, 1860-01-13

"A hundred and ffy, then" said my father.
"Go on" said Tom.
al tell you what it Is, you scoundrel," !" cried
my ihther, +" I'll stake 1--WE hundred against them
Il you'll lose your hold, and fight me fairly for IL
Tom only chuckled.
"Why, what ninny you must take me for, !"
he said "Why should bother myself fighting
for what / can get Without"
"YOu're cur, that's what you are, my father
shouted in fury.
" Don't Be. eros" i" said Tom, at don't become
you to look red in the face. Now attend to me, {"
he continued in an altered tone, ado you see that
bridget Well, there's q heap Of stones in the
centre, isn't theref Very well, if you will place
five hundred guineas in gold, 10 . bag, amongst
those stones, at twelve O'Clock At night, this day
week, YOU shall find your pocket-bOok and al It's
contents in the place two hours afterwards"
"How am TO know that you will keep your
wOrd" my father replied, little sOitened by
the hope Of regaining, even at so heavy price,
the papers that were invaluable to him.
"fm Tom Rocket" replied the rObber, secur-
ing the pOcket.bOOk on his person, "what mean
l say; and what say stick to. Now, get up,
feet, " my pistols don't miss fire."
al shall live to sec you hanged" my father
muttered, adjusting his disordeFed dress.
"Shall help you to catch your horse :" Tom
asked, politely.
"rll never rest till lodge you in JAIL" said
my father, savagely.
Give my compliments to your wife," said
Tom, mounting his horse.
"Confound your impudence," howled my
father.
"Good night" said Tom, with wave Of his
hand, and, turning sharp round, he jumped his
horse over the fence and was out Of sight in .
moment
Itwas not quite fair Of my father, must own |;
but he determined to set trap for Tom Rocket
baited with the five hundred guineas, at the
bridge. He posted up to London, saw bradshaw,
famous Bow street runner, and arranged that
he and his men should come down and help to
catch Tom; but, just at the last moment, Brad
shaw was detained on some important govern
ment trial, and so another runner, Frazer, no
less celebrated officer, took his place.
| Il was settled that the runners should come
by different roads, and all meet at . wayside inn,
about Eve miles from the bridge, at eight O'Clock,
PM, on the day my fathers pocket-boOk was
to be returned. An hour Afterwards, they were
to join him on tho road three fields further on.
Their object, you see, in taking this roundabout
course, was to battle Toms spiesand accomplices,
and to get securely hid about the appointedspot
long before the appointed time.
Ny father was little late at the place Of meet
ing, but when he arrived there, he could see no
one about except loutish-lookiug countryman
in smock frOck, who was swinging on . gate
| hard BY.
"Gcod night MASTER" said the yokel.
| "Good night to you" said nv father.
"Can YOU tell me who this yer letters for ~
/ said the yokel. producing a folded paper.
Nv fafher saw In A moment that Il was his
/ own letter To Bradshaw.
IWhere aid YOU ret that ~ he said quickly.
| "Ah." replied the yOkel. replacing il N his
pocket, 4" that I'd be tellins. Be YER expecting
snybodyY"
"Whats that to you Z" said nv father.
"Oh. nought" scid the woke. oniv 4 eentle-
man from London
Hap cried my father, what gentlemanr
"Will name beginning with 7 suit your
asked the yokel.
Frazerf" The word fell involuntarily from
md hther's lips
That's the name, replied the yokel jump
ing down from his scat and changing his tone
and manner IN amomene I'm Frazer, Sir, and
you're Mr. SandIger, as has been robbed Of
pocket-book containing valuable papers: and
were going TO catch Tom Rocket as has got II
that's our game SIR. All right SIR, and now 70
business
| But where are your men = my hther asked,
when Frazer had explained me reason ior bis
disguise.
An r!gnt again, sr. sald the same runner
they WIZ JON US we nave not much time %
lose, 50 please 70 lead the way.
90 my latner leo tne way, lonoWea ~ frazer,
ana oy tne ume mat tney came IN ssnt o. she
oridge, tney nad oeen joined oy iour LONDON
omcerS 10 uinerent alsguses' ana from olherenI
directions. One sPpearea Is tramp, one a. Z
peoler, ano.ner as genuemsns servant leadlng
z morse, ana tne io9rth 2 SOLDIER. 10 one could
nave guessed mat tney n1a met oeIore, mnch
iess mat tney WerS engaged togetneTi 70 pre- con.
certeo scnSue; ntler gave EIaAes g,ea.
credit lot tne dexterous way IN wnlch ne had
collected ms iorceS
The bridge upon which the money was TO be