Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

>» ‘ta es iad % * ' RON ss + “<“e aes A? “man, while the captain looked onsullenly and ill ¥ at ease, _ Billy sidled up to him. ‘‘Say, Simon, they’re kinder jumpin’ on yer neck, ain’t they?” he murmured, ‘*T am a wronged man.” ‘¢ T suspected it, b’mighty.” ‘*No one can rightly accuse me of doing Seeds b da ‘‘Give us yer claw, Simon! Youropinion an’ ‘mine run in the same channel, like car-hosses on Sins Sa? 6 But there’s an awful spite back o’ them, hy isit? What's their grudge?” ** Providence only knows.” ‘““T hate to see a man ‘throwed down,’ b’mighty! Et ain’t accordin’ ter our American principles ter allow a combine ter hop on a good old gent, Kin I help you? Ef so, warble the ways an’ means, an’ yer Uncle William will be up an’ doin’ fer you. See?’ Simon regarded the speaker more attentively. ‘Voluble as Billy was he had the physique of a man, or looked to have, in his dock-character suit, and he now assumed a peculiar squint of eye which gave him a lawlessappearance. Per- haps that squint affected the mariner, for he an- swered: ‘Tf I should want you, where are you to be found?’ ‘¢ By day, strollin’ along the river, lookin’ fer bread, meat, ,hash, money or fun; by night, roostin’ in some box on the piers, or in some lodgin* roost. My habitation is as varied as the smells of Hunter’s Point, an’ as. numerous as the ‘fleas in Harlem, But my post-office box is al- ways Old King Coal’s basement bazar of busi- ness, and a note left there will always raise me in a few hours.” ‘‘Old King Coal? I know the pape, and will acer i may have’work for you to do, yet. _ Farther conversation was prevented by the re- covery of Helen Eastman. She came out of her swoon inacalm and systematic fashion, which delighted Billy, who had seen women of poorer nerves; but as soon as she was fully herself she lashed a quick glance around. Then disappointment fell over her face, as if she failed to see some one who was wanted. Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, had vanished. ** Let us drive away,” urged the second lady. ‘* Wait, Miss Peters!” Helen t:rned to fe Bei Beebe again. ** Your‘advice, which has succeededso well with others, does not deceive me,” she added. ‘* No -one perished in the schooner!” ‘ a only wish it was true,” the mariner re- Pp ‘‘ You have spirited Mrs, Rawlins away.” ‘¢ And the darky, too?” ‘“T know nothing about him; I speak only of Mrs, Rawlins. You doubted her loyalty to your cause, and took measures to remove a witness you could not control, I warn you that she must be produced. Refuse to do this, and I shall pro- ceed against you legally.” ‘ Young woman,” Simon answered, “‘I great- ly fear that when the ruins of the schooner are overhauled, which will be done this afternoon, the police theory will be confirmed. If no bodies are found there, I shall be glad to believe with you, but I swear I have not abducted my sis- s | ‘* Oh, I know your word, of old!” ‘* Always unjust!” ** Do not act the bypocrite, sir!” Captain Beebe’s face flushed, He could act the hypocrite well, and weep on demand, but was not wholly proof against such sharp speeches. He hated Miss Eastman, and was -chagrined to find how well she knew his charac- ‘ter, even if sheerred in the solution of the night’s ine bn e stood as meek as possible, while she eyed him with cold disdain., Finally she aroused and glanced around the pier, as if again seeking for gome one, Seeing nobody, she gave the mariner a parting shot: ‘You may well look to the future with dread, for the hour of vengeance is near at hand. When it comes you will be lost in the flood!” — Turning she gave an order to the driver, and ‘that machine swung his horses around and drove off the pier, Beebe made no attempt to stop her, but watched in silence while the carriage passed aap the police line and started on up West str et. While thus poopie he was curiously regard- -ed by Billy, but the Dodger said nothing until ‘Beehe turned his attention to nearer scenes. **Them women are clippers, ain’t they?’ the ‘boy then commented, shaking his head gravely. ‘* What do you make of it?” Looks ter me