Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 907 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 Reddy Rusher, the Bell-boy Detective. iat hie Ree Nae Aen oe eek creas ie eo a Sone e eee ee een ——————— triumph. He leveled an unwavering hand at the coach door and fixed a firm glance on the blue-coats. ‘‘Officers, there is your prey!” he an- nounced, with dignity. ‘‘ Ef you let them ‘escape you will lose the biggest rascals in New York. Watch both sides; don’t let them get clear.” The window-curtain of the cab was sud- denly raised. The face of Israel Robbins appeared. He looked; he saw where they were; his expression became alarmed, ‘Drive on!” he sharply commanded. ‘* Help, help!” It was a small, shrill voice from the coach, and it simplified matters a good deal. Briggs had been looking wholly un- certain what to do, and not sure that Reddy was acting wisely; but the whole case was altered by the cry. ‘‘Help, help!’ repeated the small voice. ‘‘Save me; save me!” Hugo stiuggled into view. ‘‘ Destruction!” cried Mayo Montgomery, from the coach. ‘‘ Silence the kid or the jig is up!” The policemen had been doubtful and skeptical, but they were so no longer. They pressed closer to the coach and one of them held up a warning hand to the inmates. ‘‘ No row here,” he cautioned. ‘‘ You are our prisoners, and resistance will only make a bad case worse. Yield!” fsrael Robbins dropped back in the coach, his face paling with cowardly fear. Mayo was a Villain, but he was no craven. “ What’s this?” he blustered. ‘‘ What do you mean by stopping gentlemen when t ey—” ‘Help, help!” repeated Hugo, feverishly. ‘‘'These men are stealing me, Help!’ ‘* Done up!’ With this brief comment Mayo gave up the game. Ue turned to the further side of the coach and leaped out. He hoped to find a clear road onthat side. He did not find it; Reddy had been awake to all possibilities. He was there, and ke leaped cat-like upon the back of the crook. There he hung like & young giant. ‘‘Come in out o’ the wet!” be cried. Mayo struggled furiously, but the driver hastened to Reddy’s aid and the crook was helpless. One of the policemen gave his as- sistance, too, and the last hope of the law- brenker fled. - Not yet did anybody but the Rusher know what was the meaning of the trouble, but the others knew enough to act wisely and rapidly. Both Mayo and Israel were taken into custody. Hugo was lifted to the sidewalk, we ‘I of you,” directed one of the officers, ‘¢ will now go to the station and explain—” ‘‘ Hugo, Hugo!” | The former speaker was interrupted by an earnest cry, and as Reddy turned he saw the small boy clasped in Mrs. Prentice’s arms. _ Near her was Hearty Jack. ‘*Hil’ cried the Rusher, ‘‘have you got in under the umbrella, old man?” ‘‘T have resolved to tell the truth,” an- swered Jack, ‘‘ though it send me to the cell of a prison.” For a time speech was too rapid and ex- cited to be coherent, but Briggs suggested that all go tothe hotel, andthey went. Mayo and Israel were helpless in the hands of their captors. Mrs, Prentice embraced Hugo again and again. | | “‘ What is the meaning of all this?” de- manded Briggs. roe ‘That man,” quickly replied Jack, point- ing to Israel, ‘‘ has been the cause of it all. - Leame to this country, my old home, as the uardian for the time of Hugo Westingly. sracl met me, and forced me to give the boy up. He frightened me into it. Two . years ago I committed a crime here when full of the devil’s drink, whisky, I killed, or badly injured one Morgan Petts. I / i ‘ thought it had blown over, and I ventured to come here, risky though it was,” He paused, glanced at the officers and added:, ‘‘] am confessing all, and you can do with me as you will. I expect Sing Sing. When Israel threatened me with prison, knowing all as he did, he scared me. Jt