Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

! bea ASC ses nase ~ ASA eater Sf aN PET vided him with, had Jack gained a complete victory over two well-armed men, who were each, so far as all appear- ance went, more than ©. match for a striphng such as | Sheppard was. But the contest had disturbed the residents. Many windows were now thrown open, while scores of ; eager tongues inquired what was the matter. ut for the most part, seeing that it was only a street brawl, and such as often happened two or threo times in a night, they withdrew their heads and slammed the windows after them. A rattle was sprung, and the tramp of approaching footsteps sounded clearly on the night air. But, not heeding them, Jack turned towards the young girl whom he had so signally befriended. CHAPTER AVI. BLUESKIN AND JACK SHEPPARD COMMIT A BURGLARY AT “THE GRANGE.” “Fear nothing now!” he said, for te found she was trembling violently. ‘‘The danger has passed away. It was greater, perhaps, than you have any conception of. All is well now, but, so that you may be secured trom unother attack, I will accompany you to where you live. First, however, stay where you are a moment, so that 1 may see how far your assailants are injured.” The young girl, atter making a great effort, spoke. Her voice trembled very much, but that only had tle effect of imparting to its musical accents a new charm. ‘fam much obliged to you, sir,” she said, “much obliged. I had no idea I had an enemy iu the world. Surely I must have been mistaken for some one else.” “Not a bit of it,” said Jack. ‘But I will not give you any further trouble, sir, or trespass further on your kindness. Do not, I pray, let me trespass upon you auy longer. I feel that already I owe you an obligation which I can never repay.” “Oh, stuff about repaying ; but if you really do fecl grateful for what I have done, stand where you arc a moment, while I look at your two foes.” As he spoke, Jack hastened towards the individual whom he Luew only by the name of “ your lordship,” and the rascal Steggs. He rightly enough concluded that the young girl wow 4 hot resist the request he had made in such terms. She remained quite still. The springing of rattles increased. In the distance a lantern could be seen flashin;: throush the gloom. Jack stooped over his prostrate foes. They both lay as immovable as though hfe were quile extinct. “I will astonish Blue and Johnty,”’ muttered Jack. ** Blest if I don’t. It will only be right to see what his sordship has in his pockets, and I am determined to have that capital-looking watch of his.” With great dexterity Jack unbuttoned the huge waist- coat which “his lordship” had put on over bis ordinary apparcl. With equal featness he transferred the gold watch and its long thick chaiu aud seals to his own pockets. But with the exception of a purse containing a few sovereigns and some silver, that wasall in the shape of valuables which his lordship had about him. This disappointed Jack. He was in hopes and expectation of finding something about his person that would give a clue to his identity. But nothing of the kind could he find. His lordship had been crafty enongh to remove every- thing that might tend to show who he was. So Jack, to his chagrin, was compelled to go without knowing who the young girl’s uncle was. The dise*very of his name would he knew be all im- portant. But when he had thoroughly searched all his pockets, and was assured that what he suught was not to be found, Jack consoled himself with the reflection, that in a haem an account of the assault would be made pu C. ns for Steggs; he disdaiued to trouble any further with im. Sn 3 ewe eee.” oo" Te, ete e BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. “oS a TS iat ee Pg a ee anateees= — ~My, There was but little likelihood of his finding anything in his pockets worth the trouble of taking. Yie hastened, therefore, to the spot where he had left the young girl he had rescued. But at the same moment that he reached her side a watchman reached it also. He was flourishing his lanter .and rattle in a maniacal | fashion. — a py EF a I aE ee — PE tp Ee - He had come from the dire tion of Queen-street. Other watchmen were hu.cying to the scene from Hol. born way. With great rapidity. Jack reasoned in this wise. It he chose to go down Queen-street there would be no oue to oppose him, provided the watchman \ho had just come from there was put out of the way. It was, too, just the route he wished to take. To the great astonishment of the watchman Jack | dodged behind the girl, and hit him a tremendous blow on the ear. So effective was it, that, without uttering a sound, the watchman measured his full length upon the stones. ; som will complicate matters, I rather think,” said ack. Then, taking the young girl by the hand, he added, hurriedly— “Now, my dear, if ever you ran before, run now, for your hfe depends upon your getting away from here at once! Come along!” So saylug he set off at great speed. The young girl, however, who to the full comprehended what he had said to her, kept up with him admirably. Round the corner, aiong Queen-street, past Great Wild- street, and into Drury-lane, they sped like the wind. Just opposite the top ot Long-acre they paused for breath. They listened. But no sounds from pursuing footsteps came to their ears. “J think we have done them,” said Jack, triumphantly, for altogether he felt not a little proud of his nights work; ‘so now miss, if you will tell me where you hve I will see you safely indoors.” His companion tried to speak. But she could not. She burst into a passionate flood of tears. She sobbed, too, as though her heart would break. — - Jack was alarmed. Every one of those manifestations of distress went through bi) heart hke a sword. ‘* Comr., come, miss,” he said, ‘f don’t cry in that way. There’s uothing to be afraid of now, J can assure you. Cheer up, cheer up, do, and tell me where I am to take ou.” Making a violent effort, the young girl checked her tears, and spoke to him. “ Nowhere,” she said. That was all. Then she wept again, with even greater bitterness thaa before. ‘‘ Nowhere ?”’ repeated Jack, in tones of great surprise, “nowhere? How is that? I thought you lived in Charles-street.” The girl wept more and more. fa “Such is the case,” she said. ‘ At least I did live there——but,” she added, interrupting herself suddenly, “how came youto know where I lived? I never saw you in my life before.” “ t know that, but never mind just at present how I ained that information. Is it possible you live there no onger?”’ Alas! yes. My mother, who was the only relative I had in the world, is dead. She died the day before yes- terday, and was buried to-day. We—we owed the people money for—rent, you understand, and as—as I eouldn't ay it P He tears cond sobs would suffer her to say no more. ‘They turned you out into the street, eh ?” said Jack. “Just like people—just like er’ * —as served just the same—exactly.”’ “You were?” said the young git, feeling a fresh interest in her companion; “‘ how strange! “ Rather, but what were you going to do when you were stopped ??? cannot tell you, for { do not know, I had just s fet en ce Ge COMmiIcooo CC S > (SO)