IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■ SB ^^* 111 u |3j6 14.0 12.0 1.8 muu I !J5 Mr 1.4 11 L6 150mm v: «p 7 ^} '/ 4w %^ /APPLIED A INA4QE . Inc JBS 1653 East Main Street .^= Vi Rochester. NY 14609 USA ^^^= Phone: 716/482-0300 .^^^S Fax: 716/288-5989 1993, Applied Image. Inc., All Rights Reserved r\ i\' 5,v <^ "<& ^ ^A ^^\ !, ?J \ ^' ' "'"'^ * ^^<^ *^« better-no, nor her neither For he thrashes us black and blue when he comes han.e Just the same. Ye canna gammon me Fund weight Ttllf. 'T Jf°? P^'^^-P^^^^^' '^"d y-r «hort Th: 1 \ • ." ^"'^ ' ^'^' *°^ '^'« «" » d»mb lie ! " The last accents of the terrible renunciation lingered cZ k:i^"''' "' "^° '^^^ *^« ^-^ hadl dfanl broken b?. T '^°"*''^*- ^"* *^« ^^^^ «"ence was broken by a whiz and jingle which occurred close to th^ ADVENTURE II. THE BUBNING OP THE WHIKNY XX0WE8. Cleo Kelly was now outcast and alien from tbp commonwealth. He had denied the fa^h, c^t asde every known creed, and defied the Deity Himself ^1 -^"t ^^^ break^tfeTaw'r asiX one know?" ^^"'^^^ ^-^--n in iniquity, unfr^"" ^'^l^^f ?"°^'' ^°"'* ^« '^^^^^ across the most chivyi^j^eai^rr \'''' '^""^^"^ *^^ S^^^«*^ cnivying cats, to the mountainous regions of Crai^si^A where the tall "lands " nf <^f t«« ^ i . ^'a^gside, , lea crago and steep hill ridges of Arthur's Seat. 6 CLEG KEL/T, ARAB OP THE CITY. J'of C/*g wa« fortunate enough to be a iown boy who had the country at his command just over the wall-and a wall too which he could climb at as many as twenty pomts. Only bare stubby feet, however, could overpass these penlous clefts. Cleg's great toes, horny as if shod w th iron, fitted exactly into the stone crevices from which the mortar had been loosened. His grimy little fingers found a purchase in the slightest nicks. And once on the other side, there was no policeman, park- keeper, or other person in authority, who could make the pace with Cleg's bare brown legs, at least up the loose Clatter of the shingle between the lower greensward and the Kadical Bead, So. after being expelled from Hunker Court, Clejr made straight for a nook of his own among the cragZ Here, like a prudent outlaw, he took account of his pos- sessions with a view to arranging his future career of crime. He turned out his pockets into his hat. This was, indeed, a curious thing to do. For the article which he wore upon his shaggy locks was now little more than the rim of what had once been a covering for the head proof against wind and water. But though Cleg's treas-' nres rested upon the ground, the fact that they were wRhm his hat-rim focussed them, as it were, and their relative worth was the more easily determined. ^ The first article which Cleg deposited upon the grovt ' mside his hat was a box of matches, which had been ^ivea him to light the gas with in the outlying corners of Hunker Court school, for that dank cellar was gloomy enouirh even on a summer afternoon. Then came some string tne long-pronged nipping-wires which he had taken fix. ^ ":. father's stores, a pair of pincers, a knife with on., viv. .i.e 3'<:i one broken blade, a pipe, some brown- paper mmy., of a good -r^nd, a half-written exercise- THE BURNING OF TtlE WHI> NY KNOWES. 7 book from the day-school at which Cleg occasionally looked m, five marbles of a variety known as " common- les, ' ono noble knuckler of alabaster which Cleg would not huve parted with for his life, a piece of dry bread t-nd, lastly, half an apple, with encroaching bays and pro- jecting promontories, which indicated in every case but one the gap in Cleg's dental formation on the left side of his upper jaw, which dated from his great fight with Hole in the Wa' in the police yard. The exception was a clean semicircle, bitten right into the apple-core. This was the tidemark of a friendly bite Cleg had given to a friend, in whose double row were no gaps. The perfect crescent had been made by the teeth of a lassie-one Vara Kavannah. The box of matches was to its owner the most attract- ive article in all this array of wealth. Cleg looked into his hat-rim with manifest pleasure. He slapped his knee Ho felt that he was indeed well adapted to the profession of outlaw. If he had to be a Cain, he could at least make It exceedingly lively in the Land ot Nod. It was a chilly day on the craigs, the wind blowing bask from the East, and everything underfoot as dry as tinder. The wild thought of a yet untried ploy surged up m Cleg's mind. He grasped the matchbox quickly, with thoughts of arson crystallising in his mind He uimost wished that he had set Hunker Court itself on fire. But just in time he remembered Vara Kavannah and her little brother Hugh. " I'll get them to gang to anither school first." he said. But in the meantime, with the thought of setting fire to something in his heart and the matchbox in his hand, It was necessary to find the materials for a blaze He had no powder with him or he would have mad* * 6 CL^G KELLY, ARAB OF THE ClTF. "peeoye"— the simple and inexpensive firework of met- ropolitan youth. .u ?t'.u°^'^."^ ** *^® ^®**^^' »^^ ^hi^ ^hich coYered the Nether Hill. His heart bounded within him at the Tl.. ^''''^^^ ^^^^'^ ^* ^'^ matchbox, which was one of the old oval shape, containing matches so exceedingly and gratuitously sulphurous, that the very smell of one of them was well worth the halfpenny charged for the lot. bo, without any further pause for reflection, C>eff stowed away all the possessions, inventoried with such ac- curacy above, into various outlying nooks and crevices among the seams and pockets of his flapping attire. Having collected the, last one of these. Cleg climbed up a crumbhng cliff at the eastern end of the craigs, where the stones he about in slats. Upon each of them, for all the world like green post-office wax dripped upon grey paper, was some curious mineral, which Cleg, in his hours of decent citizenship, collected and sold at easy rates to the boys of the Pleasance as a charm. This mysterious green atuff had even been made a seal of initiation into one of the most select, aristocratic, and bloody secret so- cieties of which Cleg was a member. Indeed, if the truth must be told. Cleg had formed the association chiefly that he might be able to supply the badges of membership, for he had a corner in green mineral wax-at leaat so long as the mine at the east comer of the craigs remained undis- covered by the other adventurous loons of the south side Cleg soon reached the tawny, thin-pastured, thick- furzed slopes which constitute the haunch of Arthur's r J" -.u ?' ^""^^ *^* ^^"^'« y^'^^^^ *^««« ^ere still clad thick with whins and broom, among which the birds built m the spring, and lovers sat in long converse on little swarded oases. " I'll juist set fire to this wee bit knowe," said Cle^. hi« THE BURNING OP THE WHINNY KNOWES. 9 For the ranger of that particular Dart nf th. v,-ii an old soldier of great size and Zp^l"[^-L^^^ race. And many had been the Arthur Strirl '\^ had suffered a sore skin and a nthf in f*^''^';''^^^^^ who ing taken in dire offence So 'ft W "f\'^''' ^'^ him, for an all-sufficient name ^''"" *'^^ ^^"^^ In a sheltered spot, and with the wind hphm^ i,- Cleg opened his matchbox. He struckT^ f f ?' The next went somewhat bettpr I'h^ « the wood, dipped aa if to e.prtook ^01/"' 1 flnaU, b„™d up i„ . troad-brd .^nL'ttn^^'cTef et It drop among the crisp, dry, rustling grasf s at th! roots of the whin bushes. Instantly a little tl^k i^e ran Cleg was interested, and laid the palm of his hand „„ Wh fTf- "' """» " -^""•«' with a c,*™ r„ What had seemed a black line with an edge of flickering blue was real y a considerable (ire, which, spring^g f™^ the dry couch grass and bent, was brisk y iickSnth^ tindery prickles of the gorse. ^ ^ ""' UkeTh.T*""'T'l"''* "" "P"^'^ *>»""« and a noise hke the flapping of a banner, the flame sprang clear 0? the ClegwathTrtf "" """ '"■""' ''^--'' '-™ ™o' ueg watched the progress, chained to the spot He w.l knew that it was time for him to be off. '^^'t w^.^TJ unhallowed fascination of the murderer for the scene 0? 10 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. his crime upon him, he watched bush after bush being swallowed up, and shouted and leaped with glee. But the progress of the flame was further and swifter than he had intended. One little knoll would have satisfied him. But in a minute, driven forward by a level-blowing, following wind, the flame overleaped the little strait of short turf, and grasped the next and far larger continent of whin. Cleg, surprised, began to shrink from the consequences of his act. He had looked to revenge himself upon so- ciety for his expulsion from Hunker Court by making a little private fire, and lo ! he had started a world confla- gration. He ran round to the edge of the gorse covert. Two hedge-sparrows were fluttering and dashing hither and thither, peeping and crying beseechingly. Cleg looked at the objective point of their anxiety, and there, between two whin branches, was the edge of a nest, and a little compact yellow bundle of three gaping mouths, without the vestige of a body to be seen. « Guid life," cried Cleg, who kept kindness to birds and beasts as the softest spot of his heart, " guid life, I never thocht the birds wad be biggin' already ! " And with that he took ofiE his coat, and seizing it in both hands he charged boldly into the front of the flame, disdainful of prickles and scorchings. He dashed the coat down upon a bush which was just beginning to crackle underneath ; and by dint of hard fighting and reckless bravery he succeeded in keeping the fire from the little island, on the central bush of which was situated the hedge-sparrow's nest. Here he stood, with his coat thresh- ing every way, keeping the pass with his life— brave as Horatius at the bridge (or any other man)— while the flames crackled and roared past him. Suddenly there was a great fizzing and spitting from the ragged coat which Cleg wielded as a quenching weap- ish being But the \n he had im. But following lort turf, whin, lequences upon 80- naking a d confla- le covert, g hither 7. Cleg id therfi, st, and a mouths, to birds id life, I ing it in le flame, ihed the ning to ing and Tom the ated the ; thresh- )rave as bile the ig from g weap- ^ When "the Warrior" came. threatened to spread, a J OW f^^' t"" *» """^^ »'«! '"lly. The tails of the e„a?df, '"'^ "'""" '""' ""n- '""e left but the ooila . ClegS^ ' ^''"'' "- -"„ STOrd has broken in his hand ?„ ?^ , " '"^''"<"- *hose Pl.«t enemy. But th bTha^ a / "^ "' "-^ '""'»- usually open to tlie soldier nf/,?., "'''"' """'' '« "ol from him, stripped a dlef »f *?'^» «°«'-oll.. given him by the wife of rmaswlTh' "*""'' '""^ •'^» the garment by the two armsh? r"'"' ""^' t^l^i-g efficient beater of the ^1^1"' t-""^" "" exceedingly jet crumbly u^^ 't.tZlt^ "'"" "^ ">» ""'^ "»« When at last "the Warrm-" MI, warned out of his Saitah „f/""' "^'"'^ "P ""» that the whins were on fire hi wf" ''" "^ ""^ "'^ He found, however, thaf Le JeTdT"*'''* '^"P-' 'ho greater expanses by a black il , . """'''''^ ^""« ^"tted, with the remlins oftrLl ^'''' ''"""^ »<) •" a pair of badly burned hands '*'" '''"""' "'»=Pe=l p- oft^ hCd-'tratr^r ^«'-«' '- »« pled out, the ranger besan ll " eompletely tram- Ohio- suspect, becfuse nf on ha?°'™'- ""'' ""^ "-o near the fire except himself o^tbr?.™^""'^'- P^--^™ had seen him light the whL whi J n ?'! '""«' »° »»» gle-handed lighting the flamel ""^ ''^■' ">» sin- iutheSoot™Bfcfr '"i?;'''' '"'"'^''■•eaier, that ,eeTed with the gratuitous Clno^'JT"""'^ "'^"'-"^ ^"-"nger omened name there was an ob J f ^' •"' '""'«•'« «1- of th^men who stoJabo„\ ""■" ha-^eningin the faces tho'ratgrjto^'*^j;» ■r"^"'' » tie lock-up,., said 12 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. At this Cleg's heart beat faster than ever. Many had been his perilous ploys, but never yet had he seen the in- side of the prison. He acknowledged that he deserved it, but It was hard thus to begin his prison experience after having stayed to fight the fire, when he could easily have run away. There was unfairness somewhere. Cleg felt. So, with the burnt relics of his sleeved waistcoat still in his hands. Cleg was dragged along down the edge of the Hunter's Bog. The ranger grasped him roughly by a handful of dirty shirt collar, and his strides were so long that Cleg's short legs were not more than half the time upon the ground. But at a certain spring of clear, crystal water, which gushes out of the hillside from beneath a large round stone, the ranger paused. He too had fought the flames, and he had cause to thirst. For it was Sunday afternoon, and he had arisen from his usual lethargic after-dinner sleep upon the settle opposite the kitchen fire. So at the well he stooped to drink, one hand still on Cleg's collar, and the palm of the other set flat on the side of the boulder. It was Cleg's opportunity. He quickly twisted himself suddenly round, just after the ranger's lips had touched the water. The rotten cloth of his shirt tore, and Cleg sprang free. The ranger, jerked from the support of the stone, and at the same moment detached from his prisoner, fell forward with his head in the spring, while Cleg sped downhill like the wind. He was ready stripped for the race. So, leaving the panting chase far behind, he made for a portion of the encompass- ing wall, which none but he had ever scaled. Having clambered upon the top, he crossed his legs and calmly awaited the approach of the ranger. WHY CLEG KELLY HATED HIS FATHER. 13 " Ye limb o' Sawten," panted the ranger, «gin ever I get ye^ this side o' the dyke, I'll break every bane in your .h "w"»*w ^"'T''^ ^^'^' "y^ «^°"1<^- ^e braw an' hankf u , Warrior, for ye hae gotten what ye haena had for years, and had muckle need o' I " "And what was that, ye de'il's buekie?" cried the a:igry ranger. « A wash!" said Cleg Kelly, as he dropped down the city side of the wall, and sped home to his fortress. ADVENTURE III. WHY CLEG KELLY HATED HIS FATHER. onZn '' I bad, black tale; yet, for the sake of what comes after, it must be told. Cleg Kelly had a father. He was a deeply pock- Z w Tu''^'' ^''^ ^'' ^^^' ^"* ^«* «« bitterly L his on hated him. Once on a time Cleg Kelly had also a to Ir *TH ? *^' f "'^ °' ^'' "^^'^^^ ^^i«b remains to tell. The story of most men is the story of their K-.1W ,!' r?7"i ^'"^ ^''"^- So '«' «" ''"r? of label landL^ ^"^ " ™'»™ "■"•^ "« "■"'"'^^ in this ^d and none swmg for it! How a woman raaj be put to the tortnre every day and every night foryLs, and hevoiceof her crying mo„„t (we mnst believe it/into the ears of the God of Sabaoth, yet no murmnr reach her 14 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. nearest neighboar upon the earth I Gladlier would I tell a merrier tale, save that it is ever best to get the worst over tirst, as medicine goes before barley-sugar. Isbel Kelly had not always been Isbel Kelly. That is to say,'8he had not always been unhappy. There was a ime when Timothy Kelly had not come into her life, isbel Beattie was once a country girl. She had sung in the morn as slie went afield to call the dappled kine, as glad a milkmaid as any iu song or story. Her foot was the hgh est in the dance at the " kirn," her hand the deftest at the spinning-wheel, her cheerful presence the most desired when the butter would not come. For the butter ever comes ^stest for a good-tempered woman. A vixenish disposition only curdles the milk. That is why young men; landward but wise, so eagerly offer to help he maids at the butter-making. And no sweeter maiden tnan Isbel Beattie ever wore print gowns and lilted « whistle and I'll come to ye, my lad," in all the parish of Ormiland-that is, till Timothy Kelly came, and Isbel sang no more. Isbel Beattie was « fey," they said, and would take no advice. Lads tight and trig stood in rows to wait for her as she came out of the kirk, on fine Sabbath days when the lilac blossoms, white and purple, were out, and there was a drooping sprig in every spruce bachelor's coat. But Isbel passed them all by with a toss of her head. She could have married a rather stupid young farmer of the best intentions and unquestioned solvency had she so chosen. But Isbel was «fey," and would take counsel irom neither maid nor matron. Now Timothy Kelly, the weasel-faced Irish harvest- man, wormed himself into the girl's affections by ways of his own as before and after he had. undone many a trebly fastened door with his steel picklock. WHY CLEG KELLY HATED HIS FATHER. 15 From that day until the hour of her death label Beat- ^LntlJ'^r ^?- t""''^ ^*^^ '^'y ^«re married, Timothy Kelly was dnuking label's last half-year's wages m a public-house and Isbel was crying at home with a bruised cheek. She sang no more late or early but iZt ^V^^'i^^^^'-dness and to pray that the kind Lord of whom she had heard in the kirk, might send a swift and easy death as the best thing to pray for r.ZTT^L^f^ r. °'^ ^"^^ '"^ ^'«"««d e;e he re- moved to Edinburgh in the interests of business. He needed the metropolis for the exercise of his talents. Sc Isbel packed what he had left her, and followed him' K ?v . ;^«-ry-foot, to the city lane, and Timot^; Kelly cursed her over his shoulder all the way. But sha did not hear him, and his words did not hurt her. God had stopped her ears. For the sound of a dearer voice was in them, and the promise of the Eden joy answered Isbel, as though the Lord Almighty walk d with her through the streets of the city in the cool of the day Kelly, in a garret up Meggat's Close, off the Pleasance A kindly neighbour looked in now and then when T^m Kelly was out, and comforted the young mother. When Tim came in he cursed them all impartially. His fori words ent the neighbours forth again, full of pity and indigna- tion ; and so he cast himself down to sleep off drink and temper on the couch of rags in the corner. Towered fair-faced Edinburgh and its seething un- der-world held no man like Timothy Kelly. A sieve-net might have been drawn through it and nb worse rascal caught than he Cruel only where he dared with impu- n ty to be cruel, plausible and fawning where it was to his interest so to be, Timothv K«llv was « t-pe o' th^ cnminal who lives to profit by^the strange infatuations of 16 CLEG KELLY. AKAB OF THE CITV. he obtained thf proflionr nf T^'" ^"""« ™^»''' stood in doorways, or perambulated the citr TthT helmets down upon their brows. ^ '^®^'v • Isbel Kelly wore thin and white anrl ti, v. • her face grew chronic, only occrs^inanv ^ "' '" «ide. For iu this matter Timothv M^ k ^°^'"^ '^' partiality. Yet, in the midst ofa^'^cfefin^ "' "'"^ years and strength his mnfhL ^ ^^"^ ^*>"«*^ ^^ from blows witf tJlTftnTodr 'Se ^^^'^"^ 'T hght on her Xabe whon .k i ,7' ^®™ ^^^ » soft husband w.o;u,:rtt'rot/aVf- /'"■' "^ lay on the bed and kicked with =. ! ^ 1"^ '""^ "^ l"' «»Ue»ly about theTonle The d {,""'" " '""'^'J sive. It consislel „r dweJling wan not ejlen- bow wherhe kept Te T""' *"" "^^ ^^»^''' "''M^ utensiK with i'o? et ZZ^Ztl '" ""'«-«"™- the end of steel stalks. '""•"' ""S'*" "Poo «nd at the worst times said I „ f ^ "^ ^'^ ''"'hand, a mistake. She „„ghtrha°eo„tfi°fl"''' ■'"''»• " "■« defied him, given ii„ "bwTrtl,,; "^l'"'"."*' '""'• have been a reasonably decent hLK.^' '" ""^ "'«'" standard of Meggat's CloL ' ^""^'"^ *° *« time*"thaf ;! w^'^, "»';,•"" T"'' ■»""«■ I'-m the huried his Itr/cw Kelfv '^''""" "" ""' ?»"* level brows of hat^^ Sc! ^ n'^' "/i' '«""" ""h but the perception of voutH.. ^" "°° '""'^ 'aught him; The,^ .re'b„: IH '„S"f the*" ■""• ''"™'""«'^' " ueings in the universe whom a WHV cum KELLV HATED H,S FATHER „ father went out, he said ; Whenever his « Bad mannie gone away, minnie!" f^a. CJeg," said his mother « v« «,« way o' yer faither ! » * ^® ^*"^'* speak that his jr rjr ^rt;„tr,.t "^r r "^- •■"■ iilte a cat at five years of T. ^ °°°''' '="'"'' "x>'» *e lodge of a- ou7y^;'Z^/^t''^"'""'""'- ch,■»neJ.can, where even th* foot of^! '"^^ "' " ''««'"'■« dared not venture. **" P'»<">»ed burglar KelI,aIivedbe'r»ea'^,eTe °' ^Tlf^^" ""- ""» m every three or four attacked. ^Aa?m„,T,r ''^''"' tlie seaside for his health. ■*'"' ^im Kelly went to But Isbel and her boy battled it „ * . sown shillings a week fo?!, "' °'°''«- She had »oon the schools were do!^ °'Tu°«' * ^^y^'^ool But theles,, she ea^e^ Inr^' '"^ '''' P^ »«»»d. Never- the McGill-Gillespie oh«L "tT",.'''''' ""^ "'''»'" <" "hole treatise on Church ml 'T' '' """W '«ke a to tell why that chuthwScJ'r.t """■''»»' «'>«'«»'. B»t the nnlearned mavr.V'' M'=G"l-OiIlespie. gentlemen ware nottno„L7°sf^ ''»' *"» «™"-' their effigies worshippri' '1 b f """"• ■«"• »«« ■ninister of the church came™? "' " *"' '™« the outside. """"* "'y near to beini? wn~i.i--ed 18 CliEG KELLV. ARAB OP THE CITY. The children knew hia step, and ran-^, not fnm, him. He was the only man, except the doctor, at whom the urchms of Meggat's did not fling dirt. One of these nf mTi, n'n ''"'" ^"^ *°"'^ ^"« ^^^ *« *h« "Minister of McGill-Gillespie. But this was a great risk, and of course he did not do it when any one was looking One day Cleg Kelly sickened, and though aiihe time he was a great boy of six, his mother carried him about in her arms all day, soothing him. And the hot, dry spots like flame. The minister brought the doctor, for they hunted in couples-these two. Some of the ministers had gone to the seaside with Timothy Kelly, and along with them a few great professional men from the West-End. T 41^^^";^- ^°'*^'' * ^^**^« ^^^^ "»«". «»d the min- ister of McGill-Gillespie, a tall dark man, remained with the small-pox. Also God was there-not very evidently, or obtrusively, perhaps ; but the minister of McGill-Gil- lespie knew where to find Him when He was wanted . n^°^^n ""^ "''^'^ ^"^^^ ^°^"^^ i° tl^e sick-room of Cleg Kelly. No doubt Cleg ought to have gone to the hospital. But, for one thing, the hospitals were over- crowded. And, for another, if they had taken Cleg, they might have taken his mother also. At all events Cleg was nursed in his home, while his father remained at the seaside for his health. One night, when the trouble was at its height, Cleg ran deliriously on about "the bad mannie." His mother stilled and tended him. The doctor ordered a little warm wine to be given to Cleg occasionally, and the minister of McGill-Gillespie had brought it. But Cleg wavered be- tween life and death in spite of the wine-and much nearer death than life. Isbel had seen the doctor earlier in the day, and she was to go for him again if a certain WHY CLEG KELLY HATED HIS FATHER jg anticipated change did not come within six hours. The change did not come, though the mother never took her eyes oflf her boy. Cleg lay back on his pallet bed, inert and flaccid, his eyes glassy and fixed in his head. Uia motlicr softly closed the door, took her shawl over her head, and fled through the midnight streets to the doc- tor's house. A sudden summer storm had arisen off the sea. The wind swirled about the old many-gabled closes of Edin- burgh. It roared over the broken fortress line of the Salisbury Crags. The streets were deserted. The ser- ried ash-backeta were driven this way and that by the gale. Ilandciu cats scudded from doorstep to cellar, dipped, and disappeared. Clash! fell a great shutter on the pavement before her. Isbel Kelly was at the doctor's door. He was not in. Would she leave a message? She would, and the message was that a little boy was sinking, and that unless the doctor came quickly a mother's only son would die. She cried out in agony as she said it, but the wind swirled the cry away. So through the turmoil of the storm she came back, and ran up the evil-smelling dark stairs, where the ban- ister was broken, and only the wind-blown fleer of the gas-lamp outside, flickering through the glassless windows of the Stan-way, lighted her upwards. She had once been a milkmaid, but she had forgotten how the cowslips smelled. And only in her dreams did she recall the scent of beehives over the wall on a still summer night. She opened the door with a great yearning, but with no presentiment of evil. " Tim ! " she said, her face whitening. A man, weasel-faced and hateful to look upon, stood by the little cupboard. He had a purse in his hand, and a bottle stood on the mantelshelf beside him. 30 OLEO KELLV, AEAB OP THE CITr. deein', TimT" '™° ""' »"' ""» ^oy. He's wife's te^jJe wUh Td^Ur'Th: ""' " ?'' "'' heap. She lay loosely on tl. o T ° 7°""° '"" '» » Had mannie, bad mannie, bad manniflf" o i, •„ voice cried. And before Tim ^.i? °^^^^^^' ^ shrill bottle, the little LZTn fl ^""^ f "^^ ^et down the self again and a^frnn. ^^^^ T^^'""^' ^^^ ^^^^ed it- bled^up \'h: irtV'^ doctor found, when he stum- this. He dfes no?f«rl . '^T ^"* °""^ «« ^^'•"ble as . the niinisterTtliS pJ^LtTtt ''T '' '''' probably saved the child's We Y^Vf ^^Vfu"*'"'"* ^^^ Timothy Kelly whenll f ^^'^ *" *^*t he tended paying patients'. Z ^r^r.L'T''^, "^" " '"^^ ^^^ ^' i"any complications ^"^ interesting case, with . So this adventure tells the reason of fl^mn fi • important to be known in thisW I ^'^""^' ^^^3^ after, label Kelly walllad fn\ i^"^^^' '^^ "^^"ths his father, and whrsnif fhia'cedV.^^^^^^^^^^ Y' ''''' ceived the servant girls, wi ever '^I ^'^ ^.^ ^°"" d^" marked man. "^^^ *^^'* » <^eeply pock- What it does not tell is, why God permitted it all. HOW ISBEL KELLY HEARD SWEET MUSIC. 21 ADVENTURE IV. HOW ISBEL KELLY HEARD SWEET MUSIC. Cleg Kelly did not die just then, which was in some ways a good thing. But neither did Ss Tther Isbel, which, for herself, was a pity It wl .1= lor tne want of a nurse, and Providpnoo q»,^ ♦!, -1 authorities would have be^ saved a^Xl,' tlVe"^ But m spite of all boasts to the contrar;, t'ri so fest destmy But no one, not even the chief constable Z K r.^''"/""^ ''"'' I^*-^' Beattie forg^ ten to he „' fta"hetiUt"ha"''"'''K ™'"' "'™ •" ^i' <"~ that he might have gone betimes to his own place and hus have been compelled to leave alone a gr"«rn„mbe' contrn/ " "" """^ "'* *"'«" "« ^ »» p"per But Isbel Kelly did not think of that. Moreover Tim evlrl': T "bT" ''^"'' " "" ■-lid tZh' W ever done as a whole man. And as for little Cleg, he sot better rapidly in order to get out of his father's ™y ' iJut there came a day when both her invalids were out ^velrTtt;ront";'-'''^ "■"" *° "'-h-hoZand fot wish to 'T *° "^'"^ °" '•*'• """' «"»"«"• She did not wish to put any one to an inconvenience. But in- deed, there was little else left for her to do. Tim KeHv ZZ: * '? T"' '" ''' business-whicrstrict speaking consisted m the porterage of other neopU suodsoutof their houses, without previous arraa^ment 22 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. wuh the owliers, and in a manner as unobtrusive as pos- fn h?^?.r.*T-^T!..*°' *^^' profession, but according to his father's friends his day was coming. In the mean time he spent most of the day in a brickyard at the back. Tim Kelly, owing to a little difficulty as to rent, had moved his household goods from Meggat's Close to the outskirts of the city. Now they do not use many bricks about Edinburgh; but there are exceptions, especially in the direction of Leith, and this was the place where they made the exceptions. ^ The brickyard was a paradise to Cleg Kelly in the warm days of supimer. The burning bricks made a strange misty fume of smoke in the air, which was said to be healthy. People who could not afford to go to For- tobello for convalescence brought their children to the brickyard. They made drain-pipes and other sanitary things there ; and on that account also the brickyard was accounted healthy for people in the position of the Kellvs At any rate Cleg Kelly was well content, and he played there from morn to night. His mother generally watched him from a window. There was but one window in the httle "rickle of brick" which their pawnbroking Jew landlord called a « commodious cottage." He might call it what he liked. He never got any rent for it from Tim lielly. Yet Isbel was happier here than in the city. At least she could see the trees, and she had neighbours who came m to visit her when her husband was known to be from home. "Eh, Mistress Kelly, I wonder ye can pit up wi' sic a man said the wife of Jo Turner, a decent man steadily employed on the brickfields, who only drank half his wages. HOW ISBEL KELLY HEARD SWEET MUSIC. 23 Isbel signed frantically towards the bed with her hand But without noticing her signals of distress, the innocent Mrs. Turner went on with the burden of her tale " Gin /had sic a man, I wad tak' him to bits an' pit him up again anew-the black-hearted scoondrel o' a red- headed Irishman ! " Tim Kelly rose from the bed where he had been rest- mg himsell They do not set a bed in a room in that country. They put it down outside a room and build it round on three sides. Then they cover the remaining side m with as many cloths as possible, for the purpose of keeping out the air. From such a death-trap Tim Kelly rose slowly, and confronted Mistress Turner. K. "wi! Tu- T ^^ ^°"'^' Misthress Turner, afore I break the thick skull av yer ill-conditioned flee," said . l_im, whose abuse was always of the linked and logical Timothy Kelly; gm I had kenned that the likes o' ye was m It, Mary Turner wad never hae crossed yer door- step. ../'.^f'/*''^ *^** ^^ ^'' ^^'^'^« afther takin' yersilf acrost the durestip, as suddent an' comprehensive-like as ye can--wid yer brazen face afore ye an' yer turned-up no m the air. When ye are wanted bad in this housed yell get an invite wid a queen's pictur' on it an' me kyard ! " said Tim Kelly, sarcastically, as dS"'" V .Retook herself to the door, in a manner as d gnified as it is possible to retain when retreating with ones face to the foe. But when she got there, she put T mTlf ''^.' '"^ y'^ '^' '''^' ^^ ^'' ^^«th on xim Aelly. The neighbours came to the doors to listen. ittistre.. .uxnor s phrases long after, and reproduced them 24 CLEG KELLF, ARAB OF THE CITF. shillings out of twenty-three. ^ *''**''* But Tim Kelly hardly troubled to renlv TT. . i of getting everwhhh' S' '""^ t'""- ""' """^^ ■"»•"" from heArbaXt h coumZ h T" """T"' ""^^^ biLTt^r '^^ ''«^^'""'' '» '"^ -' So TirK:,;; . !!!: » from behind try;rS„a,rir "? » P»"''8-«'»«e i»g hi. mother w^ nlt™l a^/ e^ """'"" "^ »"^ ^. 0^^: irto'h^r. t»;^itiro^^ r? ^^^ "-- tress Turner slipped mLfhlu ^ ^ "^^'^^ S°<>d Mis- the "brute heasS'^re^X^ul'^^/Lrr''^ was known to be ont of the way anathema Keiri:rstrng:,;rn:w" 1-""°" "■>» i«^' customary sounds of the J VTm* ^""^ •''y- »* *« doze of tie aftelo'n ul "XSS'e H 'Tf '" *' intense heat, and a kind „f "™'™ ."* »m hot with an the burning'briok. The ^eCt, thet-,™f '' ">^ "« the fields, too lazv to riL ,1 . ""'"' ''""^'J "cross "hine. The "whS Tard J?a™?hli!t' •='""i'°™"' ""'■ oven. "^ raaiated blistering heat like an JXrt.iz:::''"' " ' "-'"^ "•"<"' -r'". -ad g h.. convalescence; for he was esoeedingly '^ l y- r - 26 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. handy with tools, and during those days he had nothing worse to do. She made the house as tidy as she could compass dur- ing the morning hours, steadying herself with one hand on the walls as she went about. Cleg, of course, was play- ing outside. He had come racing in for his dinner with a wisp of hair sticking out of the hole in his hat. Isbel smoothed it down, and because her hand touched him like a caress Cleg put it from him, saying, "Dinna, mother ; somebody micht see ye ! " It was hot, and the boy was a little irritable ; but his mother understood. Then, as h^ took the plate of broth, he told his mother all that had happened in the brickfield that day. He had carried clay for Jo, and Jo had given him a penny. Then he had been at a rat-hunt with the best terrier in the world. He had also chased Michael Hennessy twice round the yard after a smart bout of fisticuffs. Thereupon, the men had cheered him, and called him a " perfect wull- cat "—which Cleg took to be a term of praise, and cher- ished as a soldier does the " penn'orth o' bronze " which constitutes the Victoria Cross. Isbel only sat and rested and listened. Tim was away for the day, she knew not where, and the minutes Cleg remained indoors and talked to her were her sole and sufficient pleasure. She thanked the Lord for each one of them. But she never called the boy in against his will, nor yet held him longer than he cared to stay. Yet, somehow, on this day Isbel was more eager than usual to detain her son. She clung to him with a strange kind of yearning. But as soon as Cleg had finished his bread and soup he snatched up his white straw hat-brim and raced out, crying, as he ran, « I'm awa', mither— Tam Gillivray has stealed my auld basin withoot the bottom." JOW :SBE. K.... HE.BZ, SWE.r MUSIO. 27 Mao beW-chiefly, however th? "'•'"' ""^ »»'»« <" shout for the mastery ■ and th """^ "' "■«■» that bottomle.sbaainhad7e;n";- 'V ,«"'«. "hen the over her ,J^Ur4Kt;rpt;=r "■™ "- '^« breast, searohing as though «,metUnr ^^ *'"'"' <"■ <>« And so there was. It wi ^I'*?* """ "'"''« 'h*-* «he missed. Nevertheirthte hj."/*,,""" " '"^' -"■'* hbol to whioh she had bin „L . " * P^« "?»" 0" ran through her bX .^d ?ho !?«!; ^aint trem "■de open, she oft«n gasp/d for ht T* ""^ "'"''ow was less weariness stole 0^ ''' "^ ''"'»'°'. I«m- Cleg was plajing b«|„„ n , , «<"»Plete, ,et not quiteblldSt / ^'''»'^'' * "-"or,, Bteunohing his nosl aUhe^i2/°' Tf" """'""J -i of cold iron at the haok „f rst^t^^""™" """»'""? haughty state and followed bv a Ktl , *'• '"^'""»f '» "« now dragging the basin in Wn"!^'" °i '^-'^'^ ne was pretending that if .7. '"""P'' round the yard » engine of extremely refr"!' '^''^'y *""» drawn by «tted anu .eared in a m"'C7 "r"'""' -""ich our! Then she looked airain <». her eyes shut Beneaih, 0^27-^ ■ ' ""'' ""'» -"'h had crowned himself with th! Z".'""^"'g his oourt. He f'ongh it in the ZTollJ^'"' «■>" P""ed his h^r flniah for the whole, h^hi, stu^uT ^» »■' Wopriate locks fuU of feather., ,*^!'"°';""« "op of protrudin" ' ^ """"■^ "« P'e'iding over: 28 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. court of justice at which Michael Hennessy was being tried for his life on the charge of murdering a " yellow yoit." In duo course the verdict of justifiable homicide was returned, and the culprit sentenced to kill another, or be belted round the brickyard. Then, wearying for a fresher ploy, the boys decided to build a fortress, and instantly, as soon as they had thought of it, they set to work with a mountain of refuse bricks, Cleg Kelly putting no hand to the manual labour, but being eaaily first in the directioL of affairs. This " ga£Eer- ship " suited Cleg so well that he tu'-ned three excellent wheels in the greatness of his content, and then immedi- ately knocked over several boys for presuming to imitate him, when they ought to have been fulfilling orders and building bricks into a fortress. From the window his mother still watched him. She smiled to see his light-heart joy, and said again, as if to herself, " In a while I shall cry to him— I dinna need him yet!" All about there grew up in her ears a sound of sweet music, as of the many singers at the kirk on still, warri Sabbath days, singing the psalms which she remembered long ago in Ormiland, only they sounded very far away. And at times the brickyard reeled and dazzled, the arid trodden ground and steaming bricks fell back, the cracked walls opened out, and she saw the sun shining upon golden hills, the like of which she had never seen before. " What is this ? Oh, what's this ? " she asked herself aloud, and the sound of her own voice was in her ears as the roaring of many waters. It seemed to her to be almost time now. She leaned forward wearily to call her son to help her. But he was sitting on a throne in the midst of his castle, dressed as Robin Hood, with all his merry men about him. He THE BRIGANDS OP THE CITY. ad l"aJ:VL'Sf:'"" '^ '""^"^-^ - "'°^> ««" I'bo. .id 0.7 to'hT^.""™^' ^'' '"^ '>'^' - <■»-. »1 then I shall .3 a common b^ld'tvedr T'"°^ *■'' ™«"^^- to her, calling out roud- " """"^ "' """"J ,e.;:fj;^- ■"""-• I'- "'gg-' a bonnj hoose ,o, ,e to Isbel smiled, and it was aa if +v, tho hiU. „, i,; dlrhTl^'n clVIrtin f "" "." made t also beautifni f«. +1, 1 . . ^ *^^° ^^ce and "My g„id b^^i^'j : it ""L'"'";;^ ^f"™- will look till him I He Jd h. „ k? ?"'' ""■" '^"'■d tTtin^;iirriP^^^^^ ADVENTURE V. THE BBIGANDS OF THE CITY. anA^nfrritJl^r '"h"/ '^'«"^ ^-«- in the tumble-down shaM^'h °'^8 "^^e "ith his father Beach, and asked to IT2X^^ *'"''"""'» "* ^^-'ter W3 mother, label, t at he wl'uldtt f "'? '.^' P"""'^"' « ]^R I'll ^^ ' • , ^'^"^^ not forsake h s father -.II..0 nn awa'f^eye... s„ he told his taer. 30 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. frankly, " for I promised my mither ; but gin ye lick me, I'll pit my wee knife intil ye when ye are sleepin' ! Mind ye that ! " And his father minded, which was fortunate for both. Cleg was now twelve, and much respected by his father, who fully believed that he was speaking the truth. Tim Kelly, snow-shoveller, feared his son Cleg with his sudden wild-cat fierceness, much more than he feared God —more, even, than he feared Father Donnelly, to whom he went twice a year to ease his soul of a portion of his more specially heinous sins. Yet Tim Kelly was a better man, because of the re- spect in which he held his son. He even boasted of Cleg's cleverness when he was safe among his old cronies in Mother Flannigan's kitchen, or in the bar-parlour at Hare's public. " Shure, there's not the like av him in this kingdom av ignorant blockheads. My Clig's the natest and the illigan 3t gossoon that stips in his own boot-leather. Shure, he can lick anything at all near his own weight. Sorra's in him, he can make his ould man stand about. Faith, 'tis him that's goin' to be the great man intoirely, is our little Clig." These were the opinions of his proud father. But Jim Carnochan, better known as the " Devil's Lickpot," demurred. If Cleg was so clever a boy, why was he not set to work ? A boy so smart ought long ere this to have been learning the profession. To this Mother Flannigan agreed, for she shared in the profits. " My Peether, rest his sowl for a good lad — him as was hanged be token of false evidence — and the bobbies findin' the gintleman's goold watch in Peether's pocket, was at wurrk whin he was six years av his age. Take my wurrd THE BRIGANDS OP THE CITy patioa wa8 breakii into CLT^ ™'"- "'''™'' <"=«"- him throngh the windows .„5 • , ' ""^ ""o haein' OTojy darlc nicht." ^^ "J*""" *» ^'o-t doo« " f h. yon wud, wpd ye ? " renlisd Ti,„ k- ,. tnonsly; 'you're the great ho! ,„ . » Kelly contemp. more manhnd in ye tCdlff u' ^'■'"' ""■" •«« »» yuss, ye can do yer ^rth/"*""* "'« » hole in i, ^l»nted.pa.peen,;i<,*''X ;:^^T "T "^"^ B«t I'd ha™ ye know ^.j '/""f "'»■' « dure-mat. »v^. an. i.ery Te«er a, S SV;^r^„*r: n-J^'o^^dfS^^i-tb':' ZT" "- '-" »' «-« rtowedbythecurlofhisno°wi^».°*' " "^ »'»«>•- I'P. that he did not flndth'r'''. ""*''""« "l"" bnnch-of-flves an agreeable w ''"1 "' '•^™ Kelly's oause. great oharaother. He is St ? ^^l " K"'"-' «o be a ^pWdheravthepr:fS''''„';7,'-'« to """'^ "■« kf ont at night, an' ran the risk L t. ^""'"' *»' ■"»»' h« lanthern, an' the gintlen.!* Vl '^"'"'J' *»% "« «I»rt wid a orael poker Bntciil t'" """^ '" •■'' "'s""" in h,3 chair, a„. ^'^.t, his thlS^V''*" ™' ^^^ «nd aisy «' h.s pen. He'll promothr.„ ' ^"^ "^^ ^o «omp •^ "^^^ "-nej burst. He'll wrJfl -V,' " ""'^ ^^ the ^e II write aoillegant that he cud 82 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. turn ye off another gintleman's signathure as faat as hia own, an' worth a deal more on a bit av paper than anny av our names " "Come away hame, faither, sittin' bletherin' there. Ye hae been here lang enough." It was the face of Cleg Kelly, dirty, sharp, and good- natured, which appeared at the door of the boozing ken. Mistress Flannigan caught up a pound weight and threw it at Cleg with a woman's aim. It flew wide, and would surely have smashed some of the unclean vessels standing ready for the wash on the dresser, had Cleg not stepped briskly within, and, catching the missile deftly, made a low bow aa he laid it on the table, and said, with his rare disarming smile — " Your obedient servant. Cleg Kelly ! " "Hear to him now, the young bliggard!" cried his deliglited and we!l-intoxicated father. " He has come to arm the ould man home, an' the ould man'll have to be stippin' too when Clig gives the wurrd." Isbel Kelly had indeed been a happy woman if, ten years ago, she had learned Cleg's method. " Come on, faither," reiterated Cleg, who had again retreated to the door, for he had no liking for the com- pany or the place. Tim Kelly got himself on his feet unsteadily, and lurched towards the door. His son caught him deftly on the descending swoop. " Steady, faither, mind the stair. Gie us yer han'." And so Cleg got Timothy, his father, who deserved no such care, tenderly up the filthy exit of Mistress Flanni- gan's cellar. " Tim's not the man he was," Sandy Telfer said, as the pair went out. "It's fair undecent doin' as the boy bids him, an' THE BRIGANDS OP THE CITY. 88 never so much as nuttin' th^ u^^- . ™rk. Ah, he'll 8,fC L . Jf ^ .*t *" •«"""* Wt »• breaker, who had be^aLZ^T J''" '""""" ^''<'«'- Shorter Catechi™, br»hrowt^ "f-"-' "^ ™ "■» in love, had Bm of all Jned a^f V ".sappointoent tl.0 change not aoswe iit Us Z!!""'',"™" ""'"»"•"■• ^-i. housebreaking and drS '^""'' '"^ """"y taken to the brickytd Xt;.,- '° '"r """"yh'ouse by «ouId. But the svmnathfeti! „ T "'"*" ■« ««» «» ho hU n,other, occaaraCt^k T'^^"'' -^""'•nemberM a scrubbing-brush when Uwas absl^!!" ""-^^ "'* "red-headed gorilla " wa^ abslt .«1^ "''■'""» 'hat the pie's business ""' ""ending to other peo- Whenever Clcff sn ,i. * »i. public and the ev™ " s It !? v'""° '""" fare's .ntcresting circle, he fneT ha ^. *■'='«»» ^lannigan's hand. Generally he took „„ J ^^ " fojeot on Poritwashisc/stotrsoo" C°"'*^''"'^ '""-»• a»y of his raids, to go'and Tnort hi ,J" ''"''^■- »« ™ nearest police-station, whereCo' '^"''"^«' 'he him. She often gaW htt a .'p ec:?:T '"° ''°" tetr '■'^ ■""'^^ ^^'- --h::uxp:rii^ ^o« t- 7r ^^^^^^ ha ,3^, XXrsrif "* «^"- a X^r on the right *'„ "t t Taf'Tntt ' ^li '"^' ""^ '»"» to the sergeant that she hadonll ^l"""' «»«<»«<» "hat intimately. ""^ '"'°™ Tim Kelljr some- Cleg did not mean to h« mj-j .., . - miirij up m anjr of his father's 34 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. i ill-doings if he coald help it, so upon these • occasions he frequented the precincts of the police-station as much as the sergeant's wife would let him. It was his custom to take his " piece " — an excellent thick slice of bread with brown sugar on it — and seat him- self on a luxurious paling opposite to eat it. The fact that a great many message boys passed that way may have had something to do with Cleg's choice of locality. Cleg liked to be envied. And, seeing the " piece," more than one boy was sure to give chase. This introduced a healthy variety into Cleg's life. He liked to fool with these young men of the ippssage basket. Exercise sharpens the appetite, and when this morning the butcher's boy chiv- vied him over the parched-up grass field that lay between the station and the brickyard, Cleg fairly whooped in his joy. At first he ran slowly, and apparently with great alarm", so that the butcher's boy had not the least doubt that he easily could catch him. Cleg held the sergeant's wife's " piece " in his hand as he ran, so that the butcher's boy could see the thick sugar on the top of the yellow butter. This stirred up the pursuer's desires, and he made a spurt to seize Cleg. Had the assailant been the grocer's boy, to whom sugar and butter were vain things. Cleg would have had to try another plan. Now, when the butcher's boy spurted. Cleg almost let himself be caught. He heard close behind him the labouring of the avenger. With a sudden rush he sped thirty yards in front ; then he turned and ran backwards, eating the ser- geant's wife's " piece " as he ran. This aggravated the butcher's boy to such an extent that he had to stop with his hand on his panting side, and curse Cleg's parentage — which, sad to relate, pleased Cleg more than anything. He said it wag prime. By which he meant, not the ser- THE BRIGANDS OP THE CITY. 35 for K'^'isfesn^vtt t7r ' *-»• frienda He gave hia to pul^ *: ^ ^'"^, I^^ g""" and »"gar, b„t re^rved the crust for hhasjif l""* ''™'' ing amicably. Cleir «nH fi,. k . T ,'"'^"- oo. munch- baker's boys, he had „,tSrL i"T l"'''""'' ^"y^ »■«• meat on the road S Z '^*'* "'"' «'"^<> 'ho litae way alonrstokt^. "O" «■'««« on the mil a With a Jnd ZrntSSr^'"^ """'■""'P-. theTn"htTast?teft ""'-r' ""^ »"-"«' oame quite near Then ;„ I '" ™'' """""g *»! he P<»»ible,hesei^th?d°fllS uL7'"\l"'"^'' ""'™»' the dinner of an Zw. VW^ '""'*°"' destined for T.mL„k:at;i~„ve°rtVh "/'"'^ "'■■' "" not only breke thft yonthTpZ but f^^ "'"■ "' ""«■■ the shape of his month andTmwVf?""'" 'P°"*^ over the fence. """' ■"" '"oontinently and^e':eXg^ 'eV^dr '^Tr' ^ "'-f »' "'"^ P'P« minent to one who dwT^; i, 'J° ''"^"' '^^^^ i"i- Mendly inter^o^e U° T "" ""■""""■'Places of baker's'boy Zte^d TZtlZ .T'''^ ^"' '"» in varied and ornampnteTT ^''"^ """'■' and over in parts, what he wonM di .fT' ""S*"^ "etaphorieal him aga n. HoweTer the bf/h . \*°''*'"'' """^ " h" hit l^jantage in hancSi:^ Itt^r HUl-td-.tT T '""• """ ""> '<«»I«»t gradually blew i J]f ot. ^^ ^ """• iju'u VM9mm^imBmmm 36 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. Whereupon all parties betook themselves to a street pump to wash the various articles which had been strewed in the mire, and to dry them on the butcher's boy's blue-striped apron, which he wore girt about him like a rope. It was a highly instructive sight. And had the cooks of various respectable families seen the process, they would have had a sufficient answer to their frequent indignant question that morning, " What can be keeping Cleaver's young vaigabond ? " Also, had they happened to pass, a number of the good ladies who sat down so comfortably to enjoy their dinners (which they called "lunch " if anybody happened to call) would certainly have gone without the principal course. But the butcher's boy and the baker's boy were not in the least distressed. Such things happened every day. It was all in the way of business. And as for our hero, he, as we have indicated before, merely remarked, in his vulgar way, that it was prime. So far he had had a good, interesting day, and was exceedingly pleased with himself. Presently all three went and calmly smoked on the side of the road, roosting contentedly on the paling, while Tam Luke, who had got a prize for good reading at the school, drew out of his pocket " The Bully Boys' Budget " — an international journal of immense circulation, which described the adventures of associated bands of desperate ruffians (aged, on an average, nine) in New York, a city which Cleaver's loon looked upon as a boys' Paradise. Boys were discouraged in Edinburgh. They got no chance of distinguishing themselves. " It's a most michty queer thing," said Cleg, " that the story says, if Tam Luke reads it richt " " I'll smash yer tawtie heid ! " remarked that gentle- man, mightily offended at the insinuation. THE BRIGANDS OP THE CITY. boys ri„ frae the bobbta UkVlm" " ' ""' '""' ">« "Jfo?" said Cleaver's bov. "I „^„. • , bobby in the hale toon." '^°' "" '"'■ ""J "An' me," cried Tam Luke, with m.Vkt, ;i lickit . big bobby the nich :^^„"ten°°"r ■"'Ji' feet a bobby i' yae hand tied ahint LrbaT" iJobbies are nane sic bad foJka Thn » over the™ gied n.e a • piece.' " s^d'ceg gratS" ""^ i- uj »iiy faither that's reid.hAi'^o/i » ooJj r^i Of bttr^tertto-'thtifr "' """"^^^ "■« '"«"" bait'; i^;^.":j: .^ctt"' " "»' »' '*'»'--"• ^^ h.s arm suspended to think over Ihe"' '!^^ """^^ """ i«i-^'liSerntlrbtt:'S,r?^ -"■.« >ng him as he had first intended ^' *^ "' '^»"- •'What to do?" asked practical Cleg, boy and T^ZftXlZ^'r^'^e, the bntcher's wonderful. ^ together. Their unanimity was ingao?or;;f;„r"''"**"''"-'"»-''««g^«iotiy,p„int. kmd o( weather it wm ^ """<"* ""* to see what The valiant captains „, the decimating bands which 3S CI ]a KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. were to terrorise the police of the city, descended from their several roosts as with one mind, seized their baskets, and sped round opposite corners with amazing speed. Cleg Kelly was left alone, sitting on the paling. He pulled out what remained of his crust, and as he ate it with relish, he laughed aloud and kicked his heels with glee, so that the sergeant, stretching himself after his day- sleep, called across to the boy — "What's up wi' ye, Cleg? Ye seem to be enjoyin' yoursel' I " But all the answer he could get out of Cleg was just, " man, sergeant, it's prime ! " But as to whether ^he meant the crust or only things in general, the sergeant was none the wiser. ADVENTUEE VI. CLEG TUBN8 BUEGLAB. Cleg had watched his father furtively all day. Little conversation passed between these two. Cleg devoted much of his time to a consideration of the best means of legitimate gain in his new profession of capitalist. He possessed the large sum of one shilling and a penny. It was banked upon sound old principles in the hollow end of a brick, which was buried under a flag in the backyard of a brewery. Cleg had hidden it with mystic incanta- tions, and now carried a red worsted thread twisted rouuu his finger to remind him of its whereabouts. But there was another reason besides his large capital, why Cleg was unusually watchful of his father that day. First of all, Tim Kellv had come home sober from Hare's CLEO TURNS BUBGLAB. ^j be wiped Off bef.. anothe. i^Zt'^^Jl "'"'' -"' in person. "Idleness is a mlf^ regulated these matters .aid TL"^„Te;;'!.r l";/'"''^ -. «;■„, Mi»t..» Hare." t;^ x^u ^°^ "6 s busy enough ! » the ScorwC ho Ml l?!"* °' *"''™'» Ha«. p^; people's hors^fdol^ !! ^ "■". ""^'ig^tion of other poetry in hi,?rtioL° ''"" '""«"""»» "'"' "» <" For instance, all that day on whinh f i.„ v._i i.