Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 907 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Talbert = a? ee . « be \ A tN. ee Re - gst” added the follower, with fine scorn. >» § “a long “Mean? Why, that a boy was in this very room and you talked with him a whole hour —that’s what I mean!” ** Who says all that stuff, say?” ““The chambermaid,” ** Say, there will have to be a new likker law passed next meeting o’ the Assembly, Ef chambermaids have got ter swillin’ lik- ker- so they ler things that ain’t so, it’s time ter call a halt on the demon, drink. It is, by gum! There wa’n’t no boy here: I ain’t seen no boy; there ain’t been nobody with me; that’s a dead-sure fact, Mister Clerk.” Briggs could say no more. He did not want to call the lodger hard naincs, or anger him, lest he should see fit to call in the police. Silenced, but not convinced, he let the matter rest, for the present, Israe] suddenly reached for his hat. *‘T’m goin’ out,” he announced. ‘It seems likely ter me that the thief will spend some 0’ that money right near here. He was prob’ly hard up, an’ he will want ter make a raise, quick. I will go an’ see ef I kin trace or trap him.” He continued preparations, but Briggs did not wait forhim. The clerk went out with a dissatisfiell expression. ‘*T don’t understand this,” he muttered. ** Eunice isn’t the person to make mistakes, commonly, and I don't believe she has, now. Has this Ulster county greenhorn lied to me? Af he has, maybe he lied about the loss of money, too. By Jupiter! if I catch him lying a theft onto this hotel wheu there ain’t no cause for it, I will just break him all to pieces! [ll smash him!” This was strong language, but Mr. Briggs Telt it was justifiable. hen he reached the office he found Eunice and Reddy still there. He explained the situation, and Eunice, too, waxed indignant, “He calls me un liar, does he? Now, he can’t do that; I will just face him and—” ‘“Gently, Eunice! Don't. get excited. Nobody doubts your ‘veracity. May it not be that you were mistaken—”’ - “Not much! ‘I say the boy was there, and I will swear to it.” “That Uncle Sam isa gallus chap,” put in Reddy. ‘‘T doubt him, myself. Now, he 18 going, out to investigate on his own hook, he says; he'll soon be down here,” “Say, Briggsy!” exclaimed Reddy, “‘ there is something in this. He has got somethin in his head, he has. You just hold yer hosses an’ let me go out, too, I'll just shadow old Ulster, an’ mebbe get a point or two on this blind game.” 7 ‘* It’s late, Reddy.” | : «« Yes, an’ you had better set down in the office an’ take a nap, Briggsy. Late hours is bad fer the human carkiss. Hi! 1 hear old Ulster’s number fourteens on the stairs. long!” » ; With this Reddy slipped out*of the door. **Queer lad!” commented Briggs. ‘‘ He will make or break, one of these days,” ‘No wonder people have mutilated his surname of Rush, and call him Reddy, the Rusher,” added Eunice. Unconscious of these comments, the boy had gone well beyond the outer door and waited for hig man. When Robbins came out Reddy had to smile, for the lodger wore coat, which made his tall form look even taller, and on his head was a rusty silk hat with a new mourning band around it, while in his hand was a big cane. This was his ustial attire, but he labored under the impression” that he was dressed as well as any of the rich men of New York; out of date in every respect though he was. He started off down the Bowery. “Now, to shadow old long-legs! mur- mured Reddy, Two blocks were passed. , ‘Say, he is out ter find his lost money; he = . en ba So-. Reddy Rusher, the Bell-boy Detective. ] ‘‘Goes as if he was invited to a weddin’ an’ | buttons—but no real detective would be so had got late. nothin’. That is the way ter find lost money. Oh, yes?” Mr. Robbins certainly did not have the air of a thief-seeker, and Reddy was sharp enough to see it. He did more—he followed where the man from Ulster county went, and did it with skill and a manner of inno- cent abstraction which would have served him well if anybody had taken more than a casual look at him. . He was not long kept in idle pursuit, for, suddenly, Robbins paused in his walk and almost literally pounced upon another man, The latter had been walking along in bliss- ful ignorance of Israel's proximity. He was 1 comparatively young man, and a full- fledged sport, if appearances went for any- thing. He had animmaculate suit of light colored clothes, wore a hat as tall as Israél’s, but fully in style, and had a buttonhole bouquet of vivid hue. Onthe Bowery he no doubt passed as a blood of first class, though Fifth avenue would not have put such a verdict upon him, He fitted the Bowery; he would not have fitted Fifth avenue, Israel held him fast, and Reddy noticed that the older man immediately began to talk like a race-horse, “They know each other!” decided the bell boy amateur. ‘‘ Well, it is a gallus ac- quaintance fer my man from Grasstown.” The sport stood still and listened. ‘‘Robby pounced on him in an excited way, an’ l’ll be shot ef he ain’t got Mr. Sport worked up, too. They both look as ef they was scared about something. That’s queer, with two such moral gents!” Reddy’s mind ran actively, and his curi- osity