The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

country, when his wife stopped his meditation by saying shanply,) 4 At? S30 LP Poe gti S “Moss, you have often talked of retiring from business like an honest man, and living 1n peace and comfort in your old days.” “Old days, eh!’ said Moss, “‘ what do you mean by old, eh? Do you calla person of fifty years an old man, eh ?” “Well, you have made quite enough money to retire on, at all events,” said the wife, “and you know the game we have been iplaying for the last few years is a very dangerous one,’’\15 | Thee ayer: ‘s Nonsense’! wife, nonsense ! what dowyou know ) about it? Theré’s no more dangervin keeping a ‘dropping shop’ (fence) than any other sortof- busi’ ness, if you know how to conduet:at;\as I .do.”))-| “Ab, well, do as you please,”” sdid theswife. : 61 have had terrible dreams “lately, and Tm sxe they mean no good.” stm Veh old ‘Dreams! Nonsense, ‘wife, what dojd, care! jfo dreams? See how much I imad@last might. Why, what Barney brought was worth two “qui you gave him half a dollabfor it! !Thipk “ But you laid out £300 lastimight.! 197m 0} | “JT think I ‘Aid, and ‘should! like to, lay::ont: as much more every night. Seewmy profit ht-; « How mitch! Moss 74S Jest easy Joo 0m [ “ Why, that lot from the country! will Glearm eo % £500 when it’s put into the pot. Think of that, wife ; ~ and you croak about retiriugfrom business !” ‘But I fear the ‘ beaks’ have their eyes on us, Moss,” hill mies vim “Tet ’em go to the devil; for all I care,” FS aa old Jew, with an oath, “they ain’t hal ‘ Vv enough for me.” sme (01 MASA: VEAL ASS “T don’t know, Moss,” said the wife, brooding over her dreams, “ it’s a very tong lane that has no turning,” SE Oma DET 2D aL hi “ Ah! very well, woman. You mind ‘your own > business, and I will mind mine, I’m not going’ to retire yet awhile to please you or any one, when I can make five or six hundred pounds in the week.” ‘Oh, Mister Moss!’’ said the little urchin, Isaacs, running in, “didn't you go to your warehouse last night ?” “Yes; why?” said the old) Jew; cocking, his ears, “ Did you leave the door unlocked 2” | * Unlocked, no. What, do, you mean?” said Moss, in great alarm. ‘{ Is it unlocked ?” “Yes, Some other ;little boys and me were playing in the yard this morning, and. the dog didn’t growl ‘as usual,” Aled sweats} 3 se Welly): je esy inp He ft 4 “Soil goes and peeps in through the door which was) ajar, and what d’yer think Isee??? ;\ . “ What?” “ The bull-dog was deadand cold.” 4 No, no, Isaacs, you don’t mean-that?”’ said old Moss, jumping up from his chairin, dread alarm, “ You cannot mean that?” | | ‘“T do, though,” said the little, urchin, with bright cunning eyes, “ Oh, then I'am robbed! Iam ruined! I am lost !” said the old Jew. In a moment he seized his hat, and rushed off towards his warehouse, in great haste, Little Isaacs was $0 much pleased with the dis- covery, that he went at once to inform his own father, whom he knew would be overjoyed to hear a any calamity that might befall his rival, old oss. | Moss ran breathlessly towards his warehouse, and as young Isaacs had said, he found the place un- locked, the door ajar, and the watch-dog dead, ) clever | h ‘passed, a THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Iie swore and raved, and tore his hair like a madman, for he quickly discovered that the trunk, containing all he had bought from Warner, was missing, ; ; The place had been, tumbled about, and was in the greatest disorder. He.soon found out.-how the thieves had entered from the next. stables, and cried like a child when he perceived the;broken brick-work, and a large hole in the wall. He knew not what to do,or what to say, He was more insane than otherwise, and cursed and swore, and, he ‘moaned his losses like an idiot, », The neighbours, among others, old Issacs, bearing of the. robbery, gathered around old Moss, and | condoled with him, | ~ But emus’ be confessed that old Isaacs was de- lighted at what had befallen his rival; but con- } -_cealed histrue feelings with a great deal of cunning and hypocrisye ee fo oi Weatehetl T do. what shall I do?” said Moss, in great grief. ‘Iam ruined, and must go to the workhouse,;.J am not worth a, penny—I, who am so honest, just and good to all my neighbours, eh, Mr..Isaacs 2: fcc sae “Yes,” said Isaacs, “it is very sorrowful just to think,that any one should, rob.a poor old honest Ian like"you.” * oad es i _/4{ What shall I do? what shall Ido?” said Moss, wringing his hands, and sitting down on a bag of Ta S., : % The Jew had not long to think what he should do, for, two policemen in plain clothes mixed among is neighbours, and, attentively listened to all that “You had better go and report the affair at once to the police,” said they. ‘So I will—so I will,” Moss replied, jumping up. “T would give a hundred pounds if I knew who robbed me,” . ' Off he went to the police-station, and, in a long, | rambling account, stated his losses, The inspector detailed two officers to go and inquire into the whole matter, and take such steps as might lead to the apprehension and punishment of the thieves. ‘““Leave the matter in our hands, Mr. Moss,” said the polite inspector. ‘If there is any chance of tracing the burglars, you may be sure we-won’t leave a stone unturned,” > Se “Just to think,” said Moss, “that I have been’ an honest tradesman down the Lane for the last ten’ years, and now to be robbed in this way.. (Why, it will break my heart.” , 4 2 40.1 y a Away went Moss and the two detectives, to his warehouse, and at once they began to examine the’ premises very minutely and carefully. . ite Wiad To all appearance, the place contained’ nothing but bales and bags of rags, piles of old cording rusty iron, and such like; but the two officers winked knowingly at each other as. they entered the warehouse, . , 2112 DEN st sauatorret Old ; Moss, accompanied the officers to and fro very anxiously, © | 4. | ; | | a ‘This is the way they got in,’ said one, creeping: through the hole in the wall; “but they took the goods out through the front door after the dog was’ poisoned,” : ia, ‘“ Hullo,’?? said one of them, as he pickec , picked up a valuable brooch from a pile of brickdust, “hull reat i this, eh, Moss?” : ahi lag Sie Oh, nothing,” said old Moss, trying to get pos- session of it. ‘That is only a robbing wife lost here the other day when she was sorting rags, that’s (OMENS —_= a (c@) im