Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TBM SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881.1 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thoa Aims't at, be thy Country's, th/ God's and Truth's " TBS TRUE SetJTHKOJf, BpMtlWmi^M? l?66? SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1892. Sew Series-Toi. XL Ho* 38. Punished 07017 Wednesday, BT N. Gr. OSTEEN, SUMTER, a C. TERMS : Two Dollars per annum-in advance. ADVKRTI8IMS?CT8. On? Square, first insertion........$* 00 Ivery subsequent insertion. 50 Contrasts for three months, or longer will te made at red aced rates. All communications which subserve private nterests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. CHILD BIRTH . . . * . . . MADE EASY! " MOTHERS' FRIEND " is a 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 hithei to unknown "MOTHERS' . FRIEND" . WILL DO all that is chimed for it AND MORE lt Shortens Labor, Lessens Pain, Diminishes Danger to . Life of Mother and Quid Book to " MOTHERS "mailed FREE, con? taining valuable information and voluntary testimonials. Seatbv express on receipt of price $1.50 per bottle BRAEFIELD REGULATOR CO., Atlanta.6a. SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS._ Are You Interested? A?e yo? suffering with any of the following , symptoms: Loss of, or irregular appetite, lo? of 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, sleepless? ness, etc. Dr. Holt's Dyspeptic Elixir will j ciare you. W. A: Wright, the Comptroller General of Georgi?, says, three bottles cured him after having tried almost everything else. Judge R. F, Izlar, Macon, Ga., says, Holt's Elixir accomplished what all other remedies failed to do, a perfect cure. J. E. Paullio, Ft. Gaines, Ga., writes: "I ?ave no besitMticy in recommend;cg it, as it cared me of dyspepsia. For any further information inquire of your druggist. For sale hy all druggists. For Infants and Children. Caatoria, promotes Digestion, and overcomes Flatulency, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea, and Feverishness. Thus the child is rendered healthy and its steep natara! Castoria co a tains no Morphine or other narcotic property. "Castoriaisso well: adapted to children th. O ? recommend it as superior to any prescription known to me." H. A. ARCHER, M. D.. Ill South Oxford St., Brooklyn, N. Y. **I use Casted a in my practice, and find it specially adapted to affections of ch ldren." attt ROBERTSON', M. D., 1057 3d Ave., New York. "' Prom personal knowledge and observation I can say that Castoria. is an excellent medicine ftc children, acting aa a laxative and relieving the pent up bowels and general system very mach. Many mothers have told me of its ox* ?citent tffbet upon their children."" Da. G? C. OSGOOD, Lowell, Haas. T?x CWTAca Co KP ANY, 77 "Murray Street, N. Y. TEE SD1MDS NATIONAL BAKE, OF SUMTER. STATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSI? TORY, SUMTER, S C. Paid ap Capital.$75,000 00 Surplus Fund. 10,500 00 Transacts a General Banking Business. Careful attention given to coMec?ons. 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. VALLACK, President. L. S. C&&S0W, Aug. 7 Cashier. MUM OP SUTER, SUMTER, S C. CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSITORY. Transacts a general Banking business. Also hs s A Savings Bank Department, Deposits of $1.00 and upwards received. Interest calculated at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable quarterly. W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, ?. WHITS, JB., President. Cashier. Aug 21. Di E. ILYA DENTIST. Office OVER BROWNS * PURDY'S STORE. Entrance on Main Street, Between Browns A Purdy ?nd Durant k Soo. OFFICE HOURS: 9 to 1.30 ; 2 to 5 o'clock. Sumter, S. C , April 29. a W. DICK, D. 2). S. Office over Bogin's New Store, I3TRANCK ON MAIN ST ci? KT SUMTER, S. C. G?ceHours.-S to 1;30 ; 2:30 to 5. Sept 3 Dr. T, W. BOOKHART, DENTAL SURGEON. OS;? over SnUtunn k Bro.'fSHoe .Store. ZXffcaKCK ON KA?V STiititT. SUMTER, S. C. Mee fl'*?-g to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. April H-o ? S G O O O O O O 3 A BUOYANCY 0? BODY ? ^^??n i??-?rr Tx? xc^.?Tcfl v.-Lot; fhe lynw ?+.U''.'> not act a*; ?at?ar<s j;jt<:itls V.ivy .ho aid. Iu?t?ad. tli*r? it Itcadaclt^ W tvH?ht In the ?tornat-h a?t?-r mutins, Oaw'k?tjrmid b^lcM.i? ny ot -svln<i, 3<'*?Q ?jp?rlto, Jo<* of e.m igy, un*o<;ia?>nity V Md forCWIlngsofcvil, Aa unhappy ? T?TTS ? .Tiny Lwer Polis? f?vrUl rrllnro lt and K?V?