Ching Ching's Novelettes No. 1: Snapson of the 'Snake' — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

( 13) He put this book in a safe behind him, closed the door, locked, and touched a bell. The man waiting to close the place gladly responded. ‘Help me on with my coat, Stevenson,” he said. This office was performed for him, and with a slow step he left the place. Outside it was a dull, drizzly autumn evening, and people were hurrying home or going in search of some place to spend an hour or two to shake off the weariness of the day’s work. A naked-footed urchin came tearing by. “Evening paper,” he yelled, “evening paper—Star, TE-cho—Kve-ning News.” “ Here, give me a paper, boy,” said the old merchant He put it in his pocket, and sauntered on to the London Tavern,which he entered, and marched into the dining-room. Having ordered dinner and a pint of wine, he sat down and took out his er, a it, the following short paragraph caught his eyes: “ The brig ‘ Snake,’ which sailed a week or so ago for the Mauritius, has been obliged to return much damaged by the hard gales, She put into Portland to-day. Loss, one boy, an apprentice, who fell overboard.” The old man did not leap up, and cry “Saved,” although he would have done so, for that paragraph meant worldly salvation to him. Now that Will had gone, and he knew the “‘ Snake ” had no other apprentice on board, he was as good as master of forty thousand pounds, This was the sum left to Will by his father. A consultation with the railway time-table showed the merchant that he could catch the night mail train easily after dinner, and he decided to run down to Portland. | He was too eager to have that good news confirmed to wait for Snapson to come to him. He hastily partook of dinner, drank his wine, and in due time was on his way. Arriving at Portland, he found an hotel where there was a night porter, and from him he learnt that the paragraph was correct. And, what was more, the captain of the ‘Snake’ had come on shore and had put up at an inn in the adjoining street. Having written a note to Snapson and given instructions for it to be de- livered at an early hour, the old merchant went to bed. Strange to say he soon slept. He was troubled with very little conscience When he awoke three men were in his room, and he recognised Snapson seated by his side. The others he did not know. They were Dopper and Grip, who had made up their minds not to leave Snapson until they got their share of the money. “Who are these men ?” asked Warrington, ‘“‘why do you bring your black- guard acquaintances here ?” “T didn’t bring ’em,” said Snapson curtly, “ they came.” “The fact is,” said Dopper, advancing, “ we know all about the little game () COIN DOO S (SO)