The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-09-10


Borthwick's Close, Edinburgh.
Killed on the 10th.
The paper was much crumpled, as if |
it had met with rough usage, and, what
added to the effect of the direful words,
it was besmeared with blood to such an
extent that some of the letters were
scarcely legible. | would willingly have
kept it from the eyes Of the deaconess,
but she held out her hand tremblingly
to get possession of it, and it was too
| late to attempt concealment. She read
it at a glance, and, as if it had been on
fire, threw it from her, unable to utter
word. "Stay little, said Girvan as
he rose and took his hat. 81 will be
back in 10 minutes" He hurriedly left
the room. And l, taking up the paper,
began to question the officer as to the
person who left it at the bailies' Office.
l ascertained that his name was Hugh
Mcpherson, q cobbler who resided in
the Cowgate, and that his account of the
manner Of obtaining it was that he
found it among straw on the street right
opposite the coach Office in the High
street, from which the coach to Gala
shiels started twice week. 1t was fur
Their stated by Mcpherson that his opin-
ion was that the paper had fallen from
the coach, along with the straw among
which it was found. Before had time
to form any opinion as to the real pur-
port and meaning of this sibylline scrap
Girvan came again hurriedly into the
room, breathing hard, as if he had been
running-an effect no doubt due more
to his excitement than to his bodily ex-
ertion. Laying down his hat, he resumed
! his seat, and putting his hand into his
pocket he drew out another paper some
thing like an account.
, ''Look at that" said he as he handed
; it to me.
; CHANGING over it, found it to be al
: account for skins, due by Girvan to An
! gus Macgillivray, duly discharged
> "What of this?', said |, utterly at {
loss to know the meaning of it all.
; Examine the handwriting Of the tive
, papers, said he.
a did so and Immediately CALCULATED
: "Why, that blood stained scrap is writ
A ten by Angus Macgillivray.
= mo doubt of it," said Girvan. 8
. knew it the moment saw it, but
II wanted TO make sure work.
"And sure enough it is, replied
. ''but what conclusion do you draw fror
Il it?''
i 81 am afraid to mention it, !" was til
a reply.
''But I'm no, cried the deaconess
:, a wild way. 1T is just as l thought.
; she continued as she moved her arms ;
. if to enable her to utter the word
:. "Angus Macgillivray has murdered n
"a husband. ="
; .But why should he publish the a
- in his own handwriting" l rejoined.
~ Because the awful man glories
10 his revenge" she cried again hysteri
Fl ally.
- ''That hardly squares with hum;
% nature" said Girvan. To this asser
a. ed, adding that Angus was not so M
- as not only to write his own condemn
aS ton, but give the officers Of the law
direction to go in pursuit of him.
;. With all these qualifications, it W
., impossible to get rid of the direct
az feet of the words of the paper cleal
= enough indicating that the deacon b
10 been killed by some one, whether Ane
"u or not The officer himself seemed to ha
rs no doubt, and, as for Mrs. Macgillivr;
~ her former conclusion was only render
'u more certain, and the calmness il
% which she quickly relapsed appeared
=. ~ be the consequence of resignation to
~ will of God.
-, ~ Meanwhile the officer had intima
~ that the paper was to be preserved
~ taken up to the Office i'll the mornl
~, with any explanation that could be
Ouo en- of it. He then went away, and
t, as the hour was we resolved upon sc
~ ing out Mcpherson to ascertain +
n"u his own mouth the true circumstal
oon connected with the finding OF the
i"s' traordinary paper. We accordiI
~ 10 went to the Cowgate, and having fo
: 20 the man, who was on the eve of g
,;ne to bed, proceeded with our exam
atls ton. He adhered strictly to what
- had stated in the bailies' office, nor
he any more to communicate, bu
- derived thus much from our visit
49, we became satisfied the man was he
! and was not accessory to any trlcl
W. deception whereby some one might
~, "1 been supposed to have taken advan
"tsA of the public fermentation to inf
l - new interest into what was already
~ 10 ficiently engrossing. Girvan took tn
Jus per home with him, and we parted
Ing nans the hope of getting some more
next day.
uu- ITO BE CoNTINuED.)
{ II,