Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 a Jong, I could have taken her to Papa Pang- born’s,” he said to himself. ‘‘ The old Jew got trightened with a dead man in his house, and so dhe gave me away, and set the cops on my heels, But the street lynxes haven’t caught me yet, -and I don't think they will!” Bowery Burt walked from the alley and struck the street with no well-defined plan in his mind. The disappearance of Floss confused him. He was anxious to find her, and he had to keep an eye on the police. ‘* Ab! here we are!” said a voice at his side with a suddenness that was startling. cat er Burt wheeled upon the speaker and caught the flashes of two eyes in an instant. ‘* You don’t want torun away,” continued the same voice. ‘* The kind of traps they have at Mrs. Hoyle’s don’t amount to anything. You sare Bowery Burt and you know me, I see.” Yes, the Bowery villain knew the man who stood at his side. There was but one pair of eyes like his in all New York, and they belonged ‘to Captain Coldgrip! The surprise of the sudden meeting almost ‘took Burt’s breath. Where had this man-fox come from? And when did he strike the trail? “* We'll go back to your bouse,” continued the detective, looking sternly into Bowery Burt’s eyes. “* You will not attempt to is I lost ~you for awhile on Broadway, ha, ha! but I soon ‘picked you up again. Come! we will go back.” ery Burt looked again into the detective’s reyes, and turned sullenly into the alley. ‘This man must be got rid of or the game ‘will never be won!” he ejaculated. ‘' Fallin inte a bottomless pit doesn’t finish him, so ‘must try another play. Yes, Pll go back with ~you, Claude Coldgrip, but I serve notice now ‘that Z will turn on you at the first oppor- tunity.” Watched closely by the detective, the Bowery ne walked back to the house he had just left. -He led the way up-stairs and opened the door of ' _Floss’s late prison. ~ “+ - & second part to this ‘tain Claude. Captain Coldgrip seemed to read the situation cat a glance. “Floss is gone, captain,” said Bowery Burt, ooking at the detective with a smile. ‘When did she go?” ‘* Hang me if I know; she wasn’t here long.” **'You took her from my rooms?” ** Yes, I took her, as I had a right ter!” sna ped Bowery Burt boldly. ‘‘ The girl b’longs me. I’ve clothed and fed her ever since she was za child.” ild. at is what I want to know,” said the de- ae ‘tective to himself, and then he motioned the peas sport to a chair. ** Where did you get Floss?” he asked. There was no reply and the lips of Bowery ‘Burt seemed to meet in a tighter embrace. ‘** Silence will do you no good,” resumed Cap- ‘“*T know a good deal about Floss.” ‘Why ask me anything, then?’ was the ‘retort. The man ferret smiled. ‘*f asked you where you first got Floss.” he said, wondering whether he would receive a civil answer. ‘*What’s the information worth, captain?” rinned Bowery Burt. . ‘‘[’m not a buyer!” said the detective quickly, and then he took a hasty step toward the schemer. ‘‘ You miserable wretch, do you still want to fatten oncrime?” hewenton. ‘* You're steeped in it now; the last one at Mrs. Hoyle’s is in keeping with your whole hfe. The murder at Papa Pangborn’s does not disgrace you, for you /ean’t be disgraced. I’m not here to give you a dollar for the story of how you first found Floss. Tl work it out myself if you persist in keeping -your mouth shut. I can see that you are play- g a game against your own kind, that ts wear a mask of hypocrisy before Elegant Ahab vars Cleopatra. You’re a pretty gang, ain’t ou All this while Bowery Burt was leaning back on the chair with a malicious smile at the corn- ers of his mouth, and a gleam of brutish defiance in his eyes. ‘*Go on,” he said mentally, as he gave the Gotham Vidocq look for look. ‘‘TI guess there’s ame, ‘The contents of Ferg Fowler’s coffers ain’t out of my reach if they do look distant at this moment. I’ve been ‘ana pickle before and I’ve always come ont pre- served. Proceed, Captain Claude. The third trap will bold you forever! Youcan bet your bottom dollar on this!” The cool impudence of the it Villain irritated the detective, but he did not show it by any looks. “Tf you don’t like to talk here we'll go,” be said calmly, “I will only say again, Bowery Burt. that a still tongue won’t keep long away. Come!” ‘Which way?” asked the kidded sport’s right bower as he got up. “Time will sbow,” and then the detective added with a smile. ‘‘ You haven’t forgotten that the police want