The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

¢ I pn oe THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 37 heartily out of a bottle of gin he always kept there, and then locked up the safe again, He slept for two or three hours, or at all events tried to sleep, and rose again as tired as ever. He had ereat affairs to settle, however, which re- quired all his cunning and firmness, He dressed himself more carefully than was his wont, and went to a box-maker, and had there and then a strong deal box made according to Lis orders, such an one as would just contain the iron safe. - This was brought home and paid for, . He next put a large quantity of gold and note into his pockets, packed the safe, and then went toa railway carrier’s, , A yan and two strong men soon arrived. The safe was placed in the strong deal case, nailed firmly down, and directed to— ‘Samuel Sneider, Hsq., Dover, for.”’ It was conveyed away to the railway station, and was to reach Dover that same evening. “ So far, so good,” said Flint. ‘All my valuables are safe, at all events. In case anything should happen,” he thought, ‘‘ and I don’t reach Dover, I'll drop Joel a line, in care of the master at Bromley Hall, and tell him all—that is if he is alive; for,’ thought he, ‘‘I can’t believe that the body found is that of my own son.” The letter was written and sent off by post, “ Now,” said old Flint, “my hardest task is to be done. I'd rather face the devil himself than do it ; but if I don’t wish to be ferreted out by the hawk- eyed detectives, and looked upon as an accomplice in old Ford’s murder, I must go to the house at once and play the hypocrite.” The lawyer fortified himself with a hearty break- fast and several draughts of liquor, after which he called a cab and drove off to the Red House, He got out of the vehicle some distance from the house, and walked up boldly towards it. There were two policemen in the garden, who shoved him back and would not let him pass. “A wink from Sergeant Gale, who sat at the par- lour window, told them how to act, and they allow- ed him to pass in, ““What—what in the name of goodness, is the matter ?’”’ gasped the lawyer, with well-feigned sur- prise, as he confronted Gale in the entrance hall. ‘What has happened? What are policemen doing here, I wonder ?” “ Doing their duty, sir,” answered Gale, scanning the lawyer from head to foot with a keen, quick glance that made old Flint wince again, ‘ What do you want here? Who are you and what are you ?” asked Gale. Flint explained in a few words, Old Ford’s lawyer, eh? Well, he won't want any more lawyers,’’ said Gale, in a careless way. ‘‘What do you mean? I’ve been his legal adviser for years.” ps : “ He’s dead.” ‘© What 2” ‘“ Murdered.” ‘‘ Mercy on us, you don’t mean that ?” “JT do; murdered last night,” ** Who did it?” ‘‘ That remains to be found out; butI don’t think, between you and me,” said Gale, laying his hand on the lawyer’s shoulder, ‘‘I don’t think it will be long before we lay hands on one of ’em,” To be called The lawyer faintly smiled, and, do all he could, was unable to keep from shaking. “Then there is more than one?” the lawyer asked, “ Tt looks like it, from the butler's statement.” “But his property, his property,” said Flint, ‘“ What has become of that ?” “Stolen, I suppose ; we found none,” ‘““What, all his title-deeds and money stolen ? “Was there any 2?” “ Any? why a vast amount in notes and parch- ments. He always concealed his most valuable papers under his pillow. All gone! Lord a mercy on us, what a strange world we livein! Who'd a thought it? Why, I came expressly according to his order this very morning to make out a new will in favour of his two nephews, Frank and Tom.” “Indeed |” saidGale, with twinkling eyes, ‘“‘ And where are these two youths ?” At Bromley Hall.” “And were they, up. to the present time, not mentioned in his will?” ‘Yes; they have behaved very badly to the kind old man, and, so I hear, have often threatened him if he disinherited them,” “ Just so,” said Gale, making a note in his pocket- book. “Just so, Frank—Tom—Bromley Hall. Just 80.” wa “‘T prevailed on the old man but yesterday to alter his will in favour of them, but he put the parchment under his pillow, and said he’d see about it by this morning. Poor man! good old soul! murdered, eh? Lord have mercy on us all !” said Flint, shedding tears, “In the midst of life we are in death! Heigho! that it should have come to this !” P Flint was allowed to proceed upstairs. As he passed, Sergeant Gale whispered to the butler, : ‘‘ No, sir, that’s not him. He waren’t near here since yesterday. That's nothing like the party I saw dash by me down stairs, It’s not him.” ‘“ That the party you saw, Tomkins?” whispered Gale, to 61 Z. Tomkins was “dead certain” he wasn’t either of the men he had seen prowling around the neigh- bourhood for the past week, and equally sure was Sergeant Ruff, Old Flint went upstairs with Davy, the butler, and viewed the body of the murdered man. i With many sighs and groans, he moaned and be- wailed the old man’s death, and with crocodile tears in his eyes, placed a crown piece in the butler’s hands as he walked down stairs again, ‘‘Mysterious affair, Sergeant Gale,” said Ruff, afterwards, “ “ Just so—quite. We've found out, though, how the murderer escaped ; through that panel at the back of the bed. Davy says he must have got in that way; but it seems there were two engaged on the job, One escaped at the front door, and the other, who evidently knew but little about the panel, missed the ladder, and fell into a cellar be- low, whence he escaped through a trap-door that opens into the back garden. We have traced the footsteps of the last one through the garden and mud as far as the cab-rank, but there we must stop for the present.” ‘ Anything else?” “ We have found the nephew’s dagger in the bed, and have missed several things out of Frank’s room