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iras SUMTER WATCHMAN ict.bu.hed April, 18S0. "Ba Jost ?nd Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Coontrys, thy God s and Troth's " TBS ITO? SODSSBO?, BMaMMie* J*MI IM? I consolidate* Aug. 2, 1881.1 ~~ SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY. APRIL 20, I8Q2._ Sew Series- Yol. XL Ho. 38. PuWlsh?d every Wednesday, BY N. Gr. OSTEEN, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS: Two Dellars per annum-in advance. &DTBBTI81HIXT8. One Square, first insertion..................$1 00 S very subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will b% made at reduced rates. Ali communications which subserve private nterests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. CHILD BIRTH * . . . . . MADE EASY! V MOTHERS' FRIEND "fea scientific? ally prepared Liniment, every ingre? dient of recognized value and in constant use by the medical pro? fession. These ingredients are com? bined in a manner hitherto unknown "MOTHERS' . FRIEND" . WILL DO all that is claimed for it AND MORE. It Shortens Labor, Lessens Pain, Diminishes Danger to . Life of Mother and Ch?d Book to "MOTHERS "mailed FREE, con takimg valuable information and voluntary testimonials. Seat by express on receipt of price $L50 per bottle B?OFIELO REGULATOR CO., Atlanta. Ga. SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS. Are You Interested? Are yoe soffenng with any of the following symptoms: Loss of, or irregular appetite, ioatof flesh, a feeling of fulness or weight in the stomach, acidity, flatulence, a dull pain with a sensation of heaviness in the head, giddiness, constipation, derangement of kid? neys, heart trouble, nervousness, eleepless oeta, etc. Dr. Holt's Dyspeptic Elixir will ?ort you. W. A: Wright, the Comptroller General of Georgia, says, three bottles cured bim after having tried almost everything else. Judge R. F, Ular, Macon, Ga., s>ys. Holt's Elixir accomplished what all other remedies .failed to do, a perfect cure. J, E. Paulliu, Ft. Gaines, Ga., writes: "I bave DO hesitancy in recommending it, as it cored me of dyspepsia. For any fuxther information inquire of jour druggist. For sale by all druggists. For Infants and Children. Cartear?a, promotes Digestion, and overcomes Flatulency, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea, and Feverishness. Thus the child is rendered healthy and its steep natara!. Cas to ria contains no Morphine or other narcotic property. "Castoria is so well adapted to children that I recommend it as superior to any prescription Jaoown to zoe.''' H. A. ARCHER, M. D., Ill South Oxford St., Brooklyn, N\ Y. **I use Castoria in my practice, and find it especially adapted to affections cf children." Ar.rr ROBKSTSOK,M. D., 1057 2d Ave., Kew York. "From personal knowledge and observation I csa say that Castoria ts an excellent medicine for children, acting as a laxative and relieving the pent op bowels and general system very Vitoca. Many mothers have told me of Its ex calfcot e&Kt upon their children." Da. G. C. Osooon, Lowell, Mass. Ita CXSTACR CoKPART, 77 Murray Street, N. Y. THE SIH03DS NATIONAL BANK, OF SUMTER. 8TATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSI? TORY, SUMTER, S. C. Paid op Capital.$75,000 00 Surplus Funi. 10,500 00 Transacts a General Banking Business. Careful attention given to collections. SAYINGS DEPARTMENT.; Deposits of $1 and upwards received. In? terest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum. Payable quarterly, on first days of January, April, July and October. R. M. WALLACE, President. L. S. CARSON, Aug. 7 Cashier. TBK I! Uk IIP SI Hil, SUMTER, S C. CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSITORY. Transacts a general Banking business. Also hes A Savings Bank Department. Deposits of $1.00 and upwards received. Interest calculated at tne ra,e of 4 per cent, j per annum, payable quarterly. W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, A. WHITS, JR., President. Cashier. Aug 21. Bi I ALVA DENTIST. Office OVEtl BROWNS * PURDY'S STORE. Entrance on Maia Street, Between Browns & Purdy and Duraot & Soo. OFFICE HOURS: 9 to 1.30 ; 2 to 5 o'clock. Sumter, S. C , April 29._ G. W. DICE, D. D. S. Office over Bogin's New Store, JJSTRANCK OS VAIN STRBST SUMTER, S. C. Office Hours.-8 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. 8ept 8 Br. T. W. BOOKHART, DENTAL SURGEON. tftCce over 8ulti?Hn k Bro.'? Shoe Store. OS KASS* STREUT. SUMTER. S. C. QSee Hos?-g to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. April ?7-o ?SO0O?9 0 03 A BUOYANCY 0F BODY Q ?an ?ererbe reft! izc 4 tr h o^; the Ixra ^xels do not act as nature Jutt-Tids they ??TahouitL Instead, ?here Ja headach?, V trelght la the stomach after eating, acidity and belching up of -vr;r:<i, 3ow^ ''^.pirlts, Jo? of energy, unsociability T j _^ aafl forebodings of cvlL Aa unhappy _ @ condition, hut ? ? TUTTS ? fTiiif Liver Pills? ^w>ll reliove it and j?rv? health ?nd@ happiness. Thrv are worth ?? trial. L ^ ^^^^^ r FFe sat dotm on ti little oreen hillock to gether. On the western side of the Island o: Arran, seldom visited and almost un known to tourists, is the little island named Uria. Between the two lies i strait or roost, two miles and a hali broad, with a dangerous current thai eets in from the north. Even on th< calmest day there are ripples and swirl* and dimples on the surface of the roos! which suggest hidden influences, bul when the wind blows from the west ant the great Atlantic waves choke up th< inlet and meet their brethren which hav< raced round the other side of the island, there is such seething and turmoil thai old sailors say they have never seen th< like. God help the boat that is caughl there on such a dayl My father owned one-third part of th? Island of Uf?a, and I was born and bree there. My father had been enabled tc 6end me to begin the stn?y of medicine at the University of Glasgow, and I had attended lectures there for two wintei sessions, but whether Lom caprice ox from some