Beadle's Dime Library No. 152 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

ai? ‘“ Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 19 There was no mistaking the” fact that he was one of the shining lights of his profession, judging from a purely professional standpoint, and when he once set his mind to study out any cular question he always found it very fertile in deducing conclusions of cause and effect. ‘‘Let me see,” he mused. ‘This Ralph Gordon was arrested upon two charges; the murder of Paul Leonard, and as being the cap- tain of a gang of counterfeiters, and was inno- cent of both. He escaped—probably through the assistance of that prison boy, Mosquito, Hum! how did he escape? Not a thing was changed in the appearance of the cell, there- fore there must be some secret entrance to it, although the officials claim that the lad must have secured keys in some manner. We will say, for the sake of argument, that there was a secret passage beneath the floor; this passage must necessarily lead to the river, for there is where they first discovered him, “Now who was it in the boat besides the two fugitives? Why! some one who was in- terested in his safety. Now who stands in that category? The counterfeiters themselves, Hearing that Captain Ironnerve was arrested —he mayhap not having been seen by them for several days, they naturally set about tak- ing means for his deliverance from limbo. “Good! they too have doubtlessly used their sophistry upon Mosquito, as they call the lad, and have not discovered their mistake until he was free, then thinking he might as well have the game as the name, they have taken him away, and if he is not dead, initiated him as one of ‘their gang. ‘“‘Ts he dead? Question! I think he is, or it strikes me he would have made some noise ere this, unless he has become a member of the gang, which I think is doubtful. ‘Now I can deduce two conclusions, ‘* First: He escaped the bullet of Skroogs’s rifle, and being taken among the counterfeiters —I think I may settle on that—has been im- portuned by them, and finally become a mem- ber, at least for some length of time. “Second: He is dead, and if so, I must find it out. That’s settled, ‘‘Now, how am I to doit? ‘‘IT might join the gang, but the game is hardly worth the powder.. I think ll use up a day or two just strolling around, and seeing what I can pick up.” Having settled in his mind what course: to pursue, he rose and walked to the window, but he paused and looked intently for a moment, and then exclaimed: , ** Mosquito, by all that’s lucky! Yl jus shadow you, my boy, and I have a fancy you'll lead me to Ralph Gordon,” it was but a moment before he was in the street, and upon the side opposite to the one on which Mosquito was walking, he strolled care- lessly along, as if actuated by no motive in particular, but all the time keeping a careful watch upon the boy he was following. — A long distance was traversed in this way, and at last Mosquito turned down a side street and disappeared in a commionplace lovking house. “‘So—so!” muttered Prince, ‘‘My lambs. are in the fold, but the wolves will soon come, and leaping the fence, will bear you away as their legitimate prey,” and turning upon his heel, he strode away. When Mosquito entered the house, he paused just inside the door, and holding it so he could see into the street by means of a slight crack, he too muttered: “T know you, Dick Prince, if you are dis- guised, an’ I know you’ve been follerin’ me fur a right smart distance, but, my covey, a *skeeter kin see in the dark, and when you ketch one dozin’, jest smash ’im, ’cause ’tain’t often you'll do it.” ’ He watched Prince until he had turned the corner, then left the house, and hurryiug through the street, sprung upon a car, and in an hour’s time was in an entirely different por- tion of the city. Mosquito, although a boy, had proved him- self not deficient in cuteness, CHAPTER XXIV. CATCH A WEASEL ASLEEP! Prince went straight to the nearest police station, and having secured the assistance of several men, returned to the house he had seen Mosquito enter, and rung the bell, or the apol- ogy for one, which amounted to the same thing. The ring was answered by a buxom lass of about thirteen, who stared hard through the half-open door, and at last asked him what he wanted. “There is a friend of mine stopping here, I think,” he said. ‘‘ A young man of about your own age, or a little older, with red hair. He goes by the name of Mosquito.” ‘*There’s no such person here,” was the reply. “Oh, yes there is, my dear; and I am very anxious to see him. The fact is, he ran away from home, and his mother is very sick and wants to see him.” He bang fe he could open the girl’s heart by speaking thus of an imaginary mother, but she appeared obdurate, and onlv responded: “‘T tell you, sir, there is no cne here that you want to see, unless it is my mother, and she’s sick and can’t see you.” ‘Don’t you keep boarders?” asked Prince, rather perplexed. ** No, sir, we don’t!” ‘Tl have to show my colors,” muttered the detective to himself, and turning up the lap of his vest, he displayed his badge, and said: ‘*T am an officer, young lady, and I must see the person I mentioned, whom I know to be in this house, for I saw him enter.” “He ain’t here, I tell you,” said the girl, *fand you mustn’t disturb my mother, for she’s awful sick.” Prince pondered a moment. There was a ring of truth in the girl’s eyes, which made him rather at a loss, but he ar- gued that Mosquito must be there, and this girl and her mother were only carrying out some plan for his protection, so crowding past her, he said: “Ym sorry to trouble you, my dear, but I must do my duty, and search the house, so stand aside, and Jet me pass,” But the little girl was plucky. **No, sir!” she exclaimed. ‘* You sha’n’t dis- turb my ma’ma; she’s sick, I tell you, and if you don’t go right out and ‘tend to your own business, P’ll call a