Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

mtg =< —> TS ne fr Ses. a - — —- 14 ee ee ——— —— —— enna eee el at an early hour, and Billy then went in search of other recruits. The result of his planning was that, at dark, six persons were gathered in the Jones house who were capable of energetic action, and ought to be able to defeat theenemy. They were Billy, Davé Doyle, Wash Calhoun, and three stout *longshoremen whom Billy knew well. That Beebe’s party could conquer this force no one believed. Mrs. Rawlins and her boy, and Old King Coal and his wife, were present as non-combatants, or were supposed to ba such; but the old man talked war in his cracked voice, and his wife built a hot fire and put as much water to boil as she could manage. She did this without ex- planation, but her lips closed tightly, and she vowed to herself that if war came she would find a way to make herself useful. A period of waiting followed. The ‘longshoremen were in high spirits, and joked with the Dodger according to their cus- tom, Dave Doyle maintained his old reputation and kept wellin the rear. He did not show any fear of those already present, but when either Jones or his wife came into the basement he looked up in a half-startled way. Was he afraid Mrs. Rawlins would appear? Billy decided that Dave Doyle was the most mysterious man he ever had seen, - Atnine o’clock the rival force began to gather, and entered the other house, Beebe, Ducky Meegan, Harker and another man were seen to pass in, They bore packages which, it was in- ferred, contained the tools for breaking the wall, At eleven the first demonstration was detect- ed, As Billy sat with his head against the wall he faintly heard that which interested him, ‘¢ They’re pryin’ out the bricks!” he exclaimed. ‘¢ Harlem fleas! but won’t there bea pile o’ fun when they break through!” CHAPTER XVI. FIGHTING T-£ FOE, Tue defenders waited with more or less anx- iety for the breach tobe madeinthe wall. Billy Blue Blazes was determined that this should be the last effort of the enemy. They were too dangerous, too desperately in earnest to be al- lowed further chance to do harm; and he hoped to capture the whole party and turn them over ‘to the police. This would bring about revelations in the Beebe-Eastman case which all the parties most concerned seemed desirous of avoiding, but, as they had not seen fit to be definite in their ex- planations, it was well to let the law settle it. He believed some sentimental considerations entered into the general reserve, . Beebe’s party worked poses) at the other side of the wall, but without making any betraying sound, Nowand then the patrolman on that beat passed by, but he heard nothing. It. would have been the same in Old King Coal’s house if they had obtained no warning. Nearer and nearer came the workmen; clearer and clearer became the sounds. The defenders ceased conversation, except in whispers. Billy turned the gas down, leaving only a eany spot of fire, but Old King Coal was stationed by the fixture, ready to turn it up suddenly when he received the order from Billy, whom all recog- nized as leader. The ‘longshoremen, rough but true, were well armed and eager forafight. - Billy passed the word of caution to his men, ‘‘Don’t sound another warble! They’ve got 4most through, an’a small thing will scare them off, Stan’ by yer guns, an’ remember the heroes of American hist’ry, Let the Star Spangled Banner float high, an’ all rascals be laid low. ‘Them is my sentiments. You kin think them right along, but don’t speak them till the war is over!” A little mortar rattled down on their side of the wall, They relapsed into silence, The critical moment was at hand! A lull followed, the unseen workmen evident- ly wishing tosee if any alarm ensued, but they son resumed, Their voices, became audible. Light shone through the wall, <A brick dropped heavily. After that they made but little noise. The other bricks were grasped and drawn back, so that none could drop, and the work of enlarging the breach went on rapidly. The light thus ad- mitted grew stronger, but not sufficiently so to reveal the defenders, Cautious whispers were distinctly heard. * 7 can go through now.” Billy Blue Blazes. ‘‘ Make it a little larger. We want a way of retreat,” ; ‘¢ Can’t we come back as well as go in?” ‘¢ We may return in haste,” ‘¢ But victorious, you bet! Well, here’s an- other brick. Later, I'll hand the humans back ter you.” Larger grew the aperture, and further work was abandoned. A man crawled through, Others followed. The defenders hardly ventured to breathe. a Victory is ours!” declared a deep voice. ‘¢ Light!” cried Billy. Up flashed the gas. A tablean followed which was was impressive to all parties, and startling to one-half of them, There stood the house-breakers with Simon Beebe and Ducky Meegan at their head, Harker was half-way through the aperture, and the paid tools, between him and Beebe, ‘¢‘ Murder!” one of the intruders exclaimed, in dismay. The eager ‘longshoremen sprung upon the gang. No one was able to give a clear account of what followed. Billy struck at one of the new- comers, and all were mixed up in the general mélée. It was give and take, then, and the Dodger was.not sure in which line he excelled. = Tar aati only one picture was distinct in his mind, He saw Mrs, Old King Coal, tall, bony and stern, with a dipper of steaming water; he saw her throw it; he saw one of the men dodge, and en yell and make a plunge for the hole in the wall, It was Mr. Ducky Meegan, and he had come to grief again. the belligerent hostess threw any more hot water it did not hurtany one, The ’longshore- men were remarkable men in a fight, and the advantage they had been gaining gradually, now became decisive. W bat were left of the intruders surrendered. Examination, however, showed that Meegan and Azro Harker had escaped. The ’longshoremen bound the prisoners, and tied knots not likely to be baffled. It was a most decisive triumph, as far as it went, but lacked something of beingcomplete, Theescape of two of the party was not to Billy’s liking, but the fact that the arch enemy