- on his fath Tin, was »ediLing'a'Sd'' ?thT oT^? Mr. Eobert Grey Tonnant, a oomfortable burgess oTth. burgh, who for the ease, of his later life had bl^^rhl*? -not a lordly pleasure house indeed bnt » „^L ?l, ar r t'o7'"* -'-" -'^'^^^ ana aity.flre other mansions on the sonth side of the citv There was at the back of Aurelia Villa a little bordet SL to tn rM'™""^™* Tl-^' howevtr, netr oarae to much, for the oats broke the flowers and ejtra eTorgh^'ttnTnl'-Xthil ^"1 ""' ""' ^'^ ..ockot-hauuiorohief tennis " on this soraplet of CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. lawn. And it was indeed a lively game, when two or three of her admirers arrived with racquets and rubber shoes to engage in silk-striped summer strife. When a couple of champions of the Blackhouse Club met on the same side ^f the net, they winked at each other, and amusement struggled with politeness within them. But when each one of their services came near to annihilating an opponent's nose, and as they sent their returns out of court and over boundary wails with monot- onous regularity, they changed their minds. Especially was this so when Miss Cecilia Tennant and a certain Junior Partner in a mercantile concern in the town, put in with equal certainty neat services and returns, dropping the balls unexpectedly into odd corners s if playing with egg spoons. They asked the Junior Partner how ne did it. The Junior Partner said it was native genius. But perhaps the undisclosed fact that Cecilia Tennant and he played together three nights out of six '>n that lawn had rather more to do with it. Pocket-handkerchief tennis is certainly convenient^ for some thinj.r It keeps the players very close to one another," except when they fall out — an advantage which it shares with ballooning. But Tim Kelly was not interested in this house be- cause of the desirable young men who played tennis there, nor yet because of any love of the young woman for whose sweet sake they bought new scarves and frequented the neighbourhood on the chance of a casual meeting. On the contrary, Timothy was after the spoons. Hall-marked silver was his favourite form of sport. And for this h6 had all the connoisseur's eagerness and appreciation. His son was, on the contrary, exceedingly interested in the house itself. He was the most fervent of Miss Cecilia Tennant's admirers, though he had never told her so. This peculiarity he shared with a great many other young CLEG TURNS BURGLAR. ^j gentlemen, including every male teacher excent two {.\ ready attached) in Hunker Court school ^ ^^' H„,i^h".™, ''^"" ""' "o"'- 0' Ws l,„„»e at home He did 80 from necessity, not from choice. For his aZf ment was air:lj f„roished in the Japanese^ iLhio„wTtt im r r»r t ''^"'- ^'■^^ '■"<' ''-'^" '^o™-) d..s ■leu 01 rent, bo Tim sat on tlie floor and worked with « fcoois. ineiQ ^as, for instance, a great lever wifli o « thm edge set side.ays to slip b;nefthtind:wsl^ nights, when the wrench of the hasn from Tf! 7 . -^ would not be heard. ^ ^ '*' fastening Ti Jin' V r? ^'?'*' ^^"'^ ^^^« ^i*h spidery legs which Tim looked at with great admiration, and loved more thf he had ever loved his wife and all Lis relat o„T " IW Wnt about them, as though they had come from some big arm-chaired, red-glassed dental surgery tTk^Hv irenrf:fhfai*"' '' '^'*^-"^ ^'wati^t mrentiy, for he also was a conspirator. At midday the boy vanished and reported himself at ^X^ar^irt^him^: re'':^/Ve''''r ^^^^^^ m%ht come hack when"tt :r ea^ rntrTherdi'r r^r.inrm-r:ft;raf-^ - "- "' .1 42 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. the police-station, and so pestered the good-natured police- men off duty, that one of them threatened him with "a rare belting " if he did not quit. Whereupon Cleg buttoned up his jacket, made to him- self a paper helmet, and with a truncheon in his hand stalked about in front of the station, ta' ing up stray dogs in the name of the law. One of these he had previously taught to walk upon its hind legs. This animal he ar- rested, handcuffed with a twist of wire, and paraded over against the station in a manner killingly comic— much to the amusement of the passers-by, as well as detrimental to the sobriety and discipline of the younger officers them- selves. But Cleg was seldom meddled with by the police. He was under the protection of the sergeant's wife, who so often gave him a "piece." ^he also gave "pieces" sometimes to the officers at the station-house. For ac- cording as a policeman is fed, so is he. And it was the sergeant's wife who stirred the porridge pot. Therefore Cleg was left alone. In this manner Cleg amused himself till dark, when he stole home. His father was already coming down the stairs. Cleg rapidly withdrew. His father passed out and took the narrowest lanes southward till he entered the Queen's Park under the immanent gloom of he Salis- bury Crags. Clr? followed like his shadow. Tim Kelly often looked behind. He boasted that he could hear the tramp of the regulation police boot at least half a mile, and tell it from the tread of a circus elephant, and even from the one o'clock gun at the Castle. But he saw no silent boy tracking him noiselessly after the fashion of the Indian scout, so vividly described in the " Bully Boys' Journal." Tim Kelly bored his way into the eye of a rousing south wind that " reesled " among the bare bones of Sam= CLEG TURNS BURGLAR. 43 son's Ribs, and hurled itself upon Edinburgh as if to dnvo the city oflE its long, irregular ridge into the North Sea. Bendiug sharply to the right, the burglar came among buildings again. He crossed the marshy end of Duddingstone Loch. It was tinder-dry with the drought At the end of a long avenue was to be seen the loom of houses, and the gleam of lights, as burgess's wife and burgess moved in this order to their bedrooms and dis- arrayed themselves for the night. Tim Kelly hid behind a wall. Cleg crouched behind his father, but sufficiently far behind not to attract his attention. Cleg was taking his first lessons in the great craft of speculatiou-which is the obtaining of your neighbour's goods without providing him with an equiva- lent m exchange. The trifling matter of your neighbour's connivance, requisite in betting and stock transactions, escaped the notice of the Kellys. But perhaps after all that did not matter. Aurelia Villa, the home of Miss Cecilia Tennant (in- cidentally also of her father, Mr. Robert Grey Tennant^ darkened down early; for Mr. Robert Ten/ant was 1' early riser, and early rising means early bedding (and a very good thing too). ^ ^ ^ * Tim Kelly knew all that, for his local knowledge was as astonishing as his methods of obtaining it were myster!! ous. It was not twelve of the clock when Tim drew him- self over the wall out of the avenue, and dropped li.htTv ZZlrlZl' Poeket.handkerchi;f lawn,Xt affi 1 m Kelly was at the back door in s minute It wa» ledge 01 the ,u.p. ft „,ght be safer, he thought, to take u CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITS'. a look round the house and listen for the hippopotamus tread of the regulation bull-hide. In a moment after lim was round at the gable end flat among the straw- berries. There it came ! Clear an^l solemnising fell the tread of the law in all its majesty— a bull's-eye lantern swmgmg midships a sturdy girth, which could hardly even by courtesy, be called a waist. Flash ! Like a search-light ran the ray of the lantern over the front of the property of Mr. Robert Grey Tennant. But the regulation boots were upon the feet of a man of probity. The wearer opened the front gate, tramped up the steps, conscientiously tried the front door and dining-room window of ^ the end house in the row. They were fast. All was well. Duty done. The owners might sleep sound. They paid heavy police rates to a beneficent local authority. Why should they not sleep well ? But alas! the regulation boots did not take any cognisance of lim Kelly with his nose among the strawberries, or of a small boy who was speeding over the waste fields and back yards into the Park. The small boy carried a parcel. He was a thief. This small boy was Cleg Kelly, the hero of this tale. Timothy Kelly rose from among the strawberries with laughter and scorn in his heart. If the bobby had only gone to the back door instead of the front, there was a parcel there, which it would have made him a proud po- hceman to take to the head office. Tim Kelly stooped at the steps to take up his precious satchel of tools. His hand met the bare stone. His bag was gone ! His heart dinned suddenly in his ears. This was not less than witchcraft. He had never been ten yards from them all tne time. Yet the tools were gone without sound or sight of human being. Then there was an interval. ! :■ THE ADVENTURE OP THE COCKROACHES. 45 During this interval Tim Kelly expressed his opinions IZ^^o!' '"^ '-'''''' '^'^eaetai.are,„iteunTf:: But at that very moment, over at the end of Duddine " Once ! Twice ! Thrice-and away ! » he cried wifh glee Something hurtled through the air, and fe"l tilh a Bplash far m the black deeps of the loch. YeaJ^Lr this he antiquary of the thirtieth century may find th^s bundle, and on the strength of it he will take away the honest character of our ancestors of the Iron Age, ^ „g that burglary was commonly and scientifically ^racti ed breath1n/;„t r T ""^ "^^''^ ^'' ^''^'' ''^' ^"' inTendv lif^ K ' '°:"u^' "^^ '^""^^^^- ^im listened intently with his ear at his son's mouth, for it is well to be suspicious of every one. But Cleg's breathing wa as natural and regular as that of an infant ^ f f7'V^^'! '' """ "^^"^^ whatever, that Cleg and not his fatlier had been guilty of both burglary and theft that night; and that Duddingstone Loch wa's indi teb le fo the reset of the stolen property. Then Cleg Kelly, burglar, winked an eye at his father's back, and settled himself to sleep the genuine sleep of the ADVENTURE VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COCKROACHES. _ One day Cleg Kelly became naper-bov at ih^ ^hnr. «f iviistress Roy, at the top corner of Meggat's Close. And 46 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. h wanted you to know this. He was no longer as the paper-Loys who lag about the Waverley, waiting for stray luggage left on the platforms, nor even as this match-bov He was in a situation. ^' His hours wore from half-past six in the morning to half.past SIX in the morning, when he began again His wages were three shillings a week-and his chance. But he was quite contented, for he could contrive his own amenities by the way. His father had been in a bad temper ever since he lost his tools, and so Cleg did not so home often. ^ This was the way in which he got his situation and became a member of the established order of things in- deed, the next thing to a voter. There had been a cheap prepaid advertisement in the "Evening Scrapbook," which ran as follows :— " Wanted, an active and intelligent message-boy, able to read and write. Must be well recommended as a Chris tian boy of good and willing disposition. Wages not large but will be treated as one of the family. -Apply M. 2,301, « Scrapbook ' Office.'' Now Miss Cecilia Tennant thought this a most inter- esting and encouraging advertisement. She had been for a long time on the look-out for a situation to suit Cleg. Ihe Junior Partner indeed could have been induced to Lh ' fw /.'' ?"^ ?° " ^^' ^''^''' b"* i* ^«« judged . better that the transition from the freedom of the streets to he lettered ease of an office desk should be made grad- ually. So Cehe Tennant went after this situation for Cleg in person. o w«/^^'r!ir°fr'';* '''^^ ^''^'''^ ^^y ^^ t^e Pleasance was a little difficult to make, but Celie made it. She went down one clammy evening, when the streets were covered with a greasy slime, and the pavements reflected »^^^S»*! ^r!tru i telL JM THE ADVENTURE OP THE COCKUOACHES. 47 the gloomy sky. In the grey lamp-sprinkled twilight she reached the paper-shop. There were sheafs of papers and journals hung up on the cheeks of the door. Coarsely coloured valentines hung in the window, chiefly rude por- traitures of enormously fat women with frying-pans, and of red-nosed policemen w'.'Ai ba.uns to correspond. Celie Tennant enter d. The.o was a heavy smell of moist tobacco all about. T ..e tloo. of the little shop was strewn with newspapers, a^ i-H,reiv.,y of ancient date, cer- tainly of ancient dirt. Tht.. rustled and moved of them- selves in a curious way, as though they had untimely come ahve. As indeed they had done, for the stir was caused by the cockroaches arranging their domestic affairs under- neath. Celie lifted her nose a little and her skirts a good deal. It took more courage to stand still and hear that faint rustling than to face the worst bully of Brannigan's gang in the Sooth Back. She rapped briskly on the counter. A man came shuffling out of the room in the rear. He was clad m rusty black, and had a short ciay pipe lu his mouth. His eyes were narrow and foxy, and he looked unwholesomely scaly-as if he had been soaked in strong brine for half a year, but had forgotten either to finish the^process, or to remove the traces of the incomplete him?'r°'' "It'" '"^^ he. pitting his pipe behind himashecamehitoth, o shop. of Z T^' ''^'"'f ^"'"-^^ *^"' address-from the office of the 'Evening Scrapbook,"' said Celie, with great dig- nity standing on her tiptoes among the papers. "I called about the situation of message-boy you advertised „J^17*'"* **^l"^^"' «' aPPlyin' yersel'!" said the mau, wi.a a weak jocularity. " j,'or my ain part I hae 48 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. ^n» objections to . s„„d bit la., but the mistre. „.iohtn. Miss Cecilia Tennant loolied at him in » „., '« '='>'"><» o' the drawer ' -.1. he added, with infinite caution, "she was to iZ THE ADVENTURE OP THE COCKROACHES. 49 it unlocked, which she seldom does. It's lock'd the noo ' f-ul!^ /""^ ^® ^^''''^ * ^'^*'y ^°<^^ "°der the counter till the drawer rattled against the bolt of the lock « Oh It's just like her ! She aye does that when she gangs oot' bhes an awsome near woman! She has nae conficlouce nae open-hearted leeberality, sic' as a wife ought to hae wi the husband of her bosom." «Do you want a mefesage-boy, or do yor not?" said Celie, who felt that in the interests of Cleg she would face a battery of artillery, but who really could not stand the rustling among the papers on the floor very much longer. *^ " Certain she do that ! " said the man, « an active bov an intelligent boy, a Christian boy-half a croon a week- and his chance o' the drawer." Once more he protruded his head in that monstrouslv ^rpentine manner round the corner of the low shop-door flJJi t V-T ^u ''*'^'^'^ '^ ^"^^'^ ^ lightning, and shuf " fled back into the room behind. Celie heard him throw himself on a chair, which groaned under him " I'm sleepin' noo," he said, « sleepin' soond. Dinna ^^y that I ever spoke till ye, for I'll deny it if ye do ^ he Cecilia Tennant stood her ground bravely, though the ZTTT ''\'°^^ ^"^*^^^ continuously! She won dered why the path of dutv was such a cockroachy one entTrT She n ?, ^ -^-^-o^' ^-d-faced wUan entered. She was a tall ;voman, with a hooked nose and 'iilzr^^ '"\ rr ^^^^ ^^^^ ^' -- fi-- -1 inT hriHi fl "T^f^ '^'""'^^'^ ^^""^ *^« «"""ter, lift- neare'st I«V ^f «>tting on the end of the counter nearest the door of the inner room. The woman took her hand and «wept it from the counter, as though she'h^ 60 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. I The cat went into the merely knocked oflF a little dust, inner room like a projectile. Then, having entrenched herself at the back of the counter the fierce-eyed woman turned sharp round and faced Cehe Tennant. "Well?" she said, with a certain defiance in her tone such as women only use to one another, which was at once depreciatory and pitiful. The Junior Partner would have turned and fled, but Celie Tennant was afraid of no woman that walked. "I came," she said, clearly and coldly, " to ask about the situation of message-boy for one of my Mission lads. I was sent here from the office of the newspaper. Has the situation been filled ? " "What is the boy's name ? » asked the woman, twitch- mg the level single line of her black brows at her visitor. " His name is Charles Kelly." "Son o' Tim Kelly that leeves in the Brickfield?" asked the woman quickly. " I believe that is his father's name," said Celie, giving glance for glance. ^ "Then we dinna want the likes o' him here!" said the woman, half turning on her heel with a certain dark contempt. " But my name is Cecilia Tennant of Glenleven Road, and I am quite wiUinfr to give security for the boy— to a reasonable amount, that is " continued Celie, who had a practical mind and much miniature dignity. " Will ye leave the money ? " asked the woman, as if a thought struck her. "Certainly not," replied Celie, "but I will write you a line stating tjjat I hold myself responsible for anything he 13 proved guilty of stealing, to the extent of ten pounds." THE PLIGHT OF SHEEMUS. 51 It was thus that Cleg Kelly became newsboy and gen- eral assistant to Mistress Roy and her husband at Roy's corner. As Celie went out, she heard Mr. Roy stretching him- self and yawning, as though awakening out of a deep sleep. " Wha's that ye hae had in ? " he inquired pleasantly. " What business is that o' yours, ye muckle slabber?" returned his wife with instant aggression. And the cockroaches continue to rustle all the time beneath the carpet of oid newspapers. ADVENTURE VIII. THE FLIGHT OF SHEEMUS. Next morning Cleg Kelly entered upon his duties. He carried orders to the various publishing offices for about two hundred papers in all. He had often been there before upon his own account, so that the crowd and the rough jocularity were not new to him. But now he practised a kind of austere, aristocratic hauteur. He was not any longer a prowler on the streets, with only a stance for which he might have to fight. He was a newsvendor's assistant. He would not even accept wager of battle upon provocation offered. He could, however, still kick ; and as he had an admirable pair of boots with tackety soles an inch thick to do it with, he soon made himself the most respected boy in the crowd. On returning to the Pleasance, he was admitted through the chink of the door by Mistress Roy, who was comprchouBiveiy dressed in a vast yellow flannel bed-gown, 52 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. which grow murkier and murkier towards hor feet Her luiir was tumbling about her eyes. TJiat, too, was of a yellow grey .stliough part of the bed-gown had been .•avx>llcd out and attached loosely to her head. Feathers und woolly dust were stuck impartially over hair and bed- gown. "Write the names on the papers as I cry them/' she said to Cleg, "and look slippy." ' ready!'^ was quick to obey, lie had, in fact, his pencil " Cready, number seventeen-three stairs back. Dinna inte:miral;r '""''■''"' ^'°''" '''' '' '^ ^^"' ''' '-' Mistress Roy kept no books, but in her memory she had the various counts and reckonings of all grades of her customers. She retained there, for instance, the exac amounts of the intricate scores of the boys who tookTn he « Boys of the City." She knew who had no pai^ f:" he last chapter of » J^ed Kelly; or, the Iron-clad Austr^ roll of black twist tobacco which lay on the counter among old "Evening Scraps." She knew exactly h" much here was in the casks of strong waters under the eta rs, from which, every Sunday, her numerous friends and callers were largely entertained. When Cleg went out to deliver his papers he had near,, a hundred calls to make. But such'was h.'s sense of ocality and ins knowledge of the district that, with fTe help of a butcher's boy of his acquaintance (to ;hom he promised a reading of the " Desperadoes of New Orleans- or, the Good Ku Klux "), he managed to delivir au!!ex: cept a single « Scotsman " to one Mackimmon, who ^ed THE PLIGHT OP SHKEMUS. 53 in a big land at the corner of Rankeillor Street. Him he was utterly unable to discover. Upon his return Mistress Roy was waiting for him. " Did ye deliver them a'?" she asked, bending forward her head in a threatening manner as if expecting a neg- ative reply. "A' but yin ! " said Cleg, who was in good spirits, and pleased with himself. His mistress took up a brush. Cleg's hand dropp:-^ lightly upon a pound weight. He did not mean to phiy the abused little message-boy if he knew it, « And what yin might that be ? " said Mistress Roy. "Mackimmon," said the boy briefly, "he's no in Ran- keillor Street ava'." The hand that held the brush went back in act to throw. Now this was, from the point of view of psycho- logical dynamics, a mistake in tactics. A woman should never attempt to throw anything in controversy, least of all a brush. Her stronghold is to advance to the charge with all her natural weapons and vigour. But to throw a brush is to abdicate her providential advantages. And so Mistress Roy found. A straight line is the shortest distance between two pomts, and that was the course described by the pound weight on which Cleg Kelly dropped his hand. It sped fair and level from his hand, flung low as ho had many a time skimmed stones on Saint Margaret's Loch in the hollow under the Crags. ''Ouch!'' suddenly said Mistress Roy, taken, as she herself said, "in the short of the wind." The hearth- brush with which she had been wont to correct her former message boys fell helplessly to the ground. « Fetch me a toothfu' frao the back o' the door. Oh ye villain, Cleg Kelly ! I'm a' overcome like ! " she said ' 64 CLEQ KELLV, ARAB OP THE CITT. v Cleg went to the bacic of the >» th. h" "^""'f '""^'^ *' '■'"' » ■»<"»»*■ ««» «tting with the t nn.km of nndutied whisky in her hand, and oZ- sionaJly taking a sip. Cleg eyed her level-fronted ohe gave in all at once. « Tak' the knife and help yoursel'," she said, pointing to a loaf and a piece of yellow cheese. She went into a back room. " ^^^ ^^' '^''°^'" '^® '"^^' S^^^"g *he clothes a jerk over the foot of the bed, and seizing a water can. Her husband rose to his feet on the floor without a word. the pCLT" '" " """*''" ^'''' P^P^^-^^^P - And so that day went on, the first of many. When Cehe Tennant asked Cleg how he was getting on, : >id as the manner of his kind is, "Fine!" And V . ^^J more could she g •- >ut of him. For Cleg w,%. ... a bov to complain. Hi. ■ her, Timothy Kell^ v. • afeJv in gaol, and that was enough to give Cleg an ^ .: .^st in life. Moreover, he could savp gom° of ii?- ^' -• 1^1 THE PLIGHT OF SHEEMUS. 55 a week to give to Vara Kavannah to help her with the children. He had not as yet taken advantage of the " chance of the drawer " offered by Mr. Koy. But, on the other hand, he had stuck out for three shillings and his keep. Also, as the advertisements which he read every day in the papers said, he meant to see that he got it. Vara Kavannah was a friend of Cleg's. She lived with her mother in a poor room in the Tinklers' Lands, and tried to do her duty by her little baby brother Gavin and her younger brother Hugh. Her mother was a friend of Mr. Timothy Kelly's, and there is no more to be said. The only happy time for all of them was when both Mr. Kelly, senior, and Sal Kavannah were provided for in the gaol on the Calton. But this did not happen often at one time. When it did, Cleg went up the long stairs and told Vara. Then they started and took the baby and Hugh for a long walk in the Queen's Park. Cleg carried the baby. The boys of his own age did not mock him to his face for doing this. The Drabble had done it once, and severely regretted it for several days, during which time his face conveyed a moral lesson to all be- holders. It was also a happy time for Vara Kavannah when her mother was safely locked up on a long sentence, or when for some weeks she disappeared from the city. Her father a kindly, weak man, stood the dog's life his wife led him' as long as possible. Sheemus Kavannah was a poet. The heart was in him which tells men that the world is wide and fair He had endured his wife in the bitterness of his heart, till late one evening he rose, and with his wife lying on the floor, a log, he awaked his little lass. There were tears streaming down his cheeks. His daughter started from 56 CLEG KELLY, AliAB OP THE CITY. She was used to her bed with her hair all about her. sudden and painful wakenings. " Vara," he said, speaking in Irish, « daughter of Shee- mus Vara Kavannah. hark to me. Mavourneen my heart is broke with your mother. Ifs no good at all to stay. I am going to Liverpool for work, and when I get nih 7,";f, ^^^ .'"^ *^^^ y^" away-you. Vara, and Hugh and httle Gavin. Lonely shall my road be and far. But I shall return, I shall return ! » nf ^uZl^'^* ^^'""^ ^'"^ ^^""^ ^^^y «P«^e not the tongue of the old country, understood nothing but the last words, I shall return, J shall return ! » So it was in this way that Cleg Kelly became father W Lands' ' ""^' """"^^''^ ""^ '^''' '"^ *^" ^^"^- things about the business capacity of Mistress Roy that would have astonished the police. He had, in the impet- uous ardour of youth, cleared away the accumulated pa- pers on the floor and raided the swarming cockroaches. Hullo, mother, what's the matter here ? " cried one of the customers of the place, coming to Mistress Roy. who sat in the little den at the back. ^* die. He disna think I gie him aneuch to do, so he's ta en to finding wark for himsel' " long'^itkTc;:^ ' '"''' °'""^'"^^ "^^' "^^^ ^ pJadin. ^'"'' '^''" "^' *'^ ^^'"^"' ^y -y ^' - The man whistled-a long, mellow whistle-with an odd turn at the end. " No," said Mistress Roy, shaking her head, " the lad's square. And what's muir, I'm no gaun to hae him nied- THE WARMING OP THE DRABBLE. 67 died. He's the first boy that ever took oot the paners without cheatin'." A good character is a valuable asset even in a shebeen. ' ADVENTURE IX. THE WARMING OF THE DRABBLE. The Kavannahs lived in the Tinklers' Lands at the toot of Davie Dean's Street. That was where Sheemus Kavannah left them when he went to Liverpool to seek work. Originally they had lived on the second floor of this ^eat rabbit-warren of a land, but now they had sunk till they occupied one room of the cellar. Their sole light came from an iron grating let into the pavement. Ihe Kavannahs had no furniture. It was just pos- sible for Vara to get some little things together during the periods when her mother was under the care of the authorities. But as soon as Sal Kavannah came out everything that would sell or pawn was instantly dissolved into whisky. At all times it was a sore battle in the Tinklers' Lands, for these were the days before city improvements. ^ his wildest days Cleg Kelly had always befriended the Kavannahs, and he had been as much Vara's friend on the sly as a boy could be who valued the good opinion of his companions. But when Cleg grew stronger in his muscles and less amenable to public opinion, he publicly announced tL.,t he would "warm" any boy who said a word to h.? i about the Kavannahs. One day he heard that Archie Drabble had kicked over the Kavannahs' family bed, and left it Ivin^. wh^n Vara was out getting some things for the children!' Cleg 58 CLEii KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITT. storted o>,t to look np the Drabble. He had formerlV had an interview with tliat penH.,.-, „i,i„h C h ' chronicled elsewhere.* Cl./^«,.y wa. on 1 ly": reformation now, so would not kick him. But as a fdtli Jul friend he would "warm" him for his souk go^" ot?>^Z^ '"'''' ''^ " ™ » -genial sptt ,1 ,?'''V''™'''''\™ '"""d trying t« steal collars off a clothes-line at the back of Arthur Street. CleTKellv 1 "» "Vctions to this feat. He was not u polLman and If the Dmbble wished to get into the loek-CTt ^S not his bnmness. But first of all he must settle the mT ter of the Kavannahs' bed. AftcT that the Drabbk ant liked him, might steal all the collars in the PI_ Drabble," cried Cleg, " come here, I want ve ! " "yI r.'f,?*"' '"' ™ ""°'*' ""'^ «» Clc« took it Ye had better say your» I " he retorted. '< When I- oa^hyou it'll „. be ordinar' .»ye« that wiU tip *y,.^^-i^^- ?'■'"" " "•» efficacy of the prayers of ..school .acher. Ole^ X^r.^— ' ^ -" with\XTfo:;::;rr^'v^\»;ror<;ii-,i have shinned up lik^ a cat P fl T ir u ^ '''''^^ lespect. Whereupon Cleg had resort to guile. Hae y e^eeiUhe last mimber o' ' Gory Dick, the Des- • The SticMt Minister, 10th edition, p. 153. THE WARMING OF THE DRABBLE. 59 prader of the Prairies,' Drabble?" cried Cleg over the W&ll. " Gae 'way, man, an' eat sawdust, you paper bov ! " cned the Drabble over the wall. The Drabble was of the more noble caste of the sneak thief. He had still Hs eye on the collars. Glee raged impotently. All his irishry boiled within him. Be the powers, Archie Drabble, wait till I catch to fut ! '' * ^''^'''' "'"*'"''' ^" ^^ ^'^"^ ^«^d A ^^^f^ completeness of this threat might have intimi- dated the Drabble, but he was on the safe side of the wall, and only laughed. He had a vast contempt for Cleg inasmuch as he had forsaken the good and distin .uished ways of Timothy Kelly, his fathl, and Lea to -issions and Sunday schools. Cleg foamed in helpless urya he foot of the wall. He grew te hate his bo and nended clothes, in his great desire to get at the Drauble. To the original sin with regard to the bc^ of he Kavannahs, the Drabble had now 'added many ac- ual transgressions. Cleg was the vindicator of iustice and he mentelly arranged to a nicety where and 'T2 would punch the Drabble. ^ ^v ae But just then the Drabble came over the wall at a run z:^z: ''""■"" '"'■* '"^^ ''^' ^^"p""^'" Without doubt Cleff on 'hf in h ,r« • have settled his o™ .riJ^Z^i^^lJt.'^tV^^^ -u. tne traditional instincts of the outlaw held Xnl 11 .ir^. ^.- 60 CLEr KELLY, ARAB OP THE CIT7. seeing the double look which the Drabble turned up and down the street, he said softly- ^ ^?«'lrt' ^uf ^'f' ^'^^ ™° ^" ^''^^^«»' *hae papers." .he Drabble glanced at Cleg to make out if ho meant to sel hzm to justice. That was indeed almost an impos sibihty. But the Drabble did not know how far ti^^ev 1 comrnumcations of Sunday schools n.ight have corrupted Back G?:;. '"' °"""" '' ^'^ ^"^^^^ ^' '^^ Soofh. Howev-er, there was that in Cleg's face which ^ave waT Zl7\ Ti.e Drabble grabbed the papers^rnd was found busily delivering them up one sid^ of the street while Cleg Kelly took the other, when Constable G,lchnst reinforced by a friend, came /n sight over the wan^by the aid of a clothes-prop and the LksTn the Now the peaceful occupation of delivering evening newspapers IS not a breach of the peace nor yet a contra vention of the city bylaws. Constable Gilchrist was S- appointed. He was certain that, he had seen that boy loitering wi h intent » ; but here he was peacefully pur! suing a lawful avocation. The Drabble had a reason^ or at least an excuse, for being on the spot. So the chase was in vain, and Constable Gilchrist knew it. But his companion was not so easily put off the scent "Cleg Kelly," he cried, « I see you ; hae you a care, my son, or you'll end up alongside of your father " ^_^^« Thank ye, sir." said Cleg Kelly. "Buy a Mws, "Be off, you impudent young shaver!" cried the sergeant, laughing. And Cleg went off. Gilchrist"''' * '"'^'* ^''^' ^""^ ^""^^ ""'" '^^ Constable THE WARMING OP THE DRABBLE. 61 " Decent enough," returned the sergeant, " but he s in a bad shop at Roy's, and he'll get no good from that Drabble loon I " And this was a truth. But at that moment, at the back of the Tinklers' Lands, the Drabble was getting much good from Cleg Kelly. Cleg had off his coat and the Drabble was being " warmed." " That'll learn ye to touch the Kavannahs' bed ! " cried Cleg. And the Drabble sat down. " That's for miscaain' my faither ! " The Drabble sat down again at full length. "That's for tellin' me to say my prayers! I learn you to meddle wi' my prayers ! " Thus Cleg upheld the Conscience Clause. But the Drabble soon had enough. He warded Cleg off with a knee and elbow, and stated what he would do when he met him again on a future unnamed occasion He would tell his big brother, so he would, and his big brother would smash the face of all the Kellys that ever breathed. Cleg was not to be outdone. "I'll tell my big brother o' you. Drabble. He can fecht ten polissmen, and he could dicht the street wi' your brither, and throw him ower a lamp-post to dry." Cleg and the Drabble felt that they must do some- thing for the honour of their respective houses, for this sort of family pride is u noble thing and much practised in genealogies. So, pausing every ten yards to state what their several big brothers would do, and with the fellest intentions as to future breaches of the peace, the combatants parted, ihe afternoon air bore to the Drabble from the nest street- 62 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. itm ^l'i~'^^^~*^i^ ^am«waAs-a/a«e frae this oot~or It U be the waurfor you ! " f Wf^^'" J^'-abble 'rubbed his nose on his sleeve, and thought that on the whole it might be so. Then he took out three papers which he had secreted up his sleeve, and went joyfully and sold them. The Drabble was a boy of resource. Cleg had to come good for these papers to Mistress Roy, and also bear her tongue for having lost them. She stopped them out of his wages. Then Cleg's language became as bad as that of rr.!.^^.. .'^^^'^^'^^ superintendent. The wise men say that the Scots dialect is only Early English. CW's Decorat'ed'"'' '"' "'''''" '^ '^ admixture of Lafer He merely stated what he meant to do to the Drabble when he met him again. But the statement entered so III ADVENTURE X. THE 8QUAEING OF THE POLICE. ^ Cleg was free and barefoot. His father was << in » for was the sun. The schools were shut-not that it mat- ered much as.to that, for secular education was not much in Lieg 8 way, compulsory attendance being not as vet roost.ng on railings and " laying for softies »-by which . he meant conversing with boys in nice clean jackets, wi h Zlt'l.Z^'^''^^ ^'^-f r^ods of war and Uosa — "^ o^eecu wuro not Clegs. THE SQUARING OF THE POLICE. 63 its oot — or Cleg had recently entered upon a new contract with the mistress of Boy's paper shop. He was now " outdoor boy " instead of "indoor boy," and he was glad of it He had also taken new lodgings. For when the police took his father to prison, to the son's great relief and delight the landlord of the little room by the brickfield had cast the few sticks of furniture and the mattress into the street, and, as he said, " made a complete clearance of the rubbish." He included Cleg. But it was not so easy to get rid of Cleg, for the boy had his private hoards in every crevice and behind every rafter. So that very night, with the root of a candle which he borrowed from a cellar window to which he had access (owing to his size and agility), he went back and ransacked his late home. He prised up the boards of the floor. He tore aside the laths where the plaster had given way. He removed the plaster itself with a tenpenny nail where it had been recently mended. He tore down the entire series of accumulated papers from the ceiling, dis- turbing myriads of insects both active and sluggish which do not need to be further particularised. " I'll learn auld Skinflint to turn my faither*s prop- erty oot on the street," said Cleg, his national instinct against eviction coming strongly upon him. " I'll wager I can make this place so that the man what built it winna ken it the morn's morning ! " And he kept his word. When Nathan, the Jew pawn- broker and cheap jeweller, came with his men to do a little cleaning up, the scene which struck them on en- tering, as a stone strikes the face, was, as the reporters say, simply appalling. The first step Mr. Nathan took brought down the ceiling-dust and its inhabitants in showers. The next took him^ so far as his leifs were r.or.' cerned, into the floor beneath, for he had stepped through ^^^^BHH ^r^ m ^^1 I ' ^H i II f Hi 11 f 11 l^^^^l jH 1 HI i III 64 CL^G KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. v a hole, in which Cleg had discovered a rich deposit of Bilver spoons marked with an entire alphabet of initials. Ihe police inspector was summoned, and he, in his turn, stood in amaze at the destruction. "It's that gaol-bird, young Kelly ! » cried Nathan, dancing and chirruping in his inarticulate wrath. "I'll have him lagged for it— sure as I live." « Aye ? » said the inspector, gravely. He had his own reasons for believing that Mr. Nathan would do nothing of the sort. « Meantime, I have a friend who will be in- terested m this place." And straightway he went down and brought him. The friend was the Chief Sanitary Inspector, a medical man of much emphasis of manner and abruptness of utterance. "What's this? What's this? Clear out the whole homble pig-hole! What d'ye mean, Jackson, by having such a sty as this in your district? Clean it out ! Tear '! M It ' ^'^^ ^^'^^"^ '"^^^ ^""« of Bashaninone stable. Never saw such a hog's mess in my life. Clear it out! Clear it out!" The miserable Nathan wrung his hands, and hopped about like a hen. ^^ " <^hj I^octor Christopher, I shall have it put in beau- tiful order-beautiful order. Everything shall be done m the besht style, I do assure you " "Best style, stuff and nonsense! Tear it down— gut It out-take it all away and bury it. I'll send men to- morrow morning ! " cried the doctor, decidedly. And Dr. Christopher departed at a dog-trot to investi- gate a misbehaving trap in a drain at Coltbridge. The police inspector laughed. "Are you still in a mind to prosecute young KeHv Mr. Nathan? "he said. "g Jveuy, deposit of : initials, he, in his i Nathan, ith. « I'll id his own nothing will be in- ight him. 1 medical ptness of he whole )y having t! Tear m in one Clear it hopped in beau- be done ivn-— gut men to- investi- ; Kelly, •■i ftJiajJ be ruiiiedl' THE SQUARING OF THE POLICE. qq But the grief and terror of the pawnbroker were be- yond words. He sat down on the narrow stair, and laid his head between his hands. " I shall be ruined-ruined ! I took the place for a debt. I never got a penny of rent for it, and now to be made to spend money upon it " The police inspector touched him on the shoulder "If I were you, Nathan," he said, « I should get'this put m order If it is true that you got no rent for tins place the melting-pot in your back cellar got plenty » if stVn'I' M V' ^'" ' " '"'^ '^' ^'''^' '"^°' g«*^i°/-P -^ If stung. " It was never proved. I got off!" "Aye," said the inspector," ye got off?' But though Not proven clears a man o' the Calton gaol, it keeps hmi on our books." ^ ^ " Yes, yes," said the little Jew, clapping his hands as If he were summoning slaves in the Arabian Kights, « it shall be done. I shall attend to it at once." And the inspector went out into the street, laughing so heartily within him that more than once ^ome'hlnf hke the shadow of a grin crossed th. stern official face which covered so much kindliness from the ken of the The truth of the matter was that Cleg Kelly had bur!h r r '"''' '' ""^''^^ ^"^ ^^«^- The Edin- anambffiirf ' ''? ^-onourably distinguished first by !nd W . ^'T' '^"^^' *^ '^''^ the criminal next, whor^ 2;,!' '"'' ^'\ '^' ^^"^«^^b^^ ^omen and children unon fbk ^'' ?r ^^"''"^^bJe titles to distinction, aT.ha byT- r''''^^'^' -tainlybeen squared! aL-. .Hat by Cleg ixeliy. And in this wise. i [ I 66 CMO KELLy, ARAB OP THE CITT. himself in poJrio'fi'-"™ ''*''"-'»oK he found Bot a deal... in old junk ip ntull" t^ """^""' "' spoons of silver, and a few of Rrf " '""* """y father had brongU l^^ mM^ 7*"' ""ich his pressed for toe !nd ha^d to "t ^'onL r '^ "^ forks whole, and forks broken «? tL l. j . ''"° "*'''' itials ought to have 1™. * . ''*'"^''' ""^^^ ">« »- within them The Wdv t,'. ?"''• ""* *" '«>™ »«'l inscripti„n^l«;g^,„'f,,^ta: ,: h!! 7^-*--* an Bailie Porter for twenty year of Im^ T ^"'"''^ "^ nLi"::rothorrt:,ut^^^^^^^^^ bask*;t'whthtdren1 '^ "f "'= ^""'^ »'»*- ^hTr:r rror "t i ^"^ '°p " io'/co'vid g.ng ^nt by a stnng on the pavement, with hid Js THE SQUARING OP THE POLICE. q^ outcries, whenever the devil within made it necessary for him to produce the most penetrating and objectionable noise he could think of. There was (his most valuable possession) a bright brass harness rein-holder, for which the keeper of a livery stable had offered him five shillings If he would bring the pair, or sixpence for the single one -an offer which Cleg had declined, but which had made him ever after cherish the rein-holder as worth more than all the jewellers' shops on Princes Street. These and other possessions to which his title was incontrovertible he laid aside for conveyance to his new home, an old construction hut which now lav All the other things Cleg took straight over to the police-office near the brickfield, where his friend, the ZT ' ,Tt' ^t^ u P ^'' ^^^^^ ^' '^Sht of them. I^or cfe^trl, ''"''r' *"' ^'^ ^^^ ^^^^ «««-^d that of them P'''"^^"y ^^^l^i^g to do with the collection When the sergeant came in his face changed and hi, T^Ttt 'ch'r r/*^^^^ ^'^''-'^ in'atrdan of which the Chief-that admirable gentleman of the ^:^ u7:.iT„r *^ "-"'^^ "--^-^''^ '»« t "Ah! if only the young rascal had brought us thesfi hr. ^f^ *?Tf ^^'^ ^'"y ^"^«d ^"d despised his father the police for their own sake, though he was friendlv enough with many of the individual'offic rs and n es' pecial, with the sergeant's wife, who ^av. hL ^t!^. m memory of his mother, and, being a woman, also ^er- 68 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. haps a little in memory of what his father had once seemed how^?el'ertoToslttl°^^"^T^^- ^ ^ had found them he m . f T''^ valuables. He squan? g the m^^lSpote """"^ "'' "^P'""" ^^ ADVENTtTEE XI. THE BOT IN IHBf WOODEN HtTT. had tired of Sm KeSv J .T' 'T'*'"'''^' "''» ■" ^i' time h. ..ova., je:4iroL':":s tr zr "^'' builder, and espectllvh.' .^'""'^ ■"^■»'>™« °f the pine shavings roiL^ T^'"^'^ 'he smell of the grain for S„;^n, T^tenTst "T^f '"' """'"^ *» -t thing he haf e/er sltlleTrn htlife '''' " '"' '='''"'■ old e:nro:t;\t,tM::reh ^■"'°^^'^ ='* -" '^^ ago in the making of the new ooTL "«"*u ring-rod. "^^vaw yw, J.;, ,,n:;i a mamner o' speaking''' said C\a^ gianomg „p u Mr. Callendar with twinl^W ey's 1' knew that permission to bide was as <,^1a , The bnilder came and looked wtht^ThAT'^' whitewashed inside, and the bl Jk Xes of th. . "^ made transve,^,i„es across the stoni white °"'' Cleg explained. * "I didna steal the whitewash," he s«i,1 . «t . •. frae Andrew Heslop for helpin' him ^i' Zt'l ■ ^ " "It's a fine healthsome, hearLme'l' iT " Thr? man, it's the tar that ye smell," he again broke^f ' " r C„" riZT r'"'- " '«rather'„fl uth^: Ko^wten-h^ra^ r;?n'gTne: tr."' *' ment wi' an awsome mell " ^ '"^ ° P"™" THE BOY IN THE WOODEN HUT. n The builder •t it in for g in expla- of old trestles was a good new mattress, looked curiously at it. " It was the Pleasanco student missiona my mither to lie on afore she died," said nation. " Aye, and your mither is awa," said the builder : « it's a release." "Aye, it is that," said Cleg, from whose young heart sorrow of his mother's death had wholly passed away. He was not callous, but he was old-fashioned and world- experienced enough to recognise facts frankly. It was a release indeed for Isbel Kelly. ;'Weel,"said the builder, "mind ye behave yoursel'. Brmg nae wild gilravage o' loons here, or oot ye gang " " Hearken ye, Mai^ter," said Cleg. « There's no a boy atween Henry Place an' the Sooth Back that wull daur to show the ill-fuvou-ed face o' him within your muckle yett. 1 11 be the best watch that ever ye had, Maister Callendar. bee if I'm no ! " The builder smiled as he went away. He took the measurmg-rod of white moulding in his hand, and looked at the marks to recall what particular business he had been employed upon. But even as he did so a thought struck him. He turned back. « Mind you," he said to Cleg, «the first time that ye bring the faither o' ye aboot my yaird, to the curb-stane ye gang wi a your traps and trantlums ! " Cleg peeped elvishly out of his citadel. « My faither," he said, « is snug in a far grander hoose than yours or mine, Maister Callendar. He has ta'en the accommodation for a year, and gotten close wark frae the Gowvernment a' the time ! " "What mean ye?" said the builder; "your faither never reformed ? » x«ituer m V llll 5H IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / A / Ai^- ^ 1^ 4^ & 1.0 I.I ■ 2.0 U 125 iu I. 1.8 1.6 ^ ■P. ^ *; / y z 150mm /^PPLIED_^ IIVUGE . Inc ^^SB 1653 East Main Street ,^=r^ Rochester, NY 14609 USA .as-^ Phone: 716/482-0300 .A='.ss=: Fax: 716/288-5989 1993. Applied Image, Inc . All Rights Reserved ^^ ^ '^ o ',''l:' ■• " ".•;' '«' «»' » year f„, leave. And 1 .XT:niZ iTZl '""""« "' tongucdressing afore he ZkeT^f «. '^ «'° ''™ » yearrsayshe 'Make hTh^! ,° '""*°'=<'- '0»« tl'o back of the cwrt 1 ,7' "^ ^'"■*-" "^^ I'™* faithor kenned ^h^ ' wa^ for 'h """T """ ''"' ■"? 8ickneas,and trouble ueltheW.f ' '^'"^ ''"■'««"'> iog aon of „y 8„rrL"t tm T"". f ' f '''"'"^"""=- make ye melt off the earth ifJi ^ '"'°" "' ^^ ' I'" 0' mine though ye are i - ° "'°'' »" « ''j'^e. "o" The respectable builder atood aghast. totening to blasphemy. '•Zdw^'lJi"'' ""^ '^" him?" ^ -"^ •*"" ™»' did you say to faithen'"' ■ ""'^ """• '' '«'P» ye'" "ko the oakum, H ' ADVENTURE XII. VARA KAYANKAH OF THE TIKKLEKs' LANDS. which he had constructed t ,1 he shoJ^hKi"''' '*""^' old lock to manipulate w h ?]!. i f ^^^' *^ ^^^ «« futher. Then Ts t forth /.r^l!"'''"'^^ ^^^"^ ^^^ visit his friends :hklvlr3 He l^'A^'r^^^'^' *^ papers in the early morniur ..^ .^ ^'^'^'^^^ ^^' the evening For LTo ^^' f ""^^ ^^ ^«« ^^^e till Mistress R%,^irresfrct^^^^^^^^^^ Cleg fron.«hanging ro.n.>^ S:^Z\':t:'^ZZ. VAB.V KAVANNAH OP THE TINKLERS' LAND& 73 She attempted to do the discouraging with a broomstick or any hmg else that came handy. Bnt Cleg „"^ act,™ to be struck by a woman. And, turniglon Z mistress with a sudden flash of teeth like the Z o " wild cat. he sent that lady back upon the second Hue „? her defences-into the little back shop where that peTliar company assembled which gave to Boy's paper-K ts other quality of shebeen. / F per snop its Cleg had just reached the arched gateway which led mto the builder's yard, when he saw, pottering ^out the ..dewalk twenty ya,ds before him th^ ^qualLdy Zl' figure of h.s late landlord, Mr. Nathan.' h; had bee.f|^ ing the round of the builders, endeavouring to discover wh.eh of them would effect the repairs of Tim Kdlvl mnsmn at the least expense, and at the same time be prepared to satisfy the fiery Inspector of Sanitation and shot ahead on his wav to T.l. V" • P'""""" the Kavannahs. The fuWlmenT^f 1. ..r^''^ ™" "" tion required that .tSold ,^T^^^^^^ 'T :het:tt ;irr " r^-^'^^'^^ truce or p^Uy *" '" """^ » "" '"""<> «>"W "» "o o./t:?Ss%Tree;\rste;^^^^^ apparently carried all its inhabiton'ts witrit i?nkw grJ^l ran down into the «*a and bent over the H j hil . ',1 I - 1 il ' !: 'L 1 \i^ ', i n CLEG KELLY, AltAB OP THE CITY. The stumpy p.,ing^ th^mTll lu^rt ™°^"'"'- posed of to the ofd jut," "'""^ "" P™'"-"'? di"" "She gaed awa' last nicht wi' an ill man » ««w v "and I hae seen nocht o' her since." ' "*' ^^''*' thegirlhadhert;^'L^^teZi^a""'^" ^^"''^^ stowed away on the top ofhe' leA wlT'''' ?' '°^ cares of a house and familv Tf ;» ''''® ^^ ^'^^ grown-up fashion Tnri^'- "«c«8sary to dress in a fhetrouble" ^ugh and tt 'l '^^ --^«' ^^en looked like a litH« L ^^ ^*^ ^^^^^^ °» ^er, Vara VARA KAVANNAII OP THE TINKLERS' LAKDS. 75 Mn":" bitr' """■""""'^'™ ""'^'^ -■»- '™- the family; "yestroen" °''°'''^'' »' """«"« white raff L w^ ! ^^""^ '"'"''PP^'^ '"^ » Pi^ce of ,V. i; fu ' ^''^'/^e^ever he remembered, h • -arried it in his other hand and wept over it with a L whimper. ^ ^"'^ * ^^^» wearying Cleg again looked his query at Vara. hurt his airm on the corner of the bed » And Cleg, though he had given up swearing, swore. The wean s asleep ! - said Vara; « speak quietly " And upon tiptoe she led th. way. The dusk of the cellar was so dense and the oppression of the foul air o col'wdf ^' '°'^J^^ '^'^ '^ ^^« manner bor'h lav hudi? " "'"'^l^ '^' ^^"'^ «"^ ^^^^« the baby Znli t , "'''^^ ''^'*^^"^« ^^ «^^ petticoats and bits of flannel, ^hile underneath was a layer of hay babe ''""'^ ^'''°^ ""^^^ inexpressible rapture at the " Isna he bonny—bonny ? " She clasped her hands as she spoke, and looked for the answering admiration in Cleg's face « Aye," said Cleg, who knew what was demanded of f' Ji 11 .i ) 111 ■ ;i '■it I ; 76 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY He had heard h s father sav tl,»f «f . ..'. In truth, the babe wrb^t st!^ i/7 ^™'°^-" drawn face of a .un-n.;" fi th uV'd 'T llid't*'" lands prehensile like those of a monkey ^^ eat the day ? » ^" ^^^"* ^*« ^e had to " We had some brotli that a nei?! hour K,««ui • terday. and some Bsh. But the fl fead » 'L'^'^ flush,ng and hesitating even to say thZ th^gs To Ck^ . Jhe badness of the fish, indeed', sumcientif I^^ed .ne(ii?rnrparnTra''^r^""'"''^"«^'>-'^ "Hugh's awsome huoffrv' TTnn^v, i, dinner!" "«°gry. Hugh boy wants his Vara went to him and knelt beside him. Hush thee, Huffh bnv » »' oi,« • i fragrance of n,;therfine^;ueh ml hr"""^ "* ' from some aneestor, for ceTtoinlv "1 ."""' *» *"" Bhe experienced an;thTng Hkr/t "Tu 'i,^" '»» *«<> shall have his dinner if he a JL L °*o ="«'' ^^ Poor, poor handle I" "^ "»»«>'* boy ! Poor handle 1 herst>d t£' rndTwt"th 1' '"' '""' """^ '-t" "Hugh i« .ann t„ V ^^ '"'y "^ her knee. greet Na, he^t ,, l^?; rrC/''' «''^- "Hewadn. then he ,vill get hi ! Jk '^ """"' ''"'°»- ^nd and «d berrtg^hlSng:;':;!'"/'" ^ T ' ''^^• '-^,»'aipples,.„.„„„g,,f:j; j«J-;. ■-?. »'"■<"' - 'fosh, aye, but that wnll be mM " s. „ .topp.ng his c^ing to listen to t^ .Zt^,^^tZ7^ noo. VARA KAVANNAH OP THE TINKLERS' LANDS. 77 he wnl tek us away to a bonny hoose to leevo where tlie 8hip8 sail by For dadda has gano to the seaside to look for wark It will be a bonny hoose wi' swings at every door, and blacky men thut dance in braw, striped claes. Well howk holes m the sand, and fill the dirt into buckets, and row our girds, Ilughie. And we shall heidl'"'' *''^'' ^"""^ '^^^'^ *^' ^''''''^ ^^'"^ ^^°°^ «°^ " Oh oh," cried the child, « Hugh boy wants to gang ). He wants to paidle in the bonny water and eat the oranges ! " that s a' to be when dadda comes hame." " Hugh boy is gangin' to the door to look for dadda ' " etched t'oL*! "^^"' ^"^"^ ''' '-^^^^^ ^-^ rrvw' ^^^^nf ^^' ^"''^ ^""°^ *^« °'^ ^^^^^^ «et up a heartt'fl ^^ T.' *' ^'' '^^ ^^ ^^« '^^'^^^ *« the or beaste. ^''''' *^'°^' ^"^ P'^"' ^^^*^«^ ^«^«« But little Gavin (called for a comrade of Sheemus Kavannah's who had been kind to him) was wrinkHng fntZ ^^^l " * ?^''^^ ^""^^^^^^ Then, lifting up thf mMd « '^/^^°°^-^ «^y th'^t breaks off sharp in the and wenf. "'"'' f '^"' *' *^' ^"^^^ ''^' '^ '^' ^^^1% ana well-grown malcontent. he hushed him back again to sleep, making a swift ges- ture command for silence. She kept her eyes fondly 7nZ!\^f^\^'^^^' *^''^^ the wailing ceased, the tmy clenched hand fell back from the puckered face and lH^i J:il i I ! 78 CLEO KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. I was feared ho wad waken «■>• i i, ! h.m," she explained, simply ' ^ "^^t to gio LTwith„":t'a''''^r:'°"">-'»-">.ia.» "top, and with her he hS a |„, / ^""''' »' ""e paper- i-terview, in which Te etdeat , ?!"* '""' malXtory wage before it was due. Th "? '.? "P"" >''' *«"'''» ■nations on both sides hetoT^Z"" "*" ™'' '•'="™- It onded in the half thLr)-"^ ■ P?""''" "^ ""^oted. being paid over in v fel o,*?;"* f ^""^ '•"^ "-"-ked for. to be regretted, clg dM n^ »''<=''««"i»s-whioh, it is Mistress Boy. ® ^ ''°' ''""^ '■''""■"ly represent to and?„rgh:twV;Lf Znh of r t,"'^ -"'■''• ^'^« -» penny bone for boilil Tt^' """' '™'" «■» "eek and a penny cabbage, a We fC? ""fVf ™rrote, a half- «rth of the best S To S V°^V'"' '^"f""^ and an orange for H„gh so th!t b "^f ^ ""> W™ taste of the golden T,^! \ *' ""«'■' 'ave afore- horae. ^"' '""^ "'"''■^ dadda should come It was as good as a circus proce«i» and his Cheat out, jural f:dt„th'XX''r':;' the reg.ments coming down thp TTill ^® ^®^^<^ Oastle,.ndcaughtagLZf L^^^^ '^^"^ *^« towering plumes. '"^'^ «^'°g»ng tartans and .n>a::.tr:etrs; ru'h ""n r ""-^^ '- admi«tion on her lips !s^w ""^ "' gMness and without ever binding ll?^!?,!"™^.-"'-'"'"^ '"^ on tne olipperj stairs. VARA KAVANNAH OP THE TINKLERS' LANDS. 