Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 900 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Old Wit and Hunter had held their talk a little while before, and Jack lost no time in placing himself behind the tree unseen and unheard, ; ‘* Yes, he’s the one, no doubt of it,” he heard the first-mentioned saying. ‘I will publicly make known to him his good for- tune, and give him the papers, and after that there can never be any doubt as to his identity, you see. We are near the end of our work now.” ‘“That will end your part of it, when you have done that.” | ‘* Yes, and then comes yours.” ' “And I’lldo mine up in haste, just as | soon as chance offers so that it will have the appearance of an accident,” ‘And that done— But, what’s the mat- ter with that fellow?” Aman was motioning to them, making signs they could not readily understand, and the first-mentioned called out: ‘* What is it, fellow?” ‘‘ Well, if I must holler, look behind that tree!” The informant was Tom Hunter, and he pointed to where Jumping-Jack was hiding, and there the boy with circus on the brain was discovered in the act of listening. CHAPTER V. A CLOWN IN GOOD LUCK. JumprnG-Jack was out of reach in the Same moment. ‘See here, boy, what were you doing there? Were you listening to our private conversation?” ‘¢ Of course he was,’’ declared Tom Hunter. ‘*‘He is an infernal young spy and tattle- tale, that’s what he is,and all he is. Take care what you say in his hearing, is my ad- ‘vice,”’ “ And if you want to keep out of the com- pany of a rascal,” cried Jumping-Jack, ‘‘ just shun that fellow same as you would a case of yaller fever or worse. He is rank ’izen clear through and through, and he nows that I know it. What have you got tosay to that, Hunter?” «You'll know before I am done with you.” ‘And you had better be done with me be- fore you begin. As to my character an’ eneral bill o’ health, gentlemen, I’d ’spect- ully refer you to Mr. Murray, the gentleman you talked with a minute ago,” ‘* And he knows nothing about the little cuss,’’ declared Hunter. ‘‘ He has shown what he is by listening. I have got it in for ; him, and I’m going to give him the best | drubbing he ever had in his life before I | leave this town, Don’t you forget that, you | young rascal!” ‘‘ Well, he heard nothing from us that | amounts to anything, evenif he was listen- | ing,” remarked the elder of the two men. «‘ We have nothing tv conceal; therefore his | listening does no harm.” / 1 ‘“'hat’s nothin’ to me,” said Hunter, ‘‘I | seen him there, and thought you’d ought to li know it.” | ‘‘Oertainly, sir, and greatly obliged to | You; but, it made no difference, and if the { young gentleman desires to hear more he may sit down here between us, What do you say, my little man?” With a grin upon his face, Hunter walked away, inasmuch as he saw Murray approach- ) ing, and did not wait to hear Jack’s re- Here hae, sponse. — 5 ik “‘ Wouldn’t mind hearin’ more of it, if it ‘was goin’ on in the same way,” said Jump- ing-Jack, ‘“‘but I guess you'd change the yi ‘Subject if 1 took up your offer, Don’t you MAE forget that I’ve heard somethin’.” nt ‘Why, what do you mean, you jacka- ““T mean what I say. I have stored away ‘what I heard, and I’ll remember it, too.” “If you'll excuse me, Mr. Taggard,” said | Jumping-Jack’s Jubilee. the sullen-faced man, ‘‘1’ll be going now, as I have a matter of business to attend to.” The men looked at each other, Something like a signal was exchanged, with eyes, and they understood. ‘*Certainly, Mr. Mulvern,” the elder re- sponded. ‘‘I’ll see you again later, after I have finished my business here with Mr. Bruce.” They took polite leave of each other, with a wave of the hand, and the man called Mul- | vern went off in the direction Tom Hunter had taken, walking leisurely and swinging his cane. Jumping-Jack looked after him with sus picion. . ‘‘Mebby I’m wrong,” he thought, ‘‘ but I’ve got the idee that he is goin’ fer a talk with Hunter. Shouldnt wonder if a feller about my size an’ shape got into trouble yet.” Meantime Murray had come up, ‘*Was that Hunter?” he inquired of Jack. ‘‘ Yes, the first feller, sir,” Jumping-Jack made reply. ‘“‘T thought so, and I was going to run ee out of herein ahurry if he hadn’t start- e et ‘¢ Guess he seen ye comin’, sir.” ‘No doubt.” ‘“You know this boy then?” asked Mr, Taggard. ‘Why, certainly,” answered Murray. ‘‘ Just picked him up here this morning.” ‘Ah! then he is a stranger to you, really. He was caught listening behind this tree a minute ago.” ‘‘ Listening?” and Murray looked at Jack, ‘‘ Yes, listening, JI was talking here with my man Mulvern, when a man Called our at- tention to him,” ‘That was Hunter,” spoke up Jack. ‘‘Tf that’s the case, don’t go a cent on that fellow,” advised Murray. ‘‘ This boy is all right, and Ill vouch for him. Is it true that you were listening, Jack?” ‘‘ Fact,” Jumping-Jack admitted. ‘* Well, you’re honest about it, anyhow. What were you listening