The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

nnn, es Ae os THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED, Scere een NenRC ena heard of young Bolton, Mr. Redgill’s travelling and collecting clerk? Well, J am he.” “And is Redgill in such a hurry for his money that he has sent you to collect it ? Why, he expressly told me to use my own time, and call myself with it whenever I liked. I’m sure I have always been punctual with him,” “T do not come for the money by any means,” said Bolton ; ‘Mr, Redgill would not so insult you as to distrust your well-known honesty.” ‘Because, if even you did call for the money, I should not have given it to you,” said the old man, smiling, “£2,000 can’t be trusted in everybody’s hands, you know, and although you may be as you say, Mr. Bolton, Redgill’s travelling and collecting clerk, J am not to know that ; J have never seen you before, as I know of.” “True,” said the stranger, smiling blandly ; ‘‘T commend your prudence, Farmer Bertram ; but the truth is, I was travelling to Portsmouth on business for Mr. Redgill, and stopped to bait my horse at the ‘ Black Bull,’ and found some of your labourers enjoying themselves,’ “Yes, I gave them a treat to-night as it’s my birthday. I would have gone among them myself, only I felt very much upset by the wild behaviour of my only son Robert.”’ “Exactly, and it’s about him that I have come so far out of my way, in order to inform you of him, and to warn you.” ‘‘ Warn me!” said the farmer, suddenly chang- ing colour, and with looks of distrust at the stranger’s uneasiness of voice and manner. “You have had a quarrel with him to-day, and slammed the door in his face.” “I did. Who told you?” the old man asked. ““No one but him and I were present,” ‘‘T overheard him say as much to another ina whispered conversation.” * Indeed !” “Yes; he knows that you have a large sum of money in the house, and is determined to rob you of it, and then run off with the slut he calls his sweetheart.” ™ “Rob me! his own father !” . “Tt is as true as gospel. That Iam correct is plain, or how could I have learned so much of his and your affairs unless I overheard him ?”’ “Mr. Bolton, I’m sure you are right, and very kind to come here and warn me!” “Oh, no thanks; it is a duty we owe one to another as men and Christians,” said Bolton, with a very pious air. “I was well armed myself, and though I am much pressed for time, I thought I would call and see you ; fore-warned is fore- armed.” , ee sir, true; and what would you have me 0 2’ \ “Do? that depends. Have you any servants about you that you can arm?” “Not one, save an old woman I keep as house- keeper, more out of charity than anything else ; all the rest are at the ‘ Black Bull,’ having a dance and supper.” “T see, I see,” said Bolton, biting hislip. ‘ Well, you don’t want your son’s guilt exposed before the whole village, do you?” “No! true, sir, true; he is my son, and, with all his faults, I don’t want to heap more shame on his head and mine,” “Then Ill tell you what to do.” “What ?” “Send your old servant down to the two village constables with a private message, telling them all about the intended robbery ; they will then come up and remain with you all night, and all will be well.” ; “But the village is two miles or more by the road, and the old servant would take an hour or two to go and return. Bob might come in the meantime, find me all alone, and rob me of every penny I have in the world.” “But he doesn’t know where you keep it, surely?” said Bolton, with a dry, cunning smile. ‘Yes, he does ; he knows I always keep my gold in that chest yonder by the window ; but.no one, save my friend Redgill, has any idea where I keep my bank notes,” said the farmer, with a sickly smile. The stranger did. He had heard Mr. Redgill speak of it as a capital joke that Farmer Bertram always concealed his bank notes in the inner lining of his boots! But of this he said not a word. ‘Ah! it’s a sadcase,” said Bolton. “Iam very sorry I cannot remain with you until the constables come, but business of pressing importance calls me away.” Batty, the old servant, was instantly summoned, and toddled off to the village in all haste, much amazed at the message she had to tell to the con- stables. Despite all the old farmer’s entreaties Mr. Bolton would not stay, but left at the same moment old Betsy did. Both of them went down the lane together. When they reached the high road Bolton said to the servant, ‘Tf the constables should ask who gaye this in- formation, you know my name, old woman?” “No, I don’t, kind gentleman,” was the croaking reply. “You do not think I am Bob Bertram, then ?” said the stranger. “That I cannot say,” answered the old woman, ‘‘for you keep your hat so far over your face.” “ Well, tell them one Mr. Smith, of Portsmouth, called and told Farmer Bertram all about it.” “T will, kind gentleman.” ‘““Make haste. Good night.” Betsy went towards the village, and Bolton turned his horse’s head in a contrary direction and galloped away. He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when a bend in the road hid him from Betsy’s view. Instead of riding onward, however, he spurred his horse, and leaped hedge after hedge, until he returned to the farm again in less than ten minutes. He tied his horse to a tree in the orchard, and quietly approached the back door of the farm-house again, All was darkness save a ray of light which issued from the farmer’s chamber. Not a sound was heard except the mournful sighing of keen December night winds among the leafless trees. Now and then, ’tis true, watch dogs shook their chains, and howled most dolefully and dismally, in tones unnatural, ominous and death-like. Silently and softly did Bolton approach the house. tw,‘* He is alone,” he thought, “and too weak to leave his chamber. Now is my time, while all are away. His treasure must be mine !”’ He tried the back door. It was locked |! “Tt was not locked when [I left,” the villain thought. He tried it again. ’ Gomichboo CS (E(0)