Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 932 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 “Yer lies, fer I hain’t got no friend in ther gang.”’ “I am not in ther gang.” ‘Yer lies ag’in.”’ “Why do yer say so?” “"Cause that dog would chew flesh off yer bones.”’ “I have made friends with Guard.” “Go slow, for I thought I had onc't, but it were no go, and he’d eat me now at a word.” “I do not think he would hurt me.” “Try him on then.”’ “I wish to help you, for I am your friend.” * Don't take me fer no fool.” “1 do not.” “You is one o’ ther gang, kiddin’ me.” “Tl am not.” * Rats!” “I am here to help you escape.” Srany.’’ “Who are you?” “A prisoner.” “That much I guessed.” “Any fool c’u’d guess that after what I told yer.” * What is yer name?” “Tm Rip.” “What? Are you the kid we called Rip, who joined the band three years ago the night Foxey did?’ “Tm thet same gerloot, or maybe I'd better say durned fool.” * But you are out with the band now?” * No, they is out with me,” ‘““What did you do?” ‘‘Seethere, talk is cheap, 80 if you has anything to say of importance, jist spiel, orshut up if yer hain’t.” ou are a hard nut, Rip.” “Wal, it takes a hard hammer to crack me, “But who are you, fer you makes me weary ?”’ “Did you ever hear of Sykes?’ ‘Lordy! Ther fellow thet turned trai- tor and was fired off ter China?’ as Yes.” “Oh, yes. I’ve heerd of him.’ “Well, I am Sykes.” “Yer kin outlie a tramp!” *““T tell you the truth.” “How did you git here?’ “T came with New York Nat, first.” “Has yer repented, been baptized and been took back inter ther sheepfold, or more likely, ther wolfden?” “No, I’m here in disguise.” “Seein’ is believin’.”’ “You don’t think the dog will attack me if 1 come into that room, for he looks at me very uncertain-like?” ““He’s like New York Nat. Yer don’t know when he’s goin’ ter bite.” “But how'd yer git friends with him?” ‘““T came in as a plumber, to look over the house, and the dog saw me at work and made friends, for I had some choice ehunks of beef in my clothes. *T went out with Nat, but came back, and the dog didn’t attack me; but he looks a little savage now.” “Play ther beef act on him ag’in.” “‘T ean’t, for it’s all gone.” “Play a bold hand then, and walk right in. “Tf he goes fer yer he'll tackle yer throat, so you jist be prepared, and marbe we kin down him together, though I is chained to my bed. “But I'll do ther best I kin, though I a ec — - yer New York Nat s chibi “Tll have my bie 1 hammer saat but if he jumps fer me try and draw his at- tention some way, and I guess we kin down him.” “If we don’t we'll be chewed bad, you bet. * But sail in!’ All this time Guard had been compla- cently eyeing first one and then the other of the two traitor Ferrets, He lay just within the second door, in the room where the prisoner was. The door opened outward, and ten feet beyond it, across the closet, was the outer door leading into the hall. It was at this door that the shadower pretended to be working upon the lock. Having decided to act, he gathered up his tools, taking the large and sharp- pointed hammer in one hand, his revolver in the other, and placing the canvas bun- dle under his arm ready to drop in an in- stant. Then he turned toward the inner door and called out “I'm coming.” ** All righty.” * Are you ready?” ‘You bet.” “T’ve got my chain looped ter hit him with and break his back.” “And I’ve got my hammer ready and revolver.” “Don’t shoot me fer ther dog!’ called out Rip quickly, and just then the shad- ower moved forward to attempt the res- cue of just such a person as he was him- self, for the traitor Ferrets were certainly two of a kind. CHAPTER IX. THE DPRAITOR’S PLOT. Guard did not spring upon the intruder into the prison room. The fact was the faithful dog was in a quandary. He did not know just what to do. He remembered, doubtless, that when Rip first became a prisoner, having known him as a friend and a member of the band, he had been tempted to eat, and thus had fallen from grace, when he had been placed by his master to watch over the young traitor. But for