Deadwood Dick Library (v. 3) (1899 10 25)
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1899, Mar. 15, 3 biaiter, ) New Yorl Proprietor (James Sulliv 9 P ey D = a 7 Tssued V No. 33 .SHE WALKED ON RAPIDLY,.AND BOSS BOB HAD A MODERATE "8 ERRAND, SIZED JOB TO KEEP HER IN SIGHT. WHATEVER ‘WAS THE WOMAN
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43 445 45% 459 465 471. 476 481 491 496 500 508 515 522 529 53d. 539 544 549 554 56 567 572 ry vl 584. 690 595, 600 606 612 618 624 630 636 642 648 w = 654, 660 666 672 678 684 690 695 TOO "04 AD EDWARD L. DEADWOOD DICK, JR. NOVELS IN THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Price 5 Cents per Copy. — Deadwood Dick, Crescent Sign. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Continent. Deadwood Dick, glers. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, — Ts Jr.; or, The Crimson Jr's, Defiance. J r.’S, Full Hand. Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. Jr.'s, Racket at Claim 10. Jr.’s, Corral. Jr.'s, Dog Detective., Aue in Dead wood. Jr.’s, Compact. Jr.’s, Inheritance. Jr.’s, Diggings. Jr.’s, Deliverance. Jr.’s, Protege. Jr.'s, Three, Jr.'s, Danger Ducks. Jr.’s, Death Hunt. Jr., in Texas. Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. Jr, on His Mettle. , Jr., in Gotham. Jr., in Boston, Jr., in Philadelphia. Jr., in Chicago, Jr., Afloat. Jr., in Denver, Jr.'s, Decree. Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. Jr., at Coney Island. Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. Jr., in Detroit. Jr., in Cincinnati. Jr., in Nevada. Jr., in No Man’s Land. Jr., After the Queer. Jia in Buffalo. Jr.’ *s, Chase Across the Jr., Among the Smug- Jr.’s, Insurance Case. Jr., Back in the Mines, Jr., in Durango. Jr.’s, Discovery. Jr.’s, Dazzle. Jr.’s, Dollars. Jr., at Danger Divide. *s, Drop. , at Jack-Pot. ., at San Francisco. Jr. J: 716 Deadwood Dick, 722 Deadwood Dick, 728 Deadwood Dick, 734 Deadwood Dick, 740 Deadwood Dick, 747 Deadwood Dick, 752 Deadwood Dick, 758 Deadwood Dick, 764 Deadwood Dick, 770 Deadwood Dick, 776 Deadwood Dick, 782 Deadwood Dick, 87 Deadwood Dick, 792 Deadwood Dick, 797 Deadwood Dick, 802 Deadwood Dick, 807 Deadwood Dick, 812 Deadwood Dick, 816 Deadwood Dick, 822 Deadwood Dick, 828 Deadwood Dick, 834 Deadwood Dick, 840 Deadwood Dick, ie Deadwood Dick, 52 Deadwood Dick, & 9S. Deadwood Dick, 863 Deadwood Dick, 870 Deadwood Dick, 876 Deadwood Dick, 882 Deadwood Dick, 891 Deadwood Dick, 898 Deadwood Dick, 904 Deadwood Dick, 910 Deadwood Dick, 916 Deadwood Dick, 928 Deadwood Dick, 934 Deadwood Dick, 940 Deadwood Dick, 946 Deadwood Dick, 951 Deadwood Dick, 957 Deadwood Dick, 965 Deadwood Dick, 971 Deadwood Dick, 977 Deadwood Dick, 980 Deadwood Dick, 992 Deadwood Dick, 998 Deadwood Dick, 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 1011 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Four. WHEELER'S Jr.’s, Still Hunt. Jr.’s, Dominoes. Jr.'s, Disguise. Ji.’s, Double Deal. Jr.’s, Death-Watch, Jr.'s, Doublet. Jr.’s, Death-Blow. Jr.'s, Desperate Strait. Jr.'s, Lone Hand. Jr.’s, Defeat. Jr.'s, Resurrection. Jr.’s, Dark Days, apes Defied. Jr.’s, Double Device. Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. Jr.'s, Diamond Dice. Jr.'s, ig: ce Jr.’s, Head-O Jr. 8, Rival. ah 1's, Boom, Jr.’s, Scoop. Jr.'s, Proxy. Jr.’s, Clutch. Jr,’s, High Horse, Jr. yb Devil's Gulch. Jr.’s, Death-Hole Hustle. J 1.8, Bombshell. Jr., in Mexico. Jr.’s, Decoy Duck. Jr. ; in Siiver Pocket. Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. Jr.’s, Double Drive. Jr.’s, Trade-Mark. Jr., at Tip-Top. Jr.’s, Double-Decker. Jr., at Dollarville. Jr., at Flush Flats, Jr.’s, Shake-Up. Jr.’s, Double tio’. Jr.’s, Right Bower, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. Jr.’s, Gold Dust. Jr.'s, Oath. J 1's, Death-Doom. Jr.’s, Best Card. JT., at Gold Dust. Jr.’s, Big Play. Branded. For sale by all pbs ys or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5c. per Copy, by the publish = JcTIVERS & CO., 379 Peart Street, New .-Yor«-Crry,
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at eee aie eee . 3s Ene Sapte, opyright 1880-1896, by adle & Adams. Entered at Pc % 2 1886, Beg d ) a at iE OO. Price 5 Cents. Vol, it, M. J, IVE ‘ Bree § Gent sued Weekly. ira rid : MS ct 85, 1800." : = LL =—— $ BOB ‘MODERATER
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ee Tony Fox, the Ferret; Boss Bob’s Boss Job. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “DEADWOOD DICK,” ‘‘ ROSEBUD ROB,” ‘* GILT-EDGED DICK,” ‘‘ BONANZA BILL,” ETO., ETO. PROLOGUE. Scunr—The death-bed of a young mother, in a Fare poor y-furnished room of a tenement ouse, Dramatis Personai—The pale wreck of a once retty woman, upon the pillows; a grave-look- ing physician standing near; a middle-aged Frenchwoman standing by the bedside, hold- ing in her arms a six-months-old babe. ‘** Felice,” spoke the dying mother; then she sunk back wearily, her attempt to raise herself proving futile, : . The Frenchwoman knelt by the bedside, and Jeaned nearer to her. “Yes, ma’m’selle,” she said, in an anxious voice, ‘Felice, I am going,” the other whispered, faintly. ‘‘I cannot tell you all I would like to, but you know all that is necessary. You have the directions where to take my child! You will do it, Felice—you will do as I have directed ‘ou mn Yes, ma’m’selle.” ‘*God bless you for those words,” the dying woman gas her face lighting up with the joyous atitude she felt. “I know you will, ‘or you have been true and faithful to me—the only true and faithful friend I have known for many months. Haye you seen Frank to-day, Felice?” ; “Yes, ma’m’selle, He was hanging about the saloon, on the next corner, very, very drunk, He did not recognize me as I passed him by.” A pained expression flitted into the dying wo- man’s face. ‘ pst y God forgive him, as I already have,” she murmured. ‘I always believed he would have been a different man but for liquor, Fe- Le Ah!—a—ah! itis coming. The baby, Fe- ice The Frenchwoman held the baby forward, and the poor mother kissed it, passionately, o’er and o’er again, tears streaming over her face. Then a radiant light dawned into her pale, inched face, and she sunk back upon the pil- ows, the last tide of life ebbing peacefully out. The physician came forward and fe sa her Lc re , at the same time feeling her pulse, which throbbed no more. : _“Ttis all over,” he said. ‘The strange tena- city with which she clung to life, considering the complicated disease, was something remarkable. ere take charge of the remains?” . The Frenchwoman shook her head, “No, monsieur. I have nomoney—no friends. You will have to take charge,” : : “Very well. I will seo that she has a clean t Tony Fox, the Ferret. spot in Woodland,” the hin said. “If you are through, you will be excused.” The woman nodded; her willingness to he ex- cused was apparent, She bundled the child up in an old shawl and adorned herself with a waterproof cloak and hat, and left the room. Through a hallway, she went, blindly, for it was pitch dark, and down a pair of creaking stairs into a sort of lower vestibule. Here she stopped. » ‘ ‘he dim outlines of a man’s form blocked her ssage, and something glistening, held near her ce, caused her to shudder. . “Ts it you, Felice?” a low, hoarse voice said. ‘Yes, it’s me,” the Frenchwoman replied, evidently recognizing him. ‘‘What do you want?” “T want to know about Adele, getting along?” ‘* She is dead, monsieur.” “Ah! then lam free;” and something like a chuckle seemed to escape the man. ‘ What have you in your arms, Felice?” “* The child—poor thing.” ‘“Bah! what are you going to do with it, now?’ ‘“Take it where I was directed to.” “Where was that, Felice?” s None of your business, monsieur. I was not How is she ‘*Humph! there’s no use of asking you, I sup- es then, Drown the brat in the aware vlice. It were better dead than alive, an motherless upon the pitiless, uncharitable world. And then I'll make it worth your while.” “Tn what way, monsieur?” “Tn cash—half of what I get for the body— over a hundred.” ““The body?” the Frenchwoman gasped in hor- ror. ; the students. It is worth something, an’ I may as well get something for it as to let the worms dissect it.” : ; Felice shuddered again. : “You are ze great villain, monsieur,” she hissed, suddenly seping closer to him, ‘‘ but I will do as you say, if you will pes me that you will give me the hundred dollars.” “T promise that,” was the grim reply. ‘I want the child safe out of the way. D’ye aces must be no half-way business about The Frenchwoman’s eyes sittered, and she squeezed the little innocent in her arms until it screamed with pain, “T understand, monsieur,” she replied. child shall never live to see you again.” Then she pushed past him and descended into the dark, narrow, ill-smelling street, into which the rain fell in a steady, monotonous drizzle, ac- companied by a murkiness that made breathing difficult. ‘CHAPTER I. BOSS BOB STRIKES A TRAIL AND CAPTURES A ‘* RESPONSIBILITY.” “Dunno wot rain was ever made fer *cept et was ter make mud fer us 0’ ther legitermate perfesh ter clean off. But w’en a feller’s bin eVox 0m going to sell the body up-stairs to — “The
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. 3 sleepin’ on ther soft side o’ a doorstep fer a hull week o’ nights, an’ et’s rained nigh ev’ry night, it’s gittin’ too thin. Wonder ef eny one’s stir- rin’ w’ot’s got a nickel they want ter squander on a shine?” It was several hours before savin one driz- zling Centennial morning, and Philadelphia lay in re the only rest it knew being in the darkest hour before the dawn, that year of '76, The speaker, a ragged, dirty, saucy-looking specimen of the bootblack fraternity, had risen from a place of ensconcement in one of the broad doorways upon South street, and was surveying the moist, dreary aspect, critically, while he fished a half-smoked cigarette from his ket and lit it, “Thar’ll be a big run o biz, ter-day, wu around ther Centenyal agency,” he muttered. ‘‘ Folks w’ot’s got a spark o’ patriotic enthusi- asm in their compersition w’u’d rather go wi’out their dinner than tread ther memorial aisles wi’ muddy feet. Pity every one ain’t a patriot- feeler. W’ot a bonanza we o’ ther purfeshun would have, then!” Ceaselessly, monotonously did the rain drizzle down, and seeing no prone of its stoppin immediately the young Bootblack King squat contentedly upon his upturned box, and puffed ates at the end of his cigarette. : “Spect how’s I ain’t a-goin’ ter accept sech lodgings as these, much longer,” he soliloquized, gazing up and down the dusky street, and the frowning buildings on either side of it. “I aspire ter a first-class mansion, I do, wi’ brass knocker on ther door, an’ a mner in ther parlor. Ther collatteral is w’ot’s lackin’, how- sumeyer, an’ w’en a feller wants it, he ain’t got it. Blame me fer a fool, ef I ever put a foot within the Maloney domysil ag’in. Coaxin’ got me thar, till they got all nn filthy lucre cor- raled, an’ then the parental Maloney sed, ‘‘ D’ye be afther bouncin’, ye ownmannerly omadbaun.’ An’ I bounced, minus my dudads. But, pshaw! there’s no use ter mourn over mice. Ef Boss Bob hain’t got no swag, he’s still got his repurtashun, which ain’t small. Ht’s severil months yit, till ther end uv ther Centenyal, an’ I'll bet a clam I raise sum sort 0’ a boom yit, as will fetch me up er peg in ther world. Wi’ w’at pints I know, an’ ther p’ints I intend ter know, I ain’t goin’ ter stop much short 0’ bein’ Mayor, or Chief o? Perlice, you bet on it, Hello! who’s up?” The unmistakable click! click! of ironed boot- heels upon the brick pavement announced the fact that some person_was approaching, and Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks, Beene rom. his impromptu lodgings, which aroused curiosity, “tGuess somebody’s tuk sick,” he muttered, contemplatively, as he discovered a dusky fig- ure coming down the street through the grayish gloom, ‘‘ an’ a doctor’s what’s wanted. Humph! et’s a woman, too, Thet luks suspicious, er me fer a Jersey clam ef it don’t. Reckon some- thin’s up.” And with this conclusion, he drew carefully back out of sight. Nr e The woman was approaching swiftly, her plated heels beating a musical tattoo upon the sidewalk, She carried a shawl-wrapped bundle in her arms, and her own form was enyeloped in a waterproof, and her face vailed. : She passed the doorway where Boss Bob was crouching, and hurried on without discovering him. After she had passed, the Bootblack King gazed after her. ; ‘“T'll bet high there’s somethin’ wrong about that craft,” he mused; ‘‘she’s got somethin’ wrapped up in thet shawl, w’at she’s took ther cover o’ darkness ter smuggle away. *Spect et’s my duty ter mee along in the rear, and make observations, Ef Nondescript was heer I’d send him an’ stay in ther dry. But Nondescript ain’t present so I reckon I’m elected ter Nee bor ca i He slung his blacking kit to his » and leavin after the woman. is feet being bare he was able to follow without awaking a sound audible to the party be was pursuing. “Thet’s whar nature beats invention all holler,” he chuckled, as he gazed at his muddy pone extremities. ‘Ther chap w’ot invented oots thought he’d done it up brown, an’ boots ain’t a bad thing in winter, thet’s a fact; but ney ain’t no good if ye’r’ goin’ on a reglar Buffalo Bill war-path. Sides, they keep ther understandin’ from developin’ ter et'’s proper dermenshuns. But thet female is headin’ fer ‘ther Delaware. Wonder ef she’s goin’ ter hook oysters?” ‘at Whatever was the woman’s errand, she walk- ed on rapidly, and Boss Bob had a moderate- sized job to keep her in sight. : Presently the street grew descending, and the sullen, muddy waters of the River Delaware loomed into view. t Turning into Delaware avenue, the woman walked southward along the wharves, until she came to a pier where a large number of skiffs and row-boats were moored. Here she paused and glanced around. Boss Bob dodged into a shadow just in time to escape observation, not more thfm a dozen yards from where she had paused. “But she’s got a infant,” he mused, as he saw her deposit the bundle in the bottom of a boat. ““Mebbe she’s goin’ ter set it adrift, too. Hum! ho! ef won’t be ther furst sech case I’ve heard on. Bet ashuck eyster ther young kid’s bound for Davy Jones’s locker, ef I don’t put in er pro- It was apearers that the woman intended to set the bundle afloat upon the Delaware, in the boat, as the Bootblack King had surmised, for she untied it rom its fastenings, and witha pike-pole, pushed it swiftly out into the stream, The receding tide carried it further and fur- ther into the stream, until it was nearly lost from view—then the woman turned and fled the doorway, stole cautiously along up a narrow street, as if all the fiends incarnate _ were at her heels. Boss Bob watched her flight, a rather doubt ful expression upon his face, ‘Dunno ef I better give chase, or rescue ther | infunt,” he muttered. ‘‘ Reckon et’d be best ter git ther kid, an’ let ther other slide. Infunts ain’t in my line o’ biz, but I allow I'd better take er hand in this little game.” , Unfastening another of the boats, he hastily sprung in, and pulled rapidly out stream in the direction whence he had 7 leat son
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4 Tony Pox, the Ferret. the drifting boat, but making allowances for the set of the current. But despite this fact, he missed his mark, and. failed to get a glimpse of it through the gloom that hung over the river. “Guess I’m stuck, arter all,” he soliloquized, a little dubiously, as he rested on. his oars, “‘Thet’s ther hang o’ infunts, ennyhow. Wen -ye want’em ter sing out, so ye can find, they won't make a bit o’ noise, an’ w’en -ye don’t want’em to vocalize theyll make ther welkin ring. Hf that parcel in the driftin’ boat would only yell out, I’d soon find it, “Spect Pl hev ter wait till mornin’ dawns tho’.” It appeared to be the better idea, and ship- ping his oars, he allowed his boat to drift at the will of the waves, He had not long to wait for morning to dawn, for it soon grew perceptibly light over the housetops of the great city. Light and lighter it grew, until it was fairly daylight, and signs and sounds of activity were noticeable on both the Jersey and Pennsylvania shores. Then Boss Bob aroused from the half doze he had fallen into, and dipping his oars, glanced sharply around him. Some distance down the river he spied the truant boat, drifting alon; ‘with the current, and he accordingly brace bimself, and seizing the oars, sent his own ap- propriated craft flying swiftly in pursuit, It did not take long to overhaul the boat, and make her fast, and then the Bootblack King took a peep into the bundle, and found it to con- tain a pretty six-months-old baby, a little girl, evidently, judging by its dainty features, Probably it had been given something to make itsleep, for it breathed regularly, and so oe it lay, Boss Bob re-entered his own boat, and pulled for the South street wharves, He was not long in approaching the pier from which he had appropfiated his craft, and saw several per- sons congregated there, among whom was a burly policeman. * “Humph! bet a clam thoy reckon I’m goin’? ter git locked up fer usin’ uther chaps’ property,” Bob muttered. ‘‘ They’ll git fooled tho’. Hf a feller can’t reskoo infunts, *thout bein’ rested fer it, I'll quit blackin’ boots an’ retire frum ther perfeshion,” : By this time the boats were alongside the jer, and raising the bundled infant in his arms, ob leaped lightly ashore. “ Ahal you young Arab! So you're the rascal who stole my boats, eh?” cried the owner, who stood hard by. ‘‘ Arrest him, officer; he run off with my boats, without leave or license.” ‘Bet a clam [ ain’t a-goin’ ter be arrested,” Boss Bob replied, coolly. ‘See here, old boat- Jetter, d’ye know what I did fer ye?” “No!” the boatman sepuehs surlily. | - “Well, Vl tell ye, if you don’t scowl yer countenance outer shape, w’ich ain’t no use, fer I ken’t be effected wi’? ugly luks. A skulemarm oncet glared at me in supreme rage till she nigh ‘ot blind, but it didn’t hurt me. Tell ye about howl cum ter borry yer boat, though. Got on a rig’lar Buffler Bill war-path after a s’picious female kerackter, an’ trailed her down hyar. She cut loose a boat, chucked this infunt inter - &, pushed ther boat out inter ther stream, an’ | Swer then tuk leg bail fer security. Hevin’ et in mind how much you’d mourn an’ repine over ther loss 0’ yer boat, an’ not knowin’ but et might fit ye fer a hearse, I jest slid inter an- uther craft an’ guv chase. That's how; an’ I got both ther boat an’ ther infunt, which 'm goin’ ter adopt myself.” “Well, well! if this is really so about the boat business, I guess P'll let you off,” the boat- owner said, somewhat mollified. ‘* Let's see the child, boy,” the policeman said, approaching the Bootblack King. ‘I guess it had better be sent to the Foundling’s Asylum.” *] guess not,” Bob replied, independently. “Tm goin’ ter *dopt it myself. So ye needn’t trouble yourself,” And with a saucy grimace he marched away, carrying the child in his arms, ft now began to awaken, and yelled and kicked lustily, but Bob froze to it with grim de- termination, his dirty face the scene of many doubtful expressions, It was his first experience in handling in- fancy, and he was awkward in the extreme. Many amused glances were sent at him as he marched independently through Chestnut street, till he came to Fifth, and then through the tho- roughfare, northward, the infant screaming and struggling at every step. Not a few of Boss Bob’s bootblack and gamin acquaintances were also abroad, and guyed him, unmercifully, At the first confectionery stand Bob equipped himself with five cents worth of- horehound eandy, and offered one stick to his yelling charge, and to his infinite satisfaction it imme- diately silenced its screams. ‘The chubby hands bore the candied sweetness to the sweet little mouth, and there was peace, : “Candy is trump, anyhow,” Bob muttered; ‘‘an’ now, I must find some one who wants ter *dopt the kid.” He probably had some person in view, for half an hour later found him mounting the ners leading into a large and noisy calico factory, in the northeastern part of the far-reaching Cen- tennial city. A. man stood in the main entrance leaning against the door-case, engaged in smoking a cigar—a largely proportioned individual, of some five and thirty years, with a face that would have been moderately handsome but for its sinister, crafty expression, and a positive bloom to the end of a thin long nose; brown hair and mustache and goatee; and dark gray eyes that habitually wore a stern cynical glance. % He was airily attired in a full suit of gray cassimere, with spotless shirt-front and collar; a Panama straw hat upon his head, and patent- leather slippers upon his feet. In fact, his ap- pearance was that of a wealthy business man of the period. j He eyed Boss Bob sternly as he es evidently not favorably impressed with his ap- pearance, x : “‘Mornin’,” the bootblack saluted, with a nod. ‘Spect this ar’ Turnover’s caliker establish- ment, ain’t it?” Nese: “Well, sir, what of it?” was the’ surly an: rezk i se 2
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Roe Tony Fox, the Ferret. “Cause I wanter know,” Bob replied, not in the least abashed. ‘‘Needn’t be so sour about it. I twig your analysis, ter oncet. You're Mickey Mitchell, you are—‘ Mickey, the Supe,’ fer short. Guess ye’d like ter hev a body count you ther owner, wouldn’t ye? But et won't go down. I know yer, I do, an’ I wanter see Miss Flora Bacon!” CHAPTER fl. THE WAIF CHANGES HANDS. THE superintendent of the calico mills boasted of the cognomen of Michael Angelo Mitchell, but to his utter disgust, the gamin fraternity of the city delighted in abbreviating the appella-- tion to ‘“‘ Mickey,” because they knew it angered him. And Boss Bob, with his mischief-loving spirit, was no exception to the rule. ‘You cannot see Miss Bacon,” Mitchell replied, blushing angrily. ‘“‘She is busy. So begone with you, or I'll give you the toe of my boot.” “Ye will, eh?’ the gamin retorted, boldly standing his ground, et'a clam ye dursent raise yer quait against an innercent orphan, You don’t own this ’stablishment, not much, an’ et?s open fer ther in ‘tion o’ wisitors on Friday, wich to-day be a Friday. So I reckon Vl make a toor o’ inspection.” ‘You'd better keep out, if you don’t want to a“ get into trouble,” the superintendent growled, | nowing that the boy had hit the truth and that he had no power to hinder him. ‘‘ Whose baby’s that?” ‘*Yourn, mebbe,” the Bootblack King retort- ed coolly. ‘‘ Found it floatin’ on ther Delaware, and "dopted it. Goin’ ter turn it over ter Flora Bacon.” i “Pshaw! shell not take it. What does she want with other people’s brats? Better go chuck it back in the river for fish-bait.” “No danger anybody ’ll ever throw ye in,” Bob retorted, ‘ fer ther fish w’u’d all git sick at their stummicks. Bet ye a dollar Miss Flore *dopts the babe. | She’s sweet’s old peaches on me, ’eause I pulled her beau, Fred Reed, out of the river last winter. Wanter bet?’ ; *“No! go along with you,” Mitchell growled, and accordingly Bob marched triumphantly into the mill. Ascending the stairs, to the second floor, he entered the stamping-room, a large apartment devoted entirely to the printing of calicoes and occupied chiefly by girls and women whose ages ranged from twelve to twenty-five years. The clanking of the ponderous machinery and busy bustle of industry made a strange tu- emult of noises; but Boss Bob had been in the mill before, and passed along between the presses, noddmg familiarly to the girls, and grinning at their surprise to see him burdened with an infant, He presently came to. a press that was under the supervision of a young lady of some eighteen years of age, who was different from the aver- age of the factory girls, being sf esipeice eee aa ; retty, and evidently of a higher station in ife, albeit she was employed in the mill. She was of medium hight, and plainly but tastefully attired; with a feet, charming com- plexion, regular, well-chiseled features, eyes of | : Was ees a. ries must. else’s cas’ deepest blue, and hair of a lightish-brown color, — worn in a free, graceful flow over her shoulders, She looked up as Boss Bob approached, a look of pleasure upon her face, mingled with . prise, “Why, is that you, Bob? Where in the world did you find that baby? Oh! the dear little chub!” and the next instant she had snatched the little waif in her embrace, and covered its face with kisses, whereat it, crowed with delight. . * Oh! that’s a horfant, wot I’ve ’dopted,” Bob explained stool, while a bevy of the girls gathered around curiously. ‘* Found. ’er a-floatin’ on ther Dela- ware, an’ captured her, an’ ’dopted her. Goin’ ter make a ‘black’ out 0’ her, soon’s she gits big enuff to shine’m,’” ; “No, you are not,” Flora Bacon eried, hug- ging and sneering the little stranger, warmly. ‘You must give her to me, Bob—really, you Who areher parents, Bob?’ “Dunno. Guess she ain’t got any—leastwa: T don’t know of any. pea she growed, like Topsy,” the Bootblack King replied. ‘‘ So ye wanter ’dopt her, eh?” “Oh! yes, yes. The old lady where I board is sur- perching his anatomy on a convenient fond of babies, and would keep her for me while — I am at werk, and then I can take care of it afterward.” 3 The young woman seemed really delighted over the idea. ef ‘“*Mebbe Fred Reed will object ter et,” Bob> suggested, grinning, and closing one eye oblique- - y at which the girls tittered and Flora col- ored. } ““T guess not,” she reassured him, laughing. “ll run the risk, at any rate. Wait a momen’ end rH getmy things, and take my little adopted ome. She soon Tere, ready for the street, and taking the little stranger fondly in her arms, followed Boss Bob out of the fac’ » Mitchell, the superintendent, s' the steps, and an angry glitter stole into his eyes as he saw Flora accompanying the Boot- black King. ; “Mr. Mitchell, you will excuse me, I trust, untal noon?” the girl said, respectfully. “I wish to take this little waif where she will have pro-- per care.” stocd upon — . ‘*T spose so,” the superintendentreplied, un- jously. “I hope you-are not going to bur- en yourself with that nameless youngster, Miss — Bacon.” ; “That does not concern you, sir,” Flora re- turned, spiritedly. “If I choose to adopt the child and care for it, Ido not see what differ- ence it can make to you.” “Tt makes a vast sight of difference, miss. You are one of our chief printers, and if yéu take the re) gered of a for some one. child, you will likely be called often from your duties here, and I shall have to. fill your ae with some person less competent.” — ““T believe you have that privilege,” Flora — said, coldly. “I shall care for the child out of — i~ > charity, even if Iam discharged. Come, Bob, we will go.” And they descended the steps, rapidly away. oe
