Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

unnerved and shattered to go out with him, but threw himself on the sofa, completely prostrated. Half an hour later the

is handcuffed to the bed, and Knapp, in so serious a matter as this, would not, I am sure, lend himself to an escape. I have no doubt that with my influence with the other magistrates, and, indeed, on the circumstances of the case, they will commit him on a minor charge only, as the pa

thing is found in his room, we get rid of the charge of receiving altogether, and there would be nothing but harboring, aiding, and abetting-a much less serious business. Look here, old friend, I will strain a point. I will go out into the garden again and walk about for an hour, and while I am out, if you should take advantage of my absence to creep up to your son's room and to search it thoroughly, examining every board of the floor to see if it is loose, and shou

our was nearly up when Mr. Bastow came out; he looked ten years old

ere," he said. "I do not thi

ch two or three of the men from the village, to get them to aid the constable in keeping guard, and a

eturned with two others to the Rectory. He told them briefly that two highwaymen had been arrested during the night, and that as young

take those handcuffs off Mr. Bastow, but see that he does not leave the room, and do you yourse

e has been muttering to himself since, but I don't think he is sensible. The o

Reigate at once, and will br

s business, Thorndyke!" Arth

han I shall, Bastow; it is likely that

arrived. John Thorndyke rode at a gallop down to

partially dressed, at his summons, "has

sent for. The guard was shot. There were two of the fellows. He let fly with his blunderbuss, but he does not seem to have hit either of them, and one rode up and shot him dead

e got your two highw

the constable sai

Mr. Bastow had had a quarrel with his

d. "I am afraid he is a ver

droom window on the first floor. Knapp and I were waiting for them there, and, taking them by surprise, succeeded in capturing them before the highwaymen could use their pistols. The constable and two men are looking after them, but as one has not got over a knock I gave him on the head, and the other has a broken arm, there is little fear of their making their escape. You had b

past three months, that we have been getting quite a bad name. And to think that young Bastow was in it! I have heard some

ney, but he will have difficulty in proving that he did not afterwards abet them

anyone was sick. Well, sir, I will be off in twenty minutes. I will run round at once and send Dr. Hewett up

and expressed great pleasure at hearing that the men who had been such a pest to the neighborhood, and had caused them all personally a great deal of trouble, had been captured. All had heard t

time, it appears to me that there is a broad distinction between his case and the others. I fear that there can be no question that he had prior acquaintance with these men, and that he was cognizant of the whole business; something I heard him say, and which, to my regret, I shall have to repeat in court, almost proves that he was so. Still, l

yesterday, and urged him to enlist, in order to break himself loose from the bad companionship he had fallen into. His reply was insolent and defiant in the highest degree, and it was then that in his father's name I forbade him the house, and as his father was present he confirmed what I said, an

Thorndyke breakfasted at Sir Charles Harris', the last of the t

d, coming out of the lockup as he drew rein before it, "and

e the t

d a thick hat on, your blow would have killed him to a certainty. The other man's arm is set and ban

He was met at the door by his son

that you have killed two men, and that they and Arthur Basto

dead men; one certainly got a crack on the head that render

er? They say that two horses w

. Until their guilt is proved, no one k

rthur Bastow

tions, but if you like to get your pony saddled and ride down with me to Reigate at el

the matter with Mrs. Cunningham, his la

rndyke," she said, "and must b

rid him of this young rascal. If I were in his place I shou

ou won't sit upon

to finding the watches, rings, and money upon them; then, of course, the case will be adjourned for the attendance of the coachman and some of the passengers. I don't suppose they will be able to swear to their identity, for no doubt they were masked

ave to give eviden

but I imagine he will hav

e terrible

rate, one long enough to insure his not coming back during his father's lifetime. If you had seen his manner when we were talking to him yesterday, you would believe that he is capable of anything. I have had a good many bad characters before me during the year and a half that I have sat upon the bench, but I am bound to say that I

think he would do you a

. Cunningham, there is not the smallest chance of his being out for years; and by that time his blood will have had ti

