DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0169
BENJIE BLUNTS CLEVER ALIBI. 157
Bell's possession, but merely inferred their guilt from circum-
stances which I shall notice further on. Therefore the task
which Benjie conferred on me was much more difficult than I
imagined. I had Bell watched for a day by a smart little raga-
muffin whom I engaged for the purpose, and then I broke in
on them at what I thought was the most favourable moment
—about ten o'clock at night. The "kitchen" was full, but
Pauley and Bell were in more select and favoured society—the
room of the lodging-house keeper, who was helping them
to dispose of some bad whisky. Bell looked angry and excited
when I appeared and my men closed the door; Pauley
looked concerned, and hurriedly said something across
the table to Bell in an undertone, when she made a swift
motion as if to wipe her mouth with her hand. All that took
place while the fat lodging-house keeper was rising, and, in
tones of innocent wonder, asking what I sought at such a
time.
I had not an answer ready, for I was thinking of Bell's
peculiar action, and watching her closely the while; but at
length I said pleasantly to Bell—
" I want to know how old you are, Bell."
" Then I won't tell you," she fiercely answered.
" I didn't ask you. I mean to find out for myself. You're
such a horse of a woman—I want to see if I can tell by look-
ing at your teeth. Come away, now, like a good soul, open
your mouth."
Pauley turned pale, and Bell closed her lips more rigidly.
" Sha'nt," she defiantly answered, in a mumble through her
teeth.
" Ah, ladies are always shy on that point; I must take you
to the Office, and get a crowbar to prize open your jaws," and
I got out my handcuffs to fit one on her, when she suddenly
made a desperate gulp, and then turned crimson in the face,
and began to wave her arms and kick her legs at a fine rate,
gasping, and choking, and sputtering, but failing to get the
impediment either up or down her capacious throat. She
opened her mouth now without being asked, and the chasm
thus displayed was enough to frighten the bravest, but she was
so evidently in pain, and urgent in her motions, that I made
an attempt to relieve her.
Others tried in turn, but at length we had to send for a
doctor, who, with a peculiar instrument—like a long bent pair
of forceps—managed to bring out of her throat an Indian gold
Bell's possession, but merely inferred their guilt from circum-
stances which I shall notice further on. Therefore the task
which Benjie conferred on me was much more difficult than I
imagined. I had Bell watched for a day by a smart little raga-
muffin whom I engaged for the purpose, and then I broke in
on them at what I thought was the most favourable moment
—about ten o'clock at night. The "kitchen" was full, but
Pauley and Bell were in more select and favoured society—the
room of the lodging-house keeper, who was helping them
to dispose of some bad whisky. Bell looked angry and excited
when I appeared and my men closed the door; Pauley
looked concerned, and hurriedly said something across
the table to Bell in an undertone, when she made a swift
motion as if to wipe her mouth with her hand. All that took
place while the fat lodging-house keeper was rising, and, in
tones of innocent wonder, asking what I sought at such a
time.
I had not an answer ready, for I was thinking of Bell's
peculiar action, and watching her closely the while; but at
length I said pleasantly to Bell—
" I want to know how old you are, Bell."
" Then I won't tell you," she fiercely answered.
" I didn't ask you. I mean to find out for myself. You're
such a horse of a woman—I want to see if I can tell by look-
ing at your teeth. Come away, now, like a good soul, open
your mouth."
Pauley turned pale, and Bell closed her lips more rigidly.
" Sha'nt," she defiantly answered, in a mumble through her
teeth.
" Ah, ladies are always shy on that point; I must take you
to the Office, and get a crowbar to prize open your jaws," and
I got out my handcuffs to fit one on her, when she suddenly
made a desperate gulp, and then turned crimson in the face,
and began to wave her arms and kick her legs at a fine rate,
gasping, and choking, and sputtering, but failing to get the
impediment either up or down her capacious throat. She
opened her mouth now without being asked, and the chasm
thus displayed was enough to frighten the bravest, but she was
so evidently in pain, and urgent in her motions, that I made
an attempt to relieve her.
Others tried in turn, but at length we had to send for a
doctor, who, with a peculiar instrument—like a long bent pair
of forceps—managed to bring out of her throat an Indian gold