Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

te oe | - <a = « +. ane: Ragish: ons arse >." we _ ss =~ ae oe 4 + @~le * orm eo ba, A Si — . 2) 12 - ee ‘“‘Take et easy, general,” Billy advised. *‘ Whatever I may hev done, you can’t growl, Yow picked me up on the streets and hired me, Ef Lain’t served you wal, I reckon you can’t match no black record with a white.” “ Do you admit you have worked against me? ‘*T admit nothin’,” ‘It is enough that you are nere with her!” He turned to Helen, and glared upon her, He was going dast along the road of crime. His schemes had not worked well, but he had been reluctant to give up, and repeated plots and failures had put him in a wild and feverish state, ‘* | gee you are here!” he added. ‘‘- Yes, Captain Beebe,” Helen calmly replied. **T have come for Leslie.” ‘““ You can’t have him!” Simon shouted. ‘“‘T am going to take him out of this house ~with me!” ‘‘“You are. ~y tne fiends: you don’t xnow what you are talking about. Do you know that Monks and I are here? Do you think you can overcome us? Do you think I have schemed so much, only to be baffled now by such a weak opposition as this? Why, I would burn the house down over our heads, with all in it, before I would yield. ‘* But such a step is not necessary. Monks and [ are quite able to care for you. The only result of your visit here is that you and the young traitor there are added to the list of my prisoners!” ‘‘Harlem fleas!” Billy exclaimed, ‘‘ don’t go on in sech a voylent way. Why,general,we hev allies outside, watchin’ the house, an’ ef we don’t show up soon, they’ll march in ter know the cause,” ‘*T don’t believe it!” ** All right,” ‘“‘Tt may be true,” Monks observed, un- easily. ‘* It is true,” ‘‘The boy is 1 ng; he’s the greatest liar in New York!” Bee eclared, viciously. ‘‘ Wait till the perleece git you. Why, you are only givin’ yerself a dig in the back by hold- in’ off like this, It’ll be all the worse fer you, an’ you'll hev ouly yerself ter thank. All right; we ain’t kickin’.” Dan pulled at Beebe’s sleeve and whispered to im, ‘‘ Mr, Monks,” spoke Helen, gravely, ‘‘ the time has come for you to show your gratitude for what happened when your child was ill.” There was no reply, but the men went aside and talked in low tones, for some time. It was evi- dent that there was no conflict of opinion, which showed that Dan was going to turn against Miss Eastman. Billy improved the chance to speak with her, and told her that Dave Doyle was out- side on the watch. If they did not return soon he certainly would take steps to help them, Simon and Monks came back, and the latter at once walked up to Billy. , ‘* You are to be tied up,” he announced, ‘and you may as well take it coolly.” ‘¢ Hands off!” the Dodger retorted, ‘yield an inch, an’ ef you—” The unspoken warning was not heeded, Dan **T won't made a rush to seize his prey, but Billy struck. out and gave him a blow on the nose that made him reel. | '‘**Make fer the door!” the fearless detective exclaimed. ‘Ill take care of them!” It was a big contract, as he speedily found, Both men leaped at him, and a scene of the greatest excitement followed. He struck out manfully and gave them several hard blows, but the odds were too much for him. They finally succeeded in throwing him down, and Monks sat on him and held his hands, a Bring ropes!” hedirected. ‘‘ We will tie the cub up.’ . Billy accepted the situation with his usual nonchalance, and had nothing to regret. He had at no time expected to overcome both of them, but the diversion had worked as he hoped; Helen and Leslie had fled from the room, The Dodger would have been content had not the coolness of his captors indicated that they had no fear of the others being able to escape, The binding was soon done, as materia: was at hand, and the men pronounced him helpless, ‘‘ What can we do now?” Beebe asked, anx- jiously. ‘If the police come in, it will go hard witb us if he is found here,” “Jl Ax that, or, at least, as well as I can. Follow me, and Il stow him anay where only @ close search will bring him to light.” He picked Billy up bodily, ed him to the hall, and then up