policeman, and then see if you won't,” For reply, Prince stepped to the door and blew a small whistle which he always carried with him, and almost in an instant four uni- formed men were touching their caps to him, ‘‘ Here are some policemen, my dear,” he said with delicateirony, ‘‘and as I am one myself, perhaps now you will let us search the house.” ‘*T ain’t your dear!” she snapped, tears com- ing into her eyes in her anger, ‘‘and I think you’re real mean to come here and make my ma’ma worse with all your noise,” but notwith- standing this appeal, Prince, who was seatisfied that his game was concealed in the house, brushed past her, and walked up the stairs, af- ter telling his men how to distribute them- selves, To make a long story short, they searched the house everywhere, but as the reader knows, without avail, and it was with feelings better imagined than described, that Prince, and his men, once more found themselves in the street, though with much satisfaction to the thirteen year-old young lady, who had so determinedly combated their desire to search the house. While he was still standing there, undecided what course to pursue, a young gamin ran up to him and said: ** Be your name Prince?’ “Yes, my lad; what do you want?” ‘“"Ere’s a piece of paper I war telled to guv yer,” and the boy stuck out his dirty paw, and handed the detective a paper, equally as dirty, on which was printed (for Mosquito could not write) the following message: ‘Op Kus! “You be A Smart men Ain’t you i SAw you but you dident nAw it. Ketch me ef yoy Kin. fi MoSQurro.”’ ‘* A—young—feller — guv — it—ter — me!” gasped the boy, frightened almost out of his wits at this harsh treatment, where he had confidently expected a dime or a quarter. ‘*Tell me about it,” continued the detective ina kinder tone. “ Be careful to forget noth- ing, and if you give me any information which will be of service, I will give you a quarter.” The boy scratched his shaggy head. He wanted badly to get his little fingers upon the quarter in question, but he was very much afraid that he could tell nothing which would influence thé man before him to extend the desired quantity. Still, like most boys, born in a gutter and brought up on kicks and blows, he was sharp, and seldom without a re- source, and his eyes flashed as a sudden idea struck him. . “It was down there,” he said. ‘I see’d the young feller comin’ long jest ez I struck a feller for a job shinin’ his brogans. ‘Is nobs kim smack to me, an’ he sez, sez he, ‘Snipy, wanter finger a bob? ‘I does,’ sez I, an’ he guv me thet ’ere paper, an’ sez ’e, ‘Shin down an’ squat in front of 45. Purty soon you'll see a feller kim along o’ sum cops. ’E’ll go inter the house, an’ when ’e kims out give ’im this ere,’ ” ‘*Ts that all he said to you?’ **Yeup; only I knowed ’im, an’ ef yer want im fur anything pertickler, I’m the cove as kin guv yer a steer.” “Excellent!” exclaimed Prince. ‘‘ Here is your quarter, and if you find him for me I'll give you adollar—no, I'll make it two dollars,” and he banded the boy the silver piece, much to the latter’s gratification, who stuck it in his pocket after sounding it thorougbly upon the pavement to be sure of its quality. The detective, after telling his men that they might return to the station, told the boy to lead the way, and together they started down the street, The gamin was eagerly looking for a chance to get away, for truth to tell, he did not know Mosquito trom Hamlet’s ghost, and having made his quarter, his greatest desire, to use his own expression, was to. ‘‘ slope,” The two dollars which the detective had of- fered him had, however, made its impression, and, feeling sure that he would know the party, Mosquito, should he ever see him again, he was resolved to try; that is, to keep a watch in bis daily travels about the streets, which were gen- erally extended. To this end he paused, and, turning to Prince, said: ‘Say, boss, do yer think I kin see ’ith my eyes open?” “Shouldn’t be particularly astonished, as I know of, if you could,” replied the detective, sententiously. | ‘* Do yer think yer kud trust me?’ a “T never trust anybody.” ‘ “What, nev—that is— yer don’t?” ‘* No, not in things that amount to anything. Occasionally | do in minor affairs. Why do you ask?” ‘«] want yer to let me find this fellar alone, and then fetch yer to him; will yer?” “How do I know you'll not 4eceive me? You may even now bea friend of’his,’”” ’ “] ain’t—bonest Injun! Yer promised me two dollars ef I'd tree the ’coon, an’, boss, I'm goin’ ter do it!” ‘Why don’t you want me-along?’ ‘*°Cause I don’t know jest where ter fin’ ’im now, but 1 do know where ter look fur him; besides, he knows you.” | ‘* That's true, my lad. Well, you find him, and as soon as you have succeeded, come to my rogms,” and Prince gave the boy his ad- dress. “You will find me there, and then, in- stead of two dollars, I will give you ten. Is it a bargain?” “Yer kin bet yer boots ’tis!” *€ All right—good-by |” ‘* Tra-la-la-lee!” Then they separated, each taking a different: direction; Prince back to his rooms, and | Snipy, the boy, to proceed in his search for The language used by Prince upon reading | the above message, was of such a nature, that | along, working the problem in his mind how I would not dare to transcribe it for the benefit | best to find the requisite party, and thereby of those who read. Suffice it to say that he | earn the required—or much-wished-for—ten used many biblical quotations, without regard | dolkars, to quantity or quality. Seizing the messenger by the collar he shook him, as a dog would shake a cat. “Where did you get this?’ he asked sav- agely, [ ' Mosquito, We will follow Snipy, who strolled leisurely For several hours he wended his way about the streets, occasionally shining a pair of soiled boots for some pedestrian, and when it was nearly dark, and he was just about giving up the chase for the remainder of that day, he Gomilecbooks- co — ‘ 4