The Young Briton: Sam Sawbones — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

: os “gat — ms . Sept. 5, 1677. All the blood in Sam’s body ceemed to rugh up to his face. | “Y’ll allow no one to say that tome!’ he ex- claimed, ‘and you must take it b:ek.’” : ‘‘1’m taking nothing back ‘to-day.’ .. *‘ But you don’t know me, nor an I aware that I ever saw you before to-day.”? ae ‘‘That makes no difference,’’ answered the stranger. “Tsay you are ja thief; and I won't play with you,”” | Jack Scalpel and the other man looked on in surprise, and did not know how to act. a They could see that there was to be an in- = quarrel, and hey to ayoid it they knew Not. ; 4 e Sam hed been openly inaulted-in & publie oom. and his honour requjzedthaiohe sit It seemed to be a purosdless Mauls! a Sam saw Jeff's eyes fixed on the risg He wore. “Why do you look at my ring ?’’*he inquired. “Because that ring induces mie*'t@ cail you what I have, as T know you could not bave ccme honestly by it..’’ | a = sore ring was given me an hopr ago by a ady.’ ee ** You may mean that it was if the lady’s pos- session at that time,’’ said Je fi, with & scornful, sneering Jaugh, Be ae ‘J demand an apology,’”’-said Sam, ‘You will have none from ‘me;’’ was the ingo- lent answer. | | SE Sa “Are you drunk or crazy ?’? Sam continued, going up to him. ‘‘Neither. Tell me who gave you the ring.” ‘**T do not like to mention’a lady’s name in a public place, but as the cipéumstances of the case seem to demand that I should do so, I will tell’ farcell, of Kensington.” ‘Nonsense! She wouldn’t look at you !”? ‘‘T swear it, on my honour.’’ , ‘‘You’re a liar!’’ said the stranger. This was more than Sam could bear. you that it was presented to me by Miss Lulie Springicgforward. —s_—i«. ple , _ Jef endeavoured to strike him with the cio he held in his hand, but Sam was too and easily avoided the blow. Then he dashe!} at the insolent young stranger, and they met in a iierce encounter, Sam trying to hit his opponent, whie the latter appeared anxious to save his face from beicg di-fizured Jeff got his arms round Sam, and struggled hard to throw him, but Sam managed to trip him up. He fell against the tablo. _ In the encounter his shirt wai torn down the back, revealing his naked shoulders. “ Hello, I say! What's this?’ cried Jack scalpel. “‘Let him g>, Sam; if he offers to touch you I'll brain him with the butt of a cue.’’ Sam relinquished his hold, while Jeff retreated to the walland leant against it, as if anxious to hide his back. = . He favoured the assembled company with a black scowl. : Have you got all the crowd with you?’ he asked. : ** No,” replied Sam, ‘‘I want no help.”’ *¢ How is it,’’ continued Jeff, “that you Bald- ies whom I thovght my friend, have turned on me?” : : : ‘‘ Ask yourself, my dear fellow,’? was the answer. iat ae "What do you mean.”’ “Just this. Whatever trath there may be in your accusation dgainst this young fellow, about’ whom I know nothing, you have your name written on your back,’’ gies te Jeff turned as ghastly pale as a corpse. ‘“ Good God !” ‘he murmured. “Ts this fatality ever to haunt me?’”’ ‘© What has he got on his back? ”’ asked Sam. ‘‘ The word ‘thief,’ aaswered Jack Scalpel. ‘y9 *¢ Just whet he’s called you, and Sam waited to hear no more. He sprang forward and dragged the man from the wa)l, which action was not resisted. He was as quiet as a lamb now. | Allthe insolence and puguacity had been taken out Of him. EEAELAL A : | Sam took one look at the dark coloured letters, and saw his Work. ** Jefferson Claygrave!” he exclaimed. 