The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-20

She stood there with erect form and fash
ing eyes, fighting the battle for her abb
sent son.
"send for Rob Mackenzie" she said;
'1et the boy come here, and see if he dare
repeat this base lie before Malcolm's
mother"
'NIy poor Jeanie, it's no use," answered
Jock with q groan, 'if Malcolm's hands
were clear, why did he 60 away2 And,
Jeanie, haven't told you, for God knows
never distress you when / can help it, but
I've been uneasy about Malcolm ever since
that womanlwas shot in the Glen. haven't
liked the looks OF the LAD; I've had sort
of presentiment, ! think, that he had some
thing TO do with it, for l knew that Rob
and he were out on the hills that day"
"And what are you going to do2 Sit
down and let foul suspicion fall on him
without trying to clear it up?'
'My dear, best let us see what they do;
the longer this is kept quiet, the better 1t
is for Malcolm now"
And before it was dark they knew at
Airdlinn what "he1p were going to do.
Jock was sitting with bent head over the
breakfast-room fire, and Mrs. Jock walk
ing up and down in uncomfortable agita-
tion in her bed room, when a ring came
to the house door-bell, which caused the
hearts of both parents almost to stand
still.
Then the housema ID came and told Jock
that "some of the polls are here" and
wanted to speak to him; and with
blanched face he rose and went into the
hall to face the accusers OF his son.
The same inspector who had examined
the footprints in the Glen OF Balla, imme-
diately after the woman's death had oc-
CURED there, now stood before Jock
Frazer and respectfully touched his he'll
met as he appeared.
''Vera sorry to ha' to come here on such
an errand, Mr.. Fraser" he said in his
broad Scotch accent, and with genuine
look of sorrow on his honest face, 'but
fra information received, I'm bound to
do it."
Then the agonized father had to hear
again the same miserable story that he
had listened to in the morning from Nora's
lips. Sandy had lost no time, and the po-
lice had lost no time; and Tam Macken-
zie, on pressure, had admitted the truth
of Sandy's story.
But Bob Mackenzie was not to be found.
| Still, on the strength of Mr.. Sandford
Hills information and Tam Mackenzie's
confirmation of the story, warrant had
been already issued for the arrest of Nal
colin Fraser, and the police had arrived in
Airdlinn to seek him.
Jock Fraser, on hearing this, behaved
with considerable firmness.
"This is an extraordinary story, Mr..
Andrews" he said, addressing the head
constable; "but my son Malcolm is not
here to answer your charge. lie left for
London last night"
''Then, suppose he got scent of this 2''
"That cannot say; but he is certainly
not here" replied Jock Fraser.
The police consulted together for a few
minutes, and then announced that they
would be compelled to search the house.
"All right do your duty" answered
Jock; and he turned away, going straight
to his wife's bedroom, who was standing
in a state of almost distraction.
"Jeanie" he went and put his arm
through hers-"be brave woman now,
for my sake and the 2 Or lads. The men
are here"
''To take-Malcolm? whispered the
poor mother, with white lips.
"They can't take him, thanks to Nora
Stewart, and I've put them on the wrong
scent, the Lord forgive me. l told them
he started last night for London, and you
must stick to the same story"
Mrs. Fraser gave few gasping sighs,
and held her husbands hand fast. The
police found them thus, the husband and
wife-they who had been togetherthrough
long years of sunshine, standing together
in the storm-and the head constable adj
mitted afterward that he nigh broke
down at the sight"
But neither in the mothers bedroom
nor anywhere in the long struggling corri-
dors of the old irregular house did they
find the young heir of Airdlinn. But they
found his rifle and his shooting-shoes,
which the head constable measured with
a significant sigh, and then took posses
sion OF. All his belongings were lying
about his room-his books, his letters, his
pipes Everything, indeed, bespoke of a
secret and hasty fight; and such was the
conclusion the police came to.
."He's been warned, they said to each
other; "but ten to one he is hiding among
| the hills, with the lad Rob Mackenzie
along with him. Ay, he'll be stealing
home in the dusk" And for many days
! they watched the house at Airdhnn, but
Malcolm never came; and Rob Mackenzie
had also mysteriously disappeared.