the coming of the Girl Queen Rip would have escaped, and upon the coming of New York Nat the dog had re- ceived a beating that showed him how grievous had been his sin. He had since then been most careful to let Rip know he could not again lead him into temptation. But here was a case that seemed differ- ent. Guard knew all the band, and seemed well aware that no one else was allowed to enter the building. Yet New York Nat had let the shadower in, had*‘shown him over the house, had introduced him as it were to him, Guard, and when the man had returned he did not know that he should have flown at his throat as a traitor. Guard was a well educated, a discern- ing and faithful dog, but he was not quite up to the sinful working of the human mind. So it was that, contrary to the expecta- tions of both Rip and Sykes, he lay per- fectly quiet when the latter entered the prison room. “You bet.” ‘Glad to see you.” * Ditto.” ‘* Now we'll work our racket.’ ‘Of course we will.’’ “Ther dorg is as quiet as a mouse.” ‘Yes, he knows a friend when he sees one.” ‘“Hadn’t we better slaughter him?’ “NO. ‘“He may jump us.” ‘*It will be time enough then to act!” ‘Now what’s ther game.” “You are a prisoner.’ “It looks like it, don’t it?’ “What did you do?” “Played your game.” “You were going to sell the band out?” **T were.” “* Well?’ “It didn’t work.” ‘é Why 9? “New York Nat is too durned sharp, fer he seen through me as he did through you.”’ “And kept you here to ship you?” “Or ter put me ter sleep.” “The band has Kept their secret well.’” “You bet.” “And grown rich?” ‘They is millionaires.” ‘Where do they keep their plunder?” “They bank it.” ‘* How?” “Well, they work through a gent who stands atween them and ther chief, and ther latter banks all ther rewards to their credit.” “TI see; but what made them leave the old Haunted House?” “Got under suspicion, rented this dive. “It were a house murders had been done in, and had a bad name; but he don’t mind a little thing like that.”’ ‘No, he is utterly devoid.of fear “ But the Girl Queen still holds on, does she?’ “Do you know who she is yet?” “We don’t.” “Have you never’ seen her face?” “We never has.” so Cap'n Nat “But Nat must keep some plunder here ?"” “He does.” “* Much?’ “He's got money hid away some- where in the house, and some booty taken from crooks.” “Do you know where it is?” “ T kinder suspects.” “Well, you wish to get out of this, don’t you?” ae Ae. “T can help you.” “ Done.” “And you ean help me?” “T’m. with yer.” ‘You remember I left the band under # cloud.” ; “Tm under ther same shadder.”’ “Yes, but I could not betray the band. as I was known to have committed mur- der.”’ “Tm not fergitful.”’ ‘““ Now I’ve come back, and I have a few hundreds, but want more, and we can get it by betraying the band. “The Chief would pay big money to know who the Unknown Ferrets are, and there are old rewards out for some mem- bers of the band, as you know.” ee em ee ~.- we es wn — le — a 7 (ert ™ (a «guesses he’ll sample us both, but it's There lay Rip upon the iron cot, fo “ Yes.” OF * worth a leetle blood-lettin’ ter git away, | which he was made fast by a long chain us Now, my idea is to work it both J and that’s my game—what’ s yours?” attached to the manacles upon his ankles. | ways.’ pha “First to set you free.” His evil face was all expectancy as he “As how?” t * wish “You can’t git to work any to quick | glanced at the visitor, amd he said, after | ‘“ Betray the band to the Chief, get the | i oe ter please me.” a quick look: rewards, and, after your escape, make So ie _ ——— *AN right. I’ve been pretending to work | “ You are Sykes.” — New York Nat pay to buy us off, but ole et ss on the lock of this door; but I'll pick up| ‘‘ And you are Rip.” squeal on him all the same.” 4 ae Bo lerae a wale #00 walk right in. } “Put it than’), oy at wa in ae ae EE ‘ : ov ase ten ie a <f hg . « 4 4 ; f “ '* var’ 7 : , hit a “ - - I A . “3 . “ : ra iw. > *] a a : 4 FS te “4 ’ att ‘| hi — ' . y - " ta & tire - % = : bial st at vcd. : ’ wt , ‘ 7 = = a" . ati! —s E-walg ial # teed Cl bl, od ugg SAAS C ours