Spicer

“ What could be more sensible? If the house were mine, I should do the same. What's the good of owning a house, and making no use of it?'
Great was Mr. Spicer's satisfaction.
'See what it is, sir,' he exclaimed, 'to have to do with a literary man! You are large-minded, sir; you see things from an intellectual point of view. I can't tell you how it gratifies me, sir, to have made your acquaintance. Let us go into the back room.'
With nervous boldness he threw the door open. Goldthorpe, advancing respectfully, saw that Mr. Spicer had not exaggerated the simplicity of his arrangements. ”

“ Seth Strickett and George Morgan stepped forward.
"Barney—Bill Bunce—Pete—Clarky, will you be taken and strung up like so many slaughtered hogs? Stand by me, now, and fight to the death!" and whipping out a revolver, he fired point-blank at Old Spicer's heart.
But the attenuated detective was not a very good mark for a weak and excited man to aim at, and so the ball sped by, and the next instant a howl went up, as though all the witches of Macbeth were yelling in concert. ”

“ Old Spicer turned to Killett, and a look of deep meaning passed between them.
"Move from your tracks, or lift a finger, Hen Chamberlain, and I ring this bell," exclaimed Bissell hastily, "and as sure as I do, I give you up as a murderer!"
"Pshaw! what do I care for your cursed bell and your threats? There's a dozen ways out of this hotel, and before a man could get to the top of one flight of stairs, I'd be at the bottom of another, and lost in the crowd on the avenue." ”

“ You're a detective."
Then, with a reckless—an almost despairing air:
"Well, what do you want of me, any way?"
Old Spicer regarded her in silence for a moment; and then, as if communing with himself, he murmured aloud:
"So pretty! and so young! Not above twenty-one or twenty-two, I should say. Sad, very sad. Enough to make a strong man weep."
"Oh! what is it—what is it that's so horrible?" gasped Cora, in an agony of terror.
"Ah! my poor girl, your own heart—your own conscience must tell you."
Cora started to her feet.
"Hear me, sir!" she cried. "I know nothing at all about it. ”

“ Spicer; and though at first sight the process would seem a gain, it is in reality the reverse, since, after this mock gilding, the coin—whether it be man or farthing—has lost its stamp of truthfulness, and will not “pass” for even the humble value it once represented.
“At all events,” thought Mr. Spicer, as he went along, “her Ladyship has not come off scot free for all her impertinence. I have given her materials for a very miserable morning, and irritated the very sorest spot in all her mind. It was just the very lesson she wanted; there's nothing will do her so much good in the world.” ”

“ I was out immediately after breakfast; but I could not find Anderson, so I walked to the hospital to see Spicer. I found Anderson sitting by his bedside, but they were not then conversing. After a short time Anderson rose, and giving a slight shake of the head, as if to inform me that he had had no success, he walked away.
"He has been trying to convert me," said Spicer, with a grim smile.
"He has been trying, Spicer, to bring you to a sense of your condition; and is he not kind? he can have no interest but your own good. ”

“ Sir Jasper will thank you no later than this very day, as never man thanked man before. And you will make me so happy! Oh, believe me, your honour is safe with me."
"Only let me see your face," said he, while Spicer knocked louder. "I will see her, and kiss her," he thought to himself, "and that will be something to carry to my death."
"How dare you ask it?" she said. "Must I grant your request when you refuse me mine?"
"And if I grant you yours," said he, as his heart beat very fast, "what will you give me?"
"Oh, give," said she, "give! Who cares for gifts? A man must take." ”

“ Spicer winced; he tried to arrange his neckcloth, and then to button his glove, but all his efforts could not conceal a tremor that shook him from head to foot. Now, when Beecher got his “man down,” he never thought he could trample enough upon him; and as he walked the room in hasty strides to and fro, he jeeringly pictured to Spicer the pleasures of his next meeting with Davis: not, indeed, but that all his eloquence was superfluous; it needed no descriptive powers to convince any who enjoyed Grog's friendship what his enmity might imply. ”