to pick you up, eh?” Bowery Burt changed color. Just now, of all things, he dtd not want to «drop into the power of the police. rn ey the result | ‘You are the most wanted man in New York just now,” continued Captain Claude. ‘‘ Your arrest would create a genuine sensation, seeing how you threw Lieutenant Martin against the wall of your room when he came to arrest you. That was a bold break, Bowery Burt.” ** And it won, too,” said the sport showing his teeth. Five minutes later Captain Coldgrip had the Dragon League’s “‘ best man” under surveil- lance on the street. At the first opportunity he hailed a cab, and saw Bowery Burt’s countenance change as it ap- proached them. ‘* Are we going to the station?’ asked Elegant Ahab’s man between his teeth. ‘** To the station!” was the ferret’s reply. CHAPTER XXITI. A LITTLE MAN AND A BIG PLAY. Ir there was a superlatively delighted man in New York at high noon on the day that wit- nessed Captain Coldgrip’s last play, it was the man who occupied a private stall in one of the popular cafe’s on Broadway with oysters and a bottle of wine before him. *Tmnochump. I’m a dandyina gold game, and just now I’m the king-pin of this particular one,” he said to himself. ‘‘ Wasn’t it easil made? Jewhiz! he didn’t like to take the medi- cine, but he saw I knew too much for safety and so he came down. Wish I had set the figures a little higher, but [ll give the screws another twist before long. When he gets stub- born, [ll use the last resort—the trump of the deck!” This man wore a new suit of clothes, the over- coat of which was trimmed with fur. He was good-looking, with a full beard which had just the slightest oe ot: of being artificial, and his eyes were black and twinkling. To be correct, he had cause for self-congratu- lations for he had lately walked out of a certain mansion in the city with twenty thousand dol- lars in cool crisp notes in his hands. The reader can guess his identity now, and we hardly need name the solitary feaster by calling him the Raven. Raven Rob had been liberal with his money since quitting Ferg Fowler’s house. He was a man of few acquaintances, and the amount he had spent had been on himself. It would have taken the keenest eyed police to have recognized in the daintily clad Raven the man who had invaded the millionaire’s library and carried off twenty thousand dollars, MP new outfit had completely transformed im. ‘**T made a center shot, by Jove!” he went on. ‘*T drove him white when I told him that I met him on a certain night between London and Oak meadows. I hope [ll never have to swear to that in the courts, They curtail a fellow’s liberty for perjury in this country. But I bit him hard, all the same!” And he laughed loud enough over his lunch to be heard in the next stall if it had a tenant. And it had one! This second person was likewise discussing a plate of ‘Saddle Rocks,” but he had not, in- dulged in the addition of wine. e seemed to know that the Raven’s liberal expenditure on himself had loosened his tongue to a hilarious degree, and whenever he heard sounds in the stall at his back he would listen with a twinkle in his eye. ‘* Jupiter! it’s lucky I found that fellow on the street!” mentally exclaimed the little per- son, for little he was—indeed, a dwarf. ‘I can afford to lose Captain Claude for a spell, to keep after my friend the Raven, I may get onto a new trail; who knows? Ah! there! The wine is playing fool again!” ven Rob had called a waiter and was or- dering another bottle of high priced wine, and had even asked the man if he couldn’t find some- body to share his hospitality. “Fetch in anybody if he’s a gentleman and a jolly good fellow!” exclaimed the Raven. ‘Who cares for expenses when he carries a bank in his clothes? Who’s in the next stall, there? I heard some one there awhile ago.” Duke Dado the dwarf started. ‘*T don’t want him to see me here,” he cried. ‘** Not at this stage of the play dol want to en- counter the Raven face to face.” ‘*The man there is a gentleman who wishes to be alone,” said the waiter in reply to the Raven’s inquiry. ** Alone, eh? Whatif I coerce him into the scheme of a dinner fit for a king?’ was the boisterous rejoinder. **Don’t, sir.” ‘“Tll manage the treaty! By Jupiter! I want company. I’m dying for it. Bring on the wine as I’ve ordered.” The waiter started off and the Raven a lit- tle the worse for his self-indulgence got up and so bes to the curtained arch of Duke Dado’s stall. “Hello! beg pardon, my