lessening in his funds, he had recalled me, and in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five I found myself cribbed up in this little island with just education enough to wish for more, ami with no associate at home but the grim, stern old man, for my mother bad been dead some years, and I had neither brother nor sister. There were two youths about my own age in the island, Geordie and Jock Gibbs, but they were rough, loutish fel? lows, good hearted enough, but with no ideas above fishing and farming. More to my taste was the society of Minnie Fullarton, the pretty daughter of old Fullarton, of Corrieinains. We had been children together, and it was natural that when she blossomed into a buxom, fresh faced girl, and I into a square shouldered, long legged youth ther? should be something wanner than friend? ship between us. Her elder brother was a corn chandler in Ardrossan, and was said to be doing well, so that the match was an eligible one, but for some reason my father objected very strongly to our intimacy and even forbade me entirely to meet her. I laughed at his commands, for I was a hot headed, irreverent young? ster, and continued to see Minnie, but when it came to his ears it caused many violent scenes between us, which nearly went the length of blows. We had a quarrel of this sort just before the equi? noctial gales in the spring of the year in which my story begins, and 1 left the old man with his face flushed and his great bony hands shaking with passion while I went jauntily off to our usual trj-sting place. I lia ve often regretted since that I was not more submissive, but how was I to guess the dark things which were to come upon rs? The wind was blowing freshly from the northwest, and the great Atlantic rollers were racing merri']}' in, one lie hind the other, dark brown below, light green above, and breaking with a sullen roar at the base of the cliffs. Now and again a sluggish one would be overtaken by its successor, and the two would come crashing in together and send the spray right o**er me as I lay. The whole air was prickly with the smack of the sea. Away to the north there was a pil? ing up of clouds, and the peak of Goat fell in Arran looked lurid and distinct. There were no craft in the offing except one little eager, panting steamer making for the shelter of the Clyde, and a trim brigantine tacking along the coast I was speculating as to her destination when 1 heard a light, springy footstep, and Minnie Fullarton was standing be? eide me, her face rosy with exercise and her brown hair floating behind her. .*Wha*8 been vexing you, Archie?" she asked with tue quick intuition of wom? anhood. "The auld man has been speck? ing aboot me again; bas he noT It was strange how pretty and mellow the accents were in her mouth which came so raspingly from my father. We sat down on a little green hillock to? gether, her hand in mine, while I told ber of our quarrel in the morning. "You see they're bent on parting us," I said; "but indeed they'll fina they have the wrong man to deal with if they try to frighten me away from you.M "I'm not worth it. Archie," she an? swered, sighing. "Fm ower hamely and simple for one like you that speaks well and is a scholar forbye. "A bad nicht for the puir sailors," she continued sadly, glancing at the dari wreck hurry lag up from the northward, and at the white line of breakers on the Winner sands. "I wonder what yon brig is after. Unless it gets round to Lamlash or Brodick bay it'll find itself on a nasty coast." She wa3 watching the trim brigantine which had already attracted my atten? tion. She was still standing off the coast and evidently expected rough weather, for her foresail had been taken in and her topsail reefed down. "It's too cold for you up here," I ex? claimed at last, as the clouds covered the sun and the keen north wind came in more frequent gusts. We walked back together until we were close to Carracuil, when she left me, taking the footpath to Corriemains, which was about a mile from our bothy. I hoped that my father had not observed us together, but he Diet me at the door, fuming with passion. His face wad quite livid with rage, and he held his shotgun in his han'ls. I for? get if I mentioned that in spite of his age he was one of the most powerful men ? ever met in my life. "So you've come!" he roared, shaking the gun at me. "You great gowk" i did not wait for the string of adjec? tives which I knew was coming. "You ke^p a civil tongue in your bead," I said. "Yon dare!" he shouted, raising his arm as if to strike me. "You wunna come in here. You can gang back where you come fraei" "You can go to the devil?" I answered, losing my temper completely, on which he jabbed at me with the butt end of the gun, but 1 warded it off with my stick. For a moment the devil was busy in me, and my throat was full of oaths, but 1 choked them down, and turning on my keel walked back to Corriemains, where I spent the day with the Fullartons. It seemed to me that my father, who had Jong been a miser, was rapidly becoming a madman-and a dangerous one to bool My mind was so busy with my griev? ance that 1 was poor company, 1 fear, and drank, perhaps, more whisky than was good for me. 1 remember that I stumbled over a stool once, and that Minnie looked surprised and tearful, while old Fullarton sniggered to himself and coughed to hide it. I did not set out for home till half past nine, which was a very late hour for the island. I knew my father would be asleep, and that if I climbed through my bedroom window 1 should have ne night in peace. It was blowing great guns by this time, and I had to put my shoulder against the gale as I came along the winding path which led down to Car racnil. I must still have been under the influence of liquor, for I remember that I sang uproariously and joined my feeble pipe to the howling of the wind. I had just got to the inclosure of our croft when a little incident occurred which helped to sober me. White-is a color so rare in nature