was dread of prison that has made me act as I did. Iam not a villain at heart.” ‘‘ But, why has Israel done his part?” in- quired Briggs. | ‘That is easily explained. Hugo’s father was a miner, and he left his sona quantity of gold-dust, the value of which was fixed at ten thousand dollars. Nobody here knew of this gold, but I brought it safely, intend- ing to hand it over to Hugo here. It was this gold that made Israel sell his soul—it is this gold that has made all the trouble.” “Did Isruel buy it of you, as he said?” ‘‘No, no; never! Hestoleit from me, but it was stolen from him—” Israel lifted his head for a moment, ‘‘Stolen by Chowder Johnny—ma curse light on the traitor. I learnec very hour that he it was who took it.” ‘* Where is the gold now?” ‘Nobody knows.” : ‘Stop yer cable-car!’’ coolly directed. Reddy. ‘‘ Ef I don't produce that dust in five minutes I am a 4-11-44 liar!” With this he fled up the stairs. All wait- ed for him, and Mrs. Prentice continued to caress her nephew, but Reddy did not ex- ceed his limit. He returned, bearing the famous bag of gold! m this ‘‘Here is the jim-hickey!”” he announced, | ‘‘ I’ve sorter been keepin’ of it, but my cus- tody is done, Hugo, old chappy, here is yer | yeller sand. Idon’t want it; all I want is ter be a great detective.” ‘By Jove! I guess you have done it! exclaimed one of the policemen, admiration in every tone, ‘If I catch onto this, you are a corker!” * Oh! I didn’t do much,” modestly re- turned Reddy. ‘‘It was easy fer a profes- sional like me. Now, gents and ladies, le’s we all go inter Pop Rush’s dinin’-room an’ have a fed on quail on toast, I'll pay the bill fer all but them measly crooks.” | ‘‘Let nobody think of eating or drinking until yonder scoundrels are lodged in prison!” urged Mrs, Prentice. Israel suddenly roused to life and pointed to Mayo Montgomery. ‘‘He was at the bottom of it all!” cried the Ulster county man. ‘‘ He planned it all. Yes, an’ he urged me on to-do it, so he could get a share,” Mayo fixed a look of contempt on his ally in evil-doing. ‘* Coward!” was his sole comment. ‘*T guess all is clear now,” cheerfully com- mented the Rusher. ‘‘ Israc] learned that a bag of gold had been brought here by Jack. He told Mayo, an’ Mayo tempted him, an’ he fell. They bulldozed Jack, and he didn’t dare kick; but Chowder Johnny stole the gold on the sly, an’ a general hunt has been on ferit. All is lovely now, and Hugo has ten thousand in cold gold. Hearty Jack, ef you are ter be done up fer assaultin’ that forgan Petts, I am sorry.” ‘He need not fear,” quickly replied a policeman, ‘‘ Petts recovered from_ his wound, and is now in Sing Sing, on a long sentence. There’ is nobody to molest Jack, here, and as he seems to deserve well, I reckon all of us may as well keep mum.” ‘¢We will!” declared Reddy. Jack; he’s a good one! Hugo looks kindly at him, too, Call the hunt off, with damage ter nubody but Mayo, Israel and Chowder Johnny. I guess they are likely ter git hurted some.” ed _ Reddy proved to be a good prophet. Is- rael, Mayo and Chowder Jobnny were put on trial, and all received due sentences to | +e) oe ra - sf - - . ot Wf Se : 5 % abe : . hes - ss ~ of - + . ® , ar 4 * ' ie r os, ¢ ha | va a2 * La “T ike |, | prison. Robbins was a coward when om trial, but his crayen ways saved him in no degree. He was given a long term. The three men are companions in Sing Sing. Hearty Jack was forgiven by everybody, and went to sea agains happy man at his good luck and escape from the clutches of the city buzzards. Mrs. Prentice and Hugo, now re-united to stay so, were duly grateful to Reddy the Rusher, but-the Bell-boy was cool and phil- osophical in the midst of his renown, as be- ' came a true Vidocq. ‘‘Oh! it wasn’t so very much ter do,” he asserted. ‘' You see, Iam a detective, an’ it