> hea?t!? and h&l'Pinr**. Th*-y a: ? worth y trial. lOlilillll L We mt down on a little green hillock to? gether. On the western side of the Island of Arran, seldom visited and almost un? known to tourists, is the little island named liff a Between the two lies a strait or roost, two miles and a half broad, with a dangerous current that sets in from the north. Even on the calmest day there are ripples and swirls and dimples on the surface of the roost which suggest hidden influences, but when the wind blows from the west and the great Atlantic waves choke up the inlet and meet their brethren which have raced round the other side of the island, there is such seething and turmoil that old sailors say they have never seen the j like. God help the boat that is caught ! there on such a dayl My father owned one-third part of the ! island of Uria, and I was born and bred j there. My father had been enabled to ? send me to begin the stn?y of medicine at the University of Glasgow, ?ind 1 had I attended lectures there for two winter I sessions, but whether frcm caprice or I from some lessening in his funds, he had j 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 had 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 Corriemains. 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 warmer than friend? ship between us. Her elder brother was a com chandler in Ai*drossan, 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 an?I 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 cause?! many violent scenes between us, which nearly v. >. 'it 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 I left the old man with bis face flushed and his great bony hands shaking with passion while I went jauntily off to our nsnal trysting place. I have often regretted since that I was not more submissive, but how was 1 to guess the dark things which were to come upon us? The wind was blowing freshly from the northwest, and the great Atlantic rollers were racing merrily 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 1 lay. The whole air was prickly with the smack of the sea. Away to the north there was a pil? ing up of clonds, and the peak of Goat fell in Arran looked lurid and distinct. There were no craft in the of?ug except one little eager, panting steamer making for the shelter of the Clyde, and a trim brigantine tacking along th? coast. I was speculating as to her destination when I heard a light, spring}* footstep, and Minnie Fullarton was standing be? side me, her face rosy with exercise and her brown hair floating behind her. "Wha's been vexing you, Archie?** she asked with txie quick intuition of wom? anhood. "The auld man has been speck? ing aboot me again; has 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 her of our quarrel in the morning. "You see they're bent on parting us," I said; "but indeed they'll find they have the wrong man to deal with if they try to frighten me away from you." "Tm not worth it, Archie," she an? swered, sighing. "I'm ower namely and simple for one like you that speaks well and is a scholar forbye. "A bad nicht for tbe pair sailors," she continued sadly, glancing at the dari? I wreck hurrying 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 Larnlash or Brodick bay it'll find itself C?n a nasty coast." She was 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 waa about a mile from our bothy. I hoped that my father had not observed us together, but he met me at the door, fuming with pas-ion. His face was quite livid with rage, and he held his shotgun in his hands. I for? get if i mentioned that in s;-ite of his age he was one of the most powerful men I ever met in my life. "So 3*ou've come!" he roared, shaking the gun at me. "You great gowk"- i I did not wait for the string of adjec- j tives which I knew was coming. "You keep a ci vii tongue in your b?*ad," I said. "Yon dare!" he shouted, raising his ann as if to strike me. "You wnnna come tn here. You can gang back where you corne frae!" "You can go to the devi!!" I answered, losing my temper completely, on which he jabbed at me with the butt end of the j gun, but I warded it uif with my stick. For a moment the devil was husy In me, and my throat was fnll of oaths, bat I choked them down, and turning on my keel walked back to Corrieinains, 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 "Let go that pistol then," I gasped. My mind was so busy with my griev? ance that 1 was poor company, I fear, and drank, perhaps, more whisky than was go^i for me. 1 remember that 1 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 he asleep, and that if I climbed through my bedroom window I 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 racuil. 