Beadle's Dime Library No. 412 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

° . ‘ ry aoe tie O - ae ae . ae.” » a” vom we, oy - . 4 mer ~ . Ye that if that young feller was out of the way, you'd be ever so much better off. Hey?” ‘‘T don’t deny it,” said Skinner, in alow tone; ‘‘but then how are you going to get at him?” Terror Jim chuckled. “Oho! so it’s come to that. How am I to get at him? You jest tell me where he goes and who’s his friends, and I’m the man to get into a muss with him, so he won’t know what struck him.” ‘‘That’s easy enough. Listen to me,” ~ Skinner’s voice sunk to a whisper, so that Snoopey could not hear what was said, till Ter- ror Jim observed: ‘‘That’s all I want to know, Ill set my friend pares ag | on him, and he’ll run him down darned quick.” ‘* And who’s Snoopey?” asked Skinner. Snoopey himself pricked up his ears to hear the answer, which was: ‘*Oh, he’s.a sort of hanger-on of mine. He’s a good enough feller, if you whip him onst a week reg’lar. He’s the best man to find out where a feller goes I ever seen, but he ain’tnone on the fight.” Snoopey felt a thrill of anger animate his ordinarily gentle b:east at the not very flatter- ing description, and Terror Jim went on to say: ‘Snoopey shall find him and you kin leave pace ood one to make an excuse that will take him outside the city some dark night—” “Why not to-night?” interrupted Skinner, with great suddenness. ** Nothen, only Snoopey’s in the station-house by this time,” said Jim; ‘* and they won’t let him out till morning.” | ' ‘* And what do you want of any Snoopey at all?” the millionaire demanded, sharply. ‘I can do a good deal for you, Somers, but I’m not oing to huve in all the tramps in the State to elp. Look here; why don’t you do it your- self? No one will know you in those clothes, and you can get in to see him without any trouble.’ ‘*That might do,” observed Terror Jim, in a musing way; ‘‘ but how should I get him out in the dark? You understand this sort of a job’s easy enough, if once you get well in with a man; but how’m I to get in with him? I don’t know him.” ‘*Tll see to that,” returned Skinner, briskly. **Tll fix up a message from my lawyer to him about this very Larry Locke, and you can get them both together.” Terror Jim grunted. ‘*T don’t want to get ’em together. One at a time is all and more than [ want, Cap. This here Larry Locke's a holy terror, he is.” “Then you'll have to get a gang together to lay them out,” returned Skinner, in a tone that showed he had settled the matter to his own sat- isfaction. ‘‘ Look here, I’ve got it.” ‘*‘What have you got?” asked Jim, with a sort of sneer. ‘**T’ve got the plan.” “What plant What to do?” ** To get him into the trap. You come with me, and I'll write a letter and take you round to my lawyer’s, He shall fit you out and you must see to setting up the gang for to-morrow. Tiow long would it take you to get a dozen men, hard cases ali, and have them ready? I'd give them ten dollars apiece, and nothing to do for it but slug the man you showed them.” Terror Jim considered awhile. ‘“T gould do it to-morrow,” he said; ‘‘ but I’d want a good lump sum for the job. No five hundred dollars wouldn’t pay me for the risk. Why, it’s a hanging matter, or State Prison for life at best.” ‘“You shall have a thousand,” returned the mill-owner, promptly. “‘ Is that enoughi” ‘‘Enough? Yes, to pay them; but not me. You don't know what you’re talking of, Cap. Ten dollars apiece to slug a man stiff, and may- be all be found out. The job’s worth a hundred at least for each man, to make it safe.” Skinner ed, ‘‘ What an extortionate fellow you are? If 1 romise the money down, will you make the job sure for both? I want to end this strike and get rid of that Paul at once. Tl. pay the money to see it done safe, but I won’t be fooled into paying it for a mere failure. I won't pay till the work’s done and I’ve seen the es. ‘‘ That’s correct, Cap,” returned Jim, coolly; “I don’t ax no. more. 1 want to know for certain is that the work’s to be paid for. A hundred dollars apiece for the men, and two thousand for myself. Is that a bargain?” Skinner hesitated a few moments, and at last said: ‘Yes. Since I can’t help myself, I suppose I must doit. I consent.” Sknihiil . “ All right,” returned Jim, briskly. ‘I’m all ready now. You get up your letter, and Ill go round and spot tbis young man, so as I may know him again.” CHAPTER XXXII. SNOOPEY TURNS HIS COAT. LARRY LOCKE was looking rather blue as he stood