The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. eee ees 127 is for a large sum, you know... But are you fly to a thing or two ? Well, then, listen to me.” Mr. Alick; half laughing and half hiccuping, ex- plained the little game again, “Old Gingles knows I can beat him now—Lord bless you, I haye improved wonderfully of late—but the ‘gentlemen’ won’t believe it, and will back Gingles to any amount. I shall beat him by long odds! I heard him confess it himself; he told me so to-night on the sly, and wouldn’t play the game at all, only some gentlemen agreed to stand most, of the money for him, Pretty dodge, ain’t it? Well, Vll play the match, if I haye to pawn the rags off my back. This night’s work will supply me with small change, my boy, and then I shall say good- bye to the card table, quit London, begin to lead a new life, and be ‘a good boy’ for the future,” “ Half the world is made up of knaves, Alick, my boy; the other half are fools,” said the captain , hiccuping, and with a great air of wisdom. When Alick returned to the card-room he looked as calm and sober as a judge. Old Gingles, however, appeared neryous, and un- willing to play. But the gentlemen present insisted on his doing so; but when Alick demanded that he should play without spectacles the old man got into a terrible rage, and refused to do so. However, after a stormy discussion, in which it was insinuated that old Gingles had some dishonest motive in wearing them, he threw them upon the floor and smashed the spectacles all to pieces. The game commenced, and heavy wagers were laid on Alick’s winning it. Old Gingles, however, so turned the odds against Alick that many began to murmur at the extra- ordinary change in the play. “Now’s your time,” said Alick to the noble cap- tain, “ the odds are two to one against me ; ; take all you can get at that price. Iam sure to win.” The noble captain having received “the tip ” from his friend Alick, took all the odds laid against him, until his £2,000 was exhausted. The game progressed, and was very, nay, intensely exciting. Now old Gingles was a point or two in advance, but ina few moments Alick was level again, and great applause was the consequence. The two players now stood game and game. The third game or the rubber was to decide it. It began, and was quickly played, but by the merest chance of bad luck Alick lost it by a pingle point. “ Lost it !” gasped panier Jack. “Yes,” said Alick ; ‘by the merest chancein the world.” The friends of old Gingles were in ecstacies, and carried him out of the room in triumph, but not before the old man had well-nigh filled his large pockets with his winnings. Captain Jack was like a madman, He raved and cursed and swore in the most fright- ful manner. He called every one the hardest and the worst names he could think of, and wanted to fight any- body or everybody. Alick was just as noisy. He swore that he had been cheated, swindled, robbed, and whatever else his imagination could conjure up. So noisy and turbulent was he, and “the noble captain,’ thatthe gentlemen at last bundled them both out into the street. There they stood out in the cold with drawn swords, and using the most/dreadful language. “Never mind,” said Alick, Gingles yet.” “What do you mean ?” “{ know where he lives.” “Well ?” “Let us hasten to his house, and, as he returns home, let us set upon him, and. fleece him of every- thing.” “Not a bad idea. I can quickly wake up a dozen lads who will do the trick in no time, “Never mind calling in assistance, surely two strapping fellows like us can easily ‘ settle ’ the old man, and the money will be our own.’ cc Agreed, ” said Captain Jack. “I’ve got a black BH in my pocket.” “So have I.” “Then when we assail him let us wear them, and speak not a word.” This plan was agreed to, and the two intended robbers set out on their journey. They had a mile or two to go, but by quick walking they soon arrived at the residence of old Gingles. A it don’t look like a gentleman’s house,” said Captain Jack. ‘“‘Why,it stands by the river side, like a huge warehouse for goods.” “So it does,” said Alick, “and I’ve often heard it whispered that he is engaged in secret with smug- glers, robbers, and the like, or why is he so wealthy ?” “T think as you do from the looks of the place,” said Captain Jack. ‘“ But I wonder if he has re- turned yet.” «What time is it ?” “Why, four o’clock,” said Captain Jack, who thought for an instant of his engagement with the prisoner, Phillip Redgill. “Then he must have returned.”’ “ Hang the luck! Who is that, though, whose shadow just now passed across the blinds ? There it is again.’ ‘“Why, that is the old ‘rascal, for a hundred pounds !” said Alick, in a tone of great disappoint- ment. ‘ What shall we do ?” “Do? Why, we'll knock, and ‘demand. admit- tance in the name of the Grown, and search his premises for stolen goods.” «An excellent idea,’ said Alick, rubbing his _hands, “‘ and as he lives alone, why, we can rob him of every farthing he’s got in cash |” “So we will; but are you sure that he lives alone ?” “Tam ; there is but one e old servant i in the whole place, and he is over sixty years of age.” Firmly bent on revenge for what he had lost, and caring not a jot for Phillip Redgill’s escape, Captain Jack knocked at the door. “House, ho! house! Open to officers of the crown !” said Captain Jack, in a very brave tone. In a moment the window was raised, and old Gingles appeared atit in his night-cap and dressing- own. ae Who calls so lustily at such an unseemly hour?” asked the old man, “T do,’ said Captain Jack, in the door ! Ee “ Call to-morrow,’ «“ Open, I say !” “ Come some other time, madcaps.” “‘ Open, or I’ll break it open !” “Go to the devil!” said the old man, and he slammed down the window again with great violence. Alick could not but laugh secretly as Captain Jack walked up and down, cursing and swearing. “we will best old “Open, or I'll break ce Be RE ce Se 2 _. e DE ee Te LE Ec ee Cree MICLOOO (Cc ©) S Corn