Beadle's Dime Library No. 465: The Actor Detective — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- oe om + ~—= eo 4 6 ‘kissing goes by favor,’ is as true in this pro- fession as any other. ‘* You can’t make a hit on the stage without you get prominent parts to play, and you can’t get the prominent parts unless you stand well with your manager, ‘You may have all the talent in the world, but no one will ever know it unless you get a chance to display your genius.” ‘** All that you say may be true—I’ve no doubt | that it is, but for all that I do not care to accept | such attentions at the hands of gentlemen who | are almost utter strangers to me, “Tf I cannot win success on my merits, inde- _ pendent of any personal favor, then I do not care to win at all.” **T admire your spirit, dear child, but you'll find you'll have a hard row to hoe get through.” ‘*T cannot help it—I must act according to the dictates of my judgment.” ‘** Then I must tell the gentlemen that you are firm in your refusal?” ss Yes ” “They'll be awfully vexed.” **T am sorry but cannot help it.” ‘* Tt will make trouble for you,” Miss Browne warned. ‘I know Judge Andy like a book, and he will never forgive you if you slight him 5 ** 1] do not intend to slight the gentlemen, and I heartily regret that I cannot avail myself of his kind offer, but it is impossible.” ** A willful woman will have her own way,” the old actress remarked, with a shrug of the shoulders. that they will not pay.” ‘*] shall be sorry if your words come true, but I must go by my own convictions.” “Very well, [ll report, and, dear, for your sake, I’ll do my best to soften the matter down all I can,” the old actress observed. “ve taken quite a liking to you, my dear, you’re such a kind of an innocent chick, not at all like the average young lady who tries ber fortune — the stage, and who, after she has trod the boards for a couple of days, knows enough—in her mind—to give points to the old- est professional. ** And, dear, you had better slip out behind me and hurry off home so as to be able -to avoid further solicitation. ‘* As you have made up your mind there isn’t the least use of — being bothered any more.” With a grateful heart the girl thanked the old actress, for there wasn’t any mistake about the genuineness of the sympathy expressed by her, and said she would take her advice. So when Miss Browne quitted the theater, Es- telle slipped out behind her and walked quickly down the street while the actress advanced to the carriage in which the two men had ensconced themselves. ‘**T’m sorry,” she said, ‘‘ but Miss Estelle is too tired to go to-night, and begs that you will ex- cuse her. In fact, I rather think she is afraid of the honor, for she is bashful and not used to hob- nobbing with managers and Set ‘* Nonsense, nonsense!” Judge Andy cried. “Tell her that we will not eat her—we are not cannibals. her again and see if you can persuade her.” ‘*No use, she started for home. She’s a sh bird, you see, and not used to such attentions.” The judge plainly showed his annoyance while ehigh took the matter more easily. In fact it didn’t concern him at all. ee idea from beginning to end. ‘Well, jump in, Browne,” the manager ex- claimed, ‘‘The supper is ordered, and some- body’s got to eat it, and if Miss Estelle hasn’t sense enough to know when she’s well off, it’s no | reason for the ro 8 to spoil.” **Do you think I am going alone with you two horrid men?” the actress cried, with a little shrill cry of alarm. **Oh, no, not if 1 know myself!” And then just at this moment she caught | sight of the ‘‘soubrette” of the theater emerg- ing from the back door. ‘Here’s Polly!” she cried; ‘‘ take her along. Come, Polly, and have some supper.” Miss Polly Weekly was the brisk young lad who played the ‘“‘ boys” and the smart maid- servants overflowing with impudence and pert- It was the _ — eS | without takin | who **'Your ideas are all right, but you will find The Actor Detective. turning into that broad thoroughfare, a <n block brought her to Elizabeth street, in which the back door of the theater was situated. But on this occasion she was in so much of a hurry to get away from the neighborhood of the theater, and so escape from the importuni- ties of the supper-party, that she hurried on particular notice of where she was going, and had crossed Canal street and en- tered upon the second block of Elizabeth before she knew it. ‘‘Tt doesn’t matter,” she murmured; ‘‘I can go through the next street.” She was dressed plainly in dark clothes, and ad nothing about her to attract attention with he exception of a small hand-bag which she carried, and which looked as though it might before you | contain jewelry or other valuables, She had no thought of danger