“ Detective Killett became very thoughtful.
At length he asked:
"How did you gain this much information?"
Old Spicer informed him.
"Oho!" exclaimed Killett, when he had finished, "that was the way of it, eh? Then your men are as good as bagged."
"How's that?" asked Spicer, eagerly.
"It's plain enough," was the answer. "You will know Barney Hawks and Jake Klinkhammer whenever and wherever you see them again, I suppose?"
"Most decidedly, yes."
"Well, trust me, they will be making for this city as soon as they've had an interview with that Sadie Seaton. ”

“ I've been there every year of my life till this. One gets into the way of thinking of luxuries as necessities. I tell you what it is. If I sell my book as soon as it's done, we'll have a few days somewhere on the south coast together.'
Mr. Spicer betrayed uneasiness.
'I should like it much,' he murmured, 'but I fear, Mr. Goldthorpe, I greatly fear I can't afford it.'
'Oh, but I mean that you shall go with me as my guest! But for you, Mr.
Spicer, I might never have got my book written at all.'
'I feel it an honour, sir, I assure you, to have a literary man in my house,' was the genial reply. ”

“ Now, Spicer was what is called a Gentleman Rider, and he had all the slang of his craft, which is, more or less, the slang of men who move in a very different sphere.
As great landed proprietors of ambitious tendencies will bestow a qualification to sit in Parliament upon some man of towering abilities and small fortune, so did certain celebrities of the Turf confer a similar social qualification on Spicer; and by enabling him to “associate with the world,” empower themselves to utilise his talents and make use of his capabilities. ”

“ Old Spicer was silent for a moment, then he abruptly exclaimed:
"I should like to visit the scene of this tragedy. Suppose we go to Spruce Street at once, gentlemen."
"What! and give up the Stony Creek affair?" exclaimed Stricket, in astonishment.
"Not necessarily," was the reply.
"But I don't understand, Mark."
"I have an idea," rejoined Old Spicer, quietly, "that in this instance, the shortest road to Stony Creek lies through Spruce Street."
"Thunder!" ejaculated George Morgan, "I believe you are right." ”

“ What's his name?"
"Bissell—E. E. Bissell he signs himself."
"Young or old?"
"Young—that is, under thirty."
"Who's on duty there?" asked Killett.
"Rouse and Quackenbush."
"Well, Old Spicer, one of us ought to look after this matter, while the other waits for news of Chamberlain here."
"I believe I'd better go up to the hotel," said Old Spicer, after a moment's reflection.
"Very good, then, I'll stay here."
"We can keep each other posted as to our movements, eh?"
"Certainly, and we should be careful to do so."
"All right; I will go with Crowley, then, unless you want him here." ”

“ I won't eat the man."
"It's against orders to admit any one but the doctor."
"Well, is this the doctor coming?"
"Yes."
"Who's that with him?"
"Old Spicer."
"The deuce it is! But, yes; I would have known him by the descriptions I have seen of him. Queer looking cuss, ain't he?"
"He's—well, he's rather slender, to say the least."
"A sort of Wm. M. Evarts. Ah! good-day, Mr. Spicer. Good-day, doctor; glad to see you, gentlemen," and as the great detective and the surgeon entered the room with Crowley, the reporter followed after them, as a matter of course.
"Why, Crowley, where's your prisoner?" ”

“ Then she huddled herself in a mysterious and all enveloping cloak, caught up a little velvet mask from the table, and sped upon her errand. She sallied forth as the gallant soldier might to battle, with a beating heart yet a high one.
Lord Verney and Captain Spicer had just finished breakfast at the former's lodgings in Pierrepoint Street, near North Parade. Captain Spicer, babbling ineptly of his own experience as a duellist, of his scorn of Sir Jasper's lunacy, yet of his full determination to slay the vile madman, had done ample justice to his young principal's table. ”

“ I couldn’t, for the life of me, help seeing you, and that abominably handsome shop-girl. Why didn’t you take a back street?”
“Then it was Miss Spicer. I could not imagine who had done me the honor of reporting my movements,” said the young man, bowing low.
“Angry, ha! Don’t like people to make a note of his little escapades. Well, it isn’t quite fair. But when one overleaps all the barriers of society so bravely, of course, he must expect it to be known.” ”

