Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 889 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

> _ a r’ —_- sm ra?) - — . ae — Be > -- = “> 2 “a — rt. < tot ee - es ahi os - £. * sy . oS leo wa ” fhe, og at J ‘ » Sere P - fs ~ “ a? aa 4 =) 5 > 2 5 ~o a4 % OT. “ : ‘‘T saw two men watching us at the gar- den, and after telling you that 1 recognized the one with Miss Kingdon, but could not place him, I did not wish tu say the same of another but, such was the case.”’ “Why, Nat, you will begin to believe you are haunted, after awhile. I fear you are working too *hard in your detective busi- ness, and you should do as| did—should run off for a vacation,” said Olive. ‘Oh no, Ido not need a vacation until I have accomplished the aim of my life, by our deeds of Secret Service to ola a place for my Boy Police, and a fortune too, ‘‘ But, I tell you, Olive, I saw those two ‘men watching us, and one of them I have geen under some peculiar circumstances, but cannot place him now, ‘“When we left they arose and followed us. Now, when we cross the street look for yourself and see that two men are coming on after us.”’ ‘“‘ Does that mean we are being shadowed, Nat?” ‘‘ In this case it does, Sis.” ‘‘ Well, Nat, you are seldom wrong,” said Olive, and crossing the street she glanced ‘back at the two men, They passed under a gas light as she look- ed at them, and she said: ‘‘ Yes, Nat, [remember seeing the same two men ata table near us. ‘‘ Are they the inspector’s detectives, do yor think, trying to find out who the Un- cnown Ferrets are?” ‘Tt may be, for the chief has vowed to our allies, Mr, Vanderlip and Mr. Sherman _ Canfield, that he will yet track us, and he has a bet with the former of a thousand dollars that he will do so,” * ‘* And may win it.” ‘‘ Not if we can help it, Olive. But, we must throw those fellows off our track, for it would never do to take you home and have those men dog us there.” ‘** How can we get rid of them?” ‘* We'll go into the ladies’ entrance of the Barrett House. I will then leave you in the parlor, quickly change my disguise in the ante-room, and go to the office and ‘yurder a carriage for you .to drive home, while I will oT those men, for turn about is fair p ay.” This plan was adopted, and, as Olive went into the parlors, New York Nat quickly pass- ed into the waiting-room, and with a clever- ness and skill gained by long practice, in a couple of minutes had completely changed his appearance. | In the first place, his coat was turned, and ~was of a different color on the other side; his turned-down collar was changed to a stand- ing up one, with a white cravat, and pocket- ing the soft hat he wore, he took out from under his belt a spring opera hat, that with a pair of eyeglasses set upon his nose, and a blond wig, made a totally different person - in appearance from the youth whom Killer Bill had recognized, Going down to the office he asked the clerk to order a carriage for a lady in the parlor, whom he could not escort home owing to an engagement he must keep at that hour. Then he passed on out of the hotel within five feet of Killer Bill who had never for an instant recognized him, As he suspected, he passed the other pal watching the ladies’ entrance of the hotel, and, apparently waiting foracar, he saw a carriage drive up anda vailed lady come out and enter it, passing the shadower who fail. ed also to recognize that Olive had thrown a black vail over her bonnet and a shaw! about her shoulders, for the fair young Queen of the Ferrets, like her brother, was too clever to go out without being able also to disguise : herself in an instant. New York Nat witnessed his sister’s de- parture, and walking toward the watcher as the carriage rolled away he said in & drawl- - Ing tone: meee eee eee eee eee ee Oe — = a —EE — ————eeeeee : New York Nat’s Deadly Deal. ‘Say, friend, I take it that you are a de- tective.” Zip Ralston started, but said with as much com posure as he could assume: ‘* Well, if you think so, you will know enough not to trifle with me when Iam at work.” : ‘Very true; but your comrade, who just went into che hotel, told me to come and say you were not to wait for him, and he’d see you later.” ‘‘No he won’t! He can’t come that game on me, for he knows I don’t know where to find him, and he’s trying to give me the shake, fearing I may squeal, but, that game don’t work,” and the man in his anger, and fearing to be deserted by his fellow convict, forgot that he was saying more than was safe. He was, however, quickly recalled to his senses by having a revolver muzzle thrust into his face and hearing the words: ‘* Well, this game does work, forl am a detective, and I want you, my man,” CHAPTER IV. NAT’S SUSPICION VERIFIED, THE escaped convict was startled beyond resistance or speech, He saw the cell of his prison looming up before him, and where he was to spend the remaining years of his existence, for he was sentenced for life, In his terror and despair he made no resis- tance, and the handcuffs were quickly snap- ped upon his wrists by New York Nat. But there was heard arapid step behind him, a stunning blow of a cane crushed down upon Nat’s head and as he tottered and fell backward against