until she en- countered in the middle of the lonely block a rough-looking man who cast a covetous glance at the bag as he passed. ‘“T fear I did wrong to come through this lonesome street,” she mused. She was right in the surmise, for the evil- looking fellow turned abruptly in his course and stole silently after her, a movement which caused her to tremble with fear. CHAPTER VIII. A FRIEND IN NEED. ESTELLE’s breath came fast and hard. She was sure she was not mistaken; the man had leered at her with his evil eyes in ing, had turned and was following in her ootsteps. She quickened her pace, involuntarily, for it was done without thought. The man increased his also, and was approach- ing so rapidly that it was plain she must soon be overtaken by him. The street was deserted, the hour was late, close to midnight, and besides themselves there was not a soul in sight. Just ahead of her, too, was a dark spot, and the girl’s fears instinctively told her that when the gloom was reached the ruffian, for such the man clearly was, would attack her. True, she might scream for help. She was not very well acquainted with the great city, but she knew enough of it to be aware that the chances were great no one would pay any attention to her cries, he man was so near her now that she motes she could feel his hot breath upon her neck. The attack came just exactly in the spot that she had anticipated. The gloom was reached and the fellow laid his huge, dirty hand upon her shoulder and for- cibly staid her pro ‘ * Wait a bit, missus,” he said, ina thick and husky voice, which immediately betrayed that the man was somewhat under the influence of liquor. ‘Take your hand from my shoulder, sir; how dare you?’ exclaimed the young actress, spiritedly, pretending a courage which she was far from feeling. ‘* Oh, take it easy!” growled theman. ‘‘ Don’t go for to cut up rusty er it will be the worse for you. Lonly want to have a little talk with you, that’s all.” “What do you wish to say?” Estelle asked, facing the ruffian with a courage which she had no idea she , ‘*l’m a poor man, I am, down on my luck in the worst kind of way, and I thought, meb- be, that a rich lady like you might be willing to give a poor man a trifle to help him along.” ‘*T haven’t anything, and Iam not rich; my pocket-book is at home.” ‘“Oh, yes; that’s the story you rich ‘uns tip a poor cove like me all the time,” replied the man with a sneer. ‘* You allers swear that you ain’t got a penny to yer name, even when you’ve got the price of a fortune in yer pockets,” ‘‘ But I assure you, sir, [spoke the truth when I told you that I hadn’t any money,” the girl asserted. “‘ Bven if I had my pocket-book with me the scanty sum of money which it contains would not help vou much. I doubtif there is over a couple of dollars in it.” ‘* Missus, ’'m one of them blooming kind of into it—a pair of bracelets or diamond Cot aaer maybe,” and the ruffian’s mouth seemed fairly to water as he spoke of the valuables. ‘There are a few trinkets in the shape of pba in the bag, but nothing of any value. lease let go of it.” And she clung stoutly to the article despite the threatening look whieh came over the face of the tramp. romp & you don’t want to scream out like that if you know what is good for yourself!” he said threateningly. ** You jest let go of the bag; let me examine it and see for myself w’ot’s inside, ‘Tm a mighty good judge of jewelry, I am. T used to be in the business once, ‘*T'll try acids on ’em for to see whether they are the genuine gold or only plated, you know. I'll send ’em around to yer house to-morrow morning by the milkman; he’s a pal of mine, he is.” ‘‘ Why, do you know where I live?” Estelle asked, not knowing what to make of this strange affair. ‘¢Oh, yes, I know all about ye; I’m an old pal of yourn, but I s’pose ['ve grown out of your memory. Ta, ta, I'll see you later!” And then with a violent wrench he tore the bag out of the girl’s hand. But the footpad was not destined to get away with his plunder slight as it was. A manly figure had advanced cautiously up the street from the next corner, having evident- ly had bis attention attracted by the two in conversation, and had managed his approach so: well that he was within almost arm’s length of the pair before either one of them had any idea that anybody was near. ‘* You scoundrel! give the lady her bag in- stantly,” said a stern but. melodious voice that Estelle to her joy instantly recognized. The new-comer was Edmund Keene, He had stopped at the saloon on the corner to take a glass of ale with a friend and after parting with him had noticed the female form up the street, and fancying it was no stranger to him had cautiously approached the group. With an oath the ruffian turned