79 " Cleg Kelly ! » said she, speaking under her breath, " what are ye doin' wi' a' that meat? " " Oh, it's nocht ava," said Cleg lightly ; « it's juist some things that I had nae use for this week. Ye ken I'm watchman noo at Callendar's as weel as working at the paper-shop ! " " Save us ! " said Vara, « this is never a' for us. I canna tak' it. I canna ! " " Aye, is it ! " said Cleg, « an' you tak' it for the bairns' sake. Sheemus will pay me when he comes back, gin ye like ! " Vara's heart broke out in a cry, " Cleg, I canna thank ye ! " And her tears fairly rained down while she sobbed quickly and freely. " Dinna, Vara, dinna, lassie ! " said Cleg, edging for the door; "ye maun stop that or I declare I'll hae to rin !" From within came the babe's cry. But it had no ter- rors for Vara now. "Greet, Gavin, greet," she cried; "aye, that is richt. Let us hear something like a noise, for I hae gotten some- thing to gie ye at last." So she hasted and ran for the baby's bottle— which, as m all poor houses, was one of Maw's best. She mixed rapidly the due proportions of milk and water, and tested the drawing of the tube with her mouth as she ran to the cot. At first the babe could not be brought to believe in the genuineness of the nourishment oflFered, so often had the cold comfort of the empty tube been offered. It was a moment or two before he tasted the milk ; but, as soon as he did so, his outcry ceased as if by magic, the puckers smoothed out, and the big solemn baby eyes fixed them- selves on the ceiling of the cellar with a stare of grave rapture= 6 «»o Then Cleg took himself off, with a hop and a skip ft ': •/ ■ •■'-11 80 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITh Kr::X^~ ^^^^^^^^ his ..aa an. ment letting the orange, ea nelt otiht P "''"' ^'' ' "'^- hia father's return, ou of ht nth I'^T'"^ ^^"^ «' for the benefit of the KuZLu '"' '™^'' '"S' him. Then he threw th2„<.?'' ^"^^ '"' >«<>king at «n "> "mftl of the fraerant„t.\""""S. and bring an «oent hi, ch.o.be:"' Tnarjtdt 'T " ^'™' '» must be confeffled, however tb.?! ^ ''P ''"""• " watchman at Calle^darW;? ^ the position of night- Karannah, wa. enW^altnt p:' ^"*' '»^''"' he heard the grnfl voices ofTh ?' '' "■" "o' ""ai andanswerinfoneanX^'- T "'"=""« *heir tools 'hat he realifenrw Vh'ir:.'''!""'"' """"'^''^les -- «. »harpi,tha?ltS„tu1r^^^- e-:* r:';^ CLEG'S SECOND BURGLARY. 81 and Cleg was brought up all standing against the side of the hut. All that day he went about his duties as usual. Ho trotted to the newspaper office and distributed his roll of papers mechanically ; but his mind was with the Kuvan- nahs, and he longed for the time to come when he could, with some self-respect, go and gloat over the eflfects of his generosity. Doubtless there was a touch of self-glorifica- tion in this, which, however, he kept strictly to himself. But who will grudge it to a boy, who for the sake of a las- sie has spent nearly half of his week's wage, and who knows that he will have to live on bread and water for ten days in consequence ? Cleg judged that it would not be advisable for him to go to Tinklers' Lands before noon. So in the meanwhile he betook himself to Simon Square to " lag for " Humpy Joe, who had called him " Irishman " the previous evening, at a time when, with his papers under his arm. Cleg was in- capacitated for warfare, being, like Martha, much cum- bered with serving. But Humpy Joe proved unattainable. For he had seen his enemy's approach, an.' g soon as Cleg set foot within the square, he saluted him with a rotten egg, care- fully selected and laid aside for such an emergency. And had it not been for the habitual watchfulness of Cleg, Joe's missile would have " got him." But as it was, a sud- den leap into the air like that of a jack-in-the-box just cleared the danger, and the egg, passing between Cleg's bara feet, made a long yolky mark of exclamation on the ground. Being defeated in this, Humpy Joe looked forth from an end window, and entertained the neighbourhood with a gratuitous and wholly untrustworthy account of Cleg's ancestors. And Cleg, in reply, devised ingenious tortures, M mm 8S OLEQ KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. good feeling, vowing rnluta^'l""'"" "»?"''' -nd they ahould meet .tfunda^S*™""" """^ "<>« At Ia«t the time came for r'lno. 1 * , , upon the table which ha^ been ?n ,T ^'' ^"P^^ «^«« his friends the Kavunnahs. But Zf , V' '"^^^^ ^°' about the end of Davie Dian'f slf f ^'^^^""^^ ^^^^"« ing for a boy to lick and thrnl ' ^^^^^^^tiously look- the baker's L watch-dog torakTrb't T ''' ''«" «*' was making sure that fone of hi ^° '"""^^^ ^^ the neighbourhood, letw"thsL« "7^"^^°°^ ^^^« '« should cast up at h m f» f ^''^^^^ ^' ''"th. thev to a lassie." ^ ^'^ '^^ ^'^^^^^ o^e^ce of "spe;krn^ At last the coast was clear T»,« i , half a mile had been chased unL ^u """^^ ^^^ ""'^^^^ groat guns of his own fortresf bin r'"''"^ '^ '^' mother's wash-tubs. Then CW 7^.*^' "'^^°^*^ ^^ ^is the cellar beneath Tinklers Lands '"''^^^ '^"° ^^ Cleg hidttt irt^tt: zrr ' ^'^^ ^- - ^^-t. he put his eye there B„f ^•^^'' '°^ "«*«°«^- Then thing. ^ '"'"'"• ^"* "«»ther sense told him any^ «oo7c7erkltatrh'^^ '"''^ t '^^ «^^ '^^-^ the there is no danglr of hs h?"' V ^'^' ^'^'^^ ^ ^«or (if the keyhole. but'Tl^sV 'ZloT'lTrV' ""^^ «* his breath. At first he cmJT' ^ ^''^^""^^^ ^^^^^^g «ttle,a low sob at stated inl ^T .''''^^'''^ ' *>»t ^^ I the cursory noises mat brtrV'*'°'^' '^^^'^ '^<^-^ Jers' Lands and Cmthll,''^^'' *^"*°t« ^^ Tink- above. """^ *^" steady growl of the streets CLEG'S SECOND BURGLARY. 88 "Vara!" ho cried a liitio louder; "Vara Kavannah, are ye in ? What's wrang? " Still nothing came back to him but the mechanical 8ob, which wore his patience suddenly to the breaking point. " They're a' killed," said Cleg, who had once been at the opening of a door, and had seen that which was with- in. " I'll break open the door." And with that he dashed himself against it. But the strength of the bolt resisted his utmost strength. " Cleg," said a voice from within, very weak and fee- ble, " gang awa' like a guid lud. Dinna come here ony mair " It was Vara's voice, speaking through pain and tears. "Vara," said Cleg, "what's wrang? What for wull ye no open the door?" " I canna. Cleg ; she's here, lyin' on the floor in the corner. I canna turn the key, for she has tied me to the bed-foot." Cleg instantly understood the circumstances. The^ were none so unprecedented in the neighbourhood of Tinklers' Lands. Sal Kavannah had come home drunk, singly or in company. She had abused the children, and ended by tying up Vara, lest she should go out while she lay in her drunken sleep. Such things had been done within Cleg's knowledge— aye, things infinitely worse than these. And with his unchildish wisdom Cleg feared the worst. But he was not Tim Kelly's son for nothing. And it did not co"t him a moment to search in his pocket for a fine strong piece of twine, such as all shoemaker's use. He ■ -"«j 1.™ .... .^.tol iT.,1 cvrio ui Guru uuuUD wita mm. This cobbler's string was a special brand, so wonderful '. ■ H J 84 "lEG KELLY, ARAB OP TflE CTr. -"'^ WAX. (who™ hf ,lle^,tli;'r„trd:"?„'t ''•°«»«kert boy Cleg knew that th» tl . ° "'"*»' ■'• '» t>.o gloom, c„„w noVlt ir'r"'?«'^™»'»'°''■« ""d" iong piece of stick and thT .""'-"• Then he took a h»-i 'he satisfac^r^/tCfhe r'^'"^^ door, and hang by the eobWert ttt. V^^ '"''^^ «ho '0 the floor, and fonnd that as Li^ ^^ '««<"' down doors, the bottom of that of tL ■■ ^° "^ "'* most did not come quite ZtZ'Zl "' P""'-' ^-ds oasy for Cleg to dangle the key a mtle til, ."""' '^'='<"•^• 'he end of it to the place where th„ . i, ° °"°" hring Then he took his hS liT, / ,f ""^ '"'™ ""est him. It was in itsetf a^^ ""^. •""'^,'J 'he key towards Cleg in far less time thaHt /.v ^ f,^ ™ '""'"'d by TVith the key in bt° i ^"^ '" *"' "hout it. ' clasp-knife. Cleg turned thrh>r».'' ■" ""^ °*"" » open in- A terrible LullVu^V""'' """ "'PP^'^ »"h. which he dreaded. In the c2 '■' T' "'°°S'' ""tthat a pair of empty bottles tssed™ ?^ ^^ ^''™'"""'- "i'h O'er her face, lying drawTL .,.''.""'"• ^^'^ "'"k hair 'ho b^d was C bleeS S""^'' ■» » h»P- Tied to . ''-.'o cover her armsl?rndstrh.«':ig''hr-S^ CLEG'S SECOND BURGLARY. 85 't that the iccustomed He also tie groove ^8- So he 3d slipped girning" fns about ightened. : see-saw- be wards 9 took a 'hole, he side the it down h most ' Lands erefore, i bring widest, owards ted by I open with- t that »with hair 3d to I and But Hugh and the baby lay in the bunk together, sleeping peacefully. It was upon poor Vara that the brunt of the woman's maniac fury had fallen. Cleg stood stricken ; but the sight of Vara bound with cords aroused him. He had the knife in his hand, and it did not take a moment to free her. But she was so stiff and exhausted that she fell forward on her face as soon as the straps were removed. ^Then, a • Cleg had lifted her, he turned upon the sodden heap in the corner, and, with his knife glittering in his hand and the wild-cat grin on his face, he said, with a deep indrawing of his breath, " Oh, if ye had only been my ain faither ! " And it was as well that it was Sal Kavannah and not Tim Kelly that had done this thing. Now, in an emergency Cleg always acted first and asked leave afterwards. " Come awa' oot o' this. Vara, and I'll bring the bairn and Hugh," said he to the girl, when she was somewhat recovered. "But, Cleg, where are we to gang?" said Vara, start- ing back. "Never you heed. Vara; there maun be nae mair o' this frae this time oot." His manner was so positive that the girl gave way. Anythmg rather than abide with the thing which lay in the corner. " Hae ye ocht that ye wad like to bring wi' ye?" Cleg asked of Vara, as he shouldered Hugh, and took up the baby on his other arm. " Aye," said Vara, " wee Gavin's feedin' bottle." And she had to step over the sodden face of her mother to get it. So the four went out mio the noonday streets, and Cleg marched forth like the pipe-major of the Black -1 mI i ''Ir1» ' i; \m ui ^1 'f 1 ' 1^1 vi ^1 ; P H i 1 I ^^^^H ! It ' j < u ( ' 1 "^ |H ( 1 • 'i 1 ■! 1 ' < 1 ' li f 1 ' IflH X i ^^H r' ' ? '], c! w^^H '! f ( ' w^^^l r ;! 1 'S^^l 1 M 1*^ kB^^^^l 4 ' E:j£|fi^^^^| ^\, ^^yj^l rC 'K^li HH 86 n 1. 1 CLEG KEtL^, ARAB OF THE CTT. VVatch— than whom dignity and p„p,p, „C tCl i°l T"" ™J'" »'"' ■»»•« t-ud „, pipe„ ,,^^ ^^ ^™ -^ a b.g parade and tho full Cleg almost wiahnl «, / tr » jelly. But, as it chanced th!f,."*" ■""" '''» to ' "as tho very middle ofTh'e w„X t T" ''^»'-"*<', for that the streams that wen all/ "" dinner-hour. So »onor and a ,„„ter o7an h„„r7r " """""^^ "' "" ^ou" ■nent all safely housed ;whrth„!" "^ '°^ ">» »»■ their dinners with them sal „i hi T "'"' '"^ brought ;^e itro^-^crd:.:- ^2 fhicrd-r ™-" "»' - the mam gateway, but onWd ^rot '' """ '^ *'»-°''gh "here only broken bottles aTdo^"'°"°» T'* W The children Bas«.d ", i ™°' dwelt. 7^ and in a little^h it Cw'^Tth """7"^^ "-^ *"» h« own city of refuge. But V. "" ™'"'^ '■°°«ed in »en.e of the men should s^ them" I^ '" «^'-<«' 'ear lest the street. So Cleg shrthe 7 "™ "'*"">"' "P»n 'ock of his own dev&ng. and st^~^d"r ""^ ""■■ *» CaUendar. *' "" started at a run to And Mr. ADVENTURE XIV. «1M TBKSS DIPIOMATIST. «ec^ta^fSn"gd^rtoT r *' »' 'be came to his door. The on. f " ''""""• "hen Clej le-dars kept was "tidyt™LS?' T ^"""^ "^ ^aU J- « ""'elf for the afternoon, and il i CLEG TURNS DIPLOMATIST. g^ very much resented having to answer the door for a raffffed boy with bare legs. ^^ "Gae 'way, we hae nocht for the likes o' you here'" said she, and would have shut the door upon him "No even ceeyil mainners," said Cleg, stepping lightly pas her mto the 1 ttle side room, where ho knew fhafMr Callendar ordinarily took his meals. The builder was just putting a potato into his mouth. He was so sur- pr«ed to see Cleg enter unannounced, that the fork with ^he^ round, well-buttered. new potato remained poised in h« S'M^r^'*^ """^^ ^'' '^"•'•^ ^^*^°"t preamble, lest eltd n\T":'^ '""^ '^'""^ ^^^ ignomini;usly expelled But the trim servant merely listened for a mo- ment at the back of the door, to make sure that the in- truder had some genuine business with her master, and then returned to the graver duties of her own toilet. It was her evening out, and her "young man » had hinted at a sail to Aberdour on the pleasure-boat, if they could get to the West Pier in time. "Oh, Maister Callendar," Cleg began, eager and breath- less, «ye hae been a kind man to me, and I want ye to help me noo " ^ "What's this. Cleg?" said the builder; "surely the police are not after you ? " Cleg shook his head. " Nor your faither gotten off ? " Again and more vigorously Cleg shook his head, smil- ing a little as he did so. "Oh, then," said the builder, much relieved, carrying the suspended potato to his mouth, «it can be naething very dreadf u'. But when ye came in like that on me, I declare that I thocht the wood-yaird was on fire ! " Then Cleg proceeded with his tale. He told how tho 11 ' : til m m 2 ' f'i ! k ■V. I hi I . jr-f t c «in 1 M F. 'nqp* 88 4 CLEG KELLY arab «« ^^^' -^"AB OP THE CITY. I "-inevitable ^1^^ the Sr,!- ^e^ketohedwi^ Kavannah. He state/ a 'JilT °^ ""^ "^^ <" Sal ]?-- ^"^ H» ^^TXittltt^' "m was near broke. She ^1 T""i *' "»" «" '"^ greetm' for the milk litCI' """^ >' «» bit wea, tl.em „a, to gang back to a" thaJP^ "• ^'« ^« '»» «Ae/„nq iXf Se:lr^ "«""^ J- ^ Ihe tale spoiled the reli,h if v *^ '"™' "^ troubled ' e tot ti.o held tdl^rir'"^ '•'''' «"- -th some little asperity upo„X '^'- ^^ tu™ed «lloo it." "'y "ouse. The mistress wadna -quaintance that she^ d trslnr ''"'""'8 "• « he- rooms than her frSd 1^,1,"'^ » "««'= Ie» W "And hew she can afford it il '«' T* J*" »' "hureh. *»; no wonder that honest 1?/.','"'" ^ "" *»"•" " "ife would not allowhim t!, h ^f ""^" ^^ «>«* his h.s door. ^_ """""» bnng the Kayannahs witUn ""W ''"''»t°tb2?;.'a/»° »i" let *'""»•''«» in the can easy get ith„ , " **« ^«''d, "here naebody gangs, i «"d I ken whaur to g^t wark for i"f "'^ *'' "■««•'"?. , fit for it.» »"' """^ »>■ the lassie, when she's Mr. Oallendar considered Tf --"-noguaranteetth^Z^y^hiltlTn^: CLEG TURNS DIPLOMATIST. gg anta but the good word of the son of a thief who had squatted on his p-operty. " Weel Cleg," he said at last, with his quiet humor- some smile coming back to his lips, « they can bide, gin ye are willing to come surety for them." Cleg jumped up with a shout and a wave of his bonnet, which brought the trim servant to the back of the door in consternation. «I kenned ye wadna turn them awa'-I kenned it. man ! " he cried. * Then Cleg realised where he was, and his enthusiasm subsided as suddenly as it rose. «I shouldna behave like this on a carpet," he said, ooking apologetically at the dusty pads his bare feet had leit on the good Kidderminster. He was on the eve of departing when the builder called him back. He had been turning things over in his mind. " I hae anither wood-yard doon by Echo Bank " he said. « There's a cubby-hole there you could bide in em ye had a blanket." ^ "That's nocht," answered Cleg, «in this weather. blanket '^"^ ^' ^''^^^' ^ '*'' ^"^ ^'^""^^ ""'^^^^^ * And he sped out as he came, without troubling the maid, who was wearying for her master to be done with his dinner and take himself away to his office. The good news was conveyed directly to Vara, and then she set Cleg's hut in order with a quieter heart. Cleg showed them where to get water, and it was not long before the bairns were established in a safety and comfort they had been strangers to all their lives. But Cleg was not done with his day's work for the Jiavannahs. He went down to the Hillside Works and m ml i <: ' f u h ip'i I'M !' I . f'l! Ill Hi; ii '(I ! In H 90 CLEG KELLF. ARAB OP THE CITV. Ito watchman shook hi, head, that's nZlL^'^lZTeX'."""' '"" "" ""'"°"' "• "- had^aUt^tnisTw" ™:' """"■"""^ - «'»«• «» wiUmg to be a tHZZctiTr"' "'' "'°"«'' '« ™ Wood. There »aa a tadMl" Tl"r^o.ks"otli.n -ant got tis .1:;^.^".! j.'f' tj""" r-^»" Indeed, matrimonial alli.m^.. , """ »' """"e. ""asis, and the bS^'XhiZ?""" r'"'^'^ »" ">»* equivalent to the suDrfm„ J 7"" '''°'''«' "P"" " "But I dare^yTlte M^r^'" "•''«'°^- the watchman, relentfng He T T' »»«'-)," said ..0 daughters that con^^t ^/^ ""'a r '^'' "'°' ''* ''»« besides Cleg was , good tri^^tt '« BuTw"^ ^^ '""* aboot lasses? Mv»an«-K.,i "ut what ken ve Yell rue it some da^" ^° "'"'''^ '^«"''' ■»? '"d- Cleg smiled, but disdained an answer w argie-bargiein' at present a« ),„ . fj^l ^° """ "»' minute he found hij^ il th„ "'■• '" """"'er Iverach, junior partner in Th./'^^'r °' Mr. Donald Panr, whose posS Tn the „ "T "^^ '"'""='' * Com- uenoe in the product on o, Tl^'^' """ 'P'"'"' «■"'- o^r^spondenceVrraTnowiXd"! :; f™^-" f '"'''"' P^nior partner wrote when Iip Jo. ^ nvals-as the ment for the firm's y^^;^ZZ^''""" '"« '«^-''- piaymg 'pocket-handkerchief ten- CLEG TURNS DIPLOMATIST. \ ilk 01 nis," of which he had grown inordinately fond, upon tlie lawn of Aurelia Villa. But it so happened th'atTh d been required to supply his father upon the morrow witli important data concerning the half-yearly balance. For South Back. This jumped ill with the desires of the ner that his shi^re of the profits was only a full and undi- vided fiftieth-" amply sufficient, however," as his father said many times over, "and much more than ever I had at your age, with a wife and family to keep." "I wish I had! "said the reckless Donald, when he hadjieard this for the twentieth time, not kno;iIg"hat « Donald, you are a young fool ! " said his father Which, of course, materially helped things Now the temper of Mr. Donald Iverach was specially led on this occasion, for he had good reason "/o that a picturesque cousin of Cecilia's from London m^o had been invalided home from some ridiculous liti; war reli Vm^^^^^^^^^^ pocket-handkerchief tennis a I" reiia Villa that evening m place of himself. un w!f, 1 •^'''^'"? *° ^^'^ ^^« ^"^t indeed, as he looked oTCsXnrd ^a^^irit^m ^ ^T^ specially annoyed his father^ "" ""^''^ "'^"^^ th/'J^^"^? ^'''' ''^"*" ^^y^" ^« «aid, with a glance at the tattered trousers with oie "«rnii„c» cu .^'^^^^^^ the blue shirf v.y.; u ^ "^ showing across wear ' '^ represented Cleg's entire tummer get a thing is to'ask "or ft '' "'' '"" ''^* *'^ ^^^^ '^ " What lassie ? " said the junior partner indifferently. ' ■ . I, 4' i I } i , ] ' ! i li i. ii n " r? 92 CLEQ KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. Il i j " A lassie that has nae faither or mither » B«iH ru " worU. sp^ kin' abooV' he added as aTltithl'g,'^^^^ fashioned, and despfsed Wy of stuff f ^ "^ ^^'- in keeping with a sound n W f 7 "^'^^^^^ ^Jia'^s as not ness. "'^' old-fashioned conservative busi- Cleg looked disappointed. "Another time," renliM ii.. ? ■ to hi, desk., To him fhl „ ' 'T"' >"""""•• '""'-g fifty m„^. He ol wthed tl' ""P""""""' "»'« » hand to refer the eaf. T ,, ""' "'»°''«'"- had been at Wodly fellowJeatZl He S^rh "l •'"™' <" "" done by deputy Whi^h 7. '"'™ ''" ""^'J- jobs lucrative prSion ""' ''"'°'' "''^ *^' '"^i^ » ..s':L;r:e:^t'?:;t''\^ratr '- '-^ "■-' " ^Ijh the ^. brass hanll;iri1-;----^g. "Aweel," he said, Without taking his eveanfff], i. matting on the floor, "I'll e'en /"f r ^ *^®^'*'''^° Tennant aboot it. She tuU^a^lZIZ' ^' ""' But Cleg was already ontside. kapingt* he dr^^J "s ';. '""""^ *" «>-' ™^'>'"». interest. "'"• ""'^»'' "g""? "nd astonishing eyes"rs't"o™'thirag:r '*r "- --J •^^'^ "Pon the coo„a.;„t mattbg """ °°' "'^PP^-toent. "Whom did yon »y j„„ „„„,3 ^,j j„ ^^ ^^___^^ CLEG TURNS DIPLOMATIST. 98 Iverach, in a tone in his voice quite different from l.ia business one. " Only Miss Tennant— a freend o' mine," said Cleg, with incomparable meekness and deference. « Miss Tennant of Aurelia Villa ? » broke in the eager youth. * "Aye, juist her," said Cleg dispassionately. "She learns us aboot Jacob and Esau— and aboot Noah," ho added as if upon consideration. He would have men- tioned more of the patriarchs if he could have remembered them at the time. His choice of names did not spring from either preference or favouritism. So he added Noah to show that there was no ill-feeling in the matter. "And Miss Tennant is your friend?" queried the young man. Cleg nodded. He might have added that sometimes, as in one great ploy yet to be described, he had been both teacher and friend to Miss Celie Tennant. " Tell your lassie to be here at breakfast-time to-mor- row morning, and to be sure and ask for Mr. Donald Iverach," was all the junior partner remarked. And Cleg said demurely, " Thank you, sir." But as Cleg went out he thought a great deal of addi- tional matter, and when he said his adieus to the watch- man he could hardly contain himself. Before he was fairly down the steps, he yelled three times as loud as he could, and turned Catherine-wheel after Catherine-wheel, till at the last turn he came down with his bare feet in the waist-belt of a policeman. The good-natured officer solemnly smacked the convenient end of Cleg with a vast plantigrade palm, and restored him to the stature and progression of ordinary humanity, with a reminder to be- have—and to mind where he was coming if he did not want to get run in. [J. yk 94 OLEG KELLY, AKAR OP THE CITY. But oven this did not settle Cleg. large eo„;;;^ or' JiLtit": ".^^^ ^°" '^^'^^^-^'^ loup off timt stool, like a vluL T /^ ''''^ *^ ««« J"'" And Cleg, who eor Jd r ^"^^'^^ -ore nmturf\oso JemfwtnTe'tr'f;" ^^ '^'^ ^ sultunt weaknesses, went off infn '^''^ "^"" *^« ^«- laughter. ^^ '"'° "^^ ««^^«y of mocking , ADVENTURE XV. TUB FIRE II, CALLENDAR'S YARD. the work that fell to wlar. 1 5' f f ° '"'"' ''»"-''«d quickness in pasaiugthe tht 1' ''r''°P''^ marvellous amining tho.'for /a™ a d dil 'Zr^^r f ?-' «" sJieets. "' *°^ rejecting the faulty The girls were mostlv kinrl f« i, her about hor name. And "udl ' '""'^'' ^^'^ ""^ »ud Jeauies, her ChrMaa nl™ '? """ °' ^^ "^^'o' «tra„go. But Vara had a reverenTe S"f '""'•''"'■»' been her single legacy from her fatL lu ' """"^ " '■«' aginative Sheemus LITJJ '?''• *■"> gentle and im- ent from his hopes'th "t he lad h '"'' T™'* '"" '" -^'f^- that bitter pass of S ,h T ''™"«'" «' '»«t to try .one to«nd''a„e:',itt\ferht;r " -^"^ "- C%greraTdr^;,X7r? ".*•" ">°^- -"• papers were 'delivS. itrhe" ^ M """' "'"'■« watering the flowers, which now begrto T'".'"'""'' .n sp.to of the city heat and the duT^f * ho ^"^ ^-^'^ THE FIRE IN CALLENDAR'S YARD. 96 dressing a to seo him le cunul ! " 5f Jovo in on the re- mocking at Hill- learned trvellous tper, ex- e faulty ^ teased Maggies newhat it had nd im- diflFer- '< to try ^ have hnt. erhis ibout, 'avely Vara had a seam or a stocking, and sat at the outside of the door on a creepie stool. liugh learned to nurse Gavin on his knee or to rock him in the old cradle which the kindly foreman of the yard, a widower, had lent to Vara, saying, " I'm no needin' it the noo — no for a year or twa at ony rate." lie was a " seeking " widower, and did not make the presentation absolute because he was a far-sighted man, and one never knew what might happen. As for Vara, she seemed to shoot up in stature every day, and the curves of her wasted and abused body filled out. Her face again grew merry and bright, and she was ready to take her share in mirthful talk. But sometimes her eyes were sad and far away. Then she was thinking of her father, the gentle Sheemus ; and she longed greatly to go to meet him in Liverpool, when the ill days should have overpassed and there was no mother any more in her life. In the Works Vara gained the friendship of her com- panions, though she was younger than most of them. A tall girl, who was much looked up to in the mill because she sang in a choir, stood firmly her friend. And the two, Agnes Ramsay and little Vara, used to walk home together. Vara was anxious that Cleg should apply for a situation for himself at the Works ; but Cleg preferred his untrammelled freedom, and continued to deliver his papers and sleep in the yard at Echo Bank all through the summer. It was mid-August and the sky shone like copper. There was a peculiar dunness in the air, and light puffs of burning wind came in, hot and unrefreshing, from the walls and pavement in the afternoon. But when the girls came home "on the back of six," as they said, the air had grown cooler, and Asjnes and Vara often lingered » Utile in the great "sjial," or work-room, in order to let rr > I 96 """^ ^^^'^ ' An.n OK T/rEciTv; tho press of girJan^oll down H,n , "fy m front of the clock JhichT ^\°"""^ "P «h« Work,, and with » ,„i„k .j^^^io^ g-'vo the ti„,e ,„ the «he would have drawn heraw^y ''"' """"P'-ion's arn, ^^e ■"HoTaX'^^rfrwr t '"-"""^ '«»»^'n« Vara knew too well what T ." «°' " '»"^'- ™«r '"""d her. She tried to Ll *""""• "»■• «"emy had P°»«ible ,0 inove. Wit^a'!^ T'' """ " '^^^d m- «oognisod her daughter and tl"!"."^'"' ^'" ^avann^h crowd to reach her Varratol™ ' ""^ ""-""Kh "-e Hermotherseizedherbvth' V •'"'"° '•> "'« ""^^ to shake her, .Wki*; h^al « tf ^ ^'"^ "■"» Cn "We my bairns f™ »,,. °™^; '>» «»d jo„r ■ Keelie • Yo thinklcann. find oo Butr?'? ''"''^" 'kem? tracked yon. Aff wi' tha d„. *''»"'' ">«■» »» I ^i for the like o> you and '" T ""'■ «'» "wer :;^:--^--to^':;!rdri'--: Jhe^r„r.SreSr1h"'''r'"™ <" »«"- hat Va™ was »/.ro.Co?rin!,r'?' ■•"' ''•'"^•"^ ^^onXtr tr' '»"' -^ "°" ''"^'- ;- H -CnroS^^ta^'^'-^^'''-^ .t« •. -«' ,«s a weM.„own ^rl IT "P°° ''^rself. hi •' .:i. ».i,u„dred ..■ hTl^i ""^' '^'"S ™PPorted ground vdiantly. «"npanion8, she stood her out, arm g up the ue to the ion's arm Keelie * them? m as I I ower gown oaths. 3wing itbJD, away rself, )rted her THE FIRE IN CALLENDAR'S YARD. 9T "Run," she said, "run, lassie, while ye can. She dobbua ken yet whore ye bide." So like a hunted huro Vara turned and ran. Hut when she reached the little wooden house, so trim and quiet, with its fragrant wood-yard about it, and tho daisies and pansies in the little plots and diamond-shiipcl patches which Cleg had made, the bitterness of her hear broke up within her, like the breaking up of the fountains of tho great deep. Little Hugh came trotting to her, waving a red flag, the latest gift of the widower foreman, in his hand. " Vara, Vara," he cried, " Gavin can say ' Dadda,' and I nursed him good as gold all day." The tears were running down Vara's face. She went in without power of speech and sat by the babe's cot. Ho was asleep, and she laid her wet cheek on the pillow be- side his and sobbed. Hugh kept a little way off, not knowing what to make of the unknown sorrow. Then he came softly up to her, and gave her sleeve a lit- tle pull. " Vara," he said, " here's a seetie." For Hugh understood no sorrow which a sweetie would not make better. "I can never go back to the Works," sobbed Vara. " I am disgraced before them all. I can never face them — never ! " About seven Cleg came over the waste ground joyful- ly, having disposed of his papers. He sat silent while Vara told him of the terrible evening at the gate of Hill- side, and of all her shame and terror. Cleg whistled very softly to himself, as he always did when he was thinking deeply. " Wait here this ae nicht," he said. "I am watchinj? with anither man at the corner o' the Grange where they ! . 'I ' II W-.d ti tk'ir 98 CMa KELLT, ARAB OF THE CITY. hae the ^oad un vu 4.u: i •. But Vara would not L . °^'' ^'"■" even raise her head 1 "bid LZXt,, ''l """"' »»' So, still more softly whistH„7o, "j*^ ""='"'■ He was not great /„m„^ ^!' ^''^ ''"POfW. the shelter, one^'lVke-T/edte"' "'^^ '" ""« '»''- » been a ,„wj^, ,„_. ^^ moS bT^ ""l"-"''" '"^ ■»«=« by his father, who had resreS^l '""'« """S'" off " Tyke " was a man of Tto R r"°""" ''" ^'''o^- had been in the Crimea h! » ^ " """' "^"""t he o- Al.n,.» pe desori W tfe ,7„f ^' "P°" " ">« Hiohts "ever knew it Fo^cTJ'tT' """ "'«>"• '^ough he ho acknowledge h" SeTt J' ^'t 'f t°'^ "^ " "^ "" =ns. of one of his famonTn^^^^"^ "^ -™ *« 'he ^ook or:r;x'^^::,- 7« -eeimes -p »d gotten to the battle o' the InklJ^ ''''"''•- " Hae ye "Na, Rob," Tyke lol^iTXV'""'"^'""' ^^■ Hmhts o- Almy yet! Dear s.W^i . ! ''™ "^^ o" 'ho job- Ye see, there was me and S; P •" ""^ » ™«> »■■« at them sword in hand—!" ''"''°> ""^ "i' that we -te-hell eat skirmifh Ig 1^;:'^ '"^ '»' '"e trfnsien ^hng and the tramp of a brother om''^™'""« *» ^'^ breand snbdned from^ar down the hm'"""''"^ "^ ™'»- But about one of thp i i * i^g to its stillest, Cleg lookefv'^^Z '^' °''^^* ^«« ^erg- head thinning out "^^ *"^ «»^ t^e stars oyer- THE FIRE IN CALLENDAR'S YARD. 99 "It's never morning already!" he said, rubbing his eyes, for lie had not half solved the hard problem of Vara Kavannah. He stepped out of the shelter. All the heaven to the north was a-flicker with the skarrow of fire. Without a word to the now drowsy Tyke, nodding over the blackening cinders in his grated brazier, Cleg Kelly set oS at his top speed towards the fire, to be in at the death. " It's surely in the Pleasance," he said to him- self as he ran. The flame towered mightily clear and clean, without sparks or ci-ackling as when houses burn "It's Callendar's yaird!" said Cleg again, and never in his life had he run so fast. For there in the midst of the timber was the little wooden house in which were lying asleep little Vara Kavannah and her baby brothers. It was indeed Callendar's wood -yard. When Cleg ar- rived there were whole regiments of firemen playing upon the flames ; but his experienced eyes saw at once that the case was hopeless. Indeed, the officer in charge had come to the same conclusion some time before, and he was now directing the solid streams of water towards such sur- rounding properties as seemed in danger of catching fire. The crowds were kept back by police, and all was or- derly. The owner of all stood patiently at the gate, talk- ing inatters over with his foreman. After all, it was the visitation of God, and, further, he was fully insured. It is a great thing to be prepared for affliction. Into the black mass of the onlookers Cleg darted. He wormed his way round to the back. He crossed a wall on which three or four boys were roosting. " Ye'll get nabbed if ye gang that road," cried one of them, giving Cleg "the office" in the friendliest way, though he belonged to quite another gang. But Cleg sped on. He dived between the long legs of ni w il m !i. f| 1 I 1 J'i 1 1 .1 1 ' 1 1 1 'I lit i 100 I 'I CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. «l™h, dodging ti,e 6.nZlT^\rf '"»<'»g 'he falling P'ies to intercept hi„, as «Ilt Afnt °" "' ""^ >'""'«« The little wooden hou^ZXfS"''""""'- heart of the fire. He saw the rtf- ' '"'" '" ">« red garden plot. He remlb^^l/r f . «'oy,iuj i„ his own tress of listening to Vara Wv t V^ "" "'""^ »"d dis- thatday. ^' ''^ '««' "ot watered them But he dashed fnr f )i« j fewarf aeross the floor' 'ThVC' '"'^^''^> »»at established his claim to be tt f '"' '""mphantlr ■»ore thrashing" Samson "r '"'°«^'^«' "«>" by on™ the tot oombft werhTdlv^e^r""' """« «" '^«" »? coat.='eeve nhich Master W ' "^'^ ""oe-T of the »te^ of a pocket-hanXrchS^"^""^ """-^'^ "^ed in! " was quite in aoconJance »i.i, .u 'hmasi that Samson LangMnnvIi ,h ""'""'"•■'ess of «upe„utodent of the roSt s-f ^""'"P ''"'o the Sou h Side of Edinburgh H?hL„"^ ""'°"' ■» »" 'he chief, as every one raLt s«. J ." ' '•^»' '>'«>dlier- P»;;te of it within hl%Ct'aZ *" r" ■"«"' oq-ri »nd unseen portion was the l^' " "'• '^''^ 'ower ■""T be excellent mZl nurnT "« *'"'• Now, .hl" pocket-handkerchief. ?here is L'°/ ''""'"'""^'y-S »>» whose wife avers thather h^"^\^ ■="*"» «ta™ J ■ „°^1"m'^ "' "'»" WO knivtrr *»"^'=<">«»«^ Pooket-handkerchief." B„t th ™'' '"ur pens, and no holdup in SundaysohooTs LI LT"" " "»' °««''"y the contrary. ° »"* ™mng example. Quit; againriiXS^dtV^Brh! "T""' ^"""-oe »«y (for there is no doubt th»rf '""' " ^is vulgar oZV'' ""' -"^ 'o : ^;:, t:: '""' °' -'^ Cleg 8 present teacher was » JI ^"""gpenny's I " »ame of Percy Somerv Cthor!;^- ^"'"""''" of the to-hmg in Hunker Court'wt^^rCr-' '°^ "6 might improve IN THE KEY OF BOY NATUliAL. jqS the minds of the youth of the district, and that he might have a fair chance of seeing Miss Cecilia Tennant home across .ne meadows. This last was a pleasant thing to do at any time, but specially desirable in the summer Lson' after the heat and turmoil of Hunker Court, and on t2 account Samson Langpenny never lacked for recruits to his teaching staff at that time. Now, Percy Somerville was "a very nice boy "-these were Miss Tennant's own words. « But, you know-well you know— after all, he is only a boy." fh«f "^' i" addition, as they say in political circles, when the leadership of the party is in question, "there was no vacancy." The junior partner stiU lived. ' ' ^^ "° Now Percy Somerville undoubtedly had his troubles owing chiefly to Celie Tennant's hardness of heart; but they were as nothing to the difficulties which afflicted oamson Langpenny. For instance, it was in this wise that Mr. Pprcv Sonierville was greeted, as he appeared with a reluctani scholar who had been detected in trying to escape bvih« ' side door after the roll had been maLl (ItTs dmw "Go it, Pierce-eye ! Hit him one in the eye ! " This exclamation was traced afterwards to Cleg Kellv's acquaintance m day-school with a baleful ballad fnduded in the Iioi,al Poetry Book, and intituled "Chevy Chase " Mr. Somerville thereupon promptly lost his rigltful and given name, and became to all eternity-or so long aUeast, as he remained at Hunker Court-" Old One-in: But it so happened that, on this particular Sunda- Cieg 8 teacher with the pugnacious title was absent ;' and,' ; f - 1 1 'liiv !t| lli'llj tmn 104 CMG KELLV, ARAB OF THE CITr. tangpennj, should take the ok» v ■' "'"' *»' Samson •»»o„ have faced a balterniTir"'- ^"d he „„u sat the Egyptian piagneofi'; """f J'«» « da* in which '"deed, on this paSLlay that°t° - °"' ^^"^- I' -^ 'he resolution to try him wfthM^T .""""^ '» Samson "«t resonrce, previo/s t^" Cnd^^d /"? '''"'"'■" " » Indeed, he would ha»P ^ .? ^""^ "pulsion, ong ago, bu, for a weU^I^undr •*''* '!«*' »"e"ati™ «he close of the hour of tfr S '"""I *«"«' "■"'^ «t would not be a whole pane of ril ".f™'^ ""- «>«« iows of Hunter ConrTs, j ^^ '" »" ">e manv win -li as a teacher'^raw": 1^°°^ ^^ """-"e^' 'he fl«t expulsion underThfrer^f !p"\''«°°"'i»'"ed -a scene which since his retnrnW ° fannies" »»t of nlace, and knew it if f ^ ' "'r ^<"' ^^ was school was in the infant d™» ?"''''''*'* ■'°'' Sunday ^eket of butterscotch and '?H„r'i "'""'' »"'" » ■night have been a great and •i,-*'''^''' Babyl- he Why the minister dM»'"°S™ocess. >em in Hunker ctt\7^^::^^^nmn,,ro,. "ft irso'^fr™""' ™^'"o™ ' "'■' ""' *» ^c IS so hard to pef t».« _• . "nd as for Us m/e-J.'' °"'""»'' '» «ee anything- "■■ ^■'C'eg Kelly prompuy. IN THE KEY OP BOY NATUKAL. 195 ta J Jot"' ''""°»' '""""S- "'^"■Pfe«-d. .. .0 will veraion." An impartial obsemTLlhM """"" ""'""»' the teacher co„trib„tod abo„t iTfi™"!' ■""'"'" ""' recitation in tlie form of hint. .7^ * J*' <^^'"- »' 'he theles,, each boy, haWng „t "X' ^"«g«««.'»'»- Never- with a proud oonscioafnrttrte hTf "\™' '»"'' with even needless prompTitude .nr. "™ ^^ ^"^^ was an establislied cawnTf thl , '™°'''"^- ^'«' " boy was released from the eve of'' rt''"'!" T" " "'«"' put his hand slvlv nndpr 7i! I V^''"' '"' '""'ntly nipped his neighbour°f a ',; T''.- '^''™ '"' "">« take an instanf inZsT ta*^ h? '^^""' "'"''''*''« ""«««» incontinently stnit'lTnt^^r"""'""'" '"» "» Plea» Tt.^ "■' "? "™°'*«' "^"'O'M: "Ouch I please. s.r, Tam Kogerson's nippin' „e. Wnll ye ,^^1 rei* '"' ™ ""'^ *" '■-«' ™°«-. »»d provoked no andl'T^.T "T' *' '"P^ri-X^'dent came to Cleg Kelly and that diligent young student began at once to r«r„» the twen y.third Psalm with vivacUy and desDatr,/ psalm which the entire body of Scottish vlthfT*' befo. the A B. C-it was LioXtift": n'Se ""^ rioht yi/r..trCL°' ""''"V ■"»•*»»''-« the thepLo,T„'norjr.rt''»iriPS^ Cleg's answer was twofold 1 1)1^ liiriii to; U.; f i« li, 7:;!^ IM I !| 106 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OF THE CITY. m 1 "Please, eir, Maister Laneshank. „„„ my faither is » Panish-.,,' iff '^*°"^' ' '"«»n- ither Psalm bat the at: ° > »' "'""" '" ""» '™" ony H£R to richts I '■ "" "*"'"'"^- B"' I hae learned After this exhibition of the rights of .1,. ing conscience in strange nJaoL ri . ""n^n'orm- in Honker Cburt and» ^b. ^ ^ """"""'"^ ''^n Langpenny. NollaLn '^'' ""''■«« "' Samson 'eelingof isentrntXr " T""' »' ">» 'fong ercises." The P^m and b!^" . " " ""■•'"' »<='»'-y ex- day's work, but S^Toafnttt^r ''T""" '""' ^' '° 'he of the teacLing ho" „w i'lr'' » W« » the n,iddle "holly „„«.„e| forlLd tteS fttl!^' ^ r''"''««'J to be So, as soon as SamZ .b,.T?- """■' "" ™Pi°n«- the class neareshrand1h!ofK''°\''''«»''^°«y joined Mr. SomerviUe drilke^fe " Wb' '°«'"'^ °' '"^ «"»»» eyes and awoke to the state of Z T^" "P^ned his wholly without a singleXtt T' '' '"'"^ ^'•"^^' be given. ^ ""'°'" '"> "l-""" instrnction conid Cleg had betaken himself fn ti,. i Semple, an excellent maiZUvf ""r' MissBobina vigour. She was so "usy e Jl-^ •"' T^ '""estness and that she did not at tot obZl f,;"^ ?/ ^""P""' lesson, her of her scholar in the I„>''° "^/"'"'"o 'he „„„.' Master Kelly. "* "^""^ undesirable person of pJofViir. "^ '"^ """•'"' »' «■« h'n.e n.an at the , ^0" in Miss Semple-s class there w« a ^, ^^ IN THE KEY OP BOr NATURAL. 107 named Chris Culkn. Ho sat listening with stmined at- tenhon and mvincible eagerness to Jrj word Xd fcU 1 r z T[ '"?• '" "h"-" »" '""son^ we 'rich alike, listened a so— chieflv it mav h^ v.^ i rpfl^r.f.«« * i^iiieuy, u may be, because he saw the c'TZ^"" ""^^^ ^ ^^"^ - *^« ^- or the lame b^ nZ ^f^f ^^" ^^ ^'*'^'° ^'^*^ *^^*' Chris?" whispered Cleg, with some anxiety. Only the npw« ^f >^"isperea would have brought su'ch an^tssrinZr tot' own faee or (it might be) the announcement thaMu's father had got ten years. "" walk '"'..frr? ■'"''' "?"' «"'"' ''•«''• «"' ""on he co„!d ueiug anxious not to miss a word ;; What hindered him to dook'afore ? » asJced CW He eouldna get doon to the water-ed^e "said Ph • with the be:ronhTffflirofHrrs:;::r""^ ^;;_H^.«...i„.r;eeted Chris cJKh?s":kgie alon!" "" '"""' '"'^* *"' '^"""^ «""»> 'or this purpose h.ra! Are you not sorry for him ? " * '"'°'* .e d'lr mTbacrLri'-r ';^:f r '" ^!:^; " ™ -'^-T Cieg Keily was certainly acqniring, by contact if in no ■ h :'§ ;:H 108 CLE8 KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITr. would tame the voung savaJrnf *, '"^'''''^ ''^"■"<' Hence the hou/„, ZZZ It:^?,'""' ^"'''■ confused sound and furv s,„ ^. ^ '"'''" "P »''!' if he had -bor„eda%Se' 7"'''.*""'*'" ^'^' pies to teach the youandefnf H f^ '"°™' P"°«- »hoot head foremorout .7.h , ""''''• *^°"' ^ow to e.m.8tances it is! cou e°™bie tt,, '"'■ ^'"'^'- "^^ <"■- been done. B„ 7^™ ^ r''', ^"."^ ■""■«■" """o Samson Lanenennv fl!^;, . ° P>«c«i consulship of good deal oTpQcaiexetirof"' ■?"'"" •^'""' '"^ « '"1 sort B„? the l»i?!, » mterestiag and health- certainly ,0 seek "''«""" ™P"™«ent was a.d^t:?s\°/fo'r:Ze':^' "-"?'--» that Sunday had heard to n^fi.r. ""^ ="''»'" "ho carried hom'e imie Chr s Sn oj hT ^'^^.f ^"^^ =» no angel stirred the waters onhelttr fnddf "' ^1'' " two went their war and if „„ ,• j Pnddles as these both Chris and Cli were the beL'rr ^'1"^ "=»"'"'• troubling of the water^ '^ ""' ''^^ ■" ""e tI.atX"in" vaT ftT""'. '';' "°' ^" '" ^^ker Court part of'the Z'h:^' PHdet"' 'f ^"^ ""-' ^^''^ failings, and as we Tl^ K wT ""' """""e Samson's -.wrcaLrofrito^„rhr-'-"' vvnat for are you carrying Chris?" askp*! <5a,« Langpenny, who, though he had Zn^ , °''°'' also large and suffiniJ! ! . "^ weaknesses, had sacrifice '°* "''"'^ ^^ earnestness and self. IN THE KEY OP BOY NATURAL. 109 "Weel, ye see. sir," said Cleg, trotting alongside cheerily, his burden upon his shoulders, "it's true that Chris can gang himsel'. But ye ken yersel' gin the laddies are verra ceevil when they get oot o' schule. They micht knock the wee yin ower. But when he is up on mv shoothers, they juist darena. My certes, but I wad like to fa acquaint wi' the yin that wad as muckle as lift a paver to him. I wad * paver ' him ! " The superintendent smiled, though as a general rule he deprecated an appeal to arms. Cleg had also a little sound advice to offer his superior. " y^f ^""« "°^ a^euch in your schule, Maister ! » con- tinued Cleg, for he was unselfishly desirous that everyone should succeed in the sphere of life to which Providence had called him. He did not, it is true, see any great rea- son for a man's having taken to keeping Sunday school. Summer treats in the country might surely have been given without them-likewise tea soirees. But since these things had been mixed up together, the instruction part however unnecessary, should certainly be carried out in a workmanlike fashion. aghast. He thought he could not have heard arisht-the peso, Hunker Court eouuselling eorporal punisto^M Aye, an- div ye ken," Cleg went on, " div ve ken I can tel^yo, wha ye eould get to keep the laddies L quaitj „f T" .'"P"''"<""^«'" looked at the rebel Head Centre Hunker Court, bending with the weight of Chrs Cnllen upon his shoulders. It did not Btrike him that uti hlf -ir" T "'l' '" ^PP"" "'' °™ orippirsS; upon his willing heathen shoulders. "What would you advise?" he asked at last, with a certain pathetic humility. ' 110 11 'n ChEQ KELLY. ARAB OP THE CUT. " There's a maister at oor dav splii.in ♦! *» handy wi. the ta>vs, an «• the ludUi LTe Id j ITn' comes to vour kirif i u..^ i- *"''**'"'^«ti o mm. lie ragged ,„e„t^fw7driJh,g at "" """"'"'"'"' *"»' •■" "Duma ye see, sir," said Cleff ea^erlv «ti, i duurna play their capers on Sabbafhs Ttlfinker CouT "» gang to his schule on Mondays Na hf 7r ? *' "WeanlgetUm l"™*- J""*""''" -"•Samson; teach in leh a ™ ; K VT'" "l^"'"'"" '" enough „, teaching thro^gMhe tk" ""' """' "" ^'^'^ ^ h"" >«en elsewhere * The Stickit Minister, p. 193. TOE KNUCKLE DUSTERS. Ill That young lady was Miss Cecilia Tennant, otherwise known as Celie— a young lady much admired by all who knew her (and by some who did not, but wanted to) ; and ^ especially admired by Mr. Donald Iverach, junior partner in the firm on whose premises the class was held. I have also related the tragical events which preceded the formation of the boys' class, organised under the guidance and tutelage of Cleg Kelly. But it soon became evident that something more than a night class was necessary, if any impression were to be made on the wild Arabs of the Sooth Back. "Ye see thv way o' it is this, Miss' Celie," Cleg ex- plained. " Ye canna keep a boy frao ill-doing by juist telling him aboot Jacob for an hour in the week. There's a' day in the shop, wi' the gaffer sweariu' blue murder even on, an' ill-talk an' ither things that I juist canna tell ye. Then there's every nicht, when we drap work. What can we do but stand about the streets, or start the Gang an' look aboot us for a bobby to chivvy, or else for some- thing handy for * lif tin' ? ' " *♦ But, Cleg," cried Celie, much alarmed, "surely I do not understand you to say that you steal f " "Na," said Cleg, "we dinna steal. We only *nick* things whiles ! " Celie had heard, indeed, of the " mobs," the " unions " the " gangs," the " crowds." But she thought them simply amiable and rather silly secret societies, such as her own brothers used to make a great deal of unnecessary secrecy about— calling themselves "Bloody Bill of the Ranch," " Navajo Tommy," and other stupid names. She had re- marked the same mania in Cleg sometimes, and had some reason to believe that all boys are alike, whatever may be their station in life. But Cleg soon put his friend out of the danger of any such mistake. V. : • I i I : : i iisl CLEe KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITT. .n' make ye a mcmSl 7"' ™'"^' ""' ''" *«" ^«. W Cleg was about to reveal «t.t. „ » want to run anv risks 6vl "^"^ *'"' <>» -J" not ■no»t discretion ''" ^"""^ '""""Hy the ul «■»»' ye no to believe onv 2 ul t^T "" ^'- ^»' ^ ministers an' folk like th'm tI - »" '«"^d ^ the Back than can be pHten rich^ f" "'"'• """'he Sooth them tracks " '^ "■"" "' » '''^^ I canna bide cji:° StlilTarltr''/"' "- "'' «ri-»- of • P'«i» W aga* C ifhl ™ '"f ""^ P"' "■» o" the the™ was no tel ing ii everT "^T "J"™ "'™«k8." c.e^;--»^MLX1rL\r;^f;,., a 4*''k'' ™° whitotnSl^^r^ ■«^««ntly extended "g-mng. Cleg took it rever ntt inTI"" ""^ ""^'^ ™- »ed paw. He touched the slei^'" ^' ''"•'y- w»*-broad. made 0, thistle-down and mtht hi ^^"' "' " "-"y "'« So he held his breath. ThZt, 7 ""'^ «o<=Me„tally. -;---"^e.needle.^L-r:.\::„^^^^^^^^^^^ enough to be perceptible toTfr ve v" ■''^'^- ^'' " ™ Cleg let her hand droo anLT/ ""^'^ '^"''"'■ arop, and w.thout a pause thm.t th- THE KNUCKLE DUSTERS. i^g Sharp point into the ball of his own thumb, squeezing therefrom a single drop of blood. "It's no juist exactly richt, no to hae youf ain blood, ye ken ! he explained gravely ; " but as ye dinna tell so mony lees as the boys, maybe mine will do as weel this time to take the oath with." hpr Yaf*" !v?^'^'' ""T P'"" ^'^^^ ^"""'« ^^'^^ Cleg ™ade on her palm the sign of a-cross, and for her life the initiated dared not so much as let her hand quiver or her eyelid She knew that the occasion was an entirely critical one. But in a moment it was over, and Celie Tennant was admitted abondjide acting member of the Sooth Back frf .7 V ."^i"* ^^ '^' '''''''' ^°d '° *^« disposal of one full and undivided share of its profits. No questions to be asked as to how these profits were come by. Indeed from that moment there is little doubt that Celie Tennant £ .ir '"^''''^ ^'^ '''''^ ^°^«P'^«°y' ««d crimes mnnitely various. That night at Miss Tennant's class there was a full at- tendance, and the opening was delayed owing to necessity arising for the expulsion of a boy, apparently in no way offending against discipline. ^ Oelie looked the question she dared not speak. Jles no y in J us!- explained Cleg in a whisper. He belongs to the Potter-raw gang-a low lot." Oehe felt morally raised by the consciousness of be- tee'dtr"'' *'' ""' h'gh-toned«nickums"in h« J^'^ ^^f ' *^,*'' *^' ^"'^'«* «P«"J"g e^e^cises had been endured, explained that there remained for that even- ing only the ceremony of reception of a new member who had already been sworn in. In this Celifl had *n o-nc'i- With as good a grace as possible. She was then and there i< ;i '\n\ m i II ii 'I 114 CLEO KELLY, aKaB OP THE CITV. appointed, with acclamation a f,.ll „,«,,, ourable (or dishonoumbie ™'c„,i"" ^/""^^ °' «>» ho- society of the Knuckle I),!!,/ , ""' ?»"" «' Ww) was generally felt aft thttrt I ' K^^"■ »'«=''• I that name) conld yery^oU^tL^^ '^' P»Warch of ^ Bu,, after the cer'^m^y^'tn Cet ,T ?' " '""«• her class, she could hardly ^1^ ..» °*"^ "S"" »' the lads who night after LtZ ""f 7f ^^^^ these faces sleeked and smJgeS li h !^ '^. ^''"•' ^'' »"h looked up at her after^^mo l^ttT ,^^°""'^' »' ^ad a« demure as kittens afrspinl" """'"•""» "'^<=hief. A certain seriousne^a^^ T"'' "'»'"'' ' meeting. But Oleg ^ not v^^f .f "P P"™'^'" 'he prises. ^ " """ ^«' »t the end of his snr- oors'l-!^''"'"'' "^ ^'^ "'hat we hae'. Club a' tor «-pp:or'7t,rgrdt:r ''r'r-^ '■°"' ^'^-'-'^o had been discussed bSTre ^ '^' "^'"""'^ ""^ "hich " We will hae it in here, and we'll n« . v he^nMhat will do fo/ the^ 1:^1.''^ w^^:" «e.v?witht:Caoce^lndee:"^ "^'''''^'-^ 'hem- on her eountenanrrt o\:X:^TZ\: ""'1'''' "rdrf:;trmtti';''V~'^^^^^^ o.»hh„dn„t:s;Lr::rthrsefve\^'^ aton- ^'wiC- •• he'efnl!- "^ '"' ' "^ ""^ ^""^'^ ««™ to her honour and unl!- f^ , ' """""« ■""•' "» " -""-e- on of the Knnckle D^sL °"'""' '"' "' "" "'""'^ o;os, ol.o.t *'" '''"'• """"" "' "» »»th. had indeed no THE KNUCKLE DUSTERS. 116 She must of a surety stand by them. But a serious difficulty occurred to her. "Lads," she said, "we have only the right to this place for one night in the week. How can we occupy it every night ? " All the boys laughed loud. The question was might- ily amusing. Indeed, Celie was often most amusing to them when she had no intention of being so. "Of coorse, we ken, ye hae only to ask hivi!'' they said, with one solid voice of general concurrence. Celie felt herself beginning to burn low down on her neck, and it made her angry to think that in a minute more she would blush like a great baby just out of the senior class of the Ladies' College. The boys watched her maliciously till she looked' really distressed, and then Cleg struck gallantly into the breach. " Chaps," he cried, " I think we should ask for oorsels. We are gaun to elec' a commy-tee and run the show. Dinna let us begin by troublin' Miss Tennant. We'll gang an' ask oorsels. Gin ye are feared, I'm no I " Crash ! came a stone through the window. All leapt to their feet in a moment. " It's that dirty scoondrel frae the Potter-raw. Got after him ! " cried Cleg. Whereupon the newly constituted Knuckle Dusters' Club tumultuously detached itself for police duty. There was a scurry along the highway, a fight at a street corner. Two boys got a black eye apiece. A policeman was as- saulted in the half-humorous way peculiar to the district. A letter-deliverer sat down suddenly on the pavement, to the delay of Her Majesty's mails, and after five well- spent and happy minutes, the Club re-entered, wiping its brow, and Cleg cried : " Three cheers for the Knuckle Dusters' Club ! Miss • ■■ m ^ ■ (■''- 1-.^ : ' ' ■!:■ \ i( 1 II ft ) is 116 ^ CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. Celie to be the president for ever an' evpr w m the morn's nicht to elec' th. I! ! ^^ " "^^efc twenty meenits left forZcob^ ''"^"^^-'^^- ^^«^ ^W, ADVENTUEE XVIir. BIO 8HITH S^Dr^S TH. KXUCKLE DUSTKHS ten'^fh: XZ:LZ' r 7 «"--'« "as not ,„.goe. ton,, darkly tloir „™ ' °' "'"• """ """""^ ""d o» * ofthe sergeant Of the C^.''^^"??"''' ">« house Luke, who lor a na^trv^ troglodytes the chief were Tam the day to" trhS^^rr&rof r '"^ "r "-■"■« CleaTer's boy, who similll f i f . '"°'°°' *''^ haker; thonameof .-Marg-ithaun;;'"^,; "■"■ ''°'™^'' '» »".ch bigger and'strongeTthan htatr'f "r™-^ cum8t«nces"Marg"ohied ,nT J^ , '" °*'"'' "'"- hi« ability the boy who c^ led th.i""""?" T""^'"* *» was contracted from 'W^ ..*"/."""'' ''™-''"' " »"»r upon his lin^o" bu"S "' ■"" """"'^ " *""«>' er. ^In thfcTuh tt "" '^'"^'"^y^ ™ a Knuckle Dust- and defence. In th:da:X^"'.t '°«^"'" '" o"™- organise the club they had »'''' ?'