Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 963 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a -_—_ - ee eee a oo—Wv-- will be some money in it, too. the strange quiet, and wondered why she had not heard Mr. Rawlins moving about below, as was his wont. Then, deciding to go down to see what it all meant, she took her candle and proceeded down-stairs. ‘When I reached the second story land- ing,’ she continued, “I saw a boy stand- ing near the foot of the stairs. Mr, Raw- lins was sitting just as you see him now, only his head was up straighter. The boy had a bundle in his hand, and wore a low cap—”’ “ Bundle—low cap—fired out,’ thought Adam, linking these evidences in his own mind with the remembrance of the boy he had twice met on the streets. “Then, as I kept coming down, I saw the knife in the old man’s throat.’’ Jennie here shuddered and averted her eyes. “It flashed over me then that the boy might have done the murder.” “ What did you do or say?” “T hardly remember. It seems as if I called on the boy and took a step or two further. Then I felt horribly weak and sick. After that I don’t know what hap- pened. When I came to, there were people in the house and the police were just ar- rived.” “You don’t know what ‘became of the boy, 1 suppose?” CHAPTER VI. IN SPARC © OF RUBE RAWLINS. The girl shook her head; then she added: ‘‘Sometimes I almost wonder if I really saw the boy at all.” ' “Think you might have dreamed it? ‘Well, hardly.” Adam pointed to the corpse in the chair. “ At any rate, that thing yonder is no dream.” Jennie shivered as she glanced at the figure in the chair. Young Hoke did hot seem satisfied. “Can you think of anything more?’ he asked. “T think that is all. No—let me think. Oh, there was Mr. Sylvester. I declare! What a state of mind I am in to forget him!” “ Who is Mr. Sylvester? This is very im- portant, miss. I am not asking you ques- tions out of idle curiosity, but for your Own good; that is, if you hope to see the mystery of this murder solyed.”’ ‘* Mr. Svlvester was Mr, Rawlins’s most intimate friend. He may be a relative; I ardly know. They used to have money dealings together. At times I have heard them quarreling. Mr. Sylvester was here, when { came to my senses, but I think he nas gone away.” After a few more questions, Adam, though but an acquaintance of ten minutes’ standing, shook Jennie’s hand warmly as he arose. “Keep up your spirits, Miss Jennie—er— a—what is your last name, please?” “My name is Jennie Dare, and I live with my mother in Jersey City, when I am out of a place. Would you like the ad- dress? I suppose I shall have to go back there after this affair is over.” “Thanks, awfully,’”’ and the East Side Spotter took down the street and number. ‘“‘“Now,. Miss Dare, don’t you get blue. ‘Things will turn out better than you think. Tam going to try my hand on this case just to tantalize the police. Maybe there I must go, now, but you will hear from me again.” “You seem about the only one here who is friendly. I don’t know why they should look at me so suspiciously. I didn’t do anything,” “Oh, they’re at their wits’ end and look eross to hide their lack of clews. I like you, Jennie. You are a cleati-cut daisy, and Adam Hoke is your friend. You have given me a clew or two and I must hustle to follow it up. Be careful what you say A —— - = ———EE _ — The East Side Spotter. to that fat, self-important looking copper in plain clothes. That is old Sloper, of the Central detective force. I have got it in for him, for I know him. He is a sly one. Why, he’d lay traps to eatch his own father, if he thought he could get a rise out of the scheme. So you better say as little as you can before him. Now I must vamoose,”’ * They won't let any one out. the word given some time ago.” The spotter winked one eye shrewdly, as he replied: “I’m on to them. They’re taiking through their hats. See? Keep your pretty eyes on me, I’m to meet a chap up- town and I’m a little late as it is. See me throw sand in that copper’s eyes at the door.”’ He glided away. Jennie saw him wind sinuously in and out among the people in the hall and talk to the policeman at the door, using many gestures the while. Fin- ally he pointed backward, apparently at the hat rack. By the time the officer’s head was turned, Jennie saw Adam sud- denly duck his head, dodge under the man’s arm, and dive into the crowd with- out, Pursuit was out of the question, and probably to avoid a reprimand, the officer assumed an air of dignified unconscious- ness. Jennie could not help smiling over the lad’s cleverness. Once clear of the crowd, the messenger boy hurried up-town along the east side to the point indicated by him as a rendezvous to Rube Rawlins. The elevated trains clanged and jarred overhead, and Many people were swarming down the iron stairs on their way to the big depot near by. ‘I wonder if that kid is really as green as he makes himself out to be?’ thought Adam, as he looked about warily. ‘ Can