The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

126 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. the audience, all of whom seemed to have plenty of money. Captain Jack was pleased that old Gingles did not win the last stake, and mixed among the com- paoy, who were almost unanimous in their opinion that Alick would be sure to play “his very best,” and win, “for,” said several, “of all men on earth he hates most, it is old Gingles.” “T am sure to win,” said Alick, triumphantly, “and will lay two to one on it.” ‘* Hear, hear !” “So will 1.” “ And I.” “ « And so will I,” said Captain Jack, whosé brain now began to get muddled with wine and excite-~ ment. “‘ Where’s your money ?”’ ; “Oh, I shall have some presently,” said Jack, “as much as any one in the room.” At that moment he saw old Gingles leave the room. He followed him. In a few moments he overtook the old man, and presented Redgill’s note. “Tn difficulties, eh ?” said the old man, eyeing Captain Jack like a hawk ; “ but he has not stated the amount he wants.” “Oh ! he left that to me.” 7 “Indeed ! can I trust to your honesty ?” ““Oh! honour bright !” “Then who are you ?” “ Well, they call me Captain Jack, and I am one of the Crown officers.” “Oh! yes; I think I have heard your name men- tioned before in very flattering terms in your endeavours to suppress or destroy the famous Skeleton Crew.” “ Exactly,’ said Captain Jack, bowing in mock humility. : “And what is the sum you need, my noble captain ?” “Well, I think £1,500 will get him out of trouble.” “ Quite a modest sum, certainly.” ‘** But, then, you know, Mr. Gingles, you are very rich, and there are a great number of persons to be paid out of it.” “T see, I see; but how much do you intend to keep for yourself ?” asked the old man, fumbling in his pockets, “Me! my dear sir? I do not intend to keep a farthing, tis out of pure friendship for the poor young man that I do this.” “How very kind of you. Well, captain, all I can say is, that if I give you this amount, I hope you will use it properly ; for I must help young Redgill out of this difficulty. I have sworn ft on my oath, and my oath must be fulfilled. How much was the sum you named ?” “ £2,000.” “ Why, just now you said £1,500.” ‘‘ But I made a great mistake,”’ “Never mind, never mind; £500 more or less isn’t much in a case of life or death.” So saying, the old man pulled a large wallet. of bank notes, and paid Captain Jack the large sum demanded. One would have thought that Captain Jack might have been satisfied with this large amount, and would tiave gone homewards and fulfilled his engagement with Phillip Redgill. But he did not. The more money he had the more he wanted. Besides this, he had suddenly entertained a deep a — and deadly hatred against old Gingles for winning his money at cards, He therefore retraced his steps towards the ** Bull and Mouth,” and when near the door, who should he espy coming out but Alick, the well-known Card- sharp. : “Ah! my noble captain ; how are you? I was glad to see you had so much spirit in the card-room as to offer to back me in this game, and as I rather like you, I’Jl let you into the secret,” “Secret! What is it?” asked Captain Jack, wifh his ears all cocked ready to receive it. “‘ Well, you see,” said Alick, taking the ‘noble captain’s”? arm; ‘‘but come away from the door- way first, there may be listeners. You see this old Gingles is very rich, and passionately fond of cards ; He has cart loads of money ; where he gets it no- body knows; -but, at all events, during the past week, he has won enormous sums at the card-table, and how he does it nobody can find out.” “You don’t mean that ?” “TI do though. There is a secret about it, and 1 have found it out.’ “What is it ?” ‘«< All the cards have private marks on the back, which cannot be seen by the naked eye; but his spectacles magnify I have found out; and, therefore, when he looks across the table he can see what cards I hold in my hand.” “Oh ! the cunning old devil !” , “Yes; isn’the ? But in this game we are going to play to-night I have made a promise that he shan’t be allowed to wear his spectacles.” “Then you are certain to win. What a capital idea.” “Yes, isn’t it? Those gentlemen brought me there to-night to fleece old Gingles.”’ “But he won from you all the time.” ‘Yes, true,’ said Alick, grinning; “but that was the ‘dodge,’ in order to give him courage.” “‘T see it all plainly enough now.” “Very weil ; and now that I have told you this important secret, will you give me shares in your Winnings ?” *‘ Yes, half.” ‘““Agreed. How much have you?” * Two thousand pounds.” “Well, I will so play that the odds which are on me now shall change on him, and when you think he is winning, do you take up all the odds laid against me.” = ““T will, and be glad to do it.” “Certainly ; why shouldn’t you win a thousand or two as well as he ?” “Why not, indeed ? and I will, you’ll see.” ‘““T know you will if you follow my advice.” *“T will to the letter.” “You see through it, don’t you? Nice dodge, ain’t it, captain ?” said he, half reeling with wine. “You'll make a clean four thousand pounds by the job, and hazard nothing, you know ; while I win the stake, and make twice as much by outsiders, friends, who, with unlimited cash, will bet on me! Can you see through it, my boy ?” The noble captain saw through it*clearly enough, and, although half tipsy, gave Alick an ominous but eloquent wink, and squeezed his hand in token of friendship. “Come along, my boy,” said Alick, taking the captain’s arm, ‘Come along, old boy; don’t let’s pass a public without a drop or two; they keep the best old wines in the whole kingdom up this street. Come on, now, only one more, captain, and then we’llreturn, I’m sure to win this match; it oO (Eo) AA) Ehboo CS Gom