Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

" . Se es . . *« “i o~ AA wy - >. oe ¢ he) “ La t yf ys i 7 ide) “ibe eae € ' eo hs ne | . 2 ere | . + iad i as 4 Y ¢ a » : rr - ’ should s’pose you’d want ’em ter hear!” declared Billy Blue Blazes. ‘‘Why, I'd hev the cap’n yanked inter perleece hock, first oif. Ain’t you goin’ ter accuse him?” as No. ” ** Harlem fleas! ae don’t say so!” ‘*T want a promise from you,” continued Mrs, Rawlins, quickly. ‘‘I judge by the fierceness of the fire that the fine vessel will be burned to the water’s edge. It will be hard to tell whether any one lost life there, Captain Beebe will sup- us burned to death, which is just what 1 wish him to think, Promise me to keep the fact oh nay, escape a secret. It is really very impor- nt. She spoke earnestly, excitedly. ‘* Why?” asked Billy, as if in perplexity what to say or do. ‘*T want him to think his terrible plot has succeeded, [shall not be safe unless he believes medead, No one but us knows of our eecape, Let it be so; let me go toa refuge, and be the same as dead to Simon Beebe,” ‘*Them is my sentiments,” Wash Calhoun de- clared. ‘‘I’d ruther be dead by make-believe than dead in earnest. See, you-’uns? Good scheme, We'll jest vanishment from de cap’n’s optikel vision an’ hide in a secretion place, Dis n ggab ain’t no jabberin’ ijjit, you bet!” lly was silent. There were certain weighty reasons why he was reluctant to let matters rest after such a crime had been committed, and his companions were asking more of bim than they knew. But when Mrs, Rawlins continued the argument, he gave way. * All right, mum; et shall be jest as you say. Thisis your funeral—I mean, it’s your jubilee, an’ w’at you say goes. But you'll ketch pneu- monia an’ catarrh ef you stay here in the Jersey breezes. Whar be you goin?” ** Wheré, indeed?” she sighed. **S’pose [ might git you a place down on West T'wenty-seventh street, ef you don’t mind colored gents a-playin’ policy;” observed Wash, doubtfully. ‘** Ain’t you any pussonal friends, mum?” Billy asked, ‘* No; none that I dare appeal to now.” ** Wal, I'll find kiver fer you, fer a few hours, anyhow. You want ter slide out o’ them wet clothes quicker’n a rat kin squeal. Come with me The invitation was very agreeable, and the trio followed where Billy led, Their course took them somewhat nearer to the fire. But the guide kept well away from the crowd, and, after going a few blocks, brought up ata hum- ble building, the basement of which was used as ~ coal-shop. At the entrance was this unique “OLD KING COAL, ‘**“A Merry Op Sout, ‘* SELLS Fvet, Facors anp FrrEwoop “ For Cash. | ‘* COAL!”’ The coal emporium was now closed, but Billy pulled the bell of the front door, and a woman made her appearance, This was Mrs. John Jones, wife of the eccentric merchant who term- ed himself Old King Coal, ; Mrs, Jones was & woman of few words, but when she was informed that the callers wished ‘to see her husband, Billy, being an old acquaint- ance, was directed to lead the way up. All this was a form. Billy had a key to the house, and always came and went when he pleased, but, now, it did not please him to take in out- siders too freely. John Jones, otherwise Old King Coal, was in his room, a little, weather-beaten old man, whose most noticeable uliarity was a pair of eye- brows of tremendous size. ‘Old Coal,” remarked Billy, ‘I have brought you company.” ** Mermaids, right out o’ the sea?” demanded Mr. Jones looking at the dripping quartette. ‘* Folks jest barely saved from drownin’?” Ms By Andrew Jackson! you don’t say so!” ** Yes; and the question i. Can you give them shelter fer awhile?” ** Kin I? W’ot doTlive fer! W’ot do I sell coals fer? W’otisthis housenmadefer? Folks, Im glad ter see yer! Toddleterseats. Fall in- ter chairs! Tumble onter the floor! Hang yer- selves up on nails! Do anything ter becomfort- able. Them is the sentiments of Old King Coal, an’ he’s a i old soul. But, bless my best dia- monds! you'll git the roomatiz an’ chicken-pox in them wetclothes. Wife, wife, hustle an’ git dry garments. Bring male garments fer the Ph i _» males, an’ female garments fer the females: an’ i Nd : \ [pees ‘ ’ MS Y a ” AT. ae. we Billy Blue Blazes. don’t git the two mixed up, or we'll never be able ter tell one from the other. Hump yer- selves, folks, an’ git inter dry raiment!” Old ae Coal had a high-pitched, cracked voice, and likewise a kind heart. He took an interest in these persons without even knowing their cause or their names, even as his benevolent heart and jolly disposition led him to take an interest in all needy persons, Billy’s thoughts were more practical, and while Mrs, Jones made preparations to get the new- comers-more comfortably clad, he came down to business and obtained Old King Coal’s per- mission to let them all remain over night. Then he left the house, ‘*Great boy, that!” the old fellow commented. ** Billy Blue Blazes is his name—a name out o’ the common, but jest as good as mine. The Dodger of the Docks, they call him, fer he makes ita p’int ter be around the docks an’ see w’ot is goin’ on—what for, this here rescue shows.” In the mean while Billy was making his way back to the scene of the fire. When he arrived he found that the schooner had been liberally drenched from both street and river, and the fire was under control, but the headway it had gained in the hold, before it burst forth and before help came bad settled the fate of the fine craft. It now wasa mere wreck, and never would float on the water again in trade, He mixed with the crowd and listened to hear what was said. No one was present who knew much about the doomed vessel, and there was no one to answer the question, Had any lives been lost? Billy was curious to see the captain of the craft, and he waited a long while, but Beebe did not come, nor did any one who had especial interest in the matter. Giving it up at last, the Dodger went back to Old King Coal’s house, Using his key, he admitted himself, and went to a room which he regularly hired, and proceeded to make a change in his appearance, It was a great and radical change! When he had put his old, coarse clothes aside he washed his face, using not only water, but some liquid from a bottle, and the sunburn and freckles disappeared as if by magic. Then he combed his long hair, snd the locks which had before stood out so wildly and erratically were pat Hs place as neatly as those of a Broadway clerk, Next, he donned a suit of clothes which were neat, somewhat expensive, and fashionable, and the work was done, at it was a great change, In place of the Billy Blue Blazes of the docks was a neat, well-dressed, stylish-looking youth of eighteen who did not in the least resemble Billy. In every way he was like the Broadway clerk before referred to. ‘ Even in weight there ap to be a vast change. In the clothes of Billy Blue Blazes he was broad and hea ronnie simply because those clothes wereill-ftting and too large for him. Now he was slender in build, and seemed never to have known poverty or hard work, He had another talk with King Coal, and then left the house, He took the Elevated Road, went up-town as far as West Thirteenth street, and there passed the night. In the morning he breakfasted with stylish- looking people af a late hour, and then went down-town and sought a business office. It was that leased by one Azro Harker, who was a detective connected with. the Pinkerton Agency. illy entered. Mr. Harker nodded t6 him, and he answered in the same way. Mr. Harker had a visitor, and this man paused and looked at the new-comer, . ‘* An assistant of mine, named Will Archer,” Harker explained, ‘‘ Go on, captain!” ‘*The long and short of it is,” explained the captain, ‘‘ I want the Sonya spate hunted down and punished, if the fire really was set. Seems to me it must have been accidental, but the fire- men have other ideas. It don’t do to dally in such cases, and I am ready to pay you well for looking into it, It is an awful calamity, at the least. You don’t know how I am stabbed tothe heart, sir! My sister and her child were my only relatives, and now they are gone, And by such an awful fate! Pardon me if I seem weak, sir, but 1 am pierced to the heart!” Tears had n rolling down the speaker's face, and he now broke out in sobs and wept like a child. ‘*T know, I