The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Jonathan grinned as he asked, ‘Who was the letter directed to?” “I don't know. There is no name upon it except Flint’s.” “Well, and what did this particular friend in the country do?” asked Jonathan, “Why, when fully advised of what was going to take place, and that the doctor was to sleep in Green Court that night, with the deeds, documents, and money in his possession, he understood well enough what this cunning lawyer hinted at,” “And what was it?” asked Jonathan very mildly. “Why, he posted off to London as quickly as possible, entered Flint’s room in Green Court, and, finding some one fast asleep in bed, he mur- dered him,” “Murdered him ?” asked Flint, hoarsely. “Yes, murdered him; but found neither money -nor documents, for zt was the wrong man !” “The wrong man! I don’t understand,” said Jonathan. “Tt was the clerk whom Flint wished to get out of the way in some manner, because he knew too much about his master’s villany and roguery during a long career of crime.” Flint started as if he had been shot. ‘The murderer searched but found nothing. Thus the lawyer had secured every farthing of old Ford’s money in title deeds and such like, and cheated every one who had directly or indirectly assisted him in the whole affair, myself included. Now are you satisfied, Mr. Lawyer Flint?” ‘7 am not,”’ said Jonathan, ; “What further would you know?” said Warner, still tightly grasping his revolver, ready for action, if necessary. “You do not know’ to whom this letter was addressed you found in Bromley Hall ?” “T do not. Are you satisfied ?” “No. Do you suspect the party?” asked Jonathan, No,” “Tis well,” Warner laughed as he said, ‘“‘T do not suspect the person, for I know him,” “Indeed! Who was it, then, who did this bloody deed ?” . “Yourself, Jonathan,” was the calm reply. “Me?” “What, Jonathan?” gasped Flint. “Yes, Jonathan himself, none other.” For’a moment Jonathan looked at Warner with a fierce wild gaze. But he spoke not. Flint was astounded. Jonathan sank back into his seat. “You see, I know all,” said Warner, in triumph ; “your lives are in my hands. If I do but speak I can have both of you hanged, and myself pardoned for turning approver.” For a moment no one spoke. All that Warner had said was perfectly true, and both Flint and Jonathan knew it, “Am TI tobe a friend or enemy?” said Warner, rising, revolver in hand, ‘‘Speak quickly, or Vl stop the coach and have you both arrested! Speak quickly—friend or foe ?” “ A friend,” said both. “So be it. And you will obey me in all things?” “We will.” : “To the death ?” “To death itself.” At that moment the carriage rolled on at a quickened pace, As Warner looked through the window he’ sud- denly started back. : His eye caught the well-known figure of Gale the detective, who was galloping along at full speed, his horse all afoam, CHAPTER XCIL IN WHICH BARNEY GETS ENTRAPPED. THE Pug, although he was running at large, was very closely watched by the police. Although he had given much information to | Scotland Yard regarding the doings of Warner — and of old Jonathan, still the officers watched him like a mouse. Barney himself was employed then as a sort of amateur detective, and was greatly enjoying him- self about the dens of London without doing any sort of work whatever, a state of things which Master Puggy greatly delighted in. “T shall never clap eyes on Warner again,” he thought, “and don’t care if they hang him to- morrow so that J am all right,” He had a notion all throughout his life that he was something of a fichting man to. But this “notion” had been knocked out of him — on more than one occasion by numberless young fellows upon whom Mr. Barney thought to impose. | He wore a large hairy cap during winter and | Summer, with the peak drawn over his beetling brow, which, it must be confessed, did not add to — his unprepossessing appearance, In addition to this, he continually sported a “blue fogle ” with white spots. 3 This was wound round and round his thick bull- | like neck, and concealed his shirt—if he had any. But shirts were not often thought necessary by the Pug. SB A fustian jacket with pockets at the side, a pair of tight fitting corduroys, and a pair of ‘‘lace- ups” completed the personal appearance of the Pug. He seemed to live on naught else but fish and gin, except somebody treated him to better fare ; and generally patronized the gallery of the “Vic,” where he amused himself by eating ‘ trotters,” whistling, and bouncing any respectable person who would not stand his nonsense and impudenec, Although his encounters with men were not very successful or pleasant, considering that he gene- rally came off second best, with the addition (of a black eye, or damaged nose, he made up for it by thrashing eyery woman he came across, at least such as lived in Cauliflower Alley, the’ salubrious locality in which he held out, sa £ He did not like costermongering for a living, for the work proved too hard for his liking. em He next tried the ring, but had got such a terrible knocking about that even that profession proved disagreeable to him. : He next got linked in with a gang of thieves, and was ready to do anything which did not in- yolve danger, but which at the same time would repay him well for his trouble. . But now we find Puggy in quite a different capacity, Ns at * He is now a detective’s tout. But what did. Barney care? ete It was all fish that came to his net ; and so long as he could walk about doing next to nothing for a living, and with an everlasting pipe in his jaw, he felt happy, and didn’t care a button for any one, ~ He had no wife ; but like many other blackguards who lounge about corners and support the greasy oO Comicoooks.c©