Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

eee qn ae =e gy 266 eM = eee ews ‘You inust both, then, be prepared to rash out, and I will do the same. Do you understand?” ¢¢ uite,”’ ™ ee then.” * But which way are we to turn when we get Gutside?”’ “Thad forgotten. At the corner of Giltspur-street I have a horse and trap. Get in and drive off.” ** And you?” ** T shall be there as soon as you are.” With these words Blueshin, having first looked into tko ante-rvuum, glided across the lodge to the front door. Ile was unscen. With great swiftness, then, he seized the key, turned it round in the lock, and flung the door open. Jack Sheppard and Johnson made one bound, und then rolled down the steps into the street together. The noise they made at once attracted the attention of the turnkeys, who instantly guessed what had happened. But ere they could reach the door, Blueskin, with great presence of mind, had withdrawn the key, and closing the door, locked it on the outside. Iie heard a frantic how! of rage as they dashed them- selves against it. IIe did not wait, though, to see what they did. He was content in having succeeded in placing a barrier to immediate pursuit. He could just distinguish the forms of his two com- panions flying before him, and that was all, for it was quite dusk. But an immense commotion was taking p!ace within the prison. The huge bell, which was silent except when a fire took place, or a prisouer escaped, was tolled vigorously. The alarm was spreading, and would soon be all over London. Trampling feet could he heard along the streets. Bot, knowing that their lives depended upon it, the three friends made their way at full speed in the direction of which Blueskin had spoken. At the corner of Giltspur-street there, sure euough, was a horse and trap. A boy was in charge of it. With all speed they scrambled in. Jack first. Then Johnson. They had to wait a moment for their compauion, but he soou reached them, and got in at the back. Jobuson took the reins, and laid the whip with an un. sparing hand over the horse’s neck, which started forward at a breakneck pace. But several loud shouts from the rear let them know they puere both seen and pursued, while a loud cry was raised— he Stop thicf! stop thief!” which was taken up by every throat. But, paying no heed to tuese cries, Johnson kept urging the animal to increased speed, while above all other sounds could be heard the loud tolling of the Newgate bell. CHAPTER CLXVIII. JONATHAN WILD IS UNABLE TO ELUCIDATE THE MYSTERY OF MARY MILLINER’S DEATH. Tt is quite time now that we turned our attention to Edgeworth Bess. When Steggs had disposed of Mary Milliner in such a summary manner, aud created so much consternation among Wild’s men, he returned to her room, and locked himself in. Then, in a few words, he gave Edgworth Bess an ~ut- line of what had taken plaee. That Jonathan would, before long, pay a visit to wnat apartment, he did not for a moment doubt, and, therefore, lic set about removing everything calculated to excite sus- picion in the thiecf-taker’s breast. , As we know, when Mary Milliner attempted the life of the poor heiress, Steggs had seized her wrist, but he was not able to prevent the weapon from descending. He diverted it, however, and it had sunk deeply into the bed clothes, but without wounding Bess in the least. Then he had struggled with the ferocious female, and, fiuling he could achieve a victory by no other means, bestowed upon her the same fate as ehe had intended for her imaginary rival, SS SSS Sa SP ys SSS nS i SS SSS SS SSS SSS so 4 —— = ene. er em a ee v BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, He had next drawn her out of the room and flung her over the balusters. So quickly was the whole of thia performed, that the blood did not begin to flow from the wound to any great extent until she reached the bottom of the sevond flight of stairs. Consequently, there wag no trace to lead them to the chamber door, nor were there any stains within the chumber itself. This Stegys assured himself of, and arranged the clothes so that tho place where the knife had pierced them should not be noticed, unless upon a close examination. Then he calmed the fair and much-excited prisoner ag well as he was able, and gave her every assurance that he was her friend. And, indeed, his actions had proved it. Then he told her how necessary it was for him to con- ceal himself, and that, if he was found by the thief-taker, his life would be forfeited that moment; he also par- ticularly cantioned her not to say a word if she was questioned, or seem to know anything of what had taken place, except having heard a noise. Yo all this did Edgworth Bess give her consent, and promise to act accordingly. It was, then, just at this moment, that Jonathan Wild reached the door of the room. He thrust his key into the lock. Steggs crawled under the bed. The wards of the lock would not act just properly, probably in consequence of having been locked with a skeleton key. It might have been owiug also to Jonathan’s excite- meut, but, be it what it might, he had to make one or iswo efforts before he could get the bolt back. Then he fluug the door open and strode in. To all appearance, however, everything was well. Edgworth Bess half sat up in bed when he entered, aud then shrunk back again in undiguised terror and dis- ust. ‘ 7 It was no small satisfaction for Jonathan to see that his prisover was there, and all right. He breathed rather more freely. “What is it?” be growled. ‘What does it all mean ? Tell me at once.” What?” “What? The meaning of this noise!” “Why should you ask me? I have only just been awoke by it.” “Trae, lama fool. Thereisnothing here. Nothing.” ‘** Release me,’ said Edgworth Bess. ‘‘ Release me. I have learned that I am in your house, but how I came here is a mystery beyond my compreliension. Release me, I beseech you.” “Pah! Be silent. You lose labour. Do you think, after the trouble I have taken, and the risks 1 have run to get you here, that 1 should be fool enough to let you goagain? Oh! dear no.” Bess wept. **T shall keep you here until you are well, and until you are ofage. Then you shall be mine. Wholly mine. You and your possessious also.”’ “Not if I can help it,” muttered Steggs, beneath the bed, but not loud enough to be overheard. ** Never!” said Edgworth Bess, boldly. ‘‘ I donot fear you. Jack Sheppard will soon find where I am, and, not only that, a means of rescuing me.” ‘Ha! ha!” A horrible and cold-blooded laugh it was, which seemed to curdle the blood in the young girl’s veins. What could it mean? That was the question that instantly surged up in her mind, She dreaded some ill to Jack. But she concealed her terror. ‘Ha! ha!” said Jonathan, again. rescue you? Ha! ha!” ‘¢ Yes,” said Bess, keeping dcwn her agitation, and speaking with tolerable firmness. ‘‘ He has rescued me before, and he will do so again.” ‘“Ha!t hal” Bess was silent. She was unable to speak. That horrible laugh had some meaning, Aoubtiess aa hideous as itsclf. “Jack Sheppard GOnlGaoOokSreo