Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 915 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

: 4 5 pe oh _ centric, sight of a man he knew. ey) aY d 7 oe a ; . ry ata é wes + r yy aan ing _, tt was not difficult to follow them success « ’ a > um o ad - | YJ . ‘ pe Ade: “? Py hae : AT , . ¢ > , A, -* ie . cette ieee nee *- All over.” * Are yon goin’ ter send this kid out on the street, alone?” ‘Then you will do a mighty rash thing—” “Oh, bother! Come, boy!” Oates turned toward the office, and Flip foRowed. At the door he turned to say, meekly, to Mr. Martin: ‘* Boss, please don't be too rough on a poor orfin whose parents is dead. In the end you will tind [ am a chicken without a pin- feather on me. Wait an’ see.” Martin glowered darkly, but as he said nothing the argument was not continued, Flip went with Oates to the office and re- ceived the letters. ‘* All are duly addressed,” explained he of the black- whiskers, ‘‘ and you have only to go and deliver them. When it is done, if you want a short time off to play with your miates, take it. Return here witbout too much delay, though.” ‘“* Thankee, sir.” humbly answered Flip. ‘* Another thing—don'‘t mind Moon Martin. He’s cranky at times,” Flip pulled his lip down ‘until his face looked long and woe-begone, wiped his eyes and replied: ‘“‘ He burt my feelin’s, Martin did.” “Don’t mind him. Now, be off and do the errands.”’ Flip went. His tender feelings were not so seriously ‘‘hurt’’ but that he recovered when on the street. He chuckled and wink. ed at vacancy as if highly amused. ** Say, but I’ve had more fun than a goat!” he declared, ‘‘ Yes, an’ ef I ain't lost my grip on the cable the cars are runnin’ right on, ter land this outfit o’ sharks inter Sing Sing. Go ahead, Flip, my boy: I'll back ye up every time!” : Examination of the letters showed that ney were addressed to men with names that smacked strongly of Polish and Russian nationality, and Flip did not doubt that they were som. of Oates’s victims. It appeared to be to the boy's interests to deliver them in due form, and he was hastening along with this object in view when he suddenly noticed a familiar flgure just ahead, ‘* Hullo, there’s Shoestrings, sure as I[ live! He's nedd.in’ them everlastin’ laces as glib as ever. I wonder—”’ Flip paused, looked around with an air little less than wid, and then swooped down upon Shoestrings in a way whiclr startled his more easy-going friend. Shoestrings, un- conscious of his proximity, was suddenly seized in Flip’s tenacious hold, and then the latter thrust the letters into Shoestrings’s hands, ‘‘Say, take them an’ deliver them where they’re directed ter. See? Don’t miss doin’ it. So-long!” With this Flip rushed rapidly off, leaving amazed Shoestrings gazing at him in blank wonder. eee ‘7 guess he’s gone crazy!" muttered Shoe- strings. eee CHAPTER VIII. A CRY BOR. BELP. _. Fri had not gone crazy; there was abund ant method in his course, even if it was ec- His excitement was caused by | This man had dawned upon his vision suddenly, and stirred the street boy into new desires. The man was Moon Martin, and he was poestes along the street with 4 compan- ion bound on some business to Flip un- known. thought the pursuer, ‘* He is somebody, an’ why ain’t the chance good that he is that same Dick? Ul! sce where they go ” * a - heb he ae . 9 vas Bret} PR Wala © 4 > ; i f Ps t- ‘et ‘ere fan 4he Wid iv, 7? . af . “i - y * at why . JP (4, Ls % u ’ whee Me Ger at _ ‘*} wonder ef the other man is the Dick that Moon was so anxious should see me?” ‘* No. ‘* Moon Martin was one.”’ ‘Dunno him,” replied Gus, shaking his opening. This time he was more successful pied « “é af 4 hy oS” ° . * eee es Flip Flasher Ferret. er a ee fully, and their straightforward course made Flip’s task easy. Several blocks were traversed, and then they paused briefly in frontof a big, rambling old building. it was no strange’ place to the watcher. He had beeo there himself in the past. He knew the structure had been put up as a tenement-house, but that parts of it had been given up to business and human beings were mixed in together with- out much regard for system. Moon and his companion entered. ‘ W'ot be they in there fer?” muttered Flip. ‘I'd like ter know, an’ by crickey! I will, “Here goes!” Close to where they bad entered was a small room used as an office. Luto this place ne hurried. A dull-looking man {sat smoking a black pipe. ‘* Hullo, Gus!” cried Flip ‘Hullo, boy. Vas dot you?” ‘No, et’s my brother. But, Gus, did you see them men go in, jest now ?” They did not appear to fear pursuit, see here, V'’at men?” head. i** Don’t he live here?” * Dunno.” ‘* Say, ain’t you the janitor?” «Yes, I vas dot, but I don’t know more than half der beobles who live here an’ vork here. ‘How can I, ven dey are a t’ousand or more?” Flip knew the building, and he was not at all surprised. ‘‘Say, Gus, I want ter hunt an’ see where them gents flopped down.”’ ‘* Go along an’ do it, den. free ter all.’’ Gus was wholly phlegmatic, and as Flip knew his last words were true he waited for no more. Hurrying out to the street he re-. entered by the same door Moon Martin had: used. Before him was a stairway, and he bounded nimbly up the steps. Once on the next floor he saw a long hall with doors opening off at intervals, but there was no sign of Moon. short, uncertain what to do, This floor or the next?” he inquired, half aloud, ‘‘They are mostly offices here, an’ livin’ rooms on whe next, Was they after a business call, or a social onc?” There was no way of settling the question off-hand, so he followed the dictates of his judgment. He went up another flight of stairs, He was now in another hall, and sounds cume from various points, It was where people lived, though dirt and other things told how little such quarters were to be desired. ‘*Beat out!’ muttered Flip, in disgust. Der house vas Me stopped i ip ; > . 5 4 "i ener CCC Cte : ‘‘The long and short of it is you can’t go | away!” angrily declared an unseen man. ‘‘T will gol” The retort was in a feminine tone, and Flip, every ready to appreciate pluck, mur- mured ‘' Brave fer her ‘‘ How will you do it?” sneered the man. ‘*T just simply will not stay here.” ‘The door is locked.” ‘‘] command you to open it!” ‘‘T think I see myself doin’ it ‘*] will call for help.” ‘‘Do you think it would do any good?’ ‘There are other people in this build. ing.” “Call to them an’ see ef they will worry about you.” ‘‘Do you mean they are all villains like you?” ‘‘T mean that they are’ people who mind their own business.” ‘And Iam a prisoner among such vile creatures?” | ‘Ef you think you ain't, try ter git out.” **Scoundreli” ‘Ha, ha! I like your way—keep it up!” Flip grimaced in disgust. ‘‘ Wal, now, that’s a pretty gang. Got a woman prisoner, an’ now they sneer at her and cut up like pirates. Wonder ef I wont fit in here somehow? I’d like a hand in the can -party.” Thus far the unknown woman had been defiant, but her firm voice wavered as she spoke again. : ' ‘IT do not know why you persist in mis- using me“thus. What harm did lever do you? Open the door and let me go away, and I will return immediately to Nebraska.” ‘*Eh?—what?” muttered Flip. ‘‘ Want ter go home, do you?” laughed the man, ‘‘A good many kids get that feelin’. Reg’ lar case o’ home-sickness, ain’t it?” “You know very. well what it is, sir. Where is my father? Hag he fallen a victim to the vile plot by which you lured us here? Where is David Starling?” ‘‘T thought so,” murmured Flip. ‘‘ That voice is Moon Martin’s, an’ he’s got Dave's gal here. Say, Flip, old man, you want ter git a move on immediate. Hey, but I'll jest about bag this gang before the sun sets. Don't hurry, Old Sol!’ He glanced at the orb of day, which was nearing the horizon. From below came the voice of Moon Mar- tin, ‘You may as well stop this whimperin’. Et none o’ your business where Davey is, an’ I won't tell. Tcome in because I heard you had been cuttin’ uv rusty. Now, this must stop. Wedon't want no muss, an’ we won't hey none. Ef you are decent we will use you wal, but lam here ter say that ef you ag ? ‘‘T can’t run inter them rooms, an’ 1 guess | don’t act mild, we'll make you wish you had. my web is spun. Moon may be here, but ef he is, he’s as safe asa fly in the coffee.” The speaker run his hands down into his | pockets and added dismally: ‘* Hang it!” His gaze wandered and he noticed that the scuttle which led to the roof was open. He did not know any good reason why this fact should interest him, but, ag he did not sce anything else to do, he moved that way mechanically. | He mounted the ladder and stood on top of the building. At various points there were other scuttles, and these, he readily understood, must lead to the several private; rooms below. He went close to one, which was open, and lis- tened, but nothing was to be heard. If anybody was below there was no Voice to tell of it. | . He moved alonga few feet to a second —voices rose to him plainly He listened, though without expectation of results inter- esting to him, : ’ { } : ’ » - ed “) 7 NN tet Pet fed + A at aN “ 4 © ? ; A - FY aa] \ “Ny f i, ‘ « Bw - oe See?” ** 1 see, ef she don’t!” muttered Flip. He had been lying down with his head pes to the scuttle, but he now leaped to his eet, ‘Moon is in an ugly mood, an’ he’s dan- gerous!” added the spy. ‘I hep I don’t want ter lose no time in gettin’ help fer the gal. It will end my game with Addison Oates, but et must be done, Hullo!” He had reached the point where he had come up, and had gone with the intention of descending, but he stopped right there. The scuttle had been closed. ‘ | He reached down and tried to lift it. ‘*Fastened, by gum!” — | Flip did not give up at once, and he pulled with all his strength, but in vain. He could not lift the door. ‘‘I shall hev ter go down through some: body else’s rooms,” was his decision. ‘| don’t like ter, ferit— What's that?” A seream sounded from where he Moon and the captive. | | “Help, help!” was the cry, 9) » Pen in ae 8 4 P mee 4 . wm \ ‘ va y . ee J oFy i , 5 ha gt a4 ’ * ‘ e » = . ¥ ¥ : os ri + ee en ee , > _ st ee se - bad left vi A oh 2 at i Fe ty ae pi if li - P . aS ifs 4 Ps > 7 She ' ~s 7 | —_—_—_—_—_————— ——_ a ee — :