Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 _— ‘roy pantaloons, edging himself in at the bar, and foci the smaller man with a scowl on his countenance. ‘*T don’t know, my friend, as it’s any of ~our business; but my handle is nothing to be : - | edof. Knock-em-down and Pick-’em up 1s v. r ntle little name my friends call me to supper a and if you don’t like it just let me alone.” And the'smile on the man’s face was evidence that he did not believe, after that challenge, he would be left alone. The peanare had taken his position in the angle formed by the bar and the wall, a place that had itsdisadvantage as well as its advan- tage. While he could not be flanked or ap- proached from behind, he had no visible line of _ retreat; and the contracted quarters could not help but hamper his movements, e gang saw this and acted accordingly, x spreading out in solid line in front of him. foc Just a Copper Sile, who had come out ‘ from his place, laid a hand on Big Mike’s arny, and whispered in his ear: b ‘Go slow, Mikey; it’s a plant, sure as a gun, * an’ the coppers are somewhere outside, waiting to pull the place.” iat “You think,” interrupted the stranger, who seemed to have overheard the whisper. ‘* How ———— “——s - = ———— > -- good of you? But if you don’t want to have a muss in here, maybe these gentlemen would come outside. As they are half a dozen to one, and more in the background, they can hardly be afraid.” ** Afraid!” gasped Big Mike, angrily shaking the hand from his arm. ‘‘Let me go, Sile. Dll mash himef they run - mein ther next minute. There’s nothin’ chalked up on ther books ag’in’ me now.” ae ‘Don’t be too sure of that, Michael, m Y You’ve got a long score to settle. An Be mashing, you can’t mash one side of me.” | For a large man, Big Mike was remarkably quick on his feet; and he could use his that was not to be des- boy. as to hands ina way pised. If he had not been thrown off his rd by the suggestion of Kettles, he might ve pursued a different course; but thinking it possible that the object of the stranger was to ; create a disturbance which would give the alarm —s to. a waitin ee outside, he meant to have no — — noise at all, ithout even a warning growl, he slung his fist straight at the head so provok- he = ly ready. t was ready, but not for the knuckles of Big Mike. It dodged out of the way at the last mo- - ment, and then came a return, straight as a _ die and ar? a trip-hammer that sent the _ ruffian stumbling back, to finally sprawl upon ‘a the floor with,a tremendous shock. al In an instant all idea of caution was lost, and | the rest of the mob made a solid rush at the _ little man, who just as instantly produced a re- Ue __ -volver from his breast and fired with amazing rapidity. Then there was an answering racket, _ the lights suddenly went out and in the dark- -——- ness it seemed as though par.demomium with all its noises had broken loose, —--—s Copper Sile had turned off the gas, and now aM his voice in an effort to quiet the affray ; but: to no purpose. ___ While he shouted the steady tramp of half a dozen strong men was heard, and into the room _--—s- rushed a detachment of policemen, a black-eyed man, with heavy mustache and plain clothes— « none other than the ubiquitous Major Preston -Blaine—at their head. One of the policemen threw open the slide of bc @ bull’s-eye, and turned the light upon the mix- ed knot of men, struggling and striking and ai Sno MA . oe “ at’s this?’ exclaimed the major, and he ¥/ looked down sharply at Big Mike, who had fall- en clear of the crush. he circle of light only rested on the face a _. moment, but that was long enough for Blaine to see that it was not that of the man he was after, and he turned his attention to the writh- + jing group further on, which suddenly became _ disentangled, as Captain Hardy and three or four of his aids dashed vigorously at it. A set of very ordinary ruffians were they, ss who stood blinking and puffing, without an weir re _ offer toward resistance or escape. ioe ‘“Here, Kettles!” said Hardy, sharply, his keen eyes glancing around to see that no one made his esca What is the meaning of this riot? ll have _ to take in this gang, and you'll hear from us in the morning. If you can’t keep a quieter house, its time a were closed up and the business put into the hands of some one that can. I sup- iv there will always be a saloon here; but ‘Teal there's no reason why it shouldn’t be a decent one. What’s this about? Show up a little x more light here; while [ see what kind of a haul I’ve made.” af Copper Sile had already lit the burner behind ‘his bar, and some one else was applying a light- ed match to those further out in the room, from which the gas was beginning to issue in a sick- -—s ening «=o stream. Captain Hardy’s questions brought the proprietor to the front. ay ‘See, now, captain, you wouldn’t be too hard ona man that’s trying his