know, Captain Beebe!” murmured Harker, in pte pity. Billy had sat down at a desk and was busy with some letters which his employer had opened and left for future use, jbut he not failed to 3 hear all that was said. He now ceased work and gazed at Captain Beebe. if the latter’s name had not been a sufficient guide, his words would have settled the one im- protean fact—this man was the captain of the ost schooner, and brother of Mrs, Rawlins! But, when the captain wept, a unique feature was introduced to the case, The weeping was unique, also. It was the first time Billy had seen anything of the kind, but he might have looked long without finding ad one who could eclipse Captain Beebe in that ine, The sailor had tremendous chest-capacity, and his sobs were like turbulent thunder on a small scale, as it were. There seemed to be danger that he would draw his big boots up through his lungs when that natural bellows got a little more under way. He was a man of fifty years, with two hun- dred pounds of flesh, bone and muscle. He was atypical sailor in certain ways, though Billy rarely had seen one s0 rough of exterior. Shaggy as asheep was this rover of the deep, and Brush and comb evidently knew him but seldom. Yet his appearance was not brutal, and as Billy saw him weep so profusely and heard those deep sobs, he could but ask himself if Mrs, Raw- lins really was right in her estimate. Had this free weeper tried to kill his own sister YY means of a plot as foul as any in all New ork’s list of hideous crimes? And had he done wisely in promising not to tell of her rescue? While he was thus meditating Captain Beebe began to recover his composure, CHAPTER If, MYSTERY ON THE PIER, BRUSHING away his tears and blowing his nose like a trumpet, the captain sadly re- marked: ‘*1 gm a heart-broken man, and shall sail the sea nomore, I think I shall go into hermitage and never mix with men again, But before I do it, sir, I want to know how the Smilin Sarah got on fire, If the blaze was set, sir will devote my whole life to hunting down the guilty wretches!” ‘* Your case shall receive my immediate at- tention, Captain Beebe,” said Azro, ‘‘ There are few detectives that I stand aside for, if I do say it, and | shall get at the bottom of the mys- tery, I Sete geal ** Do it, sir, and [ will gladly pay you the sum you mention. ‘Oh, my poor sister!”’ Simon groaned aloud, and a few more tears coursed down his cheeks, but he did not remain. Urging the detective to use all possible dili- gence he departed, and they heard him groan again in the hall. e evous case, Will,” remarked Mr. Hark- er. ‘* He was captain of the schooner Smiling Sarah, which was burned in a North River dock last night, and his sister and her child and a colored man were burned with it. There are vague suspicions of incéndiarism—possibly un- founded—and I am to investigate for him,’ ‘‘He appears to be a very demonstrative man,” young Archer suggested. ‘No doubt he loved his sister deeply.” ** Very likely, sir.” **T may want you on the case. By the way, what do you do with yourself when not working for me?” ‘* Oh! I drift around generally, sir. As I may become a genuine detective, some time, it be- hooves me to know every nook and corner of New York that I can,” ‘*That’s right, Will. letters,” Azro Harker regarded himself as an expert detective, but for penmanship, spelling and composition he had no time, he claimed. It ave him ‘‘ tone” to keep a secretary, For the ast year he had employed Will Archer to come to the office every forenoon and assist him in that line, and as the young man was intelligent and quick-witted, he occasionally gave him lit- tle commissions outside, to assist him in detect- ive work. The employer thought he knew the em- ployee well, but right there he made a great mistake. By going to the hired room in Old King Coal’s humble house Will frequently transformed him- self, and became a being so different that Harker often met him without recognition. Transformeti, he was Billy Blue Blazes, the Dodger of the Docks, a creation unique enough even for Old King Coal’s society. © Will had answered truthfully when Azro ask- Now, let us get at the icboo