Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-07-06

OIScIOScu Inc DO1O Drlgand' staggering
reply-a cardboard box containing a
mans ear packed in sawdust, and in
side the lid these words were scrawled:
NO less than four thousand Part
of his excellency is sent free SO that
he may hear your decide which was
final"
In after years that day always re-
manned impressed with startling vivid
ness on his lordship's memory. What
with his wife's continual fainting fits;
his three daughters in consecutive hys-
terics, their conscious intervals being
employed in upbraiding him IL snch
severe terms that one would have
thought that the poor man had himself
cut his sons ear off; his own mental
anguish as he remembered that the
future head of his house would never
be able to hear both sides; the horrid
possibility Of getting the wanderer
back for nothing-a piece at time,
and the fear that at that moment fur
ther fortunes might be in course of in
fiction-hc often marveled, not only
that he survived it, but that reason did
not altogether forsake her lettering
throne.
in the softening shades of twilight,
Lady Methwick and her three daugh-
tiers, dressed in black, went in solemn
procession to a distant part of the
grounds, where, beside a ripping
stream and beneath a spreading tree,
the gardener had already dug grave.
There, with fresh bursts of tears and
passionate sobs, the box of sawdust
with its precious freight was solemnly
buried, and a cairn built over and
about its resting place.
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters, one to the brigands agree
ing to their terms, the other to friend
of the family, who happened to be a
consul in the near neighborhood, in
closing a draft for four thousand
pounds, and begging him to put him
self in instant communication with
Giuseppe and obtain the captive's re-
lease.
The consul did as he was desired,
and, in compliance with instructions
from the robber band, who were evil
IDENTIFY taking every precaution against
being trapped, proceeded alone one
evening, carrying a parcel of four
spot on the outskirts OF forest. Here
he was met by a sunburnt, black
bearded giant, picturesquely attired in
his native dress, who carried rife,
while a couple of revolvers and a
poniard adorned his sash. Motioning to
the consul to follow him, he proceeded
but q few PAGES into the forest, then
halted and blew long, low, peculiar
whistle on his fingers.
Approaching footsteps wers immedi-
ately heard, and there emerged from
among the trees the whilom prisoner,
alone. AS he ranged up to the side of
his deliverer, the gold was handed
over, carefully counted, and then, with
a low bow, the robber turned on his
heel, at once disappeared, without hav
ing uttered a word, and the consul and
his purchase were free to depart.
Methwick hall was ablaze with light
on the evening of the heirs return to
his ancestral home. The female por-
ton of the family had spent the day
in alternately laughing and crying for
joy, and were now in state of intense
excitement, anxiously awaiting the re
turn.of the carriage from the station.
Presently the sound of wheels was
heard drawing up to the door, and
mother and sisters rushing out, fell
upon Robert, Rugged him and kissed
him and half dragged, half carried
him into the house, but it was not IN
til after they had been for some time
assembled in the library that there
flashed across their minds the remem-
brance of that horror that lay buried
beside the stream. His mother first
made the discovery.
why, Robert, you have two ears!'
1.-TWO ears, mother! Have / net al
ways had two?'
But we buried one of them"
Hon. Robert was evidently in the
| dark. and when they explained he de-
clared (truthfully) that he knew moth
| ing about iC- As a word-painter ne
| proved a decided failure, considering
the adventures which they expected
him to recount He had nothing to re-
| late, simply monotony waiting for the
| ransom, and, no matter how they piled
him with questions, he could tell them
nothing of the doings of the gang, for
he said he never saw any OF them ex-
cept the one who had him in charge.
a few days after his return, plead
ing the necessity of a visit to West
| End tailor, he travelled to London,
after receiving strict injunctions and
| giving a promise to shun his old haunts
and companions Arrived in town, he
at once proceeded to Tom Langton's
chambers, and his first words to his
chuu were:
Il say, Tom, what about that ear
| nd I 3f,7l =
Well, / thought you might object
and as 1t was desirable to bring things
to climax, got it from the dissectiDg
room at the hospital through a stu
dent"
1T took me quite by surprise whe1
they accused me of having two ears
and told me they had buried one o
them But how about the money?'
Il have told the fellows that yol
, have negotiated a loan and empowered