Fritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-HunterWheeler, Edward L. (Edward Lytton)
General
Fritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-Hunter
Wheeler, Edward L. (Edward Lytton)
Detective and mystery stories; Ventriloquists -- Fiction
"That? Why, that's Honorable Granby Greyville," the fat man
replied--"the rich haristocrat who owns most of the land hereabouts. A
right big-feeling man, too, as you say."
"Granby Greyville, eh?" Fritz commented, under his breath. "Vel, dot
ish funny. I thought sure dot was Captain Gregg, der smuggler, und I
don'd vas so much foolished apoud it yet. I'll pet a half-dollar I
find oud somedings pefore I leave der blace."
Resolved to remain a few days in the village for the purpose of
prospecting, Fritz made himself at home about the hotel.
One suspicion after another was gradually occurring to him, and he was
not slow to give them a thorough consideration prior to putting them
to test.
Of all things, he was desirous of attending the "jollification," as
the horseman had termed it, with a view of seeing the countess, who,
he learned, had lately arrived from England, in her own steamship, for
a few weeks' stay upon the Atlantic coast, and a visit to her
prospective husband, Greyville.
During the afternoon a man entered the tavern, who evidently had
"blood in his eye." His whole appearance seemed to indicate that he
was anxious to have a fight with some one, and was not particular who
it was.
He was a large, raw-boned fellow, with great muscular development; his
face was large, with a bristling stubble of black beard upon the lower
portion; his eyes were dark and wild, his hair silvered with broad
streaks of white, and worn in a shaggy, unkempt mass.
His mouth was large, and his teeth projected beyond his lips, in a
horrible manner.
His attire, too, was ragged and greasy, with clumsy, stogy boots upon
his feet, and a dilapidated hat upon his head.
On entering the room, he paused and glared around him, as if in search
of some one on whom to vent his wrath.
"Well, Bully Jake, what'll ye have!" the tavern-keeper demanded, with
a frown, for the ruffian was evidently an unwelcome intruder.
"Waal, I don't keer ef I do take a drap o' likker!" the man growled,
glaring around.
"You to blazes! I mean, what d'ye want here?" Fat John grunted.
"A fureigner--a fureigner! Ye know I'm death on 'em, an' thar can't
none o' 'em can stay around hyar, while I hev things _my_ way."
"What foreigner is there here, now?"
"A Dutch cuss, blarst his eyes! Thar he sets," and he indicated Fritz
who was tipped back in one corner. "Oh! but I'll go through him,
though! I'll pulverize and sow him to the seven winds of the earth."
Then, with a tragic stride, he made for Fritz, pausing but a few paces
away from him, and shaking his fist fairly in his face.
"You, look!" the ruffian cried. "D'ye know who I am?"
"Vel, I dinks I don'd vas haff made your acquaintance!" Fritz replied,
retaining his seat, but on guard for an attack, if one was made.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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