\L QR\-(.b “nth ’. a a A :Iv- ‘ ‘ _ _ Mnfi _ ‘ . I“ mm 1—1}. Uz- '_’ ‘ ‘ fy [I] I] l. n ' ‘ 8 Year. No. 99 WILLme STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents- Entored at the Post Office at w York. N. Y.. atSed Class Mall Ram Copyrighc 1890, by Bums AND Anus I May 20:133ng 2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. ' , N o 669 ’ Pm V01. XXVI. ‘v-r THE BOOTBLACK BRAVO _ IN SAN FRANCISCO. BY J. C. COWDRICK, AUTHOR or um ” BROADWAY BILLY ” smms, 'mn: “ CIBUTA JOHN ” sromxs. “ RED- LIGHT RALPH,” “ BAREBACK BETH,” 121-0., ETC. CHAPTER I. AT A muran CEREMONIAL. “ SWEET pertaters!” The same Billy, only a little more so. But he was not in his native city. He was thousands of miles away {rot}: home, and “ Skin- M“; . .0.-- 4* ,*_ ny," his partner was nth-bum. “ TELL YER mun MUCK-AMUCK I AM A 3001-3140:: mason, ALL 'rH‘ WAY mom raw They were in San chmoo. you, .m’ mm W: cor A BIG Pmc: or BASCALITY TER DISCLOBI um um." s. v: and purposes, too, .v .5 'one of the focal wee ref deeming. 2 Broadway Billy Abroad. It was the afternoon of a pleasant day, and to the two gamins it seemed that there was some- thing of a holiday air about the city, as though it were taking an afternoon outing. They had paused at the “ Lotta Fountain,” lots of the town, and were looking around, enjoying the pleasing panorama that passed before their eyes. From this point branch five important'streets, and the throng of vehicles coming along them seemed never-end- ing, while' pedestrians innumerable filed irregu- larly by in endless procession. in one direction Market street leads away to the Oakland Ferry, and in the other toward the distant Mission Hills. On one hand Geary street stretches away toward Lone Mountain and its neighboring cemeteries, reaching out on the other hand in the direction of Golden Gate Park. Third street extends to the water front at a dif- ferent angle from Market. Kearney street is another of the five mentioned, and Montgomery, the last, comes out only a few steps away. It was at this point, as stated, that the two lads had stopped to look about them, and it was while standing there‘ that Broadway Billy gave voice to the exclamation with which our story opens. “What’s th’ matter?” Skinny immediately queried. “ hat’s th’ matter!" repeated Billy; “ that’s t what I’d like ter know, m gay an’ festive at partner. Kin it be ssihe that we, Wil- liam 0’ Broadway an’ his ‘Skinny’ pard, are actoolly herein San Francisco?” “ I reckon it is, Billy,” Skinny averred; “ seems ter me that I have a sort 0 dim recol- lection o' comin’ here.” , At this Bill laughed. But, an exp anation is in order. Broadway Billy’s nineteenth birthday had found him a stout, broad~shouldered youth with a physique equalto that of the best 03 young men at twenty-one; but his face was still the face of a boy of merry fifteen, and as he was not tall it was still easy for him to “play of! ” for much younger than he really was, as occasion required. In experience he was old, being wise beyond his years, but nothing needs be said of that. He was, to all intents a trained athlete. In short, he was inst such a fyouth as he had made him- self by a ho hood ree from vice, and free from tobacco an_ strong drink: instead of which he hag. takenplenty of wholesome fopd,,‘e‘xercihs, an s eep. . a This nineteenth birthday, too, found him with two thousand five hundred dollars in bank. He began to realise that he was no long?- a boy, but that he was about to step .over to man- hood’s estate. It was a serious riod, and he was giving it a good deal of ser one than _ht. He and Skinny were stil in business, but illv saw that the time was at hand when that basic ness must be'enlarged. Hg had no idea or inten- tional .beinga “curbstond” merchan all his days. Skinny, too, had saved quite a sum, and at set it was decided that they should go into, partnership anew in .a business on alarger scale, and enter upon their real mercantile careers. Before this resolve was carried into effect, however; somethin 'occurred to lead the boys to put it off for a e. One‘flay there came to the corner stand a man whom Billy thought be recognised, but whose name he could not recall. The man knew Billy at sight;i thoughr' and greeted him heartily. He prov to be the sail- or who had ,on one occasion saved Billy’s life. He was now. captain of a vessel, a bi three- master. and Was about to sail aroun “ The Horn” for San Francisco. He wanted Billy and Skinn to go with him, and really insisted ‘that, they 3 ould go. A consultation was held with the boys’ mothers, which resulted in the decision that' the boys should make the voyafi.‘ The two women were. to take char 9 of t e nsiness until their return. Some of Bil ’1: friends heard of it,‘and they gave the boys a i royal send-elf,” supplying them with a big purse of money so that the r trip might not cost theme cent. They sailed, their voya was without serious accident, and arrived sate y at their destination. And so we find them in San Francisco about an : hour after. they had taken leave o! r good friend and come ashore. ,They regime" red at a down street hotel, had'seen ir; gage may into their room, and!0 We” so “i? chi n to ‘ «idiom flmo' ! was or n n 'on span ‘ ii ‘ SanFrancisco ‘ to swim, no ingat various r k‘m‘i thsi aim‘iZE'ii , and than by E and it waste that? hadadimrecoueotion I, ' \ , Billv’ ‘ m?q¢.0hinese icn'ic,‘Fatty.” . j; ‘ ens tha ’s th’ racket,” Skinny agreed." r {hey a got‘grub enough along tor stock a “ Yes, I should think you would have some recollection of it, Skinny, and that’s a fack,” Billy remarked. “ You orter remember that voyage to your dyiu’ day, unless you heaved up your memory along with everything else in pay in’ your respects to old Neptune. Sweet per- tatersl but you did jest almost turn yourself inside-out, and no mistake. You are thinner than ever. If it wasn’t fer yer clothes you wouldn’t make a healthy shadder on th’ ground. I must take ye inter th’ first drug store we find an’ have ye weighed.” “ Take me inter a drug store ter have me weighed!” Skinny exclaimed in surprise; “ what would ye take me inter a drug store ter weigh me for? “ Cause you’ve got so awful thin that ye won’t tip th’ beam at more than twelve ounces to th’ pound any more.” “ Oh! you git out!" Skinn was. indeed, thinner than ever, if sible. e was now about the leanest well oy ever seen. Billy, though, had added to his store of solid flesh and muscle, and was tanned as brown as a berry. Both lads were neatly dressed, wearing caps and blue ea—jackets, and looked like youthful sailors—Bi y es cially. “ Yes, I guess we must be ere sure enough,” Billy decided, after a laugh at his own joke; ‘ all th’ evidence seems ter p’int that way, anyhow.” “ It looks like it,” Skinn agr . adding: “ Well, what d’ye think of th place, Billy?" “ There! now you strike me hard,” Billy cried. “ What do I think 0’ th' City of St“! Franciseo eh? Well, at first blush, as th’ shy maiden said when she got her first kiss, I rather like it. How does it hit you?” “About tb’ same, I see.” “ Well, whibh way is li we go?” “ S’pcase we may as well foller th’ crowd.” “ A i right, then; fall in; forward, march!” Kearney street seemed to be the favorite ro- menade, and it was into that thoroughfare hat the twin lads turned. /’ “This street ain’t a heap different from our Bowery,” Skinny decided as they walked along. “ Right you are ” Billy asserted; “ there seems ter be plenty oi jewelers and pawnbrokers. Th’ Bowery can’t show any 0’ these Japanese hnd Chinese shops, though, Skinn .” “ That‘s so, an’ th’ Chinese of ott street ain’t jest like {hesq’we see here, either. how they Wiggins». they’d m'mpped on: a, ‘chests,’ Billy commented. - J- . Kearney street can boast of a goodly number of such sho 5, although that is not their regular uarter the town; and as the ubi uitous ‘ John ” isin San-Francisco in force, the a mend- ePd Celestials are to be seen everywhere, many 0 them carrying burdens in a pair of wicker baskets one at each and of a' bamboo-rod , hung across t e shoulders. , ' i ' “ It 'is plain ter be seen why this street is th’ most crowded,” Skinn further observed. “ ‘Cause folks is too azy ter climb hills, eh?” Bill guessed. “ es,” Skinny admitted; ’em much, either. it must ter it up ‘ e 0’ th’ hills.” ,“ allow ou’re rightx partner.” Thus they,went on, ‘ taking in ” everything that“ was to be seen, and commenting upon every- thing they saw. ~ “ ‘ - - They wandered about from street to strect'unc til they grew tired of that and then theystarted out ogbe city to take a view of the surrounding ooun . - » ‘ - In the can of their. long stron they came upon the Chinese cometary, away out among the d and melancholy sand-dunes by'the ocean. his metery adjoins'that of the city’s Kiupers, and i gsmarked oil! by by ,whita fences to separate pl , or tongs. ‘ i It so happened that the twolads had arrived thereat a most opportune time for this was the day of the sauna ropitiation for the spirits of the dead and the hineab were beginni to as- semble tbpsrform the peculiarcsrs rites incident th that great occasion. ‘ One after “another common Express wagons and other vehicles arrived, each one bringin a fre‘ifht of. Chinamen and fimen, togggor th ca ously _ stocks of , rovis which were quietly‘unloaddd and upon small whoden al , of which in. front ofeahtong. .. ' “ tin all creation is goin’ on?" Broadway cued. " It looks as if there was goin’ 7 9' u how. ‘I v ' 4“ We’ll stop/awhile an’.taka it in.» We’re here . L ‘ , {intentions furren kentry. where *Git thar, Wun Lung! Go interit, v “ or they will think ' he d ' t. “ an’ I don’t blame " war raw 0“ be a back-breaker ter s’ee th’ sights, an’ this promises ter be one of em. 2 " Right you are.” As fast as the vehicles arrived the Celestials unloaded themselves in all haste and began to prepare for the sad business that had brought them there, while the drivers of the wagons looked upon their proceedings With an air of contempt for the whole affair. The provisions consisted of whole roast pigs, decorated with ribbons and colored papers; fowls, salads, sweetmeats, fruits, rice brandy, cigars, etc., and when these had been place-l upon the altars, as mentioned, the ceremonial rites commenced immediately by the partici- pants firing revolvers, crackers, etc., and kind. mg fires of packages of colored papers. Pro- found bOning and kneeling over the graves ac- companied everything and the food and liquors were scattered around liberally. “ Sweet pertatersl” Broad way Billy exclaim- ed. ashe and Skinny looked on. “if this don’t jest peel th’ onion, then I’m no jedge. It looks as though they’s tryin‘ ter git up a sort '0’ local resurrection. ’ . One of the Chinamen, one whom seemed to be much better dressed than any of the others, overheard, and turning to Billy and Skinny With his hands full of fruit, invited them to par- take of the general feast. As their months were already waterin , and not wanting to oflend by refusing, the 1a 3 did not hesitate to accept the invitation. « CHAPTER II. in A man SCBIMMAGE‘.‘ Tm: smoke and noise increased every mo- ment. 'The peculiar] clad Celestials pranced about like so many ancing dervishes, and the food and drink were soon broadcast, except the larger articles, which were reserved to be taken home again. ‘ “ Sweet pertaters!” Broadwa ,Bill tried to exclaim, but his mouth was so 11 t at he had to wait before saying more. ,As soon as the wa was clear, however, he madea other effort. ' Sweet pertaters! but this is set th’ greatest jubilee that I ever teck a ban in 2” he cried. “Skin , is it possible that we are still in Yank land? or have we been spirited away 1 Into”? lug“ nantfiilJmtiwm’ .- . , _ .v ,. V b, an’ I see that you ain’t fur be- begin ter believe that we didn’t- same, the hind me. come all that five thousand eight hundred odd miles fer nothin’. Whoop'herup,‘.’Lln Jan»! Sam Yam! Hustle, you merry mourners, hustle!” The excitement was too much for Bill ea 3 still amidst, and he took ofljhip hit, it wildly while he shoutsd'alignoledig f. _ I “ ’d best look ' at,” kinny=' cautioned, re makin’fnn at ’em, an’ as up in no time. 1 think, we’d “Draw out!” Billy cried: “ nary a draw till I do my share athelpin’, ’em celebrate. This is too a snap tar let slip idly b . Oh, no, my a,y an’ festive fat partner, 1’] hang on while a: ies last, you bet! I’ve struck up ac- qu ntanoe with th’ Lord High Executioner, an’I’llseetoit that you don’t it hurt. You needn’t fear, though, fer they might shoot at ye i for a week an’ never hit ye, yOu’re sontb i_. Whoop hooray! Go inter it, pig-tails! “files is yer national Fourth 0’ Jul at‘home; Wk!“ count on me every time! hoop her-1113:” Some of the heathen , derin way, and the drivers of the vehicles that * had rought them there, or such of them, at least, as heard and saw him, had to laugh. , The well-droued Chinaman, the one who had invited the lads to partake of the feast. stepped up to Billy again, this time with a little 3|]ng liquor in hand. , .» " . "Melican boys vely much good time have,’ he said, in a pigeon English that aim lv set at " defiance our. bes‘tK eflorts to quote; ‘ alle same maybe takes dlin saki.* Me 8am Foo’Chow, - alle same lep’sntGlcat Consulate Gen’lal.” . This last was said with somethin of pride, and Billy had the good fortune to an immediate] . they’ll chd'tv “What! that on represent th’ t Chinese consulates neural! Give me yer band, Sam, an’ mighty glad ter make or ’ uaintanoe.” ’ Billy held on his in array that admitted ‘ effigy-etuva and the Chinaman shorthand! ” m. ‘. I ‘Rico brandy. and, (“v 1 lacked a himln‘a won- .' ” "th cried, “you don’t mean ter say Wilml’exs“ _. V. . . erstand it , ‘ " . . . sun... ,‘m‘ l v is, , A Chinamen. .. ',,‘..;8uddenly, right in the height of the frolic, ‘ shouts of we ' Broadway Billy Abroad. 3 T Some of the others, who witnessed it, looked on in greatest amazement. “You’re a brick you are, Sam!” Billy cried, as he shook Sam Il‘oo Chow’s hand vigorously, “ an’ I’d like ter drink to yer health, but I never drink at all, so you’ll have ter excuse me. ’Low me ter interdoose my shadowy partner, Mr. Skinny. Skinny, do th’ proper thing an’ shake hands with Mr. Sam.” Skinny timidly put out his hand, and the silk- attired deputy-consulate, or whatever it is proper to cull him, shook hands with him also. As the lads had now a chance to take a better look at their heathen friend, they discovered that he was gotten up altogether regardless of expense. A massive gold chain was hanging from his neck, gorgeous and valuable rings were upon his fingers in plenty, and. his' garments were of the finest materials. “ ’Melican boys live in San F’lisco?” the China- man asked. “ Nary time,” Billy answered. “ We’re from New York, Sam, an’ we’re proud of th’ fack. say, though, what is all this racket about?” he Chinamen could understand English bet- ter than he could speak it, and he answered by explaining what was going on, though his explanation only partly enlightened his ques- tioners. “ I thought it must be somethin’ like that,” Billy observed, not wanting to let on how little he had understood; “ does yer people git tooken this way often?” “ Ebely leer,” the Chinamen answered. “ Every ear, eh? Now, that wouldn‘t suit me, Sam, i I was a Chinee; I’d want it once a month, at least.” The Chinamen smiled. “ What ’Melican boy’s name is?” he asked. “ Want my name eh? A feller wouldn’t be of much ’count without one, would he, Sam. 23 name is Billy Weston, though at home they 1 me Broadway Billy, fer short.” A‘ few more remarks were exchanged, and Sam Foo Chow turned away then to take part in the noisy ceremony once more. Broadway Billy finished what he was eating, and then he, too, joined the dancers. “ Whoop!” he cried, catching u a package of crackers and setting fire to the use, " we may as well git th’. worth of our money out otthis, Skinny; ‘»Come on, in , gay ‘an’ festive «light- - ,rweight pard. an’ show em how ter do th’ shad- ' der dance. Whoop! but this is jest immense!” His crackers began to sue , and he swung them his head and shout and dun as and furious as the best of the seeming y crazy were heard from some of the drivers who had rought the participants to the place, and the uproar suddenly ceased. . 'Billy and Skinny looked in the direction in which the drivers were pointing, and beheld a «band of thirty or forty tramps, all armed With , clubs, rushing down upon the Chinamen from behind some neighboring dunes. “Sweet pertatersl” Billy cried, “but there is ,goin’ ter bea fight, Skinny. Clew my mizzen nkerl but these tramps is goin’ ter tr ter give 03 th’ Cbinees an’ gobble up ther east! Now is ther time tar crow on all sail, pardner, an’ ht ’em see what we kin do i” His sea voyage had given Billy quite a vocabulary. ’ “’D’ye mean ter run?” Skinny asked.” “ Nsry a run!” cried Billy. x “ What then?” ' “ Fl ht.” . _ '“ I idn’t know that crowdin’ on all sail meant fight,” Skinny commented. “ I took itrthat-you was oin’ ter show ’em a clean pair 0’ heels,” - “ ou’ve growed smart as you’ve t thinner,” ' responded Billy. “ You kn0w what mean now, ;' anyhow. We can’t afford ter play mean on 'Sam, after th’ white way he’s treated us. We must take a hand in this racket, too. Heave to, “tarry! ' mom an’ prepare ter meet ’em fer here they are.” '= ' Thetramps were right at hand, and the China-‘ ; men, most of them scared, were huddling ' ether like sheep. were about the worst-looking \ , he tram their kind ever banded ether. 98' imens , ,‘Tlibey were of many nationalities and of a 1 ages. s“: Down upon the Chinese they swoopad,‘3 With yells that would have done credit to mbsr of the wildest of Indians. . n Fbo Chow was near tombs" Billyond ' - were standing at the moms: and after ~ his coqn he same ’9 fi.‘ >: y 5;“ Nixoy McGinais!” cried Billy; " we’ll stand . diary. 9 was hti “influence of the a! _. iipoiiiiwhich'Sa‘utfifmnébowhad laid-hit j \ to yer back till yer belly caves in, Sammy, old boy, au’don’t ye fez-git it! We ain’t built 0n th' runnin’ plan, leasthse I ain’t; an’ as fer Skinny, he’s so thin that they won’tfind him. Look out, now, fer here they be!” There they were, sure enough, and manya Chinamen went down under their heavy clubs at the first meeting. The Chinamen had revolvers, itis true, but they had only blank cartridges. None of the drivers of the vehicles that had brought the Chinamen to the place offered any help, most of them havin sudden calls to attend to their horses, so the hinamen were left to face the music alone. They used their revolvers, but the tramps cared nothing for them, and for a few moments it looked as though the tramps would hare azr. easy victory. The Chinese greatly outnumbered the tramps, but the latter had the advantage, their clubs more than making up for deficiency in numbers. “ Go fer ’em. pig-tails!” cried Broadway Billy, as he did not hesitate about jumping right into the melee; "don’t be afeerd of th’ dirty crit- ters! Close right in on ’em an’ do ’em up! Here, you fiat-nosed gosling! lend me that stick 1” This was said to one of the attacking party, a fellow who was about to deal the spirited boy a blow on the head, and with a sudden 3 ring Billy lighted upon him and wrested the clu out of his grasp. “ Thus armed, he “ waded” right in, and more than one of the tram swent down under his heav and well~aimed glows. Skinny held back, not being strong enough for such work, and Sam Foo Chow, who had some military knowledge, shouted directions to his countrymen, at the same time taking an ac- tive part in the fight himself. . As soon as the rst shock of the surprise and attack had passed, the Chinamen made haste to arm themselves with pickets from the near- gst fence, and then the fight became hot and eavy. As it pro essed, the combatants got separ- ated Into 1 ttle groups or knots, where the warfare was carried on till one side or the other had to yield and run, to begin anew at some other point. Billy presently found himself in one of groups, with four Chinamen as his backers— or he as theirs, while their opponents numbered seven. Takiu in the situation, Billy put forth every which was one of the best sup lied of all. " “Sock it»to’em!” he yell , as he plied his club in a lively manner; “ give ’em rats! Sweet pertaters! but this is a lively scrimmage! Pelt it to ’em, Johns, an’ show ’em no quarter! Whoop! there they go, licked fair anflsquare!” The seven had taken sudden flight, and, just as they did so Billy heard some one cry out: “ Hn hi! ’llIelican boy helpee me!” Wheeling quickly around,Billy saw Sam Foo Chow in the hands of three tramps, at quitea distance ‘, from the heart of the fight, and they were trying to rob him of his chain andrings. At them the street scout rushed, his club ready for active business and as soon as he came to the spot where his help was needed he sent one of thevtramps spinning end over end. But, the other two were determined fellows, power- ful of build, and one of them turned to meet the Broadway expert, while the other still struggled with Sam Foo Chow. Billy aimed another blow, but this time it was dodged, and the next moment he found himself in the tramp’s beanlike embrace. CHAPTER III. RETURNING In sum 0 v 11' was a critical moment. Billy had to let fall his club. and dgrapple with the men who had hold of him, an it ookeli as though both Billy and Sam Foo Chow would get. worsted. ' \ Suddenly, thou . , another person took a hand in the me, and t was none other than Skinny. H9 been keeping his e es on Billy, and the instant. hesaw his partner 11 serious trouble he Wg mady’to lend what help he could. ,, : is he! in this instance was worth everythiilig. 10 hi the tide of battle. .Rushin forw , heifit'hied up ithe club Bilgfihggags dmpmé 0-11 "V n t once over broug Dig, tgrriflc force 11 nthe back of illy’s - down wi antagonist, cousin him break his holdond droptotheg'roung hagroan. A .‘ As_soon as Bill as free, both he nndSkinny ran to the help 0 Sam Foo Chow, who was now faring badly. film adversary had down," with a knee upon his breast, and was just about robbing him. “ Let up, there!” shouted Billy, “or it will be the worse for you. Let up, I say, you walking pest house, or I’ll knock yer head clear over in- ter th’ sea! Can’t hear, eh? Well, take that, then 1” Catching up the club the tramp himself had used, be dealt the fellow a blow on the head that rolled him over senseless, in short order. As soon as that was done he helped the China- man to arise. “ You are better’n a dozen dead men yet, Sam,” he declared. “ Glad he didn’t git OH with yer vally’bles. We’ll give ’em fits afore we‘re done with 'em. Whoop! At ’em, ye pig- tailed Sons 0’ Sundown, ye! Make ’em think t ’ day 0’ reckonin’ has come! Over ye go!” knock- ing another and over end; “ an’ now who’s th’ next? Don’t all speak at once, but step right up and take yer rations.” The fight did not last much longer. Already the side of the tramps was weakening, for as fast as any of these could lay hands upon a pig, :1 fowl, or a jug of saki, he would grab his prize and run, leaving the others to fare the best they could.. Finally the Chinamen made a grand charge, and the whole band was put to flight, the fight- ing after that being among themselves over the Brigasfwhicli a few of them had managed to lay o c . “ That’s ther way ter do it!” cried Broadway Billy; “ that's ther way ter make ’em sick! Sam, you are a whooper in a fight, you are, and I like you. Let’s sha e again! Billy held out hi hand to Sam Foo Chow as he said this, and the Chinamen grasped it warmly. “ ’Melican boy muchee blave!” he exclaimed. “ Fightee like debill Him save Sam Foo Chow him’s life; allee same save him chain and lings. Sam Foo Chow neber fioget allee same” “ Thank’e for that, Sam,” Billy returned, . “ but on don’t want ter fergit Skinny, here. Only er him I guess both of u would a’ been gone goslings. He’s so thin that ye wouldn’t thinkit, but he isas brave as a lion when oc- casion requires it of him.” ' . " Yes, allee same so,” the Chinuman agreed; “ me seehim b big tlamp him' back with club. Blave boy, allee same sick no mattee.” He shook hands again with Skinny. “ He ain’t as sick as he looks,” Billy explained. “ That is hisnat’ral degree 0’ fatness. Can’t git him nohow. Ye see he hue mighty big a tits, an’ he eats so much that it makes ' him t n ter carry it around.” The Chinamen rinned, and saying something in response, turn away to conclude, the cere- monies of the occasion. “ Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, “we’ve tumbled right inter excitement, Skinny, with- out lookin’ fer it at all. It seems strange, but I must boa mascot of ti;’. unlucky sort, for no mat- ter where I go it seems ter be t e signal fer some sort 0‘ ruction ter taller. How d’ye feel after th’ battle?” 