The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-12-06

new hats and dresses for the next
twelve months, in order to contribute
TO the ransom money. But his lordship
did not believe in giving way at once.
Doubtless n lesser sum would be ac-
cepted, and while negotiations were in
progress and there was chance of
the ransom being ultimately paid, he
did not think his son would be in any
danger. SO he sent an offer of two
thousand pounds sterling. The reply
to this was curt refusal, and a post
script added in Robert Spenceley's
handwriting was:
Father, send soon; feel sure they
will not take less" But still Lord
Methwicl1 would not give in without
effort to reduce the amount, and he
increased his offer to two thousand
five hundred pounds sterling.
The day came when Giuseppe's re-
ply was due, but it did not arrive, and
pent-up anxiety caused his lordship
two sleepless nights and two misera-
bic, irritable days. On the third morn
ing, amongst the contents of the post
bag was small parcel, the handwrlt-
ing of the address of which was i'm.
mediatcly recognized. With trembling
fingers Lord Methwicl tore open the
package, and there lay disclosed the
bold brigand's staggering reply-a
cardboard box containing n mans ear
packed in sawdust, and inside the lid
these words were scrawled:
mo less than four thousand Part
of his excellency Is sent free that he
may hear you decide which was final"
In after years that day always re-
mained impressed with startling vivid
ness on his lo:dship's memory. What
with his wife's continual fainting
fits, his three daughters in consecu-
tive Mysteries, their conscious intervals
being employed in upbraiding him in
such severe terms that one would have
thought that the poor man had him
self cut his sons ear off; his own men
tai 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 nothlng-a piece Mt a time,
and the fear tina. ut that moment fur
ther tortures might be in course of in
fictlOn-he often marveled. not only
that he survived it, but that reason
did not altogether forsake her totter.
ing throne.
And the climax was reached when,
in the softening shades of twilight,
| i,l-
ters, dressed in black. went in solemn
procession to n distant part OF the
grounds, where, beside n ripping
stream and beneath spreading tree,
the gardener had already dug grave.
There, with fresh bursts of tears and
passionate sobs, the boz of sawdust
with its precious freight was solemnly
buried, and cairn built over and
about Its resting place
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters, one to the brigands
agreeing to their terms, the other to n
friend of the family, who happened to
be consul in the neighborhood en-
closing a draft for foW 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 baE !, who were eyi-
IDENTIFY taking every precaution against
being trapped. proceeded alone one
evening, carrying n parcel of -four
thousand soverelgns TO an indicated
spot on the outskirts Of a forest. Here
he was met by sunburnt, black
bearded giant, p,cturesquely attired
in his native dress, who carried ride,
while couple Of reyolvers and poin.
ard adorned his sash. Motioning to
the consul to follow him, he proceeded
but a few PAGES into the forest, then
halted and blew a long, low, peculiar
whistle on his fingers.
! Approaching footsteps were immc'
dlately heard, and there emerged
from among the trees the whilom pris
oner 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 and at once disappeared
without having uttered a word, and
the consul and his purchase were free
to depart.
Methwlck Hall was ablaze with light
on the evening of the heirs return tC
I his ancestral home. The female por
ton of the family had spent the day
/ in alternately laughing and crying FOL
! joy, and We're now in n state of in
tense excitement, anXlously awaiting
) the return OF the carriage from the
station. Presently the sound of wheels
were heard drawing up to the door
! and mother and sister rushing out. fel
, upon Robert, hugged him and kissed
D him and half dragged, half carried
= him into the house, but it was not un
a til after they had been for some tim,
assembled in the library that ther
{ flashed across their minds the remem
/ brance OF that horror that lay burie,
beside the stream. His mother frs
d made the discovery.
S why, Robert, you have two earsw
"Two ears, motherl Have l not al
!, ways mad two"