Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 887 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

: 14 for that boy would his life | am!” ** You are a dandy thinker,” cried Jack in compliment. ‘* Yes; a dandy mush-head, I knowit. If I hadn’t- been that, 1 would seen all this sooner,” ‘* You couldn’t think of it till we found he didn’t take the train; no use your sayin’ >» . Knowed mighty well that looking out fer him—can bet , “* A boy with brains would have thought: of it right off to once.” _ ** Then I ain’t got no brains, either.” “**Bout like mine,” “* What’s to be done?” “That's what I’m tryin’ to pump out of my think-box, I'll tell ye, Jack, we have got to see the message he did send, or we won't get on his track to-night.” ‘‘ Ha! that’s just the cheese. Let’s get back there, and [’l. work that all right fer ye. Iknow that operator, and we’ll patch up a story that will win him over into our trap, you bet.”’ ‘“No time to lose, can,” ln a moment more a cab was seen and the two boys hailed it and engaged it as they had the first. They were soon on their way, and present- ly reached their destination, They bade their driver wait, this time. Entering the main room, Jack -went straight to the window and asked: ‘* Say, has Mr. Gibson’s message gone vet?” ‘No, haven’t got it off yet; the wire is open.” _, “That’s bully, He sent us here in haste to tell you to stop it and send it back to him by us. We came ina cab and got here in a dead rush,” ‘Ts this straight?” “* Do we look like millionaires, with boodle to spend on cabs?” The argument was convincing, and the Nias handed out the blank that had been eft. Battery Bob read it with al! the quickness with which his eyes could follow the words, for he hardly hoped to be able to carry it away with him. ‘* He didn’t tell us to fetch it back unless ‘we couldn’t fix it, Jack,” he said, soon as he had read it. : '‘ That’s so; but kin ye do it?” “The operator can,” , . ‘*What’s wanted?” the operator, asked. *“*T’ve changed my mind about letting the message go out of my hands, unless he comes for it himself. I can hold it til: you zo tell him, though.” ‘* Not necessary; he only wants two words put in, right there.” ‘‘ What are the words?” ‘* Do not.” ** All right; if you are quite sure of the place.” | ‘« Know it like a book. How much will it be? Was told to pay you spot cash, and then get back and !et him know quick.” ‘* Four cents,” ‘‘ Here it is.” | * Bob paid the money, and he and Jack ‘went out and got into the cab again, Jack ‘telling the driver where to go.” ‘‘ We'll be in for it, if the law gits anto us fer this,” said Jack, rather regretfully. “The law 1s going to get hold of Gibson first, though, Jack, and don’t you forget it. Iam after him, big as a fire-hossand a half.’’ ‘‘ What was the message?” ‘* Couldn’t tell ye exactly word fer word, ’cause I had to read it in double quick time, but I put the spoke in in the right spot, you bet.” : ‘« Where was that?” | - **Hfe told Dan Huston to carry on the work as planned, and I slipped in the little “words do not. See?” Sight a rig, if you - a - : - Sal . -- oe ti => re ere era , « a he >, = - \ aw es Ss " rs - Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. “That will change things. But, that don’t find your man.” ‘* Bet it does, then. Hotel, where answer is to be sent. o to New York till mornin’.” ‘‘Then we are onto him, fine.” ‘* You bet we are!” The direction to the driver was changed immediately, and when they were set down they were in a short distance of the hotel in question, There Bob got sight of his man, and did not lose him again “intil he had finally ac- complished his purpose. Bob changed the expression of his face every time he came in sight of his suspect, and having on Jack’s hat, escaped recog- nition. Finally a messenger was seen with a mes- sage, and ere long that message was put in Gibson’s hand. He broke the seal in haste and read it. As he read his face lighted up, and when he had done he crushed the message up and threw it from him, the same as he had done with the blank at the station. And that done, he lighted a cigar and be- gan pacing the piazza, giving Jack anexcel- lent opportunity\to secure the coveted prize. That message might mean much, and Bat- tery Bob must see it. When he got itand read it, the dock-rat detective found that his scheme had worked nicely He’s gone to the —— He won’t CHAPTER XVII. HURRAH, BOB!