Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 889 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Naige J ied fh pressed his sorrow accordingly So much was he alarmed that he felt a pang of the deepest regret that he had ever Jeft the prison and wished himself back again in bis cell. He mentally cursed Killer Bill for having been at the garden concert and thus gotten him into trouble. ‘There was but one lamp upon the table, and it revealed objects not too distinctly in the large room. At the table sat New York Nat and Olive, and on the seats fronting it were the Boy Police serving as the Masked Jury. All were as silent as death. With a rapon his table New York Nat ordered the prisoner seated where he could face the Masked Jury, and the man dropped into the chair as though glad to no longer trust his legs, ‘* Prisoner, what is your name?” said the jee ferret chief, speaking purposely in a ow, deep tone. ‘“‘ Zip Ralston,” was the answer and then ‘quickly came the words: ‘No, no, * made a mistake, my name ” ‘« Zip Ralston .s the name you will be tried under,” broke in Nat, and the Ferret Queen ‘wrote it down, ‘‘ What is your trade or profession?” ‘*T’m a—a—a blacksmith.” ‘* Where do you work?” The man with still more hesitancy gave a number, and then came the question: ‘* Where do you live?” The address to which Sherman Canfield had shadowed him was not the one given, but both were entered by Olive, for New York Nat had the street and number given him by the Nebraskan. So the questions went on, and the prison- _er’s hesitation and replies showed that he was not telling the truth, Then New York Nat said: ‘* Read the charges against this man.” __ The Ferret Queen read them in a low, dis- guised voice, to the effect that the prisoner was the pal of Killer Bill, an escaped con- vict in for life, and the two had shadowed a young man from the Concert Garden to a bata. where he had claimed to another per- son who approached him, to be a detective, and, when arrested, had been rescued by his al, Kier Bill. who had altempted twice he life of the officer of the law who held him as prisoner, | The charge of the attack on Sherman Can- field was read, the capture, the effort of the prisoner to escape by killing his keeper, and . the last attempt to get away by dosing the dog with morphine and breaking the leg from a chair in the room where he was con- fined with which to take the life of the one who was guarding him, but who, suffering from the injuries inflicted upon him by his, the prisoner’s, companion, was resting and periie = | ‘‘ What have you to say to these charges ea you, prisoner?” asked New York at. “T says that a man has got ter pertect himself when he’s in danger, for how'd I know I wasn’t goin’ ter be kilt?” | ** You admit that you are guilty then?” “TI is guilty o’ pertectin’ myself.” . |' “*The Masked Jury bas heard the charges ¢ pnd the answers of the prisoner. .' © His fate is in their hands,” said New York Nat. / The jury never moved, and not a word ‘was heard, — They sat in a deathlike silence, a silence that was broken suddenly by a long, dismal howl] from Sentinel. It startled all and nothing could have been more impressive just at that moment than that uncauny howl from the dog, who seemed to feel that he was himself on trial for his sin of yielding to nip Sega and ex- ‘ + + _ But the prisoner turned livid at the dismal : ref , a, * Awd : ey we e - » 1g! 7 . avr, *- malty | & toe ih real ie ‘ A % ¥ a | , ; Fi { , ‘ Bea : eae? Pe ee i DE Tete O94 5 ren ee rt ex's ra 4 fab srt 4 ‘ rate t's ry4y mrs ‘ner 4 bo wb een ae ; ae : + —- ao 3. .¢ m ;. —P- se ey a : ~ - fas | a er a a le ~ _—_—™ New York Nat’s Deadly Deal. howl of Sentinel and gazed appealingly to- ward the jury. ‘Have the jury decided upon their ver- dict?” asked New York Nat sternly, as soon as the echo of Sentinel’s how! had died away through the old mansion. ‘‘We have,” was the answer, ‘‘ What is the verdict?” “* Guilty!” ‘Ts there a dissenting voice?” Not a voice replied, showing that the ver- dict was unanimous, and the prisoner moved uneasily in his chair and pressed his man- acled hands hard together. ‘* What is your sentence upon the prison- er?” asked New York Nat impressively. ‘* Death!” ‘Tg there a dissenting voice?” . Again silence followed the question save the low moan of the prisoner. ‘‘Prisoner, you have beard, nd death is the sentence upon you, so prepare to die within the next twenty-four hours, ‘*Guards, lead the prisoner back and put him in double irons,” ‘My God! don’t kill me as you hope for mercy,”*cried the prisoner as he was led away. ) CHAPTER XIV, PUT TO THE TEST. New York Nar recovered his mask and gown as soon as the prisoner was led from the room and the others quickly followed his example, Olive alone remaining masked. The faces of the band of Boy Police did not look very serious, like what would be expected of those who had just sentenced a a ow-being to death, and Nat said present- y: ‘Well, boys, we have him ease ag scared under his death sentence, and now it will be for me to make him confess all that he knows, by promising his life, for of course he does not know that we have no authority to try him and would not dare condemn him to death in earnest. , ‘‘The truth is that he doubtless deserves hanging, but that must be for the law to de- cide, and we will have done our share if we can make him betray his pal, Killer Bill, and any other men of that stripe whom he may be associated with. “JT will have a talk with him later to- night, and under the promises of sparing his life if he makes a clean breast of it may learn what we would know. ‘* Now you are dismissed, and do not for- get that you are to hunt up the record of the man I described to you and who was with Miss Maybel Kingdon two nights ago at the garden concert ” ) The boys arose, and those who had reports to make of any discoveries they had made, or desired any money, came forward and told the Ferret Queen, who wrote down what they had to say, or paid them the sums ask- ed for, In a short while the room was cleared of all save Nat and Olive and together they looked over the reports of the ferrets, and then Nat said: ‘* Now come, Olive, and we will see what that man has to say for himself.” They entered the room together and found Sentinel on his post at the door. | were Upon his cot, and ironed hands and feet, now lay the prisoner, groaning as though in great pain, | ; ‘For a man who is a villain by nature that fellow is the greatest coward I ever saw, for men of the criminal class do not eye whine and tremble,” muttered at, hee | Approaching the cot be said, while Olive sat near the open door: | ‘‘T am sorry for you, Zip Ralston, but if you commit crime you must expect to suffer for it.” | | “I wish to know who it is that has sen. ‘ “4 ; 7 fF i 9 , & 4 +; « Kes ® { " , ‘ ao a cts ry ; P ie as EEE 2 em came amend tenced me to death, for that was no judge and jury.” ‘$ tt was a self constituted judge and jury, one that holds life cheap to gain its ends, and would show you mercy only on certain conditions.” ‘« What does they want?” ‘* You are sentenced to die, and those who have found you guilty are Man-Hunters; in other words, officers of ’the law who hunt down your kind. ‘You are a fugitive from justice—” ‘¢ Who says so?” laos" ‘‘ What does you know?” ‘ Just what [ tell you, and if you wish to save your life you can do so, perhaps, in one way, for I will put it to the vote whether to spare you for a confession that will entrap others.” ‘*Can you do that?” ‘“T will see what you desire to do first.” ‘What do you wish to know?” ‘ The hiding-place of Killer Bill.” ‘*T never was thar.” ‘“Do not lie to me if you wish me to plead for your life.” ‘Tsay I never was at his place, for I only met him at the concert and recognized him after awhile as a convict at tho same—I means at prison.” a Yes, you mean the same prisom you were in, ‘“‘T didn’t say so.” ‘‘You nearly implied as much; but then you made yourself known to him and at once became pals?” “é Yes. ”) , ‘* And how came you to shadow that young man you saw there?” ‘‘Bill said as how he was lookin’ for re- venge and money, and he revognized the young fellow as the detective who had kilt is pal, Red Fred, and sent him back to his cell, and he wanted to knife him, and s0 we followed him.” ‘ And Bill was going to your home that night?” ** Yes.” ‘‘But went to his own quarters?” “« Yes,” ; ‘* Where did he live?” ‘‘ He told me he hung out at number —— Bleecker street.” | ‘“Under what name?” “Fred Williams,” : ‘And you were to unite your fortunes, ou?” ‘Yes, that was it, and now you won’t let ‘em kill me will you?” ‘Tell me just who you are, and what you are ?”’ ‘You knows my right name, and I was a prisoner with Bill, but escaped. ‘‘ Now you knows all, so don’t let em kill \ e, ‘1 will promise you your life, for that I can do,” was New York Nat’s response, and he continued: ‘‘ You are to remain here a prisoner until it is decided where you shall be sent; but the guard over you will be one who will see that you do not escape, and Sentinel will be on hand also, while you will be doubly ironed, as you cannot be trusted, ‘‘Here is your supper, so eat it and rest contented that your life will be spared,” and Nat left the room. | ) age Joining Olive the two left the building to- — gether and the young ferret chief escorted her to her home, when he returned to the old mansion to find the prisoner sleeping soundly and Sentinel on duty just outside of the door, ‘‘ Now to run down Killer Bill,” muttered Nat as he went to his own room and turn in for the night. 1 . f CHAPTER XV. KILLER BILL. pal of Zip Ralston had— own room, which was in a bet one to his — ? | et : ’ , 4 . . ; oat ' Pri % y ia A phe . ‘ | i t, % 0 Bis es be 48 S gen iy *\ ‘ ‘ ; ‘ tat * ‘s =) . “" ' f het a : ht . ‘a - J + ff ; ' a‘ yw J wa M : ok . . ' - j : Hh ty + a ee ofmtal Lata ee F a . - 4 4 “ y ¥ Ny ut 2 ah OE eee t, » \ -