another flight of stairs. The Dodger tried to get a view of the lower hall, to en Billy Blue Blazes. see if Helen was visible, but did not succeed, He was conveyed to an unfinished part of the attic. A rough partition had made one-half of it into a store-room, and a good deal of semi- useless matter was scattered around, several boxes being among the rest, Monks moved some of these boxes, making a recess, and into this the prisoner was put. When the boxes were replaced he was in a pe where he could see nothing and hear but ittle more. His hands and feet were bound, and a cloth tied around his mouth prevented him from speaking. For some time he lay perfectly s*ill, but this was only because he was not sure they had left the garret. Finally he decided they had, and his eccentric mind shaped words his tongue could not utter: ‘‘ Mister Blue Blazes, you’ve got ter the end o’ yer halter. You ain’t in it, an’ you’re out o’ light. Shut up like a turkey in a coop, an’ no chance ter gobble. All comes o’ your meddlin’ with things that don’t concern you, too, You’ve got an idee you’re a detective, but nobody else ever discovered it, Who ever heerd of Vidocq bein’ sealed up by dry goods cases? William B, Blazes, you’re scalped, an’ the red-men are hevin’ their little dance around the pole on which bangs yer red tresses. They think you a fool; they think you done up, Query: Be you?” He turned upon his side, ‘¢ Ef so, you’re badly took in,” He began to wrestle with his bonds, When these impediments were being adjusted he had done his best to deceive Monks. Posses- sing large wrists and small hands he had en- deavored to take up all possible room with the former, in order that the cords might not press so tightly as they were supposed to press, He believed he had succeeded, and was about to test the matter. Vigorously he tried to draw his hands out, For awhile it seemed a hopeless task, and he felt as if the flesh was being torn away in the attempt, but be was rewarded at last. One hand slipped out, and the job was done. It was only a short task to free the other hand and, later, to remove the bandage around his mouth; and then he untied the cords on his ankles. He was free after one of the shortest experiences in bonds on record, ‘¢‘ Mister Blazes, shake hands!” he exclaimed. ‘*You may be more of a detective than you were lately represented. Now, fer action!” He sprung to his feet, and crawled cautiously upon the box, When satisfled that his enemies really had left the garret, be fully left the recess, dusty, covered with cobwebs, but triumphant, He went tothe head of the stairs and looked down, All was quiet there, but he was unable to tell the state of affairs. He was bold enough to venture down, but doubted the wisdom of rashness, If captured again he would not be likely to get out of it so well. After a little meditation he sought for and found a skylight, and ascended to the flat roof, He had hoped to see Dave Doyle on guard, and being able to signal to bim, but the Nova Scotian had disappeared, Then he looked for a police- man, but saw none, Wonder ef there is a water-pipe, or any contrivance I kin slide down? I'll see!” He peered over the roof at the front of the house, and at oncé became witness to an excit- ing scene, There was a fire-escape, and upon one of the balconies two men were struggling together desperately, each trying, it seemed, to throw the other off into the street. ‘‘ Harlem fleas!” Billy cried, ‘*1t’s Monks and Dave Doyle!” CHAPTER XIV, BILLY GETS A FRESH ENGAGEMENT, It was a surprising and’ startling discovery, Billy had not had the least idea that Dave Doyle was in the house, and did not, even then, under- stand how he had gained access there. But the facts were not to be disputed, and the ugliest of all was that if either man was thrown to the irregular, but hard, sidewalk below it would be a serious, perhaps a fatal matter, ‘B’jinks! I’m in that rustle!” Billy ex- claimed, The fire-escape did not reach to the roof, but was near enough to furnish a plan. The Dodger dropped to the upper baleony, skillfully avoided a fall, and then hastened down the \ladder. Neither man saw