The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

, eS EEE EEE EEEEEE——E——EEE ee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “ But we hayen’t got anything else.” “Gammon. Gents like you is have lots o’ chink at the bank. Don’t yer twig ?” ‘“You must write us out an order or a cheque for a hundred or two—that’s all.” Asthey thus spoke together, the chief man was suddenly silent. He heard some one whistling outside. “ Hark !” said he, “that sounds like Joey’s note.” “ Joey it is,’”’ said a second, who listened again. Presently some one was heard to enter the house. Numerous bolts and bars were drawn to admit the new comer, Flint and Jonathan, for the present, were thrust inte the front cellar again, and were shivering with cold. Jonathan peeped through a crack, and heard the distant conversation between the four rogues. “Such news!” said Joey, rushing in; “you'd never believe it.”’ “What is it ?” ‘“ Barney the Pug has turned approver.” “What ?” “Not a farden less; he’s turned his coat, so all on us had better look out for squalls.” “How do you know it ?” “ Couldn’t be mistaken. gether, and I heard him say—— ‘“Ton’t matter what he said; if he’s in Gale’s fingers it’s Hookey Walker with him.”’ * And us too.” “Tf we don’t step it.” “But what job has Gale got on hand now ?” “ Why, he ‘ wanted’ two or three blokes for that murder at the Red House, old Ford as you’ve heard of; and it turns out that the same parties have been knocking two or three slops out o’ time ina lawyer’s office.” * Crikey ! they had their hands full.” “Yes, Barney is linked in one of the affairs, but he bought himsel’ off by turning ‘’prover.’ He and Gale called at the lodgings of one of the parties just a minute too late, the two birds had flown ; they were traced over the roofs of a dozen hou:esor more, and——”’ “‘ Got free.” “ Clean as a whistle.” Three of the fellows winked at each other very wickedly. “What are yer winking and blinking at ?” said Joey, in a passion. ‘“ Don’t yer believe me? Didn’t you’ hear the people running about the neighbour- hood half an hour ago ?”’ *“ Jest so, Joey ; and how much reward is offered for these coves ?”’ “T saw a big bill up ‘to-night, and collared one on ’em. Here it is.” So saying, Joey produced the proclamation hé had taken off the wall, and read it as follows— He and Gale went to- dy « £200 REWARD. “ WHEREAS, 2 most foul and deliberate Murder hias - been committed on the person of Mr. Ford of the Red House, under most revolting circumstances, and, WHEREAS it is very probable that the same person or persons have been concerned in the kill- ing of two constables and the wounding of a third while in the discharge of their duty, “ Therefore, it has been resolved by the Queen’s pleasure, that the above sum of £200 REWARD “ shall be given to any one who will arrest and 157 bring the said. person or persons to justice, Or half the above reward, viz., «“ £100, *‘to any person or persons who shall give such in- formation as will lead to the apprehension of the said offenders. ‘‘Tt is-supposed that three persons have been concerned in these diabolical murders, viz:— « A man who sometimes begs under the name of Warner, a well-built, powerful man of about 35 or 40 years of age; bright, quick, small black eyes, large mouth, high cheek bones ; wears, oftentimes false moustache, whiskers and wig; of gen- tlemavly address, and frequeuntly passes for a medical man. When iast heard of he was in the neigpbauruood of Bromley Hall Academy, shire. “The second person is named Jonathan Grave- stones, a schoolmaster, who gives out that he has been and is a minister of the gospel; tall, long- legged, grey eyes, hooked nose, large mouth and ears, wears black always, continually smiles and rubs his hands when conversing, is fond of wine and snuff, and has generally a very greasy appearance. “The third person has for years been a petti- fogging lawyer under the name of Flint. It is sup- posed he has changed his name for that of Schmidt. He is between 40 and 50 years old, very miserly, medium height, crooked back, and sharp, ferret- like eyes ; he dresses in black, usually, and wears a snuff-coloured overcoat, When last seen was in the habit of frequenting the east-end theatres. *“ Any ioformation regarding these persons, or the murder with which they are connected, must be transmitted at once to Scotland Yard, or to Bow Street Police-court.” . CHAPTER LVIII. PUGGY MEETS WITH SOME OLD PALS~—JOEY THE REFORMED THIEF. JONATHAN listened most attentively with out- stretched ears to the reading of the proclamation, and was confounded. It was by a great effort that he did hear, however, for the distance between the back cellars was con- siderable. It was by rapt attention and straining every nerve that he managed to hear it. As Jocy proceeded with his reading Jonathan felt sick at heart. : “ £200 reward,” he thought. ‘ Then we are lost ; these rascals will be sure to give us up. £200 to them would be a little fortune.”’ While he thus thought, and was in agony of mind, the conversation in the inner cellar pro- ceeded. “ Vell, and what are yer larfing at ?” said Joey. “All on ye look as if you were going to have fits with yer smiles and winking and blinking. Is there any secrets ?” “No, Joey : but what do yer think ?” “ Can’t.tell.” “ We knows whiere two of these identical blokes is.” “ What, the murderers ?” “Yes.” For a moment Joey looked incredulous, and whistled in doubt. « You jest hang that there proclamation over the fire-place, I say, and you’ll see what yer shall see, only keep quiet, and don’t seem to know nothing.” « All serene ; but where are they ?” Neen een ee EEE eeee ae oO Ccomuicbooks.com