The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 291: 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. gc 285 “Certain of it; he’s got Jonathan im custody already.” “The devil |” “He is securing them one by one—slowly, but surely,’ Well, but what has this all to do with me?” said Barney, at length, after afew moments of thought ; ‘‘what has all this to do with me ?” “A very great deal I should judge,” said the clergyman, “How? in what way?” ‘‘ Well, to put you out of your misery, I might as well tell you all.” ‘“ All what ?” “Why this: we have been on the look out for you for a week or two, but should never have dis- covered you, perhaps, had not Moss told us about the wound in your hand.” “You ain’t a parson, then?” said Barney, in-sur- prise and turning pale. “No! Iam not,” “Then who or what the devil are you then ?” “An officer from Bow Street.” ; ian !” said Barney, in surprise jumping up in ed. ‘I dare say you know me now,” said the officer, pulling off the white neckerchief and his wig. ““T dare say I does,’’ answered Barney, It was Mr, Gale ! ‘What does yer want o’me now, this time, Mr. Gale?” said Barney, chapfallen. ‘‘ Well, not much, perhaps, Barney.” “You are always getting me into hot water,” said Barney. “Then you should behave yourself. Why don’t you go to work, instead of skulking about the streets doing nothing but thieving?” “T don’t thieve now, Mr, Gale,” said Barney., ““Where did you get that silver coffee-pot frem ?”’ “Which one?” ““Which one ; have you stolen so many then that you cannot recollect? Why, that one you sold to old Moss the night you met with that accident to your hand.” ‘I didn’t sell him anything o’ the sort,’’ said Barney, in aterrible passion ; ‘‘ the old scoundrel lies if he says I did.” “No, he doesn’t, Barney, for you were watched, - and every action that you or old Moss did on that night was noted down.” “TI didn't sell him that one,” said Barney. “Oh yes you did, and you know where it came from.” ‘Not me,” “Yes you do! It belonged to old Ford, and was one article among many which you stole on the night of the murder, Barney.’ ‘You are pinching a fellow very t ght, Mr. Gale.” _ “Caleraft will pinch you tighter, I’m fancy- ing.” Barney winced at this thought. ‘‘T am werry ill, Mr. Gale, and feel awful queer,’ he said, very meekly. “No doubt; but the law don’t consider that, Come, get up, and dress yourself at once; I’ve been - looking after you too long already.” “Get up! no I’ll be hung if I do.” “Tf you don’t I must be obliged to use force, that’s all, and take you dressed or undressed.” “Ah! I little thought as how it were you,” said Barney, ‘‘when you come to the bedside talking o’ religion, and all that kid.” “Well, never mind, you must make up your mind for the worst, for we’ve been long enough over this murder job, I think, and all we want is to get Warner to complete the evidence,”’ Barney was forced to get up, and in less than half an hour he bade adieu to his snug quarters in the hospital, and was walked off to Bow Street, and placed in the same cell with Jonathan, CHAPTER CXI. WARNER IN SEARCH OF JOEL FLINT, Now there was a reason and a very good one why Gale thought proper to direct that Barney and Jonathan should be placed in one cell. Gale made’ certain that when these two. rascals got together, they would,commence conversing about their past doings. ‘© Holloa ! here, who are you?” said Barney, with an oath, as he looked. at the haggard and careworn face of the late master of Bromley. “ Holloa! here, who, are you?” he repeated ; ‘‘ get up, don’t lay sprawling on that bench—somebody. wants to sit down as well as.you.”’ .., Jonathan was unwilling to get up from his sleep- ing posture, but Barney soon made, him, for he ad- ministered such a punch to Jonathan’s ribs that, he rose instantly, and in great surprise. “Don’t do that. again,’ said Jonathan, ‘or else——”’ age “Or else what?” -said.Barney. ;“ Are you in- clined for anything?” and as he spoke, he **‘ put up his hands,’’ and, threatened all manner of things. ‘Holloa, there, holloa!” said Gale, peeping through the iron bars. ‘‘ Holloa, there, holloa !” be repeated. ...‘‘ What..are you upto now, eh, Barney ?—fighting, already? .Why I thought you had a bad hand.” : ‘So I have,” Barney replied, sulkily ; “but I can lick this cove with one hand any time.”’ “You'd better keep quiet, though, if you'll take my advice, for the other. party. is_an_old pal of yours,” ; 5 je Paleo’ mine |” said Barney, “nonsense.’’ ' “Yes, he is—that’s old, Jonathan, of Bromley Tall.’ Ap et ‘‘ What, Jonathan !—never!” exclaimed Barney, recovering his good temper on the instant. “ Why, how are you, old pal? Give us your flipper.” “Don't talk to me,” said Jonathan, in disgust ; ‘“T don’t know you, nor do. I want to know you.’ “Oh, that’s it, eh, old chum! You’re getting more stuck up the lower you are, coming down. There’s nothing like it, old man—keep your pecker up, and die game.” “ Die,” said Jonathan, “ who talks of dying?” he said, shivering. “Why, I dc, in course ; it’s.a plain case against you, and no mistake— you're a great hand at killing, I hear.” 3 “What. do you mean, you. babbling fool?” said Jon#than, in a hoarse whisper ; “don’t you know we are overheard? If you do know me, there’s no occasion to let every one know it.” | “Ah, now, I tumble to you,” said Barney ; “it’s a sad case for both on us, [’m thinking ; but you're worse off than me,” “Why. ?” There's old Ford’s affair.” ‘‘T hadn’t anything to do with it.’’ ‘You can say so, of course ; but that don't make any one believe it for all that; and then there’s that ere affair in Green Court—that’s No, 2,” ° ‘‘T know nothing of it.” ‘Then, there’s the job with them bobbies in old ~ Comicbooks.c© 5