Blackthorn Farm

r and looked at Sir Reginald.

fists Dale strode towards his so

ly, gently! You must keep calm, Mr. Dale. I am sure, on consideration, yo

he had scarcely taken his eyes off his son's face. He was afraid to look any longer lest instead of t

ite one another. The younger man held himself very erect, his head thrown back; he was looking straight at Sir Reginald Crichton, resentment in his e

re kindly voice. "For your father's sake, Mr. Ru

nothing more to say. I

icking up a pencil commenced to tap it

and failed. His great frame was shaken. He took a couple

t it; or, more like, you had it stolen, and perhaps you have a feeling you might be able to point out the thief, only you don't like to s

t time in his life he saw tears in the old man's eyes. He turned his back on

anyone, least of all his father, believing him guilty of such

Sir Reginald and his father would have believed him. But, in spite of the brave words old Dale had just spoken, and in spite of Sir Reginald's patience, Rupert k

the amount on the cheque

direct reply I must naturally suspend judgment. I should certa

red, "directly Sir Reginald told me what

He had only to say outright what he knew about the matter, tell them exactly what had occurr

e to confess that he had been in debt, that he had gone to the races, that he had won a large sum of mon

the bureau. "I'm sure you'll answer me a few questions, Mr. Rupert. They

e nothing to say. If you believe me to be

rawing forward a sheet of paper he pic

did you receiv

igh-pitched tone of voice. He felt he was o

nodded. "You saw the amount for whi

e po

d you do

k I left it on the table

ur movements

these questions ha

, no matter what he asks you. You can have nothing to hide from him. Tell him frankly everything

ted against the sky, a glimpse of the white road bounded on either side by stone walls, and, beyond, the line of moorlands. The twilight had almost g

of the lodging-house in Westminster and watched the river of life rushing torrent-like at his f

," Sir Reginald

d. "I was awaiting the result of my examination. I was out most

at your lodgings and fare down here, or you would h

e rather hard up. That's why I sent you the whole of Sir Regi

son by what he said, but the truth was dearer to him than anything else. And only

rt stammered. "I had mad

interfering, but I shouldn't have thought you could have afforded that. You must be aware that some time a

u I had be

u so carelessly-for, you knew in sending it that he and your sist

feel a cur, making suggestions which he had no rig

, money I'd borrowed from my friend Despard. He's staying with us now. If you want corroborative evidence. I went down to the races and b

it up, saw his opportunity, and very cleverly altering the figures took it to the bank next morning." He rose to his feet. "Of course, I shall have to go up to London and put it into the hands of the police. I'm afraid

n his heel. "I can only tell the police the same thing."

I could not help myself. And it would hardly have been fair to

ly opened the door. "Are you coming, father?"

rt, I'll follow pres

eached Post Bridge. A little way up the hill the lights of the inn twinkled through the darkness. The waters of the East Dart purled beneath him. As they rushed over the rocks the

espicable crime, and that one man his own father, who, not knowing what to believe, doubted him. His own

start in life, an independence. For that he had made many and great sacrifices, even to the mortgaging of the land he owned and which his forefa

ed through the mire, their affairs the gossip of the newspapers of the Devon t

ot frankly confessing that he had gone the way of nearly all young men in London, got into debt, gambled, fallen in love, and saved himself by one of those stra

e sent for, questioned, and bullied; the police would examine her. They would find out that she had gone to the races with him and put the su

he other. Of course, Ruby knew nothing about the missing cheque, and could

s honour or hers. And his honour

water's edge. Every one for miles around knew him, and it was not the moment he wanted to be recognised or aske

man and a woman, and as they passed he recognised his sister Marjorie and young Lieutenant James Crichton, Sir Reginald's only son, who was sp

that moment he knew they were lovers. He waited until t

as boys. Crichton was his senior, and when he left Woolwich and was eventually attached to the Royal Flying Corps, they lost sight of one another. Presently, Rupert's discovery suggested a loophol

But before he had reached his home it had returned again. He entered the p

ntelshelf, a pipe between his lips. An old-fashioned photograph album w

oking at?" he asked with

ph of Marjorie. She was seated on a st

Rupert said. "The local p

his pipe out into the grate. "Do you know your sister's a jolly sight too pretty and too intelligent to be shut up in a wild, God-forsaken place like thi

ugh here," Ruper

.. Perhaps I'd better confess at once that I've fallen in love with her! It's sudden, I know, and, of course, I shouldn't dre