The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13

"Yes, Mr.. Biddulph," continued
Sandy, approaching nearer to Biddulph,
and lowering his voice into a mysterious
whisper; "but might 1 be bold, sir, before
commence my story, as to see that we
have no listeners?" And Sandy looked at
the door, which was slightly ajar.
"Certainly. Be good enough to shut
the door, and then sit down and tell me
all you know"
Sandy went to the door first, and peeped
out; then he drew a chair close to Bid
dulph's, and sat down on the edge of it.
Il want you to understand first, please,
Mr.. Biddulph," he began in low and con-
fidential tone, ''that in coming here to-
night, in one way, am making sacrifice
OF my feelings; but in matters of business
we must put feelings into our pockets"
81 do not in the least understand your
meaning"
"Not yet, sir, but you will come to it.
Let usfrst have a clear arrangement; am
a man of business, and 1 like everything
on the square. The sum of one thousand
pounds is to be paid down, then, by you
TO the person who brings such information
to you that the police shall be able to lay
their hands on the party who shot the
lady in the Glen?"
"Have l not said SOP" asked Biddulph,
impatiently.
''That is arranged then; the next thing,
perhaps, that had best explain, Mr.. Bid
dulpl, is who l am and how | happen to
be mixed up in this business"
Il shall be glad to hear"
81 manage Mr.. Alick Fraser's business
affairs in Glasgow" began Sandy, with
rather grand air; but hasty exclama-
ton from Biddulph stopped him.
'Mr. Alick Fraser! He is not mixed up
In your coming here tonight, is he?"
asked Biddulph sharply.
"No, Mr.. Biddulph, he is not-not in
any way mixed up; in fact, he would
have stopped me il / had taken him into
my confidence. But a sense OF justice,
and a sense of what is due to a gentleman
in your position, sir, has induced me in
this matter not to consider Mr.. Fraser
exactly"
"Well, if he has nothing to do with it,
you can 90 on"
81 shall 90 on, sir, for he has not. To
put things in proper order, Mr.. Biddulph,
must return now 10 yesterday after
noon, when it became known in the vii
had offered for the discovery of the muir
derer of the lady. Ii created an excite
ment, sir. The police were excited, and
shall not deny that l was also. l may
here mention, Mr.. Biddulph, that it has
long been my desire to start in business
on my own account, and that want OF
capital has alone prevented me. thought
to myself, here is Il chance of capital If /
can only hit the right nail on the head. L
determined to try. | tried to hear what
the police were whispering TO each other,
for l have long ears; but they took good
care | should hear nothing, for they are
very artful, are the police. But as l kept
moving about sir, among the people, with
my ears open, may say, two lads passed
me whose words L thought very signif-
can't"
This was in Balla?"
"In Balla, sir, about 7 p. m, when it
was growing dusk and the people were
still talking all around about your offered
reward. Said one lad to the other. as
they passed me, But Just think, Rob
what this money would do for us The
other replied, For all that, | wouldn't
have 1T on my conscience; and L won't
break my word
"Mr. Biddulph, these words struck me.
I'm sharp, and the manner of both the lads
lows OF between eighteen or twenty
brothers, by the likeness between them
and were dressed, one in gamekeeper fash
ion, the other as n workman or wood
man. Well, followed them-not close,
you know; but / kept them in sight,
and presently they went into a little
thatched hovel, not far from the roadside.
on Mr.. Alick Fraser's property. l hung
about till 1t was quite dark, and then l
crept on my hands and knees round
little hillock at the back of the cottage,
until got close up to the mud walls. 1t
was little better than q heap of stones
sir, and there were plenty of chinks that
could put my ears 70. and my eyes also,
for that matter. They had a good log
fire on the hearth, and they were cooking
something in a cauldron hung over it
that smelt uncommon well, anyhow; and
an old wife, deaf and smoke-dried. was
sitting smoking. / listened; what do you
think they were talking about, Mr. Bid
dulph?"
''how can 1 possibly tell?" said Bid
dulph
about yourself, sir-quite free-like.
May make 50 bold as to tell you exactly
what they said"
"Of course you can"
"Well, sir, the one they called Rob said
il was bad job from beginning to end,
and that he wished you had never come
into the country side. It's played the
vera dell wi the young laird he said;
he's changed mon
with the young laird ?'' asked Biddulph
inquiringly.
Meanwhile young Mr.. Malcolm Fraser,
sir, as l soon discovered. Then they talked
on about n set-to that you and Malcolm
Fraser had had together, and said there
was i'll blood between you, and the like.
Still said the one they called Tam-the
elder brother--'the young laird had ma
right 10 make muir-cock OF the puir
leedy'"
"What2" cried Biddulph, with some ez-
element
''fhat was what Tam said, sir and then
he began hammering on again about the
money. With such q sum they could take
farm; they could 90 10 Australia and be-
come rich men, and hundred things be-
sides. Tam kept saying all this over and
over again, but Rob said very little, and
sat with his head hanging down. Then
suddenly he looked up, and spoke quite
sharp-like.
Ma, won't he said; Il won't bring
the young laird TO the gallows for a. the
gold that Ger was coined Don't talk nae
muir about it, Tam, my minds made up;
and luke here, be added, drawing some
money out Of his pocket. heres five SOW