New-York tribune., 1900-03-04


clear for seeing poachers.'
The shepherd whistled softly Could this
be?-
Is it possible" he said slowly and deliberate
ly-'can you be what they ca bailiff?'
As ven sune find out"
'Ay, man! Div ye ken, I bailiff
afore and I've ay wondered what they were
like. But I thocht they would pit bigger men
for the job. bod! I took ye for that new tailor
body that's come TO the muirs."
The bailif was sensitive, and at the sugges-
ton his eyes flashed. '"Tailorr' he began, with a
snort of Indignation. but checked himself. TN
the mean time" he continued, with forced polite
ness. "I'll trouble ye FOR your name"
And what if I dinna tell ye?" asked the
shepherd. sweetly.
It'll be the waIr for yourself! I'll just haze
to follow ye"
"Aweel, it's a gey lonesome bit O. the road
onyway, and I'll be name the waur O. your COM
pany. We can haze a crack the way. Ye
See" he continued they set off together. Il
Gamma afford to gang to the Jail just the moo
the wathers over guid; and I've nae siller to
waste On fines
If We Gamma pay the fine, to the jail ye maun
gang"
said the shepherd. cheerily. But Wen no crack
about that the moo. TAX ILL., and he held out
a stump Of rank black tobacco.
The bailiff was surly and taciturn. He was
deeply wrathful at being compelled to follow,
and he walked onward in stod silence. The
shepherd, on the other hand. in particu-
larly pleasant humor. and. considering his srave
delinquency, his conversation was light hearted
to an unseemiy degree
'Guid yowesH' he said, with a Of his
hand toward the flock THE best sheep to be
5,, fl,a And ha-
lieve It. but l bocht them frae the maist black
yird dealer in the country. It's queer thing.
1t doesna often happen. but I've managed it this
time and he p0ked at i g0ody sheep with a
grunt Of satisfaction. And 1 ye're eying
the dowgs." he continued airily. Fine animals!
Man. they no just beauties, bath o them?
II would tax a lot 70 beat the black yin; and
for Meg-there's no her marrow in the coun-
tryside amang sheep; she's a gleg yin. and mOny
a story l could tell about her. Yell ken that
wild bit, ava at The head o the waiter. ca'ed
the Craig Slap? Weel, it dark winters s
nicht'-- And he rambled into some story not
ever creditahe 10 himself.
So he ratified on from subject to subject, story
to story. entirely reckless of the fact that the
bailiff paid him not the least attention That
minister or the law, albeit at heart he felt some
what apprehensive. preserved outwardly digni-
fed and scornful silence.
The day was approaching the darkening, ana
the night frost tinglng in the faces OF the
two when at last the shepherd halted.
They had come to a place where the stream ran
in pools and shadows. ard far as the turn in
the valley there in sight.
Meg" cried the shepherd, watch thae
sheep" and he turned toward the stream.
"Whaur are ye gaun2" asked the baiiif, sus-
piciously.
ITO catch saumOn. Are yc comm ?' said the
shepherd, cheerfully. he peered cautiously over
the edge of the bank and drew back in silence.
Hush Here's a grand yin Haze ye gotten
your heuks. bailir? No? Then I'll ha'e to lend
ye mine"
What for?'
ITO catch that saumon."
"Whae?"
You"
The bailif laughed scornfuily.
"'WeeI." said the shepherd. TN no pit ye in
there. Even a sua thing frichts saumon.
But. that's fine deep pool yonder; and I'm
thinkin' it's gey caud moo that the suns doom
VIII ye catch that saumon?'
No"
''Then it be heIpit:" and. tuckins the
small man under his arm, the shepherd carried