Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 963 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- under his arm. 6 struck Slosson on the head with his own pistol butt. The barkeeper sank down beside Rube, who arose, but was dizzy, confused from the choking he had received. “Here you are, country!’ shouted the young detective, as he thrust the other pis- tol into Rube’s hand. ‘ Let us make for that side door.” Adam and Rube emerged from behind the bar, to be confronted by Steve and old Slooger, and as the boys darted out, the old man managed to grasp Rube, who, ex- cited and unfamiliar with the handling of a pistol, had again neglected to cock his weapon. Old Slooger threw Rube down, sat upon his breast, and tried to seize the pistol. Again, then, the New York lad showed his nerve and prowess, for, duck- ing under Steve’s arm, he overturned one of the women, and dealt the old man a terrible blow with the butt of his revolver. Then he dragged Rube to his feet. “Now for it, country!’ he cried, making for the side door with the fateful package ‘Run for your life!’ But as Adam, on the lead, was about to dart out, the door opened from without, and a vigorous-looking young woman came in, crying out: “What's wrong here? What's the mat- ter, father?” “Stop that bloke, Meg!’ roared old Slooger, who was just recovering from the blow dealt him, pointing at Rube. “ Stop the cove, you fool!’ The woman opened wide her arms, and glasping Rube, held him tight. Rube was caught sure enough this time. “We've got you, anyhow!” said Steve, seizing the lad, as Meg released him. “Took sharp after t’other one!’’ he shouted. Meanwhile, the messenger boy had burst through the doorway like a young cyclone, and when Leary Kate and the old man reached the alleyway it was deserted. —- The East Side Spotter. see to you. I'll be an uncle to you. And I will take care of you till that same pack- age of money comes back, See?’ The gang were evidently alarmed at Rube’s knowledge of certain things, im- perfect as it was. The boy tremulously protested at being further detained, but was hustled off to the rear in the custody of Steve and the woman called Meg. They passed through a dirty court at the rear and ascended some steps to a shanty perched on somewhat higher ground. Rube was taken into a squalid-looking room, with but one entrance and a high, narrow window. HEseape therefrom would be diffi- cult, if not impossible. ‘* Now, youngster,” said Steve, “here you stays until we says go. Meg will look after you, and Meg is a dandy on the shoot herself when she gets excited. Quiet is the word for you, my Jew lark.” : Rube sat down listlessly on the single bed the room contained, quite disheartened. An hour or two passed, and the night grew very quiet. Rube soon feigned sleep, when Meg slipped out and locked the door. Rube was up in a moment, and, lighting a taper, found the door, which he suc- ceeded in opening. Closing the door softly, he crept down the narrow staircase, opened the hall door cautiously, and once again was free. CHAPTER VIII. THE MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE. When the East Side Spotter shot through the side door of the saloon and found him- self in the street, he ran so fast that he did not notice any one else lurking about the alleyway. Darting down another court, he made his way to a thoroughfare, and then hurried devyiously here and there for several blocks before he felt that he had dodged pursuit, should any be under- taken. Finally, he drew up under a street lamp and qgpened one end of the package gee, Be 7 » — ~ head. As it was, the blow glanced, when Adam dodged, raking the back of his skull with a power sufficient to draw blood and at the same time send him staggering forward to his knees. He sprang up at once, but his*mysterious pursuer and the package had already dis- appeared around the corner of the big lumber pile. “1 will kill that chap, whoever he is,” and whipping out his pistol, around and around among the lumber piles he made his way, and at length found himself, de- jected and weary, at the very spot where the encounter had occurred. His foot Ag ag something in the dirt. He picked it up. It was a cigar case, dropped undoubtedly by the man who had committed the as- sault and made off with the package of money. Adam hurried to the nearest street light and examined his find. Upon one side of the moroeco case, in letters of silver, was the name ‘John H, Sylvester.” The messenger boy emitted a low whistle of surprise. “Great Caesar!” he ejaculated. “ That must be the Sylvester spoken of by Jen- nie! The particular friend of old Rawlins, who had money dealings and quarrels with the old man! Well, well! Things are, indeed, gettingcomplicated. I'll just skip back tothe office and tell our night boss that I am ailing with my head—had a fall or some- thing—and then take a wash. After that I will think things over and lay off for a day or two.” He started briskly onward and felt his courage already rising again. When morning came the East Side Spot- ter felt still better. His head promised to trouble him but little, and the wound was hardly noticeable. received the full forcé squarely on the — wn — Pee ee - a _ — S Even the furtive watcher had made him- | he had so strangely seized. First he concluded he would call on Jen- a xe self scarce. They listened and looked, but “Great Scott!’ he exclaimed. ‘‘ No won- | nie, and see what further she might have to a ae Adam was not to be seen. der they all want to swing to this. This | say. Leave of absence had been obtained Bvt FA “Where is that there bundle of notes?” | case grows deeper and deeper!” from the office of the company by which Bi We - demanded old Slooger, when he returned. | Then he walked on, until he drew near | he was employed. Arriving at the house i a “J don’t know,” replied Rube, much de- | some coal yards. ‘The locality was dark | Of the late Mr. Rawlins, he found the shut- . -——s« jected at this new turn of affairs. “I | and deserted at that hour. Hearing a | ters closed, the door locked, and, appar- : ar wish I had never laid eyes on it. I wish I { somewhat distant footfall, he listened to ently, no one at home. at eae was back in Mizzoury!” the stealthy tread, that once more ceased. “ What’s the use of trying to get into am 1 Be “Missouri!” exclaimed the old man, |The street lamps were widely separated, | empty house?’ said a man with a note i“ winking at the others. ‘What part of | and he could not see far. A large lumber | book and pencil, who seemed to be a sort . e that wilderness did you come from?” yard also stretched along one side of the | of rent or rate collector. we he “Pike County, not far from Hannibal. | street. On the other were warehouses be- ‘Where have they gone?” asked Adam, - Tf you'll only let me get out of this town | sides the coal yards. _ his spirits lowering, somewhat. | A Tl go back there, soon as ever I can.” “Believe I will turn down the next | “ Well, the dead man is at the undertak- © ie. “ What you doin’ in New York? No lies, | street,’ / determined Adam, uneasily.'| er’s. I guess you don’t want to see him. . now, or you'll wish you was somebody else | “There is enough money here, I should | The girl—hired girl, I belieye—she is out oem pretty quick.” judge, to cause half a dozen murders. | on bail. © Soi: ' 7 ain't in the habit of lying, mister. I | Everything seems to point suspicion at “Out on bail! Well, all I have to 1s ee. come here to look up an uncle of mine. | that boy. But if he is into it, I'll bet the | Say is that the arrest of this poor girl and. | . ny Father told fe to. Father is dead. He] is used more as a blind or stool pigeon forcing her to give bail is a breezy shame. oe a said Uncle Eben Rawlins had lots of | than anything else. The man who did That little kid is as innocent of the Raw- ‘@ money, and he would help me out. But—" | that job evidently understood his work.’’ lins murder as I am. Sloper is getting ; 3 “Rawlins, eh?’ and Slooger glanced | The sound of the footsteps now rapidly | Soft in the head. Foosh! Don’t I know es . ‘meaningly at his son. “And your uncle | approached, so the suspicious Adam | him?” | ei ae hy, give you that nice wad of bills, I guess. | dodged in at an open gateway and glided The boy detective paused, feeling that he | | But now you've gone and lost it all. I was | behind a huge pile of lumber. He picked | was in danger of expressing himself too Rea: | Se - going to take care of it for you, That's | up a stick about as long as a walking-stick. | vigorously. The man appeared to be re- --_s- what T often does for foolish kids like you.” | It was a handy cudgel. Nearer came the | minded of something, and referred to his a” a I “Uncle didn’t give me the money.” | footsteps. note-book. Gan. *é + ~ Then Rube stopped, remembering the pos- Suddenly the sound of them again ceased, “I want to ask you a few questions,” h ae ay sible danger of again explaining how he | as if the party had halted. Was he pur- | said. 2 Saag ‘3 *h _- ¢ame by the package. a sued, and had his pursuer gone noiselessly (: aby 5 » V8 anaes _"*T des'say you stole the swag,” averred | away? Hardly; yet— | HAPTER IX. ge + Slooger, fiercely. “But never mind; T'll| “Well, young fellow,” said a_ strident CLEW OF THE CIGAR CASE. -* {je . pot, ; ‘e , roi ad’ x hi : 4 laug Dri iMG ‘be an unele to you, boy. Where did you | voice in the lad’s ear, causing him to al The,East Side Spotter laughed sardoni- — _ st -- gay you got the mun’?’ most jump in his tracks, “you were look- | cally. | “f. if eee > «FF found it—in a house. I hardly | ing the wrong way, this time, I guess.” “Sail in, old man! Is it about rents or 9 ah know where,’ Rube responded, “I am a The speaker, who had noiselessly ap- | water rates?’ eR a } stranger in this town. THe knows where | proached Adam from behind, as he spoke | “No chinning, now. You are a city de~ ‘ the house is,” pointing at Steve. “I told | grasped Adam’s wrist so suddenly that | livery messenger. Where did you go last » | P you all that before, and what I said is the the package of money fell to the ground, | night after you gave us the slip at this truth.” | and before the boy had turned he received | house?” eB | wi Sth “Rats! You talk with your mouth too} a blow from some blunt instrument that | “Where did I go? TI suppose I might — - much. Steve ain’t been nowhere. But I'll! would have knocked him senseless had he ! have gone to bed. Rustling hot telegrams — = , : »| | | , ,