friend,” he said parting the curtains and peering into the lit- tle place. ‘*‘ Don’cher want to help a gentle- man get away with a feast? I’m Robert Ran- dolph, bet your life, sometimes called—” Duke Dado saw the man stop as if he had a a eS “¢ > Pe = ta . Captain Coldgrip in New York. LLL LCL LLL LOL LL LLL LLL LL LC CC ~< , < : ——— - caught himself at the threshold of a dangerous secret. The next moment the half-drunken sport was leaning forward with s‘areful eyes, and Dado was looking into his face. ‘Well, by Jove: is it you?” exclaimed the Raven, dropping into the chair opposite the dwart’s place at the table. ‘‘ You’re the last man I expected to see here.” ** Aha! you know me then?” said Dado with a smile, ‘*I’m a cardinal, if I don’t! You're Ferg Fowler’s—” He was was going tosay ‘‘ dwarf,” but he ended by saying ‘** companion,” Dado bowed as if he appreciated the substitu- tion, but his eyes appeared to Rt a new glitter. ‘i Well, I don’t care,” the ven went on. ‘‘-You’ve no objection to breaking a seal with me, eh?” ‘* No!” said Duke Dado, and at that moment the waiter came back with the Raven’s order filled. ‘*This is more luck!” chuckled the dwarf. “*T’ve had a run of it nearly all day, but maybe itll change before night.” All at once, the Raven, who was filling the dwarf’s glass, paused and looked into his face, ‘* Why don’t you go back?” he asked, ‘* Back where?’ ‘*To Ferg Fowler, don’cher know!” The little man smiled. ‘You haven’t been back since the old Croesus got his mind again, have you?” ‘* But you hear from him, eh?’ ‘* Occasionally.” ‘* Don’t he want you?” ‘¢ ve never inquired,” said Dado, and then he added with a smile, ‘‘ I may be one of the men Ferguson Fowler doesn’t want about him all the time.” ‘‘ A reminder of something, hey?’ exclaimed the Raven. The dwarf started slightly and seemed to won- der what the man meant. ‘* Well, he’s a queer one, Ferg Fowler is!” the rt went on. ‘** ‘You know him, then?” ‘** Not very well, but I don't have to know a man for B heesla toread him. Here we go, Duke Dado. pro the health of Fer Fowler, your old master—tight as a drum, but easily opened when one knows bow, Ha, ha!” The dwarf seemed to catch the hidden signifi- cance of the last words. ‘When did you see the old fellow last?’ he asked, leaning across the table, ‘‘Mavbe since sun-up, and maybe not for a month,” was the answer. ‘‘Ha! that’s owing to when I wanted you to woe 1” laughed the Raven ou say so, yes!” lau e ; - When did as i SAtaeviow Old Bullion last?” ‘* A night or so after he lost his mind.” ‘¢ Not since?” 6 No.” ‘Well, you’d hardly know him,” said the Raven, growing serious and confidential. ‘‘ His eyes are sunk and he’s got no color—at least he hadn’t any when I left him!” ‘* Nydia is there yet?” és Y es. bP | ** Did **T did not.” ‘‘Oho! you went to see the banker himself?” ‘‘Yes, Ferg Fowler himself,” said the Raven and the next second he looked like he would have taken the sentence back. ‘‘T’m rather anxious to get direct news from him,” the dwarf went on. ‘* When did you see him last?” Raven Rob had discernment enough left to see that the cunning dwarf was talking for a purpose, and instead of replying, he caught up the bottle and proposed another drink, “Certainly,” said Dado to himself. “Dll drain the wine closets of this cafe but what I catch you, Raven Rob.” “By Jove! I must be going.” exclaimed the Raven over the empty bottle, but Duke Dado laughed and rung for the waiter. ‘You will let me return the compliment,” he said to the Raven, who was adjusting the fur collar of bis overcoat. ‘‘I allow nobody to outdo me in politeness. A bottle of claret, the oldest in the house.” “T protest!” said the Raven, but the sable waiter was off like a shot. ‘111 hold you here if I have to resort to forcible means!” muttered the dwarf. ‘I want your tongue loosened a little more, Raven Rob, and I think claret will do the business. Despite the Raven’s protests be did not get up and Duke Dado filled his glass with a eulogy on the rare quality of the wine—a eulogy, whic almost made the sport’s mouth water. ‘*T guess that hit the spot,” chuckled the dwarf, seeing the Raven’s eyes snap after the glasses were emptied. ‘To be sure of it, we'll try another in a moment.” 1e claret pn a - ont a charm an me man who had is huge e successfully . on Ferg Hawter. "He nokeaed wut he had not ordered claret before. : ‘‘ We were speaking about Nydia awhile ago,” said the dwarf at length. (C S) ou see her?” e€om - 900 — =