BLACKTHORN FARM

"The next moment her eyes had seen the tell-tale broad-arrow on the boot and trousers." (Chapter XIX.)

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.—RUINED!
II.—FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS
III.—SALVATION
IV.—RADIUM
V.—THE ACCUSATION
VI.—FORGERY
VII.—THE VISITORS
VIII.—ARRESTED
IX.—A PROPOSAL
X.—IN SUSPENSE
XI.—THE TRIAL
XII.—MARRIAGE IS IMPOSSIBLE
XIII.—THE IRONY OF FATE
XIV.—THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
XV.—ESCAPE
XVI.—"YOU'VE KILLED HIM"
XVII.—AT POST BRIDGE HALL
XVIII.—ALARMED
XIX.—"YOU MUST GO BACK"
XX.—PLANS FOR ESCAPE
XXI.—READY FOR FLIGHT
XXII.—JIM STARTS OFF
XXIII.—SUCCESS
XXIV.—RUBY'S DECLARATION
XXV.—AN EXCITING TIME
XXVI.—AN ARGUMENT
XXVII.—RUBY'S HEROISM
XXVIII.—FINIS

BLACKTHORN FARM.

CHAPTER I.

RUINED!

Rupert Dale sat at the writing-table before the open windows of his sitting-room in Clanton Street, Westminster. It was a glorious summer morning. The sun had torn aside the grey mantle from the face of London. The roofs and spires of the city shone. The trees rustled their leaves in the warm breeze. The roar of traffic echoed in his ears.

Rupert stretched himself, sighed, and leant back in his chair. His table was littered with papers. There were letters, bills, advertisements—principally from tipsters and