Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 970 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

i ne ele Ey ge TR. - - 7 > “ » ~s . ” dl - . 2 —_—- -—---— i ee ee — ° 16 more painful for him that he realized be must have lost itexactiy as she said. In some way it had fallen from bis pocket when he was in the upper hall. “TIT told you, Pete,” she added, “‘that I thought { heard some one mousin’ in the hall,” Despite the directness of the accusation, the object thereof preserved his composure re- markably. He eyed the handkerchief disdain- fully. ‘*[ plead not guilty,” he asserted, ‘'I never owned no wipe, anyhow. Don’t see no need o’ sech a thing. Would as soon think of sleepin’in a night-gown, like them Fifth Avenoo dudes, Even if | owned a handkerchief, | wouldn’t use it ter wipe up all the mud in Jersey, ez some one hez done ter that, See?” The nonchalant denial went for nothing. ‘* Don’t you b’lieve him, Glass,” urged the bel- ligerent female, ‘*‘ Ho is lyin’) ‘*Mebbe you know my wardrobe better than ido, mum,” “T know you dropped this,” ‘* Gammon!” ‘*T am compelled to believe this woman’s con- clusion is correct. Boy, why were you skulking in the ball?” Peter’s manner grew more threatening, but he was not rewarded by any signs of fear on Abe’s part. In fact, it was not natural to the Sharp to be afraid. He knew Glass was a tricky fellow who lived by his wits, and did not doubt that he was capable of any addi- tional evil work, but the messenger did not quail. ‘* Now, you see here,” he returned, ‘‘ I ain’t oin’ ter make any more palaver about this. ’ve told you Lain’t guilty, an’ I don’t waste no words on a feller who casts doubts on my veracity. You kin believe me, or you kin go to thunder! See?” ** Pete,” advised the woman, ‘‘ don’t you let him leave here until he gives a good account of himself,” , ** IT won’t, you bet!” ** Hey? ’ot’s that?” Abe demanded. ** You are a prisoner.” **Oh! come off!” ‘* A person who comes into my house and skulks around as you have done, puts himself liable to any punishment I see fit to give—” ** You can’t punish me !” 5 66 No?” ‘‘Not by a darned sight, mister! You may run this tumble-down old shanty, but, you don’t run mé; no, nor you can’t, Hey you any an- swer ter make to that epistle?” sé No. ” ‘© Then I’m goin’.” The Sharp moved resolutely toward the door, but it wasin the nature of an experiment and. as he would have expressed it, a “‘ bluff.” Glass and the woman stood in the way, and ,he well knew he could not pass them if they saw fit to block bis path. re observant, he now saw that Peie hesi- tated. “‘lf you canclear yourself, you can go,” the tout remarked, slowly. “Tm hg Eitase fol I'm a free-born Ameri-. can citizen, | be; an’ nobody kin hold me up like a Nor'’west road-agent. Ef a hand is laid on me } always yell so like sin that every cop in New York kin bear me,” ‘*Were you really in the upper hall? ‘If so, why? Tell me the truth, and—” ‘*Of course he was there!” cried the woman, ‘* Will you Jet that little fool humbug ye?” Practical as she was, Glass hesitated to take the decisive step. He was not troubled with a conscience, but the seizing and holding of a prisoner meant a risk he did not want to take if he could help it, and, besides, he had no good place to put the Sharp, Troubled, doubtful, and not a little confused, he stepped out of the way. ‘* You can go,” be muttered, ‘‘ but, remember, l rely on your honor,” ‘‘ Well, Pete Glass, you are a fool!” the wo- man declared. But Abe promptly passed the couple, and, now being on the safe side, nodded genially. 