better be separate; and if byany chance we are traced thus far, it will help to put them off thescent."
Emery having no gold, took out a bank-note for ten pounds. He feltsomewhat nervous as the booking-clerk examined it. It was all right,however, and he received his change, and going on to the next shuttertook a ticket for his companion.
"All right," said Gange, "get in, and sit at the further side, andpretend to be sleepy or drunk, only keep your face away from the light.Your portmanteau is ticketed for Liverpool. Good-bye, my lad, till westop on the road, and I will come and have a look at you."
Gange disappeared. Off went the train, and Emery's brain whirled roundand round, even faster than the carriage seemed to be moving. He triednot to think, but in vain.
The other seats were filled, but he had not dared to look at hiscompanions. He heard them laughing and talking. A board was opened,and dice rattled, still he did not look up. Cards were produced.
"Will any other gentleman join us?" asked a man sitting opposite to theseat, next to him. He caught Emery's eye. "Will you, sir," he added ina bland voice. "We play for very moderate stakes."
Emery knew something about the game proposed. It would have been betterfor him had he been ignorant of it altogether. A game of cards wouldenable him to turn his thoughts from himself. He agreed to play. Heknew that he did not play well, but to his surprise he found himselfwinning. The stakes were doubled. He still won. He thought that hiscompanions were very bad players. Again the stakes were increased, hestill occasionally won, but oftener lost. He had soon paid away all hisgold, and was compelled to take out one of the notes which he hadstolen; that quickly went, and another, and another. He felt irritated,and eager to get back the money he had lost; he had won at first, whyshould he not again? His companions looked calm and indifferent, as ifit mattered very little if the luck turned against them.
When they came to a station, they shut up the board, and put the cardsunder their railway rugs.
Emery had lost fifty pounds of the stolen money. He felt ready for anydesperate deed. Two of the men got out at the next large station.Could he have been certain that the money was in the possession of theremaining man, he would have seized him by the throat, and tried to getit back.
The man kept eyeing him sternly, as if aware of his thoughts. Justbefore the train started, he also stepped out, carrying the boardconcealed in his rug.
"You have been a heavy loser, I fear," said a gentleman in the seat nearthe door. "I would have warned you had I thought you would have lost somuch, but it will be a lesson to you in future. I am convinced, bytheir movements, that those were regular card-sharpers. It's too latenow, but you may telegraph from the next station to try and stop them."
As this remark was made, it flashed into Emery's mind that some onemight telegraph to Liverpool to stop him. He scarcely thought about hisloss, but dreaded that his agitation might betray him. The gentlemannaturally thought it arose from his being cheated of so much money.Emery tried to look unconcerned.
"A mere trifle," he said, forcing a laugh, "I will try and catch therogues, though."
However, when he reached the next station, remembering Sass Gange'scaution, he was afraid to leave his seat.
"I might lose the train," he said, "and business of importance takes meto Liverpool."
"As you think fit," observed the gentleman, "but you will now havelittle chance of recovering your money."
Emery was thankful when the train again moved on.
Sass Gange had not appeared at either of the stations.
Liverpool was at length reached. He looked about expecting to see Sass,but he was nowhere to be found. His own portmanteau was in theluggage-van, but the sailor's bag was not with it.
Where to go he could not tell. His eye caught the name of a hotel. Hetook a cab and drove to it.
It was too late to change any notes that night; but he determined in themorning, as early as possible, to get rid of those evidences of hisguilt. In the meantime, he went to bed utterly miserable.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
Mr Padman became anxious when neither Emery nor Sass Gange returned atthe expected time. On sending to the bank he found that no money hadbeen paid in. He made inquiries if they had been seen, and learned thatEmery had sent for his portmanteau in the morning. He at oncedespatched a messenger to Gange's lodgings. Gange had left with his bagin the afternoon. Mr Padman immediately suspected the truth. He sentto the police, and to each of the railway stations. Lance's master, MrGaisford, was his lawyer. He hurried to consult him as to what othersteps it would be advisable to take. Lance was in the room receivinginstructions about a draft, and not being told to withdraw, remained.With sincere grief he heard of Emery's guilt.
