Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 890 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4. Messenger 999. ‘* Keep your money out of sight, or you’ll find | it missing, yet.” ‘* Say, d’ye know a man able ter take it away from Old Nat?” ‘*Many a boy, or girl, of ten could. do the trick.” ‘* Say, you’re jokin’ the old man.” ‘* No joke at all. The man who flourishes money in public, in New York, generally gets relieved of it. Sharpers could spirit it away without your getting on to the trick. Kee your money out of sight, or you'll get robbed.’ ‘* Comrade, [ ain’t above takin’ advice, an’ in eon my cash; it goes, an’ won’t be seen ag’in. n the pine woods I’ve noticed that the green- horn who won't take advice ginerally comes ter grief, They’re green thar; | s’puse mebbe I’m green here. Thankin’ you, I obey; but, b’ gra- cious, it sort o’ hurts my pride ter hev yer inter- mate that Old Nat ain’tuble ter keep his money, You bet he means ter keer for it, fur five thou- at dollars ain’t rollin’ ’round on every hoop. ary! The pine-woodsman jammed his pocket to- gether as if he would shut the bank-notes up be- yond danger, and beamed upon. his companions anew. No unprejudiced person could help liking him, If he was unsophisticated he was ready toaccept advice, and that good trait covered a multitua of sins, it he bad any sins, “My cash isallin Uncle Sam’s paper, as you see,” he went on, ‘‘ but 1 may change it to the queen’s equivalent. Ain’t jestly decided whether ter quit this Jand fur good or not; can’t tell on- til 1 see the old homein Kent.” He sighed again, and it became evident that, in spite of his naturally high spirits, he had some trouble upcn his mind, ‘‘ Better stick to America.” ‘*{ may travel. When first come over the big water, I had a sartain objick in view. [ spenta year,tryin’ ter get at it, but it was a failure—a dead frost! Of late the old feelin’ has come over me, an’! can’t help feelin’ that ef I travel round in these parts, from Boston to Frisco, 1 may make a diskivery an’ set my thoughts at rest.” No one asked what was preying upon the woodsman’s spirits, Those who had known him during tie five days he bad been in the house had heard him talk in a like manner before, but, communicative as he was on other sub- jects, he had never seen fit to tell what his se- cret was, and they, true to the policy of New Yorkers, had never tried to force or angle for confidence, Conversation became more general, but bluff Mr, Hicks continually did more than his share, fer his good-nature bubbled unceasingly. Ace High and Harry Tildrake had but little tosay. The latter sat back in the shadow and seemed to be in deep thought, and the messen- ger watched him anxiously. The boy felt certain that a crisis was at hand in Headstrong Harry’s life. What it was he did not know, but, naturally, with so much evidence to that effoct, he surmised that the headlong course of the policeman’s son had placed him in a dangerous position. Asa wished that the elder Tildrake was there, but it was a fact that he had not been able to control his son, and, having promised to sa nothing, Asa had no idea of breaking h word, Harry, judging by appearances; would have sat there like a statue all the evening, but his young friend got him out fora walk, which he took in the same abstracted manner; and Ace was both perplexed and worried. Later, they returned to the house and retired for the night. Ace’s bed was big and broad, and there was ample room for Harry under the covers, The latter did not grow more sociable after they lay down, so the young host had only his thoughts for company while he remained awake. This was nota great while. He was weary, and sleep soon overcame him, He slept and dreamed. He dreamed that Old Nat Hicks offered to give all his money jointly to the dreamer and Tildrake, for them to start in business; that this was done, and, making the venture, they were remarkably suc- cessful; that years passed, and they had grown very wealthy, when, finally, Tildrake stole ey- ery dollar belonging to the firm and ran away, leaving Ace penniless. At this point the dreamer awoke, and was somewhat relieved to find that be had not been ruined in business, but, as be smiled at the idea, he was impressed by silence which ¢ around him, existed | He put forth one hand—Harry was not there; | the bed was empty. Considerably surprised, Ace sat up and called his companion’s name, There was no an- swer, Then he sprang out of bed and made haste to light the gas. He was alone in the room; there was no sign of Tildrake. ** He’s skipped!” Ace exclaimed, This seemed to be the fact, Harry was gone, and his clothes had Jee) with him; nothing be- longing to him remained. eclock on the mantel indicated two o'clock, but it did not reveal how long the missing youth had been gome, Asa was both surp and worried. He could not imagine why his com- panion had gone so unceremoniously. Then, too, where had he gone? He had declared that he woul | not go home, and he had no money to pay for lodgings. **Poor Harry! I'm afraid he isin a very bad way. I’m not sure he was just in his right mind, and I don’t know but I ought to have sent word to his father at once. What am I to do now? I don’t know where to look for him, or I would go out and hunt.” Too anxious to retire again at once, the mes- senger opened the door and looked out. The hall was dark, buta faint sign of light was visible on the floor below. Thinking that Harry might have gone there, he went to the head of the stairs and looked down, Some one, fully dressed, was moving in the lower hall, and carrying a kerosene lamp. The wick, however, was turned low, and the pale igile hand intentionally shielded what little ight was given, so that it was impossible to say who it was. ‘* Harry!” Ace called, as an experiment. The unknown stopped short. ‘* Ts that you, Harry?” The person promptly blew out the light. Ace was perplexed. Whoever it was he could see no reason for such caution, and he decided to investigate at once, Quickly