The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW ; OR, WILDFIRE NED. came in sudden and violent concussion with certain parts of bis person, and ejected him into the street, where he found himself on the following morning, phon! money, jewellery, aud all high and dry in the mud, _Captain Jack laughed boisterously over what he had said, Is was acapital joke, and served young Fumbleton right, for he had net been long from college, and was brimful of conceit and nonsense. “T always make ita rule to look out for young collegians, when they are running will ‘about town,’ as itis called, because they think they know everything, That £500, Alick Faulkuer and I won, was the making of us.” * The making of you! How ?” “Why, we were so hard-up, we should have ae to go to house-breaking or something of that ind, VW ell 2.’ “T knew a seely ‘enemy’ of mine who had gone to house-breaking about that time, He wanted me to join him in the venture. Bat he little dreamed how much I hated him. Jil tell you all about it one of these days ; but as time isnow short, I shall only say that I ‘split’ on him, and my respectable appearance in the witness-box got him transported for life. That’s how I generally pay off old scores with ‘lads’ who don’t act always on the square. Afier that I was appointed one of the Crown officers, and have been so ever since, I knew the chap at school, and hated him, and always swore to have him hung if I could; but let us go in here—here is a wine shop, let’s have a bottle together,’ said Captain Jack, with a wicked smile, “That reminds me of something that happened to me at school, It was the first ‘clever’ thing I ever did,”’ said Phillip, drinking a long draught of good wine, * Indeed,’ said Captain Jack, laughing. ‘TI didn’t think you ever had done anything clever except that affair of old Bertram.” “ Hus—s—sh!”’ said Phillip, tnroing pale; ‘ don’t mention that.’’ “You'd have been in a gibbet only for me,’ said Captain Jack, “Perhaps ; but I bought your silence.” “ Yes, so that’s allsquare. lLet’s hear your story. I’ve got half-an-hour to pass in idleness; but all our gang have to muster to-night ; we’ve got ‘a great thing’ on hand. Will you join us ?” * That depends.” “Depends ? But you must.” “Must,en! Well then, if you gay so, then must il shall be,” “Goon with your story then.” “You won’t blow on me.” “Me? You must be dreaming.”’ “ But you’d never expect to hear what I’m going to tell.” “ Perhaps not, but whatever itis, out with it.” So encouraged, and even now half drunk with wine, Phillip began his story ; his first step in crime, as he called it. And as he went on, Captain Jack eyed him like a hawk, and his eyes glistened with deadly malice towards Phillip, as Redgill began :— “Tom Templeton was generally admittel] to be the greatest Greek scholar in college, “Plato, Demosthenes and Xenophon were eternally in his hands, and his favourite amusement seemed to be to havea ‘quiet half-hour’ with Homer or Sophocles. * How he could muster sufficient patience to pore Over those tantalizing authors, seemed a great mystery to all the Juniors, but the ‘ Nobs,’ ‘ Dons,’ you know 95 ee” eee ee and ‘ Big-wigs’ of the university would complacently smile, take a pinch of snuff, and nod to Tym, who, squatted at his ease upon the grass, would loll for hours under the trees of our extensive grounds and park, and smoke with impunity, in open defiance of every rule and regulation. ‘He could leap, run, walk, fence, and, in fact, excel at anything to which he seemed, inclined to pay attention, except swim, whicl he never did, “And he was such a favourite with all, that none seemed to take notice, cr be at all surprised at anything he might attempt or accomplish. “He had been known to kick a fvot-ball over the college buildings, three stories high, and had soundly thrashed three or four towao bullies, who were said to ‘travel on their muscle’ for a living. ** He never appeared to study very hard “A pipe was always in his mouth, and, strange to say, he had fascinated all the university officials so effectually, that he went in and out of places considered sacred to every one but the president, or his high and mighty assistants. “The private gardens, even, were open to him, with all their much-envied riches of plums and fruits of various kinds. “ And Tompkins had more than once sworn that, when climbing the wall one day to get at some pears, he saw him lying full length on a bench smoking in the vineyards. “Tom seems to have mesmerized the gardeners, or heayily bribed them, for he was never at a loss for the gate keys. ‘“ And should they be out of the way, he would simply scale the wall, and commence his evening promenade with the inevitable meerschaum in his mouth. * One evening, two Dons caught hin. “They eutered the garden, walked along the avenues of vines, and there stood Mr. Tom, smoking as usual, as large as life, with a novel in his hand “‘*T imagined I smelt something,’ one of the old professors said. ‘How comes it, sir, that—don’t 3 “Before he could add another word, Tom opened upon him with a fine passage from Virgil, which being apropos as to time and place, and well recited withal, disarmed the anger of the first doctor, who took a pinch ef snuff and passed on. “The second was red with anger. “And as he totally eschewed ‘the use of the abominable weed in any form,’ was ready to explode with rage and indignation. “For being a great epicure, he felt certain that most of the grapes would fall to Azs share at table, and didn’t wish their early growth in any way retarded. “¢Mr. Templeton! I am astounded at you, sir. How dare you imagine that “Tom did not appear to notice his remark, but casting a look of surprise upon the pompous old gentleman in cap and gown, burst forth into a Greek oration from tlie Iiliad. “ And before the astonished professor could re- cover his surprise at the action and voice of Templeton, who was personating Achilles among his ‘ black ships banked up on shore,’ left the vine walks in a state of triumph. ‘Tom had been several years at college, and was deservedly reputed to be the best man ever on the rolls, “He was light-hearted, gay, generous, a good musician, splendid classic, and passionately fond of dancing. ‘““He was courted and petted by all the mothers in town—anxious to provide for their daughters, San 0 SS a OMG IOOKSIGOM