1 feltsure from the look o’ yer honest face you wouldn’t go fer ter harm a poor orphin,” he remarked, with quiet humor, ‘‘ My father a eee Se | | an’ mother both died ten years afore 1 wuz | born, an’ left me alone in the werld. I depend on worthy gents like yer nibsey ter do the han’- | some by me,” By that time he had the street-door open, and he bowed deeply as he added: “Ef 1 shouldn’t recognize ye when we meet ag’in, jest call me by name, fer I’d hate ter give up sech pleasant quaintances. So-long, gents an’ maidens fair!” J nnn ak hed Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharp. He winked to the woman, who was neither fair nor a maiden, and went coolly down the stoop. Glass and the women gazed after him with doubt and fear which, on her part, finally found expression in the vehement assertion: ** Pete Glass, you’re a faol!” ‘* Maybe i am,” he gloomily admitted, ‘‘7 kin see with half an eye tvat kid is one of Satan’s own chicks. He will be around an’ do you up. He spied on you in the hall, an’ who knows how much he discovered about the mys- tery of that room?” Her voice sunk to a dramatic whisper, and Glass moved uneasily, ‘‘{ hope you are wrong, Dorc; I hope he was not in the upper hall.” ‘‘He was,” Dore insisted; *‘he was there, an’ he will do you up. When you're done fer, re- member you was warned by a woman; an’ it’s the women who bev long heads,” ‘‘Long ears, you mean,” Pete retorted. ‘* Bosh, Dorcas, bosh!—you imagine too much, Pil report to Captain Twiss, but I don’t fancy there is any trouble whatever. Don’t be croak- ; ? And he closed the door, In the mean while Abe walked ov until he met Parson Joe. He had some doubt of being able to find the sport, he had been gone so long, but the manin black was waiting, his serious face calm and patient. ‘* Well?’ be questioned, quietly. ‘*No answer, mister.” “6 No?” ‘*Nary! Peter China-ware Glass didn’t seem ter take the missive kindly, an’ all my eloquence couldn’t worm no answer out.o’ him.” ‘* What did he say?” Abe told «s near as he could all that had been said on the subject, and also dwelt upon the tout’s facial expression. Parson Joe heard in serious meditation, ‘‘] may have made a mistake in writing to Glass,” he remarked, ‘‘I am a good deal in the dark, and it’s possible I have put my foot in it. ‘*General, w’ot fer a place is that old ark, anyhow?” ‘** I don’t know.” ‘*W'ot’s the thing up-staire that yowls, screeches, sneezes, coughs an’ screams, all in one breath?’ ** What do you mean?” Ahoy Abe had great confidence in this re- markable sport who was “‘ square,” and be pro- ceeded to tell the rest of bis experience in the West street house. , He did not fail to do full justice to the mys- tery of the upper room, and Parson Joe looked very much puzzled. ** What do you suppose it was?” ‘** I dunno,” Abe confessed. ** If they call it ‘he,’ the object must be some living creature, and it hardly seems that it can be an animal.” ‘* Et wasn’v no animal, It’s cry was as pecu- liar as the ways of a ward “politician in New York, but I’ve seen enough o’ animals ter. be sure this wasn’t one,” ‘* Then it’s a man.” ** Looks like it.” ** A man held prisoner.” tc sene Pereitinngrem but Glass must be a cork- er ‘‘}f he really has a man there as a prisoner, it may be a matter that interests me, I say it ‘may be,’ for Iam ona trail where all is doubt and uncertainty. Yousay you know the ‘long- shoreman called Old Grasshopper. As 1 ex- plained to you when we first met, | want to find that man. Now, can’t you suggest some way for me to get at him to-night?’ ** Wal, we might go to Patsey Breen’s place,” Abe returned, meditatively. ‘** The ’longshore- men make a practice of droppin’ in ter Patsey’s ter drink beer, Old Grasshopper may be there, an’ he may not; but ef he ain’t, we may find out where he lives,” ‘*A capitalidea, Let us try it.” Abe led the way to Patsey’s. This wasa place which had a saloon in front, and a big place called a reading-room attherear. Really, there was but little reading done there. Patsey or- dered the daily and illustrated papers, but did not ‘‘ keep ” them, for the good reason that, be- | fore nightfall, dishouest customers had stolen about the whole lot. In former years Abe bad been an ‘errand-boy for Patsey more than once, and he still bad the privilege of going and com- ing when he pleased. Eotering the side-door, and thereby avoiding the bar-room, Abe and Parson Joe reached the reading-room, A score of ‘longshoremen were present: big, ’ . : NN SSS... 0—Q_ — j otber person Hes: fey : : * ; "J . - ‘ <i ‘ u = ‘ . tis » ‘ > Sols eh ‘ os fa p 4%, ia ; . « : r f ee ri ee Wh SS, reat ; ia , . C P | . col & ris en? a et ce é Nite ap ‘5 ” a Zz ; She BEAN Le ek ied hea ¢ aire te “ety — a : ts, po .