Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 890 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

: ] - é ; ; f ’ } — a Se ea — —— es a Se A ae 4 - And Headstrong Harry might yet free bim- self from the taint of; actual ticipation in the work, doubtful as the possibility seemed. Anxious to give the policeman’s son every possible chance, his loyal neighbor put Hicks off with an evasion which let him know only that a young desperado had taken offense at wi tag he had done, and hired others to kid- nap him, St. George was reached in due time, and the at are journey made to New York as soon as ble. hen that city was reached all went to the boarding-house, and Jack Smith, having some money, agreed to pay Old Nat’s bills until the latter could find out just how his case was to terminate, Thé end was near at hand, and full of sur- prises. CHAPTER XV. THE WAGES OF A RECKLESS LIFE, Mr, BELLBAR, detective, entered a jowelry store and nodded affably to the proprietor. ‘‘ Allow me to ask, sir, if you have sold the diamond ring which you lately had from the Allenton collection?” Belibar began, politely. - ‘* You are too late, sir; we have sold it,” the jeweler answered. ‘“‘I’m sorry to hear that. May 1 ask who bought it?’ ‘*A young man named Tildrake.” ** Recently ?”’ **On Wednesday.” **T suppose he paid cash?” ** Certainly.” “I don’t suppose you have the numbers of the bills he gave you?” Tho jeweler looked surprised. a Really, I don’t understand why you ask at. ‘*Tt’s because I am a detective.” ‘**Great Scott! is anything wrong?” ‘* Perbapsso; perbaps not. Hereis proof that Iam whatI claim. Now, tell meif you have the numbers of the bills Tildrake gave you.” ‘*] have better than that; I have the bills themselves.” ‘* Se you can identify them?” ‘*'Yes. I have stated that the Allenton collec- tion was purchased byme, Really, I am selling it on commission, and, consequently, I have pre- served the very bills Il have received in each case, See!” He took a blank-book from the safe, Opening it at a certain point he showed three bank-notes loose between the pages, and upon one page several lines of writing. “When the collection was sent me,” he con- tinued, ‘‘the owner wrote e description of each m, with such comments as he saw fit to make; his blank-book and its original contents was his own idea, and, as I have said, when I make eesale I put the exact money received into the ce occupied by the article disposed of, ence, [am able to make oath that this is the exact money I took from Harry Tildrake.” He spread out the three bills. One was for one hundred dollars, another for twenty, and the third for five dollars, Bellbar ignored the first and last, but took the twenty and looked at the number. The faintest possible trace of satisfaction ap- red in his face, ‘*[ presume, sir, you will allow me to replace this bill with another of like denomination?” he inquired, ** Certainly.” ‘‘And you will swear that you received it from young Tildrake?” ‘¢ That is sufficient.” ‘*T hope the young man is notin trouble?” ** This bank-note has a history which must be inquired into more fully, Asa representative of the law I must ask you not to mention this matter to any one, most of all, not to Til- drake, “T will comply with your request, fully.” ‘‘Thank you, Bellbar made a few more remarks,and then left the store. He took the Elevated Road, went up- town and called at the residence of the head of the firm of Marker, Gane & Leigh. That gen- tleman was in, and seemed to be expecting the detective, The latter came to business a breezy way. rp Me ) is moving erp he regina ve you more 6v eel coheed ther of the twenty-dollar bills.” ‘“ Where did you find it?” % Where young Tildrake passed it.” " Did he really do that?” ‘““Yos, The day after your loss he was flush, LLL LLL LLL sss a Messenger 999, and he went and bought a diamond ring he had before desired, but could not afford to buy. The day of -he purchase was, too, the same on which old Hicks lost his money.” ‘IT did not think this of Tildrake,” remarked Marker, with a sigh. “He has been a fast young man’round town. He has indulged in wine, light gambling, bettin on horse-races, and kindred amusements. youth who does that is liable to take the final step, and become a criminal at any time.” ** You believe that he stole Hicks’s money?” ‘* Tt cannot be doubted,” ‘** But what about the mystery of our safe?” Bellbar hesitated. ‘* Pll say frankly that I do not understand that yet. Icano yer that Tildrake had a lurking suspicion that Hicks might bave the numbers of the stolen bank-notes, and when he— your clerk—came in that morning and found the safe open and unguarded, he exchanged the harmless money in it for an equal amount of bis stolen plunder,” ‘** That does not look reasonable, for he would thereby throw out a danger-line, hooked and baited, which might catch him,” ‘* Criminals are noted for making falee steps,” ‘* And it don’t explain why the safe-breakers left the money.” ** True.” ‘*T feel that there is yet more to learn.” ** There is, and I am going to work to learn it. Tildrake is guilty—of that there is not a shadow of doubt—and I will bave bim behind the bars very soon; but I shall look for more evidence before I spring the soe I shall set a snare for his feet; he will probably walk into it.” The detective rose to leave, Marker did not detain him, and the latter was soon alone, ‘‘This is a most unhappy affair!” he mur- mured. ‘I am exceedingly sorry to see the boy come to such an end, but it is the usual result of a fast life.” Bellbar went home, produced writing-paper, and penned the following letter: “ H, TrnpDRAKE:— **Dear Siz:—I am a gent who is in need of kash, being down on my Luck. I respec.ably ask a joan from you. I am honist, and will pay you with In- terest, as soon as I Winonthe Races, The ragson why { come to you is that [am Onto You. You was tho gent that Done Up the old cove from Mighi- aun and got his Boodle, I Hate to use gevere audgwidge, but Biznis Iz Biznis, so I will clothes by saying that if you do not Meat me at Houston