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6 Tony Fox, the Ferret. Michael Angelo Mitchell gazed after them scowlingly. “Curse the independent spirit of that girl,” he growled, stroking his pointed goatee, fierce- ly. ‘She knows I admire her, and would marry her in a minute, were she to give her consent. But she seems to detest me, for some reason, and cuts me direct at every opportunity. But wait, Iam no softy, to be snubbed around by such as sho, and she will find by and by that power is amore forcible and effective instrument than persuasion.” And with this conclusion he turned upon his heel, and re-entered the calico factory, his face th seene of contending emotions, In the mean time Flora and Boss Bob walked rapidly down Fifth street, onto which they had emerged after leaving the factory behind, the Bootblack King making rather a contrast with soiled, ragged attire, as compared with trim ora. ‘Spect you an’ Mickey Mitchell don’t hitch fu’st-class, eh?” he queried, observingly. ‘* ’Pear- ed like as ef you warn’t sweet on *im, as v7 be on Freddy Reed.” “No, I'm not swees on him,” the facgory maiden replied, with spirit. ‘‘L loathe and de- spise him, I fear him, constantly, but keep a brave front, for I would not daré to let him know I am afraid of him.” Guess not. He's a bad egg, is Michael An- elic Mitchell. *Spect I know some p’ints about im, an’ there’s Nondescript, he’s salted away a lot more, A bad egg is aver, but his shell will oe smashed some day, an’ then there’ll be a bad odor ter greet ther aristocratic nostrils 0’ fashionable society. Bet a clam I'll be on hand, too, when Mickey’s bubble bu’sts—me an’? Non- descript. Any uss o’ my accompanyin’ you furder, Miss Flore? *Ca’se if there ain’t, I reck- on I'll waltz down to Chestnut street an’ have a chat wi’ Mayor Stokely!” “ You—you have a chat with Mayor Stoke- ly?” Flora exclaimed, incredulously. “Well, yes—them’s what I sed. Ennything queer or qurious erbout the fack?” “Just as if Mayor Stokely would notice a tagged little gamin like you!” Flora laughed. ‘But he does,” Bob assured. ‘I reckon Bill and I knows each other. He knows I’m allus on a boom, an’ then he ain’t so stuck up as he luks, He knows I’m allus pokin’ inter seekarts, an’ nosin’ out deviltry, an’ now, as I’ve collared a big find, I’m a-goin’ to ax him fer a job on ther detective perlice force.” “Hal ha! You’d make a game policeman, Bob! But, I wish you success, nevertheless. You need not accompany me further, if you have anything else to attend to.” “ All right—then Tl go and Buzz Stokely. Tl call around directly, tho’. Got enny word ter send ter Fred Reed?” “No, I guess not—unless it’s a kiss,” Mora re- plied, ene ; - “But how’n blazes am J goin’ ter givo him a pie ot yer don't teynsmit it ter my honey-trap 5 ! “Oh! that is eac* enough. Just tell him I ‘sand him a kiss, and that will answer. But _mind—you must whisper it to him.” : 2, you bet!” Bob nodded, wisely. ‘Tl | sling it at him, fu’st-class style. Good-by, Miss Flore. Look out fer my ’dopted!” “T will—good-day,” and Mlora Bacon turned into a by-street, while Boss Bob continued on down Fifth street, toward Chestnut. “Dunno ef I can make any strike wi’ Stoke,” he muttered. ‘‘He’s ruther ’feard o’ liftin’ me inter any ’portant offis; ’spects I might sp'ile on his hands, mebbe. Bet he'll stare, when I open up on ’im, tho’.” ' Just as he was crossing Market street, the fete bootblack saw a car passing, and he shot orward, just in time to intercept 16, ‘* Hello, Fred Reed,” he shouted, to the con< ductor, with a grin. ‘ Flora Bacon sez she sends a smack to ye—sweet un, too!” The young man colored, confusedly, and shook his finger menacingly after the departing youth; for the point of Bob’s joke had reached the inte- rior of the car, and caused a giggle among the passengers. In the mean time, Boss Bob continued merrily along until he finally mounted the steps of the mayor's office on Chestnut street. As luck would have it, Mr. William Stokely ascended the steps at the same time on his way to his office. ‘ello! guess you don’t know anybody, do ye?” the King of the Bootblacks saluted, not in the least abashed at being in the presence of the chief magistrate of the Centennial city, ‘‘ Reck- on, mebbe, ye think Im an ee * black,’ but I ain’t, nohow. I’m King an’ High-Low Jack o’ this purtic’lar branch 0’ industry, an’ rejoice in the cognomen of Boss Bob, at yer ser. vice. “Oh! itis you, is it? Well, Robert, what can Ido for you?” the mayor asked, pleasantly and courteously, as was his usual wont, whether ad- dressing a prince or a pauper; and then, too, Boss Bob was not wholly unknown to him, “I wanter hey a privut conferdential chat on biz,” the gamin replied, independently. ‘‘ Reck- on Ive sum p’ints ter pitch off, w'ich ye’d like ter mow Son “Anh! is that so? Well, I’m glad to learn that you are still picking up ‘p’ints,’ as you call them, for the benefit o’ humanity. But as er ml busy at present, if you will call later, “Can’t see it,” Boss Bob replied, coolly. “Never would eat at ther second table; ef I can’t hev first base, I don’t want none. Ef ye don’t wanter heer my p’ints now, I’ll house ’em, an’ hunt up Pinkerton, who is in town,” “Well, well, my lad, if you have anything of importance on hand, come with me, and be brief. My time is largely occupied, you know— in fact, is not my own,” s ‘Spect so,” Bob assented, following into a handsomely furnished private room. “Be brief now, my friend. Time is scarce, Have you made any new criminal discoveries?” “‘Reckon I have. ‘Spect ye got a message | -wot I sent ye on ther back 0’ an ace o’ sondces thr’u’ ther post-offils, didn’t ye, sayin’s how was trailin’ sumthin’ dead?” ‘*T believe I did receive some such a card,” the mayor fous taking the identical card from a pigeon-ho 2 in his desk. Ly zn ‘Well, Pl unload,” Bob said, scratching his
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. head. ‘‘ Ye see there’s a cert/in French milliner in town, who hes lots o’ scrip about her duds, an’ goes over ter Urope, ev’ry month, an’ when she comes back, her winders allus blossom out wi’ a hull kit o’ new goods; yet she don’t pay no duty. Thet’s one p'int obsarved by Maloney & Co., perfeshionals. Next: Thar’s a couple 0’ fellers wot hangs around ther milliner’s, w’at’s sly coons, an’ in fac’ thar’s sevril leagued ter- gether, as it war, an’ ther milliner she be ther eenterpin. That’s.anuther pint. Then, thar’s an’ honest old down-an’-out Quaker, Patrick Mc- Fadden, by name, w’ot makes it his bizness ter lant cadavers, an’ do hearse bizness, an’ sich jike. Thet makes three p’ints. Now how much U1 ye give ter know ther rest o’ ther ‘portant se-’ eret? Collatteral talks!” “But, my dear boy, it is not in my line to purchase information!” “ Git out! Hain’t I shoved my best fut for’d, fer ther last year, wi’out gittin’ paid a red, by ther city, where other detectives hev grown fat an’ portly out o' ther results 0’ their fees? G’ess so! Reckon [ye ’stinguished my nibs, as well as they, but ken’t see whar I’ve got much ter show fer it. Collatteral is scarcer in my duds than purty mugs in a Centenyal lookin’-glass— an’ them’s solid facks, too. ‘* Don’t reckolect enny leetle jobs I’ve polished off fer you ‘city dads,’ do ye? Hain’t got no memory o’ how I saved a little incendiary ixpense, down on South Sixth street; rescued *Lysses Grant’s plug hat out o’ ther Delaware; bu’sted up a game ter rob ther Merkentile Bank; spotted ee an’ Cully McFadden at pawnin’ jewelry ; saved old Prescott frum’finan- shul kerlapse; captured a few p’ints erbout elex- shun frauds an’ sich like?—forgot all about them facks, ain’t ye?” - ‘‘No—no, boy! All of your worthy deeds are known to myself and the council, and when you arrive at a proper age, you will be remembered with a good appointment. But at present you are most useful in age you occupy as a bootblack, as you are able to handle matters secretly, that our most expert detectives cannot touch. Be brave, faithful and vigilant, and all in due time your services will receive proper recognition. I will bid you a pleasant good- day.” 8 Fest like all ther bi a aa yer own fashion o’ dismissin’ a chap,” Bob muttered. ‘Spect PU go.” And he left the mayor’s office for the street. ‘*T feel better, ennyhow,” he observed, as he caught a fresh breath of air. “Them high- toned offices allus ar’ as tight as a coffin, as ef they was afraid 0’ ee ther smell o’ a five- cent cigar escape. "Speet my prospects fer ther Presidency ar’ boomin’.” of: CHAPTER III, ‘ MADAM FAYETTH’S, Upon one of Philadelphia’s fashionable and principal rape streets stood a large brick store, in a block with several others, the show- windows proclaiming it to a millinery establishment, as well as the gold-lettered sign suspended above and across the sidewalk, which bore the inscription: Vd 1 ———— ENNIO “MADAM FAYETTE, Fashionable Artiste Milliner.” The sign failed to announce that, in conjunc- tion with her millinery establishment, the madam ran a private boarding-house, and a female barber-shop in the rear of the millinery store, where male bipeds could Bet a good clean shave at the hands of several be- witching French ails for the moderate sum of fifty cents; but, although these facts were not heralded to publicity, they were generally ’ known to madam’s friends and acquaintances, who chanced to be many in numerical count, for the madam was a real beauty herself, an her bevy of assistants were not far behind. On entering you found yourself in a gorgeous — _ ‘supply store of fashionable ladies! furnishing © articles, and a pretty, affable young lady be- ind the counter, who rejoiced in the name of Cora Castle, and whose powers of persuasion and conversation were not exaggerated, if you were to call her ‘‘ immense.” ‘ As a sales-maiden she lacked neither “ cheek” nor assurance, and if she saw that your face needed the acquaintance of the razor, or your head the shears, she was not so’ ‘ul as to neglect to mildly remind you of the fact. m passing through a door opening out of the millinery store, you came to a very small-sized vestibule, with a counter in odeend of it, behind which presided a darky, in spotless shirt and cuffs, ere was no other furniture, nor any- thing to excite suspicion; but if you were fi - iar with the ‘‘ ropes,” you could have undoubt- edly had dispensed to you most any style of liquid refreshment, from a mint julep to'a cham- “Pagne cocktail. with her. om ving the “lobby,” you emerged into a magnificent apartment, with fr walls and ceiling, superb carpets and mattings, luxurious arm-chairs, costly pictures, mammoth French- plate pier-glasses, gorgeous chandeliers and fine statuary—and this was the female barber-shop. — A handsome shaving chair stood in front of each mirror-—a dozen all told, and was attended in each instance BH a pretty, modestly-attired young French girl. fe Passing from the barber-shop, through a rear door, you ascended a pair of stairs to the sec- ond fioor, where you found yourself in a long, frescoed hall, with innumerable rooms on eac side, each labeled with its peculiar use. Following the hall to the front of the building, we come to a door designated as ‘‘ Private Par- lor,” and take a peep inside. The room proyed to be a marvel of orgeousness in adornment, the ceilings and walls being siraply elaborations of the frescoer’s art, and the furniture, of the richest pattern and finish, consisted of every- — | thing a fastidious taste-could demand. Madam Fayette sat at a Steinway pee piano, engaged in playing a difficult, weird piece of music. he. was a petite woman, with a poncetal figure, and a fair, pleasant; i y a pair of magnetic black eyes, and dusky — brown hair. She was one of those few persons whose looks improve with close scrutiny; and Madam Fayette, with her five-and-forty years, looked scarcely more than pete sities 2 so lightly had the withering hand of time dealt lump, vet ‘ace, set off
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7 confidence in Sir 8 Tony Fox, the Ferret. She was aa B and affable, well-educated and polished; and had that fascinating presence which invariably wins instant respect and ad- miration. She was now richly attired, and wore costly jewelry after a modest style, and made a very pretty picture as her jeweled fingers rattled over the ivory piano-keys. Af last she seemed to tire of the flow of weird music, and whirled about on her stool, to dis- cover’ a man seated comfortably in a luxurious lounging-chair, near by, engaged in ne a cigar, and the man, Michael Angelo Mitchell, attired in a dressing-gown and slippers. He had evidently just entered, for he looked up with a nod, as he finished lighting his Ha- vana, ‘Supper was not. quite ready,” he observed. ‘and 1 took the liberty to intrude. You need not a ples iad : “ But I will,” Madam Fayette said, with a smile. ‘‘I am weary of music and everything else, nearly. I pine for excitement. What's to be done to-night?” “T don’t know. Has not Sir Filbert been around to-day?” “No, Neither has Latch nor McFadden, The Albatross is scudding low, ready to he » _ loaded,” _ * Have you received a permit from the Board of Health to bring the coffin into the city?” “Yes. That’s all that is required. I have made arrangements with the keeper of Wood- land Cemetery to have the body taken from the boat which will run up the Schuykill to the rear side of the cemetery, and conveyed by the rear way to my vault. It is doubtless safely locked up in the vault now.” And the madam chuckled strangely as she finished. Z “THs a clever plan. How many ‘bodies’ are there now in the tomb?” Mitchell asked. “ Sixteen—total value about forty thousand dollars.” * “ “ Humph! it’s worked all right so far, but we'll have to ae it, directly, or aroused. That you should bring sixteen of your dead relatives across the Atlantic just because of your whim to have them deposited in your private vault here, does look a little queer, to say the least,” And the superintendent of the calico mills laughed rather uneasily. ‘‘T am afraid we'll get ourselves in trouble yet.” soy hope not,” Madam Fayette said thought- fully. ‘“ As you say, we must drop that game and go back to ae one. Have you perfect bert Frothingham?’ “Oh! yes, I trust him implicitly. Has he not been with us long enough to prove his loy- alty?”’ e ohare Isimply asked to draw forth your opinion. always dread traitors next to ison. : : ‘True, But I guess our flock are all reliable, There’s one rascal in the city, however, whom I am afraid of. He is called Bo: bootblack. He has a half-witted companion whom they call the Nondescript, and the two -aré nosing into everybody’s business that comes under their observation. The boy, Boss Bob, is as keen as 9 razor, and I believe he-has the or suspicion will be: oss Bob, and is a power of reading a person and their secrots at 8} glance. He appears to be familiar with my name, and I only fear that he may have spotted me, and is secretly keeping watch of my move» ments.” ‘*¥ hope not,” Madam Fayette responded. * “For an outsider to get an insight into our secrets would prove disastrous in the extreme.” Throngs of people were wending Centennial: ward—some afoot, many on the loaded-down street cars, and not a few in cabs or elegant; barouches. A vast concourse of many nations —it was but a common daily scene, as the term of the Centennial began to narrow down, “Hurry, Nondescript; don’t be laggin’ ahind. a-castin’ Chinerman’s eyes at every purty gal yer see,” cried Boss Bob, as he and his strange companion wended their way along through the crowd. ‘Gals areall very good in their sphere, but bigness an’? gals don’t run on ther same hoss-car line. Labor is capertal, an’ capertal is wittles, an’ ther average chap without wittles ain’t nochap at all. Ef we want capertal, labor's got ter cum fu’st. So “*Black yer boots, make ’em shine, Only costs ye half er dime; 6 yer anaes, sir, all at rest ‘Will a daub 0’ Bixby’s Best; Cure yer corns and peraing yer sins, fee ee 80 ek bale er dime disbureer’ 5 ' “Shine ’em, mister. Jest let me tackle them pruboate o yourn. Make ’em luk like a pair o’ ig reflectors quicker’n a sassenger can bark. An’ all ifll cost ye, ishalfa dime—twentieth part of a dollar.” But too intent were the visitors, on reaching the scene of the monster Exposition, to pause; consequently neither Boss Bob nor the Nonde- seript picked up any jobs until they arrived in — the immediate Nog of the Centennial in- closure, when they all the work they could attend to. : A thin, short, wiry little man, with a, jet- black mustache, and eyes of the same color, but small and bead-like, and hair long and straight as an Indian’s, stood near the ent ce to the Board of Finance building, smoking a fragrant cigar, and watching those who entered the ‘ounds; and then, he also kept an eye on Boss ob, who was doing a lively polishing trade, his tongue playing with equal rapidity with his brush. No matter who was his customer, he piney managed to drum up a conversation, and find out who the party was. His present patron was a tall, stylishly-attired fellow, with a dainty mustache and effeminate — SE peSrance, but not unhandsome. a i _ He wore a suit of pray woolen goods, with a shining sill hatupon his head, and also boasted of quite & display of aon tel F though he did, Bob was unsuccessful in getting up much talk with this party. He per- sisted in maintaining silence, and kept his gaze roving around him, in a nervous manner. : “Needn’t talk ef ye don’t wanter talk,” Boss — Bob rattled on. ‘’*Spect ye feel ‘way up,’ an’ calculate we 0’ ther radiatin’ perfeshion ain’h
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-eyster thet sport feels narvous Tony Fox, the Ferret. prime, but we doan’t keer. We ‘blacks’ con- sider oursel’s as fur above ye ordinary soft- shelled eyster-eaters as a wharf-rat do above a common mice. Sum fellers rise up in ther world jest like concentrated yeast; an’ then ther’s anuther class w’ot booms along up ater moderit pace, an’ finally gits ter be President, er Chief Dog-Ketcher, Bet a clam you’re one 0’ ther former class—sprung up like a musheroon, leavin’ tailers’ bills, an’ hash billy-dues unpaid.” The fop had received the boy’s harangue with a darkening face, and now jerked his half-pol- ished boot from the box, angrily. “ You insolent young rascal!” he cried, rais- ing his heavy walling-cane, threateningly, ‘‘do you know whom you are addressing, sir? ‘*No, an’ don’t care, neither,” was the inde- ndent eg “This is a free American Hail Colunibiy Eagle country, an’ chin’s as free as sweitzer case. ‘Spect you call yerself Sir Fil- bert Franklyn Frothingham, but [ll bet a clam thet’s only. game—cl’ar roth, ye see, like cums on top 0’ lager beer. Goin’ ter let me finish frescoin’ yer gunboat?” _ “No, you saucy young whelp. I'll not pay ou a cent or let you touch my boots again. ou are entirely too forward for a boy of your age. “Dunno beutthat,” Bob observed, coolly,as he seated himself complacently upon his upturned box, while another urchin ran up to finish the job. ‘Guess I'll keep wi’out spilin’, ennyhow. As fer ther job, ther loss o’ a nickel ain’t goin’ ter bankrupture me, hossy. Got lots o’ tin in m breeches ocket, wat I’ve made this mornin’. Dursen’t bet w’ich hes got ther biggest pile. Know’d you hedn’t ernuff ter buy a penny-grab. Ruther lose hold on five cents, enny time, then ter lose ther satisfaction 0’ takin’ a feller’s foter- graff. I say, Frothy, how’s ther tradein cadav- ers? Know of four dead cats downtmy way, w’ot kin be bought cheap—one Thomas cat, an’ two feminines an’ a spitz terrier!” Sir Filbert phd 5 Fae uttered a fierce curse and glared at Boss Bob sharply; then abruptly turned and strode away through the dense crowd, followed by a mocking laugh from the Bootblack King, and a wry look from the urchin who had ae to finish the polishing job where Boss Bob had left off. “Ha! hal sling a hint at er clam, an’ he'll allus close his shell,” the king. Tau, hed, his face distorted with a grin of delight. , like. Say, cully, didn’t get yer pay, did yer? “No,” the boy replied, dolefully. ‘“‘Know’d ye wouldn’t. Lots 0’ ther perfeshion et fooled on jest sech chaps as him, ’Spect a ell wanter pay a lammerkin over my eye, next time we meet.” { : And with a chuckle the gamin picked up his box and moved off. Bet a shuck’ | perfeshional_ attire!” Boss | trionic eulogerfication, I want ter be ri Pe oles ames Mere eeeMe t 9 ‘Well, I'm open fer dates—allus ready ter scrape acquaintance, ef et’s elergible. Rg as nomen is Boss Bob, fer short—Bobby Burns Beecher Maloney, fer long. What’s your es- erutchun?” ‘ The little man smiled. ; ; **¥ have heard of you,” he ssid. ‘I am ‘Tony Fox, the Ferret. Tn the profession I am known as Captain Ferret!” And the detective advanc- ed and extended his hand. CHAPTER IV. - TONY FOX, OF NEW YORK, “Know’d you wasa hull hoss,” Boss Bob de- elared, shaking hands with the little’ man. “Know’d you waren’t no Jarsey man, ner a feller 0’ Bosting culchaw. ‘Spect by ther cut 0’ yen Hae et ye hail from the port o’ New or’ d * And hit it, exactly,” Ferret responded, with a nod, ‘You are quick of Leah ger i per- ceive, which is good. Iam in need of just such a young man as you—want a sort of partner, you see. Got a few points about you trom the chief of police here, and came up here to see if I could pick you out.” —. “Reckon thet weren’t no hard job,” Bob re- plied. ‘I’m Jinder of a landmark, heerabouts, an’ some o’ ther boyssay I war ther fu’st chap” w’ot suggested ther plan o’ gittin up this Cen- tennyal. Dunno ’bout thet myself, tho’, ‘Spect you're trackin’ some game, eh?” ‘“Well, yes, and again no. I learned that there were some New York rogues operatin down here, and thought I’d come over and loo! ?ém up on account of old scores.” “Bully. You'll find ’em thicker’n lice on er yeller dorg. Shine ’em fer ye?” And, ever with an eye to business, Bob di- rected an inquisitive glance at the boots of the New York detective. ; “T don’t know but you may,” he said, putting forward a small foot. ‘T egpohen domy own — polishing, but since we're to double up, Ill let out the job to you.” . “Hedn’t ye allus better ketch yer chickens afore ye peel ’em?” Bob quizzed, with a grin. ‘“When I uster snare cats on top o’ ther roofs fer Schneider, ther sassage-maker, I never made a habit o’ puttin’ enny dependence on Thomas till I got him.” - “Oh!” Ferret laughed. ‘‘ Well, I’m pretty sure of you, because I know you're always ready to venture into business that has the promise of adventure and reward.” _ F “You can bet a bull cup o’ soft-shell clams on that, lovey-dovey. Ef there’s any prospect 0° regular Buffler Bill blood an’ thunder excite- ment, wi’ solid ‘Mighty dollers,’ an’ collatteral security ter back it, count, me in, every time. Goin’ ter give me the twig?’ “Yes;.but not here. Come along into the Centennial, and we'll see the sights, and tall, as we see ’em,” ‘‘ What—me go inter ther ‘ b_ ejaculated, in Papi ‘*No, sir-ee! §’pose I’d sail in thar ~ in ti rough togs? Guess not. _ A ae ate.” ‘* When I tread the corridors uv fame an’ his- igged up hee show, in my.
