The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 44: what you’re looking at

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38 —his gold watch among other trifles. I have al- THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “Th-h-hat you, Jonathan? L-1-l-or’ b-l-l-e-ss ready had it stopped at all the pawnbrokers and | my soul, how you did frighten me !” goldsmiths; a keen eye is already on all the smashers and cribs of the Israelites.” “We may trace them, after all ?”” “‘ Perhaps so; I found a pair of gold studs on the floor, and a pocket-handkerchief also, which may give us a clue by-and-bye.” _ While speaking thus to his brother officer, Flint disappeared so suddenly as to excite the suspicions of Sergeant Gale, who directed a plain-clothes man to watch him, if possible. This could not be done, however, for Flint disappeared like a shadow from the premises. As he left the house, and faced Barlow Place, he looked up, without any object. In the first floor he espied a man looking down upon him with fiery eyes, It was Warner! CHAPTER, XIX, KNAVE MEETS KNAVE—SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF OLD JONATHAN—THE QUARREL—THE COMPACT —THE WRITTEN CONFESSION—THE RESOLVE, In great haste old Flint returned home, for the savage look of Warner, as he gazed out of window, sent a thrill of horror through the old lawyer's craven heart. “He looks every inch a murderer,” thought Flint, ‘and he would not be over scrupulous in finishing me off, if he got a chance. If he got a chance,” mused the scoundrel, ‘* but I'll take very great care he doesn’t get a chance ; if he does, it’s all up with my prospects of wealth and happiness, I'd just as soon meet the devil himself as Warner at this present moment,” With the instinct of a doubly-dyed rogue as he was, he slunk into the first public-house he came to, It was well that he had done so, for,as he peeped through the door, he perceived Warner, in a fresh disguise, dash past wildly, looking up and down _ the street in search of him. Luck attends me yet,” said Flint, for a cab.” He swallowed his brandy hastily, and perceiving that Warner had ,over-shot his mark a long way, and had hurried down the street, he jumped into a cab and drove off rapidly towards his office near Lincoln’s Inn, He paid the cabman and slunk through the hye streets until he was near his own oflice, and then aatled upstairs with a quick step and unlocked his oor. . ‘A few hours will settle all,” he said to himself, as he sat in the arm-chair playing with his fingers, “a few hours will settle all, I shall be far away by this time to-morrow, and I defy any of them to dis- _ cover me then.” While thus musing, the door behind him opened, and in stepped Jonathan Gravestones with noiseless oot, When Flint by instinct turned round and per- ceived him, he was so shocked for a moment at the _ unexpected encounter that he staggered again and turned pale. * And now ee _—_—_————————— - - Did EY “Yes, upon my word.” “Why?” asked the Rev. Mr. Gravestones, in a calm sepulchral tone. “T don’t know; but you did, though.” “Tt looks like it; why, you tremble even now,” “Dol? Lor’ you don’t say so.” ; “Yes, you gasped for a moment as if you sawa blood-stained murderer before you.” “A what?” said Flint, shuddering at Jonathan's cold manner, ‘‘Why, a murderer; but I’m not one, am J, old Flint, eh? Ha, ha!” ‘You, n-n-o-o, What makes you look so pale, Jonathan ?” “ A great deal. We have been partners for years, haven't we, Flint ?” ‘Partners, Jonathan, in what? I don’t under- stand you.” “You are very dull of comprehension, then, all at once. Do you forget the two brats ?” “ Hus-s-s-h!” said Flint. “Let me close the door; we might be overheard. How did you find out my office, my dear Jonathan?” asked the law- yer, with a bitter smile. “Why, as I had very important business with you, you know, I——” “Yes, my dear friend, but it ain’t necessary to mention any names, you know. Je understand each other—walls have ears,” “Very well, then, as I wanted to see you re- garding the two——” “Yes, yes; go on.” “‘And as I could never get you to give me your right direction, I watched for several hours, and at last walked upstairs after you.” ‘““Ha! ha!” laughed the lawyer, with an hyena- like grin, as if he would very much like to snap Jonathan's head off. “Really! And what do you want now you have come ?” “ Money.” “Nonsense ; did you not agree long ago to keep them for a certain sum per year, and so much extra when they—— You know,” “T did.” “‘ And are they dead ?” fh Pessi.; } You don’t mean that, my dear friend Jona- © than,” said Flint, squeezing him by the hand ; * you don’t mean that? Lor’, you don’t know what a relief it is to me to hear that !” “T'm glad to hear it is a relief to you,” “When did it happen ?” | “ Yesterday.” “And you came up to London immediately to tell me of it?” gia “Oh, Jonathan! you ave a friend,” said the lawyer ‘fa friend indeed! Are they buried ?” es,” “ Where ?” ‘Tn the stream.” “Jonathan, your hand, my dear, dear boy. You could not have acted more wisely, If you had bought coffins and all such rubbish, why——" “There would have been a very unpleasant in- vestigation and such like ; and we noua Hate Hes presented with a rope by Calcraft, that is all,’ GComicbooksrecom