Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

302 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “Ah! is that you?” said Madge. ‘Yes. But where is Chiffin? ”’ ‘“‘ There! ’’ and she pointed down into the pit. “There ?’”’ echoed Solomon, and starting back, he gazed in bewilderment upon the woman. “Yes, there! ’’ she answered, coldly. “ Chiffin was caught in his own trap. It gave way as he was passing over it.”’ “Ah!” cried Solomon, not for an instant doubting the truth of this explanation, which indeed appeared so rational and so feasible. ‘“ He is done for,’’ said Madge, still bending over the abyss. “There is not a splash in the water, there is not a move- ment, there is not the slightest sound of a struggle. Nor was there from the very first.’’ “ Well,’’? mused Solomon Patch, in an audible tone, though not exactly intending to address his observations to Madge Somers, ‘“‘ I don’t know, arter all, that it’s such a very bad job. Chifiin was getting a regular devil; he had got us all under his thumb. We didn’t dare say as how our souls was our own, and as for peaching agin him, that was out of the question; ’cos why he knowed too much of us for us to tell what we knowed of him. So, arter all, perhaps it’s for the best. It’s a hill vind that blows no good to nobody.” “You are not altogether wrong, Sol,’ replied Madge Somers, well pleased in her heart to find that the old landlord took the occurrence in this philosophic hight. ‘“ But I say, we had better pull this trap up, and then it would be as well just to go and cover the mouth of the well with the big stones, for fear of an accident happening to anybody else.’’ “Yes, yes, have it all your own way, Madge,”’ ejaculated Solomon. ‘ But them two genelmen — ” ‘You have nothing to fear. I pitched them a beautiful tale that has made them quite comfortable. Hold your tongue about what has taken place, and don’t for the world let any of the pals know what has happened to Chiffin. In a few days, when they miss him, you can say that he’s wanted on account of that affair in the barge, and that he’s keeping himself scarce.” “All right, Madge,’’ rejoined Solomon, from whose mind an immense weight had been lifted by the assurance that the two visitors were not going to adopt any ulterior measures that might draw down the vengeance of the law Gomiechbooks