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 fluttered across my path and stuck flapping upon a furze bush. I lifted it up and discovered, to my very great surprise, that it was a lineu 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 OUTS knew each other's wardrobe to a nicety. But as to scent in UfFa-it was preposterous! Who did the handkerchief belong to then? Was Minnie right, and was there real?y a stranger in the island! I wall' 'd on very thoughtfully, holding my discovery in my hand and thinking of what Min? 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 comer. There was no other indication as to who it might belong to, though from its size it was evidently a man's. The incident struck me as so extraordinary that 1 sat for some time on the side of my bed turning it over in my befuddled 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 1 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 rae now that that little was unmarred by any further strife be? tween us. I did not take my clothes off, but my brain was gett:ng swiramy after its tem? porary clearness, so 1 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 I have never known what it was that roused me. Everything was perfectly still, and yet 1 found all my faculties in a state of extreme tension. Was there sc .3 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 that 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 np in I 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 and 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 you!" 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 conld 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 is?linders seem a hospitable lot You're so ready to welcome a stranger that you can't wait to find the door, bnt mnst come Avil-/ through the window like in? fernal fireworks." "What do you want to come prowling around people's houses at night for with weapons in your pocket?" I asked sternly. "1 should think i needed a weapon." he answered, "when there are young dovils like you knocking around. Hullo! there's another of the family." I turned my head and there was my father almost at my elbow. Ile had come around from the front door. His gray woolen nightdress and grizzled hair were streaming in the wind, and he was evident ly much excited. He liad m his ham! the double barreled gun with which he had threatened me in the morning. He put this up to his shoulder and would most certainly have blown out either my brains or those of the stranger, had 1 not turned away the bar? rel with my hand. "Wait a bit, father," I said, "let us hear what he lias to say for himself. And you" 1 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, J learned in Colorado to carry them both. However, come along into this shanty ol yonrs, and let us get the damned palavei over. I'm wet through, and moot in? fernally hungry." My father was still mnmbling to him? self and fidgeting with his gun, but he did not oppose my taking the strangei into the house. I struck a match and lit the oil lamp in the kitchen, on which om prisoner stooped down to it and began smoking a cigarette. As the light fell full on his face both my father and 1 took a good look at him. He was a man of about forty, remarkably handsomd, of rather a Spanish type, with blue-black hair and beard and snnbnrned features. His eyes were very bright, and their gaze so intense that yon would think that they projected somewhat unless you saw him in profile. There was a dash of reckless? ness and deviltry about them which, with his wiry, powerful frame and jaunty manner, gave the impression of a man whose past had been an adventurous one. He was elegantly dressed in a velveteen jacket and grayish trousers of a foreign cnt Without in the least resenting cur prolonged scrutiny he seated himself upon the dresser, swinging his legs and bio -ing little blue wreaths from his cigarette. His appearance seemed to re? assure my father, or perhaps it was the sight of the rings which flashed on tb" stranger's left hand every time he raised it to his lips. "Ye munna mind Archie, sir,** he said in a cringing voice. "He was aye a fashions bairn, overquick wi' his hands, and wi' mair muscle than brains. ? was fashed mysel' wi' the sudden stonr, but as tae shootin at ye, sir, that was a' an auld man's havers. Nae doubtyo'rea veesitor, or maybe it's a shipwreck, lt's no' a shipwreck, is't?" The idea awoke the covetous devil in my father's soul, and it looked out through his glistening eyes and set his long stringy hands a shaking. I "I came hero in a boat," said the stranger shortly. .'This was the first hou.se I came to after I left the shore, and Fm not likely to forget the reception you have given me. That young hopeful of I yours luis ne.?rly broken my back." "A good job too!" 1 interrupted hotly, ' "why couldn't you come up to the door like a man instead of skulking at thu window?" "Hush, Archie, hushr said my father imploringly, while our visitor grinned across at me as amicably as if my speech had been most conciliatory. "I don't blame you," he said-he spoke with a strange mixture of accents, some? times with a foreign lisp, sometimes with a slight Yankee intonation, and at other times very pnrvly indeed. "I have done the same, mate. Maybe you noticed a brigantine standing on and off the shore yesterday?