Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 932 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

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He read: “Dear Sir—By a new law all plumbing in houses has to be thoroughly ov-rjooked and condition reported, so pleuse allow bearer full freedom to go over the house and oblige, Yours., etc., “DA CUNAH, “Agent,” Nat was going out, but he had some time to spare, soshe at once said: “1 vill you show over t’e house pretty quick.” * Not too quick, for de job’s has got to be done first-class, or de city’ll fine de agent—see?”’ “IT vas see. ‘*Come along mit me.” “How about dat dorg, for he look real vicious.”’ ‘“He vas a pad dorg, put he dont bite you v’en I vas near.” “Den cling closer den a brother, for dem’s lion’s teeth he’s got—dey haiu’t Christian—see?’’ “TI vas see. “Guard, don’t you vas bite t’e gentle mans,’ and Nat put his hand on the man’s shoulder and shook his finger at Guard, who seemed to comprehend the situation. Down to the cellar they went, next to the kitchen, and the plumbing was looked over carefully, and then up to the first floor, where the pantry was overhauled. Up to the bathrooms on the second and third floors, and the basins throughout the house were carefully looked at. Twice Nat left the plumber at his work and went up-stairs in the house, Guard, however, keeping him company, and re- ceiving a few choice morsels of food for doing so, which the man had brought with him for some reason. When he went up on the fourth floor, ‘the plumber started to go into the middle door, between the rear and front rooms, but Nat quickly stopped him with the re- mark: “That door vas locked, but dere vas no See fixin’s in dere, don’t you now ? The plumber made no reply, but went to the front room, then the rear room, and closely examined the basins, when he Jotted down on a silp of paper his report. “De house is all right from cellar to top floor, so I'll tell de agent,” he said, with his Bowery manner and slang. “TI vas glad, mine frient. “ Here vas a kervater of a tollar for you to get a lunch,” and Nat handed him the quarter, “You is a gent, if you is Dutch—see?” said the plumber, and with this doubtful compliment he patted Guard on the head and started down-stairs. Nat followed closely, and the dog was wiose at his heels. Reaching the door, New York Nat and the plumber left the house together, for the young Ferret was in a hurry to keep an important engagement down-town, but they went in different directions upon Teaching the street, the man remarking: “ Good-by, profess. I strikes for a beer shop for a mug and a.san’wich.” “That fellow is a rascal, for not ence could IT catch his eye; but, fortunately there was nothing for him to pick up. “He seems to understand his business well, though, and I suppose that is why he holds his position, for men in his line are generally good, honest fellows,’ and 80 saying Nat, in his disguise of the pro- fessor, went on his way. And so did the plumber, until he had turned the nearest corner. There he halted and watched the reced- -. Gng form of the Ferret. New York Nat’s Drop. At last New York Nat disappeared in the distanee, and the plumber said: ‘*Good! He has gone for a couple of hours at. least, so I'll return while that savage dog remembers me. “ T’ll have a look over the house and see just what there is of value there before I send the police to raid the place. “Aha! New York Nat, clever as you are, and sharp as are your eyes, you did not penetrate either the disguise of the Dago fruit seller or the. plumber.” CHAPTER YVII. IN THE FERRETS’ DEN. When New York Nat had disappeared from the sight of the shadower, the latter came around the corner and walked slow- ly toward the Ferrets’ retreat. “It was a clever thing for me to do, when he went up-stairs, to spring the catch on the night-lateches of each door, so I could get in, for these keys I have might not have let me in. “TI was terribly afraid he might notice them, but he didn’t. ‘And I was scared when I handed him the card from the agent, fearing he might refuse, but he didn’t. “I played it well on the agent, too, going there as an officer of the city to tell him about the new law. “I’m right clever, I am, but I studied Secret Service work under the very clever New York Nat himself. ‘Now to enter the den, and if I. get into trouble I am able to defend myself.” With this he ascended the steps, his plumber’s tools in his hand, wrapped in a piece of canvas, and trying the first door, found it unlocked. Trying the second door after he had closed the outer one behind him, he found that the catch on that also remained uns sprung as he had left it. But he started as he heard some one descending the