on the court-house steps, beside Paul Van Beaver, next pee He had just learned that his answer bad been fully. ood |: - « =>) rs a * “stricken out” of the pleadings in his case cn technical grounds, and his only consolation lay in the fact that the court had granted his law- yers five days’ time to draw another answer, ater a hot argument between Scriven and Van ck, Paul was trying to cheer him up by saying: ‘‘Never mind it now, Larry. Be ready to swear to your new answer to-morrow, and I'll eng it holds water. Mr. Scriven is no fool, and he has full confidence in the case. We'll pull xeon through yet.” ** But it’s going to cost a heap of money,” said ,gZloomily. ‘‘ Sometimes I think it would be cheaper to let the poor old place go, and move away. The strike ain’t no nearer an end than it was when the men quit work, and they blame me.” ‘* Let them blame you,” returned Paul, cheer- “They don’t know what's going on. Mr, Scriven told me this morning that, he lad been consulted by one prominent mill-owner as to whether, if he left the Union, the rest could sue him for damages if he broke the strike, Scriven told him no, and the owner expressed himself as willing to yield to the men. Tell them that. It is no less a man than ney, of Kelly & Barr. What do you think of at Larry’s eyes gleamed with joy. ‘‘Is that really so? If he gives in, the rest must follow. by, he rolls as many rails as all the rest, except Skinner.” ‘*Skinner’s the only one likely to hold.out,” said Paul, ‘‘and he can’t do it forever, ell, Larry, good-by now. I'll see you to-morrow morning.” And fhe young man strode away, while Larry hastened down to the place where the strikers were wont to meet to discuss matters, to give them the news. He did not notice that Paul and himself were both watched by a puny, furtive-looking man, who hung around near them and followed him toward the meeting; and it was not till he was about to enter the room that he noticed the man. When he did so he started and frowned, for the follower was close to him. ‘What! You here?” he exclaimed, fiercely. ‘*Do you want me to wring your neck, you in- fernAl thief? But for you, I—” And then he choked, unable to proceed, as he recognized Snoopey The tramp shrunk back as if he expected a blow, but managed to stammer: ‘Don’t! Fur Godsake don’t! I don’t mean ye no harm, before heaven, Jest listen to me, only a moment—” . ‘Listen to you?” ropeated Larry, con- temptuously, ‘*What can you say to me? Didn’t you rob my house, and oughtn’t I to have choked the life out of you?” ** Yes, yes,” admitted Snoopey, humbly; ‘ but I ain’t as bad as I look, boss. I’ve suthin’ to tell re. You're in oan er—” ** Danger!” repea rry, still more scorn- fully. annie: you? No; for I’ve made up my mind to kill you if ever I catch you round my shanty again.” ‘It ain’t from me,” urged Snoopey, still more humbly, ‘It’s from others; them as is able to lay youout. I heerd suthin’ yestiddy night I want to tell ye, just to let ye know.” ‘* And I’ve no time to listen to you,” answered Larry roughly. ‘Think yourself lucky I don’t put you in jail for what you’ve done,” ith that he turned about to enter the hall where the meeting was to be held, when he heard some one calling: “Mr. Locke! Oh, Mr. Locke!” The voice was that of a person of cultivation, and Larry turned round, to see a thin. man in professional black, with an irreproachable v | ‘te necktie, like a clergyman, In this gentleman he recognized Skinner’s lawyer, Van Slack, and at once put on his miost independent air, for he knew the man to be his enemy. Mr. Van Slack came up, and said in the most polite manner: “My dear sir, I’ve been hunting for you in all directions. I have been wanting to see you for ever so long.” ‘ “ t for?” asked Larry stiffly. Mr. an Slack glanced round him. 4,7» little business,” he said in a low tone. ‘My client, Mr. Skinner, is not as hard a man as you think, and I—well—I want tc see you in private, and have a little talk.” Larry shrugged his shoulders. ‘Very sorry, but we’ve a meeting here this morning, and I’m wanted. Why don’t you go to Mr. Scriven?” ‘ % pipes because you are the person I want to see and Scriven is not. Between youand me, Mr. Locke—” Here he came closer and lowered his voice: ‘* Scriven’s not much of a lawyer or he woukdn’t have drawn his answer in such a bungling way. I can beat him every time. You're a different man. Ican feel for you. Now can’t you spare me a few minutes in my office? It’s just round wt Not unloba T know wh speak ot u ow what you want to about,” was the obstinate reply. 