Odd Craft | Page 2

all about Isaac and the dissolving views until ten o'clock, when Ginger, who 'ad been very liberal to some friends 'e'd made in a pub, found 'e'd spent 'is last penny.
"This comes o' listening to a parcel o' teetotalers," 'e ses, very cross, when 'e found that Peter 'ad spent all 'is money too. "Here we are just beginning the evening and not a farthing in our pockets."
They went off 'ome in a very bad temper. Old Isaac was asleep in 'is bed, and when they woke 'im up and said that they was going to take charge of their money themselves 'e kept dropping off to sleep agin and snoring that 'ard they could scarcely hear themselves speak. Then Peter tipped Ginger a wink and pointed to Isaac's trousers, which were 'anging over the foot of the bed.
Ginger Dick smiled and took 'em up softly, and Peter Russet smiled too; but 'e wasn't best pleased to see old Isaac a-smiling in 'is sleep, as though 'e was 'aving amusing dreams. All Ginger found was a ha'-penny, a bunch o' keys, and a cough lozenge. In the coat and waistcoat 'e found a few tracks folded up, a broken pen-knife, a ball of string, and some other rubbish. Then 'e set down on the foot o' their bed and made eyes over at Peter.
"Wake 'im up agin," ses Peter, in a temper.
Ginger Dick got up and, leaning over the bed, took old Isaac by the shoulders and shook 'im as if 'e'd been a bottle o' medicine.
"Time to get up, lads?" ses old Isaac, putting one leg out o' bed.
"No, it ain't," ses Ginger, very rough; "we ain't been to bed yet. We want our money back."
Isaac drew 'is leg back into bed agin. "Goo' night," he ses, and fell fast asleep.
"He's shamming, that's wot 'e is," ses Peter Russet. "Let's look for it. It must be in the room somewhere."
They turned the room upside down pretty near, and then Ginger Dick struck a match and looked up the chimney, but all 'e found was that it 'adn't been swept for about twenty years, and wot with temper and soot 'e looked so frightful that Peter was arf afraid of 'im.
"I've 'ad enough of this," ses Ginger, running up to the bed and 'olding his sooty fist under old Isaac's nose. "Now, then, where's that money? If you don't give us our money, our 'ard-earned money, inside o' two minutes, I'll break every bone in your body."
"This is wot comes o' trying to do you a favour, Ginger," ses the old man, reproachfully.
"Don't talk to me," ses Ginger, "cos I won't have it. Come on; where is it?"
Old Isaac looked at 'im, and then he gave a sigh and got up and put on 'is boots and 'is trousers.
"I thought I should 'ave a little trouble with you," he ses, slowly, "but I was prepared for that."
"You'll 'ave more if you don't hurry up," ses Ginger, glaring at 'im.
"We don't want to 'urt you, Isaac," ses Peter Russet, "we on'y want our money."
"I know that," ses Isaac; "you keep still, Peter, and see fair-play, and I'll knock you silly arterwards."
He pushed some o' the things into a corner and then 'e spat on 'is 'ands, and began to prance up and down, and duck 'is 'ead about and hit the air in a way that surprised 'em.
"I ain't hit a man for five years," 'e ses, still dancing up and down-- "fighting's sinful except in a good cause--but afore I got a new 'art, Ginger, I'd lick three men like you afore breakfast, just to git up a appetite."
[Illustration: "I ain't hit a man for five years," 'e ses, still dancing up and down."]
"Look, 'ere," ses Ginger; "you're an old man and I don't want to 'urt you; tell us where our money is, our 'ard-earned money, and I won't lay a finger on you."
"I'm taking care of it for you," ses the old man.
Ginger Dick gave a howl and rushed at him, and the next moment Isaac's fist shot out and give 'im a drive that sent 'im spinning across the room until 'e fell in a heap in the fireplace. It was like a kick from a 'orse, and Peter looked very serious as 'e picked 'im up and dusted 'im down.
"You should keep your eye on 'is fist," he ses, sharply.
It was a silly thing to say, seeing that that was just wot 'ad 'appened, and Ginger told 'im wot 'e'd do for 'im when 'e'd finished with Isaac. He went at the old man agin, but 'e never 'ad a chance, and in about three minutes 'e was very glad to let Peter 'elp 'im into bed.
"It's your turn to fight him now, Peter," he ses.