The Bowbells tribune., 1900-02-23
CHAPTER XX.
-Dlacknsnil.


Somewhat to my surprise, the news
vendor to whose accidental recognition
Of Tom Webb owed so much, did not
put in his usually punctual appearance,
but when I remembered the extra SOW
creign had given him. his absence did
not surprise mo much. Sam could eel
ebrate Il bit of luck" like most of his
tribe, and was probably not exactly in
form for paying visits.
Almost exactly at > o'clock Dirk Van
ston called ut my rooms, dressed in his
VERY best suit. and looking broader and
stronger than ever. He carried Il par
| eel. which proved to contain Il length
of strong rope. and from his hp-pockeb
He produced Il revolver.
There sir" he exclaimed. surveying
these possessions with great sat;sfas-
ton. Nov | feel ready for any sort of
scrinmage that may turn up. though
I'll rather have Il good rough-and-tum-
bic for choice"
! | took Il revolver. also. and we start
ed eastwarlS. pretty confident as to the
result should the expedition end in Il
| fight. BY previous arrangement the
| W:irOa steward. Mr.. Gray. had agreed
to keep Billy on boa"d that afternoon.
and when we reached the docks we
found thar lie had kept his promise
found that he had kept his promise. He
also told me that Blogg had resigned
| his place Oh board. although he there
l.y sacrificed Il months wages. and
that Spratt had obtained leave of alb
| 1, CT.
He don't quite trust Blogg." re-
about HE strength of it. and wants ro
have the least idea hes being shad.
though. all has been for some time
actly what you have to do; just what
! this gentleman TELLS you. and ask no
uEr>ti rs.
I'm fly. sir replied the boy. with
one Ct his foxy lcrrS. wed better get
ther" Il hit ahead Of them too hadn't
We: Without these gents wants ter
get III by the window" AEd Ii" looked
I;rbliully at Dirk'> vast width Of
shoulder. There was. obviously. sound
sense in this suggestion. and we acted
upon it forthwith. The steward saw
IT'S to the gates.
] :On account Mr. Gray" whispered.
slipping Il tcn-EouEd note into his hand.
II trust you'll have some good news
for your wife before morning."
"Thank you. sir. and goCtl-luck." he
answered. with grateful look. Keep
the boy we'll in hand. sir; he's bit
tricky"
Preceded by Billy. we walked on to
Rcdney Avenue. near which the boy
halted outside an ironmonger's.
ut 'srs just struck me. sir" he re-
! marked. "aS Ow an augur or Il good
sized gimlet would come in andy. You
see last tim" could ear most Of what
was said but couldn't see 'em. on nc
count Of the door,"
THE lads right" said Dirk. "Let
me get it,"
Gle soon emerged with the required
tool. wrapped up in brown DaDer.
| which he described as Il half-inch.'
Rily chuckled anu rubbed his hands.
Though whether with the prospect of
| perforatng doors Or spying upon Mr..
Bl0ge, he Gid not inform us. We had
decided TO leave the question Of our
! entrance, into the house to him, and il.
| took the lead with IL full sense of his
own Importance. He certainly posses
sed the elements OF successful strategy
in his cunning young brain-coolncss
and audacity.
Wed better not wait till it's quite
dark" he remarked. ''fOr fear the 9th
ers might get in afore we're ready fOl
EN-. it's duSEy enough already, !
| reckon. seem the Ousc is set back
good bit from the road. Well. I'll walk
| in. cnrryin' that gents parcel. as
| though ] was Il sloD-boy. and knock
at the all door. just to make sure there
ain't 10 one there yet If there is. an
| they answer the knock. WHY. | just
| ask if Mrs. Brown lives there. an
'coks it.. But. Of course. there won't
i be no one. an SO round | goes to the
back as bold as though lived there
| Then l slins up the ladder and in
through the window. same as af0rn
ah' opens the front door for YOU two
| gents. arter l whistles"
THAT boy'll die in gaol vet, if hr
don't get hanged" mutterod Dirt,
shaking his head. as Billy sauntere1
down the footmth. swinging his par
eel and whistling Tiara -boom-dc-ay''
in realistic errand-boy style.
1t was our special business to So,
that no policeman was watchn. his
mnvements; ar easy task. seeing tha'
there was not Il guardian of the law il
sight. In remarkably short SPACE Of
time we heard the whistle-signal, and
We're admitted into the house.
1t was quite dark in the hall. but
cur youthful guide had profted hy his
previous experience. and now produced
small bull's-eye lantern in great trl-
umph. He lit it. tested the slide to spc
that it worked smoothly, and led the
way down stairs into the kitchen. Ii
was large one. and fairly well fur
nished with cooking utensils but show
ing no signs of recent use. 1t had two
doors beside the one we entered by.
and both were locked. though the KEYS
had not been removed. One opened in.
to scullery. The other gave entrance
into a small room containing various
odds end ends, brushes, boxes of soap,