** I nodded my head. "That was raine," he said. "Tm owner, skipper and everything else. Why shouldn't a man spend bis money in his own way? I like cruising about, and I like new experiences. 1 suppose there's no harm in that. I was in the Mediterranean last month, but I'm sick of blue skies and fine weather. Chios is a damnable paradise of a place. Tve come up here for a little fresh air and freedom. 1 cruised all down the western isles, and when "we caine abreast of this place of yonrs it rather took my fancy, so 1 hauled the foreyard aback and came ashore last night to prospect, lt wasn't this house I struck, but anoth?r farther to the west'ard; however, 1 saw enough to be sure it was a place after my own heart-a real quiet corner. So I went back and set everything straight aboard yesterday, and now here I am. You can put rae up for a few weeks, 1 suppose. Tm not hard to pleas??, and 1 eau pay my way; suppose we say ten dollars a week for board and 1 wiging and a fort? night to be paid in advance." He put his hand in hie? pocket and pro? duced four shining napoleons, which he pushed along the dresser to my father, who grabbed them up eagerly. .Tm sorry I gave you such a rough re? ception," 1 said, rather awkwardly. **1 was hardly awake at the time." "Say no more, mate; say no more," he shouted heartily, holding out his hand and clasping mine. "Hard knocks are nothing new to me. I suppose we may consider the bargain settled then?" "Ye can bide as lang 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 ano. lt's no' such a dreary place as ye might think. When the Lainlash boats come in we get the papers and a' the news." It struck me that the stranger looked anything but overjoyed by this piece of information. "Yon don't mean to say that you get the papers here?" he said. "Oo aye, The Scotsman an the (ilas gey Herald. But maybe yon would like Archie and rae to row ower to your ship in the morn an fetch your luggage." "The brig is fifty miles away by this time," said our visitor. "She is running before the wind for Marseiiles. 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 bundle under your window. By the way, my name ii Digby, Charles Digby." "I thought your initials were A. W.," 1 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 yon mean by that?" hs said. "I thought this might be yours," 1 answered, handing him the handkerchief i had found "Oh. is that all!" he said, with rather a forced laugh. "I didn't quite see what you were driving at. That's all right It belongs to Whittingdale, the second officer. HI keep it until 1 see h i in 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 fonud in our larder, and he ate ravenously and tossed off a stiff glass of whisky and water. Afterward my father showetl him into the solitary spare bedroom, with which he professed himself well pleased, and we al) settled down for the night As I went back to my conch I 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 superstitious, and let the poor thing find its way out again unmolested. UL In the morning it was still blowing a whole gale, though the sky was bine for the most part Onr guest was up betimes and we walked down to the beach to? gether. lt 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 "oar, sending the Carracnil pebbles flying before them like grapeshot and filling the whole air with drifting spum?. I We were standing together watching " ^nd rf ntxpiuxl!" the scene, when looking round I saw m; father hurrying toward ns. He had beei np and out since early dawn. When h saw ns looking he began waring hi hands and shouting, bat the wind cai ried his ~^ice away. We ran towan him, however, seeing that he was hear with liewa. "The brig's wrecked and they're a drowned P he cried as we met him. "What?" roared our visitor. If ever I heard exceeding gre?t jo; compressed into a monosyllable it ri orated in that one "They're a' drowned and naethin; fared T repeated my father. "Com? yonrsel* and Ree." We followed him across the Comben to the lerel sands on the other side They were strewn with wreckage, brok en pieces of bulwark and handrail, pan eling of a cabin and an occasional cask A single large spar was tossing in th? wares close to the shore, occasionally shooting np toward the sky like som< giant's javelin, then sinking and diaap pearing in the trough of the great scoop ing seas. Digby hurried np to the near est piece of timber and stooping over ii examined it intently. "By God?" he said at last, taking in i long breath between his teeth, "yon an right lt's the Proserpine, and all bandi are lost What a terrible thing.