Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 887 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— “= " = & be a . id Lt » os ° f m a 'g - we aan T bs - ‘ Pal + oe x) > PMR R ET BA GILLETT RP AO eee EN et”, Y PEN ea Cm Mee Sek ee ONTO | a] bn, A ’ oy e°?4 g iN ¥ - ae, © >. ‘ * a" % ‘| ‘ ’ : 5 : i P ' a we ee a Mma - oe oe - > i yee Sy Rents ah . = Slidets tattets aenens - * a Py + om . - P) 5» The). * ; f ® . : ; : ", ¥ ~. ‘ wy oF . j f - > | bs} * * +a . + es ~ )* Ne , ‘*Go to him.” “Then you have got over the suicide blues?” ‘‘ Yes, yes.” ‘‘ That's right; a person ought to stop a Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. the secret that I tried to take my life, yt see,” she explained. ‘‘Oh! I’m doin’ that, ma’m. There was pastry McDougal, he wanted to get onto it, t ‘What do you mean by sawbuck?” ‘The twenty dollars—the double-X, of course,” . ‘** Yes, you must find the paper. But, why but ra, ® - —~ ~~ week an’ think about it before goin’ an’ doin’ it right off on the jump.” ‘* But, that paper?” ‘You have told your mammy ail about it, I take it, eh?” ignoring her question still ‘* And she has forgive ye and tooken ye to her heart and loved ye same as further. ever, eh?” - reve could you guess so much?” se y balance,” declared Bob, carelessly. ‘What eeore fellow you are. But, now, are you ready to give me the paper you have found?” F Saisie ‘I'd never be more ready in my life, ma’m, and jest as willin’ as ready, too; but the fact of the business is, I haven’t got it,” ‘* What, not got it?” ** Jes’ so.” ‘* Then where is it?” ‘‘ Give it up—same as I ment,” ‘You gave it up?” **'That’s what I done—’cause why, couldn't help myself. Two men pounced down on- to me and swiped it, and then they took me an’ pitched me into the river, Oh, we hada lively time, and I was right in it while the fun lasted ” ‘‘Good heavens! did the docky - Then it has fallen into the hands of Charles Turney.” ‘‘ Hello, that’s a new name. Who is he?” ** My cousin.” ‘*Feller with long hair, chin whiskers and mustache—not both on his chin, though.” ‘* No, no; but, I have seen that man; who is he?” ' ‘‘Thought he might be your cousin under a false nnme, They call him Gibson, if I have got it straight, an’ I s’pose I have. You can bet your life that [ll Gib him, when I get him on my trolley.” ‘The young woman laughed outright, at the boy’s earnest manner and his quaint ex- pression. ‘You kin laugh,” Bob declared, ‘‘ but I mean it,” ‘‘I don’t doubt but you do, ie. hat you should get so concerned in ' ‘Does it? Well, it don’t tome. When l rescue beauty in distress, 1 want to know somethin’ ’bout the p’tic’lars; an’ when two oe peppers pitches me into the river, you bet your—your pockethandkerchief that It seems IT am ee to get concerned in their affairs might lively.” ‘But, can’t you tell me more about the matter?” Bob asked, ‘* Want to know the whole story, now that I have got some of it, and if I don’t make them fellers dance to my tune it will be ’cause I can’t whistle, that’s all. They are figgerin’ on throwin’ John Basr mto the river to-night, and I am goin’ to put a spoke in their wheel in that game, you bet!” ‘* Heavens! on must tell the police what you know! This must not happen! I will _ Yeward you well, if you will only tell me _ Where he is, And that paper—you must get it again and restore it tome. I will give you twenty dollarsif you can do it, addin’ up the sum an’ strikin’ the will you not tell me where Mr, Barr is?” ‘You would go to the police, or rush to the place, and you might get into some such a fix yourself, or they might spirit the man away and that would be the last of him,” ‘**'The police could stop them.” ‘“‘Mebby so, but the finest don’t allus hit the mark they aim at, either. An’ then, too, it would give the rascals warnin’ and then they would pick up and dust out ’fore any- thing could be done to stop ’em.” ‘* You think so?” ‘‘Sure as taran’ pitch. You let me play them, an’ if I don’t land ’em it will be ’cause my name ain’t spelt right, that’s all.” ‘* Well, if you will not tell, that settles it, I suppose. But you must get the paper and rescue the man at all hazard. You seem like a smart boy, and I have no doubt you see your way clear,” ‘*Oh, yes, jest as clear as mud.” ‘Then, if you are not sure of the way, why don’t you tell the police what you know?” j ‘‘The police are teo smart for me, ’cept- in’ Terry McDougal. On the other hand, why don’t you tell me what you know? That would brush the clouds away a good deal, I’m bettin’.” ‘*] cannot tell.” 4é Why + hd ‘‘We are going to keep it a secret, if that be possible. And, maybe we can do it if you can restore that lost paper to me. Did [ say 1 would give you fifty dollars?” ‘‘] kin get it jest as quick fer fifty as I kin fer twenty.” ‘‘ Well, get it, and it shall be fifty dollars instead of twenty. The record of my mar- riage must be destroyed, utterly.” ‘‘Whew! Well, now, if this don’t beat all I have run up <p in a spell of while, ll eat my hat. hoever heard tell of a new-mace bride like you payin’ fifty dollars fer a certiffyket jest to destroy it.” ‘‘That is what must be done in this