Ike

“ Ike was a curious little fellow. We mean, he possessed the bump of curiosity to a great degree and he was constantly poking around into all manner of odd places. It had become a mania with him, and one evening he was walking along the street when he beheld a gentlemanly looking man walking in company with two of the worst-looking characters to be seen anywhere. Our hero had knocked around the world long enough to know that strange and even tragic incidents were of constant occurrence. ”

“ Just as the Swallow shoots to the front, out from the cloud of dust behind, with his cowboy hat high in one hand and his reins fluttering loosely in the other, Ike emerges on his beloved Slipper. At every bound the buckskin gains upon the runners in front, but when level with the Demon, Ike steadies him down, for he would not be guilty of the bad taste of "shoving his nose into another man's fight," nor would he deprive the little mare, who carried the fortunes of the men of the west, of the glory of her victory. ”

“ That was one thing about Ike, he always used his head. Well, he figgered and figgered, and purty soon he looked around, and he seen an axe about a hundred yards off. He ’lowed some nester had been haulin’ wood out of the canyon and had lost his axe. And mighty glad Ike was of the nester’s hard luck, too. And jest to show you the nerve of the man, he goes over and gits the axe and chops off his own leg, and he didn’t have any chloroform, either, it not bein’ wormy season, and gits his self loose and walks ten miles into headquarters. That’s what I call nerve. ”

“ Ike, radiant with smiles and fat as a spring seal, was out to meet me on my arrival—which circumstance was a little difficult at first to understand. Then he explained:
"You'm right, Doctor. It drives away t' bad luck when you pays up a blind man. I hasn't wanted ne'er a t'ing since."
It had been a good voyage that year, and, as a matter of fact, every one had a warm spot somewhere in his heart for "that rascal Ike." For though he was admittedly a rogue, he was always such an amusing, hail-fellow-well-met rogue, and not the really mean type which every one dislikes. ”

“ He forced Ike into a chair and sitting opposite him as the others gathered around he asked:
“Who are you, lad?”
Ike made no answer, but stared as though he were hard of hearing—a poor trick, indeed, for the man said:
“Oh, that won’t do; don’t come the deaf and dumb dodge on us. Mutes don’t stand in their stocking feet in a dark hall with their ear to a keyhole.”
Ike laughed; he saw that his dodge didn’t work and he came a more cunning one. He said:
“I am on to you men. You are not actors, you are robbers.” ”

“ Ike would not reveal any further to the young lady. He merely reiterated his statement that he had called to restore her peace of mind. He left the house and determined to work Fellman for awhile, and proceeded down town. He imagined his man would go to his meal in company with another. Ike got himself up in a new disguise and went down and hung around the man’s office, and, as he had anticipated, in due time Fellman appeared [89] in company with another man, and proceeded to a fashionable down-town lunch-room. ”

“ Ike was a hopeful little fellow and he muttered:
“This means something—it means that it is not ‘all up’ with me after all. I am going to get out of this scrape, and then, by ginger, some one will wish they had been wiped out in a cyclone.”
Our hero ate and drank, and crawling away from his stake as far as he could he hid the bottle with the remark:
“I do not know just when I may have a visitor. I’ll be on my guard and not get my friend into trouble.” ”

“ He conducted Ike to the glass-enclosed office, where Miss Cohen bent low over her ledger. The blush with which she had received Ike's greeting had not entirely disappeared; and, as she glanced up, her large black eyes looked like those of a frightened deer. Morris was forced to admit to himself that if her bookkeeping was doubtful, at least there could be no mistake about her charms. As for Ike, now that the business of securing orders was done with, he surrendered himself to gallantry, for which he had a natural aptitude. ”

“ But all's well that ends well, as I've often had occasion to say in the past, and I wish you to meet your uncle."
Ike had no reason, however, to go and call the old miser, for there occurred a most unexpected metamorphosis. Our hero had just concluded the last remark above quoted when he chanced to turn, and there stood a fine-looking old gentleman, clean shaved, his hair cut and his attire perfect. Ike started in amazement, for despite the startling metamorphosis he recognized Mr. Sidney. Sara also beheld the old man, and she stood and gazed aghast. ”

