Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 889 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

New York Nat’s Deadly Deal. than the one where his fellow convict had found lodgings, and in an hour's time had returned as he had promised he would. But he did not find Zip awaiting him, as he had expected. He did not wish to venture by night into the rickety old tenement-house in search of him, and hardly knew what to do, for he He not understand why Zip had deserted im. “T’d give a dollar to know what become of him?” muttered Killer Bill as he stood in the shadow of the building. ‘‘ Done, mister, I'll carn that dollar,” said a voice almost within reach of his arm, and out of the shadow of an area stepped a young gamin of about ten years of age. He was ragged, woefully soiled but bright and forward. ‘* What does you know, kid?” *‘ Enough to git that dollar yer said yer would give, or was yer lyin’ to yerself, cully ?” “Did my pal leave any message with you?” ‘* Not a one.” *‘ Did you see a man here?” ‘‘ Yas, the one you left here and who was to wait for you.” ** How do you know?” ‘*] was a-sleepin’ in my bed thar among the boxes, and heerd yer.” “* Where is he?” “Don’t you wish yer knowed?” ** See here, kid, I’)l ring yer neck ef yer don’t tell me.” ‘‘] tells nothin’ without pay, so put up yer dollar or shut up, see?” Killer Bill make a quick lick at the boy, but it was most cleverly dodged, and then the gamin, from a safe distance called out: ‘‘Yer’d not stand palaverin’ here for a dollar if yer know'd what happened him.” ** Come, I’ll be good as my word and give you the dollar.” ‘* Let me see the money.” ‘: There it is,” _ “ That's a silver dollar and it hain’t worth now what it used to was—silver is down,” ‘Well, will a paper dollar suit you?” ‘« If it hain’t a counterfeit, and you looks like a shover of the queer.” Again the boy dodged, for this time it was a kick Zip suddenly yvave. ‘‘ Here, stop that fooling and here is your money,” He held out bis hand as he spoke, the dollar between his two fingers, and quick as @ flash the boy bad it But he did not dash away as Ralston ex- pected he would, but said in his impudent way: **Vll write you a receipt in the morning for this dollar; but now ter give you the story of your pal.” : “* Well, be quick about it,” \** He’s gone to roost.” ** To his room?” 46 O.Y ** Where then?” | **The clubbers bas got ’em, ** The perlice?” “Yas, ther cops, or leastwise ther crook- catchers,” | : ‘* You mean the detectives?” “* Yas.”" | ‘‘ How was it?” uneasily asked the convict. ‘‘One feller was a-doggin’ yer, and when you left he comes along playin’ loaded to | t,he ther guards. ‘‘He war a showin’ up his sparkler and yD tome re me - ss 1 een ee ap ¥ m ‘ : a ast | ¥ + od + : , “ : ‘ ‘“ Waal, I guesses he did, fcr they went off together, and I jist lay low and was asleep and dreamin’ of my best Sunday gal when you comes along and disturbs me by yer remarks, for I sleeps light, seein’ as ther clubbers moves me on several times during the night.’’ But Killer Bill waited to hear no more. He had heard already too much for his own comfort and muttered to himself: ‘‘Zip bagged already, and jist as we had become partners, ‘We war shaddered, war we? ‘* Well, that means for me to ohange my quarters, for they may pinch him ter squeal, and he’s got but little sand and would sell ine out cheap. ‘“*T war a fool to give him my number, but I moves, and quick, too.” He walked rapidly back to his quarters, | and, after reconnoitering, entered and went to his room, a dingy one on the third floor back of a cheap lodging house, He had only a small grip with him, #nd quickly he gathered his few belongings and stole i he out of the house, going to a cheap hotel on Canal street and paying for a room for the night. ‘*1’m a fool to live in cheap quarters and be dodgin’ ther cops as a poor man, when I has it in my power ter live rich and play the gent, for ther’s one whom I kin force to pay me big money, and I'll do it, for he’s rich and a blood, while I’m hidin’ and sufferin’,” CHAPTER XVI. AT HIS MERCY, Forp RAYFIELD was known as one of fortune’s favorites, and was envied by his fellows for his handsome face and form, his | generous income and a way be had of win- ning hearts. In business circles- he was known as a broker, and had an office near Wall street where he appeared to be thriving, for his atrons were many and his paper was good n the street and taken as ‘‘ gilt edge ” when- ever offered for sale, Broker Rayfield must have had most trust- worthy clerks, for he was wont to come down to his office about noon and leave at three. . He drove-in the Park every afternoon, driviag a pair of fast steppers, and owned a small yacht he was wont to take his friends sailing in upon the Hudson, the Sound or the Lower Buy. ) His quarters were handsomely furnished, and he occupied a flat in a fashionable build ing. is one of the leading churches