Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 935 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Th He was about fifteen years of age, as black as coal and as shiny as a coat of varnish, almost, and he was as fat as a coon and as keen-looking as a Virginia *possum. Added to that, he was good- looking as darkies go, and altogether a fine-specimen of his race. “When yo’ git upon d'e ear, Tell d’e ‘ductor who yo’ are; If he asks yo’ ——” He broke off suddenly, his good-natured face expanded with a smile, as he ex- claimed: “ Hello, Bob! d’'at you? Anybody would think yo’ was goin’ fo’ d’e doctor, d’e way - yo’ am pacin’ it off. Can’t yo’ stop long *nuff to ketch yo’ breff and tell a feller What’s up?” “Hello, Glossy! is it you?’ exclaimed the other, coming to a stop and putting out his hand. “ Thought I heard your warble, and was looking around to find you. Yes, I am in a hurry, but not goin for a doctor; wheel about and come along.”’ | The darky obeyed, and they hurried off in company. Bob was a white boy, two or three years older than the darky, and a head taller. He was of good build, with fine muscular development, and had a frank, intelligent face, with regular features and keen eyes. He was well clad, and looked to be every inch a young gentleman. His correct name was Bob Buckle, but was familiarly called Business Bob. The darky’s was Pete Rice, but was better known as Glossy Pete. Bob Buckle had formerly been a news- boy, as Pete still was, and the two lads had been, to a degree, chums. Bob, bustling and active, and full of business every 1 te, had come to be called Business , as said. For this he had attracted the notice of a private detective. This detective, Joe Phillips by name, widely known in Brooklyn, gave Bob some oe oom work to do in his line, and was so well pleased with the result that he employed him permanently to act as office boy and to assist in detective work where a boy could be of service. | In accepting the new position Bob had transferred to Pete every possible ‘‘good will and interest” of the business he was leaving, which had materially helped his colored chum along in the world; so much so, that Pete expected to stock up and open a stand upon a busy corner in the near future, having saved enough money for the purpose. ' “What is all your rush about, d’en?’. queried the darky. : “Why, we have got a curious case on hand as tall as a steeple, and I am going to get the boss.” . “Ho! d’at.am d’e fack, hey?” “That's it, Glossy.” “ What am it like?’ * Guess.” “What's d’e use ob d’at?”’ ? -“ Well, no use, that’s so; you couldn't guess it ina month of Sundays. We have got to find a stolen corpse.” “Whew!” whistled the darky. “ What fo’ d’e lan’ ob Goshun anybody want to go an’ steal a stiff fo’, Bob?” “That is what we have got to find out, Glossy.” _ “ Nebber all my bo'n days. stear?” | “No: I’m in dead earnest.” “Tell me all "bout ‘it, fo’ d’e lub’ ob goodness, ‘fore I turn pale from press ob curiosity.” . “Turn pale; ha, ha, ha! Nothing short of a coat of whitewash would ever turn you pale, | make a brown mark on you. But, I'll tell \ : i “% ~ hear’n’. tell ob sech a thing in Ain’t yo’ givin’ me @ ’ - : 7 o t é , F Vs . oA \ vt, »\ ‘ Glossy. Why, chalk wouldn’t wi A woe rue : . a ¥ peste! 4.94 : ~ ee at ‘ Riavae Y iv A; et ay , ¥ ee ee ag tf a ieee : ™ PY At i; ye * = * ye 4 ‘ee *. . < vey = rete A etme OF a"! ew PE « . ia “* xcs 3 Soe } ~h : . s : . he ‘ei , : , . . : % 4M ; “ . . . fe, . 2 ~ ee + eee See aie i 24 - t ee “Go. "head, d’en, quick.” “A woman came tearing into the office a while ago, erying and wringing her hands, and asked for Mr. Phillips. I told her he was out, and she went on so that I told her I would dodge out and hunt him up, if possible; and I asked her what was the matter.” ‘An’ d'at was what she told yo'’?” * You let me tell it, my midnight-com- plexioned friend, if you please,” said Bob. ‘‘ She said that her daughter had died, and the body had been laid out in the parlor on a table. The funeral was to take place to-morrow, but some time in the night the body was taken, in some mysterious man- ner, and it looks as if there would be no funeral.”’ ‘Well, d’at beats d'e mischief, d’at do!” “Yes, I should say so, Glossy; but I bet my hat Joe Phillips can solve the mys- tery if he gets a fair chance at it, and I will back him up for all I am worth. If necessary, we will call on you, too, to take a hand in the game, for the body of that young lady has got to be produeed. I have spoken. They call me Business Bob, and I mean business this time, you bet. It was awful to see the way that poor woman went on about it.” That was the story, but the boys talked on until they had to part. when Bob con- tinued on his way and Pete went in an- other direction, singing: “When yo’ git upon d@’e car, Tell d’e ’ductor who yo’ are; If he ask yo’ fo’ yo’ fare, Fork it over an’ don’t swear!” CHAPTER