stairs rapidly. “Vil tell them I left one of m tools. “ But I didn’t know there was any one in the house,” he said. The next moment the one he had dread- ed came in sight. It was Guard. The man stood an instant, ror, half in boldness. Would the dog attack him? Guard came rapidly down the carpeted stairway, but without a growl or bark. He seemed to recognize at a glance the one who had fed him, and whom his mas- ter had admitted to the house. “ Ho, Guard, old dog!” said the shad- ower, and he drew a revolver from his pocket in case of an attack. Guard did recognize him, and. faithful guardian that he was, he could not be blamed for greeting the intruder as his master’s friend, for had he not been shown over the house—had he not been working there? and more, he had fed him. The traitor Ferret gave a sigh of relief when he saw that Guard ‘was friendly, and was glad that he had reserved an- other bit of food for him. Guard ate it without thanks, and the intruder, still a trifle suspicious of the dog, began to examine the lock on the door, then entering the rear of the building, he went through the pantry and began the rounds just as he had done before, for he wished to appear at least to be doing what was right. Guard stuck closer than a brother to him, and seemed interested in his pretend- ed work. Up to the second floor they went, the dog with a look upon his face which plainly reac that he “hoped it was. all “ight.” Up-stairs again the shadower went, bis half in ter- : { ' ’ ae ct ay fp si x ; : . a 2 id %& <b hn | 4 ae aa AP € t At iw? ~ inti 5 Nee eee eye on Guard, who had a look too.dan- ‘gerous to take any Chances with. ‘ He’s got teeth like a tiger, and weighs over a hundred. “It wouldn’t be a fair scrap between us,’’ muttered the traitor Ferret. “ I’m anxious to see what is in that room New York Nat said was locked, and V’ll lay some plan to get the dog into a trap by closing the door on him. “I was a fool not to have brought a lit- tle poison with me, for I’ve got a little more grub, and could lay the dog out if I only had the kill-quick to put on it.” With this he went through the same performance on the third floor he had on the others, pretending to examine the basins and bathroom. He found the house furnished through- out, and yet saw that none of the lower floors had been oceupied for a long time, apparently. On the third floor was a billiard room, and this had been transferred into the lodge room of the Ferret clan. Nat had told him it was a musie room when he fad before examined the marble basin there. AS the shadower now ascended to the fourth floor, Guard close at his heels. a slunce upward showed him that the door of the mysterious locked room was open, All that he could see from the stairs was that it opened into a large linen room or Closet, for presses and drawers were Visible. Reaching the landing, the shadower halted suddenly, and his face turned pale. Again he dropped his hand upon his re- volver, for he distinctly heard a human voice. The house held another occupant, after all, than New York Nat and his dog, And that occupant was in the room that had been locked. (ruard heard the yoice, which, following a yawn, muttered something, and he raz hastily into the room, ° ve “Now is my chance!” cried the shad- ower, and he was about to spring forward and close the door, locking the dog in, - when suddenly he checked himself. The thought flashed through his mind that whoever was there would hear the closing of the door and come out, Guard with him, and as the dog would doubtless obey the one he knew best, he would haye a hard time of it between the two. So he did not elose the door, but stood in silent watchfulness. Then came the rattle of chains, an oath, and a step upon the floor, with an angry growl from the dog, followed by the words: Durn yer! I hain’t goin’ ter escape, SO quit yer growlin’, yer infernal brute.” A strange look Swept over the face of the traitor shadower at these words, and he at once boldly. walked into the closet which led to the room beyond. CHAPTER VIIT. TWO OF A KaND. The savage dog stood in the doorway leading to the inner room, and he seemed to have become cross-eyed trying to keep his eyes upon two persons at the same time, The shadower at once halted and he- san to examine the lock of the outer door. With this Guard seemed half-reassured, and when the intruder held out to him another tempting morsel, the last he had, he seemed to consider that: it was all right. ; “Is, that you, New York Nat?’ called out a voice from within the room. ** No,”’ ; “Who is yer?” : “A friend.”. Cikee Lae ee ° «x . 4 4 ‘ he » _—-* | are eee Se Be el Ye. a> “$ yh ¢ PAP. y . a 8, « ; y = a ‘ (ele) =] | : » ° a : ne i ”™ 5. a | y | [ Oe