ng was the cause of
the murder. Now, my dear," continued McShane, "I think I can unravel
all this; the murder has been committed, that's evident, by somebody,
but not by Joey, I'll be sworn; he says that he is not guilty, and I
believe him. Nevertheless, Joey runs away, and a verdict is found
against him. My dear wife, I happen to know the father of Joey well; he
was a fine, bold soldier, but one who would stick at nothing; and if I
could venture an opinion, it is, that the murder was committed by
Rushbrook, and not by the boy, and that the boy has absconded to save
his father."

The reader will acknowledge that McShane was very clear-sighted.

"That's my opinion," continued McShane. "How it has been managed to
make the boy appear as the party, I cannot tell; but knowing the father,
and knowing the son, I'd stake my commission that I've guessed at the
truth."

"Poor boy!" exclaimed Mrs McShane; "well, the Commandments say that the
sins of the father shall be visited upon the children. What can be
done, McShane?"

"Nothing at present; it would injure Joey to raise a hue and cry after
him; for, you see, if he is apprehended, he must either be tried for his
life, and convicted himself, or prove that he did not do it, which
probably he could not do without convicting his father; I will, however,
make some inquiries about Rushbrook himself, and if I can I will see
him."

The same evening the schoolmaster again called upon McShane, to say that
two persons had come to the school in the afternoon and asked to see
him; that one of them, shabbily dressed, but evidently a person who was
not of so low a class in life as the other, had accosted him, when he
came into the parlour, with, "I believe I have the pleasure of speaking
to Mr Slappum; if so, may I request the favour to see my little friend
Joey, whom I met yesterday walking out with the other young gentlemen
under your care, as I have a message to him from his father and mother?
The dear boy was once under my tuition, and did me much credit, as I
have no doubt that he has done you."

Now, the usher had told Mr Slappum that Joey had been addressed by this
person the day before, and the schoolmaster presuming, of course, that
it was Joey McShane, replied,--"I am sorry to say that he left this
house last night, and has absconded we know not where. He left a letter
for Major McShane, which I have this day delivered to him, acquainting
him with the unpleasant circum