Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 970 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharp. ‘* To see me die?” ** To offer my regrets and—my aid,” ‘*Rot! Glass came as a spy and scout. He wanted a favor of me, but found me too sick to be of use even to a homeless dog. Now, you come. Why? What new villainy are you gg for up?” ‘Longley, you are exasperating,” ** And you are as big a fool as ever,” The men regarded each otherin silence for a moment. Unbelief aud sarcasm were prominent on the one hand; on the other—well, Ahoy Abe could see little in Twiss’s expression now to bear witness to the good will he had professed. ‘* You are as ungracious a cur as ever!’ the captain suddenly exclaimed. ‘If know mankind,” was the philosophical response, ** You have lived long.” . ” Seventy-four years. Yes, yes; it’s a long ife.” **Some would say you have outlived your use- fulness.” ‘**To you, [have, I can no longer pull at an anchor or sail, and card-playingina ship’s cabin would suit me less than of yore,” Twiss looked around nervously. ** Hush!” he exclaimed. Longley laughed mockingly, ‘** Touches ge in a tender spot, don’t it? In imagination I see again a ‘hand composed of four queens and the ace of diamonds, I held four tacks and a ten-spot, I thought I could win, and my opponent was planning toscoop the ile and leave the cabin. You saw that he held tter cards than I,and knew that he would win. We wished to clean him out at poker, for we feared if he died any other way it would rove his cash was hidden where we could not d it; but alook at his hand showed you the risk was going the wrong way, so you played a trump card, if you were notin the game. You played it in his back—so/” r a Longley imitated a blow with a knife, Several times Twiss had tried to check him, but in vain. Sullenly he now regarded the dy- ing man, ‘How often has your tongue babbled this?” he asked. **Never! Dol want to be hanged?” ‘*T don’t trust you, Robert Longley!” ‘*] know you don’t, and I dare say you have come here to finish me up as you did the man in thecabin, You say I’ve outlived my usefulness, and that’s a suggestive remark from you. Well, if you think to murder me it will be no loss to any one. é: ** Longley,” spoke Twiss, scarcely heeding the last words, ‘‘I think we are in danger; ay, I know it!” Longley smiled calmly. ** Danger haz no terrors for me,” ** Because you will never leave the bed you lie upon. It is different with me; I[ have a future, and am obliged to protect myself. Longley, you remember the man wko would not swear secrecy, and whom we threw overboard when—when— Well, you understand.” ** Yes; when we turned pirates,” sé Hush ? “Well, what of Hugh Flood?’ ** He still lives.” ** Tmpossible!” **It is true. He lives, and has been in New York for some time. How much, or how little, he has said I know not, but he has been leading the alleged life of a ‘longshoreman, in the city. He has worked but rarely, and none of his as- sociates know em bec are 4 of him. What name he ave when he branched out in his present calling have not learned; the name became lost to re- collection, and he is known only as Old Grass- hopper OR * Ah!” breathed Ahoy Abe. ** It seems almost impossible,” remarked Long- ley, seriously, ‘Cast overboard in mid-ocean, how could he Lave escaped?” ‘*T don’t know, but escape he did. He is now hunting me down!” ‘** Hal and is your crime to be avenged after so long a while? ‘He is hunting me,” Twiss went on gloomily. “*Twice, of late, I have seen his work. First, I found in the cabin of my schooner a tableau re- presenting that e@ of cards; a show so ac- curate that each of the two players, you and the man who died, held the very ou then held, while I stood erect, ing into his hand, and holding my erready. But the figures representing these players, and myself, were human ske neatly strung ake a bone jd bone, with ber Hugh Flood’s ll and hobby in that line, in old days, and ‘al my hey think how my suspicions at once rose, even man have friends near who would interfere av though I thought him dead. But I soon learned the proper moment, and seize him in the act of he was alive, and then I knew he was hunting , committing the crime? me down!” | i Ahoy Abe watched with painful interest, He ‘* Flood, not dead!” muttered Longley, thought- | did not intend to let Longley die thus, if he could fully. ** He is fatally alive.” ‘** Bad for you!” ‘* His second warning was a coffin which he managed to introduce to my cabin. It was empty, but it hada silver plate on it inscribed fo my name and the words, ‘ Died, July 27, 1888.’ ‘** Hal he give you less than a week of life.” éé6 Yes,”’ ** Look out for him! That man was devoted to his friends on the vessel, and his courage was as unwavering as that of a lion. Think how he chose to be thrown overboard rather than swear allegiance to us! A man of iron, he! Captain, you are doomed; Hugh Flood will kill you like a dog!” ‘*T fear that less than—” ** What?” ** Arrest!” Twiss moved nervously, and then added: ‘‘ Every movement of that man suggests that he would not be satisfied merely to all me; he wants to subject me to the horror, the uncer- tainty, the wearing suspense of imprisonment, trial, sentence, the dread of legal doom, death. A veritable fiend, w.e is, His deformity always made him unpleasani to look at; now it gives me such a shock that it is worse than a night- mare, I know not when he will strike—know not at what moment he may be creeping upon e! ‘* Truly, you are to be pitied!” sneered Long ley. ** Yet,” added Twiss, suddenly becoming prac- tical, ‘* he will find it hard to prove anything un- less you turn against me.” “ ‘* Ah! I see now why youcome to me!” quick- ly interrupted the sick man, *“*I did come to know if I can rely upon you to remain silent,” ** Suppose I see fit to tell all.” ** Would you do that?” ** Suppose I say, yes?” Twiss did not answer, but his hands