«^ '"""^ ™ ''»■"' '» «" mon besides the"^^ °^ l^tbr"^ """"^ '" "^ i^i^i. BIG SMITH SUBDUES THE KNUCKLE DUSTERS. II7 Now, each boy was most respectable during his hours of business. There was no « sneaking " the goods of their own masters. The till was safe, and they did not carry away the stock-in-trade to sell- it. But that was pretty much all the way their honour went. Their kind of honesty, it is to be feared, was chiefly of the " best policy " sort. Fun was fun, and » sneaking " was the breath of life ; but it was one thing to « fake an apple," and altogether another to be "nicked " for stealin«r from one's master. The latter meant the loss of sit^uation without a character. Now a character is a valuable asset. It is negotiable, and must be taken care of. To steal does not hurt one's character— only to be found out. To break a plate-glass window with a stone does not harm a character as much as it damages the window ; but to be an hour late three mornings running is fatal. So Cleav- er's boy had a character; «Marg» had a character, and even Tam Luke had a character. They were all beauties. Our own Cleg had half a dozen different characters- most of them, however, rather indifferent. But there is no mistake that, under the influence of Celie Tennant and the new Knuckle Dusters' Club, they were all in the way of improvement. The good character of their hours of work already began to lap over into their play. time. But thus it was not always. Just before its re-inauguration the Sooth Back " mob " had been rather down on its luck. Cleg was among them only intermittently. They had had a fight with Bob Sowerby's gang, which frequented the Pleasance lands, and had been ignominiously defeated. Worse than all, they had come across "Big" Smith, the athletic missionary of the Pleasance. He was so called to distinguish him from « Little " Smith, a distin- guished predecessor of the same name, who was popularly i 1 1 , .1 '^'ilHfll )) ' ,1, ' -.1 llj'iif 118 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. understood to have read every book that was RJc q -^u was not distinguished in the same wav Z"fh ^ 't^ was both distinguished and popular '''' """^'^ ^' On this occasion he was addressing his weeklv m^.f underneath one of the great houses. Th Knu irDus? ers thought it good sport to ascend to the whli o^?h common st.ir, and prepare missiles bofh flIS Id so^/ Ihis was because they belonged fn fy,n « '""^"« «o"d. did not know Big SmiL ^ ^°'*^ ^"^^' «^^ Big Smith's mode of exhortation was th« r..« u .• prophet, for he had a black beardlTkeIn if L",? ■""■ |;nd a voice that could outroar a CHmenon otter Z' he was 8,, feet high, and when ho crossed LTr™ it J!^ i^e a .ong-range barker trying .o fold his Zrr:^ vast rabbit Jrren, "yon will 2 f °°''™''"'' "»» but I'll „ake ye hekr me yit if ? s^"; ,'t''°" ■""• Judgment. Sinners 1^^. mber sZt. /b" "" "'' <" desper^^badlot. Ihaeken„Xea;*a:!!:b?j:i.'; ^ind'^^wWrtheKrnck?: ^'^'f ™'^^ ""* »' *»^' generate, were c'S "'''^ ''' "'""P'^'^'^ "»™- ing siit\urhf ir^Htitr rr-- head and started up the^l r" iVt ^^f °* ^'' his hand, a stick of fZl a ^^^ ^'^ °«^ «*«« ^^ had need to be ""^ ^««Ponsibility, as indeed it BIG SMITH SUBDUES THE KNUCKLE DUSTERS. 119 The first he got his hands upon was Tarn Luke. Tam was standing at the back of a door, squeezing himself against the wall as flat as a skate. " Come oot ! " said Big Smith, in commanding tones. "It wasna me! "said Tam Luke, who very earnestly wished himself elsewhere. " Come oot! " said Big Smith, missionary. Tam Luke came— not wholly by his own will, but bo- cause the hand of Big Smith seemed to gather up most of his garments at once. And he grasped them hard too. Tam Luke's toes barely touched the ground. "It wasna me ! " repeated Tam Luke. "What's a' this, then ?" queried Big Smith, shaking him comprehensively, as the coal-man of tlie locality empties a hundredweight sack into the bunker. Half a dozen vegetables, more or less gamey in flavour, dropped out of his pockets and trotted irregularly down the stair. Then Tam Luke, for the first time in his life, believed in the power of the Church militant. The Knuckle Dusters on the landing above listened with curious qualms, hear- ing Tam singing out his petitions in a kind of inappeas- able rapture. Then, suddenly, they bethought them that it was time they got out of their present invidious posi- tion, and thev made a rush downstairs. But Big Smith stood on the steps, still holding Tam Luke, and with a foot like a Sutton's furniture van, he tripped each one impartially as he passed, till quite a little haycock of Knuckle Dusters was formed at an angle of the stair. Then Big Smith, in a singularly able-bodied way, argued with the heap in general for the good of their souls; and the noise of the oak stick brought out all tne neighbours to look on with approbation. They had no Bympatny with the Knuckle Dusters whatever. And i: I I i ill IIH'i Ki ! 120 CLKG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITT. the Sooth Back Grr '^"''^'""^" <" I" /"'hs of "Lay on till them, Maister Smitl. i i. • ■ , , on oor stair," cried a hod^n's^fc 7 ""?" ^''«^'' ■ng, looking over with the bmh n W r"". '\^^ '""J- ter Smith certainly obevedT., ^^ V"^*'' ^""J "««- crawled hurriedly aw^ l'" ^r"" ^■""""» »""«' himself. AndaaeXLl th,r T"." disentangle harassed his retmt with b^sjrs tT T^'T ""' "™ shame on the unstai„T„„ / ^ '"''''" '<"• ""-inging 'hree in the pi^ee ^ '^' "' ^'""'«' Seventy! the;s^;d,'rti'y'rtirrd t sr'' "" ™'«'»'>'"^." been stewing „„L rth*"sit"m„rir"^' ""^ ""' h J:VcKd^rh"4^f r^^^^^ «r h.. return at night. It Wr,,^! f f ^ ^°"'«' "P"" 'heir Arch of Ab£yhil/ „^rr„„T"r,7s'S"«" '" ■" «" ye ! " And there was not a TnLt. n"*. ^'« ®'»"'' «" hang his head at the iL^nte^ Th h!"" "^ "<" rnras-Lfa'^-r^^^ 'hat it wa^ S thanTmnnTb ■®° '"" ""^ "■'? '""^ been up f„r assIuX hrple^SoTat"' "'^■" ""^ sue, things were indeed coming to » t « ' *" ^™ "^^ 11 this the new Club was to Z then.!^''"^ P"^' ^'o™ » BIO SMITH SUBDUES THE KNUCKLE DUSTEB& Jjl Erst of all, it re-eslablUhed them in their own self esteem which is a great point. Then it gained t'emle respect of othe« as well, for Miss Tennfnt was a mnch honoured person in the Sooth Back T.».fl„ ^.7.^^ a™ burned a half a ton of coals inte forr.^^K*td L fact was fame in itself. * for fhV^.?"""'''" °""'" 'l""'^ themselves np, and » Lii i'".° '""* *" »«»'' »' B'g Smith they looked « bobby ,n the face. More than that, they aotnallyCan to show some of their old spirit again. ^ ^ Specially did they delight to tell the story of the Leith chief of police and the apples. It was, indeedrenough to gUd any " mob - with a permanent halo of gll * to tell in'tV, nft "' '?''™''''- ^"' " '""I' '«" nighte to tell in the Club, working three hours a night. The chief, in the plainest of plain clothei was hasten mg down the shore to catoh the Aberdonr Ct,^. he' citizen. He had taken a cottage near the shor« «f Ah., do„r, where he co-Ud have his Wrns unde hTett^n ex:„!^[:nlt' '" "'"''"'^" *"» """*»' »' «>e Sunday app^bfirdtxrhi^tgr^^ S tf X."' -' * »' on^s":s;.'i;:nt;: f. Now the chief reckoned without the Knuckle Dn.t«r. These valiant youths were on the war nath .nT i, P-»mg a point where the hlZrSuiVoZtZ dock gates, Tarn Luke came alongsde "id pulled the stang of his parcel with a sharp fnd knowing "wit^^ t'. 1, " I .; . II: I ! ' 'i 1 i'S m. !!l Sli' 122 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. Instantly it came undone, and the apples rolled every way upon the street. Thereupon every Knuckle DustlrJeiled Tun Jr ^: '""'^ ^^^^^'^^^ *^« Club scat ered ke hunted hares down alleys and over fences h. t7 \™°"^"°* *^« °i"ef stood thunderstruck. Then he gave chase, selecting Cleaver's boy for his prev But he found that he was not quite so supple Twhln h. a young constable fresh from the couTv l'^^^^^^^^ darted into a shop and bought chocol e in^' Ld Lt his anger out by saying, "I'll wa^er I'll J.T-. these young v^^bond .» L Sd it T "'T ^'' times on the way over H« nl • l ? ™'*°^ ^' ^^^^^ single bit. AmLg the KnucroTste^^^^ """^^"^ Jubilation. ThatnVtthrtoldttL^^^^^^^^^ nant, who was horrififid • hnf oK u , ®"' to «restor« fZrVu » ' , ^® ^'""^^ °°^^ a'i'^ise them restore fourfold." an unknown idea to the Club Kellv 2: Z""""l * rP««*ion ably advocated by Cleg fart in th« l! °^ " ^^r''^ ""'' ^^"^«*3^' ^ad token n! Cehe wanted them to send four shillinga but thn th.?.i:"T-T"^ '''°"''^'^' •»<»"»» a^ g'ooe? b^ saw ieized like rhen But was ides, ber- wife > he ;ook for )rty one •eat en- em leg no >n- m- 1 1 • ;■ ;!' ' '1 '^^ '■'iTI ■'■'. hi i ' ' I. : i f ■i it,-'* ?i f! ! ' I pi ill mi "Our roads separate here." «< TBE PlLOmMS OP THE PENNV OAFK. 133 ADVENTtIKE XIX. THE PILaailI3 OP THE rt.v.VV OAPP. the fault w j :„:^,T tr"i 'z '""'"• """ '-"<-'' able time since he began rellalT r"" "°""'''"- member ot the KnuSZ^r^cinb' T" '" '""^ He was sometimes a ^ y ghor^ fli«i,f«^ • • Celie Tennant fired up. '^"'^'"''S^^^^ J""'«'- Partner. " And pray, Mr. Iveraoh, who made you my guardian ? I am quite of age to judge where it is ri^ht for mTfn and what it is proper for me to do ! » ^ *' ^'' The junior partner assumed a lofty attitude But this was as far as hp irnt tv.« ^ - ■,. . rirr^nSe^^"":^-^^^^^^^ » very prettj couTtes; "'''"' ''" """P""™ ".n7r"f '' "''" "^ '•°'^» »^P"«te here," she said- ^ "''''^ ^^'^^'^ °^ »»""-»Med day, in _ Nevertheless he endeavoured, by a dignified manner as he walked away, to express his wounded feelings, his «" quenchable sense of injastiee, the rectitude of his ai.^ and intentions, and the completeness with which T ™hed h« hands of all consequences. It is not ^y to express all this by simply taking off one's hat, L^MW when you have a well-grounded belief that you 2ZZ laughed at privately by one whom you-wcU, Lp "t matter either For the junior partner tried, and dM not .Vs7pe'° "'"''"''' " ■"»"" "^ ''^ ™'- »' ' '■«'--- On the other hand, there was a sense of exhilaration about Celie Teunanfs heart and a certain ligh ne» "tr he«l when she had thus vindicated her independent She Stopped and looked into the window of a shon In' problemhere TH: Jf. r, T' '^"^^P^^ined optical s t^r,^r:',=tefi»thi:^^^^^^ will give some attention to this question B.o. t ^ I THE nT«B,MS OP THE PENNT GAPP. jjj "The idea!" she said. whifhlfuWellT'so'thaHr:"^ to e^d the concept on^C^KeU, But kt wT-^aa ^.e^^r hiL' T after all, one does need some support even in In^'- ' It .3 so difficult to be indopendeK ^on .' srif"""'- J Where are you going. Cleg?" she said. Cleg " '^""^ "'°" -^ «' *>" E-^te^ Road," replied citemenV ^'' ""^ '^"^ '««'■'"'■■« ^ «»» with e,- A great thought took possession *of her Thi. raStrad^;r;t^ritTV" -™ «"'^- "^ "ve::::dV;"^,'f- f:;i';;,,»^-o™. oieg agh^t the M o;his"t1es: TJ'"'" »'. '"■"'--t at a joke. ■ ^ ' '"' "' """"^ it "onld only be said"c'e;i:" °°""' •"" ^°"' ^■''8' « yo" will take mel" "But ye ken, Miss Oalie, it's ,„ fop the like o' you. If! ;.,i r .1 ,!i 'if 126 CLEO KELLir, ARAB OP THE CITY. I.'s a- wool anouoh for boj, and common fo„k, but no for w Jh^r ;S/ofr ■ '-" -^'^ "■« ""^ "ope in ,„o^i„„ ,/„„, of 'rK^r^rr"""'^ oX:^:\rfr^—-f-' course, for be «.r *:r°*°*''^' greatly excited bj the prospect of eating of the tree of knowledge prospect of ^! i. L '^' ^^ """"» "Jo *>■»*• It's mv treat th« moht, when ye are walkin' oot wi' me " wJunil^^"^ "?"" '""' ""* *« ™ ""^-g «t a nfHn.rm^ht:rrl:^J:^.zr«•■' Oleg," and waa disorootly silent. ' ' '""''' ^°"' worn™'.""" """■ "^'"S *' ™' <^'^« Kenya "young THE PILGRIMS OP THE PENNr GAFF. 137 and looked with great sharpne^at ftem bi t? """"I for the best places in the house TW^ . u^ Cegpaid and were carpeted-the s^ato' „„»!{" ,''"" "'P""""' heights of extLgance dr^o^n 1^ tZ Th" ^T" was already proceeding as they sat dow^ P^2^^^ some verymor... observations from I „u ?■ ^•*"*'" trouble with a dying child (h »Td "cmW"""? '" dropped and tho mnf ^* cnoiicr ;, the curtain trac«o'Z:;i'ut<:S?'l'"'»"''' "'»™'-' centre of at- sword which scmtl^tbrT'''^'''^""'' » »»""? e^rbycompSrwltttrg; Z^XlTd^^'b"^ -to date. Z rhtoKa"' ""'""" °' ^"«'» -^'cnoo' vate wink of the 1^ itu ^otT T*^ "^'^^ "" P"" awful dignity of .^sS tv &sl?^ """"''' ^ *»' were "on the carpet "and r^;j^,.*1' """^ <" ""em P<-»seda,uickereU:'ot^'l°' «■« «"- «-«• -m Altte^ToclVeS'^. *'™," '»' " "»-"«• »-d the villian sat 1* n hta rrrl"" 1^"" ■=""■"' on a solitary chair in the mfdr^/tr'''"'''"' """'"y- VQ^ ^„_i- . ''"*' miaaie of thn morn t<. , ^©v «»^i, owing to the murky cast nf ««" ,, " ""^ "*uiisj cast of crime all round. i! 128 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE'blTr. Suddenly t ^ gentleman on the chair shouted out the de- h^"^ ^» '«/oi?^e'>t the pitch of his voice, as if he It. , T^^""'''' '"''• ^' *"^^ ^^^ ™"«h he regretted t7 ^'^^''J'''^^ ^«l<^ring inhisgore.wheLpon the aforesaid victim abruptly appeared, « weltering," i\ is true, but rather m a white sheet with the lower part of which his legs appeared to be having a difficulty The villain hastened to rise to the occasion. Once more ke drew his sword, with which he had been making gallant play a 1 the time. Again he informed the nexf his belt and solemnly warned the spectre what would tifh Wm ""^^ '^'*' ''"*' *°^ ^^' ^'' winding-sheet But the spectre 'appeared to be wholly unimpressed, for he only gibbered more incoherently and fluttered the bed-quilt (as Cleg called it) more wildly. The villain con- tinned to exhort. "He's an awfu' blatherumskite ! » said Cleg, con- temptuously. He knew something of real villains. He had a father. Again the spectre was warned : "Your blood be upon your own head!" shouted the villain, and fired the pistol. The ghost remarked, Br-r-r-r-r! whoop f^went up to the ceiling came down again wrong side up, and then set about gibbering in a manner more freezing than ever Whereupon the villain seized his crime-rusted sword in both hands and puddled about in the spectre's anatomy, as If It had been a pot, and he was afraid it would boil over. But soon he satisfied himself that this was not the game to play with a spirit so indifferent. And with a wild shnek of despair he cast the sword from him on the ncor. • ^^^^^^ BETWIXT TWO VENUSES. 139 the audience clapped"nd chll? .l"*''"'^ Wusly-aa Cleg rose to come out appreciation, and "What comes after that?" aaiA n^v , willing to stay to the end ^""' "^o wa« quite «.i n ADVENT0HE XX. TH. mmorLTiKs » ^b„»„ bexwixt two vb^ses. But we must do our hero iustiVft An xi. away „, Vara Kavannah »"t e Mdrcn CftTr'^ His f^e:^^::^z^zrtz:^^-z man s temper needs watching. Like the artMe of dt trea carts, it is an*-. f.n ot> ^r»f}- K-^^ j i • • . - ..^. .„ ^„ Dotn bad and high. A police- 130 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. man patrolling his beat is, according to his personal de eervings stayed with flagons, comforted wT apples' and^reltt''' ^^'^T' '^' '"'^"^ ^^ '^' ash-cart men, and of each he inquuad circumspectly about the Kavan- Bu't'infe'ed'^h ''' "'" ''*'" ^" "^^ ^^^ <>' *»- '^t^. children, awake and abroad that morning of the great fire n Calendar's woodyard. Cleg next looked up thrmor " ing milkmen who converge upon the city from every pom summer and winter. They have risen to the mi k^ mg of the cows during the small hours of the morning and thereafter they have set their barrels upon a Hght cart before spniniAg cityward betwee . the hed .es The milkmen can tell as much of the country --Ls as the dustmen o the city streets. But to none had thesis on of three pilgrim children, setting forth from the c^tvof persecution, been vouchsafed. *^ "*' So Cleg had perforce to abide, with his heart unsatis "The C,„b... The atS^wtHp^rtrM/ Donald Iver^h, having by the iniervention^Mhe wateh ^ve Cleg the word to come at six o'cloek on iday when the^jumor partner had brought his tenni, shoi'to the "You want to use the old store-room every night? •• ADONIS BETWIXT TWO VENUSES. 131 B«id Donald Iverach, looking at the shamefaced deputa- tion, every man of whom itched to draw triangles on the floor with his toe and yet dared not. "Except Sundays," answered Cleg, who, as ever was ready of speech, and not at all shamefSed. ' What does Miss Tennant sav?" ftflli-«^ ih^ • • panner who wished to .-, whe„,Te wm Ltg ,V X w« not a selfish young ™an, but, like the J „?us he wanted to be sure what he was going to get out of . thin^ before he committed himself. K«' ont oi a thing had';!sr ' " ™""^-" ^''■' ^- ^•■''«. "■» said a^ "^ 'tr'^r •" '"""^ »'"' *■"' «'"" oo'^els," ^ hi' ^^" """ *'" "ommy-tee-exoept Tam Luke " l;ru;«on'"- "^ ^^^""'^ '-'^'« hisUion% pJbi: r^-*^" """^ "» ^^'^' ■»* ■-''^^ ""out for ™ i- ■*'"' ,'^" ■' '■<''?'>'"">"« f " osted Mr. Donald Iverach emiling a little and shaking his head ' "Me an- Miss Celie," answered c'leg, promptly. oondnXoTmr"" """^ *»''"« "'^ ''»^. *" hat^r Z7: .tr/'ntht?'' '"" ''™'' '"'» '"o vr. -, ,. " » ^"'^ "lent to ye, s r, an* thank va M.SS Oehe wuU be pleased ! » ^®' Thereafter the Knuckle Dusters' Chh ^. t « :rirHou^s^Tnr '™'^"" -> t^' ™4™si was the House Committee. Its pownn, „<..„ „_iT_;..^ «« were chiefly directed to "chucking out" "ihSw:; I V c; ' I 'i'i 132 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. i«lll"?.'°^',,^^"°''^^™^^*- ^'°«« ^ould certainly not be collected. Privileges were so tew that it w^nol^l to discriminate those which pertained to menTrs of t1^« c ub in good standing. But the meniberTofthe H.l Comm ttee were chospn nn tu^ • , . "^ ^^^ House npon this. Perhaps, womanlike, she wished to r.i.n alone and oonld brook no rivals nkr her throne. Butt p^ctice the rule was found diffloult of enforeem nt f" thriTrr?"'^ backwardness about the girb 7t the Sooth Back. It was indeed a rule that each Keelie did not "°^^^^^ '"'■'^ ""'™°«'- *'"«"' ""^y of CM^^l"'- """T' ™ """='' '"" yo^H 'or "nonsense » T«m T V "' 1 • ! "''''"■"""' "• B"' Cleaver's boy, and nil w ''l'^''' T *""" ">•= ''■^* «')°W«d with a com. plete working outfit of sweethearts, pijiS^, and navv re- volvers. They go, them all about the «me t.m7n^t ret I do them no more than justice when I allow that ADOXIS BETWIXT TWO VENUSES. jgg cavalier and dTdarnful kn If ^' ^""°*^^- "^^'^ «»ch put out orcourt It i^ f ; '''^^°"'^' "^^*^°^« ^«r« Bhould do the wooL tI I T''^'' *^^^ «°«^«o-« (haughty knaLrwhf'.i, r* *^' ^""^"^^^ ^««ters Tf™ T ^°ayes;, why, then the "young ladv" hpr«oi^ It was always Leap Year in the Sooth Bafk Ther« T but two unforffivahlA nr,-«,«o • .u 7. , ^^'^^ ^^^^ «» it was coSm in^r. '"' •'"«"" ''"■"'•' »' 1°™. On the side of «r„ K I, Tf ''"'' ■" "'^ Ploasanoe able fatu tr' X r ': fw^" Z T "^t""- " young ladies "it L " Iki^? ^ u ' ^^ "' "■» Blows, disdain, contrelyata^ ailM^.r?" «''"•" mere love-pats of the gent e god "' ifthlr " ^T'^"- fatal word in love. -^no'ner " is the only tMn';;td'4z.rwith°th:t7 ^"? "" »■"-'" Jo„th.that the Kn„olJ*Lsw%"ll"tT'"'''^ amatorious difficulties. Part of Lh ^ ^ ^"™ "" was now demoted to the Ill^^'^tZ^ '' '^^ "'"•' mg were the favourites Th„ -^r'thmetio and writ- a shorthand clasrTr shor hanT. '" ""' "' '°™'°S eination for the unedLatd It • ' • "'^"'"°"' '«»■ faith amons them tw , .. " "n"""™! matter of - race inrrLtwri^rthrd^'^^i;' ? "- w.iff.j. ^ ®^ ^^ ^®*<^^"g the shorthand after u j- 18i CLEO KELLY. ABAB Of THE CITT. The entrance to the club-room of the Knuckle Dusters wa. through a vaulted "pe„d ," which, having no ,"I^" ™te of the cuy resident within it, was wholly nnligS It was no uncommon thing, therefore, for the i mn work of so.ent.flc instruction to be interrupted by Z itks 7^1' '" "J'^' *'"'' '"""' her head, and elf locks a-tangle over her brow. The siren did not eiurr Shewh.stled like a locomotive engine when the siS are contrary and the engine-driver fnxions to go off Tfy At fl«t the Knuckle Dusters used to rise and^ietly dt part, when, .n this well-anderstood fashion, the voice of de i^' ^'.^?i '"^ *" '"'"^^y s«Perfluou8 sense of deUcacy, had h.therto suffered in silence, felt that it Z time to remonstrate. this'lllll ^'™"''' '"'^'''"> """^'^ ■»™' '"""We. Now this was by no means the fault of Cleaver's bov who to Sixteen Stnng Jack " or " Deadshot Dick, the Cowbov Coon County," than.in a dozen Susies or SalHes S oultLlId™"- '*""*" "' '""""^ Beside "h^h.^" cnriy nead and an imperious way with him, which look Tnd J",?"""'"'' «""'» ""^ ''"Pl". "k^ l^t Blighted :::.^rtVt'irrd ^hiiXoi" 'oLi^strJr ^0 J mta Sal a slap, and 1 sends her back To her ain countrie. ADONIS BETWIXT TWO VENUSKS. jj, sheet of the day. BntT^l. T" ""' W"l»r broad- Back. Theai lefrdelTd T '"'""" '" "'« ^-oth little child who -w/fS Jarre V.r''« """"' » -a long farewell, to all hi, friend. J^"'"^ '"<"''" apiece. Like King Charles thf,. ''""'■-'" » '«"« oonseionable time f djit Ij't h "7. ""^ 1"''« »" "»- was a popular bov in ft « .u .^"' ■'°' '"'<"' it- He warbled' about him till the . m"?' """^ '^«- I'"'"' snivelled seercV and I'oL T"". , ^""""^ "°»"^" knees so as to pretend tb.f " ''■'""' '"""'^^■' »">" But Cleaver's boy who „ ^ f ° "'"'""S »" ">" «»»■•■ Blackburn with hi'sfathe°,rV°l"' ''»^ <'''"'<' '"■» ■' Bully-rot ! ■> He swo e LaM ='""«'!'»■•'"». «aid it was Sal Mackay thatwo "d bo worth IT ',"?"'." " ~"8 """■' The verse quoted abov^ Ts*? tf."' °' '""''" '"I*-" Cleaver's boy has repelted .h!. f *" '""^ ^^ """i'- thanonce,bItthe2;ei J ;„ "I'lr" '^ ™ "■»« print For Sol Mackav !,„.",,.? f .^° """"S "'3'«'« to sides, there is a law of [ibenf t "'"^ '■''""™'' "-J- be- videyor in my ag^Jr ,:;hX;XL?'"'' '= ^™- -rof^r rdtK:;^^^^^^^^^^^ r -«• But for long the swam «, . ^*^^'' **^*^ butcher. Of P-WrrratTayTaayrthe"?''':' ""'^■"=» tjey^worked side by side. Uh^eT 00^^^ ^ SI healtrwl™ fe" ."'f ^r^^'f '" ^°". !» tow- allure, to Sal who was iair ' '"' ""^ "' *^' ^^'^ ker:dt:d"f ^L'^dtfhS-r'tr '"■'-"-' - cf S«l TVfo„i,„: aospital ! was the retort fllpconfc ■I {hNII 1B6 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITF. So it happeneci nightly that when Cello Tennant was at the most impressive portions of the Scripture lesson, or engaged in elucidating the mysteries of compound division (and pardonably getting a little tangled among the far- things), that there would come a long whistle at the door and then a smart rapping at the window. Another blast hke a steamer signal was blown before the dark tower, the iinuckle Dusters would throw their heads back to laugh and then look at Cleaver's boy. He would stand l a little while, and then, to escape from their meaning looks, he would throw down his slate and books and go quietly out at the door. ^ At last Celie plucked up courage to speak to him. "It is not so, much that I mind," said Celie, for she had been learning many things since she came down to the Sooth Back, things that she did not mention when she went home to Aurelia Villa, or even repeat to the Junior Partner. ^ «It is not that I mind so much myself," she said, bo 3 » '' * ""^^^ ^^ ^^^"'P^^ f«' Cleg and the younger "I ken, I ken, but faith, I canna help it. Miss Celie," said Cleaver's boy, in desperation. "As sure as daith, it 18 no my faut. Thae twa lasses will juist no let mo alane. 1 canna gang alang the street for them." ^°^^^"«' blushing for her sex, believed him and con- doled. For, next to Cleg, she had a weakness for Cleaver's Doy. He was so good-looking. darkl^*'* *'" *^^^ ''''"'^ *^® '''''^^ ' " ^'^ Cleaver's boy, It was the hour of the vesper writing lesson. Cleaver's boy was seated at the long desk which Mr. Donald Iverach had found as he said, "about the premises "-but for wnich he had, curiously enough, previously paid out of ADONIS BETWIXT TWO VENUSES. 137 ^"trprer '' U-l'T' '^y ''^ ^" ^ead clo«e do^ table; sr:houfdrre\r„rntr^^ --^'^ and his whole pose gave token of thl ^^''^"^r*'^". sorption and sLiofs inJ^ntU HeTI^ ^^^^^^^^^^ line, " Kindness to dumb a"\, ;» o • 7°*^ *^® character." As his Z tr o."^ Ik ''^" °' "^^^'^^^ <>' J^" ™™ "iCT voices at the door. ..M T ^'"' *°'''' ''"<' * I toll ye he's mv Chan I " said a voice sharp and shrill. "•' " my cnap i " It's a black lee. I toll ye he's naething o' the kind I » «»id another, yet louder and rougher Sue Murphy and Sal Mackay were at it aeain So faid the Society of the Knuckle Dusters as it wTked am cab ly and collectively to itself. Celie Tennant wm Zl looking oyer the copybook of Cleaver's boy. As sZrd W u'"'.'""'" ''™'' y' '"''' ''^«"""-" retorted Sal Mac- kay; "yestreen n.e farther gane, ho pu'ed a handfu'"' :i; bwr„ °:;i:: 'n^^t ^y-^^^ ™bbitn.yf«ie 1".°. ^I'm 138 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CHT. ' „ii* T". *'■/ '"' """'• <^'«"«f's boy "Me to his foot with a look of stern »nd- righteous deteLination on h face. The assembled Knuckle Dusters »»toirJ i. eagerly. Celie stood aghast, fearing tha Z^^JZ be done, ,n the obvious endeavour Cleaver's b„7warS,w about to make, to excel all his previous records in tl arT ■ TinkW t»|r •"-« *- ">« S"""" BackalliM' He walked slowly to the comer' of the store room where on a little bench stood two very large water JIT; jn, painted a dark bine. They were' hT prrAlTthe dnb and contained the drinking water for tCvening I hey had just been filled. ''"''^^g' door^'The' ^''"°'' r '» ''« "and and opened the with thT fK r?«.*° '■^"^ """'^-d "I'ing it up mth the other hand, he arched the contents solidly and mparbally upon the waiting JnUets. Eeturning he seized the other, and from the shrieking dowf ' the passage it was obvious to Celie, that he hTbeen equally^successful in cooling the ardour of the rhals Cleaver's boy came back with the empty cans in his hand, panting a little as with honest toil, but there w^„o ahamefi.edness in his eyes now. He looked stmiTt at than JhaU " '" """^''' "'" ''''''' ""■ » "■"'' ^^ »>- And with no further word. Cleaver's boy dusted the drop, from the knees of his breeches, and sat down to write s« mo , lines of " Kindness to dumb animabl " sign of nobility of character." desp^ai!?. ""' "'^^ ''° '"'™ *" ''°"' '" "■» •>'*='"'«» 0' AN IDYLL OP BOGIE ROLL. jgg « I Will hae to resign, after all, Miss Celie," he said " I canna bide here to be a disgrace to ye a' » who" L^^' f ^''f f ' "^^^^''^ "^^^^^ ^ " ««id Miss Tennant, who did not yet know everything ; "are the gMs goinl to prosecute you m the police court for throwing hf water over them last night ? " ^"wing ine ker^ttTi" ^'^ T"'^ ^'' "^""^^ '" astonishment and Kept It so for some time. " Prosecute me ?-I wish to peace they wad " cried he af er he got his breath. «m, faith, Miss Celie; wHl ye beheve me they are fonder o' me than ever. They were ba^h waitin'for me at the stairfit this mornin' whlH cam doon to gang to the shop." And Miss Celie again believed him. i' I I r.'.f hi, > '< I ADVENTURE XXI. AN IDYLL OF BOGIE ROLL. Peehaps it was in sheer desperation that Cleaver's boy whose name by the way, was James Ann n? ho'^, the fact was hardly ever mentioned excent in fho • court) t ,,3t resolved to make a desperrcast '' '^'" T w T '^.r''''* ^^'^^ ^^^ "^«'" he said, "an' Guid kens I want neither o' them. But gin T had vin n»7i? T wad maybe keep the ither ofl" ^ ' *^''"' '^' So Cleaver's boy scratched his head to find out a wav settling the difficulty. He could, he thoughTbeln- d fferently happy with either. It was only bavin, both oMliem "tearing at his coat-i.ils " that idri^i Lt - At lost he dashed his hand against his thigh with a i -J 140 CLE9 KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. theguttr: "■" '"' *° """""^ ' '"""'"'""' '"■'*"'8° in themf'^* """'' ""^ '"" *'"'''«'" ""^ ^'*! "I'" ">«» '<»• So with that Cleaver's boy took out his lucky penny and, selecting a smooth space of the unpaved roaZay 5 a new street, where the coin would neither stick edgeways deftly upwards from his level thumb-nail "Heads Sail-tails Susy ! " he said, very solemnly for his life was in the twirl of the penny ™™'"J. i""- dent W.' "" '""'"' ■"" ^"' ■"''" ««'«"'«' tke ar- They were engaged that night. The neit day thev were photographed together-Sal with a very lar« haY J. great deal of hair, and a still larger amount'^ot f Lther ' Cleaver^ boy with a very small hat, an immense check uit, and a pipe stuck at a knowing angle with the bowl ^"71"." r- '^''°* ^"^ "'ght Sal had still a lover in deed, but the glory of her betrothal attire was no mo" Her hat was a mere trampled ruin. Her fringe wa patchy^ She had a black eye; and all that remataed^f Kt do/bt™: ™ *' '"""-"P'"^ «».auUandb™te,;^ and it is tt, T.v" fr "« "™ '"■• J™«» Annan, and It s to be feared that Mr. Cleaver and his customer^ didj^t get quite their fair share of his attend wM^ Susy Murphy got off under the First Offenders Act she ^cltntS "r ''-^-^'-^g h- -eeessfu" ri™i She incontinently became a second offender, and was as summarily fined thirty shillings or seven days Ind rt ~aded to the bitterness of Cleaver's boy, that he had to come good for both the hat ruined in th fl "t battfe and the dress torn to shreds in the second. AN IDYLL OF BOGIE ROLL. j^, eve™i„t''atr'"?'' '""'^ '" '"''» °°' Miss Mackay marriage stood b..„ee» hi JardTrn2tin.°'''"« ""' II 1 was only marriet," he soIiloquise-J «T n i^ stop the lemonades and ice-creams. TheAe tist l^M eicpensive. I declare Sal thinks naethin!-^o i bottles. And sin ve shVtif o ^^ethmg o a dozen declare she wad !?> '' " ^'""^ ""*" ^«' ^"^ g^te, I It occurred to him, howevni- «>.* ». x temative it might be ZZhul ' temporary al- And Cleaver's boy was Z 1 ""^'^ "' '"'"'"S^' wanted. ^ °' *''°™ »«''■''« 'o' »l«t he ezpL'llfn If Mr*° ""''"^ -»^»^» ' " -- « favourite .Heresponsib.epX„roltfe^^^^^ eatmg and drinking, and a good deal of boti! °' ofM^ °^°''''." """^ "''^'"'»' '"»'« i" the light wines of h,8 country of any man on the council. In hif hanlr moments of inspiration he could tell the age of Long £ to w,th.na year. Now Bailie Holden h^, among other « ellent domestic properties, a kitchen-maid who was not above castmg soft eyes at spruce Jan.es Annan « rorLir^rsr* ''b"" "p™" »»''"« uvOT nis arm. And James had cultivated the ao ooZ tlk"°"'-'r^ '" "' "PP""""'^. -"h-^ "f course, thmking it necessary to sav anvthino- */, o.i So that, m he course of conversation at the 17 "^'u fen ou. tiiat weaver's boy mentioned his desTr7to'be no II 1 lfi fi,; • «ice young man. You may have een > '• ' "^''^ not compel me to be cleaning he ki^L^l "^ ' "*'*^' ^'^ young raoT. .ome from CleZr^'^ "^'^' ''^^° ''^'' that.nyr4anSu^|;^.^U/t^^^^^^^ young man." , ^ ® "®®" ®* ^ steady handle a broom?" ' ® ''® content to theC„p„Haae„aueahi;s:S:Lr.t^^^^^^^^ Signs of moving gardenwards. snowea " Includingyourchin, my dear," said the Bailie, touch- ing (It IS very regrettable t« have to state) one of Janet'« plump dimples with the action which used fify years «' wire was safely up stairs out of harm's wav Rn,i r. " Jamea Annan, t ^„ „„e ehe, has more i • ••« „th THE SEDUCTION OP A BAILIE. r 145 my chin than I like to let them, sir » said Janet whn came fro. Inverness, and had a v^ dearl'Tbl'? The Bailie laughed and went out tJ^l"'" '"'*'" '" mind, JaneV said he, for he felt pkd oh-r "' """" "° "'^ ""' "'-' '-"•« di- sirr-^Tdt' '!*'""' if r" ""'o'"""'-"! fetch it, J And Janet promptly fetched a black leather case ««nd.shouldered with in.port«.ee and bnlg, w^h b^": thAVl" ^'"V*^ » "■« half-light which came from the kitchen window, and wetted the stnb of a lead-penc" wh.ch Janet had carried for years in the pocket of her "The young man's name, sir, is James Annan and you can send the letter in care of me, sir," s^id Janet wthasublesuggestiveness. She tipto;i round till she toucW h,s sleeve, so as to look over at what he 1 ^^J- Thank yon, Janet; anything else?" asked the l,",^V"\ '*''? ''*™'' h^'itating with her finser at h»hp,_^ unless. s.r, yon could think to put him ofthl! services of Cleaver's boy. These valuable assets were Simultaneously gained by the city corporation in 7i,! department of Cleaning and Lighting. CL been the >mmemorial method in which sutodinate p^sitbus have been filled, according to the best tradition, of the r^nt™-. ^'"' ^t *""« "' ■" oourscll'ch , onvexxcx, »a 16 were, between dinner and Bogie roll. ^ ■: 146 CLEG KELLy, ARAB OP THE CITT. James Annan was placed on the southern district and h.a duty was to mark in a notebook, less impS but agood deal cleaner than the Bailie's, the namero the streets wh.ch were attended to in their order, and al^ the rp^thTr ""^ '""" "^ '«'-'-^" was xid What precise benefit trim Janet of Inverness got from he arrangement is not clear. For, being occupied duZ the n.ght, CWs boy could no more come for the o? ders early m the morning, nor yet trot whistling down Z arm So that Janet, supposing the matter interested her at aU, seemed definitely to be the loser Yet one nevar knows. For the ways of girls from In ' sh.ll.np a week had been appointed, whoTw Ll Cleaver^ boy's discarded blue aprons. In other wajh! weavers boy. Bat he was a sallow-faced youth with l?,Lu T ^'^ """ ''''S" *» fc»dy a single word wah the new boy. He was no more than a pennyl the :!: k^errdaT" "T'hr''kith''''T =" -■'"^ >'™"^» »' Cleaned in^u'UL'^tZZ^Z'ZZ tZ ZZl f .'"^ ""™'"^ »^ '»™' »' the afte nl'" She had taken a saving turn, she said, as if it had THE ADVENTURES OP A K.OHT-sn.KT MAX. 147 I h ■ i; N? ADVENTURE XXIII. THE AHOBOrs ADVEKXUKES OF A KIOHT-SHIPT „A» trary, the un^u Wp t-f^ T'^ ='™-f 'a. of eo/ tions damped Sal's aZ? she t""'' T?'' ""'"■ difficult ii, her moods n»«„ >u *""" "'Sl^y ^^ to enough Pia^of j; r:t',irnotrtr-''r ones. So long as he slighted her Td ni^^l^ J^'' with sno. as a regular method „,courW„^«t T/°™ love him enoimh R„f „ , <-ourisnip, she could not -rz!^rt'h?mti»£^i^^ ohoseYime, as an^hXIut': Zr.S^^l Z^^ F.r oal appeared to be in some undress and^as'lnS •h Hi "'■"fill i ?#ifl 148 CLiuu KKLLr, ARAB OP THE CITV. engaged ii. irizzling her front hair with a pair of hot knitting needles, occasionally burning her fingers and her forehead in the process. 6 "u uer the cheek of the door and crossing his legs comfortably Someone (he forgot who) had told him he looked well thai, way. " Naething the better for seein' you !» retorted Sal over her shoulder. She never took her eyes off the fraff. ment of mirror wiiich was secured to the wall by two long nails and the broken end of another knitting needle. *t"ug " Wy Sal, what's wrang wi' ye v" began Cleaver's bov anxiously. For though in the allairs of men, as between boy and boy, his voice was most for open war, yet in the things of love he liked peace and sacrificed much to se- cure it. Sal humped up the shoulder next him and turned t^jfVr'i '"" 'r "''' "^ ^^^^-« i»^i«-tive of the greatest d^sdain-without. however, taking her eyes from the famt blue smoke . hich went ^ p from the left side o^ her fringe, to ^\ " -h sb. had at hat mon.ent applied a fresh pair of red-hoi, knitting needles ' hnmWv" 7 t"''' '^" """'"'' ^^' y«' S^^'" ^->d James hnmbly. F< the r,.rr. seemed to :>ave departed out of Sal tossed her head and made a '^anC which ihm.a\ TbtT'-t '"''Tr """ ""• " ■"'^' '^« satr ';* ai' subject. She could an she wo i^ »t narf/C'^^ ^^''''''' ^'^ '^^'' ^ '' ^^' P^'^ket a neat parcf' done up in paper. offprw\®^^'l'^r^''^'^°^°^ ^°'^^^^ *« her elbow and ?etheTyJ^>" '' '"' "'"' '"^ ^'' ^^^ --^- ^ S^ THE ADVENTURES OP A NIGHT-SHIFT MAN. 149 They were her favourite brandy-balls, and on a suitable day, with a light wind and strong sun, their perfume car- ned a quarter of a mile. James had never known them fail of their effect before. But now, with a swift half- turn, Sal snatched them out of his hand and flung them behind the fire. Cleaver's boy stood aghast. They hud cost him fourpence-halfpenny at Tani Luke's shop, and would have cost twice as mi, but for Tam's good offices in the weighing department. ^ "What's wrang wi' the brandy-balls, Sal? "he cried m despair. The like of this liad never happened before m his experience. Thus Time works out its revenges. "Did ye get them oot o' an ash-backet?"* at "last cried Sal, breaking her indignant silence. "^0," said innocent James, "I got them at Tam Luke's for fourpence-halfpenny." " So ye say ! " returned Sal, who was determined not wu bo appeased. Th -andy-balls were now flaming up the chimney, and fast (.ssolving into their elements with a sickly smell and a fizzling noise. « Tell us what ye hae against us, Sal ; oot wi' it ! " said Cleaver's boy, who recognised the great truth that with a woman it is always better to be at the bott.m of what she knows, and that at once. "I'm no gaun to keep company wi' ony man that gangs on the nicht shift!" cried Sal, turning with the needles m her hand and stamping her foot. " I'll let ye ken that Sal Mackay thinks mair o' hersel' than that. I hae some prido ! " The murder was out. But poor James, who thought * The local technical term, it seems to have resulted from an attempt i o say " bucket " and « basket " at the same time. :i J!' 1 i I ;!• I kk.„ 150 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. oai macKay. i hae mair respect for mvafil' than tobemeanmysertogangwi'anicht-s'hift^^^^^^^^^ that, In » "' ''""• " ' ''' ^- ^«"- pay. Think o' onc: prdCf^cTe:::^:-^^^^^^^^^ «^V' persisted the "Brandy-balls! That for your brandy-balls!" cried Sal, pomtmg to the fireplace, in which a little bue flame was stU burning, at the spot where the Tam Luk Wt tCX , M ^r '' '"'^'''^'^y ''^^'^^^^- "D'ye tl fk that Sal Mackay is to be dependent every nicht on a chap that has to gang on duty at half-past seven ?_ ° ^ "Eight o'clock ! " said Cleaver's boy, eagerly "At half-past seven," said Sal, jerking her head pug- nacously at each syllable, «he pits on claes that are a dl grace to be seen forbye snielled. And what's to come o' the emonades noo, I wad like to ken-or o' the gall.rv at the theaytre ? " Sa"«ry ai hlv"JIr''' ^^^"'^^^ afternoon, Sal," said James placa- bly, with a sudden access of cheerfulness. He had scored a point. "Aye, there's Saturday afternune," replied Sal, with chilling cynicism, "and what will ye do with your Satur- aZ^lrzv .""''I! r^'^ ^^'^^ '"^ ^^^^ *'^^-^"- again m the boat, and be sae dazed and . ^epy-like that THE ADVENTURES OP A NIOnT-SniPT MAN. I5t ye'll faa aaleep on the road, as ye did the last time And hae everybody sayiu', • My word, Sal, but ye hae a blyth. young chap there. Ye maun hae been fine heartsome company to him ? ' D'ye think ony lass that thinks ony- thing o' hersel' wad stand the like o' that ? » Sal stamped her foot and paused for a reply. It was certainly an awkward question. Sal, like most women (thought James) was a demon at "casting-up" when sho began. *^ Cleaver's boy scratched his curly head and advanced towards Sal. He felt that in the war of words he was going to have very distinctly the worst of it. But he thought that he might fare better nearer at hand It was one of his favourite axioms that "it is aye best to argue wi the weemen at close grips." Which, whether it be true or not, at least shows that Cleaver's boy was a youth of some experience-but Sal Mackay chose to misinterpret his action. ^ She turned instantly, and, snatching up an iron goblet of hot water which stood on the hearth, she advanced to meet him, crying, "I'll gie ye your fill o' throwin' water on decent folk An' this water will keep ye fine and warm on the nicht shift, my lad ! " At this Cleaver's boy turned and fled. But as he scudded down the stairs, bent nearly double, the boiling water from Sal Mackay's pan fell in stinging drops upon the back of his neck, and, what was worse, upon his suit of new clothes, bought with his week's wages and donned for the first time. When Cleaver's boy reached the pavement, he dusted the waer splashes off as well as he could, and walked thoughtfully and determinedly across Nicholson Street. It 11 be an awesome savin' in lemonade," he said, «an' lii ,,,, v^^^enoivc DuLtiu lemonade too! i : '!i il;/ !'3 It! ii ill i (, iMi.i ill '1 -/I '•II 1.1 I '4 152 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. ' his bratT' """" ^'''^°^' ^ ^^^^ *^^"^^^ '^^ *h'o«gh "Dod,''hesaid,«I declare I'll save that muckle bv giem' up Sal— I'll risk it." ^ And he hailed the car and walked very slowly towards It when .t stopped. The conductor waived to hTmlo timrv^""^"^ ye no hae run, man, an' no wasted a' this time ? he sazd when Cleaver's boy had at last got h m self upon the platform. ^ "I was gettin' my twopence- worth," said James An- nan, with dignity; "I am au inside passenger' "And he went through the glass door and sat beside Bailie Hoi The Bailie and Cleaver's boy got out at the same place They made their way to the same house. The BaiHe Li himself m by the front door. Cleaver's boy went eoua ly unannounced to the back. But Cleaver's boy knew thai he had pretty Janet of Inverness waiting for hL whereas most people would have preferred to enter by the back door with James Annan. ^ ^nJ^^'iK''^ Inverness was standing by the kitchen-win- dow polishing a brass preserving pan in which she coufd admire her dimpled chin, and the hair which curlW naturally did not need the intervention of rd Lot S tmg needles to be beautiful. Janet ran hastily to the door. " Do you want to see the maister ?" Janet^"" '"'^ '^''"'' '^''""^ ' " ^"" ^^ ^^^ «^e» Janet of Inverness looked him a moment in the eves What she read there, Janet only knows. At any ratT^ THE CROOK IN THE LOT OP CLEAVER'S BOY. 153 seemed to be satisfactory enough, for, with all thP ardour of love's young dream, she fell on his neck an/ mured, « Aye, Jamie, when-" (here Janet nf T """" sobbed)-" when ye get a rise!" '^ ^'''''''''' ADVENTURE XXIV. THE CROOK IK THE LOT OF CLEAVER's BOY remma them of eac], others' names ^ .)„." "^ °fl " "'""''''' P"^'''"" "ke Mr. Cleg Kelly who al™j,» msisted on tho second name. But Clef h^ a rea son for that. He was himself in the curious lost on "f Jr T , ^ "" ■■* '"^ "'««'' baptized Brvan but hia mother had never used the name. And sincetMather and everyone e se had always called him Cleg, CW Kolk he remained all his life— or at li.«=t o. «, ' cially, " to date." ' ""^ "^ °'"""'"- But it is with Inverness Janet and the faithless and easily consoled James Annan, late assistant to M Cleav er, butcher, that we have presently to do. Jane fs c„n d-tmnal acceptance o( his devotion seemed .n a fl r way' to bemg made absolute. For Cleaver's boy proved a sTc cess at the night work. But in spite of this, Td of h s apparently assured success, both in the fields oflctica I I 154 CLEC KELLY, AKAB OP THE CITY. Judging by some past experience of his own, Cleg thought he must be pining for his old freedom. " What for do ye no rin away, if ye want to be rid o' Janet ? " was Cleg's contribution to the problem. " Haud your tongue ! I dinna want to get rid o» Janet ! » said Cleaver's boy, loyally, but without indigna- tion. Such things had been, and might be again. " It's aboot Janet ony way," said wise Cleg, shaking his head ; " hae Sal or Susy been botherin' her?" " Na," said Janet's lover, " they ken better. My cer- tes, Janet wad gie them the door in their faces and then Bend for a polissman." " Ye had better tell me, at ony rate," said Cleg. And with a Kttle pressing, James Annan did unburden his sore heart. "Ye see," he said, "Janet's bonny— or I think sae- " It is the same thing exactly ! " interjected Cleg. "She's bonny, an' easy to be doin' wi'. She's no sair ava' in the way o' expense. She is a natural saver hersel', an' she's aye at me to be puttin' by the siller. 0, in some ways it is juist like heeven— nae leemonades, nae swing rides, nae merry-go-rounds, nae shows! I declare she cares no a buckie for Pepper's Ghost. In that respect there's no a mair agreeabler lass in the toon. Janet is ave pleased to tak' a walk on the Calton, or maybe in the Gar- dens, or to the Museum, or doon the shore to Leith to see the ships, or, what pleases her best, juist doon to the Wa- verley Station to see the Heelant train come in. 0, Cleg, she is sic a weel-dooin', conthy, kindly lass, that ony man micht hae been prood o' her." •• What is't, then," said Cleg, " since she's sae perfect? Is't the poetry?" To Cleg "the poetry" was a trouble which might seize a victim at any moment, like the tooth- THE CEOOK m TM LOT o. CLEAyER.S BOY ,« But it was not the noctrv n^ appeared from the talHSh cLTk" '^''^P^g™'- " from the reluctant and die 1 „ jf^.'!,''"™''^'^ ''«™te'i though a wU-doing ll if iir"'"'"^ ™""-' "=at Janet, fault. ^ ^ '" °'*'J' '•™l«ot. had one grave aelghbourhood'r I^I^rorint' At tt"h ^ j" ""^ Bu.":u'Sz^z; :zfa '^'' ^- -"^^^^^^^^^ i-ooa, or met Janet bvL„? ^'^ """"^ '" *« a"^>- had wrought al^te "he llT; "'"""'™» "'^'^ She would then wf w h th .^°""™'^- »gaging innocence, toLwhitf""/?'"'^""' »"«' could not otherwiso .1 . ™ " '"''"»' 'over This mania appS to tr„'^ i'™ '^ "'"">mrs." taken off herSi; rrr. " '"'"""''' "■' had dress. She was ,ri„f 7 ■? / '' ?"' '"' '"«'• company to ask for a sZ'Zlt off '"'"IT'^ '" " *" ■"«-» " »en.ble social enigemenj Eve^ J '° '""" '"'' '»""• time she had been^n^;T(askcLn°''.r'""'° "' ""y its doors to her as « w.f, * "'tchen-maid) opened wide who listened with unr^c^r/"'"- .^^' '"'O »« »°k. ball, and auppc^X In ^.^theT;'."" ^''^ '""' "'»" »* Street and Princes Street «., ^"""^ '" "'"'""^ hegin to remodel sndfliof! ""''\^f^y. *e said, and satins for the .pp.^t-;rse:r "' ''' """^ ^"^^ ant3°:iv:rB:rfio';tt " ™'-'^'-^ *^ - she had been at the niltthlf , '"""'™' °* ^ ''''"■>«■• "en got off ea 1 nSl I r '" '" f^^"' ^^' ''»'' hai,^™.,... ^ "^O' '" have her hfur don« h„ ,i,„ |: ] * ! !!' ' i il >i} fai 166 CLEG ^ELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " The hairdresser, as a great favour, is going to arrange It in the latest style for five shillings, instead of ten-and- six, his usual charge," said Janet of Inverness, with a glance like an angel's for innocence. Then she described her drive to the house in a four-wheeler. « My hair would have got so blown about, or I should have gone in a han- som, which IS much more distinguished." Her former master had, it appeared, come into the hall to receive her Two gentlemen had almost quarrelled as to who should see her honie. A handsome and distinguished gentleman and a member of Parliament for the city, celebrated for his gallantry to the ladies, had, however, forestalled them bo h, arranged^ the shawl deliciously about her shoulders with well-accustomed fingers, and had thereafter driven home with her in a hansom. "It did not matter about the hair then, you know" said gay Janet of Inverness, looking daringly at Cleaver's ooy. At this the cook had laughed out loud. She then said that It was all lies, and that she had seen Janet /walking along the Bridges with another girl at the supposed hour of the dinner. Thus was shame brought upon Cleaver's boy and upon the pride and good name of his sweetheart "An what do ye think I should do. Cleg?" asked James Annan. " I wad gie her a lickin' and gar her stop," said Cleg who had still prehistoric nations as to the discipline of women. > " Na," said Cleaver's boy ; « I hae thocht o' that. But man, she's no like Susy or Sal. Ye couldna lift a hand to her when she looks at ye wi' yon e'en, an' tells ye that her faither was either a Highland Chief or a Toon Councillor o Inverness. I couldna do it, Cleg." " Hoot," said Cleg, « then I wad try no to heed. She A COMELY PROVIDENCE IN A NEW FROCK 157 story I tell ye. Cleg, ,t pits me fair wild. There'll h» mm-der dune. Cleg, gin it's no stoppit." '* see ft J::l;ST„t['" S' ?'^^ philosophically, " I think I tres to Tve tC „ I '™ «""« *" ^''"" ""' 'heay. ires, to save the siller; but she says she gangs an' th.f cos s na^ ,„g j ^inna see whatye hae to!„„% o'-V-J nantiv ' r f ^?™ '"" ""''" "'''^ 0'<»"'='-'s boy indig. nantly;, "I ™dna hae missed muokle i( ye had stayed ft fnd'nae sill r n t af °B„t"ra tel,'''"^ ""'^ '^»»'' I'll speak to Miss Ceie Sh. 'f',-^^ "''at, butcher: better do." ^'■' """ '^^'^ "hat ye had toii'thTsotrC'r"^*'"" ''™"^-- - appealed Wi ill:' ' ■ .r-i !^'^:/i ADVENTURE XXV. A COMELY PHitVTBFwrw -xr . -., "'liNCE iN A NEW FKOCK. Cleg was as mod ;,^ },;„ , „ "ight to cai, on^M,:., Tonlr t ZZV^ V fou»d her ,n a pinlanthropic frame of mtd it ■ , received from »he dressmaker a dress o the ttest m^ and she was conscious that the new f'-hjo- -'-T I, ' -e a garment fashioned by fte fairies i; a d'reir A^ #.ti! 158 CLEG KELLF, ARAB OP THE CITr. (»hat was even better) that it would make other rirls whose shouMera were not so good and whose flgareC less shm and graceful, look perfectly hideous. Yet tZ Zi^Zur^h '?^"t''" '"" "'^-S ">at the e TnT of th 7' '°'' '""''' "'■''"' '""•'d- S''« looked out of the wmdow toward the west. There was also Z seemed on purpose) a beautiful sunset whieh glorifledthe Z'tT 1 ^^*^.'' '"'"-'' "'"''• P-ilential , n! set, for ,t went so well with the co.our of her new dress Besides, here was Mr. Donald Iveraeh walking slowtup the Avenue. And yet some people complaiaod that th^ was not a good world ! What would folk say ne.tf th.h\l"^ %«stalled the Junior Partner. He came by the back door, and when in a strait betwixt two, a se"vine ma,d .,11 always answer a knock at the bacib f ™f Sti*;."""' ""'■ ""' ''-' ^"" '= --^ ^^ ■ !° °!f ^"f '■'" *°'"' "' *« ho'Jse, and was just finish- .ngh,s tale when Mr. Donald Iveraeh wasann unc^ sig^^fl d a: out '" "J™' " "'"• "'* " """i- 'hich not nLrruot So^t. r"' "f » """^ ""'* ^^ *onld not mterrupt. So the Junior Partner, who had for some time been accnstomed to devote more time to the studv rf her moods than he had ever done to his Bihl! Tlu had not neglected that either when nobo ^ f t h „/ .t^ down upon a sofa and became interested in the pa ^em of some crochet work, which Miss Celie had tossS fn tohai. trirt:Trc°°'''''''"'''^'-"''™''^*'°™' '-Are ye gaun to pit on that dress on Sabbath at tb» a little about his own aflFairs. w«^'"' T?^'^ ^^ ^^™ ^^^^ ^ ^™^" «tart of ingenuous woi^r. It was a good little start in its way, fnd ex- A COMELY PUOV1DE.VCB IN A mw PROCK. 159 pressed amazement that anvone shonl,! „„.• »nd simple a thing as her new dres, * i. f 1'"° fact that she was a trathjil Z it^.' . "f""^""^ »he was quite aware how insSntlv 1 , »'«"' '"«' that riveted the attention of botToC anZ"" x' ^"^ ^'^ ner. Yet the little start exprLedln. ^ ■'"""" ^"^ surprise, even her sorrow, tlftTnth? £0," ""' '" world the minds nf »».« 1 v ^^' °^ ^ ^^"ous a vain a thfng L aJriWown P^J^ '"';;'"'''" "P"- » ™s her way of teH ng 3*°^ V^T "'"' "'"^ "«■•' all women tell IZes hli. " . ™«° "'^''"' *•■»' "Pot ri p. T'"f ?r "' "'.■' •'"-'- p»''»- yon?" * ' ^' ""^' ' «»ite understand; don't hesi^:;"'' ' ""^ ■"" •■-"''" ^^-^ ">» J-ior Partner. Celie instantly withdrew her eyes from his Sl,» l„„l, j at once hnrt and disappointed. He Mt^n L S pathetic and kind, a'n'd he had MedTo „n ^X." d":t cfl" T ""■ ^^ "" "'^"^'^ "-orthrorcon" wa looking /r™",.'"""^ '" ^'^« '"■■ "^"»'«"''«- He l-leg at any rate understood. She tnread half round in her chair and the profile which she presented to u" ^r of G™:f r? ." """' "»■»"«>■ 'ho -m like" thai pp::i?arirrLtrandr «'Kr:r;tiirr.rf. -!!'?»?- money. ' * ' " *"" *"^ lufir i t j| i I . 'A% ii .. 160 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CUT. yuX^Zfi:"" ^l-''™'"?."! ™«' to speak to l.„»T'!'"i',''; ^"T^^ '"''' ""<*«■■ ■"« ''■•«'"li of his excel ent fnend Mr. Eobort Greg Tennant at that moment s perhaps better not to write down. He rose anT wen wat^^Ted'w^tr .^'Z t'^ ^''' 'P^' <" "= oAl he Cete and Cletr >■''"''« «'°r ""^ "'""'"'ulation of L'elie and Cleg. Celie was explaining somethine with g at an,mat,on to the boy, who looked down and seel" ahttledoubtfnl. Then with inimitable arehness wh oh ' iZd n'r? T' "P™ "» ^-'' »' "■« cit7( it w re aSfom'tb °:^' '''l'\«P''"°^d the whole'm'atte I " Now you quite understand ? " she cripd rvith i^ ».ve emphasis. And lest he shonld not ^^t I mp Ed" shetnrned ere sho reached the door, ran to S nffl pt» with still more inimitable daia i^ess and with h hand upon his arm, she explained the whole ' tlin. an over again. The Junior Partner felt a litH.T • . ? ' "0 confound it " he remartM f„. . reason, as he turned away ' '"' ""* '"^ '"'"''"^ eefoTthtrtTa^-l--^^^^^^ it'Thj; " "f "'^" -"-were beneati cl 5\h t^»rrdi&- rn^« — A COMELy I'KOVIDENCB IN A NEW frock, igl »":;„:'" coX,rr?:^f *of.o™r' '-"'^-^ «- her hand a li le Zrf f T °° '"^""^ ^'''^ ^'"^ '"^ — e j„'rharef::;r3„,L™ - "'-^-"^ " And fathf l: e t ^ vl ZTuZT T. ^^^'-^ °- Tenant to herself. Cefie feUthat I .'> "'' ^"''' her time nor her fathers ™„nev "* ""' "™'^'' plot of garden, meditlt." '"sLkU his la™ "' "'"^ pipe. He stopped now befor, » ?1 *^ '"^'' """"'"? and now at thTend of ^ZrllZZZP n.7''T^ them equally with fhp cor«« - •! , ^® regarded attention. H was a prS«ir '"-"'r' """ "^"'""i'^ »g vegetables ^U^Z^ZZ T' '""""' "" ^'•"- leaving his da„ghter to Tltfr'; TTt- Z"^'' liie from garde.ti. " graces in ,f|' *' I fl .IS : ij I'll ' I: ! j ' ( I| 3? 162 fT.BH KELLV, ARAB OP THE ClTr. Celie elevated her nose and sniffed as she came out .^0 fatho,-, what a horrid smell of tobacco you afe mat pearl.'Lt'd.TgZter""'"^ ''''' «-"^ "<" -- "P- " Oh yes ; but that is different," she answered. Of whirhirtii^tr;;:-"""^ "- ^--^ ""-^'-^ -^n^'Si:;M^i^:?^-tz:^:? Janet of I'mtfw a ^«^ "ousemaid a perfect tr.ci„, „f her th»™b and te-fllnl i done ,n mis, and very well eiecuted, too. ^ ^ andrirs'';fiLr/trri"i-/t'r.'- true of so^e of her ZamV P"''*"^ °"'^ ^""^ """"^ on four leg;, I mZ Thr' I °" "*.":'' """* '"'''"™lly the range,'ol'atSg to^ppat Zft^'^T'' """" music as it ia f],n ,• ^ • , ' ^ °*"®^ instruments of Aye, f rae the pohce !" added the tahle.maid '-m tV - aoorway. She waa plain, and Cleaver', boy ne;!' .^p^^^ ;■» J ' .iS- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 Li 1^8 no ^^™ 12^ ■ 3.6 IS 125 iu j2^ ■ 2^ 2.0 1.8 1.6 150mm ^ <^ '^9> ^ -^ ^^A ^ '^ ^1,^

