Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 890 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- * . ‘ * - —.—~J-s - ~ eae i _ * ) - : , 4 pa ~ i« % . a ' ¥ A ~~. . a, Pt ge Tee it ee = — ~ + ‘ ee 4n* - a ¢ . Aa.) Seaey 7 . * * < ‘, s - » - Soe 3b # - at = > fs a « — » . — * > * — os "4° . ays 4 a é . ’ = % é > “* ~ a * _* S , > ah <—* —— 4 ~— > SS ets = wie é *- : —t . gel Oe o sey =4 % - . + hn | ~ ——- * . . ; “ bed “4 * a.” ft - - ful voice. All of his arguments bad been disre- garded, and be was locked in a room which ad- joined those where the members of the so-called club were having an enjoyable time in each others’ select company. He oad refrained from making himself known, or calling upon Harry Tildrake for aid, because he was strongly of tne opinion that this would only result in getting Harry into trouble. The latter’s standing ia his present society was not very high, and any opposition on his part to the ie of the ruling powers would be worse than nseless, Tse High Card’s prison-room was about as bare and grim as if could be. One table and two chairs were there, but only because they had been Ciscarded after being broken in the otber room, A second door, which probably had led to the yard, bad been stoutly boarded up, and the soli- tary window being in like condition, they evi- dently considered it a safe prison. ‘*Asa G. High,” grimly observed the owner of that name, ‘‘your cognomen ought to be Dennis Mud. Thisisa bad scrape. ou ain’t Messenger 999. **Ob! it’s a club,” *€ Crooks?” Prudence came to Ace’s aid; he resolved not to | Say too much, “*Oul I guess not, but they’re down on me.” ‘** Know any on ’em by name?” cs No.” ‘* W'ot do they do fur a livin’?”’ ‘“‘T don’t even knowthat. They are strangers to me, but they got down on me without any good reason, and shut me up; so you see you | Came along justin time, I’m about as thankful as they make’em, Now, what chance is there | for me to g >t to the street!” ‘* There’schance enough, though you probab’ly couldn't find it alone. Come erlong, an’ J’ll show ye out, Reckon I ain’t got no errand | round here, nohow.” | Ace wascareful not to inquire why his com- pation was there, ‘The evidence that he was a urglar seemed too strong to be disputed, but that did not interest the messenger-boy. He was Willing the man should go back and steal | the whole house, Bartholomew Ward and all. | Thestranger led the way, and they entered a ‘init,’ but you are in it—deepand bad. How | dark and narrow alley. are you to get out?” He surveyed the room carefully, but found no answer to his question, | He seemed to be a helpless prisoner. The situation was vexatious in the extreme. Since coming to the alleged club-rooms he had learned who the burglars had been at Marker, Gane & Leigh's, iF he could get away, this would be valuable information for the police, ' He also had other strong suspicions—but they, aud he, were locked up in the old room. Several times he repeated the tour of investi- gation around the ce, mos lacking all tools | motive for with which to work, he could see no way of breaking out, Two hours or more passed in this helpless fashion, Then there was a peculiar change in the situation. He heard the clicking of a key in a lock, and the sound seemed to come from the rear door, Then a breath of fresh air touched his face, and he knew that the door behind the cross-boards had been opened. : Ate had done this, and what was the ob- ect He advanced and stood close to the point of interest, There was a grinding, grating sound on the other side, and one end of a narrow board was forced back out of place, and toward him, He could see the stars through the aperture, but that was not what interested him the most. A human hand gras the loosened board and removed it entirely; a human head ap- peerre In the space thus left. It was a rough- ooking head, with a forest of tangled bair and beard, 1ts owner fixed his gaze upon the pris- oner, ‘* Hullo, youngster!” he exclaimed. ‘* Hullo!” Asa answered, doubtfully. ‘“*Got things all ter yerself, ain’t yer?” “ves, but l want to get out. Can you help e +4 es out? pee for?” ‘*D in’6 you belong to the gang?” ** Don’t belong ter'no beng? . ‘Speak low!” the messenger cautioned, quick- ly. ‘*For your lite, don’t let the men in there hear you!” He pointed to the door of the front room. | ‘*Men in there, eh? Reckon 1’ll skip, then.” ‘“Wait! Help me get cff these boards.” Tae Trump Card’s hopes had gone up fast and high, Appearances indicated that thestranger was a burglar. Better any company for him than that of Ward and his gang of ruffians. If he could get out of the prison-room, he thought that escape would be easy, The unknown regerded him with an appear- ance of slow- witted wonder, ‘* Be you shut up?” he asked, “ Yes.”’ - ‘“ Wal, hang me ef I don't let yer out! I don’t approve o’ no sech work, y holt o’ that board, an’ pull slow an’ gentle, We mustn’t ke no noise,” : her rose the messenger’s hope, and he gave his aid at the board. Itwa-not long before the opening had bren enlarged so that Ace could ‘crawl through, and, when this was done, he lost ‘no time in going. Once more he stood free un‘er the open sky, ‘‘Stranger,” be said, earnestly, “I’m ver Sy obliged to you. You've got me out of a x. ** Don’t mention if, sonny.” . ** Tt mean’s a heap to me.” ** Who be the fellers imthar?” & net 2 pm the vehicle, entered after him, and then the out- { | ‘*' This leads ter the street, after makin’ a bit of a bend,” the leader remarked. ‘* You pass me, an’ go ahead, an’ [Jl kinder cover our re- treat.” Asa could see no use for such a precaution, but be set out to obey his companion. He started to pass the latter, but, as he cid so, the supposed burylar suddenly seized him, and his broad hand was clasped over the High Card’s mouth, Although taken wholly by surprise, it flashed upon the cy that he had been entrapped, The the act and the identity of the trap- per he did not stop to consider, but at once de- voted all bis attention to an effort to break his captor’s hold, This attempt was wholly useless. The man whistled softly and a second person came to hisaid, They litted Asa and bore him out of te passage. if A blind alley lay beyond, and in this stood a carriage. The men thrust their prisoner into fit was started by athird man who had remained on the box, : The messenger-boy was surprised and con- fused. He did not understant this move ag all, though one thing was very evideut: he was in the power of enemies, and the abduction did not portend anything tuvorsble to him, | He renewed his struggles, but his strength nS nothing against the force opposed to im, Evidently it was the intention of the driver to go as fast as he could and not get arrested for fast driving. Now and then be gave the horses a clip with the whip, and they bewled along over the rough pavement until uhe passengers danced like rubber balls, The prisoner could not tell in what direction they were going, but their course Was always on one street, At length they came to a halt, and Asa’s chief captor looked out of the window, ‘* Here we are!” be observed. He threw open the door, aud was about to lift Ace out when second thought caused him to pause. With the aid of bandkerchieis the cap- tive’s hands were bound and his mcuth bandaged, Thus be was incapacitated from giving any alarm, an’ from m:iking resistance, All left the carriage, Ace saw a pier, a river, and twinkling lights far beyond. He knew then where they were, He was forced t) walk out ov the pier, A vessel of considerable size lay there, but the ac- tivity which existed on herdeck at once suggest- ed to the messenger that she was about to be started on an ocean voyage. Without any cere- mony Ace was marched upon the deck, ani then to a retired point where his feet were bound, The last move rendered bim wholly helpless, and he was rolled over ip a retired place like a mere piece of cargo. ; ** Boy,” then spoke his chief captor, ‘‘do you know where you are bound for?” Naturally, the bandage prevented any reply. ‘This ship 1s bound for India,” the speaker added, *‘and she will be gone just three years, You will goas a passenger—unless they drop you overboard in mid-ocean!” CHAPTER XIII, PRISONERS UNDER DECKS, THIS was not pleasant news for Ace High, but be saw noreason to doubtit. He had been along the wharves in the t often enough to get a pretty clear idea of the various vessels + ssl: ee a - Se ee ’ 13% that lay there at different times, and