best to livea able life, and make an honest living. It was - only some of the boys having a little fun among ,) im mcs © < al $y } ui 8 ¥ . Y 2 s 7 r Me s* themselves. It was rough on the place, though, so I just turned the light out to quiet them down, and if you had gone on, by this time they would have been as peaceable as lambs,” ‘‘ Here’s one man that’s peaceable, anyhow; but he’s dead. It’s the slugger poneg eall Big Mike, if lam not mistaken. When bullets fly, some one goes under.” ‘*He’s only stuuned a bit, captain. Just be- fore I turned the light, some one tripped him, and he fell against the bar. His skull is a thick one, and I'll bet money it’s solid yet.” Sure enough, while Hardy was looking at him, Big Mike gasped and began to revive, even while Kettles was pointing out the mark of the bruise on his forehead. “That’s all right,” said Hardy, suddenly. ** 'W here’s the little Irishman?” ‘* What little Irishman do you mean?” There was no question about the genuineness of the surprise in Copper Sile’s tone, ‘‘The little Irishman in an ulster and cap. You needn’t try to play off. He came in at this door, and he didn’t go out at that. Have you got him behind the bar, or where have you hid- en him away?” Hardy was too impatient to mince matters, too shrewd to give the saloon-keeper further time to cover the retreat of the wanted man. His men had their clubs ready, though they found no excuse for using them, since the late belligerents were as peaceable as so many kit- tens; and the captain rummaged around to find the means of exit. Old Sile watched with a puzzled look. He had expected closer questioning about the fracas which he had intended as much as possible to ignore, and was surprised to find that, unless appearances are tremendously deceiving, the man whom he had taken to be a police spy, was in reality a fugitive. : Meantime, the prisoners said nothing, or next to nothing. It was the wisest course, all things considered. In due time Copper Sile would no doubt give them a lead, which they could thus follow with- out risk of ape | themselves. As they were not in the saloon business, they were not much softened toward the missing and wanted man by the knowledge that he was a fellow- criminal, and they only kept silent with regard to him because Copper Sile did. ; **See here, captain,” said Kettles at length, ‘‘vou always found me straight, and I’m giving it to you that way now. There’s been no little Irishman in here to-night, unless you can find com in that lot yonder. Ill swear to it straight along. “That filly won’t trot, Copper. We followed him right here. We've been hunting for his trail all day, and when we got on it by the luck- iest sort of a chance, you don’t ne 8 we would have lost it again? T tell you you have him hid- den somewhere, and it wi go badly with you if you don’t show him up. There were four pair of eyes saw him go in here, and if these con- founded lazy bones of mine had been around on time we would have had him safely enough.” r Who yer talkin’ about? He must be a big gun. ‘‘Big enough to make it worth while to the tune of a couple of hundred for some one to hand him over. You needn’t playinnocent. If there is any one in New York that would know Paddy the Piper by sight, you ought to be the man. There was now no mistaking the look upon Cop r Sile’s face. ; Roe here, captain, it ain’t no use fer you to come in here and talk tch to me, There ain’t no such man been in here; an’ if ther’ had, I wouldn’t know him by that name, You kin search the house if you choose. I ain’t nothin’ to do with ther up-stairs, an’ if yer want to git thar, you'll have ter go ’round to ther other end of the shebang; but here’s ther cellar, an’ locked it is, from this side, as it orter be.” From the moment the police had entered, it was certain that no one had left the saloon—and with a watch at either mode of egress to the street, it was a puzzle how any one could, un- less by means of the cellar, have passed out even before their entrance. ‘We'll take a look down there anyhow. There’s such a thing as turning the key from the other side with a pair of nippers, and I’ve known something more to be in a cellar than barrels.” Copper Sile looked as though he did not un- derstand the insinuation and threw open the door with an untroubled air. At Hardy’s re- quest he even produced a lantern and led the way, followed by the captain, two of his men, anc Preston Blaine. The search in the cellar was thorough, but revealed nothing. The walls appeared to be solid, without any possible opening. After ten min- utes A ips Se rummaging the captain gave it up for the time being, and drew off his forces. Big Mike had come to his senses; but he could give no more furnished by Kettles, and on being questioned stuck to it that Paddy the Piper was a myth. 3 _ one had ome y ee oat to 7 and oe of the gang happen specially wanted, Hardy turned the lot