4 “Oh, I’m all right, Skinny averred; “ I didn’t take any band in it till I seen you was gittin’ inter a tight place, an’ then I thought it .was time fer me ter do somethin’.” " You done jest right. You was reservin’ . your strength for jest that ’casion. I’m power- ful ’bliged to ye, pardner, as I’ll have ter prove to ye some time. Now I opine that we’d better be gettin’ hack ter th‘ city. , “Yes, I guess we had. Let’s be goin’, fer if th’ tramps come back with a bigger force we may it th’ worst of it next time.” “ ht ye are, heavy-weight paid; but, here comes in ChowChow, or whatever his name is: let’s see what he wants.” They tarried, and Sam Foo Chow approached them and said: . 2 " Sam Foo Chow him goin’ to city back allee same now. ’Melican boys go lide With him allee same?” “Well, now, Sam that iswa pmperzishnin worth considerin’,” Billy exclaimed heartily. “What d’ye think about it, Skinny? Which is your turn-out, Sam?” ‘ . “ Open calliage down by load.” the Chinamen answered, inting to an open berouche and team of w its horses, and not without some show of pride. . - "Countns in every time!” Billy exclaimed, Basking for himself and Skinrtiy. "I never h tor mfuseter small avers of this mm,erkn vethe honorofour scam mum “at “m as; ' e w mom ‘was or M’b’ymein ’ an’t’l’i‘izissomethin’ guys mustn'tmim‘ eneedn’tbeatait 4 .s.. Broadway Billy Abroad. afeerd o’ drawin’ too much ’tention, fer folks won’t be able ter see ya from th’ sidewalks, so awful thin you’ve got.’ Sam Foo Chow listened to this in an amused way, and started toward his carriage, the boys following him. “ You have too much ter say, Billy,” Skinny complained as they walked down the sandy slope; “you’ll be gittin’ inter trouble th’ first you know.” “ It wouldn’t s’priso me a bit if Idid, Skinny,” Billy owned. “ Somehow, I feel trouble in my bones. Don’t you be alarmed, though, fer it will havo ter be awful close-wove trouble that could hurt you.” “You want ter remember that you ain’t in New York,” Skinny cautioned, “an’ that folks don’t know ye here as they do there. You’ve got no friends ter call on ter help ye outo’ scra es.” “ hat’s a cold fack, Skinny, an’ about the truthest truth you ever uttered. and I’ll keep yer advice in mind—if I kin. But here we be at Mr. Sam’s gorgeous turnout. Whew! but we’ll ride back ter town in state.” Their new-made friend invited them to get in, and when they had done so he got in after them and settled himself upon the backseat, telling the driver to go ahead. The team was a good one, and the open car- rigo‘ge went whirling away toward the city at g s . . “ ow likee it?” the Chinaman asked. “ Bully!” cried Bill ; “an’ you are a boss. If you ever come ter ew York, you see ef we don’t do th’ white thing by you. We’ll have th’ Fire Department turn out an’ escort ye ’round Paradise Park. to th’ tune of th’ Conquerin’ ‘ Hero; hey, Skinny?” “ That’s what we will,” Skinny agreed. “ ’Melican boys vely much good fellals,” Sam Foo Chow exclaimed. “Me likes you vely much.” “Glad ter. hear 6 say so,” cried Billy. “ It shows yer good ju gment, an’ yer power 0’ dis- crimination. Some folks can’t tell real diamonds from paste, but it is plain ter be seen that you ain’t one 0’ them. You have got hold 0’. real ems this time Sammy, an’ that’s a fack. kinny don’t quite some up tar size an’ weight, but he' makes up for it in purity and goodness. He hasn’t a flaw, exceptin that two 0’ his back teeth is gone.” “Say, you want ter let up,” Skinny pro- “Pardon me, Skinny, I know jest how retirin’ you are in disperzishun, an’ I’ll try ter be as con- siderate o’ yer feelin’s as I kin. Somebody has got ter boast of yer good p’ints, though, fer you won’t never do it, an’ strangers wouldn’t nd ’em out in a thousand years, so I take it upon‘ myse’lf ter blow yer trumpet as well as my own. “I see that th’ sooner we git back to New York th’ sooner we’ll be out o danger o’. gittin’ inter a loon tick ’sylum, fer you’ll keep on—” “Yes I now,” Billy interrupted; “I men- tioned that p’int to yer mom afore we started, but she allowed that if I done most 0’ th’ talkin I might be able ter git ye home ag’in all right, “ Ohi you shut up!” ‘-,‘ Couldn’t do it if I tried, Skinny, an’ on know that. But, I was about ter return r. Sam’s’compliment when you put in your lip. Blouse don t do it no more, my gay an’ festive rd. Yes, Sam ” turning to the Chinaman, ‘I am mightygad tor know that you fully ’preciate th’ honor that we have conferred upon ye an’ I kin say that we like you pooty ml in re rn. You seem ter be a decent sort 0’ seller, an’ I’m glad we’ve met ye.” " Sam Foo Chow had allowed a smile to play over his face all the time Billy was talkin , as though he understood well and apprec ated eve thing, ,as perhaps he did. i “’ elican boy vel‘y much good fellal,” he said again. “ Me-much ikee haves ’Melican boys go home allee samsfi‘Am Foo Chow, see Gleat Con- sulate Gen’lal.” “Sweet pertaters!” cried Billy, “ that is est what was om’ ter propose myself. Not in’ woul suit us tter,andl’nisure his RoyalHigh- ness would be tickled ’most ter death tor see us. We’lAllgo Sammy, old feller, so that is settled.” ' u Sam Foo Chowhe likes that.” The go rattled on. and so did Billy’s tongue, and indue time the two lads were back a n in the city. 0 carriage headed for the Chinese as . Broadwa Bi ly 4 ing 08 his cap and . wi here an there the wondering crode in to the displeasn of the more retiring Skinny, of tho Chinamon. 'andtothoain "t u. ’ Finally the carriage turned into Clay street, where the pace of the team was slackened as they toiled up the steep bill for a distance, and presently the driver drew up in front of a house on which was flying on ensign consisting of a blue and crimson dragon rampant upon a field of orange. “This Gleat Consulate-Gen’lal him’s house,” Sam Foo Chow informed, as he proceeded to get out; and the two boys followed him. Dismissing the carriage with a waveI of his hand, the Chinaman led the way into the house, which was in no degree a palace, but only an ordinary dwelling. Going up-stairs, he threw open a door, and in- vited the lads to step within, saying: “’Melican boys wait; Sam Foo Chow him come back.” “ All right, Sammy,” said Billy, and he and (Skinny entered, and the Chinaman closed the cor. “Sweet pertatersl" Billy cried, as he looked around the apartment, “ is this real life, Skinny, or, is it a sort 0’ ‘Rabian Night dream? Hang me if I know. Brace up, now, Fatty, an’ have some st le about ye, fer Sammy has gone ter fetch th Great Mogul. an’ we must ‘pear at our besr. Draw in plenty of wind, Skinny, an in- flate yer clothes as much as ye kin, so’s he’ll be able tor see ye when he comes.” CHAPTER IV. A WOMAN'S s max. Tan room into which the two lads had been shown was, in Its way, quite gorgeous. It was decorated With carved work, was heavily gilded, and was hung with a ood deal of scarlet and orange. It had, besi es, teak- wood tables and 'stools, and screens, lanterns, etc., in abundance. One of the tables had a white cloth over it, and held some finely painted china which went to suggest that this was the dining-room of the great personage whom the boys were to have the honor of meeting. In a little time Sam Foo Chow returned. and he now invited his guests to follow him to yet another room. They were conducted along the hall to the front, and shown into a roomt at fairly eclipsed the other for splendor. Two broad windows opened upon a balcony, and they were bun with crimson and gold. tween them, on w at was no doubt meant to he a chair of state, sat the Consulate, is plainly dressed servant on each side of him. I The Consulate was a slightly fat individual of forty-five or fifty. clad in the finest of blue and purple silks, and was evidently trying to look as ignifled as he could, though he carried it to the extreme and was blinking as solemnly as an Owl. At his right, in front of the servant on that side, stood another Chinaman in semi- Amei-ican dress, who soon proved to be the oflicial interpreter. ,. Sam Foo Chow bowed low as he approached, Br way Billy 'doin the same. and Skinny, tak ng pattern after B lly, following suit. As soon as that was done. Sam F00 Chow said something in his own language to the Con- sulate, Waved his hand toward the boys, and step back as though he had no further Part in t e proceedings. The Consulate then said something in a slow, sing~song way). and as soon as he closed [his lips, the man at is right began to repeat his words in English. I “ The Gleut Consulate Gen’lal extends _his best lespects,” he began, in fairly ood English, “and thanks the ’ elican boys orthe service they have lendered to Sam Foo Chow. He asks their names, and where they are from.” “He can’t talk English, than?” Billy ques- tioned. This was im ediately repeated in Chinese to the Consulate, t as proving to Billy that what- ever he mi ht say would be simflarly trans- lated, provi ed the interpreter was equal to the ion; and when the great man in the chair sai something in answer, the interpreter passed it sleng to Billy. I l 1 “He informs you that I am his ears and ton e," he said. ' ~ _ “ hat bein’ the case,” commented Billy, “ I’ll have ter make th’ best I can of th’ situation. Hate like fun for give an’ receive news second- hand, though. but it seems it can’tbo helped. Well. jest return our best respecks to His Royal Highness, an’ tell him that we are powerful tor see him lookin’so well, an’t at if he no objections we’ll shake hands with him. Nothin’ has been said about our stayin’ter tea. but we’ll do him that honor, too. while we’re matter. it’s good, jest th” same. about it. Nothin’ mean about us. Our names, by th’ way, are Broadway Billy, an’ Skinny, my pard; an’ we’re from th’ big town of New York. Tell him no need ter mention th’ little service we have rendered to his right bower. There, that’s about all you can handle at one dOSe, I guess.” The interpreter stood aghast at this flow of words, and it was not until the Consulate turned an inquiring look upon him that he ventured to translate. . What he said the boys never knew, but it was probable that be conveyed the gist of Billy’s re. marks to the official ears. The response of the Consulate was at length. “ I am glad to know two such brave boys,” the interpreter said, as though he were speaking for himself. “ You have saved the glave of my dear son from being disgraced. I thank you both vely much, and will shake hands with you. You shall take tea with me. Sam Foo Chow has informed me of your blavery, in fighting in defense of the glove of my son, and of your lescue of him from being lobbed of his watch and his huge, if not leally saving his life, and if I can show you any mark of my legard for such conduct, let me know in how way. “There!” cried Billy, as he stepped forward and held out his hand to the Consulate, “that. is what I call real white, and it proves that you Chiuees ain’t so bad after all. I like toshake such a hand as yours, old teller,” shaking it with all vigor “an’ no doubt you’ll say th' same of mine. ‘Skinny,” turning to him, “step up an’ do th’ honorable,” and he made way for his thin partner, who came forward and gave his hand timidly. “ As ter there bein’ anything you kin do for us, Noble Duke,” Billy rattled right on, “there’s nothin’ I kin think of at short notice. If anything comes ter my mind later on, I’ll make haste ter let ye know about it. Now, what about that tea you mentioned? We’re ' ready to sample that.” ' Sam Foo Chow and the interpreter looked doth frightened and amused at the boy’s laudacity, but the Consulate and the two servants, who un- derstood never a word, looked on blankly. .The interpreter repeated the main part of Billy’ remarks, and after several questions had been answered to the satisfaction of the Can‘- sulato, he ave some directions to the servant at his rig t, who immediately left the room. Further instruction was iven_ to the servant at the left. then, Who sets at sproadi upon a table on the balcony, and plac ng cups for the Consulate and his guests. In a little time tea was served, and Billyagg I kinnbyiim seated opposite to their host, proceed in . . v Billy’s tongue rattled away at a rate that set. the interpreter at defiance, and frequently ma'do Skinny go oi! into uncontrollable fits of laugh- ing, which caused the Consulate to look upon him in some surprise. “ Ye mustn’t mind Skinny, old hoss,” Bill explained, when Skinny went 03 into one of h s heartiest laughs, “ for he has a lls that wa " whenever he takes tea. Ye see, e hasn’t muc coverin’ to his nerves, an’ th’ tea takes bolt quick an’ sharp. He’ll come out all right. Tell him his tea is superfine,” turning to the interpre- ter, who stood behind him; “ it goes right home. Never tackled it in sich small doses as this, aibre, though. Sweet rtatersl but one of mom’s cups would ho] as much as six of these. No Drink 'her down, Skinny, fer this is probably th’ 6 t an’ last occasion of this sort of our lives. othin’ like makin’ sun while th’ hay shineszge know. Here, :Iohn,” to one of the servants, ‘ ll her up again. ' , ' ' When the tea-urn was finally emptied the soiree came to an end, and the Consulate rose and led the way back into the room, where no took his former place on the chair between the windows. v' Billy and Skinny remained on the balcony for a moment to take a look at, the scene that lay spread out below them. hey could look down upon the greater portion of the city, and u the bay and its surroundings. Of course no gh- boring buildings shut 'out a deal from view, buttbe stone was well wort the moment they » gave to it. , r Just as they were turning away, a woman’s piercing scream was heard in the street below. “Sweet pertateni” Billy instant] exclaimed, “ there’s a dimkilty 0’ some sort, 8 inny, sure's, ye‘ro born l” - Both leaned what the “ difflkiity " was. Do the oppositosideoftbo street, judnutgg" further down. stood a carriage, one 0! ciomdwraand two monwsrs just _. a atom. ' over the balcony rail to learn .' Broadway Billy Abroad. 5 woman into the house before which the carriage iiwl stopped. . They, the boys, were just in time to see this much, and the next moment the door closed after the men and their burden. Just then, too, Sam Foo Chow reminded them that their host was waiting to take formal leave of them. The lads returned to the room, their friend motioned them to take their places in front of the seated dignitary, and they did so. ’ The Consulate addressed them briefly, handed something to his interpreter, and when he had done, the interpreter said: “In taking leave of you, the Gleat Consulate desires to giVe you something as a token of his esteeni,and to leward you for the Service you have iendered him. He gives to you this ling,” «extending a ring to Broadway Billy, “ and hopes you will wear it to lemember this occa- sion. If he can ever do any favor for you, he bids you to come and make it known to him. With this he bids you good-by.” “ Accept my hearty thanks, Noble Sachem,” Billy responded, speaking direct to the Consulate, and putting on the ring as he did so: “ I will wear th’ ring as you request, an’ I only wish that I had somethin’ worth givin’ you in return. You are a big, chief, you are. an’ you deserve ter live long an’ be happy. I’m talkin’ fer my- self an’ Skinny too, fer he is rather bashful. I ’low it’s owin’ ter his thinness. If you ever come out her New York, don’t fail ter call on us. With that he made his final saiam, Skinny taking pattern as before and doing the same, and as 'soon as the interpreter had passed the remarks over to the Consulate and the latter had waved his adieu, Sam Foo Chow led the way from the room. “ ’Meiican boys been lcceived has with gloat- est honor. Not many mans come see Gleat Con- sulate leceive honor so gleat allee same. ’Melican ,boy him keep ling, it be lespected allee same Chinaman by; makes ’Melican boy muchee flieudS." 9‘ Sweet rtatersl is that th’ tack?” cried Billy. “It sasort of lignet that'll berelpscted h yenfsllsr tails on light, eh! meanin’ no 1d sr _, , i ‘ " \that‘is tb’ case, you kin betthat . I’ll hang on ter it like grim death ter a defunct son of Africa. Well, here’s my hand, Sammy, old boy, seein’ that we must part. I hate ter .migself'away, but th’ best 0’ friends must ‘ I' . v th’ way, which is th’ nearest out to th’ ‘ , --- Hotel?" u , r {E’Melican boys don’t know way hotel to?” their Celestial friend interrogated; “ allee same me send Chinaman show." As it was by this time beginning to grow dark, Billy availed himself of the offer, and a servant was sent to pilot them to their hotel. , , f‘Sweet pertatei'sl Skinny, but that was real white!” Bill had to exclaim as they set out. ‘f Who Won d ’a’ dreamed that we’d fall inter each a snapi I begin ter believe that this tripvof ours is bound ter mark th’ red-letter days of our . .‘lives. I do, Skinny, fer a tack. What with th’ pleasures of th’ voyage, an’ almost learnin’ter- be first-class sailors-- But, there, I won’t say another word about that on your account. This is openin’ immense, th'bugh, an’ if we don’t jest make Rome howl store New York sees us ag’in, it will be ’cause it ain’t in us.” V “ Don’t your jaws never git tired!” Skinny naively asked. “ Never knowed ’em ter git tired, did ye?" Billy demanded. “ Faek is, kinny, if I didn’t talk there wouldn’t be anything said. You’re no . 159.1 or.” ‘ "I have never had a fair chance,” the thin ’. V / partner declared. , w “ Never had a fair chance: how’s that?” , “ ou’ve allns got th’ floor.” “Shakei”Biliy cried; “that’s one on me. I own up ter th’ corn, Skinny. 1 will give ya a chance now, though. I won’t say another word A till we reach th’ hotel, an’ you kin fire right ahead. Hold on, thou ,” with a sudden retro]. lection,“1’d like ter now what that scream meant that we heard, an’ what that woman was r beein’ tooken inter that house fer ag’in’ her Will. is.,::mest‘hlin’thatTI feel calleg uponrter ‘ nv .. 'nn . here ma 8 a pizen in ' orgetfnl o the in se 9 bed A ' rattled right on till all; Arrived at'tlialr h as u vi Ski ha t0 , . 0 DO , GP. , gi ng any c we I, , CHAPTER-IV... ‘ . f . .u, ran naOADWArhrLLY or om. ‘ 'i'u ed waspnot one of 1:36?! '1 I " great, flrst~class '\ hotel at which Bilgeand Skinny baa order, like the boasted Palace Hotel on Market street. It was only a small, “ one-horse ” affair. in comparison, but it was respectable, and it was located in a respectable neighborhood. It was plain and substantial, and its prices were not “ fancy.” By the time they reached there, as mentioned at the close of the previous chapter, it was dark, and after dismissing their guide they hastened to their room to prepare for supper. ‘ A thorough washing and combing made them ready, and in due course of time the evening meal had been disposed of. This hotel was run on the good, old-fashioned American plan, and as they came forth from the dining-room, where Billy had made things lively during the course of the meal, and had gained a score of new friends, Skinny asked: “ \Vell, and what now?” “You ask that as though you are ready fer anything that happens ter turn up,” Billy com~ mented. “ And so I am,” Skinny assured. “ No know- in’ what will turn up, either, an’ it is jest as likely ter be th’ hangman as not, fer by th’ way you are goin’ it you are bound ter come ter some ad end. Billy laughed heartily. “ Do you think it is as bad as that?” he asked. “ I certainly do,” Skinny declared. “ You was had enough at home, but here you seem ter have jest let yei‘seif loose. There is no holdin’ye at all. I wouldn’t dare ter talk up ter folks like you do, an’ you’ll keep on till ye git inter trouble by it. you see if ye don’t.” “ Jest as like as not,” Billy agreed. “ It wouldn’t s’prise me a bit. It is somethin’ that I can’t help, though, no more’n I kin help eatin’. Think of th’ weeks that I was shut up on the; ship—” ‘ An’ you had every sailor as crazy as a bed- bug all th’ time,” Skinny interrupted. ‘ Their fault, not mine, my gay an’ festive ard. It is ound ter come out somehow, an’ it is best ter let it have its own course, iikea case 0’ measles. Ye see I have no business cares on my mind now, an’ am free as th’ wind. “ But, come, let’s 0 up ter our room, for I have got an idea in min .” “ I hope it ain’t th’ feVer a-gittin’ holt of ye ag’iu.” :iTh’ detective fever, ye mean, Skinny l” “Well, that’s jest what it is. ’ I felt it’ th’ minnit that I heard that woman scream while we was up there takin’ tea with old Ko-Ko, or whatever his name is. It is growin’ worse all th’ time, an’ I ki.0w it’s bound tar have its run, jest th’ same as my tongue is when it gits started. Can’t etc it nohow.” “I wish we was ack in New York.” Skinny appeared really distressed over the prospect of Billy’s setting out to hunt up adven- ture, and he felt greatly concerned, not know- ing what dangers his partner might run 'into. illy laughed at him. “You don’t want ter let sich fancies trouble yer brain, my gay an" festive pard,” he reman- strated. “Brain trouble is bound ter reduce th’ flesh, Skinny, an’ if you git any thinner than ye are I don’t know what I’ll do ter keep track of ye. But, come up to th’ room an’ hear what my idea is.” “ I wish ye was so tired out that you’d be glad ter crawl inter bed at sight of it,” Skinny ob- served, regretfully. “ All of which I ain’t.” Billy led the way to their room, and when they were within, and the door had been closed, he proceeded to unfold his idea. “ Skinny,” he began, “this year is about th’ last one of boyhood that you an’ me will ever see. Truth ter tell, we are ast that interestin’ period now, but we kin stil play off for boys of fifteen if we want ter; leastwise I kin. These tacks bein’ th’ case, I mean for git all the f ‘ p out of th’ fleetin’ moments that I kin. I’m goi ter crowd one strin 0’» fun an’adventure clear from here torNew ork, an’ sic’i a big string, too, that I’ll remember this trip to my dyin’ day. You’ll be foolish if you don’t do th’ same. See what a royal beginnin’ we have made a’ready. ‘f What have ye got in mind, anyhow?" 8131381.? asked. - , inn est rick u r ears an’ I‘ll unfold a tale thaty’wjill p p ye arm’s whole ounce ter yer weight. I reckon you ve tooken notice of th’ sort 0’ bootblacks thalithel’have here. In tack-I know ye have, fer 10 W88 you that called my ’tention to ’em first. x The! aill‘t frag-easy little ‘chaps like we'have in New Yo K. ~ut are men, all wearin’ uniforms, with their rows of easy chairs set up ' .. v _ make ye smole a smile that will' on platforms under canvas awnings. Why, th’ sight of ’em would ’a’ made you an’ me turn green with envy, when we was knights of th’ box an’ brush. They are got up to th’ qnt en’s taste, an’ I reckon they would make it hot for any boy that dared ter set up oppersition to ‘em in the good old way. D’ye begin ter see my idee?" “I’m afraid I do," Skinny admitted. “ Afraid ye do, fat pardnei‘? What d’ye mean by that? I was in hopes that you’d kick up yer heels an’ dance th’ shudder-dance fer joy, an’ declare that you was With me in th’ racket. ’Fraid l’il fiever be able ter make anything out of you, Skinny, unless I start a dime museum an’ set ye down on th’ bills as the livin’ skeleton. But, I am wanderin’ from th’ subjeck. In that trunk there is my old boothack kit, an’ my old bootlilack clothes. I’m goin’ ter don ’em, as they say in love stories, an’ I’m goin’ out ter paint this town red. Will ye join me?” “No.1 won’t!” Skinny declared. “ won’t have anything ter do with sich business as that. If you want ter run th’ risk of gittin’ inter th’ lock—up, don’t think that I do, too. ’ “Thank ye fer yer frankness, Thinny: that allus was one good trait in yer character. I’m sorry that your Puritan idees debar ye from en- joyin’ a good slice 0’ fun when it’s set afore ye. though. Well, if ye won‘t ye won’t, an’ I ain’t goin’ ter waste no vally’ble time coaxin’ ye. I’ll proceed ter don as aforesaid.” With that Billy unlocked his trunk and took out the things he required. There was his old box, with “ BROADWAY BILLY ” on its side in bright, brass-head tack and his old bootblack clothes, even to an 01 cap and a pair of old, loosefltting brewing of! the clothes he had been wearing, he put on these, and the transformation wrought was wonderful. There stood the Broadway Billy of old, the original and unique bootblack bravo of our first story of this Series. As this suit had originally been too big for him, it about fitted him new,and be surveyed himself in the lass with something of pride. “ Sweet pe tars!" he exclaimed, ‘but this gent scoops th’ pie, into an’ all! Here I be, kinny, th’ same old illy of old, an’, hang my stockin’, if I kin see that am a day older. Th’ only thing out 0’ place is that my face is too clean, but I, kin soon fix that. There,” after taking a dirty rag from his box and wiping his face with it, that improves my ’plexion ’sider- ably. Ha, ha, ha! but I see a bushel 0’ fun ahead, Skinny, an’ I only wish you’d join me an’ s are it.” ‘ ‘ Th‘ only thing that I kin see ahead fer you. is a bed on th’ stone floor of th’ lock-up,” Skinny dolefuily prophesied. . “ You’d wind 9. wet blanket around in fond- est dreams, if I’d let ya do it, ye pin-legg wasp; but I won’t let ye do it, an’ that settles it. Sweet pertatersi but this takes me back ter old times, this does, an I feel as happy as a clam. Won’t I jest make this town open its eyes when I sally out! But what are you goin’ terdo, myshadowy pard? Be ye goin’ ter stay here?” “No,” Skinny answered, “fer if you really mean ter go out, I’ll go along an’ See some of this fun that you romise." . “ Ha! that’s th ticket, pardl Put it there! I’ll give ye th’ worth of yer money, or me name is Mud. Now, let’s see, am I ready ter sally? Yes, I’guess so, so turn out th’ gas an’ come along.’ Skinny did as directed, and they left the room and desannded to‘the bar-room and office. “ Shine ’em up!" cried Billy, as he advanced With a business-like air; “make ’em rival the full moon. Anybody have a shine? Put. on a reg’lar New Yerk coat 0’ patent-leather, an’ it’ll cost ye only th’ small trifle of a nickel. Speak ' up, gentlemen, but not an at once,'an’ I’ll make ye so pioud o’ yer foundations that 'ye won’t want ter walk on ’em. Shine ’emlpl” This was something entirely new and novel, and all eyes were turned upon the boy immedi- ately. ‘ The night clerk, who had just come on duty, looked on speechless with amazement. “ What’s th' matter?” Billy demanded, as he lgoked around coolly'; “did anybOdyij-fly. any- t in Atg first no one had recognized him, but now some of those whom he had amused at supper saw who he was, and lively remarks were made to'tgy of which Billy responded briskly an m . “ y here,” the night-clerk Mtly demand- ed “ who are you. anyhow?” ’ ‘ Who am 1?” Billy repeated, turning to him; “why, I am Broadway Billy, late from New , ' ’ "'5‘ l t" _\ . '5' P“. **’-v . e NA ' . ‘ 6 Broadway Billy Abroad. York. I’m a perfesser o’ bootblackin’. You’ll find my name there on yer register, an’ ye needn’t put on specks ter see it, either.” “ W hat! do you mean to say that you are registered here?’ “ That’s what I do,” Billy assured. “ Take a look, un’ you’ll find it set down thnsly: ‘ lVilliam Weston (Broad way Billy}, New York.’ ” The clerk did look, and satisfied himself. “ As I am in somethin’ of a hurry,” Billy then proceeded to explain, “ I’ll enlighten yo :3. leetle illpon th’ subjeck. I used tcr be a bootblack in ew York, once upon a time—as goody-goody stories begin, an’ I have brought my traps along with me tcr have some fun. I’m goin’ out tei‘ stir up th’ citizens a little. This gentleman on my right—look close, please—is my pardner. He has declined ter join me in my racket, an’ mebby he’ll be back by bedtime ter go ter roost. In case ye hear a thin, small voice about that time, jest put on yer specks an’ see if it ain’t Skinny. If it is, please put him ter bed with care, an’ be sure ter plug up th’ keyhole so’s he won’t ’vaporate afore mornin’. I have a deal 0’ trouble with him, owin‘ tcr his thinness, an’ so I have ter make these requests.” Aroar of laughter greeted this, and Skinny felt considerably mean; but as soon as he could be heard, he put in: “ Yes, Mr. Clerk, an’ if Billy comes in afore I do, don’t let him have any light in th’ room, please.” = Billy, and all the others, looked at him in a questioning way. “ Why not?” the clerk asked. ‘ “ ’Cause he’s so full 0' gas that he’s likely ter ’splode an’ blow n th’ hull ’stablishment.” This won .anot er round of applause, and after a few minutes the two lads went out into the street, when by mutual agreement, they, pretended not to know each other. CHAPTER VI. TEE DETECTIVE FEVER BREAKS OUT. THE two lads soon found themselves out upon Montgomery street. In the distance, at the end of the street in that direction, stood the mammoth Palace Hotel, loomin up nine stories in height, and ablaze with lig ts. Billy had notic this building during their afternoon stroll, ' a (1 had at the timomantally decided that he would “ take it in“ in the even- ing: He'headed in that direction now. his hotel is, indeed, a. massive affair, made of iron and brick, and is one of the landmarks to which boasted .San Franciscans point with pride. It is adorned with an almost over- abundance of bay-windows, and is sure to attract the attention of visiting strangers. Broad way Billy having fully decided that he was going there, stepped out at a brisk pace. He was soon there, and whistling merrily, walked boldly in. Skinny followed at a safe distance, filled with awe at the grandeur of the place, and at his partner’s audacity. Billy went right ahead, with a swinging stride, down the grand corridor'and out into the glass-covered court which occupies the interior‘ 5 he entered that almost fair -like precinct, though, he involuntarily stop whistling and looked army?) upon the scene of splefdor that burst upon h m. I A band was playing, and the electric lights, striking upon the many tiers of whitest columns made it seem like some Parisian dream. All around were flowers, people were seated here and there in chairs. and,carriages were ~atand- ing in the circular paved driveway. Above, the guests of the house were seen promenading in the galleries, and looking down over the balustrades at the scene below. 9‘ Sweet pertatersl”‘Bill exclaimed, “ but I {sets I have been spirits away on some gilt- ‘edge Alhambra! This takes th’ plum right out 0’ th’ center of th’ cake, sure p. Shiver my timbers and stand me on my ams’ ends! but this is a sight that miggt ,make Solomon of old shed salt, sad tears. hewl but I ’fess that I feelijesta little out o’ placeéli'g spite o‘ my brass- bonnd‘cheek. Skinny, wh be yet" . Skidn'y, was standing aha little distance away, I a 5." his eyes and mouth open wide. At the mention , Inf/his name,- he looked at Billy, but he did not ' f ' Chern'inclined to recognize him. ‘ ’ ',”1‘his yanks thet- tart, don’t it.,my ay festive paid," cried Billy. “ I know we» asn’t ter speak, but I couldn’t help it.” , . Skinny drew a little nearer, saying: “ Billy. far ggpdness’ sake let’s git out 0’ here. . o I'm ’sba ye, an’ ,1 must own up to it, Folks is «third at ya a’ready: an" th’flrst ya i i know they’ll run yo in! ,,_i‘l, 1 “ Nary a. git!” Billy cried: “that would sp’ile all th’ fun. If you are narvous an’ uneasy, though, jest draw ’way from me, so’s folks won‘t take ye for my shadder. If you’re ’shamed 0’ me, so an; I 0’ you; for I’d be ’shamed ter own sich a sick-lookin’ shudder as you are. Take care not ter git too close to th’ music, though, or the soundowaves may annihilate ye. Ta—tu.” \Vith that parting shot, Billy started around the driveway. He had not gone far when he stopped short with an exclamation of surprise and interest. “ Sweet pertutersl but I know that outfit,” he cried in a low tone,,looking at a carriage and team that were Standing at the edge of the drive; “it is th’ same one that I seen this after- noon down there by the old Mikudo’s house, th’ one that had that woman aboard that let th’ blood-curdlin’ yell out of her. I had fergot that case fer th’ time, but this brings it all back ter mind.” Billy was right, it was the same rig. “ I must have Skinny’s opine on this,” hé muttered. “I‘ll jest ax him it‘ he thinks he’d know that turn—out if he’s tei' see it." ' Going on around, he presently came to where Skinny was standing, and while pretending not to be noticing him, asked: “ Skinny, would ye know that team an’ ear riage ag’in that we seen this afternoon down there by old Bong-Kong’s house; th’ one that that woman that screamed was ken out of l” “ I guess I would,” Skinny vet; red. “ W'ell, jest stalk around there an’ see if it is on this driveway. will ye! I feel th’ fever comin’ on worse ’1] ever.” Skinny looked'at his partner in a despairing way, but started to do as requested. “ Yes,” he said when he returned, “ th’ same rig stands aroundthere on th’ side of th’ drive.” ‘How d’ye knOW it’s th’ same one?” “ I know by th’ hoses, for one reason; an’ by th’ new curtains on th’ carriage fer another. “Kerrectl Skinny, you have a degree 0" penetration that will take ye ter Congress, or th’ enitentiary, one 0’ these days.” I“ I’ll, have company, it it’s th’ last-named p ace. Just then a heavy hand fell upon Billy’s shoul- der. Looking quickly up, the lad found himself in gin graspdof a powerfully-built descendant of am“ - ~ " “Sweet pertaters!” Billy cried, “ what’s th’ matter, Sambo? Have ya got th’ cramps in yer hands? If ye have, jest let up 0 in shoulder an’ tackle somethiu’ that ain’t got 0 eelin’s.” “What yo’ doin’ heah, beggar?” the colored gentleman demanded. “ Jest let u on yer squeeze alittle,” answered Billy, “ an’ 1’ l enlighten ye on th’ p’int in ques- ion. l“'You want ter know who you’m talkin’ to,” the darky growled, “ an‘ my name ain’t no Sam- bo nuther. Now you jes’ hustle out ob heah, or I’ll have ya ’rested an’ turned over.” “Sweet pertatersl but that would be bad! Ter be ’rested would be a calamity o’ stoopenjus magnitood, George Abraham Jackson Andrew Lincoln Washington; but ter be turned over he- sides would be worse than trauscendently hor- rible. I hope you won’t be so cruel to a poor orphing what never had but one father an’ mother, and that didn’t cut its first toothtill it was four monthsold. Can’t you let me down a little easier than that Benjamin Henry Patrick . Franklin J eflerson 'I‘homas Fifteenth-Amend- ment Jones?” . i ‘ The colored gentleman’s grass relaxed, and he looked at Billy in open-moat ed amazement. Skinny was standing a little distance ofl’, grin. ning from ear to ear, and a rty of three or four gentlemen who were seate near enough to ovarhear, burst into a hearty laugh. “ Look heah, you low-down specimen 0’ white trash, yo’i” the darky cried, as soon as he could speak, “.I’s a notion tar wringl or neck. My name am Dan’l Webster, an’ not in’ else. Now you hustle out ob heah, quick!” His grasp tightened again, and he made a start for. the rear entrance with Billy in tow. “It serves him right!” 'nny mentally com- mented, as be looked on with some satisfaction . “ mqbby it will take some of th’ freshness out 0 him. I ,3: Good-by, Skinny!” silly called out; “ I’ll say hello now, in case I don’t never see ye ag’in. Darkness has overpowered me, an’ it looks as if ,jl’m in for it. I’ll meet'ye in th’ sweet by~an‘-by, 1' if not sooner; satin th’ mean time you had bet ‘ter/amble back tar odr' du ~out an’ go m bed, {33:93 likely I won’t be ome till mornin', any- " Shut'up yo’ moat!” Dhn’l Webster growled, /, as he gave a 'erk at the lad’s collar; “ every- body am lookin at ye.” “ Sure they’re lookin’?” Billy asked. “Yes, I know they is. Come_ erlong, an’ no hangin' back, er I’ll jerk ye right outen yer clothes.” ‘ ' “Everybody lookin’?” Billy persisted. “ Yes, everybody.” “ We may as well make it interestin’ fer ’em, so—there I” With a sudden jump and a quick movement of his muscular legs, Billy caught the unsuspecting darky foul, and before the colored gentleman was aware of it he was sent sprawling upon the hard pavement of the drive. ~ Peuls of’ laughter rung out all over the court, and snatching off his cap and making a profound bow, Broadway Billy made haste to get out, fol- lowing one ot the carriages that was at that mo- ment leaving. “ That was a narrer squeeZe ” Billy muttered, as soon as he found himself outside, “ fer I. thought that dark’ would wring my neck sure, an’ he was big enough ter do it, too. .It on’t pay ter "0 there any more in this rig. ow I must work around an’ meet Skinny, an’-— Swhet pertatersl furl my fore topsail—royal, or whatever it is. if this ain’t th’ carriage that I’m interested in!” _ N o sooner was this discovery made than Billy ran up behind it, caught hold, threw his legs up underneath to a secure position, and was carried alon with it. “ f est like old times,” he thought. “ Hang me if I wouldn’t like ter be a boy forever, but that ain’t in th’ nat’ral order 0’ things. ow 1 fer, but I have a certain interest in it, an’. I’m going along. ‘I reckon Skinn kin find his way back ter to hotel all right. e knows th’ Cit as well as I do, anyhow, so I’ll comfort myse f with that thought. ain’t, even if he is thin.” The carriage sped along, and Billy having got: his box into place as he wanted it, and himself comfortably arranged upon the under-gear of the vehicle, found no diflculty in going along with it. " , Not knowing the streets, and having onlya could no" Of course, keep in mind the direction tuition vised ,- an we - e knew that questions would set him right, if he had occasion to ask them. Finally, although his disadvantageous, Billy Chinese uarter. int of view was very ound that he was in the noon to recognize it again. lad dropped to the ground, about the rst thin that loomed up before him was the residence 0 the Consulate. . “Sweet pertawrsl” he mentally exclaimedg “ but this kallyboose has come back a‘g’in ter th same house that that woman was too What is goin’ on, anyhow? It begins tor look ter nie as though I have a special interest in this matter. Let’s see who gets out.” i - Billy had got out from under the carriage on the street side, and he now stood where he alighted. . , A well~dressed man got out, ran upntolm’a door, and was speedily admitted into the house, while the driver of the vehicle settled down it; a way that proved that he meant 170 wall? for m. .. Broadway Billy decided to do the same. . CHAPTER VII.’ i TEE FEVER ATTACKS SKINNY. IT is to our interest to return to Skinny. , t, . He had started to follow in the direction in which Billv was being dragged, but, when he, saw Dan’l Webster “ dumpe tostop and in in the general laugh. He saw lly make his bow and hurry away and than he gave his attention to the enra darky, as he scrambled to his feet. The colo fully, at the same time growling away to him- disa red, he turned and started ward where Skinny was standing. ' " r . Skinn ’5 heart was in his throat in an instant; He rem mbered that he had been tal Billyat \revenge upon him. a Y , He’s no chicken, Skinny. vague general idea of the plan of the city, he; told fer . haven‘t th’ least idee where this vehicle is bound I "mmed‘ ; 1, \v..,.l‘.d_w,nél no read of being lost. however, He 3 He he noted it sufficiently during the after- " I When the carriage stopped, at las and the I could look around from behind to see Who .‘ ” so neatly he had‘ .1 redgentleman’s first concern was his clothes, which be brushed with his hand can.” ’1 3 a self at a cat rate: and then when he beam v, for a maggot in the directioh in which-m ha 53,. ‘ l s time when the darky captu { i p, 'i . v and now a feared that the dorky w, meek, 31*. . 74.... ,_-A. _. 3-: w» page. -—W— .4. K’ no'bun‘gled job, either.” Broadway Billy Abroad. 7 There was no time to get out of sight except in one direction. There was a very narrow space between one of the columns and a huge flowering plant, and into that space the lad dodged. It did not look large enough to admit any one, but Skinny found no difficulty in taking ad- vantage of the space. Barely had be taken up his position when he heard these Words: “Broadway Billy!” Skinny‘s ears were wide open in an instant, and helooked to learn who it was that had spoken his partner’s name. Just on the other side of the big plant, seated in chairs, were two men, and kinny could not ssihly have had a better position for over- earing what passed between them. He could partly see their faces. One wnsa young man, about twenty~six years old, and the other was about forty. Both were rather flashily dressed, and they had the appearance, at first sight, of sporting men. “How do you know it’s him?” the younger mail demanded. “ Curse him!” the elder fiercely hissed, “ don’t you suppose I’d know him among a thousand? Didn’t he help th’ police of New York to bring me up with a round turn not more’n a hundred years ago? Besides, didn’t you see his name on his box I” . “ I know I’ve heard you mention him often enough as one of th' shrewdest boys in New York. No, I didn’t notice his box. But, do you think it is possible that a boy, and a boot. black at that, could come all the way from New York to San Francisco? It looks just a little ‘ unreasonable.” “Anything is possible with that chap. Just as likely as not he is here in the interest of some detective.” “ But, it takes money to travel, and it isn’t Ill;er that he ever owned a ten-dollar hill in his e )1 . “That’s where you make your mistake. I have heard that that fellow has got several. hundred in bank, and I guess. it’s so. I hap n to know that he has been rewarded more t an once. and he has any number of friends there.” “Well f course you’d ought to know but . - . '0 » . 'ev‘e‘n' if it is Broadway Billy, we. have nothing to fear from him.” “That’s true, but he has somethin’ to fear .from me. I owe, him a rudge, and if I could and where he in ban , on and could gets. fair chance, I’d' fix him for the ‘ hole score. It would be easy enough to do for him, out here.” 3“ It would be easy enough, but you’d better leava himvalone. You have nothln’ to fear frOm him. He don’t know you’re here, and perhaps would not know you f be was to meet you. We have got bigger fish to fry than at- tending to boys.” ' “Yes. thats so, but all the same it will be healthy for this Billy to keep out of my reach, and I‘can tell him that.” “What became of the other chap that was with him?” “ What other chap? I didn’t notice any one with him.” "’Pidu’t ye? Why, he was a little thin fel- er. . ' .j, “ Then it was Bill ’8 chum, sure. I think he’s called Skinny. . 1 d dn’t notice him at all, but then I was lookin’ at Billy all the time.” They both looked around in search of Skinny, and that slender individual had reason to thank his lucky star that he was out . of their sight; and not only that, but that he was where he could listen to what they_had to say. Dan’l Webster, meantime, had passed on out of sight into the main corridor, and the coast was all clear for Skinny to make his escape, but now he had good reason for choosing toremain. “ He must have gone out," the younger of the ,two man observed, as they failed to see the ob- . ject of their search. i , “ Yes. I guess so,” the other agreed. f “ Well, as you were saying?” , “I was about to give an the lay-out of the job we have got on hand. 7 x'“W‘ell. 80. ahead.” _ , “ We must take care,” looking around to see who was near, ,“ for it will not do to be over- heard in this.” i _ “ Oh, no danger; there. isn’t a person Within -' , twentyfeetof us.” ,2 Skinny. almost breathless with excitement, . . not more than threefth away from them. ‘ ".‘Woll,” the elder man went on, “ tomorrow night is the time set. for the work. It must be “ Soon as that?” - “ What are you talking about! Haven’t we at this time isan ill ‘omen.’ I can s ent two whole months preparing for it? very thing is almost ready, and there 5 no need to wait.” “ Yes, I know, but I thought you Would take a few days to rest up in, and to get the exact lay of the land.” “ No need of it, not a bit. I’ve been doing that right along, all the time we have been working through that wall. W'e are ready to step through into the. bank at any time, and to- morrow night at half-past one is the time set.” d ‘gflWdl, what have you laid out for me to o “ You are to play policeman and secure the watchman.” “ And then what?” “ Then you are to give the rest of us the sig- nal that the coast is clear, and in We’ll come and the. job can' be done in less than an hour.” “ But, do you think that I can get a uniform at such short notice? \Vhy could you not just . as well have told me about this a week ago?” “ The uniform is all right. Demsm was go- ing to play policeman, and he had a uniform made. He has a lame arm, now, though, so he can’t do it. I guess you are about his size, so you needn’t trouble your head about th’ uni- form.” “ That is better. Well, you can depend on me to do my share of it.” “We meet to—mcrrow evening at the office, to discuss the thing thoroughly, and to arrange every detail. Do not fail to be on hand prompt- ly at nine.” “ I’ll be there.” “This .was what I wanted to see you for, Enos, and I thought this was about as good a place as any to tell you to meet me at.” “ Must grip fast ter that name,” thought the listening boy. “ You couldn‘t have named abetter place,” the young man declared. “ This happens to be one of the nights when the band lays here, and it would be simply impossible or any one to overhear, even were people right close around us. and you see they are not.” “ I considered all that. I have considered every move We have made in this bi ame. There is not a screw in it that has beenfiegt un- turned, and yet somehow, as I must confess, I feel uneasy.” “ Pshawl what is thereto make you uneasy!” “Nothing, that I can see; but the sight of that boy from New York has put a damper upon me. I feel asethough his appearance here I t’holp it.” “ You don’t want to let such a thought as that trouble you for a moment. If I had any idea that there was any danger ahead, I would hunt him u and dispose of him for you, but I haven‘ . He may have done some cute things out East there, as I have heard you say; but he is in a different art of the world now, and if be bothered us is life wouldn’t be worth a pistareen." “ You don’t know him, and Ido; that’s the difl'erence. But, as you say, we have nothing to fear from him. There is no way in which hfi could get onto our racket, and so I’ll just banis him from my thoughts.” ‘ “ That is more like it.” “ Well, I must go.” Saying this the twain rose. “ Shall we part?” the latter asked. “Yes, we had better,” was the response. “ All right.” “ Don’t forget: the office, nine o’clock sharp.” “ I’ll be there.” With awave of the hand, then, the leading spirit turned and went hurriedly out, and in a few moments the younger man sauntcred leis- urely off into the main corridor. , As soon as the way was clear, Skinny emerged from the pllace of hiding that had served him doubly we .” ~ “ Great ginger!” he exclaimed under his breath, “ but I feel some of Billy’s fever Workin’ on me, sure as shootin’. What am I ter do?