A STORY OF THE ROAD 8: 



command a dozen votes ; l)ut his prosperity had a sad 

 drawback in the person of his son, a good-for-naught. 

 Durino- a certain Berkshire election, a Tory solicitor 

 was staying at this inn, and had occasion to go to 

 London for the sinews of war. His gig was stopped 

 on his way back, on Hounslow Heath, by a gentleman 

 of the road. 



" I have no money," said the lawyer, with pro- 

 fessional readiness, " but there is my watch and 

 chain." 



" You have a thousand pounds in gold in a Ijox 

 under the seat," was the unexpected reply ; " throw 

 back the apron ! " 



The lawyer obeyed, but as the horseman stooped to 

 take the box, the lawyer knocked the pistol out of his 

 hand and drove off at full gallop. He had a very 

 quick-going mare, and before the highwayman could 

 find his weapon, which had fallen into some furze, 

 was beyond pursuit. 



The next morning the lawyer sent for the landlord. 

 " Yesterday," he said, " I was stopped on Hounslow 

 Heath. The man had a mask on, but I recognized 

 him by his voice, which I can swear to. I knew 

 him as well as he knew me. You had better speak 

 to your son about it, and then w^e will resume our 

 conversation." 



The landlord was quite innocent of his son's intended 

 crime, but he had reason to believe him capable of it. 

 He went out with a heavy heart, and when he came 

 back his face showed it. " Well," he said, with a sort 

 of calm despair, " what steps do you intend to take, 

 sir, in the matter ? " 



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