Year: 1859

secure whoever IL might be. If he leaped
oversthe railing of the eauseway, and took
to the water, there was the boat in which
TO follow and capture him.


Mr.. Frazer was very particular to prac-
tice his allies in springng quickly from their
place OF concealment, and impressing upon
them and my father the necessity of all act
ing together, keeping careful watch and
strict silence. And now, SIR Mr.. Frazer
said to my father, as distant clock chimed
quarter to twelve, it is time to get our
places and to bait the trap, so please hand
me the bag that may mark it, and some of
the coins, so as to be able to identify them
at the trial. He had made up his mind to
nail master Tom this time.


Ny father gave him the bag, saw him
write upon it, and make some scratches on
about dozen of the guiueas and then my
father let himself down in the boat, in
which he was Immediately Joined by the
runner


It's all right said Frazer, in low tone.


DO yon think he will come p whispered
my father


Certain replied Frazer, but hush | we
must not talk, Sir, times up


For three mortal hours did my father sit
in that boat and therunners lay stretched
out on the broad of their backs upon those
hurdles watching for Tom Rocket to come
for his money; and for three mortal hours
not soul approached the bridge, not a
sound but the wash of the swollen river was
hearp. BY the time that the clock struck
three, my father, who had been nodding for
the last twenty minutes, fell fast asleep as
he sat covered up in his cloak, for it was a
bitter cold night; but was very speedily
aroused by hearing Frazer cry out that
they were adrift.


Adrift they were sure enough. The rope
that held them had heen chafed against the
sharp corner of pile ESQ Mr.. Frazer ex-
plained) till it broke, and away went the
boat, whrlng round and round in the ed
dies of the river, fit to make any one giddy.
So strong was the stream that they were
carried a mile aud half down it, before
they could get ashore. My father was for
returning directly to the bridge, and so was
Frazer; but somehow or other, they lost each
other in the dark, and when my father ar
rived there, having run nearly all the way
he found, to his great surprise, that the of.
ficers had left. He rushed to the heap of
stones, and there the first thing that caught
his eye was his pocket book-the money a0aS
gone!


Lord, how he did swear.


Determining to have it out with the run
hers for deserving their posts, he hurried to
/ the inn where they had met, and were to
pass the night. He knocked at the door.
No answer. He knocked again louder
No answer. He was not in the very best
of tempers, as you may guess so he gave
the door big kick. In it flew, and sight
met his view that fairly took away his
breath Tied into FIVE chairs hand and
foot, trusSed up like so many Christmas tur-
keys, with gags in their mouths, and their
five pair of eyes garing at him owishly, sat
the real Mr.. Frazer and his four Bow street
runners. Tom Rocket had managed the
business at the bridge himself! How he
managed to get scent of the plot, and to
seize the officers, all together, just at the
nick of time, my father could never find out,
and no one knows TO this day.


Upon examining his pocket book my father
fonnd all his documents paper on which
was wrtttn these words By destroying
these writings l could have ruiued you. In
doing so l should have injured your client,
whom | respect. For his sake l keep my
word, though you have played me false


Ton ROCKET.


Here Mr.. Josh paused, and smoked for
some time in silence.


AMI what became of Tom asked one of
the company.


Well replied Mr., Josh, after having been
tried three times, and getting off upon some
law qubble on each occasion he who had
robbed the worth of thousands of pounds,
and escaped, was executed at Nottingham
for stealing an old brdl!e.