"Here, youngster--pass the straps yonder and hold on to his legs!"

The blow had so rattled Leicester--had come so very near to smiting
him senseless--that he scarcely struggled whilst we bound him,
trussing him like a fowl with the aid of Miss Belcher's riding-crop
which she obligingly handed. He was not a pretty object, with his
mouth full of blood and two of his teeth knocked awry, and we made
him a ludicrous one. Towards the end of the operation he began to
spit and curse.

"Gently, my lad!" Mr. Rogers turned him over.

"You came here to settle up and we don't mean to disappoint you.
Let's see what you're worth." He plunged a hand into Leicester's
breeches pocket and drew forth a coin or two.

"Let me alone, you '--' thief!" roared Leicester, his voice coming
back to him in full strength.

"Indeed, Mr. Rogers," the Rector protested, "this is going too far, I
doubt."

"It's funny work for a Justice of the Peace, I'll own," he answered,
with a grin at Miss Belcher. "Lydia, my dear, be so good as to bring
one of those candles: I want to have a look at these coins. . . .
Ah, I thought so!"

"Put that money back where you found it!" snarled Leicester.
"By God! I don't know what you're after, but I'll have the law of you
for this evening's work!"

"All in good time, my friend: you shall have as much law as you like,
and a trifle over. See, Rector?" Mr. Rogers pointed to a scratch on
the face of one of the coins.

Leicester began to smell danger. "What's wrong with the money?" he
demanded. Then as no one answered, "There's nothing wrong with it,
is there?" he asked.

"Depends where you got it, and how," he was answered.

"Look here--you're not treating me fair," urged the rogue, changing
his tune. "If it's over the money you're knocking me about like
this, you're maltreating an innocent man; for I had it from Parson
Whitmore--every penny."

"Ah, if you can prove that"--Mr. Rogers's face was perfectly grave--
"you're a lucky man! The Reverend Mr. Whitmore has disappeared."

The scoundrel's face was a study. Miss Belcher turned to the window,
and even the Rector was forced to pull his lip.

"Disappeared," Mr. Rogers repeated, "and most mysteriously.
The unfortunate part of the business is that before leaving he made
no mention of any money actually paid to you. On the contrary, we
gathered that for some reason or other he owed you a considerable sum
which he found a difficulty in paying. Let m