kept pace with it. When the men turned briskly, with the evident intention of going somewhere on important business, 4.11-44 was not slow to follow again. The course was along a side street. “Ai! but ain’t Ulster a good judge o’ men an’ things! He has picked out jest tke gent who can help him git his cash back—I don’t think!” : Whatever Robbins’s object was, he seemed to be well satisfied with his company, for he and the sport went on for two blocks before pausing. Then they entered a side door next to a saloon and disappeared. , Reddy now did a rash thing. If he had been prudent he would have risked less and seen less. entered the same door, himself. He thought it good detective strategy, but it was simply a big risk. He found himself in total darkness. ‘* Don’t like this!’ he admitted, ‘but ef they kin travel here, 1 kin. Up I go!” Steps above directed him a little, and he mounted the stairs. By the time he reached the top all was still, and he yet had the darkness to combat. Which way was he to 0? He was studying this point when he heard voices very distinctly. “ Trot out the kid!” ordered somebody. ‘‘ Here he comes,”’ ‘Weill, here he is, do with him?” ‘‘T want to go home!” came in a mourn ful tone, which was plainly that of a small boy—one smaller than Reddy, it seemed. ‘* Don’t whimper!” . “But 1am afraid of you, and I want—” ‘Stop his mouth!” The order was impatient, rather than angry, and it was not likely that it was car- Now, what are we to ried out severely, but the small voice ceased to be heard. Reddy nodded his head wisely. : ‘Them crooks have gota kid in limbo!” he soliloquized, wrathfully. ‘‘I’m a good mind ter goin an’ walk all over their collar- Don’t never look at nobody or ; sudden. He took chances in his usual | reckless way, and, giving them a little time, I'll go slow.” ‘‘ Well, what’s to be done?” demanded an- other person, who, plainly, was the sport. ‘*Come aside and we will talk it over,” an- swered Robbins. ) There was a sound of fect moving on the floor, and Reddy heard nomore. He wrink- led his brow in a scowl, ‘Hang your caution! But I'll git hock with you!” he commented. Ten minutes passed, and then there was a new sound. The men had returned to their former position, ‘*Come, boy!” directed the sport. ‘‘ Where?” was the response. “ With us.” ‘*T don’t want to. go. So there, now!” “Dry up! Come!” . There was another sound, now; that of a struggle; but it was soon over. Reddy heard the panting breathing of some one he judged was the other boy, and his wrath grew even greater, ‘*Them snakes are using their muscles ter do the kid dirt!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ So they will abduct him? Wal, maybe, an’ then, again, maybe somethin’ else! They will come out; this hall isdark, an’—” The Rusher doubled wp his fist, and the sentence was left unfinished. He had, how- ever, arrived ata decision, which was reck- less even for him, The door opened, He had sight of Rob- bins and the sport, and in the grasp of the latter he saw the unknown boy, a pleasing youth in appearance, and not over seven years old. ‘Hurry!’ urged Israel. “Go along, and we will soon have it over,” asserted the sport. | ‘*Let me go!” panted the captive. ‘*Hush your racket, or 1 will squeeze yourneck for you.” ! The door closed and the party started away. Where they were going Reddy did not know, but he was there, now, with a purpose. They had not seen him, but he had studied his situation well, and he now leaped’ at them like a young wlld-cat, He was bound to help the strange boy, and his efforts were directed to that end. He smashed into the sport with force which nearly knocked him off of his feet, and this wholly loosened his hold on the cap- tive. ‘* Skip!” cried the rescuer. Nobody could say what might have been the result if there had been a light. All was dark, and this is what happened. There was a general collision, and Reddy was knocked down. He fell on er of ‘somebody else; another person fell on him, and the Rusher could not tell which pair of arms belonged to him, nor which to the others, so tightly were all-mixed up. : He found the location of his fists in a short time, however, and he shot them out: in zealous blows upon whatever he could find, “Skip!” he again ordered. The mass of flesh around him wriggled in a business way, and as he realized that his companions would soon be on their feet, he made an effort, himself, and rose, All this while there had been disorder around him, No, I don’t, an’ 1 won't ad but, now, the voice of the sport rose to some — purpose: ‘* Block the stairs; don’t let anybody pass!” | . ‘ CHAPTER ITI. . ADVENTURES THICKEN. Reppy did not know where the other, boy was, but he knew it was time to look out for Number One. He made a forward dive to- ward the.stairs, as he thought, and found clear way. He raced along unopposed, but did not find the stairs. : ‘““Crickey! I’ve gone wrong!” was his thought; — ; ” eo” ro a a a P « -aS ea ee Pi i : ; Wey 4 o oo r eh “a . 8 7. = ‘ar dni }, i a - 1 aa q¢ -= ae* i. 4 ¥ 5% Ter) 6.57 ~ a | > aa } —_ = = Y SS . " ( ’ | | 1 & a i | A tee = | ._m * : . —_- ome - eg ‘ » a, % . | 1 - p Ve w 4) | os oa i 4 oo Lae * ro we ~% Le s m; : 4 AeA, Oe ee =. books.com