that in an island like ours, where even paper was a precious commodity, it would ar? rest the attention at once. Something white fluttere?! across my path and st nek flappiug upon a furze bush. I lifted it up and discovered, to my very great surprise, that it was a linen pocket handkerchief-and scented. Now I was very sure that beyond my own there was no such thing as a white pocket hand? kerchief in the island. A small com? munity like ours knew each other's wardrobe to a nicety. But as to scent in Uffa-it was preposterons! Who did the handkerchief belong to then? Was Minnie right, and was there really a stranger in tile island! I walked on very thoughtfully, holding my discovery in my hand and thinking of what Miu nie had seen the night before. When I got into my bedroom and lit my rush light I examined it again. It was clean and new, with the initials "A. W." worked in red silk in the corner. There was no other indication as to who it might belong to, thongh from its size it was evidently a man's. The incident struck me as so extraordinary that I sat for some time on the side of my bed turning it over in my befnddled mind, but without getting any nearer a conclu? sion. I might even lia ve taken my father into confidence, but his hoarse snoring in the adjoining room showed that he was fast asleep, it is as well that it was so, for I was in no humor to be bullied, and we might have had words. The old man had little longer to live, and it is some solace to me now that that little was unmarred by any further strife be? tween us. I did not take my clothes off, but my brain was getting swimmy after its tem? porary clearness, so I dropped my head upon the pillow and sank into profound slumber. I must have slept about four honrs, when I woke with a violent start. To this day 1 have never known what it was that roused me. Everything was perfectly still, and yet I found all my faculties in a state of extreme tension. Was there some one in the room? It was very dark, but I peered about, leaning on my elbow There was nothing to be seen, but stil that eerie feeling haunted me. At thst moment the flying scud passed away from the face of the moon and a flood of cold light was poured into my chamber. I turned my eyes up in 6tinctively, and-good God!-there at the window was the face, an evil, ma? licious face, hard cut and distinct against the silvery radiance, glaring in at me as Minnie had seen it the night before. For one moment I tingled and palpitated like a frightened child, the next both glass and sash were gone ?nd i was rolling over and over on the gravel path with my arms around a tall, strong man-the two of us worrying each other like a pair of dogs. Almost by intuition I knew as we went down together that he had slipped his hand into his side pocket, and I clung to that wrist like grim death. He tried hard to free it, but I was too strong for him, and we stag? gered on to our feet again in the same position, panting and snarling. "Let go my hand, damn youP he said, "Let go that pistol then,** I gasped. We looked, hard at each other in the moonlight, and t'"?*n he laughed and opened his fingers. A heavy glittering object, which I could see was a revolver, dropped with a clink to the gravel. I put my foot on it and let go my grip of him. "Well, matey, how now?" he said with another laugh. "Is that an end of a round or the end of the battle? You islanders seem a hospitable lot You're so ready to welcome a stranger that you can't wait to find the door, but must come flying through the window like in? fernal fireworks." "What do you want to come prowling arouud people's houses at night for with weapons in your pocket?" I asked sternly. "1 should think 1 needed a weapon,*' he answered, "when there are young devils like yon knocking around. Hullo! there's another of the family." I turned my head and there was my father almost at my elbow. He had come around from the front door. His gray woolen nightdress and grizzled hair were streaming in the wind, and he was evidently much excited. He liad lu his haml the double barreled gun with which he had threatened me in the morning, ile put this np to his shoulder and would most certainly have blown out either my brains or those of the stranger, had i not turned away the bar? rel with my hand. "Wait a bit, father," 1 said, "let us hear what he has to say for himself. And you" I continued, turning to the stranger, "can come inside with us and justify yourself if you can. But remem? ber we are in a majority, so keep your tongue between your teeth." "Not so fast, my young bantam," he grumbled; "you've got my six-shooter but I have a Derringer in my pocket learned in Colorado to carry them Ix However, come along into thia shanty yours, and let us get the damned pala over. I'm wet through, and most fernally hungry.** My father was still mumbling to h self and fidgeting with his gun, but did not oppose my taking the stran into the house. 1 struck a match ant the oil lamp in the kitchen, on which . pruner stooped down to it and be; smoUng a cigarette. As the- light fuil on his face both my father an took a good look at him. He was a n of about forty, remarkably handsome rather a Spanish type, with blue-bh hair and bearii and sunburned featm His eyes were very bright, and their g. so intense that you would think that tl projected somewhat unless you saw h in profile. There was a dash of reckle ness and deviltry about them which, w his wiry, powerful frame and jam manner, gave the impression of a ra whose past had been an adventurous o He was elegantly dressed in a velvet? jacket and grayish trousers of a forei cut Without in the least resenting c prolonged scrutiny he seated hims upon thu dresser, swinging his legs a blowing little blue wreaths from cigarette. His appearance seemed to assure my father, or perhaps it was t sight of the rings which flashed on t stranger's left hand every time he raia it to his lips. "Ye munna mind Archie, sir,** he S? in a cringing voice. "He was aye fcishious bairn, overquick wi' his han< and wi' mair muscle than brains. I w fashed my sel' wi' the sudden stour, b as tae shootin at ye, sir, that was a' ? auld man's havers. Nae doubt yo'n veesitor, or maybe it's a shipwreck, I no' a shipwreck, is't?" The idea a wo the covetous devil in my father's soi and it looked out through his glisteni; eyes and set his long stringy hands shaking. "I came here in a boat,** said t stranger shortly. "This was the fil house I came to after 1 left the shore, ai I'm not likely to forget the reception yt have given me. That young hopeful yours has nearly broken iny back.'