The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

134 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDEIRE NED. ‘‘ Therefore, the,above reward of | Yo 50 Ore at ! ‘will be. paid, to. any.person.or persons who shall give such information as shall lead to the discovery or apprehension of the offender or offenders. “The -unfortunate young man was severely wounded, and the shock ha’ been 80 great that his reason is for the time being lost to him. : “The yillage authorities of Darlington, on the night of the attempted murder, noticed the arrival in the neighbourhood of a carriage and four. | “Phe person suspected had a servant attending him’ during’ the three hours’ he’ remained in the village, His master, the supposéd culprit, was traced to: London, and from alla¢ccounts bears the fo! iowing description :—*: 9 il ‘About 35 years of age’; 5°feet 'S or'9 inches’ in height.;. thick, set and powerfully: -made';. black moustache:;. whiskers (supposed.to,be-false) ; close cut hair; wore a cloak, and had the appearance of a military man.” at Jack in surprise, ‘corresponds to—” “Blood!” said Jack, in a hoarse whisper: ‘You surprise’ me.” — nats. : “Does it ? but wait, I’m not done yet,’ said Jack, ‘* since he has commenced his games with’ me, he’!1 find a tougher fellow to deal with than ‘he expects. Look ‘at this.) ‘oo ALLE © Another: proclamation !” ‘said’ Bates, in wonder, “Yes, read it, and then you'll find out that T have got my enemy fairly ‘on the hip.” Bates unfolded the printed paper‘and read :— ABDUCTION ! - ABDUCTION ! £200 REWARD.,!! ‘“WHEREAS, Ellen Harmer, the Waughtér"of old Harmer, the miller, of Darlington; was forcibly ab- ducted from her father’s home by»some person.or persons unknown, on the night,.of the attempted murder of young Andrew, her acknowledged suitor ; ‘‘ And whereas, it has come to the knowledge of Sir Richard Warbeck, the chief magistrateof Darlington, that two suspicious persons, with a carriage in attendance, were’ seen prowling ‘about the village on the night in question ;, _ 7 “ Therefore the above reward will be’ paid to any, one who shall giye such information as shall lead to the apprehension of the offender or offenders and enable the young maiden to be restored to tle arms of her disconsolate father. ; "y “Lhe following particulars regarding tlie supposed unknown abductor may, perhaps, lead to bis’ appre- hension. | “ About 35 years of age, 5\‘feet/8 or 9 inches in height, thick set and powerfully made’: black moustache, whiskers (supposed. to Be’ false) close cut hair, wore a cloak, and had the appearatiée of a military ‘man.,”’ Mapai hy For a moment, or two old Bates, could: scarcely recover from his astonishment; At last he gasped out, and in a suppressed tone, ‘‘ Why, they must rélateto oneand the same per- son, Jack,” ““T know they do,’ “Bat I never saw these proclamations’ ‘oh! 'the walls about London yet.” ) a) “I dare say not, and fora very,good reason why,” ‘What reason?) 4.) dal ) é Why, they were igiven, to me.to distribute them, ANd", Nh oiltry . “You didn’t Iisuppose?” | 9 “Why that description,” said Bates, Josking Ves, I. did; but. only. in such out-of-the-way places where they. would do no earthly good.” For some time both men kept silent. ony “J understand it ally’ said Bates, at last, “ this person.who is unknown, you know 2” §5 Yess i; in | “This gentleman none. of us can guess at,.’ “ You twig, I perceive.” . “Yes, rather. He goes down, half murders, the lover, and then,throws him ia .the river; and; thinking he’s dead, runs off with the girl.” oid “ But she wasn’t.rich 2” awoud A | “No, but. she.is very handsome; a perfect Venus.” ‘“ And what could.-have been his;object ?”’ “To gratify the king,”’ li “T see; just.so;.and has he acted .a friend to you ?” rt Th “‘ No, not to mein particular,; but as; he promised to befriend all of.us, L kept the, thing secret. from the Londoners, for £500 isn’t.to be sneezed at,,you know.” onl u ‘“ And do, you, mean’ to say that all, this is true?” “Then he’s avillain of.the worst sort.” “ On my oath; Bates.” ‘“L_ know-he.is now; .and more,than, thatl always suspected him, but never expected to find he’d prove such a cool, calculating scoundrel; but I'll be even with; him, trust-me.”’ “ And this, girl—what of her,?.’.said Bates ; ‘we are all pretty hard up at this moment; two hundred pounds would be a fine windfall for us.” “So. it; would;,.and more than, that, I know all about her. and where she is.” Z ‘* The,devil:! ”? | . “ And-it would be the easiest thing in the world to rescue her, for sie’s pining away, and. is strictly guarded. both night.and day. by-a, deaf and dumb Nubian, slaye—a; eunuch, in fact—a fierce, tall, ugly.-looking devil.”’..; | ni 7 ‘‘ Never mind ;.if, we can only/once get into the apartment, we shan’t have much difficulty in getting clear off with the girl,’ said; Bates);. “the colonel is not supposed: to, know, that..you. or I have any hand in this affair. If what-you say proves true, Jack,/we can easily put the, colonel out of the way; and we shall, be all.right again., "What do you, say;? Shallave try. it to-night.?”’ “Pm willing..1’m dying.to, have revenge on the deceitful. raseal.”’’, te “Then to-night let,it,,be.., Come with me; the Dozen jareyassembled in) a. quiet place, waiting for me. I will settle with the old, landlord,’ 0 ‘And. so, will) I,’ thought Captain Jack to him- self, “and sooner than he expects.” ‘“We-will have to wear, masks,’ said Bates. “Yes, and keep dead silence.” “If we meet with any opposition, you know+?” * Oh, as. to, that,” said) Jack, “ we, won't stand nice on trifles. It’s a case of life or death with me.” So speaking, Bates and Captain Jack strolled towards the ‘quiet place” spoken of, and in less than half an hour Jack, half-drunk, rolled in. among the “ Dozen,’ who.were already, assembled, |. They looked daggers at him, and would, perhaps, have resorted to violence, but Bates whispered something to them which, cooled their anger, Captain Jack reeled into a chair, and was ‘soon fast asleep and snoring}, BI vie, ‘Keep an eye on him, my, men,’ said Bates, in a whisper; ‘‘ Iam going out on veny important busi- ness) which J .will explain,on,my return, Jack’s all right. Don’t have any rows or quarrels with him ; let him have all, the drink he wants, but don’t let him)go out.on, any account.’ | dosh aS Gomichboo S Gom