The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 9: 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. 3 ing eye. ‘‘ What, the only son of Farmer Bertram of Four Ash Farm ?” ‘Right, sir. Do ye know him ?” ‘‘Me? Bless the man, no!” said the horseman. “J don’t know any one hereabouts. I am on my way to a neighbouring village on urgent business,” ‘‘More’s the pity then,” said Bob. ‘“ You might travel along way afore you’d find a nicer or kinder old gentleman than Sir Richard Warbeck, at Dar- lington Hall.” ‘ re So I’ve heard ; and he’s very rich also, I am fe) 3 ““There’s no mistake about that, sir. He’s a magistrate in the city of London, and is director of one of the best banks there. He adopted two orphan boys, and brought ’em up as his own sons. One’s in the London bank; but young Wildfire Ned, as we call him, won’t do nothing but goto sea. If they only mind themselves they are sure to fall into all Sir Richard’s money, If they don’t, though, and should go astray, they will ee the door slammed in their face, as I had to- ay.” e “You? by your father, Farmer Bertram ?”’ “Yes ; and all because some time ago I picked up with a poor village lass as I loved as dearly as I love my life, and promised for to marry.” “And did your father turn you out of house and home on that account ?” “He didn’t turn me out ’zactly,” said Bob. “I left, and went to sea for a few months. I was wrecked on the coast here a week back, without money or anything ’cept what I stand up in, and these leggings were given me this very day by Sir Richard’s gamekeeper as knows me, so I should go up to the farm and see the old man decent like.” ‘And what did Farmer Bertram say to you ?”’ “Why, cause [ had made up my mind to marry the lass I loved best, and father the child sleeping at her breast, he slammed the door in my face, and refused to give me ashilling.” “That’s rather hard for a father to do,’ said the horseman, with a cunning glance. ‘And what do you intend to do with yourself to-night? You can’t sleep in the open air, it would freeze you alive. Why don’t you try to get a situation of some kind ?” . “That’s what I want to do; but my clothes are so shabby I don’t like to call on any one I knows. I shall creep into the old man’s house, and sleep there to-night, somehow, when all is quiet ; but for an hour or two I shall stay in yonder old barn beside the road.” “Oh! it’s a very hard case,” said the stranger ; “particularly when you are the only son, and the old man is rich:” “Ha, stranger; but better times are coming, I hope.” . “Tm glad you think so. Well, good night, Here’s a piece of silver to help you along,” said the horseman, offering money to the seedy and needy farmer’s son, “No thank you,” said Rambling Bob, with a look of offended pride. ‘I’m not come to begging yet. Iam strong enough to work for my daily bread without charity from strangers.”’ * What! so poor, and refuse money ? quite astoic, I perceive. Well, Mr. Bertram, if you will not take money, I’ve another offerto make. I have taken a fancy to that heavy, knobby stick you carry. Will you sell it?” ‘‘T don’t mind that,” said Bob, A bargain was soon concluded ; the bludgeon “once. Ha! ha! ; and, what is more, no relation either. You have | ne ee gn a changed hands for a guinea, and the stranger went his way. That pleasant-speaking young horseman, mufiled up to the eyes, was a decp designing villain ! He knew well all about Farmer Bertram’s affairs, and his son’s also, Had Rambling Bob only known him at the moment, and fathomed his deep, dark designs, he would have been spared much misery in after life, and others also. But of this young stranger we shall quickly hear mofe, Let us follow him, He rode direct to see Farmer Bertram at Four Ash Farm. As he approached the old farm-house, standing some distance from the road, he stepped under a cluster of trees. In a very mysterious manner he pulled out of his belt a pair of pistols and examined them. “ They are all right,” he said, with a bitter smile. “Tt is best to be prepared, [may want to use them.” Having done this, he rode up a lane and in afew moments stood rapping at the farm-house door with his riding-whip. | ‘House ho!” he shouted, in a hoarse and un- natural voice. In a second the door was opened by an aged woman. | The horseman dismounted, and entered the house. As he did so, the watch dogs began to howl ina most horrible and hideous manner |! The stranger heard it. His face turned to an ashy paleness, as he thought—— “That dismal howling, I have been told, is always looked upon by superstitious country people as an omen of death !” It was an omen of death ! CHAPTER II. FARMER BERTRAM RECEIVES A VISIT FROM BOLTON—BOLTON’S TREACHERY. FARMER BERTRAM was in bed when the stranger entered, having had a fall from his horse while hunting. | The horseman said his business was of such pressing importance that he must see the farmerat © once. Bertram recognized the name, and directed his old servant to admit the stranger to his chamber at “ From Mr. Redgill, I believe?” said the farmer, * Are you his son? Excuse me not rising to receive you, but [am unwell. I intended to go to London in a day or two, and settle with Mr. Redgill at once, for I have collected all my rents, and sold my crops to advantage, so that'I have got a good bit of ready money by me, much more than will pay off the last instalment of the mortgage he holds against me. Let me see,” said the farmer, open- ing a writing-desk near his bedside, “ Let me see, here are the receipts ; yes, one signed for £300, a second for £200, and’ a third for £1,000, and now I owe him £2,000 more, What a striking likeness there is between you and Mr. Redgill, though ; now I come to look at you in a clear light, I would have sworn that you were his son.” “Indeed!” laughed the young stranger, in an uneasy manner. ‘“ You have detected a likeness ; most people say the same; but I am wot his son, —— ——$$ ee | COnnicbooks. conn