- Wish Billy was here. As he ain’t here, though. I’ll have tor do "the only thin that is ter be done, an’ that is to foller this eller. If I don’t\ do that I won’t have a single clew to band over, ' for their talk was so mighty close-mouthed that ti:er didn’t give away muhy p’ints.” ' hus debating the matter with himself he went in the direction the young man h to en keeping a sharp lookout for Dan’l We H . and “the sum time not being in too much 'haste, for he remembered that it was the younger man Who had taken tactics of his talking with Billy. ' "His-man was goin forward toward the sheet, wb‘en ‘Skinn 0t lad wens will“ to! him again, and the As they approached the street, Skinny draw 'at nearer, in order not to let the man get out of sioht again. ‘ WVell he knew, as has been seen by his reflec- tions, that unless he followed this indivuiual and learned where he lived, or lodgeli, he could make no use whatever of what he had overheard. The young man stopped at the entrance for a. moment, lighted a cigar, and then he set off up, Market street, Skinny crossing over to the Opposite side and following him, keeping at a safe distance. A walk of about fifteen minutes brought the young man to a cross-street into which he tum- ed, and going down that street for a little distance be entered a house, letting himself in with a latch-key. The latch—key was evidence enough that this was his home, temporary or otherwise, but still Skinny waited for at least two hours, thinking that perhaps he would conic outagaiu. As he did not. however, the lad finally ave up and set about finding his way back to t e hotel where he and Billy were staying. CHAPTER VIII. BILLY WINS ANOTHER FAVOR. BROADW'AY BILLY, with his box on his shoul- der, stOod like u soldier on guard. He leaned against the hind wheel of the car- riage, where a friendly shadow happened to lie, and watched the door of the house. When he had been standing there about fifteen minutes, and there was still no sign of the man’s coming out, he muttered: “ Sweet pertatersi it begins ter dawn upon me that I haven’t got as much good, sound boss- sense as th’ law allows. What he I standin’here fer, anyhow? Here 1 am, tryin’ ter poke my nose inter other folkses business, when I’d orter be ’tendin’ strict] ter my own. Ican’t help it though, no more no I kin help eatin’. I guess I must ’a’ been born so. What has become of. Skinny? I’d orter be kicked fer leavin’ him, _an’ that’s plain. S’pose somethin’ happens ter him. Here’s a fog comin’ on, too, an’ t as like as not he’ll git lost in it, bein’ so aw ul thin. Don’t know what I’ll do with him if he gits any thinner, an’ that’s prime truth. I mustn’t de- sert him in this way ’in. an’ I won’t nuther. It ain‘t safe, nohow. ut I’m wanderiu’ from th’ {hot at issue, which is: What he I standin’ here fer? I‘m glad that I‘m so fur away from home that one erson can’t witness my Tom- Fool work, an’ t t person is Inspector Br— Hellol here comes my prize chicken 1” , The door at that moment opened, and the man stepped out, followed by a large, masculine- looku'g woman. The woman accompanied him down and out to the carriage. “Yis, sor,” was the response; “0i couldn’t s ’ake wid yez inside, as ye: guv me no chance. ow long do yez want meter kape dhe leddy, sort" The man lowered his voice as he nded: ' “ Keep her a close prisoner, Mrs. cFaddin, until you see me again. I’ll be here a ain to- morrow, and then if she won’t sign— ell, no matter: just see that she does not escape.” “ It is big money she is ofleriu’ ter be not at liberty, sor, an’-— ” k “ Pay no attention to her,”the man exclaimed. ~ “She has no money to pay you, and even if she had, I’ll give you twice as much to hold her. Don’t forget this.” ‘ “ All might, act, Oi’ll kape her.” “ Don’t fail to do so.” With that the man got into the carriage, and the woman stepped back. The carriage was off at once, and Billy, in , order that the woman might not see him, run along beside it for alittle distance. keeping it be- tween himself and her, finally dodging to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. Ha ha heard the man’s dilutions to the driver, and knew that the carriage was going back to the hotel. The man, be had noted, was of middle age, and woll-dnesscd. “ Sweet pertatersl”‘the lad cried, as he stop- ped to consider the ‘~‘ I was sure that there was a p’izen dimkllty‘ a-brewm’. an’ now I’m surer of it than ever. That womb that was tooken inter that house is bein’ held there no; prisoner, an’ th’ man wants tor force Sign some sort 0’ {paper, I take it. If shadfi’o " ska, thenr— Then what? I didn’t like th’ in that he spoke, not at all. Buckle m ' vest I ain’t interested in earnest now, an’ m 3011’ right inter this matter an' see what it means. If there is any p’izen crooked business ’ on, an’ ' » , ever ing seems tar indicate that t cm is, they ., kin at me in.” s W V- ~ ,. Nils. i Broadway Billy Abroad. Swinging his box into position in his old-time w i 7, he retraced his steps toward the houso. When he came opposite to it, being on the op- posite side of the street, he stoppedund surveyed it critically. v He had already done this, while waiting he- llind the carriage, but now he was looking at it at a little little longer range. The woman had gone in. Chinamen were passing up and down the street on both sides, and many of them, as they saw Billy, looked at him with lunch curiosity. Presently one of them stopped and surveyed him deliberately. Noticing til-it some one had stopped in front of him, Billy turned his eyes upon the China- man, and seeing that he was looking at him, asked: ' “ You speakee ’Mclican, J ohn?” The Chinaman grinned. “ Yes, me allee same speakee him,” he answer- ed, in the usual style. “ What’s your name?” “ Name Tom Wall.” “That’s a name good enough fer anybody. Tom. Say, do you know who lives over there in that house?” pointing to the one he was in- terested in. “ Allee same Ilishwomnn lives there,” the Chinnman answered: “ name Missoe McFaddee.” It Billy had not already heard the name, he would never have been able to make “oMcFad- din” out of “ McFaddee.” “ What ’Melican boy name him is?” the Celestial inquired. ’ “ My name is Billy,” Billy replied. “ Allee same live San ’Flisco in?” “ No; I’m from New York.” “New Lolk 3” the Chinaman cried; “me lives in New Lolk used to.” “On Mott street?” The Celestial grinned from ear to ear. “ Yes, yes, allee same on Mott stleet,” he cried. I " “ Put it there, then,” exclaimed Billy, holding out his hand , “I’d as soon shake hands with you as any Chinee that I know.” The Chinaman grasped his hand willingly euou ll. ' “ here do you live?" asked Billy. “ Me allce same live light here,” and the China- man indicated the very house in front of which they were standing. “Good enough!” Billy cried, “and if you’ll ask me in I’ll be proud ier honor ye with my company fer a time. I took tea with yer great consulate general this afternoon, an' here’s a present that he gave me, ter prove it.” As he said this he held out his hand and dis- played the ring that had been given to him. As the Chinaman’s eyes fell upon it they open- ed wide with wonder, and his face grew serious. “ Gleat Consulate giVee you that?” he asked. “That is what he did, Toni," Billy assured. “ If‘you doubt my word jest go and ask him.” “ on same ’Meiican boy allee sumo fightee Sam Foo Chow for? ’ ' “ I’m th‘ some critter,” was the assuring reply: “ th’ only difference bein’ that I’m now in full evenin’ dress." Several other Chinamen had new collected around them, and seeing this, Tom Vanl invited Billy to come into his house immediately. ' Billy followed the Celestial in, and Tom led him to his best room. As soon as they were there Billy unslung his box and sat down upon it, in the way he had been accustomed to do in the days when he and his box were inseparable companions; took off his cap and said: “Now, Tommy, old hoss, I’m gcin’ ter claim ther floor fer th’ time bein’ nu’ put you in th’ witness-box, oz it war. What do you know about this Mrs. McFaddin? If you cannot un- derstand my street gibberish, which 1 must al- ways use, I’ll try and polish up my speech a lit- tle for your benefit." This Billy was able to do. for he had attended night-school not a little, and hrtd given a. good deal of his spare time to his books besides, as has been mentioned casually i ll previous stories. “ What ’Melican boy want know?” the China- man asked, showing that be had not understood. “ I want to know somethin about Mrs. McFaddin,” Billy repented. “ Vhat kind of person is she? but does she do for a living?” Speaking plainly and slowly he was readily understood. “ Olll Misses McFaddee she Ilish sonaof-a-gun, allee same keepee bloarding-house and scllee pipes to smokce. Fightee nlloe same likee man.” ' Sweet perlatersl she keepsa boarding-house, does she? That is je. whatI am in search of. Tommy. If I kill git night’s lodgin’ under her a. roof, no knowin’ what will come of it. But, I’m droppin’ hack inter street slang, an’ you don’t understand nothin’ but polished English. Say, do you think I could get lodging there for the night?" “ Alice same stay here,” the Chinnman quick- ly oll‘cred most hospitably. “ Much obliged, Tom, but that won’t help me out with what I’ve got in mind, I fear. By the way, are you on friendly terms with Mrs. McFaddin?’ “ ,Yes, allee same good enough, but don’t likee r. ' “That’s the talk. I’ll tell you what I am up to. There is a. prisoner over in that house that hadn’t ought to be there, and I want to get lodging there to help her get away. Now do you think that if you took me over and intro- duced me to the landlady as a. friend of yours from New York, that she would take me to board?” “Yes, me thinkee so, if she havee loom in house.” “Well, it won’t do any hurt to go over and see if she’s got room. See here, though, Tom, you must not mention what I’ve told you.” “ About plisoneri” U V108." _ “ No, me allee same keepee vely still.” “All right; and now what about this ring that your Great Mogul gave me? Will all Chinamen respect it, and do what I want them to! or will they be inclined to think that I stole it?” ' v.3 “’Melican bo lookee mighty tough, alloe same likee New elk bootblack: may t’ink him stealee ling.” “ And how am I to prove that I didn’t?” “ Hold on, me fixee you,” the Celestial ex- claimed, and getting up from his stool he went to a closet at one end of the room. From the closet he brought out some India ink and a long, slender bone needle that was sharp at both ends. “ Me putee mark on ’Melican boy him’s list,” indicating Billy‘s wrist, “an’ no Chinamnn hurtee him; allee same savee him life cbely time.” “Good enoughl” Billy cried. “Slap on yer sign-manual, Tommy,” and he barcd his wrist to receive the mark. The Chluamon set to work, and in a few mo- ments Bil y’s wrist bore a. curious little indeli- ble chars ter, the *meanin of which he knew not, but which he had ful confidence would do all that Tom Wall had claimed for it. “Now ’Melican boy nllce light,” the China- man declared; “no Chinunlan hurtee him. Alice same alleo Chinamans do what ‘Melican aoyfialybwhen be show ling of Giant Consulate en a . — CHAPTER IX. A BIG POINT OF ADVANTAGE. BROADWAY BILLY naturally felt that he was becoming something of u Chinaman. He had found such marked favor at the hands of the Cclestials that he had a sort of fellow-feeling for them and looked upon “John” in a more friendly light than he had ever done before. “Sweet pertatersl” he exclaimed, “but as soon as I kill grow a pig—tail, Tom, I’ll be a. sure-huff Chince. Seems ueer that I had ter sail all these five thousand eight hundred an’ odd miles tor make yer ’quaintunce, 'John China- man, when there’s lots of ye right at home. There’s plenty o’ strange things ill this world of ours, though, an‘ they’re croppin’ out all th’ time. Here I’m driftln’ back inter street gihher again, though, which you don’t git onto with ease and grace. Come, let’s go over and see Mrs. MbF‘uddin.” The last wasspoken slowly, and Tom Wah responded immediately. to“’Yes, allee same come .’loug, Toanah go 0. Billy put on his cap, got.up and shouldered his box and was ready, and the Chinamun led the way out. They crossed over to the door of Mrs. McFad- (liu’s house. The Chiuaman rung the bell, and it was the landlady herself who answe’ral to the summons. Billy held back a little, preferring to see what lis friend would say. “ Phwat d’yezibe wantin’, Tom?” the woman immediately demanded. “Goodeeevoling, Missee McFaddee," the Chiuaman responded; “this ’Melicau boy, allee same fliend Tom Wah, him comec allee same New Lolk flom: wantee giiee Hoarding-place, me blingce hi..l here.” she cried. Mrs. McFaddin gave Billy a searching look, and said: “ Oi’ve got no room fur dhe loikes av yez, lad. Yez will have ter be afther lookin' furdher, so ye will.” “ Allee same takee him one night,” persisted the Chinaman; “ him look ’lound to-molly, then.” “Phwy don‘t yez kape him yerael‘?" the we- man demanded. “Jest let me orate once,” put in Billy, seeing that the matter was not working favorably to him. “ I likes the looks of ye, Mrs. McFaddin, and it is in your house that I would be staying. Ye remind me of me mother’s sister what’s dead and gone now, but what cameqover from the old country. an’ took care of me when l‘ was left a. poor, lone orplling, but bein‘ dead has left me more orphinger than ever. _ I have money to pay for me keep, and if you will just take me in for this one night, I’ll sleep on the floor, with me box for a piller an’ me ragged vest fur subver- coat, to serve an a coverin .” ‘ This was rattled off as only Broadway Billy’s tongue could rattle it, and the Irishwoman had to smile as he ended. “ You are Irish, then 1” she asked. “Not a bit of it,” cried Billy. “ Me parents was I’rish before me, though, so I’m first-cousin to it. “ And yez are from New York?” “ That 9 what I am, Mrs. McFaddin: but hav- in’ nothiu’ to keep me there, and wantin’ to see a. bit of the world, I stole off on a ship, and here I am. I am as honest as the reen grass, Mrs. McFaddin, and if ye will only take mafur this one night, when I‘m 0 tired, fur the sake of me mother’s dead sister what’s left me more or- phinger than I was before, and give me a bit to eat, fur all of. which I’ll pay e right on the spot, and give ye an orphing’s b cesing, that—” Mrs. McFaddin put up both hands and waved him to silence. “ Saints preserve mel phwata talker yez are!” “ Oi have won little cuhby ava room away up furninst dhe roof, nn’ if yez want ter sl’ape dhere yez may.” “ May Saint Patrick send yo a chrome!” ex- claimed Bllly. “ I’ll take it, Mrs. McFaddin, an’ it is so sweet me dreams will be that I’ll be dwellin’ ill marble halls all night. It’s all right, Tom,” turning to the Ctinaman, “an’ I’ll dro in and see ye to—morrow. Ira-1371a." , v , " With a; wave of his hand to the astonished Chinaman, then, he stepped into the house and the woman shut the door. “Are yez hungry, lad?” she asked. “Not half as hungry as I am sleepy,” Billy answered, “ and if ye will show me straight to me room, I'll eat me sup er and me breakfast both at once in the mom n’.” The woman was amused, and she liked Billy already. " What is your name?” she asked. " Me name is Denny McGoogin, ma’am.” “ Dhat’s a good name, at all evints. Well. Oi will take yez might to dhe hole av a room dhat Oi mintioned, and in dhe marnin’ yez may ate all ye pl’aze. Come along wid me.” She led the we to the very top floor of the house, and there t rew open the door of the room she had spoken of, which n as simply a big closet. There was a bed on the floor. , _ “ Bless me, ma’am," Cl ied Billy. " but this is a room fit for a king. Sure, it. is a permanent ' boarder I’ll be, an’ ye’ll have me as such.“ A good deal of talk followed, and when the Woman finally went down-stairs she carried with her the impression that Denny McGoogin was the best and brightest lad of his years that she had,ever seen. , Billy had told her that he was only fifteen, which she did not for a moment doubt. “ Sweet pertatersl” Billy exclaimed as soon as he was alone, “but I thought she would keep me a-talkin’ till I’d run down. W9“. she’s dis- posed of for th‘ time bein’. un’ here I am. Now what am I ter do? I only wish that I’d been fitted out with th‘ usual quantity 0’ brain when I was built. Wonder how a teller feels that’s got his right share 0’ that artlcle? ‘ I’d buy a pint, if I only knellved of some place where they kee it on tap. Yes. here I am, and what’s ter be one? Now that I’m inter th’ den, how am I ter locate that woman's room? Hang me u an' smoke me fer a' herring if I know. But, tgis is one big move made, an if I can’t go ahead now I ain’t worthy of th’ conferdence of Inspector Br——-— Hello! I hear voices below.” Down he dropped and laid his ear to the floor. Sure enough, voices reached him from o ‘ room helow‘, and one of them he recogniz» as \ that of the landlady. “ Yez may as well take i t aisy,” she was say- i » W-.. 3...... “flaw A... being no on Broadway Billy Abroad. ing, “ fur yez won’t git out av dhe room till Oi’m tould ter let ye out. Don’t be shpenkin’ about what ye’ll give me ter let yez go, for it’s twice as much I’ll be gittin’ ter kape ye here. Av dhere’s nothin’ yez want, Oi’ll bid ye good- noight.” " You are heartless,” cried another voice. “ You are keeping me from my home and chil- dren. You are aiding my villainous brother in his scheme to rob me. He has no wealth, while I have and if you will only let me go—"’ The Irishwoman interrupted with a laugh. “ Dhat is too thin,” she cried. “It is him as has dhe wealth, while you have none. Yez can’t blamey me dhat way. Oi am too old a bird—” - u “ No, no. he has lied to you, indeed he has. If he has wealth, why does he imprison me here to force mine away from me?" “ There’s a square cube 0’ logic in. that,” thou ht Broadway Billy, “an’ we’ll see how Mrs. cFaddin gits around it.” 1 “ Yis, but Oi have seen dhe colm' av his money, while Oi haven’t av yours,” was her re- turn. - " But you shall see it, I promise faithfully that you shall. Release me from here imme- diately, accompany me home, and I will place a thousand dollars into your hand the moment we reach there.”- ' “ An’ by kapin’ yez here Oi‘ll git two thou- sand. Oi’m not so grane, Oi hope, as ter let ye bloind me loike dhat. Good-height to ye.” “ Ohl do not keep me here! Do not—” ..But a door slammed shut, and the woman’s pleading ended in an outburst of sobbing. “ Sweet pertatersl” muttered Billy to himself, “but I knowed it. I kn0wed from th’ first that there was a dimkilty bi ewin’,or th’ fever wouldn’t ’a’ took bolt 0’ me as it did. Now whats ter be done? How am I ter play th‘ hero knight an’ rescue th’ imperiled female from her dilemmer? Let’s take th question inter debate an’ fizger it down. ,It’s most too early fer me ter go spook- in' about th’ house, so that ain’t ter be thought of for th‘ present. . What then? Seems ter me that I heard them talk mighty plain, consideriu’ that they wasn’t talkin’ very loud. Why was that? Reckon this floor ain’t very thick.” A candle had been left with im, and by its light he proceeded to examine the floor, there t or other covering on it. Barely ha he begun his examination when he made a discovery. In the place, where he had laid his head to ’there was asmall square, about ten inches each way. It was on a level with the rest of the floor, and only the newness of the board that formed had drawn his attention to it. He looked at it more closely, and could not see that it was nailed, so setting down the candle, he took out his knife and tried to pry the board up. ' In a few moments his eflorts were rewarded, he could look down through a pipe~hole into the room below. . . “ It is as plain as th’ nose of the man in th’ moon,” Billy muttered, as, leokin further, be found that there was a correspou in pipe-hole .in the roof overhead. “This house as helda Chinese colony or two, at some time or other, and there being no chimny near th’ room below, they’ve had ter build one of tin. Now, soon’s that woman W1“ stop her cryin’ so that she can hear me whisper, I’ll try an‘ open up communi- cation with.her.” The woman was weeping bitterly, but by degrees she me more quiet, and when he thought there was a chance of his being heard Billy put his face to the pipe-hole and whispered own: . “Ste er in , lady, and listen.” The £eep¥nggceased instantly. “Don’tapeakaword,”Billy urtherwhi red, “but look up to the ceiling and you wil seea hole. COme under that be e and you will see a friend.” Steps were heard at once, and. the woman came and looked up as directed. Billy could see her plainly enough, and she could see his face. She looked to be about forty years of age, and had every appearance of being a lady of means and refinement. “ Who are out" she whispered. “I am ‘a y that will try to help you to escape from here, if it can be done, but you ‘must be very quiet so that we will not be dis- covered.” ‘-. r‘ “ Thank God!” the woman exclaimed fervent- ly but cautiously. “ Help me toescape from g here, brave boy, and you shall be handsomely rewarded." .‘f‘Never mind about the reward part of it." Billy whispered back. “Just keep still till th’ house is all asleep, but mind that you don’t fall asleep yourself, and when I think that it is safe for me to move about I’ll call down to you again and we’ll have further talk.” d‘:‘Very well, I will do just as you have direct- e . ’ The woman walked away, and Billy sat down to wait for time. CHAPTER X. BROADWAY BILLY HEARS SOMETHING. AZIM MCDUFF was an ash-cart man. Mrs. McFaddin was a. Widow, and Azim was one of her boarders. The ash-cart man was paying court to the widow, and was tr ing to win her heart and hand in the honorab e bonds of matrimony. One night each week the widow allowed her lover to enjoy her company, and the night of which we write happened to be one of those enjoyable occasions. Hence it was that Broadway Billy waited in vain for the house to become quiet enough for him to set to work to assist the woman prisoner to escape. He had opened the door of his little cockloft room, and the constant sound of mice; came to his ears faintly from the lower part of the house. He had a watch, at which he glanced frequent- ly and impatiently. When one o’clock came around, and the sound of voices was still heard, the uneasy lad mentally exclaimed: . “Sweet rtatersl ain’t they goin’ ter roost tar-night? What do they mean by stayin’ u till this onseemly hour? Snap my fore-roya - stay, if I don’t steal down into th’ regions below and see what’s goin’ on. If I’m discovered I’ll make out that I’m walkin’ in my sleep. It won’t do for me ter let too much time slip away, an’ that is a fack that ain‘t ter be despised. Time is money, an’ a good many other things besides, an’ if I want for keep solid in th’ corn- ferdence of Inspector Br— Hello! there’s th’ female below a-whisperin’ at me. I reckon she’s gettin’ oneasy. too.” Getting down and putting his face over the hole, he responded to the call. “ Here I am,” he said, “ as wide-awake as an owl with th’ toothache.” “ Isn’t it late enough yet?” the woman asked. “ It is one o’clock, and plant late enough ” Billy informed, “ but at fack o or case is d9 house don’t seem ter be inclined ter go tor sleep. I was jest on th’ p’int of goin’ d0wn and scoutin’ around a little ter see what th’ lay of th’ land is. I reckon we’d better have our little talk first, though, so that in case I git nabbed and don’t hava any chance to help you. I’ll be able to in- form your friends where you are. Jest go ahead, ma’nm, and give me yer name and other p’ints of infermatioh that will be helpful.” ‘_‘ Yes, that I must do,” the woman whispered back, “ and you are Very thoughtful to mention it. Are you listening?" “Yes, listenin’ with both ears,” Billy assured. “ Very well, pay close attention: My name is Mrs. Emma Goodwin. I am the wife of Vin- cent Goodwin, who is resident of the Placer Bank. My home is at o. — California street. If you get no chance to help me out of here, go to my husband immediately and inform him where I am. Tell him that I have been brought here and imprisoned by my brother Goodridge, wh‘o isutrying to force me to sign important rs. “ Is that all you have to say?” Billy asked. “ I think that is all that isnecessary, is it not?” the woman responded. “ Yes, that’s plenty ter work on, butI thought inebby you might have more to tell. l’vo got it all down pat.” “ Can you remember the name and address of my husband?” ' “You bet. I have stored th’ p‘ints away in th’ vacant space where my brain orter be. ind it handy ter have loft-room in my upper-story, sometimes. Now I’m goin’ down ter see what’s goin’ on, and if I don’t come back, you jest keep a stiff upper lip and I’ll see to it that your hus- band is put onto th‘ racket in good shape.” “ What is your name, and how old are you?” “ Didn’t landlady tb s evenin’i” . “ I heard you ’talking, but could}, not dis- tIDKUiSh your words.” ‘f Well, m real name is Broadway Bill , which you on’t want to mention, and I mig be tooken for a kid of fifteen, I s’poss. I’m from New York. Mind, not a word of this to any one. M name here is Denny McGoogin.” “ Wel , well, no matter about that, I suppose. ou hear me tellin’ all that to th" You are a stranger to me, but if you will bring about my release from this horrible place I will see that you are rewarded handsomely.” “ Don’t say a word about that, ma’am. Now I’m goin’ down below. I’ll be back in half an hour if I don’t git nabbed. If I do, I’ll make enough noise ter let you know it." “ All right, I shall be awake.” Billy got up, replaced the board over the hole, and opened the door again, as he had shut it while talking with the prisoner. He had long ago put out his candle, in order that its light might not be seen, and in consult- ing his watch, had held it over the hole in the floor where the light from the room below was sufficient to show him the time. Having shouldered his box, for he had no de- siretolose it if he happened to be discovered and put out of the house, he stepped silently from the room. At the top of the very narrow staircase he listened, and the voices were still to be heard. Cautiously he made his way down. When he reached the first landing, he felt for the door that opened into the room where the prisoner was. . At first he did not find it, but presently, on proceeding further along the hall, he discovered it by the light that came under the door and through the keyhole. Stepping up close to the door, be tapped light- 1y upon it, and whispered: “ Mrs. Goodwin l” “ What is it?” was the immediate response. “I wanted to make sure of your door, that’s all. Now I’m goin’ on down.” - “ All right.” Of course Billy had given some attention to the plan of the house when he had entered, and gadkbut little trouble in finding his way in the ar '. Slowly and cautiously he pr eded, and final- ly found himself on the groun floor, where the voices Were more distinct, and where a light under a door guided him to the room where the persons were talking. Advancing carefully, he was soon in a position to overhear what was being said. ' A man was speaking. “ I hardly know ph wat to make av it, Missurs McFaddin,” he was saying. “As it is none av me business, though, Oi suppose 0i had better kape still about it. “ Yez say ye foind dhis in dhe ash-can every marnin’l" asked the voice of the landlady. “Every other marnin’, Missurs Mr-Faddin.” “Oh, yes, you only go there every other day to be sure. Well, it is rnythur strange, and dhat is true. You say it is jest so much of foine plastherin’ and brick, every toime.” " So Oi do, «Missurs McFaddin. Dhere is about a hatful av it in dhe ash-can as sureas dhe marnin’ comes round.” “And how long has dhis been goin’ on, Azim?” “ Oi have noticed.it fur several weeks past.” ?