The Bowbells tribune., 1900-01-26
CHAPTER XII
Billy's Yarn.

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return proved wrong: he did not put
In an appearance until O'clock next
morning, while 1 was dressing after 4
sound nights rest in a luxurious cabin.
The captain, principal officers ana
most of the crew We're away on leave,
and, under these circumstances. the
chief steward can do pretty well as he
pfeases. Certainly. had nothing to
complain of as guest of the ship;
such breakfast as was set before me
have seldom sat down to anywhere.
The cooks boy, a foxy-loolling lad of
fifteen, was then brought in for exam
'fnation. He glanced at me suspicious
ly at first, but a 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 yo!l
and were alOne-yOu understand?
Just tell us, 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 sllylight, and spoke
as though anxious to make an end OF
the job but gradually warming to
his work., he became more confidential
and explanatory. 1 took down portions
of his narrative in shorthand, and
these I 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 Just sneaked a sausage and
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. l guessed they'd
begin by a booze, and so they did, at
the first pub they struck. Then they
went on to another pub called the
White Bear, where 'spects they had
a feed, COS they was such bloomin'
long time inside. From behind dray.
t'other side of the road. / saw 'em
shake hands and sep'rate. Spratt. he
turned back towards the docks, while
Jim Blogg. after walkin' a bit ahead,
hailed a tramway and clambered up
outside to smoke his pipe. SO just
popped inside and kept my eye on the
steps. Course didn't know how fur
I was a-goin', so CHANGED a pen'orth,
same as others was a-doin'. l had to
part with another ha'penny, though,
afore saw jim gettin' down the COM
Hanion-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.
s'pose. Then he turned into a narrow,
dirty street called Rodney avenue, and
cracked on so that I 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, I find it leads to queer
lookin' old house. a bit back from the
street ard with a pathway up to 1t.
The door was just a-clOsin' on Jim as L
got up.
ST dursn't venture inside the gate by
daylight, for fear Jim'd see me, an so
I lust hung around for more nor three
mortal hours, until twas dark. A cove
with 'ot chestnuts come along, and l
'ad 'alf a pint off a milkman, so
wasn't bad off for vittles, at least.
What worried me was, 'ow was to
get inside that house unknowst to Jim
Blogg. I thought of all the yarns Ia
read Of Jack Sheppard. an Charlie
Peace, an other smart cracksmen: but
the game warn't. the same. They al
ways went to job purwided with
tools and ladders and all they wanted.
I had nothing to help me but my finger
nails ard an old jackknife. 'Twasn't
fair, nohow, an could only see one
ghost of show.
ssThere was a wide, double wooden
gate, with q wicket let into it, at one
side of the house (leading, as 1 sup
posed, to the stables.) Well, just in
side the gate, and about twelve feet
from the ground, was window; ana
It struck me that if that WINDOW
should chance to be unfastened, need
only find some way of reach it to 10
the trick. So I bought box of wax
matches, in case 1 should want 'em,
and as soon as twas dark enough TO
prevent a passing copper seeing What
I was up to-, made for the wicket.
It was only on the latch. and SO goes
in. Just as expected. there was some
-stablin' bit further on. and. cropping
about, presently comes across lad-
der such as I've seen 'em use for nay
lofts. That was right into my hands.
In course. precious soon had 1t shllt-
ed to the window, and up l goes. At
first thought 1 was sold. cos, though
dragged at the top sash fur all 1 was
worth, 1 couldn't bulge it an inch.
Then 1 tried the bottom sash. an al
most 'ollered out with joy when !
found it rose bit under the blade of
my knife. Bit by bit I prised it up,
until could get my fingers under
neath.; and then, with steady shove,
up she went!
"Yau bet listened pretty carefully
afore 1 ventured inside; but not the
faintest sound could hear, and SO. af-
) ter a bit, in 1 went. 1t was too dark
to make out anything; but of course:
lthe odds were was in bedroom. and
I had to risk striking light to find
the door. So I lit match on my
pants Gt don't make no noise that way)
and took look around. Lucky for NE
I did! The window faced on landing,
nud xyoe etandinp within a ward of a