was quite ready to believe he was ona cratt bound for a. voyage on the open sea. Although he could not answer, his captor con- tinued to give information. ‘* You have made yourself obnoxious in New York by meddling with what don't concern you, and thi» is the result. We are men of honest and peaceable minds, and will not do you any harm—here/ Wo have arranged with Captain Tribbs, however, to manage you, and his power is absolute, He can take you the three years’ cruise, or toss you overboard for the sharks, as he sees fit!” One of the captors had gone arpy, evidently to see some one in authority, He now re- turned, and, after a few low words with the ms speaker, they lifted Ace and carried him. elow. He was taken to the forecastle, and stowed away in the most retired place. ‘* Here we leave you,” was the parting com- ment, ‘If you live to see India, rememb<cr us to the natives there. So-long!” With alow, mocking laugh the man turned. away, and he and bis associates left the place, The High Car/ could hardly realize the situa- tion. He had never had any aspirations to be- come a sailor, and no money to go to sea for the pleasure of the voyage; hence bis mind had dwelt but rarely on the subject. Now, at one step and in one hour, he was transformed from an easy-going landsman to a captive on the salt water. ‘““Tbis comes of turning detective!” he thought, ruefully. ‘‘1l think Vil leave such work to the regular force, after this, A boy hasn’t got bone, muscle and beef enough for the job. Vil quit— Will 1? No, by jinks! It's war to the knife, now, and if I get out of this ne Isl be after the rere all the stronger. in mid-ocean, my utif 1 get tossed overboar: chances will be minus nothing.” He lay and listened to the sounds which showed the sailors busy getting ready for the start, but these sounds had no music to his ears. He had been aware that other men were in the forecastle, for he could hear the sound of voices, The speakers drew near, and he deter- mined to bestir himself. >| Toe captain of the vessel.must be in the plot against him, but that did not prove that every one on board was a villain, He began to make all the noise that his ban- daged mouth would allow, This attracted the attention of the men, who were two in number, and they approached, Then Ace made an unexpected discovery. One of them was an old acquaintance—Nat Hicks, the pine-woodsman from Michigan! It wasa great surprise, but one of equal im- portance. ‘There was no question as to Old Nat’s honesty, The messenger renewed his guttural appeais for help, and his situation was soon dis- covered, When this was done, Hicks fell to with a will, and Asa was soon free from his bonds, ‘* What in time does this mean ?” the woodsman asked. ‘*Condemned funny system ter tie a eabin-boy up so—you be the cabin-boy, ain’t er?” , ‘*Mr, Hicks, don’t you know me?’ Asa de- manded, ‘* Know you? Wal, hardly.” ‘mm Ace High,” } ‘Who? ** Ace High.” ‘‘T never heard that name but once—” ‘¢ [’'m the same person.” ‘Then you've chanzed amazin’ly. Don’t see no sign o’ the trim lad in his pooty telegraph suit. ‘*Surely, you know me,” *T s’pose 60, though I skeercely b’lieve what I know. Yes, you’re him; but, what on ‘arth does it mean? Didn't know you’s a cabin-boy, too, ‘Mr, Hicks, listen! necessary words; to use such might be the ruin of both of us, 1 was brought here by enemies, tied up as yousee. The intention was to have overboard to drown, You see the kind o folks we are among. I’m going to skip,” easy in mind, Come on!” ‘* Wait a little, e had better goseparatel for if they see you in my company, you wilk get into trouble, too,” ‘ a 4 f ‘ wm Pea ler ¢ > . ; os. - f *i ‘ *, ’ inp aes, & " ; ai Z + ee ook - 7 “2 ? =" This is no time for un- e carried to sea, and then, possibly, flung ‘‘So he I, you bet! I come ter visit a friend, Jack Smith, bere, afore he went ter sea, He kin go ef he likes sech a cap’p, but the sooner I git my foot on that thar pier, the sooner I'll feek _** By George! my lad, I mean to stand by you, >! ‘ - ‘* « "4 ~ ‘ea? ae eo. lage - . a ge a i=” ay a - ~~] *- ne i - ‘ =*s ee = —_ r= te = Ait: Hin et" a> - S28, se, SO y. ie fr —_. —_—_ = ‘ Bone .* * e ~~ * ~ ® i eer aay 7 a y © Meee ort “ ay IS, - ima o <- ¥ ia » tas x