Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 903 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Billy Blue Blazes. 9 of allelse. Simon changed color and grew wild- eyed. ofr See here!” protested Ducky Meegan. ‘‘ W’ot’s dis bloke doin’ in here?’ **He’s a robber,” muttered Beebe, weakly. ‘* Call de perleece, den,” ‘* Yes; call the police!” Dave Doyle retorted. ‘“‘Bring in all the witnesses you choose, O course you want publicity ; of comrse you do,” ‘t Look-a-here, you’s don’t want ter speak in dat-way,” Ducky cautioned, “‘or I'll give you’s a t’ump in de jaw!” **Do you want another black eye?” **T did, that by runnin’ inter a team on Broad- way,” explained Meegan, candidly. ‘‘ See?” ‘* Miss,” continued Dave Doyle, addressing Helen, ‘‘your word is law here.’ Give your or- ders, please. Despite the threats of these ruf- fians, you are free to go home whenever you choose.” p ‘*T cannot go and leave these men here.’ ‘¢ They shall leave, at once,” ‘Shall we?’ Simon cried. ‘* We won't go!” “* Then I shall call the police,” “*Do it! lam here by right; you are the in- terloper, the house-breaker. Perhaps you want to see the police?” ‘*T do. I want them to know how you de- coyed this lady by means of a lie, and then threatened her, and tried to compel her to open the safe. Yes:,1 am eagernto put the matter to the test, and will call the police at once, if you say so,” 3 ‘* Boss,” interrupted Ducky Meegan, “ we’s may as well give up de game. I'm a law-abid- in’ gent, myself, an’ though I| hev a pull dat will keep me out of all trouble, I won’t lift a finger in a cause where I’m likely ter be blamed, See?” ‘¢- You coward! will you desert me?” ‘‘ Now, don’t goon dat way, boss, We don’t want no trouble. We mustn't hev none.” Meegan managed to getin a secret wink on Beebe, and as the latter really regarded the cause as lost—he feared there were other men at hand—he changed bis tactics, ‘* Nobody can say I ever did a dishonest thing,” he remarked, frankly, ‘‘ but we all get accused when we don’t deserve it. So, too, I have been wronged without cause, But I yield all: 1 submit :o injustice!” Every one who heard him knew he was act- ing the hypocrite; but Helen and ker friends supposed it was simply because ue had lost. e moved toward the door with Ducky Mee- gan at his heels. Ducky looked only at the floor, and seemed to be a crushed and saddened man. But he was wily and deceitful, as they soon found to their sorrow. When abreast of Dave Doyle he suddenly straightened, and his huge fist shot out toward the latter’s head. lt was partially, if uot wholly, a surprise, but remarkable agility en- abled the Nova Scotian to save his head. Mee- gan, however, had put such force into the blow that he was not able to check his own impetus; he collided with Dave Doyle, and both tumbled on the floor, Captain Beebe raised his revolver, eager to fight the opposition, but Helen’s servant knocked him down without ceremony. Meegan and the Nova Scotian rose in concert, both on the war-path, but the latter proved the quicker on the reeovery, He smote Ducky on the nose, and the letter fell over on top of Bee- be. Then they groaned in concert for awhile, for the fight was all gone out of them. Ducky looked bumbly at bis assailant, ‘May we be allowed ter live?’ he asked, mournfully. ‘Not here! Get out of this building!” ‘General, Pll show ye that I ought ter bein the six days’ race at Madison Square Garden. My legs are pinin’ for & prom on de ave, See” He raised himself ina gingerly way, fearing another blow, but, as it did not come, sidled out of the door, wiping away 4 little blood that had flowed from a bruise on his nose. Simon Beebe was full of rage, but knew he was a loser, He had made a greatshow of using his revolver, but, in point of fact, dared not do it. His will was good, but hedid not want to Jand in the hands of the police. fle wentafter Meegan, and the delegation saw them out of the building. Then the Double De- tective hastened to join the group, “* My advice is that all of you get out of this place on the jump!” he declared, ‘‘ Not one of us could prove in court that we had any right, or excuse for being here. Suppose those reptiles tell a