closed and his facial expression became most threatening and cruel, Longley laughed. ** So!” he commented; ‘it all comes ont like matter of a printed book. Unless I swear silence and perhaps that would not save me, you will kill me before you leave here.” CHAPTER XVII. THE MUNT GROWS HOT, CAPTAIN Twiss did not answer, but his looks bore testimony to the truth of Longley’s surmise —for it was true. The captain saw bimself hunted to the wall, and he knew not which way to turn to escape doom, but all his brute-like courage rose to urge him on to resistance, But in the now dying companion of former days he saw an enemy more to be dreaded than Old Grasshopper, simply because the accusation of the one could be proven by the testimony of the other. Longley must never corroborate the charge. Realizing suddenly that his silence was giving assent to Longley’s words, the captain an- swered: **T have too much faith in you as an old com- rade to believe you would betray me,” ‘“Bravely said,” the sick man sneered, “ but ou coquette with the truth. You believe noth- ng of the kind. For years 78 and I have held no love for one another. At any time you would be glad to send me to the ows. hy should I love you more than you love me?” ** Man, would. you betray me?” Fierce was the captain’s manner, and his voice was almost as hoarse as the dying man’s; but Longley smiled in a slow, contemptuous way: There is no honor among murderers,” The captain took a forward step, his manner growing more threatening, but Longley’s smile did not disappear. **Let no consideration for me stay you,” he advised, ‘‘My life is not worth anything, and the suffering I have undergone the last few weeks has satisfied me. Your hands are bigand strong ; st le me, if you will!” But Twiss did not stir. The willingness of the dying man served to e him waver, and he ¢ Did the old hesitated. Was there a trap in this? Would any human being be so willing | | | prevent it. The man and his knowledge were too valuable to be lost thus. It was a painful pause to all but the sick man while Twiss stood hesitating, but it was broken at last, It wus too much for apy murderer to think that by one bold move he could crush the life out of the man he had to fear most. He leaped forward and seized Longley oy the throat, but the movement was followed by the forward motion of one of the latter’s hands, and a keen knife pierced the captain’s arm, He recoiled, more from surprise than fear, and blood trickled down over his hand, Again Longley laughed, ‘**The race is not always to the fleet!” he scoffed. ** You shall die, dog!” Twiss hissed, and again he leaped upon his victim. With ’one hand he shut off all chance for Longley to utter a word; with the other he pin- ioned that person’s knife-hand, If the old man had relied upon the knife to save him he had counted on a frail support; he struggled, but his strength was no more than a child’s, and Twiss was resistless, ** Die! die!” the assassin hissed. ongley was near to his end. Ahoy Abe knew the time had come for him to act. He could not hope for aid, and must rely wholly upon himself, it seemed, but the fast-gathering darkness would hide the fact that he was so young, and he relied much up- on getting the mariner into a panic, Entering the room very lightly, he twisted his leg around the captain’s, tripping him neatly, and the latter l- ‘is hold and fell to the floor with a crash. Then the rescuer caught up the knife which had fallen from Longley’s nerveless hand, ‘Bring in the bandcuffs!” Abe shouted, as- suming a deep voice. ‘‘ Don’t let him escape! Shoot bim if he tries to pass yer!” It was a shrewd trick, but did no. work as it had been planned. Twiss managed to regain his feet, and his face was full of fury, “Shoot me, will you?” he hissed, -* Well, Till make it hot for you before I go under.” And he leaped toward the Dock Sharp, Abe was not reckless enough to covet a grapple with a man twice his size, and he neatly dodged. Then he cried out again: **Put one man under the winders, and cut off ev’ry way of escape!” It seemed to be breath thrown away, for Twiss turned agai and moved rapidly to the attack. The Sharp found himself in close uarters. He was not willing to run and desert songley, nor was he capable of conquering Twiss unless victory came by accident. Again he tried to dodge, but, this time, the mariner succeeded in catching his sleeve and holding him. ‘** Now, I'll do you up!” Twiss hissed. His powerful hand closed over Abe’s throat, and knowing his life was at stake, the boy swung up the knife for a stroke, But at that moment there was a shout, the sound of tram- pling feet, and into the room rushed other men. nd ag to call for help, but could frame no word. But one of the new-comers leaped upon Twiss and struck him several powerful blows, the sailor released his hold and staggered back. His course was toward the door, and as he saw the way of escape open, he improved the chance at once, for he fled. : One of the new-comers gr Abe’s arm. The Sharp recognized Old peesppee sot ‘¢ Who was it?” the ‘longshoreman ssed, ‘*Captain Twiss, and—’ The deformed man’s hold relaxed; he turned and started in pursuit, and, a moment later, was to be heard going down the’stairs with long bounds, Irstinctively the Sharp started to join in the pursuit, but again he was checked, this time by a gentler hand. **Remain here,” a voice, ‘ Hullo! is it you, Parson Joe?” “Yes. This old man—is he dead?” and the sport pointed to ee . s Dunno, b’gosh! but he hadn’t ought ter be, Ef he is it’s cause he was 80 feeble an’ couldn't stand the shock, Where’s there a lamp?” 8 er was looking around anxiously, but it was not until he had made some search that he found the article named, Parson Joe had a match, and a light was duly obtained. “‘ Dead, sure pop!” Such was Abe’s off-hand comment when he — - - - = a ee SA < 9", oe. fs : ' Pid J h IA , ca, + Ate ee OmrcpOoOoKS.com