case, and it must be done by my own hand. It is a strange case, you have_well said.” “ Should “ it was. Beats Betsy Sokup’s cookies all holler.” | : ‘“‘ Are they strange cases?” ‘* You are gettin’ too smart fer me, now, ma’m, an’ mebby we had better part com- pany fera time. When I find out anythin portant [’ll drop around an’ see you. If you want me, you know where to come.” ‘Yes, but that old woman may not always know where you are.” so that’s the best ’dress I kin furnish. ‘*Very well, I willtrust you. Ihave great confidence in you, after the mannerin which you saved my life last night, and so quickly. found out whol was.” ‘That was nothin’, a blind man could have done all that. But, did you really mean to let ’er go when you made that run fer the river? Was you goin’ todo the sui- cide act fer fair?” ‘‘T certainly mean it, Battery Bob,” ‘* You have changed your mind.” ‘* Yes; I must live.” “Then it couldn’t ’a’ been a very serious old him it wouldn’t work that way.” ‘That was right. You keep the secret, and aid me all you can, and you will lose nothing by it in the end, Above all, get hold of that paper, and quickly.” ‘‘I’m after it, you bet! Meantime don’t you get no more suercide blues, for mebby Battery Bob won’t be around to perform the grand rescue act, and you will be a sure- enough goner.”’ ‘* Have no fear, Bob. Iwas almost crazed and beside myself at what I had done, and that was my first thought and the one escape I saw. It was wild, foolish, but was not myself; my mind was not my own at the time— But, there, you can’t under stand,” ‘‘Bound to discount my understandin’, are you?” ‘Oh, no; but—’” > There came an interruption at that mo- ment, aaet The expected boat had arrived while they were talking, and had made fast and was dis- charging her passengers, Neither Bob nor the young woman had paid any attention, Bob being too eager to learn more of the mystery to care whether he earned his dinner or not, and the young woman being deeply interested. Among the landing passengers was a young man, who, chancing to glance at the young lady on the truck, stopped short with a look of surprise. He looked for a moment, as if to make sure, then advanced quickly and exclaimed; ‘* Miss Allen!” This was the interruption, The young woman looked up quickly, and her face flushed. | “Oh! it is you, Mr. Alexander?” she said. denly.” . : ‘“Yes, it is I, just returned from Long Branch, Edith. ut, pray, what are you doing here and in such company as this?” with a look at Battery Bob. ‘‘Reckon that refers to me,” spoke up Bob, spiritedly. | ‘“‘ Well, yes,” the young man admitted. ‘* Its all right,” Bob mildly added. ‘‘ The lady won’t make any improvement if. she changes me for you, that’s sure,” ‘* What’s that, you young scamp? Do you mean to say you are my equal? Why, I have a strong notion to pull your nose for you. I would, but it would soil my glove, you imp!” ‘*T guess you’d have a nitty cn? notion to let go, if you tried it on,” declared Bob, © ina grim way. ‘‘If I’m not good enough | company for you, you just. trot right along; me an’ the lady was gettin’ on all right, and | beats need none of your help to entertain er.’ The young lady laughed merrily. ‘* You had better give it up, Harvey,” she said. ‘This boy isan honest lad who has done me a real service, and I am much in-' debted to him. You must not quarrel with | Battery Bob, or you will have to answer to © “ Oh, if that is the case, I beg your pardon, ‘‘You quite startled me, speaking so sud- if Wish you would tell me all | young sir,” said the dude, addressing Bob. _ ‘A service to this lady is one to me,aud I, too, must thank you.” Se ‘* You needn’t go to no trouble to do it,” — rejoined Bob. | we “But, Edith, what are you doing’ here?” | asked the young man, paying no further at- tention to Bob. " ‘* Why, I came here to meet a friend, and have been talking with this boy, after thank- ing him for the service. He found mycard- 9), case and restored it tome. He is good com-. ae ai Barr !, please.” ‘‘Which I cannot do. That is a secret rs. f that must be kept, for the present at any rate, and I trust to you to help me in the kveping of it.” ‘*Bushel basket! how kin I keep what I haven't got? You tell me all about it, and then I'll help you keep it hard and fast |. enough, you bet your—your bangs on that, fair lady.” The young woman had to laugh again in CHAPTER IX, A NEW CHARACTER APPEARS, | Barrery Bos took off his hat and scratch- me? >. ed his head, | — +». “Pitgo fer that sawbuck,” he declared, ap 0 ‘like a hungry bass after a bait; but I don’t hardly please to tell you where Barr is. : - ’ . Le ¥ 44 ante “te 2 Ae ‘Ff - ahh aas (are. is d « ~- e young woman laughed again. “If she don’t nobody else will, that is sure, . oO you | case, I take it. think von can? But, tell me where John | about it.” ‘We'll bar that for the present, if it is all the | spite of hersclf at Bob’s inimitable manner. {| pany.” t ; ota game to you—or whether it is or not.” | ‘‘No, no; I meant that you should keep; ‘‘And you have seen your friend?” Ba ge as pe) ‘ oe ‘s ast . m ee ; oJ ; = ¢ > : . . ine : ti fa . ce ’ ‘he yb ee '