Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 960 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Ee a Se Si ee I — I~ — — VR, ae ee . neers Sl o. = ‘mistake,’ y Tie=sroadway Sport. 15 ee nee een $e eee SSeS _aaaaar===== determination. “Officers, I demand that you arrest that man.” “ Arrest me!” cried Wolraven, leaping to his feet. “Boy, you are an idiot!” “Maybe I am, but I happen to know what I am talking about just now. If there was suspicion enough for arresting George Stroughtenberg, there is enough to arrest you, and you are no better than he is, I take it. I mean business, officers; 1 demand his arrest.” George Stroughtenberg was too amazed ot speak, and there was but one thing the officers could do. They had to detain the man until they heard what ‘the boy had to say. “The gentleman will remain, of course,”’ said the captain. “Let us hear what you have to say.” , “You have held that Rummy Mike has been taken?’’ 6e Yes.”’ “ Well, I’m the kid that got him scooped. T saw this man, pay him five hundred dol- lars for something that was done yester- day, and you know that yesterday I was the means of saving the life of Broadway Sport when Rummy Mike tried to kill him, Now, add two and two together, and see what you've got,” Fred spoke in such a bold, decisive man- ner that his words carried conviction to ‘his hearers. “What have you to say, sir?” the cap- tain asked Wolraven. * Why, it is an absurd mistake, sir,” was the indignant denial. ‘“‘He has mistaken some one else for me.” *Do you think that is likely, when I know him as well as I know Mr, Strough- tenberg?” demanded Fred. “ Besides, it wasn’t ten minutes after I had seen him in his own house.” “What was that money paid for?’ asked the police captain. “T deny that it was paid,’”’ said the man. “You have only to bring Rummy Mike to prove it,” said Fred. * Bring him, by all means,” Wolraven invited. “I know of no better way to clear myself of this boy’s crazy charge.” ‘Surely, Fred, you have made a serious said George Stroughtenberg. “Mr. Wolraven is above suspicion; he is my best friend in this trying hour.” ‘‘NO mistake about it, boss,’ the boy stoutly maintained. ‘“ I know what I saw; and I mean to stick to it. Of course, I don’t know what the money was paid for, ‘but money paid to a fellow like Rummy Mike is suspicious, and I want you to prove what I say before you let him go.” “J demand my instant liberty,” cried Wolraven. ‘I have business to attend to, and must not be detained,” “Are you any better than Mr, George?” demanded Fred. “The boy’s arge must be invesif{- gated,” said thw officer. “I will have Rummy Mike brought here. Meantime, you will have to stay, Mr. Wolraven.” Wolraven raved, but that did no good; he had to stay. In due time Rummy Mike was on hand, ‘and he was in just the mood to declare the truth of the whole matter. He not only supported the story Fred had told. but went further and told all about Wolraven’s engaging Hen Gardner ' murder the Broadway Sport, and how he, Rummy, had been hired by Gardner to do the deed. ‘But we didn’t do it, and didn’t intend to do ity? Rummy lied, for sake of making his own erime less offensive. ‘‘ We jest meant to give Kempton a scare, make be- lieve he had been killed and get the boodle and light out. That is the whole truth.” nan an listened with a sullen look. on s face, : . “That is a neat lie!’ he sneered, when he had heard all. ‘‘ Why-should I seek the life of the Broadway Sport? He never crossed me in his life, and if he had done so, murder is not in my line. Gentlemen, I contend that I am mistaken for some one else.”’ “Oh! come off!” cried Rummy. “ That is too thin. You are the man who paid me the five hundred.” ‘Of course he is,’”’ declared Fred. ‘ He has got to be held.” And he was held. Fred carried a message home for Mr. Stroughtenberg, and after that went im- mediately in search of Detective Collins. Collins had by this time heard of the arrests that had been made, and was pre- pared for the story Fred had to tell. To- gether they set out in search of Hen Gardner. . Fred did not know him, but he did know the two men who had been concerned with him and the first prisoner taken, in their attempt to murder the detective, and he hoped to get sight of one or both of them. But they were not seen, although Gardner was found and arrested. . He, naturally, supported the story told by Wolraven, but there was nothing in the charge ‘made by Rummy Mike; but that was not enough to release them, in the face of other evidenee, and they were held to await thorough investigation. None of the mystery had as yet been solved, and everything was in a boil of confusion, to that time. But the case was nearing its ending, and Fred Fly was the one destined to solve the mysteries and clear the affair up. His business now was to find the Broad- way Sport. CHAPTER XVIII. THE GRAND DENOUEMENT. Paddy Gallagher remained near the store, to aid in the arrest of the two men should they show themselves there again, with Frau