* "A good job too.*" I interrupted hotl "why couldn't you come up to the do like a man instead of skulking at tl window?*' "Hush, Archie, hushr said my fath imploringly, while our visitor grin m across at me as amicably os if my speet had been mort conciliator}-. "I don't blame you," he said-he spol with a strange mixture of accents, som times wi th a foreign lisp, sometimes wi I a slight Yankee intonation, and at oth* times very pnivly indeed. "I have doi the same, mate. Maybe you noticed brigantine standing on and off the shoi yesterday?" I nodded my head. "That wan mine,** he said. *Tl owner, skipper and every tiling ela Why shouldn't a man spend bis mone in his own way? I like cruising abou and I like new experiences. 1 suppos there's no hann in that I was in th Mediterranean last month, but I'm sic of blue skies and fine weather. Chios i a damnable paradise of a place. Tv come up here for a little fresh air an freedom. I crnised all down the wester isles, and when-we caine abreast of thi place of yours it rather took my fancj so I hauled the foreyard aback and cam ashore last night to prospect It wasn' this house I struck, but anoth?r farthe to the west'ard; however, I saw enougi to be sure it was a place after my owl heart-a real quiet corner. So I wen back and set everything straight aboan yesterday, and now here I am. You cai put me up for a few weeks, I suppose Tin not hard to please, and I can pa] my way; suppose we say ten dollars i week for board and lodging and a fort night to be paid in advance.** He put his hand in his pocket and pro duced four shining napoleons, which ht pushed along the dresser to my father, who grabbed them up eagerly. "I'm sorry I gave you such a rough re ception,** 1 said, rather awkwardly, "i was hardly awake at the time." "Say no more, mate; say no more,** he shouted heartily, holding out his band and clasping mine. "Hard knocks arc nothing new to me. I suppose we maj consider the bargain settled then?** "Ye can bide as laug as you will, sir." answered my father, still fingering the four coins, "Archie and me *11 doa* we can to make your vecsit a pleasant anew It's no* such a dreary place as ye might think. When the Lam lash boats come in we get the papers and a' the nf wa." It struck me that the stranger looked anything but overjoyed by this piece of information. "You don't mea?? to say that you get the papers here?" he said. "Oo aye, The Scotsman an the (?las gey Herald. But maybe yon would like Archie and me to row ower to your ship In the morn an fetch your luggage," "The brig is fifty miles away by this time," said onr visitor. "She is running before the wind for Marseilles. I told the mate to bring her round again in a month or so. As to luggage, I always travel light in that matter. If a man's purse is only full he can do with very little else. All I have is the bnndle under your window. By the way, my name ii Digby, Charles Digby." "I thought your initials were A. W.," I remarked. He sprang off the dresser as if he had been stung, and his face turned quite gray for a moment "What the devil do you mean by that?" he said. "1 .hought this might be yours," I answered, handing him the handkerchief I had found. "Oh. is that all!" he said, with rather a ibrced laugh, "I didn't quite see what you were driving at That's all right It belongs to Whittingdale, the second officer. I'll keep it until I see him again. And now suppose you give me something to eat, for I'm about famished.'' We brought him such rough fare as was to be found in our larder, and lie ate ravenously ?nd tossed off a stiff glass of whisky and water. Afterward ray father showed him into the solitary spare bedroom, with which he professed himself well pleased, and we all settler down for the night As 1 went back to my couch ? noticed that the gale had freshened np. and I saw long streamers of seaweed flying past my broken win? dow in the moonlight A great bat flut? tered into the room, which is reckoned a sure sign of misfortune in the islands, but I was never superstitions, and let the poor thing find its way out again unmolested. ill. In the morning it was ~':,1 blowing a whole gale, though the sky was blue for the most ?art. Our guest was up betimes and we walked down to the beach to? gether. It was a sight to see the great rollers sweeping in overtopping one an? other like a herd of oxen, and then burst? ing with a r??ar, sending the Carracnii pebbles? flying before them like grapeshot i and filling the whole air with drifting ? spume. I We were standing together watching *Th? ^ arid ih^A^" dnnumodt* the scene, when looking round I saw t father hurrying toward os. He had be np und ont since early dawn. Whan saw ns looking he began waving i hands and shouting, bat the wind ? ried his voice away. We ran towra him. however, seeing that he was bea' with news. "The brig's wrecked and they're drownedr he cried as we met him. "WhatT roared onr visitor. If ever 1 heard exceeding greit j* compressed into a monosyllable it i orated in that one. "They're a' drowned and naethii saved!" repeated my father. "COD yoursel' and see." We followed him across the Combe to the level sands on the other sid They were strewn with wreckage, bro en pieces of bulwark and handrail, pa eling of a cabin and an occasional caa A single large spar was tossing in tl waves close to the shore, occasional shooting np toward the sky like son giant's javelin, then sinking and disa