*" His face was rery solemn as he spoke but his eye danced and glittered. I wai beginning to conceive a great repug nance and distrust toward this man. "Is there no chance of any one haring got ashore?** he said. "Na, na, nor cargo neither,'" my fa ther answered, with real grief :in hi* voice. "Ye dinna ken this coast There'f an awfn' undertow outside the Winners, and it's a' swept round to the Holy Isle De'il take it, if there was to be a ship wreck what for should they no' ran their ship agroond to the east'ard o' th* point and let an honest mun hare the pickings instead o' the rascally loons in Arran? An empty barrel might float in here, bnt there's no chance o' a sea chest, let alane a body.'' "Poor fellows!" said Digby. -But there-we must meet it some day, and why not here and now. I're lost my ship, but th.-.nk hearen I can buy an* other. It is sad about them, though very sad. 1 warned Lamarck that be was waiting too long with a low ba trom? pear and an ngly shore under hi i lee. He has himself *J thank. He was my first officer-a prying, covetous, meddlesome hound." "Don't call him names," I said. "He's dead." "Well said, my young prig!" he an? swered. "Perhaps you wouldn't be so' mealy mouthed yourself if yon lost fir*? thousand pounds before breakfast Bat there-there's no use crying orer spilled milk. Vogue la gal?re! as the French lay. Things are never Bo bad bat thal they might be worse." My father and Digby staid at the scene of the wreck, but I walked orer to Corriemains to reassure Minnie's mind as to the apparition at the window. Her opinion, when I told her all, coincided with mine that perhaps the crew of the brig knew more about the stranger than he cared for. We agreed that I should keep a close eye upon him without letting him know that he was watched. "But oh, Archie," she said "ye munni cross him or anger him while he carries them a wfu' weapons. Ye mann be donee and saft and no' gainsay him." I laughed and promised her to be rery prudent, which reassured her a little Old Fullarton walked back with me in the hope of picking np a piece or timber, and both he and my father patrolled the shore for many days without, however? finding any prize of importance, for the undercurrent off the Winners was rery strong, and everything had probably drifted right around to Lamlash bay ic Arran. It waa wonderful how quickly the stranger accommodated himself to our insular way?, and how useful he made himself about the homesteading. Within a fortnight he knew the island almost as well as I did myself. Had it not been for that one unpleasant recollection of the shipwreck which rankled in my re? membrance 1 could have found it in my heart to become fond of him. His nature was a tropical one-fiercely depressed at times, but sunny as a rule, bursting con? tinually into jest and song from pure in? stinct, in a manner which w unknown among us northerners. In his graver moments he was a mast interesting com? panion, talking shrewdly and eloquent? ly of men and manners, and his own in? numerable and strange ad ven tares. 1 have seldom heard a more brilliant conversationist. Of an evening he would 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. I noticed that in these conversations, which were mostly addressed to my fa? ther, used unconsciously perhaps to play upon the weak side of the old man's na? ture. Talcs of cunning, of smartness, of various ways tn which mankind had been cheated and money gained came moot 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 Biscayan peasants will strap lantern? 