him, and he uttered no cry. The fighting pair had reached the crisis, Small as the balcony was, and inadequately guarded with railing, no two strong men could lon struggle there. Both had partially fallen, and, hanging over the rail, neared a point which threatened to send both down. ‘*T have you!” Monks cried. He gave his adversary another push, and Dave Doyle grasped at the rail only to miss it. He hung suspended in air, and unable to recover; he slipped; he was falling! Then a strong hand grasped his collar and pulled him back. ‘‘Gent-,” quoth the Dodger, coolly, ‘‘ you want ter let up on this kind of a shindy!” Dan Monks gazed at the figure above him, and was stupefied wih surprise. ‘‘ David,” the Double Detective added, *‘ my advice is that you get a wiggle on!” Then the speaker swung himself into the house through the open window, and the Nova Scotian was not slow to follow. Quickly Billy closed and fastened the window, ‘¢ Daniel will hev ter break the glass ter get in,” he added, ‘ Helen!” Doyle exclaimed, ‘‘ Where is shef” ** Don’t you know?” sé No ” “ Ain’t she gone out?” éé No,” ‘‘' Then she must be here still. Guess they’ve got her in durance vile, My frien’, a mouse shouldn’t try ter swaller a mountain. Le’s go fer the perleece, an’ let them take charge, Waitt here’s a subjick!” He darted into the hall and caught the colored servant, who was passing. ‘‘ Desdemona!” he cried, ‘‘ where’s the other prisoners? Speak up, now, like a little man!” ‘eed, sah, I don’t know,” the girl an- swered. ‘¢ Where’s Simon Beebe?” ‘* Gone out, sah,” ‘Glad you've told one truth, but the other statement bas hooked teeth all up its back. Et don’t go, Lead the way ter them folks, ter wit:. The young lady an’ the boy.” ‘¢ But I doan’ know——” ‘‘ Say that ag’in, an’ I’ll call in a perleeceman. He will arrest you, an’ you'll be locxed up in the Tombs—” ‘© Deed, sah, I doan’ wanter be; I ain’t dead an’ don’t want ter goternotomb, 1 told ’em I wouldn't let on, but I'll show you where they If the servant was confused in ber statements, it was only a companion picture to the condi- tion of her mind. She imagined that the fierce young man in the rough, dust-rovered suit had threatened to put her in a “tomb,” and this took all of the courage out of her. She was in such haste to lead the way that they almost had to run to keep up with her. She hurriedly unlocked the cellar door. ‘* Dat yab is de place!” she announced. ‘‘Go carefully,” Dave Doyle advised. may be another Phe Z ‘* We'll see. Hullo, down there! Any need fer an arabulance ter cart yer off ter Bellevue?” He was answered at once, and Helen and Les- lie made their appearance, They were not bound; the cellar had been considered strong enough to keep them in bounds, Dan Monks did not put in an appearance, but the value of prompt action was apparent to all. They acted according to their convictions. Hurriedly unlocking the street door, they passed sé It out. Still Monks was invisible, but as the window was not broken, it was plain that se had taken chances and dropped to the sidewalk. A police- man was sauntering along the street, but, od- dly enough, the affair on the fire-escape had not attacted the attention of any one who had been nearer at hand. Satisfied with the outcome of affairs, the ‘rescuers and Leslie hastened toward the cab, the driver of which was sleeping on the box. ‘¢ Now, w'ot’s ter be done with this small boy?” Billy inquired, ‘*Old King Coal’s ain’t no place fer him nor his maternal ancestor, an’ both ought ter be got away, ter some other ace,’ ‘*7’l] take Leslie with me,” Helen returned. ‘¢T want to go to my, mother!” cried the boy, in alarm. Helen tried to quiet him, but he proved stub- ‘born, and it was agreed that they sbould take him back to Mrs. Rawlins. Jt was: Miss Hast- man and Billy who settled this point, for no word came from Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, and when they turned te look for him, he was one, ee Harlem fleas! but ain’t he a queer duck?” the Dodgor muttered, Helen said nothing, but her face had an odd expression. ‘Kin you understand him, miss?” choo - a ~ - : a i a att, es a Ek a