she. Which, being substantially correct, settled the question. wu^^!!/'*^^^''''' P^^"" '^^"^'^ ^^^^ ^» S-^^^ perturbation. When Cleaver's boy went to see her that evening before going on duty she showed him the card. " What shall I do?" she said. «I hae nothing fit to wear, and I am feared to gang." Cleaver's boy looked up at the ceiling of the baek- kitchen, as he sat on the edge of the sink, unconscious that there was a tap running behind him and that the plug was in. "There was that purple brocade ye telled me aboot, wi the auld lace and the pearls that belonged to your grandmither, the Earl's dochter," said James Annan, meditatively. *' aye," said Janet. « Yes, of course there is that ane. But she did not look happy. " Or there is the plain white muslin wi' the crimson sash aboot the waist, that the twa gentlemen were for stickin' ane anither aboot, yon nicht they quarrelled wha was to see ye hame." "Aye," said Janet, piteously, "there's that ane too." "An' what say ye," continued James Anna)i remorse- lessly, "to the yellow sattin, trimmed wi' flounces o' glory-pidgeon roses and y " Cleaver's boy suddenly stopped. He had been feeling for some time a growing coolness somewhere. But at this point the water in the sink ran over on the floor, and he turned round to discover that he had been sitting in a full trough of excellent Moorfoot water, with the spigot run- ning briskly down his back all the while. " Jame"," cried Janet, pleased to get a chance to change the subject, "what for did ye do that, James' •i i. 106 CLKG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITr. And your mw brceks. too 1 " she added, with an expres- aion of supreme pain. «^pre8- tarJi? ^'^T^A '* ?' "^^^^^^er remarked Cleaver's boy, tartly " I didna do it ava' It was you that left the spjgot nnnm and the plug in ! " he added, after a thought ful pause, while he realised how cool a sitz-bath can be window"! ' '""""'' '''"^°^' ^^'^ '"' ^**"^« ^y ^^ «P«^' Now nothing is more provoking, when you are per- forming a high and noble work in the ref'ormatTon"^ of another person's morals, than to have the thread of ,our sTtTn.'. '''""\''f '" .y something so ridiculoufas 1 wh T '"^ ?' ^'^'^ °^ ^"^^- '^^«^« ^'^ every rea- son why Cleaver's boy should be annoyed. But Janet broke out in a sobbing ecstncy of laughter which irntated her lover more even than her w^ro^;: " ^ ^<>°^«r at you," he said, « telling a' thae lees when ';t ':Z Sab'iV-' ^-^' ^-'y^ ^'^ ^^-- that ye He 1!:;^::^^^-^::^^-^-.. soon as r «h*li ''^^""r .^^" ''°^^'" ''^^ «^»^ ^ith dignity! « that you air nub'^^^*""- ^^' ^ ^"' -- «P-k to en^:s:is a" 1':,''^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^"-'^ -^ «^ -^ p- ued' wV"*°^ ?'"'' ^"'^^"'« back-kitchen!" contin- ued her lover, whose colour did not diminish with the growing coolness consequent upon standing in a d Iht Then as he went up the steps from the area he cried ^Be sure and put on the brocade, Janet ! " ' - It was an unbearable affront, for Janet had told her Btones so often, and with so much innocent feeling, that JANET TASTES THE HERB BITTER-SWEET. 167 though, of course, she could not quite believe them her- self, she had nevertheless all the feelings of an indignant moralist insulted and outraged in her tenderest suscepti- bilities. ^ N« ADVENTURE XXVII. JANET OP INVERNESS TASTES THE HERB BITrER-SWEET. Janet duly arrived at the house of Mr. Robert Grejr lennant at the hour named in the invitation. She had had a great struggle with herself, I .t pride had ultimately triumphed. Her fellow-servants had given her no peace. She had, indeed, to dress in her black alpaca. But, sure enough, her hair had been done in the latest fashion by her only friend, t! 3 girl with whom the cook had seen her walking, who was an assistant in a hair-dresser's shop It was so twisted and tortured that Janet felt "as if she had slept on It the wrcjg way," as she expressed it to herself, bhe passed and re-passed the end of the Avenue half-a- dozen times, but her courage would not let her ring the bell of the corner house. For there were lights in nearly every window, and a cab had just driven away from the door. Poor Janet's heart leapt within her, and she had half a mmd to turn homeward and confess that she had been romancing. But another cab stopped before the gate and through the open door she saw a glimpse of lights and flowers that looked to her like Paradise-as she imagined it from the hymn-singing at the Salvation Army meetings. So as the last cabman came slowly out of the Avenue Janet called to him T^p mon ,..«„ .--^ , . ' -- — "- -S-— c iiinli rrao oiriuigllig HIS rugs 1 '3 HI Mi;;it I • !■ ;:i :li If: 'un , U' m rwe hi !!i! 168 CLEG KELLV, AIIAB OF THE OITV. of 7e IZI"' " """ ""'^ '»'='' '» "'» ««■"' •' ">» centre A.Z"' ^'™ /°\" '"J*""" " J»° ""' t»™ "bout and dr.™ me up to that door you have just been at," «"d job."""''"'" """ "" '""" """* «»'"' "o-oy 'or the So, without betraying the least surprise or curiositv he man turned about his vehicle, and Janet triS du,nt,l, inside. They drove up to the door with Tf d|g,ous rattle and ceremony. The cabman jumped uZ olTd ZttT T '"" " '»™- When'the doorw^ opened, Janet Ifrquhart paid the man his easily-earned ZZ;^. ^' '""""^ "'« "^ "»<' *« -' -e^^^P A trim maid-servant was at the door, who evidentlv had rcocved very definite orders, for only the 7aiS wt'n jret"' "'T' "" "-" """""^ °' '^e «ffat Wften Janet was shown into the cloalt-room her tmn bles began. Should she take off her h.t.rnotrShe" looked about to see if the ladies had left thdr hats None were to be seen. Yet she had never seen ladies in the ZZ rt"' 'T'^f °''- ^"^^ '°"8 oonsidemti n she resolved to keep her hat on. But when she was in the doorway to go up to the drawing-room she sa^ Iwv coming through the outer door with a shawl of soft gZ wool over her head. ^ ^ i^JT^ f r"'' ^*'^ ^°'*^""y ^"'^ *»^»ed cold with the thought of her escape. W'ith trembling hands she took off her hat and pinned her veil to it as s'he had once seen her mistress do. The lady came in, bustling a S l^e one who knows she is bte. "It is cold to-night," she said affably to the shy rirl standing in the doorway, h„t without looking at hir ^ JANET TASTES THE HERB BITTER-SWEET. 169 "Yes, ma'am," said Janet, and the next moment fih« ecu d have buten her tongue out for the mistake " Oh, ho«r I wish I had never come," she said a score of times to herself as she went up the stairs But It was too late to turn back th«" ^^J u^""'^" '^'^ *^" daintily-capped maiden, with the curl of her nostril a little more accentuated J^or a moment Janet was so taken aback that she could not even remember her own name. denV'*'''^'" '''" '^"'»«^«^; "Janet-from Bailie Hoi- ' The maid's face broadened into a smile at siahf nf which poor Janet's lip quivered, and for a mom Lf she thought that she must burst out crying. Scarce^ fas was a little open, and she saw Miss Celie, whom she al ready knew and loved. The sight of tha ^lelnfflc t atfedir '"'^°^ '^" °^^^^'*^ bright'kindne^^: " Say 'Janet Urquhart'!" she said, with a little fal tering return of assurance in her voice And the trim maid-servant, with a strong protest in her tone, announced in accents of terrif vinir Si-Hn ! " Miss Janet Urquhart." ^^"fy^ng distinctness, .. J?^° i^^ '^"' *^^ ^^°'' »°d Janet was left standinir aghast and speechless in the bright humming pac^^ I would not have done it," so'iloquised the indignant and «,,«,„, 0, Cleaver's boy. The teinating cousin i:, I 1 1 1 1 'it m Mil * ■ r7 i- 1 I ■I J 170 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. from the tented field was there, ready for love or war But It was to Donald Iverach that the principal work of the evening had been allotted. It was he who first asked Janet to dance with him It was he who sat out with her after her desperate failure for she had lacked the courage to say that she had never learned to dance. It was he who found her a handker- chief, when, with the bitterness of disappointment, the » tears at last would not keep down, but welled piteously up from the underlips of Janet's blue and childish eyes It was Mr. Donald Iverach who took her down to supper, where she suffered agonies over the use of fish-knives and the management of a plate upon her knees. It was he who finally took her aside, and so fervidly pursued his wooing that, had Janet Urquhart been mercenaiv, he might without doubt have had a suit for breach of prom- ise of marriage successfully brought against him. So far did the wooing proceed, and so fervently persistent was this wicked Junior Partner, that, bewildered and dazzled, poor Janet found herself being pressed to name the happy day and what is more, in some danger of doing it, too. As for the Junior Partner, that young man was obviously excited, but seemed quite unconscious of the risks he waa running. Had the Senior Partner heard him, he would undoubtedly have considered his son to be rapidly quali- fying for a strait jacket. But the infatuated youth held on his way. Janet and he were sitting in a little alcove at the top of the stairs, cobwebbed with the latest artistic Japonaiseries of the period. "And now," urged the reckless youth, when he had aealed in due form the silent acquiescence he had won. let us go back and tell them all that we are going to be married." ® * Mr. Donald Iverach was certainly quite mad. But 'I' JANET TASTES THE HERB B.TTEB-SWEET. 17, .l.e buret out c V „L„r?* "'°".";'"' """'<'" ■•"'•'ctance, spellbound looking afte-fer?^ '"«"'»'' "«nding througl, the hall she Z Sh. . ' "'" ""'■• »"<» out into the night or,""; .^uJ^f "'° """ ""<• "<••* James!" «"'•">"■« •'"■nes ! James ! Iwantjou, gate. "" ^"^ ^°™» separated at the outer cCX'^A^ares?' '"•" ^"'^ '"^^ Kelly to The girl's wild cry of" ^"''T T' " ^^ ™ ''«d»n. quite another wa;V'i„rrh "'''"■■»''' '■"'""l i"to found herself clainS 7 ,7 '"'"° """''• "••» 'h* Cleaver's. F^r S 'L """' °' •'"""'' "'"^-''"e the matter in l^m bv 'i ^ .""' °"'^ '"^ ">» ■■»<" "t otwi in mm by nature, but, as we havA sr^nn k« a lad of some little experience. ' ^^ ""'^ "What did I tell you, sir?" said Plo« ♦ *i. thought she was goinrto^tt^':;,.'"™" '"" -""tes I i s ( ■ ■V',. I' J: ;;:» ^i ^ 'i 179 CLEO KRM.V. ARAM (W THK CITY. ADVENTUUK XXVIII. THE ENOINK-DKIVKH WITH THE HEAHI). What James Annan said to little Janet of Inverness on the way home, and what Janet of Inverness said to James Annan, I know. But since it conoerns only them- selves, with themselves I will leave it. At all events, it was no long season before they were at one. Miss Ceci'lia Tennant's exact share in the plot is a harder matter to apportion. But^that she had a share in it far beyond the mere issuing of the invitations is certain, for Mr. Donald Iverach was heard saying to the arch-conspirator in the semi-privacy of the dusky angle of the stairs, "But what I want to make out is, what /am to get out of it." " Virtue is its own reward," replied Miss Celie, sen- tentiously," and, besides, you make love to that sort of person so well, tiiat it is evident you must have had a great deal of practice." " Now I call that a little hard on me," said the Junior Partner, who felt that he had made a martyr of himself all the evening, and that he had, indeed, narrowly escaped tne sacrificial altar. "Wait," he said threateningly, "till you want me to do anything else of the kind for you." Celie Tennant set her pretty head the least bit to the side. It could not be called a cock, but it was the next thing to It. Next she pursed her mouth till it looked like a cherry. "You would do it just as quick if I asked you to do It all over again," said Celie Tennant, looking pins and needles at Donald Iverach, till the very palms of his hands pingled. Ill ■ Tim KNGr:«R-,,R,vE„ wmi the ukmw. ,;3 The Junior ^,,„^„^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.^ ^^^ oc„.',t.S:i:ii:''°-^< "'''««- that. t.,„ hers, could vet ^t! i '' ^'""'^ ^'"""^ '•"^^"•« of have permitted L ' '""''"'"'" ""^ ™»''l "e^i-'Lr tt":;tt::: ^? L-r^*-^' "»^- wd. . thoae which ...medS/co'e'r thXr'B.:: Cleg ana of hie U^'ftt ^CZZZl^'JTl "' Why cooks murn,, ^°""^®^- And this is the reason wny cooks marry gardeners while housemaida marry tt 174 CLEG KELLY. ARAB op tiik CITY .1.^ i™„ ro„d o,r:i;„rLw"k::' """"""«'»'•»"' »"»"»". She could to^l' . """''"""""""'o'-ful i..g g<«nee over ^:':t:^^: Z'TLT " '""«"'"'■ He could not l.elp thiuking ho»- ™ji.V " ""'l'" """>• be to come homo after . „°.""""»"'ing it would And then, havingw^Sd «if r "■"" T "'" '"-"?>«'<'• the «.up,'the onfelett^d h T„-,rwt'7",'""«"» he know) as nuinv of tl,. !„ i ^ "' f"" '""e dW »ish for, thro "in "•" ''«'8'"«h.ng glancca a, he could So overc;™e Zh Vthe ^^Z' r:^ "' '"' '"'■"«• forgot that matters C prteeded Z ,° "T"" ''" another cook in the town ofNetltbv wh' 1"7'"" "'"• alternate stopping-place n I'l ■'■'"^ '°™«^ "» thought (for an in.tan „„M't,r .L','"^' '»«"»»*'-«» ^-driver was talking about feat, of "In my young days," he raid, "I could toss the r«h.,. with any man. The Black Deil o' Dnmfl Sk'me „t I eonldna send a young tree birlin' through the a"! tf It had been a bit .pale board. But ye shild .1 M„Tk le Ahck doon at Netherby Junction, where I pit up fo" the mcht. He', the porter there on the p««enger Zl Z the nnd steeple is no better kenned for twent^ J, round Netherby. Hand, like the Day o' Judgmenfcomt' in a thundcr-c bud— hB»rt lit" . „.--.-;, "f™7. "<"""> — '- '•■" a wd ivijite-iaoed lamniie ?: I ii 176 CLEG KELLY/ARAB OP THE CITY. Lord bless me whrn L k . °" '^^ «''^«<^ ^'s lane. stand on the railway br'.^ nit 1;/ J ^"^°'' J""' Hill, and aignal iZttf^^l^tirZZ ^, '"' ""''^' o' a man.o'-war ! "^® ^^« ^^^ss trees ;U declare to conscience it's a Guid's truth I yelled for the protf r 2^V TT' ™ "''«"«'» »d Muckle Alick (h rMoS; r.K "'.'!■"* ■>" '^'•'''" =«« doon at him off the br rrthl f ^^^ ^ll''^' ^"""^ """> « mile, ' Ye donaert n P ^^ """''' '"''' "■" h*" roller »' your m IL ' ""' "" "' ^o"' "»" »•*»■»- oon.edoonr'h^l^X:^."/'"' ^^"-^ " "' that stands" „l'e Eef!.:" ."'^"'' ""'"'' *» " ""^ ^" >- mau. But Mhkio^Tt' boj) "thinks me a strong bowed and ht craw tS h jr 'i. "k "" ^•""■'' " "^ could tak- hal^a.dLX 1 a.;", i " ^"^ "' ^'"y' gither till we couldna !^k ' Ce ttC'R^^' f' nexed ' to the Third Pnr»L j "® Reason An- thae .n that J^trrnr ••: ^ ""^ -» "'» '''' open, for the ""^^UoT'ot f ? f *"^ """ ••» '"'-«' learned man's "S " 1 T, ^'^^^ '' "^--y "»■ »i«..ty things onhrwrath^rrAS' "" *" '^" MTCKLE ALICK'S iiANNOCKBDBN. ;„ for a mmieter-or o«"l tan ' °Alf " """W word oot 0- the mouth o' him w! """' "» '» there was twa t.^i„. «? aij^nt ^Tr^"" "^ ,"'""■ ^'"^ maister cried to Aliok to tat f^^ T' ^ ''"'' »'»«°°- «.e« at the same «me M^t tok- tt p' f " '""" "' yo«rser,gi„,e are in sic » filtt' fulfTr^r' '-™" was the station-maister th.. J^^l^^t ^^""'- ^''' " pleased-like thau usual ''"''«— ^hck was even mair voke him. Aliek, he u^Z^^y Xat^th '" T rSirsa^^^t-aJe^VrT" /el'ptrVh-eTat atetheherrSelld 'ht I'^vf"'"^'^ °*'' "''«» " .».j.t.« in,p.-----«mehewas grip iheVt',;i* oVrtht : st'r- T' ""' thegither as i, he was knofk „• the stour aff " " ?*"' books, syne stick their heads in a cout?e '-f. "'f^^ " -oal. an. leave them wi' their hX'^ he at%° t a r'^ 8 never oot o' temper. And ceevil-Ch'ti J?' '^ f IS no sweeter at eighteenpence a pund ! " *"""*' !r 1 li 1 f ADVENTURE XXIX. MUCKLE ALICK'S BANN0CKBT7RN -:r:rrm'ark\rth':^rno''^:rw:! i i 178 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OF THE CITY. gaun to tell ye aboot were no that kind. ^ " It was the middle o' the dav and AliVt ™ nar . So I am telled. Then, when the train cam' in there was eigh^ or nine o' the warst o' thpm fh«^ ,1 ' be served b„t they maun a' get ZV,:^Z:^:l:^: ment And oot o' that they wadna get ! ^ Ihe station-maister was a vouncr man ,h newly gotten „„. He thoeht aZp' „• h ™^ -ir young station-maister ave does wh.n i. « ! the stemm^d , onnet, a^d tl t" f ^If „V" -a«serin' like a led, wi' a pen ahint hiX "*" that S'^iHe""'"'*';'.'''*"'-^ sta.i„n.L„erwas o-osshr-inhi'Iat rti„r™'"^ '""' "-'x">^ should -id'thogjrd irnd'b'vThe'r"' "' "'^"' '-■" "-"-v cutting afth^'ktroanX.Zr.ld'd"^'' """ "'^ as a session.' shuggled doon as quaite oompartment and' thS„ed"tl'"d o^er "^^tr;*' ThltS'rrhr"' r ™'^ '°^^^^ ™^ "' -'^• a knot o- ten or » H„ T^" *"'' "'*'•'''' «» «■"« ""^ ;-«.krtjtL^Ti".ij;;Terr-:-r:; MTCKLE AUCK'S BANJfOCKBPBN. \..g whustling uZZelLT ""^"^ ""^ '"'' woreagafnatheV Bn^nalTr"' '^''""' *'>^ »i8-"» station maister he wa^ dete 'f ""r, T"'' ""'^ ««'• ^ho And they were LTt m ^ *" ^^ ""^ ^""''^ o"'- filled wi- thoTeeZt TJ T'^'^'-'S SS^ and weel koopitapeoiairtredrtriT- h'i:''"fr''"* '•'° nert a decent Heelant sow I tr ei i/ """^ ""^ ^"»- the wanr o't for a fortnW,; nf ^'™^ *"'' *■« ' enough for an Irishman «„„? «"^, "l>"3ky is gnid amang it! Thev tS ii. ° I ^' ""' ''''""J' »' =»<" that. ■"""^"'""'""^J'^l'^me again if they get .teii'id^oX^b: ttar„,°' ^f ''-''■^ •''""""™ - maister was ne^rlj. Utotin^rha^he L' .'"^ ''""""• on his detention sheet A' at «1 ™ "»d I'm to enter MuckleAIiot oo„,^- np iTZT^T'^' ''"'''' there he was, coming alangb, thrhn. /. ^"'i^.^o-'gh in his pooches. For ye sfe thi! ^ ° "" *"' '"'"''» W ten minntes to I^re. S ':™aUh; tT' '"' ""^ and the gnaird and half , a > *, ™ slation-maister tothefafsidco'the^ S^rrJ"^''™' '"" """^^^ ""^ ing on him to come on T, uT^. °" ^""'^ ""'' •'■'.y- see wha was late f"r the ti^ ^°f "' '"*' '"•''°' t" he step, leisnrely aIang.dX- f " Vf"' ""^•""^^ prond-like as ye hae stnT^i I ! ^^l-ga™ pipe, show. " "' elephant at the head o' a lookrf :hoi't\rml„fti m™ th" t ™r • *"= ■"- ^'-^ "'It maun he th prolat theT 't'^ 'f^"'^ '■•»'°- »M he to himself- , w,T hi 'f '*•"'''» ''■'^ '"< fish I • ' '"'"'"' g""" to Loch Skerrow ti "At last a weo upsettin' booking-clerk, the si.e o' I , . 180 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. TroZ'Z'ZT /':::'''' '"' '^"^^ ^"^^ '' -boot the arovera and the state the station-maister was in 1 m no on duty at this train,' says Alick 'bnt T'lT come and speak to them.' ^ ' "* ^ " nng.fleet below the Tail o' the Bank thisT'^'"^''' ''^' ^' '" '^' ^^^^^^«' ' ^b-*'« this?-what's. " Then they mocked and jeered at him T?n. a- &' !?" """^ "• '""" ""^ been ofte^at n! heZ whatver '™°' ""' "" """"^ *° ""^ ''•^"'^^ 'hat tim^ in- hi'slr'.Z "" 'if' °° "^""^ ■" " ^0 '■'d been court- conaucK! Its clean ridiculous, ve ken Vp'II i,„„ * come oot o' that, boys ! ' ^ ' ^^ ^^^ *° "But they were fair demented wi' drink and prideful ness at keepin' the train waitin', and so they m^ct^ Ahck or a muckle nowt-beast on stilts. And yin o' ttem let on to be an auctioneer, and set Alick up for sale. stirkP^sIyshe"''' '" ^'^^ ^"^* ^"'"'^"^^ ^^"-^^ " ' Thrip ! ' says another, ' and dear at the money ' "'Boys,' says Alick again, like a mither soothin' her tTZeo'l' '"" ''' ^"'"^"'^ fit,' boys, ye'llhae " But they only swore the waur at him. «♦ Aweel,' says Alick, 'mind I hae warned ye, boys—' ii"iM *^ ^'e ma n lowse. Then what hap- pened after that it is no' juist easy to tell. Alick gaed oot sicht into the co.npartment, fillin' the door f rae tap ^ C..imi. HOW GBIEBSON'S ENGINE BROKE ITS BUFFER. Jgl to bottom. Thero was a wee bit buzzing like a bee sken the flrstclass earriage there comes a hand like the hind Providence, and draps a kickin' drover on the nlatform sprawlm; on his wame like a paddoek. The, , afo^' can gather h msel' thegi.her, oot flees anither 'and aa-I Irii T"^ "-"','* '° "" "" *"« "«» » decent piW Irish drovers, a' neatly slacked orosa-and-across like saw!^ wood m a joiner's yaird. Certes, it was bonnj to see them" They were a'cairded through yin anither, and a' crawlin.; hea'rSllTtl '^"""'' ""' °""» '" » ^--^^ ^ "- " Then, after the hindermost was drappit featlv on thfl rjggin', oot steps Muckle Alick^dgeways, o course or the door wasna wide aneuch for him except on the ande Aiick.-^" ^' ""y'- y "»« '0 come ootl- said Muckle ADVENTtTRE XXX. HOW BEOEDIE «RIEKS0N'8 BiroiS. BROKE IIS BWPEK. togi°r;.rtL'c:o"t«ii ^T,r "''"™'' "-^ at their ^thusiasm '^"'"" °' '"™"'^« ™"««' ■; But there's mair," said the engine-driver. It canna be better than that ! " said Cleg, to whom the tale was good as new poUtoes and salt butt! i *'i r,j; H i'1 ■it 182 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITT. '■It's better!" said the engine^river, who knew that nothing holds an audience and sharpens the Kt appetjte better than a earefully cultivated expectafcy It was that same day after tlie Port Andrew train got away, when the cowed drovers were sent to the land" ng-bank to wait for their cattle train, and the carril that was coupled on to it for their transport. The dr J!r o the mam line express was Geordie Grierson, an' he Z no wdl-pleased man to be kept waitin' twenty minnZ with h,s whistle yellyhooin- blneflre a' the time H^ prided himsel' special on rinnin' to the tick o' he cIoS^ So as soon as t(,e signal dropped to clear he started her raither sharp, and she cam' into the station under a colh r T'/'" '»^'*' "'"" "« had intended Ye could hae heard the scraichin' o' the anld wood bmkes a milean'mair. But stop her they coaldna. AndS^ Georgie Grierson's engine was turnin' the curve tl 1^ past the facing points to the platform, what should we see hut a wee bit ragged laddie, carryin' a bairn, coming sta^ gerin cross tk. metals to the near bank. Every sinJe person on the platform cried to him to gang back But ^ in "tLTa- "" "^/^r' ^^'"^ '»' the ™yhe w» carryin the bairn, and maybe the noise o' the folk crvin' ma^ed him. So there he stood on the four-foot ^^ on him " ™'^ "■"' ''"' «-P'«»»-engi™ Mr "It cam' that quick our months were hardly shut after crying out, and our hearts had nae time to gaLon again, before Mnckle Alick. wha was ,tandin' byfhe eide o the platform made a spang for the bairns-^ L „ we conld see, richt under the nose o' the enirine IT^ gripped them baith in his airms, but he hadnltLe to loup clear 0' the far rail. So Mnckle Alick mist «ch^ a back that was near as braid as the front J Z ^^te Hrh fui- rail." 'Tnf '1' ' 1 : • I' J. ^ : ' !i^ ■I 1 i ■ M i i i ' ■"■! i V f 1 ' :^^i :i, ^:i 1 mh:!]{ m ^i . i'i'f I' I fi J 'I HOW GBIEBSONS KNGINE BROKE ,TS BUKFEH 183 l«nd« and whaafme Id him and tl °. °' ''' '"'"'"- on the gra« „„ the far Ck ' '" " ""^P "'"" "Then there was a sough amansuawi'tl,. J ■ . « sae men, breaths, ,„r, indeed, we^:evI ookfdT'"^ " o them ever to stir again OenrHi„ n ^ '""^ >'" stop his train after fhad paT^ „ TT """"'S-«' "> He was leanin' oot o' thelj^r kk 1 1 '"'"'^ ^™"-<''- lookin- back, wi' a face li J fn.''^ '"'" "' '"-K"' "»' the weane on the bank ''' "'* *'"'""'' ^«<^k ""d wi'thttrrSrhaTh ^hr""''™"' "> ^- Wm rise „p -----nh^eX-rhe^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ driver An "Lp^'-'f": f "" "'"^ ' ' ^' *» ™«i- « ye will Qer , g™tn:irk'e"''''"t ™'' '°™' 'deed .tell the trnt^^ t^th'f; -st^SXl- ^''^• " A^d he .r' f * ' ' '''^'' "» *'»" I ken „' - ' dnd he stepped across the rails wi' th^ t laughin' in his aSm« f™ . i, • ^ *™ "'ans 6 : '' "'""«> 'or a bairns are fond n' ai;„i And savs he * T thinli- T»n -^ ^> . o Anek. "Then there cam' a lassie riunin' wi' s. innf • i, a.r,ns,,nd lookin- every road for s„rthr„V ' oonie to'y'ejt - red'"™' «<>' "^ "ee Hugh, what's 'i' ; . j J (;. r :; i,ii i u 'I 184 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " ' Yc'll find them in the luggage office, I'm thinkin'. lassie, says Aliek." And here the engine-driver of the goods train rose to depart. But his audience would not permit him. "And what cam' o' the bairnc?" cried Cleg, white with anxiety, "and what was their names, can ye tell me ? " " Na, I never heard their names, if they had ony " said Duncan Urquhart. "They were but tinkler weans gaun the country. But Alick could tell ye, nae doot' For I saw him gang doon the street wi' the wee boy in his hand, and the lass carryin' the bairn. An' the folk were a' rinnin' 9ot o' their doors to shake hands wi' Alick and askin' him if he wasna sair hurt?" ' " ' Na,' says he ; ' I'll maybe a kennin' stiflf for a day or twa, but there's nocht serious wrang—except wi' the spring o' the engine buffer ! That's gye sair shauchelt I ' " And guid nicht to ye a', an' a guid sleep. That's a' I ken," said Duncan Urquhart from the kitchen door, where he was saying good-bye to the cook in a manner calculated to advance materially the interests of his niece Janet of Inverness. * Ai-",^"** '.'" r"'' *^® ™°''°'' "^<>^"i°' to see Muckle Ahck I cried Cleg. And he went out with the engine- driver. ° ADVENTURE XXXI. THE "AWFU' WOMAN." A SORE heart had Vara Kavannah as she sat in the hut in Callendar's yard the night her mother had ap- peared at the gate of Hillside Works. THE "AWPU* WOMAN." 18ft «.j/v °*^"7®" S^ b««k among them-no, never, never ! " said Vara to herself again and again. wort'Jh.'"''''"^^ '\'^'' '^' ''^^^""« «^«°°«' *he sneering word thrown over the shoulder, as the companions froif whom she had held herself somewhat aloof femiuL he^ of her mother's disgrace. ^'0 father, father, come back tm it^eTm^atr^^^^^ ''' ^''^ ^ ^^ ^r ^^ She sat with hor hands before her face so long that trte Hugh repeatedly came and stirred her arm, lying "What ads sister? Hugh Boy not an ill boy!" ^ Vara Kavannah's thoughts ran steadily on Liverpool to wh.ch her father had gone to find work"^ She remem. berod havmg seen trains with earriages marked "Live", pool starting from the rickety old station at the end of Princes Street. She knew that they went out bv Mer- ehiston and Oalder. That must, therefore, be the way to Liverpool. Vara did not remember that it must alJte the way to a great many other places, since many carriage! with other superscriptions passed out the same way «.*i >'* "'»*™^'' " the little construction hut. Vara listlessly rose to set the room to rights, and to giW th^ c^v ?„r fw r° ^^ """ ""■ "'»• Y" V-™ did not cry, for that also was no use. She had lost her place at the works, or at least she could never go b«,k any more. Her world was at an end. i ""=■ aer Hugh Boy still lingered onteide, though it was grow- mg latish, and the swallows that darted in and „u ofTe s^ked rafters and piled squares of boards began one by one to disappear from the vaulted sky. Hugh was busy watering the plants, as he had seen Cleg do. Tnd he kept one hand in his pocket and tried tolhistle as like ms model as possible, Vi • . ^ - ■ 1:1 i;M:: ara was just laying the baby in 186 CLRO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. its cot when she heard u tcrean of pain from Hugh at the door. " Mercy me ! " she said, " has the laddie tumbled and hurthimsel'?" She flew to the open door, which was now no more than a dusky oblong of blue-grey. A pair of dark shapes stood in front of her. Little Hugh lay wailing on the ground. A hard clenched hand struck Vara on the mouth, as she held up her hands to shield the baby she had carried with her in her haste, and a harsh thick voice screamed accumulated curses at her. "I hae gotten ye at last, ye scum, you that se^s your- self up to be somebody. You that dresses in a hat and feather, devil sweep ye! Come your ways in, lad, and we will soon take the pride out of the likes o' her, the besom ! " The man hung back and seemed loth to have part in the shame. But Sal Kavanuah seized him by the hand and dragged him forward. " This is your new faither, Vara," she said ; " look at him. He is a bonny like man beside your poor waflf was- trel runnagate faither, Sheemus Kavannah ! " The man of whom Sal Kavannah spoke was a burly low-browed ruffian, with the furtive glance of one who has never known what it is to have nothing to conceal. But Vara thought he did not look wholi> >. ■. "Come in, mother !" she said at last j- \, ^ , oice. Then she went out to seek for Boy Hugh, who had run into the dark of the yard and darned himself safely among the innumerable piles of wood, which stood at all angles and elevations in Callendar's wide quad- "Husnf Boy Hngh!" she cried. And for a long iijo she called ib -mn. At last a low and fearful voice 'I' THE "AWFL" WOMAN." 187 "Is she gane away?- said the Boy Iliiffh ih. K K°' ,"' ^' "'' *° "°'"° ^^""»«'" ^'^id Vara, holdin. the babe closer to her bosom. noiaing "Then Hugh Hoy is „o coniin'hame the nicht till the ComTr " ''"."?^ • " ""^ *^^« '^'^ cloternu d for us a' IW ' "'"'V'" ^^'^ "^''"" 5 " my hear is wae lorusa. 13ut come wi' your Vara'" ,„r.^°/T ''"• Pf ""^ '" ''™S •""• '««* '"'Ok to tho hor- rors winch awaited her within tho construction hut Th. man and her mother had been pledging one anothe when she entej-ed A couple „( black bottles stood between t.-a:^:;t:hti 7„r :"f sCwTou'i^:^ "^"^^ through with you, my n,an and n,e? jo„'!!L." ™ "' "^ However, it does not enter into the purpose of this tale to blacken a page with the foul excrement of a l^il I woman-s hate „, her own child. Theriptn ' ho de 1 the mother may forget. She may indeed have no!vl steady throbbingltt: Ihtrifhitr 'tL'' " an's threats „f f„t„re torture and olage p«ed mJ over her, meaningless and empty. The mafdrank stead^ ily> and grew ever silenter and more sullen- fo. tT?; but =,luum at vara. The girl sat clasping the ^^K« B H ■H '"■ lull hH ill IV lU lllw: 188 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. babe to her bosom with a secret sense that in little Gavin she had her best and indeed her only protector. For even the very bad man in his senses will hardly hurt an infant —though a bad woman win, as we may read in the records of our police courts. So Vara sat till the man reeled to the door, carrying the unfinished bottle with him, and Sal Kavannah, her orgie logically completed, sank in a foetid heap on the floor with the empty one beside her. The man as he stumbled out left the door open, and m a little while Vara could hear Boy Hugh's plaintive voice, asking from the wood-pile in the corner whether the " awf u' woma^ " was gone yet. As Vara sat and listened all through the short hours of that midsummer night to the clocks of the city churches, the stertorous breathing of her mother and the babe's occasional feeble wail were the only sounds within the hut itself. But Boy Hugh's plaint detached itself fit- fully from the uneasy hum of the midnight city without. A resolve, new-born indeed, but seemingly old and deter- minate as the decrees of the God she had learned about in the Catechism, took hold upon her. It seemed to Vara that it did not matter if she died— It did not even matter whether Hugh and Gavin died, if only she could find her father, and die far away from her mother and all this misery. The girl was so driven to the last extremity by the trials of ihe day and the terrors of the night that she rose and put on her hat as calmly as though she had been go- ing for a walk with Cleg and the children across the park. As calmly also she made her preparations, stepping care- fully to and fro across her mother on the floor. She put all the scraps of bread that were left from Cleg's windfall into her pocket, together with the baby's feeding bottle THE "AWPU' WOMAN." jg^ and a spare tube. Then she added Hugh's whistle ^.A own to take, excent ih^ i«^,- uu nothing of her C]o^ TTnn i^T .^ mdiarubber umbrella ring which Cleg Kelly had given her. So she took that thmtr ^ all nurses and mothers know W J u ' ^ ""^^ ""^^^^ hope to describe ThlrK' ""^'"^ °° '"^^ ««" ^ver But as a first step she must find Boy Hiis'h And ti,.. young man was exceedingly shy. He had J^t t ^ obs«nate little head that' his fistef Lh 'd f^ dl^ht' baek to^the "awfu> won,an.» It was not, therefofe ^m Vara had managed to persuade him in the mlTl,' way that she m no intention of eve g ^ng back thttt oonjn od to accompany her npon her despfra te', e't At last Boy Hugh took her hand and the three bams left Callendar's yard behind them for ever Wl,,, . pened there that night after they left ralrerdyZ U .s w,th the child,.n's wan-^erings that we now h^e I I i 1 m I'l s 190 CLEG Kf]LLY, ARAB OP TUE CITy. ADVENTURE XXXII. MAID GREATHEART AND HER PILGRIMS. It was grey day wheu the children fared forth from ^ the city. Vara's chief anxiety was lest they should not be able to escape out of the town before the light came, so that some officious neighbour might be able to direct her enemy upon their track. It was not long before they emerged out of the side-alleys on a broad paved street which led towards the south. Vara paused and asked a policeman if this was the way to Liberton. ^ " And what are you going to do at Liberton so early in the morning?" said the policeman. He asked because he was a Lothian man, who always puts a second question before he can bring himself to answer the first. " We are gaun to see our faither," said Vara, speaking the truth. ^ ^ "Weel," said the policeman, "that is the road to Liberton. But if I was you I would wait till the milk- rZ::i^'''''^' ^^^- I -^^^et ye a lift to He was a kind-hearted "poliss," and in fact the same officer who had looked over the screen by the watch-shelter behind which Tyke was spinning his yarns to Cleg Kelly bothat-thus strange is the working of events when they take the reins into their own hands-at the very moment when Cleg Kelly was sleeplessly turning over in his mind the problem of the life-fate of Vara and the children by the dying fire at the Grange crossing, Vara herself with the baby on her arm was trudging down the pavement opposite. As «he passed she looked across, and MAID GRBATnEAIiT AND HEB PILORIMS. 191 th2''!.';°',7'"'°"' "" ''"" '"'»''■■»'■>=« or observation, the thee children escaped out of their thrice-heated fiery fnr! nace mto the cool of the country hedges and upon the clean hard surface of the upland roads t„rlf -f' T"'*^^'" '°'"""' ••' •"■■>« things Van. turned as.de whenever she heard the brisk clapper of the hoofs of a milk-cart, or the slower rumble of a market waggon. For she knew that it was of such early "„me« mto the crty that questions would be asked. Sorwh™ Cleg set about his inquisition, he was foiled by the verv forethought which had only desired to defeat L enem? not to mystify a friend. ""emy, Thus hour by hour they left quiet, kindly rrf-tiled v^lages behind, set in heartsome howesand uLn , ndy ridges And, as they went ever forwards, mornC bTo^^ ened into day; day crept dustily forwaM to iof »«« noon drowsed mto afternoon ; with the scent of beanflelds' m the air, dreamily sweet. Vara's arm that held the babv grew numb and dead. Her back aehed acutely from the wais downwards as though it would break in tJo. Some times the babe wailed for food. Little Hugh dragged leadenly upon her other hand, and whinged on, with ?he rbarkTo oT" r ."' "" -™orake,th»t he'wishtl to go back to Callendar's yard, till Vara had to remind him because no hing else would stay his plaining, of the "aw fu' woman " waiting for him there. Vara did not rest long that whole day. They sat down •s seldom J possible, and then only for a fewmnutr Vara poured a little of the water from a waysidTs;" g upon the crumb, that were left, and gave them tohttlf bottle. Hugh begged incessantly that Vara would let him '« better thin h« Z! [' . i ^" '°''*' *'"''='' *« had listened to dnrini genflv Ir^t'""' °"^'' T^'- =*"''"'g "« "h^^k' down rrii^-r^hiha-trronitiL"- MAID GBEATHEART AND IIEB PILGRIMS, 193 •gain. The dusty road beneath appeared to stream n,„ notonoudy between their feet, and^o wearydid th" tlmt somefmes they seemed to be only standing «m Soraet.mes on the contrary, they appeared to be g • ^^ f ™ard with mcredible speed. Vara bore the aching^ her carrying-arm till it became agony nnsDealTur , he weight of Gavin dmgged on her 'very St^rhTn (or a treat, she would shift him to the oZrZ] JtC aot\??b*°:-*: '™.'' '-''8«''g«<=he deadened aduH ache, as the fred wrist and elbow dropped to her^de B„^_^soon .n the other arm the sameTtonndin/Cy hope of their father had grel^y died „nt 'f' ^taf ^i^d though not altogether. But the mighty ins incT^ hTd,„ ' from days and nights like those whiehU g»e ove tef head recently drove her restlessly forward YrsbTh sadly to acknowledge that, though shrmigM be ab,rto stumble on a little longer that nisht IM. n u . not go muoh further. He tL^tu'Twl\ '"""^ against her side. ^®" flaccidly iust'wkt^s": :„'it mm z:'' '"^ "' " >■"' "- ta%tCtrc^retrm^t^:rtLr on before them weary-foot, sick with pai^and ^eaS' 194 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. Perhaps the young man's heart was touched Ormo hap his sweetheart asked him to aiv« IZ *^' rolled on its edge to Vara's faaf »v, 1 , °' "^^ Efor i^ H ^l '*'"''« herself that she hall ADVENTURE XXXIII. THE BABES IN THE HAYSTACK Boy come toop' "' ""^ determinedly. "Hugh ingToS wWuli:^'' !" 'i^ ""«««• "They »tood look- ■ng for her coppers, together with some salt butter in a i^:„i^«^ THE BABES IX THE HAYSTACK. j^g broad cabbage leaf into the bargain v » . as she thanked the woman Ih^T^ "*'"*' ^"''"^ ^''^^e own, and knew the look of trouble in ""' '"^"^ '' ^- at another shop Vara boLhf ^^"""^ '^"«- '^^J'«« which (as she well kne^)^^^^^^^^^^^^ Pennyworth of cheese, other food. Then cami 1 ''^'' ^'^^'' *h«° any baby, with whlh sheTl ed Sr'/ ""' '^^ ^^' over to Hugh Boy, who dran t out oTfe^ T measure. *»- out oi the shopkeeper's For the boy had Jthi/w, ° '"'*''"' «'»??»«• lion with a^TrS itlte "''""''' ?'«'■' g'°g»'brerf theypas^Ki th'e baker' Thoit^etTo T' v™""' '"'' "^ to have it. But his sister „ I A^ "'"'""g whimper fore the dews in hTs ev« hT^ ?? """"^ ?"»' ^«- wife had oome to the doe t^ T",^ '*"• ^'"'^ ""•'» H»gh Boys biTl^war ?dC'« 'she'^Vr ''^'»« ' girl after them with th,. v5? ? u ° °™' ''«'" ""'e dream,. Hug" Csttod Zf .T*""^ "'"' "' Hugh's thanlcfuiuess.' Th?, t%Tmtd\^^^^^^ " Wp hnp infc ^» *i. smiiea at his surprise. hurrie^hi^r totr'mlTr. " ""' ""'-" ''^ -''• "-^ They mounted the hill once more and Rnf «« +u bank by the side of the waterTng!^"^^^^^ bright runlet of water fell, and in whfch lit L !h ' grains of sand dimpled and danced. "' '^'"'^^ Hugh had already picked one bS cur JT' 7 ""-^''^ yellow pitted sockeLhich leered at hH t^^ "d"" ' gestiveness of stomach-ache Rnf\.!l ? "^ '"^• Boy's sole enteric troub e so ffaat tho T"*'"!' ""'' ''"^^ upon him. ' ^ *^^ suggestion was lost M !■ 1 hi mm 196 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. ' The water of the hill spring, splashing into the stone rongh sounded refreshing beyond expressing. The bZ dreamed over his bottle, and lay with his eye! fixed on thi dear heavens above-from which, if all tiles be true he had eome to a world of whose kindness he had had so ilttle experience since his arrival. For the first time that day Vara took « bite for herself and many a draught of the dimpling springwatsr wZ. :rh"^r v'"" 'rjt •>-- '^ ^aoTeiatt'': r>,!. 7 I JT "^^^ ''"Kh's feet and her own in the overflow of the trough, just at the place where the burn ran under the road. On Hugh Boy's fee was » painful pink flush, but no blister appeared On Irown feet however, thpre were two or three. Vara was Z that Hugh was fit for his journey. ^ f..?^V*f^^ "gain, and, with the refreshment of the food and the rest, they managed to make two or hree uLht Th„ K rf ™'^"«" ^-M go little further that Door iitti H /' T; """ '™« "^'^ "U' «l«eP. and poor lit le Hugh could only keep awake and stagL on by constantly rubbing his knuckles into the coS of They were now on a high wild moor, and there was no house within sight. They still went onward, hower b in, ly and painfully. The roadsides trailed ^it thlm could see tall buildings against the skies and hear the lash o an „„,een mill-stream over a wheel into a pool A blackcap sang sweetly down in some reeds by tCmilt Vara did not dare to knock at the door of the house shed to he down m, when she remembered that she had THE BABES IN THE HAVSTACK. jp^ Instead of goW ZZX f ' '\' ^^"^' "^' "^'^ '*• with one hand iftoTfieM tZTZf^ '"^^' '^^ "^^ of hay and corn. Vara courd Zl ^^'^ '' ""^"^^ '^^'^' hand passed over them SnnVt ^ '^' '"'"^"^ ^^ ^'' in a kind of cove ed Jh^'^ ^ ^' '""'" *' ' ^''"^ '*"^^ postsliketls Tne ndVitt f ^ ^^^r " "^°^^'" into platforms Var! 1, ! ^ ^'^'''" ^^^^ ^"^ cut I' -wui^^s. vara mounted upon one with fi-« u i fore .ho oc„^'^t!:"aow! " "'"" '" "" """^ >'- Vara thought the people of the farm would not h. very angry .„ the .orniug i, .he p„„ed o^tlmtfS'th: "It is tor the baby's sake ! " she said, to ejouse herself into this she thr^rt fit h' *h « """""^ '^' '"'^' «■"» «rst and ,eaviu\T:,y"rh:f J S^rS^^^^^^^^^^ the babe and hersplf in +i,« .i, i , lolled »,,•«, oi, T "®^®®" ^" *ne shawl and crawled in beaidr 8rnsttdrh*e\Ji"r "•=: Y-"'»' »"-' *-• had the catch o''':;;S^t^?„\T"f- ^fr """ SorrlyrdV"""^'^'-^^^^^^ , .| • I' 198 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. ADVENTURE XXXIV. THAT OF MARY BELL, BYRE LASS. from their nesting in the taTl I! ^^^^^^^ks, circling „p ' dren slept on. The We of hJ^^^^^ But the tired chil- with its'cheerful sound : ctktg hLT f -^^^ T' cattle came in and of t\y.vy ^^^"^ head-chains as the "field. B„Vs°iriihXrdtr„r V" *?'"■= "*■" till Mary Bell, bvre C elm! » ^ ' ™' ""^ from tl.1 staoi t^ 'Z^ Zl ^o^d' " "™'"' "' "^''- with h:f LCzrthJ'r'' ^r" ""» "™^ ""-»■. childpen-Vam.sT.riMr ! °' '"" "'»"^' ^•'^ ""^ ">» ae.aa„p oZl Sh'rrBt.Xl^^^-'"' '"^ aLT" '1'"' *' "'"'™^' ' " «"<» m4 Bell, child™. " "■'" '"" 'o-"^" ='»"'' -d "ed at the text'Sbtih r^ ""'"" "' *"" """"' " "> --d the Mary Bell looked indignantly at her en,plovcr nently. '"''™ 'he byre lass, perti- "Ma^,"said the other, ignoring the argument, "the THAT OP MARY BELL, BYRE LASS. 199 text was this : ' I will both lay me down and sleep '-dod. but I declare I forget the rest o't," she concluded, break- ing down with some ignominy. " In the land o' the leal," suggested Mary Bell either wickedly or with a real desire I help. lir sup rior promptly accepted the emendation. ^ "That's it!" she said. «Is it no bonny to look at thae bairns and mind the text, ' I will both lay me down and sleep, in the land o' the leal ' ? » "I'll wauken them," said practical Mary Bell, « and bring them into the hoose for some breakfast." Whl'f /f/' '*i? ^®' ™^'^''^''' "y« "a"°oa do that. \\hat wad the gu.dman say? Ye ken he cunna be doin' w folk that gang the country. A wee drap o' yestreen's milk noo-or the scrapins o' the parritch pot • » - Aye," said Mary Bell, » ' in the land 0' the leal ' Ye arendlorbfirt''"^ '''' "^ ''' ^^-^^-^^ ^'^^ "Aye, do tlwt," said the good wife, with perfect n„ comcousnes, of Mary Bell's sarcasm, •• but CslL" M.»d ye, th.. is hard times for farm folk- iTd ^e canna __spe„d gear and graith recktely on unkennid " Ye will be free o' that crime, mistress," murmured y^oTild tokv'Iw '"f "'' ""^ '"'^ ">« house™' ye could tak a that ye hae saved wi' ye, what a bien a„H comfortable doon-sitting wad ye no h^^ n heevenTlTh 1 hen Mary sat down and took the children one bv one touchmg their faces to make them waken. vlLTn suddenly, w.th wild eyes and a cry of fear. In h^r telor Withlh"!*: ""''^ ^" •"'"^ *>«" " waked and Sed Wuh the other hand she brushed away the elf locks about her own eye^ But her heart stilled its fluttering ^'l' ^' lU 200 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITr. caught tho kindly eyes of Mary Bell ««t ,• .. of toil, was born «ith the !2f t "^^ '"'' '""' ''""ghter hor, refrained fromtk n/rhv°M "" 1 "™"^»^ "^"-in be »o greatly af™id oThe^r^o^i'Ilror''""* '''' "'™"' »hoot.-i;::ifS^';f;";°;;-''^^o„tofthehay,a„a Wide, clasping and uiZlZ'^. ^ZT"'"' "'""" Bellwtin''a"Sr "" '^"' "^ " '"' ""■ ''-'» Mary =•':^•.etJdll"J^t^hr^^^^^^^ mouth deliberatelv IT . . ^""'"' ''* "'f^ his hand, """'"'''y """J "^gratefully ^th the back of his ''Hi'd'oi^:h'afc:r'.'"''' "*' *»■' "--•" »« *«. -tati'n^ arrndStth^"" '"' '' ' " «"^ ^"^ ="«". 'nl for some moments « n '!'' *° ""^ """"ght- taking Garinfrm Vat a'S"°" '!"\''«™»."*e iid, -ilk house, whfch w^'flTr''?'''^""'''^--^'' '-"o a 0"«is and cheese "^ ""' » P'*"™"' ™oll of Hugh Boy went wandering about, wondering at the ' » f - > TilAT OP MARY BELL. BYRE LASS. j>oi great tin basins filled with milic to H,„ Kni woJaV'::: ^trr^.^r™ •»■"-'''» ■""■^- the the cow for Gavin, Mar/ Cjd "' ^ k"™ "•""■ with a back load of provisions and one of Mary Bell's hardly-earned shillings, that the wanderers set out Thev continued to wave her their farewells till they were fa^ down the loaning. ^ *' n.nt^.^ *^«y j"ight well be sorry, for there were not many people so kind and strong-hearted as Mary Bell to be mel Twelve r" T/''^'' '' ^^'^"'"«^^ -^ *^« City of The Twelve Foundations. And some of these are rough- handed and weather-beaten men and women, who work out heir Christianity in feeding calves and baiVns inslaS of parading texts, keeping the word of God in their hearta according to the commandment. 1fl|:-j i li 202 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. ADVENTURE XXXV. THE KKIGHT IN THE SOFT HAT. And so their second day was a good day, as most days are that are well begun with a good breakfast. For to gether with a good conscience, that makes all the differ- ence. And especially when you are Hugh Boy's age for then even the conscience does not so much matter. Hugh Boy had never been in the country before, and being a lad of much observation, he had to watch all that there was there. And there were many things for Hugh • Boy to see that d^y. Robin redbreasts peeped with their summer shyness upon them from the low bushes on the banks Sparrows pecked among flower patches, instead of at the mud in the streets, as Hugh Boy had always seen them do before. There was a big bird which floated above the farmyard of one of the farms they passed. Hugh wondered what sort of bird it could be He heard a among the dust when they came round the corner, sud! denly give a strange screech, just like that which Vara had given the other night when the " awf u' woman '' clme to their door He saw the hen droop her wings and crouch m the dust, keeping her beak up in the S, her timid eyes glittering with anger. ' aff.?^"f ^""J questioned Vara, but Vara had the baby to ?h^K i: ^f ^"'''"''^ *^^* '^ ^^^ J»«* « bird. But soon the big shadow on the sky with the outstretched w ngs SLV7he?h'i.*'' '? ^'^"^ '^^^ *« ''^ -°*-^^ ' dlv w^-f; ^ ^'''^ *^'^ ^'"* «^^"^ ^^^ W«de to- day with many more rests and lingerings. For thev had no longer the instent spur of pursuit driving them on THE KxVIGnT IN THE SOFT HAT. £03 They stopped to take their meal by a little bridge under which a moorland burn ran bickering down to jom a big river which flowed to the distant sea Ihey sat down in the dark of the arch, and Vara had spread out all the provision which her kin^flld Ma^' Bell, had given her before she saw that at the other end a young man was sitting close in by the wall. At sight of him Vara started, and would have put her bread and milk , back again But the man cried over to her, « Not so ?lt my pretty dears; there's another hungry stomach here '' V.r.^ are welcome to a share o' what we have," said Vara, who had been too often hungry herself not to know the pam it meant. The youth came and sat down by them. He was a his eyes had turned an unpleasant lead colour, while the pupils were orange-coloured, like the stripes on a tiger's Vara gave him one of the largest of Mary Bell's scones and some of the butter they had got from the baker's wife the day before. The young man ate these up greedily, and reached out his hand for more. Vara offered him some of the loaf which she had bought b J^T""' °.' *^* "^y^^^^ko-tuck for me; gimme the soft bread ! said he, rudely snatching at it. Vara told him civilly that it was not for herself that she wanted to keep it, but to break up in the baby's milk In spite of her pitiful protest, however, the young man snatched the scone and ate it remorselessly, looking at Vara al the time with evil eyes, and smiling a smirk of satisfaction There was no snivelling weakness about him. Hugh Boy never took his eyes off him. Then, when he had finished, the lout rose, coolly stuffed the re- mainder of their provision into his pocket, and came over i I' m •i\ ' : ■ ; J n* l! 204 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. towards Vara with his hand stretched out. He caught her by the wrzst and sharply twisted her arm. ^ * bhell out your tin," he said. « Out w\th if ., no bones about it ! '» "' '* ^'*'^' ^^^ ouJZ^r,'\^"''' ^' "^'" '' '^' ^^"J'i without crying out. Suddenly, however, the rascal dropped her hT/ theohUd and threat^dtt ^ hi'^oj^^'ri"! not give him all the money she had B» ,! V ^'^ a^he told himself, only .4 dding-hefbu^'^ ™"''' wild terror for Gavin TiJl,- , ^"^ ""« '" with it '» «»ia iie. Yes, I see there is. Out Pale as ivory. Vara ran after him to watch Tl,!.*'; was quite at his ease, for he stopped to Hght his p p^nd take a drink out of a little square bottle Tl,i= 1, "^ . away in the tails of his eoat,lhieh we e ver?i„„; Xlfn he waved his hand humorously at Vara and C B t they stood by the areh of the brWge ^ "«'' "^ ^J '^H' 7"-''"''* ^""ng MIow, was coming down the dark clothes markiThim'^taTe5:r"B:,fL''''' "'"' ottSotr ^' ^""" -- - "Mn o-^C if THE KNIGHT IN THE SOFT HAT. 205 At sight of him the thief pulled down the corners of his mouth and put on his regulation mendicant's whine "For the love o' God, sir, help a poor fellow that's dyin o hunger. I've walked fifty miles without a bite- hope to die If I haven't, sir. I wouldn't tell you a lie, The stalwart young minister smiled, and gave his stick another swing before he spoke. " You have not walked five miles without drinkinff anyway, as my nose very plainly tells me. And your pipe 18 setting your coat on fire at this very moment ' " The hobbledehoy plucked his lighted pipe out of his pocket and set his thumb in the bowl. " You are one of the good kind," he persisted ; « vou are not the sort that would deny a poor chap a sixpence because he takes a draw of tobacco when he can get it?" "Not a bit," said the minister, good-humouredlv • "I can take a whiff myself. But I don't ask anybody else to pay for it. Its a fine business, yours, my lad. But I'm not keeping a free rum and tobacco shop. So you had best tramp, my man," ^ At this the tramp began to pour forth a volley of the most foul-mouthed abuse, cursing all parsons for rogues ZLZ/""'""\"'^'' *'"°-^" ^^' "^'^i^'^r listened patiently for some time. "Now," he said, when at last there came a pause «I anltwT r T' Tl~''''^ ^'^^ y^^^ • ^"^ if I hear another foul word out of your mouth, I will draw my stick soundly across your back." ^ " Oh ! " said the other impudently, « I thought you were one of the softish kind-the sort that when you smote them on the one cheek, turned the other also " The young man in the round hat squared hi« «houlder° "Did anyone smite me on the one cheek?" he asked it mm • I * •.'