Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1908-07-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER VII. AN OFFENSIVE ALLILIMIL  "And may God have mercy on your soul!" The juggler had looked round on that sea at faces for the last time, like some animal stricken and wounded that does not understand what has happened; then he was gone, and the sea of faces had broken up and melted away and poured out into the streets. Like a man from whom some great peril has been suddenly lifted away, Mick Shreeve came out into the streets also and looked about him.  Men were discussing the verdict—whispering of how the prisoner had looked, and of the certainty of his guilt. For a moment Mick Shreeve stood alone—halting, as it were, between that which was done and that which was to come. Then he felt hie arm touched, and looked round and saw again beside him the little old man Jugnet. This. Wall the beginning of what was to come. "What do you want?" he asked, mechanically. "I was wantin' to know about that there suit," said Mr Jtignet, in a whisper. "Seems so funny you should 'ave 'ad a suit like that—an' the other man that did the murder—"  "Be quiet!" 'Click Shre,eve looked round quickly at the crowd that was melting away. He had an insane desire to turn suddenly and run away. Yet the thing must be faced. A.bove all, he must know how this man had found him—must satisfy the greed he saw in the sharp bright eyes. He spoke in a low tone, without looking at Jugnet. "You can follow me—at a little distance—if you have anything to say to me," he said. He walked away out of the town; glancing back over his shoulder he saw the old man coming on after him, like. some evil bird of prey, hopping along with is head thrust forward and his hands thrust into the pockets of the long shabby coat he wore. In that order they came to a species of garden i which were the ruins of an ancient monastery, climbed a rough flight of steles, and stood together in what had been apparently the chapel of the place. Mick Shreeve seated himself on a great rough block of stone, and looked sA Jugnet. "Well--what have you to say to met" asked Sh reeve.  " Jugnet's my name—honest Mr Jugnet is the name I'm known by," said the old man. "People say 'ard things about me, but they've never been able to prove 'em. I've worked 'ard, an' I've worked cheap, an' the little profits I've made 'ave only bin about enough to keep body an' soul to gather." "We'll take all that for granted," said Shreeva. "Come to business. What do you want with nier "Nothing--absolutely nothing," said Mr Jugnet, with an air of great innocence, as be spread out his hands and looked about him. "I'm on & little 'oliday, I am—lookin.' up old customers. In other words, Mr Shreeve (excuse me usin' of your name, but I've 'card it so many thnos to-day), in other words, Mr Shreeve, I've come down to know about that suit." _ . .  "And suppose I say that I know nothing about you or any suit—suppose I say that I've never seen you before to-day--what then " " W hy, then, Mr Shreeve," said theold man' with a cunning leer—" then I should want to know why you asked me to come out 'ere to talk to you— also I should want p'eaps to make a statement to that smart young mouthpiece who spoke for the defence to-day. Now you wouldn't want to give me that trouble—would your' Shreeve looked up at him for a moment or two in silence; the little dealer watching him, and seeing the curious look in his eyes, had an uneasy feeling for a moment that perhaps after all it had not been wise on his part to follow the man to such a lonely spot as this. " Well—l bought a suit from you—and I paid you a good price for it," said Shreeve at last. "Ili admit so much, to save your time and mine. What then?" "Very good—very good indeed," said Mr Jugnet, rubbing his ands and smiling." That clears theair wonderful. Now I can tell you in two minutes, Mr Shreeve, exactly where I come in—and eTaetly where you come in." He seated himself on anot.ban  - ..ri..;,...r.....,,.. . .. ›,_--?.....„, yv... . Po 2% g. -sc-rA,',Vty5V,-- YAV QvikYAV = nv,---)0, v r 6r, : AYAt-4V % • .m... . ..../ . % _% 7. ..• . • .....,,.:_,, .. _ . .....! %. e• ../... .% _ . _ _:- , , -..-..