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10 neintnt short o’ a President, or fu’st-class huck- ster. “Then come along into the park, We'll aig a talk, and see the Centennial later,” Fox said, Accordingly he and Boss Bob moved along toward the southern terminus of the grounds. _ “Spect ye see’d thet feller w’at got mad when I was shinin’ his propellers?’ Bob asked, ac- cepting a fragrant cigar from the Ferret’s case. ‘Yes, I noticed the chap—know him, in fact. We is New York Johnny, the burglar, forger kidnapper, and villain at large. He’s boarded on the State more times than he’s got teeth.” ‘*Know’d he was a thurrerbred,” the Boot- black King declared. ‘ Allus kin tell a hoss by ther kink in his karackter. So he’s N. y Johnny, is he? Humph! ’Spect thar’s quite a difference between thet h ndle an’ Sir Filbert Franklyn Frothimham. Guess so!” “Does he go under the latter name here in Philadelphia?” . * Bet he does! Puts on thet he’s an earl or a dook, er sum sech-like; an’ Lordy! ye ken’t tech him wi’ a ten-foot pole, he’s so serumpshus_ elosed. him up like a reg’lar clam, tho’, a few while ago, ‘Spect he’s cogitatin’ about me, now, darker’n a teetotal eclipse.” The New York detective did not reply and the two walked down Elm avenue until its in- ersection with Girard, when they struck off past the Siege of Paris building, toward the children’s play-ground, in Fairmount Park. Arrived here, they took seats opposite each other, on the rustic setitees. “Now we will compare notes,” Fox said, looking around and noting that there were no loungers in their immediate vicinity, ‘There are a few questions I would like you to answer, in as straightforward manner as you can.” “Allright, Spill °em out, an’ I'll analyze an’ doctor ’em,” Bob replied, with a grin. ‘I’m famous at answerin’ questions, when thaz’s solid cash collatteral ahead.” ‘Yes. Money is quite an incentive. First I want to know whereabouts this New York Johnny stops?” 5 “Dunno. “Spect he stops at Madam Fay- ette’s most o’ ther time. Seen him come out 0’ thar, severil times.” : ‘Where is Madam Fayette’s?” “ Down in Highth street.” #* What kind of a place is it?” “Queer, Milliner shop in front, female bar- ber-shop back, an’ boardin’-house up-stairs. Heerd say it’s nobby. Dunno what more.” “ Humph! All under the management of this Madam Fayette, eh?” : ‘ 5 ‘*Spect so. Never was in it.” “You must somehow contrive to get in it, and make a thorough reconnoissance. This New York Johnny is suspected of having stolen a casket of diamonds and other jewels, recently, from an English lady in New York, and as no place can be found where they have been dro ped, he may have them concealed wherever he stays. Do you think you could somehow menage to go through the madam’s establish- - ment?” us) they don’t entertain boot- ‘Dunno, tai 1 there; but if re’s enny virtue in ty Tony Fox, the Ferret. cheek, I'll make a go of it. Know a gal whe slings out fineries from behind ther counter there, an’ mebbe I can git upa boom wi’ her.” “Try it. Dll give you a hundred ‘dollars if you find the casket.” ‘How big is it?—big’s a beer cask?” “Hardly,” Fox replied, smiling. ‘It is a smal], square box, not much larger than an or. dinary collar box, is made of ebony, and Erte with gold. Who is the girl you spoky of? “Oh! she’s Cora Castle, now, French milliner, Six months ago she used ter be Sally Toodles pavement-scrubber an’ supe fer an up-towr mansion, but she had plenty o’ tongue an’ Jots o’ cheek, an’ riz up.” ‘ ‘Ah! perhaps you can get a look through. Madam Fayette’s establishment, by workin; things right, then. Here are twenty-five dol lars. Use it for clothing and whatever you may judge best, and after trying your game, let me now the results.” And the detective handed several notes to the Bootblack King, which he pocketed with satis- faction. : “ Got a few pints to give you since we're ards,” Bob said, scratching his head. ‘‘Hver eor of Judge Turnover?” “ What—the mill-owner?” ‘¢ Yos—that’s him.” “Pye heard much of him, serly?” ‘ Bet yer eysters on that! Tighter’n ther hug uv.a live lobster.” “T believe that he used to be different,” Fox said. ‘‘D?’ve heard that his wife ran away to Europe, years ago, taking her children with her, which soured the judge into a grim, miserly, unrelenting man.” *“Mebbe so. Well, this Turnover, he’s got a feller sujtrintendin’ his mill, called Mickey Mitchell. This Mitchell an’ a gang of other chaps are known to the medical profession as the Lifters’ League. They go an’ dig up bodies out 0’ cemeteries, an’ sell em to the doctors who want cadavers ter dissect, through an agent they call Patrick McFadden, undertaker an’ funeral furnisher. This McFadden keeps the ‘Morgue,’ an’ furnishes the bodies ter physicians, when they want ’em.” “Well, well, this is an old New York dodge, I seo,” the detective said, scratching his head. “Who are these other parties connected with this man Mitchell?” “One chap is McFadden, an’ another is called Franklyn. He’s Frothingham, Then there’s another called Beauvard, an’ Mitchell-” ; “T know the man McFadden, and also Froth- ingham, alias New York Johnny,” the Ferret said. ‘* Mitchell and Beauvard, however, are not down on my private Rogues’ Register.’ ‘“Spect Madam Fayette an’ Beauvard mebbe is the same,” Boss Bob said, with a grin, ‘TI ken ginerally smell er rat, specially if it be a furrin rat.” Is rich and mi. “Then you believe this French milliner to be. cal s ‘Bet I do! Know sev’ril other pints, too, but cae keep. Tell me w’at Tl do now, Foxy. I'll p'int ye as head chief ¢? ther firm d uA a and connected with this hand of ras- © ot
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. % ie 11 Maloney, Nondescript and Fox, ° detectives, Yowll stand ready to receive the pints and cases, as fast as I an’ Nondescript gathers ’em, an? sell °em fer solid cash collateral. By that way, we can git up a reg’lar Centenyal boom in bizness, all on our own hook. What d’ye say —we scare up the jobs, an’ you take ‘em at r?? : “Very well. Go to work, and whatever suc- cess you may make, I will pay you for.” Boss Bob soon took leave of the detective, and jumping aboard a car, he rode back into the old city, leaving the car at Eighth and Market streets, ‘ Seeing nothing of the Nondescript here (who had preceded him in leaving the Centennial ‘ounds), Bob continued on down Market street fo Sixth, where he stood for some time inspect- ing the outside display of clothing of Wanama- ker’s great establishment, “Dunno whether I want black broadcloth, or sky-blue,” he muttered, shoving his hand. in- to his breeches pocket to sce that his $25 was still there. ‘“’Spect ef I was to wear broad- cloth, folks’d take me fer Beecher, an’ ef I'd top off wi’ blue, they’d call me "Lysses Grant, or Phil Sheridan. Guess I'll sailin an’ buy out the bull establishment, an’ choose afterward.” ‘Hello, sonny. Want to puy von nice suit ‘ off clodings?” saluted one of the outside clerks, ‘* Sell om sheep.” , “Oh! you & soak ther Dutch from yer tongue,” the King of the Bootblacks replied. ‘“‘Don’t spect. I’m goin’ to buy any o’ ther duds that these dummies hes.bin wearin, do ye? Guess not! I’m comin’ ter buy ther’ establish- ment out after I dine. I’m Jay Gould, yeshould know. Tra-la-loo!” 5 And away the gamin strutted, his melodious, voice ringing out in his own peculiar business signal; **Black yer boots—make’m shine, Only costs ye half a dime.” Working his way back to Highth street, be- tween jobs, he took that thoroughfare and con- tinued on in dye a course, pausing occa- sionally to inspect the tempting display of shop windows, He finally came to a large window of a pre- tentious brick block, devoted to the display of fine and costly laces and rare furnishing goods of the feminine persuasion, _. *Reckon this is Madam Fayette’s place,” the youth muttered, surveying the fineries with a yod. Allus kin tell a French milliner from er Yank, ‘cause she hez a plaster o’ Paris bust 0’ » Rochambeau in ther windy. ‘Spect Cora Cas- tie’s in thar. Wonder how she'll take ter old friends, anyhow? ‘Spect she'll deny she ever know’d me, like enough. That’s ther jigger wi’ ther gals, Feed ’em on candy, and buy ’em You * Ae Colagne, an’ you're all hunky, till yer bank ukkcunt is bu’sted—then luk out fer broom-han- Gles, slop-buckets an’ serub-brushes! ‘Spect I better go in an’ buzz Maddammorsel Cora, an’ wee ef she’lt do ther high kink by me.” : With bis blacking-kit slung behind his back +e mounted the step, independently, and entered te millinery-shop. Phere were no customers present, but the 7 oy, | big money, heer, Sally?” pretty, saucy-looking Miss Castle stood behind the counter, her nimble, bejeweled fingers en- gaged in sorting over a batch of laces, She looked up with a faint frown of annoy- ance at Bob’s entrance, but the look turned to one of surprise as the Bootblack King approach- ed the counter and doffed his hat. ‘*Good-mornin’,” he said, assisting himself to a seat with the utmost indifference, ‘Seed you in heer, an’ thort I'd drop in, on account. 0’ old scores. Know me, don’t ye?” ‘“Wo, I do not,” the girl replied, proceedin, pe her work, and not deigning him a secon glance. does not extend among the bootblacks.” “Oh! et don’t eh? ? ob ye’re a furrincr right over from France, ain’t ye?” Bob said sar- eastically. ‘‘ A feller could tell you was a hoss- “My acquaintance, in Philadelphia, ~ eater by ther cut o’ yer jib. Spill us out a lt- ‘tle genuine Rochambeau, now—fer instance, amour beaucoup mais argent fait tout. Tal ha! bet a one-legged salt-water clam ye ken’t tell what et means.” The girl looked puzzled. “No, I can not,” she said. French.” “Yes it is—reg'lar old prime article, jest sech as all you hoss cannerbals use, every day. Tell ye wat tl do—I’'ll bet you ain’t no mad- ammorsell, no more’n I be, or Nondescript. Used ter know a gal by ther name o’ Sally Toodles, w’ot luked jest like you, ’cept she didn’t weer sech toga ner French jewelry. Sally sho scrubbed pavements fer a livin’, an’ I ’spect we'd eventooally hey cum bis ie but ske slid off, an’ I lost track o’ her. An? you’re Sally “Tt is not good .Toodles that waz—or I’m a cross-eyed eyster!” It was more of a conclusion than an infer ~ ence, and Miss Castle flushed and colored. ‘* How dare you associate me with any of the vile creatures of the streets?’ she cried, with assumed indignation. ‘‘I would be greatly re- lieved if you would leave the store, you boot- black.” “But I won't swaller hints wuth a cent,” Boss Bob assured, coolly. ‘I never cept inver- tashions o’ that kind, onless ther feller’s bigger’n, ~ Tam. No use o’ gittin up on ther pinnercal 0” — yer ry crepe Sally, fer ye can’t squeeze around Castles aire a very fine thing ter shoulder, but Toodles wull hang by er person ther longest, specially when ther male Toodles hoards a’ her fact thet ye aire a Toodles, nohow. . oya, an’ ther female Toodles ‘keeps a gin mill. — Ha! ha!” The taunt caused the girl to color again, and her eyes snapped angrily. “You are insolent,” she said, ‘It does not. matter who I am, to you.” #3 “‘Spect not, but then I allus like ter take i fotergraffs,” Bob assured, with a smile, ‘‘ ’Ston- ishin’? how sum folks will climb ther ladder 0’ fortin’. Never ’spected ter see you riz so high, — ‘Member ther time I put a lamberkin over a feller’s eye, cause he mistook his occerpation by _ trym’ ter kiss you’—an’ how I, after drivin’ off — ther‘enemy, tried like a reglar Buffler Billiam — ot a scrub bucket — ter kiss ye, myself, an? crammed down over my head? *Spect ye git ix3 ‘Why will you persist in tormenting me?” the : z a ee oe
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1 cried, “If you do not let me alone, I shall ve to call the madam.” : “Callher, Tell her thar’s a good-lukin? fel- ler down heer who's jest fell heir ter a bij} fore tin’, in Calerforny. Mebbe I an’ her kin : er matrimonial trade.” “ You got.a fortune?” the girl asked, incJe@ie meres : ‘On course I have,” Bob réplied, importantly, adding under his breath, ‘‘ to get!” “Then that makes a difference,” Miss Castle decided. ‘‘I do recognize you as Boss Bob, and. will acknowledge that I was once Sally Toodles —but no longer so, however. Whatcan I do for you, Bob?” CHAPTER V. BOSS BOB’S BOLD VENTURE. THE manner of the shop girl was entirely changed, now, and she put on her most winning smiles, which tickled Bob amazingly. *Know’d ye was Sally,” he nodded, with a forward hitch of his chair. ‘‘Can’t fool a per- feshional on sech matters, But my fortune I’ have yet to get.” The girl laughed good-naturedly. She saw _ she had been beaten, and was not inclined to be a 5 mt Well Tl for, said. ‘ But real Tt would ite all.” “Oh! Pil keep my conversation-valve close, solong’s you do the square thing. Id jest leave hev a Castle as a Toodles, an’ so now, ef ye do what I want o’ you, you're solid.” “What do you want?’ the girl asked sus- piciously. ‘Tell ye jest what,” the King of Bootblacks said, leaning forward. ‘‘I want to see the in- Side o’ every room in ther ’stablishment.” ‘Oh! that is impossible. There is no one at home except myself and the barber girls—the madam and the boarders are all off at the ive you for fibbing to me,” she; , you must not give meaway. - Centennial.” “That suits me ter a capiterl dot,” Bob an- nounced. ‘I kin gothrough ther up-stairs part - wi’out molestation.” “‘But I could not allow that. You have no 2 right to enter people’s rooms.” j ~ alarm, i you there, I would get my discharge.” ‘Bot a clam I hev,” was tlie reply. ‘ Jest peop at that, will ye?’ and turning up the lapel of his coat, he exposed a small brass star, It was one he had found, once, but the shop girl mistook it for a detective’s badge, and whitened. a trifle at sight of it, ** You are a detective!” she gasped. ‘Spect mebbe I am,” Bob replied, with as- sumed seriousness; ‘* leasthow, I want to review . the interior of this ‘stablishment, ’thout ther knowledge uv yer bossee, an’ wi’out hevin’ ter make anybody trouble. So ef ye’ve got enny objections ter takin’ a trip ter ther Central Per- lice Court, you'd better give me the keys, and let me reconnoiter,” “Oh! Idare not! I dare not!” Cora said in “Tf madam should find it out, or find “Tl bet.a clam ye won't; ef ye sneak me up no one ‘ll be the wiser; ef I get ketched, TH throw suspishion from your shoulders.” = __ #* You promise this?” ne Tony Fox, the Ferret — SES. ce DRA “Ves—if promies tor be loyal ter me an‘ my kuntry? Be replied, ‘Sides that, when I git out I'll present ye wit2 peanuts and candy girl lo }4 but reached for a Guneh of key, é#as bung { pon a nail driven ia Gins OF the she Fas he*-""4 ¢ 8 counter. : “You remain here,” she said, ‘until I come back, and I will see if I can clear the way for ~ you.” ; She entered the next room and closed thi door behind her, while Bob inspected the costly" articles displayed in ‘the great show-cases wit a critical eye. ; " “‘ Wonder ef a feller has ter buy all sich thingy fer his wife when he constertoots one o’ ther big- bugs?” he muttered. ‘‘’Spect he’d hev ter own a big bank account,” is Cora Castle was not gone long ere she made her reappearance, “ Here are the keys to the ne kage rooms,” she said, handing them to Boss Bob.“ All the sec- ond-story rooms are unlocked. You can make tho venture if you choose. You'd better noi s'ay long, however, lest Madam Fayette should return and discover you. Pass in through the first room into the barber-shop, and you'll find the stairway.” ; “* How ’bout ther gals? Won't they pitch on- ter a feller an’ eat’im up all because he’s good- looking?” “No. I've explained to them that you've come to see the madam about hiring out, and will await her return in the kitchen. If you don’t say anything to them they’ll not be likely to trouble you or say anything to you. You may go now.” With a grin of delight Bob took the keys and left the store for the next interior apartment, bent on his venturesome mission. Tipping a wink tothe darky waiter behind the bar, he passed into the barber-shop, and in a few minutes was in the hall on the upper floor. Here he paused to reconnoiter. “Spect I better commence in this al Ee and work upward, so that if I get booted out, Pll be so much nearer the moon. Lucky hit 1 made in coming here, an’ workin’ on ther feelin’s o’ Sally Toodles. Gals allus is soft.” . The first room he entered on the right of the hall proved to be a combined kitchen and pan-— try, and he spent a few minutes herein regaling his inner man on choice viands he found at his” disposal. ; The next connecting room was a Jone, magni- j ficent dining-hall, set with tables and chairs, Seeing nothing of what he was in quest here, he entered the next apartment which was noth~ ing less than a gambling-room, furnished with — billiard-table, faro-table, keno Jay-out and roulette; also a walnut side-board which he rightly concluded was devoted to the storage of | wines and liquors, and gaming-tools. » “Well, may I be forced ter live on Alorg 5 sassage, ef this ain’t a reg’lar hossy old place, anyhow,” Bob muttered. ‘Ef et wassent fer | pressin’ sureumstances, I reckon I’d like ter’ stop at this hotel.” The next door admitted inspecting it, for there were many fin 1 him to the madam’s ves private parlor, and he spent some time in
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. ments and fixtures that took his eye. He failed to find the casket, however, and was about ready to leave the room, when he made two * discoveries. The first was that it was near night—for on looking out of the front window, he perceived that a store across the way was being lit up. He had absorbed more time in his explorations than he had any idea of. Following close upon the heels of this discovery came one of a more startling character—some one was approachin the parlor, along the hall—not one person, evi- dently, for there were footsteps of several. It at once became plain to Bob that he was cornered, for the hall.door was the only outlet from the room, and to attempt to escape through that meant instant discovery. There was but one hope for him—a high wal- aut bookcase stood crosswise of one corner of the room, and behind it was sufficient place for a poe to hide. t was much too heavy for one person to lift, but catching hold of the top, Bob drew himself up, by the main strength of his arms, and dropped down upon the other side, without creating any noise worth mention. He had scarcely esconced himself in a com- fortable position, when the door opened, and three persons entered the room. Two of them were men, he concluded, by their heavier footfalls, and the smell of cigar smoke. ane ae Bob rightly concluded was Madam ‘ayette. : ® Shute me fer a cross-eyed clam ef. that cigar-smoke don’t smell better’n Jockey Club! onder ef I ain’t got a stub about my duds, so I can keep ’em (ae ee Ah! here’s half oa reg lar genewine Havanner, w’of cost mo three cents, up at ther Centenyal. Dunno w’ether ther two breeds 0’ smoke ‘ll mix or not —don’t care, neither. All I want’s ter heer them folks converse, an’ un out their secrets inter my ocular hopper. t I kin store away more p'ints in less time than any coon in Phila- dele? nd, regardless of the consequences that might follow, the Bootblack King lit his half- smoked cigar and puffed away comfortably his eyes closed as he leaned — the wall, but his ears were wide open to catch any points that ae be opened by the three occupants of the parlor. ? It was some time before anything was said, and then Madam Fayette spoke. “We are ready to hear your report now, Sir Franklyn. You said you had something of im- portance to communicate to us.” “So l have,” was the reply. ‘If we do not lay low, there is & prospect of trouble, “You have heard of the young bootblack devil they call Boss Bob, maybe?” = ; “Yes, I have!” a third voice replied, hoarse- ly, which Boss Bob at once seb down as hen ing to no person other than ‘Michael Ange Mitchell, the mill superintendent. little too cute for a lad of his age.” : And as sharp as a steel needle,” Sir Frank- lyn averred. ‘‘ Well, he attempted to blacken fed boots to-day, but through bis insolence I Jeft the job for another urchin to complete, first giving bim a good kick.” TE te ea * be “He is a Coy clusions that she had drowned the child * Ob, w'ot a who’ 1? Bob muttered under his breath, from his place of concealment. ‘Stonishin’ w’ot heroes sum fellers will make out o’ themselves w’en they don’t think no one’s Get uae Lins good idk? Sie Mick es, I gave hima anklyn pursued. a Why, the young devil hinted ‘as hes as though I was concerned in grave rob- - ‘*Ha, ha! do you fancy he knows how fear he came to the truth?’ Mitchell asked, — ‘Certainly. He evidently has been spotting us and knows all—or else, how would he know anything?” 2 ‘ “True, And if he knows all, we are in im-+ minent danger of being arrested, for that young devil has no r + for persons—especially evil- doers,” Mitchell averred. ‘‘ We must somehow contrive to purchase his silence, or procure it, for my ition under old Turnover is too valu- able to be lost.” ** And likewise, my millinery trade,” Madam Fayette added. ‘‘But I have a plan in my mind by which, I think, we can trap the young rascal, What else have you-to communicate, Sir Franklyn?? “Something of importance, This boy, Boss Bob, is, I believe, in league with Fox the Ferret, - from New York. I saw them talking together to-day. Fox is in town for the purpose of nab- bing me for ‘lifting’ a valuable set of fore from an English lady, lately in N. Y. it the ‘joke of it is, he has no proof against me to ar- rest meon. Bat, that is not what I was about! to say. You remember that I married a poor girl, not over two years ago, by the name of Adele Lawton?” g “Yes,” Madam Fayette replied. ‘‘I also knew the girh” ‘ , ‘Well, the fell hand of the Destroyer has 18° ¥ struck her down, and left me at freedom to wed — Madam Fayette at any time she may please.” ~ The madam laughed a little. “Perhaps I should cry, at that news, since — Adele was of my own flesh and blood,” she said; “but in truth, T am not of a disposition to mourn. Adele was too much like her father, as were the other children, for me to care for her. I shirked my responsibility of caring for them, years @go, and there ended my concern for their ” welfare.” “Then, is it really true that Adele was your own daughter?” Sir Franklyn asked, “Yes. Ishould have told you before, only I did not want her to get upon my track. You had a child by her, I believe?” ‘Yes. I had one,” was the significant reply, “but the French nurse, Felice, who attended Adele, stole it, and when T overtook her, I found her in the neighborhood of the river, without the child. Questioning her proved useless, and I could only draw m: pos the | river.” : | “ A very safe conclusion to draw, I presume. ‘a the madam said, sarcasm im her tone, whilé, — Boss Bob, behind the bookcase, shut his teeth together with a snap. as “Bf this ain’t ther toughest nest o’ ripe rogues: and roguesses, P'll be sol h tered, undsr his breath. bo, mes 4 about pow, ar cheap,” he mut-— iT hey Uk ou ave chase and —
