The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 249: 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. ———_—$_—__—_. —————$—$——— 243 IT know knows more about it than any of those you have named.” aa “ Whom ?” oan 3 “Why, Joel Flint,” said Tom ; he always was a great scoundrel, and no iniquity is too great for such a young villain.” | ‘But where is he ?”’ ‘“‘In Italy ; at least, he was there the last time I heard anything about him.” ‘““T was not aware you knewso much about him,” said Gale. _ ) ‘Oh, yes,” said Tom’; ‘IT have not been idle or asleep, Since I have been in London T have re- ceived a letter from Tomasso, an Italian detective at Leghorn, who says that he has managed to elude the vigilance of the police there, and has escaped with a whole chestfull of treasure.” | “A safe was it ?”’ “Yes, now I come to think of it, he says that it was a safe; but more than that, he and two accom- plices set fire to the custom-house; it is all in ruins,” ) “And did he manage to escape 7” ‘He did ; but not until after a sharp chase by ‘Tomasso, who was struck a heavy blow on’the head with an oar.” ~ ; _“ Got away with the safe, eh?” said Gale, biting his nails, in vexation, "50,1 have heard,” “Well, that safe,” said Gale, “contains nought else but documents, which belonged to your uncle— hang the luck,” ‘I don’t.care-a button abont the safe,” said Tom, ‘‘so that we manage to capture the young villain. I should like to see’ Joel hung at Newgate,” ‘ He is very likely to do so, if we only catch him,” said Gale. Bi re 7 ; : ‘Then what am I to do?” asked Tom, “Am I supposed to be your prisoner ?”’ | . *“No,” said Gale; “you are as innocent of that - murder as lam ; but I want you to work with me.” “ How ?” _“ To catch every one of the villains who have had | any hand in the swim.” ~ ° path *©Tn’ what manner ?’? '* « “Why, to be my ‘decoy duck.’”’ ‘“ T don’t understand,” “Well, then, Tll explain,” said Gale, laughing. “You have plenty of money,’ and will’ be sought after by all the ‘sharps* in London, who’ will have the kindest of intentions toward you; that is to say, they will court- your company, ‘treat you to _ anything or eyerything you like, and’ all they want in return is to drug you on the sly, and cheat you at billiards, bagatelle, or cards, er if they cannot do this very quietly, they may knock’ you down and rob you.”’ “’m much obliged for your information,” said - Tom, gaily; “but if that is the plan’ of ‘operation, I would rather say ‘ no’ to any such arrangement,” “You take it too seriously,” said Gale. - _'*No,” Tom replied, laughing, “I don’t feat the evil himself’ in fair fi¢ht.; but I ‘can’t stand drugging.” Ab edt Abeba “No, fear,” said Gale, “if even’ they do attempt it, no harm can befall you while I stand your friend ; but, you,see, by you thus sporting about, you are more likely to fall across this Jonathan or Flint, or Warner, than .J,am, for if they once get to hear of your being in London, they will not rest night or day untilthey do something that may in- jure you,” "T see, T gee,” Tom remarked) “so while they. are dodging me, you are watching them,” “Exactly,” said Gale, rubbing’ his hands, “I =o COMiIchHool have'no' doubt whatever butwhat I shall capture all of them if you do as I bid you.” “Which I will do with all my heart,” said Tom ; ‘but how are they to get to know I amin London ?” ‘In the easiest’'manner possible.” ‘oWxplain'!” . “This case of yours against Barney will come off to-morrow, and your name will appear in the news- papers.” * But it mustn’t; 1 don’t. desire it,” “Tt must, I-say.” »"Well, what then ?” “The case will then be adjourned for three or four days.” Why 2?” ie ‘Tox give these, gentlemen time to form) their plans,» One of.them,. or, -at least, one. of their friends, is sure to attend the police court for the purpose of having a look at you, and in order,to trace you to your lodgings.” “Do you think so ?”’ “T am certain of it.” “ But what do you intend to do, with Barney ?”’ JT mean that,.on the first occasion, you should prosecute, but you must not appear on the second day: ; he will then be discharged.’ ‘* And. do you desire it 2?” “Yes; because, suppose the magistrate gave him three or six months, what then? He would be out of the way, and unable to help us, Help us, I mean, without his being aware of it ; in fact, there is such a.deadly hatred between this Barney and. Warner, so. I have good reasons to suspect, that. one will do anything to have revenge on the other.” ‘That is to. say, then, you don’t wish to give this scoundrel any very’light punishment while you are about it ?” | : ‘““No; let them cut each other’s throat for all we care,” said Gale. : © pe hag ‘Well, you know best, of course ; but why take so much trouble to capture him, and then let him get off scot free ?” : ; : “It was only a plan to get your name before the public, and to let Jonathan and the others know where you were, for thieves and rascals generally are great ones for reading the police news in papers to see if any of their chums.are in trouble or not.” “Tl leaye the matter in your Hands, then, Mr. Gale.” “Do; I shall know where to®call upon you if necessary,” DIUG Yes; at the’Grosvenor.’”’ © “Good night.”’ Of : , HEE Good night. Don’t fail. to’ come’ to the station by ten o’clock to*morrow morning 2?” “Twill not. Good night,” Good night.” ~ Gale and Captain Tom Ford parted for the night, . CHAPTER. XCLV:.. CAPTAIN TOM HAS A’ VISITOR; ‘'THAT’S a queer way to serve the ends of justice, thought Tom, as he wandered or rather sauntered towards his room at the ‘‘ Grosvenor.” ‘‘ Here Frank and I have been for a long time looked upon as runaway murderers; our property. has been stolen, and yet when one of the rascals gets into the clutches of the law they let him go again. Well,'I suppose it’s all right; but I don't under- stand. it. These detectives are a queer lot, soI’}l keep a bright ‘look out onthe doings of this Mr, Gale, Who knows, he may be playing false with’ me }” ) shi ————————— 53.