‘1: And you say ye have some suspishun about it “ Dhat same Oi have.” “And phwat is it yez suspict?” “Pay attintion, Missurs McFaddin, and 01 will discloseit to yez. Ye know dhat all dhat neighborhood, ’speshully perchune California strata and Bush strata, and Sansome strate and Montgomery strate, is dhe great finanshul part av dhe city. It is ‘in dhateneighborhood dhat dhis house is, and roight next dure to it is dhe Placer Bank. Now, it has entered we head dhat it is robbers thryin’ ter work dheir way tru from dhat house inter dhe bank.” \“Jest as loike as not yez are roight,” the landlady exclaimed. “And dhe uestion is, What should Oi do about it? If here was any reward tor be gained, begOrra Oi’d put dhe perlice onto dhe" me. ” W’hich it isn’t loikely dhere is at all at all. Now, if gez could watch and foind who puts dhe shtu in dhe ash-can, an’ threaten ter blow on ’em onless dhey came down wid dhe rocks, yez moight make somethin’ out av it.” “ Faith, and Oi bel’ave yez e roigbt, Missurs McFaddin. Oi hadn’t thong ' av dhat. is dhe noight, too, and Oi’ll go dhere and take a look in dheash-can before Oi retire.” “ It may be money intoyer pocket if yez can only catch dhe dhirty rascals at dher work,” Mrs. McFaddin encouraged. “ Begorra, but if it isn’t in dhe ash-can yet, Oi’ll wait and catch dhem.” the man declared. Dhis ' I “ And av Oi catch thim,” he added, “ 01’]! give _ dhem a scare as sure as me name is Azim Mc- Dufl‘. Oi’ll be takin' me l’ave now, Missurs McFaddin.” ' " ‘ .. street immediate! . a. i, I. it ,3, 10 “ All roight, Azim me darling, and it is good success dhat.0i wish ya.” Billy heard them move then, and hurriedly retreated to the stairs. He had no desire to be discovered, after hearing such a conversation as this. Making his way to the next floor, he waited there. Presently the door of the room below opened, and the pair came out and went along the hall to the front door, where, after some whispered talk, they parted, Aziin going out into the night and fog. “ Sweet pertaters l” Broadway Billy exclaimed in thought, “but i’d like ter foller him and find out what’s goin’ on. Have I stumbled upon another diflikilty? I hope so, if I kin only handle th’ thing right and bring th’ case out in my usual first-class style. W iin I knowed this city as well as 1 do New York, I wouldn’t have tcr be piloted around, then. If I can’t foiler this man, how am I tor find th’ plaCo he’s goin’ to? That’s a question. But, I mustn’t allow it ter stump me. I mustn’t lose th’ cornferdence of Inspector Br— Hello! here comes th’ land— lady this wa , an’ I’d better he makin’ myself scarce, I rec an.” Mrs. McFaddin was coming up the stairs, and Billy made haste to ascend the next flight to keep out of her way. As he stopped at the landing, however, he soon found that she was coming right on up, so he made haste to get back to his cockloft as quickly and silently who could. The landlady went no further than the door of her prisoner’s room. Billy heard her unlock the door and enter, and then exclaim: “Phwatl are yez not in bed, ma’ami Sure, and it is foolish ye are to be robbin’ yersel’ av slape in dhis way. It is takin’ yer loight away from yez Oi’ll be doin’, Oi think. ’ “Take it it you want to,” was the uiet an- answer, “I am not afraid of the dark. erhaps I will go to sleep then.” “ Oi ll give yez dhe chance to thry, anyhow." The door 0 nod again, and the. landlady came out with a amp in hand, and when she had locked the door she returned to the region be- ow. As soon as she had passed beyond hearing, Billy took up thelboard. of the floor and whis- , pered clown: ' ‘ " “ Mrs. Goodwin!” - “ I hear you," was the response. “ I don’t see that there is much chance for me to get you out of here alone,” Billy said, then, “ but as the coast is all clear for me to get away ‘ myself, I think I. had better take advantage of it and, let your husband know about the fix you are in. “ I think so, door is locked, to out, even could I escape. Gogguide you 1” CHAPTER XI. BILLY cars A BIG scams. A FEW more remarks were exchanged, and the Bootblack Bravo closed the hole. Not forgetting his box, he opened his door and listened, and the way being all clear, started down once more. He reached the ground floor all right, and felt his way to the front door, and finding ‘that it was secured with only an ordinary night-latch, was soon out upon the street. “Sweet pertaters, kerrysene, cotton-seed an’ .main-royal-staysails!” he exclaimed, “ if this ain’t like old times. Life wouldn’t be worth livln’ it I couldn’t keep pokin’ my nose inter all sorts o’ consumed difllkilties. Th’ only thing that I am troubled about is Skinny. I’d like ter know whether he got back to his roost all right. No use mournin’ over him, though. Hes no chicken, and when it comes right down to th’ plain fax of th’ case, I guess he’s as able to take eer o’ himself as I am, but it wouldn’t do tor tell him so, for it would make him vain. Now, ,what be I ter do? Here I am, a pilgrim an’ a stranger and don’t know t’other street from which. t my kit that I buy a ma of this V town tomorrow, and a compass, too, f neces- sary. Must be able’ter navigate, or I’ll lose my ‘ bearin’s. How am I ter fin th Placer Bank? .111: would take a Chica ,o detective ter find it in this fog,, anyhow. _ust do .somethiu’, now though. or this case Will sp’ile on my ban is, an ' I’ll lose the cornferdenco of Inspector Br— Helloi that’s th’ idea; I'll go over and. drum up Tommy Wah.” ' I-lis move. decided upon, too,” came back the reply. “ This and the hour is very late for me Go, and may Y . , LBeyerul loud knocks brought a sleepy-looking 4 ' vl ' ' 1 r . i, . ,i ~ ,in about an‘ hour McDuff, evident i started for home. he started'across tho- Broadway Billy Abroad. Chinese head out at a window, and something was demanded in Chinese. “ I give it up,” said Billy. “ I don’t talk that way, ’specially at night and in a fog, when sich a distortion 0’ my jaws might result in th‘ bi‘own-keety-us, or some other ailment almost as bad. Is that you, Tom anh?” “ Yes, allee. some me,” was the anSWer; “what wantee him i" “ I am yer New York friend, Tommy, and I want to see you had.” “ You ullee same Billee?” “That’s me,” Billy assured. “ Allen light! me comee light down.” The head disappeared, and in a few minutes the door was opened. “ \Vhatec want Tom IVah see of?” very intelligible question. “ l’ll tell ye, Tommy, in short meter,” Billy responded. “ I’ve just got an inklin’ of one of th’ consarnedest diffikilties that you— Hold on, though, you don’t onderstand anything but plain United States. I’ll begin again. Tom, I want you to show me the way to the Placer Bank, right away.” “ Placee Bankeei Me no savvy.” “It is a bank, Some where around Sansome, Bush, California or Montgomery street. It is named Placer Bank. If you don’t know where itis, just take me ( ver to that neighborhood, and 1’“ find it lllyk‘i'li.” The Chinanian had a thousand and one ques-' was the not - tions to ask before he wou’riliiove, but finally, had enlightened him upon the vari- he had left the house of Mrs. he wanted to go to the bank, to guide him to the place he when Billy ous points; why McFaddin, wh . etc., he agree wanted to reach. Tom Wah was soon ready, and they set out. They had but little to say on the way, and finaly arrived in the neighborhood Billy had muted. T e fog had now lifted. They were walking along, when suddenly Bill caught sight of a man who was standing hal - concealed in a doorway, and thinking imme- diately that it might be the man McDuff, the lad looked at the building closely. , fi 139 saw that it was the bank he desired to n . Saying nothing to the Chinaman, not wanting to let helwaitiaé , , seen, liy ‘wai . until they had passed little distance before he spoke. " I’ve seen the place I wanted to find, Tom,” he said then, “and you kin cut fer home as soon as you please.” ‘ Whatee say?” the Celestial interrogated. “ The bank that I wanted to find is right back there,” Billy repeated, speaking more plainly, “ and now you may go back home.” ' “ Oh! allee light; me go home light away.” ~Billy thanked him for his serVice, cautioned him to sa nothing ’ to his fellow Chinamen nor any one e se, and sent him off. ‘Now fer it,” the lad thought, as he stood alone on the street. “ I must get back there and help Mr. McDqu keep his lonesome vigil. He mi ht git tired doin’ it all alone, but with my be p I know he’ll hold out like a major. Hard-a—port, Willyum, an’ come up inter th’ wind an start on th’ long tack. Steady, now, an’ hold yer p’iut right on. Obi but this is what I like, it is, and if I only knOWed the city better I bet I‘d make things hum. I’ll try ter do a little hummin’ anyhow.” - Having turned back, he kept well into all the shadows that he could, and finally, when he had gained about as near a position as he thought he could reach without discovery, sat dawn on the curb in one of the shadows and Waited. Nothing of an exciting nature ha pened, and y too tired left his post and rtatersi” muttered Billy, “ he ain’t -to at all. That is what call petorln’ bloom of th’ fun. . Pshawi he’s got no grit in him. Well; iiowit’s me fer it alone, an‘seein’ that th’ coast is clear I reckon I’ll take a survey of th’ land an’ see how it In 8.” flINithothis he got up,croased over to the o and sleepy to watch longer, “ Sweet got no stic out in th’ early to side of the atreetiland when there, looke’d' ck at the bank and t 9 building that adjoined it. The bank was an .a corner, and lights were burning dimly-Within. ‘ _ . . The buildin that adJomed it had the appear- ance of a dwe in , but was evidently cut up in- to otflces now, an rented piecemeal. At first nolights were to be seen, but as Billy looked closely he made the discovery that; one set of windows on the second floor. ‘ was heavily man suspect that he had been, . ' on for a9 curtained, and that a very faint light was to be seen here and there at the edges of the curtains. “ Somethin’ rotten in Denmark, an’ that is sure,” the lad decided. “ I’d like tor git onto th’ whole skeem. This is th’ buildin’ next door to th’ bank, an’ that bank is th’ one that Mrs. Goodwin’s husband is president of. Do these two cases drift inter each other? That’s what I’d like ter know, an’ what I must know. But, see here, I’m beginnin’ ter git leg-weary, an’ I uess I’ll step right in here an’ take it easy while , watch.” ' By “ right in here ” Billy meant into the en- trance-way of a building that was open to the street. Owing to the general mildii'nss of the climate, some of the office buildings are Without the usual outer doors, the main entrance being open and unguarded. Billy mounted the steps until he Was under the sheltering shadows, and there, where he could observe the opposite side of the street with- out being seen himself, he sat down and began his watch. ‘ He fell asleep, and when he awoke he found that it was just grovring light. ' “ Sweet pcrtatersl” he exclaimed, as he rubbed his eyes and looked around him, “ where am I. anyhow? Ohl now I remember, and—Sweet pertaters! I am a healthy old detective, I am, ter fall asleep like that! I ain’t worth tli’ least degree of th’ cornferdence of Inspector Br— Hello! lain’t too late fer th’ funeral, though after all 1” His eyes were suddenly drawn to the opposite side of the street, where a man had just come out of the house he had intended watching. This man carried a duster under his arm, and had apanful of dirt in his hand. He had the appearance of a janitor, and such in fact, he was. Stepping forward to an ash-can that stood by the curb, he threw the dirt into it and went bac again into the building. ' Billy left his place of hiding immediately and crossed over and took a look into the can. The dirt that the man had deposited was fine— lyrground brick, as could be seen at a glance. here had it come from? If it. hadbeen found in the ash-can every other day for weeks, as the ash-cart man, McDufl, had declared, what was goin on in that building! Billy believed that the t eorythat M had advances! was close upon " 4“ in ~ : The lad had some of the dirt in his hand, ex- amining it, and for the moment was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not observeam'an who was coming out of the build . ' Billy did not see him till he ha reached the sidewalk, and then looking suddenly up, at the sound of footsteps, he receiwd a shock that for an instant caused his face to turn palm: ' He recognized the man at sight; l It was an old enemy, a man whom Billy had twice before been the means of sending to prison. “ Sweet rtaters!” he exclaimed mentally: “itis Shar ey Dan! Now I am in fer it, an I’ll bet that my life ain’t worth a nickel.” Dan Bingham it was, or - “ Sharkey” Dan, as he was better known, and his presence proved that he had again escaped from prison. . ' , “ Curse you i” he hissed, as be advanced, ‘ “ what are you doin’ here?” ' , ,l I : Billy took care not to let him get hold of him. : “’Tendin’ tor my own business,” was his re- tort. “You don’t seem to “ what are you huntin’ in “ If ou was as bun ,” Sharkeyaccused; at ash-can fer?” as I be,” answered me a dimeTto stave ofl? starvation, will fye? I’m so h ring I don’t re. member what I reamed last ght. ’ ‘ « “Curse you! I’ll help your memory a little.- Do you know me?” ‘- g I ' “ Can’t say’s I do.” ' ’ ‘ p _‘ “Well, I now you, then. You are Broads. 1 way Billy, the little devil that— Say, though, don‘t on really 1 _nine me?” _ _ “ u’ ,musthbe a ittle dis omted in your top.‘ story, I e58. Bin! “91" - “What are yer-i talkin’ a gut. anyhow? About th’ only we that I reckernire loon tick ’sylurn. bile king thus, Sharke .to get n r.to Billy, and Bi minedly edging ofl. “Come said, stopp ash-cans, too. Say. give y was a? deter- ng short, “and in that “yearn, ‘ _ vourbreakfast. Don’t take me forac ' f ‘I thought I recognized you, but} my have -' , been mistaken.” ~ , : , k , " Can’t do it,” Billy declined, “ fer I’m ad out ’“ ,o’ blackin‘, an’ I’m too awful bun , g tor work, > anyhow. Must hunt ’round till I a-crust ‘ P "V A . , .1.- , " 1.3? :i‘ ., . ; ‘ use . I" .*1. Billy, ‘ you might be glad ter takes look inter ‘ t , ,i ‘3 ‘Q .14 e is as a fit subjeck' ter :5? ;, Dan Was nd give me a shine,,then,” the man ‘4 v * Yr - minutes Billy was snoring. ‘ are oin’ that I‘ll onwind the tale to ye, ,r. I Broadway Billy Abroad. - >‘.»~’AL t u, .. 9v. ww-..’x~,;-—.—- * 11 _a bpne, an’ then mebby I’ll be fit fer biz. Ta- ta! He moved off, but with a muttered curse the man sprung after him, as though to capture him. And he almost succeeded, too. Billy barely escaped, but seeing that he had escaped, he made the very best use he could of his legs, and led Sharkey Dan such a chase that the lat- ter was finally “ winded,” and forced to give it up. Billy kept right on, though, until sure that he had thrown his enemy off the track, when he set about finding his way to the hotel, where he hoped to rejoin Skinny. CHAPTER XII. BILLY [N A NEW DRESS. WHEN Broadway Billy reached the hotel he found it just waking into life for another day’s business. It was pretty early in the morning, and there was yet time for him to snatch a little more sleep if he made good use of it. Making his way to his room, after a little tilt with one'of the porters who was not inclined to admit him, he knocked at the door to arouse Skinny, and presently his partner’s sleepy voice demanded: “ Who’s there i” ' “it is I, your guardian angel,” Billy re- sponded. Skinny was wide-awake immediately, and opened the door, exclaiming: “Ginger! but I’ni_glad you’ve come, Billy! I'ha’ve’got somethin’ to tell ye, an’ it is some- t in —- "Jest hold yer bosses right there,” Billy in- terrupted, as he entered and closed the door “ fer I don’t mean ter talk ner be talked to till I’ve had some sleep. l‘m goin’ter bunk right down here on th’ floor,” takingva pillow from the bed and suiting actions to the words, “ and if you 'interrupt me fer two strai ht hours 1’]! pulverize ye. Bear that in min , my prize skeleton.” r “, But, Billy, there is a—” "I don’t care if there is. You jest roll back inter bed, an’ call me in! exactly two hours an’ then I’ll listen to ye. Not another .” Billy was thoroughly in earnest, and so Skinny had to curb his impatience and submit. In two There was no more sleep for Skinny, though, 'and when he had lain for about an hour he got up and dressed. Working around the room slewly as he made his morning toilet, half an hour more was consumed, and then he could stand. it no longer. . ' Giving Billy a poke with his foot, he cried: “Come! great goodness! d’ye want ter sleep all day? Hustle up out of that! It would take a earthquake tar wake you up.” . ! Bill sat u and rubbed his eyes. “ hat’s t ’ matter?” he demanded. " Matter i” cried Skinny; “ why, you told me ter call yer in two hours, an’ here you are tryin’ ter sleep till n00n. Come, stir er stumps— “ Look-here, on slckl Shudder," cried Billy, as ho scrambl up. “if was sure you are cheat- in’ me out of any of that two hours’ snooze, I’d tie a thread to yer neck an’ pull ye through th’ keyhole.” ‘ Ginger! you’ve slept away over time, so don't worry. e, stir around an’ git on some decent clothes. an’ While you’re doin’ that I’ll tell ya somethm’ that will make yer hair curl.” u but d’ye mean? What has got ver ye, Skinny? Ye are as excited as a 'cruz bedbug. Any one would think that th’ detective fever was workin’ on ye. ter look at ye.” “ That’s ,jest what it is, Billy, fer a tack.” “ What! i “ That’s what it is, an’ I’ve stumbled of th’ best things you ever heard of. thou h, and git read fer grub, an’ upon one Go ahead, while you “All right, fire ahead." . I Billy set about washing himself and changin his clothes, and Skinny told all about in. ME ventures of the evening. “Sweet rtatersl” Billy cried, when Skinny , .v finished, “grit on are bound ter be a second Pinkerton! ho would ’a’ thought it of a der like you. You are thinner than y, owin’ ter th‘ anxiety ye have passed I ihi'ough. But you are a boss jest th’ same, an’ .' .V m ‘ «igfienoeforth goin’ tor promote ye an' increase on are my lieutenant. ow doe: . , , ks ye? Lieutenant Skinny—ha, ha, Ml , But,.ter gi nil: down ter business, I have {331.339 Whips on t . t same racket, my gay an’ You have!” Skinny exclaimed. ' I orgy! What I have. You jest listen while I “Plyo ever ' Billy went ahead, then, and told all about his adventures. Skinny listened with eyes and mouth open wide. Here was something that he had never dreamed of. It did not seem possible that Billy, too, could have learned something of the same matter from so entirely different a direc- tion. “Billy,” he cried, “you are a terror. I’m afraid that you will be a dead one, though, if that Sharkey Dan gits bolt of ye. He‘s not it in fer you. an’ now that he’s likely ter suspect tlflllll ypu are onto his game, he’ll try to dispose 0 ye. “ Right ye are, Fatty, but that ain’t goin’ ter scare me off, not a bit. I’m goin’ inter this game new fer all I’m worth, and if I don’t make things hum it will be ’causc I’ve lost my grip, that’s all.” “ But you must keep out 0’ Sharkey’s clutches.” “I’ll try ter do that. But, come, let’s have breakfast, fer there oes th’ gong. I feel as though I could eat a w ale.” Billy was ready, and they. went d0wn to the dining-room. The Bootblack Bravo was altogether another person now. He was clad in a neat suit, with derby hat and tidy standing collar, and looked to be just what he was, a thoroughbred young American. He was just at that point of life when clothes made all the- difference in the world in his looks. In his rough~and~ready bootblack attire, he looked to be a boy of fifteen—certain] not over seventeen, but now, in this gentleman y~appear- ingloutfit, he looked fully twenty. is table ac uaintances welcomed him back to the board, an were eager to inquire about his adventures of the night, and in answering their induiries Billy had, to invent a little as he went along. “Did your absenee cause your partner any anxxetyl’ one man asked. ‘ “ Yes, quite a little,” Billy responded. “ He is considerably thinner than he was last night, as the you can notice.” _ 9 ha drOpped his street patois for the time. “ I cannot say that, I notice it,” the man re- turned. “ It is all in his mind,” Skinny exclaimed. “ His appetite is so big this mornin’ that other things look small in comparison, that’s what is the matter. Iam no thinner than I was.” “ You can‘t see ourself as others see you, Skinny,” averted B lly. “ You do not realize :what a slender blade you are. You are a tender flower, and it requires my constant care and attention to kee you from drooping and fadin away into noth ng. By the way, can any 0 you gentlemen tell me weere I can buy a good hound?” “ You might be able to get one by adver- tisin .” some one suggested. “ bank you, that’s what I’ll have to do, I guess. I must have one, and it is not safe to put it off any longer.” ‘ A momentary silence. “Why do you want a bound?” the man who had suggested advertising inquired. “ I have got to invent some means of keeping track of my partner,” Billy explained. “ If he keeps on getting thinner I soon won’t be able to see him. _I thought I’d buy a good bound, and then let him carr a scent-bag in his pocket so that the dog coul follow him. I’d have to muz- zle the dog, though, or it might mistake Skinny for a bone, and then I would have no partner at all. Even Skinny 18 better than none.” Billy’s inimita le wa of saying this brought a round of laughter rom those around, and when it had subsided, Skinny spoke u . “ I can improve upon that plan, Bil y,” he an- nounced. ” All right, let‘s hear'from you, then,” Billy invited. “ We’ll buy a magnet, and you can carry that and I’ll carry the pieco of steel that belongs to it, and we’ll never be separated.” So the two lads joked, but as soon as they had returned to their room Billy became serious im- mediately. ' “ Now, Skinn i,” he said, “.we must get down to business. 