policeman we are burglarizing the build- ing? We would bein hock. I say, move on!” ‘The advice is wise,” Dave Doyle agreed, quickly. ‘‘ Let us go.” rh LL S-sssssssss=-—ee-esteesestisseess rr — — He set the example by going down the stairs in a way which might have led to the belief that sudden and cowardly fear had seized upon him, but such was not Will Archer’s belief. He had noticed that the man of mystery and Helen were looking at each other in a- strange fashion, but that the Nova Scotian had cut it short by turning partly away. Now, the abrupt retreat down the stairs was only in keeping with what had gone before, and the detective was led to wonder more than ever what mystery encom- passed the two, Will turned off the gas in the office, and low- ered that in the hall to about the same degree it had been burning at first. Then all left the building, and he locked the outer door, ‘*T wish to thank you and—and—” Miss Eastman hesitated and looked for Dave Doyle, of Nova Scotia, He was nearly a block away, standing with his back toward them, ** 1'tl call David, miss,” volunteered Will, ‘No, no!” Helen exclaimed, quickly, ‘It is nothing—nothing!” She moved toward the carriage, hesitated at the door, scole a glance at the eccentric Nova Seotian, and then entered the vehicle, Her ser- vant followed, Then she suddenly turned and put out her hand to Will. **To you, and to all who have helped me, I give my heartfelt and earnest thanks, I ho rovidence always will raise you friends equally brave in the hour of your need.” ‘‘Thank you, miss; I feel fully repaid, and 1 think Daye Doyle will, when I tell him what you’ve said,” For a moment the two looked into each other’s eyes; then Helen suddenly turned to the driver. ‘* Home!” she directed. The carriage rolled away, Will walked down to his associate. If the latter had been a mystery when they first met, and sight of Dave Doyle had caused Helen to swoon, he was more of a mystery now, Eccen- tric men were common in New York, but this man was more than that. There was a mystery in his life which Will did not understand, but desired to, He did not turn until the Double eve walked up and slapped him on the ack, ‘* Brace up!” the latter directed. ‘‘ Helen is gone, and will not bite you.” “The adventure is over for to-night, I reckon,” ‘* Yes.” ** Then I'll go home,” ** ‘Where is that?” ** You will pardon me if I do not tell you.” “David, you are foolish to hem yourself in with a wall of reserve. Why not be frank and let your light shine? Take me for an ally, and et us exchange secrets. We both have them, You are plastered over with them, an inch deep, I am interested in the case in which we have be- come partners, and shall feel indebted to you if you will explain what mystery binds your life and Helen Eastman’s.” ‘* Bless me! there is none.” in David, you must think me green to believe “Why do you think it?” ‘‘You and Helen betray yourselves. You fled from her just now as if she was liable to eat you up, and—have you forgotten that she swooned at sight of you on the pier?” ‘*What do you know of my being on the pier? You were not there.” ‘I heard of it, all the same.” . ** Never mind; you are wholly in error, No mystery is attached to me—” ‘Oh, you were only out for fun when you accused Simon Beebe, on the pier, of intention- aed burning his sister alive in the schooner, e ‘ Dave Doyle regarded the speaker in silence. It was useless to persist that he was not a cen- ter of mystery, and he did nothing of the kind. On the contrary, he really was becoming in- terested in the youth. ‘** Better confess,” Will added, smiling. ‘“‘ My friend, [ can’t help you along with your scheme. Like other witnesses on the stand, I shajl have to plead bad memory, but I think you and I can be friends, [ think—” Dave Doyle stopped short. Will had sudden- ly seized him by the arm, and he now dragged him into a deep doorway. ‘* Azro Harker is coming!” Will whispered. ‘**Lie low! It would knock my plans galley- west if he discovered me, I’m working a still- Cpt end all depends on keeping him ignorant of it! Tharker was advancing along the street slow- ly and cautiously, and, to Will’s alarm, he be- gan to peer into every recess and