Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 288 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

Electro Pete, the Man of Fire. 21 eyes there shot a fiery glance of hate as he added, quickly: ‘You have not come to rob, You are here to arrest me—” ‘* Right you are, old man,” ‘* Instead, you-will take that!” and with the words there was a half-smothered explosion. | He had fired a revolver at the detective with the hand that he held in his overcoat pocket and without drawing the weapon. The detective dodged in time—as if apprised beforehand of the treacherous sbot that was coming—and the bullet went wide of its mark. Then Daniels made a lightning movement forward. His fist darted outward with the force of a sledge hammer, nd between the eyes of the Italian fell the ow. He was too wary to attempt to grapple with this man a third time, when he knew now the secret of the electric coat of mail. Down to the floor sunk Guiseppe, insensible under the blow. And almost simultaneously the detective heard a pattering of ligbt footsteps on the lower stairs, The rats were coming in obedience to the ar- ranged signal with their leader. _ He sprung toward the prone form of the Ital- ian. In a trice he had stripped from him the great overcoat and hat, and even in that moment of probable peril, he took time to clap a pair of handcuffs on the fellow’s wrists. A moment after he had accomplished the change which gave the Italian the appearance of being the sailor, and himself disguised by the same whiskers that the felon had worn, several forms rushed in at the doorway— To be met by the form of the detective, whom they took to be Electro Pete. He s with one hand elevated, as if to check them; and they obeyed the sign. Then he waved his hand in a manner that meant for them to depart, not daring to risk the sound of his voice inacommand. And here was demonstrated how great was the command- ing power of the Italian over the rattish crew; for instantly they slunk out of sight, not now making any attempt to quiet their footfalls. The instant he was alone, Daniels stepped to the side of ;he prostrate Italian and improvised a gag of his handkerchief, which he thrust into the villain’s mouth, Next, he made admirable use of another pair of handcuffs which he had about him, by clasping them both around the leg of the prisoner and the other bracelets which the latter now wore. The chain connecting the two iron bands per- mitted of this circle round the limbs, And thus pinioned, it would be impossible for the Italian to reach his mouth with his handcuffed mem- bers to remove the gag. ‘‘Now, my fine fellow, I think I have cap- tured you,” Daniels muttered. ‘‘ But how to get you out of here is another question.” _ And indeed it was rather a novel condition of affairs. To carry the prisoner down the stairs and ont of the house without being confronted by the desperate wharf rats was impossible. To take a out at the window was equally impracti- cable, CHAPTER XXVIII. A SLEUTH THAT HOLDS TO THE TRAIL. Waite Mark Daniels stood debating upon what course he should pursue, the footfalls of the receding rats became fainter and fainter, until complete silence reigned, Then he descended the stairs, with revolver ready for a shot, Through the lower rooms he went. in the room where we have seen the Italian enter at first, a trap was to be seen at one side. This he raised, and lighting a fuse, looked down into the pit-like cellar beneath, Not a vestige of the recent crew that had in- habited the place in their phantom way. ‘‘This is fortunate in one respect,” he mut- tered, with a long breath. ‘It looks as if there wasn’t anybody lott here; and all I have todo is to march my prisoner out to the tune of: ‘If you don’t go, I’ll drag you, that’s all!’ ” _ Having satisfied himself that the rats bad indeed deserted the old dwelling, he returned in haste to the room in the upper story, where he bad left the Italian handcuffed and lying insensible, And here an astonisher awaited him. Guiseppe had dispappeared, On the floor at the spot where he had Jain was a small paper with some lines on it written in lead penci He grasped up the paper and read this: * You are a yey smart detective. But you have not yet captured Electro Pete. I defy you.” There was nothing in that apartment to sug- gest a secret way of egress, though his eyes glanced about keenly in search of such a thing. It seemed impossible that the Italian could have escaped witbout assistance; and