and Crosby, to-night, at 8.80, I ahall Blow on You, This is right from the card. You’ve got a God thing and are Out of Sight-I wantto beInIt, Divy- vy, or [squeai! You will know me when We Meat by a Diamon in my Nek-tigh. 8:30, p. m.; Houston & Crosby. Don't fale! ONE OF THE Boys,” W hen Mr. Bellbar had read this over it seemed to armuse him, for he smiled and chuckled, ‘* That'll fetch him!” he remarked, He addressed this remarkable epistle to Harry, and then went out to a telegraph-office and sent it bya messenger, There was {ast time enough to cateh Tildrake before he left the office for the day. The result proved that he had tired the mod- ern Mercury well, Headstrong Harry received the message just as he was leaving the office for ne day, and tore the envelope open in tue hall elow. The contents made the color desert his face, He did not suspect the trap, but took the letter for what it purported to be—the threat of some unscrupulous sporting man who had learned a part, if not all, of a dangerous secret, As soon as he could recover bis coolness in a measure he went home, ‘lhe plea of a headache prevented unpleasant comment's upon the light- ness of the supper he ate, He then retired to his room with a fixed purpose, . He bad no intention of going to the corner of Houston aud Crosby s'reets. Instead heintend- ed to be miles away before midnight, and, un- less he was brought back by force, he expected the departure to be a last, long farewell to New k ork. As he hurriedly packed in a valise the few articles Meta pe to take in his flight he wags truly a penitent young man, After el ht, ehann all was fully completed, he put his valise in a corner of the room, and turn- ed his steps into the hall for bis hat, He ha proceeded but a few feet ‘when he was halted, and a beavy hand was laid upon his shoulder. He turned and saw Bellbar, the detective! CHAPTER XVI. THE BOY IN THE CLOSET, Acr Hau, thaf.day, was just feeling that he 13 might escape without another commission, until the following day, when a man entered the tele- graph office and wrote a brief message, The igh Card was called upon to deliver it, e read the name and address, beginning with a indifference, and ending with uncommon in- rest, The name was Herman Brown, For a moment Ace hesitated. The standing betweem him and Brown was of a precarious nature, and, after what had occurred the night before, it was clear that Brown must know there was danger to him and his associates. When disgui in dirt and rags Ace had not been recognized as Messenger 999 by Brown, but was. it certain, now, that 999 would not be recog- nized as the ragged object of ** Red’s ” ill-will? Tbe High Card’s hesitation was soon over. He did not believe that Brown could capture or injure him, and, as for himself, he wanted every possible chance to see the law-breaker. He took the e and went to deliver it, The house which had the doubtful honor of sheltering Mr, Brown was not ill-looking, On the contrary, it was a neat brick edifice, and would have been fair] prepossessing iu Asa’s eyes if it had not been Brown’s home, Ace rung the door-bell, ‘*Mr,. Brown in?” he asked, when a languid- aopeee woman, with bldached hair, ap- peared. ‘*T presume so; third floor, rear.” With this careless response she retreated” to ee parlor, moving as if existence meant hard abor. ‘* Guess she ain’t the boss, or she would have more interest in what’s goin’ on here,’ thought. Ace, aw he wended his way up-stairs to ‘‘ th floor, rear,” Arriving in that vicinity he knocked on the door, but without receiving any reply. When he had twice repeated the summons he decided that Brown was not in, The temptation to see the place was so strong that, under the impulse of the moment, Asa yielded and opened the door. He saw an ordi- nary-appearing room, though une tedly good for the street, and various articles scattered about told that Herman had luxurious tastes. and was able to satisfy them. Au envelope and a sheet of paper, evidently notes, lay upon the table, and tempted the boy anew, He advanced and looked at the letter. Addressed to Brown, its few outlines were right. to the point: ‘Have you given avy of the bondle to a clerk named Tildrake? A friend of mine who knows a. detective tells me there is an investigation on; that there were bille with known number; and that this Tildrake is under suspicion, It may be a useless, warning, but I thought I would give you a tip,” The signature was a name unknown,to Ace, but the note itaelf was so peculiar that he deter- mined to have peers of it. Ina moment. more it was in his pocket, and he had turned to- ward thedoor, when he soddenly heard footsteps. in the hall, | A sense of danger flashed upon him, and the open door of a closet wasa thing so invit- ing, fast then, that he stepped inside to await the result, It was a fresh shock when the hall-door opened and two men entered. Through the crevice he had left, Ace High saw and recog- nized them; they were Herman Brown and Bar- tholomew Ward, Brown promptly, and somewhat viciously, it seemed, ed a chair for Ward, ‘*Sit down,” he directed, ‘‘and let us come right to business. Prove your claim to the possession of a long head by marking out a road of safety.” ‘T can’t guard against the kid,” answered, Ward, ‘' He has gone to sea,” ‘* Gone to sea!” ‘Yes; and all on account of that young ruf- flan, ‘Red’ Tribbs. He had no faith in my judgment at the club-rooms, and, being afrai that High would escape and divulge the secrets be—Red—had so idiotically told, he worked scheme of his.own with success, Red had uncle, Captain Tribbs, who was commander of a vessel about to sail for Calcutta, and Red made a rush, saw the captain and gained his consent to take the telegraph messenger al on the voyage. Then Red sent friends to High, oot: Fs was they who broke into our tem- porary prison and took High out. He was car- ried to the vessel, and is now out on the ocean, This I have learned from one of the fellows who be Red. ce High smdled. The statement was valu: able to him, and, also, he was amused to see how