For Name and Fame | Page 3

to search, when I come back."
The gypsies, with sullen faces, accompanied Captain Ripon and the

policeman to the magistrate's.
"Is that feather the only proof you have, Ripon?" Mr. Bailey asked,
when he had given his evidence. "I do not think that it will be enough
to convict, if unsupported; besides, you cannot bring it home to any one
of them. But it is sufficient for me to have them locked up for
twenty-four hours and, in the meantime, you may find the other fowls."
"But I have means of identification," Captain Ripon said. "There is a
footmark in some earth, at the fowl house door. It is made by a boot
which has got hobnails and a horseshoe heel, and a piece of that heel
has been broken off.
"Now, which of these men has got such a boot on? Whichever has, he
is the man."
There was a sudden movement among the accused.
"It's of no use," one of them said, when the policeman approached to
examine their boots. "I'm the man, I'll admit it. I can't get over the
boot," and he held up his right foot.
"That is the boot, sir," the constable exclaimed. "I can swear that it will
fit the impression, exactly."
"Very well," the magistrate said. "Constable, take that man to the
lockup; and bring him before the bench, tomorrow, for final committal
for trial. There is no evidence against the other four. They can go."
With surly, threatening faces the men left the room; while the constable
placed handcuffs on the prisoner.
"Constable," Mr. Bailey said, "you had better not put this man in the
village lockup. The place is of no great strength, and his comrades
would as likely as not get him out, tonight. Put him in my dog cart. My
groom shall drive you over to Hunston."
Captain Ripon returned with his groom to Netherwood, and set all the

children searching the gorse, copses, and hedges near the common, by
the promise of ten shillings reward, if they found the missing fowls.
Half an hour later, the gypsies struck their tents, loaded the van, and
went off.
Late that afternoon, the ten missing fowls were discovered in a small
copse by the wayside, half a mile from the common, on the road to
Captain Ripon's park.
"I cannot bring your fowls back to life, Emma," that gentleman said,
when he returned home, "but I have got the thief. It was one of the
gypsies on Netherwood Common. We found two of the fowls in their
pot. No doubt they thought that they would have plenty of time to get
their dinner before anyone came, even if suspicion fell on them; and
they have hidden the rest away somewhere, but I expect that we shall
find them.
"They had burnt all the feathers, as they thought; but I found a breast
feather of a Spangled Dorking, and that was enough for me to give
them in custody. Then, when it came to the question of boots, the thief
found it no good to deny it, any longer."
That evening, Captain Ripen was told that a woman wished to speak to
him and, on going out into the hall, he saw a gypsy of some thirty years
of age.
"I have come, sir, to beg you not to appear against my husband."
"But, my good woman, I see no reason why I should not do so. If he
had only stolen a couple of common fowls, for a sick wife or child, I
might have been inclined to overlook it--for I am not fond of sending
men to prison--but to steal a dozen valuable fowls, for the pot, is a little
too much. Besides, the matter has gone too far, now, for me to retract,
even if I wished to--which I certainly do not."
"He is a good husband, sir."
"He may be," Captain Ripon said, "though that black eye you have got

does not speak in his favor But that has nothing to do with it. Matters
must take their course."
The woman changed her tone.
"I have asked you fairly, sir; and it will be better for you if you don't
prosecute Reuben."
"Oh, nonsense, my good woman! Don't let me have any threats, or it
will be worse for you."
"I tell you," the woman exclaimed, fiercely, "it will be the worse for
you, if you appear against my Reuben."
"There, go out," Captain Ripon said, opening the front door of the hall.
"As if I cared for your ridiculous threats! Your husband will get what
he deserves--five years, if I am not mistaken."
"You will repent this," the gypsy said, as she passed out.
Captain Ripon closed the door after her, without a word.
"Well, who was it?" his