The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-06-29
A HEAVY RANSOM.

To judge by his haRgard looks nno
che monotonous way In which he was
pacing up and down the room, Hon.
Robert Spencelcy was evidently under
the influence of serious mental do
preston when his particular chum,
Tom Langton, favored him with q
morning call.
"Ilalloal What's up, Cob? by Jove,
you are looking seedy."
Hon. Robert stopped in his purpose
less walk, languidly extended his arm,
lightly touched the tips of his friends
fingers, and hcavcd n deep and bitter
sigh.
'.Are you Ill. chappic, CT has the
peerless, patrician Penelope"
'.Sit down. Tom. The fact is, I've
been fool"
"And how did you discover it?"
swell, as you know, I've been mixed
up bit with Lord Tcmplcton and his
set. Jolly fellows, but inclined TO go
the pace d bit too fast, Hang me, IL
can say No to anything they propose,
and the upshot OF it ell is that In two
nights / have lost upward of three
thousand pounds sterling playing cards
at the Junior Aborigincs = ut least,
that's the amount they hold my Us
for"
"What confoundedly bad luck You
must have had!"
Il posted down to The family nest
yesterday, laid the whole affair before
the governor, and vowed that would
never touch card again II he would
help me out of this scrape."
.'And he has refused?'
'Point blank. lie reminded mdsthat
on several occasions he had paid off my
legitimate debtS-snall in comparison
TO this onc-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 II was q
most dishonorablc way either of maxi
ing or getting rid of money.
I'm conclusion, he told me that as II
was most desirable that l should break
off from this connection, he proposed
TO reduce my allowance to five hundred
pounds year, during which time am
70 travel and sec as much of the world
Us can on paltry ten pounds week.
land what did you say?'
"Nhat could say? | have no choice
In the matter. have made up my
mind that I will not go to the money
lenders, and so must get these fell
lows TO wait until can redeem my pa
per-" .
Look here, old chap. I'll come with
YOU for time, md we'll 60 in for a
walking tour"
Tom, you arc a brick. Let us start
this week"
Three months had elapsed since Rob
crt Spcncelcy's departure, during
which period frequent communications
each bearing expressions of regret
for the past and promises for the fu-
turc-kcpt Lord Nethwick fully &c
-quaintcd with his sons doings The
absent one seemed to be thoroughly
enjoying himself, judging from hi:
graphic descriptions OF the scenery
and incidents of the walking tour
Then the letters ceased altogether.
Several times lately the doubt had
arisen in Lord Mcthwicll's mind as tc
whether he had not been too severe
remembering that his son had hitherto
borne an irrcproachable character
evincing deep dislike to all the
worse forms of dissipation, and there
was no doubt that this unfortunate af
fair at the Junior Aborigincs was no,
the result of inherent or newly-ac.
.luircd viciousncss, but rather brought
about by false position, in which,
surrounded by companions of wealth
and rcputc, he had been led away By
the excitement md his inability to shy
Mo"
Z Now that no news came from him,
his fathers resolution rapidly gave
way under tho disquicting influence
of foreboding and the continuous en-
treaties of his mother, until at last his
recall was decided upon so soon as tho
next intimation Of his address should
arrive. The next letter did disclose, his
whereabouts, and this was the
thunderbolt.
MOST ILLU5TRIoUs SIoNoR-Tho son OF
your cxcclcncy Is doing US the honor to con
descend our humble hospitality to partasc and
has to us your address given so that we nay
impart his well being He now his departure
desires, but We would that your illustrious ex-
ccllency to us sending the sum of pounds four
for his loss" Thcn followed IA address To
which o communication was to DO sent, and
the missive concluded: ANY Information &c
the gendarmes will DO on tho son Of your cx-
cellcncy. (Signcd) GIUSEPPE"
Giuseppe! The most noted bloodthirsty
and brigand of modern times, abou,
whose crucltics and fortunes SO many
narrowing tales were told by trave
crs, and upon whose head heavy
price had been set long ago.
Lady Methwick pitcously besough'
her husband to send the money a
once.
'They will kill my darling boy, ant
you-you-will have sent him to hi
dcathi'
Her daughters, Hon. Agatha, Ondin,
and Clovis, added their agonized en-
treaties; indeed, so carried away wer
they by their feelings that they actual
ly offered to go without new hats an
dresses for the next twelve months, i
order to contribute to the ransor
money. But his lordship did not be
licve in giving way at once. Doubles
n lesser sum would be accepted, IN