The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21
FOULPLAY.
A Novel.


A novel;
cHAPTERH.
That same evening sat over their ten, in
Norfolk Street, Strand, another couple, who
were also father and son; hut, in this pair,
the Wardlaws were reversed. Michael Pen
old was II reverend. gentle creature, with
white hair, blue eyes, aud great timiiity;
why, il stranger put to him question
he used to look all round the room before l,e
ventured to answer.
Robert, his son. was n young man, with n
large brown eye. mellow voice. square
shoulders, and prompt and vigorous man.
ner. Cricketer. Scholar. Parson.
They were talking hopefully together over
living Robert was going to buy: it was
near Oxford, he said, and would not prevent
his continuing to take pupils. But,
luther, said he, '.it will be place to take
my wife to ii lever have one; and, mean.
time. hope you will run down now and
then, saturday to Monday"
"That I will. Robert, All! how proud she
would have been to hear yon preach, it was
anyways her ureum poor Thing.
Let ns think she can hear me-, said Rob.
ert. "An'i have got YOU still; the pro.
reals of this living will help me To lodge you
more comfortably"
You are very good, Robert: i would
rather see you spend it upon yourself; hut,
dear me, what Il manager you must be to
ircss so beautifully ns you do, aud send
your old father presents US You do, and
yet put by fourteen hundred pounds to buy
this lying"
You are mistaken, sir, have only saved
four hundred; the odd tllousaud- But that
is IL secret for the present"
20, am not inquisitivr; never was"
They chatted about things Of no import
nnre whatever, and the old gentleman was
Just lighting his candle to go tn bed, when
visitor was nshered into the room.
The Penfolls looked IL little surprised. but
not much. They had no street door all to
themselves: no liveried dragon to interpose
between them und unreasonable or unwel-
come visitors.
The man wns well dressed, with one excep.
tion; he wore gold chain. Hehad IL hooked
nose; and black. piercing eye He stood ut
The door and observed every person and
thing in the room infinitely before he spoke u
word.
Then he said. quietly, "Mr. Michael
Paniold believe?"
AT your service. sir"
And Mr.. Robert Penfold:''
IL am Robert penfuld What is your busi.
| ness"'
Pray is the Robert Prnfold' ut the back
of this note your wriring?"
certainly it is; they would not cash it
without that"
80, you got the money. tlcn:'
Ofcourse did,
You huvenot parted with it, have you.'
"NO."
"All the better" He then turned to Michael,
and looked at him earnestly Il moment.
THE fuct is, SIR" said he. there is IL little
irr"gulnrity about this hill which must liz
explained, or your son might be called on to
| refund the cash.
"lrrgularity about-n bil:" cried Michael
Prnfuld, in ,lismay. Who is the drawer
Let me s,e it, dear me, something wrong
about II bill Endorsed by you, Eolrrt?" and
the old man hogan to shake piteously
why, father said Robert. what are
you afrnid of Ifthe bi,l is irregular. I can
but return the money: II s in the house"
fold to go at once with me to the hill broker;
tie lives but few doors oil. And you, sir,
must stay here, and be responsible for the
funds, till We return"
Robert Penfold took his hat directly, aud
went of with this mysterious visitor.
They had not gone many steps, when
in front Of him, said. I'VE can settle this
matter here" At the same time i, police
man crossed the way, and joined them; and
anot her man. who was in face II policeman
in plain clothes, emerged from II doorway,
and stood ut Robert PenfOld's buck.
The detective, having thus surrounded
al n
II ought to have done this job in yo',rho,,sc.
But looked at the worthy old gentleman,
and his gray hairs. thought I'd spare Him
I'LL could. have warrant 10 arrest you
Tor forgery"
Forgery arrest me for forgery" said
Robert Penfold. with some umazemcnt, but
little emotion; for lie hardly seemed to take
1t IN, in all its horrible Significance.
The next moment, however. he turned pale,
| an'i almost staggered under the blow
We hud better go to Mr.. Wardlaw."
said he. IL entreat you to go to him with
me-"
Can't lie DONE" said the Detective.
"Wardlaw has nothing to do with it. The
bill il stopped. You are arrested by the gent
that cashsd it. Here is the warrant; will you
go quietly with us, or must put the darbies
Robert was violently ,agitated. There is
no need to arrest me-" he cried: "lshall not
]
clergyman Of the Church of England and
you shall not lay hands on me.
But one of the policemen did lay hands on
him. Then the Reverend Robert penfnli
shook him furiously oil, and. with one active
bound, sprang into the middle OF the road
The officers went at him incantiously. and
the adjective MS lle rushed forward, re-
reived heavy blow on the neck and jaw,
that sounded along The street. and sent him
rolling in the mud; this was followed by IL
quick succession of staggering fucers nd
ministered right and left. on the eyes and
noses Of the suborlnates. These, however,
though bruised and bleeding, succeeded mt
last in graphing their man, and all came to
the ground together, and there struggled
furiously: every window in the street was
open by this time, and at one the white hair
and reverend tace of Michael Penfold looked
out on this desperate and unseemy struggle,
with hands that beat the mir in helpless agony,
and innrticulate cries of terror.
The Detective got up and set upon Robert
Penfolds chest; and ut last the three forced
the liandcutfs upon him. and took him in u
cab to the station house.
Next day, befnre the magistrate, Wardlaw
senior proved the note was IL forgery. and
Mr. Adams partner swOre to the prisoner ns
the person who had presented and Endorsed
the note. The officers attended. two with
black eyes apiece, aud one with his jaw bound
up, and two sound teeth in his pocket. which
had been driven from their sockets by the
prisoner in his desperate attempt to escape
Their evidence hurt the prisoner, aud the
magistrate refused bull.
The Reverend Robert PenfOld was commit
ted to prison, to I've tried at the Central
Criminal Court on charge OF felony
Wardlaw senior returned home. and told
Wardlaw junior, who SAID not a word lie
soon received letter from Robert Penfold,
which agitated him greatly, and lie promised
to go to the prison and nee him.
But he never went.
He was very miserable, prey to an in
ward struggle. He dared not offend his
father on the eve of being made partner. Yet
his heart BLEED for Robert Pcntold.
He did what might perhaps have been ex-
pect.d from that pale eye and l,p.aling chin
he temporized. He said to limself. Before
that horrible trial comes on, shall be the
house Of Wurllaw, and able to draw Il check
for th9nsands. III buy off Adams ut my
So no hoped, and hoped, hut the
accountant was slow, the public prosecutor
unusually quick, and, To young Wardlaws
agony, the partnership deed was not ren,ly
when an implOriny letter was put into his
hands, urging him. by all that men hold
sacred, to attend ut the court as the prison.
er's witness.
This letter almost drove young Wnr,llaw
mad. He went to Adams. and cntrcated
But Adams was incxorable. lie had got his
money, but would be revensed for the fright.
Baffied here, young Warllaw went down
to Oxford aud shut himself up in his own
room, u prey to fear and Ipmorse Ito
sported his oak, and never went out All
his exercise was that of Il wild beast in ,s den.
walking restlessIy up and down.