered, and was willing to go with him to the place he had suggested. , Bob thought it might be the house where Barr was imprisoned, He was taking the risk of his life, but he was a lad who had almost unlimited confi dence in himself. ‘Oh, it’s all right, mister,” he said, to the waiter, ‘‘This gent is my legal guardian, an’ he is goin’ to rake me over the coals, that’s all, I’min fer a-lickin’ an’ you will be in fer a bat in the eye if you interfere.” The gambler looked at Bob in surprise. ‘‘That’s about it,” he fell in with the story. ‘‘I can take care of him, and there will be no disturbance here, sir.” “Oh, all right. Thought maybe he had been trying to rob you, or something.” “I'd dea with him in a different way if e 4 ‘No doubt of ft, sir.” ‘‘ Want any help?” here put in Turney, ‘No, I can manage him, Take care of yourself till I see you again.” ‘Yes, I'll do that, seeing that I can’t do anything else,” was the rather sullen re- sponse, | Gibson did not rejoin, but marched Bat- tery Bob out of the place, keeping a tight rip upon his arm so that it was impossible or Bob to break away. ‘What did you tell that lie for?” he de- manded, as soon as they were outside. ‘*To keep out of the hands of the p’lice,” answered Bob. ‘‘If they knowed the facts there, they’d call ’em, and I’d be a goner, I reckon you only mean to ’ply a dose of foot- gear to me an’ Jet me go,” ‘What gives you that idea, you young whelp?” ‘Well, reckon you don’t want to git too time, and if you interdoose me to ’em you'll have to, you bet! Shouldn’t wonder if the best thing you kin do, Mister Man, would be to ’ply yer boot to mean’ let me take a run,” CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH THEY TALK SHARP, Tue Western sharp looked at the boy keenly, as if he would like to kill him on the spot. : ¥! ‘‘) ought to wring your neck for you,” he grated. ‘*‘ You will come with me, and T’ll show you what will happen to you, Who gives you the idea that I care tor the police?” _ He led Bob rapidly along as he spoke. ‘‘“That’s a gen’ral impression that’s got a die ? a : m“. »* ps . a * 54 : a 9 : : . Le 4 sf a . © *i . "ied i : - e As iWiat <P Be Ae 4 Se sociable with the police jest about this y Bob, the Dock Detective. | -P P ‘ P ' r AN . lent 4 ' hal - . + os ae he eT) : ‘3 yeast i shu Pa fas % eeu ny fe vi ‘Tf you git intimate with ‘em, they might go to askin’ p’inted ques- tions. See?” “You will see something curse youl!” ‘*T see somethin’ now.” ‘‘T’ll show you something more, What. did you want with that paper you took out, of my pocket, anyhow?” ‘Was in need of readin’ matter, and thought I’d take a read out o’ that while I waited, You wasn’t usin’ it just then, an’ [ didn't s’pose you would care. See? Lama. great reader,” ‘‘ And a great liar, too, by Judas!” ‘‘ Well, say, what’s goin’ to happen to pretty soon, me? I’m somewhat interested in this thing: myself, now.”’ ‘You will see what’s going to happen, be- fore you know it. Iam going to know more; about you and why you wanted that paper. There is something back of all this,” ‘‘Don’t see how you are goin’ to get any furthor back of it ’n me, anyhow,” the boy’ retorted. ‘‘ You have got my story, and if you won't believe that there won’t be any use in your lookin’ fer proof.” ‘We'll see about that,” ‘‘ But, that don’t answer my question.” ‘What question?” “Bout what you are goin’ to do with me, You want to speak up, now, or I am going to vel perlice in a way that will split the welkin at both ends an’ make it bulge out in the middle,” ‘* You call the police if you dare, and—” “That’s what I am goin’ to do, if you dor.t say quick. I’ll have ’em down orto you like: a host of cabmen.” ‘‘Don’t you try it on, or by Judas I'll wring your neck for you! Don’t think I am a man to be frightened by a snip of a boy, for Iam not. The first yaup out of you will be your last,” — ‘‘T give ye fair warnin’, able ’fore I {et ‘er go,” warned Bob, ‘‘It is daylight an’ we are in plain sight, an’ you daresn’t do anything to me here, I’m not to be scared by a long-haired gorilla like you, either, and don’t you think so, Now, then, let go, quick!” : Bob had the best of the situation, and knew it. : He had been thinking the matter over, and and had decided that it would never do ta allow himself to be taken into that house. Instead of making him a prisoner, as he had at first reasoned they would do, they might murder him at once and wre of his: , body, and that would end for time his chances, The man dropped his arm, ‘T thought you would,” Bob quietly ob- served, still walking along with the fellow. The man had been on the point of stop-— ping, thinking no doubt that Bob would run mmediately away, and this action rather amazed him. ‘* What do you mean by still coming with me?” he demanded. ser want to have a chin with you, that’s a fed ‘*A chin?” “A pow-wow, Savvy?” ‘‘Then why did you object to my holding your arm?” ‘* Neyer seen a Texas steer get away in the mati; of this little village, did ye, mister?’ sé 0. si ‘‘ Well, I’m like a Texas steer. I’m jest. as willin’ to go as kin be, but you can't drive me worth a cent. I'll amble along without any trouble.” | “You are a customer, you are!” ‘Bet your hat on that!” ‘‘“What do you want to talk about?” ‘*T want to.know what this game is against. Miss Allen.” | When I kin goas I please a , a ‘* Who is Miss Allen? What are you talk. : a “s ing about? Are you clean daft?”