II. JOE PHILLIPS, DETBCTIVE. Business Bob found his employer where he had expeeted he should. Joe Phillips was a man of method. When he said he would be at a certain place at a certain time he was generally there. Bob, therefore, knew where to look for him, for, when possible, the detective gave the boy an outline of his programme be- fore going out, so as to give a clew by which to find him. ** Hullo!” the detective exclaimed, as Bob entered the place. ‘ What is wanted, Bob?” . , H “You are wanted, sir, and that right away,’ answered the apprentice, and he hurriedly explained the nature of the new case, “Well, that is something peculiar, at any rate,’ the detective remarked, on hearing the story, ‘“ Do not recall that I ever heard of anything of the kind: You say she wants me to come to the house?” “Yes: and I would give a week’s pay if you would let me go with you, too. I would like to hear more about it.” “Well, come on with you, since it is nearer there than to the office.” ; Business Bob was highly elated at hear- ing this. | . In due time they were at their destina- tion, a handsome residence on one of the principal streets. The insignia of death was seen by the side of the door, white, showing that the deceased was a person in the morning of life when the grim reaper laid his hand upon her. A servant answered the door-call—a woman, whose pale, frightened face showed that she shared the distress of her. : ; | sinee.”’ ae a “Mrs, Achtetson?” asked the detective. mistr “ What name, please?” “ Joseph Phillips.” “Come right this way, sir.” She led the way down the hall, the de tective and his assistant following. The servant, opening a door, spoke the | name, and stepped aside to allow the two | Pp callers to enter. ‘ ; : ‘SP ta . - }> 2 i peared mysteriously more tha swsboy Detective’s Chum. A woman was there, the one who had " called at the detective’s office. She was pacing the floor and wringing her hands, while tears streamed from her eyes. “ Oh, sir!’ she cried, immediately; “find and restore the body of my child, or I shall go mad—mad. Who can have been so cruel as to steal it from me? And what can have been the motive? My poor Luella.”’ “Try and be calm, madam,” spoke the detective, gently. ‘We must make 2& careful study of the matter together, to come at the truth, and nothing is to be gained by any other means. Pray sit down—pardon me, but you are too weak to stand; we will talk it over.” The woman sank upon a chair, motion- ing the detective to be seated himself. “When did your daughter die?’ the de- tective inquired. “Yesterday, sir,” was the broken re- sponse. ‘ Had she been sick very long?” “She had not been, sick at all, sir; it was very sudden.” “Ah! that is the ease, eh? To what was her death attributed, then, I must in- quire ?”’ “The physician said it must have been heart failure.” “Wad your daughter been subject to heart trouble, then?’ m “Not that I was aware of. why these questions?’ v! But, sir, ‘“T ean do nothing until I haye gathered | all the particulars.” “That is true, of course. Pardon my impatience; but you cannot know how L feel.”’ “YT ean imagine your feelings, madam, and I heartily sympathize with you in your affliction. I will do everything in my power to recover your daughter’s body for you.” ; “Your words givé me hope, sir. There is one great dread I have, that the body may have been stolen by miscreants, who have sold it to some medical institution. Oh! that thought nearly drives me wild! You do not think it is true, do you, Mr. Phillips?” ‘““No, madam, no; thought be entertained for a moment So the detective answered, whether he believed what he said or not, and it was better so. é: . “ Why, then, was it taken? the woman “hat is for us to ascertain, madam. I must question closely into your private af- fairs, and, to aid me, you m v the information you possibly can. “7 }] answer anything you ask, sir—any- thing. If you can only get at the bottom of the mystery and restore my child to me. You must do that, sir! You must, you must! I have often seen your name - bees papers, and I thought of you when 4 8a all need : “Your pardon, : moment. i. take it for granted that you are a widow, since your husband does not appear in the matter.” , A cloud came over her face at once.. “TI suppose I am a widow, sir,” she answered. ‘‘ How is that? Do you “T am not certain. My do not let that 99 . not know?” husband disap- _ twelve of him years ago, and I have sida - “ His name?” _ , -“ Andrew Achterson.” “Tell me all you can peared, and that was all.” “Do you suspect that he met with foul play? This may have an importan' | upon the present case.” Se : : d ’ ‘ . eo os ; Ayre! Z . , 3, / * re f » “ 5 « ty ¢ COr al 7 bd A a? « 3 J , 2 en my \ ph N 4 ; Ss £4 bd 4 +o . Ss ho *< 7 ’ ‘ SS t give me all oo os : 7 ’ es 4-75 e * oh PY ag pare madam, but that is of no, 2 - -_ 0 is Tittle to tell, sir. He disap- a ~ J a - ¥ <