H. B. Marriott Watson

“ I retorted with asperity, handling my poker. “She shall be free to choose—as free as you are. You would make one law for her and another for yourself.”
“That's one for you, Jake,” said Ally saucily, but still shivering. Her fingers trembled on my arm, which she had clutched.
“Hold your tongue,” said Jake fiercely, “you damned creeping Jenny! I've had enough of you and your blokes. I'll have things respectable, or I'll know why. I won't have a trollop dancing about me. You'll have to mizzle, do you hear?” ”

“ His accent was good, and he was evidently of superior stuff to his fellow.
“I must own,” said I frankly, “that I was wrong to obtain access in the way I did, but the old woman gave me the chance, and put it into my head. And you will admit,” I added appealingly, “that it would have been more than natural to withstand the temptation.”
“Who are you?” demanded the man in astonishment.
I turned to the woman: something in her brown, shining eyes invited me. “It is not for me to make the confession,” I declared; “but I am not ashamed of it; on the contrary, I am proud of admiring Ally.” ”

“ It was comforting, nevertheless, to reflect that the darkness would prevent their shooting, save in proximity. I was concious of a low and distant roaring somewhere; I increased my pace as much as I dared, but the mere fact of stooping impeded me. Suddenly I heard the noise of feet quite close to me, and I took a sudden resolve. Coming sharply to a stand I set my legs firmly apart and waited for the shock. At this moment the sound I had already noticed had increased, the roaring came down the channel, swollen newly into a great volume, and drowning all other noises. ”

“ It was with difficulty that I kept from a cry of horror—the wound was so ugly, and it scarce seemed possible that a human creature could take so evil a hurt and still live. It was to succour this poor wretch, who, for all I knew, was even now fast sinking into the sleep of death, that I had been brought to this underground den. Alas! I had not the remotest knowledge of surgery, and I stood there wavering, with the inquisitive eyes of those two ruffians upon me, helpless, nonplussed, and with a growing sensation of fear. ”

“ The old woman nodded at me, and, glancing about her as though she feared to be overheard, whispered in my ear in her harsh, wheedling voice.
“You will find a cab before the 'Eagle.' You know the old word.”
“I know several,” said I indifferently. “Which?”
“Go to the devil,” she whispered. “Be quick: there's money in time.” ”

“ II. THE TWO CABS AND THE OVEN. IT falls, I think, to few people to suffer so huge a revolution in life as I had experienced. Here was I—partly, no doubt, as you will justly urge, by my own precipitate acts—an outlaw, a pariah from society, a fugitive from justice. ”

“ As I passed the body of the man Bowers, I noticed a movement in it, a faint. stirring. But stealing down the stairs I found my way into the chamber where lay the wounded man or corpse, whichever it might be, and, pulling open the big cupboard set in the wall, peered in. The light shone on some brickwork at the back, which I explored with my fingers, and discovered to be loose. The cupboard was ample enough to hold me, and, entering, I pulled the heavy door upon me, shutting myself into the darkness of that infernal vault. ”

“ They'll never let you go—I know 'em. It's not for nothing we're”—she lowered her voice to a whisper—“by the main drain. Try the cupboard back of the room where the man lies. You'll never manage the oven by yourself. See? Now kiss me. I reckon you're my young man, ain't you?”
I stooped and did so; at the same moment Jake returned, and moodily offered me a ewer of water. Ally sighed, stretched herself and lay still, and I took my cue. I laid her down.
“She's gone,” I said solemnly.
Jake stared, and for the first time a look resembling horror dawned in his face. ”

“ But soon we entered upon a broad expanse of cellar, in which a candle burned, and which was partly furnished. Farther, a smaller cellar was piled with boxes, and still farther, I was ushered into a dismal, badly-lighted apartment, in the corner of which a man lay stretched upon a bed. ”

“ She said nothing, but at that moment, with my ears straining for any sounds within the cellars, I caught a noise of voices at the door. I sprang back as it opened, and seizing a poker, waited, determined to fight for it. Two men entered, the little man, followed by a tall, gipsy-looking fellow, who bore some resemblance to the young woman near me.
“Got 'im!” said Billy Bowers triumphantly. “I thought as 'ow he couldn't a' crep' far. Ally allus 'ad a fancy for a 'andsome stranger.”
The tall man took a step towards me, and I lifted my poker. ”

“ The fellow interrogated his companion with his eyes. “Well,” said he, “that's a pity, ain't it? It mucks us up pretty well. Now, I suppose, he would be pretty bad, wouldn't he?”
“So bad,” I replied decidedly, “that unless I can get my instruments at once, it will be hopeless.”
“Not to be done, governor,” said the big man. “Here you've come, and here you must stay. Bill will do the trick for you.”
I considered; I had not anticipated this, and I had two ruffians to get rid of. “Very well,” I resumed abruptly, and pulling a leaf from my pocket-book, scribbled upon it hastily. ”