Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 887 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

= -- = > * , > oo -% Pricre he got down and eagerly scanned the sround, ‘*Was ’most sure 1 heard somethin’ drop when she was tryin to tear herself awuy 110m me,” he muttered. ‘‘ Too bad them two toughs had to put in their appear, for if they hadn’t I bet 1’d’a’ found out who she was and all about her, On the other hand it was lucky for her I was here to stand them off while she got away. But, has she only gone and chucked herself into the water'after ali? Guess not, for 1 seemed to touch a soft spot when [ talked about her mammy, an’ I think she changed her mind ’bout feedin’ herself to the fishes. Mighty funny case, all around, fer she was the party the toughs were look- in’ for, ’cordin’ to what they said. She was in a peck of trouble, no gittin’ ’round that, an’ jest as desperate as a catin a crate of lobsters. Hello! what’s this?” He had found something Picking it up, whatever it was, he leaped to his feet at the same time he uttered the ex- clamation. ‘‘ What the mischief kin it be?” he asked himself, as he hastened off in the direction of an electric light with his find. ‘‘ It ain't a pocketbook, nor yet a match-box, though it does “pear somethin’ like the last. Some- thin'sinit, anyhow,” giving it a shake by his ear, ‘‘ lll finda way to get into it, bet my hat. If I can’t, Betsy Sokup, can in the mornin’, It’s purty, tickle me if it isn’t!” The object in question was a pretty card- case inlaid with pearland turquoise, and Bat- tery Bob, having reached the light, looked upon it admiringly. A line near the top indicated where it was to be opened, and trying it, the hinged lid was casily lifted and some yisiting cards were disclosed. Battery Bob gave an ejacu- lation of delight. It was but the work of a moment to get one of the cards out for inspection. The card was a dainty affair, neatly en- graved. ° It bore the name— EDITH ALLEN. ‘‘That’s a purty name, as I'll take my af- fydavvy to,” cried Bob, under his breath. «* But where does she live? That is to say, if she is still in the land of the living, But, I guess sheis. Let’s see, mebbe some of the rest of these tiny shiners will tell the tale.” Battery Bob took them all out of the case, and examined them one by ore, and present- ly found one with a penciled address under the name— No. —— West —— St. “Ha! now the sap begins to flow!” the boy cried joyfully. ‘*‘ Reckon I have got busi- ness up in that vicinity o’ neighborhood purty briefly. Nothin’ more to be diskivered here, 1 guess.” None of the other cards revealed anything, and putting them all back into the case, and the case into his pocket, Bob tightened his hat on his head and struck out at a quick walk for the station of the Elevated Railroad and was soon rolling away in the direction of up-town. Alighting at the station nearest the address on the card, he lost no time’in making his way to the number designated. He rung the bell. Late as it now was, there was a light in the hall and also inthe front room of the house, which was a building of no mean style. The door was promptly opened. ‘Does Edith Allen live here?” Bob asked surriedly, | Yes,” the brief answer. “‘ Do you bring wora from her, sonny?” was added. ‘*] want to see her mammy,” said Bob, ‘Step in, then,” Bob complied, and the servant, closing the door, bade him wait right there a moment. rn TT —“ ee «=a Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. She was about to go down the hall, when a door opened and a woman’s voice in- quired: ‘* Ts it Edith, Martha?” ‘*No, ma’m, but a boy asking fur you.” The woman came out immediately, urgent- ly demanding: “ What is it, my boy? Speak out quickly, Ibeg. What brings you here?” ‘Don’t crowd me, ma’m,” said Bob, in re- sponse. ‘‘ Want tosee my way clear before I slash in,” The woman looked at him wonderingly. She was a fine-looking lady, past mid- dle age, with silvery hair and a sad expres- sion. ‘*Your daughter is out, I take it,” Bob added. ‘Yes, yes; what do you know about her? If anything has happened, pray tell me quickly.” ‘* Don’t know nothin’, ma’m, not a thing. That’s what I kem here for. No objection to tellin’ me where she has gone to, 1 s’pose?” ‘¢ Why, no; she went out toa play, with a gentleman, and I have been expecting her in every moment for the past hour, Even if they took supper, they should have been here ere this.’’ ‘“ Who was the gentleman?” asked Bob. ‘John Barr.” ‘* And who is John Barr?” . ‘*Why, boy, your questions are almost impertinent. Idonotknow you. You have all the manner of a cross-examining lawyer. If you bring me any information, let me bear what it is instantly.” ‘‘Keep cool, ma’m; don’t get excited about nothin’,”’ quietly rejoined the boy. ‘‘Lain’t no lawyer, and as fer bein’ cross, L ain’t the least bit so, The fact of the business is, I wanted to see your daughter, but if she ain’t at hum I'll have to call again,” ‘* You wanted to see my daughter—you?” ‘‘The same, ma’m.” , ‘‘And for goodness’ sake, what did you want to—” But, at that moment a step was heard, a key was thrust into the latch, and the front door swung open. Into the hallway stepped the girl whom Battery Bob had rescued on the Battery, and at sight of Bob she stopped short, her face turning to ashy paleness. For a moment all stood silent and motion- less, as if they were practicing for tableaux, but Battery Bob quickly broke the illusion in order to give the young lady a cue to the situation. CHAPTER III. THE PLOT BEGINS TO THICKEN, ‘IT TAKE it this is your darter, ma’m,” the boy from the Battery broke out. ‘‘ Had jest been askin’ yer mammy ’bovt ret turning immediately to the young lady before any one else could speak. ‘‘I found this here thing,” showing the card case, ‘‘and fi»din’ your name and ’Cress in it I fetched it around thinkin’ mebby it would be wu'th a quarter more or less, the which same would nicely pay fora night’s lodgin’ and give me a break- fast besides. But, it don’t matter; if ye haven’t got it handy I'll leave my name an’ ‘dress an’ you kin send it around to my office to-mor-row,” Bob rattled this off as rapidly as he could speak, almost, at the same time moving to- ward the door. The servant had to laugh outright, more at his manner than at the words he uttered, and even the sad-faced mother smiled. “It is certainly worth that much to me to recover my card-case, young gentleman,” said the young woman graciously, accepting the proffered article. ‘* I was not yet aware I had lost it, I suppose you picked it up in front of the theater—but, no matter. Here is the reward you ask. And you say you have an office?” ‘‘Well, call it a headquarters, then,” Bob modified, laughing, and he took the quarter offered. ‘* A headquarters? Where is it?” “Battery Park, in care of Betsy Sokup, the candy-and-cakes woman.” “Well, accept my thanks, anyhow,” laughing. ‘‘If I ever visit Battery Park I will certainly ask for you.” ‘‘Be glad to see you,” rejoined Bob; and having turned the knob he opened the door and passed out, saying a cheery good-night, and would have closed the door after him but the young woman held it, ‘You have not told me your name,” she reminded, looking out. ‘‘ Ha! that’s so; thought everybody know- ed me; forgot 1 was so far away from my own stampin’ ground. My name is Bob Dickery, called Battery Bob fer short, an’ sometimes Dickery Bob, because I’m allus around the docks, Oh, you can’t help find- in’ meif you find Battery Park.” While Bob was speaking the young wo- man stepped outside the door, ‘‘Have you told anything?” she whisper- ed. ‘*Not a word,” Bob answered. ‘‘Well, listen: I have lost a valuable paper, and you must find it forme if you can. You will know where to look; follow the way I ran, too,” She explained the course she had taken throughout. ‘*T’ll find it if it’s ‘to be found,” declared Bob. ‘Shall I fetch it bere if I do find it?” ‘Not by any means. I will go down to the Battery and see you to-morrow, and if you find it you may give it to me then, Say no more now.” ‘Changed your mind, then?” ‘““’Yes,” With that the young lady gave a light laugh, as if she had been joking with the boy, and drawing back into the house, closed the door, while Bob went off whistling Ter- rence McDougal’s tune, ‘‘This case beats everything SS Bets Sokup’s cakes,” he presently declared, ‘‘Never seen anybody git over the suercide blues as quick as that gal did. Guess she must ’a’ made a mistake when she thought that was the right remedy fer her comphint, whatever her ailymint kin be. Lost a paper, has she? Well, I guess I’ll have to scout around and see if I can find the dockyment, Hello! Battery Robert, you are out of your lattytude here, and the quicker you git back again to your own retreat, the better, You need a sea breeze to keep your buoy a-bob- bin’.” This break was caused by the fact that he had passed the stairs of the Elevated Ruil- road while thinking, and had to turn back again, In due season he was once more at the Battery Park, The hour was now late indeed, but this was nothing to the young dock-rat detec- tive—as the police had come to call him. Have we fully introduced him? <A sturdy boy of fourteen years, with black hair and flashing eyes of the same color. He had grown up along the docks in the vicinity of the Battery. He himself has given us his rightful name. When he neared the place where the reader first saw him, to begin his hunt for the lost paper, he was suddenly confronted by his friend the policeman. ‘‘What, Bobby, is it back again ye are?” cried McDougal. ‘‘And is it back again you are, too, Ter. ry?” responded Bob.. ‘‘ Thought you had hdled away for a snooze before this time.” ‘‘ Get out, ye bia’gard, ye! Ye know very well that itis Terrence McDougal that never sl’apes a wink whin he isonduty. By the boo