TIE & TRICK,

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2388, 29 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

TIE & TRICK,

JJtfvdist*

BY HAWLEY SMART, Author of “Breezie Lancto.v,” “Broken Bonus,” “.Social .Sinneks,” “ The Cheat Tontine,” “At Fault,” &c., &c.

CHATTER XXVI. ENGLISH BRIGANDS. Titfc brigand of our own country differs from his"’continental brother in his ways, although in cruelty and lust of plunder there is little to choose between them. The foreign bandit betakes himself to the hill side as our Kohin Hood in days long sync made his home chiefly In tin; merry greenwood. But the spread of knowledge ami the progress ot civilisation have changed all this in these Arcadian islands. The British bandit of the century haunts the slums of big cities as 'more calculated to afford prey than the forest. Like his Italian brother, the maximum of sport at the minimum of risk is his motto, and after the manner of all ills fraternity, let their country be what it will, drink and tobacco constitute his ideas of Elysium. In one of the small streets that run between Golden-square and Soho, a quaint debateahle land in which the artisan and the adventurer live side by side, dwelt Mr George Blndd, a little slight, dark hook-nosed man of an ago that no one could determine, and with a complexion that is only attained by rigid economy in the matter of ablution. Mr Blndd was of Hebrew extraction, and would have doubtless described himself as a sporting gentleman, fu reality lie was a vulture of the turf, a small bookmaker ever on the alert for robbery, and by no means particular in what shape it presented itself. Not such a halo of romance about .him as there was about his Excellency •Count Batroceni (lie had been the accredited ambassador of a self-constituted government which met with most practical dissolution at the hands of the executioner), but they levied their taxes after the wont of their respective countries in pretty similar fashion. As Batroceni always thought there was something to be wrung out of a man ■vvbotn chance threw in any shape within his power, so did Mr Blndd. Robert Coleman, the footman, who had been Hammcrtoii's confederate at Wrottsley, whose business it bad been to remove those superfluous nines, after bidding adieu to the sluggish stream of countryhouse existence, had come to town to dissipate tin; wages paid him by Hammertou in all the high revelry of music nails and Metropolitan gate money race meetings. At one or oilier of these fashionable resorts he bad made the ae(liiaintauce of Mr Bliuhl, win), having ascertained that he was the possessor o some ready money, at once constituted himself Ins friend uoimaoe. He prompted him to hack two or three pro-fitable-winners at \\ mosur aim Ciovimi. , he ini reduced him to one or two popn.ur “comics” at some of to.- 1""-“ ".iis.e .halls, and generally continue! to mipi-s>

