The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-05-09
VOL. XXVII.-NO. 27.

retorted, with the box already under his
arm.
Stop, You blackguardly thief Stop,
say !" hoarsely shouted his father, running
up from where he had been looking after
some rabbits. But the son turned in terror
and fied-not far, however, for a new conner
appeared on the scene Willie Allan, true
to his appointment with Kitty, though he
hardly expected to see her, emerged from
the wood. "Hulloa !" he said placing
himself in front of the runaway, dwhats
up?"
"Fell him deadl' yelled Adam.
Let him go, said Kitty, but so softly
that her lover could not make out what
she said.
"You'd better turn back" he said to
Aleck, but the fugitive, brought to bay,
was desperate.
"Let me be, he said, cor by--Tn
stab you, drawing A claspknife from his
pocket.
'You scoundrel y cried the other, in a
white heat, ''would you commit murder p
Willie was credited with possessing more
science than any other man in Black
ford, and where will you find good boxing
if not in North Northumberland ? He
made feint, and the vengeful blade of his
adversary glittered in momentary streak
of moonlight, but to no purpose, for side
leap carried its object out of reach, and
Willie landed a lefthander like horses
kick Just above the right eye of his oppo-
nent, who fell all his length on the snow,
] Il. - - i
which the conqueror threw contemptuously
into the brook "Get up and fight like
man, he said, but Aleck was beaten.
Adam was in ecstasies Bring the box
round, lad; never mind that villain.
Willie lifted it, but on feeling the weight,
'No, nc" he replied, dropping it quickly,
che can take it buck himself Lift it up
and wade, he said, ''and if you drop it or
try any tricks I'll bray your head into
putty
"Let me carry it round by the big
bridge" besought the now thoroughly
cowed Sandy.
mo, by heaven" said the other,
''lhrough the burn you go;" and, willing
or not, he forced him to ford the current,
]
in running leap.
"What is it about?' he then found time
to ask.
"You've stopped bit ugly work, I'm
thinking said Adam, upon whom the full
extent of the crime began to dawn, as he
dimly recognized the shape, size, and weight
of his money box in the clouded, uncertain
light "These two have been trying to rob
me"
"Neyer!' said Willie. "Kitty, you
wouldn't do that p
"Come up and make sure, said Adam.
With that they all began silently to re-
trace their steps, only Kitty slipped away
in front as if to avoid embarrassing ques-
tions Willie was very thoughtful. Just
as they were coming to the door he said to
Adam in low, troubled voice, which he
tried hard to make Indifferent. "Look
here, Adam; you haven't lost anything by
this row, and there isn't much use in ex-
posing her, is there? p
''No, was the reply; ''but since they're
so fond I'll make them marry and set up
house by themselves" With that they
entered the kitchen, where Aleck, all
shivering with his bath, deposited the box
on the floor A cheerful freight showed
Kitty, not, as might have been expected,
with abashed countenance and the demea-
nor of culprit awaiting justice, but with
heightened color and sparkling eyes-far
BONNER than ever, as her old lover could
not help thinking.
"There's your true blood, she said to
Adam, but pointing to his son, "and this
has been fine nights work for him. 1t
began with rObbing you that's done so
much for him; then the sweetheart that
liked him so well as to run away with him
he left on the wrong side of the burn; and
then to draw his knife on an honest man
| You'll never seek to make me wed him
now p
''That you shall, you shameless hussy,
broke ont her uncle. You're not fit for
Allan and m sure from what I've seen
this night he wouldn't look at thief
''No, | couldn't do that said Willie;
'but there's no need for me here" and
with sad and regretful countenanee he
was about to leave when he was stopped
by burst of mischievous laughter from
the impenitent but bewitching culprit
''It's Bets box, she said.
"Bet's box = said Aleck; and Bets
box r echoed Adam and Willie.
"Aye, Bets box, - said Kitty.
! ''Sure enough it's not my box, said the
uncle, dragging it into the light; ''it's the
same size, but not the color. But what
] ever is making il 50 heavy ?"
That was soon discovered. The red;
headed servant girl canle forward with
smile on her gaping mouth that suggested
.he part she had taken in the trick.
''There's stone of shot," she said, "and
there's the horseshoes from the back yard,
and there's the rusty keys that used to lie
in the stable, and here's my old petticoats
stuffed in to keep them from jingling, and,
she added, ''the weights and the Aatiron p
aBy George y said Willie, che must
have meant to start pack. Would you
have stabbed me to save that dirt?'
''IIe didn't know what it was, answered
for him Kitty. "I just wanted to try his
mettle, so put this box in the room Of the
other one, and it's back in its place now,
neither touched nor opened.
'I'm glad of that lass, said the old pub
ican, and though there was not much in
the words, there was a something in the
voice that made them sink deep. at
would have been bad day for me when |
found you turning against me. But, Will
lie, lad, if you want to catch this skittish
flly, you'd better be quick. Down to the
minister's you go tomorrow and get your
names asked; and as for you, you lubberly
sumph, after making a fool of yourself
like that what's to come Of you ?"
''Marry him to Bet, suggested Kitty.
sThe very ticket !" returned her uncle.
"Will you have him, Bet Y
"Aye, that will |, . said the laconic maid.
| m 1 81 fa..'c 90