Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 887 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Battery Bob, the Dock Detec “That won’t work, Mister Texas Jack, or tare whatever you are called at home. Iam onto "nS you as big as a fire-hoss.” ‘f ae “What won’t work?” z * Your playin’ off the innocent. You can’t ‘ doit with me, that’s sure as you carry a ix pistol. ‘I know a thing or two, and you had oe better let me in with you, if you don’t want fa) 4 me to squeal.” -. ‘“‘Hal now you are beginning to talk b sense,” a _ ‘Never talk anything else, when my mill " ek is runnin’,” ie. ‘* What do you know?” DS a ‘‘ That there is some bit of p’izen deviltry iy“ afoot.” ‘*1 don’t admit it, but how much do you pretend to know of it, supposing there is,” ‘‘T heard all you and that bum Turney had to say.” “The deuce you did!” “Sure.” ‘‘ Then one thing or the other has got to be done in your case. You have got to come in with us, or be put so far out that you will never reach us,” ‘* That's the way it looks, but ’fore I de- cide [I want to knowall about it.” aay. ‘* You know too much already.” nee _ Oh, no; I can carry a good deal more an’ | 3 _ never lay ahair. What will ye do with me rt if I come in?” “We'll find work for you to do.” * And if I won't?” ‘| have nothing to say. enough to wunderstan guess,” ‘“Can’t understand it unless somebody puts me on toit, that isa surething. There ¥ must be big moneyin it, from what I heard you an’ Turney sayin’, an’ will 1 come in for a a share of that?” Fi “Why, you confounded little imp! you talk as big as aman, weighing two hundred!” ‘Wouldn’t be in it, if I couldn’t talk these days.” | ‘“‘ Well, let’s go where we can talk,” ‘‘ This suits me,” *‘Tt don’t suit me, not worth a cent, y Come to the place where I lodge, and I will By a deal with you.” 3 : “No, thank ye, boss, I think I better f hadn't. Don’t believe it would be good fer c my health if I did. Guess you an’ me had 4 better say good-by an’ part company.” ; ‘Then you mean to work against me?” “Don’t know enough to work for nor » __- *gainst ye. If you are ’fraid to trust me, I ef am ’fraid to trust you, and I don’t think we - gould pull worth a cent in harness. I bid A you end 4 | With a dignified wave of the hand, which seemed ridiculous and really was so and so intended, Battery Bob turned in another direction. You have sense the situation, I °’ ~- - 7 re Ae etx. — $3 yt is *: _ ** But, hold on, boy!” the Western sharp Ree called out. } ‘Well, what’s wanted?” ‘Tf I do want you, where can I find you?” Bry. ~ “You won't want me, though.” ‘“T don’t know about that.” | . ‘¢ Well, I do.” ———s *Tt is very Jikely that 1 shall want you, and to-night. Where can I find you at ten ‘ee o’clock ?” . “ Shouldn’t wonder if you would find it a | purty hard job to find me at that time,” | answered Bob. ‘ The fact of the business BR, is, boss, I have cut my eye-teeth, and they are sharp.” : ““Then youre against me?” **That’s straight, may as well tell you Tight out. I’m against you, tooth an’ tongs, straight from the word Go. I am in this thing on the side of Miss At/en, and if I find you tryin’ any more funny work with her, there will be trouble somewheres around, and you will be right in the middle of it.” “Au right; we'll see where you will be, wis then, my fine fellow,” ‘“'Tra-la-la, Sport Gibby! See you later. 4 os é a" . x et i ae iat F as + oP Pade ot ', ia : mar Sti pt uF 7 M Nehy * " tA “oy wee Dv ’.” v 7 a } i", Pe 7 t - . , eee — ri * Af ve ‘ ha A tee tel LER we. ; * ae : at J fhe Ps ~ fies j ° TSE CaaS cei eg —_ - ——— ooo They are makin’ a fine striped suit for you up the river. ‘Tra-la-la-loo, old boy!” The gambler’s face was black with rage, and his hand moved toward his hip as Bob ran laughingly away. Had he been in some Western gulch, where the crime would have been unknown,. Battery Bob would have got a bullet. ree CHAPTER XITI, BOB AND TERRY MAKE A MISS, ‘* GREAT ginger-snaps!’* exclaimed Battery Bob to himself, as he drew up around the next corner, ‘That was about as hard a rub as I have had in a day ortwo. But, I bluffed him by talkin’ big— Ha, ha, ha!” The boy had to laugh to himself at the thought of it, “ ‘“ Now, I'll get onto his gait and shadow’ him for a change of programme, Bet I come out on. to Jerusha! 1’m after that certiflyket of Edith Allen’s, and I’m goin’ to have it if l have to go through fire an’ water to get it.” He waited a few moments, just long enough to let the Westerner get ahead of | him, and then started after him. . It took him but a few moments to get the man in sight again, and by using care he could then follow him without much danger of detection. The man returned to the house from which he had emerged some time before, and Bob waited patiently for him to come forth again, which he did in about twenty minutes. He now carried a grip in his hand. | ‘* Hillo!” exclaimed Bob to himself, ‘‘ he is off for Long Branch, sure as the tides! If I had the wherewith I’d go to the same resort, but, ag I haven’t, I'll have to stay at home, I ara But, he ain’t goin’ to get off with that paper if I kin help it, an’ he