the iron railof the shotel, the one who had struck him made a savage thrust at him with a long-bladed knife. Unable to resist, dazed as be was by the blow, New York Nat saw the thrust mace and turned his body to avoid it. The point struck a hard substance, glanced, and cut the flesh as it slipped from rib to rib, while the intended murderer, believing that he had finished his work, grasped his fellow- convict by the arm and the two fled rapidly up the street as their victim sunk to the pavement, just as a gentleman came out of the hotel, saw him and said: ‘* Sorry liquor has downed you, nd friend; but I will call a hack for you, as the street is not a pleasant sleeping-place.” ‘“Mr. Canfield, lam not drunk. I am—” “New York Nat as I live, and in dis- guise?” cried the gentleman. ‘‘Yes, but do not mind me, sir, for | am only stunned by a blow, See those two men, please follow them, for I can look after myself, thank you,” Sherman Canfield saw the retreating forms ne going around the corner and turn down ifth avenue, He waited no longer, but hastening around in front of the hotel, sprung into a waiting cab and gave the coachman his orders quick- ly, and the vehicle dashed away, while he muttered; “I have never tried scouting and trailing in the city, but I'll try my hand at it now,’* New York Nat with n effort straightened himself upas Mr, Canfield dashed away, and muttered: ‘“‘If any one can catch those two fellows, that young Indian-fighter is the one.” Then he took off his crushed hat and felt his head. | There was a large lump where the cane had fallen. ‘‘The springs in this opera hat and my wig saved me from a broken skull,” he mut- tered. . Then he placed his hand in his coat and found that it was wet. — *Sherman Canfield, of Nebraska, and a well- known young plainsman, at present the private seo- retary of Colonel W. F. Cody. —THE AUTHOR. a - * a. ea € at, Be [ay ey or u> P > Oe AT sf , ‘ voy - Pv gare eh ar) ¥ “ i ; e ’, w . ¢ ‘It’s blood, but I guess I’m not badly urt, ‘‘Tt was the Boy Police badge I wear that rae the blade, and it glanced along my ribs, ‘* Both were close calls, and I'll look up a doctor, for I feel quite ret ‘* Anyhow, I know now that those are bad fellows, who need runping down. ‘‘T must take off my wig before 1 go to the doctor,” and he did so, removing also his glasses, and then making his way to a physi- cian he had before visited, and who knew him simply as a young detective whose injuries he had dressed before, for in his many dar- ing and dangerous encounters with crooks Nat had often received wounds more or less serious. Doctor Bailey answered the ring himself, not having retired, and when he had looked at the wound on the head said: ‘* Well, my young ferret, that opera hat saved you from perhaps death.” “Yes, sir.” ‘‘ As itis the blow is not serious, and a few applications of this wash will soon re- duce the hice Me ‘‘T’ve got another for you to look at, doc- tor, and | suppose it is worse than this one,” He threw open his vest as he spoke and after a quick examination of the wound the doctor said: ‘‘ Yes, the knife was driven for your heart and glanced on some hard substance,” ‘* Yes, sir, my badge,” ‘*Then cut along the ribs, but fortunately the wounds are slight, , ‘* You had better remain here all night.” ‘*No, thank you, sir, just patch me up and I will go home.” ‘* Who caused these wounds?” ‘‘A man whom I had arrested had a pal whose approach I did not see, so he struck me, then knifed me, and both got away.” The doctor asked no more and Nat said; ‘*Please do not report this, doctor, as publicity may thwart work I have on hand.”’ ‘* As you please,” was the answer of the doctor as his hand closed over the liberal fee given him by New York Nat, who then took his departure. He paused upon reaching the pavement and then said: , | “Tl risk it,” With this he went to a fashionable street not far away and, seeing a light burning in the hallway ascended the steps and placing a night key in the lock entered. He passed through the hall into a rear room that was a handsome library, luxurious- ly furnished, and where a light burned, sped himself in an easy-chair he leant back and and soon dropped to sleep, to awake an hour after as a gentleman entered the room and said: ‘ ‘Hello, Nat, you here? ‘‘T am indeed glad of it, for I have your man.” The gentleman was Sherman Canfield, and his appearance was that of one who had had a severe struggle, ‘You have my man, sir?’ cried Nat springing to his feet.in delight, and then gave him a severe twinge of pain. ‘* Yes, I took a hack, passed them on Fifth avenue, and then leaving the cab shadowed them, as you call it, and they led me to one of the lowest parts of the city, not very far from the Five Points.” “Then I was right in my suspicion, sir that they are the worst kind of crooks,” said Nat emphatically. a” _ CHAPTER Y. | THER FRONTIER SHADOWER. ‘“Yus, if they are not the crookedest of crooks, I’ll be greatly mistaken, in fact their \ atin on you proves that” said Mr, Oan- eid, ‘2 Mi ¥ : 7 ‘ tha Le y pie “Av Cig ‘oy shina placing his hand upon his side as his wound ‘ ‘4 < . ‘ '(* * - 4 =, pt ; . | (@) _ \ | » a - ir \ | A E a ae A org a 7 > ee +< 7 * a _ : “ a