The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-12-06
A HEAVY RANSOM
.O judge by his haggard looks
| and the monotonous way in
/ which he was pacing up and

Robert Spenceley was evidently un-
der the influence of nervous mental
depression when his particular chum,
Tom Langton, favored him with q
morning call.
"Halloa! What's up, Bob? by Jove,
you are looking seedy.'
Honorable Robert stopped in his
purposeless walk. languidly extended
his arm, lightly touched the tips of
his friends fingers, and heaved a deep
and bitter sigh
"Are you i'll, chappie, or has the peer
less, patriclan Penelope"
"Slt down, Tom. The fact is, I've
been a fool"
''And how did you discover it?"
"Well, as you know, I've been mixed
up bit with Lord Templeton and his
set. Jolly fellows, but inclined to go
the pace a bit too fast. Hang me, If
T. can say NO to anything they pro-
pose, and the upshot of it all is that in
two nights l have lost upward of three
thousand pounds sterling playing
cards at the Junior Aborigines-- at
least, that's the amount they hold my
1 o US for"
''What confoundedly bad luck you
must have had"
Il posted down to the family nest
yesterday, laid the whole affair be-
fore the governor, and vowed that
would never touch card again If he
would help me out of this scrape."
"And he has refused?'
"Point blank. He reminded me that
on several occasions he had paid of
my legitimate uebts-small in compar-
ison 20 this one-but he considered
playing cards for high stakes so out
rageously foolish that he could not
and would not help me. l told him
they were debts of honor, but he said
it was a most dishonorable way either
of making or getting rid OF money.
I'm concluson he told me that as 1t
was most desirable that l should
break off from this connection, he pro-
posed to reduce my allowance to five
hundred pounds year, during which
time am to travel and see as much
of the world as | can On Il paltry ten
pounds week"
"And what did you say"
"What could say? l have no choice
In the matter. l have made up my
mind that l will not go to the money
lenders, and so l must get these fell
lows to walt until can redeem my
paper"
Look here, old chap. I'll come with
you for a time, ana wen 80 in for a
walking tour"
Tom, you're brick. Let us start
this week."
Three months had elapsed since
Robert Spenceley's departure, during
which period frequent communications
each bearing expressions OF regret
for the past and promises for the fu-
ture-kept Lord Methwick fully ac-
qualnted with his sons doing. The
absent one seemed 20 be thoroughly
enjoying himself, judging from his
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 Methwick's mind as to
whether he had not been too severe
remembering that his son had hitherto
borne an lrreproachable character
evinclng deep dislike TO all the worst
forms OF dissipation, and there was
no doubt that this unfortunate affair
at the Junior Aborigines was not thu
result of inherent or newly-acqured
vlclousness, but rather brought abou
by n false position, in which. sur
rounded by his companions OF wealtl
and repute, he had been led away by
the excitement and his inability to say
"No."
Now that no news came from him
his fathers resolution rapidly gave
way under the dsquietlng influence
Of forebodlng and the continuous en-
treaties Of his mother, until at las
his recall was decided up so soon Il!
the next intlmatlon of his address
should arrive. The next letter die
disclose his whereabouts, and this wa.
the-thunderbolt:
Most Illustrious Slgnor: The son o
your excellency is doing us the homo
TO condescend our humble hospltalit,
TO partake and has to us your address
given so that we may impart his well
being. He now his departure desires
but we would that your illustrious ex
cellency to us sending the sum o
pounds four thousand Englishe tha
we may be solaced for his loss"
Then followed an address to whicl
communication was to be sent, an,
the mlsslve concluded:
Amy information to the gendarme
will be on the son Of your excellency
"(Signed GIUSEPPE"
Giuseppe! The most noted an
bloodthirsty brlgand of modern times
about whose cruelties and tortures s
many narrowing tales were told b.
travellers. and upon whose head
heavy price had been set long ago.
Lady Methwick piteously besough
her husband to send the money 8
once.
"They will kill my darling boy, an
you-you will have sent him to hi
deathr
Her daughters, Honarables Agath'