Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 947 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

- * } 9 mt + fee CHAPTER XIV, THE WEASEL’S BIG INNING. When Jerry McKenna and Timmy Keen looked around at the call, Mr. Hodgley motioned to them, and both “pleasure seekers” returned to where he was seated fanning himself. The big man held out his hand to the policeman, saying: ** How do, Jerry? What brings you down here? This your day off? How do, boy? You are the chap that is the friend of Buck Gallagher, ain’t you?’ so he greeted both at the same time, but looked for Jerry to reply first, evidently. “Yes, I am off for a few days, Mr. -Hodgley,” Jerry responded. | He was eager to demand right out “whether or not the man knew anything abesut Miss Claverton, but he had to curb his impatience and play his role. “ And I’m Buck’s friend, you bet!’ Fim- my assured. “Thought I knew you, est news concerning the match? thing interesting?” * Well, Buck has had to give up train- ing for a day or ‘two,”’ announced Timmy, soberly. “His sister’s baby is dead. He won't train before Friday night.” “Then I guess it Will be a sure for the Bowery Wrestler, won't it? What is the general opinion in the city? I am mot posted, away out here, and this affair gets no mention in the papers.” * Brag thinks sure he'll win, sir.” “And what do you think about it?’ “I have got a five-dollar bill here that Says he won't,’ | The big man smiled disdainfully. “ You had better Keep it in your pocket,” he advised. “Your judgment is not worth much.” ‘It is good for this five dollars, if you dare cover it, sir,’ Timmy averred, fear- lessly. “We'll put the stakes in Jerry's hands,’ if that is all the same to you. What say?” Timmy coolness and business-like man- ner interested the man. * Well, I will take ii, if you put it that way,” he said. “Here, Jerry, you hold the money, and give it to me afier the Raatch is over. This will teach you a les- sen, boy. My advice is, don’t bet, and if _ you do, remember that fothing is so un- certain as certain things.” “That is all right,’ assured Timmy. “If I losa I sha’n't squeal.” “But, what has brought you here to- gether?’ the maf then asked of Jerry. “T know the boy,” Jerry answered, “and, meeting him on the pier, I asked ‘him to come with me for a sail.” “Oh, I see. Well,, you could not have ome to a finer place, I assure you. It was so infernal warm in the city that I had to run out here to keep from melting. TI hope it will get cooler.” * So do I, before Saturday night, ” added ‘Timmy. Don't want any Sizzling weather then.” * Are you here alone?” asked J erry. “Yes, all alone.” “ Well, we'll saunter on, boy.” said Jer- ‘Ty. “Glad we have seen you, sir;” to Hodgley. “No, don’f go! the sport rum-dealer. What is the lat- Any- Sit down ‘here,”’ invited “Let me order you something to drink, and we'll have a chat. a0 “Thanks, sir, but I don’t drink.”’ “Not drink? Ha, ha, ha! You needn't be afraid of me, Jerry; I wouldn't give it away.” | “Tt is the fact, sir. I don’t touch any- thing.” “But you smoke?” “* Yes,” Sit down, then, and smoke. It will do you more good than tramping around” the grounds, You, boy?” “No, thank you,” Fy besa the cigar. By ‘ € > ‘4 aN Ms ." : » eS sv rie "5%, nes tc ig thing you fifty.” The Bowery Wrestler. — i “And, Mr. Hodgley, are you the same Hodgley that owns the saleons on the Bowery ?”’ “ Yes; why do you ask that?’ The game was now open. “ Because I saw a fellow who was look- ing for you, and he seemed to want to find you pretty bad.” * Wanted to find me? Who was he? “TIT didn’t ask him his name. He had a part of a letter that was addressed to you, and for some reason he wanted io find you quick.” “Who was he—that is, what kind of a man was he?” Timmy rattled off a pretty fair descrip- tion of the detective, but took care not to mention what he knew about him “That is queer,” mused the man, “Of course you did not see the part of the letter, so that ve can’t tell me anything about that?” “I can tell you all about it, for I read it.”’ “What was it?” “Well, it was no funeral of mine, sir, and I didn’t try hard to put it on my mind, but maybe I can think of it There was a name, something like Claverly, Claverling—” ‘** Claverton?” dd “That was it, for rocks!” exclaimed Timmy. “Well, what did she have to say—that isy if it was a she?’ he caught himself up. Both were watching him closely, with- out appearing really to be doing so, and both noticed that he had changed color slightly. They knew they were on the right track. “Tt was a she hard and fast enough, . Timmy assured. “Her front name was Julia. She said something about its being useless for you to ask something or other, for she wouldn't agree to it. Then went on to say that if you