Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~~ a -- : Lou know I’ve seen Mr. Doyle only casual- y: ** He says he is aman dead and buried!” She drew a deep sigh, but seeing Billy’s gaze fixed inquisitively on her face, abruptly turned to the cab, ‘* Let us go at once,” she requested, They were soon proceeding southward, and were not long in restoring Leslie to his mother, Great was the joy in the house thereat, and the non-combatants did a good deal of weeping. Billy remained practical, and advised a prompt shifting of base, but Mrs, Rawlins e wish to stay where she was, and Old backed her up. ‘* A good idee,” he said. ‘‘ We kin put enough men in here ter make her an’ the kid safe, an’ ef they try ter get at’em ag’in, our guards kin seize the intruders, See?” ‘*T don’t reckon they'll try it,” Billy replied. ‘*Hev an idee the enemy will be glad ter go on the defensive, now, an’ do the crawfish, But it ain’t sure, an’ I’d advise a shift. Still, I ain’t boss o’ nobody but myself; do as you please. I’ve got biz!” He left them to settle their own affairs and hurried to his private room. There he proceed- ed to transform himself into Will Archer, ** Billy Blue Blazes has lost his grip asa double- faced youth,” he murmured, as he put Billy’s clothes away. ‘‘Simon has accused Billy of being a traitor, But Will remains in g re- pa as far as I know, and I will see if any more h will come to my net, Harlem fleas! yes!” He left the house and walked over to Azro Harker’s office. No one was there, ~ Entering, he sat down and tried to kill time, but it was no a work. Where was Harker? Where, Beebe? here, Monks? Where, Ducky Meegan? He was about to give it up when footsteps sounded and Captain Simon entered. The mariner looked weary and dejected, and his eyes had an uneasy, furtive roll, as if he ex- pected to see an enemy appear and assail him, ‘* Where’s Harker?” he asked. ‘* T don’t know, sir,” Will politely replied, ‘*T want to see him at once,” ** Perhaps he is at his house,” ‘* No; I’ve been there,” ‘Is paything wron , sir?” ** Ts there? ell, I should say so; everything is wrong. My luck has all gone back on me, Iam the most unfortunate and persecuted man living. [ never have done harm to any one, yet evil-minded persons turn upon me like wolves, and rend my heart. An honest man reased a ing Coal ‘has no show in this world; honesty only makes enemies!” Before this speech was finished the mariner was weeping freely, and he heaved one of his old thunder-like sighs. ‘*'You don’t know how I feel for you, sir,” ob- served the Double Detective, s mpathetically, ‘**Of course; you are Mr, Harker’s man, and you ought to. But there aresome awful wicked olks in this world!” ‘**l am aware of it, captain.” ‘* By the way, are you acquainted around this part of the city?” as Considerably, sir,” ‘“Do you know a boy called Billy Blue Blazes?” The Dodger did not show any emotion. ‘‘T think I’ve heard of him. Let me see— what is his business?” ‘Sneaking, and spyiug into other people’s business!” ‘‘ What has he done?” ‘‘He’s done that, so I want him put out of sight, I have hated folks before now, but never any oneasI dohim. Heis full of mischief and ingenuity, and always turns up just when not wonted. Now, I'll give you twenty dollars to hunt that demon down, and get him into some muss with the police, so he’ll be arrested !” “That's a tempting offer, and I'll look for him,” Will gravely replied, ‘‘How does he look? How old is he?” ‘* Nineteen, perhaps.” ** About my size?’ ‘‘Bless me, no! He's twenty-five pounds heavier, but not so tall, He’s pretty much all breadth, but as nimble as an eel,” ** How does he look in the face?” ““Homely as sin! Coarse-featured and freckled, a squint in one ga ade times, Talks as fast as a race-horse. of words and cheek, Regular hoodlum!” “Pll look the scoundrel up, sir,” the Double Detective promised. ‘‘Once let me get my hands on and I'l dohim up.” . ** Don’t try that,” Beebe cautioned. ‘ He’s 80 much larger than you that he would be too $a ee - — Billy Blue Blazes. much for you. You area gentleman, while he isa tough. But get a hold on him so the police can seize him, and the twenty dollars is yours.” “TPll hunt the fellow down!” was the em- phatic response, CHAPTER XV, AWAITING THE ATTACK, FOOTSTEPS sounded in the hall, and Azro Harker and Ducky Meegan entered. The lat- ter was as jaunty and confident as ever, but Azro looked quite as worried and unhappy as Capteaiw beebe did. He sut down heavily. ‘* What news?” Simon asked, ** None!” ‘* Have you seen any of the opposition?” Azro glanced doubtfully at Will Archer, ** You can trust him,” Simon remarked, with confidence, ‘‘I have hada talk with him, and he is going to help me particularly in the future, Will is all right!’ | ‘*] guess that is so,” Harker agreed; ‘‘ he al- ways has been faithful tome, You understand, Wil, that when detectives get after criminals, the latter are bold and defiant, and strike back at us in all possible ways, As a result, we have to match trick with trick, and if we sometimes seem severe, itis only that our lives, our repu- tations and the majesty of the law have to be guarded, ‘*Dat’s jest it,” declared Ducky, with much unction. Will also stated that he realized all these things, and the conspirators began to talk free- ly, though they hung to the claim that they were on the side of justice, Harker’s troubled manner was something new to Will. The latter had before then gained vague knowledge of sundry sharp practices on the part of his employer, but there had never been anything to show that he was unscrupu- lous, He had always made the claim that these practices were necessary in ‘‘ the cause of jus- tice,” and Will had believed him, Now he knew different. Harker was dishonest and un- scrupulous, and a disgrace to his calling. But now, too, he had got into deep waters by his advocacy of Beebe’s crooked cause, and ruin menaced him, When this preliminary conversation was over, he abruptly said: ‘*T have planned another bold move,” ** Good!” Simon commented. “4 rei woman and her child must be got out of sight. cs Well said, but how is it to be done?” ‘* A sail-boat must be used to take them from New York toa Si on the Jersey Coast, where they can be held prisoners. The main trouble will be to get them to the boat, but I have that arranged, or, at least, planned. They are back at old Jones’s house, Now, the building next to that is a tumble-down old concern that is not occupied just now. My plan is this: We will hire it, get possession at once, and, to-night, make a hole through the connecting wall and get at our prey.” ‘* Can it be done?” Beebe asked, eagerly. ‘* Why not?” ** Perhaps it can,” **Of course itcan, Will they expect such a move? Hardly! Of course we shall not tell the agent of the second house that we pro to oc- reat at once; we simply hire the house and take the key. Crowbars, spikes, etc., will enable us to drill the wall. Doubtless, the cellar will be our objective point.” ** It’s a bold plan,” Simon murmured. ‘* Nothing else will answer.” ‘* But if yee idea, as advanced to me ear] to-day, that they dare not go to the police, {s correct, willthey not be just as timid about call- ing for help in the future?” ‘The chief trouble 1s that the pier spy, that Billy Blue Blazes, will go to the police, He has 1o secret to hide—his nature is as open as his ll—and it would be just like him to go to Po- fice Headquarters and call for help,” } ‘‘T never was so deceived in any man in me life,” put in Ducky Meegan, mournfully, ‘‘ Dat kid seemed to be built jes’ about right, an’ I thought he was a good one, but he’s gone dead back on us. I disownsecha pal, I like white men. See?” If Ducky had been as fertile in resources as Captain Beebe, he would probably have dropped a few tears at this juncture, for his feelings were grievously lacerated. After some further talk Will and prs were sent to hire the building next to Old King Coal’s, Beebe giving the former money to pay for a month’s rent, It had been delicately hinted that perhaps —— eee eee Ol Ducky ought not to enter the real estate office, so he remained on a corner, two blocks away, while Will went