"He comes from Elmerston, do you know him?" asked Mr Gaisford, turningto Lance.
"Yes," said Lance, "he was a schoolfellow, and I saw him but a few daysago. I have also frequently seen the man who is supposed to haveaccompanied him."
"If we can find out where they have gone to I will send you down with anofficer and a warrant. It will save much trouble, and you will be ableat once to identify them, and the sooner they are captured the lessmoney they will have spent."
The number of the cab happened to consist but of two figures; afellow-lodger of Sass had remarked it, and heard him order the cabman todrive to Euston Square station. A clue was obtained in the course of afew hours, and a telegraph message sent to stop the fugitives. BeforeEmery had reached Liverpool, Lance and the officer, having warrants forhis and Gange's apprehension, were on their way.
The cunning old sailor, however, having obtained all the gold as hisshare, had quitted the train and gone off to Hull, leaving his unhappydupe to follow his own devices. The Liverpool police being on thelook-out for an old man and a young one allowed Emery to pass, thoughnot altogether unnoticed; and when Lance and the London officer arrived,the latter, suspecting the true state of the case, inquired if a youngman of Emery's appearance had arrived alone. The hotel which he haddriven to was at once discovered, and he was still in bed when theofficer, followed by Lance, entered the room. He awoke as the dooropened. As the officer, turning to Lance, asked, "Is that the man?"Emery gazed at Lance with a look of the most abject terror, unable toutter a word.
"Yes, I am sorry to say he is Emery Dulman," said Lance, his voicechoking with emotion.
The usual form of arrest was gone through. The officer examined hisclothes, and found the pocket-book with the remainder of the stolennotes.
"Is this your doing, Lance?" asked Emery, at length making an effort tospeak.
"No, it is not; I wish that I could have prevented you from committingthe crime, and I am anxious, to serve you as far as I have the power,"answered Lance; "I advise you to confess everything, and to restore themoney to your employer."
The unhappy youth was allowed to dress, and while at breakfast toldLance everything that had occurred. Of Sass Gange he could say nothing,except that he believed he had entered a second-class carriage.
The wretched Emery, instead of enjoying the liberty and pleasure he hadanticipated, as he sat waiting for the train, with his hands between hisknees and his head bent down, looked the very picture of misery anddespair.
"I have been befooled and deceived by every one--right and left!" hemurmured, evidently wishing to throw blame on others rather than tocondemn himself. "Mr Padman shouldn't have given the money to me tocarry to the bank, and he ought to have known what an old rascal thatSass Gange is. To think that the villain should have played me soscurvy a trick, and have gone off and left me in the lurch! Then tohave lost so much money to these cheating card-sharpers. I expectedonly to meet gentlemen in a first-class carriage. I would punish themfor robbing me if I could catch them--that I would, and they woulddeserve it! And now to have you, Lance, whom I looked upon as a friend,ferret me out and assist to hand me over to prison, and for what you cantell to the contrary, to the hangman's noose, if the matter is provedagainst
me. I wish that I was dead, that I do. If I had a pistol, I'dshoot myself, and get the affair settled at once!" he exclaimed, jumpingup and dashing his fists against his forehead.
Lance did his utmost to calm the unhappy youth. "My poor Emery, Satanhas duped you as he dupes all those who listen to his agents, or to theevil suggestions of their own wicked hearts. `All our hearts aredeceitful, and desperately wicked above all things,' the Bible tells us.Notwithstanding which, had you sought for strength from God's HolySpirit, you would assuredly have resisted the temptations thrown in yourway. I have ever been your friend, and I wish to remain so. Youremember the line in our Latin Grammar--`A true friend is tried in adoubtful matter.' As a friend, I rejoice that through God's mercy youhave been arrested in the downward course you had
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