“ Ike stood and looked after the man and muttered:
“Well, I am getting into this matter pretty deep; that man has an enemy; he wants him put out of the way, ‘dropped out.’ Yes, I see, and now I know there is a woman in the case, and I have already picked up six dollars out of the adventure. ”

“ Lulu, who had been greatly excited, inquired:
“Did he really accuse you falsely, Ike?”
“You saw what occurred,” was all that our hero answered. He was satisfied; the man whom he had made a show of once kicked him without cause. Our hero recollected the kick and thus repaid it.
When the show was over Ike and Lulu returned home. On the following day Ike was busy. He was preparing the living receipt for the landlord when he called. At the appointed hour the man appeared and to his surprise at a table there sat the old magician, Andro. ”

“ We take all the chances.”
“There need be no mis-go; we can arrange our plans so well.”
At that moment a startling incident occurred. Ike heard a noise behind him. He rose suddenly and unthinkingly, and the next instant he was caught in a strong pair of arms and dragged into the room through which he had crawled out upon the projection. He was in the hands of a powerful man, who exclaimed:
“Ah! you little thief, I’ve caught you at last, and the mystery is explained.” ”

“ He started to go down the stairs, and on the floor below the one he and old Andro had occupied for over a year he saw a little girl come from a room. The child was very pretty and had been weeping. Ike was a tender-hearted, sympathetic fellow. He had never seen the child before, but upon beholding that she had been weeping his curiosity was aroused. Once more, dear reader, how often do we meet people who invite our sympathies in great cities. I can say one on about every square mile as we walk the streets. ”

“ So, Miss,” concluded Ike, stumbling less in his speech now, “if a man or a critter acts batty like, we say he’s locoed.”
“I understand. But if this man they suspect of setting the fire is crazy he isn’t responsible for what he does, is he?”
“Well, Miss, mebbe not. But we can’t have no onresponsible feller hangin’ around yere scatterin’ fire—no, sir!—ma’am, I mean,” Ike hastily added, his face flaming up like an Italian sunset again.
“No; I suppose not. But I understand the man stays around that old camp at Tintacker, more than anywhere else?” ”

“ Ike was sure the man would remain in the city and that he could locate him almost any time when he needed.
It was late on the following afternoon when our hero visited Sara Sidney. He listened to a long and hopeful talk of the girl's plans. He did not say anything direct, but did project:
"Suppose you should find your uncle, and he should disapprove of your plans?"
"I do not expect ever to find my uncle."
"Well, now, I once made you a promise."
"I know you did, but remember, it is thirty years since my father saw his brother."
"Well, some men live to a pretty old age. ”

“ Presently he jumped a fence, and walking off to the left, climbed a hill, from the top of which he could see old Ike's house. Here, in the edge of a spruce grove, he walked back and forth, watching the proceedings below. "Seems little too much like bein' a spy," thought the good man, "but I never felt a clearer call in a thing in my life than I do in this little girl's letter," and he fell to singing
"Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,"
till the crows in the wood were frightened by the strange sound, and came flying out and flapping their great wings above his head. ”

“ In the meantime, Ike returned to his home, and it was after one o’clock when he arrived. Mrs. Pell was waiting for him. She had been worried, and Ike said:
“You must never be worried about me. I may sometimes be gone two or three days at a time. Here’s a quarter to get a meal to-morrow, and I am happy to say that I think I am in the way to make quite a big stake. I can’t tell, but it looks that way now.”
On the morning following the incidents we have recorded, Ike was out bright and early, and he went over to the hotel to which he had traced the man the preceding night. ”

“ Presently the major, booming away like a bell buoy, became aware that his audience had dwindled. Only Ike Webb remained, and Ike was getting upon his feet and reaching for the peg where his coat swung.
“I'm sorry to leave you right in the middle of your story, major; but, honestly, I've got to be going,” apologized Ike. “Good night, and don't forget this, major”—Ike had halted at the door—“when a big story comes your way freeze to it with both hands and slam it across the plate as a scoop. Do that and you can give 'em all the laugh. Good night again—see you in the morning, major!” ”