3 2 Larry Locke, the Man of Iron. i man, but , ow. I wouldn’t trust too much to whathe — says about the suit, Between you and me, Mr. — 21 “Well, then, I'll tell you,” said Van Slack im: a low tone. Then he turned on Snoopey, who still hung near listening: ‘“* My good man,” he said, ‘* please go a little further off. I’ve private business with this gen- tleman.” BOR sneaked off to a little distance, and Van Slack began glibly: ** Now, my dear sir, my dear Mr. Locke, I’ve no doubt you think I’m an enemy of yours, Never wasa greater mistake. Welawyers have no enemies. We don’t like any feelings. from any one.” ‘*Hum!” replied Larry dryly, “‘then you should act different. You want to turn me out of my house, and then you wonder that I feel mad about it.” ‘“* But, my dear sir,” responded the lawyer im his most coaxing tones, ‘‘ you’re making a mis- take. Wedon’t want to turn you out of your house at all.” ge looked at him eS es ‘‘Not want to turn me out? en why are you suing me?” Van Slack took him by the button, to say im the sleekest of tones: ‘**Only for a purpose, my dear sir. How would you like to your house?” positively started, and his face bright— ened considerably. | ** To sell it?” he echoed. ‘‘ Why, I woul: do it. in a minute, if I could get enough to pay me what I’ve put on it.” . ‘“* My dear sir,” said Van Slack quietly, ‘‘ Icam offer you enough to cover all your mortgage, and leave you a thousand dollars clear. How would that suit?” 's face answered him better than words, and the lawyer ccntinued: ‘“There! That’sthe business I want to talk to you about. You see it can’t be done in the street. Will you come to my office?” Larry made no further resistance, ‘* Yes, Pll come,” he said; and he accompa- nied the lawyer down the street and round the corner to the office of Snapper & Van Slack, where he was taken into the innermost sanctum. of all, the lawyer rubbing his hands in a way that showed he was well pleased with his success: as far as he had gone. riage | saw them go off, and he sneaked after them, and sat down on the office-siteps to wait till they came out. expression, and kept muttering: - ‘I’ve got to do it. I must There’s money in it. I know there is. If L could only get him to listen.. If I can’t, maybe the other one will. But I'll stick to this one first.” Meantime, up-stairs in the inner office, Larry Locke had been shown to a luxurious arm-chair, — while the lawyer took a humble cane stool, and began the conversation at once. value your place at?” ‘‘ Twenty-five hundred,” said Larry promptly. “It cost me—” “Two thousand, my dear sir, just two thou- sand,” was the polite interruption. five hundred’s a very steep price, as ycu musts be aware, of course.” “It’s what I want end what I’m going to get, or I don’t treat,” returned Larry, who ‘ad not& lived in vain, for he had bargained before. * We may as well settle that, mister, before we go any further. Twenty-five huncred, and I'll sell, and pay Skinner hismoney. _ If 1 don’t get that, I'll fight, and Mr. Scriven tells me you'll never get a cent.” r. Van Slack smiled and rubbed his hands, “‘ Exactly. struck out his answer to-day, ‘ke, you’ve no defense, and if you keep on, you'll be sold out at auction, and the little mort- gage will cover the place and not leave you a. cent over.” | looked at him with a half smile, “‘ Then, if that’s the case,” he said, ‘why do you offer to buy at all?” |. Mr. Van Slack sh ed his shoulders, ‘Pure kindness of heart, my dear sir. We lawyers are all soft-hearted. Clients? Clients. are pig-headed and quarreleome; but we have to cool them down, I'll tell you what Ill do with you. Mr, Skinner has given me full pow- | ers to treat with you. Il give you what you ask—twenty-five hundred—if you'll sign the deed and leave Holesburg at noon to-morrow.” CHAPTER XXITI. THE LAWYER’S BRIBE. “LEAVE Holesburg at noon?” echoed Larry. ‘* What's that got to do with it?” ‘Only this, my dear sir,” said Van Slack, im his smoothest tones, “‘that wnless you leave Holesburg at noon, my offer falls tothe ground.” — is was taken aback said. ‘‘I know the folks here, and the strike’s nearly over. My family wasall born and raised here, and I don’t want id to leave it. comicbooks The secretive tramp wore on his face a new et a chance. — ‘“Well, Mr. Locke, and how much do you ~ “Twenty- — BY Mr. Scriven is a very worthy you — I don’t. want to leavegHolesburg,” he — ycom - . . 4 c a oy a® « % a