Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 932 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ss FF ~Y oe th * - i. eet. *, 5 te ae ** But as I'll work it on Nat, you'll have to go to the Chief.” - 2, can't.” “Why?” “Tm guilty as you is.” “Of murder?” al “f = ‘Who did you kill?’ ‘A prisoner Nat had here.” “That's bad.’’ | * But we'll have to find some one else as * ee go-between, promise him one-third, and—”’ “And give him ther shake?” “Yes, and he'll be in luck not to get worse,” * Do you know of any one?” “That’s my way of thinking.” ee “Well, we'll rob this place first.” “Oh, yes; git all we kin here, then make. ther Chief pay, New York Nat next, for the band, and then light out with ther spoils.” “That is just it.” CHAPTER X. THE OOILS TIGHTENING. The conversation made known in the preceding chapter, between the two young traitor Ferrets of New York Nat’s band, shows just what yillains they were, and how they were seeking to avenge a sup- posed wrong, because they had not been SF foe ~ sow : > ae at a Fmt ss 3 s % a Ss ~ ae Nee - a ‘ “ee x ae a y <a ys : Perey, Sh 1 ave, Sail #h. Soe 7 2 Bee oe ” &” “a5 er oe oy SA = , < *F allowed to betray the Unknown Crook ! Catchers, and make capital for them- selves out of it. Fortunate it was for New York Nat that he had been too good a character reader, young as he was, to get more of their stripe into his band, Their mutual plot to get money from the Chief of the Secret Service for betraying the Unknown Ferrets, from New York Nat for pretending not to do so, and then to plunder the retreat, be- ing satisfactory to both, the next thing to be done was to plan the escape of Rip. To free him of those irons was no easy task, and when free he must have some. place to go into hiding. So they decided that it could not be done vhat day. “T’ve got a room not far from here, and Nb, I've been dogging the gang for att ge as he bi - a Dago selling fruit. pes”! & “So I'll go “and arrange for your com- ing to my shanty, and fix you up a dis- guise as a Dago also, ” said. Sykes. ** Good!” “This done, l’ll shadow the ‘house un- til I see New York Nat go out at night, and then I can go to my room, change my rig to this one, bring you your disguise, and my Dago rig back with me,’ eel ~ Yess! ——s * I will fetch along all the keys I can to / ~~ unlock’ those irons, and if I can't find Fei, ~~ rone to fit, will bring files to cut them off.” ae “You bet.” _. “That night we'll rob the house, and Re ag arrange to have the Sccret Service men * ‘to pull it, catching Nat, and as you know = all the gang, we can send a note all round Be Ss fora spect. il call the next night, and have B: WOE the Chief’s men in hiding to nab every Bee’ one of them.” an ss “Bat we can, ‘ aP> ia om Aree ww '. = ~*~ a how about ther Queen’ a | e can ‘’t eatch her.’ ae "She must be caug ght, too.”’ rT Yes. Le | bavi: Well, we'll tell ‘be Chief, or our go- _ between will, that if he keeps dark on ees the retreat she'll drop in after a y or two, to find out what is the mat: r, and abet be Beseiice too. . ‘ext ee Ot to mand lig bt ut” ic Mine ia ‘tarry longer, q i rid of our go-be- , baa away to h * ry ‘ . 4 r =f ; +a a we “hi ¥ - a bet y 5 eg “It’s a go.” This having been talked over, Sykes at last concluded that he had better not so he said he would go, but would arrange all beyond the chance of making any mistake, would still shadow the house as a Dago fruit vender, and. watching his chance, would drop in again | When Nat was out, bringing some keys | for Rip to try to unlock his manacles With, and several fies in Case none would do, He would also bring some food for Guard, to make himself solid with that guardian, and have all arranged for a cer- tain night, for Rip’s escape, the robbery of the house, betrayal to the Chief of the Secret Service, and collecting from New York Nat the hush-money mand, Rip gave Sykes the address of a man he was to see, who could arrange fhe price of betrayal with the Chief, and the hush- money with New York Nat, and the re- turned traitor took his Jeaye, Guard es- corting him to the door. Two hours after, the supposed Italian, with his push cart, was again near the Ferrets’ retreat, selling fruit, and shadow- ing New York Nat and his band. “Vl know where the Girl Queen lives,” he muttered, ‘‘for the next time she visits the rétreat I will shadow her to her home.” It was about twilight that the shad- ower saw New York Nat, disguised as the professor, and accompanied by a.young girl, coming along the street. He at once recognized her as the Girl Queen, and, calling out to her, asked if she did not wish some more fruit. “Til get them for Rip, Nat, for he has a hard time of it there alone, and, bad as he is, we do not wish to be unkind,” said