Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-02
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
RAISING THE wISD-THE auARREL-RETRIBUTro
THE CAPTIVE.

THE CAPTIVE.
= Gloomily sat old Mag, before the smoking
embers of dying fire looking steadfastly up
on the iag hearth Not a sound was heard
in that delapidated house, save the ticking of
i an old English clock, that was secured to the
wall by screws, the weights of which hung
down like the legs of some juvenile pencil
sketch.
Her face, though naturally stern, now bore
an unusual look of determination, and her
thin lips were as pale as ashes. The nerves
in her face every now and then twitehed with
: excitement and her long bony fingers were
) clutched in each other. She was evidently
laboring under mental excitement for her
grey eyes were nearly obscured by heavy
scowl that contracted her brow.
She started from her seat at the summons
from the front door, in the shape of suHdry
loud knocks. Stopping until these knocks
were repeated as if to be certain that some
one did desire admission, she opened the door
and in stalked Roger Wilson.
His weazle-eyes sparkled with delight az
he entered rubbing his hands together Seat
ing himself before the fire, he sat in silence,
as il enjoying pleasing reverie. Old Mag
appeared unusually restless but the rufian
sat some time in silence. At length, break
ing the silence Roger inquired
elias any thing extraordinary occurred
since left here ~
Nothing has happened OF much Importance
yet but am afraid there will be before long,
, replied the old woman in tone of earnest
ness unusual to her.
"what like I hope nothing has leaked
out about the pedar."
" Nothing Of that Kind has happened yet
but fear that something has occurred that
may lead to the discovery OF that piece OF
business
"Don't keep Inc in suspense, old woman,
for have had too good luck lately to be trih-
ed with out with it''
At the mention of good lick old Mag's
countenance frightened up and quite a change
came over her miserable features.
"Good luck, muttered she, p am glad to
hear that you have baen successful; for l
have done nothing since you left here. Ne;
not single dollar has old Mag made since
you went away How is it you have made a
raise l''
q Not by sitting before this meagre FIRE of
yours and sucking my fingers can assure
you nor by being psalm-snger- in
any of the Philadelphia Churches either.
But to business. Tell me what this danger
. is you apprehend so much before let loose
my budget of news g''
iTo cut long story short, " replied the
old woman, these rapscallions over at Mrs.
, Bachelors have got to doing their business so
publicly that the law harpies have got
slight hint of it and are about bringing her up
to the scratch"
&c Let them scratch away then, If that's all, y
interuptep Roger in rough tone
so say | but the ID of it is it may be
that some of the rest of us may get scratched
little too, before it is all over"
"How can they come at us for what has
been done at Mrs. Bachelor'sf'' Inquired Roger
stupidly.
every easily; if any one Of them turns
States evidence and informs on the whole
posse of MS our day will be come as well as
theirs"
al don't know about the rest of you, but
for my part, am as innocent as the new born
babe never did anything that care about"
" Lord preserve us 9'' Exclaimed old Mag.
" Whether the Lord will preserve such an
old fish as you or not, / would be fully salts
fed with having every action of my life-good
or bad--engraved upon my tombstone
g You are a very innocent youth consider
ing, You are anything else but about that
affair of Madam strickland's did you figure in
it or did you not II may be that that is the
foundation of this investigation"
g Perfectly innocent replied Roger leaning
back in his chair with an air of Importance,
but suppose some Of you, who will want
company, in the hour of adversely, will try
and bring me into it-merely for the sake of
being in good company"
at is quite likely that some of us evil dis
posed persons, rather than lsse good COM
panion, will try to honor the County prison
with such an innocent youth as You are. But
enough of this what kind of luck have you
had that makes you so saucyf''
"The very best kind of luck, and the beau
, ty of it is merly removed the deposits of a
friends pocket ont of pure sympathy"
ssGood - cried the old woman as her eyes
sparkled with delight when she heard the
good news.
Goodl yes and better too" continued
the ruf6an, al have done wonders and per-
formed miracles since left this dull place.
First took that old hawker's trappings TO