to do the business, The latter was getting a good deal of satisfac- tion out of bis partin the drama, He was fool- ing the conspirators in the best of shape, even if Billy Blue Blazes had lost their confidenée, Entering the office, he proceeded to negotiate for the house, and succeeded so well that the key was given to him as soon as he produced the money. The house was old, and the agent was not disposed to be finical, A tenant who could pay his rent was just as satisfactory without references as if he had a yard of them. Will returned to Ducky, and found that per-» son apa against a building in a dejected at- titude. ‘*1’m back, Mr, Meegan!” Mr. Meegan turned slowly, and Will saw that one.of his cheeks was marked with several red lines, from which a little blood had oozed out, These lines did not add to Ducky’s beauty, and he appeared to realize the fact. ‘* Hallo! have you encountered a wildcat?” the Double Detective demanded. “* T wiz walkin’ by a store omGreenwich street, where dey sold farmin’ tools,” explained the tough, in detail, ‘‘ an’ I run ag’inst de teeth of a varden-rake dat was hangin’ up dere. See?” ** That’s bad.” ** Eit’s a howlin’ shame,” ‘* What will you do—” “Do? Ise goin’ ter break his head. See?” ‘*'W hose head?” ‘Eh? Oh! Wal, om see, it wasn’t a rake. Fack is, 1 met an old enemy; a darky named Wash Calhoun; an’ I pitched inter him, ter do- himup. See? I’d hev done it, too, but me foot slipped on an orange-peel, an’ de black stuff jes” got me head in chancery an’clawed me, See? But,” Ducky candidly added, ‘* ef it hadn’t been fer dat orange-peel I’d ’a’ broke his jaw. Dat I would!” Will avoided an impulse to smile, and flattered the speaker’s vanity with a few well-chosen. words which had due effect, ‘*Guess yeu’s quite a feller,” Ducky observed, ‘‘ef you’s do dress like a dude, an’ hev a waist like a swell, De only thing I hev ag’inst you is dat you look a bit like dat Billy Blue Blazes who went back on me,” “T dot. How?” , ‘‘ Can’t jes’ say. He was as big as two o' you, an’ he had a dark, freckled face, an’ a squint in one eye, but oe ain’t got none o’ them things.. Mebbe it’s all fancy, likeness,” The careless way in which Ducky spoke show- ed that he had no real suspicions, and Will grew: easier, They returned to Harker’s office, and. the key was handed over. Then the conspirators perfected their plans for the night, which, however, included nothin new, Will was not asked to join them, nor did he request it. When they began to break the wall, he wanted to be on the other side. He was soon at liberty, and he did not fail to move promptly. He went back to Old King Coal’s, slipped quietly into his Billy Blue Blazes character, and had a long talk with the house- hold, there. It was agreed that they should remain where they were, but havea force capable of receiving the wall-breakers ayijorae : The Dodger decided that one of this force must be Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, and he went to see that and added: ‘Now, David, kin we hev you fer one 0’ our soldiers?” The Nova Scotian hesitated, ‘¢Y should like to help you, but—” ‘6 What hd ‘‘T dislike the publicity.” ‘¢ Harlem fleas! ain’t et late im life fer you ter be basbful, mister?” Doyle meditated, and finally answered: ‘‘T will go on condition that when I t/there. I may be allowed to sink into oblivion, and neither speak nor be spoken to,” ‘¢ Mister, ef it’ll oblige you the whole lot on us will wear gags, an’ never raise our bazoo, I want you at any price; luxuries come high, but. wemust hey them, David, I livein hopes you'll ante up an’ reform from bein’ a walkin’ mystery, pretty soon.” ‘*T tell you I am a man dead and buried.” ** You look ghostly, I allow; should i you was a mere spook ef you hadn't ee an Monks, an’ others, sech a right smart hustle, But let it pass; I’d rather deal with spooks than: a spook priestess, Et don’tcost so much, ez New Yorkers know, ginerally.” Dave Doyle agreed to be at Old King Coal’s COMICDOO i.» : 7 \' > ‘e* ! + a,' Hi “ ‘ { * 4 ‘ ry , ough, dat there is any’ rson, laid the new plot before him,