up, ) A tet The Piper Detective. _As they left the saloon Blaine expressed his dissatisfaction in a low tone. ‘“‘T don’t know,” responded Hardy. ‘You have done a wonderfully good piece of work for an amateur—more than the chief bas been able to do in pretty near a month of Sundays if you made no mistake.” ** How so? We have nothing to show for it.” ‘*All the same it looks as though we had trailed the gang right in to their headquarter‘. From this time on there will be a special watch on Copper Sile’s. The old thief always was sup- posed to be bad enough; now I'll lay four to one that all this deviltry is hatched right here. The thing is to get proof. That we'll have, though, in time. Things are working.” Captain Hardy was in a very good humor in spite of the temporary defeat; and Blaine seem- ed to be better satisfied, though he had been dis- gusted enough at first. ‘* But how do you think he gct away?” That was the point that truuLled the major. He had not seen as many mysterious disappear-’ ances as the more expericenced police captain. ‘*T don’t suppose he got away at all. He is there yet—somewhere. The thing will be to spot him when he leaves. He won’t stay there cooped up forever, and then we will have him, I wonder if it wouldn’t be advisable to run the risk, and search the whole building!” The captain considered the subject for a mo- ment, and then evidently made up his mind to the negative. He ostentatiously drew together the little force that had been concentrated at Copper Sile’s, and all marched in close order. he hour was late, but the streets were by no means deserted, and the intelligence that some- thing was going on at Sile’s had spread abroad, Quite a number of men were watching the house from the outside, some of whom slunk away into the darkness at the appearance of the police force, while others boldly stood their ground. ‘Let me Fea you one little piece of advice,” continued Hardy. ‘You got yourself entirely too far up to the front to-night. There was more than ore ;air of eyes on you, andif you are wise you will keep out of this section of the country after dark, If you don’t, the Gilt-Edgers will be going for you without much regard to the state of your pockets. After to-night you will be marked by men who would cut your throat for a dime and steal a coffin to throw youin, I don’t exactly see why you take an interest in the matter, any- way.’ Major Blaine shrugged his shoulders and made no immediate answer. He was following with his eyes a feminine figure that had just flitted across the street a little ahead of them, and scarcely heard what was said, He was were? hy: ‘*1t’s the most ridiculous nonsense, of course, but as sure as that is a woman, she puts me in mind of General Rawle’s daughter. It’s not what I see, either; but just an uncertain, un- canny feeling—that unfortunately never comes over me without its meaning.” Muttering something to Captain Hardy, he wheeled and strolled very slowly back, keeping his eye on the gliding figure that crossed the street once more, and finally darted into the doorway of the very building in which the Rat. Trap was located. As the woman entered she ave one backward glance, that revealed her ace full in the glare of the neighboring lamp; and without a doubt it was Regina Rawle. CHAPTER IV. THE MAN IN HIDING, THE young woman who entered the dwelling adjacent to the Rat Trap certainly knew the way strangely well to be a daughter of General Hec- tor Rawle. She had let herself in with a night-key, and now sprung nimbly up the stairs, though the hallway was shrouded in utter darkness. Up, up, she went, for two flights, making the turns on the landings withouf the least hesitation, but at the top of the last flight she halted suddenly and pressed heavily on the wall, standing close to the inner edge of the last stair, If Preston Blaine could have been present, and there had been light enough for him to see by, he would have been more than ever surprised. The girl began to sink downward, until her head disappeared from view. Then the section of the stairs that had sunk beneath her like a trap-door returned noiselessly to its place, and the hall was as vacant and silent as though no living creature had ever | through it. The fact was that at the instant her head would clear the level of the landing she took one short side mee. That moment the trap moved upward to its lace, while the one upon which she now took er station began to carry her still further down- ward. She was in the narrow shaft of a hidden elevotor, that led on down and down, Without the least nervousness, she waited, al- lucid account of the row than that | though, if at all acquainted with the mysteries of the place, she must have been aware of the distance of the dangerous descent. There was no mistake or accident, and slack- ening its pace, the elevator came smoothly to a final halt. comicbooks at x ey | rT ft: