Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 970 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

=“ o= re has seen fit to give me, and taough my h may be rough I know how to do well by the child of—by you, I mean, Come! Witb me there is rest, peace, safety—I almost dare hope, happiness. st me, and if events draw from me the Jast drop of blood that beats in my veins, that drop shall be shed in your defense willingly. Trust me!” Ahoy Abe could hardly believe he was look- ing at, and listening to, the man who was known as a curt, ill-mannered, silent Sphinx. Old Grasshopper’s rugged face had grown al- most handsome with the gentleness within it, and his voice bad lost its asperity. Elise looked into his eyes and answered: ‘*T will trust you.” “*-You do well.” The “longshoreman’s aid had been standing near, but a motion from the leader now brought him forward, ‘‘We will go at once,” Old Grasshopper added, They turned to go on deck, the ’longshoreman supporting Elise, and Ahoy Abe retreated to a . distance. He intended to have an interview with the leader later on, but feared that his appearance at that juncture would prejudice that person against him, as he probably would be taken for a spy. Once on deck Old Grasshopper spoke in a low voice to his follower, and then himself led Elise toward the pier. The second man seized the coffin, carried it below and deposited it in the middle of the cabin, This done he hastened up and joined his com- panions where they had paused, at the edge of the pier. lt looked as if Elise was to be taken away suc- cessfully, and the Dock Sharp was prepared to follow, but the movement fell through in the very moment of success, There was a sound of voices on the pier, and several men hastened forward with heavy steps. ‘* Thunder!” cried a voice, ‘* somebody’s takin’ the gal away!” ‘* At them, men!” It was a quick, angry command, but Abe was not slow to recognize Twiss, ‘The captain had returned most inopportunely, He and those with him were men accustomed to act very promptly when once a decision had been reached. He sprung upon Elise’s rescuers, and a fierce struggle began. Dim as the light was, Abe saw more than one knife rise and fall, but what execution was done he could noé tell. Plainly, however, Twiss and his gang were de- termined to win at all hazards, and they had no such thing as conscience to stand in the way of deeds of darkness, The Sharp was not one to stand idle when such a scene was going on, and he ran across the gang-plank, ‘Let up, you pirites!” he cried. ‘‘ Quit yer antics, or ran hev a platoon o’ perleece down from Headquarters. ow’s that fer a primer?” He saw Captain Twiss near him, and accom- pega the question with a blow at the mariner’s ace which staggered the latter, but the rush of the assailants had so forced Old Grasshopper back that, despite their most desperate en- deavors, they were very near the edge of the pier. But on the street the tap of a patrolman’s billy was heard, and the Sharp raised his voice in a call for blue-coat aid. The call came too late, Elise’s defenders were forced back further yet, and Abe made @ move to dodge the crowd and avoid a tumble; but at that juncture Old Grasshopper was flung heavil back by the force of a blow. He struc against Abe, and both fell headlong into the dock. The Sharp struck in the most awkward way imaginable, and was not a little jarred thereby, but he soon got his limbs in motion with the in- stinct of a good swimmer. He could see nothing of the ‘longshoreman, though he was positive that the latter had gone into the water, but as he was‘aware that he could swim, the Sharp gave all his attention to his own affairs. And he had need to, The tide was running in a rough, swift fashion, and he did not seem able to combat it with his usual skill. After some labor he gained hold on oneof the supports of the pier, and after a good deal of work, climbed up to the top. The fight was over. Near the schooner was a@ group, of which policemen formed a part, but there was no ex- citement, Abe hastened toward them, and soon saw that, besides the officers, no one was there except Twiss and his followers, Elise, Old Grasshopper and the latter’s aid | cect, mm a A LC LL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL Te Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharv. were alike missing, Those who remained were talking, and the first distinct words the Sharp heard were from one of the patrolmen: **'You are lucky to get off so easy.” ‘* Who do you think they were?” Twiss asked. * River-thieves!” ‘* Ah!” murmured Twiss, with a show of inno- cence, ‘Those contemptible fellows are thick around here, and they rob right and left, Of course we dothe best we can with them, but we can’t always be around.” ‘* Undoubtedly it-was they.” ** Sure!” Ahoy Abe sprung forward and cried: ** Officer, don’t you believe et, This man—” ‘*Ha!l” exclaimed Twiss, ‘‘ here’s one of them mr, I saw him using a knife. Officer, arrest im! CHAPTER XIII, LOCKED IN|! THE audacity of the charge for a moment de- prived Ahoy Abe of breath. His life about thé streets of New York had so sharpened his wits that he was usually ready to hold his own, but a Twiss had played a bold card and played it well, The Dock Sharp rallied as soon as possible. ‘‘Gammon!” he retorted; *‘ you can’t make that yarn godown here. I rather guess, Johnny Twist, ef that’s yer name, that l’m erbout as well known around hereas yoube, Ve, ariver- pirate? Oh! come off yer perch, old man!” ‘** Boys, didn’t you see him?” Twiss turned to his gang, and they answered in chorus: “Yes; sure!” ‘‘ Bet yer gum-drops, ye didi!” Abraham agreed, frankly. ‘‘When you turned pirate, honist folks had ter chip in, Ask the gal! Where is she?” ‘ ** Aimost prostrated by the attempt to kidna her,” Twiss explained, severely, ‘‘she fainted, Officer, take this young tough into custody, and I will appear against bim in court to-morrow.” Now, it so happened that of the two policemen one was new on the beat, and the other had a dislike to Abe without good cause. The latter seized the Sharp by the arm. ‘** You can go with us, cully!” he stated. ‘* But, sav; this ain’t right. Ef