the ex-footman that he was seeing life in real earnest and that he was singularly fortunate in having acquired the friendship of such a very knowing and agreeable gentleman as Mr George Bindd, who while participating in tho spendingof Colemans money, did not fall to worm out of him his past history and how he had come by that money. Like the Count, Mr Bludd saw a small gold mine in this knowledge and his way of availing himself of his knowledge was identical with the Count’s When Coleman’s funds ran short it. was Mr Bludd suggested to him the little game of chantage, which had so sadly disconcerted Hammerlon. Tho captain, to his dismay, discovered that his two confederates in working Wheldrake’s downfall wore insatiable concerning their -ham of the plunder. The Count’s d-mand led been beyond his power to eoinply with but for tho silence of Coleman’s tongue he had paid by degrees no inconsiderable sum and with the pleasant conviction that the ending of this black mail was a matter beyond coin potation. Hammorton’s trip to the Contain tit had preserved him from the English brigands, but. only to throw him into the hands of their Italian namesakes. Mr Blndd’s rooms were of that class described in the stage directions of many a farce. Scene “ Apartments poorly furnished.’’ At tho present moment perhaps a paraffin lamp and a bottle of gin were the two most noticeable object on the rlckotty table by wliidi tho prupiictor and his friend, the ri decani footman were seated. Mr Bludd was u man who dined abroad at re-tauranls, varying in class with his clniintT'on circumstances. He was a haunt--or of publi : bars, such as tho Criterion, where unfledged youth are wont to sec life, and lay down the law upon sporting matters generally, only to be gobbled' up by the well-dressed, oily sharks lying in wait fur them, who li-tened with such deferential attention to the words of wisdom that fall from their fooolish lips. “ And so, Robert, ray boy, you're fairly aground, without a shot in the locker ? You’ll have to apply again to your old banker. 810.-s you. ma tear, we’ve been very tender with him ; when you got a man under your thumb in this fashion ho must expect to provide you with all the little luxuries of life.” “ But I don’t know where ho is, I tell you,” rejoined Coleman, pettishly; “ho never took the slightest notice of my last letter,” and Mr Coleman gulped down his gin and water in gloomy meditation. “ Most, nngentlemanly thing,” replied Bludd. “By Jove, ma tear, its absconding to avoid his liabilities. We can’t submit to this sort of thing, Robert ; no. no, wo ain’t such flats as that, eh, Robert?” “ I have no more intention of lotting him off than you have, but you must catch your hare before you can skin him.” “ Just so, and it may be easy to trace him, Some of your old fellow servants can give you his address no doubt, and if lie is so rude as not, to attend to letters, you’ll have to go and see him, Robert ” “ What, me ! I never was in those foreign parts in tny life ; supposing I did know where he was I could never find my way to him.” " You’re a little raw, ma tear,” replied Bludd : “ yon don’t understand the advanced locomotion of the present day. Bless yon, they'll book you to all parts of the world from London and deliver yon too. Von needn’t, know anything about it or anything of the lingo, when in doubt show your ticket and they’ll run you along somehow.” “ I don’t understand you,” rejoined Coleman.

“ L>on ( t you, indued.” replied ,131 add, with it glance of alino-d. compassion for his companion's ignorance, “ \ou put it rut, ami a ferret in n room with no outlet, nml that rat will tight, (live him a bolthole ami that rat will ran uv.iy. Captain IT-inmn rion In- run away, but when ferret Coleman fairly tackles him he’ll light to save his name—lighting in his case means paying. Ah, Robert, a little null of this kind is about as good an .nullity as I know of; keep : cm always on the strain, hut don’t over do it. Mu tear, ii’.viys leave'em a little mnn-v to;;, mi with. I've got, a friend, a tear friend, who happened to make a mistake about writing his name years ago, and bless me lie's been good for many of my little comforts since.” "Not good for much,” I should think,” rejoined Coleman, sullenly, “or else you wouldn’t be living in such a—hole as this.” " There you are again, Robert. That’s a weak point in your character cropping up again. You’re all for show, you are ! Want velvet chairs ; goes in for silver candlesticks, never reflecting that a bottle does as well to stick a dip in as well as anything else. As for me, I don’t care for your externals ; it’s your internals I like. I likes my dinner and my bottle of champagne when times are good, and that Robert ain’t just now. Why I haven’t had hold of a real innocent for weeks. Ah, it is groat to pick up with one of those young gentlemen from the Universities and bo told in confidence all about racing generally, and when they want someone to back horses for them I Eh, Robert';'” and Mr Blndd winked ids eye and indulged in a prolonged chuckle, as he thought of the many young men whose pockets ho had helped to lighten during their academical career. "I must have money somehow,” remarked Coleman, as ho puffed savagely at, the blackish cigar he was smoking. " Ah, yon remind me of a great friend of mine. That was his very remark, ‘ I roust have money.’ He was a splendid fellow, and when he said that, somebody had to suffer, but ho carried Jt too far at last.’’ “ What do you ntean'f” inquired Coleman, impatiently.