9 are both into this game, and both in to win. Hence we’ll sally forth together. We’ll goflrst and lee Mf. Goodwin, the reside t.” :0“ you’ll tell him about the intended rob- l'y . . “. No, sir. We’ll go and interview the chief of fillies with that bit of news. ck u a fuss right away and score the fellows off! 0’, we’ll'iet him be in the dark for the e co \‘, win would" “ I guess you are right. Now 1’]! just pocket. these letters of introduction that I’ve got, and we’ll set out.” Billy took some letters from his trunk and put them in his pocket, and they left the room. Knowing that it would be the quickest and easiest way for them to get around, Billy en- ganged a cab. “ Where to?” the driver of the vehicle asked. “ Number —California street,” Billy directed. In due time they were at their destination. The two lads got out, Billy told the driver to wait, and they presented themselves at the door of the banker’s residence. A scrvant answered their ring. “ We want to see Mr. Good wm, immediately, upon important business,” Billy announced. “ Your name?” the servant inquired. “ Never mind our names,” said Billy, “for we are strangers. Just say to the gentleman that. we have news concerning his wife.” The face of the servant brightened, and she admitted them without further challenge. They were shown into a room, and in a little time the door opened and a man of middle age entered. “ You desire to see me?” he asked. ._ “ Yes, if you are Mr. Goodwin,” Billy spoke ~ u‘p. - “ Well, I am he,” the banker assured, “ so speak right out. cerning my wife?” “ Is she missing from home, sir?” “ She is. If you have seen this morning’s pa- pers ou must know that." “ aven’t seen the papers, sir, but I have seen your wife.” “ You have? Where is she, young man? Tell me instantly everything that you know.” “ Must go just a little slow,” Billy observed, “ to be sure of my ground. I believe your wife has a brother?” winges, yes; but go on. What have you to “ Does that brother seem worried over her be- ing missing?” “ Yes, he does. He has secured the city.” “And of course you couldn’t suspect him of playing false, and being at the bottom of the whole mystery, could you? He couldn’t have any object in deprivin your wife of her liberty in order to make er sign an important “ What do you know?” the banker thupdered, his face flushed. “ Speak right out, and no more beating around it.” CHAPTER XIII. BILLY MAKE! AN amsr. 1MB. GOODWIN’S demand was imperative. Billy had no further excuse for delay, so he laid the matter bare. “ Good heavens! can this be true?” the banker exlolzlaimed, when he had heard all the lad had to te . “It is as true as the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence,” the informant- assure . “ Yes, yes, I do not doubt your word, young man, but it seems so im ible. Is Goodridge' Whitstone such n roses 9 It must be so, for there does not seem to be any room for doubt. My wife’s word for it ought to be sufficient.” “ And what are you going to do about it, sir?” Bill asked. , “ am 'ust trying to think what move I ought. to make,’ the banker reflected. ‘5 Of, course you want to rescue your wife, an — a “Yes, to be sure; but whether to arrest her brother or not,I do not know. He deserves to be‘Punished.” ‘ Well, I should say so!” Broadway Billy v: cried, indignantly. it right to him.” In his excitement his accustomed inelegance of language cropped out. “ Yes, I know, but he is my wife’s brother, and if she would forgive himand spare him I will do the same. She might wish to do that. But, See here, on have not d me the street and number w ere she is being (1 tained. I must know that Riyal] means. or your information will be war less to me.” I “ I have hem holding that back for ‘the last,” Billy declared. “ She is in a miserable denawny over in the Chinese quarter of the town.” “ Heavens !" “And imprisoned in the most miserable of rooms, too. This brother of hers has women strict orders to keep her till he sees her pace more" i‘and thten he ti: ‘ ate. a e won sign spa I don’t know what he intends to do with hex-’33” , ‘ , “ If I was you I would soc t. What is it that you know con~' given going to decide her ’ 1W 9. s - from a professional detective. 12 Broadway Billy Abroad. “Is it so bad as that?” “ You can’t seem to realize that it is serious, sir, because she is in the hands of her own brother, but I wouldn’t be s’prised if he tried to kill her if she held out and refused to sign.” ' “Well, well. he shall be prevented from doing that But give me the street and number.” 'lly did so “And now, who are you?" the banker next asked. “ Well, that don’t particularly matter,” Billy responded, “ but we are two chaps from New York, abroad taking in some of the sights.” “ But your names?” Billy gave them. “ I am not inclined to disbelieve you,” the banker observed, “ but it seems to me a little strange that such a neat-appearing boy as you should catch on behind a carriage and follow it to its destination, like a stree ./ Arab might do; .andf‘ust for fun, as you call it.” " see I have got to unfold myself to your in- spection,” Billy remarked, and he took hisletters from his pocket and handed them OVer. “ What!” the banker exclaimed as be read, “ a letter from Jonas Herman, of the — Bank; why, I know him well; and others from promi- nent New Yorkers, to say nothing of this one My lad, let me shake your hand.” - The banker held out his hand in earnest frank- ness and Billy grasped it in a hearty manner. “ ow that you know all about me,” be said, “ I’ll go further. I was in disguise last night, if it can be called that, though this style of dress is more like a disguise for me. I was in my boot- black outfit, and was a genuine Arab, just as I used to be in New York." The banker handed back the letters, saying: “ It is all explained,‘now. I understand. Now, since you are really a detective, young man, allow me to consult with you. What had I bet- ter do in this matter? I mean, how proceed?” “ Well, sir,” was Billy’s response, “my lay- out may not suit you, but I’ll give it to you for what it‘s worth.” “ Do so.” “ I happen to know that that rascally brother is going to see his risoner again this forenoon. _We can nab him nely of you want to do it. We can go there, taking along a couple of police- nie i, and if we arrive before he does, can lie in wait for him. If he is already there, which is not likely, we will be sure of him no less.” “ And you will 0 along?" “To be sure. here is no fun in playing de- tective. unless you can be in at the death.” “ Very well, we will do that. I will send word to the bank .that I will not be there this morning, and will order my carriage—” ' ' “That won‘t do,” Billy interrupted, “for he would know your turn-out if he chanced to see ’1» ’1 “ Yes, that is so. What is your plan?” “Well, see how this strikes you,” answered Billy, bluntly: “ It is quite likely that the fel- low will employ the same carriage again that he has made use of twice before. That one is to be found at the hotel where it started from last night, very probably. We will go there, or somewhere else, and engage a carriage that he will not be able to recognize as yours, but we will know his rig at sight.” V “ That is a good idea, and- But, good gracious! here he comes now i” Mr. Goodwin had just caught a glimpse of a -persOn ascending the steps, and recognized Goodridge Whitstone. “ We'll dodge out'of sight, doable-quick,” ex- claimed Billy. “ and you needn’t let on that any one is here. This way, Skinny i” There was a big, hand-painted screen near at gand, and the two lads were soon concealed be- it. / . No sooner were they there than the servant announced Mr. Whitstone. “ Show him right in,” the banker directed. In a moment he entered. “ Well, Vincent,” he asked, as he sunk down upon the nearest chair, “ any news of the miss- inz one? “ You need not ask that,” was the response. “ Why not? I am not a mind-reader.” “ If she had been feund you would have been ' notified.” “ Oh, as, pardon me. .Well, well, it is terrible. I just ropped in to see if you have any new hope. I must go right on. Whose cab at the door?” , “ A caller who has stepped out for a mo- ' meat.” ‘V‘Ah,*yea. Well, I will go right on, for I am bound to find m sister if she is in this city, or something about er if she is out of it. ‘ “I wish you success. I have been almost in despair.” “ She shall be found!” “ I hope she may.” W'hitstone hastened away, and Billy and Skinny came out from their place of hiding. “ That is nei'vy, anyhow,” Billy observed. “ Is he the same man you saw last night?” the banker asked. “Yes, he is the same rooster,” the lad declar- “That settles his fate then, He shall be arrested and punished. To think that he could come here with such a double face!” “ I have an idea that he will watch to see who gets into that cab of ours,” Billy remarked. “ “Till you let your servant go out and pay the man and dismiss him, Mr. Goodwin?” “ Why, certainly.” “ Very well, send him this and tell him to go.” A servant was summoned, and the driver was soon aid and sent away. “ ow,” Billy further observed, “if there is a rear way by which we can get out of the house, let's be going, for the sooner we are on the spot now the better.” ’ “ I will be with you in a very few moments.” The banker went from the room. telephoned to the bank that he would not be there, and then telephoned to a police station for two policemen to be sent to a street corner near the house where his wife was. That attended to, he rejoined the .1513 and announced that he was ready, and conducted them from the house by a rear way, coming out upon another street. Knowing just where to go to get a carriage, the banker soon found one, and the three got in and were carried ofl? toward the Chinese quarter. When they came near to their destination they saw two policemen standing on acorner, looking wonderineg about as though trying to imagine why they had been sent there. Billy stepped the carriage and motioned to them, and they came up. A few words of ex- planation and direction were given, and the carriage Went on, the policemen following on foot. The carriage was stopped on the opposite side of the street from Mrs. McFaddin’a house, and there it waited, none of its passengers getting out. . In about an hour another carriage turned into the same street, and coming on, stopped at Mrs. McFaddin’s. Billy had recognized it at sight as the one they were waitin for, and called Mr. Goodwin’s at- tention to it. They watched to see who would at out, and sure enough it was Goodridge , hitstone. “ That’s our chicken,” Billy exclaimed, full of suppressed excitement, “ and we’ll soon have him in the pot.” The man entered the house, and no sooner had he done so than one of the two policemen came forward and arrested the driver of the carriage and took him and his vehicle away. As soon as that was done, .illy and Mr. Goodwin and Skinny alighted from their car- riage, and Billy led the way up the stepsto the door. the other policeman accompanying them. Billy rung the bell, and Mrs. McFaddin an- swered it. At sight of the policeman she was frightened, but before she could think of resis- tance the officer had her hands secured. Billy led the others right on up-stairs, cautioning them to silence as they proceeded. Arriving at the door of the room where he knew Mrs. Goodwin 'was imprisoned, he knocked li htly. ‘ a” Who is there?” the rascally brother demand- ed. “It is mesel’, Missurs McFaddln, sure,” Billy answered, trying his best to imitate the land- lady’s voice; and he succeeded well, too, . for the door was opened at once, and Goodridge Whitstone stood before them. “ Up with your hands!” cried Billy from Broadway. presenting a revolver at his breast; and the fellow obeyed quickly enough. CHAPTER XIV. BILL‘Y AND SKINNY AT HEADQUARTERS. A MORE completely aslnnisbcd man than Goodridge _Whitstnne. is hard to imagine. ' Broadway Billy’s startling command, backed as it was with a weapon, was bad enough. but even worse than that was the sight of Mr. Good- win at his back. “-You dog!” the banker thundered, “you de- serve to be hanged. I knew of your perfld when you were at my house an hour ago, and could ardly keep my fingers from your throat then. Your fate aha 1 rest With your sister.” With this the banker pressed on into the room, and his wife threw herself into his arms. “ That brave boy sent you here, then ?” she asked. . “ If you mean this young gentleman, yes," was the answer. / “ Are you the lad who was in the room above me last night?“ the woman inquired. “ I guess I am,” Billy answered. “ But, what is to be done with this scoundrel?" the banker demanded. “ Arrest him,” was the sister’s firm response, “and let him feel the weight of the law for once. 1 disown him forever.” “ If you‘re thinking about making a break.”' the voice of Broadway Billy rung out, “don’t you do it, unless you want to feel a cold pill in- sidegi‘ you. I mean shoot, right from the trig- ger. The man had been contemplating just sucha move, but Billy had nipped it in the bud, and he cowered under the fire of the lad’s black eyes. Just then, too, the policeman came in, having left Mrs. McFaddin secure below, and Whit- stone was taken in charge by him. He was handcuffed, and when that was done he was led d0wn-stairs, the others following. When they reached the hall where the land- lady had been left, that good-tempered lady broke out into a torrent of abuse, directed main- ly at Billy, whom she now recognized. \ “ Fire away, old lady,” Bill laughin ly in- vited, “ [guess I can stand it. am your enny McGoogin, just as you suppose, and I came here last night to play just this very trick upon you. You are a smart woman, but the best of you will get tripped up once in awhile.” The officer took his prisoner off, Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin going in the carriage to make a charge against them; and Billy and Skinny set out afoot for their hotel. Mr. Goodwin insisted upon the lads’ accom- pan in him and his wife back to their home, but il would not hear to it. He was, how- ever, ob iged to give the banker his address. “ Sweet pertatersl” Billy exclaimed, as soon as heaud Skinny were again in their room, “ but this is jest makiii' Rome howll Let me get back inter my old bootblack rig, my gay an’- festive fat partner, so’s I kin give satisfyin’ expression :0 my: feelin’s. Can’t do it in this attire, no- OW.' . In spite of-Skin'ny’s protests, then, Biiiy’proi " ceeded to make the change. “ There,” he cried, when he once more stood forth as the Bootblack Bravo of old, “ now Richard is himself again and th" World moves. Take a reef in my mizzen-course if this ain’t life worth livin’l ter tell when we get home, Skinny!” “ If we everdo get home,” Skinny croaked. “ And what’s ter hinder us from gettin’ home?” Billy demanded. “We are alive and well, and have got th’ rocks ter pay our fare. We could start today, if we wanted to. What are ye whinin’ about?” “ It would be th’ best thing that we could do, too,” Skinny declared. “Not much it wouldn’t. My fun ain’t com-J menced yet. What, go home an’ let that bank be robbed? Well, hardly. Come, my gay anl festive lieutenant, don’t forget your promotion, and don't try ter throw your wet blanket upon my et skeems.” "‘ hat’s\ all right, Billy, but here you are tog ed out again in our old boothlack outfit, an ‘harkgery Dan will sees e. 011 must keep shady, I tell ye."\ Bi ly was serious, but he was determined. ‘ “ Can’t help it, lieutenant,” he responded. “ I" feel right at home in this rig. soniehovv. When I’m, on th’ war-path, and I don’t mean ter lay it off again till this case is brought to a focus. There’s one p’int that ye remind me of. though an’ that is this: I want you to take charge of these letters of mine, fer I don‘t want ter lose ’em. and if I got nabbed I certainly would. Put ’em in yer pocket—there. that’s right; an’ now let’s set out ter See th’ chief o’ p lice. Sweet pertatersl but we are lieginnin’ ter make our mark in Fan Santisco, an’ I guess we will stand all right in th’ conferdonce of Inspector Br— Come, though, we must hustle.” They left their room and the house, and when they appeared upon the street Billy inquired the wav to the lace they desired to find. , He was rected, and they set out. Bu was walking ahead, to Skinn had de- cla that he would not walk with im; and they had gone some distance when Billy sud- denly heard the loud barking of asmail dog an exclamation from Skinny, a yelp from the dog, and then the angry voice of a man, . I It all took place in about one brief second, and Whewl but we’ll have tales e sure fer kn w ye if he 1 \ , ever dreamed I Broadway Billy Abroad. 13 turning quickly,'Billy was able to take in the situation at a glance. A small dog had run out and snapped at Skinnv’s heels, Skinny had kicked the dog, and now the Owner was about to pr0< ceed to extreme measures with the thin part- not “Kick my dawg, will ye?” the man cried; “ I’ll do the same for you, an’ let ye know ho“»_” “Hold on there, mister!“ Bill chimed in; “jest hold a little bar on yer off mule an’ put yer helm hard-a-port. If you at- tempt ter do any damage ter that shadder, you’ll have t”er tackle his substantial part, which same is me. “ An’ who be on l" the angry man demanded. “ I’m one of ncle Sam’s free-born subjects, and you want ter bear that in mind as on go along. This shudder that your dog quite evi- dently mistook fer a bone, is my lieutenant, an’ I can t see him damaged in any way. We will forgive th’ dog, under th’ circumstances, but you mustn’t try ter injure my lieutenant.” Billy was facing the man now, and Skinny was out of immediate danger. “I’ve amind to have you both arrested for vagabonds,” the man growled, “I don’t kick my dawg myself, an’ I don’t mean ter let any- body else do it." “ You’d better go slow about havin’ us arrest— ed, fer th’ gun might kick,” cautioned the street crusader; ‘ an’ as fer not wantin’ yer dorg kicked, jest keep him from runnin’ out at folks. It was luck he tackled in lieutenant instead 0’ me, for if d kicked him t ere wouldn’t be any- thing left of him but th’ hole where my foot would ’a’ gone through, an’ that’s a fuck.” Several persons had collected around them by this glue, and a laugh greeted Billy’s quaint speec . The man, seeing that the crowd was likely to be against him, cooled off a little. “ Well,” he said, “ I’ll let ye off this time, but if you ever kick my dawg again it won't be well fer ye. “An’ it won’t be well for th’dorg, éitber,” Billy assured, “ if I have ter do th’ kickin’—not much it won’t! Ye’ll pick up his head in Buf- falo an’ his tail in New York.” The man growled to himself as he went back into the shop he had come from, and the two lads proceeded on their waty. “Sweet pertaters! but thought you was a goncr, Skinny,” Billy observed. “I know th’ dog was a little feller, but one good bite would ’a’ settled you, bein’ that you're so thin. Say, We’d better take th’ opposite side of th’ street, where the sun is shinin’, so that I kln see ye better, an’ so that dorgs won’t besolikely ter make! sich mistakes. Th’ sun might warp ye though, an’ then there would be worse tron ble.’ “ Oh! do let up on that!” Skinny cried. “ I’d rather be thin and brainy, than rounded out like a Dutchman, like you.’ _ “ That settles it, in gay an’ festive obese rd," rejoined Billy, ‘ an’ we'llpjog right along our destination. You’ll not hear another pe'e out 0’ me. A Dutchman, indeed! Kah!” T ey hastened along, and finally, after once more inluiring their way, found the place they were see ing. Billy and his lieutenant went boldlyin, and several policemen had their eyes upon him in a moment. “ I want tor Bee th’ high priest of this ’stab- lishment." the Bootblack Bravo announced. “ I want tor have an interview with yer high cock- alorum, or whatever ye call him out here. In New York we call him Inspector Br— What e ye starin’ at so? Didn’t ye nevor see a New ork bootblack afore?” The officers smiled and winked at one another, and one asked: . “ What do you want to see the chief for, noun 1” “ 9“. now.” returned Billy, as he unslnng his box, and sat down upon it, “if it , was somethin’ that 1 could onwiud for ordinary folks like you, I wouldn’t tooken all th’ trouble for come here, fer I could ’a’ found a perliw man asleep on almOst any corner. No, sir-eel I am here ter see tli’bOss—ther captain—ther chief—ther Tycoon—an’ I must see him, too. I have got on tor one of th’ biggest thin s that ye of, an’ I want ter dsclose th’ chasm tor ther chief hisself an’ nobody else. I can’t see him, not a word do ye git out 0’ me, an’ that is flat.” “ You are a tenancy little muster, anyhow,” the officer remarked. “I’ll let the chief know on want to see him, but he won’t let you in “n. has R: st‘ste'yg'i‘r businsuttl‘xfi't." . ' “ n 0 Jessica an that‘sflatP’ "joined the boy decisively. “Toll yer High suddenly Muck-a-Muck I am a bootblack nabob, all th’ way from New York, an’ that I’ve got a big piece of rascnlity ter disclose ter him. If he won’t see me, then I’ll go an’ discharge my cargo inter th’ ears of th’ private detectives, that's all.” “Well, wait a moment and I’ll see what he sa 5. . - he ofiicer disappeared, and in a few min- utes returned and motioned Billy to follow him. “Come along, Skinny!” and together the bloys followed the officer into the office of the c ief. . “Well, young man, what can I do for you?” that official asked. “Before I orato,” Billy responded, “it may be well ter make myself known to ye, chief. Lieutenant Skinny, jest pass my letters over to his Highness." Skinny nervously went down into his pocket and brought out the letters, which he laid upon the police official’s desk. The chief read them all, his face rcmai in as immobile as that of a plaster bust that stood on the top of a bookcase near by. When he had done e simply motioned for the officer to re- tire, and the two lads were left alone in his presence. “ I am glad to know you, my brave boy," the chief then said to Billy, giving his hand. “Sit right dawn here, now, and I will listen to what you have to disclose. I am sure that it is no trivial matter, but something important.” “You can bet your years salary that it is,” averred Billy; and he sat down and proceeded tcéilaylthe whole matter out before the astounded 0 cm. CHAPTER XV. BILLY AND SKINNY IN A mar. Tm: amazement of the officer increased as Bill proceeded, and when the lad had done he exc imed: “ Boy, you are a wonder l" “ 0h! draw it mild!" Billy demurred; “it’s only dumb luck.” “Not much it isn’t. It has been no dumb luck that has won such letters of recommenda- tion as these.” He handed Billy’s letters back, as he spoke, and Billy passed them over to his partner, say- mg: “ Here, Lieutenant Skinny, take charge of th’ dockymints.” Skinny took them and put them away in an‘ inner ket. “So you’ll take charge of th’ case and scoop th’ rascals in. will yo?” Bill asked. “Most assuredly,” the o oer declared. “ This Sharkey Dan you speak of is an escaped con- vict, and the lice are on the lookout for him in every city in the land. It will be a big thing for us to take him.” “ An’ it will be a big thing for me, too,” Billy assumed, “for I have bag ed him twice before, and this will be the thir time, if noth- in’ bu’sts.” “ Good for you! I will take care that nothing miscarries.” “ And if nothin’ happens, I nnd.my lieutenant will be on hand ter see th‘ fun too,” Billy further announced. “Jest pass th word toyer men not for mistake as for part of Sharkey Dan’s ang.". “I will do that, and you shall see the game bagged if you are on hand.” Some further talk was had, the ofiicer asking Billy a great many questions, and finally the two lads took their leave. “ Sw‘eetpertaters! but it is a big thing ter be eat!’ Billy exclaimed as they went away. ‘ Jest ter think of it, my gay an’ festive art- ner, here we have been hob-nobbin’ wit th’ great olme mogul of Fran Sancisco. I’ll tell ye what, atty, we are bound ter make our mark in th world, as the heavy-Weight said when he fell on th’ ice. Who would ’a’ thought that we’d tum- ble inter sich a stroke 0’ luck at sich slmrt notice? Hang me up by my snrspenders if we don’t go an’ dine with th’ mayor of th’ city, afore we move on ter pastures now new. Won’t th’ folks at home open theire as when we write to ’em. Oh! we’re solid in t eoornferdence of Ins ector Br— Hello! here’s some 0’ these du 13’ uniformed bootblacks. Now for some fun. They had come suddenly fora corner where. several bootblsck chairs were stationed. and where all seemed busy, as every chair hold a customer. , ' “ You’d better not be too fresh'hore,” Skinnz “named, as orthsy will mount you and pol-is your eyes for you. ' :5 “None of yer wet blanket now, Skinny, please,” was Billy’s rejoinder; “ I’m goin’ in fer a little fun.” He unslung his box while speaking, and now shouted: “ Shine! Shine! Right this way fer yer New York patch 0’ moonlight on yer boots! Do ’em up so quick that you won’t known it’s done till yo look. Make ye think that ye’ve stepped right inter a fortune. Polish ’em up so that ye won’t need any better lookin’-glass. Make ye think ye’ve jest stepped out of a tub o’ varnish. Shine!” Everybody looked, and especially the regular bootblacks, and a gentleman who had evidently been waiting for a chance, put. his foot upon Billy’s box. “ That’s th’ ideel” Billy cried, as he got right down to business in his old style, “ an’ I’ll» show ye how we do it in New York. We don’t put on no lugs there, you bet. We don’t have! no time tor polish our buttons. It is gitu an" git with us, an’ this is th’ way we do it. ow will ye have it sir? plain black, or blue-black with a gilt edge? No extra charge fer th’ gilt edge, but I reckon plain black would suit your style best. See yer face in it? There, that’s one done, and now fer th’ other.” Bill was working away at his fastest and best, is tongue rattled ri ht on, and quite a. crowd soon collected aroun him. In about two minutes the work was done, and the gentleman found that he had a “ shine” that he was proud of. He joked with Billy for a moment, paid his price, and went oil’, and another foot was put- upon the lads box immediately. Billy set to work again, but before he had, finished with his second customer one of the regular bootblacks there collared him. “ See here,” the man cried, “if you don’t want to be ’rested, you had better. move along. I’ll calla policeman and havo you run in if you don’t 0. You can’t come on this corner in this style.’ “Well, wait till I finish this job,” Billyre. quested, “or else I may be sued for breach 0‘ c0ntract. Must keep out o’ trouble if I kin.. Didn’t come here ter git inter trouble. Most peaceful feller ye ever seen in all—” He was suddenly stopped short. Another of the bootblacks caught hold of his collar and pulled him tohis feet and applied his boot to- im. “Sweet pertaters!” cried Billy, “but this is: rather a warm reception fer one member of th’ bootblack brotherhood ter it from his feller- ards in th’ same line, an’ Ig object ter it. See ere, you buck-toothed, red—headed, pug-nosed, crooked-necked son of sand-snipe, you! see how ye like that I” ‘ Billy caught hold of the fellow (and he was a young man of twenty-two or so), twirled him around, and laid him on his back beforehe knew what had happened; and then, before any time was wasted, he applied his dauber to the fellow’s face and made him look like a demon from Inferno. The crowd roared with laughter, and just then came the old cry of warning from Skinny: “ Scoot, Billy, th’ coppersvis oomin’!” Billy snatched up his box and broke through the crowd and was of! like a wild stag, Skinny after him, and in a few moments they were out of danger. “ SerVed ye right,” Skinny cried, when they sto running. ‘ngat served me right?” “ Th’ kizkin’ Kc got. It tickled me all over.” ' “ Don’t see w y it should tickle ye so; it didn’t tickle me agidy.” “ It serv ye out fer yer freshness. Mebby it will take some of it out of ye. You’ll git worse than that, if ye keep on.” “It wouldn’t s’prise me a bit, Skinny. But: how d’ye think‘ th’ feller liked th’ New York. tumble I gave him, and his blackened mug?” “ He’ll ave it in for you, if he sees on again. Bethany, we are in danger now, P0 Rflow sof”_Billy‘ asked. “ Why, while you was blackin’ that fellow n _ who should I see but that young feller that overheard talkiu’ ter Shut-key th other night, th’ one that I follered home; an’ be knowed who we was." ~ “ Sweet pertaters! is th t so? I ass we have given ’01:: all th’ shake, is , thong , so don’t let" it worry ye.” 3AM where are ye gofn’ now?” . I think I’ll drop around an’ see our friend th Chinese Emperor, or whatever they call him. Se‘eif Sam Foo Chow will know me in'my best.” ‘ You mean that!” ~ illy, sure 5.....- L-¢-"‘ 14 “a . w. .7__,_ Broadway Billy Abroad. “ Cert: come right along, an’ we’ll scare up some more fun.” “ You are welcome ter .have th’ fun all ter yerself, if that was a sample of it,” Skinny de- Iclared. Billy led the way, and knowing the direction of the Chinese quarter, they bent their steps in that direction. They saw much to amuse them on the way, and were in no hurry. Their time was their ' Own, and they meant to enjoy it for its full value. They little thought that two evil—looking men were upon their track. Into street after street they ventured, until finally they found themselves in a decidedly hard- looking quarter. “ Sweet pertaters!" Billy exclaimed, “ but this looks like some of th’ shady spots of gen; York. It’s a hard hole, Skinny, that I’ll et. . “ Ginger, yes!" echoed Skinny. “ Let’s get on and out of it without delay. “ I’m willin’, fer I don t like th’ looks of th’ citizens.” They moved forward rapidly, but they had not gone far when both were seized from behind by powerful arms, and before they could resist they were run into a narrow alley that was right at hand. The men who had been following them had come upon them ilently, and before the lads were aware of the r presence they were prison- ers. The alley was dark and dirty, and it ended in a little court that was even less promising in ap- pearance. It was a noisome hole, and filth abounded eve where. “ We couldn t ’a’ got ’em inter a neater trap, hey, pard i” one of the rascals observed. ‘ Ye’re howlin,’ we couldn’t !” agreed the other. ' “ An’ now let’s do fer ’em quick, an’ be off.” The lads were eld at such a disadvantage that their strugg es were useless, though Billy’s were by no means weak ones. He was doing his best to get free, but the man, holding his arms from behind, was too powerful for him to shake off. “If you know when you’re well off, you’ll let me o ” Bi ly cried. “ e will, eh?” the man sneered. “ We know about that. Ye’d better think over yer prayers, if ye know any, for ye are goin’ where they don’t have any, ice in summer, an’ thats straight.” - i ‘ I ' Billy saw that his struggles were futile, so he be an to shout for help. hat was the fata thin for him to do, and ~ yet paths 3 it saved his 11' e, for it caused the two r s to make h to. “Curse ye!” they c ed, and both seeming to have the same thought at the same moment they jerked the two lads toward each other an cracked their heads together in a murderous manner. Skinn ’s head dropped instantly over upon his shou der, and in a moment Bil y sunk down limp and unconscious. ‘ Jest as like as not them yells will bring th’ E’lice,” growled one of the men, “an’ we must ' we’ll come an’ finish ’em, or git :an’ git away from here.” “ Right ye are,” a eed the other. “Jest kick in that winder here, an’ we’ll dump ’em inter th’ old stiller fer th’ present an’ tar-night ’ Chinese ter do it.” There was a narrow‘ window, at a foot high and three feet long, in one o the walls right on a level with the ground, and this one of the men kicked in. -. As econ as that was done, the boys were drag- grits the opening and forced in, Billy and his v first, and Skinny after him. . No sooner was this accomplished than the two rumans hastened away, and were soon out of immediate danger. . , But no one had witnessed their crime, and no one knew the fate the two brave bo 9 had met. Notasound came 'up from the ark depths be end the window, and had the guilty ones re mod to the scene of their crime, even several hours later, they might havefelt satisfied that they had accomplished their design. CHAPTER XVI. mar RING DOES GOOD ssnvrcn. Ir was a close call for the two boys’ lives. Ashas been said, however thelr lives were no ‘ 'ddhbt saved by Billy’s calls for help. Had he not done so, the two powerful villains Zwould have been in less haste than they were sitter thetand might have used knivssupon ms. . ‘ Even as it was, the whole afternoon passed and night came on before Billy recovered his consciousness; and Skinny was even longer than that; for without the help Billy rendered him, he might have died. ‘ It was some time before Billy could realize what had happened, and it was longer before he Could move. Skinny was lying right across him, a dead weight, and when Billy final] remem- bered what had taken place, he fear that his thin partner was dead. “ Sweet pertaters!” he mentally exclaimed, “ but I reckon we’re done fer, this time. I guess I’m as good as dead, an’ I’m ’fraid Skinny is even worse off. Hang me if I kin move a finger!” Gradually, however, he regained the use of his limbs, and finally was strong enough to roll Skinny off of him and to get upon his feet. d'His head felt very sore, and his brain was lZZ . Ngt a thing could be seen, but he realized that he was in a cellar that was damp, foul-smelling and filthy. As soon as he had exercised his limbs enough to have the use of them in some degree, he felt around to get hold of Skinny again. He feared that his slender partner was dead, and almost dreaded to touch him. When he got hold of the poor fellow, he felt to see if his heart was beating. At first he feared that it was not, but presently he found that it was, though in a very faint manner. “ Sweet pertaters l” he exclaim , “ but I guess there is a little spark o’l'. left in him, an’ I must see if I kin fan it inter ablaze. It won’t do ter let him die— Sweet pertaters, no! Must do all I kin fer him. Wonder how long we’ve been in . this hole? It seems likea year, teWudge by th’ soreness I feel.” hile muttering thus, he had set to work to rub Skinny’s limbs as briskly as he could, a process which he kept up steadily, until at last the thin partner gave a gasp and Lime to. “ Be ye alive, lieutenant?” Billy inquired. “ Hang me if I didn’t think you was a gone gosiing, sure pop. Keep yer pump a-goin’, my gay an’ festive pard, fer we must’n’t allow ’em ter do us up in this way.” Billy spoke cheerineg enough, but he found that Skinny was not yet able to talk. In fact, the thin Ipartner soon went off into another faint, an for an hour or longer Billy had to work his hardest to bring him out of i , i _ “ Fully three hours passed, from the me When bBilly had first come to. before Skinny was able to sit up and talk. He owed his life to Billy’s persistent efforts to save him. All this exercise had redounded to Billy’s good, for he was by this time almost as good as new, except that there was a spot on his head that was terribly sore. r “ How d’ye feel now?” Billy finally asked. “Awful bad,” Skinny moaned. " I don’t feel able ter hold up my head, Billy.” “ Ye must brace up, though, lieutenant,” Billy tried to encourage, “fer we have got ter git cut of this hole and makegoodour escape afore they come ter finish us, if that is their in- tention, onless they think we are dead already.” “Well, you feel around. Billy, and see if on kin find'any way out, an’ I’ll try ter git hol 0’ some strength.” “ That’s th’ talk! Try yer hardest, Skinny, an’ you will pull through, even if ye was almost a oner. You’re good for another round yet.” illy left him then, and began to feel around the hole they were in. It was a cellar, as said, and there was a good deal of rubbish in it. Billy fell over things in every direction. “ Sweet Ypertaters!” he cried out, “if I was in th’ habit o swearin’, which I ain’t, I’d be tempt- ed ter swear now. Hang me if I don’t believe we have waked up in th’ bad placa below, Skin- ny. Say, haven’t ye got a match 3’ “ Come ter think of it,” answered Skinny, “ I believe I have some matches. I will feel ‘an’ e. ‘ . “ It strikes me that ou’ll have ter do th’ feel- 10’ without seein’,” Bil ,ékoked. “ Yes, here’s some,” inny soon announced, and he 11 hted one to uide Billy back to him. By its ight they loo ed around their prison. It wasa dismal hole. There were old boxes r- rels, broken furniture, etc., everywhere. igh up was the broken window through ‘which they step; lead mum to a floor abo where these steps go to. I mean ter git out of here if it is in th' wood. Sweet pet-tater!!! we didn’t come all th’ way ter Fan Grandson her be killed like ratsl‘ Not much we didn’t, an’ it won’t do for as ter give up' th’ ghost and so loss ‘ had been itched. On one side was a flightof' ve. ., hat’s better,” Billy cried, “ an’ I’ll soon see v th’ conferdence of Inspector Br— Hello! hang me if i don’t hear somebody comin’!” He blew out a match that he had just lighted, and listened. Sure enough, steps were heard overhead, and soon a key was heard to turn in the lock of a (1&91‘, and a light appeared at the head of the s 11's. Broadway Billy drew his revolver, for he now carried one, as has been shown: and he and Skinny waited in breathless suspense. A pair of heavy boots thumped on the steps, followed by another, and after them came the lighter sound of Chinese shees. Down they came, and Billy and Skinny, by a hasty agreement, pretended to be dead, or asleep. ' “I guess they’re done fur,” one of the men growled, as he took a look in the direction in which he had expected to find them, and saw them lying in a heap under the window. “ Oh, they’re dead enough,” a reed the other. “ That fall was enough ter ki ’em, ter say nothin’ of th’ bumps we gev ’em." “ That’s so, an’ there won’t be nothin’ fer th’ Chinese ter do but ter git ’em out o’ sight, either by buryin”’em, or dumpin’ ’em in th’ bay.” “ That’s all. You’ve ot a snap of it, John.” “ Allee same muchee ettee,” responded 9. vii- lainous-looking Celestial, who was coming down fiftelr them, followed by three others of his in . The man with the lamp advanced t0ward the place where the boys lay, kicking ehe debris out of his way as he did so, and had near] reached them when, with a sudden spring, roadway Billy was upon his feet and pointing a revolver straight at his head. “ Move an inch, any one of you,” he shouted out, “ and I’ll make a hole clear through ye.” The men fell back in the greaiwst alarm. .“Put that lamp on that shelf,” Billy imme- diately commanded, seeing a shelf near where the man who held the lamp stood; “and be quick about it, or you die in your tracks. We’ll stand no nonsense now, fer I’m on ther shoot !” The fellow had not got over the first shock yet, so he obeyed the order. “ And now up with your hands!” , ' ' The command was iven as sternly as though Billy were a veteran etective, and he was obey- ed. But now the reaction came, and the men cursed wildly threatening all manner of dire vengeance if th immediately. » “ Don’t you move,” Billy ordered, “or it will puke lead at ye in solid lumps as big as yer thumbs. Every shot will tel , too, fer I am ' Buif‘ler Bill on the shoot.” , ‘ He held the best band, if he could only keep the advantage. The faces of the two men were, deathly pale, and the Chinese were in no better condition. ‘ t “ See here,” Billy suddenly cried, addressing them, and holding u his left hand as he did so, “ do you recognize t '5 ring, and this mark on my} wrist?” , he effect of this was almost ma ice]! The .Celestials became greatly excited an chattered among themselves for a moment like So many geese. They leaned forward to take a closer ‘ 00k at the ring and mark. They were evidently gisflfd, for immediately they dropped to their 663 . This action was a great surprise to the two villains who had brou t them there to help them dispose of their Victims. , ‘ The leader of the four Chinamen said some: thing in Chinese, which of course Billy couldznot understand. “ You‘ll‘have to talk plain English,” ihe-said. “Whatee want Chinamans do?” the heathen inquired. “Allee same fliends of ’Melicans. Do whatevel wantee, now ev’ly time!” , “In the name of your Great Consulate Gen-‘ eral, then ” said Billy, speaking as‘impressively as be con, , “ I command youth secure these two men and bind their hands and feet. If they resist I will sh00t them down In. their tracks.” The Chinamen understood, and withouta word, except an exclamation in their own language, they hurled themselves upon the two now e- moralized rascals, and bore them to the ground, ' where they soon had them secured. This action proved that the Chinamen were/to he depended on, so Billy, ut awa his revolver and held out his hand to sir er. . “That was well, done, John ” he cried .“ , 3 i you deserve the thanks of th’ court. 'Put it there, rascal though you are.” « , , celestial shook hands with him, asking: ' “ How ’Melican get ling and mark?” I “ Got it from the nsula " Bi .mp'ond .. . ode I ' Holding the advantage he had gained, the grevolvemssmtpstmof‘mshh. . ' ( , l Broadway Billy Abroad. 15 young detective ordered the Chinamen to carry the prisoners up to the floor above; which was soon done. When they Went out of the cellar Billy found that it was night, and for the first time he thought to look at his watch. The watch was uninjured, and was running, and it indicated a quarter after eleven. “Sweet pertatersl” he ejaculated, “is it pos- 'sible that we were so long unconscious? No Wonder that we felt stiff. Skinny, it is a wonder that we are not (lead in solid earnest. \Ve have had a. close call this time, and that’s a fack. ll'hewl but it is gettin’ on toth’ time of that other affair that we must haveahanil in! It will never do ter miss that, if we want ter keep solid in th’ conferdence of Inspector Br—. But, come, no time ter chin now, so we’ll act more an’ talk less.” CHAPTER XVII. SCOOPING THE SCHOOL. THE Broadway crusader sent one of the Chinamen out to find a policeman, and as soon as one was brought the situation was explained to him. The prisoners were taken off to a station, Bill and Skinny going along to make charges against them, the Chinamen being allowed to get off free, as they had given such good help. As soon as that business was attended to, Billy and Skinny made their wa to their hotel, where, feeling pretty bad, the th n partner went to bedand gays u , for the time being. But not so Billy. He 0 nged his clothes, and when he had seen Skinny properly attended, sallied Out into the night. It was now c ose upon one.o’clock, so he hast— ened his steps in the direction of the Placer , Bank. Not a suspicious sight or sound was to , be seen or heard,‘and he entered the open door- ' way of the building on the opposite side of the street, boldly, as though he belonged there. As soon as he had passed ar enough up‘ the steps to ! be in the shadow, he stopped and sat down on I the steps to watch. ' h V..-....q._‘ ‘- J H“ x. '- V ' he could He had been there twenty ininntes, perhaps, when he heard some one coming down the street, and presently a policeman was in sight. He was walking leisurely. swinging his club, and when he came-to the ank he ascended the s andkno’cked lightly at the door. The “upper part of the door was of glass. and a man was soon seen to come forward. Some words- were exchanged, and the door was opened. The . momentthe twomeu were seen struggling toggther‘tor the mastery, but, the struggle was 19 f, for other forms appeared upon :the scene, angg,1 soon ended. th h b um V we windows of t e ui ' g that adjoined ginkgeaw a head out of one of them.» When all had become quiet in the bank the head was withth, and the window ‘was shut down. Billy took this to be his chance to cross to the bank. but,s_till tearful that such an act as crossmg the street might balk the plans of the police, he curbed his me and waited, He was soon rewarded, fonpresentl , the sound of an voices was heard follow by the fir- mg 0 « revolvers. In ano er moment a man dashed out of the house next to the bank and : darted across the street, 88 tbpughfleein for his lite, for a policeman was right after iim. At the curb the officer tripped and fell, and the man bed on. " Broadwoy Bill was down the s «in three strides, and rose ed the curb Just 11 time to. "meet the escaping burglar face to face. It was Sharkey Dan. ' ' “ Whoapl" criedthe brave lad; ‘9 u with your hands, Shin-key or I’ll let the n ght winds whistle a dirtietiirou h yer carcass ’ .. The m1 fled to raw 9. Weapon. but. before do 80, Billy fired, and down tumbled ,his man, all in a heap. Other policemen came .running out of the house and, the bank just their. one was the chief in. rson. As soon ache took in the situation 9 complimented Bflly , hi hi . An examination ved that ark'ey " “V r wgs gilt fatally hlfir, He wpnzocarried into , '3 thé bank and an ambuhnce was sent for. '1 for Bootblack Bravo. .* i It was a victory complete for the police, and an utter defeat for the robbers, every one of being me“, though the leader no doubt have made good -' ,them his we had it not I would , v . ext the 0‘ rd wit the no the N My fun “z dang.ng hwas the lingo of The directors ,1 'hnk met and .Ofxrflve. hundred dollars, with hitpartr ’ \mw pull-bed a“. ct iii l for his crime. Could he have forced his sister' to sign a certain paper, he would have robbed her and her children of their share of a fortune that had been left them by arelative. In his boldness he was trusting to his sister’s affection for his safety. He did not think she would be- tray him, even after so great a crime. His coachman accomplice, as well as Mrs. McFaddin, shared his fate; there was no let up in their cases. , Dan Bingham and his confederates were com- mitted, to await trial, but, in some way or other the slippery “ Sharkey ” managed to escape be- fore he was landed in prison, and disappeared, swearing dire vengeance upon his youthful cap- tor. Lenus Demson, the janitor of the building njoining the bank, had sought that position for the very purpose of helping on the robbery. He was scooped in with the rest, and isn’t growing {at or happy on prison rations. THE END. ’Beadle’s Hall-Dime library. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN. 11 The Two Detectives: or, The Fortunel are Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt. the Crow-Killer. ' 79 801 (iln er, the Giant 'l‘ru per. 888 Joe Biro ' ol'Angcls nus Ills Boy Pard. 447 New \ork hat. Tale of Trirlu and Trap! in Gotham. 4.35 New Ln .land Nlt'k: or. The Fortunes ol‘u Foundliug. 464 Nimble . Ink, the Cirrus Prince. 493 'l‘non Ted. tne Arizona S on. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal -Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY JCSEPII E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack: or, The Tra r. 48 Black John. the Road-Agent; or, ill: Outlaw’l Retreat. 65 Hurricane Bill: 0!. Mustang Sam and His Ford. 119 Mustang Sam ynThe Kins ofthe Plains. 186 N1 lit-Hawk it: or. The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Do nty Lam-e the Boy'Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant: or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dosh; or, Fighting Fire wnh Fina. 18-1. The Boy Trailer- 3 or. Dainty Lanes on the War-Path. 208 The no Pin-d“ or. Dainty Lance L'nmaslu. :11. who Cale, the (Taliban of Celestial City. 1 3 He arr-anon 011’: or. '1 he Beautiful Decoy. 8] e lack laden-r or, The lione-Thievee’ Magoo. 885 I «1 Double Flu-t; or. The Stance Guide The King of the “'ood-I: or Dnmel Boone’s Lut Trail. “9 Kit Fox. the Border Boy Detective. 68‘ Chlncapln Dan, the Boy Trailer. ' BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKEB. 15 The sen-eat: or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page: or, The huge q Danghler. 422 ilici.’ Hurling. 'lw Pony Express Rider. ii)" Lam-é: fillddlifllu or, TlmTClllllgien offthe (giant); m 9 war all rs; or, in ml 0 i. l8 l ant den. 15 The filtS.Mtnil s or, Skipper Jabu Cofln’l an!” to the ' n u Ir a. . e 80')! Redonln- or, The Brothers of the Pinned Ln “'olfan , the Robin: of the Rhine. a. Milo Rn er, the Animal King; or, The Round the World not mail?" 'r n L. r h J l 6 er Inner: or o a use t e an e. 881 Black 15m”. Demon .mllfl. I I 895 California 109’. War Trail. BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS. 34 (ll-ego" Fol: or, Nick “'hifiles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glam-Eye the Great Shot of the West. 54 Sod "sue . the Bov Trapper. 50 Rick Whitley-’3 Pet; or, in The Valley of Death. 0 The W In“: Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstono. , 70 Did er’l Cabin: or, The Greenhorn in the Woods. 81 LIghtn II: Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Ruckus-u or, Bess, the Female Tn per. 241 (Did Grizzly and Ills Pets: or, The Wil Humans. 951 Light-house Lice; or, Osceola, the Firehmid. 957 The Lost Hunters; or The Underground Camp. 888 The Scalp King; or. The Human Thunderbolt. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captnln Cactus tlie Chupll’l’ll Cock. 56s The Dandy of Dodge. 