The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 85: 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. 79 a mad morris dancer, flourished his walking-stick, and said, ' ©The reason I come to see you, you sancti- monious old scoundrel, is to tell you what I think of you! , “ Had you paid the insurance on those vessels, like honest men would have done, I and every other creditor would have been satisfied in full; but now we don’t get one penny ! “No, not a solitary farthing ! And do you think [ don’t know all about your seheme ?—sh, you smiling old villain ? “ Don’t I know that young Redgill is going to be your son-in-law, eh ? and that if you had paid the insurance, he wouldn’t lawfully come in for one penny ? “Do you think I don’t know all about it, you scheming scoundrel ?” Mr. Moss was bursting with rage. This disclosure only tended to raise the ire of the other creditors, who became so furious and noisy that they crowded round poor Sir Andrew, gesticu- lating and cursing so that they reminded one of a pack of huogry and furious wolves. ae Andrew was placid as a lamb, and eaid not a word, ; He played with his watch keys, and gazed at the fire, until, when his noisy visitors had departed, he smiled, and said, “Well, let them howl as much as they like. I am all right—so that’s all that concerns me! It wasn’t a bad idea! They can’t touch the money of mine now which my wife placed to the account of her sister, for it is all in the name of a third party, and is taken for her own personalty. Who cares if others dolose ? Why, if we had paid the policies, I shouldn’t be worth one penny! In fact, we couldn’t pay it. By closing doors we have ‘done’ them all, and saved ourselves! They may say what they please ; ‘ business is business,’ but let every one take care of themselves.” CHAPTER XXIII. MISERIES ACCUMULATE THICK AND WAST—FEARFUL SITUATION OF SON AND FATHER-IN-LAW. Every one did take care of themselves. No sooner had the news spread that the insurance office had closed up its business than a whole host of tradesmen sent in their “little bills,’ and Sir Andrew’s residence was besieged with creditors. In order to escape their annoyance and impor- tunities it was resolved that the much-persecuted gentleman should make a sojourn in the country, by which time ‘‘the storm would have blown over.” ' “How much money did you draw from the bank to-day on your sister’s account, wife?” asked old Sir Andrew, of his spouse, as they both sat before the parlour fire, talking of his intended journey. “Five thousand pounds, my dear,’ was the reply. “Thinking you would prefer it, and that it would be more safe, I drew it in a single package of notes. I went very early, and escaped much notice, Phillip Redgill is a clerk there, now, I see. The bank messenger brought the packet. It is in the safe.” Evening had now closed in, and the parlour blinds were drawn. A loud knock was heard at the door, and rudely shoving the servant out of the way, Phillip Redgill somewhat intoxicated, ushered himself without ceremony into the parlour. How often must I forbid you my house, Phillip Redgill ?” Sir Andrew began, rising in fatherly majesty and wrath. “ How often will you compel me to insult you, sir? “You have been the cause of all my losses and humiliations, and I curse the hour I ever saw you. “You have robbed me of my only daughter ; you have repeatedly dishonoured that 'miserable old man, your late father; you have lost all honour yourself, and now you dishononr me. & For the last time I tell you to be gone! “ Leave my house, sir, and never place foot in it again | “My daughter is now yours——Be calm, my wife, and don’t interrupt me——You have clan- destinely married her, contrary to my hopes and wishes, and now you must provide for her the best way you can. **[ have disowned her ! ‘She has married the poor, penniless beggar, forger, and blackleg, as you are, sir, and no longer has any claims on me. ‘You are a beggar, yourself, and a blackleg, a scoundrel, I repeat ; but don’t imagine for one mo- ment you will ever receive a penny of mine—no, not a farthing. Go!” “ Dishonoured you, you old scoundrel !’’ Phillip began, laughing and grinning, “ dishonoured you? Why, itis you who have dishonoured me! Why don’t you pay the insurance policies on my father’s ships, you old rascal? If you were to do so all the debts would be paid, and to the utmost fraction ; but you managed to fail, did you ? Well, your turn will come one of these days. “T do not come, sir, to ask from you anything for myself. I would scorn to receive a penny from your miserly dishonest hands, but I come to demand from you, in the name of my wife, the £5,000 which you hola that belongs to her, as her aunt’s legacy ; this is my business with you, sir, and I shall not stir until you pay it.” “You won’t, eh ?” said Sir Andrew, rising. “I suppose you saw my wife drawing from the bank this morning, as you are a clerk there now, and thought it a proper time to come and bully me, eh ? No, no,” said the old man, opening a small safe and taking the packet of notes therefrom, “no, no, I am penniless. I ama ruined man, and all through you, Phillip, I haven’t a penny of my ownnow. [ am totally dependent on my wife. I am a beggar, and can pay no one. You needn’t trouble yourself by calling again, sir ; I shall be out of town for several months. This, sir,’ flourishing the packet of notes, “this sum, sir, is all I can now call my own, and part of it is my travelling expenses.” He placed the notes upon the table, saying, “ This miserable sum is all lcannow call my own. Tell your be-lov-ed wife, sir, that when my affairs are a little settled, and I can see my way clear, I will, perhaps, pay her aunt’s legacy ; but even, in that case, she must call for it herself, for I wouldn’t trust you, Phillip Redgill, with a penay piece.” You will not pay her then, eh ? you old villain,’’ said Phillip, intently eyeing the old man, who was undoing the packet of notes. ‘“ Well, then, Pll take it,”’ said he, | Rushing towards the table, he nearly succeeded in seizing the packet, but the old man’s holdupon it was so firm and tiger-like, that Phillip was unable to do so. In the scuffle which ensued, the packet fell to the ground, and the notes were strewn about in all directions ; but, to the horror of both parties,it was not a package of bank notes, but nought else than a package of bank scrip given in mistake! OMnnicloo Corn