Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 890 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 man’s son was not finding any pleasure in bis present company, His expression was grave— almost desperate—and he appeared to be mak- ing an app: al to his companions, Ward and Brown evideatly had minds moved by happier feelings. They did not look serious; they were very much at their esse; and now and then an amuse’! smile crossed tne face of one of them, es if be enjoyed Harry’s vain struggles, ‘¢ e's got enough wf such company,” was the High Card’s second verdict, ‘* but he’s too late to back out. It’s just as everybody has proplesied for years; he’s kept bad company until he’s got into a fix.” Messenger 999 was eager to overhear what they were saying, and circumstances favored im. Just behind Harry there was a potted shrub, and back of it a table. He went there and sat down, He was partially screene! from notice, and even if Ward and Browa should chance to look at him, his old clothes, disheveled hair and patches of dirt were enough to make a very fair disguise, He proceeded to listen, ‘* You buve always professed to be my friends,” observed Tildrake, bitterly. ‘¢ So we are, dear boy,” answered Ward. *¢ You act like it!” ‘1s that sarcasm?” a What else can it be? Youare bound to ruin me! . Now, my dear boy, you ought not to talk so— ‘‘Let the blamed fool talk!” interrupted Brown. ‘‘ What did yon call me?’ demanded Harry, otly. ‘6 A fool!” ‘¢ Be careful! 1 won’t bear that.” ‘* What will you do?” ‘¢1"]] tell what I know about the robbery—” ‘¢ Informers usually get fifty per cent. off ; you would get out of it with three years, possibly. But that would not heal your lacerated feelings. Your father. and the whole world would know you as the thief—” **T am not tre thief.” ‘¢ You are anaccomplice. Come, Til, there is no use of your squirming. You areintheswim, and you know as well asI do that it means a long jaunt‘up the river’to be nabbed. You and I don’t wantto be railroaded, just yet.” ‘‘Our dear boy is not so foolish as that,” re- marked Ward, in his oily way. ‘‘ When he has thought this matter all over be will see wherein he is wrong, and do us justice,” “ Birst, do me justice!” Harryexclaimed. “Il cannot, will not, be party to this infamy.” ‘‘Whatare you going to do?” Brown asked, with a sneer, ‘* Tt is for you to do—to do justice,” | ‘* Ti], we’ve had quite enough of this. You have my answer, and | shall stick toit. Now, you have your choice between keeping your mouth shut and going to prison. That’s all!” CHAPTER XI. THE HARD YOUNG CITIZEN MAKES TROUBLE. TILDRAKE sat in gloomy silence. The sobri- quet of ‘* Headstrong Harry” fitted bim no lon- ger. Hehad run the race of fast life bravely, and had brought up at the usual point. Step by step he had gonefrom perversity to rebellion, to fast life, dissipation, evil company and crime, At last, he had the inevitable reward, He had never meant any barm, and his natu- ral bent was not that of a criminal, yet he sat that night surrounded by law-breakers of all ‘grades, and was hopelessly in the power of two of the lot. For a moment the degradation of the situa- tion overcame fear and remorse, and he looked around at his companions. Nearly all were coarse, brutal, ignorart and low, He would bave been asbamed to be seen with them on the street, yet his own beadlong course bad forced him into their company. | Pe ee ——_ — ee - ened —o Messenger 999. ee Brown had lured Harry on in the montbs past had disappeared. He at last had the victim in the toils, and did | not care whit he thought or how much he writhed under the lash, Ward, however, was more cautious and far eving. Before then he bad known mien to sac- rifice themselves in order to accomplish a certain end, and, though Brown thought he had Til- drake where the latter would not dare to say a word, the wily elder man was not 80 certain, He gave Brown a serret, warning touch, and then addressed Harry in his usual way: ‘* Dear boy, don’t be downcast. This matter is not so. serious as it seems, whether a man loses his money thus, or in Wall street, or in a fire, or some other way? Gone, it is useless, anyhow. Now, Harry,me boy cheer up! We willloas you what you need, und you can play the races next week for