Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Spenser eee Rn EE TO a CT TE IE EE CTO ATE AE OT LRT a CO AT a AE I A gn ca athe oo nA LR cana CIEE y G rr TONLE TA, yer CANOE —_ CORR TE the street; besides, it would be unsafe to do so, for hark! I can quite plainly hear people in pursuit! ”’ The sounds filled the poor girl with terror, and already looking up to Jack as being able to defend her from all harm, she clung tightly to him for protection. *“Save me—oh! save me!” she said. ‘“ What will become of us; I am terrified to death.” ‘< There is no occasion to be alarmed,” said Jack, coolly. Just you do as I want you, and then we shall be nght enough. Will you trust to me P” “ Yes, yes—oh! yes. You have saved me once.” CLULSMAN: A ROMANCE. a TS PS ET OT I OS EO ESA “JT have, and will a thousand times, if it be necessary. | But come, this is the way.” Again taking the hand of the shroudmaker in his, Jack ran with her dewn Drury-lane as far as the “ Black ion.’ He paused for a moment on the threshold of the inn, and looked behind him. His pursuers were neither in sight nor hearing. ** Hurrah !” he said, ‘‘we have done them. I told you we should, my dear. They have evidently either turned up the wrong part of Drury-lane, or else down Long-acre. Come in here along with me. You will be welcome, and what is more, quite safe.” “JT will trust myself into your hands,” said the girl, solemnly, “‘ and God forgive me if I act wrong.” *€ Aud,” said Jack, “‘ may God forget me if I do not shield you from all harm !”’ CHAPTER XVII. : APPEARS TO POINT TO THE FACT THAT BLUESKIN YS NOT EXACTLY WHAT HE SEEMS—A MYSTERY. Uproarious shouts and other signs of boisterous merri- ment issued as usual from the old public-house, and when a louder chorus of baechantie laughter rose, the girl Jack had taken under his guardianship again clung half-territied to his arm. She was, in fact, in a gh state of nervous excitation, which such events and startlmg incidents as had happened to her within the last half-hour could searcely fail to pro- duce in a delicate and sensitive organization. But, again assuring her that she was in a place of perfect safety, and had nothing whatever to fear, Jack drew her along the passage, and into the bar. ‘Johnson! Johnson!”’ he eried, in a loud voice, upon tnding the plaee was empty, “‘ Johnson, my boy! This way, l want you.” With wonder very visibly portrayed upon lis counte- nance, the landlord appeared in answer to the sunimons. The girl had sunk half-fainting on a seat. ‘‘ Fetch the missus,” cried Sheppard, “and ask her to look after this poor thing. I ask it of yon in the name of Joseph Blake!” “What's that you are asking in my name?”’ said a voice at this juncture, and which Jack immediately recog- nised as that of Blueskin. ‘* What is it, eh?” As he asked this question, Joe Blake, who had heard Jack utter his name while he stood in the passage, pushed open the half-door that led into the bar, and eutered. He gave vent to a whistle as soon as he saw the girl. ** Ifullo, Jack. ‘This won’t do, you knaw. Up to your tricks already. Well, L shouldn’t have thought it. Who is she P What does she want ?” But Jack replied in a serious voice— “Don’t ask me any questions just now, but render me the favour I desire. It is simply that Johnson’s wife should attend to this poor young thing, who is half faint- ing with fnght. I will tell you all that 1as happened as soon as [ get a ehance.” “Obl allright. Were is Mrs. Johnson herself, and she will see to her, I know. Won't you, now ?” “To be sure I will, seeing it’s a friend or yours, Mr. Blake. Here, my dear,’ she added, addressing the sir, *‘youse yourself; you will scon be be!ter.” "Treat her with the createst care, Sirs. Johnson, ~ said Jack, “Jam going now. You wil lave your reward for succouriug her one day; for she is a real lady.” A smile appeared on the face of the landlady as Jack made this asserien, whicl: was by no ineans borne out by the girl’s attire. - It was tastetul and neat, but very, very poor. But Jack made las exit as soon as he liad spoken: and as Mrs. Johnson )ad a kind heart, she felt much affected | — Se as she iouxed upon the pale, suffering, and beautiful face, and at once set about recovering her. Blueskin had accompanied Jack.from the bar, and i pair made their way into the kitchen, when they sat own. The place was tolerably full of people. To all of them Blueskin appeared to be well known and a favourite, for a universal shout of welcome came from the lips of all present. But as soon as they could, both avoided the notice of the company. ** It wants half an hour of the time when I propose we shall start,” said Blueskin, looking up at the dingy face of a Dutch clock which hung opposite to the fire-place. * You are before your time.” “Tam, but I thought I might as well come on here, and better. But now tell me the meaning of your bring- aon girl here? What happened after you left me 33 In reply to this question Jack went into a very elabo- rate statement of how he had entered the public-bouse in Middle-row, Holborn, and what had ensued thereupon. To the whole of the extraordinary narrative did Blue- akin listen with the most wrapt attention. Not a word eseaped him, and he fairly puzzled Jack with the number of seemingly aimless questions which he asked him. On the whole, Jack was enabled to give pretty satisfac- tory replies. Most particularly did Blueskin ask if he—Jack—was sure there was nothing about the individual who bad been named as his lordship that would afford a clue to his identification. Jack replied in the negative, but produced the watch which he had taken. Blueskin was much surprised at its magnificence. “Why this is worth a little fortune,” he said; “ now I think we shall be able to find out what we want to know.” ‘How soP” said Jack, looking also at the watch; “I can see nothing on the seals.” “'That’s nothing to do with it.” * How, then, will you find out P” ‘“‘ By taking the watch in the morning to Jonathan. He will come down pretty handsomely for it, I dare say.” * But I don’t see how that will tell us. Surely Jona- than cannot tell the owner of every watch that 1s bronght | to him ?” “Well, not exaetly; but 1t will be done in this way. You may, I think, rest pretty well assured that his lord- ship won't be willing to lose his watch without making an effort to regain it, and the chances are that he will apply to Wild.” “I see now, of course.” “ Jonathan having the watch in his possession, will be able to treat for its restoration in his usual fashion ; and so you see when ‘his lordship’ comes to Little Newgate, we shall be able to learn who he 1s.” “So we shall.” ‘“T am determined to use every effort to find out who this girl actually is, and if possible restore her to her proper position. J have already something more than a suspicion of her name and title.” It was now Jack’s turn to be interested. “ The deuce you have! Tell me, tell me at onee!” No.” “No?” “Ask me for no reasons,” said Blueskin, rising, and apparently in some agitation. ‘“‘I cannot give them. Besides, 1t is time we started.” So saying, he left the kitchen, leaving Jack to follow his example, which the reader may rest assured he was by no means slow in doing. The sudden alteration in the behaviour of his friend was | mysterious 1n the extreme. ‘““There’s something more I have got to find out,” said Jack to himself, ‘and 171] do it, too!” “* Now, Jack,” he heard Blueskin, “are you eoming ?”’ *“in a munute,’ was the reply, and Sheppard ran hastily to the bar. IIe was in hopes of seeing either Mrs. Johnson or his protege there, but in this he was disappointed. Nor was there even the landlord himself of whom he eould make an inquiry. Fain would he before starting upon his expedition witB 7A I ee ees “gn es wT 2 a a Nn t =e = EROS CO as a RAR aS Cg LAP tl anc cn aeatipemindenany CO | | | | | ( e a CloOOO|KKS.€O CY, (SO) 5}