and faced the new: comer, and from the way in which be held onto the bag it was plain he hadn’t any idea of giving It = ‘* Wot do you mean by interfering in busi- ness w’ot don’t concern you?” ‘“Oh, but it does concern me,” the actor re- plied. ‘‘ Don’t make any mistake about that. Give the lady her bag instantly, and take to your heels or it will be the worse for you.” ‘Go way, you whipper-snapper, or I’ll make mince-meat outen you!” growled the ruffian, and with a sudden motion he drew a wicked- looking knife from under his ragged coat and flourished it menacingly in the air. The fellow was plucky and meant fight, but in the young actor he had a foeman worthy of his stee Hardly had the knife-blade glittered in the air when out shot the muscular right arm of the oung man with all the yore and seemingly with the force of a pile-driver, and the iron-like fist catching the ruffian squarely between the eyes, floored him as if he had been shot. Down he went with a howl of rage. He had been taken completely unawares, and. was frightfully indignant at being thus roughly handled. : : The force of the shock of his contact with the hard pavement sent both knife and bag flying out of his bands. The bag fell close at hand, and Estelle, with a ery of delight, secured it, for dearly she prized the few trinkets it contained, but the knife, be- ing heavier, went spinning into the middle of the street, far out of the reach of either of the combatants, The actor cared nothing for this for he would have disdained to use the weapon, even if it had been within his reach, but with the ruffian the case was different. He relied upon the knife to awe his antagonist, and he would not have hesitated for a moment to use it, if he thought there was a fair chance for him to make his escape. The knife was out of his reach now though, and if he chose to pursue the quarrel, he must depend upon nature’s weapons. When he gained his feet, he surveyed the } | eee em —eSSSESSSSESSSSSFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsSFS Oh Oe --> <--:nRhk ek ae eee ry ro Ps OO OOO rr c— Ss > nn nnn Ee Sa, ness, and as she stood well in the opinion of the | men w’ot never turns up my nose at trifles. If | young actor with a critical eye, ‘aa nen two who controlled the destinies of the | [ had two dollars I know where I could have He bad been knocked down so expertly that Ps Old Bowery, no objection was made by them to | a red-hot time on it afore morning, so hand | he was ratber curious to see what kind of a ae _ Miss Browne’s proposal. over the mopus and I’ll remember you in my |. man it was who had performed the feat so dex- <3 Of course the young lady protested that she | prayers for a month,” and the fellow grinned | trously. ey wasn’t dressed fitly—she looked like a fright, | as though he fancied he had uttered an excel- In person Keene, like all well-built men of me- a 5 and all that, but champagne and oysters were | Jent jest. dium hight, was extremely deceptive. | | _~—- too potent a spell for her to overcome, and so |“ But T told you I hav'n’t the money. I real-| With his street-clothes on, he did not look to | a she gladly got into the carriage, and the party | ly hav’n’t a single cent upon my person.” be nearly as big a man as in reality he was. | _ ___-Were driven off. “ Wot have you got in this little bag? and | The actor weighted within a few ounces of a eee) Esteile had made good her escape. the fellow orinnied in a horrible way as he | hundred and sixty pounds, and was in as nearly Bet Her boarding-place was but a short distance | touched the leather bag with his dirty fingers. | good condition as a pugilist trained for a des- Ps from the theater, being situated on the Bowery, | ‘ No money!” perate encounter, for he had no surplus fat upon | BS. a few doors below Grand street. | “ Hain’t you made a mistake avout it? Hadn’t | him, and was in the best possible condition for a fe It wus a well-known actor’s boarding-house, | you better let ye open the little gimcrack so as | boxing-match. ’ Sig, very few except professionals ever enjoying the | to be sure?” att he closed his brawny hand up- The tramp was a bigger man every way than ie hospitalities of the mansion. on the bag as he spoke. his antagonist, but he was gaunt and clumsy ae aan It bad been customary for Estelle to reach “T assure you that there isn’t the least bit of | his powers weakened by 1 dissipation, and , a aa ‘aa ’ Be theater from her home by coming down the | money in the bag!”*she exclaimed earnestly. he in reality stood no more chance to bold his ee) | Rg | wery until she came to Canal street, then ‘ Mebbe you've got some leetle bits of jewelry own with such a man as now faced him, than if Pei i Tea | Seen Eomicbooks.com fe