Middletown transcript., 1902-10-25
II rnrst not be snnnosad hoNaxer That

thought ana what would the poor lass 90
if she knew notwhere to find her father2
Each night, on his return to the hum
bic lodgings he had taken, Ransome
would take from his waistcoat pocket
crumpled sheet of notepaper, now ragged
and torn, and sadly read Jessie's parting
message:
aDear Father: am leaving you; do
not worry or grieye. It will be for the
best. Someday shall return and you
will be proud of me. 2
"Proud Of You?' the blacksmith would
mutter. 'sProud Of you? Nay. I can't
never be that again. must find you,
Jessie, I must find you. and as for the
scoundrel who" But it was rarely that
the sentence was completed.
| Always frugal man, Ransome had
managed to put away few pounds.
.tThey II be helpful to Jessie" he thought;
"when she gets we'd" But the little pile
was fast melting away. London is no
place for cheap living. So he found en-
ployment at his trade, and worked and
sought and sought and worked all through
the live-long day and the shadows Of the
evening.
But the money the blacksmith earned
did not cover the expenses he entailed. It
is not possible to travel about the big city
without spending money, and good deal
| OF it too. In his straits, therefore, Ran.
some went to that last resource of broken
men-a money-lender. Always scrupu
lousy honest in bis dealings, he antici-
pated no difficulty in raising loan. He
was soon undeceived. OF course, the
shark-in this instance, a Mr.. Julius Ben
son-was willing to accommodate him at
a high rate Of interest, if satisfactory Sc
curity were forthcoming. What security
had the blacksmith to offer? Nothing
and yet, there was bis place in Primrose
Garth. Perhaps Mr.. Benson would lend
him money on that. Unsophisticated
though he was, Ransome knew it was Of
some value, since it was the only piece of
freehold in the village. He mentioned it
to the money-lender, who accompanied
him to Primrose Garth to look over the
property. They arrived at the village in
the course of the afternoon. Benson was
satisfied, and proposed to advance sum
Of fifty pounds on mortgage. The black
smith at once closed with the offer, and il
was arranged that he should call upon
the money lender week later, when the
Transaction would be completed.
Somehow or other Ransome felt as
though he had committed kind of sacri-
lege. For years ont Of count the property
had been in his family, and he almost ex-
pected to see bis ancestors rise from their
grave in angry protest. Bitter as gall
were his thoughts as he paced along one
Of the well-remembered lanes. All un-
Willingly be had taken the road leading
to the rectory. He was deep in sad
thought, when hand was placed upon
his shoulder. He turned hastily round,
and found himself face to face with the
man he was seeking-Walter Haydn.
For q moment he was 60 taken aback
as to be unable to do more than gasp out:
"Walter Haydn-youW Then he turned
on the young man savagely. "Where's
my daughter? Where is she, you sound
rel2' be hissed fiercely.
II wish / knew" replied Haydn, ear
nestIy.
"Do you dare to tell me that she is not
where you have placed her? Disgraced,
ruined2"
believe me, Mr.. Ransome-"
mo; I'll not believe you." The black
smith lifted his powerful arm, and struck
the young man violent blow. "Take
that, you heartless villainp' he shouted.
Haydn clenched bis fists, and then re-
strained himself. "You wrong me. /
swear it" he said. "Were you not her
father, would have given blow for blow,
strong as you are. Some day you will
ask my forgiveness for this. | tell you
as you have sought for Jessie with aching
heart, SO have I. As you would give
your life to save her, so would !. Great
as is your love for her, il is not SO great
as mine.n
The young fellow spoke earnestly; to
any other listener, at least to disinter-
ested one, his words must have carried
conviction. But Ransome believed him
not.
II shall find her." he said. II shall
see her again; and, as true as there is jus
tice in the heavens, if you ere lying to
me, as I feel in my soul you are, I will
strangle the breath out of your miserable
carcass. No, don't speak, lest now and
here II
He could not, such was his rage, COM
plete the sentence, and, without another
word, he tursed away. OF course, dur
ing his brief stay in Primrose Garth he
encountered many Of his old friends; but
they found him strangely altered, and
not a few were Of the opinion that his
trouble bad turned Jim Ransome's brain.
The months sped on, and still there
was no news Of the missing girl. The
smiths appearance changed greatly. A
rough, thick stubble was allowed to grow
upon the broad. thick-set chin, the face
had lost its vigorous aspect, and the giant
form was woefully bent.
Ransome had had TO visit the money
lender again, and that gentleman took
care that he got the blacksmith in his
clutches. Julius Benson had his eye on
the property in Primrose Garth. The
squire, he knew, would gladly buy it,
and for comparatively big price, too.
Accordingly, Shylock made it his business
to swoop down upon his client for the re-
turn Of the money advanced, served him
with process, and when the wretched
man admitted bis inability to satisfy the
demands Of the rapacious bloodsucker
> proposed that, to save extra legal expen-
; ses, be should dispose Of his property,
upon which, as Benson reminded him, be
: held mortgage.