Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 265: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

i Se ee ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. 285 ee eel _ * That’s all.” “To be sure.” Were sentences uttered in one breath by the community, and with such an emphasis, that they appeared as a guarantee for the fulfilment of the promised aid. Se Satisfied with the friendly disposition of his confederates, Nat Wetherby requested each one in the first place to make himself scarce, and vanish from the place in which they were then stationed. The victim would be here immediately, He did not wish him to see strange faces lurking about, He had only got the start of him by taking a nearer turn, and some fortuitous circumstance was alone delaying him, With the word the whole party departed as some band of phantoms, but whither would have puzzled Mephistophiles to tell. | Suffice, Nat Wetherby was in an instant the sole person to be seen in the quarter. After a pause he proceeded to the house at which it sa be remembered the late visitants had observed a light. Knocking at the entrance of the dwelling he shouted to one of its inmates. “Hilloa, wench, open the door, and make haste about it.” Nat Wetherby had no sooner given the summons than a female looked out of a casement and de- manded, ~ * Who's there ?” One who owns a noble nag and a handsome sauce and rides over Hounslow Heath by moon- ight,” “Are you alone?” asked the same voice, which proved to be no other than that of Edgeworth Bess. “Yes, girl,’ replied her paramour, “ but I expect visitors, shortly. ‘“‘ A man is sleeping here,’ continued Edgeworth Bess, ‘‘shall I wake him ?” ‘“No; since that is the case, you must come down.” Obedient to his will, the woman closed the win- dow, and in a few moments descended into the street to Nat Wetherby. **T am here,” she exclaimed bitterly. “What, sulky again, Bess,’ cried the highway- oa jovially, ‘‘ what the deuce, girl, ails you of ate?” “Ask your own heart the question,” replied Edgeworth Bess, in a tone that showed her bosom was torn by some conflicting passions. ‘“ Even the down-trodden worm will turn and dart its harmless venom on its oppressor; but it must soon end,” she continued, speaking to herself, “How you are muttering,’ said Nat Wetherby ; “but it doesn’t matter; I suppose jealous women find consolation in a grumble,” Turning the conversation to one more agreeable, the highwayman inquired the names of the parties lodging above his apartment. “Two men,” replied Edgeworth Bess, as morose as ever; “one calls himself Bradshaw—he is a gambler ; the other, Ned Bush, is now in your room, where he said he was to await you,” _ “Quite right; get some spirits, girl, from the tavern ; see the mugs be clean and ready.” As he spoke, Nat Wetherby placed some money in Bess’s hand, and observed, “ The guests I have spoken of will soon arrive, and by one of them I mean to make a fortune; and see here, lass,” he continued, producing a necklace from his pocket, ‘“here’s a shiner,” Avarice glistened in the eye of Edgeworth Bess while she exclaimed, “Ha! diamonds! how they sparkle. the trinkets, Nat ; they shall be my care.” “Well, you shall have the jewels,” said Nat Wetherby, delivering them to the keeping of his frail companion. flaw, and are rare specimens of the earth’s greatest treasure.” “They could not be of any service to him in prison,” she murmured to herself, as she placed the costly gift in her bosom. ‘“ And this,” she con- tinued, “ is his last night out,” Seeming to depart for the drink Nat Wetherby had ordered, Edgeworth Bess left her lover. She left him to accomplish in reality a vengeance for an injury she deemed she had suffered. So hastened to dispatch a trusty messenger on her errand. ‘Yes, yes,” mused the unsuspecting robber, when he was left by himself, ‘the finding of this will must make me a gentleman. It was fortunate that Geoffrey Bradshaw thought my assistance necessary, or he might have plundered the victim without my knowledge. “Though I have succeeded with this gambler,”’ he continued, “yet would I rather transact business with a highwayman than acard sharper; but the old proverb tell us that beggars mustn’t be choosers, so I suppose thieves must be so neither.” Two figures now appeared in the distance, As they approached, Nat Wetherby discovered that they were those of our hero and Geoffrey Bradshaw. He had no sooner recognised these parties than he glided softly into the house from whence Edge- worth Bess had issued, before which the new comers soon arrived. » “How much farther are we to go?” asked Roving Jack of his companion. “Not another step,” was the reply. “You see the casement above us in which a lamp is burn- ing?” ee Yes,’’ “That lights the dwelling we must enter. In its uppermost attic,’ continued Geoffrey Bradshaw, “ securely sealed, lies your uncle’s will.” ‘‘Then let us at once proceed to the apartment,” exclaimed our hero, . “ We will do so when you have answered my question,” said the other. “A question ?” “Yes ; have you brought the money with you?” ‘You are very importunate on this point, I fancy,” replied Roving Jack, testily. ‘‘On three occasions have you demanded this request, and on eachI have said yes.” “ Well, you must excuse my being particular, for I have reason for such apparent curiosity, at which you will not be surprised when you learn the cause,”’ As Geoffrey Bradshaw spoke, he felt for the moment desperately inclined ; but on asudden con- sideration his anger seemed to abate. “ But come,’’ he continued, with a forced com- posure, ‘‘ Wetherby and Bush will be waiting for us.” “How long am I likely to be detained?” en- quired our hero, moodily. ‘Oh | not long ; half an honr or so, not more, cer- tainly. Roving Jack and his companion, on this assurance, entered the house. As they did so, the light which had been placed in its casement disappeared. Give me oO COMIGIOOKSHG “They appear to be without a_ \