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14 Tony Fox, the Ferret. death as ef et wasn’t no worse ter kill er person than ter eat er mince pie.” ‘*T had as lief draw that conclusion, as not,” Sir Franklyn said, “TH bet your child is not drowned, or any- thing of the kind,” Mitchell said. ‘* Boss Bob found a babe in the Delaware, a few mornings ago, and placed it in charge of-one of my fac- tory girls, whom I have mentioned here, before, as Flora Bacon.” : ‘* Curses on the luck!” Frothingham growled. “‘There’s another case of that devilish boot- black’s meddling. He must be silenced; or, better, put out of the way.” “Tl see, myself, that he is attended to,” Madam Fayette said, fiercely. ‘But let the babe alone, Sir Franklyn, for itis in good hands, and will never be likely to bother you. Flora Bacon is also my daughter!” The two men uttered an exclamation of as- tonishment, ; * This is incredible,” Mitchell exclaimed. “T had three children, and two of them were girls. I placéd them in the Almshouse, and they were afterward adopted by the two fami- lies whose names they bear—Lawton and Ba- con, ‘ What became of the boy?” “T gave him to the captain of a whaling’ ves- sel, and he is daibtless a sailor before the mast.” ‘Then, perhaps you can induce Flora Bacon to become my wife?” Mitchell said. oe el ng not,” was the decided reply, “I have nothing to do with her.” ‘Then, you at least ought to tell me who her father was?” “Tf it will benefit you any to know, he is the miserly old nabob, to whom you look for your spare cash—Judge Turnover.’ Boss Bob, behind his bookease concealment as his fingers to keep from whistling his sur- prise. “ May I never shine ernuther boot, ef this ain't a reg’lar Alexander Dumas of er dram- mer,” he muttered, his eyes glistening with ex~- citement, ‘‘ Wonder what Miss Flora will say when I unload my diskiveries fer her ter cogitate on. Thet madam is ther wife o’ Turnover, w’ot Foxy sed went ter Urope, an’ left her husband. Phew! w’ot a sensation it would makePef Id give ther pints ter ther Bulletin or Times! Vd ea bigger man thun ’Lysses Grant in less’n ther wink uv aclam’s eye. Guess I won't spill my cargo, jest yet, however. Mebbee I'll rake in sum more p’ints Md get OS There was a lull in the conversation now, and the gas was lit for the evening. The clink of paces also suggested that the occupants of the parlor were regaling themselves with drinks. \ “Have you heard anything more from the boat?? Madam Fayette asked, after a long pause. “Yes, Isaw the captain, this morning,” Sir Franklyn replied. ‘He said he had kept the boat scudding about the bay, and will touch the Schuylkill shore, at the swampy flats in the rear of Woodland Cemetery to-night, after mid- night. McFadden and Mulroony will be there to receive the coffin, and to see to getting it into the vault.” : oe | Franklyn,” Madam Fayette said, “‘ for ‘must be behind the bookease, yonder. “Good! T will visit the vault to-morrow and see to getting the cargo away. Itisnot safe there any longer, if the young Arab, Boss Bob, is in the secret.” s “No, indeed! The smuggling game is about pa out. You will have to beat the Custom- ouse the old way now,” Mitchell declared. “By the way, there was a death in Green street, this morning; a rich old lady, named Thorpe, dropped away, after a lingering sick- ness that has baffled medical skill to analyze. ek will undoubtedly be a demand for her ly. ‘““Good. Do you know where she will bo buried?” the madam asked, eagerly. “Yes, She has a lot in Fernwood Cometery, out near Fernwood Station, She will be a fine catch, too, for being a Ioud dresser and rich and miserly, i is not improbable that she will be igged out gay, in jewelry, even if she does not e her cash along with her.” “Very well. e will see to if to-morrow night,” the madam announced. ‘Phew, Mitch- Ti ta ell, that i; a bad cigar you are smoking, I6 is disgustingly strong and rank!” **TIndeed! you are certainly mistaken,” the somewhat superintendent replied, evident] ruffled in spirit. “It is an excellent cigar I am smoking, for I never will tolerate a cheap one. These cigars cost me three dollars per dozen at Partuendo’s stand in the Colonnade Hotel.” “Then, you must be the guilty party, Sir cer- tainly detect the smell of a poor cigar in the room. I am a connoisseur in the matter of cigars, I flatter myself, and I never fail to de- tect the presence of a poor article.” ‘You are at fault again, nevertheless,” Froth- ingham replied, ‘‘ for I also purchase my cigars at Partuendo’s, and have one of the same brand Mitchell is aaa Oe “Can it be possible? Then there is some per- son in the room, smoking, besides you. Quick! lock the door, and do not let him escape. He may be a burglar.” “But w-where is he,” Sir Franklyn faltered, eying her orders. ‘‘{see no sign of any per- son, aside from ourselves, I—I have no wea- ns. “Bah! do not be a fool. There is no occasion to use weapons,” Madam Fayette -said, coolly. “Tf there is any one concealed in the room, it Mitchell, will you help me move it to one side?” : CHAPTER VI. CAPTURED AND CHLOROFORMED, Boss Bog had. overheard the discussion about the cigars with feelings of chagrin, for he re« alized that he had betrayed himself by his own carelessness. ‘Spect Dll be discovered, and booted out, now!” be soliloquized under his breath. ‘t Yes, here they come to move the case. Wonder how this blud-an-thunder drammer is goin’ to end?” There was nothing for him to do but face the music, and he accordingly remained seated on the floor, and puffedaway at his poor cigar with the utmost apparent unconcern, ‘ : ‘Yes, the smoker of the poor cigar is behind —
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. here,” the madam said, “‘for I can smell the smoke, stronger, now.” The next minute their united efforts succeed- ed in pulling the bookcase to one side, and Boss Bob was revealed. ~ A curse escaped the villainous trio, as they discovered him. ““Tt’s the cussed bootblack,” Mitchell cried, . with a start. “ Bet yer boots it is, Mickey!” Bob returned uriconcernedly. ‘‘ You’ve goter memory hitcht ter ye like er hawk, I see, Didn’t spect ther honer uv this visit, did ye!” The three plotters interchanged glances, in which there was a mingling of dark expres- Pee h boy, I’ to hi id ere, you boy, I’m going to have you arrested!” Mitchell cried sternly. “What fur? What’ve I bin doin’?” Boss Bob queried, the picture of innocence, ‘Tl show you what you’ve been doing, you young Arab, J’'ll learn you to sneak into peo- ple’s houses and play eavesdropper, I will.” “Don’t need no learnin’ on thet score, Mickey,” was the calm retort. ‘‘I’ve gradywated, an’ got thet all down fine.” Mitchell uttered an oath, and turned to madam Fayette, who was white with rage. “ What shall we do with him, madam?” “There seems but one thing to do,” was the significant reply. ‘‘He has overheard so much that it will not do to let him escape, you know.” **Of course not, Yet we hardly dare use vio- lence!” : ‘* Better kill me, and sell my cadaver ter old McFadden!” Bob chuckled with a grin. *‘ Spect ef ther physickans wer’ ter cut me up, there’d be a heap more 0’ perfeshional science than there is now. “You keep still, or you'll die sooner than you | want to,” Sir Frothingham threatened, peer- ing over the shoulders of his companions in crime. “Hello! shute me fer_a eross-eyed clam ef thar ain’t New York Jonnny! I say, Frothy, thet was a big bootin’ ye give me up at ther Ex- posish! Wanter try et over again?” And then the irrepressible Bootblack Ki burst into a fit of merry laughter that convu his whole person, and caused Sir Franklyn to get red in the face. “Get up out of that corner, boy,” Mitchell cried threateningly, ‘‘ Tl attend to your case. D’ye hear?” “No, Dm’s deef as er baked lobster,” Bob re- torted. ‘‘ What d’ye propose to do, Mickey Angel-oh?” “Tm going to cut your tongue out, so you ean’t peach on us!” the superintendent growled, drawing a large, keen-edged clasp-knife from his hip-poe et, ‘No! no! better kill hinvoutright than do so terrible a thing as that!” Madam Fayette inter- , Shuddering. : * Yon jest let Mickey alone, will yer, old lace- smuggler?” the bootblack cried. _‘* Mickey An- J1-oh knows what he’s about. He’s tryin’ ter ac a good turn fer ther ‘city dads,’ so they’ll furnish him a free collar—one o’ Sheriff Efliott’s pattern!” j mn What do you mean?” Mitchell demanded, “we will 15 with a start. ‘¢ You needn't try to play game, for your presence here is unknown, and nobody would think of looking here to find you.” “Bet a clam_on that? ’Spect mebbe ye’d see Foxy trum N. Y., around heer, purty lively, ef I don’t report. Foxy, he’s got ther peddigree 0” this ’stablishment, too, an’ he’s arter New York Jonathan, there, like a ferret.” ‘Bah! you are lying. The New York ‘deteo- tive does not know you are here.” “Well, ef ye think he don’t, jest massacree me, forninst, an’ see how soon ye’ll git an mvite down ter see his Honor,” Bob replied, with au- dacious effrontery. He was apparently as much at ease faping his three scowling enemies, as though he ha been out upon the street singing his old familiar song. «Bet a clam you'd better let me slide,” he con- tinued. ‘I’m a bad rooster to fight when I’ve got my spurs sharp, an’ I reckon I’ve got a full and o’ pints against you. ‘Spect I hold the trump, Mickey Angel-oh!” ‘* And that fact makes it the more important that you should be silenced,” the madam inter- posed. ‘‘Swear by the Bible that you will never betray us, in any way or manner, and ive you your liberty and a hundred dollars. Refuse, and we will lock you up in a room, and let you stay there until you starve! What do you say?” “T say, go to blazes! Vil take ther room ruther than ter compromise my honor.” “Then you shall have it!” Mitchel! cried savagely. ‘‘ One life is of no account, compared with three.” # The next instant he leaped forward and threw himself upon the Bootblack King, and the two oes a lively rough-and-tumble scuffle upon the oor, ; The superintendent was much the larger and stronger of the two, and soon gained the mas- tery, and held Boss Bob pinned to the floor, but not until he had received several vigorous digs in the face, and a punch on the nose that ap Nar blood. | ; sci urse you!” he gasped. dozen like you. Bri bind his hands and feet.” This was paar done, and Bob found him- self a prisoner, indeed, Mitchell then arose, and wiped the blood from his face. “Oh, ye beauty’s sp’iled, entirely,” the boot- black chuckled, il rage not the least dis- comfited at his ition. ‘* You wouldn’t even do fer ther model by a penny chromo. Ef ye’d only ’a’ let me got in a few more lyzers, me hev made ye a curiosity fer a circus side- show. The mill superintendent did not reply, but, *T can handle a a rope, madam, and together with the madam, withdrew to another part of the room and engaged in a low con- versation. What they said, Boss Bob knew not,’but he ~ concluded that-they were discussing some plan for his summary disposal. Sir Frothingham remained near the ge | . prisoner as if to prevent any possibility of b' making his escape. : .' Well, Johnny, how's biz?’ Boh asked, : ie
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16 Snatched enny cadavers lately? By the SB Johnny, that was an orful whopper you told about bootin’ me, up at ther Centenyal. Bet a@ cross-eyed clam ye ain’t got-grit enuff ter spit terbacker-juice in a chicken’s eye. 1 usto ter know sech a chap like you, an’ he hedn’t no more game erbout him then er trained flea hez. Guess you’re cut off ther same ee What they whisperin’ about, Frothy? Tell me, an’ Pll present ye wi’ a penny ‘chromo next time ther ghost walks.” Frothingham gritted his teeth, and turned his back on the young irrepressible, to hide his rage, but vouchsafed no reply. “ Good! bully fer you,” Bob tormented. ‘“T knowed ye was afeard ter compare yer ugly phiz wi’ ther countenance of a good-looking face. Never see a peacock w’ot hed lost his tail-feath- “ers, who wazzent ashamed, yet. Don’t mourn, Johnny, I'll console ye ther best I know how, even ef ye did boot me up ter ther Centenyal.” And off into another fit of laughter the boot- black went, Mitchell and the madam concluded their consultation, abruptly, and came forward. “Pil fix you, my young cocksparrow,” the superintendent announced, taking his hat, and leaving the room. ‘Hello! what’s Mickey Angel up ter now?” | demanded Bob, turning to the madam! ‘‘ Goin’ ter git me a sepulker fixed?” “He is going for chloroform, with which to drug you,” was the reply, ‘‘and then we'll drown you or—hide you where you'll never be found.” “Bot I get loose—now!” and the youth winked knowingly. “Jest thort o’ suthin’. Go ahead wi’ yer ‘ourth o’ July circus. We'll see who'll win. The madam looked puzzled, but did not reply. She and Sir Frothingham retired to the piano, and Boss Bob was left to himself. ‘Wonder where Nondescript is!” he muttered. ‘*Hif he was ter git aboard ther trail, we’d hev a, reg’lar blud-an’-thunder time. ’Spect [m ticketed an’ checked for Jerusalem, onless there’s a Micawber turn-up, d’rectly. Wish I had a novel ter read, ter split ther suspense, but good solid literatoor seem’s scarcer around heer than chances 0’ escape. Ah! footsteps—areg’lar Hamlet tread, too. *Spect that’s Mickey Angelo returnin’ wi’? thér chloryforum. Now fer a reg’lar spell of teetotal kerlapse.” It was indeed Mitchell who entered, and he : eds small Sottle of colorless liquid in his and. With a et leer at Boss Bob he procured a sponge, and saturated it with the chloroform, and'then advancing knelt beside the powerless youth, and held it to his nose. / The effect was what might have been ex- pected. The Bootblack King was soon utterly insen- sible of all earthly things, and lay rigid and silent upon the ee “There! he is finally under control,” and Mitchell gave a long-drawn breath of relief. ‘Now, the’ next thins is to dispose of him. Which way shall it be done?” “Thatis a question,” Madam Fayette had to answer. ‘To attempt to get him from the Tony Fox, the Ferret. house is risky, for there is no time o! night when” Eighth street is clear of people.” ; “True; and yet we cannot keep him here, lest Fox the Ferret should come down on us with a search-warrant and discover him!” 1 ‘Well, I see no way but what we shall have to smuggle him out, then. TI will order my car- riage to be before the door at a quarter past three o’clock, We can maybe slip him from the store into the carriage without detection, and mgte our ipa ae a only se ery well, We play game, ap to win; but if we fail—” Bree “He shall die before he can open his lips tc betray us,” the madam hissed fiercely. Several hours later, just after the hands on the steeple-clock of the Times building pointed out the hour of 3 A. M,, a carriage drove care- fully out from a narrow by-street upon Highth street, and came to a halt in front of Madam Fayette’s Emporium of Fashions. The carriage was a close one—rather a cab than a carriage— and drawn by a magnificent span of bays, who were in turn held in check by a liveried colored coachman. ‘The street was apparently deserted now in the immediate vicinity of the millinery store; down the EAD further, voices and footsteps were heard. No sooner did the carriage stop than the door / of the store was opened, and a closely wrapped female figure glided forth to the curb, and opened the cab door. The next instant the two men followed her and entered the cab, bearing between them a bundle. — The woman then s ae in after them, and closed the door, and the cab rolled away. The whole action did not occupy more than two minutes; yet in that short space of time the plotters had been seen. In a doorway across the street had lain, curl- ed up, a dark object, looking more like a bun- dle of rags than anything else. But no sooner had the carriage rolled away up the street than the heap began to unfold, and dissolved into the form of a boy—a queer- looking lad, ragged and dirty in the extreme, and the possessor of a queer, owl-shaped face and big, wild eyes, that had in their glance a power of meaning. Seizing his blacking kit, the Nondescript— for it was indeed Boss Bob’s strange mate—set out at a rapid run up the center of the street in pursuit of the cab So swift did he run that he soon caught up with the flying vehicle and climbed upon the trunk-rest, with which it was ornamented. Here he settled himself comfortably, out of sight, and was borne along with the runaways. Once upon a time, over a year before our story, the Bootblack. King had rescued Nonde- ~ script from a crowd of young roughs who were pummeling him, and since that the two had in- voluntarily mated, Even Bob could Jeirn noth- ‘ing of the strange youth's antecedents, and if any talking was done the Bootblack eee i variably had to do two-thirds or more of it, which was by no means an irksome task, astalk- — ing was one of his best gifts. egey Ne aj With all the speed, the horses could be urged -
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. to, the carriage flew along up North Eighth street, untill if came to Girard avenue, when it was turned suddenly into that thoroughfare and driven furiously on westward. i An oceasional policeman would step from his covert, and regard the flying turnout, but wisely refrained, in each instance, from attempting to stop it. Perched upon the trunk-rest in the rear of the vehicle, the Nondescript sat with a resolute expression on his homely face and a flash to his eyes which betrayed that he enjoyed the excit- ing ride, while at the same time going to the rescue; for he had seen Boss Bob enter the mil- linery establishment, and had lounged in the vicinity thereafter until he beheld the form car- vied out and placed in the cab. On, on, through Girard avenue dashed the horses and the vehicle—Broad street, with its northern and southern miles of street lamps fitted by, as did the Girard college, and soon ‘the cab dashed out upon the beautifully illum- ined Girard avenue bridge. But the flight was destined to be checked. One of the overtasked horses stumbled and itched forward, and failing to regain its equi- ibrium, went crashing head-foremost down upon the hard Belgian blocking of the bridge. CHAPTER VII. THE FERRET’S WORK—BOSS BOB AS A FRESCO ARTIST, : At the same time two men, one of whom was a policeman, hurried up. “* ello, here!” he cried, addressing the darky coachman, who was just picking himself up out of the dust, where he had been pitched by the fall of the horse. ‘Why is this carriage out at this time of morning? What are you doing with i. horse down?? “Fo? suah he fell, an’ nearly broke dis yar uigger’s neck,” the coachman apologized, brush- ing off his clothes, and looking frightened. ‘But, what is this carriage racing so for at this time of night?” the officer demanded, suspi- ciously. “Dunno, sah. ’Spect I’m driver madam she told me to drive w’ar she d “Who is the madam?” . “Madam Fayette, sah.” “Who else is in the carriage?” ; ‘*Marse Mitchell an’ Sir Franklyn, sah.” ‘Humph! do ane know these parties?” the efficer demanded, little, Sea individual, with b eyes and mustache, “‘T have heard of them,” was the signiivaut reply. ‘‘It is safe enough to venture that they are not out for any particular good.” No stir was made by the inmates of the cab, They were evidently awaiting developments. The fallen coach horse had regained its feet, and shaken the dust from its glossy hide. - The a ge finished brushing himself, and gave an’ de *rected.” ck hair, a wistful glance toward the seat, as if he were eager to be off. ‘Hold on,” the officer said, coolly. ‘* Don’t be inno hurry to depart, until I am satisfied that all is right. Who is in this establishment besides the parties you have mentioned” “No ene, sah!” addressing his ee a a 49 ‘* Are you sure?” ‘Dun suah certain, sah!” “Don’t ye believe him,” a voice said, and the Nondescript came around from ‘the rear end of the cab. ‘*They’ve got my. pard, Boss Bob, in there, an’ I ioe they’re either a-goin’ ter hide or kill him. I see’d ’em put his body in there.” The little man started forward, : ‘“What? Boss Bob, the bootblack?” he inter- rogated, box hate ‘he Nondescript nodded. “Then we must know the reason of this,” the little chap said, who was none other than Fox, the New York Ferret.‘ Open the door, officer, and let’s sift this matter, for there’s dark work at the bottom of it.” Without hesitation the policernan obeyed, by. ents forward and throwing open the c: oor. ‘Hello, here!” he cried, peering in, you got a lad here called Boss Bob?” ‘We have,” Mitchell replied. _‘* What of it?” “Much of it—so much that I want to know what you are doing with him,” the officer re- plied, sternly, and seizing the heels of the drug- ie boy, he pulled him ovt of the wagon. ** You ave placed yourself in suspicious circumstances, and it is my duty to investigate the matter.” “Pshaw! You are having your trouble for you pains,” Mitchell averred, “‘for we are all well known to be suspected. I am the su- perintendent of the Turnover Calico Mills!” “Tt don’t make any difference—not ef you were old Stokely himself,” was the blunt reply. ‘¢- You've had an inseusible boy in your carriage, and I’d be pleased to have you inform me what you are going to do with him?” ‘““We are going vo take him to the house of a friend of mine, av Elm Station, to recuperate. He was taken very ill, to-night, and we thought it best to get him out of the city,” Madam Fayette _ ‘do not delay us, as- answered. ‘Oh! sir, please it may be the means of hastening his death, and we could never forgive ourselves or you.” “Tl see to tne lad myself,” the officer replied, in a gruff way. ‘If I see any need to arrest you, D'll know where to find you. Driveon, you nigger. + e darky hastily mounted the box, and the cab rolled away, leaving four figures remaining on the bridge. “Tt was luck did,” Ferret said, ‘‘ or one of Phila detective lights would have in all probability been _squelched.” ‘“ No; Boss Bob got rescued by me,” the Non- descript said. ‘*I Boss Bob’s pard—I dog cab— rescue Bob.” we chanced slong, just as we “ Well, my boy, you deserve credit,” the de- _ “Bob had been in the Fayette — tective said, a place, before his trip in the cab, had he not?” “Yes, Wentin about noon, Jes’ cum out a “Have ° phia’s best — little while ago—was carried out.” ng “Good! He probably discovered somethin; of importance, and rather than have him use i against them, they decided to put him out of the way,” Fox said. ‘‘ Let’s see if he is dead or — liv ney ; j “He is insensible from the fact that he hag been liberally fed with chloroform,” the official — smelt it the moment I opened the = guessed. . z Passe Pies. se
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18 Tony Fox, the Ferret. : { eab. The better plan is to take him home and Jet him recover from the effects of the drug at his leisure,” “YT do not know that he has a home,” Fox confessed. ‘* Do you know where he lives, boy?” turning to the Nondescript. ‘*Guess he hain’t got any,” the lad replied, “cept it is in the doorways, an’ coal-houses an’ warts.” : ‘Well, then, I'll take charge of him, and see that he is property eared for, You can go on, officer, and we'll take him up to the Trans-Con- tinental, by slow stages, and see to him.” The offizer accordingly trudged away on his beat, and then Fox and the Nondescript raised the inactive Bootblack King in their arms, and bore him along the gloomy avenue toward the Trans-Continental hotel, located at the intersec- tion of Belmont and Elm avenues, Boss Bob was a solid weight, despite his boy- ish size, and ere the distance between the bridge and the hotel was traversed, the detective and the Nondescript were ylad to pause several times and rest. The great hostelry was finally reached, how- ever, and owing to the fact that it was Fox’s ‘stopping-place, they had no trouble in gaining an admittance, and securing a temporary lodg- inz-room for the insensible Dootblack. ‘Hore Boss Bob was stretched out upon the bed in a comfortable position, and left in charge of the Noudescript. . Tae detective then took his departure, promis- inz to return in the morning. It was near break of day ere Boss Bob recoy- ered from the effects of the chloroform, suf- ficiently to be able to sit up in bed, and recog- nize his true and tried friend, the Nondeseript. “Well, I'm an eyster ef I ain't in old U. S., yet, alive an’ kickin’,” was his first exclamation, on gazing at his surroundings. ‘‘ Hello! you heer, Script? Well, that settles it—I’m still this side o’ Jordan, right side up wi’ care. Did- n’t. know but mebbe I’d wake up an’ heer the angels playin’ on the golden ae an’ banjo, or else I'd bs pote seven-up wi’ old Neptune; but seems | didn’t make a go of it. What's the rip, Script? Whose occerpyin’, now? ‘“We are at the Trans,” the strange boy re- plied, briefly. “Oh, we aire. Well, we're in tune, then. Fu’st time I ever salubriated in sech quarters. _ But, how'd we git heer, Script? Last f reckol- lect, Mickey Angel Mitchell was stuffin’? me wi? perfume o’ chlora, or sum uther form.” The Nondescript related: what had occurred, and Boss Bob listened, attentively. _ “Well, ef ef ain’t a reg’lar three-act dramy, I don’t never swaller anuther clam—that’s all. An’ thet Foxy is a hoss—prowidin’ he settles my hotel bill.” ; _ When Fox came in in the morning, Bob was thoroughly himself in, and related his ad. venture and what he had learned, all of which the New Yorker heard with a satisfied expres- sion of countenance, and jotted down. ‘They are a precious pair of rogues,” he said; - and T shall give them uy personal attention. You did not find the jewels?” : “No I did not git thru’ the ’stablishment BAY, palatial domersile ar’ we afore I was nabbed. was furder up.” “Perhaps. Ill keep the Fayette place under surveillance, at any rate. Your own course of action you can choose for yourself. If you find any points, ’ll take them off your hands for cash. How much do you want for what you have told me about the smuggling, and the grave- robbing biz?” “Nary ared, *Spect I've got a 2-X an’a V fer that,” Bob replied. ‘‘EHf I find out any more p'ints, ye’ll heer from usag’in. Goin’ ter take an the body-snatchin’ matinee up at Fern. “No. TU let this thing lag a little, too, and things will eventually work around, so that they will resume business, and they can then be caught in the act.” Bob nodded, and he and the Nondescript di- rectly took their leave. *Spect mebbe ther jewelry ‘ That afternoon, Michael Angelo Mitchell was sitting on the veranda that fronted the en- trance to the calico mills, engaged in reading and smoking, It was a custom of his to thus lounge at his ease, and sun himself, while he glanced over the daily markets, encouraged the cigar trade by evaporating innumerable cigars, and topping off by inspecting every person that chanced to pass along the street. Sometimes too, he would fall into a sound repose for an hour or two, while basking in the sunlight, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule, for, after digesting the contents of several papers, ho dropped off into a doze, with his hat slouched over his eyes. He had not been asleep for more than ten minutes, when Boss Bob and the Nondescript came along and spied him. 2 A grin of delight came upon the face of the Bootblack King, as he saw his enemy of the pre- vious night, and he nudged the owl tacéd boy vigorous VA ‘Dye sea Mickey Angel-oh! a-sittin’ there on the platform, Script?” The Nondescript nodded. “Well, ’m goin’ ter come a game on his nibs,” Bob said, with a nod. ‘Beta clam ll make him luk like a sarcus clown afore I git thr’'w’ wi’ him. Now ne jest listen, an’ I'll let ye inter ther secret. D’ye see these?’ And he drew a sponge and a half-filled bottle of poe from his ragged eee “Well, ye seo, this is what Mickey Angel-oh porceee me with last night, an’ when you an’ ‘oxy cum ter ther rescue, he probably stuffed it inter my pocket out o’sight. Leastways, I found et thar. Now, since old Mickey slumbers so placialy. I'm goin’ ter make him sleep er. little placider, jest fer fun. Jest ye stay heer, now, an’ tell me when any one is comin’, an’ Tit make Mickey Angel-oh! so purty he won't ae hisself because he give me a lift last nig! The big eyes of the Nondescript sparkled with delight as he nodded his assent, for he was as fond of practical joking as his eccentric com- panion. The street on which the calico mills were lo- cated was built up with big factory buildings, —
