Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/31

Rh declaring before the whole class that when he grew up he intended to be a hangman, just for the pleasure of pulling the bolt for the schoolmaster. So ever after Jerry went by the name of "Hangman Jerk," and whenever the pale, washy eye of the sandy-haired Mr. Rash fell on him, the schoolmaster pictured himself upon a ten-foot gallows with that fiend of a youngster adjusting the running noose around his scraggy neck.

This young ruffian, entering on the heels of the schoolmaster, and treading on them hard at every step, took over the bar from the fish girl, Mr. Rash remarking with a show of sarcasm that "he hoped he didn't interrupt a pleasant conversation, and that if he did he was more sorry than he could say to Mr. Denis Cobtree."

Denis replied that he shared the schoolmaster's sorrow himself with a full heart, but the door being open, he—the schoolmaster—could easily go out as quickly as he had come in. At this young Jerk let fly a loud guffaw and doubled himself up behind the bar, laughing. Upon this instant the conversation was abruptly interrupted by the head of Mr. Mipps appearing round the kitchen door, inquiring whether it was their intention to keep him waiting all night.

"Quite right, Mr. Mipps, quite right!" retorted the schoolmaster, and then turning to Imogene, he said: "Mr. Mipps wants us at once." Denis was about to make an angry retort, but Imogene passed him and went