Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 962 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

& ‘* But, sir, she did not tell me her story, although she had my permission to do so, You interrupted ber before | had a chance to judge for myself. By what rigbt did you do that? { must say that tuis intrusion is unwarrantable < 0d part. What have you tu say for your- se And while Ebenezer Crowfut was speaking ae was also gathering the lady up from the oor, She did not seem to be senseless, but rather as though some vivlent shock had deprived her of all physical strength. One thing was remarkable: the child appeared neither alarmed at the appsarance of the man nor at the sudden faintness of her elder com- ion, who, from the resemblance of the two aces, Crowfut susp2cted Of being her mother. Ebenezer was conscious, also, of a strange thrill] passing through his frame as he lifted the lady from the floor and placed her on the stool which he tad lately occupied. That was not the kind of a resting-piace he would have chosen for her, but it was the best that his office afforded, and it gave him an excu<e to support her in the half-reclining position that he had caused her to assume, somewhat wedzed iato the corner of the office, with the child and himself barring out the man who now stood at the end of the desk, sur- veying them all with a stranger smile than ever. ‘‘ You have your hands full now, Mr. Crow- fnt, and if you are like the generality of man- kind you would not listen to my story with any- thing like an unbiased mind while you have your arm around that rere When she ig will- ing to come to her senses I will be happy to tell you whatI knowabouther, Shethen can affirm or deny, as she pleases. My name is Jarvis Jackson, and by profession I am a detective.” ** Well, sir, what have I todo with your pro- fession? I have no desire to arrest any one. I shall not interpose, if ky can show me any au- thority, if you arrest this lady right here in this office. But if you have no such authority, and have come here solely for the purpose of malign- ing her, I want you to goout before I throw you out. I have succeeded in taking care of myself this far in hfe, and I fail to see that I need your assistance at this late day.” ‘On, dear, no, sir, If had no idea of meeting the lady in your office, I did not know or sus- pect that she was within a thousand miles of this, My business is of an entirely different character. [only warned you as a matter of duty. If you think this is an intrusion I will withdraw, though it was a matter of some im- rtance that I wished to speak with you upon. was directed to you by a gentleman named Mackenzie Murdock who seemed to think that I would be at least decently received.” ‘* If you have letters from Mr. Murdock I will look at them if you will call again in the course of halfanhour, At present my time is occupied. Good-morning!” Jarvis Jackson was just as iron-clad as to his feelings as the rest of his profession, and there was no signof affronton hisface. Heonly gave another cold glance at the lady, and, without even the ceremony of a bow, took his leave, When he was fairly outof bearing the lady seemed to be able tospeak, She smiled a little wanly at the gentleman who was so stout in her defense, caught the child up and gave it a long, lingering kiss, and then went on with her story as though there had been no interruption, ‘‘Tam here, Mr. Crowfut, in search of my husband. There are several men who are inter- ested in my not finding him, I[t means over fifty thousand dollars tothem if Iam unsuccessful, or if they can prevent his seeing this child, In ad- dition, there may be a large sum, or there may not, that he has accumul ted by his own labors —for he bas been in the West for a long time, without making a sign.” ‘* And your husband’s name, madame?” ‘« What name he may now bear [ cannot with certainty say, and I almost fear to suggest, lest I cause some innocent person to be viewed by you with an eye of suspicion. Heaven knows that I do not wish him any harm! The name by which he was known when he married me was Simon Sanford,” Ebenezer slowly shook his head. He did not remember any man who answered to that name. ‘*The request Ihave to make of you is no doubta strange one, but I see no other way to provide for the safety of the child. I came to you to beg of you to take her under your safe- keeping for a few days—perhaps weeks—while I go on in search of my lost husband. I cannotat present watch over her and protect her, while I Flip-Flap Fred at Hard Pan. ee e* Le ——— ee aE am engaged in this work, With youl feel as- stay, an’go whenI sez go, Yew got that writ sured that sbe would be safe,” | down in yewr di’ry?’ The request took Mr. Crowfutby surprise. He ‘‘ Alldown but nine; set’em up ter suit 5er- had prepared himself to hear a plea for money, | self.” or something of that kind, and was already de-| ‘Ef yewcamp with me tew-night, yew will bating within himself what the answer should | sleep under tie waggin an’ stay thar tell Amariah be. He would rather bave heard such a peti- | sez come cat. Ef yew move afore, I wouldn’t tion, too. Then he could be done with the lady, | wonder ef thar wara dead boy ov much yewr who had impressed him peculiarly@ven at his | style ov bigness, An’ef yew begin tew sling first glimpse of her. aa ' lead without orders—w’ich same chance it’s To say nothing of the inconvenience, the re- | dubersome ef yew git—yew will hev ther con- ception of the child into his family would with- | sarndest spankin’ yew hev hed sence the fu’st out doubt bring them into intimate relations | time yew played hookey frum school, an’ yewr with this stranger, such as he did not care to | mammy found yew out.” have established a resent time, ** All right, Amariah; I kin foller orders ef it Mrs, Sanford wa him with an air of pain- | bu’sts bizziness—unless lightnin’ strikes your ful interest. She saw the troubled look in his | way. Then I reckon I kin boss ther job ter suit eyes, and that he was not inclined to favor her | myself. I wouldn’t bea mite surprised ter see request, , yaa turn toes up afore mornin’, an’ never know- ith much earnestness she continued, giving , in’ at all how biga fighter I kin be, Oh, you'll him no opportunity for the negative that was | losea heap ef you don’t let me have a teeny ov his lips. chance ter hump myself afore yer starts ter ‘‘ Wait a moment. Do not speak until you | climb ther golden stairs, Say! yu t I give hear me further. I do not believe that you | ‘em jest one round fur good luck? I really ain’t would do a thing of this kind for pay, if you re- | shot a man fur a week!” fused for the sake of humanity. et I wish to ‘*'Yew will do nothin’ ov the kind—an’ yew convince you that it is not a charity I now ask | don’t want tew half ez bad ez yew let on, Jest of you—so far, at least, as money goes. At lay yewrself down, an’ ef yew kin sleep straight the same time that I place my daughter in your | threw it will be all the better. What happens charge I wish to put ten thousand dollars in | will be none ov yewr bizziness,” your hands. Then, no matter what happened It was no use to talk to Amariah with the idea to me, she would not be a pauper; nor would of obtaining information. He was not of the — — —— ee Seg be a loser from having befriended the child, | kind to be pumped, even by so shrewd a boy as emember, it is not your wealth I have need of, but your protective care, while 1am embarked Little Limberleg. Seeing this Fred gave up. He was very tired on a mission that, from what [ know of the man, | after his bard tramp, the bed under the wagon or men, arrayed against me, may well end in | looked quite inviting when Amariah spread it my death, ave you the courage for the un- | out; and so, under the vehicle he crawled, dertu king?” stretching himself out and giving a sigh of re- lief. For a time he felt that he had never been wider awake in his life, If he had only known he was going asleep perhaps the surprise might have kept his eyes open. Unfortunately, just when he least expec i) they Closed suddeniy, Before he had been reclining there five minutes he had taken a plunge tttrough the gate of dreams ‘If the child was really and truly an orphan, I would have the courage to defend her against the world—or die trying. if youchoose to place the girl in my care, never offering to see ber or me again until the time that you are to finally take her away, she may remain. Otherwise, 1 will have nothing to do with the matter.” Ebenezer spoke slowly, and with his eyes cast downward, as though he was thinking as | and was all uncouscious of bis surroundings. he spoke. There was a slow, steady doggedness | Above,in the wagon, ail was silent. There about him that said be had made up his mind, | had not beer a sound from if for an