has fair warnin’ of it by due notice—in my mind,” The man had glanced around, on comin out of the house, but Bob was then out o sight. — ie soon as the sport started down the street, Bob was after him. The Bowery was the nearest thoroughfare, as has been mentioned, and the man went in. that direction. Arriving there, he boarded a car going southward, and Bob boarded another that came along immediately behind the first, both being open cars, At thé Post Office the man got off. Likewise Bob, The man crossed Broadway and walked toward the Battery until he came to Rector street, into. which he turned and bent his steps toward the North River. Battery Bob was after him like a shadow, and had not taken much pains, now, to keep very faraway, He had made up his mind to have the fellow arrested and bring the matter to a head at once, That was to say conditionally,—if he could fall in with Terrence McDougal or some other officer he knew. Applying to a strange policeman he might get the worst of it, for the man might accuse Bob himself of something and there would be a difficulty. ! The sport continued straight on, crossed West street, and went out upon the old Long Branch pier, from which the boat was near- ly, if not quite, due to start. In fact the last bell rung the same minute, : The man ran, and so did Bob, keeping a sharp look-out for Terrence, for he certainly expected to find him here at this hour, Presently he espied him, but the officer was at the far end of the dock, while the boat lay alongside, and the gang-plank was about mid way. The man went on the boat, while Bob, dodging along on the other side of the busy trucks and baggage-wagons, ran to where Terry was idly walking about and swinging his locust. “Terry?” he cried. ‘‘'Terry?” tive, when the smoke clears away, ® : . *> ‘“‘ Hillo! is it- you, Bobby? And what is: the matter?” “Come, quick, for the boat is goin’! [ want a man arrested and held!” ‘* What's the charge, boy?” ‘*Stealin’, But, come! don't stand and ask questions; Pll be responsible and back up: every word I say. Come, quick!” Bob started, urgently motioning the officer to follow him. Terrence followed, alive to the fact that something important was in the wind or Battery Bob would not act as he did. ‘‘ What has the stolen?” he demanded, as they ran. ‘‘ A paper belongin’ to a lady, and he is the man that had me pitched in the river last night,” ‘* The omadhoun!” Terry was now as eager as Bob, for he liked the boy and if he could arrest the man who had tried to take his life he meant to do: it. Bob well knew how to play on Terry’s: ah ae: | of combativeness, and had played ac- cordingly, to rouse a feeling for revenge in the breast of the sturdy member of the “‘ finest. in the world,” Any man that struck Bob hit Terry at the: same time, The boat was already casting off, and be- fore they could get to the gangway the plank: was drawn in, The Westerner was standing a few feet. from the railing, and now he saw what was. going on and his dark face was darker see ae passion and his fist was clinched! hard, He realized that Battery Bob had shad- owed him. A feeling of hate, commingled with fear, was surging in his breast, though he was. safe from arrest, He was aware that this boy knew the: house from which he had ae come, and if that house should be vis there would be found a prisoner had a tale to tell. ‘‘That’s him, Terry!” the dock-rat detec- tive was crying. ‘‘ Get onto him and yank: him put of there!” ‘‘Come here, ye spalpeen!” cried the Irish officer. ‘‘ Av ye don’t, begob it’s runnin’ av ye in Oi’ll be doin’, Do ye hear me, ye long- aired bla’g’ard, ye?” It was too late for the arrest; the boat was: a dozen feet out in the water, and it was as: prisoner, and that. impossible for the officer to reach the man as: it was for the man to obey the urgent invita- tion that had been extended. ‘What do you mean?” demanded the Western sharp. ‘‘ Are you speaking tome?” ‘“‘Oi am speakin’ to no wan else,” cried. Terry, ‘‘And ye don’t come here, by hiv- vins it’s fetchin’ av ye Oi'll be!” ‘* You are on the wrong track, Mr, Officer.. I couldn’t get there if I would, and it is cer- tain that I wouldn’t if I could. When I re+ turn, I'll be at your service.” Battery Bob felt a good deal put out, that: this thing should have missed fire as it had, Now, he had rather he had not made the- effort. lt was too late, however, for him to regret: it, and it would have to pass into the history of the case. | There was one satisfaction, if the man had the paper and was out of reach, he was also where he could not interfere with Battery Bob and his doings for some hours at least, ‘There was no mistake about it,” Bob: called out, ‘‘I know you, and | am the one that ordered your arrest.” ‘‘Ha, ha! Why, you little sand-fly, what. are you talking about?” “T’'m talkin’ about what I know, thav’s all. Hope you have a pleasant trip, and while you are away I'll nose around a little — and see what's to be seen. Ta-ta, my third- rate Bufller Willyum; I won’t give you away: in public yet.” . ; ted and searched,. © one a" ay mde f Sah hr ee ~f, ig “iv - -— _- ip -