The Bishop and the Constable.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVII, Issue 1546, 3 May 1901, Page 7

The Bishop and the Constable.

(By James Workman ) In Four Chapters. CHAPTER IV. For a few minutes the room in which the events already described had taken place remained empty, the silence broken only by the whistling of birds in the garden and the shouts and laughter of lijjht-hearted youths and maids as the boats w*nt by on ihe river. Then Helen and Katie cinie hurriedly in again, glanced anxiously round the room and out of the window, and finding no sign of either of the unfortunate young men, gazed at each other in despair. Even the usually irrepressible and energetic Katie felt helpless in the face of the absurd, but in their eyes anything but laughable, complications in which they had so suddenly and unexpectedly became involved. If they had simply been spectators of what had taken place—if Frank and Arthur had been to'al strangers to them—no doubt Jewson's arbitrary proceedings would have Ik en a source of infinite amusement to them; but. as it was not a smile illumined their pale and tearful countenances. Utterly ignorant of legal formalities, they conjured up dreadful visions of what might happen to Frank and Arthur before they could effect their release, in which handcuffs, treadmills, and unsightly garments marked with the broadarrow played a prominent part. ' If I have to endure this suspense much longer,' exclaimed Katie, 'I shall go crazy—l know I shall. If I were only a man I could do something ; but as it is I have to sit still and drink tea when I feel as if I could —oh ! I don'i know what.' Helen, whose naturally sweet temper was beginning to be soured at the thoupht of Arthur immured in a cell at the police station, eyed her coldly. ' Things wouldn't have been half so bad,' she said, 1 if you'd onlv let Arthur explain everything at first.' 'Wouldn't they V exclaimed Katie, who was now exasperated beyond endurance. 'Then I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll explain everything now. l'i! tell the Bishop everything from beginning to end. There's nothing else to do. and I'll do it.' Unprepared for such very decided action, Helen feebly attempted to expostulate; but Katie waved her aside and energetically pulled the bell. ' These people are stone-deaf,' she exclaimed when no one appeared, and she rang it again more violently than before. Mary opened the door with no very amiable expression on her usually pleasant face. ' Did you ring 1' die asked sharply. 'I should think I did ring,' retorcd Katie. Be good enough to inform the Bishop that I very particularly wish to speak to him for a moment.' ' Wei', you can't speak to him,' answered Mary pertly. ' What, do you mean, girl V exclaimed Katie indignantly. 1 Where is the Bishop 1 I shall go to him myself.' 'Well, if you'll take my advice, you'll be off before you get into trouble. That's what the missis told me to say, "Tell ihem to be off before they get in'o trouble." ' Katie flushed crimson at the gir.'s impudent tone 'What do you mean by this outrageous insolence 1 !' she exclaimed. ' Where is the Bishop T ' He's in the lock-up ; that's where he is,' retorted Mary, ' or on the way to it.' ' The Bishop in the Icck-tip!' cried the horror-stricken girls. 'Yes. he's took up of obtaining money under false pretences. There was a mistake about the other gentlemen. They,ve been let out, and he's took up.' 'Overwhelmed with consternation, the "iris stared at each other with white scared faces. 'Oh dear, this is simply frightful, said Katie at last. ' Whatever shall we do 1' 'There is only one thing we, can do now,'almost sobbed II:;!en. 'Whatever the result may lie, we must go to him at once and tell him the whole truth. Oh. I wish—l do wish—we'd done it at first. Come at once, Katie. Perhaps we can overtake him before he gets to the police station.' 'Yes, yes,' said Kalie, 'let. us gr—let us go at one 3 .' But before they reached the door Arthur and Frank, once snore clothed in their own costumes, stepped in through the window with somewhat sheepish and embarrassed countenances, urged by the laudable intention of explaining everything to the Bishop. The girls shrank away from them. 'Go away,' cried Kalie. 'Don'c speak to up. Go away. You you don't know what you've done.' ' Ye?, yes, go away,' exclaimed Hetan, ' we never want to see you again.' i Eh—what 1 Why, what's the watte:? asked Ambrose. 'Where's the Bishop V ' We're going to him now,' answered Katie, ' and you'd better go away at