he had surely not descended the stairs, But the rats were like their namesakes, sly and full of dark ways, Guiseppe had had assistance while the detec- tive was exploring below. He was gone. ‘‘No use in crying over what cannot now be | afraid of losing me for a customer. helped!” be exclaimed, in vexation. With which scant consolation, ke went out from the building boldly at the entrance upon the alley. No sooner had he gone than a slide in the wall of the roo n up-stairs was pushed aside and the face of the Englishman who had figured among the rats appeared thrust forward, ‘“"R’s gone, me noble Cap. You ca-An come hout.” an ‘‘ And curse your cowardice! Why did not you shoot him, as I commanded, when we gazed at him through the peep-bole?’ ‘“Now there!” exclaimed the Englishman, with an injured air. ‘“’Ow could AL shoot ’im through a ‘ole w’ot isn’t any bigger than a pea? Besi-hdes, 1 wus always awerse to the sheddin’ hof ’uman blood, me noble Cap.” ‘‘Now then, these ’cursed irons, going to get-a them off, eh?” ‘*Oh, why, Aas to that, 1 am the werry man. Look a’ ’ere!” and Billy Yorkshire produced a small and splendid file from the heel of his slouchy boot, which he unscrewed at a few turns. ‘It will sever the chain of the cuffs, but the bands it will not cut—they are steel.” “Well, w’ot’s that di-hiference? Alf your ‘ands are free, you can put ’em in your pockets. When you are hin a safer spot, why you can saw ’em off altogether, me noble Cap. Come.” Billy went to work on the small chain and it was not long before the links were suffi- ciently weakened to break them with a stout wrench of the wrists, and the Jtalian stood erect, gazing at the remaining bracelets with a face filled with rage. ‘*Now then!” exclaimed Billy, as he restored the file to its secret receptacle of the heel and high counter of his boot. ‘*Come!” the Italian said. ‘“‘hi'm with you. ’Ere we goes,” But the man of Yorkshire was very careful to allow his captain to take the lead down the stairs. He had a wholesome fear of encountering tha detective. The coast seemed to be entirely clear for the pair of villains, Before passing through the door leading to the alley, the Italian paused and asked: ‘What has become of the rest of the-a band?” ‘*Gone, me noble Cap—all gone. They ’ave flown to the four co-Arners of the earth, They hare as the rats of the mining-pits—halarmed at the warning hof the hexplosion.” ‘* Let them go then, the cowards, with me, Billy Yorkshire.” ‘Now there! Why, Al'll be a-followin’ of you, me noble Cap, to the hends hof the hearth!” vowed Billy, stoutly. ‘Sh! Be cautious.” Casting first a glance along the alley, the Italian then stepped forth, followed by the only remaining rat of the well-organized gang that be and Pietro had chieftained as one individual for so long. Out on the wharves another glance, as if in search of the man from whose clutcuss he had so recently escaped. Then the two proceeded toward the ferry. Purchasing tickets for the Point, they retired to the bare little cabin and stood looking out of its one little window, But the Italian was saying to his companion ‘** Billy Yorkshire, we are under the eyes 0: that accursed sleuth again.” ‘Nho!” aspirated Billy, with rolling orbs, though be was careful not to glance around. ‘*Yes. Did not you mark a popinjay sort of man, with yellow whiskers, who came on board by the other gangway? e is at the bow now, and tbrough the one eye-glass he wears he is watching us. “Why, Ait’s only ha ‘armless dude, me noble Cap. hAnd if you say so, All go and tweak the hend of ’is nose, 1 will.” “And if you try it, you will find yourself tossed overboard by Mark Daniels, one of the most athletic detectives of Baltimore, as I have learned.” And he it was, again on the track of Guiseppe Duoro. He had hing loitered in the vicinity of the rickety house, in the half-belief that the Italian could not have left the building. In this new disguise—which he had accom- plisbed in a trice before leaving the narrow alley—his vigil had been rewarded, ‘* Why, now vhere! Alf 1 didn’t take ’im for a bloomin’ idiot!” the man of Yorkshire whis- pered. And he asked: ‘*‘Al’d like to know what we hare a-going to do about it? Alt hain’t werry pleasant, you know, to’ave a detective so werry close all the time.” ‘* Listen-a you to me,” hissed the Italian. ‘We will go the old wharf below the Laza- retto, and from there into the grove beyond, We will act as though we have not the suspi- cion of be was on our track. You will be tho boatman who is to take me where I shall wish to go. If you forget and talk to meas if we How 1 am You come TE are acquaint, 1 shall drive my knife to your heart. You will now act at once as if you were We will find a boat at the wharf where the boatman of the rats used to meet Jacobs. the Jew. He will never meet him again, I am afraid.” ‘“‘hAnd w’ot’as ’appened to that werry hac- commodating indiwidual?”’ ‘* Jugged!” was the terse response. “‘hAnd that is the ways of the world,” com- mented Billy, with the air of a man who con- siders the consequence fully merired. “Alf you do not lead a wirtuous life, you Aare bound to come to grief.” ‘* Business!” the Halian hissed. Thereupon, Billy, who was no mean actor, began to behave as if he was afraid of losing a customer, He apparently repeated, and in a loud tone, the assertion that he was the best boatman in the harbor; could show his country friend more sights for his money than any other oar-puller on the Basin. ‘ ‘“‘hAnd,” he vowed, loud enough for bis words to reach every passenger on the ferry-boat, *‘ whenever tbere’s a party of the werry best 0” the bloods w’ot goes down with the councilmen for to break champagne, while the reporters is a-busy a-makin’ hup the reports for the com- mittee w’ot never sees w’ot they goes to see, ’ere you'll see me, with people like Johnny Garret or ’is beautiful boy Bobby, a-sailin’ hin my boat an’ a-keepin’ of their sober heyes about them. Why, there! hit’s a ’onor for to sail in my boat, me noble—” n another breath he would have said: “ Me noble Cap.” But the terrible glance that came from the Italian’s eyes warned him tbat he might go a step too far with his voluble se)f-recommenda- tion. At the Point they proceeded to that wharf which Daniels bad visited on a previous occa- sion when trailing the Jew. There were several boats moored to the spiles, and into one of these the spotted pair got and rowed slowly away. Guiseppe’s orbs shone with a devilish light as — he saw the disguised detective hail one of those small steam launches that ply almost incessant- ly and for hire up and down the harbor. ‘** He follows!” the villain muttered. ‘‘ Good! We shall lure him this time surely to his death. He does not suspect that we are aware of his identity. ‘Your hours are numbered, Mark Daniels!” CHAPTER XXVIII. ANOTHER CLICK OF THE HANDCUFFS. THAT portion of the Baltimore harbor which extends to the eastward and beyond the light- house is backed by a stretch of comparatively uninbabited country from the termination of the Canton section. At intervals there are pleasant groves, some of which have been utilized for many years by enterprising individuals as summer resorts of transient accommedation and refreshment. Landing below what has been long known as the old spider wharf, the Italian was led briskly by his supposed boatman toward cone of these unused and copse-like spots, Billy Yorkshire the while making prominent gesticulations as if pointing out in that barren locality some in- dication of ancient legend. The detective was following. But the two saw that their trailer had chang- ed his disguise. It was a veritable tramp, to all appearances, who now followed them from the oe wharf; though the Italian bad observed have been landed around the bend of the little creek that makes in below the Lazaretto. ‘*He comes,” repeated the wily Guiseppe. ‘* My revenge for the trouble he is causing me is drawing nigh, Ha!—you Yorkshire Billy, you-a hear me?” ‘*Me noble Cap, where hare me ears? Hof course I hears you.” ‘* Be careful when we have entered the trees. There we will ambush him and strike out his miserable life,” ‘*To be sure we will—hand werry glad will ” be when ’e is dead. Al’m with you.” Amid the trees they vanished presently. It looked very much as if Daniels was de- ceived. On he came, in his tramp’s gerb, end occasion- ally lurcbing from side to side like a man under the influence of liquor, _A jolly tramp he seemed, for as he thumped bis boots on the mingled dust and sod, he sung: **Oh, if 1 was a brewer's mule Oh, if I was a brewer's mule, I’d ram my mouth in a beery sound, I'd drink till my head swam rdéund and round And a jolly old mule I'd be!” On he came, and into the shadows of the trees, The spot appeared to be entirely deserted, Suddenly a figure confronted him, Billy Yorkshire. ‘‘hl say, me noble brother, where hare you bound—hey?” Billy’s attire was not far from the actually Eomicbooks at he must — (E(©)