pearing in the trough of the great scoo ing seas. Digby hurried np to the nea est piece of timber and stooping over examined it intently. "By Godr he said at last, taking in long breath between his teeth, "yon ai right lt's the Proserpine, and all han< are lost What a terrible thing!" His face was very solemn as he spok but his eye danced and glittered. I wi beginning to conceive a great repnj nance and distrust toward this man. "Is there no chance of any one bavin got ashore?" he said. "Na, na, nor cargo neitb my f? ther answered, with real grief in h voice. "Ye dinna ken this coast There an awfu' undertow ontside the Winner and it's a' swept round to the Holy isl? De'il take it, if there was to be a soi] wreck what for should they no* ru their ship agroond to the east'ard o' tl point and let an honest mun have tl pickings instead o' the rascally loons i Arran? An empty barrel might float i here, but there's no chance o' a se chest, let alane a body." "Poor fellows!" said Digby. -Bc there-we must meet it some day, an why not here and now. Tve lost m ship, but th;.nk heaven I can buy at other. It Ls ?tad about them, though very sad. 1 warned Lamarck that b was waiting too long with a low baron etat and an ngly shore under hi s lee. H has himself ? J thank. He was my fin officer-a prying, covetous, meddlesom hound." "Don't call him names," I said. "He1 dead." "Well said, my young prig!" he an swered. "Perhaps you wouldn't be s< mealy mouthed yourself if you lost ftv thousand pounds before breakfast Bu there-there's no use crying over spillec milk. Vogue la gal?re! as the Preacl lay. Things are never so bad but thal they might be worse" My father and Digby staid at tb scene of the wreck, but I walked over ti Corrieinains to reassure Minnie's mint as to the apparition at the window. He. opinion, when I told her all, coincidec with mine that perhaps the crew of th< brig knew more about the stranger thai he cared for. We agreed that I sh o nie keep a close eye upon him without letting him know that he was watched. "But oh. Archie," she said "ye mannt cross him or anger him while he carrie* them awfu' weapons. Ye mann be dono and saft and no' gainsay him." I laughed and promised her to be ver} prudent, which reassured her a little Old Fullarton walked back with me it the hope of picking np a piece of timber, and both he and my father patrolled th? shore for many days without, however, finding any prize of importance, for the undercurrent off the Winners was verj strong, and everything had probably drifted right around to Lamlash bay ic Arran. It was wonderfnl how quickly thi stranger accommodated himself to out insular ways, and lmw usefnl he maui himself about the homesteading. Within a fortnight he knew the island almost as well as I did myself. Had it not bren for that one unpleasant recollection of the shipwreck which rankled in my re? membrance 1 could have fonnd it in my heart to become fond of him. His nature was a tropical one-fiercely depressed at times, bnt sunny as a rule, bursting con? tinually into jest an?! song from pure in? stinct, in a manner which is unknown among us northerners. In his graver moments he was a most interesting com? panion, talking shrewdly and eloquent? ly of men and manners, and his own in? numerable and strange adventure?. I have seldom heard a more brilliant conversationist. Of an evening he wonld keep my father and myself s?>ellbound by the kitchen fire for hours and hours, while he chatted away in a desul? tory fashion and smoked his cigarettes. It seemed to me that the packet he had brought with him on the first night must have consisted entirely of tobacco. 1 noticed that in these conversations, which were mostly addressed to my fa? ther, n&ed unconsciously perhaps to play upon the weak side of the old man's na? ture. Tales of cunning, of smartness, of various ways in which mankind had been cheated and money gained came most readily to his lips, and were rel? ished by an eager listener. 1 could not help one night remarking upon it when my father had gone out of the room, laughing hoarsely and vibrating with amusement over some story of how the Biscay an peasants will strap lanterns to a bullock's horns, and, taking the beast some distance inland on a stormy night, will make it prance and rear so that the ships at sea may imagine it to be the lights of a vessel and steer fearlessly in that direction, only to find themselves on a rock bound coast. "You shouldn't tell such tales to an old man," I said. "My dear fellow," he answered very kindly, "you have seen nothing of the world yet Yon have formed fine ideas, no doubt, and notions of delicacy and such things, and you are very dogmatic about them, as clever men of your age always are. 1 had notions of right and wrong once, but it has been all knocked out of me. It's just a sort of varnish which the rough friction of the world soon rubs off. I started with a whole soul, but there are more gashes aud Rearos ano? sesm- in it now than there ar? in iny body, and that's pretty f?.ir, at you'll allow"-wi tb which he prilled opei his tonic and showed roe- his-eisest "Good heavensr f said. "flow on earth did yon get those?" "This was a bullet," he said, pointing to a deep blnish pucker underneath hil collar bone. "1 got it behind the barri cades in Berlin in eighteen hundred and forty-eight Langenback said il jist missed the snbclavian artery. And this,** he went on, indicating a pair o? curions elliptical scars upon his throat, M was a bite from a Sioux chief, when 1 was under Custer on the plains-I've gol an arrow wound on my leg from thc same party. This is from a mutinous Lascar aboard ship, and the others are mere scratches-Californian vaccination marks. You can excuse my being a little ready with my own irons, though? whee Tye been dropped so often.w "What's thisT 1 asked, pointier; to s little chamois leather bag which wa? bung by a strong cord around his neck. "It looks Iik? a charm. * He buttoned up his tunic again liasti ly, looking extremely disconcerted. "It is nothing." he said brusque ly. "I am fl Roman Catholic, and it is what we call a scapular.