Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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PLA Ge Se ONL ras ea ted e 7 Billy Blue Blazes. ‘* Have I failed to be considerate?” the widow asked, in surprise, ** Mum, you hev!” ‘¢ Toward whom? ‘* Helen Eastman,” Mrs. Rawlins was silent. * You ain’t got a better friend between the Battery an’ High Bridge than Helen,” pursued Billy, warming to bis subject. ‘‘She ain’t afeerd ter stand up an’ speak her little verse fer you, she ain’t; an’ you ought ter reciprocate. Et’s high time, mum, fer us all ter git tergether an’ make the enemy quake in their moccasins from fright, till their knee-bones play ‘The Rogue’s March,’ Itis, b’mighty!” ‘* You talk in riddles,” ‘* Did you ever hear o’ Mr, Edric Zelland?” The widow started, but did not show the alarm he expected. ‘* What do'you know of him?” she asked. ‘*‘Some complercation about his two wills, wa’n’t there?” ‘* Who has been telling you this?” ‘¢Mum, I’d like ter pour out the facks like a Niagara, but I’m goin’ ter be sure I’m right afore [ go ahead. You wouldn’t tell me nothin’, an’ now I[’m kinder gittin’ a hold, [ air’s chump enough ter lay my soul bare until I know how you stand. Observe?’ sé Yes,” A “Helen is your friend. Why can’t you be hers?” ‘*Have you forgotten that Simon Beebe tried_ to burn me alive in the schooner?” ** No; nor that he tried ter burn you dead !” ‘Would you have me go out and dare his hatred again?” ‘* Yes; under my protection.” ‘*T feel that I owe certain things to Miss Wastman,” the widow confessed, thoughtfully, ‘* but [ am not over the horror of that night. I remember the awful! situation in the sehooner, the way of escape cut off,,ard fire and smoke floating around us. After ali that, it is hard to get courage enough to go out and risk it all ain, ‘ou don’t need ter,mum, You don’t see enough good clothes on Billy Blue Blazes’s figger ter makea female muskeeter a sun-shade, but et’s different with Helen. Sheain’t no ragged imp o’ the docks, an’ ef l’s you, I’d stand by her, I would, b’mighty!” ‘*Tf I know my danger, I also know my duty. Billy, don’t urge this further, now; give me time | to think.” ‘* Sure; that’s all right. Only I hope you’lk git a Salvator move on yer thinker, an’ make a Garrison finish, Now, mum, |’ll go out an’ per- ambulate, but Pll drop in subsequent an’ swap opinions with ye.” Billy went out, He hardly knew what course to take. To dog Captain Beebe might, or might not, bring valuable discoverirs, but, as he was in the enemy’s confidence as the Dodger, he dis- liked to run any risks in that disguise by follow- ing the mariner. He was mechanically walking aback the North River when he met Ducky gan. a " : This person had not improved in looks, Not being able to grow cuticle to order he was still without the section he had lost the night before, in the encounter with Dave Doyle, and the round, red spot on the side of his nose was con- spicuous, r Hullo a Bah t!” Sg aE esponse ullo, Ducky-goat!” was the cool r ‘ ** How’s yer he tht his A, M,?” wl, Wa-al, [ ain’t overly brisk,” puss con- tessed. ‘‘ Ye see, I was movin’ the stove fer my sister, last night, an’ 1 accidentally Jet the pipe fall, Et struck on my head an’ jarred me a good bit; an’ it broozed my nose, See?” He pointed to tue wound, and Billy, though not a little amused at nis readiaess at finding excuses for the burts he received in personal en- counters, consajed him in due form, . ‘*But itll grow ag‘in, Ducky,” the Dodger added, ‘‘Skin ain’t nothin’ but a fashion, no- how. Wedon't.eat with it, see with it, nor hear with it, Reckon it’s a superfluous article, any- how. Don’t you?” ‘Et may be with some, but 1’m short,” the tough confessed, lugubriously, id ‘* Well, w’ot’s the news?”, ) ** Nothin’ at all.” late ‘¢T hoped there’d be a chance fer fun,” “if there is, other fellers hev got it all,” Duckv admitted, with a sigh. , ** Where’s the boss?” _. “I dunno, Factis, [don’t hardly know where Ibe, Kid, things ain’t w’ot they wuz, an’ I may **T don’t think so. De times is all out o’ joint, See? Now, dere ain’t an honester manin New York dan I be, an’ [ ought ter be in luck, but I’s lost me graft. See? You'll excuse me, kid, but I’m goin’ off somewhere ter drown’d my sorrers in whisky. Farewell!” Mr. Meegan made the old tragic, Bowery-style gesture, and then walked away abruptly. Billy went on toward his destination, and ar- rived at the pier where the schooner had been, The rem:ants were there no longer; what was left after the fire had been removed to make room for another vessel It had been decided that the lack of any bodies in the schooner showed that every one had escaped, but while Beebe was puzzling over the case, others, not specially interested, had nearly dismissed 1t, “ All had escaped—what did v matter where they were Billy was boisterously greeted by the men on the pier, He was known all aJlong the lower end of the river, and liked by all. **Come, Dodger,” said one turn to an’ give us a lift on this job! ‘*‘ Me?” Billy returned. ‘When you see me, let it be known, will yer} My paws wa’n’t its ter scrub floors an’ handle ropes an’ hooks, eat? “Oh, ou’re no good. You won’t work, but spend all yer time along the docks. Is there anybody’s business you don’t ow? I s’pose you could give me points on my affairs,” ‘*[ could give y«r neighbors some, an’ I’d do it ef yer wife wa’n’t a respectable woman, But I won’t give ye away, old man, fer | don’t want yer discharged.” A stream of raillery was always directed against Billy when be appeared among the men who worked along the docks, but it always was good-natured, and thev admired his ready, gocanapionee replies as much as they did im. ‘* Would you object ter a job ef it wasn’t hard work?’ added one of the men, more seriously. ‘‘ Give us yer tip, general.” __ ** You think I’m jokin’, but I ain’t, A man wants ter hire divers ter search the bottom 0’ the dock,” | ‘* W hat fer?’ ** The bodies 0’ the folks once supposed ter be burnt in the schooner.” , ‘* Ain’tit Cap’n Beebe?” j sé No ”) : Me, ** Who, then?” ‘We don’t know, He sent an agent, but keeps out o’ sight hisself, Now, ann you're a swimmer, an’ ef you want ter earn a little o’ the stuff, you never’ll git a better chance. See?’ ‘‘Naw;I don’t see,” retorted Billy, with an air of disgust. “Il ain’t nc grave-digger, no resurrectionist, I was born .gentleman, as you ought ter see by lookin’ at me. Ef it wasn’t fer the freckles on my face, in’ a squint in my lar- Hoses, eye, | could mix with the Four Hun- ‘* Your place is with Reilly’s Four Hun- dred,” . ‘* Sure, Harrigan made me an offer, but Tony Pastor put an injunction on it, I raise up a good bit o’ jealousy, gents, an‘ so—”’ The badinage was rudely interrupted. Down on tho pier rushed a colored man with bulging eyes, open mouth and labored breathing, and he made straight for Billy. The latter discovered him, recognized Wash Calhoun, and ceased speaking. Something was wrong; he knew that at a glance, . ** 'W"ot’s up?” ne demanded. Pantingly Wash made answer: ‘“‘Mrs, Rawlins’s boy has been stole!” CHAPTER XI. A HOT TRAIL, ‘‘ HARLEM fleas!” *Billy uttered the exclamation in a startled voice, if Wash Calhoun’s words had not been enough to arouse him, his manner was, there was only onc interpretation to be put on the reve- lation, and that was that Wash represented a nic that had fallen upon the inmates of Old ing Coal’s domicile. “Yes, sah; dat am a suah fack!” Wash ‘*How? When? Who did it?’ Billy de manded, * ‘*We doan’ know; but de facks am dat a man come in, gobbled Leslie, an’ lone took him away . : 4 ‘** Anybody on the track?” | sé No. ” ‘* Home. Wash’ton!”: much out of breath to say anything, and Billy was busy with his thoughts. If Mrs. Rawlins’s boy had been stolen, it was the work of Captain Beebeor some of his agents,, and showed that the opposition was awake to some of the facts of the case, They knew that Leslie lived; they probably knew Mrs, Rawlins had escaped. When the house was reached they found Mrs. Rawlins weeping bitterly, while Old King Coal paced the floor with long and hasty steps. ‘*A vile outrage!” he