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 6hips 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. "Yon 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, I no doubt, and notions of delicacy and j 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 arc more gashes aud Beam? and) seaws- in it now than there are* in my body, and- that's pretty fair, as you'll allow*"-witto which he palled open, his tanic and showed me his- ehest. "Good heavens!" f said. "-Bow on . earth did yon get those?" ] "This was a ballet," he said, pointing to a deep blnish packer underneath h ia collar bone. "1 got it behind the barri- j cades in Berlin in eighteen hundred | and forty-eight Langenback said it j jost missed the subclavian artery. And this," be went on, indicating a pair of curious elliptical scars upon his throat, "was a bite from a Sioux chief, when i was under Ouster on the plains-I've got an arrow wound on my leg from the 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, when Tve been dropped so often." '-What's this?" 1 asked, pointing to a little chamois leather bag which was hung by a strong cord around his neck. "It looks like a charm." He buttoned up his tunic again hasti? ly, looking extremely disconcerted. "It is nothing." he said brusquely. "I am a 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 nf 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 hare put my left hand in the Ure than have pursued that inquiry. One of the peculiarities of our visitor was that in all his plans for the future, with which he of tea regaled us, 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 itu posses? sion of such a fortune. My father waa inclined to put it down to some stroke of luck ou the American gold fields. I had my own ideas even then-chaotic and half formed as yet, but tending in the tight direction. It was not long before these suspicious began to assume a more definite shape? which came about in this way. Minnie sind I made the summit of the Comben cliff a favorite trysting place, as I think i mentioned befere, and it was rare fora day to pass vitbv*** om spending two or three hours there. One morning, not long after my chat with our guest, we wer? seated together in a little nook theie, which we had chosen as shelter? ing us from the wind as well as from raf father's observation, when Minnie caught sight of Digby walking along the Carracuil 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 jiery stones, and threading bis 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, tibe rocks on each side and the precipice behind. Even had he looked up he could hardly havi made out the two haman faces which peered down at him from the distant ledge. He gave a hurried glance around, and th*n slipping his hand into his pocket he palled out the leather bag which I 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. Be 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 1 looked at each other. Soe was smiling; I was serious. "Did you see itT 1 asked. "You? Aye, I saw it," "What did yon think it was, then?* "A wee bit of glass," she answered, looking at me with wondering eyes, MNo," 1 cried excitedly, "glass could never catch the sun's rays sa It was a diamond, and, if I mistake not, one of extraordinary value. It was as large as all 1 have seen put together, and must be worth a fortune.1' 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 i 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 seeu. Look where I would the glistening of the breakers, or the sparkling of the mica laden rocks, recalled the brilliant 1 facets of the gem which 1 had seen. I was moody and distraught, and eventu- 1 ally let Minnie walk back U>Corriemains by herself, while 1 made ray way to the homesteading. My father and Digby ' were just si.ting down to the midday meal, and the latcer hailed me cheerily, j 'Come along mate," he cried, pushing over a stool, "we were just wondering \ what had become of yon. Ah! you rogue, HI bet my tottoin dollar it was that 1 pretty wench I saw the other day that kept you." ; "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. llave 3'ou heard that I am go- j in g to leave you?" "I'm sorry to hear it," 1 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 J too good a time here to forget you easily. ] I'm going to buy a good steam yacht 251) tons or thereabouts-and I'll bring her round in a few months and give you * a cruise." I "What would be a fair price for a craft of that sort?" 1 asked. ' "Forty thousand dollars," said our visi? tor carelessly. "You must very rich," I remarked, "to ' J throw away so much money on pleas ure." "Rich!" echoed my companion, hts 1 southern blood mantling up for a mo- ? ment, "Rich; why. man, there is hardly a limit-but there. I was romancing a . 1 bit. I'm fairly well off, or shall be very I ' shortly." i * "How did yon make your money?" I 1 asked. The question came so glibly to ? * my lips that ? had no time to check it, : * though 1 fe*4 tho moment afterward ? that I had tn* Te a mistake. Our guest s drew himself into himself at once, and < took no notice of my query, while my j * father said: "Hush. Archie laddie, ye munna speer ? they questions of the genllcaiau"" I 1 could see, however, from the old" man's eager gray eyes, looking ont faom nader the great thatch of his browsr that he was meditating over the same problem himself. Daring the nest couple of days I hesi? tated very often as to whether I should tell my father of what 1 had seen and the opinion? 