Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 970 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER &, SHOOTING TO KILL, Trm stood in fear and irresolution. Glass had ordered him to return to New York, and he had made a feint of obeying, but, suspecting that Ahoy Abe was in danger, he had not gone. Lingering, he had watched the progress of events until the crisis came, and then revealed himself, not courageously, but in sheer despera- tion. ‘He had broken the laws more than once, but he was not evil enough to be satisfied to stand and see a boy deliberately butchered. He’ did not leave the room when Glass or- dered him to, but his knees quaked more than ever. “You ain’t goin’ ter do this,” he persisted, feebly. ss Oh, you poor, sniveling cur!” the tout erated, ‘‘have you no brains? Get out of here! —get out!” He started toward Tim, but Ahoy Abe, in trying to make a good argument, made a “7 breek,” instead, ‘* That’s right!” he remarked, mockingly ; ‘‘ he ean’t do better than go, an’ then he will be a witness aginst you w’en you're tried fer killin’ me. See?’ ‘*The fiends! that’s so. If I let him go, he will be in position to ruin me, He must not go; he must die with you!” The critical nature of the case was stirring Pete’s whisky-muddled wits, and he saw clearly enough, at last. He drew a bead upon Tim, and that person’s last remnant of courage faded away. He turned to flee, but was not quick enough, Glass pulled the trigger, and his former ally fell heavily to the floor. He lay groaning, but without further sign of life. ** One!’ Glass flourished the revolver and laughed as he uttered the word, and was in a state of , Poa excitement. Then he turned upon Ahoy Abe, ‘* Your turn!” he shouted. He leveled the revolver, Helpless Abe gave ap hope, There was a report, and the Dock Sharp be- lieved he felt the bullet pass through his body. He had dauntlessly kept his eyes wide open, however, and he was somewhat surprised to see Pete’s revolver fall with a clatter to the floor. Then the tout held up his hand, and blood dripped from it. ‘* Dog! Ihave a good mind to kill you out- right!” A deep voice uttered the words, and again Abe’s gaze flashed toward the door. A cry of joy passed his lips. A man stood there, revol- ver in hand, It was Parson Joe, the sport! **'W hoop!” shouted the Sharp. Parson Joe marched forward. He did not take his gaze from Pete’s face, and his eyes flashed with indignation. There seemed good reason why Abe should feel a complete revulsion of feeling, for he looked capable of crushing Pete as he would a worm. ‘* This is fine business you are in!” he added, in a deep, aggressive voice. ‘* And what have you done?” Glass bitterly asked, holding up his wounded hend, **l bave maimed a snake!” ‘* You can’t say much; you are nothing but a *sport,’” ‘It is an unworthy calling, I admit,” Joe agreed, the old expression of sadness appearing in his face, “I claim no nobility; I admit my weakness; but this much is certain—I never tried to butcher a boy like an ox in the shambles, Coward |—coward !” ‘** You can talk well, now Iam wounded. You wouldn’t do it if I was whole,” ‘* Your hurtis butascratch. I fired and took your own revolver from your hold. I touched you with the same shot, but I repeat that it’s only ascratch. If you think lam disposed to take advantage of your position, pick up your revolver and Jet us fight it out.” **] won’t!” Glass sullenly returned. ** As you see fit.” Parsop Joe stooped and picked up the fallen weapon, He did not intend to give Peter a chance to shoot him in the back. Then he turn- ed to Ahoy Abe, ** My poor lad, have you been crushed by in- dignities?” he added. a ** Nary crush,” responded the Sharp, buoyant- ly, ‘* There has been a pile 0’ dog-an’-cat biz here, an’ I guess won’t never be nearer death until I really go up the flume, but, jest now, ’'m as chipper as a sparrer cop in Central Park. I ain’t hurt, Joseph, but ef you hadn’t showed Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharp. 9 up ez you did [ wouldn’t be here now ter testify | by Ahoy Abe, here, It was a recommendation, in the case. Nary time!” **l am thankful you have escaped injury, but that you have escaped isnot due to any gdéod will on the part of yonder cur. He shall be held accountable for what he tried to do,” Quickly the speaker liberated Ahoy Abe, ‘** Now to see if this man,” pointing to Tim, “is really dead. He is silent, but may have fainted from loss of blood.” Timothy turned his head slightly. ‘*When you git Glass tied up I reckon I shall recover,” be remarked, faintly. ** Aren’t you wounded?” “IT hope not. Ye see, jest as he fired I tripped an’ fell, so the bullet whistled over my head, an’ ef it didn’t glance back an’ bit me, I ain’t muti- lated. Tie Glass up, an’ I reckon I'll soon git well!” Evidently, Tim’s cunning was better developed than his bravery. Glass was not disposed to fight. He was brave enough, but he over-estimated his wound, and did nut think he was capable of makin resistance, Thus, Parson Joe was able to bind him without trouble, and be was soon helpless and tied to the same ring which had lately held Abraham Dow. The sport looked to the hand- a and, as he had expected, found it but slight. | **Explanations are in order,” he then an- nounced. ‘' Abe, how came you in this fix?” Briefly the Dock Sharp told the story, and Parson Joe was not slow to draw deductions therefrom, “So Mr. Glass wanted a prison, here,” he commented. ‘Of course, having it, he would want a prisoner, too. This was not you, for you were seized simply because you had Jearn- ed too much, I wonder who the desired prisoner was, He looked, not at Abe, but at Glass. That person, however, did not act upon the sugges- tion; he held his peace, ** Possibly you will explain,” pursued Joe, ** 1 will not say a word!’ the tout declared. ‘*So be it, Abe, come