The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-16
CHAPTER TX.
ALICK'S CLERK.

to meet; and the other to his own clerk
| at Glasgow, who was named Mr.. Sanford
Hill.
When Alick Fraser retired from the firm
| of shipbuilders, of which he was then the
| head, he did not invest all the large for
/ tune he had acquired in the somewhat un-
/ profitable Highland acres that it had been
his lifelong ambition to possess.
| He bought Lord Glendoyne's property,
which was then in the market; but the
/ bulk of his money was left in the busy
city where he had made it. He was the
owner of houses, railway shares, canal
shares and steamers. In fact, he was rich /;
| and though he assumed the laird Mt Inis-
more, in Glasgow he was still shrewd,
| clever man OF business; and Mr.. Sanford
| Hill, at a humble distance, followed in his
| footsteps.
Alick, in his telegram, had summoned
Mr.. Hill to Inismore, and on the follow
| ing day Mr.. Hill arrived. A little dapper
man this, with a round face, fresh com
| plexion, and eager greenish-blue eyes.
He had light, short, sandy hair, and was
universally in Glasgow called Sandy Hill
| He had never before been invited to Inis-
more, and was pleased and proud to re-
ceive this token of his employers favor.
"Well, Sandy" said Alick, who was sit
! ting writing, looking round when "Mr
Hip was announced, but not rising
Then he held out his hard, strong hand,
which was clasped with respectful fervor
by his clerk. "And what do you think of
the placer" asked Alick, now moving his
chair, so as to have a fuller view of Mr.
! Hill.
''Princely," replied Mr.. Hill, almost in
tone of awe, glancing around Alexis
well-furnished room, and finally fixing his
round eyes on the decorated ceiling; 'no
other word woulddO, sir-princelym
'It's not bad" said Alick, with sup
pressed pride.
''Not bad? Ha, ha, hap laughed Mr.
Hill, unable to control his delight "That
Is like you, sir-always joke; not bad,
not bad, indeedp'
"And yonder is my brothers. place."
continued Alick, rising and proudly point
ing across the loch to Airdlinn; there is
the old roof-tree under which | was born.
Sandy's face became instantly grave.
''It's inspiring, sir he said: Il call it
absolutely inspiring. The ancient family
home in view OF the princely residence
raised by-eneTgy, sir, genius, sir, indus
try, sir; you have 'em all.
We'll, I've not worked for nothing,
Sandy, eh? smiled Alick.
"You'v We only got your due, sir; head
like yours must win-a marvellous head"
Zone requires long head"
eyes, yes; one requires it-a shrewd,
long head and mind, sir. The mind
must be there"
81 want you to use yours, then, Sandy,
at the present moment. l have sent for
you on little business"
81 hoped so sir" answered Sandy, doing
his best not to betray his disappointment
He had hoped that Alick had intended to
pay him a compliment by inviting him to
Inismore, though he knew this was not
Alexis way.
There is a man who has lately arrived
here" continued Alick, beginning to pace
the room with his stalwart steps; "a new
man, whose past history want to find
out. He is called Biddulph; ; and his uncle,
the late Col. Biddulph, left him place
across the lOch named Dunbaan; and
have motive for finding out all about
him. Do you understand"
Perfectly" said Sandy who had been
listening with profound attention.
Il want you to stay on here, then, for
a few DAYS; to mix familiarly with the
keepers and others, and learn all you
can"
ButSandy's face had changed color at the
word keepers"
81 would do anything for you, as you
know, sir" he said, shifting uneasily first
one foot and then the other; "but as re-
CARDS firearms, I'll admit, sir, am ner-
vous."
Alick laughed his loud laugh.
''I forgot you are a bit of a coward" he
said. Mix with the maids, then, man, if
you like it better; only find out about Bid
dulph, and report it to me-"
ssI)O Won wish the rpOOTt tO 1n favOrq bl
or otherwise, sir?" said Sandy, resuming
his business habits.
Again Alick laughed.
"Well, I'm not particularly fond OF
him." he said.
II understand" answered Sandy; Mr..
Biddulph's private life and character to
be inquired into Inquiries, OF course, on
the quiet?"
"0f course. And, Sandy, as these
things cost money, there is el0 to begin
with" and Alick drew out from his open
desk 10 sovereigns, which Sandy respect
fully pocketed.
"And I've been thinking" went on
| Alick, who never allowed any feelings TO
stand in his way, "that it wouldn't do
about here for you to be known to be in
my direct employment. People would
not be SO open with you as / wish them
ter, Sandy; be apainter, or a house-deco-
rator-anything.
Sandy was not quite unaccustomed to
carry on private inquiries More than
once he had ferreted out information that
had been of great assistance to Alick Fra
ser; but to be requested to assume a new
character was rather startling. However,
after considering Jew moments, he had
a suggestion to offer.
''Pve brother, sir, he said, 'in a small
way as an upholsterer."
1.-THE very thingl" cried Alick. "Be your
| brother for the next few days. Some Of
| the upper bedrooms are not finished yet !;
pretend to be taking an inventory of what
! Is wanted This will throw you with the
women about the house, and you'll hear
all their gossip. Not that want to hear 1t,
though" he added, Except as regards
Biddulph."
"Only as regards Biddulph," repeated
! Sandy.
"And now, 1 dare say, you want some
thing to eat. I'll ring for my housekeeper,
Mrs. Ker, and introduce her to Mr.. Hill,
the upholsterer, and tell her you are a
most respectable man, quite to be
| trusted" and once more Alick Fraser
| laughed his loud laugh.
! He carried this programme out Mrs.
Ker, comely, middle-aged widow, pre-
sently received her masters commands to
treat Mr.. Hill, the upholsterer from Glas-