Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-23
A BIG RANSOM.

To judge by his haggard looks and the
monotonous way in which he was pacing
up and down the room tho Hon. Robert
Spenceley was evidently under the influ-
ence Of serious mental depression when
his particular chum Tom Langton, favor
cd him with o morning call
"Hello! What's up Bob2 By Jove, you
are looking seedy!"
Tho Hon. Robert stopped in his pur-
poseless walk, languidly extended his arm,
lightly touched the tips of his friends fin
gers and heaved deep and bitter sigh.
care you Ill, chappie, or has the peer
less, patrician Penelope
"Sit down, Tom. The fact is, I've been
fool"
"And how did you discover it?"
"Well, as you know, I've been mixed up
a bit with Lord Temptown and his set.
Jolly fellows but inclined to go the pace
bit too fast. Hang me if can say No
to anything that they propose, and the up
shot of it all is that in two nights l have
lost about 93, 900 playing cards at the Jun
Tor Aborigines-at least that's the amount
they hold my o US for.
"What confoundedly bad luck you must
have hadP
IT posted down to the family nest yes
terday, laid the whole affair before the
governor and vowed that would never
touch a card again if he would help me out
Of this scrape."
"And has he refusedP"
"Point blank. He reminded me that
on several occasions he had paid off my
legitimate dcbts-small in comparison to
this one-but he considered playing cards
for high stakes so outrageously foolish
that he could not and would not help me.
| told him they were debts Of honor, but
he said it was a most dishonorable way
either of making or getting rid of money.
| Gin conclusion he told me that as it was
most desirable that I should break off from
this connection he proposed to reduce my
allowance to $500 for one year, during
which time 1 am to travel and see as much
of the world as can on paltry G1O q
week."
"And what did you say?"
"What could say9 have no choice in
the matter. have made up my mind
that will not go to the money lenders,
and SO 1 must get these fellows to wait
until 1 can redeem my paper"
"Look here, old chap I'll come with
you for q time, and we II go in for walk
ing tour"
"Tom, you are brick. Let us start this
week"
Three months had elapsed since Robert
Spenceley departure, during which period
frequent communications, each bearing
expressions of regret for the past and
promises for the future, kept Lord Meth
wick fully acquainted with his sons do
ings The absent one seemed to be thor
oughly enjoying himself, judging from his
graphic descriptions of tho scenery and
Incidents Of the walking tour. Then the
letters ceased altogether.
Several times lately the doubt had arts
en- in Lord Methwick s mind as to whether
he had not been too severe, remembering
that his son had hitherto borne an ire
proachable character, evincing a deep dis
like to all the worse forms of dissipation,
and there was no doubt that this unfortu
nate affair at the Junior Aborigines was
not the result Of inherent or newly &C
quired viciousness, but rather brought
about by false position in which, sur
rounded by companions of wealth and re
pute, he had been led away by the excite
ment and his inability to say "No."
Now that no news came from him hi
fathers resolution rapidly gave way undel
the disquieting influence Of forebodine
and the continuous entreaties of his moth
or, until at last his recall was decided upor
: so soon as tho next intimation of his ad
dress should arrive. The next letter die
disclose his whereabouts, and this wa
the--thunderbolt:
MOST ILLUsTR1oUs SIGNoR-The son Of you
excellency is doing us the honor to condescent
our humble hospitality to partake and has +
us your address given SO that we may impair
his well being. He now his departure desires
but we would that your illustrious excellenc.
to us sending the sum of pounds 1900 Eng
lische, that we may be solaced for his loss
Then followed an address to which com
munication was to be sent, and the missiv
I concluded:] Any information to the gendarme
will be on the son Of your excellency.
GIUSEPPE
Giuseppel The most noted and blood
thirsty brigand of modern times, abou
whose cruclties and fortunes SO many har
rowing tales were told by travellers, an
on whose head a heavy price had been Sc
long ago.
Lady Methwick piteously besought he
husband to send the money at once.
'sThey will kill my darling boy, an
you-you will have sent him to his death !!
Her daughters, the Hon. Agatha, Or
dine and Clovis, added their agonized or
treaties. Indeed, so carried away wer
they by their feelings that they actual
offered to go withouAnew hats and dresso
for the next IL months, in order to cor
tribute to the ransom money. But hi
10 lordship did not believe in giving way q
e once. Doubtless lesser sum would be OK
!. cepted, and while negotiations were i
,e progress and there was chance of the rar
g som being ultimately paid he did not thin
& his son would bo in any danger. So b
E. sent an offer Of $4,000. The reply to thi
e was a curt refusal, and postscript adde
J; in Robert Spenceley's handwriting was
!. FEATHER, send soon. Feel sure they wi
4. not take less But still Lord Methwic
D would not give in without another effol
i. to reduce the amount, and he increased hi
= offer to go, 600.
The day came when Gfuseppe's repl
N was due, but it did not arrive, and per
ID I'M anxiety caused his lordship two sleeI
- - less nights and two miserable, irritabl
q days. On the third morning among til
d. contents of the postbag was small parce
!, the handwriting Of the address Of whic
was Immediately recognized. With tren
Z. bling fingers Lord Methwick tore open I'll
4, packages and there lay disclosed the Dol