Reizenstein to point them out, and Fred Fly hunted for them through all the haunts where they were likely to be found. At last, toward night, he saw one of them, and was thus rewarded for his pa- tience. The other was not long in coming, and Fred saw them holding an earnest consultation together. No opportunity was given him to overhear what was said, So he had to content himself with shadow- ing them. Finally they appeared to come to an un- derstanding, and set out in company, Fred keeping them in sight. They led him a long chase, but at last came to a stop be- fore a shop which had the appearance of being closed and tenantless. There they again consulted. | Here was a chance for Fred to creep near, and he took advantage of it. ‘‘No, I tell ye it is too early,” he heard one of the fellows saying. “ Let’s go into that saloon on the corner there’ and wait an hour, and then come back. He will keep all right.” | “Well, ef you say so. We don’t want no suspicion to ’tach to us, ye know.” “That is what I am takin’ care of. Come on. We'll have ’venge on Rummy fer the mean way he served us. When this feller is found, with Rummy’s knife in him, it will go hard with Rummy, you bet.” They surveyed the closed shop, and Slonched off. — Fred Fly came out from his place of con- cealment, and when the two rascals had passed out of sight he drew a long whistle. “ Whe—e—ew! If that isn’t a rummy zo, then T don’t know what my name is! And TI’ll bet a penny the Broadway Sport is in this shebang, waitin’ fer somebody \bout my size to rescue him again,” Fred took a good survey of the place. “It will do me good to rescue him again,” he said to himself. “I can afford to forgive him, now, for what I fancied he was cheating me out of, and maybe I was lookin’ at it eross-eyed, anyhow. ‘That don’t matter a bit; if the Broadway Sport “i in that den he has got to come out, you et!” Fred looked around for an officer, and making known who he was, and getting the officer interested in the matter by tell- ing him about the arrests already made, gave him to understand that he would come in for a share of the honors himself if he ‘would lend the required assistance. Then he let him into the matter fully, and told him what was to be done. The officer was more than willing to aid him, and it took but a short time to gain an entrance into the little shop. Sure enough, there the Broadway Sport was found, almost dead from being so long in so cramped a position, and it re- quired time and effort for him to get the use of his limbs and tongue. “This wouldn’t have happened, Fred, if we had stuck together,” he said. “I’m sorry L turned you back, and sorry that you didn’t stick to me in the Mount Ver- non business. I landed my man all right, but these fellows got onto me the next hour and landed me.’ ““Don't mention it,” said Fred. “I’m sorry, too, but I believe it was ordered all for the best. We will land them, now, for they are coming here inside of an hour to murder you and put the crime ov Rummy Mike, and if we don’t make them sick it will be strange. We are partners on this case, anyhow, and we will stick together from this timeson. I have got a wagon load of clews for you, and we'll soon clear it up.” While they waited, Fred told all that had taken place, and Kempton listened with keen interest. A couple of policemen were there with’ them. After a while the two rascals were heard making their way in. They came in boldly by the front entrance, admitting themselves with a key, locking the door after them. There was a short hall, lead- ing to’ the room in which they had left their victim. In the hall they lighted a lamp, and when they’ entered the room they met the surprise’of their lives. Hand- cuffs were on them before they could real- ize what had happened, and great was their chagrin to find that their prisoner was their captor. George Stroughtenberg was released on his own bond, and immediately after the day of the funeral the case was looked into. Meantime, the Broadway Sport, armed with the clews which Fred Fly had worked up, had been prying into the matter, and other evidence having been brought to light, he had a clear ease. While the court was waiting for the pris- ohers hews was brought that the old man and Wolraven had killed themselves in their cells. The detective did not show surprise, but he was sorry that he could not have sent Wolraven to the punishment he so richly deserved, for he it was who had murdered Thomas Stroughtenberg. The motive for the crime was one that no one would have suspected. For years Wolraven had. been dealing “crooked” with the house, with Hen Gard- ner as chief helper. To such an extent had the, trusted employe carried on his vil- lainy, that a London branch of the bus- iness Was now practically his own. carried on by Stroughtenberg’s capital and pres- tige. -At last, however, old Mr. Stroughten- berg had become aware of it, and had called in the private detective, For monthe the rascally superintendent had been pre- comicbooks.com