returning to his own room he secured some matches and, returning, lighted the gas in the upper hall. Then he descended to the next floor and lighted it there. The unknown had disappeared ; no one was visible. Ace went patiently on to the lower floor and tried the same experiment there. That hall was vacant, and the front door was locked. A more quiet and peaceable-looking house it would have been hard to find. ’ The investigator gave it up. Of course, he reasoned, Harry Tildrake would not be prowling around in such a way in a strange house at two o’clock in the morning, No doubt, his late companion had gone away and locked the door after him—the key was not in the lock, inside or out—while the person with the lamp probably had a right to be moving there. As no lamps had ever been seen by him in the upper part of the building, it was likely that it had been brought up from the basement, This theory was weak in one respect—as far as he knew no man in the house had access to the basement, and it was a man that ho saw in the hall. He returned to his own room, ‘‘ I'd give a dollar to know where Harry is!” he murmured, gloomily. ‘‘ I’ve heard of folks as young as he making way with themselves, ani he certainly hail a good deal upon his mind. He talked strangely about to-morrow. What does it all meen?’ The question remained unanswered, when, af- ter waiting for nearly an hour in vain, he again went to bed. It was day when he awoke from the sleep which followed, but he was still alone; Tildrake had not returned, Ace rose in a dissatisfied frame of mind, dressed and went down to break- fast. No one asked after Harry, and the mes- senger was just flattering himself that he was to get away without anything unpleasant when Old Nat Hicks abruptly entered the room, The pine-4.oodsman’s face bore a peculiar, anxious look, and he at once broke with the ‘* Gents, hev any 0’ you been in my room?” Surprise cau a brief delay, and then sev- eral persons spoke to announce that they had not, ‘* B’gracious! somebody bas!” ‘‘Tg anything wrong, Mr. Hicks?” asked the landlady. ‘Wrong! Well, I should say so. I’ve been robhed !” NOt what?” ‘*Hvery dollar o’ my money!” The big woodsman brought bis hands together forcibly, and glared around asif eager to find the robber and make him feel the weight of those hands. ‘* A thief came inter my room last night,” he added, ‘‘took my money an’ skipped out with him, I'm dead cleaned out, b’ Cain!” Ace High felt a strange ohill stealing over him, He thought of Harry Tildrake and his. desperate mood of the previous night. A pain- ful fear oppressed him. Where had Harry been when the robbery was committed? CHAPTER IV. A REMARKABLE CASK OF BURGLARY. Marker, Gann & LEIGH were merchants do- ing a slow, sure, old-fashioned business on. Broadway, several blocks below Houston street. On the morning following the events previous- ly described, Mr. Leigh, the junior member of the firm, who was a convivial young bachelor, was in a saloon on an adjacent cross-street when Peter Reidy, the porter of his house, rushed in out of breath. ‘*Mr, Leigh!” he cried, “‘ burglars have been in the store!” ” Kiave they? They don’t seem to have stolem you. ** But the safe is forced open.” ** And empty?” **T didn’t look to see.” ‘There was only three hundred dollars inside, and I guess we can stand that loss, but I'll go over and see about it, at once.” Mr, Leigh was very cool, partly because it was his nature to be, and partly because he knew that burglars could not ruin the firm, They did a commission business; wi:at goods they had in stock were not numerous, or so very valuable; and, as he had said, only three hun- dred dollars had been left in the safe the pre- vious day. He and Reidy walked toward the store, i ae you notified the police, Peter!’ Leigh ‘* Not yet, sir.” ‘© Whom did you leave in charge?” ** Great Scott!” ‘*T was not aware we had such an employee,’ ‘*Why,I forgot to haveany one left in charge, and no one was there when I left, I’m very sorry, sir, but I saw you go into that place, and just run to tell you, without delay.” ‘‘ Probably no one bas carried off the safe,” was the philosophica! bao They reached the B way building, ascend- ed the stairs and entered their own quarters. There was no sign of burglaricusstrangers. On the contrary, one of the clerks bad arrived and was calmly exchanging bis street-coat for one worn in the office, This clerk was named Harry Tildrake. Mr, Leigh gave the young man only casual attention, but walked tothe privateoffice. Sure enough, the safe-door was ajar, and bore evi- dence of having been tampered witb, lt was no modern wonder, proof ugainst almust everythin human; but a very old-fashioned safe, wit which Mr, Marker, the senior partner, com-~- menced business many years before, Plainly, the lock been picked expert burglar could pick the lock o time safe, Leigh ran his hand euce to where the money had been—and found it stillthere. He tock out the package and counted the various bills. Then he turned a puzzled face toward the porter, ‘Not a dollar gone!” he declared. Reidy drew a breath of deep relief. ‘* Thank fortune for that!’ be exclaimed. ‘* Yes, but see here: This money was right where no one could overlook it, and where any one could take it when once the safe was open. hte Sr ol the burglar take it?” ‘* Really, I don’t know, sir.” ‘Nor [, It was the only valuable thing in the safe, and it was left, Did you move those papers, inside?” ‘* No, sir.” ‘‘Then the burglar did. He found them ut- terly worthless to him, and left them. Wh did he lesve the money, which was in bills valuable to all, from pauper to millionaire?” “ T can’t imagine.” mh sa Rg Mr. Leigh was thoroughly puzzled, and, after a little hesitation, he added: ‘** Call Tildrake!” Reidy obeyed, and yourig Mr. Tildrake came in prompt! and quietly. ‘‘ Harry,” said his employer, ‘‘do you re- member waee you gave me this roll of bills yestenday ** Yes, sir’ was the steady reply. ‘Did I ask you the amount?’ ‘* Yes, sir.” ust as an any old- . mill a —