Blackthorn Farm

ve written or wired to him he naturally refrained from doing so. The longer his fath

t was fortunate he had burnt her postcard as quickly as he did. He had not answere

Rupert's arrest. In Crichton's mind there was little doubt but that Rupert was guilty

her and son had no secrets from one another, Jim had not yet told his father of his love for Marjorie Dale. He himself knew there were many reasons against a definite announcement of their engagement. He was still young; needless to say, he could not live on his pay, and though his father made him an al

th been brought up in natural healthy surroundings, it was impossible for them to hide their feelings from one anoth

was all in all to a woman, but to him, while he had his profession, it would only be part of his life. And that at present his life was not his own. No

g his son all about the altered cheque and Rupert Dale's arrest

he, Sir Reginald, was seeing his son had the best legal advice that c

n easy or a pleasant job to tell another man's father that his only son had been arrested on a criminal charge. He was rather annoyed with his father

troubled Jim most of all was the shock the news would give to the woman h

d said. He knew he would have to consider his own position as well as his father's. And he knew as he walked along the banks of the purling Dart in which Rupert and he had often fished together as boys, that before seeing Marjorie a

ever forgotten. They would have to leave Devonshire a

moorland to Blackthorn Farm not a quarter of a mile away. At that mo

; more than anyone else in the world

scovered this. But he had

hough her brother were convicted of

ught the scent of gorse. Here and there streaks of purple showed in red heather where it ha

er what happened, he could not give up Marjorie. If he had only considered his own feelings, it might have been possible, even though it meant a broken heart. But she l

nt humbling himself, even though it m

etween him and Marjorie, he knew he should choose the woman who was destined to be his mate; the girl,

haps a strange one. But Jim i

the grassy ground. A hand was laid on his shoulder and he s

d, jumping to his

lt before and held her so fiercely that she would have

im, her cheeks scarlet, the love and dawn of passion swimming in her eyes. She wore no hat and her hair shone in the golden sunshine. Her neck an

me close to him again, holding ou

arm around her and led her a

news back to his cottage at night that he had seen the young master of Post Bridge Hall making love to old John Dale's da

e, he made as light of it as possible, assuring her that Rupe

ote Mr. Dale would put the worst construction possible on the affair. It's quite a common thing for a man to be arrested by mistake o

eyes and her face was very pale now. "I'm frightened," she whispered

That friend of Rupert's I saw the other day will see him safely up

hey were going to find radium and make a fortune, I believe. I heard them say something about it.... Oh, Jim, we were so happy and everything

in a week. You mustn't think anything more about it. There's something

eyes, almost as if she could not

til-until Rupert's free; this

should happen, it would make no difference to our love! Nothing would force me to give you up. Th

ut he silenced her. "I've made up

w Despard lounging in a chair on the lawn reading the morning newspaper, a pipe between his lips. He glanced up as

he saw old John Dale standing in the doorway, so, gi

thing to say to him in priva

of my son," Dale said

f his guard. "Surely it hasn

" He gave a mirthless laugh. Jim tried to speak, but the words refused to come. He would have done anything to spare the father of the

himself is employing the best legal advice he can obtain, and will see he is given every chance of defending himself. We want you to come up to town, if you will, sir, and, if possible, to catch the tr

I must see him," he whispered. He rose to his feet and held ou

"Rupert's innocent, I'll swear. Anyway, we'

l costs." John Dale raised his head and loo

an hour's time. Perhaps you'll warn Mr. Despard that you want him to go with you. Anyway

though it may not seem quite the moment. I love your daughter Marjorie: I hope to mak

now. But I thank you, Mr. Crichton.... It is just the sor

to announce the engagement now; now, at this moment, while this charge is hanging over your son's head. Do you think a thing like that would

reply he opened the

night Mr. Despard, Rupert's friend, made the same requ

did yo

er a few days. But, putting that aside, I'm afraid I dislike and distru

ed his head between his hands.

tion to me as a so

o answer-but, please say no m

e house into the garden. Taking no notice of Mr. Despard

k we'll have a little run in the car-tea together at Moretonhampstead, perhaps. Or, better still,

bert Despard. The latter scrunched the Western

ng through the gate and hurried across

ton Abbot junction. And he could not help feeling some satisfaction when