4 YOUNG t ~ = 3 Sear oh ep € : , <4 " “SR ee a | he ct * * - 4 ~ Sam sank into.a cha'r, and was plungcd ino gaye him great ploasure to be able to doso on this re) | occasion. : “Til knob you’re ugiy head off!” hae cried, | oto Jong as YOu have that ring on quick for him, | that.’’ * Yes, that is my name,” was the faint reply ; ‘and you—you are——’ ae *“ Doctor Sawbones’s son.”’ pee so Jefferson Olaygraye put on his coat and hat. In « sullen ters: heexclaimed—- = “We shall naiget again by —— 1’ _-— <—S “e ssame, and his Heid banging dowa.. — 4 Badin and Jack Sca'psl came to Sam. ** Explain this $9 us,”’ ubey said. 2 ay y ‘“ { marked that tan,” he it under p mistake”? *¢ Fle is not a tiie ‘* No, be te Eig cz? oh ao “+ 5 ++ 4 ~ re » > an f£ocortunate-young mab, ; Fx — « deep xevorie. CHAPTER XII. dine with Him that day, Sam at length reused | awe from the apathetic state into which he had fadlen,.and said : 7 ‘(Where shall me go? ”’ Jack left. off whistling, and replied ; am : : 7 ‘© Will you leave ito me to provide the ban: upt??’ - 66 -will.”’ ‘‘ Regardless of expense?’ ~~ Cortainty,” answered Sam, scarcely kaowlag+ or caring What answer he gave. | Jack Scalpel was now jn his element, for be flattered imself thet he kuew how to order a dinner—and eat it, too—as well as anybody. hey quitted the tavern, as it was Jack’s. intention to dine at the Brunswick. ee - Not often was it that his funds allowed him to. indulge in all the luxuries of the season, and it ; ; ; | your floger.”’ ‘What do you mean?” asked Sam, : ‘Tt would go up for——”—™ “Do you mean that T am ever likely to ba such an unmitigated blackguard—such a mercenary wretch as to pledge it?” interrupted Sam, | “T certainly did intend to convey that im- ression.”’ eS sagt “Then understand, once for all, I would rather ten thousand times part with my life than pith ‘© You’ ll never be broke, Sam,” ‘s All right, my sou; you needn’t geb.on your high horse about it I h:ve hypothecated many a, family relic.”’ | | ‘¢ You have?”’ ‘¢ Yes, sirree. [remember once athomeI wanted z 7S at eo ‘ : fe GENTLEMAN'S JOURNALS - A - y ior having done whet I ee She ie Sg eet 163 | ‘“Itthat why you hate him?’ 2 “No. T’li cut the story short. My father has old Cleygrave’s skeleton in his museum. This young fellow wants his dad’s bones. He won't give them up. Hs: came to the hours to iake ett - . + -sbtbem, and I marked bis back like taat Which you Then he wathed 2way, bis face bucniog wiih) saw with alancet..” =~ ) fo 8 ** Is he well off P”’ “aa 'T think his father had property. He’s been brought up by a relative, and the money has been accumulating daring his minority’? © = ** Well, you can bet your last bob that Mr. Clay- grave, junior, is acquainted with Miss Lilie Mesrecell,’? a 2 a \<f TE be wasn’t well knoiwa.to her, aud she to. | bim, how conld he fave recog ised “ber'riug on yourfinger?” ; ? Ibis was conclusive. | | Sam remained silent. HIS SB ‘‘ And another thing,” continued Jack Scalpel, Or my name’s Tom Collixs.’’ ‘Think so ?”’ | ** ’m sure of it. Didn’t he flare up directly ho aw thering? That was jealousy. Go in, wy ag! and cut him out.”’ : They were passing a gunsmith’s shop. ‘* Hold on, won’t you, please? ’’ said Sam. “Vil be back in a momenf.”” — He yent into the shop, and returned in about ‘fiwo minutes. : -. “ What havo you been doing ”’? inquired Jack. rs attire Colt’s.” - © Eh? What do you want‘with a shooter ?”’ “ Jeff Claygraye has threatened me more: than once. I apprehend danger from him, and I’m | ‘he’s after Miss Lulieand her miilion of money, A WARNING LETIER, , | Eas | MinpFuL of his promiseto Jack that he ahonld > | not going to let bim shoot me down like a dog, /without my having some show for my life,’ re- plied Ran, pa * Nor do I blame you ; bat be carefal.” ‘Oh! I'll only act in self-defence.” : Taey now reached the restauraut, tcok a table to themselves, and Jack exercised his peculiar gastronomic talent-by ordering” what be c- lied ‘‘s bang up little feed,” which was flanked by a bottle of heck, and one of St. Julien. Sam enjoyed the dinner, but when the bill was paid he found that he had very little monoy left, and realised the fact that riches make unto them- selyes wings to fly away. ‘* Now we'll go nome and haye a quiet émoke,”’ sai Jack. ‘‘Some cf the gang are sure to drop in.’ | When they reached Mrs. Manhug’s boarding- house, they met that lady iu the hal), and her manner was more subdged then if had beed On & former occasion. | She condescented to say good-day to Jack, and inquire after his healta. ~ ‘ T’m only middling,” he replie?. ~ “Apxiety, to go to the circus badly, and dad wouldn't give| worry of miad on account of insufficiency of in- me any money; grandmother came along to stay |. come, to meet current expenditures, and a -ort of with us, and left an expensive set of false teeth | nei vousness arising from over-study, all combine for a while inahand-bowl. I saw them, I seized | to break down @ Once vigorous constitution, and them, I pawned them, and she was actually | make me bald before my time.” | monosyliables. — obliged to buy the ticket from me before she could eat any dinner,”’ “I'm afraid you're a hard case,”’ remarked | present. Sam. ‘© What d’yer sa-ay?’’ cried Jack. ‘‘ You're bad, = ‘¢ Box ’em up and take ’em away,”’ rejoined ‘ Dear me, and you a 4octor,” she said. ‘¢ Not full-fledged. Oaly a sacking one at Is there any one up-stairs in my room?” © “Yes. Pat and Flew have been there all ihe afternoon.” ‘“T beg, ma’am,”’ replied Jack, “that when you Jack. ‘ Bat taking of hard cases, you’re not | have occasion tu speak of my friends, you will be very soft,”’ 86 How?” “ You got a pull on that fellow.” ‘* Which ? ”’ : ‘* The one with the literary back. Tell us all | about that.’’ “T can’t. It’s along story, and—and——” | “Phe fact is, you’d rather not. Very well. That settles it. I’il not press you ; but I'll tell. you what I havean idea of.”’ | ‘*What?’? said Sam, who was speaking in | please Mr a little more respectful.” ‘*In what way ?”’ : ‘Call them by their proper names, if you 9) s. Manhug muttered something about people being stuck up. © nods “¢’Did you hear her?’’ whispered Jack. * Yes,’’ replied Sam. ‘‘T’ll settle her for that. Listen.” Raising his voice, h:3 exclaimed— ee ‘©Mrs. Manhug, I have much pleasure in in- | forming you that I have been appointed public '*¢ Mr. Jefferson is no rough, He is accustomed | vaccinator for this ward.” to move in good society.”’ ‘‘ Tmpossible.”’ | «Why should it beso?” “‘T hearjthere’s small-pox about,” she answered. “Yes, and the Commissioners haye issued an order for compulsory vaccination. You will please “Hé! The son of a murderer, a common |attend upon me in my rooms at ten o'clock to- aqsAss}o, yee Nees under the tree where he slew his victim,” ‘Ts that the case? ”’ * As true as 1’m standing here.’’ who was lynched by a mob, and buried | morrow morning, with your husband.”’ ~ But I don’t want to be vaccinated.” 3 ‘‘T don’t care what you want. Do you refuse? 4 “J [—- ye -og—that is, not exactly.’’ EComilebooks.«com