Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

4 —_— An ~ . 7 woes ey ¢ wn > , ee - a “ae J . } pe ale ee Sa a Po ea 8: 2 Basement Bert. not D> , z . Only the Judge remained unmoved; he had | horse the whip and away they went. If a expected to see his acquaintance of the matri- | lightning steed had been drawing them, it monial bureau, and though he kept well away | would not have been any too swift to suit Bert, -**T shall make you no promises, ”? ; Ye a still say I must leave this house?” es ‘1 won’t go!” ‘* Madam, you are a woman of the world, and have been breaking the law so long that you ought to know what its terms are ina simple case, You say you won't leave, yet you must know I only have to invoke the law and you will go out in haste, Yes,andevena neighbor here, if he told cf the gambling done by those within these walls, could accomplish the same result. You are absurd to say you will not go.” The adventuress drew herself up haughtily. ‘* Shall I tell you why I won’t go? It’s be- cause, if you order me out, the weight of the blow will all fallon Adrea, I’ve been playing a reckless bluff game for some time, and am: where I can’t turn many ways for Sunday; I make or ' break on a very small island, aud the ocean _ Toars all around, Adrea is myshield. Thus far’ the girl is just where she was when she left your roof; she has broken no law of the land, and I have guarded my language carefully, too; but if you molest me, the girl sball be in prison for some heinous offense inside a week!” ** Yet you claim to be her friend.” **Bah! f hate the little fool!” “* Woman, you are a fiend !”, ** Call me what you-will,” ** Harm Adrea at your peril)” cried Warland, ‘in a ringing voice. ‘‘ She has been disobedient; she has turned against me, and I have tried to forget her; but she is dearer to me than my own life, I tell you, beware how you do injury to my, child |” ert Lincoln could hear Adrea breathing 2 ge § heavily, by his side, and he felt exult- jant. Chance was giving her an opportunity to ‘ see exactly what Pearl Montressor was. ‘* Don’t threaten me!” cried Pearl, angrily. *‘There is one way to beat you, and if youforce me to it, that way shall be used. Do you see ‘this knife?’ ‘* Would you use it?” ‘* Without hesitation. I am for Number One, first, last and always, and I don’t care a rap for the Warlend family, father or daughter, ou can’t bluff me, old man!” Adrea left Bert’s side suddenly and swept into the room, ‘*T am glad to know what you think of me!” she exclaimed, confronting Pearl. , The adventuress looked startled. ‘* Adrea! Why are you here?’ ‘* Because my name seems to be much in the conversation, and no one has more cause to be interested. 1 have heard you avow your posi- _ tion plainly, and am glad circumstances have made you so frank. So you hate and despise me? So you have only professed friendship be- cause [ was useful to you?” ‘‘ Wrong!” asserted Pearl, nervously. ‘‘ It is not so,” ; . ‘Your own lips have said it in my hearing.” ‘*] was trying to save myself from ruin.” ‘* Pearl, | have suspected you, of late. [ have been headstrong and opinionated, and was reck- less enough to array myself against my father and brother for your sake, but the scene when Meredith was set upon by your gang was a re- .velation. 1 should have left you before had ou not watched me so closely, but I now have ends at hand, unless my conduct has alien; _ ated them. I wonder if a father can forgivea ae pc who has sinned deeply and persisteut- She looked at Warland, who answered quick- y; ‘** Adrea, thera is always a place in my heart for you!” | ** Fine talk!” sueered Pearl, ** When the love- feast is over, call in the dogs to eat the frag- ~. ments, What is fit for one cur is good for ap- other)” The adventuress was handling the knife ner- vously ; she felt herself at the end of her rope, and was‘desperate enough to proceed to extreme measures if her fancy took a step in that direc- _ tion, But now Bert Lincoln, who had followed Adrea only just inside the door, suddenly ex- claimed: : ‘* Here’s more folks a-comin’!” And