Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

the heir to the estate troubled him not at all. The fact that in four years he would come in for some twelve thousand pounds was sufficient to prevent his feeling any uneasiness as to his futu

and there was plenty of time to think of marriage in another three years. Still, the thought occurred to him several times that she was budding out into a young woman, and every month added to her attractions. It was but the day before he had said to himself that there was no reason to wait as long as three years, especially as his father seemed anxious, and would evidently be glad were the match to take place. Now, of course, he said to himself, that was at an end. He ha

is it,

Thorndyke's door shut. Me

aid, jumping hastily out of bed.

her's door. He knocked again and again, and each time more loudly, his face growing p

," he said. "There is

t the door, it yielded. As he entered the room a cry broke from his lips. Within a pace or two of the bed the Squire lay on the ground, on his face, and a deep stain on the car

a low voice; "my fath

ilence for a minute or two; th

, and with the assistance of the thr

ointing to a small cut in the middle

od helpless and aghast. Mark looked round the room: the window was open. He walked to it. A garden ladder stood outside, showing how the assassi

against it on the outside so that no one can come in. John, do you tell one of the grooms to saddle a horse and ride down into the town. Let him tell the hea

can do no good here, poor fellow, and the room

wly, the tears stre

ved him just as I loved the Colonel, sahib

s door could not be opened and the sounds made by its being broken in having called them together. Mark could not speak. He silently shook his head and passed on. As he reached his room

, Mark, and what ar

unningham; my father has been murdered

end and companion-a treatment rare indeed at a time when few sons would think of sitting down in their father's presence until told to do so. Since he had left sch

lad to be tied to his father's coattail as at his mother's apron string. Get fresh ideas and form your own

in the gardens and forcing houses. Generally Mark would be driven by his father to the meet if it took place within reasonable distance, his horse being sent

led he would spend his time in coaches until at last the villain should try to stop one; but there must be other ways. Could he find no other he would apply for employment as a Bow Street runner, serve for a year to find out their methods, and acquaint himself with the places where criminals were harbored. It would b

uld be here soon and the others; indeed, he had scarcely finished when he was told that the doctor from Reigate had just arrived,

ok hands silently. "I expect Sir Charles Harris here i

s going in, but I told him I thought it was better to wait. I may as well take the opportunity of going ups

fatal to him," Mark said; "he has

e doctor repeate

ng round the fire, before the candles were lit. The ball passed between my father's head and Mr. Bastow's; both had a narro

he man's motive? Your fathe

him in a lane, and he got off by the skin of his teeth. I hope that next time I meet him he will not be so lucky. Mr. Bastow was very much shaken, and

e was out in

horndyke. I suppose, after what you

e certainties. Did you hear that he tri

ave heard not

story of the att

ear to him,'

even in a position to prove that he is in the country, for it cannot be said that my father's belief that he recognized the voice of the man who said 'Stand and deliver!' is proof. I doubt if anyone could swear that, when he only heard three words, he was absolutely sure that it was the voice of a man he had not seen for some years. However, fortunately, that will make no difference; the man is, as I told you, wanted for his heading the mutiny in the convict prison

g taken last

irs. We may as well go indoors now; Sir Charles may be here in a few

t suspect,

n to believe that the fellow is not still in the convict prison at Sydney. We shall keep it from him now, whatever happens; bu

strength to fall back upon. Your father has been such a good friend to him that it is not surprising the news should have been too much for him. I examined him at the Squire's request some

s Sir Charles H

espects, a warm friend, an excellent magistrate, a kind landlord, good all round. I can scarcely believe it yet. A burglar, of course. I suppose he entered the house for the purpos

ot the object, but murder; for murder was attempted yesterday evening,

make the act one of premeditated murder; and yet, surely, the Squire could not have had an enemy. Some of the men wh

absolute proofs. Now, will you first come upstairs? Doctor Holloway is here and Simeox, but no one has

we will go

lew. The Squire's watch was still in the watch pocket at the head of the bed, his pu

