Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 960 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a not dare to handle it if 1 were to draw it.” “Yet it might be hard to prove es * Oh, that is it, eh? Come, tell me every- — “ “Don’t you fool yourself about that. | you do not know.” thing as we go along, and if our man hap-_ | Come, I do not care how you do it, but I ‘‘ Harder for any one to prove that I do | pens to turn around, put you head down worst of all, at such a time as this. Why could you not wait?” “Strike when the iron is hot, old fel- low,” was the taunting response. “The iron is hot, and hence ‘¥ must get in my lick. See?” “Well, curse you, what do you want me to do?” “T want five thousand dollars spot cash— in fact, I have got to have it.” ‘*Five thousand dollars! Good Heavens! Would you ruin me? Yesterday you only wanted twenty-five hundred to tide you over. What do you mean?’ “T mean business, from the word ‘Go.’ That is the sum of money I want, and you have got to give it to me—understand what I say, you have got to give it to me. On that condition I will let you off.” ‘*But how am I to raise it?” “Give me your check; that will do. I will cash it right in, and you can destroy it the minute it gets back into your hands.” “Yes, but I have not got that amount to my own eredit anywhere, and I cannot draw one of our business checks and keep it from being known. Besides, you would have got to have the money, and that at once—before the banks close. We haven't ahs | The Broadway Spc y figure dodged behind the packing cases and | mediately by a light laugh, as if a new “This isn’t business. You will meet me 4 into one of them, where he could not fail | thought had struck him. at noon to-morrow ?” | iF of hearing what was said, if the men| “You havé fired just one shot too many, “As I have promised; or you can | spoke in natural tones. George Stroughtenberg,” he declared, ex- | call—’ -“Why, are you a fool, George Strought: | ultingly. “You have as good as admitted “No, thank you. You can slip away for vt enberg?” Allen demanded. “If you so| that you know who killed your father, | half an hour, and I will meet you at the much as open your lips I will tell what I | and—” Hoffman House.” know, and then how would it look for “Nothing of the kind!’ interrupted “No. I am too well known there, and if you? Don’t get crabbed, now.” George. “You insinuated that I knew, | such a transaction, if witnessed, would ? “ Curse you, you are no man, to take ad- | and I merely asked you what would be the | only start idle tongues to wagging, and no ee vantage of me by means of a secret you | result if I were to swear that you are the | telling where the matter would fetch up.” € <p have no business to know, and which you| man. And I ask you again, what if I “Where then?’ <3 learned, Heaven only knows how. And, | swear that you are the man who killed my A place was named and agreed upon, father? What if I swear that I saw you do it?” “Ha, ha, ha! Worse and worse! Why did you not denounce me on the spot and arrest me, if you saw me do the deed? That would be the first question asked of you, sir. What would you say to that? And then, when I came up with an alibi, where would you stand?” “ Can you prove that you were not at the store this morning?” “Of course I can prove it.” “ Well, if you did not do the deed your- self, you may be the one who caused it ‘to be done, and it will be just as well for you to keep entirely out of sight in the matter.” *“T care not whether I am out of sight or in sight. You have found that your little scare did not work, I guess. Now, I am more than ever conyineed that you your- self know more about your father’s taking off than you are willing to tell, and if you want to keep my lips closed, come down with the money.” “T swear that I know nothing about it. Would to God that I did know!” know. You know in your heart that I would not have raised a finger against my and they prepared to part company as coldly as they had met. Fred Fly waited only a moment after, when he came forth from his place of temporary hiding, and he was no sooner out that he was joined by the Broadway Sport, who had been watching. ‘“Come, boy,” ‘the sport said, “hurry and say which one we are to follow.” “Well follow Frank Allen,’ decided Fred, on the spur of the moment. “I know Mr. Stroughtenberg is innocent.” “You know he is, eh? What was it Allen got the best of him on, then? Mind, I am not saying that he is guilty, you know; I do not believe he is, but there is something wrong.” “ And ou will help me to prove him innocen “Ha! I thought so.” “Thought what?’ “That there is danger that he may be accused of the crime.”’ “No, no; I didn’t mean that,” the boy hastily declared. “Allen knows some Se- — of his that he threatens to tell, though.” quick so that he will not get a look at your face.” | got all day left. Or, if you have got that | father. I loved him too well. As to mur-| Fred saw it was the only thing he could iT much in cash in the store, all the better.” | der—I am no murderer!” do. : “a “In God’s name, Frank, wait a week, ““T hope you are not, certainly, but will And, feeling certain of George Stréugh- | till I can do it in the course of regular | a jury think so when they know what tenberg’s innocence, he thought the better il business—”’ was between you and your father? Come, | way was to tell the whole story. ey “ Not an hour—not half an hour! I want | now, you had better think twice before This, accordingly, he did, and the Broad- it now!” you turn me away. Come down with the | way Sport listened with interest to the “ By Fiohveie: you shall not have it! | sum I have asked for, and I'll swear that | end. At the same time they were keep- | ) Do your worst; I defy you! Maybe it was | black is white to get you out of any. | ing Allen in sight, though now the detec t for refusing a similar demand that you | trouble you may get into.” tive saw no real reason for doing so. st killed my father.” “T am not afraid of any trouble; but “Why did you say we should follow Nit “What? You dare to insinuate that I What you know—that must be kept secret | Allen?” he demanded. ns did that deed? By Heavens, you had bet- at any cost. But, Frank, how am I to “ Because I wanted you to leave Mr, b ter have a care, George Stroughtenberg! raise the money ? ‘That is impossible at a | Stroughtenberg alone,’ was the sturdy, ai ‘You were the last one in the office, and moment’s notice.” reply. i rh if you did not do it yourself, you know | “ What if I give you until noon to-mor- “You are doing an unwise thing, Rie ' who did.” = row?” not to trust me,” the detective repriman K “And what if I swear that you are the “Tf you will do that I will make an | ed. “I am as friendly to George Strough- ‘ene man?” effort to get it for you, but it must be on | tenberg as you are.” me . A muttered curse was the response. condition.” | “ Well, I won’t do it again.” | \ *T do not know whether it must or not. * You had better not, for another rea- unwilling to believe him guilty. - was simply incredible—impossible! CHAPTER X. FLYER AND SPORT HAVE A BREAK, Flyer Fred was by this time so excited that he could hardly contain himself, What he had heard thus far had given him grave concern for George St en- berg’s innocence, and yet he Was seen That will be as I say, George Stroughten- berg. Don’t forget that I hold the trump eard, not you. However, you may name the condition.” “That this is to be the last—that you will never push me with the same stick again. If you do—”’ “What if I do?” “Well, there will be a way to beat you. A confession from me would balk you, and son: This is a serious business, and. if you learn anything and hold it pack, and = = it is found out, that might be the means of getting you into truoble.” ge “ Well, I am new at the business, de: Pa: see.’ oa boy; and may be able to learn something os 4 yet that will throw light on the mystery. We had better part now, for the present.” __ “You are keen, nevertheless, Frederick, Ka] The boy rec Tmany an incident that went to prove the affection George had for his father, and, cOme what might, he would still believe him innocent. Never- theless, he had concern ‘for what others would ‘think, if this became known, and almost regretted what he had told the de- _&?. 7 > tective. oh me This, to the time when George Strough- as — itenberg ave yoice to the words last - quoted, and Allen responded with me mut- “ What for?’ ES “Because I want to have a chat with Allen, and as Allen knows you, I do not > “a wish you to be with me. You had better go back to the store and start on another A trail, if you can strike one. If youlearn ~ any thing, come to my office at nine in ne, a) ’ morning.”’ ee tf Fred stopped, ‘but did not readin: ‘ after looking at the sport for a moment, — waved adieu and wheeled around, leaving — , him to go on his way alone as he desired I would make it—I swear that I will make it, if you ever try to force me to pay you another penny!’’ “Why not make it now?” “There is trouhle enough for the time being, God knows.” “TI agree with you. As to the condi- tion, I will not agree to it; but I will agree not ‘to come to you again. unless actually forced to do it to keep from sinking. So rest easy; if it ever comes up again I will | tered curse, give you due notice to prepare, and not | BO A Of the two, ee had rattle believe take you short.” to do. ae ee x Allen the guilty ma “* And you remember what I have threat- “That dog is dead, clean gone dead!” th Be aia purse was ; followed almoat im- ened. It is no idle threat.” | Flyer exclaimed to himself. “I see ve ‘ me" ~ ye te” Nice = ori he. / . > q - : ’ | ’ : “ke 7 ~ Wz x aS ye bpm Shen Nngedee erst a "OREN ree har Roce Gs tee ry Pe Peeae A Sipe! a7 it ys AAs tials yA SD! f | 7 SR Bay eR pee ey 4 | * rae < ‘hee i Ai, ee i “ e fa, pa i ee oF 2 aS " Ly Fiat ws # " es “cont i i ole) k = Co hee salen _ a S28 ae ae oid wee J es bh 3 " i