hour. avd would not alter it very soon, Everything went to show that the — was The lady caugbt him by the hand, buried deep ir slumber; and that mj a sou ‘‘ A thousand thanks, my friend, if such I | was conscious of, or suspected danger, may be allowed to call you! I could have asked The wagon stood under the shadow of the tree nothing better. Remember that whatever story | by which it had been halted, but the moonlight you may tell it must not be the true one, and | dropped into the little dingle surrounding it, that, while the child is under your roof, she | making it so light that nothing could approach rust be called Laura Lane, Should you meet , without being clearly visible, Yet, of what use me by any chance, in the mean time, Iam to be | was the precaution that had evidently been taken addressed as Mrs, Lane. I do not think you | if there was no one on the watch, and the evil- will be called on to recognize me, however. In | doers were on the move? this package you will find the money of which I The night went by until the hour had arrived ge ll you look it over to see that it is | for the ‘‘ lambs” to be on hand. all right? Come, Laura, I must take my leave Sure enough, they were coming! of you. Be a good girl, and give Mr. Crowfut | Half a dozen men crept silently through the as little trouble as possible. As for you—I shall | bushes that surrounded the dingle, until the never forget your kindness, I may be able to | could look into the open space where Amaria foil the wretch yet. Farewell!” had pitched his camp, Hurriedly the lady took her leave. Before Nestor Northrup was there, and so was the Ebenezer could realize it she was gone, and the | man with whom he had held the conversation, chiid was sitting demurely on the stool vacated The latter gave a low grunt as he saw that the by her mother, looking at her guardian with | wagon lay in the shadow, and that to reach ita curious and unblinking eyes, broad belt of light would have to be . ‘* Looks as if he was as much of a fox as ever a Ebenezer returned the gaze with interest. He was actually frightened at the rapidity of | and not very much off his d,” whispered the man, as he took in the tion, money, the amount of which be had hurriedly | “If he is waiting for us with a gun he can figured up, with a clutch that showed how ner- | make things mighty lively before we can get to vous he was. him, Unless we can rout him out—and he’s too “Well, Laura,” he said, trying to speak | cute for that—wecan’t do any long range shoot- leasantly, ‘‘I suppose you and J are going to | ing on account of the girl, Maybe you would great friends, for a time. How old are | like to step over and seeif he is at home—and you?” Pll bet any figure that you want to name that ‘‘Fifteen years old; but, if you please, mam- | you will find him there,” ma said it would be better if no one knew it but ‘On my soul, 'hompson, [ believe that you yourself. I do not look so, and if it is not told, | are afraid!” responded Nortlrup, in the same no one would suspect it, With my Other dresses guarded tones. on I am quite a woman.’ ‘We can wait a few moments. If he is on ‘‘ Bless my soul!” exclaimed Crowfut, looking | the lookout he will be making the ro nds before her over again with more care than ever. ‘‘So | long, to see if there is any sign of tBouble, [f you would be. How wonderfully I have been | he don’t come out I will lead the way in, I mistaken!” don’t ask men todo more than follow me, and do their share of the work as soon as they get there,” ‘‘ That’s the kind of talk we like tobear, If you hadn’t shown up to him to-night the thing would have been safe enough; but as you put him on his guard it is no more than rauare for aon to show us that he bas not taken advantage it. ** For that matter, s ard all the time; but to-night he will be get- ting all the sleep he can, so a8 to be ready to e a long run to-morrow. I wouldn’, won- the transfer, and he held on to the roil of CHAPTER IV. A WARM WELCOME, Tux bold front of the boy seemed to amuse Amariah. He smiled and listened; but when Fred ceased speaking he had no explanations to offer, but several cautious, ‘‘ Very good, small boy; very good! I like tew see spunk, an’ ef it waz yewr camp I opine yew would fight ’em desp’rit, accordin’ tew yewr own sort ov le. But this air my camp, an’ I’m only F privjates what will stay when I sez man Of his kind is on his in 1f Gomicbooks — com