Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1907-10-19 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XVIII. THE MURDER TRILL. On the Wednesday morning following the finding of the lost heir of Ailasaybeg, Ronald was about betimes. The doctor, also called as a witness at the trial of Dugald, had spent the night at Ailasay House. Raving breakfasted, the two kinsmen made their way to the pier, where they found a little group waiting the arrival of the Claymore, which could be seen in the Sound about a mile away. All the paqsPngers from Ailasay Isle that morning were on the same errand. They were the witnesses in the murder trial. There was Iliceley, the murdered man's valet, Callum Dhu and two more of the police' and two of the Ailasaybeg ghillies. It was a beautiful June morning, calm aad peaceful, and the last traces of mist were rolling off the grey brow of Benmore, while the sun tone brightly down on the blue, dancing water of the sound of Ailasay.  But the beauty of the morning could not cheer the drooping spirits of Ronald and Alistair, and their thoughts were grey and sombre as they reSected on the grim cause of their journey. Alistair believed Dugald guilty, and, though Ronald would not allow himself to do so both left certain as to that the awful result would be. Ronald had at his own cost procured the services of an able detective, and this man had made exhaustive investiistions, but his reports to his employer gave no hope. The evidence against the Ailasay piper he was unimpeachable and overwhelming. under ordinary circumstances Ronald and the doctor would have revelled in their morning sail, let, as it was, both were heartily glad when they strived at Oban and were safely seated in the Edinburgh train. The railway journey was lung and tedious, unrelieved by the outbursts of the doctor's wit or Ronald's high spirits, which usually made time pass on lightning wings when these Um got together. To-day they were silent and dePressed, conversing only in low tones and monosyllables. At last the journey ended, and they alighted at the station to find Allan awaiting them.  Having deposited their bags at a Prince-street hotel, the three drove to Mr M`Neal's house in lieriot-row, Allan having arranged a consultation. nth the great counsel. The result of this neting vas to put the copestone on Ronald's depression end despair. Mr M'Neal could hold out no vestige of hope. Never in his experience, he said, had the Crown been able to present such an unanswerable Ind. conclusive chain of evidence. Circumstantial evidence, it was true, bet still circumstantial evidence that was perfectly unassailable, and when the .three Highlanders took their departure from Ilenot-row it was with the feelin,g that Dugald was 41, eadY condemned, and that nothing could save him from his awful fat. Ronald and Alistair a Pent the evening at Allan's rooms, but their thoughts and conversation were all pitched in Innor key, and probably there were not three sadder Ellen :that night in all broad Scotland. In the nlcrriung Allan called at the hotel where Ronald Ind the doctor were staying, and together the three trussed the Mound up towards Parliament House. 111,, t pistil Justiciary Court was already packed with " jurymen who had been summoned, and the /mall number of the general public for whom ac°4luraodshien could be found.  •••••••••••......0......., , olpitAC A llgt // • 4 n 1 la -It 417: . tiPiti,i :,.......r....40.......1,t,—.=.. - -:, ; „=......- . 10.14, le; 4. •-,.,\,, t'l it ' 1 ,i,,...5.; 1. .‘„ rlirr' , ,-,--.------F-7--...--.......-- 1., , -.