Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 915 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

—— 2 the rear of the house with such secretive. ness surely had no good intention, and in the city of New York there were men who would hesitate at nothing He scemed satisfied when he saw that the house was dark and silent, and then he turn- ed and motioned to the point whence he had come. Another man emerged from the alley and joined him, ‘“ All quiet!” whispered the first prowler, I see nothin’ ter prevent our goin’ right in as we have planned.” * Then do it without delay. on!’ They went still closer to the house with its sleeping inmates. Why? What evil act was intended? At about the same moment two boys met al the corner of East Broadway and Canal street. “‘ Hello,Shoestrings!” exclaimed one, ‘‘ how goes it? Biz rushin’ an’ ev’rybody civil, or has somebody trod on yer uppers so you want me ter go an’ lick them dizzy?” ‘* Nothin’ wrong, Flip,” was the answer. ‘* No scraps?” ‘* Not one.” “‘Urickey!’ was the wondering reply; ‘“‘how do you manage to exist? Why, sence I seen you I hev licked a grocer’s boy an’ an Eyetalian decayed banana-vender, sut, you don’t git no fun out o’ life, Shoe- gtrings— not an artom!” ‘*T git some money,” was the answer, ‘* Peddlin’ shoestrings! Hum’!” He who had been called Flip looked with some disdain at the big bunch of shoe-laces which hung from hiscompanion’sarm. The explanation of this was simple. The second boy was a worker in life, while de WAS & drone, More than that, he rather liked to bea drone, though the fling at his friend was humorous, not really ill-natured or scornful. There were times when his er- ratic fancy prompted him to boast a good deal of ‘‘ Shoestringss” industry. The two were nearing the point when they were to be of the size of men, but this point was yet some years away, and they were considerably short of their majority in years, Shoestrings was the smaller of the pair— a slender sharp-faced youth, while his friend was stouter built, The real names of the pair were William Flash and Edward Green, but, somebody’s fancy had caused these baptismal appella- tions to be, hidden under the nicknames of Flip Flasher and Shoestrings. As such nearly everybody knew them, and they did not object in the least. ) In reply to Flip’s last fling Shoestrings jingled the coins in his pocket. | ** Nickels count!” he tersely remarked. “So do school-boys,” ‘*You an’ me ain't given that way.” ** Right ye be, old man! Wal, w’ot is the word?—do we spin along the pave fer awhile, or go home?” | ‘‘T want ter go home.” ** So you shall, old man; so you shall. I'll escort ye ter your palatial home an’ see you safe inside the door.” « lip’s humorous fancy led him to try to wind his arm around his companion’s waist, but Shoestrings did not sce any joke in that; Zhe desired dignity, instead. He freed himself, and then the friends walked on in Atta fashion, but talking freely as boys At the entrance to paused. on ‘*Go on!” directed Flip, match; | want ter light a cig.” ‘* Shoot yer cigs!’ snapped Shoestrings. ‘*T shoot he ‘very day—right inter m - mouth,” grinned Flip, who, much to his companion’s disgust, persisted in aeonee when he felt like it This had occhsione many arguments between them, Sloestrings was not inclined toargue now, $4 ret a move an alley Shoestrings “T. want a Ls 4 . af. er ‘ ’ F rm nt - Rh, a . ——EE—=== es Flip Flasher Ferret. so he entered the alley with Flip at his | | heels, ‘*] reckon I'll go inter business life,” pur- sued Flip. ‘*‘ It must be nice ter git home at midnight an’ then go ter bed an’ dream o’ gettin’ rich s» fast. hand-organ an’ go out—” ‘* Guess I’ll buy me a stick an’ lick youin-. ter— Hello! what’s that?” Shoestrings’s gaze had soared upward and he stopped short. Flip looked the same way. ‘* Crickey!” he cried, ‘‘ it’s a fire!’ It was a fire! They had reached the rear yard, and a row of houses presented their grim backs tothem. Nothing bad been seen out of the way from the front, but the rear rooms were lighted ina way which conveyed meaning to the street boys at once. ‘* Ts that your ranch?” demanded Flip. ‘* No, it’s Peter Mainford’s.” Guess I'll buy me a! | | ‘Wal, Peter’s house is on fire, an’ ef he | don’t git a hustle on he will be burned up | like a sick cat.” ‘Wake them up!” | Shoestrings rushed forward to the back door. There was very little prospect of its being unlocked, but heinstinctively tried it. It yielded to his touch; it swung back. ‘‘ Ginger! that’s a queer way ter leave a door at this hour.” ** See the smoke!” It was not hard toseeit, The stuff rushed out to meet them ina blinding, irritating cloud. Beyond them was a stairway, and all along its course was the same cloud, red- dened in most places by the fire from above. ‘*Go fer the nearest fire-’larm box!” order- ed Flip. ‘« There ain’t a sound inside; they must be asleep. Ef we leavethem they may be burn- ed ter death. Rush inan’ wake them up. Jump to it—go right through the smoke!”’ They were about to dare the fire-fiend, when, suddenly a tall figure appeared on the stairs above. With long bounds a man came rushing down. He came out of the smoke like a stage-demon, looking uncanny enough, for he not only had the smoke to make, a mantle for him, but hits hat was drawn down over his eyes as if to keep the smoke from those useful organs. ‘‘T3 that you, Peter?” demanded Shoe-— strings, . He was almost in the man’s tracks, but he did not remain there long. Whether inten- tionally or not; the stranger leaped right at him, and the result was that the boy was knocked against the wall, from which. he tumbled over on the floor, All this smacked to Flip as very suspi- cious, and he grasped the unknowneman’s arm, “Say, hold up!” he directed. ‘‘ W’ot is ‘allthis racket about? Do you belong here, , serted Flip, ¥ a * ° vif : ‘ *.! a 5 sf —™ + "ise — ", — ae ’ 4; ~ ee ’ ? “Take that!” a | With this exclamation the man gave Flip a poke in the stomach, and Flip fell over just in time to beat Shoestrings down again with his weight. For a moment the boys squirmed around on the floor, but they fin- ay bounced up. Flip had a pain in his stomach, and he was angry. | | ‘‘Say, where is the atrocious pirate that jabbed my supper?” he demanded, hotly. “Let me at him!—let me wipe his nose off the face of the earth!—let me—” e was feeling around in the smoke and seeking to get his hands on his assailant, but finally dawned upon him that he was too ate. | “The darned old skeesicks lamented, . by ‘‘ Flip, that man didn’t belong here!” cried Shoestrings,* iret ©” ‘‘He belonged in an is gone!” he ng Sing, by gum!” as- 4 co A of ” Did you see the other clearly? “ W'ot other?” — ‘ There was two.” i @ ** . 4 % . ’ . * . a & ite. et) + fetr2: > Pilatanee igs ote’ Sa —-_ ————————_— ‘ Was there? Then both swiped me in the supper. I thought the biff was too mus. cular fer one man’s doin’s.”” ‘‘ The second man carried a box—”’ ‘Say, old man, I'll bet a suspender they was thieves!” The surmise shot out abruptly, and it was | followed by another: ‘* Yes, an’ the folks up above are burnin’ ter death. Ter the rescue, old man!” ‘The thieves will git clear.” ‘‘Shoot the thieves nowwe must save the sleepers!” The foree of this reasoning was such that no more was said, Side by side they dashed up the stairs. On the next floor the situation was pretty much the same as below, but Fiip’s quick eyes told him that all hope of saving the house was not gone. He had located the course of the fire, and saw that it was still confined to small space. ‘* Yell like a Bowery Injup an’ wake them up!” directed the older boy, ‘‘1’ll water the blaze.” He leaped forward, turned on the water in the sink and seized a convenient pail. Shoe strings obeyed orders to the letter, and his shrill voice sounded the alarm. ‘* Fire, fire! Where be you, Peter? move on! Fire, fire!” ‘*That’s it!’ encouraged Flip. yer lungs an’ fly! Rip the atmospear! some more!” It was doubtful if Shoestrings heard him, for the latter had not ceased to shout, and the result was soon seen. A man came rush- ing out of another room, his clothing none too abundant, It was an exciting advent for him, for Flip was beginning to pour water on the flames, and steam as well as smoke floated to the man of the house. wipe He began to dance up and down, ‘‘Thieves! Murder! Police!” he cried, wildly. ; ‘Shut yer throttle!” advised Flip, coolly. ‘Git yer engine outer the wet or yer cab will er and. free-and-easy advice was not. clear Git a ‘« Spread Yell enough to carry any information, but wben the manin white seized a chair and bade fair to make a‘hostile raid on his companions Shoestrings grasped. his arm, ‘* Peter, don’t ye know me?” he demanded. ‘“Why, it’s Ned Green.” - ‘‘That’s a bull’s-eye, Peter,” ‘¢ What's all this row about?” : ‘’ Yer house is on fire! Fall to an’ help us put the blaze out.” Toten ‘Yes, gn’ gita hump on like a camel!” added Flip, flinging another pail of water. Shoestrings joined in the work, and Petcr Mainford was practical enough to help without undue delay. ‘The three pro- ceeded to work so lively that the fire was soon subdued. | When it was sure that it was past the dan- ger period Flip stopped short and fixed his gaze upon a point at one side of the room. ‘That settles one thing,” he declared. “What?” inquired thought. . | ae “Do ye see the pile 0 stuff a the wall?” ; 4 ‘What, what? Why, how comé that rub- bish piled up there? . “Did you do it? ; : “No. Why, it must have been done to set. the house 00 fire—” fae “Correct you be, Peter! Th8 here is an incendiary 5P&P, 4n’ you are lucky ter be a citizen of New York instead of an angel.”’ “Incendiary? But, what could anybody find here: to’ work such #,Plot for?” and Mainford glanced around »18 by no means palatial quarters, i «© We see them carryin’ off a box— Mr. Mainford fairly leaped into the ‘“What?” he shouted. “They had a box—” ~ air, ' hr . ag § here is it now?” a , ™ * > oe. a | a | _ _* 13” = ly ‘a . - ad y ae , x ; be z om ll ‘ . , : . y || | \ i d 6 ‘ a ve his Peter, coming out of | hy 7 f ' AZ ene 49 oes My Peter began to run around wildly. gy | s : *hay a, eee, ee =books.com - 4 te ~ ae %