Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

y : 4 away— In one of these houses the unknown woman was ‘‘ rounded up.”. She entered, and Bert was left to gaze at the bare walls. He noted the number of the house, but did not know what use he would make of the knowledge. Unless he went to the police, to whom was he to tell the incident? While he still hesitated, a man came out and paused on the stoop. Glancing around, he seemed uncertain until be caught sight of the boy. Seeing him, he beckoned the lad to ap- proach. For a moment the latter hesitated, but, deter- mining to see what was wanted,-he went for- ward, ‘Do you wish to do an errand?” the man asked. “* Yes, sir.” “‘ Come in here, then,” ‘Bert bad not expected this, and he nad occasion to hesitate again, but remembering the woman had before seen him only in a dimly-lighted hall, he decided to take the risk. It might bring him to grief, but he was in for the adventure, and bound to see it out. He walked in coolly, ‘* We have a letter we want carried,” the man explained, ‘*‘Comeup-stairsand you shall have it, with a suitable reward for your labor,” Still Bert kept on, but not without doubts. ‘*Mebbe the young female see me follerin’ her, an’ that [’m in the lion’s maw,” he thought, “but I’m like Jonah—liable ter come up, ag’in’!* He was ushered into a pleasant room and told to wait, and, directly after the departure of his guide, voices rose in the next room toa high itch, 3 Bert wished to see and hear these speakers, and there was no good reason why he should not. The rooms were connected by sliding doors, These were ajar s apeae an inch, though dra ery pendent from a on the other side fr) the aperture invisible there. He introduced a finger and moved the curtain a little, whereupon he had view of the other room and the four persons who proved to be its occupants, Of these two were men and two were women, his recently-made acquaintances forming one pair. The second pair—Berthesitated. He had not clearly seen the man and the woman in the carriage at Astor place, but he believed they were now before him, “Tsay, burn the letter!” the second man was saying. ‘* We are playing too bold a game lately. ‘* Are you afraid?” asked the first man, ‘‘Gently, Draper! I’ve twisted the noses of other men, ere now, for saying less than that, Ask any sport in the city who knows Jack Wil- son if he’s a coward, and see what theysay. But I hope [ have common sense. We ran the mat- rimonial bureau as Wise, Temple & Nugent un- til reckless work compelled us to quit. Nowl’m in the biz again as Norman Holmes—with ‘ Rev.’ prefixed to tickle the private ear of customers — and shall do well, if we don’t slop over.” "You've always credited me with forming brilliant plots,” grumbled Draper. ‘¢ Brilliant but reckless. So with Pearl,” and he indicated the second of the women-—she who, Bert thought, had been in the carriage at Astor lace. ‘‘She went South with that old haw- uck, fleeced him nicely, had the boodle in her eee and him in a frame of mind so he would ave blessed the day that took her forever out of his sight; but, before leaving Horry county, she had to steal! his private papers, and now he’s - Ch Yorx, howling for revenge like a mad ‘*That was foolish,” Pearl admitted, ‘‘ Then, to-day, you had to kidnap old Moss, in the mistaken belief that such was the way to down him. You never erred more; the proper way was for us to lie low and let him rage. The matrimonial bureau of Wise, Temple & - Nugent bad disappeared forever, and there was but little danger of Moss finding the office of Norman Holmes, and recognizing me as ‘ Wise.’ Even the police are ignorant of my new place, so far.” ‘* Then how is Moss to find it?” ‘He was floundering around helplessly, and would soon have blown outof New York, Now, we either must hold him—and he will be an ele- hant on our hands—or, letting him: loose, see him go to the police and andask for help, Sadie has gone over to Greenwich avenue and let folks there look at her, all fora purpose I should have sat right down on, had I known of it.” Draper, Pearl aud Sadie were silent, but Nor- man Holmes went on complainingly: ‘* Worst of all, Pearl sees fit to decoy this girl What's her name?” Basement Bert. ‘¢ Adrea Warland.” ‘Yes, Agirl of wealth, who is of no more use to us than Jumbo’s skeleton,” ‘*T’m going to teach her to lift silks and lure idiots, and, as she is ’way up in high society, she will be worth her weightin gold. I’ve got her, and I’m going to keep her!” Pearl made the answer defiantly, evidently tired of being criticised, and the wrangle went on warmly, Basement Bert was not at loss to understand the condition of affairs, The four persons be- fore him were veritable human kid as they lived by their wits, and preyed upon their fellow- beings. The woman called Pearl was the same who had married honest Andrew Moss, and fleeced him, ‘* Here’s a nice nest fer the perleece ter raid,” thought the Boy Cobbier, ‘‘ an’ 1’ll see that they hev knowledge on't ez soon ezI git out. Oh! you sharks, you think you kin rattle along ez. you please, don’t yer?” The hall door suddenly opened and arfine-look- ing young man entered the room where the con- rators sat. They started guiltily at sight of him, but, as he stood in silence, looking around the place critically, Holmes rallied and rough- ly exclaimed: ‘** You’ve madea mistake,man! You’re in the wrong room,” ‘* No, sir!” was the quick answer. ‘‘Iam in the right room, and I came here by bribing the servant. I am Meredith Warland, and I’m here to ask yonder woman’—pointing to Pearl— ‘* where my sister Adrea is?’ ‘What do we know of your sister?’ Holmes angrily replied. ** You have lured her away.” ** Tt is false!” Pushing the doors further apart, Bert sprung through the curtains into the room, “It is true!’ he cried, in a clear voice, “These are the villains! { heerd them confess the crime, an’ I’m here ter back up my words!” CHAPTER IV. A MAN WITH A MISSION, BASEMENT BERT had acted wholly upon im- ulse, The moment he saw Meredith Warland e felt positive that a young fellow of sterling character was before him, Bert at once became deeply interested, and without waiting to see whether Warland would carry his point, he had sprung out as described and flung the straightforward assertion at them like a bomb. All eyes were turned upon the new intruder: Warland’s in surprise, and the sharper’s in auaee and dismay. Draper’s face flushed omin- ou sly, ‘‘Get back into your kennel!” he ordered, threateningly. ‘‘Why so?” Bert retorted. ‘‘The dogs are here!” ‘“*T tell you, get back—” ‘Draper rose and advanced with clinched hands, but Warland interfered. ‘‘ Wait!” he commanded. ‘‘ This boy has made an assertion which interests me, and I am going to hear its meaning. Speak out, lad; what do you know of my sister?” ‘* He knows nothing,” ‘*Bet yer life, I know something—too much fer your good, my cove!” . The boy never saw any of us until ten min- utes ago.” ‘‘ T’ve used my ears sence then,” ‘‘'This is a boy who works for me and is angry because I detected him stealing money from me and chastised him—” : ‘‘Oh, come, now! that won’t do!” interrupted Bert, with perfect coolness, know you'll hev a suit fer slander on yer hands, an’ ez I never see you until a feweminutes ago. you’d find it hard ter prove yer p’ints, Mister,” to Meredith Warland, ‘‘don’t yer swaller none o’ his yarns, I say I heerd—” ‘¢ Put that boy out!” cried Pearl, ‘‘ or I'll do it myself. I won’t sit and listen to the young Judas.” P Norman Holmes rose. He was rather glad that the reckless course of his allies had brought them to grief, but, for the sake of his own pros- perity, it was clear that he must prevent Bert rom speaking. He took a step toward the cob- bler, but Warland interfered. ‘* Let the boy alone!” he commanded, “ Your anxiety lest he should speak only betrays guilty fears, andl am going to hear what he has to tell. Speak out, my lad!” “* He said--” “‘Get out of hero!” shouted Holmes, ‘If you are going to form a partnership and run your ‘and if they leave, follow. ‘* Hirst thing you | lies together, you must do it somewhere else than here, Get out, both of you!” ‘* First tell me where my sister is,” persisted Warland, Holmes motioned to Draper, who took place beside him, ? By Now, will you go?” ‘** That’s right!” exclaimed Pearl; ‘‘ don’t you be bluffed, Norm, and if they give you any back. talk, just ‘light on their jaws!” ‘*T will save you from the necessity of obey- ing this refined lady,” Meredith remarked, ironically. ‘*The odds are rather against me here, and, in any case, I have no desire to blossom out as a shoulder-hitter. I will retire, as you request, but ’—he had reached the door, and spoke the next words from there—‘‘ you shall hear from me again!” The sharpers were silent and inactive, but far from calm and indifferent. The final assertion was understood, They knew that another man: was on the war-path after them, Luc Warland was allowed to depart, and. Basement Bert went with him. On the sidewalk Warland paused. “* Did they tell the truth about you? Are you a disgruntled employee?” *¢ Never seen them until just afore you come in, mister. One on ’em ’costed me on the street, an’ axed me did I want a job; but when they got. me inside they began ter quarrel ’mongst their- selves, an’ the war was still on w’en you showed: ‘* You will do—at least, I hope so, for I am about to place great confidence in you. Those knaves, or, rather, Pearl Montressor, so-called,. has lured my sister away. Adrea is a noble os in many ways, but is adventuresome, and as aways rebelled against dull life at home. She met this Montressor female, was attracted to, and went away with her. Adrea is ver young, and harm may come to her unless she is rescued,” ‘* 1 see, mister,” ‘* Her salvation depends on recovering her.. Do you know if she is in that house?” ‘* No; I don’t know.” : ‘*T will try to have them arrested at onee. If my understanding of law is correct, it would be useless to apply to the policeman on this beat;. E must have a warrant. It is not far to Police Headquarters, and I think my best way is to go there immediately, and put the casein the hands of a responsible person, The question is, will you remain here on watch?” ‘*] will, that! Jest count’ me in in this scrimmage.” ‘* Keep your attention always on the house, Here are two dollars; you may need to take a cab in the pursuit. If you hive them, go at once to Police Headquar- ters and make your report. You shall be paid. ae faithful, and you shall not lose by it. I am 0 . Meredith hurried away, and Bert settled down to his task. **T feel myself in my true biz now,” he solilo- quized, as he watched, ‘* Never did think I was cut out fer a cobbler, though my boss says I kin drive a peg like a pile-driver. But the detective line jest fits my curves an’ angles. Wonder w’ot they’re doin’ in thar?” He had ample time to wonder, for Holmesand his allies did not appear. Bert had taken posi- tion where he would not be discovered easily from the house, for it was not his intention to let them know they were watched, but his es- pionage never relaxed. it was zeal unrewarded, for when Meredith reappeared with a detective, not a person had emerged from the house. ‘¢ That’s odd!” declared the detective. ** And lucky,” Warland added. ‘‘1’m not so sure of that. Would they sit down in idleness and await the arrest sure to come? I fear they have playedsome trump card and jevanted. We must investigate.” The officer on the beat at this juncture ap- proached, and the detective added him to the arty. They went to the house and rung the ell, A servant appeared. ‘*1s Norman Holmes in?’ ‘‘T think so,” ‘*We wish to see him, Never mind about taking our names; we know his room, and will go right up.” The servant did not oppose this*plan, and her matter-of-fact manner indicated that there were some honest persons in the house, The detective led the way up-stairs and knocked at the door of the frontroom, There was no answer, and he turned the knob and threw the door open. The room was untenanted! | com 900 -rked, > 47 . sag ay 4 : i. ae oe ae . | idl