** 1 could hardly get another word ont of him that night;, and even next day he was reserved and appeared to avoid me. This little incident made me very thoughtful, the more so as I no? ticed shortly afterward, when standing over him, that the string was no longer around his neck. Apparently he had taken it off sf ter my remark about it What could there be in that leather bag which needed such secrecy and precau? tion! Had I but known it, I would sooner have put my left liane, in the fire than have pursued that inquiry. One of the peculiarities of our visitor was that in all his plans for the future, with which he often regaled ns, he seemed entirely untrammeled by any monetary considerations. He would talk in the lightest and most offhand way of schemes which would involve the outlay of much wealth. My father's eyes would glisten as he heard him talk carelessly of sums which to our frugal minds ap? peared enormous. It seemed strange to both of us that a man who by his own confession had been a vagabond and ad? venturer all his life should be iu possea sion of such a fortune. My father waa inclined to put it down to some stroke of luck on the American gold fields. I had my own ideas even then-chaotic and half formed as yet, but tending in the right direction. It was not long before these suspicions began to assume a more definite shape, which carne about in this way. Minni? and I made the summit of the Combers cliff a favorite trysting place, ts I think I mentioned before, and it was rare fora day to pass vith? ?ja roar spending two off three hours there. One morning, not long after my chat with our guest, we were seated together in a little nook there, which we had chosen as shelter? ing ns from the wind as well as from my father's observation, when Minnie caught sight of Digby walking along the Carmen i 1 beach. He sauntered up to the base of the cliff, which was bowlder studded and slimy from the receding tide, but instead of turning back he kept on climbing over the great green slip? pery stones, and threading his way among the pools until he was standing immediately beneath us, so that we looked straight down at him. To him the spot must have seemed the very acme of seclusion, with the great sea in front, the rocks on each side and the precipice behind. Even had he looked up he could hardly havi made out the two human faces which peered down at him from the distant ledge. He gave a hurried glance around, and tb-n slipping his hand into his pocket he pulled out tbs leather bag which 1 had noticed and took out of it a small object which he held in the palm of his hand and looked at long and, as it were, lovingly. We both had an excellent view of it from where we lay. He then replaced it in the bag, and shoving it down to the very bottom of his pocket picked his way back more cheerily than he had come. Minnie and I looked at each other. She was smiling; I was serious. "Did you see itT 1 asked. "You? Aye, I saw it," "What did yon think it was, thenf "A wee bit of glass," she answered, looking at me with wondering eyes. "No," I cried excitedly, "glass could never catch the sun's rays so. It was a diamond, and, if 1 mistake not, one of extraordinary value. It was as large as all 1 have s*?en pnt together, and must be worth a fortune." A diamond was a mere name to poor^ simple Minnie, who had never seen one before, nor had any conception of their value, and she prattled away to me about this and that, but 1 hardly heard her. In vain she exhausted all her little wiles in attempting to recall my attention. My mind was full of what 1 had seen. Look where I would the glistening of the breakers, or the sparkling of the mica laden rocka, recalled the brilliant facets of the gem which I had seen. 1 was moody and distraught, and eventu? ally let Minnie walk back to Corriemains by herself, while I made my way to the homesteading. My ?. 'her and Digby were just si. ting down to the midday meal, and the latter hailed me cheerily. "Come along mate," he cried, pushing over a stool, "we were jnst wondering what had Income of you. Ah! yen rogue, I'll bet my bottom dollar it was that pretty wench 1 saw the other day that kept yon." "Mind your own affairs." I answered angrily. "Don't be thin skinned," he said, "young people should control their tem? pers, and you've got a mighty bad one, my lad. Have you heard that I am go? ing to leave your 'Tm sorry to hear it," I said frankly; "when do yon intend to go?" "Next week," he answered, "but don't be afraid; you'll see me again. I've had too good a time here to forget you easily. I'm gc?- 0 to buya good steam yacht 250 to. or thereabouts-and I'll bring her roun 1 in a few months and give you a cruise." "What would be a fair price for a craft of that sort?" I asked. "Forty thousand dollars," said our visi? tor carelessly. "You must von* rich," I remarked, "to ; throw away so much money on pleas? ure." "Rich!" echoed my companion, his southern blood mantling up for a mo? ment. "Rich; why. man, there is hardly a limit--but there. I was romancing a ! bit. I'm fairly well off, or shall be very j shortly." "How did you make your money?" I asked. The question came so glibly to | my lips that ? had no time to check it, : though I fe1- the moment afterward that I had nvle a mistake. Our guest drew himself into himself at once, and took no notice of my quer}-, while my ! father said: | "Hush, Archie laddie, ye munna speer they questions of the gentleman!" 1 could see, however, from the old' man'? eager gray eyes, looking oat fsom under the great thatch of his brows,, that he was meditating over the same problem himself. During the next couple of days I hesi? tated very often as to whether 1 should tell my father of what 1 had seen and the opinions 1 had finned about oar visitor; bat he forestalled me by makin gr a discovery himself which supplementen1 mine and explained all that had been dark, ft was one day when the stranger was out for a ramble that, entering the kitchen, 1 found my father sitting by the fire deeply engaged in perusing a news? paper, spelling out the words laborious? ly and following the lines with his great forefinger. As 1 came in he crumpled up the paper as if his instinct were to conceal it, but then spreading it out again on his knee be beckoned me over to bim. "Wba d'ye think this cbiel Digby isT he asked. 