Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 915 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

—— . : bh.) ov _e Pe) ‘ - p * ne bef = “ 7 ’ - oe bad 7 See ‘ . « —* <a Ave ’ ot a 6h -~ he with the notion that I’m ter be le f ane Flip Flasher, Ferret. _- I «¢ Where is Nell?” ‘* We don’t know.” ‘‘-You told me she was up at Tarrytown.” “Then why don’t you go there?” ‘‘T have, but I cannot find her.” ‘That does not concern us. Weare not her keepers. If she has flown the coop it isn’t our funeral.” ‘*Durn et all!” cried Starling, with sud- | den change of manner,*‘‘I don’t trust you folks any too much. I believe you are play- in’ me false. The trip to Tarrytown was a bogus job, I reckon, an’ I’m nore the wiser. I want ter find my gal.” ‘Go and do it, then!” ‘Now, you see here!” cried the visitor, almost shouting. ‘‘I don’t want no more impudence out o' you. No, an’ I won't hev it! You lured my gal away from the ranch in Nebraska, an’ now you hide her when I come, so.that I1—” Prove that we have hidden ‘‘Wal, as ter that, I dunno as I kin prove Ota?” “Then pull in your tongue!” snapped Violet, with true East Side flippancy, There was a lul!, but it seemed that the tempest was only gathering afresh. When Starling next spoke his manner was much quieter, but it was full of subdued in- tensity. ‘‘T’ve heerd a good deal about the thugs, o’ New York, an’ it seems l’ve run up ag’inst a gang o’ them, Don’t you get away around by the nose jest because my experience has been on a western ranch—not by a durned sight! I may not be acity sharp, but I am aman, an’ capable of fightin’ any two-legged critter in your outfit. D'ye see?” | Flip chuckled. ‘* Mister,” he muttered, under his breath, *‘T don’t know who you be, but you sorter fill my notion of a man. I wish I could sing out an’ make ye hold ter yer cable.” he resolute stand of the ranchman led Violet to adopt a less aggressive mannex, and as they lowered their voices enough to make it hard for Flip to overhear what they were saying, he bethought himself of his own errand, ‘‘ Wonder where that box is?” Flip had no proof that any box had come into the building, but he was tenacious of his opinions, and one of them was that Ad- dison Gates had the box stolen from Main- ford. If it was not not in the building it was elsewhere, but he inclined to the belief that it was right there. ‘‘T never shall git a better chance} ter look, an’ I1}1 hustle while I kin.” The premises occupied by Oates and his allies had about the same arrangement asa flat, and Flip prcceeded to reconnoiter with- out being under anybody's eyes. ‘“‘T don’t think the box is in the office ner the room where Davey is arguin’ Nebraska ellerquence, so et must be here. Git a move on an’ show yerself.” He hastened forward and looked his sharp- est, but not a sign did he discover of the box in the first room, He kept on deter Seer like a hunting-dog on the trail; Much to his chagrin he saw only furniture, and not’ very much of that, At last he brought up at the rear of the building. ‘* Done up, by gum!” he admitted. ‘ Ef it’s in here the blamed thing is well hid. 1 don’t think it isin here, but I don’t weaken fer a cent on my theory that Ad Oates has it somewhere. I wonder where?” Twisting his face humorously Flip was _ about to give further notice to his conundrum when he heard unexpected sounds from the front, rooms. ‘“‘ Crickey! what is that?” he cried. ‘ They have started a circus, et seems, an’ I reckon Davey is the clown. Back, old man, or there will be a snag fer you,” » ee Running to the door next to the room where he had left his companions he opened it a little and saw a lively struggle going on. The colored man and Dave Starling had grap- pled, and Violet and Susan were doing their best to help Tim. All, in fact, were strik- ing Dave, and pulling and hauling at him in a way which bade fair soon to rend his clothes to pieces, if he escaped a like fate. There was no joke about this, and no rough-and-tumble quarrel of the ordinary kind, Flip read his associates well, and he knew Starling really was in danger. ‘‘Crickey! I kin jest about fit in there!” muttered the boy. ‘*Here goes. Let the back streets be heard from!” A few light leaps took him to the vicinity of the struggling mass; then his hands were added to the bunch that pulledand clawed so venomously. He was not at first noticed. “Kill him!” panted Violet, whose breata seemed to grow short. “That's the figger!” ‘“‘Bu’st his snoot! Hammer Brooze his eyebrows!” There was a twinkle in the speaker's eyes as he spoke these sanguinary words, He had decided on his own plan of action, and it was to pretend to be in full sympathy with the gang, even while helping Dave all he could. Elaborate as the scheme was it lacked a good deal of being simple, for the rapid movements of the party baffled clear action, and about all Flip was sure of was that he was getting a share of the blows, Thump, thump, thump, thump! fell fists on his head and body. ‘It’s the prettiest scrap out!” cried Flip, gayly. exclaimed Flip. Kim silly! CHAPTER VI. FLIP KEEPS ON TOP. Ir the East Broadway boy had been a tender plant he would soon have tired of the role he had assumed, for he was getting hit by