. W !« 206 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITr. ;< mhe, did, I didu. W it. P„i.p3 y„„ w„„,d lite reply. ''^'"» ^ko tlie experiment. He made no good, aud mor^ sdtah 1. f ^v' *° *'"'*^'- '^»'. J"'' «« J' '- A rod LnStof^'S' ; "^ "" '"' ""» »' ^-• on ^:i^ T'^ i»:f "« «« and brought it do™ ^'nZlZ ^X:Zir^^'' --"->• He aide them by this time *™ "^ "'"^ be- din:a1:tSa:i;T^^'" *« o^-i; "catch him- ofhrh^:d":fd"^:r:htenj'trr"''^»«-« '»•»'' meat the swifter bJt^h^Zi ^J" '""«' >"« 'or the mo- ing of his oppXnt "^ "'°' *' "'■'■> »»' «■« W«- "Stop I" cried the pursuer. easteTbjft^trit":;.:"' T"f *-» "■■"""-'^ across the path torp'hL ptuj' ^'H'^^^J- » heap h.m in his stride and turne^d npo"' him ' Tr*"' ft"^ Pertoctly still till his captor approao ™d Th» "*'",'.,''?' he shot out his foot in . .';v">^^ea- Then sudden y fellow in the tl'd" a'h^jXr'in fL ""' ."l' """'' about that game. He ca^hT lb. , ^"""ce and knew all turned the'fellow o^eVnl s ba„k C '"'"' "'' ing up. °^°'^- vara came pant- -.-1^: t^r"" "^'^ "■" ■»'-'-• " How i^.„; '*- Id like ff as if ide no (^ with ust as f you. iown rick- He 3 be- lack mo- lin- lad sap •ed spt ily 3g ill Id t- w 1 f. ! 1 ' '1 ll>i S i 'I ■11 'If il [ «i ifr ' 'f "Out with it I" said the »aiiii«ter. THE MADNESS OP HUGH BOY. ^07 « It was a shilling and two pence," said Vara. ter AndThe t 'l''!^ f *'""^'^ '^^ •'" ^^^ '^^ --is- Sn V. .1 «t>ck^gain hovered an ultimatum. So Vara got her money, and without even a Da^t n. curse the cowed and frightened rascal tookhfmseTf o| down the road at a slow trot kPAr.ir,« i,- ^^^^^^ ^^ ground all the way. ' '^'°^ ^'' '^'^ «" ^^^ Vara was left alone with her knight of the soft hat. f 'nm I ; ADVENTURE XXXVI. THE MADKESS OF HUGH BOY. fw J^f/r°^ "1'°^'*'" P"* °"* ^^s hand to Vara and the two walked quietly back to where Boy Hugh was kne^l W on the grass, and baby Gavin was sitLg^^Lg ^t' deta with one hand and looking with wide de' p^t eyes" of philosophic calm upon the world. ^ f^i^".?". T *!l '*^''"* ^*'" '^'^ ^^' champion. And Vara terror. But how is it that you are here ?» said he. And Vara^xplained as much as she could. « . o look for your father in Liverpool ? " he said. « It IS a long, sad way-a terrible journey." He mused fellow and T'"'"'' ^f '''^*^°^ ^'^'"^^ '^SK this young fellow and it occurred to him that it would be a ^ood thing If he could get these children into a home of s^ome ^l^J^Z^-"-"'^-^ ^'^ P<>^^- on the r But as soon as tho young man began to smak in hi, W, persuasive tones of a home wh.Jtb.jZiC^l and quiet, \ara stood up. ^ ^^ h> SOS CLEG KELLT, ARAB OF THE CITY. the. he put another shil,]:^i „\t^^,ti"'TB 'T other side otTJtel U , T v*' ""• "'■"■ ^''O"' 'ho tfat she had Z^'l^'^ ^^ l^/]y "> -e„ber «l^vays be found Bnt ho J ? . ^^^' ^^° could this Ve^arkable' younger l:'*^"' T^5 ^° --^' sense of duty, aud he feJtthn; ,,^'^"""'' ^« ^ad a high the observatL ' ^* ^^' circumstances justified 3^;,^ y«'"««id Vara; "I'll no forget" -al for them 7 ft th ^^7]^"^ '^ '"^ ^ ^^^ through. They were fotunrte!l u"^" "^^^ P««««d at a little house by the wlvsidl ' .? '^' "^*^^"«""' ^or ers growing all along hn^fir^'^r ^^'^ ^^^ ^^'^^P' i» and gave them a cup o 't ^,"^f ''^^^ *««k them all white scones she wa. bakint ^r '"""' "^ ^^' ^^^«h little Gavin. And as thpv ? . ''" ""^ '""^ too for to strike the woman ' Z\2 ^^ ' *'^"^'' '^'^'^ She climbed up into the aJtio . ? ""''' ' ^^^"« ^h"«- with a shawl, wLh she wr-n J ^^^^ P^^^^°"3^ returned the baby into the nook of^S hert "^7'^' '"^'"'^^ " But this is a good shawl w '' you," said Vara. ^' """^^ "^t take it from "Nonsense," said the good woman • «,'f . • change. Leave me the auld ane Tw^' n, l '" ^ ^*"* ^^- floor-clouts." . ®' "^"l™ake very decent r 'r THE MADNESS OP HUGH BOY. 209 So it was on the whole a good day for thpm a i •. "Sting place she pat her hand ?lh*' u ^"' " °™ aU."r«.r ""''" ^"" " "^" '""' "--l 'heo., after of the direction in whTch a hlf^ T° ''" ""^ '^«' She only «.„ the slow ttillht '/ ^""^ ""«*" ''«• north creeping down over thfhL '""'™""""- '» "-e moist hollows of fh. r T,''™'"> raoors, and in the ering. "' *' ""S" ""J'"" P«oh of mist gath- etill^i'r. *" '"'^'*' *" ""-"-^ "" « '0- ™ borne in the But only the1:li2,t K2t S^'^' '°""^- -. They flew ^nnd.' oirclinf ^^cX^ni^.'::^ ri ■ t ■ U 210 '^''^ i^^^Ly. ^n^n or THE CITY ■ "■uch objected to die, but he fT.! I "?' »<" ">"' ie »o covered with leaves b^ the „hl ' i""""""'"' »"«i°g teriy to Vara, who was n!! ? "' complained bi^ Dabble had ^U>i,,tZl'Z7:^ "'^^ •''"'°- *'«" he wh,oh Cleg Kelly had ^Z t^'^VT' °' """ P"*"' that felony, they would nIZ T ^^ " »<" been for fenceless in thai wild placi """' '"'" '""■"i 'hemselves dt iere'.^a' ,""""« "-"'^ -" *» be lions an' teege„ ^Pendro.htni^hVo^tSd''''™''"'''^'' «"" ^^^ -»«st ^-itable spot whefrth; etuMTe;"' '"*'' ■"»"' ^"a At last she settled LT/b.? f "" *°'^ '■'^''c'- began to give Gavin whTt °' * '■"•«» ''""Wer, and Hugh thought thfswas tis o ?':' "' '"» """=• Boy they were w'ell def^rd agaS"; """^ "" "^'^^ »»- '"a' ''^ ™ing, and he ™„emCd ttt pT^f ' '^''^ ""^n ••'■n how lions and tieera alf, f '^ ^'"^ had told Thatwidely.readi„u™X"ThXl'':R'°' ""I "-"^ht. "-Cleg's author/ty for Jhis s^femen^' "' '''" ^-^•" behind which Vam and Si '^' '"^««*> the rock get it. He wanSd the 1 T'' ^"' '"' '™« 'o 'or Then the devil :„fetdtrBt"S "l^^*"' '"■'««"««- e^Iore. The moon cal out^^^K'."'"' ""^ """""J to e^rything became bSed ,nd flT, '*'''"^ " "'"""i. and ^a.-e ..tensities and netnUtg-eSirS t ( i THE MADNESS OP HUGH BOY. gjj to;vard» Vara and Gavt H '"'°'' <"' '"' ">»"g'") in search of waader^^ 1^,?^"^;"* """•"' """""«» "■■im that he tod nTli % 7!' ^"'^ i'oeourred to «nd even that tved Wm f "'"™"'' ^"""P' ">" -"-ip, was broken s'S w^Z '° "'",°°''' '<" "■« '-^h away. ' "'' ""' '*'«'>'' "hy Boy Hugh ran ward, he instinctively bent ht^)Z .' . ' '""'"S '°''- a young hedgehor C k n^ ""° " ''""■''oop, lilte oon,ing^pon to f Jat tW ?!f '''"™ ""^ ''™' °'te» flight with^ner^; utbatd L/lT "r" ""■"""'"^ ""^ -ment even to'Lertain damagel'""'" """'"^ " ™S'» And so soon as she misspd »i,-»» ir Gavin in her arms, and cri d " ComA"l°^°'' "P' ^"'' Bat Boy Hugh co'ntinncd hi's wndmrt'd"' ''"/''' " unreasoning terror of the v.«t; J ^ ' ^"'""' •>5' U'e had seized him suddenly and „,^^ --comprehended which At ln«f R """«"^y and without warninff. wished IriheTauJtEal,""' f "-'because he 'he neck,and so could u/n/taher°H'""t''°'' "P "• self by grasping a bn,h T.f J k ^^ sustained him- histoifnt„''thf soft black peir '""''■''''• ''"^ '" ^°S 'o. -othin'SotrMXT'sirtr "-^^^ ^-^ else that he could d^ tt, I- * *''^''* ""« nothing I-ord 1 " he prav^l:' A' ^TJT.^ -^ "'' P-yers. " E member no prayed-" Lord, fofffi ■ our trans-somethings against us r Look v^e us our sins, and 212 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. down from heaven and holn " / * i • had run in the aoou::LatL7et IZ^T^^^^^ penny conducted the « onemn' T »"'"'"" ^^*"«- Co"rt, but at this point Toy^JuT'"' \ '' '^"»^«' "ality, as Samson did sometimL i T^''^ '"*' ''"^'• middle of the Lords praytTr.t^ ^' ^^"^'^ ^« <^he and help-a-wee ]lZTl-~ ^""^ ^^'^^ '^<>n^ heaven i' » ^ee laddie m a mo88-hnlo ir t- teegers «nd iions, and bories and hi u u "'^ ■"" '"« oot o- lochs and eat ve nn "°f "'^'' ho^s that corao tia' hing on e„ tl-tnTet 7° '"« «-- »onke„ g>e me something to eat and V ^ ^"J?'"'* ''■>'• ^-xl For I'm near dead o' hmlr « ^T "'"' °''"" '"'^■- "i"- days bread, and help JT' 'fj ™'" "'"' '""'■ ^^'^r- -ko me g™. up il ;::X"^ "j^-P-'-h. And -Vnr4:s;iX-;r'/^^^^^^ >et Mm^lsr/J;^:or thrh^--™ -- ever silent. ' ' "* '™ "'^'B^ rnns, be for ADVENTURE XXXVII. roJiZ :^re';tttTth*''"'^" "' '-"-^ ™pped Gavin tighU, in h/.^ *■•«>: wanderinga She was left for him tf b eathe ?t ' I'" ""'^ " '""« ^P""* top to knowe-top to ^Ir f « J*" ""' '"'n '^"owe- «o come back To her Sh!', ^^. ^''^^' »'"' '» <"^' •>'» •H-Mer lest she ,hoM 1 l""' "'" «" '»■■ '"" ">e to find her wayto h^Ly " *''^' "■"* '" ""' "« -""o BOY HUGH FINDS OUT THE NATtTRR OK A KISS. 213 While Vara was wandering distracted over the moor asleep beneath a heather bush. And the June nights are brief and merciful in Scotland. It was not long before a broad bar of light lay across the eastern hills. \ho n!le sea-green hngering in the west where the sun had gone down had not altogether faded into the ashy grey ofT coloured night ere the eastern sky began to flame Ihe clouds of sunrise, are like ocean-rollers on a wide beach-long, barred, and parallel-for the sun rises through them with majestic circumspection. But the wake whirr "' T *' 7""^^^ *^ ' P«-*' '-^^^ th But the sun rose quite sharply this morning, as though he must be busmesslike and alert, in spite of the fact thft he had a whole loner ^.v before him. As he did so the shadows of ev. oush of bog-myrtle and each tuft of heather started westwards with a rush. And the cool blue image of a lonely boulder, like a Breton menhir, lay far half a .nile across the moor. On the sunny side of this landmark the red rays fell on a bare and' curly l.ed There was dew upon the draggled hair, just as tliere was itself. ^ ^'^'' "^"'^ ''^'''^ '' Pi"^^^ed Boy Hugh lay curled up, like a collie drowsing in the sun He continued to sleep quietly and naturally the un- disturbed sleep of childhood. Nor did he waken till the dew^had dried from the bent and from off tho tangles of At last he awoke, when the sun was already high He uncoiled him like a lithe young animal, and stfrt'ed to roof. With a shake and a t^ss of his head he mada his !''■ I, fits ii 314 i^Lm KKLLV, ARAB OF THE CITr. the day ™ Lgh . The JulS h"' ""• "»'• »'«» ' jems, and all tht moorland wnriT ^f" *" ''"■' '» i^ did not think much Zti T , "" ^""^ him. He ■»ent ho wa, aTrnty I the" tf "' ""■ ^" '"o -O" He hallooed to the lve« anf „ ""^'"« '"">™ «"• stones at them, just as thT™ °,.?^'''''*"J' ^e threw Boy H„gh oam'e\ratrbrrant'; t^ ^^•'""■"^^ oross It, as many a time he h«/L ^ ""' Pfoceeded to dar. yard. upo/all-Cs H^a Z^ "'»'' ■» «»«- Of th e'L^rCplltf ti!h : ''^"If ""^ -'~3 favonred birches. HnlZV™!* °' *P«"e ""d ill. leaned far over.the wfter Z'?™",™" <" ""ese which "i-ed by the winter 2 to '? ^V^ """» ™''^'- swaying top without hStL t^I •.T'"' °"* "P°° '«« to bear him. He count^ .i " ''*'=""« t"" slender like a fishing-rod aTd d»„S 't •^'''''"'»' '™»k bending opposite bank to drop S f„ A" "^"""""g" to thf when Hngh Boy was ZaT^'Z^lT^t ^'" ^^'^ gave way entirely, and fell son^Sl t/"'"^''*™' ■"«"• small human squirrel still cHnSn "^ ^ T'' "'"• the «ro,s the pool, and Boy Hurt il/* The birch lay the neck in water. He wond * J 1 *?*• ^' »« «P to First he managed to kicrw!,?- i""" ''' »»"" get out. elutched him and tried to dli'^'T »' ^e twi^ which . " Here, nice little tJ <^umT t"'"' cried. "Take hold of L hind J? ™'™ "'«'™ him of the water." ^ '"'"^' »'"' ^ "i" pnll yon out Jt was the clean>flf J:tfi„ BOY HUGH PIKDS OUT THE NATURE OE A KISS. 2,5 flno like cobweb. C Hulh lit . ''."''"■"^^'"ff- at H^^tXr"^' ""'""' ""»«» ""-■> "« "ad heard fleece bewiWeriiiy I"^ T^f » f V^'-^ "- little girl I i„«f Lt . ™'"'**' ^ a™ "uly a And j^„\/e Z\tt:l:f « "?.' r «■ " ™'''- quite a child, of course " Z ]i^^ ^^ """ '™'' ' «"'- teke hold of IpwoL R ^Pf""'^'°S'y• "B"' when y„„ shakTyo^^W A»d T » ""'x'" 'P"'^'' "^ kiss. I like niJlZty^y """' """' ' " ^"^ ^»" " « What « a kiss? -asked Boy Hugh. every nigh^and^J t'Z S' h^'ll 1™ '° ='"" ■nouth was a «eetmeat?she did Zl,-!v •. f ^ *'.-" "' ■nenseful to mention thewor- "°' f'"'' " .^««°">in« or Boy H^h asked again, -f^Vis :^S:i^^r^y' Plied triLt;:;^^^'"''^ ' "il.«ho/y„„,..,e. by Xr STe deted" ^ *^' '^'' ^^ » »*'- f! 1 ;<, 'till stff 216 CLE8 KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITr. ■ ADVENTURE XXXVIII. * : "Now then, do you lifco it?" ..i , ,. person. Bat Hngh Bov „1 !n .'"''"'"'" 'n»>k jonng of his first kno JdgaM^ S v',1 '" "'«" i" though! the gay little ,«,, SmZ re»!,^' " -"tte^l.L your name, Jittle boy? Von ^"'"'''- "^nd what is have come a long way Rut 1 7 '^^ed, and you bina can't scold meffor sbl Zl"" °'™"' ""■ ^™' ^o" poor, especiaUy whei they 1^""°, '" ^ '''■«' '» "-e Boy HnghbasUnllyal:^,,^,"* «'«»•" Kayannah. "And a wrVlJ ■ *" """'o was Hneh "•« maid ,«ttled „n" Si"?^"! ""•■""«'"«« "-oyT. the sound of her ow^twuL? '"' "'"»■ ""■' io-^-S towards the plain^ Som^tl'l'.r'' """=^" ""^ girl's hair whipped Bo^Zlt^C '^''™' *» "^"o ail abont Vara and the baby* ""• ^" '"^ '""-gotteu .-'en".s'aT^gtr3h7reS.''™r '^ *« "-"■« bother! Aunt Eobina she »mS.'^ ^" '»»-'"oh a »elf-denial week, and we mLt^ ' ""'"'' """ " was Lord. So I sad I dTd not mfnd "?.™™""»g'or the prayer in the morning. .Qh b„,?'".°* "" ^^'-S^^ 'yon must give „„ .„Lthi '"""'' .''"^ "ousin Jimmy, 'i'tle boy, jLmy'^alZ b^oy""/*^ '*°'»?' Horrid well, I don't belieVo yothayf a ,^ t' ''°'^^''" '^on't, Robina, she says,'we,l ^d banlkerchicf-and Aunt would say if you\raye ' " . "''"' ^'' y°» think God tesaida'roady"nodherX^br: P™^^"'' ''^'^ '' ^ ""• What has God said?' she MISS BRIOGS AND HER TEN CAM. jj^ wanted to know, making a face like tW.— her that God 8aid, ' Pm, don'f ..""»: • So I told My name is Mi» fo^""; '^T i\^^ B"gg»' bounded aslnishment ''^^ '^'^ "^^"^'^ ^^ u^" " Yea, indeed," said Miss Brisss "and T f . i, ., come to a bad end IVp fh... ? ' ^ - ^ ^®*'' ^^ ^i" ..e time, a.e4. L^ Z^JZ^t^ ^ -'t^ gets out again. Npy^ +;,r,n t» ■'^"^^ ^® always till he's de'ad°- oTlZl": SJT'^'t ^" ^^^ wanted some dear wee fluffrehick ns but f \"''"'' ' you about that. I got whinnli w 7 ^ "^^'^ "°* *^" buy me a new paif of-ori 'fn ."^r" * '''^^"^ ^^^ *« about wicked Peter. Peter is nof'. ""'' *'"^"^ ^^^ rest, you see. He is a ba^w ekeTea't TT "'^ *'^ barn or in the coach house and If T' .^^ ^'"^^^ ^« *he lies on the cows' backer c^d '^t' T^- .^^ '' time Peter sleeps on the roof of the l^fh! ''^ *^' ^^^■ any one of the other cats ffets anvfl "'''' ^"'^ ^^«° comes down on them likefshou!^"^ ""''' *" ^"*' ^''^' sometht^heLdttS'^uf^^^ '^ hear about Then there's a graundlche, ^f^n ^^ '^^^' tearing at ane anither wi' their T '' ^^'^' ^^^^ rowin' ower yin anither iTke aZ^^' '"' «^^"^-' ^'^d MisI^r^d^L^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 'i^e that..' said Hhould just see them run for the kitchen "doorT'ina irfi-]^:] I i ! . I 'h i! " *l I ' . i ' l.f'' III*' J ! 1 i * t I Ij J' 218 CLEe KELLV, ARAB OP THE CITY. c» see wLed PeTriittt^ """'" ^ '"""'«'"'«' Jo- «"mg my poor dariLl °? !• "'^ "««"« »' ">« l^™ " ThrL T "*""■« n»use-oat'8 nice breakfast " j_^^ 7 etter than to e^ipre™ h« real sentiments to a Miss Briggs icBtantly witlidrew bor >..„j . Her nose turned up very much tmLf '''"" ''''• became almost an ^piraa^ '" "'"•''"™ »' «'»™ .U."shr«.^:tX''" ■"" ""■'»'"™ «"leUy after to a place wiere th"re wte malru''/ ''" ^'«P» 0'>nning Iiiding-plaoes fZ T^ ^"''''^ """^ ""d looked do»n «Ln a Plain r , ."^«' "" "^^ 'W whioh peeped orthe'^^„t 'f ? '^ '° '"' ""''^' "' The Wer';indowstd Te dl we" Mren° ""'"'""• haze of beech leaves ^®° "' ^ ^''een «"'"The7ropri^y w!"Vr f ' '^^ ^"■^^• And then I shall LJ /eriyl:,"!^, » ' """ "'^• -^^e^-ftr-r:;a^t:^:^-^ «ettin"gZSr'''-*^'" «^-''^-«-.y,or. A JJrrc oVatT, t r -r ^ *« ''- of the triangnlar wickets fl„ « " """^ "«' ''^«' »»' a^oks and oft o, diffei^^-t' It rd:"""^";"- - '^^--e.er/;ickrK - -^^^^^^ M'SS BB,oeS AKI> HB8 .^^ e,m »,« phrase. "^^^^ spiritual comfort in the fl"ttoe his sister and 7^nn '""'' "'»™'«™« for the «>« playacting? i?d whZ^l n^^ •' ^'»* " «» "e bringing to the d Jr bv thf I ."^ ""' """^^ r "f wastry and ruinXn ab^^ f^.^ ' '^ *''«'•'' -»' "'■■e-dy, without your wilirhi^ *" ''°'"* <" K»«<=»'™J P™»*.gsorrowofaguS?n1drT.'^fP'^'^ """""I sel', Elizabeth Bdggst.."'' ^'>'"'= ^arae o'yonr- sajeth the Scripture '» ^' ^ ^^^ ^^^^S^e* 'what ■•4:u2 fSpTnt' oSa-tiid-l S^" " ««>■-• who came limping out from 7 1^ ''"'^-''■•owed woman She was leaning^eavily w"th ZiTZ " "^P'"« ^■■"• which she rattl^ an..rilv on «.. . ' "P"» » '^«' " Yes," said ffi^ Bril . do °°'" "^ ""^ 'P""""- «m Pharaoh's daughirr 2 ,h •^°?. ""' '''"'»■ ">■" I drew o„t of the water?"' ""' " "'"» ^oses that I "HoM^ yonr tongne, Elizabeth Briggs, and come here • . ! [! iM; ' ;^ i I 220 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE 011^ ■ ^X^i^ '-' --°' tapping the .round Iike!h"f bffSe'"^^ ^^^ *-«• He had heard seething ing with i;s flnger at the w2 f ^ """^ *'""''• ?"■"• " Elizabeth Br 1 " ZTr '';°f ""<"' '"« «"«''• atthe litMe gM Se/stVr^rett^l'^'i''''''^ this minute. And von v.hJ ^ ^°"'' Wesson «o.f, taico yo„^;i'/r;t ttTr^i" IT r" ^r'- to you!" °^ ^^^ get the police ••Mirx^z^ter,^^:^-;::'^^'^^ ^r^.»; carrel and Mjas Brigga ^ll, °™; "'^ ''?7 » &«- you another kiss at the ean en «h[. ^^ -f "'" ^'* she added. For she feHw '"'»—"' «» "" Peter!" attention was d„ ro^ ht to'""'."'"' "■"''''» «■"" uasoript„raIhardheardness'„"herl:nt'H'H' *' """' So the children tont ih • ! ^* Robmn. atiie. and as th^wtt tr„7'^If toT i? '1' «^'-'- round to the dark-browed w „an • ^ ""«'' '""■"^ beg;^'a:rwlf:( ="«•-•' ''''-'^' ■•-'«» !■» -t a B-^^^^^Z^^X XT'"'' """■« • Their feet made no sounT^or t On ":r' '"' ""^'■ borders rose nearly three tJZ , "'**'' "'"J^ ""Oi the walks. Still Che' 'vir we?^f °? ""''■"'^'' »'« berry bushes, senile and wolWhT ^"f™^ »' S»°»«- thorny branches trail"„.?„ t^! ''"''™' 'h^rthin-ieaved, each other. Beyond tb!^ ' ^''°"'"' ™^ """'""g over rising up into r kf^B^'^-;? l" T^ '^°'' '«'«'' Irish yews standing erect atL n!® ?"' "' "=» ^'^ thought they werelikersltlS- t7.'':S'Ho^ •"SB BKIOGS «D HER TEN OATS. ^21 rood, at whom he used to i„„i, »way Irom the TinkTers. til " ''° "^ ''' «»»" "V well accustomed to hofo„t ^^'^^ '""' "" ^""■onfolk, t»re.. em « ^ZZ:^''' «"' ^ '^'^^ «- "Hat IS th^, niAf(-ai.9» l nice little boy." ^ '^" «*^^ J " *«" me instantly the crisp leafage of "he fcLtf.l'f I '"'°"'- Overhead Hem was a great ^1^^ ??' ■* ^"^ '■"«"««• back rose a fouS S Ttot 'T' """ ""''^ "' ">» di-ce dr^ and overgroTw th "^"P''^* '""ntain I„„g Boy Hugh as if thcf could netr? "T '* »«='»«<' t^ closure. ^ "'" "''*' ««' out of this vast en- ' the vt^XZl"wl;''"r "'"'"«'•''•>» end down Hugh looked withi™ It „ ^°'"' '"^ op*" »■><) Boy floor was madeT uU ™ !T^ '"'^ " "''"rch. The There were painted Sre, T^^u" T™ ™'^ ""^'es. thing with candles standin!- , ! "'^''' *'"' » '^ni-g hind this the sun shit thrLTT ",' *^ '"' "»''• B- low, and blue. *''' * '""^''"' of red, and yel- " Is that God ? " aniil TT 1- T. time at the glory of tre shS "^' """" ^»^'»? " '»"« .ndtheshini„g^g„M':;:nreX'""" ""' ™'^' P»"- hin> a° y^:if,"«^ ""^^^ ''™ -^^ without making whi^h w"^™rr/:„t ''T'r-' '''p' - » -«"., '"'"'"'^'- They had slipped under I I J- 1 J'^ 222 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITr. « mystorioue archway of leaves and eo through the beech hedge m order to reach this ladder of stone. Wt *^°°''r/« T ■*'* ^^' ^"SS'' "remeraber-come back, „,ce httle boy, as soon as you are growed up, and I *.1I marry you. And then we will send AuntVbta tojhe poorhonse. Kiss n,e, nice boy-and now k,ss With that Miss Briggs disappeared, running as hard as ev^e^r^she could, so that she would not need to'cry wUhS But as soon as she got to the great circle of the beeches and yews, she burst out sobbing. " He was he very mcest boy-the nicest boy. But^of course there could ^be noth.pg in it. For he is only a mere child yo" out!f pS"^" '"""^^ ='°"^'y "P *"» «'«P».-1 - " I am very hungry ! » he said. ADVENTURE XXXIX. THE ADVENTURE OF SNAP's PORRIDGE. But he found Providence just over the wall For there sat Vara and there was the great stone behind which they had spent the night. All his wanderings had just brought him back to where he had started from. But for all that he was exceedingly glad to see Vara. He called her, standing still on the top of the wall She started up as if she had heard a voice from the grave.* And the face which she turned to him was colourless liJce 80 THE ADVENTURE OF SNAP'S PORRIDGE. 223 " Wi' Vara," said Hugh, « what's wrang ? Your face looks terrible clean ? " " 0, Boy Hugh— Boy Hugh," she cried, bursting into relieving tears, " it's you. What a night you have given me !" But not a word of reproach came from the lips of Vara Kavannah. She had, indeed, enough to do to keep the babe quiet. For having run hither and thither over the moor looking for her brother, she had not had time to seek for any farmhouse where she could get some milk for Gavin's bottle. In a little, howdver, they were again walking hand in hand, and Boy Hugh was pouring out all the story of his adventures in the Paradise of the House of Ras- carrel. Chiefly he dwelt upon the divine beauty and abound- ing merits of Miss Briggs. "Dinna you think she was an angel frae heaven?" said Boy Hugh. " I think she was a nasty, wicked, enticing little mon- key ! " burst out Vara. For though it is part of woman- hood's privilege to put up with the truantry of mankind without complaint, it is too much to expect her to suflfer gladly his praises of the Canaanitish women he may have collogued with upon his travels. And then Vara walked a long way silent and with her head in the air. Hugh Boy kicked all the stones out of his path and was silent also. Nevertheless, though in this sulky silence, they trav- elled steadily on and on. Horizon after horizon broke up, spread out to either side, streamed dispersedly past them, and recomposed itself again solidly behind them. " I'm awesome hungry ! " at last said Boy Hugh, hum- bly. Vara became full of compassion in a minute. ;>|ii mm mi 'k ■ 1 i a ,-, il ' 224 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OF THE CITV. ' The baby woke with a faint cry. They had passed off the moor and were now comA 1 tt e cottage which stood with its end to the road as I lit le boy came out of the gate with a great bowl of por ndge and milk in his haud. ^ ^" "Snap! Snap!" he cried, and looked up and down w.. . A small terrier pricked its ears brlkly oveTa wall and then leaped down upon the road. "Here Snap !" cried the boy. - ®'®» Snap came slowly walking down the dusty highway sniffed loudly upon the nose of contempt. For he had ^^^ Vara's eyes blazed at the sight of the porridge and " 0, gie that to the baby ! » she cried, her eves fairlv want 1; !?>'"• "^-*^«* to wee Gavin. W doTdoelnl tl,w^' ^i"le boy ran back into the house, crying out at wantsTol^' 'T^""^ "^^^^^' -ither,'here's'aTassL wants to gie our Snap's porridge to a babby ! » fn ,t ^'"^'y-^*^«<3» apple-cheeked country woman came to the door of the cottage. She had bee/ baking cakTs and^she dusted the oatmeal off her hands as sh'stoS "Can I get the dog'f. porridge for the bairna? TT« ■ THE ADVENTURE OF SNAP'S PORRIDGE. 225 " 0, thank ye, mem. thank ye ! " cried Vara, pouncing mstantly on the porridge, lest the permission 'should b! withdrawn In a minute she had put most of the milk . into the babe's bottle and the rest into the hands of Bov Hugh, who fell upon the porridge unceremon o sly w1 his fingers. Vara smiled as she looked. She was hun gner than either-but happy. ^"''" The woman stood watching the wolfish eagerness of he younger children at the sight of food with^a stmn'e ook on her face Her lip tightened and her eyes g"^. . sterner. Suddenly Vara glanced up at her wi h fmnk blue Irish eyes, brightened by hunger and sulferTnj They looked through and through thevvoman at U e dTon Mither, ' said the boy, » they're eatin' up a' onr sZ's porridge, and there will no be ad rap hf^-S.- ^ The woman turned on him with a kind of gladness • "Hold yonr tongue!" she said, with quit^unTeces- eary vehemence. And she slapped her son smartly for To particular reason. The tears were running down her cheeks. She almost dragged the children into the house Then and there she spread such a breakfast for Ihem as . Vara had been seeing in her dreams ever since she grew hungry. It seemed that Gavin gr. w visibly plumper be- fore her very eyes, with the milk which he absorbfdas a sponge takes up water. And there appeared to be no finality te Boy Hugh's appetite. He could always find room for just another scone, spread with fresh butter and overlaid with cool apple-jelly such as Vara had never in her life partaken of. ^" Vara herself was almost too happy to eat. But the kind woman pressed her and would not let her leave the « But I hae naething to pay ye wi' ! » said Vara, who^e Soul was great. «, iii-«« i ' ' « i- :i '» r 226 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " Hoot h. ar to the lassie I I wadna tak' pay frae the Queen if she caaed in aflf the road to drink a dish of tea My man's tho Netherby carrier. But tell me whlt^ brocht ye here, wV sic a bairn ? " And Vara told her as much as was necessary. To Liverpool to find your faither," said the woman Ye dmna stir a fit till the morrow's morn, and then v^ can get a nde wi' our John as far as Netherby, at ony Vara was more than grateful to her. She was the first person who had taken their quest seriously. So the earner's wife kept them till night, and helped Vara to give the baby and Hugh a bath. Then she made Va a strip herself and, shut the door upon her till the girl had enjoyed such a tubful of warm water as she had never washed m before. As Vara was finishing and rubbing her slender, weaned body and blistered feet with a soft tfweT ^e carrier's wife opened the door. " Put on these ! " she" r««n\h •''T 7 ^'' Grade's, and I canna bear to ' keep them m the house." Vara would have protested but the woman shut the door with a slam ^'""'^'^^^^ When Vara came out, Gavin was sitting on the car- ner's knees and plucking at his beard. Fof" our John '' " and TeV bel' T' ?^^^ '''''' ^^ -« ^ -« -ri^r, Ye shouldna, oh, ye shouldna ! " she said, and bowing A NEW KIND OF HERO. jj27 ber and a thocht to ™e in thia hooso. O.ryoZttaZ here) ,s .en. an' ., ::,.„ dune wf that kind "• non^n« chS .T, """ "'" J'° '«'>«'"»' »t,guidman?'^sh" cned Buddenly t«.-,i„g ,, ,he carrier, who hj been quaintly screwing •;„ bi» f ■» "*'"' denl7famr/"°°''-''" ^'^ "''°'" ■'"''"" '"» fe™ ™d- denlyfalling to a quite preternatui,, I gravity. carriert wir^if',*..""""'^'' "'"»»<='«•«." continued the somXdy"' ^'" '"^^ »™ "'"»' ""-« ''•»•"<' "- to tiulh?"-^/ ""' "° *°" "-"^ »"««P '« tie back room till the g„,d„a„ 3tart» on hi, round at five i- the mornin"! So the weaned children were put to bed in the "Z'k ™<. and they fell asleep to the sound of psalm ingtg For the good carrier and his wife were praising the wf' It .squito a mistake to suppose that m'lst psflm sing ^s by those who, being merry of heart, sing psalms. i^' If: ADVENTURE XL. A NEW KWD OP HERO. te^X^s^trT^rpIlX^he^Lt s:t:et-ir'C Thtr "r^--« ),,_ I . '"e 10 vara. Ihere was bnght»r hone .„ her iicart as the carrier's wife set them under the'bl«; 2S8 CLm KELLV, ARAB OP THE CITr. hood of the light cart, for her " man " did „„f heavy loads that day. The chSl *L f °^"" "^ ride in the covered waeln 'X' *"'«^«'°'«. *ere to let them go, and madlvfr. ^ """^ "'P' '» sure and fe^d herTleLr A 'r"° """^ " '™^. ^ be half-a-crown into Va^al hant ' "'™' ""^ '""^ ^'W^" P^^nded to he epecialiy hnVlbout hThre^ """" t^^^^tfent^lr^fsa^t:",''^-''^^ " Ye ill ZTh ^ » ^' ''^"^''^ ^^°^ ^n the act. Bn^wtr:';rn„t:;;;tn"\'«^^«'" he betook himself doZth. . "^ *'"' "**' l>and. His mother's vdceX'ed\Tr°" ""■ ■»"■=" *'-"^- "My lad, wait till bedtime It']] Hiri * hprt'!?-*^!*''''"^^* ""^ *^' ^'^^''^^^^ «he would have with ri WiL'for'thrT"" did so„,ething to console the tr Tier s wife for the loss of the children to whom she h«r1 taken siich a sudden liking. ® ^"'^ The light cart webi jinglinff on TIip Vn+i,„ v i ' A NEW KIND OF HERO. 229 was very well m :ts way, though Vara had not been pleased when she heard of it. Bat it was nothing to ^ tmg ma blue-hooded cart and hearir, the dfck and etlnn^r;'""''"'^ """'"• ^^ »<• then the car' ner 8 topped at snug farm-houses, and went in to chaffer w.th the goodwife for her eggs. Then he left U,e horse wae mosTlt? "'^•='"•"" "=»■»« <»' »8>i». the farmer's Iw ^r J^"^ ? """ '*'•' "^^-^^-^ '"•<»» ""> doo--- Even when the blue-hooded cart was far down the loaninJ a belated and forgetful goodwife would con,e mSo .:pr.^7tttrr:i;^:,r^^^^^ adverteesements. I dinna hand wi- them avaM " '"' ooun'^rwirristir ti? f '- ^-.^ -' *» unprofessional to adveS ZZ } •* " '""''''' «»'' merce. Now the rlr^w^d eXV^ ''™°"°'" "'""■ rectly .through Netherh, TV . ^ ^ ''°''' ""' ""■ '^i- one side withlta manT/'i^:' J^^IL "' '"™; '""^ '» tions. Prom the ontsaeTthXToornL' ar""'"'^ ancient peace. But xor all th,i ,u , """"^ "' neighbour shopke«l7lwn all its w*'"^ '"""^ *"" belonged to tL .;,™. i- • ""^ """'" stfe*' "ho e.cepfions b^ngSksoffh"":: ?''"<"»'"''«''"-the only butcL. BuTCdtrn nd D cLT'difn-of"".? However, the poor benighted Kavannahs did not know ,^ I 3 If 230 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. one kirk from another Anrl v.i. 4. • ear™. ZX'Z tt:'"!:! "n't ''"'"'''' "" effusive. """"• His farewell was not wh;hrtL';hTitrres6^f hr"\*'- «■»- »-. sure and come back anl see ufa^^.r^Vr"-'^''^- !*« sooner the better". "" *'<""■'««>« w* bade ye. The tow^rher errsrj'^s.xr' r^ <» -«■« before going further. FoTll'l";,^ » '""^ '» N'«>«% food, ezeept when driven bvT.f '^ '"™'' '«''«» '" Snap's dinner, yet silrthe ^nifc «V» '"" «- °' resolved to ask for shelter if tf °"""' '■"> ''"'i uightfall. So after th.„ ^^ °'"" '° ^V •>»"«-' «' charges Vara left Hng£^n":r J^ ?»-' ""» "any the town to make her market? """* ''™' '»'» ested in the trains which ko'll,,? ' """"""« '■""- hiud him. So he clrried rf • T^i"^ '"^ '''"'^'""g !«^- line, where he could 1st "«.^ ^' f'' °' '''^ '"""^ would return. He was "^r T^ ""^ "•"''"' ^"-^ doing any ha „ nltJ f" *" ''« """W not be ing turn-tab^ ipon S r"""'"* *'""'^ ™ » '"s^inat! in their hands XliLrn^ 7 """ "°°^ ""h """ Po'es been a toy. This ^ ~ « ? ^"" ""8™ ^ " " had Forgettin/allSt W 1^,:;: ""-=' '"u^"^ »"8''- wire paling, and sta""""• "'"' " '""K PaP^"- netting forth the noble deed of the saving of the children. No notice of this ever appeared pnblioly in the local prints, to which such things are usually a godsend. bi. f ^ t"? ™"'«'''''*«'3' P"t 'he medal in the bottom of his trunk, beneath his " best blacks " which he wore rn°v twice a year at Sacraments. ^ He had heard that the editor of the « Netherby Chron- mfi 232 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. IM HI Now Muckle IfiokluV^T,^ acknowledgment." bathecouMhtrpeorin I^.Pk''''' *»« "^"^ about ii. ^ ^^'^ '" Netherby getting to hear o.e.*rfotn?b-:::t'rer i'°"' *--«>'™»'- of penning an JZluulZfJI r° •""""" '«^'= thin-skinned eubs-ribei- h,?! ,. ''°*''''™a'e 'he most law toexaspert^lie editor J^r "'""'." ^'' "^ "=»'''"■ published inle neft el; *" °^''°"""'' '""^ ?"?«' int:^r;::tt"Sn:ch?tr-''°''''''''^"'»''<>»^«' ice ' aboot ie the mo™." ' '" """^ •"" '" ""« ' Chron- " But, my dear sir," said the Prli^nr « *k • Alick fl™!;!" '" '" •« ^' -Jo™ again. '^saidMuekle ^eii^rm'o^^jerrtdiL/" sr "-" -^ ^- editor and proprietor in one S^y;^ ? Proprietor- oom— s /re always ;:^;e t-rerrs'." "«''"""""' therefn'a^"™" ',t t I^' '"'"'" ^'^ ^"*-" or and there.il nXalr^lAln^r'r '"'"■—aye But," said he, tapping the desk wifh i,- dear sir, the stationmasL Ve raTw Jf ' ^'''' "^^ "Owaye, I ken," said Muck"' A fek?^^^^^^^^ a wark aboot it after, nae doot Bu t'« r ""^^ ^' rst?r\rtd'^T;[-«ei:st^^ But that w.„a^r;nf;^^;: ^r^rd; ""TWA LADDIES-AND A LASSIE/ ( I 233 Then he took his Alick paused to let this sink well in leave. " Noo, mind, I'm tellia' ye. Gnid day, Yedditur ' " That afternoon Alick presided at a gatiierinTof the amalgamated paper boys of the town, being™erMiLd representatives of all the varions newsLgent^^ %bf^ ZtZCi: ''"™''''"" " --■« strangers IteT them) Bn the general tenor of the resolutions na^^ may be gathered from the fact that when Mr iS novel just oome in-a novel by an eminent hand " If. 7^Zr '"."'"""'-""-".'-twolineV- hes^d ho that we know from this, the length nf ti.. Passed article on the presentatioi ofVS of the Zai Humane Society to "our noble and esteemed townsmS fd^etrr "':n?o°°f '";" "'"' " ^''"^'^^ ChroniciS Ad veitiser enjoyed its normal circulation next dav um^'!f;.""°'"' ^""'^ *'"' ""«'»»y ^^''■•ohed eve y cl ZJ JT' ""^ P""^'' "*■■« ""•^'fled from the BrthI f T" P™°'P«*"''e -""i despateh th.;., ?•"'■» tellmg our tale "withershins about "as they say m Netherby. We return to Va™ and her Wrn? ADVEKTPEE XLI. "TWA LADDIES— AND A LASSIE." MuoKLE Alick trotted the children soberly down th» street, and at the foot he turned his long lumblring^r de np » country road. For Alick had a ifttle w«e who wt m expert market-gardener and beekeeper. I i^ ii«i Mli i:i M: 234 «^Ea KELLV, ARAB OF THE cm. Her < It WM for her sake and beeaut Z ^ f" '"■" "•■™l'bers." that Muckle Aliok liv.d ^o T -r T" ' '' """'P himself, "D'ye think tl,.,t ) "" *'* "'""•k- "■f, lik. yon ':^ ttra! "^ir""'^-^ "''"«'-' and lamp oil. that I'm ga™ to Lt '' """'"»' »' """i^rs cool ^-aggon.? Na, 0^"^^! I! '^ ^'"■' "'"■■"'^ the l=^-'«gie8 to keep ye s„i,^ , ^ *"" *" ''a« Mirren Aaa ,hat ie ti,e wav th,rM ?. " ° ■> ™« ' " -• »* 3and,k„„:rt:ftt^'"' "'"«'- '-«d house that he took the childrn. '"' ™^^' e^'-J^-Prt ^nioHtr.:rtisr^t:^ed h^^^^ v°" -»" «■» hand come „p the loaning. « it'! n^,f *" '^^ '"«'■ hns- pleased to hae a grown fL;i„ f ? '""' "''o that wad be " Hoot, Mirrerioman ' f""", "■ ™ ''^' '"^^ tWs r "rid;..' he pnshed Cra a"d all 1"?* """'''» ^"o" nes .„g oosi,^ in his arms the wS ''""^ '"'»' «■"» ' '''haur gat ye them, Alick ?''L^ .,■ »ard to look at the bairn fn hTs arZ "r°' «"'"« '<"- "eaos and no that ill pnt „° . *™^ " They are bonn, AHokiit^bruird'-rd'rs : r ^™-' «-* frnggling through the pinched 11^^' °' ^^P-^'^o" to the heart of Mirren who I "' '"""eer went right -" »o far," as Mnckleklok'^mTf T '"""" "' ^'^ o™ "!"oh the more love ft „»«„:? """"™''^-''ad so "TWA LADDIES-AND A LASSIE." 235 tnat She had not taken good care enough of her Gavin to P easure wh she would have give/her life I did the best I could," she said, « whiles we had i. sleep oot a' nicht, an' whiles I had na; niilk to gTe h,^ »' Lassie lassie ! » cried Mirren Douglas, « what i thi« ye are tell in' me ? " '^^^ "The truth," said Vara Kavannah, quietly. "Gavin u?i'' w"^' '"? "^ '^^ ^^^^^^ a'theU f;ae Ed n- burgL We hae sleepit in the hills, and » fi J' 1 .^ ^7 V ""' *^^ ^^'''' ^^'^ ? " a«ked Muckle Alick's fierce y tender little wife ; « tell me quick ! " I hac carried Gavin a' the road ! " said Vara, simply. You, lassie!" cried Mirren, looking at the slin of pale girlhood before her, « it's Juist fair ufplwe l" ' '' get th^law? we:rs7t.'' ^'"' ""'' "^ *^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ M,-=f ^ ^''A''"' ^''''' y^ J"^'* °^ak' me fair shamed " cried Mistress Douglas. «Alick,ye muckle bullock whatTor are ye stand n' there like a onif g p """ock , what for Fraser's and ask the 1 nd o' h r crad L ^ 7,1^ ^^^*^««« gaun to bide " ^^^® bairns are II But, wife, hae ye considered ?»Alick began ' means to Wp ha„a o' the„ a' thogi thlrst-fb;': I if ,n 386 CLEO KELLV, ARAB OF THK CITV. Thus Ahck mused, laughinff a lifHo f« i,- ,. »ent „.. to WW Mis J» .L^^Ctr ' til i' " bj' t^nt r:r"cr Va' °"^. 7*^ " -» '»'^- back an' make difflcnlZ a '^ .^^ ™'' ' "»»" hand -tw.eandri-.dr.:-t:£:-- «'oPr.]:ll~:::»i--.tainan,onnt W TlTm:-' ■".*» cottage of Mistress Bnt instead 0, tingltZZ /n T "'"=' -t " ^■"^™- scattered about tZ „ a "'""^ "'"= beeskeps potatoes! ^btge anf cnriv™' """"^ "'" "? ">"' utilitarian ZJm t ^ ^"T '' ™= » «««% »ight,turninTnpoff4. "' *'"'='"* ^""'^ '"'™ '» brok^from thelJ of thet "'°"°'! """^^ "" ''"''J«" towards him. Thev tnV a ""^ "^^ tnmoltuonsly P»llod each other blkbTttT- """"'" "P' ^hey front by the heel or Scoattuf;" °""f* ""'» '" coltish lass of thirteen wTof^tdtbr" "''"'i"""''''''' first into the arms of Muekle i^il t^' ^^ '^"'"^ boys gripped each a n.TgMy lef lie ?'? »» smaller smaller banditti swarmed no 111^ ""f ""'■••'' »' took his broad back by storm W^T" """'^ "■"• potato garden he LiL ,.,^''™ '"' 8°* to the his wife had called Mm r"""' '"'' ""^ """^ ^'"Ph""' loaded with ch ,";„ '1" fZr- . ^"^ he was fairly Fraser said. , ""^ "" 'WS." as Mistress 'TWA LADDIES-AND A LASSIE." 237 % She was a buxom, rosy-cheeked woman, gifted upon occasion with an astonishing plainness of speech. "Guidnicht to ye, Alick," she said, «thae bairns maks as free wi' ye as if they were a' your ain ? " Alick disentangled the hands of one of the rearward harpies from his beard and mouth. Whereupon the of- fended rascal was not to be appeased. He slid down caught the giant about the knee, and began to kick an outlying shin with all his might. "Ye should ken best whether they are or no," said Ahck, "there's plenty o' them at ony gait ! " "An' what wind has blawn ye awa' frae Sandyknowes this nicht? It takes naething less than an earthquake to shake ye awa' frae Mirren. Ye hae fair forgotten ihat there s ither folk in the warl." "I was wanting the lend o' your cradle, guidwife," said Ahck, with affected shamefacedness, well aware of the astonishment he would occasion by the simple request. Mistress Fraser had been stooping over a basin in which she was mixing meal and other ingredients, to form tl^ white puddings for which she was famous. She stood up suddenly erect, like a bow straightening itself. Then she looked sternly at Alick. " Ye are a nice cunning wratch to be an elder— you and Mirren Terregles baith— and at your time o' hie. An' hoo is she ? " " Ow, as weel as could hae been expectit," said Muckle Alick, with just the proper amount of hypocritical res- ignation demanded by custom on these occasions. Mis- tress Fraser, whose mind ran naturally on the lines along which Muckle Alick had directed it, was completely talff n in. * r J "An' what has Mirren gotten?— a lassie, I'll wager," said the excited mother of eleven, dusting her hands of ■iii )i it i ]« 238 •-XI.> -PLLY, ARAB OF THE CITr. '^tuL"^'"^ ^'1"!"' •*"''*''' "there's a lassie- man ." ^ ^ * ^^'^^^e- ^oo me and my ineXXtvltCef;: "' ''°'"^^«° "P-™- would For the irdr/h oh '^tr«r"' •""<":""«"«'y ™known. cateIyleUrop,C t ohtm rr"" ^""""^ ^"^^ deli- two ounces of dMeri l?i. P' * ■"'"■« «»«">«" into ;..dead stop i,. tt:ZLrs\ rori!^r'"°,t ''^' '» t.mate domestic reminisocuces ^ *''° """' '■>- -jTed'r^et^e-rnd;-'^-^^^^ 5i77^,'^"^»^ held „p her l,a„ds. said Mistress W " mJ"^ L?"f'°'!''''"'J' ''^'*«'^" -e to hae d;.,uk ^,,,1^ ° 1'^''' '^ ""> ™r«t-an' wager i, I n,e to i^ittyZ^^^Zj:"' "^^ "-"• I'« m fact," said Munltl. ' !• i. in, " there's twa l>.ddies_,;, 1 'Tf "^ ""'"'«'■ """d ''GtZ''T"u"''^"-i--''''idenlv " hasr^e^LVAH ,^r„t: 7"" ^ ' -^^ •' " »he said ; 'aOdies aad a lassfe-I deda^iS'" T * "'"'• 'T™ aeclare its a Queen's bountj! "TWA LADDIES-AND A LASSIE." 4^,39 Preserve me, it's no a cradle ye want, man, but a mill hap- per ! A time or twa like this, and ye'll hae to plant taties m the front yaird-yo will hue to pay soundly for your ploy at this rate, my man. Three at a whup disna gang wi cancy-laines in the cabbage plots, my lad." " It's a maist notoriously curious thing," began Tam Fraser, unexpectedly, "that I saw Mirren carryin' twa cans o' water this vy mornin' " Muckle Alick gave him a warning look, which made him catch his next unspoken sentence as a wicket- keeper holds the bull before the field has seen it leave the bat. " But— but she didna look weel " added Tam "I wad think no, juist," cried Mistress Fraser, who in an inner room was busy putting a selection of small white things into a covered reticule basket. "An puir Mirren she'll no be ready for the like. Wha could be t^repared for a hale nation like this-I'll tak' her what I hae. +he Jeceitfu' besom— I declare it wad tak' a little to gar aie never speak to her again." " Dinna do that ! " said the hypocritical giant ; « think on her condeetion " « Condeetion, condeetion, quo' he— T wonder ye are no black ashamed, Alick Douglas. And n;..e o' 11 . twa o' ye ever to say a word to me, that's your n.^.est nee- bour " " I gie ye my word," said Muckle Alick, « I kenned nocht aboot it till an hour or twa afore the bairns cam» hame ! " Mistress Fraser turned fiercely upon him. "Weel, for a' the leers in tins pairish— and there are some rousers_ye beat them clean, Alick Douglas-and you an elde- ar mg the Cameronian kirk! Hon daur ye face your Maker, to say nocht 0' the kirk folk as ye 'ft- MSXJiii i N;ii?i ^ • CLK„ K,.,,y, ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ """" ™ «''^'«">». -• -oca. ,ees i„ ,.„, Stand at th mouth ? owr by to the Folds and ,1 . ^ *^' '"'*• Tam, gans •nonth or t„a_I ken S k . ""'"''"S them for I 'oik to set then, .• i„ rSu^f. ""> ""» o' ""^ on p"„ir - -ked't" 2ir'; "«<' -!»• I* ™ a' that Mir. «g.ments, ye maun eC tek" th. """ '"^ ''i"'^» °' Lod, three cradles a' r™k ^' .t ,1 "=<"'«'^'J»e"oes. Lod, hoose, it will be like JZl " """« '™o in vao come hame at niohts i,. • ^' ""^ ""»°. "hen L c-eons and poCrh";;." bT "evtr';"^ "' '""*^-''- rocker, and the lassie's vin to n ,• '^ "' °° " "''^^^ y baith richt. O.thedeceWo" J?""°«- ^■'' ««"e o»er to the Sandyinowes'" ""'' ""' '"' I get no l.e, though, as he afterZlT.^ \ "^ '" '"^ *»" ■ceeped his thumb on somrS: Zl t^^f '"''^'-' 'on annexed in the shape^^^P^''''''^ ''■'""' ">"«'» • 'ea. naturally rins on ,ic IirtUngs ° ' """S-nation, that "^-tly a Pleasant one, i^r in!;: --;7t:,d' ,'►»' "TWA LADDIES-AND A LASSIE." 241 suddenly come out of their little byre with a full luggie of milk. And it was about milking time. " There doesna appear to be muckle steer aboot the place, for siccan an awfu' thing to hae happened so lately ! " said Mistress Fraser. "Na," said the arch-deceiver Alick, making a last effort, " we are tryin' to keep a' thing as quaite as pos- "And faith, I dinna wonder. Gin the wives nooadays had ony spunk in them ava,' ye wad be mobbed and rid- den on the stang, my man ! » Then her grievance against Mirren came again upon Mistress Fraser with renewed force, " 0, the randy, the besom," she cried ; " wait till I get her ! " By this time they were nearing the door of Sandv- knowes. -^ " I dinna think I'll come ben wi' ye the noo I'll gang ower by the barn instead. There's some things to look to there, I misdoubt," said Alick. Just then they heard Mirren's voice raised in a merry laugh. It was really at the tale of Boy Hugh and Miss Briggs, which Vara was telling her. But the sound brought a scared look to the face of Mistress Fraser. "She's lauchin', I declare!" she cried; "that's an awesome bad sign. Guid kens hoo mony there mav be by this time " ^ And she fairJy lifted her voluminous petticoats, and, with her bundles unr'.or her arm, ran helter-skelter for the door of Sandykuowes, more like a halfling lassie than a douce mother of eleven bairns. Muckle Alick saw her fairly in at the kitchen door. " I think I'll gang ower by to the barn," he said. But he had not got more than half-way there whca. f! I '1 : 1 if- ■ - = ^ , 'i 1^ '1 212 CMG KELLV, ARAB OF THE CITY. P^^''?r^ZSt:VTjrr' "p^"- ""» °°' fl«» in her hand. Alick CiX.T^" '""■'"'='' <»• 'P-rtle ™n to^rds the hou^ ^" '"«'• Pf "^-oe ^s she With Which »he no. ^;e ,t?„pTn hT"^ "^ «"^ ^P-" ten mi„r tunuiril^rdr r '°"" '^ '"« «'-»• afterwards. ' * '^"*''*<»' »" board ! " he said :t^ — rh^.^d£f --ri::r ,with the uplifted porridt snur/l^ "" '^'^ '^^ ^^^^^^^ . leein' deevil-ye hhZZT ' ''^'"^' " ^ ^^ "^"^^^e catch ye » "^ '''^'''S:uaird~ye cunnin' hound, let me Aliclc who received the rZX ^ ^'^ '' ™' ^""We »tood in the doorwarwinlpr-''"'?^-.*"'*''™'' Vara and Boy Hu..i, at Iml -f " '" ^"^ »™s »"d tears ra„ down h.r chelT •"^'' ""'' '™«''^'' «» the "G'e him hi -t " P*™"«' ""s- pink him weel. at hi^f 'Z'"^l^' *""'™^ ^'^n elbows. Ye micht i we^l h« Be^n r""°"" "" °» ^o h.m by hitting him on the head f" "■" "^ ''^ '» ''"^ "d a lassie- yrtr^t" r/'^"'^' " ^™ '"""i*' Folds and the CowdeSl^ r"^""^ "» •■»= »«nt to the the three. Ye h J m^d. ., '™ "'''«"'=» 'o mak' nn bear the last o' it tirt dv "°J '"i^ "' "■«■ "' new B«t, at ony ™te, I tekem; p^pe?,'l "'"^-^'^y^de. your skin, my man Alick ! " ^^ " ""^ P™oe out o' MUCKLE ALICK CONSIDERS. 243 ADVENTUEE XLII. MUCKLE ALICK CONSIDERS. « Noo that the collyshangie's dune,'' quoth Mirreii Dougks «ye micht gie us a word o' advice what we should do wi' the bairns. But come oot by. They are a' onV T.K J ^''" '^' ^''''- ^"^ ^^ «^" be takin' a loojc at the blossoms as we gang." " We are to plant cabbage' here next year, Mistress Eraser says ! " cried Muckle Alick AlJl^Ti '"Jf ^'' ^^^'- ^"* ^^''^'''' Fraser gave hadtntu^^^^^^ "^' ^^ '"'"^ '' ^"^^' " ^-^ y- -t "Heard ye what the name o' the puir wandering things might be ? » asked Mistress Eraser. « Aye," said Mirren, briskly, « I hae heard a' aboot it. Their name is Kavannah. Their faither gaed awa' to Liverpool a whilie since to seek wark. And the bairns has left their mither in Edinburgh to seek their faither. And I judge their mither is a gye ill yin." "Did she tell ye that?" asked Muckle Afick, quickly " Na, but I jalloused it ! " * said his wife. "And hoo in the world could ye jallouse sic a thing as that? "said he. ® " Just the way ye jallouse that the express is comin' when ye hear the whistle, and the signal draps to ' clear ' ye muckle nowt ! » said his wife, taking what is known as a personal example. " The lassie didna tell me yae single word, but the boy showed me an arr-mark on his temple. 'The awfu' woman did that ! ' says he. Shrewdly suspected it. l\\l an CLE8 KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. gjo near signal, I ken „a whatis J' ""r "^ «"" « »>o^, ponderous, and defCaT " '"" "' '^'" '^''''' ^t his wp' "^ ^' »'»»^»' '"- gapin. atr. demanded -g«t■ttt'w"shed^'ot\ffi^T*^^^^ '»W. So she hurried M streL F » "''^'°'-'>«d a little :!--^^i.gre. -it\r„:iT-^s:t' was compete. " We wHl Tl „K '"'''"''« P™« Thae bairns' faitherneTer."norl T""^ '»"-«'°'- .'t\I.tHe use them gaun ther! ^ y^°^' consequently ;- his grave or the Edinburgh /„« '^ ■"■"• ^''' «'her «mp man that gat the h„ft ; IjT^ "> """'^ Jon h'dmgandsleepin'in the ^ttfe „ ^"^ '»^' «?""?. bj- *"-tin'? His name wasrame, If ""':'""' '"^^^-e he was the bairns' faitheTf •' ^"^M^h. I'se warrant shouldr "°"'^''" ^™ «-«« Aliot a bit clap „n the «eve riS" ■"'°° " ='"P"' ■»» ." =he said, «I be- "^"-^'.ewasonhisroadtol.l.erpool.too,,,,,,. j MIJCKLE A LICK CONSIDERS. 246 Alick "for when he was oot o' his mind he cried on aboot that a' the time. And aye the owerword o' his sang was, » She'll no get mo in Liverpool ! ' " His wife looked at Alick. And Muckle Alick looked at Mirren. " We'll keep them awhile, onyway, till they can get- a better hame. The lassie will soon be braw and handy," said Mirren. •" "I'm thinkin'," said Alick, « that the flower-beds will hae to come up after a', and we'll plant taties if the por- ridge pot shows signs o' wearin' empty." It was thus that our three wanderers found a place of knoT^"* '° *^^ wilderness in the kindly house of Sandy- « There's my sister Margaret up at Loch Spellanderie," said Mistress Fraser ; "she was tellin' me on Monday that she was wantin' a lass. She's no very easy to leeve wi' I ken. But she will gie a guid wage, and the lass would get an insicht into country wark there. It micht be worth while thinkin' aboot." full" ^^ '' ^'""^ *"' ^^ *"" *^'°^ '''*'" '^'^ ^^'''"' ^o"^t- .1, r ^\ 'r^Hf ^^^'^'''' ^'^'"'' " I'"^ nane so sure o' that. As I tell ye, oor Meg is nane o' the easiest to serve. But as the guid Buik says, it's a good and siccar lesson for the young to bear the yoke in their youth " n^f-tl m"" tV\?T P"^' ^^^'°' ^^" ^^^ ^^^^ share t, said Muckle Alick. take her leave, "that ye canna keep your thumb on the joke aboot the twa laddies and a lassie. Na, it's no to be expected o you Mirren. It's ower guid a tale to tell, speciaHy on me that aye prided mysel' on letting naebodv draw ..y .eg. But ye did me to richts this time, ye great I i itj i;: :\'-' I ■ 1 i: :Mi ilU ,J) 246 CI-EG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CIT7. And the loon thatgaed me tZ 1, . ^'"' "■°™™ muckle Sorrow till ,e, Alick, b„ri counTr "'''^^ "' «■» Wrt i olonr your lugs even yet." ^ ^"^ " '» "-y heart to canjeinfe^tog Wir'^ '''"^''^^- ^hen Ton, Phaser •f hae been hearin' a' aK«„* ftont „. the engine a,,d gett^'Z? '/' '"'"' "'"''-' i° time." said Mi„e„. « B^thaTn^" °' " "" '"» ««" aS.eiSr-''-«^^^^-:Ctriro.t;: third story window ower IT ■ "''' ''™''«" "ot o' a bnt there's nae mair Ih n'tn/'th: "' f' '''"' -P'«-! he louped in front on an ensine J, . '!""'• ^"'^ then draw some bairns frae beloXlZ, "' '"" 'P""' "'"l to jn -ist xethS t; sir:ot'::rV" " -^ *"- '» '>-Z"a;:hr°'""-'''*'»4ne.rtaHn« "0..'wasnaethi„gto,.„ahoot,»saidM„clc,oA,iolc. TOWN KNIGHT AND COUNTRY KNIGHT. 247 "There was some drovers in a carriage where they had nae business and they wadna come oot, till I gaed in to hem-and then they cam' oot ! And the wee Iddie an' And GenV T"'/'^"^ *'^ ^^"^ ^^^^ '^^ -gine. And Geordie couldna stop. So I gied them a bit yirk oot and gat a dunch in the back wi' the buffer " sleeJ^!'''° ^""^ ^'' ^"'^''"^ ^^ *^' '^"^^ "^^^^^^^^ •^o^t- "But^LTf" ^L'^' "^'^' '"^^'°^ ^^^ ^^^^J^ «g«i««t it. ±sut what for did ye no tell me ? " Ihere was nae harm dune, ye see, but yin o' my gallus buttons riven off an' the buffer of Geordie's engine button ; I """' ^'""J *° *'" ^' ^^ *^« "«^"i^' ^boot the ontton needing sewin' on." " Did ye ever see siccan anld fules," said Tam Eraser as he and h,s wife went home, "rabb n' her cheek S per'frnCdr.Tr:rrrtt--':a- TO ADVENTURE XLIII. ^rnOHT AND COUNTRY KNIGHT. ne vas to jr.a..u the bold adventure of getting to Netherbv wa.« Jn— I ' • conscience was clean; he wa.. goin« .. work nis passage. It is true that neither i' ' ■ lit,,, ■'i i I 1 1 #^ 348 CIKG KELLV, ^RAB OP Me CTY. '"end (to be e.act, ClTavert L °' *" '"'"' "' Cleg's »«mnt. cook at Bai ie Zul'^'^ '"'etheart'a fellol "•llmg(a„d he believed ableWo^l ""'''''' ^"J"'""-' was 'o ^etherb, without fee TllZa''^'"^' "'"«'' ^'^g" Duncan was friendly withrt,', ti-ain, which is a thing not too ! *™"'' "' *" ^"ods h-e to run go«is tains t^lLT?" "'"' *''"«' "ho The shunting at night to pftLT " """^ '"'* ""^ temper, especially i/the wi^Lr «i, "l"'"™^ *° «i>e »elf ; " screw her up whenever „ """P'^'ment by him- ie Will ten when by Thog^rtur.? ^'^"'"^ ''»''■""«• Mr. Duncan VvLZJ ^ "'"' shaking." ■»g 'be day, to t^!t^ZT .Tl ''"'""' """■ -J- had won the .asy.„eS heart ^«"' ""'T^ "■>"- -••« "h-oh a disappointed suitor „ ■' """'^ *' Holden's- of dripping, P''H,;^™'-"oesa,^ bitterly was made "nd then mostly in the hS,?^ *' ."P"'"' •>"' 'eWom, Phoncal language pop ar^'of ',;''2'™«- and meto-' Eastern. Duncan Urquhart ».), f "* ""* South- '■oned, was quite a flrsl^cl^'r '"'' "'''^^dy been ,nen. nality not common amoni . """''"'' *'"' """^ »» ""'si- h« "ft of transMTliXr Tl "" "-dTo though he swore incessant ll^ """ ""^ *''«"«• Also, with profanity, but c3 \]"T "".