1 could see by his manner that be was much excited. "No good," I answered. "Come here, laddie, come bereft be croaked. "You're a Draw scholar. Read lois tae me alood-read it and tell me if you dinna think I've fitted tbe cap on the right heid. It's a Glasgey Herald only four days auld-a Loch Ranzn feesbin boat brought it in the morn. Be? gin frae here-*Oor Paris Letter.' Here it is. 'Fuller details;' read it a' to me." I began at the spot indicated, which Was a paragraph of the ordinary French correspondence of the Glasgow paper. It ran in this way: "Fuller details have now come before the public of the dia? mond robbery by which the Duchesse de Roch vieille lost her celebrated gem. The diamond is a pure brilliant weighing eighty-three and one-half carats, and is supposed to be the third largest io France and the seventeenth in Europe. It came into the possession of the family through the great-granduncle of the duchesse, who fought under Bussy in India, and brought it back to Europe with him. It represented a fortune then, but its value now is simply enormous. It was taken, as will be remembered, from the jewel case of the duchess two months ago during the night, and though the police have made every effort, no real clew has been obtained as to the thief. They are very reticent upon the subject, but it seems that they haw rea- ! son to suspect one Achille Wolff, an Americanized native of Lorraine, who bad called at the chateau a short time be? fore. He is an eccentric man, of bohemian habits, and it is jost possible that his sudden disappearance at the time of the robbery may have been a coincidence. In appearance he is described as roman? tic looking, with an artistic face, dark eyes and hair, and a brusque manner. A large reward is offered for his cap? ture." When I finished reading this my father and I sat looking at each other in silence for a minute or so. Then my father jerked his finger over his shoulder. "Yon's him," he said. **Yes, it mast be he," I answered, think? ing of the initials on the handkerchief. Again we were silent for a time. My father took one of the faggots out of the grate and twisted it about in his hands, "lt mann be a mackie stane," he said. "He canna nae i t aboot him. Likely he's left it in France." "No. he has it with him," I said, like a cursed fool as I was. "Hoo d'ye ken thatf" asked the old man, looking np quickly with eager eyes. "Because I have seen it" The faggot which he held broke in two in bis grip, but he said nothing more. Shortly afterward our guest came in, and we had dinner, but neither of us al? luded to the arrival of the paper. IV. / heard mir visitor gi ix a great ?cream. I have of te** been aransed, when read? ing stories to d in the first person, to see how the narrator makes himself ont, as a matter of course, to be a perfect and spot? less man. All around may have their passions and weaknesses and vices, but he remains a cold and blameless nonen? tity, running like a colorless thread through the tangled skein of the story I shall not fall into this error. I see my? self as 1 was in those days, shallow hearted, hot headed and with little prin? ciple of any kind. Such 1 was, and such I depict myself. From the time that I finally identified our visitor Digby-with Achille Wollt', tlie diamond robber, my resolution wa.* taken. Some might have been squeam? ish in the matter, and thought that be? cause he had shaken their hand and broken their bread he had earned some port of grace from them. I was not troubled with sentimentality of this sort He was a criminal escaping from justice. Some providence had thrown him into our hands, and an enormous reward awaited his betrayers. I never hesitated for a moment as to what was to be done. The more 1 thought of it tho more I admired the cleverness with which he bad managed the whole business. It was clear that he had a vessel ready, manued either by con federates or by unsuspecting fishermen. Hence he would l>e indepen? dent of all those parts where the police would be on the lookout for him. A.^ain, if he had made for England or for Amer ca, be could hardly have escaped ultimate capture, but by choosing one of the mor desolate and lonely spots in Europe he had thrown them off his track fora time, while the destruction of the brig seemed to destroy the last clew to his where? abouts. At present he was entirely at our mercy, since he could not move from tho island without our help. There was no necessity for ns to hurry, therefore, and we cou1 mature our plans at our J leisure. But my father and I showed no change in our manner toward our guest, and he j himself W?IS as cheery and light hearted as ever. It was pleasant to hear him singing as we mended the nets or calked ; the l>oat His voice was a very high ? tenor and one of the most melodious I j ever listened to. I am convinced that ! he conld have made a oame upon the operatic stage, but like most versatile scoundrels he placed small account upon the genuine talents which he possessed, and cultivated the worst portion of his nature My father used sometimes to ey*e lum si de way* ? sc 'strange manner, and I thought I knew what he wae-tbink ing. about- ont thew I made a mistake. One day ..about a waek after our con? versation, li waa- fixing up? ?ne~o? the rail? of oar fence? which had: beesi snapped in tbs* gale,, when: my father cane- along the> seashore^, plodding heavily among the* pebbles, sad sat ?OWE. on a stone at my elbow. 