The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 45: 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. 39 ———“““— rr re “How funny you are, Jonathan. You always were a droll dog, you know, ha! ha! Ah,’ said Flint, pouring out a glass of spirits for himself and friend, “ ah, I very seldom touch spirits of any kind, but I must drink a toothful to our joyous meeting, for a friend in need is a friend indeed.” “ Just so, and that’s the reason I came up to see you, Flint.” “‘ About the money, I suppose 2?” “Yes,” | “Well, it isn’t convenient for me to pay you such a large sum to day, Jonathan, but I can do the next best thing. I will pay you part in cash, and give you a check for the rest.” “That will do; draw it out,” Flint did so, but could scarce keep from laughing as he wrote it, for he knew his account at the bank had been closed weeks before, But of this Jonathan knew nothing, He looked at the check, and placed the cash in his pocket. | “And now that the two brats are disposed of what does it benefit you, Flint?” “Not one farthing, my dear sir, not a groat,”’ “Then why have you taken so much care of them for years past,” “Merely a whim to oblige a distant friend.” You must be a kind fellow, considering how much you have already paid me in their behalf,” Flint only smiled. He thought to himself “TI shall soon be out of his way.” While old Jonathan, on the other hand, chuckled to himself, : “ This makes the second big pull I’ve had out of old Flint on account of that boy and girl; he little dreams they are not dead, though, I wish they were, for in that case I might have a little peace of mind; as it is they may turn up again at any moment, and I, having had most to do with them, shall run the risk of transportation for life. No matter, while Flint lives I am sure of money.’’ _He did not mention anything about the school riot, but simply said that Frank and Tom had left, “ And Joel ?” “Oh, he’s all right; he went to dine at the banker’s yesterday, and intends to come to town shortly.” “Ym glad of that; Joel will do well wherever pe goes, I have sent off a very important letter to im,” 7 “ At the school ?” “c Yes.” “ Oh, indeed, he’s sure to get it; he’s a fine lad, and brave as steel. He gave Frank and Tom such a trouncing yesterday, a real good thrashing it was. eae interfere, you know, for I hate those two ords,” “T, too, hate them. I should not have much cared if he killed them both.” For a moment there was a dead silence. Jonathan eyed Flint very closely, and the crafty lawyer did likewise. “ And so you arrived in town this morning, eh, Jonathan ?” “Of course I did, What makes you think I came last night ?’’. “Oh, nothing.” Another pause, : “ Have you heard any news?” Jonathan asked in a very careless manner, ‘“What news ?” oR a OOM TTT LOO) ‘About a very shocking murder which took: place last night.” “Murder ?”’ * Yes; not only one, but to.” ‘Two ?” gasped Flint, fairly taken off his guard. “Yes, What makes you tremble ?” : “Me tremble? I don’t, on my honour.” “Your honour isn’t worth much, Flint,” said Jonathan, grinning. ; What do you mean? Why do you stare at me so?’ “There are two large placards posted on: the walls already about the murders,” ‘Well, suppose there are, what’s all that to do with me? What are you so hideously grinning at, Jonathan, surely you don’t think that I——” “ There is £100 reward offered for each of them,” “Indeed! . Well, and if so, what then ?” ‘7 can find out one of the murderers,” *€ Can you, though, really ?” said Flint, attempting an air of great indifference. ‘ You must be very clever, then, or know something of the murders.” “No, not so very clever, Flint. But, as I was about to say, J can earn £100 by informing on one, and you can earn the other £100.” “ Me?” said Flint, jumping out of his chair as if | shot ; ‘me? What the devil do you mean? Is the man mad, or what?” “Perfectly sane. Sit down, Flint, and don’t speak so loud, or I might——” “You might. Goon, might what?” ‘“Why, choke you, and take the contents of yon heavy money box,” “ Choke me?” ‘“Yes, and I will, if you are not civil, down.” ‘s Jonathan spoke so calmly, and with such earnest- ness, that Flint turned deadly pale as he gasped, ‘“Come, come, Jonathan. No larks, you know. A joke’s a joke ; but ——” “This is a very grim joke, Flint; it’s a hanging matter, you know. Who killed old Ford?” “ Old Ford killed! yon don’t say so ?’’ “ None of your hypocritical surprise, Flint. know he was murdered.” “Me? How should J know it? Murdered, eh?”’ “ Where is all his fortune, parchments, title deeds, and the like ?”’ “ How should I know? Ididn’t do the bloody deed.” : : ‘‘T know you didn’t; but you procured it.” “ Procured it 2” | “Yes ; where are all the deeds and parchments. “T gave them to old Ford, yesterday. I haven't got a penny’s-worth belonging to him. If they are lost the murderer must have stolen them,” “iar!” hissed Jonathan between his teeth. “You know you lie in your throat, You never gave him anything yesterday.” “ Upon my——”’ “There, don’t damn yourself any more, Flint. I know you of old. Wehave been mixed up in crime too long together to boast much of honor or truth. Who was your cut-throat in the affair?” ‘‘T know nothing about it.” “But you see I do, You haven’t heard any- thing about the murder and conflagration in Green Court either, I suppose ?”” ‘How should I? Inever lived there. Where is it 2” ‘‘What about the headless body found in your bed, Flint?” Flint’s head sunk upon his bosom. He felt almost choked with passion, Sit You Poor old man! ” reo aa