^'^^ h" "outh 1 -IS TOWN KNrGHl- AND COUNTRY KNIOHT. 249 tofpL^' """u'"^' ™°P""«' »■"> °»™»P"«g with the the bit of work bpfn J M ! i. *'^'^^^' '^^ "^rely TT« c XI- ^" ^^ ^^^ teams drivinff afiplH mches from nnder the fallen sweep of dewy SL q»h rt S ' Hell ' *'"'^'"''" ' " ='^^^»- ^'- qnnart briefly. He had an appointment to Jteeo with th« with bine pilot-cloth jackets. Duncan would not have been m snch a hurry, but for the fact that it took Wm half an hour to clean himself. He knew thJ h„if 1 may get there hrst, is of prime importance. inJlZZZj ?f"^ tPP'" °»' "P»» *« cattle-land. vfr seen wS?" 1 ^ '"T "' ** •>'gS^»' ™» he had ever seen, walking slowly along the white dustv rn»d which led out of the passenger station. He wrswindn^ ' Wms wide of his sides, as veiy big and broad men' al! him'Sorte*;':"" Th^h^^' ■"" ""■' " ">" ""-^ "•—■Us -..u „„ eyes niea on the ground. ilifli; ftllil 250 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. cJl^^i^^ *^^ 'r-^" ^^^^ P^*'^^'^ ^<>t the drovers?" said Cleg at ast, coming to anchor in front of the 4nt as though the town clock had spoken to him For C L^ HDout JNetherby were strangers. ^ '' Where come ye frae ? " he said to Cleg .tid LTIuT K-'i"'"'^' '' ''' ^"^^ Kavannah," am uieg. Is she bidmg wi' you ? " ^"She was, till yestreen," said Alick. trousers'' "'"' " ^'^ "^^^ " ^^'^ ^^^^' ^-^^-g up his wZ^Zf^tj^ '' "^^^^ '^^"^^«« ^^ the his ;tp\'r" "-'''' ''^' ^^^" -'^^^ ^%^ finishing . "Jliree mile and a bittock up that road ! " said Muoklp ■ wiTcl' P""'^."^^^*h ^- finger to a well-made dusty^^^^^^^^^ which went m the direction of the hills. ^ racing"-'" ^"^'"^^^'^^-«^- And was off at Muckle Alick watched him out of sight. rin lik«l'?T '' • " ^' '"^^' " *° *^^nk that I could yince nn like that to see a la P»«- "Tilling with reminCn eT/ d^ei°""- " " " ='"»"' lowsing times, of foreniehts tifh fhf '™' ^ ''^'"•'»™^ to a countr, ,ad .a.es iiffwrhtiT' """ "' "" ""*' tHint T^p*;rt;'sttdt ir ""- »' »- and a girl. Cleg thouX ^ ' ?l ""^ ""^ e'"«-a boy the 4t road to'whX.IaXf "" ""'■" " '"^ ™' hers!,";' "shrwrreToiratr'' '"^^ '-^ ^'' ™ ^- talk »ith a stranger a t»n .^'*''?r"*'^' "^-^ ««n "ke one of peeped wondeZg y „ frllt';* "'".'* ^leg had often ing outside. ^' "'""' " ™ cold or rain- ''Ckgrwttal:';'rr''^"''"''"'"^''»'''»«--i- nah, nolling It her hand '°' "^'^ ' " '*"' ^™ ^avan- rdpShan^-Ctnt"^ interloper at the gate of the ml ^^'' ^""^^ " This is Kit Kennedy " «n,^^ v ^he must by her tactfuTnt elt X' ^t^'ft^ *'"'* "" it i.. is it?" said Cleg/.^^ralrsly:'"'''"'"'"'""- 'ifi m. 252 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITF. the weight he had beo^ how HuLh L T '""'=<' road e^h night to meet ku^Ue Alt »',T„ T "^^ now able to keep herself, besides heW^a iftl ^o" "" porHHugh and Gavin also ^ '" '"P" his ^:i'tu W^lTS 'n -'" -"» 'he too of Off With the eowsTow ^ t tTeX^^k^"'' ""^"'"^ gannt woman, who was not tn hi *■« J'^."""" » '»". tow.;.u,efa™. C.egandl^t^iJ'^::^'''^-^ Kctl'.Tac'r'--^ "'^^ ""-' "'^ o™ Wore Kit . "^pitower that!" he said. Kit hesitated and turned away. "I dinna want to fecht ye!»' he said for i,. i what was meant. ' ^°^ ^® ^»ew "Ye are feared ! " said Cleg, tauntingly. of ht! ""'" """^^'^ *^^ ^^^^ - ^^<^-ulics required "After kye time," said he, «at the back o' the barn » Cleg nodded dourly. ^'^°- "I'll learn ye to let my lass alane ! » said the town boy Forhvl r ^'' ^ ^""'" ^''* y^"'* ^«««' or ony ither lass' Forbye there was nae ticket on her that I L.iT .n answered he of the country '°"^^ '"^ ' " A weel "said Cleg; "then I'll warm ye for savin' fh.f o^;Tair' ^ ''"^^^^ ^- ^- ^'- ^au'n Z'S^yt^ " To febht me, ye mean ? " said Kit Kennedy, quietly. «L£Q JiKLAPSES INTO PAGANISM. jjg ADVENTURE XLIV. CLEG RELAPSES INTO PAGANISM. The lists of Ashby were closed Th. i, ,^ ■ pursuivants did their devoirs and ' f J ! ''''^' ""^ out a haughty peal Or Tfi . ? ^ ^''""^P^*^ ^^ng loweth: ^ ^ ^' ^^ ^'^'^ *« ^J^at effect, as folt " Come on ! » said Cleg Kelly a hiJousfatr'' ''''' *'^ ^"'^^^ ^^ ^^e City, making fists revolved separately round p«v; .u"' ^''^ "^ ^" ^^^i'' batant revolved on hi! ^'^ °^^''' '^^^^ ^a^h com- and in a d^^nVed manTr Trr'e Tl^ '''' ^^^^^^ another. ' ^^^^ revolved round one It wa. alter the kye h^ ^iTi""''"' l^'^ Spellanderie. -ah was i„ the houl citi ""*"? ""'' ^'"•'' ^avan- while the mistress puTtheSHhlM Tf ^^ '"''■^^• accompanying chorus of seoM „ ! ° '" ^'^ »"■"> »" of the smitten. ^'°«'' ''"PP'-g^. a-d filings talW t*: "t S f""!? '" ''^'" C'^<^ "- a .,tt,e K.t Kennedy, and he had all the ezperienee Mr: i ' n IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .^f-^* 4^< <9 V 1.0 I.I |2£ 113 140 L25 iu 25 ■ 2.2 12.0 1.6 150mm /APPLIED j£ HVMGL. . Inc jsa 1653 East Main street ^^li Rochester, NY 14609 USA J^g "^ Phone: 716/462-0300 •=-.= Fax: 716/288-5969 1993. Applied Image. Inc., All Rights Reserved J,\^ ^ ^\' <> ^^Te. t*\ ^^ ^ll^ ^'' ^ ^^^ T 264 Ohm KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY S ? I, ^ .*""' ^' P"^** Cripple-Dick ! » ^ ten minutes, after which the nr.l !?• ' '^ ^""^ or not according i.T f ^'^«^d'«g« may commence uut according to circumstances. But K"i> Tr«« j nneipeotedly ,„ „„ient oontact with Kit's kn„ckl7s hiX " ""' ™°^' '"""" ■" « "" CIe?8til'r™°" '*'".^'" "" P"'" """J "" ^ff^t of -.king '^leg still more yehementlv anirrv " I'll i..™ .. l! shouted, "ye sniterin-, shairnfbiastie 1' Z h°"' *° strike aforo a man's ready. Yoioht- vl '"^ niair fecht than a Portobelb bobwri XI tin I h^d "" W 70, my m«.. There',1 „o be as mnoS W Jy'TL tl CLEG RELAPSES INTO PAGANISM. 256 What for can ye make cat-meat to a week-auld kittlin'. nofecht fair?" Our hero's cause was so bad, and his lapse into hea- thenism became at this point so pronounced, that for the sake of all that has been we decline to report the re- mainder of his speech. liminarief ' ^'""^'^ *^^^ ^^^ ^^^' ^n any further pre- Ding-dong/ went his fists, one on Cleg's other eye and the other squarely on his chest. Cleg was speaking at the ime, and the latter blow (as he afterwards said) fairly took the words from him and made him «roop'' like a hen trying to crow like a cock. At this terrible breach of all laws made and promul- gated for the proper conduct of pitched battles, what re- mained of Cleg's temper suddenly gave way. He rushed fu .!^'"v /' '^"''^"^ *^ ^'"^ *« ^"^^^ as he could, without the slightest regard to science. But Kit Kennedy was staunch, and did not yield an inch. Never had the barn end of Loch Spellanderie witnessed such a combat. Cleg, on his part, interpolated constant remarks of a dis- paraging kind, such as « Tak' that, ye seefer I " « That'll do for ye ! " But Kit Kennedy, on the other hand, fought silently. The most notable thing, however, about the combat was that in the struggle neither of the knights took the slightest pains to ward oflP the other's blows They were entirely engrossed in getting in their own. The dust flew bravely from their jackets, until the noise resembled the quick, irregular beating of carpets more than anything else. But, after all, not very much harm was done, and their clothes could hardly have been damaged by half a dozen Waterloos. It was like to be a drawn battle, for neither combatant would give in. All Cleg's activity and waspishness was met and held by the m m I i "it M ill' 236 CLEG KELLV, ARAB OP THE CITV. Thus, not unequally, the battle raged till fli« r,^{„ * thjurr^r^ r:-zrr:; j„:e':r^^^^ Uie bMn door and peered through. It might be an m'set and Tyke with h m, and thev fri«l-ri n..;. * i j each a little muffled b.rk to t^tft^' L /h.'""!^" much like to join in the f»y *" """^ ''""'''' to the house. "?« tne barn, i .'Oc^ed the yard This happened every evening rd|ara"'^^^^^ ''".!" mmd. It saved her from beinf Cl^ / ? ^''^^^^^ « Yfl ia,„ -J / ^ faulted for somethinff new . .^e lazy, guid.for-naething!" Mrs MoWuU savinc "Twnn^a* ™u i. j. ^ j>ic Walter was the door'" "»"«»" J""- MoWalterput hie head within r^^rZ'Jl' "'■"' '""" '""'■'' ^^ »""« -"■'»' «.e CLEG RELAPSES INTO PAGANISM. 357 hiswr^'-Jufd^ri'V' '° ^' it,guidinan,» replied it wis ta o' thl J 'i ^' r^ ^" '^^' «"^^«« I thought It was twa o the kye hornm' yia anither. But what care I for loons ? Juist e'en let them kill yin anither Ti!! rate 111 plants o' a graceless stock. Never was a Mc Walter yet worth his brose ! » "'^ "But," said her husband, "it's Kit Kennedy feohHn' wi a stranger loon that I never saw aforfl Id Itnna believe he has foddered the horse I » Mistress Me Walter snatched up the poker. can the'lL'i' .'"'^'k"'^' ^'^^' ''^'^'^^^'^ ^ound, what can the like o' hini be ihinkin' aboot? m learn him Gm he gets himsel' killed fechting wi' tink ers for his 2 pleesure, wha is to look the sheep and bring in the kve n the mornm'? And the morn ki'rnin' day too »» ^^" '" week's lam ITk '1 *'^ ^^"^'^^ ^^^ ^^ -^ich the week 8 cream was to be churned into butter, and from no tX f LolT 'n"" f."^P'^^'^ "^^ or limb, tlrm s- tress of Loch bpellanderie hasted out to interfere in th« deadly struggle But Vara Kavannah wrbefor 'ht She flew out of the kitchen door, and ran round the house. The McWalters followed as best they cou^ ^e rSir'^' vainly on her to go bac/and^Ilh peltw\^Tt wiJr"?^.?'r°''' ""''^ ^"'^ Kit were stiU pelting at it without the least sign of abating interest Tllo:Zr''t'' '^^^^^ -d%hither, and geU^g- a blow wherever he could. Kit was standing dogged v to meet the town boy's rushes. It was a beautiful cornet i. m tnei. ceveral uosoms, and if only they could have m n i 258 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITV. Stopped simultaneously they would have been glad enough to shake hands. ** So when Van came flying round the corner and ran between them, the boys were quite willing to be separated indeed even thankful. f ^y "Run, quick!" ,he cried to Cleg, « they are comin'. U haste ye fast ! " . But Cleg did not know any respect for the powers that be He knew that the ordinary bobby of commerce did not dwell ,n the country. And besides, even if he did, the lad who could race red-headed Finnigan, the cham- pion runner of the Edinburgh force, and who had proved himself withouli disgrace against the fastest fire engine in the city, was not likely to be caught, even in spite of the fact that he had run all the way from Netherby Junction that night already. So Cleg turned a deaf ear to Vara's entreaties, and. very simply and like a hero, wiped his face with the tail of his coat. Kit Kennedy also kept his place, a fact which deserves recognition. For he, on his part, faced a peril long known and noted. The mystery of unknown and unproven dan- ger did not fascinate him. In a moment more Mistress Mc Walter, a tall, mascu- line woman, with untidy hair of frosty blue-black, came tearing round the corner, while at the same time out of the back barn door issued John Mc Walter, armed with a pitchfork, and followed by Tweed and Tyke, the clamour- ous shepherding dogs of Loch Spellanderie. Cleg found his position completely turned, and he himself beset on all sides. For behind him the Loch lay black and deep. And in front the wall of the barn fairly shut him in between his enemies. Mistress McWalter dealt Kit Kennedy a blow with the poker upon his shouK .f. CLEG RELAPSES INTO PAGANISM. 259 der as she passed. But this was simply, as it were, a pay- ment on account, tor his final settlement could be de- ferred. Then, never pausing once in her stride, she rushed towards Cleg Kelly. But she did not know the manifold wiles of a trained athlete of the Sooth Back. For this kind of irregular guerilla warfare was even more in Cleg's way than a plain, hammer-and-tongs, knock- down fight. As she came with the poker stiffly uplifted against the evening sky. Mistress McWalter looked exceeding martial. But, as Cleg afterwards expressed it, " A woman shouldna try to fecht. She's far ower flappy aboot the legs wi' goons and petticoats." Swift as a duck diving, Cleg fell flat before her, and Mistress McWalter suddenly spread all her length on the ground. Cleg instantly was on his feet again. Had the enemy been a man. Cleg would have danced on him. But since (and it was a pity) it was a woman. Cleg only looked about for an avenue of escape. Kit Kennedy pointed with his finger an open way round the milkhouse. And Cleg knew that the informa- tion was a friendly enough lead. He had no doubts as to the good faith of so sturdy a fighter as Kit Kennedy. He was obviously not the stuff that traitors are made of. But a sudden thought of inconceivable grandeur flushed Cleg's cheek. Once for all, he would show them what he could do. He would evade his pursuers, make his late adversary burst with envy, and wring the heart of Vara Kavannah, all by one incomparable act of daring. So he stood still till Mistress McWalter arose again to her feet and charged upon him with a perfect scream of an- ger. At the same time John McWalter closed in upon the other side with his hay-fork and his dogs. Cleg al- lowed them to approach till they were almost within striking distance of him. Then, without giving hiuiself m I;* i J I'l!'' 'Ml 'i '1 260 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. a moment fen- reflection, he wheeled about on hia heel, balanced a moment on the brink, bent hi» arms wUh the itif ;^e'rnr " -""""' *»'-• '- '""■»« '- - So suddenly waa this done that the good man of Loch Spellandene, approaching with his hay-fork from ^e direcUon, mn hastily into the arms of hia spoui char^ .»g from the other. And from her he rece^v Ja m^fi unwifey rmg on the side of the head with the noker Tntl' ;Tnl''^'^ '°°"' ^"'■- ^"^»"»^ «"' "Std- byl-'rieiltCt™" '"'' ''''"' "" ""'-• "» " Ye let him by yoni-sel', guidwife," cried her husband who d.d not often resent anything which his w'fe S do but who felt that he must dmw the line at havta^ to welcome the poker on the side of his head. " Dinnrcome that road agam, my woman. I declare to peace "hTit no been for the hay-time comin'on, and ?ew hands to win .t I wad hae stuck the fork brave and firmly intil™ ye randy besom ! " """'y intu ye, To what lengths the quarrel would have gone if it had been allowed to proceed, will never be known. For Z at that moment the head of Clee emerged f J „. * ^ the dark waters of Loch Spellanferir* ""' ""^ out of the holes as he swam, much aa though thev had been the gills of a fish. Indeed, they rathef heipTd ht progress than otherwise. ^^ ^'^ Then from the dusky breadths of the lake arose the voice, mocking and bitter, of the Thersites of the Sol CLEG RELAPSES INTO PAGANISM. 201 Back, equally well equipped for complimeut and deadly in debate. "^ "Loup in," he cried, "try a dook. It is fine and caller m here the nicht. But leave the poker ahint ye. It will tak ye a' your time to keep your ain thick heid abune the water. Come on, you ! » he cried pointedly to Mistress Mc Walter. "That face o' yours hasna soon water for a month, I'll wager. A soom will do you a' the guid m the world ! And you, ye guano-sack on sfllts, come and try a spar oot here. I'll learn ye to stick hav- fows into decent folk ! " But neither John McWalter nor yet his wife had a word to say in answer. Then began such an exhibition as Loch Spellanderie had never seen. Cleg trod water. He dived. He swam on his back, on his side, on his breast. His arms described dignified alternate circles— half in air and half in water. He pre- tended to be drowning and let himself, after a terror- striking outcry, sink slowly down into deep water, from which presently he arose laughing. And all the time his heart was hot and prdeful within him. " I'll learn her," he said over and over to himself, " I'll learn her to tak' up wi' a country Jock." And then he would execute another foolhardy prank dismally rejoicing the while in Vara's manifest terror. ' " Cleg, come oot ! Ye'll be drooned ! " Vara cried wringing her hands in agony. Simple and innocent her- self, she could not understand why her kind good Cleg should act so. She had no conception of the evil spirit of pride and vainglory, which upon occasion rent and tormented that small pagan bosom. ^' I'll show her ! " remained the refrain of all Cleg's meditations for many a day. Hill 2G2 CLEa KELLV, ARAB OP THE CITY. hour, Cleg trod water long enough to kiss L hand and cry uG„id„ieht!" to Mistress Mc Walter and her h"s' band, who meanwhile stood dumb and astonished on the S ^ J °°^ ''"^^ '° *^" ^"^^ ^^^ he would get his clothes dried, nor yet where he would have to sleep Bu hislnany adventures that day, and in especial the way he had "taken the shine oot o' that loonie wi' the Zs » warmed and comforted him more than a brand new suit of dry clothes So long as he could see them he Zd Z . V«'"'''' c^casionally. And when he not^d the four dark figures still standing on the bank. Cleg chuckled to h mse and his proud heart rejoiced within him. I hae'sh^own h':r' » ^ ^'^'^ '"'" '^ ^^^ ^ ^--^^' " -. «» the Btretcl,e,l on and „„ Ifo direaT^ "' ">« I^rallel metolj Street Station and tl,o Nonil mT"? "'"- P""«, »'n.<»t to the Canonga.rHefi"''«°'"""""»»«hiohr.n home. * " "*«"• He was, u it were, at "Itim'tei'l'dSed that? "'"?'' "'^ '» «"»■ But So Cleg s^ed a'o'fthe pe n^rnr" '"'"■' ""' ''" ""-O .irew at the rate of si^iTn ho'„r '°™"'' ^"' ^■'• out of'aii :^z^:t %:zz:7 r,/"' ^ •■« -"« ■"to a purely mtorali]^on'tT '^<' ^^"'''^y P^s "here even farms and eoT^l '''P """^ raniroocks, other part „, thTlotantorsXT""" """ '" '"^ ■vhierrd ti"'^ ^t' ;" :: "^'^^ r"«'"« '--^ from Tim Kelly the Tri,^ . ' ° '" '"™<^* descent who in hi, day had trot^'' '^»™tman and burglar Beattie's life. ^ °° ^^^fously into Isbel »<«hr»s'&rth';i!,d"rt^ -^ "r- th. possessed all a eafs faculty for'^Hitg on S 'X ""'« -tt:"c!:s-[-„°r-re:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and, set d4 under an overh """""'■« ">« ™6'»e, -oorland.an'^oldn rotwndow'S'inr""* <" """""^ upon wooden uprights. '"'"' "''"'V ""riage raised THE CABIN ON THE SUMMIT. 266 Cleg stood petrified with astonishment before thig strange e.icarnpment. For there were liir|„s i„ the win- dows and the sound of voices cam», cheerfully from within Yet hero was the lonely moor, with the' birds callinir weirdly all about him, and only the parallel bars of the four-foot way starting out east and west into the dark- ness, from the broad stream of comfortable light which fell across them from the windoi^s of the wheelless rail- way carriage. Finally Cleg plucked up heart to knock. He had a feeling that nothing far amiss could happen to him so near a railway which led at long and last to Princes Street, where even at that moment so many of his friends were busily engaged selling the evening papers. Besides which he was in still nearer connection with his friends Muckle Ahck, the porter, and Duncan Urquhart. the goods engmedriver at Netherby Junction. Cleg tapped gently, but there was at first no cessation in he noise. He knocked a second time a little harder; still it was without effect. ' A voice within took up a rollicking tune, and the words came rantingly through the wooden partition Cleg's hand slid down till it rested upon the stirrup-shaped brass handle of a railway carriage. It turned readily In his fingers, and Cleg peered curiously within He could now see the singer, who sat on a wooden ww7i i^ 'n*'°^'"^"'°^'' '°''^*^ "P «" the little stove which filled all one end of the hut. There came from withm a delightful smell of broiling bacon ham, whTch hungry Cleg sniffed up with gusto. r.'J^^ •!J"^t' ''^ * rough-haired, black-bearded man with a wide chest and mighty shoulders, even though he could not be caHed a giant when compared with Muckle Ahck down at Netherby. And this is what he sang • '111 e m CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CUT. Auld Granny Grey Pow, Fetch the bairnies in ; Bring them frae the Scaur Heid, Whaur^heymak'sicdin. Chase them frae the washin' pool, Thrang at skippin' stanes— Auld Granny Orey Pow, Gather hpme the weans. Trn J p lT''' '^*'^'' "^""^ *^i« ^erse of the Poet of ih. Iron Road* so gaily that Cleff ffilf fV,of J." \ ^® the night were L Jred K about ^ ^" ' '"' when a new voice spoke * *^ '*'^ ^^*^^» "You hand your tongue, Auld Chairlie" criflrl f»,n And again the singer took up his ranting melody : Bring in Rab to get him washed, Weel I ken the loon, Canna do unless he be Dirt frae fit to croon. Tam and Wull are juist the same For a' I tak' sic pains— del.. w-.c:4°:;e^T.;^s. ""™^ ™"' -"' -'■"» THE CABIN ON THE SUMMIT. 267 Auld Granny Orey Pow, Gather home the weans. ruVJl^^''"^'' '^"^' *"^ """'^ ^' "^""^ *<^ *^« refrain he cuddled an imaginary fiddle under his chin and played it brisk and tauntingly like a spring : Auld Granny Grey Pbw, Gather home the weana. Then, before another word could be spoken, Cleg stepped inside. ^ " Guidnicht to ye a' ! » he said politely. The man who had been called Poet Jock took down his feet from the top of the stove so quickly that the legs of the chair slipped from under him, and he came down upon the floor of the carriage with a resounding thump. Auld Chairhe, a white-haired old man who sat under a lamp with a large book on his knee, also stood up so sud denly that the volume slipped to the floor. " mercy ! Lord, preserve me, what's this?" he cried his teeth chattering in his head as he spoke. ' "Wha may you be and what do ye want?" asked poet Sandy, without, however, getting up from the floor. "I'm juist Cleg Kelly frae the Sooth Back," said the apparition. "And whaur got ye that otter and troots?" broke in Auld Chairlie, who could not take his eyes off them. "I got them in the loch. Did ye think they grew in the field, man? "retorted Cleg, whose natural man was rising within him at the enforced catechism. "Preserve us a'— I thocht ye had been either the del! or a gamekeeper!" said Auld Chairlie, with intense ear- nestness; "weel, I'm awesome glad ye are no a -am» watcher, at ony rate. We micht maybe hae managed to fill! !• :> ^i 11 'i I it ■'4 26S CLEG KELLV, ABAB OP THE CITY. ?o Bufl."?'^ '^ '"'"'"°' «■« »"«'"'' Bible 'to hia maybe an o„. whurluieX^^i^e"" """'''^— P' ■ ally with hil n^^ ^° r'' *'"' <'»''"^"'«'' htosoM jovt a"y witn his position m the cornpr nf fi,« « ^m. *' ^^rij::tnttrtEr^^^^^^^^^^^ man TK«« *u ^"'*® astoundiug n so bi? a man. ihen the reason whv ho Ko^i k<, ^ still became manifest Fn/v ^^^^^^^'^ «o»tent to sit the little carir w' ;k I ^'' ^'^"^ '^''"^^ ^^^ ^oof of «" his adventure, ''ne^*SrrTh''"''V^" '■■'■" cerned Mistress McWalter oTS sL,.^ "■"•"• "»- great swim across the mter Spellandene, and the ADVENTURE XLVI. A CHILD OF THE DEVIL. «u.thew„r.s„"':';is;?i:r;er- ''-^ - ing with'a i: "It a,::, r '^ ■ t '™"'' -- "^■ »a sendin A . ^^-:^J^-;^^ ;iit' A CHILD OP THE DEVIL. ggg With that of the fried ham which already smoked upon an aschet by the fireside. ^ The good-hearted surfacemen at the Summit Hut seemed to take ,t for granted that Cleg was to remain with them. At least neither of them asked him any fur- ther ques^ons. This might be because in the course of his sory he had mentioned familiarly the name of Duncan Muckle Ahck, the head porter at Netherby. And these to a railway man on the Port Road were as good as half- a-dozen certificates of character. o}.Z^a\^ ?'^^u '^ "'^' ^° *^^* ^'^d PJ^««-' The poet chanted his lays between alternate mouthfuls of ham and fried scones of heavenly toothsomeness. Auld Chairlie said quite a lengthy prayer by way of asking a blessing. And the supplication would have continued a longer time stU , but for Poet Jock's base trick of rattling a knlL Z fork on a plate, which caused Auld Chairlie to come to an abrupt stoppage lest any unsportsmanlike march should be stolen upon him. Finally, however, all started fair. ..i^' i^'^^^'f """"f^'' ^"^ *^^" ^'""^^ ^ere poached!" said the poet winkmg slily at Cleg; "ye wadna' believe tTysWe * ^""°""™' ^^"°- *here are in this coun- " As for me," said Auld Chairlie, "I can see naething a7:fd"v"'''"' ''.' '^* *'^"^«- Y^ -« i*'« - only a lowed, Its commanded. Did ye never read how the birds in the air and the fishes in the flood were committed too or faither Aaidam to tell the names o' them? Noo names? ST' ^"?' ^^^^^'^ ^e possibly tell their' names f Ihe thing's clean ridiculous ! " "Mony a decent man has gntfpn «xtv dav f— lievin' that 1 " cried the poet between"the lutWult M r^'' I * H I,- 870 CLEO KELLV, ARAB OP THE CIIT. -ift a quick rome^Luc of X „7abot k' '"'' '""""^ «i"e us, l«idie, ye are a' Jt ' .- °' ''''"™ ■"■»• " P'«- •.HshL,.-g/„ t^alto^:^ LZSl,"'?" "«'""" when ye did it." ^ ^ ^'^® *^ ^a* JOur claes " An' what for should I do thaf ? t *i, v. ., General Manager o' the linp f>l ^ ? '^ ""^^'^ ^""^ ^he :' An' so .feht o^^X^^^^^^^^^ ■' " setting blastie that he is » Sin 1 ^^airfie, « up. "Baud your tongue, man Chairiie and >,.. « o»n up, for Tince 1 if «,» "»'"ie, ana see if ye can wames,g„s8yprin«„M^ T " '"i^" '""^ "-^ ""eir «.en. But st«n„rtl tJe^^ ^^ """'K^ ' hind him after the fashion of 1 g„?„ "" '"" """""« "^ open-mouthed! '"'''"• " ""^y '•''^^^ him asses rbo:t!'"E;e';vbZt" ''""'^ "» '""' "'»'»' Young CoveroLeianothe'r bTeat^ Ls ^ st ?.d'*r ' p.e. come and let's have a drink, and^et out ^ffb'" of the asses." * ' "' 'he way It is to be feared that Clei? wonM n..* i. to imitaw the oleriry of his n.Hv! I '""'' S""" ™ pored by the faot ffiaV II """™ ""^ »«' he was ham- had bee J limit^l^ st^rST^r """ ."''"™"«- a church door in his iffe And fhl .""" ^'^ "'""" ho would have stood a g«,d chance "f'" ■""'"' ^"^^ «s a mischief-maiier hn/f . ° '^'"S *"™«d out hour's confineme^ '""" ""■"*' ''™'^i»'' to an tighi;^:"and':^„Srfi,^^^;J -<= -">»* him .er^ approached the poet, whota^ stll^''°"u'T"^- ^^ '" " ih':i:;i^d" c -'^? »«~- :fde':? ttc* toside, "an^d'ho^tttr^^'T "'» head f^m ide I«t me feel your ^7A;V';'''''r '"-""-'^ better? your pulse_Ah, just as I expected. Tongue A CHILD OP THE DEVIL. 273 -furry? Have you taken the medicine? What you need 8 strengthening food, and the treatment as before. See that you get it-blue nmnge, grouse pie, and the best tSir ^'' """^"^ ^'^ *^-'-^'' ^-"- Cleg wrapped his sack closer about him as he finished to represent the slim surtout of the healing faculty and resent a ta 1 hat, he bowed himself out with his best Canongate imitation of a suitable arcl effective tds'de feltThrhHar '"^ *' ^^'^'^ entertainment when he relt that he had an appreciative audience, And as the comedy consisted not so much in what he said as 7n the perfect solemnity o: his countenance, the charm oJ hi the sack, and the bare legs stalking compass-like through Its open mouth, Poet Jock laughed till he had to lie Zn on the floor in the corner. Even Auld Chairlie was com- pelled perforce to smile, though he often declared his chl"^^^^^^ ^^^^*^' -^ ''^' ''^^ - -^^i^^y a Chairlie was specially confirmed in tjiis opinion by Cleg's next characterisation. "Did ye ever see the Track Woman?" said Cleg dropping for a moment into his own manner. " I canna' bide her ava. There's them that we like to see comin' into our hooses-folk like Miss Celie, that is veesitor in oor district, cr Big Smith, the Pleasance Missionary, even though he whiles gies us a lick wi' his knobby stick for clMdm cats^ But the Track Woman I canna bide. lui6 IS her ! " And he gathered up his sack very high in front of mm, to express the damage which it would receive by :? n 274 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. .n.p™™„ of extreme condescenaion ' """'"^ "'' .-eraiSie':;:nt':.xrL:"'™ -^"^ ^ .uch « place. Why dou't yZmZJZ 7 Tj'™ '" « ao dirty and sticky ! It is^eallv 1^ m^ "j"/'"''' come up. What's this ? wSs thi^ " ^ "^^ "> did not hear you rihtr n„ , ' *" ' S"™')' I todoyou go/dlnlt -Jv 'y™ ^J'tltrv' ""^ nowever, do my duty, and leavo a mm^ * /^ ' «»<"»iiy; I hope it will do yo^good 't J™:'., ?^ " you how to be gratofuIforZTterestUt '"■''' yon by your betters < " ""' " *»''«■> '■» old trstiir SerliSts?^ ""^^ *" »«* <" »■•» and sailed ont, sSngZn^^J^I "" '""^ '" '"e air, back again with extreme dtafavtur. "'"" *" ''" «■"> But as soon as he had reachp/l +»,. j suffered a sea-ehange. ^11^^^^ ^°^' ^^« ™«°°er ■ leaped to his feet,fnd p«d t T I''' * ^°"^^^««"^*' after the departing « TrCwoln ,^^ '"' '' *'^ ^^^^ ;'0 ye besom!" he cried, «comin' h.. advising-as stuffed wi' stinkin' Z^ T °°''''^ ^""^ wi' bluebottles in the taLo'jutr ^n'^tt^'^. «^0P dub ! Fling dead cats at her IJ J a ^^^ ^^' ^° *^« and glaur 1 Pour dish^Uin'ron tr 'lVth"''r fu' besom ! » "®*^- -^o, the pride- And with this dramatic conclusinn ni ently exhausted into a chair ^UhTe" sS^^ 7'C'Z THE SLEEP OP JAMES CANNON. SIGNALMAN. 276 aticking out in an elegant frill iu front of him, and fanned himse f gracefully with an iron shovel taken from the stove top, exactly as he had seen the young lady perform A?1? 'p? •'?' "f '^''"ed feebly, " but ye are a lad ! " Auld Chairhe only shook his head, and repeated, "I misdoot that ye are a verra child o' the deevil 1 " ADVENTURE XLVII. THE SLEEP OF JAMES CANNON, SIGNALMAN. On the morrow Cleg was up betimes. But not so early as Poet Jock and Auld Chairlie. His own clo hes were pretty dry, but Cleg had been so pleased with the freedom and amness of his "sack suit," as he called it, that as It was a warm morning and a lonely place, he de- cided to wear it all day. > ii« ue h. T'rT* ""!*' ^""^^ '^'^^S f''^"^ *^« «<^e of the line, he couldf v'°* *' *'' '°P '' ' "**^^ ^"^' f-m whence he could look over a vast moorish wilderness-league unon league of purple heather, through which the raXay had been^cut and levelled with infinite but unreZer^ Prom horizon to horizon not a living thing could Cleg see except the moorbirds and the sheep. But over thf Spellandene, basking blue in the sunhVht F« couH not. nowever, see the farmhouse. But he rubbed hia 276 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITV. huada with satisfaction as he thon^h. , • ««i°'" '»' '«|mo did not Stand idtei ™ 1 "h:""' ^" «"'™ with the silence aad the »,1 ° ^f™" distracted abouthim. Belonged rhearl'n^'r'""' ™»*-« the coal-carts coming out ofThf ! thunderous rattle of He missed the long Vo?i^s Ltl ^ i"." "' ^'- ^^"""^'i'- Side coalman, m the mo:J^^::^: .f/ tr^ '°""' done something to cheer himSt ' . "''"!'' *"' peewits. But as the forenol Z ^ T "'''"« '» the off to the shore-side pmLT^. "^"^ ^'"' "'^^ "^-t heather and were mutT '''"^ ""° *''» tufts of -. Of hideo^us »o^-.ar r/orctr; THE SLEEP OP JAMES CANNON. SIGNALMAN. 277 the monotony. It did not actually stop, because it was a passenger tram and had already « watered up''atNeth. erby. But Cleg was as pleased as if it had brought him a box of apples. He climbed up and sat cross-legged on the top of the hut in his sack, for all the world like an In- dian Idol; and the engine-driver was so astonished that he forgot to put the brake on till he was thundering headlong half way down the incline on the western side of the Summit cabin. But the stoker, a young man incapable of astonish- ment {m many of the very young are), picked up a lump of coal froni the tender and threw it at Cleg with excel- lent aim. However, as the train was going slowly uphill at the tune. Cleg caught it and set the piece of coaf be tween his teeth. His aspect on this occasion was such as would fully have warranted Auld Chairlie in setting him down not as a child of the devil, but as the father of ^l the children of the devil. thil M Y"" T'^' "if ^^'^ ^^« *»*'^ i° ^«°* of some- thing to do. He could not sit there in the sun, and be 8 owly roasted with a piece of coal between hi; teeth all for the benefit of the whaups. He thought wit! e-' gret how he should like to sit, just as he wL, on some hce could not get him, and make faces at all the envi- ous keehes in Edinburgh. To do this through all eternity wouUl have afforded him much more pleasure than a„^ ofteavr '"°'' ^o^t^^tional presentations of the joys He descended and looked about him tarl^ut^Vf 'J 'V'''^' ''^^^^ ^' found a pitcher of tar but no brush. He searched further, however, till he found It thrown carelessly awav amon. ih» l^JtZ Whereupon Cleg forthwith appointed himself hois^painl: 278 CLm KELLY. ARAB OP TFIK CITY. and (food, 80 th« tlhen th. «' I ."' ""' ^' "'" ">''''' heart boat wUh thf Z f * ™"" *'""'' ■»»''» Clog', afternoon,, and also (wKo nerf ul^""' ™ ""'"^ •^ luted to his nose> of tl,»7^' 7° f™™« ""me most undi- l>aa the priviWe of sll ™' "' fountainbridge which and Clydo canTald^ r? •'''°" ""' '"""" "' ""o Forth able .4 ^iSn^teVXeXirir c';*'''rr'='- gone there to "lag for a bov" w^TI i^'°* ''°'' ""^ •■i'yby"trapDin?"W ♦ ,^ ? *"* ""»""'«"' h" dig- word "coffl? '* "" " "='""" '" tke spelling of the Cleg had spelle,! it, simply and severely, "kofn •• matterivory fl™sWv an/ u""^ ''.''" »'»"»» ''^'"" ">« « For .. -j^V ^ ™^ '^''''y so. indeed. joiner, and Ikestffl "IT T .'""• "'' "^'"er is a half-brither thaf.^ f,Lt^„t;*™^ besides, he had a to spell • coffin • i " "• °« "'"•'t easy be able 'ai!,^.err^'t''t:c':;Vv"'"^r^^^ the fall in norson iJ a ^^ """^ administered pnddles. '""""-"'^'^d. »«™™l of th„„, ,n.'. mostly in FonfLrridgrttirt^""";"''''' "' "" ™" »» the bottom afd the "mel rLT^^ "" *' P"^"- '■•°"' solid and em„l„„s'''HrlrhU oJ! "'"'f ^^""""''^ dreamed that he was back'^ hJXrptjrdfXow^^! «? .anCa: o^onntainhridge ^on the C- It was a.'i«r ten o'clook in +»,« ciocis m the evening before Poet F. THE SLKKP OF JAMES CANNON. SIGNALMAN. 279 Jock camo in sight. He had been on a heavy ,,b with a broak-down gang on the Muckle Fleet inclin.: All day ong he had bee,, rhyming verses to the rasp of pick and tl^ scrape of shovel. Sometimes so busy w^ h.Ahat had barely time to take his mate's warning und leap o the side before the engine came leaping round the curve Bcarcely thirty lengths of rail away."^ l^.t P.et Tc^^k wa entirely happy. Probably he might have rravelt^d Z and never known greater exhilaration than, no ., when 1^ heard the engine surge along the irons, wink he M with the thought that it was his strrng arms v -Ih k pt the track by which man was Joined to m'an and e ^ linkTd Jock ^7'/;;^^'' ^'•^fd-browed, open-eyed man was Poet A.)'., A ^'"'^ "^'' ^' ^'^'^ «« ^^« ^''^'^ ^as tender. As, indeed, many a rascal had found to his cost. Those who know railway men best, are surest that there d< .s not exist in the world so fine a set of workers as th. men whose care is the rails and the road, the engines aid the guard vans, the platforms, goods sheds, and offices o our common railways. A railway never sleeps. A thousand watchful eye. are at this moment glancing through the bull's-eyes of he driver s cab A thousand strong hands are on the driv ntr lever Aloft, in wind-beaten, rain-battered signal box^s sand the solitary men who, with every faculty on the alert, keep ten thousand from instant destruction. How tense their muscles, how clear their brains must be as they pull the signal and open the points! That browr hand gripping lever number seventeen, instead of number eighteen within six inches of it, is all that preserves three hundred people from instant and terrible death. That pound or two of pressure on the signal chain which sent •""'^ "' uaiigcr, scopped the express in I ^' I i 280 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. which sat oUr wives and children, and kept it from dash- ing at full speed into that over-shunted truck which a minute ago toppled over and lay squarely across the racer's patn. And the surfacemen, of whom are Auld Chairlie and Poet Jock? Have you thought of how, night- and day, they patrol every rod of iron path-how with clink of hammer and swing of arm they test every length of rail- how they dash the rain out of their eyes that they may, discern whether the sidelong pressure of the swift express, or the lumbering thunder of the overladen goods, have not bent outwards the steel rail, forced it from its "chair " or caused the, end of the length to spring upward like'a fixed bayonet after the weight has passed over it? K ^wT f ®? «ta^ding by the line side as the train speeds hL 7 ?.*.'"' ^ ^''""''^ They look by no means Jike It. Lazy fellows, rather, leaning on their picks and shovels when they should be working. Or a solitary man far up among the hills, idly clinking the metals with his hanimer as he saunters along through the stillness. These are the surfacemen-and that is all most know of them. But wait. When the night is blackest, the storm grimmest, there is a bridge out yonder which has been weakeued-a culvert strained where a stream from the hillside has undermined the track. The trains are passing every quarter of an hour in each direction. Never- heless, a length of rail must be lifted and laid during that time. A watch must be kept. The destructiveness of nature must be fought in the face of wetness and weari- ness. And, m spite of all, the train may come too quick round the curve. Then there follows the usual paragraph in the corner of the local paper if the accident has hap- pened in the country, a bare' announcement of the coro- ner s inquest if it be in the town. THE SLEEP OP JAMES CANNON, SIGNALMAN. 281 A porter is crushed between the platform and the moving carriages ; a goods guard killed at the night shunt in he yard. Careless fellow ! Serves him right for his recklessness. Did he not know the risk when he engaged Of course he did-none better. But then he got twenty- two shillmgs a week to feed wife and bairns with for taking that risk. And if he did not take it, are there not CZ ' '' '''' '' *'^ ^^^'^^^ '' ^'^ -pty to tw7^'* !?T-n ^^y' J»«tth>3: there is one added to the thousands killed upon the railways of our lands- one stroke, a httle figure 1 made at the foot of the unfin- ished column, a grave, a family in black, a widow with six children moved out of the company's house on which grow the roses which he planted about the door that fi^t year when all the world was young and a pound"k pelled Paradise The six children have gon^e into a single room and she takes in washing, and is hoping by and by to onZ T I ^ ^"^ '^'^ *^^* *°y «°« ^«« *o blame ? Of course not. Are we not all shareholders in the railways and do we not grumble vastly when our half-yearly dW^' lazv fetr • '' ^T'^° ^'^ ^°"^^ '' these'over-paJd. lazy fellows in corduroys-lengthen that column ovei^ add: Vunit " o '' ^rT ^^^^'^ ""»"^^« ^ — * -rhe fitdforri ^^«"':^h«*°^«tter? 'Tis only statistics filed for reference m a Gcvernment office. But while Cleg waited for Poet Jock something else was happening at Netherby. ^ It was a bitter night there, with a westerly wind sweep- mg up torrents of slanting rain through the pitchy dark d^lw« ' ''r'"" "^^ ^^'^^P' ^"^ '' '- the 'sleep whTch draws near the resurrection. The station-ma«fpr L ^^ joying ills short after-supper nap in the armchair by th^ !l 282' CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. i ;{ fire. For the down boat-train from Port Andrew and the Duncan Urquhart's goods train would pass each other at JNetherby Junction at 10.5 p. m. The signal box up yonder in the breast of the storm was almost carried away. So tall it rose that the whole fabric bent and shivered in each fierce gust which came hurtling m from the Atlantic. James Cannon, the sig- nalman of Netherby West, was not asleep. His mate was 111, but not 111 enough to be quite off duty. James Cannon had applied for a substitute, but headquarters were ovev- taxed for spare men and had not responded. Netherby was considered a light station to work, and the duty would no doubt be done somehow. James Cannon had been on duty since six in the morn- mg-sixteen hours already at the levers. Then he had also been up nearly all the night before with a weakly and fretful child. But the company's regulations could not be expected to provide for that. James Cannon, however, was not asleep. He had his eyes fixed on the distant signal on the high bank, as he caught the gleam of it wavering through the storm. That was the way the boat express would have to come in a few minutes more. The electric needle quivered and clicked behind him. The signalman thought of the light upon the Little Ross, which he used to see from the green Borgiie shore when he was a boy. He had always looked out at It every night before he went to sleep. The distant signal on the high bank seemed now to flash and turn hke a lighthouse. Was that the Little Boss he was look- ing at? Surely he could hear the chafing of the Sol way tides. Was that not his mother bidding him lie down and sleep? James Cannon saw the distant signal no more. The lights of other days beckoned him, and he attended to their signal. THE SLEEP OP JAMES CANNON, SIGNALMAN. 283 Below in the left luggage office stood Muckle Alick h! w ^J"."^ '"' "■""'' t'^'^ "' 'hat night's exp ess knot Tt** r^ i"r^^ '" ™" ''" «-ee°thear , E knew. Though certaml,- his mate had not mentioned it m h,s application to the station-master. Many a tto' MuVwe" Vr r ■"" '"■■ '"' "^^ "' Mirren Series to .„ i f-'f ""^ ■"•ranging the paroels-whieh were to go, and wh,ch to be deliveml on the morrow. He"a[d oon" wUh'thTl """ '"■^'' ^r"'' "* »I"P-'» -^- »' *e 1 oora, with the larger ones below on the floor. There was no work of Muckle Alick's doing which was not perfectly done, and as featly and daintily as a eirl twitehV. ...^ crochet needles among the cotton ^" So engrossed was Alick in this work that it was five mmntes past ten before he looked up at the cZk a cheap one which he had bought from a Jew pedt^ aU fixed upon the wall himself--?to see the timl Cgo home g^ome 2^;''- ""^ "'""^ ""-^ "^ " ™ "- to w£erm^h^it-:tTpjseri-;rh! Ch^f ^^srg^Ts i^iz, ^ e^stinh?. uT ^T""'' ''"'^ "> '"'^P "ack the iiiH • ! h 284 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. J !p ADVENTURE XLVIII. MTTOKLE ALICK SEES THE DISTANT SIGNAL STAND AT CLEAR. Alice rushed out without waiting to put on his cap. He glanced up at the signal box. It seemed dim and dusky. « James Cannon has let his lamp go low ! " mut- tered Alick to himself. At that moment he heard first one warning whistle, and then two. He was not quite sure about the last, for the wind was sl^rieking its loudest, and it was not easy to be certain about anything. He looked up and down the line, shading his eyes from the rain with his hand. Great God of heaven ! The goods train was not yet off the single line. Both signals were standing at clear, and the points were not shifted. The Boat express was thundering down the hill from Port Andrew at the rate of sixty miles an hour, and would be through the Junc- tion in a minute. And there upon the single metals right ahead would be Duncan Urquhart with his heavy goods train. Muckle Alick snatched up a huge bar of metal, which was used in forcing round the cranks when they reversed the engines on the turn-table by the engine house, the same which little Hugh had almost spent his life in trying to observe more nearly. With this ponderous tool in his hand Muckle Alick rushed along to the facing points, whence Duncan Ur- quhart's goods train might possibly be guided upon the proper metals ere the express rushed past. As he ran he saw Duncan's headlights coming, and the thunder of the MDCKLE AUCK SEES THE DISTANT SIGNAL. 286 express was also in his ears tTo ou ^ ^ . , po«. but the wind wis .^ ulTe I,ii-f "" M though they had been baby GavL-r ™' disa"LT:,rber; :f;.o.t rr:z »-•'»- wmd. At that -omeftthetniL:*:™!"': 'r**^'^ press pierced to his heart An„ti, "' "'* *"'■ aash in^ the train dr^' iyX^^'^'^::' " »- :ir-i:- rt ttof-^^^^^^^^^^ ^- - the points, of course If), ''?"' ^' '^"^^ "«* J«<^k But Alick\eld them ^^^^^^^^ ^^"1^ ^-^ ^-e. goods train hnr!.^ ? ^ ^'^ ^®''®^' '"^^'^e the heavy io "ntd ^r.tsXTh?srs;Thit r-"^^'' located hisar^s. But still M ItlStldr' P ' The goods train was a lonff onp nn,! ,'f --^u ^ i , past. It was nnf t.u »,« ^""g one and it jolted slowly f'cwi,. ±1 was not till he saw the hind liahf «f ^v,^ ■,, th.rty yards from where he had been standing wlhou^ darktr^hUtl"""' '"^ "'""^ flew out a^in Htl' No one had seen Muckle Alick Notip '-ip-. ^ i,- deed 0, heroisn., save only Duncan Vr^^^Zt!;: fl 286 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. conscious of danger, had cried cheerfully as he passed, " What are ye hanging on to a post there for, Alick ? " It was fully a quarter of an hour later that Urquhart went to look for Muckle Alick. He thought he would walk the first part of his way home with him. It was al- ways wholesome and always cheery to walk with Muckle Alick, even when he was going home from a long spell of overtime. At that moment the station master woke up with a start. It was twenty minutes past ten. The Express / He rushed out. The signal box was quite dark. Dun- can Urquhart was coming up the platform alone with his coat over his artn. He called out to the station master : " Is your signal-man deid, or only sleepin' ? " A few moments after James Cannon awoke from a pleasant dream of the Ross Lighthouse. " Get up, man ! " cried the station master, standing over him with a lantern, " God kens how many lives ye hae lost through your ill deeds ! " Dazed and bewildered, James Cannon arose to the damning fact that the boat train was past, and he knew well that he had never altered the signals or set the points. Five minutes later Duncan Urquhart found Muckle A}ick. He was lying half on and half over the embank- ment of the cattle shipping bank, where the express had tossed him like a feather. "Oh, what's wrang, what's wrang, Alick?" cried Duncan Urquhart in terror. " It's a' richt, Duncan," said Muckle Alick, slowly but very distinctly. « I gripped the points and held them till ye won by ! " "Can ye bide a minute, Alick?" said Duncan ten- derly. ■f MUCKLE ALICK SEES THE DISTANT SIGNAL. 287 sel'" t'I.'p?'''" '"'? *''' """""^'^ ™^"' "'^i'^"^ fash vour. sel . There s nae hurry-Mirren wasna' expectin' me "' Faster far than his own train had passed the points Duncan Urquhart sped back to the station. ^ * Ahcks lying killed doon on the cattle bank*" K, cried. « Help us wV that board ! » ^"^ And, rushing into the empty waiting-room he laid hold of a newly erected partition which hfd receLtt been set up to keep the draughts from the passengers. ^ It resisted his strength, but with the station master to help him, and a " One, Two, Three," it yielded and th« men tore down the platform with it. ^ ' *^' n.K^'!u *^^ .5'^^ ''^ P^^'"' ^^^«d James Cannon and an other, they laid the giant tenderly upon it. But tJey had o wait for other two, hastily summoned from the nearest railway houses before they dared try to lift Muck e ll ck Does It hurt. Alick?" asked Duncan of Invernet* gently, like a Highland man. Inverness, tJil^l' r *^^* f^'"'" '^'^ ^"'^' «« ^"^ietly, "but juist try no to be ower lang wi' me ' " '' a lew weeks before, he had taken the children whom at the per,] of h,e life, he had saved from death. They were gomg to lay down the partition with its load u^n the ^.^Jd^trprr TreMrfa. feldt't'^""'^' '"""" the first delivery the morn " ^^^ '^ ^""S ""' "'' down"' "wLTlfr"" "Tl"" ""' ^""•' ""^^'-d ^«<=t toU HU w*f t ™ ' ''"•"'• ''"' I »"" "ot going to tell His wife, M.rr^n, might chance to read it. face Th^T!**"' "■"""'■'« ■''""' """o^ Urquhart's lace. The station master had already run for a d^t»r. I MNta r 288 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " Dinna greet, Duncan," said Alick. " The boat train won by a' richt, and I manned to baud the points for ye." But Duncan Urquhart could answer him no word. In* the corner sat James Cannon with his head on his hands, rocking himself to and fro in speechless agony of soul. " Oh, I wuss it had been me," be wailed. " I wuss it had been me ! " " Hoot na, James," said Alick. " It's better as it is— ye hae a young family." Then, as if he had been thinking it over, " Duncan," he said, " Duncan, promise me this— ye'll no let Mirren see me. Mind ye, Mirren is no to see me. I dinna want lier to think o' me like this. " She was aye sae taen up aboot me, ye see," he added apologetically, after a little ^ause. The doctor came. He bent over Alick. He moved him tenderly, this way and that. Then he ordered all out of the left-luggage office, except Duncan Urquhart and the station master's wife, a quiet motherly woman. Then, while the doctor did his duty, Alick sank into a kind of stupor. Presently he woke from it with a little start. " Doctor, is this you?" he said ; « this is terrible kind o' ye. But it's a cauld nicht for you to be oot o' your bed so late — and you wi' a boast ! " "Wheesht, Alick!" said the doctor. And said no more for a little. For, like every one else, he loved the soft-hearted giant. Then Alick beckoned the station master to him from the door of the left-luggage office, where he stood nervous- ly clasping and unclasping his hands. The station master came and bent his head. " The boat train," whispered Muckle Alick, " ye'll hae to enter her in the shedule five meenites late= But ^e MUCKJ.E ALICK^SEES THE DISTANT SIGNAL. 289 aTclear.'*''' '^'' """"'"^ ""'^'^^'^ "^' *^^ ''sna.s standing He was silent a moment. Then he looked up again "Mmd ye, there's to be nocht said aboot it in th^ papers You'll see to that, will ye no ? It's ^V wis^ to Mirren' ''°"''"' "''' '" '' '"^''' ^''" ^>'« ^« ^ ^^^P There was a sound of sobbing at the door, and the trwirht ftr ''- '-'-'' ^-^^ -^ - ^la': in a"imier'''^~^°'^^ ^''" '" *"" ^^"^^^'* ^^'^^d Alick rnao?" ^^T' o °.'^^''^- ^' '^^^' ^" f««*- ««"* his OWn coachman to Sandyknowes with a gig. "Puir Mirren," said Alick again, "I'm somp ,lnnf _^m^ that she'll tak' this hanj. sL ;., 'nT Sng^J; He looked about apologetically again "She was that sair set on me, ye see-maybe wi' us haem' nae bairns, ye ken." j^b wi us ♦1, m^' u, ""'"^ ""■"^'J noo. though. Mavbe Suddenly he held up his hand, and there was a lilht shining like a lamp in his eyes. * " Hearken 1 that's the whistle!" he cried. "Are th. signals clear ? " iire the There was no train in the station nor near it. thZlttT^ T"' "'■• =' ""^'' his head and looked tz':^:'::ZtX'^ °" '"'^ ""''"' "-'^^ "" "^"^ : »i ' J, li'^i I f,?^ fi I, !;. i 290 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. And thus the soul of Muckle Alick passed out of the statioa-with the distart signal standing at clear They brought the little wife in to him a quarter of an hour after. Already her face seemed to have shrunk to half Its size and was paler than Alick's own. The doctor had him wrapped delicately and reverently in the station masters wife's fairest linen. The face .a,, untouched and beautiful, and as composed as it was ui Sacrament Sabbaths when he carried in the elements at the head of «ie session, as it is the custom for the elders to do in the Uameronian Kirk. His wife went up to him quietly and laid her hand on his broad white brow. « My man-my ain man ! » she said. And she bent down and touched it, not with her lips but with her cheek. She looked up at the station master's wife "He aye liked me to do that!" she said, smiling a little, as it were, bashfully. And in all the room, where now stood ministers and doctors, men and women that loved him well, hers were the only dry eyes that dark midnight. "I wad like to get him hame the nicht, if it's nae great trouble till ye," she said ; « I think I wad be mair composed gin I had him hame to me the nicht ! " So they took her dead home to her to quiet Sandy- knowes They, carried him through between the beds of dusky flowers and laid him in his own chamber. Then they left her alone. For so she desired it. The wander- lug children, Hugh and Gavin, were asleep in the next room. So Mirren watched her man all that night, and never took her eyes ofiE the broad noble brow, save once when little Gavin woke and cried. Then she rose calmly and prepared him a bottle of milk, mixing it with especial care. As she did so she raised her eyes and looked oat CLEG COLLECTS TICKETS. o'the-a-l'; 4na1 ^^Zl ^1 '""^ 7 '"» "«"' the brightening VolZn "" '" ""' ■»'"»' »' ADVENTURE XLIX. CLEG COLLECTS TIOKEIS. M the'S.'' p'elZktr f *^'"« °' *-« •»>' it was after ten at night AuI^rT T' *""""• """"Sh fro in front of the house ani ^1 l'" '"""^""^ '° ""d waiting upon hin, anTooml ^Alt 7" "' *" '"°^' be spoiled. Cleg busied hS f i htleddin'^'"' T,™" It grew too darlc to see T(„.f ■ ™<'»> ip " till mouldy boots to a mori,„l V ' f "*"''"' "" *« <>W Then h'e ar^d a^lThe uXTo? "'T ""' "' '«"*■ shelf ronnd the walls and tev,?!