1 went ea knecking?x the p?i??y bat looked at bim frota the-corner of ni) eyes as-he palled away at his-short black pipe. 1 could see that be had something weighty on bia zskuU fcc he- knitted hist brows and his lips projected, **D'ye ta?a? wWfc waa u> yon, paper?* he- said st hutt* knocking, kiaashea oat against the stone; "Yes," 1 answered shortly.. "Well? what's your opeemonr**" be? asked. "Why, that we- should have- the re? ward, of coarser 2 replied. "The re ward r he said with a fierq? snarl "Yea would tak* the reward. You'd let the stace that's, worth thoo? sands?? thoosaads gang awa* back tao some f nrrini Paotst. aa a' for the sake o* a few pond tfiat they'd fling tili ye, aa they ?rog a bane to a dog when the? meat's a* gno. It's a dean flingin a wa* cf the- gifts o' Providente-." "Well, father," I said, laying down the hammer, "you most be satisfied with what yon caa get. Yea can only have? what is offered." "But if we got the stane itseiV whis? pered my father, with a leer on fits face. "He'd never give it np," I said "But if he deed while he's here-if ha was soddenly" "Drop it, father, drop itr 1 cried, for the old man looted like a fiend ont of the pit I saw nvw what he was aiming at "If he deed," he shouted, "wha saw him come, and wha wad speer where he'd ganged till? If an accident hap? pened, if he came by a dod on the heid, or woke some nicht to find a knifo at his trapple, wha wad be the wiser?T "Yon mustn't speak so, father," I said, though I was thinking many things at the same "time. "It may as well be oot as in," he an? swered, and went away rather sulkily, turning around after a few yards and holding np his finger toward me to im? press the necessity of caution. My father did not speak of this mat? ter to me again, but what he said rankled in my mind. I could hardly realize that he meant his words, for he had always, as far as I knew, been an upright, right eons man, hard in his ways and grasp? ing in his nature, bat guiltless of any great sin. Perhaps it was that he was removed from temptation, for isother? mal lines of crime might be drawn on the map through places where it is hard to walk straight, and there are others where it is as hard to fall. It was easy to be a saint in the Island of Uffa, One day we were finishing breakfast when our guest asked if thc boat was mended (one of the tholepins had been broken). 1 answered that it was, "I want you two," he said, "to take me round to Lamlash to-day. Yon shad have a couple of sovereigns for the job. I don't know 'hat I may not come back with yon-bat I may stay." My eyes met those of my father for a flash. "There's no' vera mach wind,* he said "What there is is in the right direc? tion," returned Digby, as I most call him. "The new foresail has no* been bent," persisted my father. "There's no use throwing difficulties in the way," said our visitor angrily. "If yon won't come, HI get Tommy Gibbs and bis father, but go I shall It it a bargain or not?" "Ill gang," my father replied sullenly, and went do-m to get the boat ready. I followed, an'1 helped him to bend on tho new foresail I felt nervous and ex? cited. "What do yon intend to dor I asked. "I dinna ken." he said irritably. **Gin the worst come to the worst we can gie him np at Lamlash-but oh, it wad be a peety. an awfu' peety. You're yoong an strong, laddie; can we no' master him between nsf* "No," 1 said, "Fm ready to give bini np. bat Tm damned if I lay a hand on him." "You're a cooardly, white livered loon!** he cried, bat I was not to be moved by taunts; and left him mum? bling to himself and picking at the sail with nervous fingers. It was about two o'clock before tho boat was ready, but as there was a slight breeze from the north we reck? oned on reaching Lamlash before night? fall There was just a pleasant rippl upon the di.rk blue water, and as we stood on the oeach before shoving off wo could see the Carlin's Leap and Goatfell bathed in a purple mist, while bevon * them along the horizon loomed the long line of the Argyleshire hills. Away to the south the great bald summit of Ailsa Craig glittered in the sun, and a singlo white fleck showell where a fishing boa* was l>eating up from the Scotch coast. Digby and I stepped into the boat, ba* my father ran back to where I had been mending the rails and came back with the hatchet in lus band, which he stowe?! away under the thwarts. "What d'ye want with the ax?" c*sr visitor asked. "It's ? handy thing to hae aboot a boat," my father answered with averted eyes, and shoved us off. We set the fore? sail, jib and mainsail and shot away across the Roast, with the blue water splashing merril}* nuder our bows. Look? ing back I saw the coast line of our little island extend rapidly on either side. There was Carravoe which we had left, and our own beach of Carracuil and the steep, brown face of the Oombera, and away behind the rugged crests of Beg na-phail and Beg-na-sacher I couKl see the red tiles of the byre of our home? steading, and across the moor a thin blue reek in the air which marked the posi? tion of Corriemains. My heart warmed toward the place which had been my home since childliood. We wen; about half way across the Roost when ii fell a dead calm, and the sails flapped against the mast. We were perfectly motionless except for the drift of the current, which runs from north to south. I had been steering and my father managing the sails, while tho stranger smoked his eternal cigarettes and admired the scenery; but at his sug? gestion we now got the sculls ont to row. I shall never know Ijow it began, but as I was stooping down to pick op an oar I beard our visitor give a great scream that he was murdered, and look? ing ap I saw him with his face all in a sputter of blood leaning against th? mast, while my father made at him wit the hatchet Before I could move hand or foot Digby rushed at the old man and caught him round the waist "You gray headed devil," he cried in a husky voice, "I feel that you have done for me; bot you'll never get what you want No never! never! never!" Nothing can ever erase from my memorv the in**-n? tn \ concentrated [CV? LB?SD OK ?'OCKTB T-UK J