The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee ee oe 54 THE SKELETON CREW} OR, WILDFIRE NED. ‘Yes, now you come to think on it, it was a foul and bloody affair, wasn’t it ?” “ Most horrible,” “And, just to think as how the old man didn’t offend even a mouse, and to be cruelly butchered for the sake of a few hundred pounds, and his son clapped in gaol as an accomplice in the deed! He must haye been’ an artful chap as planned that affair.’’ “Yes, truly, he must, and an heartless villain also,” said Phillip. “But why do you stare at me 50?” “Nothing. I was only going to ask you a ques- tion,” said Captain Jack, stroking his chin in deep thought, What is it 2” “Your father is very rich?” “ Yes ;. what of that?” “And has many ships ?” “ Yes,”’. “ And sometimes he insures cargoes ?”” ‘“‘And lives also for those who wish.” “Exactly,” said Jack. “And if you were going abroad, how much would you insure your life for?” “That depends, Are you going abroad ?” ‘Perhaps so.” “T should insure myself even for the benefit of my friends, if nothing else, in that case, and I should take good care it was for a good round sum also,” “That shows your wisdom, Mr. Redgill. how much do you consider yourself worth ?” ‘‘Well,.you and J are different persons entirely,” said Phillip, with a careless sneer. ‘“ But Zshould insure myself for at least £5,000.” ‘““A very nice sum, indeed. Well, the other question J was going to ask is this: Will you make me a present of that sum?” ““Me. make you a present of £5,000? the man is mad.” “Not quite; just the contrary,’ said. Jack, smiling; ‘““ What do you,mean ?” “Mean?” said Jack, “Listen; in a whisper, mind ; would you rather swing on a gibbet, or give the sum I name?” Phillip turned deadly pale, as he stuttered, “What can you mean ?” “ Oh, only this ; we have been looking after that murder case of old Bertram, and if you give us that sum, why, we won’t find out the right party, that’s all. You understand?” said Captain Jack, witha knowing wink, ‘Has it come to this?” said Phillip, after a pause, and, as he thought, unheard, “ Nothing shorter, my lad ; it were a clever job, you know, and by mere accident we found out all about it,” You want that sum from me, say you ?” “Yes, and nothing less,” “Do your band know of this ?” “ Not a word,” “On your oath?” cht Gs “ And will. Bolton suffer 7” ‘“Why not? suspicion is against him. He had bet- ter Swing than you; besides, we must have some- body to hang over the job or the judges will think us worthless and useless. Mor the honour of our craft we must hang or transport somebody, you know, innocent or guilty, it matters little,” Phillip felt as if a serpent were gnawing at his heart, as he listened to Captain Jack’s words. For.some moments neither Phillip nor Captain Jack spoke, But Why, “ There cannot bea doubt now but that this knave has discovered all about old Bertram’s murder ; and yet for a price he will screen the guilty, and have the innocent to suffer. What a scoundrel : this fellow is! Yes, ’tis true : from little things, thieves and rogues take to greater ones, until, at last, the gallows is their fate, I little thought it would come to this,” | For some time he shaded his face with his snow- white hand, in deep thought.. But at last he aroused himself, and even at- tempted to be gay, as he said, * You wish to borrow that sum for a short time, eh ?” “Yes,” said the captain, smiling ; “I wish to borrow it, if you like to call it so, and will return it,”” he added, very ominously, “‘ whenever you like to demand it. You understand?” : ‘But I have not sucha sum at command. You do not want it all at once, I suppose?” “No; a few hundreds to commence with, and the other by instalments will suit me ; I’m not very particular with friends.” : “ But how am I to get this large amount together ?”’ said Phillip. ‘If my father is rich J am not.” “Oh, you can get it easily enough, I dare say you have written your father’s signature before now.” “What !” said Phillip, reddening, “Nothing. Iwas only thinking,” said the cap- tain, carelessly. : “Would that I could give the rascal a bullet through the heart on the quiet,” said Phillip, as he bit his lip until it became white again ; “but I'll be even with him yet.” The arrangement was agreed to between them; but Captain Jack could see vevenge sparkling in the young man’s eyes, as he handed over a large sum of money to the knave. “In a short time Captain Jack and his friends retired, and shortly afterwards it was discovered that they had been not only remarkably successful in dice and cards, but that several snufi-boxes and watches were missing. ‘Who shall I victimise to get this large sum?” thought Phillip. “This fellow will not be joked with.” And as he pondered long and silently he whis- pered to himself— ‘Tt is a matter of life or death with me; it must be attended to, and at once ; but who shall be my dupe? From whom can I get the money, by fair means or foul? It is no use trying to get a farthing from my father beyond the yearly allowance I am entitled to, and I have forged his name once too often to think of doing so again, for the last time I did so he threatened to disinherit me, Besides, if such a transaction were to reach the ears of old Sir Richard Warbeck, I doubt not he would scratch my name out of his will, and not leave me a farthing.” ‘But stay,” he mused. ‘“ That good-natured simpleton, Charley Warbeck, will answer my put- pose ; he often goes out and collects large sums. . Suppose I were to steal the amount I want from him, Aye, that’s it; it shall be done, I will kill two birds with one stone. I hate these two Warbecks, both Charley and Ned. I detest the very name of Ned,” said he, writhing with his wound, ‘I know how it shall be done; I will gét Charley disgraced, and then old Sir Richard will disown him, Aye, that’s it.” Thus the villain thought; and yet, as he bade Charley good-night, Redgill smiled, and shook him by the, hand as cordially as if he were the truest and best friend in the world, 5 ~] (E(0) nn Ehboo cS (E(0) nA