Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/371

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A CHILD OF THE JAGO

over 'ere," said Josh aloud. "Come on!"

"Shut up, you damn fool!" exclaimed Bill Rann, in a whisper. "D'jer want to wake 'im?"

"Umph! Why not?" was the reply, still aloud. Bill began to feel that his pal was really drunk. But, silent once more, Josh applied himself to the door of the inner room. It was crank and old, worn and battered at the edges. Josh forced the wedge end of the jimmy through the jamb, splintering the perished wood of the frame, and, with a push, forced the striking-box of the lock off its screws. There was still a bolt at the top; that at the bottom had lost its catch—but this gave as little trouble as the lock. Bill Rann strained the door open from below, the jimmy entered readily, and in a few seconds the top bolt was in like case with the bottom.

They entered the room behind the

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