declared, ‘* Darn my best anthracite! but ef 1 was ten year younger I’da take the trail; I would, by Gineral Jackson! My grandfather was a Revolutimary soldier, an’ reckon all the martial blood ain’t died out ’ Tel\ me all about it!” the Double Detective urged, ‘+ A man conie in an‘ took the boy; a cowardly man—” Did you know him?” ‘No,. He was a sneakin’—” ‘* How did he doit?” “The door must ’a’ been left unlocked, He was & mean—’ . ‘** Where did he go?” ‘* Inter acab. He was a diabolical-—” ‘¢ Which way did he drive?” ‘*North. He was a thievin’ skunk—” ** John Jones, you come down ter biz now, an? / abuse him later in theday. Il want the bottom facks, an’ want ’em as quick as yer tongue kin reel off the yarn, Get a wiggle on, mister, for there is work todo. Ketch on?” Old King Coal came down to business ana ex- plained as far as he was able. A man had in- vaded the house, seized little Leslie Rawlins, borne him away, and, making use of a cab, which probably had been in waiting, had dis- appeared. Only Mrs. Jones had seen him distinctly enough to give any description, but she was precise and positive. More than that, by the time she had finished, Billy believed he had a clew to the whole case. In the abductor he felt sure he recognized a man who was one of Azro Harker’s most active agents, and it was clear that the detective had not been idle; he, too, had found a clew, and had worked so well that Leslie was now in the hands. of Mrs. Rawlins’s enemies. Mrs. Rawlins continued her weeping, but Billy observed it without any very deep sym- pathy. ‘¢Mum, you feel all broke up, an’ it’s natural; ° but ef you had took my advice you wouldnt been here, I advised you ter either turn on Simon an’ skrush him under yer heel, or join hands with Helen an’ let her make things solid fer you; but you wouldn’t hear ter me, You held ter your idees, an’ the loss o’ your son an’ heir is the result,” : ‘You don’t know how I feared to act,” ‘‘'Yes, I do; you demonstrated that fack, plain. But never mind, mam; I’m goin’ ter git a wiggle on, an’ I suspect I shall, beat them pestiferous scamps out, yet. I do, b’mighty!” ‘* Hev you a plan?” ‘‘-Yes: an’ my plan is ter Be a wiggle on. Good-day, ladies an’ gents: I’m off! Ef you bear of a dynamite explosion afore night, jest send. & tip-cart ter pick up tle fragments, So- ong ; | And the irrepressible Dodger hastened away. If he could have been in several pisces at once he would have gone first of all to Azro Harker’s office, to see if chance would not play into his hands, there, but this, together witb ‘he neces- sity of transforming himself into Will Archer, would consume too much valuable time, ‘Instead, he laid out a plan which included a call on Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, a call on, Helen Eastman, and a reconnoissance around the place where lived Dan Monks, the helper of Azro Harker, whom Dodger suspected of being the abductor, | ‘ oe re saw oaye 2 Agata ex rere i gd e thought proper he was gee wha a commotion he caused in that person’s mind. Dave confessed that it was he who had planned to have the dock d ed for the bodies of the supposed victims of the schooner disaster; but, hearing with pleasure that they were slive, he was eager to give his aid, .‘* We will have Leslie back, or overturn all New York!” he declared. ‘ Interested in the kid, ain’t y*, mister?” .* Well, F ded in a general way.” - “Should say so, You’rea queer one, Ain't got ready ter let me inter ' David. yer secret yet, — ‘. ——- ’ — a , \ a ee oe oS * ‘Le’ By ___- yit need all my perlitikel inflooence ter keep on ) hev ye?” j . ‘what skin I've got left.” Together the two hastened back to Old King; { ten se Iam a man dead and buried!" Bape eee stn NO change ra job, ferme?” — Coal’s, They went in silence, Wash was too: Dave Doyle gloomily replied. | Px a « : ‘ je re ( tg 33 \ - \ x ¢ ‘ - k te. ‘ a * ~~“ BLA ae” 6 7 f te . . \ ; . A <— i’ “ NS ee ope “ ; : . i! + ; : _ f | : . ; ' . 6 . ' ; : - . j<®? i . re re Fi i e . 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