all you’re worth.” es oe the races!” Tildrake exclaimed. ‘ n 3 ‘* ve put my last dollar in the morgue of hap- pineas,” sé So? ‘¢ My downfall begins from the hour Tt began to bet. A millionaire is excusable for risking money on a horse’s legs; a poor manis not, It is like a race between bliin can+ee. The blind never win, or, if taey do, they next time drop more than they have won. The running races | eep thousands of men, born in my rank of life, in constant poverty, They are race-mad. Better for themif the world had no horses,” Brown’s lips curled contemptuously as he heard this bitter speech. He managed to make a good thing out of the races, and did it at the hee of just such innocents as Harry Til- rake, ‘* Maybe you don’t get your ‘ tips’ of the right party, me boy,’ suggested Ward. ‘*Asa rule l’ve gone on my own judgment, but I’ve paid two different persons for tips. Brown recommended one of them,” ‘* Haven’t you won on his tips?” Brown asked. ‘* In small chances, yes; in big Ones, no.” ‘‘Even an expert can’t hit ’em up every time.” ! 7 ‘* | can suggest a very reliable man to buy tips of,” continued Ward. ‘i’ve made my last bet on a race!” Tildrake spoke with resolution, and deep disap- pointment becawe pictured in Ward’s face. Ace High began to suspect that these men had fleaced Harry systematically. He had heard that there were sharks, who, making a business of giving ‘‘ tips,” conducted their business, with the aid of confederates, so that they literally were able to rob tose who patronized them. With thousands of foolish men race-mad, it was a wide field and easy to work, Ward showed his cunning by not pressing the subject, but devoted all bis efforts to getting Harry into a mere contented frame of mind, He did not succeed. The police:wan’s son had come there that night to accoa:plish a certain object, He bud failed, and the failure left bim gloomy and wretched, The messenger decided that he had remained long enough in hix present company, His trip bad burne fruit. He knew that Til- drake bad been :oolish enough to get on good terms with two consummate scoundrels, and, as a natural conseqneoce, had become mixed up in crooked work, Tat he bad engage: as anally of either Brown or Ward was not likely, but now that he wished to sever all connection with them, he found bimself in their power, Plainly, Ace could net belp bim by remain- ing, and, as they were not likely tu tell all their secrets in public, it » ould be useless tolinger in hopes of learning more. Tl} scoot while I can,” the messenger thougbt. ‘* Thésir hereisn’t the kind un honest person likes to breathe, It’s full of robbery, frsud and all kinds of lawlessness.” , He rose ond started for the exit, but bad What matter men and those who dee te A LD LL LLL LLL LLL LLL ‘‘ You've got ter do somet’ing—you’s got ter explain w’ot you’s doin’ yere, See?” ‘*De blokey played off he was Petey Cray, but he’s no more Petey dan I be, He’s a spy; dat’s w’ot he is, an’ be’s in yere to pips on some chip. See?’ Ace had been troubled at first sight of the cigarette fiend, for he was afraid the latter might have discovered that he bad poured his confidence into wrong ears. Now he foynd his fears confirmed, anc actual danger menaced him. The language, the appearance and the ‘manner of the two persous confronting him showed thatthey weregenuine New York roughs. ‘+ You'll bev ter expiain,” the man declared, ‘‘Rd, here, says you’s ain’t a member of de club, an’ we don’t want dis place infested wid outsiders. See? Move your jaw an’ let us know who you’s be, an’ by what right you are in here,” : ‘* isn’t this a public place?” Ace asked, assum- ing an air of invocence, ‘* Naw; it ain’t a public place.” ‘*Thnen Vl apologize for coming in. Sorry I intruded, but I saw otbers come, and nobody objected when J came, Begging your pardon, TP leave,” ‘““Dat won't go down!” declared the hard youth who rejoiced in the brief sobriquet of ‘‘ Red.” Shaking his fist in Ace’s face headded: ‘* You's a spy; dat’s w’ot you bet” ‘‘Nonsense!” returned Ace, managing to laugh. ‘‘I don’t care anything about other tolks’ affairs.” ‘*Cail Ward!” the unknown man directed, ‘¢ Red”? hastened to obey this order. Acs was tempted to make a dash for freedom, but even if he could pass the man, there