Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

—_—— “i a ‘ caper COS Fe 78 you will think no more of this.” The temptation was strong. He loved, he was loved in return; but, nevertheless, even that could not blind him to the fact that a union between them could not fail to be productive of disastrous and unhappy consequences to her. But he had not strength to trample out his love, or to withstand her pleadings. He did not yield, but made a compromise. position you ought to oecupy. In the meantime, we will be friends only. If afterwards, when you have become fully aceustomed to your change of station, you find your feelings have undergone no change” “They will undergo no change, Jack. J am sure they will not. Do not shake your head. Nothing wil! make me alter. All I ask is that you will quit your dreadful mode of life, that you will leave Jonathan Wild.” ‘‘T can readily promise that,” said Jack. “J have, because I would not take part with him against you, made him my enemy. He confined me in a dungeon, but you see I have escaped.” «And you have done this for me, Jae .’ she said, and she clasped her arms about him. “ Everything | hear makes me love you more.”’ Could Jack resist? He held out his arms, and pressed her to his bosom with a fervid embrace, and kissed the beautiful face so near his own. But his bliss was doomed to be abruptly ended, for there was a sound of hasty footsteps in the passage, the door was flung open, and several men in the garb of poliee- officers rushed in. =D ¢ CHAPTER LITI. BLUESKIN APPEARS MOST OPPORTUNELY UPON THE SCENE OF ACTION, EpcwortH Bess uttered a scream of terror. Jack sprang to his feet, and plunging his hand into his pocket drew forth a pistol. ‘There they are! there they are!’’ cried one of the men, who Jack saw was a member of Jonathan's gang. “There they are’ Capture them!” safe. said, in tones that left behind no doubt as to his sincerity— through his skull. You may capture me, but if you do it will not be until one at least of you bite the dust. Which prisoner ? ”’ “Come, come, Sheppard,” You can’t eseape, so you may as well save all disturbance. We have orders to take you and the young woman alive, and we mean to do it.” “Come on, then, and try,” said Jack. “I will fight to the last.” ‘¢ Forward, then,” eried the officer. his crowing.” “Hold!” eried a voice at this moment, in such stento- riga tones that every one fairly jumped again. “* Hold, I jay. What is the meaning of all this ?”’ We'll soon stop saved!” The voice came from the passage, aud now a tall figure, with a drawn hanger in his hand, strode into the centre of the room, taking up a position between Jack Sheppard and Edgworth Bess and their assailants. It was Blueskin. His arrival was most opportune. ‘What is the meaning of this?” he eried. “Do vou know who you are attacking? This is one of Mr. Wild's new hands.” ‘J don’t care what he is,’”’ said Levee, for he the officer who had spoken was. ‘1 don’t care who he 1s, nor who she is either, but my orders from Mr. Wild himself were to take them both prisorers, unhurt if possible, and con- vey them to his house.” ‘Impossible. There is some mistake. 1» e * But eve Begoné at Oe NN ° oC = Ss Ere “Tet it stay,” he said, “until you are placed in the | Jack Sheppard eocked his pistol, and presenting it, he “The first one that comes forward has this bullet | is the one willing to die in order that I may be taken | said the officer who had_ before spoken. ‘Give in quietly like a sensible fellow. | | “ Saved!’ whispered Jack tohis companion. ‘‘ Saved! shall know it is untrue. Come, Jack, promise me that | | } | | Of course he was immediately recognised by all present. | | Lion,’ where he of events. BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. “Do you hesitate ?” roared Blake, threateningly ; ‘‘do | you hesitate? If you do, it will bethe worse for you. You are under my orders, recollect; I tell you to be one. ‘ But I have special orders from ’’—— ‘Are not your orders to obey me in the absence of Jonathan Wild? Answer methat. Are not those your instructious ? ”’ Yes, but?— ‘Then go at once, or it will be the worse for you. I tell you there is some mistake; but whether there is or not I will be responsible for the whole transaction. You can go back to Newgate-street and say so.” “ My. Blake,” said Levee, who dared not set Blueskin’s authority at defiance, since the standing orders were that in the absence of Wild he should be implicitly obeyed, *© you don’t ”?—— **T say will you obey or not? all the responsibility. surely.” Levee could not say anything further against this, so he, with manifest reluetanee, took his departure. He went right out into the street, followed by his men, and then he stopped to think. ‘© What am I to do, I should like to know ?_ I dare not go back, even though Blake does order me. Let me see; he has been away; this young Sheppard is a pal of bis— he knows nothing about the row there’s been. Of course, that’s it; now I shall know how to act. Guiles!” One of the men stepped forward. ‘You have seen what has taken place ?”’ 6¢ Yes.” “ Run, then, at once to Newgate-street, and inform Mr. Wild. Tell him I eould not refuse obedience, and that I am here on the wateh. They won’t escape. I dare say T tell you I will take That ought to be enough, he will eome back with you.” Giles started off at full speed, and then Levee very cunningly disposed his men close at hand, and took up a position himself just opposite the door of the ‘ Black etermined to wait and wateh the course Having so far explained matters, we will leave him, and return to the kitehen where our friends were. Bess clung to Jack. She was terrified, but yet she felt | * 1 know all,” said Blueskin, ‘‘so you need not waste time telling me. I will explain my absence when there is an opportunity.” You arrived just in time.” ‘Fear nothing, we shall escape * But Wild?” “JT quite agree with all you have done! Let that suffice! We have parted!” ‘© You aud Jonathan?” €¢ Yes | 33 ** Hurrah ! **Not yet! 1? You have told him so?” He will soon find it out i my actions. 'But we have vo time to lose, if we wish to save our necks. Levee must have received very positive orders, and you may depend he is watching outside, while he has sent off to Wild.”’ “ How, then, shall we escape ?”’ “Trust tome. There is no time for explanations. Be content to place yourself entirely under my orders, and then all will be well.” “Tam willing! Cheer up, Bess! Do not fear!” “7 am not afraid,” she replied, elinging more tightly to his arm. “ That’s right.” * Johnson !’’ shouted Blueskin. “Here you are! What is it?” “ Go to the door, and see who there is about.” All right!” Johnson was only gone about a couple of minutes and then he returned. “T dcn’t see anyone ; but you may depend they are only hiding.” “That’s my impression. Now, I am going to try your friendship. I have quarrelled with Jonathan Wild.” ‘“ Blessed if I didn’t think as much.” “ He will be here shortly with an overwhelming force. We cannot go out, into the lane, but we must leave this place. IIow will you manage it P”’ “There is no back-way to the house.” “ But, do you mean to say you have no other means of leaving the house than by the front door?” “ Johnson!” oe © GO DOO AUUC SS} o(CO) >