Buck Hawk, Detective | Page 4

go back to Black-cat Alley to-night-- nor at all, for that matter,"
he muttered; "Ê'cause that hawk, Jack Grimes, would durned soon find
me out, the hound! I know that feller, I do; and he knows I know of
some of his smart games. It's me an' him fer it now, and best one is
goin' to win."
Not knowing what else to do, he wandered down to the Delaware
wharves, and watched the stream of people surging in the direction of
the ferries.
But, though his gaze rested upon them, his mind was upon the trouble
which loomed up before him like a grim giant.
"I reckon about the best thing I kin do is to go and surrender," he
muttered-- "but I'll be dashed if I'll do that, either! Every one fer hisself;
an' ef I don't keep an eye peeled fer Turk, durned ef any one else will.
Jeremity! I bet that niece of St. Clair's got a tongue-lashin' when the old
gent got home and found his diamonds gone!
Mechanically, he turned and wended his way toward his tenement
lodgings in Black-cat Alley, and succeeded in reaching his bleak,

cheerless third-story room without any one being the wiser for it.
Old Mother McFadden ran the establishment, her tenants being
bootblacks, newsboys, and the like, who had no other home, and who
were glad to turn in the better share of their earnings for the shelter of
the McFadden roof and a very meager allowance of provender.
Such had been the case with Turk ever since he could first remember;
but he realized that he must now bid adieu to the classic precinct of
Black-cat Alley, and that without delay.
Hastily divesting himself of his regulation messenger attire, he donned
a neat new Sunday suit, which he had recently purchased, and a hat in
place of his cap; then placing his few effects in a sachel, he quietly took
his departure, and made his way toward the southern part of the city,
where be found a cheap boarding-house in a retired street, and paid his
board two weeks in advance, explaining that be was looking for a job.
After being assigned a room, and securing his supper, he started forth,
and mechanically wandered toward the district office where be had
been employed-- for he now no longer considered himself one of the
employees of the company.
A glance into the office through the glass door satisfied him that there
was nothing of excitement about the place, which gave him a deal of
relief.
Bill Jones, of the receiving-window, had been relieved by the
night-clerk, and, knowing where his lodgings were, Turk at once turned
his footsteps toward them.
"There's barely one chance," he mused, as be hurried along. "Bill ain't
always exactly honest with the company, and don't always turn in an
account when he sends us fellers out on errands, for which he knocks
down the cash. Don't like a feller to be dishonest; but I hope to gracious
he's made no account o' my trip to-day."
Jones occupied a room in a block on Market street, third-story back,

and usually got his meals at a restaurant
Although he had been in the company's employ for a long time, he had
not yet sown the full measure of his wild outs, and knowing his failing,
Turk was not surprised to find him "half the seas over" on reaching his
room.
"Hillo! Sultan! jest in time, old feller. Got some prime stomach bitters
here," Jones cried, at sight of the boy.
"Much obliged, Billy; I don't drink. You'd be better off if you
wouldn't."
"Nonsense, what's the harm of a fellow having a little cheer, after
getting out of prison? I believe in work when you work and smile when
you play. What fetched you up from Black-cat, Turk?"
"Oh! I came to see you on business, Bill."
"Bah! business be hanged. No more business for me till eight
to-morrow morning."
"But I say yes," Turk declared, firmly. "There's a big row goin' to be
kicked up, and you're the chap that can stop it. Did you turn in the cash
for my errand to-day?"
The question seemed to have an electric effect upon Jones, and to
dissipate all the effects of the liquor he had imbibed.
"To be sure I did," he flustered, appearing to feel highly indignant at
the question. "What do you take me for, you young Arab?"
"Oh! I only wanted to see if you were prepared to prove your part of
the transaction, in case there's trouble," Turk returned, eying the clerk.
Jones flushed and grew fidgety.
"What the blazes are you driving at?" he demanded, sharply. "Explain."

"There isn't much to explain, more than that you're liable to get tripped.
Ye didn't turn the