all parties by accident; but he did not care for this—street life had toughened him until he cared little for blows. Ignoring his own hurts, he persisted in seeking to ward off the blows aimed at Star- ling, but doing it with great cunning. Starling was not making the fight to be expected of one of his athletic build, and Flip suspected that he had been injured by a well-directed blow. He was resisting feebly, and his aid began to be worried about him. Even if he had been able to give his help boldly, it would have looked like a los- ing nent for Dave, © he negro soon showed that he was a thorough desperado, Flip saw his band go into his pocket, and then come out clasping a knife. Heswung the blade up over Star- ling, and the boy knew he must stop that stroke in some way. . Flip’s wits did not fail him. He suddenly staggered against the negro so heavily that Tim lost his feet and tumbled over. Flip promptly fell with him, and both sprawled on the fleor. The negro was not especially agile, and before he could rise Flip had bounded up ie a rubber ball. Nothing could keep him own. | | ; Starling had sunk into a chair, and his dull eyes and generally demoralized air were uoticeable. His wily friend felt that he must make a diversion’ to save both Dave and himself. He squared himsel? off before Dave and spoke with a show of excitement. ‘Stay right where you be, old man! Don’t ye try ter git ont o’ that chair or I will hammer you fer keeps. You miserable old chump, w’ot do ye mean by comin’ inter this private mansion an’ kicking up x row, Jest you set still or I'll thump ye. See?” Flip swung his arms like a pugilist, and really looked decidedly fierce. Dave was EEE eee eee eee aa EOE et LL —EEE = all his own way. The boy stole a look at the gang, and saw that they did not seem to suspect his double dealing. Tim rose slowly and in a careful manner, as if not sure that his arms and legs were sound, He picked up his knife, but did not make any move to use it again. ‘“T’ve got him!” added Flip. ‘‘ Come an’ finish the job. Wait! did I hear somebody at the door?” He inclined his head, and all listened for a moment, Then the boy spoke in a whisper, ‘Hold on a bit an’ they will pass by, I reckon.” He had not heard anybody at the door, but he was playing his part well to give Dave time. If the ranchman once regained his strength and mental ability, there was, he thought, no danger of violence being done. ‘“My head is most broke!’ lamented Susan, suddenly. ‘To somethin’ ferit!” urged. Flip. ‘‘ Don’t neglect it, mum. Get a wet cloth an’ have it bandaged, quick!” ‘‘Bother the hurt!” snapped Violet; ‘‘ we want todo this gent first!” and she nodded toward Dave. “'T’row him out o’ the winder!” suggested Flip. Starling abruptly raised his head. ‘You will come ter grief if you try it!” he declared. ‘Oh! don’t you git sassy!” warned Flip. ‘Gimme the knife, Tim, an’ let’s settle this. Keep still, you wild Western wonder!—no monkey biz here, by gum! Be we ter do him up?” Tim looked at Violet, but she shook her head decidedly. ‘No violence, men! We were forced into this fight, and the knife was drawn under severe temptation, We are law-abiding citi- zens—” ‘Right you be!” echoed Flip, ‘“‘ No law- lessness ain’t our size, but we hev ter de fend our lives from Western toughs. See?” He winked slyly to Violet, and conducted himself with a swagger which went far to- ward giving him standing with his wig 45S ers. In fact, the boy’s assumption of wick- edness when he was all the while so anxious to aid Dave had been capita] acting, and the whole pretense a great success. Starling suddenly rose. ‘‘Ef ycu want more o’ me you kin get it!” he sturdily declared. ‘‘ Et is fer you ter out?” He moved toward the doer. do you take us for? Do you think you are a man big enough to interest us? All we want is for you to keep where you belong.” ** You want ter blu | ight : “Bother your girl! We know nothing of er-——”’ ‘ ‘‘] say you have herin your power, some- where,” ‘** Rubbish!” “You lured her away, and you broke up my home, Now, jest return her an’ I won’t make no fight. 1 won't go ter the police; ft here no more. Only give me my gal! it, an’ I’}l bless you, W my Nell?” The fighting spirit had died out of the ranchman’s mind, and be nearly broke down wholly. . His voice trembled pitifully, and tears stood in his eyes. | His nature was simple, and like that of a child compared with that of the world-wise Violet. Flip saw that the young woman was quick to take advantage of the mood, all at sea. We haven't got your don’t know anything about her, was a myth,” : ** She went off with you—”. 7 Wiens» JS. Ny oe! > a art | A | | ree > 5 co Met 1. a ~ / ' v | oe ~_— not in condition to object, and Flip had it take yer pick. Do you object ter my goin’ “Object!” cried Violet, with scorn. ‘‘ What | me out o’ findin’ my . Il go right back West an’ never be er O ‘7 on’t you give me ‘‘My good man,” she answered, ‘‘ you are i we «> )\ Tarrytown e| x t _ : . ook a i 4. : = . ‘ * me! < A a4 > y ~ 7 + : é > “ 4 _ a * _ | = & fa 4a | | ; | | 2 ° gy = | = = ‘ ae . _—— ~ ——— A Pe Fe Vie ~~ ~ . ~~ . e ~ 2 “+ ; . 7 ‘ ‘ om ey ee oe Re ee a ee = da a 7 ' adr. . oi: ei es 2 ———~-4* > Oe ee ag | . aA £ oo « f2