you'll look inter et you will find et jest as I say. I ain’t built right fer a crook, an’ I kin prove et, You ‘*Oh! shut the kid off!” The second officer spoke in disgust, and Abe saw everything was going against him, His own friends remained absent, while his accusers were out in. numbers and ready toswear to any- thing. Call the gal!’ he requested, earnestly. ‘‘Give her a chance ter say who’s the toughs, an’ who ain’t. Ef she sides ag’inst me I'll waltz over ter the jug an’ say never a word.” ‘‘-Yes; having scared her into a faint, he is now sharp enough to leave it to one who can’t k,” put in Twiss. ‘Tt won’t work, Come on, cully!” ‘* But, say, Officer; that gal is in danger! Don’t leave her with Cap’n Twist. ile’s her enemy — ** Rubbish !” ‘*Gammon!” The first exclamation was from Twiss; the second from the patroiman, Abe was only a boy, while Twiss was a corpulent captain on the high seas, and when Twiss said ‘‘ Rubbish!” the misguided policeman felt it his duty to say **Gammon!” He said it, and felt better, but it did not affect Abe that way, especially as the blue-coat began to pull him as & **Say, General, d’ye know Old Grasshopper?” persisted Abraham, ** Now, you see here, don’t be too fresh! I don’t know Old Grasshopper, Young Grass- hopper, or Middle-aged Grasshopper. Naw! And I don’t want to. Butif you think you can give any more of your sass, you’re wrong. Try oo Pll t’ump you in the jaw with my billy. Perhaps the blue-coat was excusable for not, recognizing the fact that the to-him-un- -known * Old gee ag was really a human y fl being, but the seemingly flippant question had so irritated him that he shook his prisoner and punched him in the ribs, and Abe saw he had got to accept his fate for the time being. Iil-luck followed-him to the station-house, He had fondly believed he would find enough old police friends to effect his release, but a new sergeant was at the desk, and a formal charge was written on the books and Sharp ignominious- ly thrust into a cell, without attention being given 11 to his request to .e a patrolman. There he was left alone. ‘‘ Well, by jim-hickey!” he then soliloquized, ‘‘ter think I should come ter this! Here is the pride o’ the Dow family bottled 4 like a dime- museum freak, an’ charged with bein’ a river- pirit an’ all them things, Je-hossfly! but ef the mayor knew of it he would bu’st all the buttons he’s got off, a-tryin’ fer ter git here quick an’ bail me out, I give yea primer on that!” The victim of the occasion was managing to take bis incarceration philosophically, but the turn of humor soon departed. He thought of Elise and Old Grasshopper. The *longshoreman had disappe in the river completely, and though the Sharp tried to convince himself that the former might have been playing some deep game, he could not avoid entertaining the fear that the earthly raged of the deformed man had ended then and there. ‘ Otherwise, why had Abe been unable to see im? As for Elise, she was left to Captain Twiss’s mercy, or Jack thereof. As near as he could understand there had been trouble between them already. Old Grasshop- per and bs men had been unable to find her, at first. Had she been confined somewhere by T wiss, and only released after long effort on the rescuer’s part This seemed likely, and Abe feared for her. John Twiss was a villdin. If, as the boy thought to be the case, Elise was in his way, what would he not do?” ‘Here I be like a rat,” lamented the Sharp, ‘fan’ it will all be over afore mornin’. Twiss will know he can’t carry on his bluff, an’ he will fix things quick. The Brown Bet will be gone by daylhght. An’ where will Elise be?” Gloomy enough the faithful young champion found the outlook, but even that did not make him dwell long uponit. He fell asleep before he realized the approach of slumber, and did not awaken until daylight, It was the rattling of a key in the cell-door which aroused him, and he sprung to his feet. When the barrier swung back he saw the cap- tain of the precinct, with whom he was well and favorably acquainted. ‘*Gl-ry E Pluribus!” he cried, ‘‘I never was gladder ter see anybody. That’s straight, by um! ‘*So it’s really you, Abe? I saw the name re- corded on the blotter, but could hardly believe you had got arrested on such a serious charge.” ‘You don’t want ter b’lieve it, Cap, fer et ain’t true—or, w’ot I mean, I ain’t guilty. Pm here as the result of a condemn’d scheme, an’ by the flobby conduck of a perleeceman on your force who ain’t fit ter sweep up dirt fer the Street Commissioner. See?” ‘*Ts it a plot against you?”, ‘*Sure!” ** Prove it, and I'll see you out of it.” ‘* Wall, Cap, the first thing you want ter do is ter hustle some o’ yer ar ed cops down ter the pier where I was pulled n, an’ straightway lay a-holt on my accusers, John Twiss an’ gang. An’ right there you will find my witnesses, Elise an’—an’— Well, ef Old Grasshopper ain’t sunk ter terror firmus at the bottom o’ the river, he will tell you w’ot is w’ot!” Abraham was excited, and he talked himself out of breath without giving the police captain a chance to say anything. Naturally, he wished for more light before acting, but a little conversation sufficed to make all clear, and, having faith in the Sharp, it dawned upon the officer that there really was serious need of action. He selected three policemen, put himself at their head, took Abe along, and then went to the pier. Although the Sharp had predicted failure on account of the delay, the leader had strong hopes of scoring a success, but, when they sighted the pier, Abe exclaimed: ** We’re too late!” ** Too late?” ‘‘ The Brown Bet is gone!” Sure enough; where the schooner had rested, the water now rippled unchecked by any burden on itscrest. The Twiss craft had disappeared. The police captain and Abe were alike reluc- tant to believe the — ve evidence, and it was not until the latter had looked long and anxious- ly in all directions that he gave up trying to sight the schooner, Sonvinced, at last, it became clear that Twiss had been too wise to remain and meet the test of future events; he had clapped sail to the Brown Bet and gone—whither? : ‘‘ Perhaps not beyond the’water limits of New ee iu) ft