Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 915 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Flip Flasher, Ferret. ———————————_ —<—_ ---——— ~ : re “T will talk with you,” he replied. ‘“‘ Sit Flip accepted it. He was wily, and did ~ down!” not show undue zeal, but when hehad asked ‘*Tadn’t I better lock the door?” good many more questions he accepted with “ Why?’ grave decision. ‘“* How long has that sign, ‘ Boy wanted,’ ‘You will begin at once,” then added 9 Oates. ‘‘ Here is something to do as a starter. Carry this letter to its destination when [ have finished it. Take this half-dol- lar as pay for your papers and pitch them in- to the waste-basket.”’ Oates turned to his writing and moved his pen rapidly for a few minutes. The letter completed, he sealed it in an envelope and gave it to his new employee. ‘“‘Carry it at once, and then return to me. I may not have many errands, to-day, but I want vou on the premises.”’ Flip did the errand, which was to deliver the note to a store, and then returned. He found two foreigners in the office—Bohe- mians, he thought—and \Oates, who soon proved to have command of various lan. guages, was telling them of the fine homes to be had in Valley Rest, Arizona. Flip had not come there impressed in favor of Mr. Oates, and being anxious to find flaws in him, he soon arrived at a decision as to the Land Company. ‘*Black Beard is tryin’ ter skin them,” was his unspoken verdict. ‘‘ Wants them ter put up a little cash an’ go inter the scheme, does he? Wal, so do all crooks That's w’ot the Land Co. been up ‘Possibly fifteen minutes.” ~ **Tnside an hour we shall all of East Broadway and most o’ the side-streets here fer the posish. We shall hev ter lock them out or we shall not hev any peace.” ‘‘T think we are safe,” replied the man, smiling. ‘‘ Sit down.” Flip obeyed, but he did not allow modesty to keep him silent. Addison Oates?” he bluntly *« 4 “6. } ‘* Be asked, a OB. ‘‘ Doin’ a land biz, be you?” ** Yes.” ** Does it pay?” ‘*T can’t complain,” ‘Need a boy, do ye?” “Yes.” . ** Wal, then fireaway. You want a live boy, an’ that’s the sortofachickenI be. Ef I’m dead I don’t know it. See?” Flip was as free-and-easy and confident as ever, He had sat down, elevated his feet, and was taking life easy with a vengeance. It did not occur to him that he might be ruining. his chances for a position, but, singularly enough, Mr. Addison Oates did not resent the forward manner of his visitor, There was something almost like approval in his own aspect, ‘* What is your name?” he inquired. ‘* Flip Flasher,” ‘That's an odd name.”’ I’m a subjict of the you ™ — wt Tw i want that same, is.” Several times during this conversation Oates had glanced at Flip as if not wholly satisfied to have him present, and he had no sooner disposed of his would-be colonists than he touched a bell, A colored man came from a door at the rear of the officer. ‘* Boy,” spoke Oates, ‘‘you will go with this man and see your new quarters. Remain with him after that—when I want you I will ring for you. Understand?” “Sure,” Flip answered. He was somewhat surprised that an office boy should be sent up-stairs, but he was not disposed to remonstrate. He followed the colored man and tried to draw him into con- versation as they went, but the man was not talkative, and confined his replies to monosyllables. The new office-boy was conducted to a room where two women sat sewing. They were dressed neatly but plainly, and hada wholesome look, on the whole, but Flip was not sure he was going to like them. One was gray-haired, while the other could not have been over twenty-five years of age. ‘The colored man nodded brusquely. “This is the boy,” he announced. ‘* Yes, ladies,” agreed Flip, ‘‘I am the boy. Inevershould pass fer a centenarian.”’ He smiled as he said it, but his good hu- mor did not seem catching. The older wo- man told him to sit down, and he did so, Then there was a pause which was not pleas- ant to him, He wanted life and excitement, not to sit in idleness with two women. He meditated, and then put on his broadest smile, | ‘* Be you colonizers, too?” he inquired. ‘‘Whom do you address?” stiffly asked the elder woman. | } ‘Tdunno. W’ot is yer name?’ ‘« What is that to you?” ** Nothin’; only I want ter be chummy. I’ve been legally adopted by Brother Oates, an’ I want ter do my part with the happy | family. Let’s be sociable. make up?” 5 — — “It’s Russian. czar.” ‘* Do you live near here?” ‘““ Yes, ef 1 find a box that nobody else ain't got inter ahead of me.” ‘* Luck goes hard with you, does it?” ‘* Not at all. Sometimes I don’t get enough ter éat, but that’s all. They won’t let me inter the Newsboy’s Home because my feet are too big.” ‘* Well, can and faithful?” ‘‘] kin, fer cash.” Mr. Oates leaned back in his chair with a business air. ‘“Trun a Land Investment and Coloniza- ‘tion Company,” he explained, ‘‘ and I get settlers and speculators here in New York. Sometimes I start a hundred of them off ina day to settle on the boundless plains and in tae rich valleys of Arizona.” Flip was not well informed on the Western ‘Territories, but what he had heard of Arizo- - na had led him to look upon that place as a medley of barren mountains and- sandy - deserts. He did not care for that now, and | he cheerfully interjected: “ Good fer you, boss!” _- * Back of me are a full dozen of wealthy philanthropists who seek to do poor and worthy, but in aE office I have only one associate,a Mr. Charles Martin. He Now, I need a boy to run “ee you be honest, industrious “eee . , — ’ . ¥ " z a? i, ~ a f - . . ee eT we = = il ean : © od to the is my collector. —* €Trands, too,” age: te SE! 4 live boy?” r Teo cs Yan “wo. “Tam the cadaverous fat man you need, | dL never did take ter sellin’ papes, though I . hev been in the bez ever sence | was six months old, Now, I would like ter retire, Wot is the cash inter this, boss?” | ‘ How about ten dollars a week?’ |, Flip studied the matter for some time, and then seriously replied: a. . “IWdoret ef you'll give me five per cent. aN ye _ Toyalty. - Peeksy Neal has got a brother yg sa who da ath ater-play an’ he getsthat.” 3 Amiable Mr. Oates smiled again and pro- _& ~~ ceeded to explain that his business differed ol; ple greatly from bee of a theater, and that the eh. 4 Percent. int meeve to be barred, but the 5, OF erjof Aene Ollats a week was opgp to Fili } &, »! . Do we shake an’ CHAPTER YV. 7 THE RANCHMAN, Furr felt that his urhanity ought to be met with warmth, but it was not. Friendly as he was, his companions did not rush to wel- come him. On the contrary, he hardly re- ceived any reply, and, when further efforts met with the same poor luck, he relapsed in- tOMilanog gh a LRM et / s, :, Oo ALA v ad * ‘ J ; Pp 7 * bd as , : é ¥ 7 ; 4 ‘ . * — ° . cae | ” 4 ries ‘ ev , «) - Lveartr ‘ ’ . t- ; ¥ ; 7 “~' y,' 4 ~ a as it ae Ll. We, — -» a " » : ll it e 4 4 At ‘ } bh 4 ¢ we a3! a6 Sls 4 % ‘ a a4 7 ais + righ. rit * ‘ee | sant d iv. me.) . © egy 4 to4 : ’ ae 4 py 4 * . i ke + ha wh Ode Psy te a * Ge A+ 4 “ss er, a 4 ee ‘ The few remarks made by his new asso- ciates in the next few minutes gave him their names, however. The old woman was Susan, the younger one was Violet, and | the negro rejoiced in the handle of Tim ary Flynn—a name very unusual for a colored man, Perhaps half an hour had passed when there was a knock at the door. This did not seem to be a singular matter, but Flip was at once impressed with the manner of his companions. ‘ Everything was suspended,and they looked A at each other in a queer way. “olf ‘ Scared!” thought the quick-witted Flip. ae Susan turned her gaze suddenly upon ey Flip. : ‘‘It's our minister,” she announced, rapid- : Jy. ‘*Boy, go inter the next room yonder. ‘‘T’'d kinder like ter meet the minister—” 4 ‘* Go!” 3 : “ Yeam” Flip started, but he was not soon enough. | They had delayed about opening the door, and the man who was there evidently had become impatient. The door opened with- out more ceremony, and somebody walked in, ° The street-boy, keen of observation, quick- ly arrived at a decision. | ‘* He ain't no New Yorker!” SY It was plain in the dress and the sun- ae burn seen on the stranger, but the latter al- oe lowed but little time for idle survey. He moved quiekly to the middle of the room = © and there came to a halt. He seemed to look for something not visible—then he demanded quickly: ‘* What have you done with her?” | Violet was not confused by the abrupt question, for she coolly but sharply re- FH torted: “aa ‘‘ What have you lost—a growler?” he: The intruder appeared mystified. | ‘‘A growler—what is that? But it don’t “y matter. Where is my girl?” — ‘*On the Island, Ireckon!” returned Violet, = With easy assurance. anal ‘* What island?” : ‘*Oh! say, come out of the backwoods and get a move on you! If you are as ane green as you claim, do go and eat hay for “<q aw hile.” Mueeaty ‘* Abuse will not turn me away!” an- rily declared the man. ‘‘ You know me; f 1 7% Dave Starling. I am lookin’ fer my x Nell.” : ' ne: ‘We don’t care a rap what you're look- a ing for, You can’t come around here with = any more of your guff. We've seen you | once before, and we know your way. Now, you get—” | | Susan had been looking uneasily at Flip, 4. and she now went close to Violet’s side and ; whispered to her. Violet turned angrily upon Filip. te ‘*Say, didn’t you get your orders?” she - cried. a ‘* Not fyet, mum,” serenely replied the eae boy. ‘‘] am on the anxious seat fer or- tal ders.” | > ‘‘ Don’t you worry about that. Get inte a that room, and go quick.” —l ** Alb right, mum.” | Mea: > ~ Flip had never been meeker, and heturn- © | ed to obey without delay. He passed into Be the room directed, and, at a motion from =~ | Violet, the negro closed the door. a ‘‘Sorter got the bunco!” murmured the © boy. ‘‘W’otdolcare? I brought myears. = along with me, an’ by gum!1 kin use them. I sorter wint ter git onter their curves A Pisa is eatin’ that sole-leatherskin gent, any- ow?” as. Anxious to learn something on this point the boy applied his ear to the keyhole, amd a F —"s found he could. still hear without trouble. — — “ A? Dave Starling was doing the talking. RAMA i ‘*T want you to explain this,” he asserted. ‘‘There is nothing to explajn,” answered Violet. oo Wey Garret eee. - i>. ha) ad ¥ > 7 « i. ; “ ry z . weg ae ; +" . ca ~ tI] . - ~ 4s) 4 i? | ' . Mat > s ; wes , al : VW v \ r ) - } 7 7 od s a | " a @ | . | | 1%