The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 159 “ All the others away ?” *‘ Yes; if you don’t believe it, go down and see,” Radfen, the detective, believed what Joey said, and whispered to him, “Tt’s a dark night, Joey. Keep out of the Pug’s way; he might give youasly poke. I know him.”’’ **So does I, Mr. Radfen, thank you; a wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.” ‘ Positive there’s nothing in the Den to-night?” On my oath.” * All right. Good night, Joey,” * Good night, Mr, Radfen,”’ * Not.a bad sort of bloke for a slop,” thought Joey. “I know where he liyes. I wonder if he’s fond o’ cabbage. I'll call to-morrow, and let his old woman have a head for no¢hing.” Joey had good reason to like Radfen. For that police officer had had more than one ehance to “ran him in ” for minor offences, but had never done «0. When he returnelto the Den he found Bill, Jacek, and Alf talking to Jonathan and Flint. “ Now which will you do?” said Bill with the hairy cap; “there ain’t a doubt in my mind but what you are two of the blokes which is ‘ wanted.’ ” “Do!” said Jonathan, with a quivering lip, “ what can we do? we have no money.” “Yes you have, in the bank or somewhere,” “ They must either cash up, or we must hand ’em oyer to the officers, and get the £200,” said Alf. ‘Til tell you what we will do.” “ Well, what ?”. ‘-Myself and friend are perfectly free from all guilt or crime; but as you seem determined not to let us go hence withort money, we will give you a check for £100.” “ Not enough,” said Flint. ** Not near.”’ “ Well, say £200 then; surely that will satisfy you ?” swore Jonathan. ‘‘No, that ’ud be only £50 a piece. We want £100 each.” ‘* What ! £400 in all!” gasped the lawyer. “ Yes ; not a farthing less.” ‘“* But we haven’t got it.” “No; but you can get it when the banks open to- morrow.” ‘‘T have not a penny in the bank,” said Jonathan, truly. “No; but that other bloke has... You can swear to that. Iheard all about him heoking it with the dead man’s money.” It was finally agreed that Flint should go out next morning—but watched all the time—and procure the £400. He protested that he could not raise it. , But this was only laughed at by the three rough fellowe. Jonathan was detained a prisoner until Flint’s return. CHAPTER LIX. FLINT DRAWS THE MONEY—HE OUTWITS THE PROFESSIONAL ROGUE—THE DRUG. Iv was frightful torture to Flint to be obliged to part with any of his ill-gotten money. But he saw no help for ite Either he must pay dearly for his liberty, or be conducted to Bow Street. Jonathan at first offered the rascals the £200 in notes he had concealed in his boot-legs, But this discovery only heightened their curiosity and ayarice, The original £400 was still insisted upon. Jonathan wanted Flint to write an order for the amount, and he would go and get it cashed. This was very cunning of him; but his captors feared Jonathan much more than the old lawyer, who, next day, was conducted out of the Den ina very roundabout way, and at last emerged into the open thoroughfare again. He was accompanied by Bill, the owner of the hairy cap. But on this occasion Bill changed his clothes, and looked every inch a well-to-do tradesman, as he walked beside the old lawyer, They had not gone far when old Flint began to try to bribe Bill ; but it was all to no purpose. “ You’d better have a £150 or £200 yourself, and say I gaye you the slip.” “ But what'is to become of your long-legged partner, then ?” “Tet him go to the devil, He’s one of. the cleverest thieves living, and is up to all kinds, of roguery, from breaking into a house to cutting a man’s throat.” “You don’t say so! What a very clever bloke he is then. Why, he’d be of any amount of service to me, Jack, and Alf, when’we’ve got a jobin hand,” Do all he could, Flint could not bribe the owner of the hairy cap, and after a time they both came within sight of the Phoenix bank. Bill accompanied Flint into the bank, and stood by his side. How the old lawyer got the money, Bill;could not tell; but there was a deal of talking and signing, Mr. Hairycap thought. At last, however, the money was paid to old Flint. Withis a few minutee, he and Bill went into the parlour of a public-house near by, had some brandy, and then counted out the notes. Four hundred pounds in bran new crisp bank notes were on the table, Bill was about to take them up when he was seized with a violent fit of coughing, and excrucia- ting pains in the stomach ! This came on so suddenly and so yiolently that Bill was doubled up like a ball, in pain. “Tt’s that brandy !” said Bill, groaning. “Just so, Wait a moment, Ill get you some- thing from the bar that will ease you,” said Flint. Flint seized the handful of notes and dashed at the doorway. He was free ! With a loud oath and fearful intention, Bill rushed after the fugitive. Flint escaped, money and all! “ He‘drugged me,” said Bill, “ and I suffered awful tortures! He has escaped! But I will have re- venge on his partner! I'll make the bank suffer for this.” ; CHAPTER LX. THE BANK ROBBERY. Perry thefts are the seeds of great crimes. No one, when they first give way to pilfering small things, have the least idea of committing burglary and the like heinous offences, Yet it is a matter worthy of remark, as we glean from the lives of great criminals, that their infamous career always began with trifles. : oO Comicboooks.€c©