The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

— -- -~- was, and found “fib with cigars and a bottle of brandy, enjoying himself, He had counted the money during the old Jew’s absence, and, as he expected, found it to be a pound or two short of the amount agreed upon. He did not say anything about it, however, for he krew full well that if a Jew were dealing with the devil himself he would endeavour to cheat his Satanic majesty. Old Moss pretended to be very happy, and poured out for himself a glass of brandy, and was soon occupied with a huge cigar. He left the room door ajar, in order to let out the tobacco smoke, he said. And he so arranged his own seat, that he could very well see all that took place in the room. But Warner could not, for he sat with his back to the door, The bag of money was still on the table, and placed .a little behind Warner’s right elbow, in a oa caréléss manner. _ But this pleased Moss all the more. “For,” thought the cunning Jew, “ Parney can creep in on his hands and knees, and steal the coin unobserved.” But the wily Israelite had miscalculated his chances, On the mantelpiece there was a small mirror, and by turning his eyes to it Warner could perceive any one approaching from behind, This old Moss never thought of until it was too ate, Both these worthies diank often, but the Jew, as he thought, unobserved by Warner, took but a small portion at a time, and spat it out again. This, however, did not occur without Warner perceiving it, but he smiled as he thought, * The brandy costs him nothing, and yet he spits it out again. He must haye some object in view, ~ and I will keep my weather eye open.”’ In less than an hour Warner appeared to get very groggy, but he could drink much more without becoming affected than Moss ever dreamed of. Hence, when they had been sitting together for about two hours or more, Warner proposed a song, and began to sing. The Jew joined in with a very loud; discordant voice, and occasionally looked very anxiously to- wards the door. Warner lay back in his arm-chair, winking and blinking as if in more than a half state of intoxica- tion, when Moss, unobserved, coughed three times in a very peculiar manner, and lowered the lamp until the light became very dim. Still he sang and smoked, and thumped the table in applause of Warner’s songs, and appeared to be enjoying himself immensely, While all this was taking place, Barney had crept upstairs unobserved and unheard, On his hands and knees he crawled into the room, and hid behind the bedstead. Still Warner and Moss sang on, and the former drank more deeply than ever. Perceiving this, and having received a signal fom old Moss, Barney crawled behind Warner’s chair, The old Jew now became intensely excited, He could perceive Barney’s eyes glistening in the deep shade, Still Warner sang on loudly, and drank his brandy as carelessly as ever, Old Moss was almost choking with expectation, He endeavoured to accompany Warner in his gong, but could not, for he perceived Barney’s hand upraised, and approaching the table, THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 259 Next moment he could see the big, fat, puffy hand of the Pug upon the table.’ Tt was ready to grasp the bag of gold. His hand was on it. “Careful, Barney, be careful, now; make no noise, or all is lost,” thought the J ew, as he trembled with doubt and fear. In a moment, however—for Warner had perceived all through the mirror on the mantel—and, with the quickness of thought, Warner plucked the dagger _ from his belt. The next instant.it was plunged right through _ Barney’s hand. The Pug was pinned to the table |! With a shout of horror and pain Barney rose to his feet. But Warner pulled the weapon from the wound, and brandished it before him. “Make any more noise, traitor, or attempt to stir, and I will plunge this through your vile, black heart,” he said, savagely. Old Moss rose suddenly, and would have rushed _ to the door. But, with a powerful blow in the face, Warner knocked the cunning Jew all of a heap on the floor, where he lay, sprawling and bleeding. Warner looked with triumph first at one and then at the other of his unfortunate victims. He locked the door, and put the key into his pocket, as, with a laugh of contempt and scorn, he said, “This was a prettily-arranged plan of your’s to rob me, wasn’t it, Moss?” “Oh, ’pon my shoul, I hat not de shlightest in- tention to rop you,”’ the Jew groaned ; “let me go, let me go!” *‘So you bargained with that traitor, then, | Barney, eh, to do this while I was drunk as you supposed? But I saw through your plans, my cun- ning Jew, and you shall have to pay dearly for it,” “T don’t know him ; on my vort as a shentleman I do not,” old Moss replied. “You just ask him ?”’ “Tiar !” said Warner, kicking the Jew in the ribs; “liar ! didn’t I watch all your movements? Didn’t I see you talk to the Pug there, and arrange about the time? Liar as you are, you shall pay dearly for this |” ‘How do you mean ?” the Jew whined. ‘“What do I mean, old fool! I mean that this night’s work shall cost you all you possess in the world, if; indeed, you do not suffer all your whole life for it, Think you I can ever forget or forgive such treachery as you would have played upon me ?”’ Turning to Barney, who was suffering great agony with his wounded hand, and bleeding profusely, “And you, villain !”? hissed Warner, as their eyes met; ‘‘so you have turned informer, eh?’ Barney averted his eyes, and made no reply. “We have met sooner than I expected, cur!” said Warner, his eyes flashing deadly hate, ‘‘ but not too soon for my keen revenge. If it were not to gratify my passion still more than I haye done—were it not that I wish you to suffer additional torture, I would despatch you on the spot !” At that instant, and unobserved, old Moss pulled out a revolver, and, taking deliberate aim at Warner, he fired thrice in quick succession ! CHAPTER XCIX. JONATHAN AND GALE HAVE A VERY OME i te CHAT, HAD a thunderbolt fallen into the room, old Jonathan could not have felt more stunned and wana GomiGcaook (6)