DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0035
BILL yS BITE.
23
" Ah, I see, he has injured you, and you want to pay him
back," I said, not admiring Billy much, though his treachery
was to bring grist to my mill.
" He kicked Kate, my sister, and she died, and I've told her
often since then that I would bite him for it, and now I've got
the chance I must keep my word."
_ I took Billy into one of the waiting-rooms and drew from him
his story. Billy told the story much better than I could put it
down though I were to spend months on the task. He showed
me also the piles of base florins put up in screws ready for use,
and offered them to me. But while he had been telling the
story I had been studying the position. I had perfect faith in
Billy's truthfulness. The tears he shed over the narrative of
Kate's death would have convinced the most sceptical. I there-
fore explained to him that in order to secure Rodie the full
strength of a good bite it was necessary that I should take him
and Joss in the act, and if possible with the supply of base coin
in their possession. To that end I arranged to see the three
next day at the race-course, and explained to Billy how he was
to act when he got from me the required signal.
I had the idea that Billy was densely stupid—almost idiotic
—and that therefore the scheme would be sure to be bungled,
but in this I misjudged the boy sadly. If Billy had been the
most acute of trained detectives lie could not have gone through
his part with more coolness or precision. When I had my men
ready and dropped my handkerchief, Billy quickly wriggled
himself out of a crowd and hastily thrust the valise containing
the reserve of base florins into the hands of Rodie, who hid the
same under his jacket and looked nervously round. The
comical fiend helped him. They had not long to look. We
were on them like bloodhounds the next moment. Joss was
easily managed, but Rodie fought hard, and struggled, and
kicked, and finally threw away the valise of base coin in the
direction of Billy, with a shout to him to pick it up and run.
Billy looked at him, but never moved.
" You kicked Kate, and she died. It's Billy's Bite," he
calmly answered, when Rodie worked himself bla^k in the face,
and the comical fiend nearly choked himself with hastily con-
cocted jokes.
The two got due reward in the shape of fifteen and twenty
years respectively, but Billy was sent to the Industrial School,
and is now an honest working man.
23
" Ah, I see, he has injured you, and you want to pay him
back," I said, not admiring Billy much, though his treachery
was to bring grist to my mill.
" He kicked Kate, my sister, and she died, and I've told her
often since then that I would bite him for it, and now I've got
the chance I must keep my word."
_ I took Billy into one of the waiting-rooms and drew from him
his story. Billy told the story much better than I could put it
down though I were to spend months on the task. He showed
me also the piles of base florins put up in screws ready for use,
and offered them to me. But while he had been telling the
story I had been studying the position. I had perfect faith in
Billy's truthfulness. The tears he shed over the narrative of
Kate's death would have convinced the most sceptical. I there-
fore explained to him that in order to secure Rodie the full
strength of a good bite it was necessary that I should take him
and Joss in the act, and if possible with the supply of base coin
in their possession. To that end I arranged to see the three
next day at the race-course, and explained to Billy how he was
to act when he got from me the required signal.
I had the idea that Billy was densely stupid—almost idiotic
—and that therefore the scheme would be sure to be bungled,
but in this I misjudged the boy sadly. If Billy had been the
most acute of trained detectives lie could not have gone through
his part with more coolness or precision. When I had my men
ready and dropped my handkerchief, Billy quickly wriggled
himself out of a crowd and hastily thrust the valise containing
the reserve of base florins into the hands of Rodie, who hid the
same under his jacket and looked nervously round. The
comical fiend helped him. They had not long to look. We
were on them like bloodhounds the next moment. Joss was
easily managed, but Rodie fought hard, and struggled, and
kicked, and finally threw away the valise of base coin in the
direction of Billy, with a shout to him to pick it up and run.
Billy looked at him, but never moved.
" You kicked Kate, and she died. It's Billy's Bite," he
calmly answered, when Rodie worked himself bla^k in the face,
and the comical fiend nearly choked himself with hastily con-
cocted jokes.
The two got due reward in the shape of fifteen and twenty
years respectively, but Billy was sent to the Industrial School,
and is now an honest working man.