The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

te THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 119 who, for the last three days before his capture, followed Phillip Redgill about like a shadow.” © “ Like an evil genius,” said Ned, smiling. “Just so,” said Captain Jack, smoking a cigar. ““ Being extremely hard pressed for money, Phillip thought he would visit his home—the first time, he had done so, it must be confessed, for several weeks —and see what could be realised there. “He was not surprised to see much company present, for that he knew was of frequent occur- rence, and had originated with himself. : “But feeling supremely miserable, he was stung to the quick to see his wife in ‘such exuberant spirits, presiding at a sumptuous supper, which he very well knew she was not able-to afford. “ Around the table were seated many young men of gay celebrity, drinking wine and joking, “Madame was decked out in all the fashions of the season, and when her husband arrived she rose very quietly, handed him a chair, and whispered very lovingly, “** A few of your friends, dear !?. . “When the company had dispersed, Redgill, who was now intoxicated with wine and passion, broke forth into one of his habitual fits. of furious brutality, and threatened to kill his wife. “* He tossed over the supper table. | “He struck Fanny a severe blow with a decanter, and then fell upon the floor helplessly intoxicated among the ruins of the feast—eatables, drinkables, plate, glass, and costly etceteras. “When the moon peeped above the houses, and threw a faint light into the apartment, he awoke ina maudling state, and staggered up to bed. “Everything seemed in confusion ; the drawers and chests were rifled, and their contents strewn about the floor, “The bed had no occupant, and by the lighted lamp which stood upon the dressing-table, he per- ceived a note addressed to him, in Fanny’s hand- writing. “« He opened it, and read its contents, which ra something like this—_ ~ oie *“¢ You have struck me for the last time. Love has long departed from my heart. I, whom you have so cruelly deceived without regrets, bid you farewell.’ \ “Oh! that’s it, eh ?’ said Phillip, hiccuping. ‘Gone !—farewell ! and all that kind of style, eh ? Well, all right, it’s just the thing ; it couldn’t be better! Ill sell off all the things, and make some ready money. J’ll do it this very day. Just what I wanted.’ “Phillip pulled off his boots with much difficulty, and fell upon the bed, and was goon fast asleep. “The blinds were not drawn. “The pale moon shed its holy rays upon the disordered apartment, and as morning dawned, the lamplight flickered and died, “The moonlight lit his haggard face, as he lay half scowling in his sleep, and with fists tightly clenched, and hair disordered, he ground his teeth | in dreams. ‘‘The vision of his life passed before him. “ His mother’s face and form appeared as in his childhood, and looked with sadness upon him. “His schoolboy days and boyish loves caused him to sigh and smile, in unconscious sleep. “ His false and early love for one sinless maiden he had ruined came next in view. “Following in the train of chiding phantoms: ' wept his injured wife ! “He ground his teeth most horribly, but laughed with demoniacal scorn ! : * The moon still lit his features. “Even in sleep, the spy has told me, his face assumed a look of intense horror and surprise. “He clutched the clothes. convulsively, shrieked out aloud, ““My father! my father!’ and jumped from the bed in fright. “*Where am I? Tellme, Fanny !—my wife! No, no; I didn’t do if! It cannot be!’ and he fell, gasping, upon the floor. “* What a fool I am,’ said Phillip, with a laugh, when he had recovered his senses, ‘what a fool I am to think of such things—such childish, silly fancies as dreams! Yet that cursed figure haunts me—yes, everywhere, and I suffer all the torments of the damned, Where’s the brandy ? that’s the thing !’ “Thus he raved, but he little thought one of my men was concealed in the chamber, and saw and heard all, “‘Having found a bottle partly full he readily emptied its contents, and Phillip went from the house to negotiate for the immediate sale of all its effects. “He was followed by my spy. “ Whither hia wife had fled was of little moment to Phillip. ‘His whole thoughts were directed to the sale of his goods and chattels, ‘‘He owed money it was true, but this he never intended to pay. “So that when he had negotiated the sale with a broker, and received a large sum of money therefor, he felt supremely happy, and went to his old haunts, and spent money so grandly and lavishly that many winked, and could not comprehend it. “The furniture, &c., had scarcely been removed from the premises, together with numberless et cetera, when the landlord arrived upon the scene, but, unfortunately, too late. * Numerous creditors were advised of the event, and } .and were not slow in preparing very long bills for settlement, but when they reached the house, they simply found the place empty, with several other gentlemen, interested like themselves, standing round the door with long and very serious faces. “ They had been ‘sold,’ they said, but whether this remark applied to the furniture or themselves is doubtful, although from their very blank coun- tenances it.is certain they would not have brought much at public auction. ‘“When Mr, Phillip Redgill was inquired for, he was found at the Royal Racquet Court, elegantly stretching himself in a new suit of clothes, imbibing brandy and water with much apparent satisfaction. “ There was no compunction of conscience in him, and therefore he deported himself very | majestically to the crowd of creditors who sur- rounded him and lustily demanded the payment of their debts. ‘‘ These he laughed at, but in a day or two, when he was * wanted,’ I easily tracked him out, and laid my hands on him for the murder of old farmer _Bertram.” ‘‘Good heavens! you don’t mean that.” “T do, though.” “T always thought it.” ‘“T always knew it,” said Captain Jack, laughing; “but come with me, I want you, Ned Warbeck, on particular business. Come this way, and you shall know all.” Wildfire Ned and Captain Jack left the library together, and. went towards Phillip Redgill’s prison. comiclbooks Corn