Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 935 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

yey ee Fig ae sal , *r, LS SD ee ee tate >”. ° Ot oe x + iz. — 14 ‘The Ex-Newsboy Detective’s Chum. sticking out like pot legs; lend me wu hand!’ Pete sprang to obey, and the sofa was lifted up and set aside, when Bob und his colored partner quickly cut the cords that held the Brooklyn detective so close a prisoner. It was some moments before Joe could move or speak, for he had been bound <ruelly tight, and the gag had almost dislocated his jaws. Bob rubbed him, Pete assisting, presently he could get up. “ How did you find me?” he asked. “By looking for you, of course,” an- swered Bob. “No time now to parley, for we have got to git up and hustle, I tell you.” “You say you are innocent of any part in this business, madam?’ to the land- dady. ° “Yes, yes, sir; I candidly assure you that I knew nothing about it.” “Well, I am inclined to believe you, but all the same I shall have the police give some attention to your house for a little while, and any attempt on your part to warn Ambler will get you into serious trouble.” “He has gone for good, sir,” the woman hastened to declare. ‘“‘He gave up his key before he started, and I have no idea where he can be.” “JT guess that is straight,’’ said Bob. “Come on, boss, for I have got the butt end of the business in hand now, you bet!” and CHAPTER XVII. SETTING THE SNARES. Joe Phillips made certain of the woman first. however, by giving her a good scare. More than that, he telephoned to head- quarters and had a man set to watch the house for a time, and that done, set out upon his return to Brooklyn. On the way Bob related his own ad- venture, and all that he had learned, and needless to say his employer was highly pleased. He was more than pleased with the prompt way in which Bob had rescued him. ‘But how came you in such a fix?’ asked Bob. “Why, the rascal mesmerized me, some- thing I had never experienced before, and for which I was not looking.” “ Great Gowanus! Then mebby he mes- merized Miss Achterson, too, and mebby she wasn’t dead at all, and mebby she is the gal I saw in that house. Great Go- wanus! but it is a whoppin’ case!” “Not a doubt in my mind but that is correct, Bob,’’ agreed the detective. “I am now almost positive that it was he, too, who mesmerized Wellstone, but in a different fashion, and this night we will prove the case against him and give him a shock that will try his nerves.” “You bet we will!’ cried Bob. “Now, the first thing is to find what steamship he has engaged passage On, S80 that he cannot give us the slip if anything miscarries.”” “That’s so, and it will be easy to find, out, for her time of sailing is down for four o'clock in the morning. All you have got to do is to look in the papers, and that will settle it.” ‘Right you are, Bob.” “ And what then, boss?’ “ Prepare our programme.” “ And keep out of sight.” “Yes; I must not be seen now. I will adopt a suitable disguise as soon as we - weach the office.” “An’ whar’ does I come in?” inquired Glossy: “ Yo’ hab’ ’cited my curiosity. to & wondrous degree ys Pg I ye = de fing out or bu’st. ’t yo’ got a sec- ond fiddle som’rs d’at I kim play?” ‘We'll have to find one, and count you in somehow,” said Joe. So they chatted until they had crossed the ferry, where Glossy decided to stop for the present, and as Joe and Bob went on they left him singing: ‘Do not watch d’e ’ductor close, To see ef he or d’e co. git mos’; He will f’ink yo'’s on d’e spot, - And go fo’ yo’ in manner hot!’’ Arriving at the office, Bob and his em- ployer sat down for a further talk, when the detective required him to go over again all that he had already told, and he list- ened with close attention. “Tt is one of the strangest oases I ever had anything to do with, or ever heard of, Bob,” the detective declared. ‘We have not got at the secret of it, even yet, but we are in a fair way to do so now. Wé will force a confession out of that fellow.” “Or scare it out of him, one or the other.” “You are right.” “ And what now, boss?” “My disguise, first, and while I am fix- ing up that, you go and bring that darky pard of yours here.” ‘Ha! you want Glossy?” “Yes: and I had no business to let him stay behind at the ferry. I have a little work for him and you to do. I will tell you what it is when you get back. Off with you,” “ All right, goes.” Bob grabbed his hat and threw open the door, but at that moment music fell upon his ears: boss. Whatever you say ** Ef yo’ got a gal in town, Tell her dress in her bes’ gown; Take her out in weather fine, For a scoot along d’e line?’ ‘‘ Here he comes, boss!” cried Bob. ‘‘ Yes, I hear him,’’ responded the detec- tive, ‘* Buy a pound of tooty-froo’, Ride by Sma an’ by dark, Ha’f a bushel peanuts, too; Court yo’ gal by ‘lectric spark!’’ ‘*Cork up, Glossy!" eried Bob. “That is plenty. We don’t want folks here to think we are running a lunatic asylum.” ‘Yo’ boss had better git rid ob yo’, den, is all I hab’ to say,’ the darky fired back at him. “Might jes’ as well hang out a sign ef he don’t, d’at am dead straight.” “Better leave him alone, Bob,” said Phillips, laughing. ‘‘Come in, Pete, for I want to see you. Was just sending Bob to bring you here. Do you bring me any news, seeing that you are here rathet sooner than I was looking for you?” “Yes, d’at’s what I do, boss. D’at feller Kerner, or Ambler, hab’ jes’ come ober from New York, and, gettin’ my eye on him, I follered him to de house ob d’at other feller Wardhouse, where I done lef’ him, an’ kem’ straight here to let yo’ know it, so you could scoop him.” “You have done right, but I am not ready to scoop him just yet. I want him to think he has got it all his own way till ten o'clock to-night.” “Oh! all right, if d’at am de ease, I'll mosey right ‘erlong—” * No; I want you.” ‘Sure ’nuff, so yo’ did say.” “T want you to shadow that house and see that those men do not leave town. I will give you a note to the police general- ly, and if you suspect that they are on the wing, have them arrested.” * But don’t do it unless as a last resort; be sure of it before you make the move.” ** T see, boss.” ““T am going to arm Bob in the same manner, and he will watch the other house to see that the young woman is not taken away, for what bas happened there may give them alarm and cause them to take flight, though I hardly look for that, now that they think they have fixed me out,” “That is just the thing!” cried Bob. “You are the one to lay plans, boss, and if we don’t make a grand scoop it will be funny.” “1 think we shall.” ‘And what are you going to do?” “TIT am going first to the hotel, to seé what farther can be learned about the missing body there,’ with a drooping of his left eyelid as he said it, “and then I shall pay a visit to Mrs. Achterson. After that I will go to the house where the girl is, and make dead sure of that fellow Carper. I will make a tool of him, and thus lay my trap.” “ Bully!” eried Bob, “Let’s do a waltz, Glossy, while the boss writes out our commissions!” And he caught hold of his darky pard and whirled nim around. The detective was only a few moments writing the notes, and when he had done so he gave each definite instructions and dismissed them. They set out immediately, and when Bob parted from Glossy he left the jolly black boy gayly singing as he set off in another direction, his voice rising above the hum of the street: ‘* De trolley car am mighty slick, Scums eriong so lightnin’ quick; Ef you don’t get out d’e way, Et wull put yo ’whar’ yo'll stay!’’ Joe Phillips set out for the hotel. He was in disguise, as stated, and had to introduce himself to his friend, the clerk. With him he had quite a conversation, paid a visit to the room up-stairs in which the awful crime had been committed, and finally took his leave, with a well-defined idea in his mind, Irom there he went to the home of Mrs, Achterson. He .was not known, of course, and had some difficulty in getting an audience with the lady under an assumed name, That was accomplished, however, and as soon as he was alone,in her presence he made himself known, and explained dancing around. ~ his reason for coming in that way—that | he desired to remain unknown. “But, what news do you bring me was. asked. me, Mr. Phillips.” “TI think I bring you the best of news, madam.” “Then you have found the body of my poor Luella?” “Well, yes, I can safely assure you of that, I think. I will bring her to you not later than midnight to-night, unless 1 am | very much mistaken.” CHAPTER XVIII. CLOSING THE CIRCLE. The detective was afraid to tell her the truth at once. He prepared her for it, however, and finally took his leave, after cautioning her against revealing who had called. 99 | . ‘That is most important to | From there he went straight to the house © where the unknown young woman was being held a prisoner, and when the door was opened to his ring he asked for Mr. Carper. “T am he, sir,” said the man who had | opened the door. “Then you are the man IT want to see, | sir,” said Phillips. “I am here from Mr. Ambler.” ‘Mr. Ambler?” ‘‘ Otherwise Mr. Kerner.” ‘“‘ Where did you see him, then, sir?’ “At his room, No. —, —— Street, New York. He has come over to Brooklyn, and is now at No. —, —— street.” “That is enough, sir. Oome right in. I can see that you are all right, and that the — ; | : | : ‘ : ’ Sa re OT Ci al ta Sa in as is 8a