Olive. ‘No, indeed; get all you think he would like, sis, and I have a fine dinner here for him,” responded Nat, hoiding up a long dinner basket, and he added, show- ing a bundle: “And Guard’s dinner, too.” All this the shadower heard, and he was profuse in his thanks for the liberal purchase which Olive made of him, speaking in a perfect Italian dialect, but not once raising his eyes to meet those of New York Nat. As they passed on Nat said: “T’ve seen that Dago somewhere be- fore, sis.” “Like Chinese and Indians, they all look strangely alike to me, do Italians, Nat.” “Not to me, but that fellow is a vil- lain, and doubtless was a brigand in his owh country, coming here when throat- cutting for gold did not pay in Italy.” “You are too severe on him, brother.” “It is possible, but not probable, sis, but I have seen him under strange ¢ir- cumstances, I am sure, and his face will come back to me some time. “Why, he would not look me in the face; but here we are.” They ascended the steps. Nat opened the door with his pass key, for Sykes had again sprung the catches, and light- ing the hall gas, they went on up-stairs, Guard at their heels. But Guard could not tell thein what had happened, and they saw no sign of any- thing wrong. Nat set Rip’s dinner out for him) and fed Guard, while Olive, having put on her vail, carried in the fruit she had bought for the young traitor. | But the shadower ? Hardly had ae the house, when as home, severa res cia anae = on potty es vere eis : “ + 7 ; *% >A! $e — they would de- and his alniee entered wheeled his push cart} In a quarter Of. any Putting his cart in a safe place, where 4 he kept his fruit, he went to his room, ~ and in a short while came out in the dis- os guise of an old man. 7A | Then he returned to the Ferrets’ re treat and began to shadow it as before. He had not been there ten minutes be ~ fore New York Nat and the Unknown 4 Ferrets’ Queen came out, and he dogged — them to the little cottage on the Hudson ei where Olive dwelt. Ree ‘* Now I know the Girl Queen and where — ee: she lives. 4 “New York Nat, I have you now, for — $ the trap will soon spring that catches you ‘s foul,” and the shadower shook his | fe clenched fist toward the little cottage, — while in the moonlight his face pom most repulsive in its malignant passion, — CHAPTER XL ioe a THD TELUTALE KNIFE. © New York Nat did not remain very long a at the cottage, seeming to have gone there — just to escort Olive home. ” Coming out, he sauntered quietly along ~~ the ridge, enjoying the beauty of the ‘ night, for the moon was at its full. — As has been stated, that part of the city was most thinly .settled, many of the - streets not having “been cut through, . |. . Along on the ridge ran a new boulevard, and the pavement upon one side had been Bs; finished. : wi Just as Nat was turning his steps to a ward this bouley ar d, being in the. shadow | Le: ie * a ronkt walking lelanraly along the pave: 3 ment toward the city. <3. He caught sight of a cigar lig git berweentne the lips of the man, who strolled leisurely — along, as though also enjoying the ye 2 light. ¢ As he neared a pile of blasted rocks. in the street, New York Nat saw, juskas_> man passed them, a form rise out of their shadow and glide saga along after jhe’ a stroller. .' In his wpraised hand he held a venitey i for the moonlight flashed upon the bright ~5 blade. ’ Instantly Nat gave a ery of warning, and sprang forw ard, but too late to Pred vent the downward blow of the assassin’s © knife. : There was a short struggle between. the two men, one of whom, as he heard Nate running feet, bounded away > with | t speed of a deer, while the other stagger € a few paces and sank to the pave ye For an instant Nat seemed about to f low the Assassin, but a call from the. othe checke him. 9 o ee “Let him go, and help me, please, for i your coming saved my life. “Tam wounded, badly, I fear.” Nat instantly bent over the s who he saw was a man of mid stylishly dressed, and wearing in. ist scarf a diamond of rare size e and benier ve ; Even under the exciting cumstances Nat did not forget that he was the * pe og fessor,” and he said: ed “Dere vas a stables two plocks avay, and I helps you dare pretty quick alread mine frient.” - The stranger was able to walk, with | Nat's aid, and was rising. when doy te dropped the knife, which he had wean from his assailant. Instantly Nat picked it up and thrus into his pocket. the wounded man ot ticing the act in his suffering. > The stable was reached, and ¢ just coming in was taken, and t given orders to go with | git nearest hospital. 3 _ i 45 es = ms . - ass | - «he oF 7 ¢ ? c= & v4, ‘ Mv Ne at 4 — . sTan . vs. , ® ‘ O-~ . * a \ = ESA he «Mi Vy af ray th i. micbooks.com 7 42