—ANGRY GIBSON. ‘Wat's he say?” eager:y demanded Jack. ‘“‘Tt has worked butly,” answered Bob, with great delight. ‘‘ Huston answers all right, that he will ’bey orders.” ‘‘ And that means that everything is safe in New York for that other feller what they have got locked up. Now all you have got to do is to get that paper and go home.” ‘* Yes, that’s all; but it is a sizable job.” ‘* No matter, we'll get there.” ‘* How?” ‘‘ Somehow.” That was the rubber, now, how they were to accomplish their work, Battéry Bob knew he could rely upon his Ale friend, for he had seen enough of him to convince him of that. , ‘They got something to eat while they waited around the neighborhood, keeping watch upon their man, and so the time passed till night came on and the place began to assume a new aspect. It seemed as if a new class of persons had come with the darkness, men and women, and many of these had one destination. ‘* What vlace is that?” asked Battery Bob, drawing Jack’s attention. ‘‘That? That’s the biggest game-house at the Branch.” ‘So? Then that’s the place will ketch Texas purty soon, vou see if it don’t, Hello! if there ain’t Dude Alexander.” ** Who?” : ‘‘A feller I have got carded on my little ist. ‘ What ’bout him?” ‘*In love with the lady 1 am workin’ this racket fer, and wants to marry her to git her fortune. But, he can’t do it while Battery Bob is on deck, you bet your last nickel on that.”’ Harvey it was, true enough, and he head- ed straight for the gambling establishment. and entered. ‘*T’d give a dollar if Icould walk Edith in onto him,” declared Bob. ‘* Here comes Texas,” whispered Jack. ‘Sure *nuff.” The Western sharp sauntered out of the hotel, smoking a fresh cigar, and made his way to the gambling establishment in the company of a man whose acquaintance he had formed. } | ‘* How kin we git the paper?” asked Jack. * ‘Knock him down with a club and’ it away from him.” " ‘Oh, yes, we are full of that, we are; that would work fine, wouldn’t it?” = ‘‘Then don’t ask foolish. questions. Set your think-mill to runnin’, and find out a way.” ‘‘If we only knowed whether he has it with him or not,” ‘‘Where would it be if it ain’t with him?” ‘*Mebby in his grip.” Bob drew a long whistle, and scratched his head. ‘Wonder if that’s possible?” he asked himself. ‘‘ Don’t hardly believe it is, but it’s worth seein’ about, anyhow.” ‘* What will you do?” ‘Play the same game we played at the station.” . “Ha! just the thing. Mebby it will work. Go ahead, and I'll back ye.” ‘No, I'll do it myself. You live here, and you would git into trouble, mebby.” Bob waited until the Western sharp had entered the gaming-palace, when he left Jack and boldly entered the kotel. He marched straight to the desk. ‘‘This is the ranch where Mr, Owen Gib- son is stoppin’, ain’t it?” he said, full of confidence. ‘“Yes, he is registered here, but he isn’t in just now—” ‘“T know all about. that,” interrupted Bob. ‘ He’s gone over to the card shebang to show your folks how to wina pile. He sert me here—” ‘For the papers he left on the case—” ‘* Prezack,”’ | Bob’s heart had given a great leap at the word papers, but he was quick as a wink with his answer, though he had been on the point of saying gripsack. ‘‘T thought he would send for them,” the clerk rattled on, taking some papers from somewhere underthe desk. ‘‘ He took them out of his pocket vthile he stood here getting some cigars, and walked off and Ieft ’em.” ‘¢That’s what he said,” agreed Bob, eager- ly taking them. ‘‘He’ll have ’em in a double jiffy, though, and no harm dune.” ‘‘They were safe enough here; tell him that.” ‘ ‘‘And they are safe enough now, too; he knows me, you bet, I’m Battery Bob, the sleekest rat that prowls the docks round Battery Park. Gibby knows me, you bet, an’ he knows his papers wiil be safe in my keepin’.” ! | Bob was off, with that, and ran straight across to the gaming-place and entered, This he did for the benefit of the clerk, should he watch. ; He went no further than just inside the door, however, where he remained for sev- eral minutes, finally coming out and signal- ing to Lippy back. ‘What ’n world you up to?” Jack de- manded. ; : as loudly as he dared, ‘‘I fell into the soft- est puddin’ you ever heard of in all your life Ha, ha, ha!” ' And he danced and pranced asif he had taken leave of his senses. “You have got ’em bad, no mistake,” observed Jack, without a smile. c= a oe ~ . > f= i wz '“*So would you have, if you was me,” Bob answered, Battery Bob told his partner of his suc- cess, and it was then Jack’s turn to express his glee. He was almost as wild over the easy victory as was Bob himself. They fair- ly hugged each other. ; | “ And you say you ain’t got no brains,” — sheered Jack, ‘“‘ Ain’t got much, anyhow,” declared Bob. ‘‘T’other feller does it all, not havin’ any. Ha, ha, ha!” _** Yes, but you got pickin’ him up so quick like you did. lam proud of you, Battery Bob, and if ever I go in your fine work a in -L ye oy. Bote 4. oo oe a> Lf 4 ; rar nal & =, oe Re gy = Se < ‘‘Oh! ka-whoo! ka-whoop” cried Bob, — aN