“Well, the last time he was in such urgent want of it ho got it us usual, but there was an old gentleman who was perverse enough to die under the pressure put upon him, and twelve pig-headed shopkeepers returned a verdict adverse to my friend.” “ You don’t menu to say he murdered a man f” ejaculated Coleman, quite aghast at the revelation. “ Of course not; the old gentleman was a nervous subject, and died probably of heart complaint. My friend was so disgusted that ho took off his hat, to his fcllow-creatures shortly afterward-.” “ And was—r” exclaimed Coleman, excitcdlv. “ Nothing,” interposed Mr Bludd, quietly, “ but, that don’t affect my regard for his memory.” “ He was hung in short r” “ What’s the good of using coarse language r” rejoined Mr Bludd witli a twinkle of his eye. "Say he met with a bad accideut from insecure scaffolding.” So it was settled between this precious pair that Mr Coleman should then aud there write to Jackson, the butler at Wrottsley, and endeavour to ascertain Captain llanimerton’s address. That he got no reply to that letter was a matter of course, but lie very soon ascertained that tiie Captain was travelling with Sir Jasper on the Continent, and was not expected hack tili the autumn. Moreover he was informed that the party were eon- ! staidly 'CI tiie mmr, ami were at present j somewhere in Italy. Even Mr Bludd did 1 not sec exactly what was to he done under the c.cinii-'.iiiccs. As a curious iii-.rm.fv. o: how similar in their instincts : are those vultures of society, the same i.'cii c nnee Mi-eiincd tn r B.ud that . had presented itself to Patruceni, to wit,

to whom was the information, Coleman could give, valuable. If further money was not to be wrung from Hammerton, the secret surely was saleable to the man who had suffered for his (Hamnierton’s) crime. But there, like the Count, he was checkmated by the fact that Wheldrake was no more accessible than tbo Captain. Tne great Mr Bindd was fain to confess at last that there was nothing to be done but wait. Now a man who has abandoned himself to a life of long debauchery such as Coleman .had led of late loathes the idea of work, and needs fairly lined pockets. Wait, that is just what lie could not afford to do. He was not like his friend, Mr Bludd, who was never likely to want a living while foolish people traversed the earth. Mr Bindd was a past master in the art of preying on his neighbours, and had endless shifts and devices wherewith to cozen the stranger who fell into his clutches, but Coleman was as yet a mere neophyte, more likely to be shorn than to bring home wool, should he betake himself tn predatory practices, Still that powerful source of crime and revolution, the unsatisfied intestine, was working powerfully upon Coleman ; he did not relish rough fare nor abstinence in the matterjof strong waters, while bis whilom oroney, Mr Bludd, who had been only too happy to feast at his expense while the money lasted, showed no disposition to return his hospitality. On the contrary, Mr Bindd evinced a decided disposition to give him the cold shoulder, and expressed considerable contempt for men who were such “ duffers as not to be aide to lay their hands on a live pound note,”

