Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-25
CHAPTER XII
Billy,a Warn

VII. pfay 5 pfeulcllOn as TO the boy s
return proved wrong: he did not put
in an appearance until s O'clock next
morning, while 1 was dressing after a
sound nights rest in luxurious cabin
The captain, principal officers ana
most OF the crew were away on leave
and, under these circumstances. the
chief steward can do pretty well as he
pleases. Certainly, l had nothing to
complain of as Il guest of the ship;
such breakfast as was set before me
/ have seldom sat down to anywhere.
The cooks boy. a foXy-looking lad of
d fifteen, was then brought In for exam
1nation. He glanced at me suspicious
ly at first, but fair imitation of an
encouraging smile and the suggestive
jingling of some loose change in my
pocket seemed to reassure him
Now, then. Billy said the steward,
impressively, you may talk before this
gentleman just as freely as though you
and l We're alone-you understand?
Just tell u.s. as shortly and plainly as
you can, What happened since yester-
day afternoon until you reported your:
self this morning. Sit or stand. as YOU
please"
Thus abjured. Billy. who elected to
stand. squared away to his recital
manfully. At first he fixed his eyes
steadily upon the skylight, and spoke
as though anxious to make an end of
the job. but gradually warming to
his work., he became more confidential
and explanatory. l took down portions
of his narrative in shorthand. and
these am therefore enabled to give in
his own words.
Il knOwed when l saw Jim Blogg
dressed in his Sunday togs as how he
wouldn't wait for no dinner aboard.
and l just Sneaked a sausage and a
lump Of soft tack out of the galley and
watched i'm. Sure enough. he and
Spratt slipped ashore, just before two
bells, and after 'em. guessed they'd
begin by booze, and so they did. at
the first pub they struck. Then they
went on to another pub called the
White Bear, where l 'spects they had
a feed. COS they was such bloomin'
long time inside. From behind dray,
t'other side of the road. l saw 'em
shake hands and separate. Spratt. he
turned back towards the docks. while
Jim Blogg. after walllin a bit ahead,
hailed a tramway and clambered up
outside to smoke his pipe. So 1 just
popped inside and kept my eye on the
steps. Course 1 didn't know how fur
/ was a-goin'. so l CHANGED pen'orth,
same as others was a-doin'. I had to
part with another ha'penny. though,
iafore I saw jim gettin' down the COM
panion-way.
where did he get out?' l inquired
"Just in front of a big pub. painted
w hitean' called the Sheet Anchor.
where he went in for another booze, 1
s'pose. Then he turned into a narrow.
dirty street called Rodney avenue. and
cracked on so that l had to trot to
keep i'm in sight. He gets over the
ground uncommon smart for heavy
man, does jim! Presently I sees i'm
turnin' into gate, and, when l comes
to the spot, find it leads to a queer
lookin' old house. bit back from the
street and with a pathway up to it.
The door was just a-closin' on Jim as
got up.
81 dursn't venture inside the gate by
daylight. for fear Jim'd see me, an so
I Just hung around for more nor three
mortal hours, until twas dark. A cove
with 'ot chestnuts come along, and 1
'ad 'alf a pint off a milkman, so I
wasn't bad off for vittles. at least.
What worried me was. low l was to
get inside that house unknowst to Jim
Blogg. I thought of all the yarns I'd
read of Jack Sheppard, an Charlie
Peace, an other smart craclsmnn: but
the game warn't the same. They all
WAYS went to q job purWided with
tools and ladders and all they wanted
I had nothing to help me but my finger
III al TIVE ~
fair nohow, an l could only see one
ghost of a show.
s.There was a wide, double wooden
gate, with a wicket let into it. at one
Side of the house beading, as I sup
posed, to the stables.) Well, just in
Side the gate, and about twelve feet
from the ground. was window; and
it struck Inc that if that window
should chance to be unfastened. need
only find some way of reach it to do
the trick. So bought box of wax
matches, in case I should want 'em,
and as soon as twas dark enough to
prevent a passing copper seeing what
was UP to, made for the wicket.
1t was only on the latch. and so goes
in. Just as expected, there was some
stablin' bit further on, and, cropping
about, I presently comes across a lad
der such as I've seen 'em use for hay
lofts. That was right into my hands,
in course. I precious soon had it shift
ed to the window, and up goes. At
first thought I was sold, cos. though
1 dragged at the top sash fur all l was
worth. / couldn't bulge it an inch.
Then l tried the bottom sash. an al
most 'ollered out with joy when
found it rose a bit under the blade of
my knife. Bit by bit l prised it UP,
until / could get my fingers under
meath; and then, with a steady shove,
UP she went!
4 cyan bet I listened pretty carefully
afore 1 ventured inside; but not the
faintest sound could hear, and so, af-
ter a BIT, in / went. 1t was too dark
TO make out anything: but of course.
The odds were was in a bedroom. and
/ had to risk striking a light to find
the door. So / lit match on my
pants ct don't make no noise that way
and took look around. Lucky for me
lI did! The window faced on landing,
md 4 was standing within yard of a
ateep staircase: * sat down upon the
~ a +<,<,iy I, ~