1 had formed about oar visitor; bot he forestalled me by making: A discovery himself which supplemented mine and explained all that had been dark, it 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 ont the words laborious? ly and following the lines with his great forefinger. As I came in he crumpled up the paper as if his instinct were to conceal it, bat then spreading it out ?gain on his knee be beckoned me over to bim. "Wha d'ye think this ebie! Digby isT he asked. 1 could see by his manner that he waa rauco excited. "No good," I answered. "Como here, laddie, come heref he croaked. "You're a braw scholar. Bead this tae me aloud-read it and tell me if you dinna think Tve fitted the cap oe the righi heid. It's a Glasgey Herald only four days auld-a Loch Ranz-i feeshin 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 "Iiis way: "Fuller details have now cornie before the public of the dia? mond robbery by which the Duchesse de Roch vieille l?st her celebrated gem. The diamond is a pure brilliant weighing eighty-three and one-half carats, and is supposed, to be the third largest in France and the seventeenth in Europe. It came into the possession of the family through the great-grandancle of the duchesse, who fought under Bossy is 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 bas been obtained as to the thief. They are very reticent upon the subject, but it seems that they have rea? son to suspect one Achille Wolff, an Americanized native of Lorraine, who had called at the chateau a short time be Tore. 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 sud 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 must 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. "It mann be a mnckle stane," he said. "He canna liae i t aboot him. Likely he's left it in France," "No, he has it with him," I said, likea cursed fool as I was. "Hoo d'ye ken that?" asked the old man, looking up quickly with eager eyes. "Because I have seen it" The faggot which he held broke in two in his grip, hat he said nothing more. Shortly afterward oar guest came in, and we had dinner, but neither of ns al? luded to the arrival of the paper. IV. / heard our visitor {fi iv a great scream. I have ofte^ been amused, when read? ing stories to d in the first person, to see how the narrator makes himself out, asa 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 Wolff, the diamond robber, my resolution ww taken. Some might have been squeam? ish in the matter, and thought that be? cause he bad shaken their hand and broken their bread he had earned some ?ort 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 ?waited his betrayers, I never hesitated for a moment as to what was to be done. The more 1 thought of it the more I admired the cleverness with which he bad manage?! the whole business. It wa? :lear that he had a vessel ready, manued ?ither by con fed era tes or by unsuspecting ?shermen. Hence ho would be indepen? dent of all those parts where the police would be on the lookout for him. Again, if he had made for England or for Amer he could hardly have escaped ultimate capture, but by choosing one of the mor ?esol?te and lonely spots in Europe he lad thrown them off his track fora time, tvhile the destruction of the brig seemed to destroy the last clew to his where ibouts. At present he was entirely at )ur mercy, since he could not move from ;he island without our help. There was io necessity for ns to hurry, therefore, j ind we cou1 mature our plans at our j leisure. But my father and I showed nochange n our manner toward our guest, and he j ?iinself was as cheery and light hearted is ever. It was pleasant to hear him ringing as we mended the nets or calked j :he IxKit His voice was a very high i ;enor and one of thc most melodious 1 ; ?vcr listened to. I am convinced that ie could have made a name upon the operatic stage, but like most versatile I scoundrels he placed small account upon ! ;he genuine talents which he possessed, j iud cultivated the worst portion of bis j laturc My father used sometimes t<> eye Him sideway va a 'strange manner, and I thought 1 knew what be wae-think* ing abont^-bnt tbtre- i made a TTt*kf. j One dayabout & week after ocr con? versation, li was- fixing* ap* ene-of the rails* ol oar fence, which had beesu snapped ia tbs* gaie,, w hen m j father came* along the* seaaborov plodding, heavily among; the* pebbles, and sat dovraon a. stone at my elbow. 