seemed to be too many others in the way. One word from the former would cause a score of persons to seek to catch bim, Clearly, flight would be folly. . ‘‘This is a great go!” he remarked, still pre- tending t» be amused, ‘* What’s up, anyhow?” His companion vouchsafed no reply, but ‘‘*Rei” came up, followed by Bartholomew Ward. The latter looked sharply at Asa, but did not recognize bim, ‘* Dat’s de feller,” Red explained, ‘¢ Bless me! [ see no harm in this small lad,” admitted Ward, who could tell something about a person’s nature, if not about his intentions, ‘* But he pretended to be Petey,” urged Red. ‘¢ No, I didn’t!” stoutly answered Ace. ‘‘ He called me Pete, this young man did; but I never claimed the name, and don’t know any Pete,” ‘** Who are you?” ‘‘ Andy Jenkins. I live over by Robens’s grocery-store, I just come in because | thought tb:s a public place. Me, want to harm you? Come off!” His easy, frank outward manner impressed Ward, but Red saw the result and changed his tactics: ‘* Fact is, Cap, I thought he was Petey, an’ I ° talker! too free. [let him on ter certain secrets, an’ some of de members of dis club will get de sack ef you’s let de feller go. See?” ** Red, you're a fool!” Ward declared. ‘‘ Boss, I’s dead sorry, but | was mistaken. Pll leave it ter any of de fellers ef he ain’t a dead | ringer for Petey. See? Could I tell dat there wa3 two feliers dat looked jest alike? Naw!” Mr. Red seemed to feel tbat he had made an eloquent defense, and he threw himself into an attitude and extended one arm like the handle to a pump. ‘‘1f you have no brains,” went on Mr. Ward, with warmth, *‘ you had better quit New York, What did you tell bim ?’ | ‘‘ Come aside, an’ Jet me tell you’s private, I don’t want ter spread de facks auy more. See?” The tough young citizen was a good deal burabled by Ward’s severe rebuke, and bis man- ner was meek and crestfallen. He and Ward ha! a talk which lasted for some time, and the latter did not appear to grow any moreamiable, When they returned Ace read ill news in his * : . - — SESS EE ES EE —_———E——— ee eee ee ‘ —_ ST : = | ‘ ~ “ . . os « edt ras : a | » Bo oad ae he - ee 8 - i a ‘ 24 a" = ie = eige ee - —- Tt ‘ =. < ee * © be x a o> Cow ote, | 1 i . > > -* + * - . 1.’ t- tt o od - wie . ap, ~~ Ss 2 nd =e" a a WV, > ~~ & nd TS S45 S fis * fae pt ¥ Ee face. “es e was truly repentant then, but repentance | gone only a few steps when he encountered his| _‘* You'll have to stay here, boy!” he curtly de- ee had come too Jate, late acquaintance, the cigarette fiend, and a big clared, er | ‘* Confess, dear boy, that you were hasty,” | man who bad an air of authority. The fcrmer’s ‘* Thought T wasn’t wanted here.” | * gently advised Ward, ‘‘ You should not speak | face lighted up at sight of Ace. ‘¢ We can’t let you go out until we investigate Be. severely of your friends—” ‘ Derels de blokey!” be exclaimed, with his | your case, and see if you are to be trusted. It ma “Friends!” echoed Harry, bitterly. usnal elevant form’ of speech. ‘ You kin see | won’t hurt you to sleep here to-night. If you a or) ya Brown touched bis arm. fur verself,? | prove harmless you shall go free;it I decide Bi ‘* ff you don’t like our company, get out!” the | Ace tried to pass on, but the two blocked his | tbat you area spy, I'll see to it that you don’t a sharper angrily directed, path. . 4 out to give our secrects away. Boys, lock a ‘Brown, if you will grant my request—” _ ‘* See yere!” began the man, ‘* who be you?” im up!” a —— ‘That willdo. I won't make the idiot of my- iy ene got no card with me,” returned Ace, | * ie self that you ask, and you may as well under- | assuming a manner and choice of words fit for CHAPTER XIi. ay } ia stand it. Drop the subject, now and for- | the company. \ THE HEAD AT THE DOOR. nS } ae _ ever!” | ‘* Wot yer doin’ yere?” . “WELL, I’m in for it, sure-po pd wae be Bai _ All of the pleasant and bland wayswithwhich' ‘ Nothing.” — This comment came from Asa Highin & rue~ = "Ae OF IE), 5 7 | : j | | : yo ~ = f ’ 7) bakerspihs 1 ERR TST AS: aC Ee ee ha Ne A YRT AM Mere eee oh Later eS ga Cava ee Le RUM DOU ee an SO a, Ne Re NG \, 5% Le eth. aS “te PEN ce > = iy = A oe at —>e Leh a < ae pe Se a8 Oj a0 ota 21s BS + we eee Sa 7 « <n paca fies My é ‘ = oll : : i go |