“ She and Ike sat down for a long talk. Ike had told his history and he proposed that as he had lost his father, as he called old Andro, Mrs. Pell would have to be a mother to him, and he added:
“I must hie me around and get into making money.”
“Why don’t you start out as a magician and ventriloquist?”
“For the best reason in the world,” answered Ike. “There are so many ‘fakes’ in the business it has ceased to be a drawing card, and there are hundreds of amateurs in the business. I’ve got a scheme, however, and I will carry it out. I have an idea I can make money and possibly a fortune in time. ”

“ It’s all bad business. I never intended that any real harm should come to the lad anyhow. You were the devil who urged me on, and——”
At this instant again there sounded a yell in the ear of the mate and he shouted:
“Get the boy ashore. I’ll row him ashore; yes, I will.”
Ike got back to his place, cast aside his dummy and got into his clothes. And he wasn’t a minute too soon, either. Before the hatch cover was removed and the captain started to come down the lad leaped to his feet, seized the chain from which he had released himself, and ran back to one corner saying:
“Don’t come near me.” ”

“ He had hurried out of church and hid himself in the edge of a little pine grove which the Elder and Draxy must pass.
"I'd jest like to see 'em a little longer," he said to himself half apologetically. As they walked silently by, old Ike's face saddened, and at last became convulsed with grief. Creeping out from beneath the pines, he slowly followed them up the hill, muttering to himself, in the fashion which had grown upon him in his solitary life:--
"O Lord! O Lord! No such looks as them is long for this earth. O Lord! which is it ye're goin' to take? I reckon it's the Elder. I reckon 'tis. ”

“ Pell’s face. A weird suspicion ran through her mind. Fifteen dollars was a great deal of money for a mere youth in no regular business to earn in one day. Ike, who was quick and observant, saw the thoughtful look in his friend’s face and he said:
“You need have no fear. I get all my money honestly. I would neither hold nor receive money that did not come to me honestly.”
[44]
The lad lay around until night. He had a scheme in his mind. He believed he had fathomed the whole scheme of the man Fellman, and he also believed he had learned the identity of the intended victim. ”

“ Besides the securities, jewels of great value and hoards of gold and silver were taken.
Ike and Jack read over the account and later met their friend, Detective Du Flore, who knew all about the case, and he said:
"I was coming to see you. I wonder if we can get in on this job with any hope of success?"
"I don't know about the hope of success," said Ike, "but we can get in on the job."
"I will tell you something privately: there is an immense reward offered. It will be the job of our lives if we can run down those plunderers." ”

“ The hopeful leader of the forlorn hope—how's he?"
"Ike?" he says. "Oh, he's all right. He's a mighty smart young feller, Ike is."
"Yes," says I, "so I've heard him say. Gettin' ready to stand in with him when he gets my job, are you, Sim?"
That shook him up a mite. 'Twas common talk around town that Sim and Ike was pretty thick. He turned red under his freckles.
"No, no!" he sputtered. "Course I ain't! I'm standin' by you, Cap'n Snow, and you know it. But, all the same, Ike's a smart boy. He's gettin' rich fast, Ike is." ”

“ There was considerable consternation in Ike’s tone, and he gazed at her with so much concern that she must have laughed at his lugubrious expression had her mood not been so far removed from merriment just then.
“It is such a dreadful story!” she gasped, her voice broken and unsteady.
“There are worse things happening in the world every day. Mind you, if the fellow had not cheated people before, they would not have been so likely to think he was cheating them then,” said Ike, rising to his feet, and laying some money on the kitchen table, which served Nell as a counter. ”

“ Ike wears specks and always carries a little basket on his arm. he cant see very well, and father said to me, now you jest keep still and you will see some fun and when Ike came along father changed his voice so that it sounded awfully growly and said where in the devil are you going with that basket, and Ike was scart most to deth and said only a little way down here sir and father said, move on sir and move dam lively and i nearly died laffing to see Ike hiper. well after a while i see Ike coming back with old Swane and old Kize the policemen. ”