1 went sm kaockingia the nails* bat looked at bim frota the corner of zn> eyes as-he palled away at his-short black pipe.. I could see that he had something weighty on his a?nd? foe he-knitted hie brows and his lips projected. "D'ye Mind wb*t wa? in-yon paper?*" I he- saki at last, knocking: his-ashes ont against the stone. "Yes," 1 answered; shortly^ "Well, what's your opeemonT* to asked. "Why, tkrt we- should have tho to? ward, of coarser 1 replied "The re ward r he said with *. Serqe snarl. "You would tak* the reward. You'd let the stace thats- worth, thoo sands aa tboosands gang ava' back taft some fmria Paxsst. an a' for the sake o* a few pond that they'd Sing tztt ye, as theyfimg a bane to a dog when tho meat's zt goo?. It's a dean fiingin a wa.' oT the gifts o' Providence." "Well, father " I said, laying down the hammer, "yon most be satisfied with what yon can get Yo? can ody have what is offered." "Bat if we got the staue itse?V whis? pered my father, with a leer on his race. "He'd never give it np," I said. "Bot if he deed while he's here-if he was soddenly" "Drop rt, father, drop itr 1 cried, for the old man looked like a fiend ont of the pit. I saw now what he was aiming at "If he deed," he shouted, "whs saw him come, and wha wad speer where he'd ganged till? If an accident hap? pened, rf he came by a dad on tho heid, or woke some nicht to find a knifo at his trapple, wha wad be the wiserr" "You mustn't speak so. father," I said, though I was thinking many things at the same lime. "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, bat what he said rankled in my mind. I could hardly realize that he meant his words, for he had always, as far as 1 knew, been aa upright, right? eous man, hard in his ways and grasp? ing in his nature, but 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 oar guest asked if the 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 shall have a couple of sovereigns for the job. I don't know 'hat I may not come back with yon-boc I may stay." My eyes met those of my father for a flash. "There s no' vera much wind,'* he said. "What there is is in the right direo ' rion," 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 his father, bat go 1 shall. Is it a bargain or not?" "Ill gang," my father replied sullenly, and weot do-^n to get the boat ready. I followed, an^ helped him to bend on the new foresail. I felt nervous and ex? cited. "What do yon intend to dor I asked. "1 dinna ken." he said irritably. "Oin j the worst come to the worst we can gie him up at Lamlash-but oh, it wad be a peety. au a win' peety. You're yoong an strong, laddie; caa we no' master him between ns?" "No," 1 said, 'Tm ready to give him np. but Tm damned if I lay a hand on him." "You're a cooardly, white livered loonT be cried, but I was not to be moved by taunts; and left him mum? bling to himself and picking at the sad with nervous fingers. It was about two o'clock before the 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 dt.rk blue water, and as we stood on the oeach before shoving off we could see the Carlin's Leap and Goatfell bathed in a purple mist, wbile beyoo * 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 single white ?leek showell where a fishing boa* was beating up from the Scotch coast. Digby and I stepped into the boat, bat my father ran back to where I had been mending the rails and came back with the hatchet in his hand, which ho stowed away under the thwarts. "Wliat d'ye want with the ax?" ocr visitor asked. "lt's k handy thing to hae aboot e boat," my father answered with averted eyes, and shoved us off. We set the fore? st 3, jib and mainsail and shot away across the Roast, with the blue water splashing merrily under our bows. Look? ing back I saw thc 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 Coir bera, and away behind the rugged crests of Beg na-phail and Beg-na-sacher I couM seo 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 Corrieinaius. My heart warmed toward tlie place which had been my home since childliood. We were about half way across the Roost when it 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 tb* 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 how it began, but as I was stooping down to pick np an oar I beard our visitor give a great scream that he was murdered, and'look* ing np I saw him with his face all in * sputter of blood leaning against tbi mast, while my father made at him "wii 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; bat you'll never get what you want No never! never! never!" Nothing can ever erase from my raemorv the in**?n-: * an ! conreo Tated ("cos m un) UM ronara r-u* J