- —___—_—__-- - — ae — ' muscular men who,in a time of emergency, could be counted upon as the very flower of New York’s people, as far as strength and hardy te- solution went. The Dock Sharp selected one whom he knew and inquired for Old Grasshopper. That mem- ber of their fraternity bad not been seen that evening. ‘‘ Where does he live?” Abe next asked. “Now you’re hootin’!” remarked one of the pier gladiators. ‘‘ Where does he live? Any- body know?” No one answered, ‘* I'll treat the feller who knows,” pursued the speaker. ‘‘I’ye worked shoulder ter shoulder with Old Grasshopper fer five years, when he sees fit ter work, but I know no more about him toan I do about the McGinty. Old Grassey isa mystry, he is. Whar does he live?) W’ot does he doo’ nights? Ireckon it would make inter- estin’ matter ter know.” ** He’s a corker,” ‘*T never understood him.” *““Do you think he’s a crook?” ** W’ot is his secret?” ‘* He’s a durned queer one.” The ‘longshoremen near at hand expressed their views freely as far as they had any, in the above and other words, but not one of them claimed any real knowledge of Old Grasshopper, He was a man who came and went among them, saying but little, and suggesting, by bis reserve and strange ways, a good deal more than they could grasp fully. Finding that nothing was to be learned about him, the inquirers were ubout to abandon the quest for the night when a fresh arrival pushed his way through the crowd. He wore a sailor’s outfit, and had evidently been using, and misusing, bis leave of absence. He walked unsteadily, and his eyes had a glassy aspect which was not due to any mild drink. He flung his cap down on a table, ‘* Mesgamates,” he cried, ‘‘my name is Jack Turner, an’ I belong ter the schooner Brown Bet,” he announced, ** Well, you’d better go back ter yer schooner, or you'll get your head punched,” suggested a Jongshoreman, irritated by the sailor’s over- forward manner. ‘*] don’t think so, [I’m a peaceful man, any not anxious fer a row with anybody. I'd run before I'd fight, but would rather drink yer good health than terrun. Let us hev peace! lI’ma Jack Tar ashore, an’1 hope nobody envies me a few hours in the most glorious city of the world, old New York,” The speaker’s manner was 80 te see that all resentment fled, and somebody placed a chair for him, **So your ship is in port, is it?” ‘Right, messmate; schooner Brown Bet; John Twiss, cap’n, Lord bless you! but he’sa corker: generally as stiff asa sea-breeze. W7’ot struck him this voyage I don’t know. Usually bad as soon eat belayin’-pins as ter give the boys an hour on shore, but this night be packed the whole lot of us off, without askin’ ef we was willin’; almost drove us away.” Ahoy Abe beard with more interest than any resent, All bis doubts of the master of the Brown Bet returned, Why bad Twiss beep so anxious to get rid of his crew on this particular night? ‘‘ 4 drunken chatterbox,” remarked Parson Joe; “I think we may as well go.” But at that moment one of the ‘longshoremen touched Abe’s arm and remarked: ‘* Here comes Old Grasshopper !” CHAPTER VI. THE SQUARE SPORT'S OBJECT, “ Anal! our man, at last!” Ahoy Abe nudged Parson Joe sharply and nodded toward the door. The latter did not need toask which was Old Grasshopper. A man was advancing who was so out of the ordinary run of men that no one who had heard of Old Grasshopper need be in doubt. He was of middle age and very strongly built, His shoulders were broad; his arms ce and werful. Yet, he was not a well-formed man, is sboulders rose very high; making a hollow between them in which rested his short neck and big bead; and his long, mishapen legs were al- — most crooked enough to make his nickname excusable. His face was broad, and very perceptible signs of intelligence of no mean degree would have made it an attractive face were it not for az over-cunning and furtive something about it. Abraham spoke to him with the freedom the | P Gs “ "Th Nite st a ho aE r. She pA ae cbhooks.com i oar id ey a - ed