But, unexpectedly, a constable seeing the
inspector, came hurriedly towards him, saluting as he spoke.
"Please, sir, you're wanted at the station," he said. "A
message was sent to Rexton."
"I have just come from Rexton. What is it?"
"That man who was arrested for coining, sir?"
"What about him?" asked the inspector, while Jennings listened
with all his ears. He was far from expecting to hear the
reply.
"He is dead, sir," said the policeman.
"Dead! What do you mean? He was well enough this morning."
"Well, sir, he's dead now--poisoned!"
"Poisoned!" echoed Jennings, and thought--"Ha! here's an
undesirable witness got out of the way." Then he followed in
the wake of the inspector, who on hearing the news, hurriedly
walked towards the police station. Here they found that the
news was true. The constable left in charge of the office was
greatly agitated, as it seemed he had been lax in doing his
duty. But he made a faithful report.
"It was this way, sir," he said, trying to speak calmly. "A
boy of fifteen, very poorly dressed--in rags almost--came
crying and asking for the prisoner. He said the prisoner was
his father."
"How did he know that, when the prisoner gave no name and was
arrested only last night?"
"The boy--Billy Tyke his name is, so I suppose the father is
called Tyke also--says his father went out last night. He
was always a drunkard, and left the boy to starve. The boy
followed him later, and knowing he would be on the burst, went
to the public-house, where the man was arrested for passing
the bad shilling.
Pages:
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245