as ef they had gota spite ag’in’ ~ D ra ahi alae alae 2° PO phd On, geal Mh Spee » , - _ St LL a I Re ee PO Oe ee we a Billy Blue Blazes. ——s reason, an’ chew yer ear off.” ‘*That’s it; and they have no reason for their grudge. Itis just ry ope I would not care so much were it not for my sad bereavement, “4 ust think that I should be so abused at this me!” And the mariner heaved a mighty sigh. - a I kin help you, say the word,” Billy urged. a I believe you can, A shrewd lad like you can do wonders, Just now I know of nothing— Wait! Didn’t you think that Dave Doyle’s manner peculiar?” ‘* Had a jag on, didn’t he?” ‘Do you think that was it? **T reckon so,” ‘‘'That may beit,” remarked Simon, with an air of relief. ‘‘ He troubled me, at first, but the sudden way in which he left here indicates an erratic notion in his head, I guess I need not think of him, As for you, go often to the base- ment you mentioned.; [I may have need of you at any time,” ‘Correct fer Hannah! You'll find me ready ter trot my stumps fer you. gprgen, 1 Billy would not bave been so ready to leave Beebe if he had not had another idea in his mind, Every one in this case had adopted the policy of keeping silent, but that did not affect Billy. The schooner had been burned by anincendiary, and human life jeopardized. This was some- thing the authorities did not want hushed up, if certain persons did, It occurred to him, that Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, was a pereon whose acquaintance he might make with profit, Had not Mr, Doyle accused Simon bluntly? Had not Helen Eastman ‘fainted at sight of we hs, hat did it all mean? Revolving these matters in mind, the Double Detective hurried from the pier, but it proved no easy task to find Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia. The latter had indeed vanished, and, after a genera! cruise around the vicinity, he was about to give it up and go home when he became wit- ness to a street altercation. Hearing loud voices he burried in that direc- tion, and found a crowd collecting around two quarreling men. One was ashort, broad, typical tough who looked as if he were a bright lignt in some city gang; the other was a colored man and—Billy was alarmed when he recognized Wash Calhoun! This sable survivor of the schooner fire was supposed to be under cover where his safety would not be discovered, but, ee , he was in the midst of a broil with the ugh. . Both were angry, and, also, anxious to im- press the crowd favorably. ‘t Now, see here!” cried the tough, ‘' I don’t want yous ter give me any more ave yer guif, or Phi Sy you a t’ump in de jaw! See?” ‘*‘No, sah! I doan’ see; an’ you-’un can’t make me see!” stoutly declared Wash, **T can’t, hey?” ‘** No; you can’t, hey!” . * Wot'll you do, nigger?” ** 1'll climb all over you, sah!” ‘‘Ob! yous make me weary. You're a big ‘stuff ’)” ‘* 1m a ‘ stuff,’ be I?” shouted Wash, _, ‘* You be, dat! You’s a black chump!” ‘‘ An’ you’re a gorilla! Lord! ef I had dat head ob yours I’d s'pect ter scare myself inter fits, ebery time I tooked in de glass; an’ it’s wee me you, fer you're a sneak an’ a coward, sab ‘* Hi! w’ot’s dat?’ yelled the tough. ** You’re a Seark. sab |” ‘‘Nigger, dat settles you; I’ve got ter do ye up. I’m Ducky Meegan, an’ I don’t take no guff. Put up yer dukes, fer I’m goin’ ter t?ump yeinde jaw. See?” Mr. Meegan shot out his big, grimy fist, but it did not land just where he expected it. Wash’s hand interfered to protect his jaw, and the blow wasted its force on the air. he went in to whip Wash without delay. His surprise’ increased as his work progressed, Wash had put up bis handsin a scientific way, and he soon demonstrated his ability to use them. He warded off most of Duck’s blows, and dodged the others, and all the while danced around his opponent in a ridiculous style. Grimacing grotesquely, he deluged Ducky with invitations to dosomething, and then per- rere prevented him from accepting the invi- on. Meegan soon found the crowd taunting him With his failure, and summoned all his energy for a great effort, ~ you, an’ wanted ter sail in without rhyme or This abortive attempt irrjtated the