Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 889 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

»” : » —_ - a St “ < nae, Pie il i —— A an =~ — - e x, - Eee a i ~~ “ 4 é : . a. : 4 / 4 rd 77.4 sy . New York Nat’s Deadly Deal. made of any disturbance there, Nat did not dread a raid. When he returned in the morning after the meeting of the young ferrets, bringing the prisoner’s breakfast, Nat said: ‘‘Remember, Ralston, if you make any outcry you will have to be gagged as wellas ironed, and as I shall leave you no food, sit- ting by you to see you eat your breakfast, you will have no chance to again tempt the dog, who will be kept on guard outside. ‘*T will be on hand when wanted, and your telling your story as you did last night has saved your life at least, and dt remains for your future conduct to show what other kindness you deserve.” Leaving the man some books to look over, and placing Sentinel on guard outside, Nat left the old mansion dressed as a young dude, wearing eye-glasses, a high hat and carrying & cane. He wended his way to the home of Walter Vanderlip, where Sherman Canfield was staying as master in the miner’s absence, and representing him as the ally of the Boy Ferrets, and entering the house with his pass-key he found the Nebraskan reading his papers and smoking. ‘“Well, Nat, how are you, for I felt anxious as you did not put in an appearance yesterday ?”’ | | ‘*T’m all right, sir, thank you, though my side is still sore and my head a little rocky; but I’ve had a pic-nic since I saw you, Mr. Canfield,” and Nat told of his adventures with the prisoner, and the mock-trial. Be You are indeed fortunate to have escap- ed. ‘‘But you frightened the fellow into a confession?” ‘* Yes, sir, 1 promised him that which the law cannot take now, as he is a condemned convict for life; but then he was frightened into telling who he was and I'll get you, sir, to look up his record to-day, for the chief will give it to you.” é ‘*T’ll go down this morning and doso; but about that other fellow, his pal?’ ‘*T will go to see one of my boys, who works in a messenger office, and send him there and see if he can be found. **Tf not he must be tracked to where he has moved, and then 1’ll set a trap for him, as he is too dangerous a man to be at large, and has nerve and daring, which Ralston has not.” . After some further conversation together Sherman Canfield walked out with Nat, go- ing to see the inspector, while the young fer- aa) to put Teaser on the track of Killer His card promptly admitted Sherman Canfield to the private office of the great Se- cret Service Chief, who greeted him cordlally and said: — ‘« Have you heard from our friend, Vander- lip, lately ?” ‘* Yes, sir, he will return within a month, for he has about settled the troubles that call- ed him eut to the mine.” ‘Tam glad to hear it; but he left a most able representative in you, Mr. Canfield. ‘‘ Now tell me if there is any news of my Unknown and most respected detectives, whose identity you so carefully guard from ‘Yes, sir, | have news of him and of his allies, for he is now upon an important ser- vice. ‘‘ Will you kindly give me the record of this man?” ‘‘ Zip “Ralston,” and the inspector rung a bell and handing the slipof paper to aclerk, said bluntly: | “ Bring his record.” It was soon placed before the inspector, on a slip of paper, as follows: “ Zip Ralston, convict at ——, life sen- tence. ‘* See photograph page 400, for description, age, height, weight, etc. << ‘‘A born crook, and sentenced ag an ac- complice in Benham murder case. ‘* Escaped from prison August ist, 16—.” ‘* Thank you, chief,” and Sherman Canfield took his leave armed with the paper giving the record of Nat’s prisoner. Later in the afternoon Nat called and was given the paper and said: ‘Teaser found my man had slipped out of his room the night you saw him, taking all his things with him, though his room rent was pie for a week yet ‘* You doubtless frightened him when he found his pal captured. ‘* Teaser then went to the neighboring lodging-houses to see if he had not put up at one of these until morning, and found him registered at the first one he visited.” ‘“* That was lucky.” ‘* Yes, sir, and I shall shadow him myself now, with the aid of some of my boys, for I have decided upon a plan to trap him.” ‘*May I ask what it is?” ‘“‘ Yes, sir, certainly. Ishall have Ralston write for him that he is in hiding, and to come to him.” ‘* He is a bold fellow to bring to bay, Nat, so you had better let me help you.” “Thanks, Mr. Canfield, I will callon you, sir, if I have to do so, but I have no right to risk your life in my ferret work,” and Nat soon after took his departure, going to the Herbert cottage, and well satisfied with his day’s work and the clue he had found of Killer Bill. CHAPTER XX, WHAT NAT 8AW AND HEARD, WueENn New York Nat set out to work to run a crook down, he went at it ina way that meant success. He had Ralston a prisoner, and had de- tailed two of his League to take turns in being in the mansion to keep guard over him in his absence, for