Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

MEAGLES AND THE AMAZON 33 1 “Then you don’t know who the gentleman is? ” said the Beggarman. “There was not a paper, nor a card, nor any document whatever about his person to afford the shghtest clue to his name or abode,’ answered Tim Meagles; ‘‘ but his dress and appearance bespoke him to be a gentleman.”’ “ Well, the adwentur’ was a singular one,’’ observed the Big Beggarman, who, during the latter part of this conver- sation, had been revolving a certain scheme in his head; for this rescue and resuscitation of Ramsey seemed to menace the villain with serious peril. ‘‘ But won’t you take some little refreshment, sir, and you, my lady, after the fatigues you've both gone through this cold night? ”’ ‘“Nothing,, I thank you,’ answered Meagles. ‘‘ Come, Letitia, we will depart.” The Beggarman affected to open the door officiously, but, instantly turning back again toward the huntress and her companion, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Well, this is fortunate! There’s Joe Warren just come in, and he’s gone up by a private way to his own room.”’ ; ‘““We may as well see him, in that case,” said Meagles, pleased at the intelligence thus abruptly conveyed. ‘To be sure,” observed the Amazon. “ Perhaps he may suggest some scheme which may put us upon the track of Lightfoot’s daughter.’’ “No doubt of it, my lady,’ returned the Beggarman. “This way, if you please.”’ As he uttered these words, the rufhan took the candle in his hand, and conducted his visitors up the steep and narrow staircase which has been already described. Continuing the ascent until they reached the loft, the party proceeded in silence; but when the Beggarman removed the straw and raised the trap-door, Meagles exclaimed, “‘ What! have we only come up to this height for the purpose of going down again? 7? — ‘“ Our friend Joe Warren likes to have his private chamber made all safe and secure,’ answered the Big Beggarman, with a chuckling laugh; ‘“‘’cause why, there’s a reward offered for his apprehension, and the constables know he frequents this house at times. Indeed, if I couldn’t rely upon you, Mr. Meagles, and on her ladyship, I shouldn’t be ass enough to let you both into the secrets of my crib.’’ ) GOMmiicdooks (C©)