Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

THE PREPARED PITFALL 250 ) “ A truce to this nonsense,” interrupted Madge, with a severe look. ‘‘ I have said what I wanted, and the reward is lodged in Solomon’s hands. Those who like to undertake the search, can do it; those who don’t can leave it alone. But it may be that if the information is given to me at the time specified, I shall increase the amount of recompense according to my means.” “Unless she loses every skurrick she’s got at the vimen’s eaming-table on Saffron Hill,’’ whispered one of the guests to another. “Well, I’m off at once,’”’ said Tony Wilkins. “ Fifty pounds! my eye, it isn’t to be got every dav! ”’ “One word more,’ exclaimed Madge Somers. ‘‘ From seven to eight o’clock on the evening of the twenty-first of August, I shall be here to receive the information required, if any one is enabled to furnish it. But I expect positive proof of the accuracy of this information. In short, Sol Patch will not part with the reward until the intelligence that may be brought is shown to be correct.’’ Having thus spoken, Madge Somers turned abruptly around and issued from the room. Passing into the bar- parlour, she desired Mrs. Patch to give her some refreshments in the shape of eatables; and the order being obeyed, the woman commenced an attack upon the cold meat and other things placed before her, which showed that she must have been fasting some hours. Meanwhile Solomon Patch, having secured the fifty pounds in his strong box, experi- enced no small degree of curiosity to learn wherefore Madge was so anxious to find out this Thompson of whom she had spoken. Bidding his wife attend to the bar, he passed into the room behind, with two glasses of hot spirits and water, and placing them upon the table, seated himself opposite to Madge Somers. ‘“Come,’”’ said he, ‘ you won’t refuse to drink, for old ac- quaintance’ sake. Here’s a health to you, and wishing that the business you’ve been a-speaking of may turn out all right.” “I hope it will,’’ she remarked, abruptly. ‘‘ What news in Agar Town? Anything fresh? ”’ “ Nothing partikler,’’ responded Solomon. ‘“ But about this little business of yourn, Madge, can I be of any assist- ance? Of course you must know summut more about the man Thompson than you’ve chose to say.” eS (FO) Gomicdoo