“ Spicer. "Spicer is my name, sir," I said. "And you are the nephew," were his next words, "of the late Mr. Isaac Spicer, of Clapham, London?" That shook me, sir, I assure you it did, but I hope I behaved decently. The young gentleman went on to tell me that my uncle had left no will, and that I was believed to be his next-of-kin, and that if so, I inherited all his property, the principal part of which was three houses in London. Now try and think, Mr. Goldthorpe, what sort of state I was in after hearing that. You're an intellectual man, and you can enter into another's mind. Three houses! ”

“ Spicer heard the communication unmoved. He asked the doctor how long he might live, and his reply was, it was possible four or five days, and that he would feel no more pain. He was now able to listen to Anderson, and he did so. I shall not trouble the reader with repeating what Anderson imparted to me, as I can give him an idea of Spicer’s feelings by what passed between us.
“Tom,” said he, “I have led a very wicked life, so wicked, that I hate to think of it, and I hate myself. I believe all that Anderson and the chaplain tell me, and I find that I may hope and do hope for mercy ”

“ Two hours and a half later he returned, and met Killett, Stark and Rouse in the inspector's office.
"I am very glad indeed to find you here," he said. "I was afraid I might have to leave without seeing you."
"Why, what do you mean?" asked Killett, in a tone of wonder.
"I'm going to Connecticut," replied Spicer.
"What, and give up the chase for Bissell, Hawks and Bunce?"
"They will all be there by the time I am," said the old man, quietly.
"How's that?" asked Killett, in great surprise. ”

“ How, then, is it likely that much of the pure stuff can pass our custom-houses."
"Ha! ha!" laughed Barney, "if any of the Simon Pure could get as far as the custom-houses, I'll warrant it wouldn't get any further. Our government officials know too well what's expected of them to let it slip through their fingers."
"Right, shipmate!" exclaimed Rouse, "they'd prefer to let it slip down their insatiable throats."
"Well," exclaimed Old Spicer, suddenly, "pure or impure, I see you've disposed of your brandy at last, landlord, and so now come over and help us out with our rum." ”

“ Macnamara in dudgeon. Then: "And you, girls," she cried with asperity, "shame on you to be loitering like this! Some of you will be called in a minute. Miss Pommeroy, you're for the curtain, if you please."
Captain Spicer and his recruit from Norwich were wrangling in a corner. And presently the young gentleman was observed to shed tears: Spicer had actually threatened to abandon him!
"What would become of you if I did not keep my eyes on you?" rated the Captain.
"Captain Spicer's eyes are more useful than most people's," said Stafford soothingly; "he can see both sides of things at once. ”

“ But her presence was welcome to the lady, for she arose promptly to receive her guest, glad to escape a subject which was hateful to her.
“Looking younger and more lovely than ever!” exclaimed Miss Spicer, after kissing the lady with enthusiasm. “I wonder if it will be possible for me to grow handsomer as I grow older? Of course not. It’s only one or two women in a generation that can do that.”
Here Miss Spicer seemed to become suddenly aware of Ivon’s presence, and addressed him.
“Now this is a treat, Mr. Lambert; one never expects to find you at home ”

“ It was Spicer the grocer’s voice, I think, which attracted my ear at last. It was a strange, little, harsh, snappish voice, so unharmonious that it worried one like a dog barking; and by degrees, as he talked and talked, some sort of vague association came into my mind—something which I had half forgotten. What was it I had heard about the Spicers? I could not recollect all at once.
“Governessing ain’t paradise,” said Spicer, “but it’s better perhaps than other things. Marrying a man as is in poor health, and at a troublesome time o’ life—and nothing to leave to them as comes after him ”

“ His doctor declared that he must have been living in some very unhealthy place, but the young man preferred to explain his illness by overwork. It seemed to him sheer ingratitude to throw blame on Mr. Spicer's house, where he had been so contented and worked so well until the hot days of latter August. Mr. Spicer himself wrote kind and odd little letters, giving an account of the garden, and earnestly hoping that his literary friend would be back in London to taste the Jerusalem artichokes. But Christmas came and went, and Goldthorpe was still at his mother's house. ”