Mr. Bastow do? I should think that he would not like to

d the living to him when I was nine or ten years old, and I may say I saw him daily up to the time when I went down into Sussex. If he resigns I should urge him to take up his residence here and

trouble about putting up the horse and pony. On arriving he handed Mark over to the head cons

ut that two highwaymen should have been captured, and, as was rumored, a young gentleman brought in on a charge of being in connection with them, c

he have been doing out at such an hour as that? He is a good landlord, and they say that Crowswood has been quite a different place since he came to be master. He is a tight hand as a magistrate, and cleared out half the village the first two or three months he was there; but he spent

said. "I hear both the fellows have been shot or knocked about so bad that th

ago-he lives next door to me-and he said that they would be well enough to ap

moved his chair a little apart from them, thus confirming the report that he was in some way connected with the matter, and did not intend to take any part in the decision. Then another door opened, and the three prisoners were brought in. The two first were pale and evidently weak; one had his head wrapped in bandages, the other had the right sleeve of his coat cut off, and his arm bandaged and supported by a sling. Both made a resolute effort to preserve a careless demeanor. The third, who was s

uth Coast coach last night, killing the guard, and robbing the passengers; and Arthur Bastow is ch

ere was an expression of anxiety on his face as the charge was read, and he undoubtedly felt relief as that a

ness, Knapp?" the chairman ask

, your honor, and yesterday

not repeat what another person said to you. You can s

Parson came in together. They sent the servant up to bed, and then the Squire sent me round to examine the fastenings of the doors. I found that one back d

n knowledge why these p

meone came and tried the back door. I heard voices outside, but could not hear what was said. The Squire came down and called me upstairs. I went up and took my place at one side of the window, and the Squire took his on the other. I had this cudgel in my hand, and the Squire his riding whip. A ladder w

not see you and Mr. Thor

hunting crop, and down he went, as if shot. The man next to him turned, but I did not see what took place, for, as the Squire had ordered me, I made a rush at Mr. Bastow and got my arms round him pretty tight, so as to prevent him using his pistols, if he had any. He struggled hard, but without saying a word, till I got my heel behind hi

then kept guard over them till morning. When the constables came up from town we searched the prisoners, and on two of them found the watches, money, and

tly put to him. But the more he had thought over the matter, the more convinced was he that the heavier the sentence the better it would be for the Rector; and when he had heard from the latter that th

inding of the articles produced upon the two elder prisoners

the house further?"

s down here as fast as I could, seeing

airman

e a careful search of the

here with instructions to allow no o

te r

ned to be in the house on watch when the highwaymen arrived. The most important part of his evidence was the repetition of the words young Bastow had used as he mounted

whatever that the younger prisoner would be ac

ence towards his father. My intention was to seize him if he did so, and to give him the choice of enlisting, as I had urged him to do, or of being brough

istrates, and I may say of the public, for the manner in which you, at conside

the others the head

about the character of

pounds. He is constantly drinking with some of the worst characters in the place, and is strongly suspected of having been concerned in the fray between the poachers an

he landlord of the alehouse at Crowswood had been ordered by the Squire not to draw

ses to call?" the chairma

he coachman will be called to testify to the shooting of the guard, and we hope

be called to give evidence unless we think it to be of importance, but he h

were able to testify to the two elder prisoners as the men who had robbed them, as these had been masked, but the height and dress corresponded to those of the prisoners; and the two Bow Street runners then came forward, and gave evidence that the two elder prisoners were well known to them. They had long been suspected of being highwaymen, and had several times been arrested when riding towards London on occasions when a coach had been stopped the night before

of his intention, but intention is not a crime, and even were the evidence stronger than it is, I should be inclined to take a merciful view. There can be no doubt that the young fellow is thoroughly bad, and the bravado he has exhibited throughout the hearing is at once u

would be certain to take his youth into consideration. Had there been prima facie evidence of concealment, we must have done our duty and sent him to trial on that charge; but as there is no such evidence, I think that it will be in all respects better to send him on a charge o

hile the examination went on; but the magistrates agreed that the evidence given was amply sufficient for them to commit upon without given him the pain of

e villagers of their duties when I myself have failed so signally in training my own son; nor visit

ll try not to persuade you to change your decision, for I feel that your power of usefulness is at an end as far as

rstand how. For a time it was given freely, then reluctantly; then I declared I would give no mo

hesitating whether to get a private tutor for him or to send him to one of the public schools. I know that that would be best, but I could not bring myself to do so. I have some troubles of my own that but two or three people know of, and now, th

arrangement for me. You would have your own room, and if I have company you need not join us unless you like. The house would not seem like itself without you, for you have been associated with it as long as I can remember. As to your going out into the world at the age of sixty, it