“ I suppose you’ve been high end dry before this,” remarked Coleman sullenly, in answer to a most decided negative regarding a small loan on Bhidd’s part, “ Don't I tell you I am now, mi tear, or of course I’d oblige a gentleman in trouble, but the sooner you gets to work the better.” Mr Bludd when excited was apt to bo wanting in the matter of diction. “ I tell you I’ve no intention of return, iug to the dull drudgery of service,” rejoined Coleman. 11 Certainly not, Robert, certainly not; but you'll have to go about with your eyes skinned and try your hand at picking up some of the gold and silver that’s strewn about the Tom Tiddler’s ground of London. “ If I only knew bow to begin,” said Coleman, wearily. “That’s where it ir,” said Mr Bludd, as he twisted his stubby moustache, “that’s what’s the matter with you provincials; you’ve, no originality. Why, bless you, when it comes to getting your living on the cross, you have no idea of anything but petty larceny. I’ve not been at the game for some time, but you see, ma tear, I got the needle at Goodwood, and racing ain’t agreed with my health ever since. It’s a pretty mean sort of way of making money, and you’re liable to do time if you’re nailed, but as I’m about broke we must have a turn at the confidence trick. It’s beneath a man of my intellect, but then you sec, Robert, my boy, you ain’t up to much, and it’s just about suited to you’re calibre.” “Well, said Coleman, “ I don’t much like it, but money I must have. Still, surely, that’s too old a dodge.” “ Old ? bless you, I should think it was common in Babylon, and an ordinary game in the City of Damascus. There’s one crop never fails, Robert, and that’s green-goslings ;and they trot about London clothed in their down, with their beaks open, and believe implicitly what the London sparrows tell them. You ain’t a bird fancier, Robert; more’s the pity, you ought to study the Loudon sparrow, for cheek and cunning he beats creation, Foxes ? ball ! serpents not in it. A London sparrow would give either twenty in a hundred and beat them easy. You don’t catch him with the confidence trick ; he believes in nobody ! Don’t you he down on your luck, wo'll pick up our green-gosling before forty-eight hours are over; he’s about awaiting to be plucked, and he’ll waddle home pretty naked when I have done with him." Ami so a thing came about which has ■nine little influence on this history. Coleman and his friend Bludd laid themselves out. to perform the confidence trick, a description of which is almost superfluous, familiar as it must be to all readers of the daily papers. Bludd was a very little while before he picked up his green-gosling. Then came the usual exposure of flash notes on his part and the time-honoured story- of his having a thousand pounds left him to dispose of in charily. At this juncture Coleman, of course, turns up with five hundred pounds in fla«h notes iutrusted to him to start a deserving man in business. The usual result followed; exchange of pocket-books; and the one man remained in the room to show his implicit confidence while the other took a short stroll with his pocket-book. Of course, the things terminated in the usual way; it came to Bludd aud Coleman's turn at last to take their short stroll with the gosling’s pocket-book. Needless to say-, they-forgot to stroll buck again. So far fortune had favoured the sparrows, but one, alas! was no genuine London sparrow. The gosling got tired of waiting, the gosling got wrathful, as men will when they have lost their money and been made fools of to boot. Sad to sav, be lost confidence, and invoked the aid of the police. Mr Bludd vanished with the rapidity of a fraudulent bank director. Mr Coleman, easy man, continued to frequent his usual haunts, and found himself run in by the authorities before forty-eight hours were over his head. It was the old—-six month’s imprisonment to the neophyte who had fallen into the toils, and deep regret on the part of the magistrate that his companion did not stand beside him in the dock.

CHAPTER XXVII. FOR MAUDE’S SAKE. Captain Harnmcrtou might be extravagant, might be untruthful, and might possibly have many other faults to boot, but there was one thing no man could accuse him of neglecting, and that was his own interests. It was quite clear to him, and he was not without warrant in drawing such conclusion, that no life amongst them all was in such hazzard as his. Ho had taken into his head that Wholdrko had acquired great influence over the bandit chief. He could not stoop to solict the intercessions of the man whom ho had so grossly wronged, but for all that Hammerton did not. see why ho should not utilise Wheldrake’s interest by a aide wind. Ho had paved the way for all this; he had promised that Maude should have an interview with Wheldrako, and she stood pretty well pledged to interfere in his behalf! Good! that, was not difficult, and ho would take very good cate it was done at ouoe. A Hue to Wheldrake to say that Maude wished to see him was litMo likely to lack attention and someone to convey it was not difficult to (iU'l. V\ heldrako was sitting on'diis bed preparatory to turning in for a few hours’ deep. He knew he had a tedious journey before him, and the quicker lie could compass it the mure quickly would th iso very dear to him he rescued from a situation of discomfort and suspense. Like a prudent a m Cyril was anxious to husband his resources and take rest whilst ho could. But he was strangely wakeful—the prospect • ■ f h-aring hi- mime and th knowledge th his peerless Maude was iu the hands of