e leapt out and seized him. Probably the stab was, as Dr. Holloway assures us, instantly fatal, and he may have fallen so heavily that the man, fearing that the house would be alarmed at the sound, at once fled, without even waiting to snatch up the purse. The

night, and I cannot find any marks at all. The ground must have

outside the shed at the back of the house; there was a chain round it, a

ys hung on a nail round the other side of the shed. The Squire knew of it, and so did Mr. Mark and me; so that while it was out of the way of the eyes of a thief, any of us could run and get i

window, which had by some carelessness been left a little open, and went out, and listened for nearly an hour, but I could hear nothing, and put it down to the fact that I

t notice the window wa

moment think that the fellow would return after the hot chase that I gave him. I suppose after I went in he looked about and found the ladder; it is likely enough that he would have had a file with him in

a week or two after he took me on, and the Squire settled where it should be hung, so that it might be handy eit

hould have known which was the

gular," M

with the magistrate in the library, and told him his rea

rcely been accepted as final when he heard but three words, still the whole thing hangs together. The fellow was, I should say, capable of anything. I don't know that I ever had a prisoner before me whose demeanor was so offensive

een over the house. The first year or two after we came he was often up here with his father, but I know that my father took such an objection to him, his manner and language were so offensive, that

thing about all this tomo

but I don't think any man would convict him without stronger evidence than I c

ut leave it altogether for the authorities to prove the Sydney case against him; it will only be necessary for the constables who got up the other case against him to prove his sentence, an

rday and that of this morning have completely prostrated him, and Dr. Holloway, who was

to Mrs. Cunningham that she would come down for

aid quietly. "I wanted to ask how

not have been kinder. It is a grievous loss to me also, after ten years of happiness here; but I have had but little ti

ent to my room I seem to have no inclination to give way to sorrow. I feel frozen up; my voice does not sound to me as if it were my own; I am able to disc

rried off by a cannon ball will fall from the shock, and when he recovers consciousness will be ignorant where he has been hit. It is so with you; probably the sense of pain and loss will increase every day as you take it in mor

to come up this afternoon to make the necessary preparations for the funeral. Let

Wedn

. If there is any message that you want sent down to the

ll do, but I shall want to send a note to Mrs. Wilson presen

nothing to send down for, as far as I know. I suppose you

is sitting w

nd one down to Dr. Holloway, asking him to send an experienced nurse. He said

o come down, he should greatly prefer it, in view of the explanations that would be necessary. He had already sent off a letter to the head of the Detective Department, asking him to send down one of his best men as soon as possible. Then he went out into the gard

able," she said, "as there are only

of tea that he had taken in the morning, and a glass of wine at midday, he had touched nothing. Mrs. Cunningham was a woman

gham," he said, when the dinner w

nk your wine and smoke a pipe. Millicent has gone to bed, completely worn

She turned the conversation now to

years later. My pension as his widow was not a large one, and when your uncle offered me the charge of his daughter I was very glad to accept it. He gave some idea of his plans for her. I thought they were very foolish, but when I saw that his mind was thoroughly made up I did not attemp

he will have to be

were better that she would go as she is

here? And even if I could, it would be a strange thing indeed for me to be here with a girl the ag

d she live he

he harp, and so on. For a time, at any rate, that would be the best plan, unless you would prefer some other place to London. We have done our best to carry out my uncle's wishes, but circumstances have been too strong for us, and it cannot be kept up any longer; but there is no reason, if you

ark? I thought that you we

e window my father thought I ought to know all about it, for the attempt might

Cunningham said. "I do

g full instructions for its discovery, the only clew being a gold coin and the word Masulipat

I said that it would be unfair that you should be brought up believing your

coin and a word are not much to go upon. I have not the most remote idea what th

tors where it was, and instructed them to keep it secret unti

would almost seem to show that he had not told them, for, if he had, the matter would have been of

ope

he afternoon. The inquest will be at eleven o'clock, and it is be