The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

282 “‘ Howl's “JT entrusted a large amount to his keeping, and since then I have not seen him.” “ Monstrous ingratitude ! And so you are reduced to beggary, eh?” “Quite so; and if I could only find out the whereabouts of that young rascal, my son, I would have him transported.” : “‘ Say if you could,” Joel observed, dryly. “Could? Why, what is there to prevent me?” “A great ‘deal, perhaps, old) man... What might your name be, pray?” | ‘‘T decline to answer your questions, ox to haye anything more to say to,you.. Lhave not put myself under any obligations. to you,'and, therefore,. I decline to have any more conyersation.with you,” “Ha! ha!” laughed Joel. ‘‘You are prond.as well as poor, I perceive.” ‘‘ And intend to remain so, sir; Take your hands off my shoulder! Let,me go! I fear you ! Yon make my limbs tremble!” . | “Your name, old man?” said Joel, still keeping up his disguise. $f? word otes ‘‘ T refuse to answer your; question.” | “Tt matters. not, however, for I alxeady sknow ite?? ay 4 $fi ye : “ Indeed !?’ : ‘You. need not. be suaprised I am better) ac- quainted withyou than you imagine.” The night, as, we have, said, had {turned dark and stormy. $7 Hovwdtgs Old Flint turned his face to look at, the. speaker, but-could not detect who he, was. At first, old Flint thought, it. impossible that any one could or did know him, and, therefore,. he answered boldly, An “Tt matters not to, me, sir, whether you know me or not, All that I can sayis that I am only a poor gentleman.”’ | : : “ A poor thief,” answered Joel, with a dry laugh. “ A what?” & . ‘A poor thief. Didn't;you hear what I said?” “You are_an insulting fellow!” said the old lawyer. Pan “Tf IT am, why not give me in.charge of the police then?” “T would, only——” ‘Only you are afraid,” “ Afraid of what?” said old ‘Flint, with chatter- ing teeth. Le ‘Why, afraid of becoming known to the authori- ties, that’s all,’’ said Joel, laughing. “You are a strange person, sir, whoever you are.’ opt you are much stranger. Do you know “No, I do not. terrogate me?” ‘‘ A detective officer,” said Joel, calmly. “ A what?” said old Flint, in surprise, “A detective officer.” “And what can you want with me?” ‘‘More than yon suppose, I have been following you about all night. Your name is Flint,” "No, it is not,” “Then Schmidt, if you like,” ‘*¢ No, nor that either,” ‘“What have you done with all the money and valuables you stole from old Ford ?” This last question almost knocked the breath out of old Flint, who fairly winced again, “Old Ford? I never knew any one of that name.” ‘Oh, yes you did: and old Jonathan, how is he? And Warner, and the Pug? How are all you friends ?” Who are you that thus dares in- THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. This last question was a poser for the old lawyer, who knew not how to answer. He trembled violently, as well he might at the thought of falling into the hands of the law, “Tf ITrun away,” thought he, “this fellow will give the alarm, and I shall be hunted through the streets like a mad dog. Bub what must I do? What can I do under the eireumstances? I have no money, nor a place whereim to lay my head to- night. What had I better say to this fellow? He is muffled up to the eyes, and I cannot get a full look at him. If I had a good knife, now,” thought the lawyer, ‘I should feel much more comfort- able than, I do, for then I could defend myself if he attempted to seize me,” a: “You tremble, old man,” said Joel. “Dol? 1 think you must be mistaken.” “No, I am not,” “Why should I tremble? Ihave never done any harm in all my life.” “A jury would not say so, though,” laughed Joel, ‘Here, old man,” said he, “I don’t want to frighten you, for Lam not a detective after all.” “T thought you were not. You have the manners of a gentleman too much for that.” “Thanks,” said Joel, bowing. “Vou are a foreigner, are you not?” said old Flint. “Tf should judge so, from your voice and -manner.” roca”? said, Joel ; ‘‘and if may surprise you to hear that I very well know your. son.” ‘““ Myson, Joel!” said the lawyer, in surprise. This seemed to,startle the old man very much, who said— Loge ‘Do you know where my son Joel is?” _ “Yes, without doubt,” was the reply. surely you would not like to see him ?” “T should, indeed, Te 1 could but have half an honr’s conversation with him I would give the world !” ae “ Well, then, you will not have to give anything if you'll take my advice.” ‘ And what is that ?” “You are ragged and poor,’’ “But what of that?” *«He is quite a dandy and rich.” “Ah!” said the old man, with a deep-drawn sigh, “ Z know where his riches come from,” “That doesn’t matter now,” said the stranger ; fs = oud promise to follow my advice yon will do well,” “ And what is it, young man ?” F “Take this purse ; it doesn’t contain much, but there is sufficient for your purpose. Buy a new suit of clothes, and call at the residence printed on But this card,” said Joel, presenting a card to his | father, In a moment afterwards Joel left the old man, and, calling a cab, was soon out of sight, Old Flint went and stood, under a lamp-post and looked at the card. which had. been given to him. — “Count Schmidt!” said he, in,a rage. “ Why, the fellow is living on the proceeds of what I stole,” and as thus he thought, he trudged along through the rain and entered a public-house, _ Before he did so, however, he looked into the purse which had been given to him, and perceived that it contained eight sovereigns, : “ Hight sovereigns,” he said, half wild with joy. ‘Why, this is a little fortune to me, and no mis- take. pes a, thought of ever meeting with such ee ee gentleman? Ah, he knows Joel, Old Flint went into the public-house, ch one of the coins, had six eerie rareg te nen a EEE Eomicboo S a Ons SSR enn espe EER ene