Patroceni and hia crew had banished sleep from hia eyelids. It, was all very well ; the Count chose to play tho bon dinhlc just now, but ho knew that he could bo ruthless as a maddened Hirer when crossed. Ho recalled the unsparing punishment meted out to Giovanni, but. a few days back, and recognised that any intervention of tho police would place them all in imminent danger of their lives. He reflected that though a stray traveller like himself might be kidnapped without attracting much attention, the disappearance of such a party as Sir Jasper’s would be speedily brought to the authorities, and tho English Consul would insist on their acting with promptitude and vigour. This was the groat clangor those ho loft, behind him would run : that tho gendarmes might be on tho track of the band before he could reach Naples to warn them not to interfere. He was musing over all these things, when ono of the brigands, putting his head into the tent, held up a note and intimated that it was for the Signor, Wheldrake tore open the note which was in a hand ho did not recognise. “ Maude Evor.-lcy is extremely anxious to see yon before you start. If you retain any affection for her, bo at tho back of the hut in an hour, She has something of importance to say to you.” Retain any affection for her ? Was she not still all the world to him ? Meet her, of course ho would ; and he turned to convey that assurance to the bearer, but he had disappeared. Wheldrake took out his watch, and having glanced at it, laid it upon tho. bed, and awaited impatiently the expiration of the intervening time. To lovers, they say, such moments are leaden sandaled ; but Wheldrake was so absorbed in the whole situation that he did not find the time hang so heavy as most of his fellow-sufferers in like circumstances. Before his watch marked tho stroke of ten he was pacing restlessly up and down in rear of the lint. It was dark, for the moon had not arisen as yet. Here and there a dim spark, like a glow-worm glanced through the gloom. A faint glimmer of some bandits cigarette unfavoured of Somnns, Scarce a breath stirred the trees; it was a spot well fitted for a true lovers’ meeting. Wheldrake had not long to wait. A few minutes and the form he knew well stole round the hut and advanced towards him. “My darling 1 ” exclaimed Cyril. “ I am so pleased to meet yon once again.” And he would fain have taken her in his arms, but the girl drew back and replied— “ Mr Wheldrake, I have sent for you in order to ask a favour at your hands.” Cyril shrank back aghast. This cold response to his passionate speech was like a shower-bath, and it was in very different tones that he responded—- “ Anything I can do to oblige Miss Everslcy she knows I shall be only too happy to attend to at once.” It was what is so common in tins world, a case of misconception. He had never written or let her hear of him in any way, and she mistrusted her hold on hia regard. On the other hand, her “Mr Wheldrake” and rejection of his embrace confirmed him in the idea that she had thoroughly put him away from her favour, and gave confirmation to the report that she was now engaged to her cousin. A terrible scoundrel this latter in Wheldrake’s estimation ; but lie knew that it is not always the true knights who prove attractive to a lady’s eyes. “It has ever been so. The paladins of old went down in the boudoir before some carpet knight who shrank from the clash of the steel in earnest, and even now the hero of a score of tough tussles is passed over for the drawing-room dandy who lives his little life of eye- , glass, ignorance, arrogance, superciliousness and J'aihtn-." Wheldrake said no more. He waited to see what Miss Everslcy would say next. She need fear no further effusiveness on his part. He was far too sensitive concerning the stain on his name to think of reasserting tiie privilege of a lover in the face ot such a rebuff as he had encountered.

“I am given to understand,” said Maude, “that you have considerable interest with Count Patroeeni.” "You have been misinformed, Miss Eversley,” rejoined Cyril. “I met him for the first time at Homhurg last year, met him again at Wrottsley, as you know. Yon saw what passed between us there. Is it likely I am his friend, or have influence over him ? I am his prisoner, like yourselves. The man to me is a mystery. He was the prominent worker of my ruin, and yet he undoubtedly seems kindly disposed towards mo since I have been in his hands. But that is a very different thing from having interest with him. I, as you have doubtless hoard, am going as the accredited ambassador to negotiate for our ransom, but that again, you probably know, was the mere luck of lot .drawing. It is no pleasant thought to think that I carry your lives in my hand—that any imprudence ou my part may jeopardise them.” “ You must not suppose that we could wish our case in other hands. We all know how thoroughly we can rely upon your management. You underrate your influence with Count Patroeeni, Mr Wheldrake. I am given to understand, curious as it may seem to yon, that he is much prepossessed in your favour.” “ What 1 The man whom you yourself heard proclaim me cheat and blackleg at Wrottsley? Absurd 1 The Count is cruel and capricious, if I know anything of his nature. He treats his prisoners as the cat does the mouse within its claws. I could fancy his captives undergoing the fate of Agag when they had quite convinced themselves that the bitterness of death was past. They were calling eaoh other, Mr Wheldrake and Miss Eversley. Little had they thought on that aad night at Wrottsley that when next they mot they should address each other in such constrained fashion ; but it is so easy to drift apart when the feelings are involved and a misunderstanding has arisen. “ You may be right,” rejoined Maude. “ You have had greater opportunties and are far more capable than myself of forming an opinion, but that only makes it more imperative that you should use your influence, if influence you have. You are friendly with my cousin.” “ He took part against me in my hour of need,” returned Wheldrake, sternly. “So did my father,” returned Maude, in tones which shook a little. “ The appearances which misled the one might well mislead the other.” Wheldrake started as if stung. Where was the wild generous confidence of the girl who scorned to believe ought against the fair fame of her lover. Maude spoke calmly and judicially as one who would say, “ I do not hold you guilty, but you must own appearances were against you.” “ I am only too anxious to obey Miss Evorsley’s behests if within my power,” replied Wheldrake with studied politeness. The girl drew herself up proudly, and it was almost imperiously that she rejoined, “I should have thought an innate sense of justice and natural compassion would have prompted you to succour a fellow creature in danger, even if he had made the mistake of once judging you harshly. My cousin, Fred Hammerton, you know is in imminent danger here. Oar capricious captor has exhiuited a dislike of him even as he has shown a kindly inclination towards yourself. If yon think this mere woman’s imagining on my part ask your friend,

