Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-11

| a
card upon our side. II we could oni,
prove 1t. But 1t may be difficult 10 prove
and my advice is TO make very enc,
bargain with your uncle, perhaps ovei
leaving him at Shaws and contcntinl
yourself in the meanwhile with Il fail
! provision"
THE great affalr," l asked, lis I,
| bring home to him the hdnappingyi
Surely" said Mr.. llankellor, land Il
possible out Of court
"Wcll, sir" said /, "herc is my wa,
out of it," And l opened my plot L
| him.
Having gained his consent TO my plan
! ] arranged meeting of Alan, Mr.. Kan
keillor and myself at Alan's hiding place
and after rehearsing our parts we sci
out for the house of Shaws. The lawyer
his assistant Torrance, and | crept quietly
mp and crouched down beside the corner
of the house: and as soon as we were in
our places, Alan strobe to the door with,
out concealment and began to knock.
Having aroused my uncle, Alan began O
barley with him, being refused admit.
lance. what brings we hcrci" says
my uncle, angrily. David" says Alan
When my uncle spoke again 1t was In Il
mighty changed voice, as he asked his
visitors business Alan made himself
out to be Il Highlander into whose fam
lily l had been thrown. after my ship
wreck, and that they We're in manner
holding me for ransom.
My uncle cleared his throat. Tin no
very caring" says he. lie was nae n
good lad ut the best of 1t, and I've nae
call to interfere
"Wel. Mr. Bulfour," replied Alan, "by
all that / could hear. there were two
ways of it; either We liked David and
would pay to get him back, or else ye
had very good reasons for not wanting
him. and would pay for us to keep him. -
My uncle so dilly dullied In his reply
That Alan became angry. "Iroth sir"
he said, 81 ask for nothing but plain
dealing. In two words, do Sc want the
"Oh, Keep 1t, keep itg' walled my
uncle. Wen have nae bloodshed, if
you please"
well, we'll" said Alan, "and now
about the price. It's no very easy for
me to set a name upon it; l would first
have to ken some small matters, l
would have TO ken, for instance, what
ye gave Hoseason at the first off go?'
'Hoscason?' cries my uncle, struck
back. What fori'
For kidnapping David" snid Alan.
Its lee, it's II black leer' cried my
uncle. He was never kidnapped
That's no fault of mine, nor yet
seasons if he's Il man that can be
trusted
What do sc mean cried Ebenezer;
did HoseasOn tell yeT
"Why, yc donncred aud runt, how
else would | KEN cried Alan. "Elo-
season and are partners; we gang
shares; so We can see for yourself what
good ye can do lceing. And | must
plainly say We drove a FOOLS bargain
when We let II man like the sailorman
SO far forward in your private matters.
But that's past praying for; and We must
lie on your bed the way We made it, And
the point in hand is just this: what did
We pay himE
Has he tauld ye himself" asked
my uncle.
'That's my concern" said Alan.
''Wcel" said my uncle, IL dinna care
what he said, he Iced, and the solemn
Gods truth is this, that | gave him
twenty pound. But I'll be perfectly
honest with We; forhy that, he WAS 10
have the selling Of the lad in CarOliny
whilk would he us muclle mair, but
no from my pocket We See"
"Ihunk you, Mr.. Thompson. That viii
do eXcelently well, said the lawyer,
stepping forward; and then, mighty
ciyilly, Good evening, Mr.. Balfour,"
said he.
And, Good evening Uncle Ebenezer,"
said |.
And, Its a Draw NIGHT, Mr.. Balfour,"
added Torrance.
Never word said my uncle, neither
black nor white, but just sat where he
was on the top doorstep and stared upon
us like u man turned 10 stone.
"Come, come, Mr.. Ebcuczcr." said
the lawyer, you must not be down
hearted for | promise you We shall mike
easy terms." Then turning to me and
taking me by the hand, Mr.. David"
says he, II wish you all joy in your
good fortune, which l believe TO be de-
The lawyer and my uncle passed into
the next chamber to consult. They come
to n good understanding, and my uncle
and | set our hands to the agreement in
u formal manner. BY the terms of this
my uncle was confirmed for life in the
possession of the house and lands. and
bound himself to satisfy Rankcillor as
To his intromissions, and to pay me two
clear thirds Of the yearly income.
30 the beggar in the bqllad had come
home, aud when | lay down that night |
on the kitchen chests ] was II man of |
means and had n name in the country.
The next morning Mr.. Rankeillor |
wrote me two letters. making his com
ments on them as lie wrote.
This says he, " Is to my bankers.
he British Linen company, placing
'rcdit to your name. | trust you will
be a good husband of your money: hut
N the affair of friend like Mr. Thomp-
son, | would be even prOdignl. Then.
.or his husman, there Is no better way
han that you should seek the advocate.
ell him your tale, and offer testimony.
Now that you may reach the lord advo-
ate well recommended, | give YOU
lere a letter TO II nHmcsake of your own,
he learned Mr.. Balfour. of pirg. II
VII look better that you be presented
" one of your own name, and the Laird
II Pilrig IL much looked up to IN the
aculty and stands with Lord Advocate
Grant"
Thereupon he took his farewell and
et ont with Torrance for the ferry.
while Alan and ! turned our faces for
he city Of Edinburgh. We talked Of
what should be done: and il was re-
olved that Alan should keep 10 the
ountry, biding now here, now there,
ut coming once In day 10 n particu-
ar place where | might be able 10 COM
nuhlcatc with him. either in my own
erSon or by messenger. In the mean
'llle / was to seek out lawyer. who
Jas an Appin Stewart. and n man,
hereiore, to be wholly trusted: aud ii
mould he his part TO find ship and
range for Alau's safe cmbarkntion.
30 We parted and rs | went on my way
the city ! felt so lost and Lonesome.
lat could have found Il IN my heart to
y down and by the dyke and cry and
'ecp like Il baby.
1t was coming near noon when | pnssed
by the West Kirk and the i,rnss-
lFhet INTO the streets of the capital. .
ue huge heights Of the BUILDINGS, rum
10 q.