Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

ee a ae ee : eg wee Se __ a ee 2 es A I a << BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. ‘vhat le feared was that an attempt would be mnode upon his hfe at a moment when he was unguarded, and by a mcane whieh would never be expected. Now, Jonathan Wild had a vivid recolleetion of having once read how a very celebrated personage was onee put to death by his enemies, by having a easket presented to him. This easket, which was supposed to eontain jewels of ereat value, was placed in his hands seeurely locked. Not dreaming of any danger, the nobleman—for such he was—procecded to open it. No sooner, however, had he inserted the key and turped it round in the wards of the lock than, with a noise like thunder, the box exploded. He was seated in bis eabinet alore when this took place, but the attendants in his mansion heard the report, and hastened to the door of the rcom. This, in order that he might not be disturbed, the unfortunate nobleman bad seeurely fastened. It was broken open, however, and the servants entered. They found the apartment full of dense blue smoke. At first they could see nothing, but by degrees the gapour eleared away. Then was presented to their view a spectacle for which they were ill prepared. Extended upon the ground, with his head and the upper portion of his body fearfully shattered, was their master. He was quite dead. One glance at the vieeding, palpitating mass sufficed to show that it was impossible for life to eling to it. Of the box scarcely a vestige remained. The whole circumstanee continued to be a profound mystery for many years. At length it was cleared up. The supposititious casket of jewels was a device of his enemies in order to procure his destruction. & They succeeded. ~ The box was filled with explosive materials, and the interior was so arranged that the turning of the key pro- dueed the same cfieet as pulling the tricger of a fire-arm. To any one sneh oa remarkable story as this would be full of interest, and the extraordinary nature of the inet- dents would make a deep impression upon the mind of any one. But upon the mind of Jonathan Wild they fell with more than usual force. From the very time that he had read this, be had had the most invincible dread of anything mysterious. Before that, the idea that his life would be attempted to be taken in some way ealculated to throw any one off their guard bad dimly haunted his imagination, but afterwards that idea had taken consistency in form. He knew bow many there were to whom he was a eon- tinual eurse, and be knew as well that many of thern were nuscrupulous enough to avail themselves of any means, however base, that presented a reasonable prospect of ridding them of him. Naturally enough, then, when he saw this box with the tempting inseription on th? lid, he, in a manner of speak- ing, jumped to the eomlusion that some mischief or danger to him lurked within it. So he was loath even to touch it, exeept with the top of his bludgeon, and that he did with very great trepidation. lt might be, of course, that the box eontained nothing misehievous, but that could unly be told by opening it. This Jonathan Wild firmly determined not to do. There were too many mysterious eircumstances about it. Not the least of them was the strange behaviorr and appearance of the strange being who had brought it to 1m, The mauner in which he stated it hed come inf his possession was eqnally strange. “ Jonathan, hewever, came to the conuasten, and very correctly, that Mir. Glucks was nucequaintod with ihe con- tents of the box. Had be known they were cf a dangerons charactor, he ssould never have run (he risk of bringing it ip perscn. Ilis astonishment and alurm, too, when Jovathan had sugeested that it might be dangerous to hold or open ait, were too genuine to be feigned. “Take it,’ Wild roarcd, as he pereeived his visitor re- treat, with the word gunpowder upon his lips. “ Take it, Tsay! Do you hear me? You had better!” a A a ss SS i SS SSS TS But Mr. Glucks was too much frightened. His nerves were of avery weak character indeed, and ech a seene as this was more than he cou!d go through, He sank down upon the ground in a swoon. Jonathan got off his stool. ‘ Anger and astonishment cortended fiercely in his .east. Pxt the former seemed to have the masteng. At least one would Lave thought so, had they seen him make his way to where Mr. Glucks, in a strange, doubled- up fashion, lay upon the office floor. Raising his ponderous foot, he dealt the unfortunate young man so terriblea kick, that it is greatly to be mar- velled at that if did not demolish his slender anatomy altogether. *“Now then,’ growled tho thief-taker, “get up, will your Don’t think to impose upon me. You are only shaniming, and yon know it. Get up.” He saluted him with another kick. But though poor Mr. Glueks moved slightly, he showed no symptoms of recovering from his swoon. “He aint shamming, then,” said Wild. ‘Curse him, and the box and all. What shall I do with both ?” He east a dubious and dissatisfied glance at the little box, which lay to all appearance harmlessly enough upon the slope of the desk. *“T mast think a bit,” said Wild, after a pause. But be did not return to bis desk. On the eontrary, he retired to that part of the room most distant from 1k. Then, leaning his back against the wall, he gave him- self up to reflections. It was really ludicrous to see the dough so terrified at such a harmless, common- thing. ant curiosity soon began to exercise its sway upon his Zwuind, ‘* 1’) know what’s in that box,” he said. ‘ I am deter. mined I will, Who knows? Perkaps it is nothing burt- ful, but of the greatest consequence to me. But | dou't think itis—I don’t think it is. It must bea seheme on the part of my enemies to put me to death; but, ha! ha! they will find Jonathan Wild a mateh for them.” Ile chuckled for some few moments in that odd gutteral fashion, as was usual with bim when he was pleased. “] must get rid of this fool,’ be muttered, as Lis eyes fell upon Mr. Glucks. ‘I must get rid of Lim, and then I will thiuk how Pll get the box open. Stop! A good idea. There’s Levee. Curse him! be luughed at me when he thought I was not by. I remember it. ‘That will bea good way to serve Lim out. Ila! ha! Mr. Levee, I will be even with you, at least.” The reader will doubtless remember the occasion to which Jonathan alluded, and when poor Levee by his ineaution had incurred the resentment of his imperious master. It looks now as though he was about to pay dearly fer his pleasantry. When Jonathan Wild the great made up his mind to do a thing he always set about it at onee. Going, then, to the door of the office, he opened it a little way, and projected his villainous-looking head into the passage. Quilt Arnold was still upon the lock, and, fortunately for him, he was attending to his duty. Quilt!” velled Wild; “ Quilt!” “ Yes, sir.” “Come here; I waut you.” Jonathan withdrew his head into the office agaiu. Quilt, of course, made all the speed he could across the passuees and into the room where his master awaited im. He was, of course, iu no small degree astonished when he i Mr. Gincks lying to all appearance dead upon the eround. ~ © Carry him ont,” said Jonathan. “Ts he dead, Mar. Wild 2?” * Dead! No, fool, lie tsn’t ; he’s only swooned, or some- thing of that sort. Carry him out and give him to the waich, and let them lock him up for being drunk and disorderly.” Experience had taught Quilt Arnold the policy of im- plicitly obeying his master, so he at once, without a word of either question or remonstrance, took hold of Mr. thief-taker ce looking a ae COMmiIcoooe Cc <SrGOlin