Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

THE BEGGAR’S STAFF 69 pelled to shake. Then, as Page turned toward the door, the robber said, in a low, hurried, and scarcely audible whisper to the Gallows’ Widow, “ Let one of the pals speel after the jagger and lear his lag.”’ The woman darted a look of intelligence at her paramour; and, taking up the candle which she had brought with her, followed Page from the room. They ascended the flight of steps leading to the loft; and there the woman replaced the trap-door, which she covered with the straw. ‘Thence they retraced their way to the little parlour down-stairs; and Page, having wished the Big Beggarman, his daughter, and the Gallows’ Widow ood night, issued in safety from the Beggar’s Staff. But scarcely had he proceeded ten yards up the street, when a. man darted from the establishment, crossed over the way, and, keeping in the black shade of the houses on that side, cautiously dogged the steps of the commercial traveller. This individual pursued his way, quite unconscious of being thus watched, and wondering why Mr. Grumley and his men had remained so quiet, — a circumstance which he did not, however, regret, inasmuch as it had prevented a conflict wherein he himself might have been either killed or seriously injured. On reaching the corner of Horslydown, he turned into Pickled Herring Street, when some one, emerging from the very recess where he and the Gallows’ Widow had concealed themselves on their way to the Beggar’s Staff, said, in a low and hurried tone, ‘Is that you, Mr. Page? ”’ ““ Yes,”’ responded the commercial traveller, startled by the abruptness of the incident. “Then come here for a moment,” resumed the man who had spoken; and he half-dragged Page into the recess, saying, in the same whispering tone, ‘“ Grumley set me here to watch for you. There’s another of us out t’other end of Horslydown, and so we was sure not to miss you,somehow. Grumley says the thing can’t be done to-night, even if so be the Magsman is there, ’cause the place is too full. He must see you at the office in Bow Street in the morning.”’ “ Very good,” answered Page. “I have settled every-_ thing, and it’s much better to put it off till to-morrow. The Magsman will then be sure to fall into our hands.” “ That’s all right,’ observed the officer. ‘‘ We was afraid you'd be lurking about if you didn’t meet any of us at once, GOMmiGcdooks (S©)