of the Rawlins family was secured was very satisfactory. Beebe, however, would do no talking. After a discussion it was decided to hold the risoners unti] morning, so Billy again 0 ill Archer and went out to reconnoiter. He went to Azro Harker’s office, but it was silent and deserted. Just as he was about to give it up and go ‘home a figure stealthily approacbed, evidently anxious to avoid both the patrolmen and any envoys of more direct enemies, Will recognized paply Meegan and made haste to join him. cea ell, old man, how goes, it?’ he asked uffly. The tough took the speaker’s arm and, in mys- terious silence, led him to a street-lamp. Turn- ing one cheek toward the light he said, ina melancholy voice: ‘* Look at that!” The Dodger looked, A blister had risen on the tough’s cheek to the size of a silver dollar. It was the work of the hot water thrown by Mrs. John Jones. Only for Ducky’s skill in dodging the damage would have been much greater, but ny a very small amount had touched him, What reached the mark, however, had done execution. ‘* Ain’t I holy show?” Mr. Meegan asked, mournfully. Certainly, he was not handsome. The eye discolored by Wash Calhoun had not yet as- sumed a normal color; the bruise made on Ducky’s nose by Dave Doyle remained; one cheek had been artistically striped by Wash’s finger-nails; and now the other cheek looked like an adder puffed up for business, ‘‘Me uncle was blowed up in a Mississippi steamboat,” the victim added, ‘‘ an’ it killed him dead, but t make bold ter say he wa’n’t half so much mutilated as I be. Me heart is broke! No more shall I be de pride ave de girruls along de old North River, fer dey would not be after speakin’ wid sech a wreck, See? A think I shall go an’ den up somewhere, where the eye of man sees not, till me primeval beauty returns. Boy, excuse me ef me words arefew. Me heart is broke! Farewell!” With the old, tragic gesture, Mr. Mecgan turned and walked away, and Billy let him _ go, He imagined it would be easier to locate Har- ker with the turbulent, headlong rough at lib- erty, also. . rreserertreeeseteeenceeeoecatnen item ieee <LI EAEpR Shortly after, the Dodger returned to Old King Coal’s. That person was waiting to see him, ‘ Billy, Mrs. Rawlins has been a-askin’ of my advice.’ ** W’ot about?” ‘‘She’s got her courage up, now her brother is nabbed, an’ has told me w’ot the racket is, She asks me, ‘ W’ot would you do? an’ I says, ‘ Billy, he’s wiser than me,’” ‘‘Then you talked nonsense, Mr. John Jones; I’m only a boy. But I’m in an awful hanker ter hear her story. Will she tell it ter me?” ‘‘That’s jest w’ot she wants ter do. Go an’ put on yer Billy Blue Blazes rig, an’ see her,” ‘¢ John, I’m changin’ clothes more than a sas- siety belle, but here goes!” A few minutes later he entered the widow’s presence as the Dodger of the Docks, and it needed no persuasion to make her tell the stary. It was as follows: ‘‘T grew up poor, and never expected to have any money. True, I had one rich relative, a very old man named Edric Zelland, but the re- rey was so distant that I never dreamed of being his heir, or one of his heirs. I supposed he had nearer relatives, though he had lived as a bachelor, ‘‘ When he died, however, I learned that I was one of the nearest of kin. ‘¢ Tf he had left no will I and my brother, Cap- tain Beebe, would have heired one-half of his property. The other half would have gone to our cousin of the second degree, Helen HKast- man, ‘* But he left a will, ‘*Tf all reports are correct, he left two wills, ‘*One was drawn up in favor of my brother and rae, and did not mention Helen. Tbe other was strongly in her favor, and gave Captain Beebe and me only one thousand dollars each. Thus, the courts were beset with wills, and knew not which to choose. True, the one in our favor was of the later date, but Helen’s lawyer claimed that it was fraudulent, and, after a littie legal skirmishing, matters were left in abeyance un- til missing witnesses could be found. ‘‘ Helen had some money, and, becoming dis- gusted over the contest she announced, but not officially, that she was going to retire from all participation, and give up all claims. ‘‘Captain Beebe had been madly anxious to get the money, and he rejoiced at her decision ut, suddenly, she lost what money she had, an then he was sure she would fight in court for the Zelland money. ‘¢ Now, while I had rarely met Helen, or Mr. Zelland, he had once told me that he had made a will in her favor. He added that it was the only one he had ever made, or should make. ‘Ever after I referred to this fact, in conver- sation with my brother, he was icious of me. I did not join him zealously in the fight; I did think Zelland intended to give Helen the money; while the charge that the second will was forged always a partial believer in me, ‘¢ Day by day Simon grew more suspicious, ‘* He san had Tout her money, and, he thought, would want more, ‘* Was I going to turn rio him ?—to tell in court what Zelland had said to me? ‘*T believe he dwelt upon these points until he became a monomaniac, I knew he’was not a good man in the past, but, surely, he was not in is right mind when he shut me up in the schooner and applied the torch. ‘‘ Edric Zelland’s money has rvined one man; it remains tc be seen what it will do for others!” CHAPTER XVII. A MYSTERY NO LONGER, ONE revelation was made, and it was clear to the Double Detective how Simon Beebe, in his mad thirst for money, had allowed himself to go on step by step in crime, | ‘‘ Hz fer Zelland’s will,” Billy remarked, ‘‘I should say you an’ Helen would do well ter burn ’em both, an’ inherit under the law.” ‘‘T would rather give up all than continue this legal battle,” Mrs, Rawlins returned, with a sigh. ‘*AndI believe Helen deserves all—that is, Zelland intended her to have all.” _—_ sere are the missin’ witnesses you speak 's) ‘‘ Servants; I don’t know their names, Unim- portant witnesses, I think, really. There was once a man who, I think, could have told the ex- act truth,” ‘‘ Where is he?”’ ‘¢ Dead and buried!” she answered, with a deep sigh. fi Who was he?” DOOKS.com = ee aw ast 4 A 7 ia t