Mr Glanfield, who says he wouldn’t take a hundred to one about Fred's life ” “ I have had little, I might say no opportunity of forming an opinion on that point,” he replied coldly. “I only know that he was the Count’s friend, that it was he originally who introduced him to all of ns, that it was at Captain Hammerton’s invitation Sir Jasper asked him to Wrottesley, and that when he brought that foul charge against myself it was Captain Hammerton who sided with him, and put his word before mine as worthy of credence.” “ You must not be too hard upon Fred for that,” she cried, vehemently. “ Remember that he had known the Count longer than he had you ; that called on to decide in such hurried fashion, he might well stand up for the loyalty of his friend. He did not know what Patroceni was in those times. I doubt whether we any of us quite understand him as yet.” . Wheldrake remained silent for some little after Maude’s speech. There could be no doubt about it, the opinion of the world had proved too strong for her, and she had thrust him from her heart; perchance she was no longer so sure of his innocence as she had been in the first instance. It was a cruel disappointment. Of what availed it to clear his name when she, for whose sake he had striven so hard to do so, refused to share it, and that Maude Eversley would say him nay should he again put his fortune to the test Cyril entertained no doubt—cast aside too, for a man like Hammerton. Did women ever love in earnest ? he wondered. “ I have no wish to be hard upon Hammorton,” ho said at length ; “ though he was not very lenient to me. But I am still quite in the dark. What is it, Miss Eversley, yon want me to do?” “Save my cousin’s life! I know it rests within your power. A strong remonstrance from you, before you start on your journey, will stay Patrooeni’s coward hand,” cried Maude, excitedly. “ Hush, Miss Eversley, pray restrain yourself,” interposed Wheldrake, in a low voice. “We shall rouse the whole camp, and no good can come of that. I have told yon before that yon are much mistaken concerning my influence over Patroceni. Never mind that, we will suppose that yon are right. Do you care very much for Captain Hammerton ? ” “Oneusually loves one’s own flesh and blood.” she retorted, tartly, “I have been brought up with Fred, and that I love him dearly is, I suppose, nothing astounding.” And the girl’s eyes flashed almost defiantly at her companion. “Ah, yes, I had forgot,” he retorted, coldly, “ though cousinship is not always of so warm a growth. Never mind, Hammerton’s life is matter of deep moment to you. I can promise but little ; still if the chance comes to me, to save it I pledge yon my honour itshall be done.” “Farewell, bon voyage, and good luck,” said Maude, as she extended her hand, which Wheldrake barely touched ; and then the young lady flew rapidly back to the hut, and burying her head on her pillow cried her eyes out. “ Save that hound,” muttered Wheldrake, as he walked back to his tent. “ Well, if she wills it, so must it be. I’d chance my life to save a canary, she cared about any time. But his life safe she shall know the whole story and decide whether he is better than the banned man she has rejected. She is right. Hammerton’s life no doubt is in danger. There is a possibility of insuring hia safety, and for Maude’s sake I’ll try it.” (To be continued.)