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Tony Fox, the Ferret, used for various manufactories, and chanced to be deserted of pedestrians at that hour. With 2. glance around him, Bob dashed some chloroform upon the sponge, and mounting the steps to the platform where Mitchell was eppes back in his chair, sound asleep, he applied the sponge to the unsuspecting victim’s nose, It took but a couple of moments to accom- plish the object, and Bob believed he had drug- ged the superintendent so that he would be powerless for an hour or so. Taking another glance at his surroundings to make sure he was not observed, he next drew a rusty but keen-edged pair of scissors from his pocket, and deliberately proceeded to shear off what hirsute covering vegetated upon Mitchell’s face, finally accomplishing the job with a satis- fied chuckle, and receiving as his reward a grin of approbation from the Nondescript. Upon the conclusion of this performance, the young gamin dodged into the mill, and was gone several minutes, ari returning with a box containing several bottles of fancy-colored inks, such as were used in printing calicoes. Armed with a penciling brush, Boss Bob rap- idly decorated the countenance of the uncon- scious superintendent with the bright dyes, until his face looked a cross between that of a circus clown and a full-blooded Sioux on the war-path. Bright crimson spots ornamented the cheeks; the nose had the deep bloom of a blood-red peony; the mouth was made to look as if stretched from ear to ear by the application of lip-colored dyes; the ears were green, the at black, the forehead a variety of gray UES, Altogether, by the time the Bootblack King had finished, the countenance of Michael Angelo Mitchell was a brilliant specimen of the fres- coer’s art, Then it was that Boss Bob stood off a pace and regarded it with hugest satisfaction. * Hain’t he a reg” ar old up an’ down Centen- al beauty, tho’?’ he laughed, addressing the ondescript. ‘‘ Better nor a valentine or a forty-dollar two-sheet circus cut, or a penny ‘shromo, Wonder what he'll say when he luks im ther looking-glass? "Spect he'll take hizself fer old Dan Rice on a lecture toor. Won't the als god him tho’ ef they ketch him? S’pose we bias , across the street, ‘Script, an’ enjoy ther un : | And accordingly the two gamins began tocast about them for a place of concealment. Just opposite the mill was a lumber and brick yard combined, the view of which from the street was obstructed by a close board fence. In less time than it takes to relate it, Bob and. eee were ensconced upon the opposite side of this fence, each with an eye glued to a conven- ient knot-hole, and here they waited patiently for the anticipated entertainment. It was not long before some one came along— a richly-dressed and aristocratic-looking lady, ,accompanied by an insignificant-looking little Spitz poodle, who instantly spied Mitchell, and began barking furiously. é “Hush, Fido! What is the matter with you?” the lady cried, glancing around. 7 The next instant, when just opposite, she spied _ the deeorated superintendent, and uttering a + ‘ oes - a raw-boned Iris girl declared. 49 _ a nsnieaeN eet scream, fled quickly on, as if fearful o2 personal arm, and a wild hoot from Boss Bob seemed to increase her alarm, and she literally made the dust fly, so fast she ran, while Bob and the Non- nae a lay back on the ground convulsed with a : Oh! this is better than a Jersey watermel- on!” Bob seeped, between spasms, ‘Who comes next?” i It proved to be a gang of young wharf urch- ins, with strings of fish in hand—a good half- score of them. A roar of laughter escaped them as they spied Mitchell, and a halt was the order. "Shoot the clown—bad luck to him!” said one. ‘He's drunker than a bummer!” assured a second. ‘‘Oh! ain’t he sweet! Say, boys, that’s Mitchell, w’ot fired us out o’ the mill one day. S’pose we plug him wid cuds 0’ tobacco?” pee iy SE quids of that article were thrown at the superintendent’s phiz, most of them hitting him, and many of them sticking to his face, until he Bohai fet one of the worst spectacles one could imagine! CHAPTER VIII. NEWS FOR JUDGE TURNOVER. Boss Bos and the Nondescript would not have been boys, if they did not hugely enjoy this sport, and they indulged in subdued roars of ianehter from their place of concealment. je young street urchins finally tired of their — fun, and marched away, and Mitchell was not further molested until the six o’clock whistle blew, when a flock of girls came swarming from the mill and*discovered the nobby superintend- ent, just as he had gled to his feet, recov- ered from the effects of the chloroform. *©Oh! my—look at the clown!” cried one, ‘Girls, look! It’s the super,” added another. ‘Hello! Humpty-Dumpty-sat-on-the wall!” a third vouchsafed, giving Mitchell a punch in the ribs. ‘‘ What menagerie did you come from?” “Faith, sure, it’s Barnum, so it is,” a bi “Bedad, didn’ he dhrive mules for me Uncle Terrance O- Barre eee “Girls, what can this mean?” Flora Bacon cried, coming forward. ‘Don’t you see—it’s the superindendent, Mr. Mitchell?” at t’s the matter?” the superintendent roared, beginning to claw the quids of tobacco away, which stuck to different parts of his countenance. ‘‘ Who’s been peppering me with — stale quids of tobacco? Curse you, what are you all grinning and tittering at? I see nothing so very funny to laugh at?” oh Bridges bring the mirror from the office,” _ Flora ordered as she laughed, ‘‘and let the su- perintendent look at himself.” £2 elgg The Irish girl obeyed, and Mitchell gazed at the reflection of his decorated face, horror- s'ruck with astonishment, a frightful oath final- ly escaping his lips. “Were you trying to imps4 the bloom of © youth to your. cheek, Mr. Mitchell, or are you practicing at scene painting?” Flora asked. * “Ten thousand devils!” the superintendent — roared, “TI haye been the victim of an accursed < -
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20 Tony Fox, the Ferret. plot. Who did this?’ Show me the person, ee Did any of you girls do it, curses on you? "No, the girls did not do it!” Flora Bacon cried. ‘We have all beenin the mill, It has been some outside parties, who, seeing you: sleeping here, as you usually do, have taken ad- vantage of the fact and ah a joke on you.” “Tt’s a cursed thin re ke! Mitchell growled, ‘and I must be thick-headed to sleep so sound- ly. Cali a policeman, some of you, and T’ll have a search made. It'll be a dear job, or I am an infernal liar.” “Then you didn’t really do it yourself, eh?” Flora asked, tantalizingly. **Of course not, you fool,” was the sava; and ungallant retort. ‘Do’ you sup ‘d daub my face up in this manner, and shaye off my beard, just for the sake of sg a Ihave been insulted—outragéd, and Pll kill the man who did it, if I get my hands on him.” “Ty yez hear the likes of im, girruls?” ex- claimed Bridget McAfee, with a grin, ‘Go ong wid yez, Misther Mitchell. It was thryin’ to make a curiosity aff yoursel’, ye waz, shure, ‘for Barnum’s Mooseum, an’ I know it, bedad.” And then the girls off down the street, leaving the unfortunate superintendent of the calico mills to get out of his scrape as best he could. Having now laughed themselves hoarse, Boss Bob and the Nondescript concluded to get out of the neighborhood, which they did by crossing seat a the lumber-yard to the adjoining street. The Philadelphia Star on the following morn- ing had an item, as follows: A well-known superintendent of a city calico fac:ory, while taking a snooze yesterday afternoon, was painted up in a most artistic manner, by some unknown practical joker, and the worst of the joke is that the dyes used obstinately refuse to yield to the persuasion of soap and water. ‘Snoozers’ take warning.” ' Judge Randolph Turnover, the miser-million- aire, lived in a handsome stone mansion in an aristocratic part of West Philadelphia, alone and uncared for, with the exception of a staid, reliable old English man-servant, who had been in his employ for twenty years. The judge was a recluse from society, and quite unpopular, from the fact that he was not sociable to any one except those with whom business relations brought him in contact, Only a very few had ever boasted of an invi- tation to his home, but they spoke in flattering terms of its magnificent and liberal adornments. In regard to wealth, the judge was said to have no end toit, owning besides his extensive mills, other real estate, many shares in a street railway, and mining stocks. No one knew just _ what he was worth, but the wise ones considered. it safe enough to class him a millionaire. ~ _ Although called a miser, because he was close and shrewd in business matters, he was regarded as scrupulously honest, never bowing been : aii to take a penny that was nd rightfully _ bis own. Philanthropy was not one of his chaxacteris- ~~ ties; yet he had often been known to give large gums of money to suffering families, at came —— under his notice, but decidedly refused to donata alms to funds to be disbursed by some ‘‘ institu. tion” run by salaried officers. He was not an extremely old man, scarely more than five and forty years having pa his hair and whiskers were plainly streaked with gray, and he walked with an infirm step, pat SA by a cane, as might have become a man twenty years his senior, On the morning, or rather forenoon, following the events last narrated, the judge sat in his cosey office in a block upon Chestnut street, en- gaged in looking over a morning paper, when he door opened, and a visitor entered. The visitor was no less a personage than the Bootblack King, Boss Bob—ragged and dirty as ever, with his feet bare, hat cocked upon one side of his face, a stub of a cigar in his mouth, and his blacking box slung upon his arm, The judge looked up with a frown from his new: r, as he saw this genius of the street. Bootblacks seldom troubled him, from the fact that he never employed their services or toler- ated their solicitations, and therefore he natur- ally wondered why came this lad. “Well, sir!” he said, stiffly, ‘I do not want my boots blacked, so you can retire, and be sure and close the door after you.” Boss Bob uttered a whistle denoting surprise. and deposited his anatomy into the handies' cushioned arm-chair. f **Who in blazes said ye wanted yer boots blacked?” he demanded, after eying the judge amoment, ‘* Didn’t say even ‘leather,’ when [ made my grand entree, an’ heer you're givin’ me a inyite ter bounce! S'pose a feller’s got ‘portant bizness—what then?’ “You can have no business with me,” was the reply, ‘‘and I have no time for trifling, sir, so you'd better go.” : “ Bet a clam itll take ther hull o’ Stokely’a gang to budge me, afore I git ready,” Bob. de: clared. ‘ Allus was famuss hard ter git rid of, w’en I didn’t wanter go, So ye’spect ’cause a feller ain’t a cut-an’-dried fine-cut swell, he ain’t got no bizness ter ‘tend ter, eh?” “Tt is not usual for bootblacks to ‘be oyer- burdened with important matters,” was the terse reply. ‘‘ However, if you have anythi of particular moment, to offer, I will hea wha’ it is, if you are brief.” And the millionaire’s eyes returned to the paper in front of him. “Well, you’re Judge Turnover, I eee ain’t ye?—the straight bony-fried article?” Bob asked, after a moment. : ; “Tam Judge Turnover, sir. What of it?” “Oh! I wanted ter be sure,” was the inde- pendent reply. ‘‘ Allus besureo’ yer pint afox 2 ye show yer hand is w’ot Milt Nobles gits off in the ‘ Phoenix,’ an’ et ain’t a bad idea. Own a sheer in ther —— line street keers, don’t ye, an’ a caliker factory?” ‘ ** Undoubtedly, sir.” “Tho’tso. Had yer status jotted down in my skull-box, but wassent sure. Got a feller in yer employ named Mickey Mitchell?” . ~ ‘* Michael Angelo Mitchell is the superintend: ent of my rset os ee ** Know’d it. e call *im Mickey, or Mickey Angel-oh, fer short. Sweet-scented June bug, — over his head; yet —
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. that Mickey is. Heer about how he got fres- coed yesterday?” “Yes, It was an outrage.” ‘*Guess he did spill out rage, sum, when ho see’d his phiz. Feller *twould do such a mean "Rta is true,” tho Judge agroed at is true,” the ju a ** But etwas a good fit fer: epee fi tho’,” Bob continued. “‘’Spect it tu the starch out o’ him. Mickey.” : ‘You speak disrespectfully of one who is your superior, sir.” “What! Mickey Angel-oh Mitch my supeo- rior!” Bob exclaimed. ‘‘Guess not. ‘Spect Mickey’s pedigree couldn’t outweigh mine, no- how ye.could fix it, Mebbe I know more about him than you do. Yes, sir-ce. He’s a reg’lar hoss, an’ associates wi? a_hoss-eater—smuggles Jaces—snatches bodies, an’ sech like. Fine coon fer ther head of sum big office, like breakin’ stones or chawin’ iron bars, down at Moyamen- sing. Ther idoa o’ Mickey Angel-oh a-bein’s ‘ood as me! et won’t go down worth a clam. i'm ther King o’ Bootblacks, at your service; Mickey, he’s the King o’ Rogues.” “ Boy! what do you mean? You had better be careful about accusing Mr. Mitchell of any- thing wrong, or you may get yourself into trouble. I regard him as a gentleman of honor and integrity.” ‘Then him than I hev,” Bob said. claps a chloryform sponge over yer smeliin’ protuberance, an’ ye’ll change yer toon, I'll bet er clam,” : “T cannot believe ill of my superintendent, no matter what yes would say,” the judge said, “Tf that is all of your business, to slander him, you may take your departure.” ‘‘Hold up, boss; don’t git rily, just because I happened to enumerate sum hints about Mickey Angelo’s sinfulness. "Spect et don’t do no harm ter sift ashes, fer ye kin allus find clinkers. Angel-h, a little o’ e's a bad egg, is * Jes’ wait till he But thet ain’t ther prime object o’ my comin’ | - heer, I’ve got another card to play, an’ et’s a trump, bet yer boots. So first, let me ask ef ye didn’t uster own a wife an’ a quarter dozen o’ children or so?” ; The judge looked surprised. “ How did you learn this?” he asked, “Oh! I found it out. Lallus am diggin’ up ‘ints, when I ain’t diggin’ Centenyal mud off of boots an’ gaiters. But you. have not answered thy pa yet.? j : “Well, perig ab ay ih that I may haye been the possessor of a wife and children, what of it?” was the query. _. Obt Ithort ye might kinder like ter heer from ’em,” Bob replied, importantly. ‘ The hand 0’ time is leadin’ us all toward ther tomb, an’ afore we shuffle off, we ginerally like to overhaul our relates in search of a suitable heir, specially when we’ve got swads o’ solid eash collatteral. Therefore, seein’ thet in all probability ye weren’t booked fer many more seasons heer below, I’spect ye might like to know what had become of yer heirs an’ reper- sentertives.” c ‘Perhaps you would like to set yourself up as one of them?” the judge said, sarcastically. pers got a heap better opinion of Mr, Turnover groaned aloud, ** Wal, I don’t know as I would have any pecs objections,” Bob replied, survyeyi reflection in a mirror just op ite. lus did hey an eyedear thet 1 was ther lost heir 0? royal patronage, or of some president or alder- man. But, guess I steered a lJeetle in thet cal- culation, wi’ my eye glued cn ther dome 0’ ther capertol, an’ so I ain’t averso ter comin’ down a. few, as Turnovers ain't ter be sneezed at wena feller’s hungry.” presume not, Bui rief. you have SOF, t, But be brief. If h anything interesting for me to know, I will hear you, but if not, you must go.” “ain't very particuler whether ye scrape up acquaintance, then, or not?” ; *T am in no hurry to see the woman whom I once called wife,” the judge replied, bitterly. **'The children I of course would dearly like to see, but have never been able to find the trace of them.” ‘Your wife vamoosed didn’t she, an’ tuk the progeny along?” Bob questioned. **She deserted me, yes, taking the children with her, and has never darkened my door since.” “ What was the name of the little kids?” “Their names and ages were, respectively: Adele, seven; Florence, five, and Harry four ears, This was at the time they were taken rom me. Adele, if ying ons now be twenty, Florence eighteen, and Harry seventeen.” ‘‘Harry—that’s me, mebbe?’? Bob observed, with a grin. ‘Spect Pll hey ter interview old Maloney on that. Ye see. py parents are su sed to bé Mr. an’ Mrs. Ma ioney, but as Ma oney is, Trish, I’m Yank, an’ Mrs. Maloney is Dutch, I ken’ see how I'm their own kid. Meb- be ef L was to stir the thing up, I'd turn out ter be the missing Turnover?” “T hardly think so,” the judge said, gravely. ‘eYou are not. at all like my pale, intelligent little hoy of thirteen years ago.’ Boss Bob gave vent to a prolonged whistle. “Dunno about that,” he replied scratching his head asif insearch of ideas. ‘ Spect ’m as intellergent as ther average, an’ as fer bein’ Sas I reckon blackin’ boots an’ white livers: on’t match,” **-You said you might be able to prove your+ self the missing Turnover. They are all missing, for that matter.” “Bet a shuck eyster they ain’t. I've got the female portion all nailed, 21 *Spect: yer first gal, — > least Addie, is dead, ‘T’other one works in the city - nearer to you than you've got any idea of. The old leddy she’s here, too, engaged in sum guia es ‘that promise to land her lon’t let up! hi es “ Boy, what is this you say? Are you making it up, or is it true?” the millionaire cried, ex-— in Moya, ef she_ z ci . ; tee “Tbs as true as thet thar is dorgs in bonye fried bologna!” Bob replied, emphatically’, “Spect I orter know, when I heerd ther madara _ tell certain parties as how she war once yer wife but shuk you; an’ heerd her tell as how Flora Bacon war her child an’ yours, an’ also Adele, who was ther wife o’ New York Johuny, the thief, but is now dead,” ‘ : Sak f hie. Fr = :*
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. “* My daughter the wife of a thief?” he gasped. us God forbid ” “Yas, she was married ter New York Johnny, alias Sir Franklyn Frothin"ham an’ is dead. Frothiwham has sold her body to the physicians an’ that is one reason why 1 come to interview ou,” vu Sir Franklyn Frothingham, did you say?— Sir Franklyn thingham?”’ “ That's ther perzact coon, who is known over In N. Y. as New York Johnny. He is a red-hot rascal, an’ is in league with Madam Fayette, Mickey Angel-oh Mitch, an’ a lot o’ others, who make a bizness of smuggling in laces from furei, parts, an’ also pupply in ther doctors with cada- vers to dissect. heerd this posey tell the madam and Mickey that now that his wife was done an’ gone dead, he was goin’ ter make a spec’ by sellin’ it fer dissection.” : ‘© Who is the madam you speak of?” Oh! she’s a French hoss-eater, in yer eye. Sails under ther_name o’ Madam Fayette, milliner—uster be Mrs. Judge Turnover.” ~ “And you say she, Mitchell and this man Frothingham are leagued together in criminal machinations?” “Bot yer boots I do!” “By heaven, this is very strange. She is even a worse creature, it seems, than I deemed her, This Frothingham I have heard of before. A Frenchwoman came to me a few days since, with a recommendation from him, saying that she had served faithfully in ‘his family.” Bob leaped to his feet, excitedly. “ Hurra!” he cried, ‘‘ I’m on a reg’lar Buffler Bill trail at last, for I'll bet a clam she’s the same woman w’ot tried ter drown Frothin’ham’s an’ Adele’s baby in the Delaware. Quick! git yor hat, old gent, and show me yer hoss-eater!” CHAPTER IX. ; BOSS BOB METAMORPHOSED, » Mr. Turnover, too, seemed ina measure ex- cited, but crushed his feelings with a strong hand, f “You speak most strangely, boy,” he said. “Tell me sees you know, and all you know, in order that I may be abie to arrive at some defi- nite conclusion.’ ** Hain’t got much more to éell, till I see sum collatteral ahead. I allers work fer collatteral, I do, an’ let gratitude go to blazes, A fistful o’ collattoral goes furder toward satisfyin’ a fel- Jer’s stummick, than a huckster cart-load of gratituds.” ‘* So I dare say,” the judgereplied, with a nod of approval, ‘‘and you shall be well rewarded, when you have told me all and proven your as- sertions ” 2 “ That's O. K., but in this case I ain’t workin’ fer capertal alone. I’m figgerin’ on countin’ in as one’ the Turnover family.” : ‘*Anl my boy, your hope of that is ground- Jess. You are not one of my kin.” 4 ‘Dunno ’bout that,” Bob: observed, squinting again into the looking-glass. ‘I think you an’ I do look some alike, ef thar was a few daubs 0’ Bixby’s Best scrubbed off my counternance. S’posin’ I should turn out to be the lost Harry | Turnover—what then? *Spect ye wouldn't own me; asa repersentative o’ the Turnover brigade, e “Tf you were able to prove that you were my son, I should gladly welcome and raiso you from your present ees But I guess there will be no danger of such a thing.” “Don’t ‘you bet high on that,” Bob assured witha grin. ‘ll goa salt-water clam that i ama Turnover, Kinder feel it in my bones, ye see, Then, thar’s a heap o’ chance, too, Ye see, when your poorer-haff cut loose from you, she chucked the g’hals inter the almshouse, an’ ther b’hoy was apprenticed ter ther captain of a whalin’ vessel, ter receive whalin’s, an’ prin- cerpally becawse he was famous at spoutin’, Now, in ther natteral course o’ hooman events, et ain’t improbable that, when a little kid, the salt breeze didn’t suit my complexion, an’ I was adopted inter the Maloney family, T's worth lookin’ into, ennyhow.” ‘But you haven’t told me where to find my youngest daughter yet?” the judge said, eagerly: “or my eldest daughter's child, which you say you rescued from the river!” ‘Oh! they’re safe, whar I know where ter put my hands on’em, at any time,” Bob said. ‘Fer ther present you an’ I’ve got ter tend ter other biz, which is, we've got ter find whar Adele was buried, an’ see ef she’s been disturbed, If not, so good—let her rest whar she is, If she’s bin dug up, then we’ve got ter raise a reg’lar Buffler Bill breeze, an’ find out the why an’ wherefore, We'll swoop down on Patrick Mc- Fadden’s morgue, and see if we can find the bedy before itis disposed of for dissection.” “My boy, I am with you heart and hand, But, how are we to find, in this great city, where, how or when my poor child was buried?” “Oh! Til manage that. You jest les me do ther engineerin’, an’ you’ play up A per an’ we'll get along first-rate. Furst o: all, I wanter interview this French hoss-eater ye say was re- commended ter nite by Frothin’ham. °Spect I can tell in a holy secont ef she be my water- mellon, an’ ef so, I'll slice her up so we kin git sum more p’ints, Better we git ter bizness ter oncet, too, fer ther sooner we do, the more ap we are to be successful.” “Tam ready at once, but you are not,” the judge said. ‘No matter who you are, you are smart a lad to look so dirty and ragged, and you must get thoroughly clean and respectable in appearance, ere I will have aught to do with you. Here are a hundred dollars. Take it, and return to me looking like a young gentleman, instead of a ragamuffin. There is a Turkish bath-house below here: go there first and get. cleaned up, and then repair to Wanamaker's and zet clothed. Then return to me and I'll be dy.” “Keere-t. Tallers is willing to snatch soch snaps bald-headed,” Bob said’ with a crin. “When I git togzed out folks "ll spect I'm a half-cousin ter Dom Pedro, *Lysses Grant, or sum other big gun.” : And with a hearty laugh he accepted the hundred-dollar note from the judge and de- parted. , “ Bet a clam I’m made!” he muttered. when he once more gained the street. ‘‘Thet Turnover is a reg’lar paragon, an’ ef I van only make out jn ely