comes natural ter me ter gobble sech crooks, They belong in Sing Sing, an’ I give them a ticket home, Ef you need any more help, jest call on Reddy Rusher—that’s me!” THE END. Next Haur-DIMe LIBRARY, No. 908. New York Nat’s Double; THE UNKNOWN THREE ' BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. A- other center-shot story, in which the Boy Police strike the trail of a very dangero’s “ gallows. bird’’—a very genius of dea ler/e, the terror of de- tectives and secret service exp rts: and while un. covering the subtly covered trail there suddenly _ appears on the fi 1d of operations Nat's Very Counte part —to baffle and confuse and mystify the situation. ' What comes o2t of the complica ions is a story the brilliant author has told in a way thar none wil forget. Don’t miss it! Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY J0 PIERCE, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery 3 or, The Prince of Mulberry Street, 415 Thée Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young the Butcher Boy Detective. ait Tartar ‘Tim; or, Wrestling Kex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. Jack, the Office Boy Detective, 559 Harlem ck, the Office Boy Dete Li BSS Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. ur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Rawyerte Shadow; or Luke’s Legaty. — 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young erryman Detective. 504 beat Points Phil, the Pavement Prince. e r | eG Ta onase 7 Five Pointe Phil’s Menagerie, 26 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 88 ae Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. — 651 Nick ttle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery, 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, aOR ide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer, 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. : 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a S}ippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, y Jim, the Only One of His Kind, 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detectives T1iZ Mosquito Jack, the Hustler G min. 726 Dennis Duff the Brown Sport’s Kid. eae at the wepeisty, tye Sete atch. . r nn, the Street Patrol. Tz Foxy Fr ed’ Odd Pardy or; The Keener’s Huge Hustls. TR1 Cast-Olf Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. 824 itowery Billy, the Bunco Bouncer, 887 The Big Four of the Bowery. 846 Buck, the New York Sharper. aee noe ea en Aram es ex roadwa . S60 The Boat-Club Mascots or, Dan Decker’s Double Den! 864 The Union Square Baggage Boy. 878% The Street Arab’s Blind. 886 The Five Points Lodging House Janitor. 890 Ace High, the ‘Trum Card Detective. 895 Fitth Avenue Steed, the Valet Detective. S99 Basement Bert, the Boy Cobbler Detective. 908 Billy Blue- Blazes, the Dodger of the Docks. | LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 905 Dandy Nugget, the Bow Shadow; or, Captain Maseot, the Nabob King. By T. C. Harbaugh. ‘ . 906 Ratety Sam, the Cyele Sport; or, High Hustling at Silver ex5- ity. By J.C. Cowdrick. ; 907 Reddy anamers hi a a Lt 4-11-44; or, Chowder oe 0 ’ 00 . vy Jo Pierce. res ; sonny & Doubles or, The Unknown Three. By 908 wey York Nat’s the Pirate ‘Catcher. By T. J. ‘ol. P, Ingr ham. 909 Midshipman Dare, .» at Tip-T ,Gol@Guns, the By Eaward Sa al ak jit 8 diene | Flanagan. 910 Deadwoed Dick, Builet-proof »port. A New leane Every Tuesday. . The Half-Dime Library is for sale by ail newsdealers, five sents Pag or sent by metres receipt of six cents each. “— BEADLE SARA SN Tn, . 4 .<* - Fo Sieve “Pie - 7 € - Pat ‘ & Ax, ~ ee ; + ” . ~ es ‘ *) 3 “4 ‘ >| tsa Aor , a fa 7 : a ie 4 Se ba ag TR wy ‘ v@ ‘a ; oe. Pe 3 - qi ty ay ae ry, ‘4¥ o, \' pawn! *, AG Ree Z A ‘ De aw ‘\ Phe ey | ry * ; i% a ine he m4 @ . ‘ P | ‘ | - a 3 | -