The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

_—_ a ~- S a THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG GAPTAIN. 13 Frank jumped upon the box, and, whip in hand, drove off at a rapid pace. Tom was inside with the poor, friendless orphans, while Dick Fellows and Hugh Tracey sat upon the roof, and waved their handkerchiefs in triumph, as they dashed along on their way to London. It was well that Frank and his friends departed when they did, for a dozen stout and determined constables arrived at Bromley Hall Academy, armed to the teeth, and well primed with old ale. But the birds had flown. : The sight of his private desks and money-safe broken open and rifled, caused Gravestones to curse, “Follow me, Shanks, follow me; my worst fears are aroused. If our secret has been discovered we are ruined |” Up stairs they went, both together, and darted into the room, It was empty ! With a shout of long pent-up rage, he foamed at the mouth, and stamped and swore until almost black in the face. ““Tdiot !” he said, addressing Shanks, ‘‘I knew pe this would come to pass. Why did you thwart me?” “ T did not interfere with your plan, sir,’ Shanks answered, meekly. ; “Tiar !” stammered old Jonathan, Se OLE “Don’t stand there sirring me,”’ *T do not understand——” “Not understand, eh, when I call you fool! liar! idiot ! ass! eh?” “Rev. sir——” “ Rey. .devils!”’ said Jonathan, stamping with rage. ‘“‘Tamundone; I must fly! The two birds have flown ; I tell you this, sir, is your doings !” “ Mine, sir ?” “Yes, yours. Take that, sir, for your pains,” said he, and at the same moment hit Shanks a violent blow in the face, which knocked him down. With a loud laugh of mingled rage, disappoint- ment, and venom, he flung open the door, and darted out of the room, saying between his teeth, and in a hissing tone— “IT must away to London at once, or all is lost ! and reach it I will before midnight chimes from the tower of St. Paul’s.” In a low, hissing tone he added, “Twill have ample revenge!” CHAPTER V. THE ALARM—DESPERATEH SITUATION OF WARNER —THE DEAD MAN’S DYING GRIP—THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE OR DEATH—THE DAGGER USED— THE TREASURE GONE—THE PARCHMENTS —THE ASSAULT OF THE POLICE—THE SECRET PANEL —THE ESCAPE, AND FEARFUL FALL—WHO AND WHERE IS THE MURDERER ? For a second or two Warner was struck dumb with astonishment ! , “Who could the assassin be?” hethought. ‘‘ Was it one of the nephews? They were both expected home that night, and at twelve o’clock. It must be one of them. Yet he knows nothing of the conceal- ment of the treasure. What a fool he is; howlucky it isfor me! It will save me doing the nasty job, and yet I can secure the treasure, for he is dead!” Thinking thus, he opened the door and entered. old Ford’s room, With hasty steps he rushed towards the old man. To get at the treasure he had to raise the body, In hurry and excitement he did so! He threw his arms around the old man, and lifted up the body ! In doing so, a quantity of blood spurted from the wound ! Old Ford was not dead ! With adying, convulsive grasp he seized Warner by the throat with a grip of steel | Warner was almost paralysed with fear. “Help! help!” faintly sighed the old man. ‘Murder! he is here! Help! help! [ am dying !” Warner struggled violently to get free from Ford’s suffocating grasp, but could not. He became black in the face, and was nearly choked, ' To add to his horror and fright, there were now heard loud noises outside in the street ! They approached nearer and nearer. ~* Hurried heavy footsteps were heard upon the stairs “This way | this way !’’ said the voices. “Murder! help! murder! villains! police! murder !” shouted Davy, at the top of his voice. * Death and damnation !”’ gasped Warner, strug- gling desperately to release himself from the dead man’s hold. ‘I must be quick or the blood-hounds will be upon me!” With all the energy of death and despair staring him in the face, he made one last and desperate effort. With young Ford’s dagger he cut, and slashed, and jagged at the dead man’s hand. He was free ! He hurled the body upon the floor. It fell with a heavy sound. : “TI have time yet,” he gasped, in great haste. “The treasure shall not escape me.”’ He threw the pillows about, and searched for the miser’s fortune. It was not there—neither in cash or notes. With a terrible oath of disappointment he seized a small bundle of papers he found there, ** Haste! haste!’ cried Davy, ‘'He is here! he is here !” The noise of feet clattering up the front stairs aroused him into energy.” “Tt was Davy who has caused all this alarm,” he said. ‘* He shall die for it!” He rushed towards the helpless old butler, and would have stabbed him on the spot. The glimmer of a policeman’s lantern upon the stairs quickly approaching the landing made his heart sink within him, He had not time to s'ay old Davy, so slammed the chamber door and locked it. ‘‘T am surrounded and hemmed in on all sides,”’ he said, “but I will fight dearly for my life. Which way did that young assassingenter ?” On the instant he sounded the walls in every direction and on all sides. 1 “ Break the door!” ‘‘Burstitopen!” ‘ Rushin upon him, my men!” “Take care; he is armed!’ “Dash in upon him!” “Kill him like a dog, if he dares resist !” Such were the confused sounds of angry voices outside. Truncheons battered at the door with dull, heavy sounds. But the door was old, heavy, doubly-barred, and made of stout English oak. It seemed to resist all the efforts of those pushing against or battering at it. ‘‘ Here’s an axe! here’s a strong axe!” said one. ‘Give it to me,” said the sergeant. “Hand it this way,” said 61 Z, who had now arrived upon the scene. Crash! crash! bang! bang! went the axe at the door. Warner now felt like aman who had not many minutes to live. . — — conmmicloooks Conn