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Tony Fox, the Ferret. that ’m Harry Turnover, I’m solid fer third term Vice-presidency in °80, along wi’ *Lysses Grant. _Itnow stands twixt mean’ Terrance Ma- loney whether I’m a Turnover or not, an’ there’s got ter be an interview, pon bet! But first, ’m goin’ ter find out ther y of Adele, or the judge an’ T go bankrupture—that’s flat!” Two hours later there emerged from Wan- amaker’s Chestnut street furnishing store a oung gentleman, whose features might have n recognized as belonging to Boss Bob—but that was all. No other trace of the former bootblack was visible, the form being incased in a rich and fashionable outfit of clothing, with patent- leather boots upon his feet, and a ‘‘ stove-pipe” hat of the latest style cocked upon his head, the face of which was as clean and bright as soa and water could make it. Healscsported a kid- gloved hand and gold-headed cane, with con- siderable loud jewelry about his person, and a good cigar between his teeth—his whole ap- pearance being decidedly flashy. | “Hat hal wonder how I look!” he muttered, Jancing at his reflection in the shop window, as e passed along. ‘'’Spect I look like a reg’lar Long Branch swell. onder if any o’ my old pals will twig my nibs?” . It was not long ere he had a chance to test the matter, for he saw the Nondescript and another bootblack coming down the street. Bracing up and adjusting a pair of gold- rimmed glasses to his nose, the metamorphosed Bootblack King strutted importantly along, not deigning to give his former associates so muchas aglance, But just after he had passed them, he was conscious that they had stopped, and he ac- py asooa fi paused before a store window, to lear if possible, their remarks. “Say, Script, did ye see thet gallus cove who jest passed?—there e stands at the windy, now!” the Nondescript’s companion asked, | 1 see’d him,” the Nondescript replied, * Slings on entirely too much style fer a boot- black,” “ A bootblack!” the other ejaculated. “Why, yes. Didn’t ye know him? That was my old pard, Boss Bob, Guess he don’t notice -common folks, since he’s got togged out new. Boss Bob turned upon the boys, with a grin, “Yes, I do, Scrip,” he said, “TI allus know my friends, Was jest playin’ off, ter see ef ye’d reckernize me, Know’d et wouldn’t bea go, tho’ fer what’s born in ther blood can’t be scrubbed out wi? Turk baths, ner be hid under good togs. D:m’t I luk scrumpshus, tho’?” ‘*Ves—ye look like a reg’lar gig ek aos nabob,” the Nondescript replied. ‘ What's struck ye, Bob?” ; _. “Oh! I’m erbout bein? nomernated fer Prime Minister ter Injy,” the boy replied with comical importance, ‘Struck er reg’lar Buffler Bill bo- nanzer, ye see. Call around to McFadden’s Funeral Reposertory, ter-night, an’ Pil talk with ye. Tra-la-la-la |!” ~ And then the new Ross Bob marched on, with as much 4 pou sity as a Third street money- king, leaving the two gamins to stare in open- mouthed amazement. As Bob re-entered the office of Judge Turn- over, the millionaire regarded him with a smile. **-Youve certainly made a great improve- ment in your looks, at least,” he admitted. ““And now, if you are ready, I will order my carriage, and we'll go tomy kome in the W: End. Iam anxious tor sion of the body of my poor lost child, whom I have been robbed of for thirteen long ears years.” The gh cas accordingly ordered, and entering, the in were driven rapidly West- Philadelphia-ward. : Ere long after they had crossed the Schuykill, they were landed before a large stone mansion in an aristocratic portion of the West End, the house in turn being set in a fine lawn fringed with trees and flowering shrubs. Dismissing the cab, Judge Turnover and Boss Bob entered the house, and traversed a magnifi-_ cent hallway, finally bringing up in a tastily furnished apartment used as a sort of library and private office, evidently, judging by the desks and bookcases, ** Be seated,” the judge said, ‘‘and I will sum- mon Felice,” “All right. Jest don’t w'isper ter her who I am, an’ she'll not know me, an’ be on her guard. I’m wuss’n a_ Philadelphia lawyer at analyzin? a person, ef I get ’em cornered, that way. a : The Judge nodded, and left the room, but soon returned, accompanied by the French- woman, Felice, who was attired in asatin wrap- per, and rigged out ‘‘to kill,” as Bob at once commented, in under his breath. ; ‘Felice, be seated,” the judge said, locking the door behind bim, ‘‘ There is a serious char; preferred against you, which I'd like you account for.” “A charge against me, sir!” she cried, flush- ing, and directing a startled glance toward Boss Bob. ‘“ Of what nature, sir? “The charge is of attempted murder, ma’am, Did you not come with a recommend to me, claiming that you were directed to me by an English baronet, Sir Franklyn Frothingham by name?” “T did, sir.” * But how is it? This Frothingham proves te be a notorious New York scoundrel, by the title of New York Johnny—a pickpocket, thief and aa i “Who says this?” Felice demanded, angrily. “ Ahem! I am so fortunate as to have the honor of making that assertion,” Bob said thrusting his thumbs under his armpits and bowing mockingly. *¢ And who are you, pray?” ** Robert Burns loney, at your service, ma’m—Boss Bob, King 0’ Bootblacks, fer short, was answered, with a grin. ‘’Spect I recker- nize you, too.’ “ You recognize me, sir?” ; ‘Yas; ‘spect 1 do, You're ther same woman who set Adele’s baby afloat on the river in an open boat. Guess I can tell a clam from an eyster when I see it.” rea Felice half-rose from her seat, a deadly light in her eyes, but she sunk back the next minute, very pale, “This is infamous!” she gasped. : “But true, nevertheless,” Judge Turnover said sternly, . “‘ You are cornered, woman, and v4
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24 Tony Fox, the Ferret. A few ob, here, saw a woman set an innocent babe adrift upon the Delaware it will be better for mornings since, Boss ou to own up. River. He, however, pone went to the rescue, and placed the child in safe care. Since then he learned from Frothingham’s own lips that you attended his wife in her last moments, and made away with the child, who is my randchild, as Adele was my daughter. There- ‘ore, when Bob beard me mention you, he at once recognized you, Now, what have you to oat for yourself?” ‘alice covored her face with her hands and burst into tears. “T beg—I beg!" she cried, piteously. ‘* Only yo that you will spare me and give me my iberty, and I will confess all!” “Doso, then, and you will not be prosecuted, so far as tam concerned, If you have sinned, Twill not be your judge, for there is One who will sooner or later judge all things justly,” Mr. Turnover said, gravely, ** Then I will confess, and look elsewhere for employment,” Felice said. ‘* The recommend I brought to you was one of my own manufac- ture, and Frothingham had nothing to do with it. In the first place, 1 was employed by Mrs. ‘Adele to nurse her and her child during her sickness. Frothingham had nothing to do with hiring or paying me; and Adele being poor, I did not receive much pay. “ Before she died, I for the first became aware that Frothingham was her husband—but he had deserted her, and never came near her. Every time he saw me, he paid me the most kind atten- tion, and I rather liked him for it. Also, be- fore Adele died, she told me that you were her father, but she did not dare intrude herself upon you, lest you should treat her as an impostor. She got me to promise, however, that when she was dead, I would bring her child to you, and beg of you to care for it.. This Ishould have done, undoubtedly, only that Frothingham in- tercepted me, and induced me to drown the child, under a promise of large pay. It. was after I set the babe adrift, that I conceived the _ plan of coming here, and trying to win your af- fections and your wealth. That is all. nothing more to confess, I have sinned, and am sorry, and thankful that I am guilty of no crime ae I am not, as you say the child was Yres- cued, “You may be thankful that Boss Bob took the burden of an awful crime from your shoulders!” the judge said, sternly. - “There are some other questions I would ask you. Boss Bob, here, heard Frothingham indi- cate that it was his intention to steal the body of my child, and dispose of it to the doctors for dissection. Did you hear anything of this?” ' “Sir Franklyn told me so—that is all I know’ about it. Whether he did so, or not, I am unable to say.” atc *“ What doctor attended my poor child in her ~ Jast moments?” Dr. ——, of No. — South street. He seemed _ © do everything he knew how, but her disease was a complicated one that baffled his skill.” » ‘Do you know where the bedy was buried? We would like to find it.” op to ‘ “Ydonot know. Tho physician took charge 0 Ee Ihave. “city of the dead, of it, promising to give it a decent burial at his own expense.” Judge Turnover turned to Boss Bob. : _‘*Our next move is, then, to hunt up the Phy: sician, and have an investigation made of the grave, is it not?” “Yes. ‘Spect that’s ther best course. Ef we don’t find things right, then, we’) take a scull eround ter Patrick Mcladden’s Morgue. Goin’ ter let ther hoss-eater go?” ‘Felice can go,” the judge replied, ‘TI shall not be in need of her services any longer.” Without a word, the Frenchwoman arose and left the room, accompanied by the judge, who went to see that she took nothing with her that did not belong to her. , = Palas gone some time, but at last returned io Bob, x “We will now visit the physician, and learn from him, if possible, where Adele was buried,” he said, gravely. ‘‘Do you remember the num- ber of the street?” “Bet Ido! Never lose sech p’ints as them, I don’t,” was the reply. ‘Come erlong, an’ we'll find the pill shop without trouble. ‘Spect [imow ther physician. Shined around his hired gal last summer, an’ collected some live stock wich I ees of dog cheap.” : hey left the mansion, and walked to Chest- nut street, where they took the cars, and in due time found themselves in the Pere of the hysician who had attended Adele Frothing- am. After listening to the judge's explanation of their business, the physician said; ““T did attend the young woman until her death, and learning the case of her wrongs, I took pity on her, and had her remains interred in my family plot at Woodland Cemetery. If her remains have been disturbed, it is without my knowledge. I will accompany you to the cemetery if you wish, and we will make an in- vestigation of the case at once.” I CHAPTER X, ; MORE |PLOTTING, Tur trio soon left the physician’s office, and walked toward a livery stable near by, where they propose to hire a cab to take them to the cemetery. On their way they met Fox, the New York Ferret, whom Boss Bob at once hailed, and ap- prised of their mission, and the detective readily consented to accompany them. “Did ye do anything fer ther game yet?” Bob asked. : : ; "No; I kept.a watch but did notstrike a trail, I guess the schemers kept shady.” ndue time they drove into that beautiful oodland Cemetery, and were conducted to the physician’s admirably kept — family burial-place—a lot containing a modest monument, and some half a dozen headstones, A fresh mound of yellow earth told where Adele had been buried. ‘ , The doctor only gave the grave a single — glance, and then turned away. “Tt is useless to look further, here, The body | has been removed!” Judge Turnover groaned, and covered his — face with his hands, aise im ees Piri
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~ ond floor, _ he tried, and found unlock reba of anything but a prepossessing as- ‘Be 200d Tony Fox, the Ferret. ‘This is horrible,” he gasped—‘not to see one’s own child for many years, and then learn that it has been consigned to the pitiless mercies of the dissecting-knife.” “Tt is ind sad,” the physician responded, gravely. “But, by persistent effort, we may yet be able to track andget possession of the body be- fore it comes to the Reet ROE RE “How do you know the y has been dis- turbed?” Fox demanded. ‘‘ The grave seems to be all right.” ‘t There is where my eyes happen to be a little sharper than yours, detective,” the | a replied. ‘'Harly last evening, you will rémem- ber, there was a short but sharp rain-storm. Well, if the grave had not been disturbed since that, you would see some effects on the mound yonder. As it is, the dirt appears to have been newly disturbed, and no rain has touched it since it was last disturbed; which is conclusive, to me, that the body was removed during the latter portion of last night.” “Thar, Foxy, the pill-disponser is a better de- ak than either of us,” Bob averred. ‘‘ Spect e better go an’ sell out. at auction dog cheap. Et behooves us to pay a visit to a certain placeI knows of,” They left the cemetery; the doctor returning. to his home in South street, and Bob, Fox, and the judge going to the latter’s residence, where they partook of a sumptuous reest, and planned their next course of action. — Tt was proposed by Fox that Boss Bob return to his old street appearance, and pay a visit alone to the mofgue, or receiving-house of the gang of grave-robbers, as one person could work, alone, better than several, without cre- ating much suspicion. _ But Bob argued that it would be next to im- denied for him to gain an entrance to thesecret ead-house of the gang, unless he was armed with a werrant, or could resort to some trick. For some time the trio discussed various plans, and it was at last decided that Bob should represent himself ae a medical student, in search of a subject, which would admit him to the morgue. ‘Accordingly, Fox, who appeared nearly as much interested in the case as the judge him- self, took his departure, to pay another visit to the doctor in order to get a description of the dead woman. — ; In the mean time, Bob also left the judge’s mansion, and took a car for the old city, getting out at Highteenth and Market, and walking | briskly through the latter thoroughfare, north- ward, until he came to a row of tenement Mounting a flight of rickety stairs to the sec- ‘ob continued along the hall until he came to a door upon the i ia side, which Entering, he found himself in a large, plainly- furnished room, which served the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, parlor, #nd bedchamber, Though poor and shabby, the general aspect of everything was at least clean, and arranged to | ‘ect as possible, 4 #Jora Bacon sat near the stove with the baby | 25 in her Jap, to whom she was feeding milk ont of @ nursing-bottile, Near the table sat no less a personage than the factory. lta ca setcnel, en 1 in smoking a cigar, while he appeared in ar: thing but an enviable frame of mind. e: Bob gave vent to a low whistle of astonish- ment, and turned to Flora, inquiringly. ~ : ‘Mornin’ to you Miss Flore,” he said, dcfiing his elegant silk hat, and taking a seat. ‘Guess I’ve run inter a port whar I ain’t needed, eh?” ‘Why, Bob, is that really you?” the girl de-_ manded, admiringly. ‘I didn’tknow you when ou first came in, you were so changed. You ook really like a fine gentleman.” ‘Spect [ ama reg lar high-toncr, ef ther truth waz only known, Didn't ’spect ter find Mickey Fresco Angel-oh Mitch heer, tho’,” and. the rejuvenated bootblack fired the superintend- ent a quizzical look. “Oh! you needn’t fear for him,” Flora re- plied, indfgnantly. ‘‘ His presence here is un- welcome, while yours is auite the reverse.” “Oh! that’s it, is it? I say, Mickey, how do that sound to ye?” the youth demanded, tanta- lizingly. ‘‘ Ruther a nose-breaker, ain’t it, fer sech a purty pill as you, even ef ye do aspire ter be a clown in & sarkus? ia “Miss Bacon is incensed with me because. T offered her a eet thing by proposing to make her my wife, but she will get bravely over that, and accede to my terms, if the epee was Mitchell’s reply. “Bet a clam your case is hopeless,” Bob re- torted, coolly. “ Miss Flore, she knows what ‘ou will only have she’s about, every once in a while, you bet, an’ she’s got a beau w’ot punches trip-slips on a hoss-car, an’ he’d punch you i you was heer. Guess when ‘Miss Flore sez I’m exkusable it'll be time enuff fer me ter va- moose.” That's it, Bob; don’t you desert me,” Flora cried, her eyes flashing. ‘If Mr.:Mitchell does not have the kindness to depart, before Jong, [I shall call an officer. Because of his undesirable attentions to me, I was obliged to band in my resignation at the factory yesterday, and now she has come to further annoy, and even threat- — enme, Thinking to influence me tomarry him, he has even ents were, ‘* Bully fer you, ain’t no shakes fer you, nohow. Jest you hah ut I heve refused him.” Miss Flore! Mickey Angel-oh g ter yer street-car beau—he’s solid Muldoon, fer - ou.” ‘Sides, Mickey Angel-oh ain’t allus a-goin’ er be a big superintendent o’a caliker mill, Bet er clam [ know er few p’ints thet’ll help him ter a cumfortable bunk down in Moya, an’ | as fer who yer parents wer’, "spect I know full’s | well as Mickey Angel-oh Mitch, : “Curse you, boy!” Mitchell cried, fiercely. “ll break your head if you don’t keep your ~ ace to take your leave, young man,” ~ too, ef he know’d . poe to inform me who my ~~ mouth shut. You don’t know a thing about that girl’s parentage.” *Got any ducats Handed, coolly. “Guess ye’ve fergot T was be- hind ther bookease, when ther madam was a-tellin’ erbout it, hain’t ye? "I'wixt you an’ me. Mickey, yer jig’s erbout up, an’ ef I was you either skip Ter other climes, or go down ter in to bet on that?? Bob de-~
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oF with a . ments. {a Jooki Moya + give yerself up like er major. Slow- ly but surely ther net is weaving around you thet will finally constertoot yer windin’ sheet.” Mitchell arose with ap oath. **T will not remain here, to listen to such nonsense, from a mere boy. The next time I see you on the street, sir, I’ll have you arrested and sent up, for vagrancy,” he cried, rising, haughtily. ‘‘ Miss Bacen, what answer am I to have from you? Will you marry me, be blessed with my love, and learn the parentage that you have never known?—or will you choose my ha- tred, and live forever in ignorance of your birthright and title?” “A thousand times better to remain forever in ignorance of my parentage, sir, than to marry one whom I could never love or even respect.” “Bravo! hurrah!” Bob cried, rising in his en- thusiasm, tossing his hat into the air and catch- ing itagain on his head. ‘‘Thet’ar was done uP fu’st class—reg’ler Romeo an’ Juleet style! ickey Angel-oh, you’d make a fu’st-class heavy villain, ef ye was ter color up a little wi’ caliker dyes; an’ Flore, she’d knock ther spots clean off %m Mrs, John Drew as a her’ine.” “Then look out for me!” Mitchell cried, shaking his fist at Miss Bacon, unmindful of the words of Boss Bob, “‘for you have not heard the last of me, Ill have you yet in spite of yourself!” Then turning, he strode from the room, slam- me the door behind him in no gentle way. ‘*T dunno, but I ’spect ef I was a little bigger, I'd lick the ugliness outer thet Mickey Angel-oh, eis fer fun,” Bob declared. ‘* He’s a bad pill, ut is gittin’ purty near ter ther end o’ his clothes-line. How’s the baby?” ‘Oh! it is getting along ever so nicely, and makes me scarcely any trouble,” Flora replied, enthusiastically kissing. the little stranger. “I really love it like I would a brother or sister.” “Well, thet ain’b bad,” Bob acknowledged, rin. ‘ *Spect everybody wouldn’t stop much at bavin’ you fer a brother or sister. Guess it cums natteral fer ye ter like ther little un, ‘ca’se how et was yer own sister’s baby.” ‘What! my sister’s child—this ?” Flora cried, greatly excited. i Raa it is,” the Bootblack King replied. * Nothin’ s’prisin’ in it, either, compared wi’ sum other pints Pye learned., Guess, mobbe, when dewelerpments cums to a focus, you'll hey ter own me fer a brother, too.” “Really you speak in riddles, Bob, and I can- not understand them, Please explain for the aatisfaction of my curiosity.” “Can’tdothat yet. Will’splain all next time { come. Jest dropped in ter set yer thinkers a-goin’, an’ git yer anticipatin’ masheen in workin’ order. Stand ready ter cum wi’ ther Nondescript, whenever I send him. It may be soon, an’ et may be later, accordin’ tew dewelop- Good-by!” And the next moment he was gone, Mitchell, after leaving the tenement abode of Flora Bacon, returned at once to the calico fac-| tory, and found a stranger in the office, engaged over the books, “What does this mean?’ he demanded. an- Tony Fos, the Ferret. rily; ‘‘who are you that you take so much iberty in looking over the books of this estab- lishment?” ; _ “f am the new superintendent of the mills, in the place of the man Mitchell,” the stranger replied. “If you are he, you will find an ex- hatte note there on the table from Judge ‘urnover, sir.” : With an oath Mitchell snatched up the letter, and tearing it open, read the following: ' ‘*Srr:—Your services as my superintendent and representative in business, are no longer needed as 1 have learned of your villainous associations, which render you an unfit person to be in my employ. I would suggest that you take your leave a‘ once, and save yourself trouble, Jupen TurNover.” Without a word the displaced villain quitted the office for the street; but when here, his dis- appointment and rage found vent in a ready flow of curses, “Tt is the work of that accursed boy, Boss Bob, again,” he hissed, white with passion; “through him I have lost this position, an mayhap my liberty. But, curse them, I will be revenged on both him and the judge. It must be a bold game to be successful, but I shall play to win, The boy shall die this time, for a certainty, and there is another ready way to strike Turnover that will either bring me back my situation, or a cash equivalent.” He hurried at once to Madam Fayette’s Eighth street establishment, and found the madam seated in her private parlor, engaged in perusing a letter; but she looked up, with an in- quiring expression on her face, as she saw his evident anger. “Tve lost_my situation through the infernal bootblack,” Mitchell burst forth, as he entered, “T have just received my discharge papers from Turnover. What is to be done? Through that boy, we are all liable to get ourselves into. an unenviable scrape.” ; ‘Only you, I and McFadden,” the madam re- pee evenly. ‘ pip a pea has skipped for ew York, en route for London, accompanied by the rest of the boys. He says London offers a safer retreat for him, as there was a prospect of things getting too hot for him here. He didn’t forget to take my jewelry cating with him, neither, nor the contents of my cash-box. I told you once I was suspicious of him,” y Mitchell seated himself, with a growl. **T care not—let him go, If we take care of ourselves, we shall do well, Things are work- ing in the devil’s way, all around. TI visited the Bacon miss, this morning, and she refused me again, *The madam laughed. “T thought likely, by the temper you are in, she confessed. ‘* Maybe it you would try the mother, instead of the daughter, you’d have better success.” Be “ Pshaw! I can have you later, after I’ve mar-- ried the girl, and through her got a eit or Turnover’s fortune. There’s one thing flat!” ‘© What is that?” “Why, we must play a game card, now—a card that-leads to wealth, and at the same time leads to protection.” -‘*T do not understand you; how doyoumean?™ — “Twill explain. We mmnhsk eantnre this cirh ~ Pa = aah > A OSS