into the room came Norman Holmes, with ‘‘ Judge ” Hackland at his side, There was general surprise, and Holmes, who had expected to find a clear coast to play the latest game against the Southerner, was annoy- ed and at fault. Of all men he least expected to see Captain Warland, for none of the gang knew he was owner of the house when they ‘secured their new quarters; while the union of the adverse elements might bring trouble to from Pearl, he looked at her without sur- prise, : She was more troubled than he, her future would grow cloudy. ** We seem to be intruding Holmes, after an uncomfortable pause, ‘* We will withdraw—” ‘No; we'll settle the case right heah!’ de- clared the Judge, with a sudden burst of de- fiance. ‘* If my head is coming off, the soonah it’s done, the bettah. I suppose thiseman is one of your kind?’ He pointed to Warland, who quickly an- swered: ** You never made a greater mistake; I don’t keep such company. As for you,if I read you aright, you are not a city man, and I warn you that you’re on dangerous ground.” **T know it to my sorrow!” groaned Hack- d, ‘‘ What infamous, scheme have you under way?” Warland demanded, addressing Holmes; but the latter pulled at the Judge’s sleeve. ‘* Let us go outand speaklater—” , - ** We'll speak right heah, [ reckon,” persisted Hackland, with growing courage. ‘‘Sah, I’ve promised to marry that woman, and then back- ed out, Can they put mein prison for twenty years, for it?” ‘* For refusing to marry her? Why, she’s an old criminal whom the la. would uphold isi no- thing. if that’s the only noid they have on you, ey them!” | arland had not given tais advice without strong efforts at interruption on Holmes’s part, but it was out at last, and the Yalobusha cour- age was high, ‘* Anyhow, she’s got one husband,” he de- clared. ‘‘She works the matrimonial bureau racket, and she and he get all the money out of victims they can!” — The Judge was proving a boomerang, and that, t00, when least expec of Warland’s daughter disappeared. She re- cognized in the simple Southerner a man upon whom city sharks would alight naturally, and his straightforward statement bore evidence of truth to a marked degree. ‘Why do we waste time here?’ Adrea de- manded, ‘‘Eyen the paving-stones of the streets will yet rise up to accuse them, Fa- ther, if you can overlook my blindness, folly, ingratitude, take me away from here!” ‘It shall be done,” With these words, Warland turned upon the landlady, and added: ‘*Once more I say that you and your people must leave this house, If you donot go quiet- ly you will be ejected—” The sound of a struggle back of him, and a Nibgay ery from Bert, caused the captain to turn. As he did so, Bert fell in a heap at his feet, the door closed with a bang, the key clicked in the lock, and only Warland, Bert, the Judge and the landlady remained in the room, Holmes, Pearl and Adrea had vanished. Bert struggled up. ‘**They’ve nabbed the gal!” he hurriedly ex- claimed. ‘‘ Holmes didit. Itried ter stop him, but he tumbled me over like a ten-pin.” The bold abduction had been accomplished so suddenly and silently, and with such unexpect- ed success, that Warland was dumfounded and motionless, Not until he saw Bert fling himself against the closed door did he recover presence of mind enough to take part in the assault on that barrier. The door was strong, however, and it was not until Hackland joined in the effort that it gave way. Then they hurried down-stairs to find the front door locked, but a key hanging on @ nail at one side proved to bea fit, and there the delay was but brief. A little later they were on the se There was no sign of the fugitives themselves, but a ciose carriage bowling away down the street gave Bert an idea, Holmes had come in the vehicle, and was making his escape the same way. oO Pll ketch them!” the boy cobbler cried; and then he ran down the street at full speed, He was shrewd enough to understand that the cab in which Ches Day was waiting would come in handy just then, and he soon rushed up to it, breathless and excited, ‘* Run them down!” he