he paid for | a pew, where his out-of-town friends were oftener seen than he was, but then the pastor | never scolded him for non-attendance as he was always sO generous in his donations to him and to charity. One afternoon Ford Rayfield sat in his private office when a clerk stated that a man wished to see him, | ‘* Who is he?” i ‘“Never saw him before, sir, and he’s a rough-looking specimen,” “Tell him [am pusy.” The clerk soon returned and said: ‘‘He says he will wait to see you if it is night when you leave, sir, and if he fails to see you then he will know where to find you . ; / me waka t (ede a . **. a j y, ex" at vy? : ‘ ‘ i. 9 The visitor entered with a swagger and said in a loud tone: ‘““My dear boy Fred, they said you war too busy to see an old friend, but I know’d better, for it wasn't like yer, as | know’d: yer in past days. ‘**] guesses they jumped to it that ’cause I wasn’t fixed up fine [ was some tramp a-lookin’ fer money, when ther fact is, I'm here ter deposit with yer, for I has struck it ee and has got money ter throw to ther cids, ‘** Give us yer hand, old pard.” Fred Rayfield’s face was a study as his visitor spoke, in a voice that all in the ad- joining office could hear, but he rose and extending his hand said aloud: ‘‘Clothes do not make the man, Wil- liams, old friend. and my clerks were wrong to be rude to you, for I am more than glad to- see you, only I am terribly busy just now, and I am going to ask you to come up and spend the evening with me at my rooms, and we will have a talk over old times. ‘Here is my address, and I shall look for you,” and Ford Rayfield wrote something on a card and handed it to his visitor, who said: ‘* Just like you, old pard. ‘The same fellow I used to know in the mines of New Mexico, for fine clothes, dia- monds and b’iled shirts huin’t spoilt yer. ‘*)’ll be thar, pard, and on time, and don’t you forget it, so now I bids yer adoo,” and the visitor departed, the clerks from [the inner office crowding to the outer door to get a ng of the strange character. hen the door closed upon him Ford Ray- field dropped back in his comfortable chair and covered his face with his bands, as though to shut out some scene that rose be- fore his re Then his lips moved and he muttered: *“My God! why has he come here? ‘*T believed him buried alive and out of my life furever, and now he is free and again crosses my path, | ‘*]t can mean but one of two things, my money or my ruin, ‘Which shall it be?” : | For a long while he sat in silence, appa- rently deeply moved by the visit of the strange man. But at last a clerk came in, and he was at once again the calm, courtly gentleman all his people knew him to be, Py Seon after he left the office. and taking a cab, drove up-town to his rooms. His valet admitted him and he said: ‘You can have an afternoon and night off, Ditson, as] shall be out of town until mid- night. ** But be back by then.” ** Yes, Mr. Rayfield,” said the man and he gladly availed himself of the permission yiven him, : For a long time after the departure of his valet, Ford Rayfield paced to and fro, from one end of his large flat to another, . It was luxuriously furnished, and fine paint- ingsand engravings hung on the walls, but — nothing seemed to attract him then as his thoughts were busy, and seemingly of a painful nature. | - At length he went out to a fashionable ho- tel and ordered a most tempting dinner, But he drank the wine and ate but little. Then he returned to his rooms, lighted the gasand waited, — . When a ring came at his door he answer- ed it himself, and in walked the visitor of the morning at, bis office, © a’ ode ° - "= e « a — - a. SS a ient te a -~ > - Pie Ge - _» . - oe . +. Pp a? ae, to-night as he is posted as to where you | ; visit. / It was Killer Bill, and he wore the air of when he axed him ter steer him toa hack-| ‘‘ You had better see him, sir, for he seems | a man who felt himself master of the situa- roost for a fiver, ~ | ugly in humor.” — tion and who held the man he came to see : tj “But yer pal made the mistake o’ his life- ‘Show him in,”’and Ford Rayfield quiet? | wholly at his mercy. | ' | + time, for quicker than a cat’s jump ther fel- | ly drew a revolver from his pistol-pocket an | | | ) Ter had hiny in his grip and I tell yer he placed it under some papers on his desk 0) handled him in great shape, and soon bad | within reach of his hand, : |... him choked quiet and says to him pleasant A moment after the clerk showed the per- | | a RRP: ee Peas Wilee:. | sistent visitor in, and the face of the hand-| ‘‘ WELL, you have come,” said Rayfield, — Now I'll show you to a hack-stand.’ —_| some broker changed color as he saw him. | doggedly, as his visitor entered, tossed his — e chain, and yer pal thought he'd take him in — CHAPTER XVII. | 7s ‘ Pe iF nC 4 se \"s ia 9 . ; 5 7 ’ x Rag 16 a . 7. , «. : my : f <> pA t*., P Se . 4 Bae ee hkl Re OY AE IA . . is: | ‘ , oa ¢