The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28

sassinated Harnassed and armed. the citizens rushed to the scene. and in their rage they did not hesitate to say aloud that Ramorney and the Prince knew of the dead.
 Long before they were all assembled however. 1t had been discovered that the dead man was not the armorer. but his friend Oliver Proudfute. When the smith arrived he explained that he had | lent his coat of mail to Proudfute the night before. because his friend had anticipated some trouble with ruff fans who were roistering near the house. Evidently the assassin haf l been misled by this and had killed the wrong man.
 The burghers demanded vengeance and cried to the armorer that he must lead them. Harry Smith felt reluc- tant for the first time in his life, rous- ed though he was by the murder Of his friend. There was a very simple though potent reason for this. Catherine, who had heard the news of his death, had awakened suddenly to the knowledge that she loved Harry of the Wynd. fighter though he was. and she had run bareheajed and for getful of all reserve to his house to ask particulars. She had fallen faint ing at the door, and the smith needed
 
 and saw him standing before her alive.
 He lamented his fate. therefore, at being pressed into renewed strife at the very moment when he most wished to become man of peace. But he could not withdraw.
 The angry citizens forced their way to the King and demanded that all of Sir John Ramorneys household be forced to pass by the body of Proud flute and there swear that they ware innnocent of any part in the murder This proof by. bier-right" was guaran- teed to the city in its charter and the nobles had to accede. It rested on the common belief that the wounds of a murdered person would bleed when the slayer touched them.
 The ceremony was performed in the church next day before the King. Ra- morney and all his people passed through the ordeal. with the exception of Bonthron. who refused to touch the corpse and demanded that his in nocence be proved by combat.
 This was declared to be his right. Oliver Proudfute's widow at once chose Harry of the Wynd as her champion. A space of ground near the church was cleared at once. The two men, in buff Jackets and steels caps and armed with scottish axes, attacked each other at the word. Bonthron Immediately put all his strength into one fearful blo,v time and swung his ax like lightning. striking Bonthron on the side of his cap and felling him.
 Instantly he forced the spike of the ax at his throat and Bonthron yield ed. Lying there, with the smiths foot pressing him down, he confessed that he had killed Oliver, having mistaken him for the armorer
 Pressed to tell who had ordered him to do 1t. sudden idea came into the slow brain of the assassin. He knew that 1t was the custom to carry away a man who had been worsted in the trial by combat and to hang him with in the hour. There was one chance for delay, and he took 1t. He is too great for me to name" said he, and pointed to the Prince.
 'The villains tale Is not true." cried the smith at once. His Royal Grace the Duke of Rothsay would not give aim to such bad practices!"
 Let the fellow be gagged!" exclaim- ed the Duke of Albany. Hurry him to the gallows forthwith"
 His quick wit had seen the assas- sins design, and he seized the oppor- tunity to have him silenced so that he might not tell the truth at the end.
 The people still believed Ramorney to be the guilty man. But they cast dark looks at the Prince, whose evil reputation laid him open to even such foul suspicion as this. unreasonable as 1t was.
 He was forced to endure the humilia- ton. under Albany's advice, of being restricted to the house of the High Constable. a prisoner in everything ex- cept in name.
 A few days after the trial by com bat Sir Patrick Charteris. the Provost. rode hurriedly into Perth and warned Simon Glover that warrants of arrest had been prepared for him. secret enemies having charged him with of lenses against the state. They are favorites of Albany" said Charteris, 'who want to. seize your wealth. If you can but lie in hiding few weeks till Douglas returns from his district. you will be safe. for he will uphold ua and Albany dares not defy him"
 Glover Immediately gathered his money and prepared to set forth Into the wild highlands. where his erst- while apprentice would, he felt sure. give him protection. The Provost promised to take Catherine to his own castle and thence. send her to the