The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 172: what you’re looking at

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166 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. on a 8 ee and drives him home. Job saw Puggy some time ago, and as he was flush, ‘Here, Job,’ says Puggy ; ‘I met that old cove as you drove home, and he told me to give you this,’ so saying he put ten twenty- pound notes in Job’s hand, and tells him that the old gent wants him to start 2 Hansom, so that’s how old Job got such a sudden rise in the world.” “Yes, yes; but how did Puggy get so much money ?” “The old gent gave it to him.” “Nonsense,” said Gardner; “if even he had, Puggy isn’t such a fool, or rather such an honest fool as to hand it over to old Job ; not he, he’s more likely to stick to all he gets, Z know Puggy this long time,” : “So do I,” says the waterman ; “and how he came by that money quite ‘ licks’ me.” “I dare say I could explain it all,” said Gardner. “The deepest mysteries are unravelled at times.” “It would puzzle the devil, I’m thinking, to know all that the Pug has been up to in his life.” By this time the detective and the waterman came up to Job’s cab, which was standing by the side of the road, near a small inn. Gardner jumped out, and walked into the tavern tap-room. Before a blazing fire, old Job sat smoking a long Pipes and at his elbow stood a mug of hot spiced ale, ; When he saw Gardner and the waterman enter, he took the pipe out of his mouth, and stared as if he had seen an apparition. “ Am I a dreaming ?”’ said Job, “or has the Strand keb rank shifted to Epping forest ?” ‘* No, you are not dreaming, Job,” said Gardner. ‘** You know me ?”’ “T should think as how I did; but what’s yer little game ? What are yer arter ?” “Till tell you presently.” The waterman took “along pull ”’ at Job’s spiced mee which that worthy did not at all relish, as he said, “’Old ’ard, there, vatercock, it ain’t kimmon stuff as you’re gulping.’’ After a few momentsof ordinary conversation, the waterman left Gardner and Job to themselves in the tap-room. The detective shut the door, and locked it. “ He then sat close beside old Job before the re. * And vhat’s yer little game ?” said Job, looking very wise. “ What’s yer hup to?” “Where is that party you brought down here in your cab, Job ?’’ “ Can’t tell from Adam,” ‘What do you mean ?” “Mean ? Why, I mean that I drew him’ to the edge o’ the forest, he got out, paid me two quid, and then hooked it.” “ Went into the bare forest ?” “Yes ; jest so.” “Was there no house in view ?” “No; net even a pigsty.” ‘What sort of a person was he ? Did you ever see him before ?” : “Yes ; once,” “Well, I called to hev a pipe and a pint one day at a house I uses, and I sees this chap in the parlour with two others.” “Who were they ?” “T can’t say,” “ Now look here, Job,” said Gardner, “ let’s have no nonsense. You do know who they were.” “So help me neyer I——.” “No swearing, Job; you do know. One of them was Puggy. You needn’t look so surprised ; you and he are great friends.” “ How d’yer mean ?” } “He brought some money to you from an old party you drove home one night.” “ Who told you ?” * Puggy himself.” “Never!” said Job, in greater surprise than ever. “ He did, though.” “Blowed the gaff, eh? me,” said Job, drawing a long breath. any hand in it,” “In what ?” “ Why, in smashing them two bobbies in the old lawyer’s office.” “Oh, ho!” thought Gardner ; “ this is something fresh.” With a few well-put questions, in which he drew from Job all he knew, heard, or had seen of Jona- than, Flint, Warner, and the Pug, the detective rose. “‘Yes ; it were the same party as you described, Mr, Gardner,” said Job; “nobody who has seen that long gent once would ever forget is ugly mug.” Job drove the detective to that part of the forest where Jonathan had alighted. Gardner examined the ground, and, for a few Well, they can’t touch “TJ hadn't . minutes, proceeded among the trees in the direction Jonathan had taken. There were no marks or footprints to be seen. All was cold, bleak, wild, desolate and quiet. Beyond the whistling of the winds no sounds were heard. “ ; “ You are sure that this is the correct spot he got out at?” “ Positive,” said Job. “ You didn’t know there was a heavy reward out for him, did you?” “ You don’t mean that ?”’ “T do, though.” “Has any o’ their pals split, then ?” “ Puggy has turned approver.” “You don’t mean it ?” “Fact ; keep dark, though, Job. If you aid me in this affair P’!l make it all right with you.” “ All right, Mister Gardner, I’m your man, then ; but what must I do first ?” “T’ll give youa note to take to Scocland Yard. We must have a score of men to beat up the forest in all quarters before many hours. If he is concealed any where hereabouts we shall fiad him.” * ‘‘ Beat up ‘in all directions at once, eh ?” said Job ; well, then, there’s small chance of him escaping ; but you’d better look sharp, Mr. Gardner, or else the bird will have taken wing.” “True,” said Gardner, “time is precious. I’m bound to take the villian, if it costs me my life; he has hitherto foiled all the ‘force, but now that Z am on his track, I'll follow it up to the death,” So saying, he got into the cab and hastily wrote a note to Scotland Yard. “Here, Job, take this to our head-quarters. Drive like the devil ; you’ll get well paid.” “ But ain’t you a coming ?” “ No.” “ What, are yer going to stay here all shivering in the cold ?” ce I am.”’ “You must have a queer taste,” said Job, — grinning. ‘ You ain’t like most o’ the detectives ; they’d rather go into the public for an hour or two, and have a pipe and some good old ale.” . LLL LLL tn Eomichbooks