he was on the track of Killer Bill. In tracking the convict at large he did not neglect other duties, and having had the ‘report given him by Parson regarding the gentleman at the concert with Miss Maybel Kingdon, he decided to have a look in upon him and strive to recall just when and where he had seen him. Having his name and address written down in his note-book, Nat went to the number given to try and invent some way to get to see and talk with the gentleman whose face haunted him, He stepped into the handsome entrance to the flat-house and glanced over the names on the cards above the letter-boxes. He saw that the name he looked for was the right-hand flat on the top floor, and that the left-hand flat was unoccupied, for the card bore the words: ‘¢ Not for rent.” As he was looking over the names 4 man renteed, and seeing him, said politely: ‘‘ Ig there any one you are looking for, gir, that I can help you to find?” Nat gave & name not on the cards, and the man said: ‘*T know of no one in the-house by that name; sir, and in fact ’most all the people living here are away for the summer.” ‘¢ You live here then?’ ‘Yes, Iam valet for Mr. Ford Rayfield.” ‘Ah, indeed, I have met Mr, Rayfield. ‘“‘Tg he in?” ‘‘ Yes, sir, he gave me an afternoon and evening off as he was going to the country, but I was disappointed in. meeting a friend, so returned home early, but finding he had company, and a rough looking chap he was, I went out again.” | ‘‘T have heard that Mr. Rayfield had some rare paintings and statuary in his rooms, and I do not know him well enough to Se and ask him to show them to me; but, h aps you could arrange it in some way for me, as. I am an artist in my line, and I would make it to your interest to do so,” ‘Thank you, sir, I guess I can let you see them, for Mr. Rayfield is always out be- tween twelve and four, except Sundays; but, I wish I knew who the chap is up there, for I don’t like his looks.” ‘*T will call to-morrow, then, and here is a card so you will not forget me,” and Nat slipped a two-dollar bil) into the valet’s hands and departed. — ‘ But he watched from across the street and saw that there was ao bright light in the rooms of Ford Rayfield, and certainly the valet had not had time to get up-stairs and light the gas. . Rayfield must have returned then, he decided. . As he turned away slowly recrossing the street, he heard a shot distinctly, and a min. ute after, as he stood wondering at it, the door of the flat opened suddenly and out dashed o man apparently fleeing for his life,. while other shots, one two, three, were also heard, followed by a voice calling out to stop: the murderer: © But the man was already"half a square away and was walking leisurely along. ew York Nat’s first resolve was to dash ap to see the cause of the shots, and it struck him‘then as strange that the three following the ffirst one had been so long after, while the cry had come later still. But there was that in the eppesrenss of the man who dashed out of the flat-house: that at once riveted his gaze and caused him to take no heed of the shots or the call, but. to follow him, apparently not doing so. ‘* Ah! I recognize that face and form, and Iam in luck, ‘Tt is Killer Bill,” said Nat to himself, and he at once decided to stick to his man,. come what might. This he did and saw him go to the lodg- ing-house where he had been tracked before, ‘‘ He has been in some deviltry in that flat- house and will not stay here. ‘‘IT remember the valet said that he re- turned to find a man visiting his master, whose appearance he did not like, and it was. none other than Killer Bill. ‘*Now to see if I am not right.” Nat had not long to wait before out came Killer Bill, carrying his grip. | He was dressed in a pea-jacket, blue pants. and sea-cap, affecting the sailor-look and a pe as he walked, ith no thought of being shadowed he: went to another part of town and found a hotel of a better class, 'registering as ‘WILLIAM BILLups, “Portland, Maine.” Nat at once registered also and paid for his: room for three days, and was shown to one adjoining that of Killer Bill, whom he heard talking to himself as he walked excitecly up and down his room. The words were muttered rather than spoken, but he caugbt now and then enough ~ to give him a clue to the firing he had heard; for they were: | | ‘Tricky as Satan—he tried to kill me, and the man coming in as I went out got it— ‘* How will he get out of the scrape? : ‘But he meant to kill me, and he shall pay double now, or bang man of fashion and influence that—yes, Ford Rayfield, my old mining pard, half you have must come my way—no chance again at my life—hope the killing won’t get him into trouble— papers will tell.” o much did Nat catch and then he left. the room, for the convict had thrown him. self upon his bed to sleep. CHAPTER XXI. THE BROKER'S STORY, New York Nat left his room noiselessly, not wishing the occupant next door to hear him and feel that he had a neighbor, \ ‘| « He _< * hE se tle a . o Be yy - 4 ja 7 : eee = ié * 4. t ¥ ae : : * ey 4 Ws et We , vA rt . i.