outside,” They went, and Joe then asked: ** Do you want that knave arrested?” ‘*T dunno. Why?” ‘It occurs to me that Glass, free, may be a better subject to work upon than Glass, in eg By shadowing him we may get light. ee? “Cert, an’ I’m o’ your mind, skunk peramberlate,” ** Better still, we will for the present leave him shut upin hisown prison. Possibly some friend of his will come to release him, If so, let him go; if not, let him remain here until the pangs of hunger get at work on his stomach,” ‘*That’s the figger; hold ter yer plan, Joseph, an’ you will find A, Dow, Esquire, ready ter back yer up while his chin an’ nose continner ter make bows ter each other over his beef-steak an’ apple- dumplings,” ‘ So saying the Sharp gravely shook Joe by the hand, and the latter answered: ‘I sball be glad to have such an ally, and I believe we shali find the partnership agreeable, Here comes Tim Rogers, I fancy we want to take him back to New York with us, for he might take a fancy to whiffle around to Glass, to save hisown skin. He fears the tout desper- ately.” Tim ¢ame up to them, ‘* Boss,” he said, **1 want ter put myself right with you. Lain’t the worst man livin’, ef I did agree ter work fer Pete Glass. Givemea chance, an’ Il] prove I am white.” ‘““Mr, Rogers, what do you know of Glass, anyhow??? ‘Not much, except that he’s a horse-tout, swindler an’ crook-in-general; but ef you want primers on him, I kin take you ter a person who is dead onter him,” ** Is that true?” ** Yes,” **'Who is it?” ‘“‘A woman named Matilda Farmer. She has two sisters, Deborah and Dorcas, who keep house fer Glass, They are tough as sin, but Matilda is off of a different piece. She is an honest woman who has shook her sisters cause they be so tough, See?” . ** Aad this woman lives—where?” ‘**On Leroy street, New York.” **P)l sea her; I wish | had known of her be- fore. I saw Old Grasshopper, the ‘longshore- man, to get just this information, but he would not tell me anything; at least, he refused to do so then, Previous to this, getting out of pa- tience in my efforts to find Old Grasshopper, I had made a bold move and sent a note to Glass, Let the p’izon but its origin must have killed its usefulness; Glass did not bite. Now, I would like to see Matilda Farmer.” **T’'ll lead you to ber,” Tim seemed to be anxious to improve bis stand- ing, and they left the old house and Glass, and walked to the river. The sail-boat was still there, and the trio en- tered and started for New York. ‘** How did you git over, Joe?” asked Abe. “By the ferry. I dogged Glass, and crossed from Forty-second street with him, unseen, I did not intend to reveal myself at all, but, of course, when I saw you in such peril l had to act,” ‘* An’ you did et like a hero, Great bed-bugs! but wouldn’t Ia’ been a rare specimen now only for your help! Joseph, you’re a corker!” Again the Sharp shook Joe’s hand, The boat took them quickly to the metropolis, where a landing was duly made. Then all went to Leroy street. Tim did not think that his presence would serve to help the sport, so the latter went to the house alone, It was a humble place, and Matil- da Farmer herself opened the door, She readily agreed to see the applicant on business, and led the way to the parlor. Parson Joe came to the point without much delay, ‘*T wish information of one Peter Glass,” he explained, Matilda sighed, **The less you know of him, the better,” she asserted, ‘* Still, my interests require a contrary course, and I should be greatly obliged for any informa- tion you can give,” ** Suppose I know nothing?” “Your sisters are at his bouse,” ‘* Of them, at least, I know nothing.” ‘*T appreciate your feelings, for I know, in part, how you are situated, My errand doesnot concern them: we need not mention their names, To get to business at once—did you ever hear of one Hiram Bentley?” Matilda started. ‘* You are not so ignorant as you seem!” she exclaimed, ‘*T do not pretend to be ignorant, but I wish you to tell me more than I now know,” ‘* Before 1 do that, [ must be convinced that I ought to doit. Idle curiosity I will not satisfy, but I am not deaf to the demands of duty. Can you give good reason for wishing to know of this? What was Hiram Bentley to you?” With emotion the sport replied: ‘He was my feather!” ‘* Your father?’ ec Yes.” ** Luckless inheritance!” ‘** What do you mean?” ‘*That I do pot believe much of good luck comes to any one descended from the perpetrator or the victim of violence, and Hiram Bentley was murdered!” CHAPTER XI. A TRAGEDY RECALLED, PARSON JOE breathed heavily. | ‘* Did you witness that tragedy?” he asked. ** No,” Matilda replied, ‘I never should have known of it had not Peter Glass babbled when under the influence of liquer. He told the story to my sisters, Dorcas and Deborah, when I was present, and they laughed at the recital, Even before that I bad felt doubts of their being in an upright way of life, and when that incident took place I cut loose from them forever,” ‘** So Glass was concerned in the murder?” ‘* No: but he knew of it.” ‘From whom?’ Matilda hesitated, and then answered: ‘**T am reluctant to speak of this, though I am well aware | should have told all long ago; but if, as you claim, you are the son of Hiram Bentley, you bavea right to know all, A cer- tain Captain Jobn Twiss dealt the blow3” ‘ec Ah 1? Parson Joe’s mind flashed back to recent events, Ahoy Abe bad told him of the events on the Brown Bet, in a general way, and he had not failed to remember the facts and names, ‘* What was he captain of?” the sport added, ‘* A vessel; he was a sea-captain,” ‘* Where is be now ?” ‘“‘T don’t know. He was living then, and may be yet.” ‘** Please tell just what Glass said,” ‘“* He bad been drinking and playing cards with another man, who bad gone out. The cards lay a the table, and the liquor was in Glass’s brain. =