once. I—l don't know what he'il say or do.' ' But where is he ?' cried Ambrose impatiently. ' Why can't you tell us where he is I—Here, you, girl—what's your name 1— Mary, where's the Bishop 1' 'He's at the polices'ation,'answered Mary promptly ; ' that's where he is, or on the way to it. ' He's took up.' ' Took up!' echoed the horrified young men. ' Yes,' sobbed Katie, • a bishop taken up on a charge of obtaining money tinder false pretences. It's simply dreadful.' ' Good heavens I' murmured Arthur wiping the perspiration from his brow. This is positively tragic. You see what a mess your silly trick has got us into, Frank.' •If you'd shown a little com-mon-sense we should never have got into a mess at all,' answered Ambrose irritably. ' Just one word of explanation would have put a stop to all these preposterous compliea'ions. Why couldn't you have told the Bishop the truth at once ?' ' Well, upon my word, that is pretty cool,' exclaimed Arthur indignan ly. 'Why, man alive! it was entirely for your sake that I didn't explain things to th° Bishop. 1 ' Well, as it turns out now it would have been much better for both of us.if you had done so,' retorted Ambrose. 'Of course it would, said Katie, emphatically, ' because it'll all have to come out now—every bit of it. You might have foreseen that we should have to explain everything sooner or later.' Arthur stared, opened his mouth and shut it again, and continued to gaze at them in speechless astonishment. 'Yes, it'll come out now, sure enough,'continued Ambrose. ' That ass of a bobby has got our names and addressee, and he's cer f ain to show them to the Bishop. Look here, Arthur, vve'd better bolt. I can't face it o;.t.' 'Bit what about the Bishop?' exclaimed Arthur, finding his tongue at last. 'We can't leave him in the clutches of that thick-headed constable.' 'Pooh! The Bi«hop can take care of himself. He'il just prove his identity, and be back here in five minute".' But Arthur was no longer disposed to follow meekly in Ambrose's footsteps. Like the proverbial worm, he began to turn. ' Well, I think we ought to stop and face it out,' lie rejoined decidedly. ' It's the straight-forward thing to do, and I'm going to do it. Wha r . do you say, Helen?' 'I certainly think you ought to do so,' replied Helen. 'I don't agree with you,' said Ambrose. 'I think it would be much letter to wait until he cools down and begins to laugh at the whole thing. It's impossible that he can take it seriously when he's had time to think it over. What do you say, Katie T 'Oh, do what ■ you like,' replied Katie, despairingly. 'That letter hasn't been posted, and I'm perfect'y sure never will be. What does it matter about anything else 1' 1 Pooh ! It's no use being too tragic about the business,' rej.lined Ambrose. 'We've just got into a scrape, and we'll have to make the best of it. After all, I don't mind having it out with the Bishop if you think it better.' 'Well, you'll have to whether yon like it or not,' said Arthur, who was glancing out of the window, ' because lie's here.' Ambrose turned hurriedly towards the door as if contemplating flight a second time, but thought better of it. and wheeled round again to confront the stately figure of the Bishop, who entered through the window, followed l<y the downcast Jewson. For a moment he stood grimly eyeing the flushed and embarrassed countenances of the young men and women who stood before him like so many naughty children about, to be reprimanded by a justly incensed schoolmaster,

'Ah !' he said at length, ' you did not expect to see me so soon, I presume. Now, permit me to say that I know everything, and you may therefore spare yourself any embarrassing explanations. I may add that a lelegram has just arrived to say that the real j impostor is in custody.' He turned to Arthur and held out his hand 1 Mr D.iie,' he said,' I am a man of few words ; and when I do speak I like to speak plainly and to the point. I have done you an injustice, and I wish to acknowledge it at once. Your conduct throughout this affair has been that of a chivalrous and honourable gentleman. I knew your poor father at college, and I know you very well by report. lam also aware,' he added, with a twinkle in his eye, ' of other circumstances of which I am supposed to be ignorant. 1 shall be pleased if you will dine with me this evening.' 'Oh, my lord!' stammered Arthur gratefully, as the Bishop shook him warmly by the hand, and Helen, blushing rosily, glanced at him shyly. The Bishop turned to Ambrose, and produced the still unstamded letter from his pocket, while Katie and the curate eyed him apprehensively. ' You see this letter, Ambrose V he asked. ' Yes, my lord.'

'You are aware of the nature of its contents ?' ' Yes, mv lord.' ' 1 was about to post it as soon as I had procured a stamp. I have changed my mind.' He deliberately tore it up and ;hrew the fragments into the fireplace. 'Oh, my lord!' exclaimed poor Katie, while Ambrose gazed ruefully at the torn letter. His lordship's eyes, hitherto somewhat grim and siern, begin to twinkle pleasantly, and he smiled on both of them benignly. 'I may say that your boyish escapade has nothing to do with the matter,' he said to Ambrose. ' Ten minutes ago I saw an announcement in to-day s paper which suggest) d it. Possibly—of course I am not sure—but possibly that letter on the man elpiece, addressed to yourself, contains some further information. You had better read if, I think.' Ambrose immediately pounced on the letter and tore it, open, while the others watched him in breathless suspense. • Oh, this is too good ! he exclaimed excitedly. ' I say, what do you think —eh ?' ' What 1 What 1' chorussed. 'Why, Jenkins—dear old Jenkins, b'ess him !—is—is married.' ' Mairied V ' Yes, married a wealthy wife—and —and resigned, so that I'm prac'.ically 'he Roctor of Wegtbeach.' In tha'; supreme moment Katie forgot, the respect due to a dignitary of the Church, and leaping on a chair waved her hand in the air. 'Three cheers for Jenkins!' she cried. ' Hurrah !' Carried away by her enthusiasm, the rest joined in, and then suddenly stopped and looked guiltily at the Bishop But his lordship regarded her with a fatherly smile. ' Ah, youth, youth !' said he - 'You voting people almost mike me wish thai I were a boy again. We'd better drive back at once and all dine together.' To ihis arrangement everyone j iyfully agreed ; but as they were going out Jewson approached the Bishop. 'I hope, your lordship—if you'll excuse me, your lordship—won't say more about this lit;le affair than you can help, your lordship,' said he. The Bishop regarded him with twinkling eyes. 'Experience of the world has taught me, my good man,' he rejoined, ' that we are none of us infallible, not even the police. I hope this little adventure will teach yon the same lesson. 1 shall say nothing to prejudice you with your superiors." 1 Thank you, my lord,' said Jewson, and drew back with a salute. A few minutes later, v ith Mary at. his elbow, he stood watching the carriage bowling rapidly away along the sunlit road, 'Ah, Joe!' said M.iry, with a mournful shake of the head, 'it didn't come off, you see.' 'Not this time, Marv,' said the crestfallen constable; 'but just you wait a bit, my girl —just yon wait a bit.' THE END