bothered—” “There! there! That will do! That will do!’ the man interrupted, as he thrust his thumb and forefinger into his capacious vest pocket and drew out a bill, offering it to Timmy. “Just have good sense enough to keep your Oe shut about that little billet-doux.” “T don’t want your feonay sir,”’ Tinv- my protested, drawing back. “I won't let it out, though, if you want it kept tight, Thought maybe it was something you would like to know, and so I mentioned it.” * Yes, I know all about it, my lad. An infernal piece of blackmail. I don’t un- derstand about that letter, though.” He felt in his inside coat pocket, and drew out some letters. “No, hang ae if I understand it!” he cried. “Here is the very letter now; I thought [ must have lost it. Boy, I would give you tsventy-five dollars if you could tell me who that man is.” ey, “ Sorty, sir, but it is past finding out now, I suppose.’ *“T don’t know about that. You are a smart young rat, and you may be able to find him again. Do it if you ean, and if you can get that letter for me I will give “I’m your weasel!” cried Timmy. “Not that I promise I'll do it, but I will hunt for the man lively enough. if And eertainly he meant to! “Maybe you can do more than that for the gentleman, Timmy,” suggested the policem ae “What's that?” .. | ‘““Maybe you can give the man a stecr, | one way or another, just as it will best suit him.’ “That is a good suggestion, Terry, * “ad- mitted Hodgley. “But I don’t hardly’ see how to make use of it. No, just find out who the man is, and what he wants about the letter, if you can.” wlll *. r * * ’ “VP ' 4 * > fla « a tr My _ * Ai . ie ‘ ad * n . ry ( ut | ‘ Ei ‘Timmy Keen found them. by the ear, too! If he don’t Noon you ean kick me.” Ee eith b Ag? sank yes ne res han Ce LIT Sat a * 2 IPYy ‘‘ All right, boss.” . Maybe you could send him on a blind hunt— “Only tell nte how, sir, if you want it that way. All the same to me,” - Well, tell him you know I have gone up to the mountains; that will put him off the track.”’ “T'll fix it, you bet!’ ‘And don’t forget the reward, and what it is for.” “You bet I won't. Jerry, I have got to leave ye; I must get back to the city now.” “ Well, go ahead,” answered the police- man, as if the matter had no jnterest for him. “I will stay here a while, and will return to the city in the evening. Hope you enjoyed the sail.” “Oh, immense!” the lad exclaimed. And then rattling away for a moment in his cheery fashion, he went off singing: **T want to be a copper, And live a life of ease. Just walk around and see things— Do anything I please. I’ be a little emperor, on a little throne, red you would think the city Was all my very own!” CHAPTER XV. TIMMY TURNS THE TABLES. Timmy hated to do it; he disliked to give up the case at that end; it would have been his delight to shadow Rufus Hodg- ley and bring him to time. But, the way the matter had shaped it- self, there was nothing for him to do but make believe he was after the offered re- ward. He had already done a clever stroke, and now by carrying the deception further he was leaving the ‘field open for Jerry to get in another lick, so to say, in good order, There could be no question, now, but that Hodgley had had something to do with the disappearance of the young lady! ‘Well, I hope Jerry will get to the bot- tom of it,” Timmy said to himself, as he went on board the boat. “The only thing I am afraid of is that his regard for the girl will make him impatient.” It seemed to tbe boy as if the boat would never get to the city. He was impatient to report to the two detectives, for he knew that he had the best of the game, or thought he had, which meant the same with him. The detectives, meantime, had returned to New York, and had gone direct to the ~——- Hotel to learn something about Clay- man. Yes, he had been there, but had. gone away. * Was he alone?” “No, he had a bride with” him,” in-' | } formed the clerk. “Can you describe her?’ asked one of the detectives. “The clerk did so, and the descri seemed to tally with the missing Claverton, | “Now, did you hear him call her by her first name?” asked the other. : “Yes, but hang me if I recall what it was,”’ said the clerk. iss | “Was it Mary, Maggie, Julia, Susan?” ! Might have | “Can’t tell you now, sir. been any one of them.” That seemed to be the end of that trail. They had learned something, but not — enough. Tt was decided to telegraph to the police at Washington and await answer from — them when the bridal couple reached _ ‘Sy ae ee! ns i there, and that was done, The te had not yet separated, when ello, Weasel! Here you are, eh?” — is ; st td «Fou bet! cathe jut baal et Pe squeal Dre alee ‘ © Rtas what do i’ mean, “doy? De ; aS tod Qik dai ay 2 s i Ts | i i. 7. es Ne nat Ke uF : a ba