The Opelousas courier., 1901-02-09
A HEAVY RANSOM
judge by his haggard looks
and the monotonous way In
which he was pacing up and

which he was pacing up anG
down the room, Honorable
Robert Spenceley was evidently IN
dor the influence Of a nervous mental
depression when his particular chum,
Tom Langton, favored him with q
morning call.
@Halloa! What's up, Bob? By Jove,
Won are looking seedy."
Honorable Robert stopped in his
mrposeless 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. patrician Penelope"
"sit down, Tom. The fact is, I've
been a fool"
aAnd how did you discover it,"
swell, as you know, I've been mixed
up a bit with Lord Templeton and his
set. Jolly fellows, but inclined to go
the pace q bit too fast. Hang me, If
can say No to anything they pro-
nose, and the upshot of it all is that in
two nights I have lost upward Of three
thousand pounds sterling playing
cards at the Junior Aborigines-at
least. that's the amount they hold my
10 us for"
aWhat 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 l
would never touch a card again IL he
would help me out Of this scrape."
aAnd he has refused?"
"Point blank. He reminded nae that
on several occasions he had paid off
my legitimate debts-small in compar-
isGn to this one-but he considered
playing cards for high stakes so out
Fageously foolish that he could not
and would not help me. I told him
they were debts of honor, but he said
1t was a most dishonorable way either
pf making or getting rid Of money.
I'm CONCLUSION he told me that as It
was most desirable that I should
break of from this connection, he pro-
posed to reduce my allowance to five
hundred pounds a year, during which
time ! am to travel and see as much
Of the world as I can on a paltry ten
pounds a week"
And what did you say?"
What could I say? I have no choice
% the matter. I have made up my
mind that / viii not go to the money
lenders, and so / must get these fell
lows to wait until I can redeem my
paper"
Look here, old chap. I'll come with
you for a time, and Wen 60 In for a
waking tour"
Tom, you're a brick. Let us start
lns week." ttgka!
Three months had elapsed since
Robert ~Spenceley's departure, during
Rhleh period frequent communications
-eaeh bearing expressions of regret
lr the past and promises for the fu-
lue-kept Lord Methwick fully ac-
aaainted with his sons doing. The
aOsent n seemed to be thoroughly
enloying himself. judging from his
graphic descriptions of the scenery
ana Incidents of the walking tour.
kaen the letters ceased altogether.
several times lately the doubt had
Risen IN Lord Methwick's mind as to
whether he had not been too severe,
NiaeInDering that his son had hitherto
psIne an irreproachable character,
sFlheing a deep dislike to all the worse
lefIas OF dissipation, and there was
y deubt that this unfortunate affair
Y she Junior Aborigines was not the
Issait Of inherent or newly-acquired
robustness, but rather brought about
4 false position, in which, sur
ssaaaea hy his companions Of wealth
vs. Eepute, he had been led away by
mo- = y Say
aoW that no news came from him.
Y lather's resolution rapidly gave
Ia5 under the disquieting influence
soreoOding and the continuous en-
asasies Of bis mother, until at last
III zseali was decided up so soon as
aexf intimation Of his address
Mssla arrive. The next letter did
agse hls whereabouts, and this was
alnderbolt:
Aost Illustrious signor: The SON of
Nv exrellency Is doing us the honor
s-1sseend our humble hospitality
naseake and has to US your address
" shat We may impart his we'll
He now his departure desires. |
nM. y would that your ilIustrious ex-
bs,,.ss n na sending the sum of
lour thousand Englishe that
asay Be solaced for his loss"
oWe0 an address to which
N limitation was to be sent. and
alsslye concluded:
ri y information to the gendarmes
~ Il 90 the son OF your exceIlency.
n. GIUSEPPE"
The most noted and
..n. sstg brigand of modern times,
80 sAose cruelties and tortures so
sss aarsewins. tales were told by
ana upon whose head a
PIG had been set long ago.
aeknw1ck piteously besought
aS'oahd g send the money at
No.. wl1i KIN my darling boy. and
th ssa Wali hare sent him to his
ssasafsFal Hoaorsplss Agatha,