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Teny Fox, the Ferret. « io ateeeeetieeenenian ne and castle her, in some place, and hold her there, In this way, we can make terms with Turnover, and at the same time he and his young tool, Boss Bob, will not give us over to the au- thorities until oe can secure the girl. In this way we can work upon the judge for a big amount, when we will skip out, and let him have his girl.” ‘Your plan may work,” the madam admitted, toying with the letter she held. ‘‘ But there are ten chances to one it willnot, Turnover will aever give up his ducats until he has thorough! tested every other way of getting the ad- vantage.” “Well, it’s our best hope to risk, at any rate. We shall either win largely, or lose all and go to jail and that comes within one of staring us in the face, now. As to the boy—® “T have a pad of getting effectually rid of him,” the madam interposed, ‘To-morrow is Pennsylvania day at the Centennial, and it shall be his last day to live.” “We ought to have made sure of him the other time we had him, Then we would not have been betrayed, and I should yet have my position,” Mitchell growled, “Well, we didn’t do it, and there is no use of crying over spilt milk, _Come closer, and I will . Inform you of my plans in regard to the disposal of the bootblack.” Accordingly they moyed their chairs closer together and in lowered voices discussed dark schemes which boded no good to either Boss Bob, | or Vlora Bacon. A well-matched pair were the two plotters, as regards scheming, and be it not said to their credit, either, for both were edu- cated, intelligent, and fitted for a far better existence, than that which they led. CHAPTER, XI MALONEY, SR., AND BOSS BOB, In the mean time, Boss Bob returned to the Turnover mansion, and found that Fox had al- ready arrived there ahead of him from his visit to the doctor’s, He placed a written description of the dead woman, in Bob’s hands, and the boy perused it attentively. **Reckon that’s all’s necessary,” he decided. *Spect [ kin reckernize ther corpus at once. Yl waltz around and pay Paddy McFadden a yas to-night, jist at the’ top av the avenin’, so wi » lt being well along in the day, and having some other arrangements to complete, he once more teok leave of Turnover and Fox and re- turned to town. - The undertaking establishment of Patrick McFadden was located in a small two-story house in Buttonwood street, and here the wily proprietor was wont to carry on aJl branches of his trade. He supplied funerals with coffins and hearses, at shortest notice; received bodies aud kept them iced until time for interment, and also preserved bodies by the embalmer’s art. ; It was no unusual occurrence to see half a dozen or more coffins enter his place, or leave it, every day. and altogether he did a rushing busi- Bess OF DARI ULC eile. « 4 we he 22 The lower story of his house had a front opening of donble doors, so that he could drive into the — gees Mr. McFadden was also said, by his neigh- bors, to be quite a philanthropist in his way, as when bodies were sent to him to ice, and never called for, as was often the case, he would with unselfish generosity give them a decent bnrial in his own lot, in an out-of-town cemetery. Thus the record of P. McFadden stood with- out reproach, so far as the general public knew, About dusk, that evening, Boss Bob entered Buttonwood street from off Broad and strode along for some time, sharply scanning each frowning, gloomy building, until he came to a rigs with the double doors opening off the street. ‘“Spect this must be the place,” he muttered, pausing long enough to light a fresh cigar. ““Don’tsmell very cadaverous, neither. on- der if here’s where ey eee a feller’s carcass until wanted? Ugh! Isinder dread this job, tho’ I guess no ghosts ain’t got er grudge ag’in me, so I needn’t be afeard. The next thing’s ter find out ef 4’feller can get in.” Another door besides the double ones, opened into the building, and ascending the steps Bob gave the bella prompt jerk. Then, while wait- ing, he adjus' his spectacles, and looked as near like a young student as he knew how, which was not a remarkable personification. The door was opened, directly, by the pro- prietor, in person—a thin, pinched-faced son of the Emerald sod, with an unmistakable Celtic face, and shaggy, brick-colored hair, He was attired in a semi-gown and broad: brim hat of the order that to this day distin- , guishes the Quaker citizens from the other | classes of the Philadelphians, in many instances, in addition to his other accouterments, and Sees a stubby clay pipe of the grimiest order. He regarded Bob sharply with his little gray eyes, as if suspicious of him. Well, what does thee want?’ he demanded, holding the door only wide enone open to ad- mit his head and shoulders. ‘* Whe is he, and what does he want?” “Sh!” Bob said, in a lowered tone. “TIT am a medical student, and have come to see you on important biz.” atrick McFadden, or Quaker Pat, as he was often called, nodded, and at once admitted Bob into a hall, closing the door behind him. ; “Shure it’s a lucky time yez have come,” he said, returning to his native brogue, “Waz it afther a subject ye’z come?” ; pS “Correct! you couldn’t have guessed with . more accuracy,” Bob replied, toning up his speech the best he knew how. “T am in need of a subject—a female, pre ferred.” ; . Without a word the undert:ker led the way to — an inner office, and opened a big book that lay upon the desk, handing Boba pencil at the same e. *Plase to si yer name an’ risidence there,” McFadden said, “an’ thin Pll b afther showin’ ez some fine subjects as iver it done yer eyor Good wo sust ob wo beak 15 ae ae =
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gained the street. . 28 e Without demur Bob scrawled down the fol- lowing’ signature: * Robert Maloney, D, D., LL. D., M..D.,” and gave his address at, the ‘Purnover place, after which he followed MeFadden up a flight of stairs to the floor above; thence through an apart- ment used for the storage of coffins and funeral appurtenances, into a second room, which proved to be the placo where subjects were kept. The room was dark, the windows being ¢cur- tained, but McFadden lita jet of gas, and plenty of light was afforded for the purpose. The apartment was uncarpeted, and there were several trap-doors in the floor. Also, there were a number of tables scattered about the reom, covered with marble slabs and upon one of these lay the stark, rigid form of a dead man, yet. attired in the robes that had clothed ai eee in the grave from which he had been stolen. ' At tee of this, Boss Bob’s hair began to feel a little like rising on end, but he choked off his uneasiness, with a strong effort, and went up ard examined the corpse, coolly, after which he turned to McFadden, “That one does not suit mo,” he said, with a shake of the head. ‘*Have you no fomales who have died of complicated diseases?” “Shure an’ it’s mesilf as has the very one yez want,” the undertaker replied. ‘‘ A fine youn, leddy was captured last night who had died o; some unknown disease, an’ ut her at once in the pickle, so’t she’d be afther kapin’, I can haul her out o’ ther pickle, ef yez would be uither seein’ her.” : ‘No, you needn’t mind. By your answering a few questions, I can tell if it is the subject Pve had m eye on. It came from Woodland Ceme- tery, eh?’ Sheers : Faith, an’ I’m ay the opinion it did,” the Irishman replied, with a wink and a grin. And was gold to hg by a man by the name -of Frothingham?” Bob queried. McFadden nodded in the affirmative, ‘That's the very jewell” he acknowledged, with an ogre’s chuckle, : “Then that is the subject I want. What is the price of it, safely delivered to my address, in a coffin and box, as if it had recently come off from the Mixpress cars?” McFadden scratched his head a minute, thoughtfully, and then replied: “Since you have come to me for the first time, Tl let yez have it for fifty dollars.” _ ‘{Ifs a bargain! You may deliver it to my address during the night, and the money will be waiting for you.” —_ Then Bob’ took his leave, fully satisfied with the extent of his visit. S - “Swaller me fer a clam ef et didn’t nigh dislocate my jaw, ter wrassle wi’ thet high- toned talk,” he muttered, when he once more “Spect no langwage ain’t so natteral as a feller’s own, an’ then, I wa’n’t brought up on ther dixshunary. Guess we'll git hold of the body all right now, an’ Turn- over he'll have ter fut ther bill, as he’s got ther rocks, Things ar’ gittin’ kinder ship-shape, arter all ora she’s found, an’ Adele she’s found, an’ now ther next thing is ter find me. of his search, Terrance Tony Fox, the Ferret. \ Ef old Terrance’ll cum down an’ do the fair thing, mebbe I'll turn out ter be a duke or a duchess, or suthin’ like that, even ef I ain’t a Turnover. Turnovers ar’ a good stand-by, tho’, when a feller’s hungry, an’ so is Bacon. Guess I may as well take a scull down ter Point Breeze an’ see Terrance early to-morrer, an’ find out my desterny.” Accordin Wy having some cash left out of the purchase 0! s clothing, he went to a second- rate but respectable hotel and turned in for the night, knowing Turnover and Fox would re- ceive the body of Adele when it came, without any of his assistance. ‘ arly in the morning he was up and stirring. as were upward of a million and a quarter of other humans, on this eventful Pennsylvania’s day at the Centepnial. irst of all he went to the mayor’s office and received a permit for the New Gas-works, after which he walked briskly toward Point Breeze, which he reached in due time, and gained ad- mission. He was not long in finding the object loney, perched upon the end of an up-turned tar barrel, before the roaring furnaces, looking black and grimy as any son of Africa, eS scrawny, withered-up little Irishman, was Maloney, Sr., with hard, bony features that. wore a habitual bull-dog expression, and eyes that were small and fiery, from an over-excess of strong drink. He gave a grunt of recognition, as Boss Bob approached, Oh! so ye know mo, do ye?” our hero de- manded, bridging his ee upon his nose, and surveying the elder Maloney, critically. ‘ Well, what d’ye think o’ my style anyhow?” “To tha divil wid tha sthyle,” Maloney, Sr., replied, gruffly. ‘‘ Phat’s struck ye, boy? ‘ “Ohl I’m runnin’ fer ambassador ter Injy,” Bob replied, twirling his cane. ‘‘Give up black~ in’ boots. *Spect I'l git to be President 0’ ther bree isi pees , th d risident ay purgathory, ye young omad- haun. Have yez a stray quarther about yer duds, now?” : “Bet yer gas-shop I hey,” was the indepen- dent reply of the boy. ‘‘ Got lots o’ sech - kets about at r duds. t of it?” ‘““Bocause, boy, ye can be afther takin’ tha mug ye see yonder on tha top oy the barrel, an’ goin’ fer a quart av ale, to the furst around the corner,” . ‘Oh! no—I guess not,” Bob retorted, loftily. “T ain’t in ther bigness 0’ carryin’ drinks. Et ain't becomin’ uv a Prime Minister. Here’s a quarter for you; go get your own swill.” The senior Maloney did not need a second in- vitation, and seizin the pitcher, he disappeared, soon returning with a foaming pitcher of the Irishman’s favor- ite beverage. : “Ts a fine laddy buck senior Maloney declared, as and began to sip the ale. raley so yez ar’ runnin’ for Prisident, Rol “Spect not, old man. I was only givin’ As a @ are, b’ye,” the @ seated “himselt, little taffy on a stick—moonlight on a shell, yer see. Struck er bonanaa, tho’—a reg» —_ lar Buffler Bill affair, too,” the proffered quarter and oon ** An’ shure, is it —~ bert?” 3
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~ Tony Fox, the Ferret. * & bonanza, is it? An’shure, phat’s a bonan- za, Robert? Ican nary understand yez.” ‘Well, I'll tell you,” Boss Bob said, present- ing the senior Maloney with a poor cigar, while with true philanthropy he lit a ¢g one him- self. ‘You see, there’s a little case w’ot wants a young feller ter step in an’ fill er famerly vacancy, an’ I’ve had kinder of an itchin’ that { was ther right lad in ther right place. SoI jest waltzed down here ter git ye ter tell me who I am?” ‘“ Who the divil d’ye take yerself for, ’cept me own son?” Maloney, Sr., demanded. “Bait > an’ it?s moighty queer notions tha boys be ittin’ inter their heads, nowadays. You're obby Maloney, to be sure, an’ diyil a won less. “You git out!” Bob retorted, snapping his fingers contemptuously. ‘‘Ye can’t stuff that down me, Terrance, worth a clam, I know better, ye see. ‘'Spect I orter, when you're areg’lar old Glinegal bog-trotter, ther old wo- man’s pure sauer-krout an’ lager, an’ limbur- ger, an’ I’m o’ the reg’lar fine-wool Vermont stock. Can’t make it appear natteral, nohow, an’ so ye may as well tell me who Iam, and be done with it.” “Will ye heer the loikes, now?’ Maloney, Senior, cried, beginning to wax wroth. ‘‘ Heer it's a good twinty yeers I’ve been rearin’ yez up; an now, faith, yez would like to make yerself some won else, in the bargain, By me soul, I niver heard tha aqual ay it, at all.” “* Can’t help it, Teddy, old boy. It’s no use o” yer gittin’ mad, fer I kin lick a good dozen sech coak-heavers as you aire. ‘Spect ye never know’d that, mebbe. It’s a fac’, all the same, No use 0’ tryin’ ter make a green sprig 0’ Erin’s shammyrock outen a reg'lar Yankee peony, nuther, Cum down, now, Teddy, an’ do ther squar’ thing by tellin’ me whar ye picked me up, an’ ef I make a raise out o’ the thing, Tl make et interestin’ fer ye—start ye in biz- ness, fer instance, an’ hand in yer name at ther next State Convention as a nomernee fer Ghivnor.” “Go long wid ye, boy! It’s pokin’ fun at me ‘ez ar’ now.” id : ‘No I ain’t, honest Tajun!” Bob reassured. “ Jest you come.down an’ tell me ther source I sprung frum, an’ ef I don’t do ther fair thing by you, prowidin’ 1 make a strike myself, ye can sell me out at ther rate o’ two cents a quart, fer sp'iled oysters. Cum now, jest give us a good lift fer onst.” Maloney, Sr., contemplated the bottom of the pitcher, which he had just succeeded in empty- ing, with a thoughtful gaze. “There be a little duck of a saloon on Swan- son street,” he said, ‘ that could be bought wid all the stock an’ fixtures for a hundred dollars, If ye’ll b’y tha loikes o’ that for me, Bobby, b’ye, Pll be afther tellin’ ye what yez be afther want- in? tokmow.” Well, I guess not,” Bob retorted. ‘I ain’t inwestin’ in rum-shops myself. Tell ye what I'll do, Ef ye’ll tell me who’er my parents, an’ who ye got me from, an’ go with me an’ swear to et, if necessary, I'll give yer all ther swag (ve got sa ted away—a matter o’ fifty cents, | wi’ ther promise ye shall have fifty times fifty if by yer information I turn out to be who t thi am. Thei’s fair now, an’ et’s every cent ye can git out o’ me. Ef ye’d ruther keep yer secret than ter hev twenty-five U.S. dollars, go ter blazes, that’s all.” “Let me see, b’ye,’ the gas-man muttered, counting over his tarry fin: , a doubtful ex-" pression upon his face, ‘*How many quarts would thet buy of ale, ata shilling a quart?” “Two hi ed quarts—enough to secure you | the decd of 5 age in a Rass ule or é berth down a’ ,»” Bob. replied, in disgus for he was himself > t eine ‘Ts two hundred quarths all?” the elder Ma- loney murmured. ‘‘ By me soul, that would do me, but a week, in hot weather. But never mind, b’ye. I'l not be hard wid ye. Tl be afther makin’ up me mind the day, an’ if I con- clude ter let ye have yer own way, it’s a visit I pay _yez Soar afther dark.” ‘No—not then; wait till to-morrow night and then call around at Judge Turnover’s; I’ be there.” Then Bob bade adieu to his foster-father, as he now believed he really was, and struck for the Centennial, intent on having a holiaay, and viewing for the fiftieth time the sights and scenes within the great Exposition. He had arrived as far as the inside of the in- closure, near the great fountain between Ma- chinery Hall and the Main Building, when he felfa desperate tugging at his coat-sleeve and turned in some surprise to find himself in the nce of Miss Cora Castle, Maaam Fayette’s . pretty millinery clerk, : “Oh! I know who you are,” she said, still retaining a hold upon his arm, with irlish im- petuosity. ‘I recognized you the instant I saw you, despite your fine dress; and now, as I’ve got my walkin pe rs from the madam, and am off on a holiday, I forthwith appoint you my cavalier and escort for the day.” ; CHAPTER XII. CONCLUSION, | Tux girl was so positive, that Boss Bob seem«_ ed inclined to accept the inevitable, and offering his arm, they strolled along out the Belmont avenue of the grounds, to get out of the dense ~ crowds that already swarmed within the Cen- tennial inclosure, } Md “Dunno ef I orter hitch onter you or not,” he. observed scanning the girl.and her elegant. cos- tume, critically. “You let them cusses smuggle me out o’ Fayette’s house, and P’d’a’ been meat fer bologna, by this time, ef et hadn't been fer” Fox and Script.” “Oh, Bob! I was really powerless to He ou,” the girl replied, earnestly, “‘or I shouk aave.done so. The madam shut me upina — room, and threatened to murder me, if I betray- — ed them.” ~ ee ‘“Mebbe,” Bob accepted, rather doubtfully. — “Annyhow, ye wouldn’t make er reg’lar Buf- — fler Bill heerine, or you'd a-sailed right in, shirt- sleeves an’ stockin’-feet, murder or no m i an’ reskued me, in ther midst 0’ a tabler 0’ cok ored fire.” ; : = Cora Castile laughed. Calne s teas eee “Well, I see you are inclined to think Img
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' 30 —— ene en, bad girl, because I worked for a viper,” she said, “put such is not the case. I’m every bit as good, as when I used to be your Sally, and know a bit more, too. To ee that I am loyal to you, I’m going to tell you something that will open your eyes.” “All right. Sail in. I’m allus open fer eye- openers,” the Bootblack King replied. ‘Ef ye can prove ye are on my side, ’stead o? Madam Fayette’s, all right; an’ ef ye can’t you've got ter bounce.” “Very well, 1 will bounce, if I cannot prove my fidelity. You seo, madam and I disagreed because of the nonpayment of wages that were due me, and she told me to skip out, and make room for another. So I skipped, fetching with me some of madam’s secrets, which I have ac- quired, from time to time, Here is the latest lan to git rid of you. I heard the madam and itchell discussing it, this morning before [ left. It was expected by them that you could be found at the Centennial, to-night, when the fireworks come off, as nearly every one who can raise a half-dollar will be here to witness the display. A. spotter will be put on your track, to keep near watch of you, and about the time the fireworks begin, a cabman will come to you, in great haste, telling you that he was sent with his conveyance to bear you to the Turnover mansion, where Judge Turnover lies stricken with an attack of apoplexy, and wishes to see you before he dies. Of course you follow the coachman, get into his close carriage, and find yourself a prisoner in the hands of Mitchell and the madam, with no prospects of ever seeing the light of day again,” ob gave vent to a whistle of surprise. ‘*So that’s their game is it? Well, we'll see about that, mebbe. I got out o’ their trap once, and I reckon [ ain’t a-goin? ter fall inter it ag’in. Much obliged ter ye fer ther p’ints o’ the case, Sally, an’ we'll take a look around the Centen- nial, afore we go to Turnover’s ter plot ag’in’ ther madam an’ Mickey Angel-oh Mitch. Guess I orter stand ther treats, hedn’t I, too?” And with tho liberality of a young king of finance, he fairly loaded his pretty and affable companion down with presents and candies and so-forth, until she was forced to beg of him to desist, They first visited the Main Building with its acres of wondrous exhibits, but finding it too crowded, crossed over to Machinery Hall, and inspected the ponderous Corliss Engine, the looms, the ivory working machinery, and hun- dreds of other novelties, after which they visited the glass works, and viewed the maryelous work- ings and artistic modeling processes of that won- derful art. ‘Miss Cora was delighted, for with hundreds of other native Philadelphians, she had never _ before visited the Exposition. “Tf I wish to get married, I’d just be crazy to have some. of these beautiful designs of glassware,” Cora said, squeezing Bob’s arm, Pater ely. “ Aren't OM superb?” “Dunno about that,” Bob replied, taking off his ‘‘ plug” hat, to give his head a dig. ‘* Spect Td ruther hev silver an’ gold. Glass will do very well fer common folks, but_ambassydors ver stummick nothin’ but geld an’ silver. 'g ‘Lysses Grant—they sag be can’t take Tony Fox, the Ferret. his tea onless et’s in a gold cup set wi’ di’monds. “Spect that will be my fix too, when I git as big parila Don’t contemplate steppin’ off, do ye, Sal? “Yes, I do,” the girl replied, merrily, ‘‘an! I’ve got my man picked out, too.” “Phew! Who is he?” i “ Why, you of course, gon goose! Who else do you suppose I’d have, but you?” ‘* Dunno,” Bob answered, dubiously. ‘‘ Didn't know I was marketed yet. ” pect you're gittin’ ahead o’ yer calculations, ain’t you?” “Not a bit of it, Bob. We used to lover- like toward each other, when our positions in life were relatively not so ve ifferent—you blacked boots, and I scrubbed sidewalks. I pro- pose we continue the same relations toward each other now. I’m an orphan, and I like you and it’s your duty to like me and take care o: the widows and orphans. What do you say; won’t you have me, if I'll have you?”. ‘Spect Vl have to cogitate on that, Guess I ain’t old enuff ter assume famerly ’sponsibilities yet. Dunno much ’bout *immen an’ gals, any- how—never hed enny luck a-shinin’ around ’em. Got more slop-buckets an’ scrubbin’ brushes fired at me than ever I did luvin’ glances, enuff sight. Spect I never was cut out for a mash, nohow.” “ But, I like you, just the same,” the girl per- sisted, teasing ly, ‘an’ you’ve either got to make me Mrs. Boss ob, or Vil sue you for breach of Pp . ; ‘Sue an’ be h !_ Guess I can’t be drove. Tell you what Pll do, Dll consider, an’ ef I don’t conklude ter take ye, mebbe I camgit ye a job, over at Turnoyver's.” pas. “Good! Doso, and that will suit me just as well,” the girl said, with a laugh. ‘‘Maybe I can get Turnover himself. Anything so that I get a nice, stylish man, who has the scrip to sup port me witb.” “Bet a clam ye ken’t git ther judge,” Bob muttered, under his breath. ‘t He’s hed one at- tack, an’ i guess it soured on his hands, an’ he won't be apt ter want ernuther blizzard,” A close carriage stood, that evening, unon EJm avenue, near the foot of George’s Hill, just as the grand display of flreworks was about to begin—not one carriage alone, but a hundred or more vehicles of every description laden with those who had come to witness the display, without paying the admissicn fee to the grounds, ‘ The first mentioned, however, was a stylish conveyance, to which was attached a stylish span of horses, and the driver’s seat was unoccu- pied, Just about the same time that the signal-rocket was fired, three figures pressed through the _ crowd, and approached the carriage—being ne other persons than Judge Turnover, Fox, the — Ferret, and Boss Bob. ‘ The latter sprung to the driver's seat, and aa sooner had his two companions entered the ve- hicle, than he wheeled the horses about, and drove down the avenue as rapidly as the density of the crowd would permit. : No quicker had Turnover and Fox entered the carriage, than they closed the door behind them and drew revolvers, for, as Bob had warned
