The Weird Sisters, Volume I (of 3)

Mr. Grey did not take it up, but l

f-a-dozen inches, he looked up from the ring,

he country. Why? And whe

boots, and thrust up his

getting hot. It isn't every one has so much considera

r fe

out of this soon, why, they'll be send

was drawing small circles on the table in front of him with the white forefinger of his left hand, hi

nly, Joe. May I ask you what you were before you devoted yourself to your present-profession? Your conversati

sir," answered

ded the banker, lo

in a cor

our talents and enterprise in banks. But I interrupted you. Pray, proceed. You were about t

n accord; and I thought I'd just mention this matter to you when I

on your way, partly out of feeling for you in your difficult position, and partly out of grati

circles, but the circles were one after the other increasing in circumferen

omfort to deal with a sensible man, a man who did most of the ta

so, qui

finished each figure he regarded the invisible design for a while as though comparing the result o

go into detail. In fact, I prefer you should not, as my feelings are still much occupied with

ams, and looked up at the other w

nd replied gravely: "I'll answer you, sir

ning of the 17th did you

t o'c

ce where the telegraph has not yet struck root. And yet for a man of your peculiar calling a dense population and civilisation are requisite. Your case, Joe, interests me a good deal, and, rely upon it, I shall always be glad to hear of your welfare

ladder against the wall tha

rleg with an expression

as cover for your men! And so, when you saw the ladder against the wall, you thought to yourself you might

es

a few things, this ring of my poor wife among the re

, s

d have been very long in th

eard you coming back,

u. But, you know, I was in a great state of anxiety and alarm-anxiety and alarm which were unfortunately only too well founded, as

N

to a

to a

cisco is the place for one so daring and so cautious. What a dashing cavalry leader you would make! A

the man before him. Then hitching his chair a few inches nearer to the small table standing bet

house in daylight. But I am completely carried away with enthusiasm when I think of your coming here to me

k you

be likely to give to help you out of

you're a

r bowed a

t to be worth a hea

y shillings. At the very mo

t was your wife's, and that s

the very day o

not what

which I own I should not like you to have kept from me. You make me a present of this ring, and you ask me to help you out of the

usand

nd at a foreign court, you could ask little more for travelling-expenses and commencing existence. A thousand pounds!

ave a lot of waiting before you get your chance. In fact,

ou twenty-five pounds as a present it would fully provide for your outward voyage?"

id very slowly, and with an accent that left

it pass; no honest man could afford to let it pass, and I have a wife look

ite

try and get an honest start in li

s?" queried Mr. Grey, with

g, sitting up in his chair, leaning both his elbows on the small table between th

encouragingly on the shoulder with his white left hand.

pend it here, or I spend it getting there,

appreciative pats fro

p I come to you, or I write to you for more

might spend it here or there, and then you might again be applying to me. Ah, no! Joe, I don

ountry, go to America, out West, and buy land. There we shall settle down as respectable people, and it would be no adva

han a foot apart now. They were looking as straight into one another's eyes as two experienced fencers

t I can manage the matter mor

that wa

and then you come and beard the lion in his den. You come to the man whose house you honoured by a visit through

ou took me so kindly a

was saying, you ask him for no less than a thousand pounds to help you out of the country and into a respectable

, and it's everything to me. It will make me safe, and help me out o

what you think of it: On the night or evening of the 17th you break into my hou

back your dea

attacked by you, and I defend myself with force. You kill me; that is no good to you. You won't make a penny by my death. But suppose it should unhappily occur that the revolver, on the tr

ered a lou

as spoken. No movement

wild alarmed scream of a woman shot up through the silen

d up like a withered leaf. Something heavy fell from his han

, and on the same level as the banker's, until the pinc

He seemed to be listening intently, spellbound by some awful vision, so

rickled the whispered

. When I told you no one knew, I meant I had no pal. But my wi

whisper. The dread was slowly descending from hi

ere. For one whistle she was to scream out to show she was on the watch

y neat. You have

ours are

that money

ge parcel, a hamper, sir, or a large box, so that no one need be t

fter to-morrow at four o'clock. It

coming to a bargain, shake hands, Wat," s

r. Go a

to your one. Give me your hand, old man

loathing the banke

the contents over his right hand to cleanse it from the contamination of that touch, and

imself, with his left hand on his forehead. "Wat Grey, you've had a close shave. Nothing could have been closer. Had you pulled that trigger all would have been lost. Now you have a clear stage, and mu

k at t

me

ntered, holding a sli

James?" ask

rgot to give his address, and as you might

low gasalier as the servant h

right hand; as he did so the pu

demanded Mr. Grey w

" the man faltered

what ab

ll over

d the master, in a tone of dism

d I beg pardon; but

and then burst out into a loud shout o

dirty wretch who went out touched my hand. I had no water near

lemn amusement: "James, there was once a man who died of laughing at seeing an ass eat

o a laugh of quiet self-congratulation on the fact of his posse