gasped, pointing to the Ba sop erro Saal Carriage. | e wise cabman had resolved to be thorough- ly loyal to his young master, and he gave ! | just then, here,” remarked | | | ‘‘ Whoop ’er up, Eliza Jane!” he cried. She had | *‘ We've got ter run ’em down, or our name is worked the matrimonial bureau scheme brave- | Dennis!” | ly, but if all her victims got together at once, | | CHAPTER XVII. LEADING THE PURSUIT, Ir was an exciting chase, and Bert was in his element. Victory might be deferred, but he did not see how it could be prevented. ‘‘ Hi, Ches!” he cried, ‘‘ we’re on the road ter glory, an’ I imagine I see convict stripes sprout- in’ out on them varmints. Tell ye w’ot, ol’ chap, rascality don’t pay. Crooks run their race with some success, but they all wind up at Sing Sing an’ enjoy hard labor asa reward. Let out another link, cabby!” ‘Say! they’re goin’ on the boat!” exclaimed es. “Eh? So they be, b’mighty! Let ’ér slide, cabby ; that mustn’t be ‘lowed. Run ’em down!” They had approached Desbrosses Street Ferry and Ches-had rightly suspected the intention of the kidnappers to take the boat and cross to the Jersey side. ‘‘ Ain’t it goin’ ter be hard ter get ’em back, ef they git out o’ the State?” Ches asked, ‘*T’ve heerd thero is a good ’eal o’ legal flum- doodle in some sech cases, but how it would be in thisecase I don’t know. We must nab ’em afore they touch Jersey soil. Shoot the luck!” There was good cause for this sudden ex- clamation, e foremost carriage had crossed West street with a dash and was already in the ( ferry-house, but a long line of heavy teams swung in ahead of the cab, and the latter frail vehicle could not be forced through. ‘‘ Jump for it!” Bert cried, and himself set the example. Teamsters think they own the streets of New York, and never’give an inch when they can help it, but Bert was equal to the emergency, He caught a horse by the bit and stopped him short; then the boys dodged through the rum- bling line of teams and darted toward the ferry- house, followed by the angry exclamations of the driver of the horse thus checked. ‘ ‘*¢ Great Scott!” the young cobbler cried, ** the boat is jest leavin’. Dig dust fer keeps!” Down the ferry-house they went at full speed, and dashed across the plank, breathless, but victorious. A moment more and the gates closed sharply; they had gained passage by a ‘* hair’s-breadth,” as it were. The boat moved away. — The kidnappers’ carriage was to be seen with | two others in the middle passage, but none of its occupants showed themselves. ‘‘ Now, what?’ Ches asked. ‘‘We ain’t run’ them down on New York soil, after all.” “My frien’, the cat is in the fire, but I ho all the featbers won’t be singed off from her tail.. Jersey perleecement hev hearts as big as the head tera dude’s cane, an’ they’ll listen to our tale o’ woe an’-— Hullo!” i Bert stopped, A man was leaning against the rail and looking pei ee down the river. He recognized Meredith Warland, and ran up to him at once. , ‘‘Say, mister, hev you ketched ’em?” he cried, Meredith started, and then, recognizing the speaker, shook bis head gravely. ‘‘ My sister is still in their hands, I have to- day secured the arrest of James Draper and Sadie De Piercy, the allies of Holmes and the Montressor woman; but they cannot, or will not, give me any information in regard to my sister.” ‘¢ You’ve no idea where she is?” ** None whatever.” ‘‘She’s near you,” ‘* Near me?” ‘On this boat!” aig flashed a quick look into the ladies’ cabin. ‘‘ Are you in earnest?” “T be; but tn needn’t look ’at way. Adrea ain’t there. D’ye see that carriage?” 6s Yes,” ‘‘She’s there, held by Holmes and Pearl. She’s come to her senses, Adrea has; an’ she’d be with Captain Warland this minute ef the crooks _ re a ah hadn’t played a bold game an’ gobbled her, Ches an’ I pursood, but was too late ter stop ’em from takin’ this boat. Now, we’re on our way ter Jersey. Will we be allowed ter lay hold on ’em, an’ take ’em back ter New York? ‘**T know but little of law, but I presume there would be a good deal of delay over extradition, ‘ COmICDOOKS.cOm