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Tony Fox, the Ferret, 4 them, they found themselves in the presence of Madam Fayette and Mitchell. : ; “Quiet, now,” the New York detective said, sternly. ‘‘ Don’t dare to make the least resist- anve, or I will call in the police to help me, You are my prisoners until I have ordersfrom Judge Turnover, here, for your release.” : “Tn the name of Fury, what does this mean?” Mitchell demanded, excitedly—and both he and Madam Fayette shrunk to the opposite side of the coach, as if to escape. But the deadly gaze of Fox’s revolvers caused them to desist-from any such attempt. The tableau within the car- riage, which was lighted, was not, however, visi the windows were closely curtained, “Tt means,” Judge Turnover said, sternly, “that your villainous schemes against Bob have been nipped in the bud, and that you are now at my mercy, with the gates of a prison staring you in the face. All your criminal se- crets are known to me, and you have me to look to fer hope of mercy, as it is in my power to consign you to the dongece you so richly de- serve, or to set hi at liberty. Which I shall io, I do not yet know; for the present you both ‘Oo with me to my home, to await my decision. od knows, I never calculated that I should have to make a criminal captive of one who was once my wife.” Bie Madam Fayette did not reply, but sinking back upon the seat, buried her face in her hands, and a on to weep. 2 ; . Mitchell also resumed his seat, with a growl, xeeming inclined to accept the inevitable, rather than make a useless resistance. ‘ Under Boss Bob’s skillful driving, the carriage f00n reached the judge’s mansion, and the Boot- black King dismounted and opened the door of the conveyance. A Stet ‘Here we are, gents an’ ladies,” he said, with f comical bow, ‘* Turnover, now, an’ tumble wut, as fast as you Peoarort : ‘ox and the judge got out, and motioned for the madam and Mitchell to follow, which they d, Then ali parties entered the mansion, and came to a halt in the parlor, where a strange tableau was presented. ; A coffin was mounted upon stools, in the cen- ter of the room, and within it, in a costly shroud of lace and flowers, reposed the remains of her who had been Adele Frothingham. Near by, holding her dead sister’s baby, sat Flora Bacon, with tear-stained face. Madam Wayette took in the situation at a glance, and with a wild shriek, she staggered back and would have fallen, had not Fox caught her, and supported her to & sofa, where, when he had laic her down, he made the discovery that blood was oozing from her nose and mouth; a few ewful spasms followed, and then the heart sed to beat. i The sight of the wreck her unmotherly career le to the outside crowd of people, because ‘s TRE BED had wrought had probably been more than she could bear, and the shock had caused her life- es the sudden strain that had snapped it in ain. Fox gently made the announcement, and J ie Turnover and Flora knelt beside the life- less form with tearful eyes, Boss Bob standing near, with a sad face. Though he felt like crying, the boy knew not whether to do so or not; as yet he did not know for certain that he was in any way related to either the judge or the dead woman. With a nod to Mitchell ig follows Fox led the way into the adjoining ba lena where they waited for the judge and Bob to join them, which they speedily did. Gazing vely at his treacherous former employee, the ju was silent fora few min- utes. After awhile he said: : ‘* Michael Mitchell, I give you your liberty to leave—to get out of this city, as fast as you can, I know full well this is not what you deserve, but, I am inclined to be merciful. Through this lad, who is properly enough called Boss Bob, I have been restored, in life and in death, three of the members of my long-lost irr and I am thankful. Though my eldest child and my sinning wife are dead, life has a ea dela pros- pect for me, in the fact that I still have my Le ae daughter to cheer and comfort me in my old age. Go! If you are found in Phila- delphia after to-morrow noon, you shall pay to the full the penalty for your crimes and dis- honor. Go!” Glad of the opportunity offered, Mitchell took his leave, and was never thereafter seen in the Quaker ek On the following day, Terraneé Maloney came to the front, and confirmed Boss Bob's belief that he was the missing Harry Turnover, by the statement that he had received Bob from a > whaling-ship captain, and had since that time been paid a small sum, annually, by Madam Fayette, to keep Bcb in ignorance of his parent- age. This cleared the matter up. Maloney was liberally rewarded, while the judge was happy in the i epgent of two of his lost children. The dead were buried later, side by side, and a costly monument erected to mark their last resting-place. - Miss Cora Castle was adopted into the Turn. over family, at Boss,»Bob’s request, and the prospects seem to indicate that she and Fox will make a match, the latter having been a pointed superintendent of the Turnover niills, under Harry—1. e. Boss Bob. ee Of course Boss Bob no longer belongs to the — ** nerfession,” but he still has a wide acquaint - ance among his old pals, and in his new position ie finds time to often give them a deserved
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BURFALO BILL Novels 82 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and ove in a Frontier Fort, By Buffalo Bill, H ae aiealS ay ié ‘The Doomed Dozen; or, Buffalo ih, Chief of Seouts. By Dr. Frank Powell. {~ Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot. A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old Pard. By Col. P.{Ingraham, 5 = Biil's Trump Card; of, The indian Heiress, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 489 pos Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen, Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 243 he Pilgrim Sharp; or,The Soldier’ 8 Sweetheart, By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout and Guide. $19 a ai, the Whirlwind of the West. By But- ‘29 The League of Three: or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 7 The Wizara Brothers; or, White Houver’s Trail, By Buffalo Bill. % Toe One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in Borderland. By Buffalo Bill. {7 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail;.or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider. By Ned ‘Buntline, #9 The Dead nats Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains, By Buffalo Bill 25° Daredeath Dick, Pte of the eh eL or, Buf- falo Bill's Daring Role. By Leon Lewis. 1 Tae Gold King; or, Montebello, the Magnificent, By Buffalo Bill. 44 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza; or, The Knights of the Silver Circle, By Col P. Ingraham #9 Buck Tayior, the Saddle K ng. "By Col. P. In: graham @2 Buffalo Bill’s octet Service Trail; or, The Mys terious foe. By Maj. Dangerfield’ Burr, J91 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or, Mustang Madge, the Daughter of the Regiment. By Ingraham. J97 oe Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood; or, Open- g Up a Lost Trail. By Col P. Ingraham. #10 Batato Bill Baffled; or, The Deserter Desperado’s Defiance, By Gol.’P. ngraham, 116 Buffalo Bill’s Scout poh or. Emerald Ed of Devil's Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham. #42 Buffalo Bill on the War-Path, By Col. Ingraham R27 buffato Bill’s Body-guard By Cot, P, Ingraham, Buffalo Bill’s Beagles. By Col. P, ngrabam. ; Tekan Bill ana His Merry Men. By Col, P. ngra, ne Buttato Bil s Blind, Ry Col, P. Ingraham. 3 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Bravos, By Col. P. Ingraham, 150 buffalo Bill’s Big Wour. By Col. P. Ingraham. %67 Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The Desperado Detec- tiys, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 61 Buffalo a s Mascot, or, Death Valley Victim 6, 18. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 06 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Ribbcn Sam. By Col Prentiss Ingraham, 89 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake, By Col. Ingraham, 177 Buffald Bill’s Spy-bbadower. By Col. Ingraham ‘82 Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot. yay Gal, Prontig® in the DIME LIBRARY 800 Wild Bin, the Dexd-Center Sho_ or, Rio Grande Ralph the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo Bill, 80? Wila Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Buffalo Bill. 812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, The Red Hand Riders of the Rockies By Col. P Ingraham 820 White Beaver’s Still Prat 7 The Miner Marauder’s Death-Track. By Buffalo Rill. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bowers or, Montebeilo, the Gold King. By Col. P. Ingraham. 826 Buffalo Bill’s Gharp-Shooers: or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue, By Col. Pp. Ingrabam. 830 Buffalo Bill’s Boys in als or, The Brimstcne Bund’s Blot-out. By Col. ontiss Ingraham. 839 The Ranch King Dead Biot or, Texas Jack’s Proxy. By Buffalo Bill. 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack’s Death Shot. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Grea Seout’s Big, Three, By Col. Prentiss Ingrabam} 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Fivsb; or. The Pony Rider’s Death-Ruo. By Col. Prentiss Tograham. 863 Bumele Bil’s Death-Charm; or, The Man Wiib Sear, By Cl, Prentiss Ingraham, 869 Buffalo Bil's Road-Agen!‘Ronod up; or The Mys- terious Masked Manin Black, By Ingrah.m. 874 Buffalo Bill’s Backskin Bvaves;, or, The Cara. neen’s Las' Game By Ol, P. Ingraham, 882 The Threc Bills: Buffalo Bill, ila Bill and Bana box Bi'l: or. Tha Bravo in Broadcloth. Ingraham 890 Buffalo Bill's Life- Stake; or, The Pledged Taree, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 895 Buffalo ue 's Secret Aliy; or, The Texan” Double, Qol. Prenriss Ingraham. 900 Buffalo Bh 's Rough Riders; or, Texas Jack' Sharp-Shooters, By Ocl PR, Ingraham. 904 Buffalo Bil’s Tang) d Trail; or, Gentleman Jack, the Man of Many Masks, Py Ingraham, 909 Buffalo Bill’s League; or, Red Butterfly. B+ Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 915 B ffalo Bili and the Surgeon Scout; or Go wan. a , the Redskin Rider. By Col, P, Ingraham. fi 921 Boffaio Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bill’s Vow By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 927 bt a Bil ’s Binff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport By Col. P. ingraham : 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Bo. mez; of the Big Horn, By Col. P. "Ingraham. 943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game. By Colonel RB, Ingraham. 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. Ingraham. 956 Buffalo Bill's Volunteer Vigilantes. Prentiss Ingraham. 960 Buffalo Bill's Blue Belt Brigade. Prentiss Ingraham. 964 Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. Ingraham. By Colonel Prentiss By Coil. By Colone: By Col. Prentiss: 069 Texas Jack, the Lasso King; or, The Rob- ah Rangers of the Rio Grande. By Suffalr 973 The Dread-Shot Four. By Buffale Bill. "78. Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail, By Co. Prentiss Ingraham. 484. Buffalo Bill's Lite Raffle; or, The Doomed Three. Ready Sept. 1. 189 By Col, 1 ‘Buffalo Bill's Marked Bullet. Ingraham. Ready Oct. 6. 4 Buffalo Bill’s Lone Tiand, By Col. P. In 000 *Burtalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By Col. P. In graham. The above Drum Libraries are For Sale , UL NEWSDE 1": TEARS, ten cepts per mbip. ' 9 ent by mail qn: at of nics “s
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SWART TOASTS ROR THE SMART ORT. Vest Pocket Size. 64 Pages. Sewed Book. Up-to-Date. By Mail, Postpaid, 12c, per Copy. BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, ete. GENTS’ LETTER WRITER.—A Perfect Guide to all kinds of Correspondence. FAMILY PHYSICIAN.—Family Diseases and Their Treatment; Rules of Health, ete. BOOK OF DREAMS —Their Romance and Mystery, with a Complete Interpretation Dictionary. HOUSEWIFE’S MANUAL.—How to Keep House; How to Dye, Cleanse, etc. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, Introdue- tions, Dress, Balls, ete. YORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs; Palmistry, ete. BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for Social Parties and Home Amusements. COOK BOOK.—Economical, Practical, Excellent. LADIES’ LETTER WRITER.—How to Write; When to Write; What to Write. . The above books are bound in handsomely Price by mail, postpaid, 12 cents per copy. M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 379 Pearl Street, New York City. BEADLE’S BOYS’ LIBRARY. PRICE 1 Dandy Rill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. By A. W. Aiken. 4 Lillie, the Reckless Rider. By Stoddard, 5 Old Grizzly in the Rockies. By Ingraham. 6 Deadwood Dick asa Boy. By E. L. Wheeler. 7 Wild Bill. By Ingraham. 8 The Prairie Ranch. ly J. E. Badger. : Hora So ey Bs ray 10 ‘Texas Jack. y Ingraham. 11 Charley Skylark, the’Sport, By H. B. Stoddard. 12 Brimstone Bill's Booty. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 13 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshall. 14 The Ticket-of-Leave’s Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 15 Wide-Awake George. By E. Willett. . 16 Wide-Awake Ned. By B. Ringgold. : 17 Peter, the Dandy Greenhorn, By Noah Nuff. 18 Adrift on the Prairie. By Oll Coomes. 19 Joe, the Rover Sport. By A. H. Post. 20 Giant Pete and his Pards. By Harbaugh. 21 Yellow Hair. By Ingraham. 22 The Snow-Trail. By Harbaugh. 23 Old Grizzly Adams. By Dr. Powell. 24 Woods and Waters. By Whittaker. 25 A Rolling Stone. By W. R. Eyster. 26 Red River Rovers, By C. D. Clark. 27 Buckskin Sam's Wild Ride. By Ingraham, 28 ‘The Sword Prince. By F. Whittaker. 28 Snow-Shoe Tom, By T. C. Harbaugh. 30 Paul De Lacy. By C. D. Clark. 31 Round the Camp-Fire. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 32 Wancy Frank's Drop. By Ingraham. %3 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 5 3 Kit Carson, RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room, Toilet, Kitchen, Larder, ete. BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head, Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters on Perfumes, Cosmetics, ete. BOOK OF VERSES.—Comprising Rhymes, Lines, and Mottoes for Lovers and Friends. THE LOVERS’ CASKET.—A Treatise on and Guide to Friendship, Love, Courtship, and Marriage. “GERMAN ” JOKER.—*Dutéh” Jokes and “Gags” by best ‘‘ Dutch” Teams on the Stage. “HAYSEED * JOKER.—The Doings of “Our Country Cousins ” in a Humorous Way. “TRAMP” JOKER.—Good *“* Handouts” in this Book for Professional aud Amateur Entertainers, “COON * YARNS.—Best Jokes Relating to Our * Dark- er-Skinned Brothers.” F “IRISH” Joker No. 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsiecali- ties of “‘ Pat’ at His Best. “VARIETY * JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na- tionalities: ‘* Pat,” “Alphonse,” ‘* Hans,” * Jona- than,” ** Moses,”’ and “* Ebenezer.”’ illustrated lithographed covers. CENTS PER COPY. 34 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By ©. D. Clark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Ro er Starbuck. 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker, 87 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham, 38 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By ‘l. C. Harbaugh. 39 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing 40 New York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett, 41 The Settler's Son. By Edward §. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. By ©. D. Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F, Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By T. C. Harbaugt. 45 Bronco Billy. By Ingraham. 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. EF. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters. By T. ©. Harbaugh, 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham. - 50 Jack, Harry, and Tom, By F. Whittaker, 51 Tom Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By C. D. Clark. 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 53 gee we Country Boy, in New York. By Charles orris, 54 California Joe. By Ingraham. 55 Tip Tressel, the Flatboat Boy. By Edward Willett. 56 The Snow Hunters. By Harry De Forrest. 57 Harry Somers, the Magician. By 8. W. Pearce, 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Ingraham. 59 Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines. By Cherles Morris, 60 The Young Trail Hunters, By ‘T. C. Harbaugh. 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham. 63 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker. By Roger Starbuck. 64 Young Dick Talbot. By A. W. Aiken,
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THE Deadwood Dick .e Library @ HANDSOME TR-GOLORED GOVERS. 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest} tatracts from the New York Evening Sun. TWO REMARKABLE in only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a novel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera- ture has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit strikes home. But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement that will be news to many when it is added that ltera- dure, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam Was a mere child down to the present day, would show but few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be ven judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest eroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re- yeal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr. * * * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America, who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important * * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear Bway the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left far behind In the race. It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks © 80 firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature for boys and young men, that their position is assured * * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders HEROES. above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which they have lived, and for which one of them has died. American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor in the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beal bet- ter than it knows its catechism, and millions of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in his everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending solving of impenetrable mysteries. Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when the victims are thoroughly undone, the millions watt hungrily for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears with the certainty of the Wednesday Itself, and a new set me coreneeut thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call- ‘ornia, There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and heart-tugs that It were madness to hope to do justice to them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be: tween them, To abandon the Idea of giving a few extracts causes in- finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direc tion, it would be cruel to Zhe Evening Sun's readers ta atop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single adventure, Suffice it to say that the stories are clean and well written. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Deflance The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol § Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval @ Death-Face, the Detective ? The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza € Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Rufflan #@ Omaha Ol), the Masked Terror; er, Deadwood Dick in Danger 4 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death ‘ @ Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar 48 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Tean 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo ov marenne. Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the : ule 16 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 1® Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance #9 Watch-Eye, the Shadow bof Ree wood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Jross @ Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief ~% Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke , for Liberty _ #@ Deadwood Dick as Detective Gilt-Kdge Dick : Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve ¥7 Chip, the Girl Sport > _ % Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune _ %® Bows Bob, the King of Bootblacks a eed aed Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s > ule _ #. Bionde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base _ # Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Bost Job 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierrae 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 40 Deadwood Dick's Dream; or, The Rivals of the Boma 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jewebed 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 pee Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiater’s ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorade 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claine . 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 pits Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Deteat- ves 51 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little. Luck at Rough Ranch * 52 The Girl Sport: or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Spert 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, ‘I'he Messenger Boy’ Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport ee 60 Dumb Dick's Pard: or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco 63 ae Daeseys Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- ras Cit 64 elerae tharlie’s Detect.ve Dash; or, The Cattle ings M. J. LIVERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), 879 Pearl Street, NEW YORK. vias
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Dopyright 1880-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899, } : THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. No. 35 Cleveland, Ohio Vol. LL BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “DEADWOOD DICK,” “‘ THE DOUBLE DAGGERS,” ETC. ‘ *+yoU MAY CALL ME BY THE NAME OF MY ORIGINAL BLACK HILLS BAPTISM—‘ ROSEBUD ROB ’—~' 4 MAN ‘DO SUIT ALL CIRCUMSTANCES,’ SORRY I HAVEN'T A VISITING CARD FOB YOU. ‘pon HONOB."*
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roe om: AME SS Runde ri ae /opyright 1980-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 38 No. 35 THE Giant Clee co, ; Vol. Ii ROSEBUD ROBs or, NUGGET NED, THE KNIGHT of the Guu ee oo BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR oF “DEADWOOD DICK,” “THY DOUBLE DAGGEHS,” ETC, “YOU MAY CALL ME BY THE NAME OF MY ORIGINAL BLACK HILLS BAPTISM—‘ ROSEBUD ROB '—' 4 S¢Aat TQ SUIT ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.’ SORRY i HAVEN'T A VISITING CARD FOR YOU, ’PON a
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eadwood Dick e Library e HANDSOME TR-GOLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest! For Sample Cover See Othew Side. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval Death-Face, the Detective The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror, or, Deadwood Dick in Danger J ane aaa Jr.,the Boy Phenix; or, Through to ea! asta Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar Buckhorn Bill; cr, The Red Rifle Team Gold Rifle, the ga ke Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo | Sayreeins Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the ule. Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance Watch-Eye, the Shadow pom Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty Deadwood Dick as Detective Gilt-Edged Dick Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker ; or, The Secret Twelve Chip, the Girl Sport Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks fae noes Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ule Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job 84 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 46 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 Bh ahd Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame Z 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect ives 51 ales Sela Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough | ani 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa fras City 64 Cas Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings $—ooooEanaBaeaEa»BhnAAAADDAADADADAADADDADDDD9DnnnDDDDDDDDADIQan9D9DLDDDDDnD9DDQaQQlaQaahBDhMMhDIIQDpSDADOD9n9anDnDRTDI———"