doorway. ‘Great Scott!” the young detective added; ‘‘ we're gone up!” CHAPTER X, THE FRESH ALARM, THE Double Detective was really startled. He had learned enough of his employer that night to lose all faith in him. Captain Beebe had engaged Harker, and it was natural that the latter should help his client all he could, but he must haye known that an estimable young woman was to be put in jeopardy when he gave Simon the key of the building. Further than that, it was a gross breach of trust to let any one into that place, Azro had lost all standing in his apprentice’s opinion, and the latter already hada vision of himself pitted against the older man; But all would be lost if Harker found him near the building. The latter came on, showing great caution, but proceeding in such a way that there was no reason to believe he had seen Will and Dave Doyle. But if he searched every doorway, dis- covery was certain. ** Keep back!” Doyle directed. ‘* Tl face him, and tell a good story. Haveno fear” But Azro found it no easy matte” to cover as much ground as he had underteken without losing valuable time. He suddenlv gave it up d started along ata rapid, but stealthy pace, assing near the hiding pair he went ou, ‘*I'd like to see him wiggle when he fails to find the key,” the Dodger whispered, ‘* but we should be fools to wait, Let’s slide off like greased lightning!” The retreat was hurriedly made, and not checked until they were several blocks distant. There they parted, , Another effort to put Dave Doyle into a confidential mood proved fruitless, but he gave way on one point and let Will know his address, ore than that he ex- pressed himself well pleased with their associa- tion, and said he’for one would be glad to keep up the acquaintance, The Double Detective went back to West Thirteenth street and, after puzzling for awhile over his case, fell asleep and put in the rest of the night in good style. | On the following morning he was at the office at the usual time, but Azro Harker had done better than usual, and was abead of him, The senior detective was just removing the morning mail from a basket into which the postman dropped whatever was for them, foo u slit in the door, and as he did so, a key dropped out, It had acard attached, and had come through the mail, Azro looked startled, and burriedly detached the key and putitin hispocket, Then hestudied the address for awhile, but, getting no satisfac- tion out of it, threw it in the waste-backet, The key was the one which had played such an important part in the events of the previous night, but its recovery did not seem to givehim pleasure, On the contrary, besat for a long while in a brown study, and his face bore a loomy expression, Will Archer pretended to be unconscious of all this, but he was-duly observant. More than this, he knew it was Dave Doyle, of NovaScotia, who had mailed the key back toitsowner. Such had been the plan decided upon. That morning Azro gave the mail only casual attention, He was too worried and nervous to get down to business, and he soon informed his taal that the day was his own, and left the of- ce, His associate did not fail to act almost as promptly. He went to Old King Coal’s and roceeded to transform himself into Billy Blue lazes, Then he sought Mrs, Rawlins’s pres- ence, * ‘Top o’ the mornin’ to ye, mum,” he said, at once assuming the dialect and happy-go-lucky air of the Dodger of the Docks. ‘Hope | see ye in yer usual muscular health.” ‘‘! am well, thank you,” she returned, ‘¢ Wot be you sighin’ fer, ef I may ask?” ‘‘'My mind is ill at ease.” . ‘¢ That mind o’ yourn will get ye into a p’ison fix, yet; it will, sure’s youlive. Ef I hadit I'd apply a porous plaster to it, ev’ry night,” ** Don’t make light of my troubles,” ‘Harlem fleas! I wouldn’t do it, nohow. I pin't built right fer a cold-blooded seoffer; m es are too crooked, an’ my ncse too straigh Ef you was as considerate fer others as I be, half o’ the sin an’ sorrer o’ New York would be yanked right up by the roots, an’ left ter wilt in the sun like the pestiferous weedg they be.” ‘ ,, Ta We was oe A \ Bn - JS Y com _ ET peas a ae Hi NAMis ston zi Cae ~~ comicbooks ee prethas ate hl Req teey Lig? .