for?” ‘To hear what was said, that’s all. Dm a friend to Sam Bruce, even if I don’t know him yet, and I wanted to learn somethin’ about what these men have to do with him,” “Oh! if that is the case, it is all right,” cried Mr. Taggard, laughing, and he held out his hand to Jack. ‘Give me your hand, my little man, for I, too, am the friend of Mr. Bruce. Ihave come all the way from London todo hima service. There is no more to be said.” Jack gave his hand, and the man shook it nae to ‘“Tll take your word for it,” Jack said, simply. The man looked at him sharply, and Jack thought he saw something of a threatening expression in his eyes. Murray, too, looked at the boy, as if won- dering what he meant by his words, as well as by the mannerin which they were spoken. ‘I think you can safely trust’ this boy, Mr. Taggard,” Murray said. ‘‘I have found him quick, straight and reliable, so far. But, look out for that fellow Hunter, who spoke evil of him,” ‘‘Had he reason to speak ill of the boy?” ‘‘ Yes, from his point of view. The boy knocked him down this morning for inter- fering with him, and served the fellow right.”’ “Knocked him down—this boy knocked the man down?” “Yes, as neatly as you ever saw.” ‘«The deuce!” ‘‘You will find him able to take care of himself, even if he is small. And, I will bP say further that he is on the side of right in his dispute with Hunter. You may safely trust the boy, sir.” ‘“No doubt of it, if you say so. is this the parade?” But, 5 ‘* Yes, here it is.” The parade had made its round, and had reached the starting point, When it came into the grounds the clown riding on the platform car leaped lightly to the ground and took’ Baby Bess from her chariot. Nor did he have to lift her out, either, for, clapping her hands gleefully the child sprung to his arms as he put them up to re- ceive her, and he held her on his left arm, He looked along the line to see his wife. She was coming, and slipped out of the saddle when she reached the spot, an at- tendant taking her horse. ‘Mr. Bruce, see here.” The clown turned instantly, and ‘‘ Mlle, Lucie,” too, looked in the same direction, It was Harry Murray who had spoken. ‘This gentleman has come “to find you, and has some good news for you, so he tells me.” Murray then introduced Mr. Taggard. ‘Yes, I bring you news, sir,” that gentle- man proceeded to explain, as soon as the civilities had been exchanged, ‘* Your elder brother, Richard, is dead, and in consequence you, as the next of kin, come into the estate of your father. Your younger brother, Charles, sent me personally to find you, and in the interim he is taking care of the pro- perty for you,” The expression of the clown’s face could not be determined, owing to the fact that his face was bedaubed with paint. His manner, however, was sad. ‘‘This is bad news rather than good, sir,’ he said. ‘‘I had not heard of Dick’s deatk, and I’m sorry. Iam well enough off as I aim, and care nothing for the estate in England,”’ ‘* Hoity-toity!” exclaimed the attorney, for such he evidently was, ‘‘ You would not be human, were you meaning what you say. Here is a big fortune, all yours, and you have only to come and claim it. Allow me, sir, to put the papers into your hands in the presence of these witnesses.” ‘*But, what proof have you that I am Samuel Bruce?” asked the clown. ‘‘ All that is necessary, sir. The fact that I have followed you step by step, and the further fact that you acknowledge your identity.” ‘Weil, I accept the papers, of course, since itis my right, but I cannot attend to the matter now. I will write to Charles as soon as possible and tell him to make use of the place the same as if it had fallen to him, until I can join him,” The attorney bowed, and with a neat little speech took his leave. CHAPTER YI, JACK MAKES FRIENDS, SAM BRUCE was a general favorite with the cireus company, As the attorney took leave, after his little speech, those who had heard it gave a cheer for Sam, “Thanks, friends,” the clown responded, ‘You'll find that this bit of good fortune hausn’t turned my head, and that Pll be the same Sam. Don’t believe Vil sing a_ bit louder this afternoon,” They laughed, and the clown, with his wife and their little child, turned to goto their dressing tent, ‘‘ Another word with you, Sam,” spoke up Murray. ‘‘ But, [ll walk that way with ou. Come along, Jumping-Jack, for want to introduce you to this lady and gentleman. My protege, Sam.” “lm with ye,” responded Jack, and he leaped lightly and turned over with as much ease as the best man connected with the show could have done. ‘‘I’m your Jumpin’- Jack, every time, you bet!” And he turned one or four times in quick, succession, to show what he could do, : 7 : \ yt eit. ‘ om : , i Li ‘h ‘ » af ; y= \ ‘ Pe cho y \ , ” . | y |» ie . oo ‘ i Cok a, if Pet Ah, uy " yt ‘ hy iN hea, - fi “tg ‘ Ae ry oth ted» \; ian i os ie u < : ¥ 7 | ©@ | | - seta = a 1 ete = 5 Purity ee! vat rt eel ps - ah P a A pont) 7] a ae j 7 A A To . “ ?#