118 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



The ruffian's face twitched. 



" 'Ow much brass 'ave yer on yer ? " he asked presently. 



" About twenty pounds," was the reply. 



" Yer mun let me ha' it." 



" Very well." 



" An' this 'ere an' all." 



" If you will." 



" You've got to thank these 'ere kids for this. An' now 

 I'll undo yer." 



So saying he bent down to loosen the strap that bound 

 the wrists of the captive. 



Just at that moment there came a shout from behind; 

 then another in the opposite direction, another and an- 

 other, on either hand. The man leapt to his feet like a 

 hunted animal at bay and snatched up his gun. 



" Blast 'em," he cried, " they've got me ! " 



"All right," said Lord Middleford, "I'll put it straight for 

 you." 



" Yer can't, guv'nor. They wants me for murder. I 

 slogged a warder and sloped the night afore last." 



The shouts came nearer, and men in the uniform of the 

 County Police, as well as some gamekeepers, were seen 

 approaching on all sides. 



Jackson gazed wildly around him, but no escape seemed 

 possible. 



" See, they're slops ! " he cried, " an' some o' your chaps wi' 

 guns an' all. 'Taint no use showing fight." An oath escaped 

 his lips. " They shan't take me alive, any'ow, I've spared you ; 

 now look that my missus and the little 'un don't come to want." 



Then putting the gun muzzle in his mouth, he pulled the 

 trigger. 



Simultaneously with the report a sergeant of police, 

 followed by a constable and a gamekeeper, burst through 

 the bushes. 



