New-York tribune., 1907-03-03

proachfully. I'm desprit man, Ginger. and 1
must ave that money"
Afore pore Ginger could move he suddenly
clapped is hand over rs mouth and flung I'm on
the bed. Ginger like a child in is hands. al
though he struggled like a madman. and In five
minutes e laying there with towel tied round
his mouth and is and legs tied up with the
cord Off Of Sans chest
I'm very sorry, Ginger" ses BILL as e took
little over eight pounds out OF Ginger's pocket.
I'm pay you back one o. these days. II II
you'd got rope round your neck same as ave
you'd do the same I've done
He lifted up the bedclothes and put Ginger inside
and tucked I'm up Gingers face was red with
passion and rs eyes starting out OF his 'ead.
Eight and six Is fifteen ses Bill. and just then
he card somebody coming up the stairs. Ginger
card 1t. too. and Peter Russet came into the
. tried all q could attract is attention by
rolling is cad from side to side.
Why. as Ginger gone to bed7" ses Peter.
''Wot's up Ginger2''
He's all right" ses Bill; 'Just a BIT of 'ead-
ache"
Peter stood staring at the bed and then g pulled
the clothes of and pore Ginger all tied up.
and making awful eyes at I'm 70 undo him.
Il 'ad TO do It. Peter" ses Bill Il wanted some
moro money TO escape with. and . wouldn't lend II
to me- aventt got much as want now. You
just In in the nick of time. Another minute
and you'd ha' missed ma. Ow much ave you
| got?'
Peter Russet. turning pale but I've ad my pocket
picked; that's wot I came back for. 20 get some
from Ginger
Bill didn't say a word.
You see 'ow Il IS BILL" SEES Peter, edgtng back
toward the door; three men laid old OF me and
took every farthins I'd got"
We'll, can't rob you. them" ses Bill. catching
/ old OF I'm ''WhOever's money this Is" he ses'
pulling handful o. Peters pocket. lit can't be
yours Now. II you make another sound I'll knock
off eff Ia -Oil
Don't tie me up. BILL" Peter. struggling
IT can't trust you' Bill. dragging I'm over 20
| the washstand and taking up the other towel;
1 turn round
Peter was a much easier Job than Ginger Dick.
and arter Bill 'ad done I'm . put i'm IN alongside
o. Ginger and covered UP. arter first tying both
the gags round with some string 10 prevent 'em
slipping.
Mind. I've only borrowed e." he ses. standing
by the side O. the bed; but must say. mates.
'ad 'ad the misfortune wOt I've 'ad. I'd have sold
the clothes off my back 20 'ep you. And wouldn't
| ave waited 20 be asked, neither"
He stood there for a minute very sorrowful. and
| then o patted both their 'eads and went down
stairs. Ginger and Peter lay listening for a Bit
and then they turned their pore bound up faces to
each other and tried to talk with their eyes
Then Ginger began TO wriggle and try and twist
the cords on but . might as we'll ave tried 70
wriggle out of is skin. The worst OF It was they
couldn't make known their intentions 90 each other
and when Peter Russet leaned over I'm and tried
to work is gag of by rubbing it up agin is nose
Ginger pretty near went crazy with temper He
banged Peter with his cad and Peter banged back
and they kept it up till they'd both got splttin'
eadaches, and at last they up IN despair and
: lay in the darkness waiting for Sam.
| And all this time Sam sitting in the Red
Lion, waiting for them. He there quite patient
| till 12 o'clock and then walked slowly 'Ome.
dering wot 'ad happened and whether Bill had gone.
Ginger was the fust to ear is foot the stairs.
and as he came into the room. in the darkness.
him an Peter Russet started shaking their bed
In way that scared old Sam nearly 10 death. He
thought 1t was Bill carrying agin. anj e
out o that door and 'arf-way downstairs afore he
stopped to take breath. He stood there trembling
for about ten minutes. and then. nothing 'ap-
pened, he walked slowly upstairs agin on tiptoe
and soon they heard the door creax Peter
and Ginger made that bed do everything but speak
rs that you. Bill?" ses old Sam in a shaky
voice. and standing ready to dash downstairs agin
There was no answer except for the bed. and
Sam didn't know whether Bill was dying or
whether q 'ad got delirium trimmings. All e did
know was that q wasn't going 70 sleep in that
He shut the door gently and went down
stairs agin feeling I'm rs pocket for a match and
not finding one. e picked out the softest stair g
could find. and leaning his 'ead agin the bantsters
went TO sleep.
1t was about O'Clock when e woke up, and
broad daylight. He stiff and sore all over,
and. feeling braver in the light o stepped softly
upstairs ana opened the door Peter and Ginger
was waiting for i'm, and he peeped in q saw
two things sitting up In bed with their air stand
ing up all over like mOps and their faces tied UP
with bandages. He that startled q nearly
screamed, and then % stepped into the room and
stared at em as II he couldn't believe is eyes
'1s that you. Ginger?' he ses. ''Vvot dive mean
by making sights OF yourselves like that? Ave
you took leave of your senses2'
/ Ginger and Peter shook their 'eahs and roIIed
their eyes, and then Sam see wot was the matter
with 'em. Fust thing e did was TO pull out is
knife and cut Gingers gag off, and the fust thing
Ginger did was to call i'm every name e could Law
his tongue to.
You wait momenti'' he screams 'arf CRYING
with rage. you wait till get my ands loose and
TIL pull you to pieces. Tho idea o. leaving us like
in TIL pay you."
Sam didn't answer i'm. He cut OF Peter Russets
gag. and Peter Russet called i'm 'arf a score O.
names without taking breath
And when Ginger's finished I'll ave a 20 at
you." he ses. "Cut off these lines"
''At once, dye hear?' ses Ginger. 'Foh YOU wait
till get my 'ands on you"
Sam didn't answer 'em; he shut up is knife with
click. and then Q sat at the foot o. the bed on
Gingers feet and looked at 'en II wasn't the aust
time they'd been rude TO 'irn but as rule hed saa
to put up with IT, He sat and listened while Gin
ger swors 'imselr faint
''That'n do he ses. at last: another word and
shall put the bedclothes over your cad Arore
do anything more want 20 know wot it's an
about"
Peter told I'm. arter rurt calling i'm soma moro