Abilene weekly reflector., 1896-01-02

terics, their conscious intervals being
employed in upbraiding him In such
severe terms that one would have
thoight-that the poor man had himself
cut his sons ear of; 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 tortures might be in course Of In.
fiction-he often marveled, not only
that he survived 1t, but that reason did
not altogether forsake her totterine
throne.
And the climax was reached when,
in the softening shades OF twilight,
Lady Methwick and her three daugh.
ters, dressed in black, went in solemn
procession to a distant part Of the
grounds, where, beside a ripping
stream and beneath 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 u cairi 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 a friend
of the family, who happened to be .
consul in the near neighborhood, In.
closing draft for four thousand
pounds, and begging him to put him
self in instant communication with
Giuseppe and obtain the captives 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 q parcel Of four
thousand sovereigns to an indicated
spot on the outskirts Of q forest Here
he was met by sunburnt, black
bearded giant, plcturesquely attired Ia
his native Dress who carried rifle,
while q couple of rcvolvers and q
poniard adorned his sash. Motioning TO
the consul to follow him, he proceeded
but few PAGES into the forest, then
halted and blew long, low, peculiar
whistle on his fingers
Approaching footsteps were 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
low bow, the robber turned on his
heel, at once disappeared, without hav-
ing uttered 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-
tion 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 carrlage from the station.
Presently the sound Of wheels was
heard drawing up to the door, and
mother and sisters rushing out, fell
upon Robert, hugged him and kissed
him and half dragged, half carried
him into the house, but it was not un.
I'll after they had been for some tims
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 earsl"
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 1t, AS n word-painter he
proved decided failure, considering
the adventures which they expected
him to recount He had nothing to re-
late simply monotony waiting for tho
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 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
chum were:
~ say, Tom, what about that ear,
and why wasn't | told of it?'
well, thought you might object,
and as it was desirable to bring things
to climax, | got it from the dissectipg
room at the hospital through a stu
dent"
1T took me quite by surprise when
they accused me Of having two ears,
and told me they had buried one OF
them. But how about the money!"
II have told the fellows that you
have negotiated a loan and empowered
me to pay your debts Here are the
0 us that have bought up, and the
total amount is about $4,000. The re-
manning 9l,0Oi-"
"You will please keep for yourself, as
arranged, for the double purpose Of
paying you for your trouble and buy
ing your perpetual silence"
Thanks, old chap. l will be ST.
lent as the grave; but, l say, had
difficulty in keeping silence when we
had her majesty consul In the forest
] never wanted to laugh 20 much be-
fore. "-Tid-Bits,
Margaret Of Parma was large,
mentally and physically. Her features
were strong and coarse, her voice mas
culiue. and she had hairy upper lip