5’26 The fiilver Sport. - 588 flnfl'ron Sol. the Man Withmdmg 5’49 Tom-Cut and Ford; or. Dead Set at Silver City. 601 lln p)’ "one. “It Iulch \‘ldum 611 llll ad Bur-uncle. the Detective males. “22 Texas Tom-Cat’s rind. R 681 Tom Cat‘s Terrible Talk. 688 Tom-Cath- 1‘rlnmph; or. Black lvan’. an“; comm”. 646 Cowboy Gld, the Chills-Range Detective. BY J. o. oownmox. ' 800 Silver-Mask. tho Men 0' MY'Wy- 869 Stan“. the Gold king: or, For Seven Yam Dead. “0 T c Detective)! A Prentice: 0?, A 307 “Whom a None. 4 “but. Jon.” or. ed-Hot Tune. u Bu Ante . 4 l‘ d S the Street Scout. _ agg‘guvzfl?miimii hill“th k B I o . l. 00 ac r v . 506 “:3. Z, theel’rince oi the Road. 514 Bi 1 "131301119. e 0 ve. men-chm;x Bllly’n t mmkllty.” lwht Expren Detective. Brand's Bllly’n Death Racket. , L‘lne like the Young Engineer. hlmne Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. I T. c O 5 W 1:32 0’ Brgggayé or, The Boy Delocfln’l Big Inning. . PO ’ 0 3 an. n “- ’thi, .h‘ilerxi thinned Cyclone. . V _ gig bro-z éeé'o. eContnuroui ille Circle. 4 pew-its: Tilly, ch. ammo. Wu . ~ , in? non ransom. . . 5 the 5’ V, > .‘hn.z’or,'rhenoyfitpp¢. l A BY BITCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.) 284 (illdklloeky e “Boyeea: or, Benn“. the Young Hono- trva er ’46 (Hunt. George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack; or. Giant George's Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Tami: or, Giant George’s Revenge. 80? The Strange Part1: hr, Lime Ben‘s llealh Hunt. 811% Ker-whoop. Ker-whoa: or, The 'l'nruninlu wl'Tnon. 827 Creeping Cal. the (Hulda: un'l'hv Red and Willi-e PM 58% Frio Fred: or, The Tnnknuny’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio: or. Rattlesnake, the Tnnkawsy. 849 “'ild \\ oli: nr, Big-Foot Wallmr in [he Front. 85'! The Ram-h Raiders: or. The Siege of Fort Pug-wry. 861 Snap-Shot, the lloy Runner. 8175 Clilolu. the Creek: or, The Three Thunderbolts. 8H1 "under-n “III; or. Frio Frank In the Front. 892 Romeo and the Redn; or, The lleleagnered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pek’l Big Rampage. 414 The llnlsy from Denver. 42? The Three Trailers: or, Old Rncliy on the Romp-p. 442 "lufl' Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Loud Bum or. The Belle of the Cibolo. 634 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant BY J0 PIERCE. 89? Bob 0’ the Bowcrv: or. The Prince of Mulberry Street. 416 The Vagabond "elective: or. Bowery Bob's Boom. 452 “on. ur Bob. the Street-Buy Inn-(n.1, 460 The .uwye-r’n Shadow; or. Luke’s um. 47’ Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 liurly fill“. the Young Ferrylmin Detective. 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack J gel-n. the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 I‘urtnrfim; or. Five Pulllli Phil‘s Menagerie. 526 North River Not. the Pier Dru-dive. 688 “'rentllng Rex. the Pride orthe Sixth Ward. 541 Jelf Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 569 llarlem Jack, the Rice Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben. the 0mHis-Own-Hook Detective. 5?? Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 533 Jnek-o’JmlItorll, the Under-Sn Prmpeclor. “03 “'lde-Awnke Bert. thi- Street—steer". 6l4 “'hl-tllnn Jacob, the Delerilre’l Aid. 628 “Ilvk Bumblebee. the Harlem Hummer. 639 Sllnrlle Saul the Express—Train Ferret. ~ 649 Gamln Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set. BY WM. G. PATTEN. 4R9 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Face ofBedRock. 519 Captain nyntery : onFlVe in One. 581 Do a}! "are in» .pm from Denver. 537 Did ombnhell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man ni Fire. 619 The Do ' Tramp Detective: or,The DouhieGripWitufl “29 Violet 'ane, the Velvet Sport. 8-11 Dismal Dave’s Dandy l'ord. BY EDWARD “’ILLETT. 1“? Ala Scott, the Steamboat Bay. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion oftlie Muslin-in. .23 (Mar k Alf or. Featherweight Among the Outlaws. It]. The Typo teetive ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. .95 Furies! I’ll“; or. The King of anruvillc. 81 l The llovlnfisrbort: or, The Pride of Churknluck Comp. 822 None: the eteotive: or, Kit Kenvon‘a Vendetta. “0 Clip he Concorde-lat: 02.11:. flout-in Vigil-nice. BY CAPTAIN HAYNE REID. 73 Blue Dick: nr,Tlie Yellow Chi-P- Ven ance. R? The Land Piratea' or. The League of (WWI island. 18‘? The m1 Ieu unmi; i... Backwood- Retribution. w The Gels-seeing Guide: or. “ebullient-1|. HISCELLAN ECU! AUTIGDBB. . 4 The Wild-Ilene Hunters. By Capt. Mayne M and u Frederick “'hittalier. 9 Adventure: of Baron Mnnohnnlen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean built. 14 Aladdin: or, The Wonderful Lamp. \ 16 Rohlnnon Crusoe. (91 Illustrations.) 18 Elndbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 28 The Ben Serpent; 01.11:. Boy Rob noon Crusoe. 81 Jun Lewis. . 88 The Ocean Bloodhound: or, The Bed Plum 0! the Cnrribecl. By s. W. Pierce. 86 {hauling Clown; or, The Queen of the Arms. By Inn: 311 N‘ed {Tylde the Boy Scout. B Texan Jack. 51 The Boy Rifles: or. The Un "mm amp. By Ann. v C. irons. ' 95 The Rival Rovers: or, The Freebooterl oi the Mississippi. By [Jenn-Col. Hneltine. ’ 98 Robin flood. the Untlnwed Earl: or.1'ho Merry Men “M wood. 3 Prof. Glidenleeve. 105 gm $3., the Hunter; or. The Crow Captive. By thln am in lines. 119 The )1 Hunter: or, 11100:" ofDeath. Bymm 1M Tippy. the Texans on'rhe Young Champion. n, 9...... son. 128 The Young Privateer: or, The Pirate’o Stronghold. Dy Harry Caren loll. I 148 Sharp Sun; or, The Adventnm o! a Friendch Day. By J, Alexander Patten. CIT Hunky Darrell. ’1' per: or, The Green Range! of the Yel- nowatono. By Edward mm. 3 281 in I Fearnan ht the New 1 wk Boy. ‘ G. 1.. Aiken. ’ .66 K“ War. the (in e; anblvy Crocketi'l rooted Tn“. ' ' By Ensign . D. Vi anon. 8.. gen CTIW file One-Eyed Tapper; or. Tb. M“ M ‘h cu" y Captain «mutant. 3‘: you,“ Pete, the Lively Lad from ludvnk, n, n... f tenant Alfred l"llorne. Deter-five; or, A Boy’. rum ‘0, u“ .35 um Meier Mickey Free. 5' .50 ed Ralph, the River Rover; or,‘l'he W I.- venze. By Ned Buolllne. Bootblock Dated!“ 305 Baltimore Ben the 3, hr. 874 Golthut Tenn or, Ben’s Douhle Hutch. By W _ 3-, one. , . 876 (aurora Joe’s Fir-t Trdi. by (blond m 1. an. ' (1| Elfin! Rafi-hell, the Cllfl Clim‘er. By '28. “m . :15 The Black Sill . BrlohnB Wanna: Corning-1*: Inc and In. Three [1mm D! on" . oinu. _ 8W nrd-Ar- tthend s . a nan-ranch. hCowl. ’ane. min no... I'm. {Ariel the At late. By David Druid. ‘ I I ,Wlll W'n era, the Boy Ferret. Bv Elma. . 689 The De er’. Double- ,3? W W :l ' A New [one 210?! Tim!- TIeInIf-DhoLfln-flthornbtydl mu. «hummuuwummmoisxw-uy . : mu m ~ADAII. Trillion. _ 08 In” lmot. low Yul. o \ W BEADLE’S*HALF-DIMEnLIBRARY. Jublz’shed Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EIHVARD L. “WHEELER. Deadwood Dlek Novels. ' 1 Deadwood Dirk, the Prince of the Rand. 20 Double Daggers; or, ili'lttlwtititl llit‘k’a Defiance. 28 Bulfqu lien; or, i)1'i|il“'lltlii illi‘k in Disguise. 85 \Viid it'ltll, the Boy Claude “anti. 2 Phantom )iiner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza. 49 "main! (ill ' or l’ttfltifl'ilnli Dick iii Dalian-r. 5? Deadwood i’it‘L'I Eagles; or, The i‘uriln of Flood Bar. [78 Deadwood Dlek on Deck; or. t‘ulnmity J:tiie,tlio ileroino. Corduroy (‘llarliet ur, Deadwood Dick's Lani. Act. 100 Deadwood Diek in Leadvllle. 104 Deadwood Dlek‘n Det ice: or, The Double 109 Deadwood Diek an Detective. 129 Deadwood Diek‘a Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgou's Gulch, lBi'l liloade llill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Gals-e of Gold; or, Dentlvmod Dit'k'a "it.r Strike. 166 Deadwood Dick of’Deadefld 0r, The Picked Part . 195 Deadwood Dlek‘a Dream; or, '1 he Ritz-.15 nftiie Run . ’01 The lilac-k "ill! Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’a Ward. 305 Deadwood Diek’a Doom; or, Calamity Jano’a La” Ad- venture. 91'! Captain Craek-Shot, the Girl Brl and. 221 So ar-Coated Sam; or, The Blue Gown. 232 Go d-Duat Dick. A Ruinnnre oi‘ liouglu and Tonghtl. 268 Deadwood Diek’n Divide or, Thu Spirit of Swamp Lake. .68 Deadwood Diek'a Death ‘rail. 809 Deadwood Diek’a Big Deal; out The Gold Brick o! egon. 821 Deadwood Dick’l Dozen ; or, The Faklr ofPhantom Flats. .47 Deadwood Diek'o Dueata; or, Rainy Dnya in tha Dig. inga. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or,Ths 'l'erriblo Vsndotta. 862 Deadwood Diek’a Claim. 405 Deadwood Dlek in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Diek’a Diamonda. 421 Deadwood Diek in New hark; or, A “Cute Can." 480 Deadwood Diek'a Dust; or, The Chaiuod Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. ' 418 Nickel-Plate Ned; 0!. Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 8 Huniiower Sam, at Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full land. 45’ Fluah Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Round. 485 Phiio Fly, 0! Pheuix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Racket at Claim 10 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral. 476 Humboldt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr'l Dog Detective. 481 Moll Myatery; or, Deaddood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 fringe l’i‘atoi, tho King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick r a maniac . ‘96 “onto Criato. J r.; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘s inheritancs. 500 Deadwood Dlek’a Dlgfitnga; or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Snoop. 508 Deadwood Dlek’a De veranee. 515 Deadwood Diek‘a l’rotogeo. 5il2 Deadwood Diek'a Three. 599 Deadwood Diek'a Danger Duekl. 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 539 Deadwood Diek Jr. in Texan. 514 Deadwood Diek,’ Jr. the Wild West Vldoeq. 549 Deadwood Dlek on liia M‘ettle. 55-1 Dea woo 1 Dick, Jr. In Gotham. 56 D wooc Diek in Boston. wooc Diek, Jr. in Philadelphia. woot Diek, Jr. in Chieago. Dick, Jr. A Diek, Jr. in 90 Deal wood , Jr’n. D ' r. its; ' l iei.’ Jr. at Cont-y la and. ,k Jr't- Leadvllle Lay. “‘ lek Jr. in Detroit. Diek, Jr. in (‘ineinnath Dick, Jr. in, evada. Dick, Jr. in No Man’a Land. Diek, Jr. After the Queer. Dick, Jr. in Buli’alo. Dick, Jr’a. Chane Aeroaa the continent. Cross Sign. 0 ‘ Denver. , tr . _,, wom Dem: wool 61% Dead wooc 618 Dead wood 624 Dent woot woot 680 Dent woot 642 Dead wooti 43 Data wooc Other Novels by E. 1.. Wheeler. 20 Clove. "on! the Bull'an Demon. a nob woom ’..r, The out Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective: 0r, Life in New York. 45 Did Avalanche or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 53 Jill! ltludooe, l'., tho Boy Pheiilx. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Hills Team. 69 Gold liiiie the bar shooter or.The i50{ Deioctiva. 80 lioaehud [lab or, ugget lied, til-9 Kn ght, 84 ldyl, the Girl iler; or, Rosebud Rob on "and. h Phil; or, Ritubud Rob's Reanpenranco. 92 (Jana a 1: et; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull'a cup, 90 Wateh-E e; or, Arabs and Angels ofa Great City. gle the Young Socoulator, 17 Gilt-Edged Diek, the Spnrt Detective. 91 (‘innamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 95 Bonanza lili . nor. 88 Iloaa Iiob the in; of Boothlacka. 41 Holid Sam the Boy Road-Agent. 45 Captain Ii‘erret, tn. New York Detective. tit New York Nell the Boy--(lirl Detective. 77 Nobb Niek of evada; or, The Sierras Scamp. “1 WI Trunk, the Buckskin Bravo. 09 Fritz, tha Bound—Boy Detoctlvo. 18 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventrllo uist llnntar. 0 Snooaer the Buy Sharp; or, 'l‘hs Arab utocttvo. 86 Apollo Dill, the Trail Tornado. 4‘1 C eloue Kit, the Young Gladiator. erra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. --erra finm'a cent; or The Bloodv Footprint. 58 S-verra Sum’a Hard; or, ' he Angel at Big Vista. l5?! fiver" Sata’n Seven or. The Stolen Brida. 78 Jumbo Joe the lit-y ntrul: or. The RN‘ Holra. 7? Denver "oil. the Detottivo Queen. 81 Denver Doll'a Vletory. till Denver Doli‘a Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Banana. til Turk, the [toy Fen-o . 96 Denver Doii'tt Drift. or. The Road Queen. W A No. 1, the Bath V ull-Taksr. g. ’l.l a J one. ti‘I Miner or. tho iton-N’ornd Sport. 5 Kelley, ilieke 4: 00.. t a . ctivrl ofPhiladoiphia. Little Quirk-ii ot tron T110 Faco of Damnvlilo. Kangaroo Kit; or. he My“un Minor. . :89 Kan aroo Klta Racket. . 48 Man attan Mike, the Bowery Biodd. 858 ll‘l t-Ciaao Fred, tho ont irum Gopher. 808 ka Jim, the Go! dilatitorer; or, The Lotta-y oi :eka Jin’a Prize 7": 7 , .7. . 18 I; b N (I lf,1.b Svcnto! . _ City. 8. C:ol.KIt.eih: iii" . .skz'iiloln’l Veil of Kids' or 85 Yreka Jln’a Jo er; or. into Rival. oiliad Non. ’ 89 Rieyeie lien; or. The Lion of Lightning Loda. I“ roka Jlla of Yuha Dag _ riaklea, the flight-Watch tactln. , 10 High "at llarry. tho Bas- Ball “on Si the nag-hm Dot-ctlvo. Li: Beak an Pal, rivato 'Dstootlvoa. t. 0 Cal, tho Slaahar. Boalakia lan. tbs “Thar. ‘ ‘ 295 Ram Choreoa ,nu Jun-y the Kid; or. A hn‘b AMI Volvo- " BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAIIAM. 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph lio ', the Boy Bucvnneer; or. The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk ' or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Hillp; or, The Rivnl l.lelli€lllilli.l. T5 The lioy Dru-lint; or, The Cruine of the Sea-Wolf. 09. Diek Dead-E e, the Boy SillilL’L’lcr. The Sea-Dev l ; or, The l‘lidhiiillllliill’fl Legacy. The llllill‘lll' Captain 3 or, The ileiniit oi llell Gate. Little (hit; or, Bennie, the Stock-'l‘enrler’s Daughtct. Gold l’lume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 lilaon “ill the Prince oi the Reins. 222 Grit. the rave Sport; or, The Woman Traileu 229 Grim-on Kate or, The (Tow boy’s Triumph. 237 Lone Star, the Lowboy Ctl >tain. 945 Merle the Middy r-r, ' 'lie Freelance Heir. 950 The i ldaliiplnan utineer; or. Brandt, the Buccaneer. 304 The Floating Feather; or, Merle Monta'l Troaauro lslimtl. 269 The Gold Ship! or, Merle, the Condemned. 976 Merle Monte a g" ” Cruise; or, The Clinic of “Tho Gold t ii i. 230 Merle Monte’a Fate; or. Pearl, the Pirate'a Bride. 984 Tile Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte's Pledge. 2N7 lillly Blue-Eyca, the lioy Rover oi the Rio Gramle. 304 The Dead Hit 1. Dandy; or, llenito, the Boy Buglor. 808 keno kit; or. end Shot llandy’s Double. 814 Thfi Myaterioua Marauder; or, Tho Boy Bugler’s long r“ o ‘ 87? Donodel, the "Boy Rover; or. The Flaglou Schooner. 8’“! The lndian Pilot; or, The Search {or Pirate island. 38’? “'nrpnth “'ill, the Boy Phantom. ?eu(rvu|f, ltilte‘lioy Lieutenant.l Th ' no or, t e 'oung Conan rator; or eF'ata lasagna. 40? The llov luaurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The “'ild Yaehtamnn; or, Tho War-Clouu’s 0min. 429 Duncan Dare, tho iioy Refugee. 483 A (‘abln Do "a Luci” or, The Corsair. 48? The lien Ra tier. 44] The Oeeall Firefly; or, A Middy’a Vengeance. ' 6 llnphazard Harry; on'l‘he Scape raceoi thoSoo. . 450 \Vizard “fill: or. ‘he llny Ferreto New Your”? 45-!» Wizard Will’a Street Scouts ' 462 The Born Guide; or. The Sailor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the iioy Counter. 474 Florahor, Wizard Will’s Vngnhond Pard. 4H3 Ferreta Aiioat; or. Wizard Will’s Last Cut. 43? Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy l’llrd of Texas Jack. 40? But-k Taylor, King at the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middv; or, The Shark and til. 800C... i ii i 7 50? The Hunted Midi: l man. 511 The Outlawod Mid y. 620 Bnekakln Bill, the ('uniunche Shadow. 525 iirothera in Buokakln. 530 The Duekaki'l llowern. 585 The line akin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Kiux. the Marauder ‘ot tlilRIS 545 Lieutenant Leo. the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte'n Legacy; or. The Aveuging Son. 555 The Creole Cori-air. 560 Pawnee Hill, the l’ruirle Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon. the (Yard King. 570 Camille. the Card (Moon. 5?5 The Rnrgeon-Heout Detective. 51'“) The Outcaat Cadet; or, The False Detectivo. 5946 The Buekakin Avenger. 591 Delmonte. the Young St'flvROVOI'. 59 he h oung Texan Detective. 609 o P agabond o the Mlnea. *nover De vet or. Keno Klt’s Champion. 61’: Ralph, the Dt-subSlaot Scout; or, The Raidera and the Red tillers til the Rio. 64-1 The llert-ulcn llighwavman. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Bahia Bill’s Boy Part1. BY BUFFALO BILL (lion. Was. 1". Cody). 8 Knnaaa King; or, The Red Right "and. 19 The Phantom SByr or,'i he Hint of tho Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye. the "known Scout. 08 Border Robin flood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Tau. BY CHARLES MORRiS. 8 Will Somera, the Boy Detective. 9 Phil Ilard , the lions iiuy. 26 Pieayune 'ete; or, Nicodemua, the Dog Detective. l 80 Deleetive Dick; or, The Hero tu Raga. 4! llamiaome Harry, the Boothlnck Dotectiva. 47 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 52 lilaek lie-a, Will Wildfire. Racer. 3 Mike Merry, the Harbor Pnlica Boy. 0 1 2 Will Wildfire in the \Vooda. Billy B age. the Railroad lio . ‘ A Trump ard; or, Will Willi ra Wins and Loan. Dob lioekett; or, Myiicries of New York. Dob lloekett the Bank Runner. * i Wildfire’s Revsnge. land or, Will Fred llaiynrd. Ntanidio Boat Boy: or. The Snuggle". 1149 Dob Roekett; or. to the Wall. 19" Rhadowod or. Bob Rot: 'att’s Fight for info. 200 Dark l’ala , the Tigrr King. \ 219 Daahing Dave, the Dand Detective. “0 Tom annoy or. The B Mk Sheep cilia Flock. the Premium Darky; 285 Shadow liss s. the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ ioodo ”; or, Shenandoah Bill and “la Gang. 252 Dink llughnwny; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. Id! The Young Sharp-t or, Roliicking Mikc’l Hot Trail. 2 4 Jolly Jim; the Detective An rrnllt‘e. '- 2 9 Jolly Jim a Job; or, The unu Detective. 298 The “'aielhnound; 0f. The Young Tltorougnbrod. 805 iciltaahaway, of Dakota; or, A Walton! Lad in the W y. . "4 Ralph Re dy, the Hotel Bot- Detective. 841 Tony Tho’ne, the Vagabond Detoctiva. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyn’s Billiard. 867 \V lilo-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of tho Tim-a. 3T9 Larry, the Leveiep; or, The Bloods oi the M 408 Fir-oily J Mk, tits Rlvsr-l'tat Detective. ‘ 498 The Loot Finger; or. The Eatrappod Gold“ 428 Fred Fiyer, the Reporter Detective. 48! Invincible Locum, tho Pinkerton [PM 4“ Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. I 460 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detail": onlutombolflin, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Myth «:1ka Hearty, 488 “'ild Dick Rocket“ ~ ' 5,1 Doota, the Boy Final-a; or, Too Sharp hr the m 588 The Secret Service Bo! Detective. 9"»: it HHHHWHHHHHHHHH ltflflfl Nash: i. .802 365 658 027 '1‘.- Braea oi Aria-tau or. The Woliia the told. I i BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe. the Young \Vandaring Jaw. 18 The Dumb Spy. 2? Antelope Abe. the Boy Guide. 31 Keen-knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 4| Lilli“) Jack, the Young Mustang”. 58 The Border Kin ; iir,The Secret Foo. 1 Delaware Diek. t a Young Rulgol’ Spy. t Hawk-eve liarr the Young Trapper Rang-t as lioiio. the Boy I an er. 184 Bore Shot Seth, ihu loy ititiemnn. L Sear-Fate haul, the Silent Hunter. 146 i-‘llver Star. the Boy Knight. 53 Eng e Kit. the Boy Demon. 08 Litt e Texan, the Young Mustangor. 173 Did Solitary, the Hermit 'i‘ra iper. 182 Little liurrieane. the Bo; aptain. l’rotl eet Pete ; or, The gun: Outlaw Hunton. 208 The oy llereuleat or, 1ho~Prniriu Tramps. 818 Tiger Tom. the Texas Tul‘ror. DB4 l'fllhill Diek; or, 'l'rupper Toni’a Castle. 288 Little Wildfire, the lemit Ptulrlo Nonind. 288 The P anon De tot-live; or, 'i‘ho Little Ranger. D'agulaed Guide; or, V illl Raven, the Run 200 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. (in Mike the Boy Sharpshootar. Foxfire, ilte Boy S v. The Eli Demon‘; or Raiiibolt,tho Rang... ' iIing Joe, the y Ranchero. 409 I‘leressiea or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 41’? Webt’oot one the Tramp Detective. Bill) Sam, the iioy Giant oi' the YellUWIwne. lo Buekakin, the Young l’ruirie Centaur. 45 Wingedfoot Fred; M. Old Polar Saul. Tamarac Tom, the Bifi'l‘ra per Boy. 47801dfl‘ol Rattler the ed iver Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, 1 9 Boy Trojan. 56' Blunder-tag Baal], the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY '1‘. 0. HARBAUGII. 28 Nick 0’ the Ni ht or, The Bo S oi ’76. 8? The Hidden 1.34:3; or. The L ttlgyliunter. 47 Nightlnlale Nat or, The Forest Cs taint. 1' ark ; or, a Outlaws of tha on M 88 Kit I arel‘oot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jaeké or, The Bo Trapper. 06 Old Fmty. the “Mr or T e White Queen. 8 Kiowa Charley the White Mullanglor. / 9 Jud e Lynch, Jr.; or. Tho Bo Vigilante. , l Tr er, the S rt; or, 0 Girl Avenger. ‘ 9 Tornado 0; or. njun Jack From Red Core. 8 N ed Temple, ths Border Boy. 198 Arkanaaw; or, The Queen oi Fate's Revenge. .07 Navaio Nat-1t the Boy Gold Humor. 81? Captain uiiet; or, thtls Tonltnot‘s Crusada. 28 l’lueky Phil; or. VRoaa, tho Roi Jezebel. .41 Bill Bravo; or, The Rough of the Rockies. 255 Captain A on" the King-Pin of Bowl». 387 The Back: in elective. ‘ 979 Did Winch]; or, ’l‘ha Buckakln Deaneradoeo. 394 I) namlte ban; or, ‘Tha Bowl! Blade of Cochetopa. » 809 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bull). l 816 Old Eellpae. Trump Card of Ariaona. 4 896 The Ten i’nrda; or, The Terror oi Take-Notion. I 880 Big Dent-on; or, The Queen of the Lars". 845 l’ltileu Matt 3 0', Red Thnntlerboit’s Secret. 856 l‘rool ham and :,-ll'"‘ oLeTheiTorrlbla Six. t n i tect v . . Velvet Foo o ‘ d a: W ainO t .‘ no airing“, 890 Rough Rob: 0?. The 'l win éhnmpinn! oi” Blue Elana. 411 The Silken Latino; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox. the Boy Shatter. .. l 425 Texas Tram . the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flinn, t 0 New York Fox. 445 The City V simply-ca; or, Red Rolfe’s Pippa. 46! One Again-t Filly; or, The Last Man of keno Bar. The Roy Shadow; or. Felix Fox's Hunt. 477 The Excelaior Sport; or. The Wuhiugtol Spotter. 499 single Iii ht, the One-Eyed Sport. 1 500 Branded en, the Night rmot. - 518 dodger Dick. the Wharf-S y Domtlva. - Hfl HHHHHH @GGGQ at a 9 59 Jod r Die ‘a 531 1‘0: ‘ae con, the Bower'y shadowa. 588 .. -V Dick; the Dock Ferret. 48 _ lek a Double; or. Tho Rival Boy Detector-It 3 -" ic ’tt Draper-ate Gale. 5138 . . Die . the Boy Vldocq. ' he wn Shadows 58. llod er Di k’a Drop. v . 594 hi t e Lon, the Simufilnm Deioctivo. U , 610 01 Skin-er, the Gold shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. “- 626 'i‘ho Champion Parda. 681' Dick Donn, the Dock liov Doioctivo. 845 int, the Pavement Sharp. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 651 gating gazmrrank. the Young Amateur Detective. By 2 Don Barr. thi l’lalnaleance. Bv Oil. Coomea. Dilly Bani II, the Bov Beagle. Bv T. C. llarbangil. 664 Deadwood iek, Jr., Among the Snuggle". 3! Edward 1.. Wheeler O55 Plucky Paul, thong] S niator. By Char ca Morrla. 656 Butterfly Billy'a Man ant. B)‘ COL F' m" mm“ 051 unit...» William. a. Mountain mount-nit. .ieilt. A. K. Shun. . . ' oils Sky-Rocket “oh. the Lilo-Saran or, no Storm—WI" ot nut‘n Boot. Ry Jo Plane. . 659 Moonll ht Morgan, tho “‘Piaeneat "Mull 0' All" Bil". 0'. . Cibilil‘i lo tn‘n (‘hnmpinn Chair. By J. C. C°"dl’id~ 660 Derdwood Dick, Jr’a., Inouraaeo Cane. By Edward l. Wheeler. 1 ' 061 Old Kit Randy’s Deliverance; 0". 3'5"? Ben- "M Wildfire of the Prairies. Bv Oli C00 669 Bhttt-rliy Billy‘s Rowan-ha: or. “0 Bind" 50m" 0| the Overland. B ("ALE [aura m. . cos Vio‘lvot “Private”; or, rt. Jaw City Clean-Out. v m. 0. «than. t 6 C k on. lo the s all Or The Lita Racket st " 4 .i.t:..t......:.. hut“ .. - By. an '- flat the Plaiaa De tin; or, Warbllng Wil- oo‘ i‘irrill’s’l-l‘ogeeflnn.. ti Lint. A. ngima. v I 060 Deadw Dick «In, Back in the lilac-9; or, Tho V b Mountain mason’l Denial. Game. By Edward L.‘“ healer. j I I " tho Daisy tat-tint; or, The Gamln Spiea’ 1 By aria Morris. .- Bueeailoer Mid-hip-aa; or, The Sea Rovar'o ‘ Colonel Pnntlns ingraham. » roadwoy Billy Abroad or. The Boothlaek Bravo la a Fraud ByJ. C. Cowd ck. Ready May ’0. cl ' thoV‘Big Bov Mountaineer; w, The Blvd By 3n Coon“. Kaady May :1. _ 3 _ A Now Tao-o Every Tuesday. " i f latt- DilIo-Llhar Is in ssls all n In “an; up) , Or that by nail ozrooolpt oi “th new it , ML): m MAXI, Pahfllhofl. M Willia- Itroot, Now Ya!!- l i» r- r,