he be putting up a job on some one? He certainly is the chap that girl said she saw. One can’t make mistakes in detecting his appearance. Bet your life he won’t make a hatful out of yours: truly!” But no low-capped country boy with a bundle could the messenger boy see. He made cautious inquiries of an Italian fruit dealer under the girders of the elevated station, then he looked at his watch. “T am a little late,” he muttered, “but it looks as if the bloke could have waited a bit.” Finally he called up an exceedingly alert bootblack, who was running up Forty-sec- ond Street. As soon as the East Side Spot- ter described Rube’s pronounced personal peculiarities, the boy snapped his fingers and chuckled. ‘IT seen d’at cove!” he exclaimed. ‘ He was huggin’ d’at bundle and lookin’ about more wi'd his mouth than wi'd his eyes.’ “Which way did the mug go?’ de- manded the East Side Spotter. * Anyting in it for me?’ and the boot- black cocked his eye. | * Just a dime, if you put me on without any foolishness. Come, I’m on the moye, I am!” | “D’at’s me, too, cully! D’at mug wi'd d’e cap an’ bundle was a sashayin’ down d’at a way when I seen him last,’’ and he pocketed the dime. “Know if he turned off at the next cor- ner?” “Nit. He didn’t look like he had sense to run in outer the rain.” The messenger boy flew along the pave- ment in the direction indicated, and kept a sharp lookout. By dint of persistent and partially efficacious inquiry he at length arrived in a disreputable locality, pretty well over on the East Side. Then he found himself totally at a loss. Hardly knowing what to do next, he was startled by a shrill, youthful voice, shriek- ing for aid. It came from a dingy two- story brick building, with an alleyway cut I heard é: ee ee | SO eo —_ through its center. On one side was a sa. loon, and on the other some kind of & closed place, that looked like a blacksmith’s shop. The cry issued from the saloon. All at once the cries were choked off, and Adam, drawing near, heard a sharp shuf- fling of feet and a murmur of hoarse Voices. ‘Blame me if that first call don’t sound familiar,”’. said young Hoke to himself. Then he pulled out his pistol and looked at the chamber. ‘Good thing I happen to have this littl barker along. I must see the inspector and get permission to carry it regularly.”’ The young spotter approached the bar- room door and listened intently. The ground glass cut off a view of the interior. So in- tent was the boy detective on his task that he failed to notice the figure of a man watching the saloon from the opposite side of the street. The uproar inside suddenly increased, and the lad laid his hand on the knob. ‘Here goes!” exclaimed the boy detec- tive. “If country is inside, I guess I will soon find it out.” He pushed the door open and sprang within. Then the watcher over the way crossed the street and stationed himself beneath the roofed alleyway, where he could hear what passed inside the bar- room. CHAPTER VIL. SKIRMISH AT THE HOLE IN THE WALL. The East Side Spotter was a nervy lad. When he backed himself against the wall with his leveled pistol in one hand and the package of bills in the other, he was, of course, ignorant as to the contents of the parcel. He saw at a glance that the struggling boy was the one he was looking for, and resolved to stand by his quondam ac- quaintance. Very likely the package was the one carried by Rube, and of. which these rogues were trying to rob the boy. Besides, Adam wanted Rube very much now as a possible aid in solving the mys- tery of the Rawlins murder. “Hello there!’ sang out the young de- tective. ‘Turn that boy loose! Stand back, old man, unless you want a ball in your ribs.” This last to old Slooger, who was edging up rather too closely, his eyes inflamed with rage. The bartender was creeping around the bar for a revolver that lay in an open drawer there, in full view. Adam, noting this move, sang out to Rube to rush in and seize the weapon. Young Rawlins, having just freed himself from the grasp of Steve, was at first intent only on flight. ‘IT say, country!” reiterated the messen- ger boy, still keeping his own weapon pointed at Steve and his father alternately. “*Look sharp, now! Grab that pistol and help me out a little.’ As he spoke, Adam gave Leary Kate an- other push, accompanied by a trip that sent» her reeling against the other Woman. Both rolled on the floor. Rube now became animated with a pur- pose to stand by the brave messenger boy to the last. He realized that he had a friend. : Having the advantage of position, Rube darted around the barkeeper, dashed be- hind the bar, and, seizing the pistol, pre- sented the weapon. The bartender fell back’ at first, but seeing that the pistol was not cocked; Slosson was upon the lad in an instant, and Rube went down behind the bar amid a crash of glass, with Slossen uppermost. Seeing this, the young shadower was quick to act. He darted forward, dodg- ing Steve, and leaping over the bar, he