The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

— a a a ee ee ee ee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 245 many luxuries, it is true, but still it is nothing but proper that she should keep up appearances.” “But where the deuce are we to get the first month’s rent?” sighed Flint. ‘ We’ve been living like hermits in this place for the last four days, and have scarcely anything to eat.” “Send the girl out for the Zvening Standard,” said Jonathan. ‘I expect to see a private note on the front page from Shanks or my wife; they have been out of prison more than a week, and I know they’ll endeavour to find me out,” Matty was sent out for the newspaper, and soon returned. Jonathan looked at the front page, and was greatly delighted when he beheld the following annonncement— “Bromley Hall.—lIf this should meet the eye of J. G., he is requested at once to correspond with his wife or daughters,’’ “T thought so,” said Jonathan, “Be very careful it isn’t a trap to catch you,” said Warner, gruffly. ‘Do you think so?” said Jonathan, in disgust, ‘“€ More likely than not.’’ While he spoke old Jonathan’s eye ran down the police news’ column, and he dropped the paper as if he had been shot. “Why, what’s the matter ?’”’ said Warner, look as pale as a sheet of writing paper.” _ “Look !” said Jonathan, ‘Look! read |” Warner read the paragraph alluded to, which ran— “A YOUNG OFFICER IN TROUBLE.—A rough- looking ‘blackguard fellow, who is called Barney, alias the Pug, a person well-known to the police, was brought up at this court this morning, with two well-known thieves who refused their names and address, charged with assaulting and en- deavouring to rob a very wealthy young naval officer, in the Mexican Republican service. The young gentleman it appears was inveigled into a “You low den in Cauliflower Alley, by a Cyprian, who — has absconded, “The officer behaved with the greatest gallantry, and had soundly thrashed the three villains when the room door was broken open by detective Gale and a party of men who were on the alert, “The young gentleman gave the name of Captain Tom Ford, Grosvenor Hotel; the case was ad- journed for three days, in order to give the police time to trace the female, who it is thought had planned the robbery, and decoyed the officer.” “What, Tom Ford?” said Flint. ‘‘ Yes, no one else.’’ “ And in England ?”’ ‘‘ At the Grosvenor Hotel.” “ And Barney also,” said Warner. ‘Who'd a thought it?” | “The deyil take the lad!” swore old Flint, roundly. ‘‘I wish he were at the bottom of the ocean rather than here,” “‘ Nonsense |’ said Jonathan. to me,” “Who could this girl have been?” asked Warner, “ No telling.” | “Well, she can’t escape for long.” “Can’t she?” thought Matty, who had been listening to the conversation outside the door. ‘‘Can’t she? Well, we will see. These gentlemen, whoever they are, appear to know Barney and the young officer. Who can they be?” She would have listened longer, but old Jonathan opened the door rather suddenly, | “ Leave the matter Matty was too clever a girl not to be able to form an excuse for being so near to the door. Her manner was so innocent that it even took cunning old Jonathan off his guard. He made no remark at the moment, but he did not exactly like to find his new servant so close and within hearing, He shut the door again, and began to walk up and down the apartment, with his hands in his pocket, ruminating as to what had best be done. “T’ll tell you what I'll do,” said he, at last ; “if this young scamp, Tom Ford, is really the person described, and has plenty of money, I'll give him an early call, and get some of it out of him.” ‘‘ What, do you mean to call on him, then ?” “ Of course Ido. How is he to know what has happened during the time he has been away ?” “No, certainly not,’ said Warner. ‘“ But, mind you, Jonathan, there must be no humbug about it ; we are all rowing in the same boat, and must go share and share alike,” “ Of course,” said old Flint ; ‘*it won’t do for us to be living here on nothing; we must eat and drink.” “ Why the devil didn’t you think of that, then, when you had plenty of money?” said Jonathan, in an angry manner. ‘‘ Now that all the money is gone, you are the first to cry out about your stomach, Come what may, I'll go out to night, and gee what can be done, for I don’t care about being housed up here like a lot of rats.” Warner did not make any remark in reply, but he plainly saw that old Flint also felt very desirous to go out, but that was out of the question. He could trust Jonathan, but not the lawyer, for he was as slippery as an eel. When night came, therefore, Jonathan dressed himself in as good a disguise as he possibly could, and went forth at the back door. Warner also had to go out to look after the trunk which contained the plunder of his friends in the country, for it was to come up by train that same evening. “Tf they both go out,’”’ said old Flint, “I can make my escape; but I’ll pretend to be very sick, so as to throw Warner off his guard.” But he was very much mistaken in his calcula- tions, Warner muffled himself up in his great coat, and was about to go forth, as Flint devoutly hoped, without taking any notice of him; but it was not to be. Warner produced several cords and straps out of a cupboard, “ What are those for ?” asked Flint. “Why to tie you up with,” said Warner, “Tie me up? What for?” ; “You'll soon see; if you don’t mind I'll hang you with them,” Without more ado Warner tied him both hand and foot, and made him lie down upon the floor. “There,” said he, ‘I don’t think you can rut away now in a very great hurry.” ‘Oh, for mercy’s sake, loose the cords a trifle,” said Flint ; “ you'll strangle me.” “So much the better, you old scoundrel ; it will make you get used to what you may expect from Calcraft one of these days.” ‘©Oh! I’m choking.” “T’m glad to hear it; but Jisten to me, Flint,” said Warner, in a determined manner; “I’m going out, and may not be absent more than five minutes, and perhaps it might be five hours; but whether I am away for a long time or not, don’t you make a noise of any’ kind ; if you do J’ murder you,” oO mECOMIGIOO ——— <SF ‘col LE %