The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

334 scoundrels ‘who ever lived, Flint, you are the greatest,” From the turn conversation was now taking, it was evident to Joel that bitter feelings animated both Warner and his father. Under the pretext of leaving the room for a few minutes, he rose from his chair. : But Warner, in a determined tone, bade him remain where he was, and Joel sat down again, “This is no time for jokes,” sail Joel. ‘“ What do you want with me, Mr. Warner, or whatever your name is?” ““T will tell you in one word.” “ And what is that one word ?” “Simply this, Are you prepared to divide the treasure of the chest, or must we use force ?” ‘‘ Use force 2?” said Joel, with a quivering lip, “ Aye force, in two ways. First make you dis- gorge my share of the plunder, and, if you are not civil, afterwards’ send information to all the police stations of your whereabouts.” “You talk very boldly, sir,” said Joel. “‘Not half as boldly as I should act if you don’t follow my advice. —It is better to part with, half than to lose all.” “ Half?” gasped old Flint, in amazement. ‘Half?’ said Joel, turning pale. “Yes, Nothing less than that amount will satisfy me,” said Warner; “so if you are wise you will hand over to me a portion immediately.” “T refuse,” said Joel. * And so do I,” exclaimed Flint. ‘You do, eh?” said Warner, smiling, “ Well, Pll give you five minutes to think of it) Whereis the treasure chest ?”’ | “Tt is not here,” “Where is it ?” “Tn a place of safety, miles away,” said Joel. “You are lying, both of you!” said. Warner. “The treasure is in this house—in that back room.” “ It isnot.” “T will go and see,” said Warner, rising. But Joel reached the door first, and rushed into the back room. The next instant he turned deadly pale, and reeled into a chair, “ Hullo! what’s the matter?” said Warner, with a quiet smile, ‘‘ What ails you ?” “It is gone !” gasped Joel. “Gone !” almost shrieked his father. ‘“Gone? What is gone?” asked Warner, with a quiet smile, “The treasuré !” said Joel. “We are ruined |” “ Why, I thought you said just now that the trea- sure was not in the house?” remarked Warner, ¥ ets was, here jnot, half ,an,,hour ago!”. gasped oel. ) i « Then you told me a wilful lie.” ‘I know I did.” g “You had done better by telling. the truth and taking half,” said, Warner, smiling, and drinking more brandy, ) bst: from the room ?” **T know not.” _ “No one has entered the back room since I have been here. None that I am aware of,” said Joel, ‘except it were the devil himself,” During the conversation the footman entered the room, “Count,” said he, respectfully, addressing Joel, ‘ How could it have been abstracted THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “there is a carman and a cabman waiting outside to be paid.” : r ‘Paid? paid for what?” said Joel, astonished. . “For conveying the four gentlemen who called om you about ten minutes ago, count.” Goes “ Pour gentlemen !” said Joel. sik At “Four gentlemen ! Very mysterious affair this,” said Warner. “ Fo-ur gentlemen !” said old Flint. “‘ Why, the servant must be mad. No four gentlemen have been here.” j “They called at the house, and were admitted by me, sir.”’ “Yes, count; they said they were old school- fellows of yours, and did not need my services in announcing them, so went upstairs alone.” Joel did not-know what. to think or what to say. He and his father looked as pale as ghosts. ‘And what can the carman want?” said Joel, in a faint voice. ‘‘Ihave notemployed any one of that sort,” : “ But the four gentlemen did, Count.” “They did? And for what, pray ?”’ “They brought some heavy piece of furniture downstairs, and——” The light now began to dawn on the minds of all, and each one seemed surprised as the footman continued to speak, , “What sort of furniture was it?” asked Joel. ~ T could not tell, sir; it was wrapped round with carpet so that I couldn’t well see it.” a * What did you say to them ?” . “Oh, it’s all right,’ said they ; ‘we have just purchased this from our friend, the Count.’” “ How long were they in the house?” “ From the time I opened the door until they left with the bulky piece of furniture was not more than ten minutes.” zt “JT am ruined !”’ gasped Joel. scarcely a penny in the word !” ; “Very singular; but from the footman’s account there seems to have been a clear-case of robbery,” said Warner, picking his teeth very quietly. ‘The thieves must have been very clever, indeed. How were they dressed, John?” speaking to the foot- man, fc ‘“Oh, in the latest style of fashion, sir.” ““T suppose so, And had they whiskers?’ ‘* Yes, sir, fine bushy whiskers ; and great swells, take them altogether.” red (ait ‘And so, after robbing your master, these rascals have the impudence to send in their bill for cab hire and cartage, eh? Well, well; that beats all I ever heard of before. Who ever heard of such impudence? It'is adding insult to injury.’ ~ > And as he spoke he laughed loudly at old Flint; ‘© T have not now who was trembling with excitement, and as pale as | ashes. ‘Call the cabman and carman up here,” said Joel ; “I wish to speak to them,” ~ These two knights of the whip soon came upon the scene, and, answered.all the questions put to them in a very dry manner, ar | | ‘“ Pour toflish lookin’ gents came in my keb, and told me to’ wait for ’ém, I did so ; and soon arter this carman comes up, and he waits outside also. Presently the four gents comes out o’ this house wi something bulky wrapped up in a carpet, or summat o’ that sort, and puts it on that chap’s cart, SS ee ; Comichbooksreom