Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

+. 7 CPO ndy Me € : i. din YS ae 2 er an € ‘ : a wd “you like it? A light—a light! D—n it : g g ou give mea light? I will just have a look t this fly-by-night’s face! What respectable traveller would be abroad at this hour? I may recognise him, for aught I know.” | _ Upon hearing this, Tom King, as may be expected. fei — anyvhing but comfortable. « _ He wished to escape observation as muc» as sive, but, if the traveller did not happen to recogni‘ hina, per- _ haps when the light of a candle fell full npox aie features _ some of the others would. ; It wasa very serious risk indeed, and Tom glanced _ &sround him without seeing any means by which ho could avoid it. . During this conversation, he had been grduxly sur- rounded and hemmed in by the various immates of the < _ inn, and to such an extent did they now press upon him that he could not possibly beat a rapid retreat. 3 Stee candle was quickly thrust into the traveller’s He held it in such a manner that its rays fell full upon - Tom’s features. ' +“ Hal” he yelled, im a furious voice. ‘“ This is just _ What Texpected! Now, then, to prove whether you are good men and true, or whether you are all rascally accom- __plices of this execrable wretch! Assist me to take him ___ prisoner!” he cried, as he sprang at Tom, and fastened on his throat like a tiger. --—sS** But who is it? What has he done?” cried all, in _ chorns, “‘ Done ?—what hasn’t he done? Why, he has robbed me to-night, and many another before me! But his time _ is up! This is Tom King, the highwayman! I will Be eee it! I say again, this is Tom King the highway- eT 1 Fy oP tly —— * # OHAPTER CMXCVIIIL. __- RELATES TOM KING’S ADVENTURES WITH THE TRAVELLER We _ AT THE INN. oS _ In anticipating the worst, Tom King had hardly thought that the stranger would have recognised him so readily, _ therefore our old friend was taken somewhat by sur- Bi Pathe feeling passed away so quickly, however, that not _ gne of those who were present could have told that it had existence. _ The people in the inn crowded closer and closer. _ ‘Tom’s first act was to free himself from the stranger's grasp, @ feat which apparently he performed with the greatest ease. . “ Your loss has turned your brain, sir,” he said, in a cold and haughty tone of voice, ‘‘and you may think _ yourself fortunate that I have not as sudden and hasty a ea per as yourself, otherwise——” - Yom did not trouble himself to finish the sentence— ___ the significant look with which he accompanied the words rendering it quite unnecessary. All traces of his early life and training had not become extinct in Tom King. In spite of his continual attempts to disguise his nature, there were times when the true gentlemanly bearing would peep forth and show it- The present was one of them. His manuer caused the traveller for a moment to racoil, wondering whether he was a victim to a complete delusion of the senses, But he quickly recovered himself, and, with e¢ psssion- ate exclamation, sprang forward again. ae But this time Tom King was prepared for him, and stopped him. “Keep yeur hands off!” he roared—*“ keep your hands ____ off, or I shall lose all control over my temper !” The stranger was awed. Nevertheless, he cried out : _ “J declare this is Tom King, the highwawman! I de- clare he has robbed me! If his pockets were searched, __ vou would find my money upon him !” This was true enough, and it seemed to be quite a pro- — blem how Tom would get out of his awkward przi- tion, ~ ___- But Tom, with his ready mind, had thoroughly compre- hended his si‘uation. ana, what wes more, had reso)ved Be el ee oo: ." os eee a ? a * + 2 * - * oe ” ~ at Ss * , > . : a "a es wy ae? g ' ie" fides 4 Y i ee: YS ithe. t ie weet ; ‘ x — 4 ts Sy A Te ee — “Tt is generally a hopeless task to attempt to reason with a man in your condition, but, if you like to step with me into any of these adjoining rooms, I will quickly give you a proof that you never made a greater mistake in all your life ” ‘Why not give the proof now ?” “Simply because i do not choose to do so, and, if you hesitate a moment longer, I shall refuse to satisfy you at all—mark that!” Tom King’s cool, collectea, haughty bearing produced an immense effect upon the stranger. Although it seemed against his inclination, he could not resist compliance. _ Pushing open the door nearest to him, hs strode into the ehamber beyond. Tom follow “Close the door,” he said, as he entered, “and lock it as well.” ‘‘ What for ?” “In order to guard against interruption ; and, if you are still demented enough to persist in your belief, it will be a means of preventing my escape.” Whichever of these reasons it happened to be which weighed with the stranger does not matter; but he obeyed Tom’s order, closing and locking the door. Then, turning round, he said: Now, sir, as I have complied with all your demands, let me request you to be quick.” Tom King approached very closely. Strangely enough, the traveller’s suspicions were not at all excited. But with the suddenness of lightning, Tom seized the stranger by the throat, at the same time that he thrust a pistol roughly into his mouth. “A word,” he murmured—‘‘a syllable above a whisper and your brains will be scattered round this room |” The stranger turned pale, and was silent. Much of his excitement had abated. ‘‘ Make no mistake,” said Tom King—“I am indeed what you declared me to be; and your position just at the present moment is one of great danger, though perhaps you may not realise it. If you know anything of me, you will be certain that I shall be as good as my word in this affair.” Evidently the stranger thought so, for he neither offered tospeak nor to make the slightest movement. The knowledge that the muzzle of a cocked pistol was between his teeth, and that its trigger was encircled by Tom’s fingeroverawed him. “You might have known that single-handed you could be no match for me. You do not take into account that when a man is fighting for his life he would do that from which all others not so circumstanced would naturally shrink. I could have escaped without this trouble, but I did not want a hue and cry at my heels—do you under- stand ?” The traveller nodded, to show that he thoroughly eom- prehended. 3 “Then,” said Tom King, ** you will have to submit to be bound and gagged. When | know you are saie I shall take my departure from theinn. You will not suffer the inconvenience long—the people here will soon peep in upon you.” : “ But my money ?” the traveller managed to summon up courage enough to mutter. “T tell you the truth concerning it,” replied Tom King, ‘and you may believe me or not, just as you like; 1 am quite indifferent upon the point. Once more | repeat that when I rede up to the front door a man hastily started up and ran away; I have not the Irv*t doubt that he was the robber.” : “Then have pity upon me,” said the traviler, in 4 husky voice, “fur 1 assure you | am a worthy object of commiseration. The money and valuables I have lost ~ represent a very large sum indeed. Had the amount been my own, I could have borne my loss with more patience; but, unfortunately, 1 only held it in trusitfor another In fact, sir, as you have kindly taken away the pistol, J assure you that [am neither more nor less than a commercial traveller, and the goods I carry with me consist of watches, rings, and other such articles” —very valuable, and all lying in@ small space. To-night, at this accursed inn, 1 have lost all. I question whether I shall ever recover a fraction.” : PAS $ Po oe SE oe hk SN Seah owe gOS Stn eh aes phe’ Se Fee ONG LS at eee LE Wire ae By ch! 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