Dan, the Newsboy by Jr. Horatio Alger (best detective novels of all time txt) 📕

"Oh, Dan! Have you come to take me away?" Althea exclaimed.

"Hillo! what's up?" exclaimed Donovan, looking at the two in surprise.

"Oh, it's my brother Dan," exclaimed Althea. "You'll take me away, won't you, Dan? How funny you look! Where did you get your fiddle?"

"So that's your game, my young chicken, is it?" demanded Donovan, seizing our hero roughly by the shoulder. Then pulling off Dan's hat, he added: "You're no more Italian than I am."

Dan saw that it would be useless to keep up the deceit any longer. He looked Donovan full in the face, and said, firmly:

"You are right, Mr. Donovan, I have come here for my sister."

[Pg 268]

CHAPTER XXXVIII. UNPLEASANT QUARTERS.

Donovan's red face turned fairly purple with rage.

"Well, I'll be blowed!" he said, adding an oath or two. "You're a bold little pup! You dare to insult me! Why, I could crush you with my little finger."

"I have not insulted you," said Dan. "I have only come for my sister."

"I don't know anything about your sister. So you can go about your business."

"That little girl is my adopted sister," said Dan, pointing to Althea. "Ask her if she doesn't know me."

"That is my daughter, Katy Donovan," said the saloon keeper.

"No, I am not," said Althea, beginning to cry. "I want to go away with my brother Dan."

"Shut up, you little jade!" said Donovan, roughly. "Mrs. Donovan," (by this time she was on her feet, looking on in a dazed sort of way), "is not this our little Katy?"

"Shure it is," she answered.

[Pg 269]

"You see, young man, you're mistaken. You can leave," and Donovan waved his hand triumphantly.

"That's too thin, Mrs. Donovan!" said Dan, provoked. "That don't go down. I can bring plenty of proof that Althea was until a week since living with my mother."

"That for your proof!" said Donovan, contemptuously snapping his fingers.

"I know who stole her, and who brought her to this house," continued Dan.

Donovan started. The boy knew more than he had expected.

"The same man has been here to-day," added Dan.

"You lie!" retorted Donovan, but he looked uneasy.

"You know that I tell the truth. How much does he pay you for taking care of the girl?"

"Enough of this!" roared the saloon keeper. "I can't waste my time talkin' wid you. Will you clear out now?"

"No, I won't, unless Althea goes with me," said Dan, firmly.

"You won't, then! We'll see about that," and Donovan, making a rush, seized Dan in his arms, and carried him down stairs, despite our hero's resistance.

"I'll tache you to come here insultin' your betters!" he exclaimed.

[Pg 270]

Dan struggled to get away, but though a strong boy, he was not a match for a powerful man, and could not effect his deliverance. The Irishman already referred to was still upon the settee.

"What's up, Donovan?" he asked, as the saloon-keeper appeared with his burden. "What's the lad been doin'?"

"What's he been doin', is it? He's been insultin' me to my face—that's what the Donovans won't stand. Open the trap-door, Barney."

"What for?"

"Don't trouble me wid your questions, but do as I tell you. You shall know afterward."

Not quite willingly, but reluctant to offend Donovan, who gave him credit for the drinks, Barney raised a trap-door leading to the cellar below.

There was a ladder for the convenience of those wishing to ascend and descend, but Donovan was not disposed to use much ceremony with the boy who had offended him. He dropped him through the opening, Dan by good luck falling on his feet.

"That's the best place for you, you young meddler!" he said. "You'll find it mighty comfortable, and I wish you much joy. I won't charge you no rint, and that's an object in these hard times—eh, Barney?"

"To be sure it is," said Barney; "but all the same,[Pg 271] Donovan, I'd rather pay rint up stairs, if I had my choice!"

"He hasn't the choice," said Donovan triumphantly. "Good-by to you!" and he let the trap fall.

"What's it all about now, Donovan?" asked Barney.

"He wanted to shtale my Katy," said Donovan.

"What, right before your face?" asked Barney, puzzled.

"Yes, shure! What'll you take to drink?" asked Donovan, not caring to go into particulars.

Barney indicated his choice with alacrity, and, after drinking, was hardly in a condition to pursue his inquiries.

[Pg 272]

CHAPTER XXXIX. DAN DISCOMFITS THE DONOVANS.

Dan found himself at first bewildered and confused by his sudden descent into the cellar. As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he was able to get an idea of his surroundings. It was a common cellar with an earthen floor. Ranged along one side was a row of kegs, some containing whisky, others empty. Besides, there were a few boxes and odds and ends which had been placed here to get them out of the way.

"Not a very cheerful-looking place," thought Dan, "though I do get it rent free."

He sat down on a box, and began to consider his position. Was there any way of escape? The walls were solid, and although there was a narrow window, consisting of a row of single panes, it was at the top of the cellar, and not easily accessible. He might indeed reach it by the ladder, but he would have to break the glass and crawl through, a mode of escape likely to be attended by personal risk.

"No, that won't do," thought Dan. "At any rate, I won't try it till other things fail."

[Pg 273]

Meanwhile Donovan, in the bar-room above, was in high good humor. He felt that he had done a sharp thing, and more than once chuckled as he thought of his prisoner below. Indeed he could not forbear, after about half an hour, lifting the trap and calling down stairs:

"Hallo, there!"

"Hallo!" said Dan, coolly.

"What are you doin'?"

"Sitting on a box."

"How do you like it?" chuckled Donovan.

"Come down and see."

"You're an impudent jackanapes!" retorted Donovan, wrathfully. "You'll get enough of it before you're through."

"So will you," answered Dan, boldly.

"I'll take the risk," chuckled Donovan. "Do you know what you remind me of?"

"Suppose you tell me."

"You're like a rat in a trap."

"Not exactly," answered Dan, as a bright thought dawned upon him.

"Why not?"

"Because a rat can do no harm, and I can."

It occurred to Donovan that Dan might have some matches in his pocket, and was momentarily alarmed[Pg 274] at the thought that our hero might set the house on fire.

"Have you matches with you?" he asked.

"No," answered Dan.

"If you had," said the saloon-keeper, relieved, "it would do you no good to set a fire. You would only burn yourself up."

"I don't mean to set the house on fire," said Dan, composedly.

"Then you may do your worst. You can't scare me."

"Can't I?" returned Dan, rising from his seat on the box.

"What are you going to do?" asked Donovan, following with his glance the boy's motion.

"I'll tell you," said Dan. "I'm going to take the spigot out of them whisky-kegs, and let the whisky run out on the floor."

"Don't you do it!" exclaimed the saloon-keeper, now thoroughly frightened.

"Then let me up."

"I won't."

"All right. You must take the consequences."

As he spoke Dan dextrously pulled the spigot from a keg, and Donovan, to his dismay, heard the precious liquid—precious in his eyes—pouring out upon the floor.

[Pg 275]

With an exertion he raised the trap-door, hastily descended the ladder, and rushed to the keg to replace the spigot.

Meanwhile Dan ran up the ladder, pulled it after him, and made his late jailer a captive.

"Put down