tough, and. TN er yep 2p gett Ratti p raent Santee wes + —_—— ewe ee em ere lay a». Hh we. = *y > . ~ - Rushing forward, he struck out bravely. Somehow, he failed to connect, and swung around sideways. Before he could recover, Wash introduced his right fist to Duck’s neck, and his left to his face, when the tough struck against an awning-post, bounced away, fellover a grocer’s barrel, and brought up in a dirty gut- ter in a stunned condition, He heard a murmur around him, but did not know whether it was the voices of fellow New- Yorkers or the waters of the Niagara, until, af- ter a few moments, some one picked him up. Then he looked feebly at the grinning crowd. ‘*Gents,” he explained, gloomily, ‘‘m slipped on an orange-peel, See? Hold de nig- ger, an’ I'll get re socn an’ smash him. See?” A jeering laugh indicated that the bystanders did not see. CHAPTER V, BILLY JOINS THE ENEMY, But, Wash Calhoun was no longer present to await the return of Mr, eee. Meegan’s strength and prowess. Hardly had he knocked the tough out so decisively when a hand was laid on his own arm, ‘¢‘G, Washin’ton, you want ter hustle off!” quoth a quiet voice, Wash wheeled belligerently, anxious to tackle and annihilate this new adversary, but wilted when he recognized Billy Blue Blazes. ‘‘ Get a wiggle on, quick!” the Dodger suggest- e he sah; I’s jest a-gwine,” Wash agreed, meekly, . Billy retained his hold, and marched the col- ored gentleman off at once, Not a word was spoken until they were out of sight of the crowd, hen Bill ery | ‘“* Mr. Ca houn,” he frigidly remarked, ‘ef my recollection don’t misserve me, you was ter keep indoors an’ not letit be knowed you bad escaped burnin’ up, Them was Mrs. Kawlins’s orders,” .** Yes, sah,” Wash agreed, humbly. ‘*Then why in the name o’ the great jumpin’ kangaroos of Kalamazoo be you here?” ** Deed, sah, it was all a mistake, I’s at de house, sah, an’ I—an’ I—[ got short o’—that is, I set out ter go from de hal) inter de parlor sah, an’ I opened de wrong doah, an’ atore I see’d my mistake, it blowed to an’ | was shet out in de street, sah. Dat am a fack, on de honor of a Cab’liny gentleman,” ‘‘ Wash, ef ever there’s a liars’ convention at Madison Square Garden, I'll enter you. You'd git the 'eatbbr medal, sure-pop. But, this ain’t a joke You are dead, Wash; burned up in the schooner! You ain’t buried yit, an’ they may not take the trouble, Certain they won’t ef ou keep on prancin’ erbout the streets, Shouldn’t be a tall s’prised ef Simon Beebe heerd you're alive inside the hour, You ought ter be licked, G. W., when Mrs. Rawlins im- pores you not to show yourself on the street, ‘wish Ducky Meegan had done you up, b’mighty!” ‘Peed, sah, [ only went out ter git a bit 0 terbarker.” ‘“Hone all yer mischief fer that, did yer? Wash, I’m ashamed 0’ you!” Wash himself was ashamed, and he made a good many apologies and promises. Billy es- corted him back to Old King Coal’s and saw him safe inside the house. Then he called upon Mrs, Rawlins, “ Anxious to know who Miss Eastman and Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, were, he told of the scene on the pier, but gained little light. **Dave Doyle I never heard of, and I think you are in error in thinking him of any impor- tance. Helen Eastmanis a lady who, perhaps ought to be my enemy but I bave sufficient sense of fairness so tha 1, certainly, bear her no ill-will, You can judge how Simon feels,” ‘Simon is hot under the collar.” ‘‘T am not surprised.” ‘¢ Who, an’ what, is Helen?” ‘1 prefer not to say.” ‘‘ Be you goin’ ter settle back on’ let the world roll on without yer? Be you goin’ ter forgive the roastin’ you almost got in the schooner, an’ raise nary a warble?” “ Ah} you don’t Know how I am situated} You don’t know how I fear Simon Beebe!” ‘‘ Hey him arrested, an’ he won’t git chance ter harm ye.” ‘*7 dare not!” ‘‘ But Helen seemed interested fer you. Jest let me go an’ tell ber that you're all right, an’ I reckon she will know w’ot ter do.” ~ ‘‘No, no; you must keep your promise, and _ not tell any one that 1 am alive,” foot . Cc 900 com : \' er " ~~.) « ‘ ¢ ‘ : Cc YN ¥ : J . 4, d o . 4 . . ’ * - © @t we SS ed