*'''"'^'' '''°™ made before nor thelTe so bHghf ' "" """ " "» for supper, or sniffing as iTaTthf SZS -./SL-tlir^sS'^'' ^»- - - — ye W ' Ml\T""^*^ ^°' ^'^' -^o*? Where hao Chaise .fl^LlV^P"'^'^' -.-■-- '^"th," said Aula contemplation of this marvel five minutes. " Hae ye been f u» full i, |::;. or has she gi'en you up? ' , 293 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITV. The last was a question prompted by the fleeting nature of Poet Jock's loves, and the ever recu nf cnsis through which his muse had to pass before hf less fair "^°'' * """"^^^ '"'''''°' *° ^^' ^^*« '^i'^' But Poet Jock lay still and made no answer "Are ye no for ony supper?" said Cleg, practically who was now as familiar and free of the little cabin of the Summit as if he had been the poet's twin brother-a little more so, in fact, for Jock was" not on speaking terms with his brother. To tell the truth, his brother'and he had had a fight on Monday fortnight at the level crossing- ^ kk^^^'k * P°"*r"«° b«i°g the minister's sermon the Sabbath before. The theology of Poet Jock prevailed His logic was most convincing. He "downed" his brother three times. But though his brother owned that he had had enough of theology, he had not since visited . at the hut on the Summit. But for all that they con- tinned to sit side by side on Sabbaths in the kirk, and turnsln'fi . .. ' 1 ^ psalm-book, taking it as usual in turns to find the places and shutting the book unani- mously when a paraphrase was given out It was now the fourth day of Cleg's sojourn at the hut Every day he had gone up to the top of the craigs that looked towards Loch Spellanderie. And each dav his resolve never to go near the place again because of the faithlessness of woman, sensibly weakened. But he had something else to think about now. For since he came into the domains of the kindly surfacemen Cleg had seen nothing so mysterious as the obstinate re' fusal of the Poet to take any supper. Auld Chairlie tried again. "Look you here," he said, "either you tell's what is the maitter wi' ye, or Pll send doon wi' the late passenger CLEG COLLECTS TICKETS. 293 Sir""' •• — • ■' "» "•' '"-F «• — .'. hi.t",!!^'""'"' *""'*' "■« "» P'^'ter which was in Iave"o*^„^"''i; wZi'-hT""/ "" ""^ *«'^° ™^ «• ">» But Alick— -» ""^' '° ™™ °"'<'''1« differ- the wLir '"" »°'"»"'P'''«"8 the gap that there was in £?ttra»;r»:K:.e:.ieX But Cleg was prompt in action as ever. e^tr^i^itti'-LTri'-"-"^^^^ distress !f mind ™°' '™° " **"> "i'^" »' "' in;:n^^tt4rhV:r::::;^-'^^-"-°'-o„„a. AHrLrt:vf,':2-ii:esti?.:" the n„„ to see what I can do for them ^ ^"^ '^"°° ottin-^TrnCi-^rd^sLr '.;i?" "-«'- that auld sack ! " •^"""■'■e- "Ye hae nooht but "I'm no oarinV stoutly asserted Cleg, "I-n, ga„n 1 ■ ' J 294 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. doon to see if I can help. It's no the funeral I'm carin' for, it's what's to come after." all th:1heWes. "" "" "' ''^'"' "'""""''^ " "'"«'' »» "A' my things are awesome big across," he said « hnf maybe there will be eneuch amang us to fil ye ooT' Cleg 8 wardrobe had dwindled to a shirt and a nair of trousers. He had lost his cap in Loch SpellanLie' But Auld Chairhe found him a pair of socks and a pair of boots-which, though they were not "marrows'' or neighbours, were yet wearable enough. Cleg treated himself to a sleeved waistcoat, which, by merd/sh fll the buttons became a highly useful garment I had been exposed for some time to the wfather, and when Cleg saw It, It was mounted upon two sticks out in the back of the cabin, upon a quarter acre of ground which the company had included within its wirf fence with "Where gat ye that braw waistcoat ? " queried Poet Jock when he came in, looking admiringly at the remark able change in Cleg's appearance. "0 I juist changed claes wi' the craw-bogle!" replied Cleg with a quiet complacency, which became him 1 ke his new garment. ^® . «Dod," said Auld Chairlie, "it's a maist remarkable improvement, I declare." ^marKaDle Poet Jock gave Cleg a grey woollen shirt with a collar attached which had washed too small for him, but wS 8till reached nearly to Cleg's feet. He added a red and green tie of striking beauty (guaranteed to kill up to sktv yards), and an old railway cap, which had been a cast away of some former occupant of the cabin 1 Si 1 fi CLEG COLLECTS TICKETS. 295 " There, noo," he said, when Cleg was finally arrayed luneral. I hae seen mair unfaceable folk monv a timp 111 get ye on the late express, that is itit^TL^Z Jamie that's in chairge o' her." ^"^^^ Sulky Jamie was the name of a guard who wifhh.u irregularity. He was an incomparably faithful servant tn mght passonger. Fo,- „„ „„e in the cabin had a farth 1 ot money. Poet Jock, indeed, never had anv four dZ " I canna trust mysel' when there's .ill.-- « i sa.d Auld Ohairlie, who knew hTms ff" ""h r': plucked from the baminK, and »tm i • ^^ " ''"*"'J the surface. *' "'" ^'o-nng a little below with^ciigiVunnur;;,^""'. "r *•"" '•°^' "^^ -"">'»<' for him down to Swb/ ' '" """"^^ » '™ ^^^ H= =tated ™ case with eloquence and lucidity. He arguS :«,! 4 296 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITF. with him, as Sulky Jamie moved to and fro, swinging his lantern and never looking at him. But the guard was incorruptible, as indeed he ought to have been. No tramp should come on his train so long as he was the guard of it. Whereupon Poet Jock, stung to the quick, told Sulky Jamie his opinion of him. He said that when it came his time to leave the line, there would be a hurrah which would run along the metals from Port Andrew to Nether- by. He further informed him that there was one tes- timonial which would be subscribed with enthusiasm among his mates— a coffin for Sulky Jamie. But even that only on condition that he would promptly engage to occupy it. Poet Jock ended by offering to prepare him for burial on the spot, and was in the act of declaring that he would put all these things into rhyme when the guard blew his whistle. Cleg was nowhere to be seen, but Sulky Jamie had had his eyes wide open while he listened to the poet. He blew his whistle again, waved the lamp, and stopped the train as it was moving out of the station. He plunged into the forward van, which was sacred to the « through " luggage. In a moment Cleg came out with a fling which sent him head first upon the platform. A white-haired military- lookmg man looking out of the next carriage laughed loudly, and clapped his hands with glee. This act of Sulky Jamie's aroused Poet Jock to fury. ^^ « Wait," he cried, " wait till the fast day an' I'll settle wi' ye, ye muckle swine, pitchin' oot the bitboy like that." But Sulky Jamie was unmoved. " I'll be pleased to see ye on the fast day or ony ither d*y. But I'll hae nae tramps on my train ! " said he, as he swung himself on board. But, had he known it, he was carrying one at that ^<» — 1 f r CLEG COLLECTS TICKETS. o^^ a heatod . xl and an -I'^J^r'^ •""" '"'° ""'"g^ •^««rce« 0, the P°rtT.L Bu?''''' '""■ "ow the quatfe (or all ordinm mr^I ""« ='"'?• ""ough ade- with the oonsttSTS IT "°' '"««»''» deal work of art as a bogie Zl2t. ""^ '"«''■''«'» So Cleg waited till ho before the on the framework ^^rr- '"'' '^'"« =' '»" '»8* With a Jowl and ^" '?"'"*''» P"«»™- heart heat S^H T /oUed't" '"'''<'• ^'^«'» The dust and small «f„„! I *" ™y ""J that the train nearirb ndeThir^BTrY '"^ """"«" "■"'«' ately. He had determined . n . ^''« '""'« °° "^eV^-- Snlky Jamie's Lin w'l",''"'"''^' *» *»"' "Poa and twined his™^t mor! « [" '"''^ ""' •""" "s*"" .rined to win his pasZ<» nIT"' ''"' ""S^. ^'ter- i"-natured guards taT.tM'""' 'P"* "' «" «» mo„l?;tnt:!s'Sr ot arD.'"-" ''■' "■'''« hrhir^sx;^:!™---^^^^^^^^ himlw'^hllf™: f """T'" "'■'"'" ^'«8 '3»"'»»d'='i of xiimseir tialf a dozen times, during thnf inf^ • ,.1 period before they came to th; nexlsiti™ "■'^™'"»'"e lockroVhi" ''"PP^'^ ?* '»"•"■>" Cleg dashed the wet locks off his brow and cuddled his beam closer He could stand it out now, he thought. He was con™S latmg himself on being in Netherhy i. «T """S™'"- when he heard the miliLvvoio" L """'"'°°' "Guard." it said, "the boy you threw out of the train iriiirn P^fjWril > 11: !i lUll! :m IM 298 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. at Dunnure got in below the empty Pullman. I think he is in there now." Then Sulky Jamie swore loudly and emphatically. Cleg could hear him swinging himself down from the platform upon the line. The reflection of the lantern showed him the bars and wheels of the forward bogie. But Cleg did not wait for the arrival of Sulky Jamie. He dropped down and sped out at the dark side of the station, with bitter anger in his heart against the inter- fering military man. As he looked down from the wire paling he saw the deserted platform of Newton Edward, and a vengeful thought struck him. He ran quickly round the stern light of the train and climbed upon the platform. A lantern was sitting on a barrow. The sta- tion master was talking to the engine driver far away at the end, for the late train was always long. The guard was routing out tramps beneath the Pullman. With sudden determination Cleg pulled the stem of his cap over his eyes, and buttoned the sleeved waistcoat of railway velveteen closer about him. Then he took the lantern in hand. He was going to pay his debts to that evil-conditioned military man with the white moustache. He could see him now, sitting at his ease, and trying to read his paper by the light of the miserable oil lamp, fed with scanty drains of dirty, half-melted oil, which to this day is supplied as an illuminant by the Port Andrew Bailway Company. Cleg opened the door smartly. " Ticket, sir ! " he said briskly. The military man put his hand in his side pocket, and handed out his ticket without look'ug up, with the ease and freedom of a well-seasoned traveller. He never took his eyes off his paper. CLEG COLLECTS TICKETS. 299 ^J^Netherby-right,sir!» said Cleg Kelly, ticket col- DromnMv ^^'^ T!' *° *^' °^*^^^* compartment and promptly jumped m. It was half full of sleepy com atr b*r ' ^^^ '-' ^^"^« -*- of the r^io^sT; Cleg could hear the tramp of his enemy as he came un from routing below the Pullman. It sounded sulkTenhan ever upon the platform. ^^ ^^^'^ " Did not you nab him ? » cried the voice of the miH tary man from his carriage window. An^fr\'^\7''''' gammon!" replied the other voice And the whistle sounded promptly The temper of Sulky James wa. distinctly ruffled. The tram ran on down to Netherby There the ^ckets were taken at the little platform to'which Muckle nZ I ? ,* '^""P^ emergency man from the head Wdl^^^^^^^ ''T' ^" ^^^^'-ompartment. He ev^r to ft n f *^''' "^^ P"^^ "^ attention what- ever to the yellow first-class through ticket among its ruraufon'fr' ?'' '^^^^^ *^ himwith su'cha natural air of loafish awkwardness. air Sdnrr' *!'/.*'""■• ^"' *" """Jo" ™» down for Sr &f t™r ""' ""^ """^■"^ »' ""''y J-- Bavlr r. * ]■' ''"''' """'S''- ^'"d that ticket or And 11 ^""T^ '""" ^""^ Andrew-seven-and-nine ! And look ^„ething slippy, too ! I oan'l keep my train ii' ( , 300 m I CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. " I don't care if ye were the Prince of Wales. Pay up or I'll give 3'e in charge ! " ' The train started down to the main platform. And Cleg had the door open before the commercials in the cor- ner were more than half awake. He slipped out, and ran down the platform instead of up. At the corner stood James Cannon's signal box, by the side of a white bridge. Cleg swarmed up the pole at the corner, set a foot lightly on the white painted palings, and dropped like a cat upon the road. He was a modest boy, and did not desire to give any trouble. He thought 6f the military man with joy in his heart. " Now I guess we're about quits ! " he said. ADVENTURE L. GENERAL THE0PHILU8 RUFF, Cleg slept that night in a hay-shed half a mile out of the town. He did not mean to go to Sandyknowes till the morrow. And even then it was not quite clear to him what he could do to help the widow. But as usual he would think it out during the night. The morning came, fiery with lamb's wool in fluffy wisps all about the sky. Cleg shook himself, yawned, and dusted off the hay from his garments. Then he stepped over the edge of the stack and put his foot to the road. He was very hungry and he had nothing upon which to break his fast, except only the water of the brook. He stooped at the first burn which crossed the road, and drank his fill. Presently he met a GENERAL THEOPHILUS RUFF. 391 man w.o came walking smartly down the road. He car- ried a cow switch in his hand and chewed a straw. Can you tell me the road to Sandyknowes, if you please?" said Cleg, politely. ^ The rustic with the straw in his mouth looked at Cleff a^^ over carefully. Then he roared with laughter, whilf Cleg flushed angrily. ® ' " Your boots are no marrows ! " * he cried. « Lord a stemmed bonnet and his grandfather's waistcoat ! " ' h. 1 f i 7'"* f ^^^^" ^"*° '""^ « fi* ^f daughter that he let the straw slip out of his mouth. But he perceived his loss and lifted it from the dust, wiping ft 'carefully upon the dirtiest part of his trousers before restoring it to the corner of his mouth. ri.r ^^"^ ^' *-!l! ""f. *^^ '""^^ ^"^ Sandyknowes, man ? » said Cleg again, wi ha little more sharpness and less politeness. "I can but I'll no ! " gaped the rustic. And he went into another prolonged fit of merriment, fairly hugX landed « f " ""°'^- ^^^ ^' '^'^'^ fancied he landed some good ones. Cleg Kelly's hand dropped upon a stone. The stone whizzed through the air, and took effect on the third but- ton of the man of straw's new waistcoat. The laugh ended in a gasp. The gasp wi s succeeded by a bad word, and then the young man gave chase CW aiterwards. The yokel thought all the time that he was mltrth : f '' ^^^^' '"^ ''""'y' J-^ at the critica moment that slippery youth darted a dozen yards ahead and again avoided him. ^ ^ __AtIa8t the young man gave up the chase. He had 'Not neighbours. li fflVfl i-'lit 302 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. suffered indignities enough. He had lost his straw. But he had an appointment to keep with a farmer three miles further on to whom he was offering his valuable services. So he had perforce to turn away, and content himself with promising what he would do to Cleg when he caught him. What Cleg did was simpler. He patrolled the heights above, keeping exact pace, step for step, with his enemy below. And witl the a-d of the pebbles which plentifully strewed the brae face, he afforded the young man of the ' straw some of the finest and most interesting active exer- cise in getting out of the way he had had for many years. Indeed, his whole line of march for more than a mile was completely enfiladed by the artillery of the enemy. " Will ye tell me the road to Sandyknowes noo ? " cried Cleg, jubilantly, as he kept the youth skipping from side to side of the highway. At last he bade his adversary farewell, with a double machine gun fire of words and heavier ammunition. "This will maybe learn ye, country," he cried, "after this to gie a civil answer to a civil question." "Wait till I catch you » the young man shouted, stung to desperation. Whereupon, just for luck. Cleg ran in and delivered a volley at point blank range, which sent the man of straw clattering up the road. It was certainly not wise to dally with the prize marksman of the Sooth Back, who in his good days could break any particular pane in a fifth story window that you liked to specify, nine times oat of ten. After this Cleg Kelly returned along the heights to find out the way to Sandyknowes for himself. More than a mile back a girl driving cows pointed out to him the little path which led up to Mirren's door. But Cleg did GENERAL THEOPHII.US RUFP. 393 not go up directly. He played idly about, whittling sticks and poking in hedge roots in his assumed character of vagrant boy. Yet all the time he kept a bright look- out upon the door of the little house among the flower- beds. The window blinds were drawn down, and stared white like empty eye sockets of bone. The thought of the brave, strong man who lay dead within oppressed Clegs heart. Presently he saw a woman come to the door, and go after the cow over the little meadow pasture. Muckle Alick's wife, he thought. But he was wrong. It was her warm-hearted neighbour, Mistress Fraser. Then presently he saw Boy Hugh come running round the back of the house. Cleg had arrived in time for Muckle Alick's funeral day. The large company of mourners began to gather very early. All the town of Netherby was there. Even the District Superintendent of the railway, who happened to be m the neighbourhood on a tour, had telegraphed for his « best blacks » from his wife in Greenock. And there he was standing outside the house, waiting for the minis- ter to finish the service, like any common man. Poor James Cannon was there, the tears coursing steadily down his cheeks. The provost and magistrates were there. Every member of the School Board was there, all agreed for once. Such a funeral had never been seen in Netherby within the memory of man. That was the exact phrase used (it is believed not for the first time) in describing the occasion in the "Netherby Chronicle and Advertiser." But otherwise Alick's dying request for silence was scrupulously regarded. When the hearse moved away from the door, and the sombre congregation fell in behind it, Mirren Douglaa came to the door and watched it out of sight. The good women who abode in the house to company with her in im'! ill i i *' . i 304 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. her bereavement, begged her to go in and compose her- self. But she would not. "I am in no ways discomposed," she said, « but I will watch him oot o' sicht for the last time. I did it ->verv mornin', ye ken," she explained to them. "Let me biae I " The black procession went serpentining down the road from Sandyknowes, the men pacing slowly and gravely after the horses between the summer hedges and under the green beech leaves. Soon it approached the turn which would hide the hearse from those standing at the door of the house. But a little hillock rose, grassy to the top, at the gable end. It was the place to which she was used to run out to watch for his return, in order to » mask " the tea in time for his supper, that all might be ready for him when he came nome wearied. Mirren Douglas ran out thither, and, standing on the top of the hillock, she waved her hand to that which was going out of sight. She did not care who saw her "Fare ye weel, Alick," she cried, "fare ye weel that ever wast o' men the kindest. Few are the choice hearts that will match thine-aye, even up there, where thou art gane. And nane like to thyseP hast thou left amang us. Fare ye weel, my ain man Alick! Naebody's man but And with that she turned and walked in quite quietly. As the funeral passed the end of the road, Cleg with- drew behind the hedge, because, though his heart was full of love for the strong man whom he had seen but once, he did not wish to disgrace that solemn procession with his sleeved waistcoat and unpaired boots. As the hearse passed him Cleg took off his railway cap and stood bare- headed behind the hedge. So intent was he on the pro- GENERAL TflEOPHlLUS RUFF. 305 cession, that he did not see a f^ii « i,w n-iliUry carriage .ClZ^,^ ot Ct,H T"" ."' l"n.,and now etood silently byC si Th. ..«"*' also took off his hat »„,i ./ 7 ^™ "^ "ffloer last of th. ""'.and stood reverently enooeh tUl th. last of the mourners had passed by h. said Cu"lt tit "' '■" """"'^ "«' ' " when he was pitcle^ out !f^ "'•"' '"'° *""" ''"■8'>«i SulkyJamfel "'"' "" '^"^^ «' D„nnu« by ailenUn^dZdltV^ IrjT""'' f «• =" "»«" »t the rigft hand^hX^ grXlrd'"'™^ moustache. gnmiy at the drooping said'thrge'n'ttman" """ """^ '" ""^ I""'- »-»'-," deni; wltL" IZ^ Z "I- "" ' " '"'' ^"«- '"-»- highway. The XoHi 'f ''""'«'"« <'™'' '""• *^^ oof tinned .rgLe fl^tirct " ''"""^' *" "■""• ""' eyes"„To:';eC ''""°' '"^ ' " "" *""• »«>' ^-ping Ms the fJn°<:':rhrca::t2''^ t^ »», advancing to you dare to insult me f» ^^ ''"''"omnglj, "would Cleg retreated. -d:x:'rk riX"™ fn '" *' "»'-•"■>' <»yo« that Igot he"ea™- "'■ ''" ^'"'- ^"^ """"'» i.ls"hat":rto^°:n ^^farCitr'a '"V" ^"""''' "'«"^ . __ve too ho.™ur 10 inform you that my name '' i 806 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITF. is Major-General Theophilus Ruff, of Barnbogle and Trostan." "And mine," said Cleg Kelly, taking off his stemmed bonnet as politely, " is Cleg Kelly o' the Sooth Back o' the Canongate, and late o' Callendar's Yaird ! " The General bowed ceremoniously. " And now," he said, " what do you propose to do about my railway ticket ? " " I'll work it out ! " said Cleg, quickly. There was something in " the looks of the starchy old geeser" (as Cleg remarked to himself) which the boy rather liked, though without doubt he was mad as a hatter. " Work it out," cried the General ; " what can you do ?" " Anything I " said Cleg. (It was his one touch of his father's dialect that he still said " anny thing.") " That's nothing ! " said the General. « Wait till you see," retorted Cleg, " You try me. I'm nae country gawk, but reared in the heart o' the toon. I can rin errands. I can howk * yairds for taties — or," he added, thinking of his flower-garden round the old con- structioTi hut, " for flooers. And if I dinna ken the way to do onything, I can find oot." The General appeared to consider. " Do you see that house over there among the trees — across the railway ? " " Aye," said Cleg, " I canna help seein' it ! It's big eneuch and ugly eneuch to be a jail ! " "Do you think that you could keep that house in order ? " " Me? " said Cleg, " me keep yon hoose— it's as big as the Infirmary." Dig. GENERAL THEOPHILUS RUPP. 307 "I live there all by myself," said the General. « I can not have women about my place. The sight of them kill Zm. t \T T* *'"'* * S^^^" ">«" «ot to bring a woman about the place. I might try a lad " .n/i'V'"''^"^ '^'"'""^ ^''^"^ *^« ««"eral to the house and^ back agam. He was not sure that it might not be a « ?T, ^""^ * character ? » asked the old man. Aye said Cleg, « Miss Celie wad gie me yin." The Genera turned pale and stamped with his foot. A woman," he said, « I could not apply to a woman There is always something odious about fwoman's leZ' I ac ually do not recover from the shock of handling he ZeZr^'^' them for days. Do you not '.of any' "Tht . . Maister Donald Iverach," said CW «h« :iz cLg' "'"""''' " ' "" *«" *^^"« "> --^ '"■»." stooi^vSl in Edinburgh, that ,„„„g three-legged 1 would not give a brass button for his own character And besides, from the tone in which v„„ .„!,u t i lirgtirrrrr"^^^^^ with anything so /i»g»stin"grl;f ,: X™" ^f t parties « an ungrateful and gaping relative of ly cate!^™' '""° ''''« ''»* "^ -»"S>' «' *»« G-eral-s " I'll be requiring a reference mysel' » he snirl in +>,« -e which he had heard Mistress' Ro^ „? The';:''" shop^adopt, when a new customer askjd for a S "A what? "said the General, astonished. i! !l 308 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITF. "A reference as to your moral character, if I am to serve in your house ! " replied Cleg, unabashed. The General clapped his hands with unfeigned pleasure. « Bless you, my boy, you please me ! » he said, chuck- ling; « do you know that it is more than fifty years since General Theophilus Ruff had such a thing?" "All right," said Cleg, "suppose we chance the moral characters." " Done ! " said the old soldier, offering Cleg his hand. Cleg took it and wrung it hard. "I think we'll agree very well," he said. « I may be Ruff by name, but I am Theophilus by nature. That's Greek, my boy— all I can remember, indeed. The folk about here will tell you that I am crazy. They are no judges. And my nephew wishes I were. Once his father tried to prove it. But when the judge had once looked inside my account books, and examined my system of bookkeeping, he said that, mad as I might be, it was a kind of madness which was very well able to take care of itself." Cleg accompanied the General over the fields to his house. The walks and drives were completely overgrown with mossy grass and tangled ferns. The gates were all padlocked and spiked. Whenever the General came to one, he unlocked it with a brightly polished steel master- key which he took from his pocket. Then, as soon as they had passed through, he locked it behind him again as securely as before. « Spiked on the top," he said to Cleg, with a cunning look, "keeps out the women, you see. They don't like to have their frills and furbelows torn." Cleg nodded as though he understood. He was not particular either way. THE OENEBAL'S ESTABLISHMENT. 399 (h«l?/'^^!'^^''I'"' ^""'^ ""'""^ "offinsond things? " said the dsoId.or glancing swiftly „nder his brows^t cC «o«r2;n-i:sr-dV^"-'^^^ ^terooon o, the fore^iorw hXVe.T"' "^ '"^^' ""» .o„^:ts7he':;:ireiv°Lrtt r t-^^ Seller ^IT^etr^r"- '- "^-'■"'-^ -"U™^ SC ADVENTURE LI. THE GEKEBAL'S ESTABLISHMENT. They were now standing at the front door. Cleg had never seen such a house as this in his life. It was bfrrp^ and defended like the Calton jail, but no gla s wL to t seen m any of the windows. Indeed, through some of the openings which served for lighting, one cotdd see stmigS through to the barred windows on the further side Barnbogle House had in time past been an ancient ortahce. But both the former and the present lairds had spent large sums upon alterations and repairs. The latest of these. General Theophilus Ruff, had^ vast andla reaching local fame. Gamesome lasses skirled at h s name, and refused to keep their trysts for the terror n mouang h,m, wrapped in his blue militery cloak, stalking Mi 310 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. > lonely by the light of the moon. The very poachers would not fish in his streams or shoot in his coverts. He had at once the repute of a wizard and the fame of a miser— rich beyond calculation, but seeing things unseen to mortals. « He wasna canny I » summed up the coU lective verdict of the countryside. Theophilus Ruff had been an Indian officer at the time of the mutiny. And those terrible days of midsum- mer when the sun dried up the blood even as it was spilt, had changed the gay casual young officer into the man whom all the country knew as " the daft general." His father l^ad been first a spendthrift and then a " neegar "—that is, one who has become as great a screw as he had formerly been a mighty and lavish spender. The popular report of the contents of Bambogle House told of chests of gold and silver, cases of the most precious jewels, the spoil of captured Indian cities— all watched over by the General himself with an armoury of deadly weapons. For it was not the least of his terrors* that he dwelt all alone in that huge hundred-barred castle. Yet there had been a time when Theophilus Ru£P drove coach and four, and when he saw only the gayest of gallant company. Among themselves the chin-shaking elders would tell, with many cross-shoulder glances, of the bold wanton eyes of ladies with once famous names, who had sat beside Theophilus Ruff when he drove that coach and four, of the golden candlesticks which had sparkled on the board, wide branching, holding aloft many lights. Then Barnbogle was a gay place indeed, alive with bril- liant company, humming with mirth. For General The- ophilus Ruff had "used the company of the singing woman," and, as the Writ sayeth, he had been taken in her attempts. THE GENBBAW ESTABLISHMENT. 311 with a kiad^rprLTh.. t T ^'' ""'^ ^'-^ " happened in their^Sl ' ™°' """'"''" *»" ■>"- bri j.t e^es^r ^intr^ s^Trt-rT''' came downstata and gave everX„l2v^ '',!'"' """ hour's notice to „„{/ f,{ '*"' '"^ "">"«« an Eighty the :ZTi^::\z i^.r-^'^-'"-. •'y oarriagefuh wrangHng & 'oiv t Tj'^'""^'V" gaycompanionstook horfe and LT *°V""- ™<'''" ^»«y away. TheophilnnXto^t t"ltf T '■ bog e House and grimly watched them go vLl "." upstairs, called his sarvants into «,./ /n™ he went dismissed them, paying thltti^Lts'nfrd T SIX months in full. He irr,t „„ . .T, ™ '"""''' '"^ he could sell his horpf. '^ ^'""^ ""'' »"• 'wo till of his ca ttt. Then hi lerr'™"' "" "^ ""^ ^''f°^ and dwelt Ine in the ir«;i"'''™ ''."*^»' 8™«« Parks, fended policies l£r IZ T"" """■ """^ ^"^ <*«- quarter^ at B„ff^ ^^/^^r" '^°". Glasgow were there came a man-cS to "rerreVeifr d ""!? *''™ masons' labourers were lod^Id^n tJ i . ' "'"' ""^^ rr ^ whe. last hal-Slt'thf Jr S- ^X'^e i».^::m s^ o\vrhT;iro?itr '"-'^t -•- dark evening. But utr^^'^.'" *■■.? P-^-'i-house of a their excellent w!^L ^ "' ""' """' »' '"«■• P'-^^s and To them chiefly could he traced the tal- -f - ; • . ^trong-rooms, of triple-barred g^tings, oft;d™u^rflt ib it 312 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITF. ting doors with bolts, which at the click of a key worn on the watch chain locked so firmly that none couW open again without secret passwords. ^ During this period General Theophilus Euil had bo come an extremely piouo person. Every Sunday hfcot ducted service with his workmen in person. One dav ho iTnd "^tr^ *7"'^'" ""' Litany o4e Church of E„g land, with such a grace of intonation and a die^ itv thft It caused the douce Glasgow Presbyterians tfi^' tJa even double wages would hardlv make .m t^ tu . their souls- peril i„ thus sacriflcingrid„r "" '" . °"' ''y"'«.s°<"=<«'Jing Sunday the Generalhad dis ca ded the servicdbook, and he would lead them in »™ye with the fervour and inte^ectional fervour of a "ranto" -which at that date was the name by which all™ vivd preachers were called. revival Every church in the neighbourhood benefited by the benefactions of the Gene™l. And there was not a divi sion of the Derbyites, Close, Open, or Original, which dM not receive a visit from him, and which had not go,^ cause to believe that the brethren had secured the icte^ ^nvert the sect had ever made. But the Gene Jcon tented himself with making the most liberal con nbu tlons, and with listening to the brothel.' mourning ,„ each her's backslidiugs, while at the same time rejdcil that they only of all mankind could escape he°S Then he would return home, and the very next day pro' ceed to give another denomination the benefit of the doubt But, nevertheless, while the fit lasted the General w^ ready to assist all and sundry to erect suitable pL L „" worehip. His purse was long and deep. So the disWc of Netherby is distinguished among its neighbours for the numoer of Its spires and for the surpassing whitened of the outside of ito cup and platter. ™reness of T"K GENEUAW ESTABUSHMEM. Tlie onrj- stipulation which fh. n t-atheandheonlj-ahouldhaveth. • .T"^ '"'^«' "^ plan of the buildinK and th. 7 "«*' '" P^'^rib^ 'he finished. This is the » !"" "' "'''<='» " >"« to be -orships in a lahe,. aele" eTedt' *' " ^"^"'"^ " ^'^l^ geon's. So that the Crt If^h. """'l""^ "' "r. Spnr- Church of England ( n Enlt^r,"'" '"' ""'" '»" ""e of ritual) is daily broken bfth^- T' «'''»'^' "herty procession within it, Xr ,1 1 ""PT',"""? <" having I and also by the fact 'tb t e ttoT J'™"^ »»»"oiroular ; « table, only fitted for holdL ,7 ?" *"'"""' '*'"nd Bible which completely co„tTh^„ *' «^ «' ^ter and. Similarly the Kirt „f i^ . J^P"'" '"hnne. * Netherby pLnts a Iiho ehllT^ ^^ '"" ™'«"'*«1 in meeting-house. And ' „ °''™"^™t>«8 of a little Bethel to wresfle with the fac thltT"*"' "' '^"''''« *»»'» h« bestow an organ, e^cent *"!"'"',« »<> P'^^^ in whi.h to heating appafatJsTXied '=""■'='"''' '"m which the in hXhTfresitt'itr;''^ ^«='» - housed ■nost approved cathedral pScnt-T^^^ ''°'" «° '^e of the Baptists, indeed, hLZ^^^T'^''^'-'""'^ the begmninga of another after ,1 i t° '"" 'P'™» and The whole front of the ft^e^ ^^^T of Lichfield, faced rocks. For durinnhf ff "?'""• "'«' -I-^rt;^ ophilnsRuffwonldarrrvee^h.'r--'^ "^"°° '^'■'■ atones with this shell-whirl J'^"" ^^ P°*"^ '»» of marked spots upon tie mot "%°'"° *""• ^^ »'» hring the pieces which toTt' f '™' ""' -nasons to these all found theTwaytto If^- . ^"^ ""^ "^ one Kirk. ™J^ ""o the frontage of the Free h-gio'ns\d°;rclsTrtlaTTl''"T? "" ""^ ^"'M-g of re- one of «,„„ ., , ; .™' Theophilus Rnfl ae-er -11, !i -.vm to be nuished Wn^v. *i, . °'*'r allowed Wnen the last turret of the 3U CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. spire' was on the point of being finished, Theopliilus would dismiss all the men, order the unfinished pinnacle to be covered with lead to preserve it from the weather, and so leave the church with an ugly hooded hump upon its back. Or he would leave a rough stone dyke and a dozen old sand pits and lime heaps lying for years about the gate, just as they had been thrown down at the time when the building was begun. He preferred to see one gate-post up and the other down. He had been known to build a mill and fit it with expensive machinery, to construct a * mill-dam with the most approved modern sluices, and im- port the most advanced American « notions " in the way of farm implements. Th .n^one fij-e morning he would arrive, and, when everything was almost complete, pay the labourers their wages, discharge the engineers in tl e midst of fixing a steam boiler or laying hot-water pipes for the most improved method of preparing food for cattle. Thereafter he would write their masters a cheque, and there was an end. Not an mnce of water would ever run out of that granite-embanked mill-dam. Not a wheel of that beautiful machinery would ever turn round. No horse wearing shoe-iron would ever tread the asphalted floor of these sanitary stables. Year after year the whole premises stood empty. The glass would earlv disappear from the windows under a galling cross-fire from the cata- pults of all the boys in* the neighbourhood, with whom it was a point of honour to break everything breakable about the various « follies " of General Theophilus Ruff. Never did houses get the reputation of being haunted so quickly as those bnildings erected by him in all manner of unlikely places. Even during the very week after the workmen had been-unceremoniously dismissed, and while the new gloss was yet on the handles of the doors and the shop polish :ipon the machinery, the place began to be deserted after ME SENEBAL'S ESTABLISHMENT. dusk bv evprv m ' ^^^ hood/ ^'"^ "■'»—». and ohM i„ the .eighw Nay, more than Hii= ti, matanOy communicated M °™° '"J'storious blight was Gonerai. Vo. ,t S t me it witT^.'''^"'"''^ "h" ''"ne ,nto the market, wUh„nt„J'"""° ''"y »"">at ^ver. He had been in^In t^tnv ^f discrimination what- row o( respectable tenemel ,, ^ *' '""^'"^ house of a through the windows one bt'one^r' *' ""°"P'°'«. '°«k gone, then iock the door and , ?u ''' " ""ey were all 'rZt '"''"""'»'• ^o'^mnlyaway with day th:'bi;7b:^' ti'irk"^' '^i '"'^'■'«»- ^-^^ -e^t tace, with their eatapX friZ'^"'"' """" « «^« d«- while with the crv thit T' '"«hten,ng each other the 7"'''»theho„rwa3?me'rr'r"""-^- ""'^ «h>ch tramps camped at „,,? "^'anoholy wreck, in not occasionally inferfoe) pfit !"? //' *e poIiee'dM wndow, and the fittings of he ^11^' ''''""^ °' "-e their fires. * "' '*« ""'chen to burn over It was no wonder thut ri t>- „ toterest upon Barnblle H„^ f ?'^ '^''^'J ''"> "'"oh «nister repnte, and the cZeter^? .*"'' ^' ^""^ "» ■"■ght never have set LtwSit, , ' "»» "'"'or, he never heard of TheophiluV "th" r T ^■" he had oalled by all the neUhZlZ ^^^^l^^'^^ "as familiarly minister of the U P d, • . '"''''"' h" back. The town which had ^otteTTT f ' »»'^ ""e in the •noney) explained on a sac™ T'' ""^ ""^ «««™''» ophilus meant a frfend of^d t f '.°'"''"™ """ "^he- this might be taken "rol?,;" ""•' i"''""^" '» "dd that sometimes appeared in the Idtf *"' """ ""' "J"" Nevertheless it was „?t ' tiirr^"',"' "«■"• thmg that the V. P. e„w die. „„ the uT T '"''"'S^ me u. P. pasture, soon 816 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. after the close of the service at which this explanation was delivered from the U. P. pulpit. This induced a carefulness of speech with regard to the General in the pulpits of other denominations— ex- cept, perhaps, when the x^iinisters had probationers sup- plying for them. For probationers never have any cows. When Cleg and he arrived at the house, the General bowed a moment, with his back to his visitor, over the handle of the front door, whirled a many-lettered combi- nation, clicked a key, touched a knob, and lo! the massive door swung noiselessly back. When he invited Cleg to enter. Cleg put his foot over the threshold as if he had been entering the Calton jail. But he had pledged himself, and could not in honour draw back. Besides, Cleg had in him, as we have seen, the spirit of the natural adventurer. He constantly did things for the sake of seeing what would come of it', and embarked upon perilous adventures only to see how the problem would work itself out. The hall in which he found himself was of old panelled oak, with lights which came from very high above. Oak furniture stood sparsely here and there. The only re- markable things were a couple of plain white tablets let mt. the wall at either side, like marble memorials in a church. Through many passages and past the doors of innu- merable rooms Theophilus Buff led our young hero. Book- cases filled with solemn-looking books stood all along the corridors. Marble timepieces squatted silently on the ledges. White statues held out cold glimmering arms from dusky recesses. Here and there, on little round tables by oriel windows, large-type family Bibles lay open, many of them having bookmarks inserted here and there some of discoloured ribbon, but many of common pink i;, THE QENEBAW EST.BLISBMBNT. Z\jtt lullt'' ■" '^ ■"'" ""^ "'""'"■•y ?"oe™ to tie all mn™CeVtXrrf r '"'"'"^ ''""''oa. with "obwebbing the wall, r^ the Lr T''"^ '«"' '""'"K ™»ge,, past a gii»me i "g fnd di„ ' -T' """'' """'"-g- Pan« and silver dish-oovefe „pon r' n"^."™^ "' "^^ • ..^T"*' '"'' *"' shadow '"^''' •''^S '""•"'ed ophilusEuft".!'n,;°™%t°e''1' T'"""^-" '"'O The. Wee a swallow's nest llafL''™'' '"''""™' P'^^^^d House. ■«*'"*' "=« rear wall of Barnbogle ohe^'"oC ;^'^f toWeo^^^^^ woodwork, and a "3 kind, leaked a ifttle Tj" ".f"'!; ""»''' "''^ ail were tumbled roughly a T ,, °''^"' "=« ""dow fkillet, a brander, two tin „,!? "^T'' " ''•^'-g-pan, a knives and forki all „ tlfe „ ' " '""'*''°^» "hoap description, and mos of thLrr'.' ""^ ■"°=* "'iinary The General ushered r? ^ '" "'^ ^^'-'^e. ooremonyand conde re'sfon^iir" ""'' P'""^ "'"'.ome »« and untried ass ten I 1" "'^"'" '"'■'»«"g a ment. ""'»"' ■"«■> the work of his depart. is a: 'e^XVltriet'"?'-' '"^ ''■'™ '' "« -id , .■ it hadtheminthearr^rv '"™"'r ' ^''^ « had '"y^it on this oooX ^^ T ' "'" "" "-e cooking what manner you ^^^,1°^"' »»' ^O" ".ay see if ^ "There are herring hte!^';'"'^"' ""e future, to a barrel which showed thr™ i '""^' """"g his hand a ha. there beyond. Tut r^^ ' ITZl '^t^'' " «"<• you will find m that firkin ir 318 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. on your left. It is the tot Danish from Kiel. The' mned beef on the shelves is to be kept fo. emergeneies It IS not to be touched. The butter I import myself and d.spo.. of what I d„ „„t use to an Italian"^ warXustman m Netherby. I find that it takes the place of lard a"so Here ,s flour for sauce., and I always bring Lome a four-' pound loaf every second day, which I find to be amply sufflcent. I propose to continue the duty, and shall bring two m future. If there is anything necessary for yZ It. I think I have a suit of clothes-not my own, but ft;„'„r uLT '° """" '^"^ """ -"^ '^ "^'i ADVENTURE LII. THE THREE COFFINS IN THE STRONG-ROOM. While the General was explaining all these things he was at the same time deftly handling the gridiron upon which he was cooking the four red herrings which he had laid out. These, with bread and the aforesaid best specially imported Danish butter, dug out of the kes with a scoop, furnished their simple meal. General The ophilus made tea in a black kettle, by the simple process of putting in a soup ladle filled with tea and allowing the water m the kettle to come to the boil. "The tea is of the best quality," he said, "though I am somewhat prodigal of it, as you see. But a man must have some luxuries." Yet all the time, while Cleg was partaking of the her- rings, cutting the bread, and drinking the tea, he was op- pressed by the dark overwhelming bulk of the house .f( if ing passages, doors that clicked an.^'' ""''"^^^ echo- untold and unutterable myslerfes '^'"°^' ""^ '^^ **" All through their dinner time thfi r. , courteously polite, handing thlZt"?tT^ ""'' "^^^^ -ngswith infinite address^ And whe„ c''"^ 't '^^" norance or his awkwardnp., .^ f. . ^^^^ '" ^'^ ig. Generalonlyinthes^ghterr-- -^^ "'"""' *'^ rectness of his own demeanonr f ^k'^"^ "'''"'^ *^^ ^°^- Height benefit by theTsson in . '' ^^^^' ^^ he chose, . Cleg needed man'y, for had L n ^^^T""'°' ^°* ^^"^ Miss Celie Tennait, whtl t ittif " *"'^" ^^'^ ^'^^^ liberal education ? '^'^^ '"^^ ^ charmingly When the meal was finishpfl Ti, i.-. Cleg into a little r«,„adj„Wu:' He«^.S""' «"« ^^ wash-tub and a tiny boiler. *" "'■" » ««eg of you. 890 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. therefore, that when vnn i,„„^ u . . th. «ido; ,00 w!;rj:;o!;r„,'':njrr !7 '"-" pleases yon. But wh^n ^n, « ' ^*'^''^''" «» it share wfth you^^r r'd^ a^riToT het ^ "^ ^'^^'^ ' with your position, you will S thl ! m' '°"°'°*^^ into the other." '^^ *'"''"^^® '« change Cleg touched the nearer Hnif «/ i .u his hand. It was If ZIZ ? ''^^""^ gently with somewhat aniquTwUh" d'l T'''"'-^' '' ' '««hion Test veiT long. T^e G n! u "^ !, '" ^^° ^""* ^^^ ^he you will rapidly *ro7into f n T ^f ^°"' ""'' «"«^» «« Assure yourVcClete v thaMh ' *'^'" '^ ^^"^ «-«• farther need for thTm.'' ^ ''''"'' '^ *^^«« h"« «<> Cleg thanked his benefactor franklv k„* -.i. servience or profusion ^' ^"* ''''^°"* «"b. India, fr„„ wh 'ch loh ZT' ™ •' °i *" ""P^^ '° not desirous of makCft J " » ""' " '''"""^> I »■» decided .ppreoiTttn fn \r™-- ^"' "" ""' "™' <" ""J- « M "^^ "^^^^^ ^is hand. 'he i„"rj; ptaVa: Sri"'"^^ "' ^''' °— <" ^mreqnirerfv™ YoTI'T," ".'' ^°" P™"'"" here ■omotimes, and to , Jnl .? ?.'° ""' '"""SO things fore, to remunerate Z.. tl ° '""^- ' '^''»'"'' ^^^^ yon IS perfectly harmless, a. I shall show jou. II r friend l>er as it I which I annected ► change itly with fashion and the •ts, and such as ur own. has no ut sub- 1 Cleg, I am illings pee in I am jf any lid be Cleg. F'i re of here lings iere- shall you. Along glrvomy passages. dice against such e^x''npr/lV^^^^ ^^ ^ °^* "nnatural preiu- Cleg nodded. He lU, „;ir ? P""""* " ""ek." »n>ongst skulls and omssb'r 5 '° ''™P '" " vault ..4't::;,t;:rsrek:-r."*e.,-d. into the house with the sllZ. ■ " '^°'"' '«^»<'ing -»e additional secrecy rwelfBlV"""™' ""^ '''«' General behaved with a«.enn! , "™ '» ""'S the "You will obset"^hc a,7"Vf rr- present make you free of th! ■" ^ ^'' "-" '"^ «« Tl.at in time w^Il douMkss o ""T'^" "' "'" f»*es.. yon »,„ consider me a erv:;^ "' "t,"" "'^''"'™'' discipline to maintain and LZ ' "'" '"'^"<'' ''i'h " Jonr nerves are stlg/CstTt '°.^^'"'- passed along gloomy vimj'l. ''« "dded, as they •-'e. gustily as^„soL'':ronrrds''''"'' "■» "^■"^' i m no feared, ffin thafs ,vi.„^ a-ght aboot nerves," said Cleg ''' '"''°- ^ '^'""^ ''en -^:Xix:ti:t^^^^^^^^ a» » shi^ rbSe^: • i;::;:^ "■ t -'° ■•"- "»'-- '^'^ featly picked ont in white ' """^ "'"■ *<> ■'""heads "Yon observe," sMd the General "il,,- ^ ■ of my own construct.on-aided t, ' ■ ? ' ''°°'' " ™"fely Bmiths and mechanics S „ '', "%'? ""^ »"»' ^«"eJ »hioh the house is bui°t is abnlr l""" *" ''^^ °Pon the door i, really excavated in °7 ^"^'' """ "'™ ^at frame „p„„ ww^i the do„V dt, °"° "'""■ '^''^ -»» and completely into the so id ^l l,T''^^ ,"> "-P'^ -=T:.x;;^-xi~is to all It. 322 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. The General pointed upwards to where a pale yellow gleam on the wall showed through a range of open and glassless but triply barred windows. " That," he said, "is CheirantJms Cheiri, the common, yellow, or wild wallflower-of a different species from that of the garden and, in my opinion, a much finer plant It 18 growing up there on the natural rock. So that I sleep as sayeth the Scripture, ' within the living stone ' ! " Cleg looked at the General. His eyes seemed to grow darker, his figure became more erect. He continued every few minutes to refer to his watch. " This lock," he said, patting the keyhole, « is a highly ingenious union of a time-lock and the commoner letter combination lock. This morning I set the wards to open at two m the afternoon. So that it is now almost the time when we shall be able by the application of the key- word to open the door." the hour'*^"* *'" *^^ ^*°^' ^"^ *^^ ^^^""^ ^^^^ ''PP*''^^® « Now ! " he said, and stepped forward with some show of eagerness. The son of the burglar looked on with an interest which was almost painful. The General twirled the lock till he had brought five letters into Ime upon the dial. Then he inserted a little ,rnn J T^ ^^ ^' ^^^^^h-chain. The massive red iron doc, with ite.white-studded nails, swung back softly of its own accord. ^ « A simple application of the principle of the w&ter out and the door opens. In another five minutes the small cstern will fill of its own accord, and its weight will automatically close the door." Cleg hung back. He was not afraid, as he had said THE T,«KE cwms ,N THE STKONG-RoOM S2B inrido of my watch ca J 1 ?., * <"""""'"'<>'■» "" in the to die here,;o„ wouwt^ I abtr™! ' """' ""^^'^ The two stepped within CW h 7°" ^J" »»'•" any further feelings of 4w»;^^ .1°^ "''""°''' '» «'•»»' The General to'^ohed i ^.'^ to If '" ,'"'"''"'°^- stood on a pedestal. The whnt l T '""P ""«'• pitohy dark a moment wLtlT' '""' '^" with light. "''■ '''™<'^ "»» 'airiy barsting with hthttrti^f it o^r "'""'"^ *-' p- tant introduction. °' "'"' '^"^^ »" inipor- picked out with white t the ? -^ "'"'' "*" "S"'" thing. There was n thbg w at™ T T *"' '"""«" three coffins, each arranged sqZetn'n •* "''""" '"^ The lids of the two at elhJr ■^'^ '^ °'"' '*'''^- 0.0M. The centre on^ett:^"; ""^ ^^^ ."'"^^ »" not large or fine ones bnf n« ,, P®"' -^"^ coffins were covered with black ebth' ^hetd TiT'^ T "°" ^"^ oflF, and stood leaning a^ainsffV i, ^ ''"*'^ °"« ^«« Cleg could easily rlad the in 7'" '* *^^ ^^^^'^ ^'^^■ letters upon a bfacTp Jtd S^^^ "'^^^ ^^ ^ -^^te MAJOR-GENERAL THE0PHILU8 EUFF E.I.C. BENGAL ARMY BORN JDLY 218T, 38- DECEIVED JULY 218t, 18- ONDECEIVED JULY Slsx, igl DIEO JULY 2l8r. 18-. III » 'SI ' 1/ ™K''> !.C i '1 324 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. "It is nof long now,'* he said, pointing to the latter date. "I have not added the year, you observe. But it was revealed that all my days of fate should culminate on the 2Ut of July. And so hitherto they have. 1 do not tnink 1 shall see more than other four." Then a new thought seemed to strike him. He turned to Cleg Kelly sharply. " Note the lettering on the coffins," he said ; « I did it all with an ordinary sharpened knitting needle. I bought a plain black tin plate from the carpenter of the village and he showed me how the paint scrapes off. It is quite easy. But I have done it much more neatly than could the carpenter himself. I have since attended quite a number of male funerals in order to observe the quality of the lettering upon the coffin. I do assure you it is, in general, disgracefully slipshod. The man does not ap- pear to take the least pains to improve. I have even thought of offering to do the job for him." Cleg was continuing to look about him, when a sudden noise behind him caused him to leap to the side. The great red iron door had swung to with a little well-oiled click. The General smiled indulgently and reassuringly. " It is only the water balance 1 told you of. It is now full ; the little wet-bob rises to the top, and the door swings to of its own accord." Cleg continued to look about him. The room was about thirty feet square and half as high. But there was no bedstead or any other furniture to be seon. The General noticed his perplexity, "I observe," he said, smiling, " that you are looking for my bed. Here it is," laying his hand on the central coffin. " Oblige me with your hand. I usually depend upon a stick, but your shoulder is better." THE n«B. COPms m THB ST«0.0-B00,,, ,35 little white pad. Then hel^ .fl, •''''°'' ''»"'' "P"" "« flddle-Bhaped swell and d!«rT'^ •'"' '''°°''^<'" '"'<> *» "N«w?'heS;.damMLt"'H'° ''l'''" ^"''''im. a ribbon of the .« paJtat thVl" "''*'"'^- ^'S"-' the bowl to smoulder." ^ ° '""P' ""'' P°' " i"> Cleg hastened to ohpv t+ ™ Indian pipe with a flexible'hanl ! '''■•S«-''«'><'ed East pale amber. ^'"*'°' ""'' """ithpic^, of fine ooffin, "I do noTnse „?df„: ^rK"™' ""> '''S^ «' «'« Indian hemp TniBaZ^ZJ "°"'' '"' " "'^''""' »' common dunghill pUnrVtr!,""""' " """^"PPle, a jng of 'heselo„,rptdu!e' m dtrK''^^-""- they produce only a peculiar pv«u ! ' " ""^ ^^^^ of ethereal oomi, Jtl^l'Zf^^^^^ then a kind evil eifects of opiumT '" ^'^'^^ ^°"^^«d by the He beckoned Cleg to come nearer CU^ ^-a took up his position at th^ w f A ^ "^'"^ '°' ^^^ reluctance. ^' ^°^* °^ *^« coffin with some youTe:tli::':z^^^^^ -^-^a- ^o hands of the sn^^irZiToZe^-^^^^C' Tr^ ''^ please. Thank you. Now bZ thl l ? ^^' ^^ ^^^ FALSE to the face of the Took aL.. f ' "^ '^^ ^^^^^ be able to open it by the use of ,^7'-*' '"'^ ^^^ ^"^ same word will (for this day ol' t^^'''"'' ^'^- ^^^ outer door^-from the insii w'"'^^' ^°" *° ^P«" the outside. The pass wli L ^* ''' "°' ^^^'^ ^^^"^ the Write it on a pa~de mv w^^' ""^ '''' ' ^^-«^« Aa P7 , "'"^ watch every morniTur » Oentf^f ™ir™«.*\« -■» «.e faol aT/S of the -.. -re ..ddea,y jerked up, so that he rose almost Vi iff r ?! Ill CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. to a sitting position. Cleg's musoles twitcbed, and with a sharp cry he leuped into .ho air. The General v;,,ved th.> b.tnd which was not employed in managing the pipe-stem, upon which his eye.- wore steadily fixed. " I beg your pardon most hear?,ilj /' he sr/id, " T should h^Q warned you of this. The iuct i^ I have an auto- iiatio attuchmr-at, which I have applied beneath the pil- IcT, by -vhich at certain intervals my head is raised. For, tho'j .ill so remarkably spare of pers >n, I have several tmu-s in the East been threatened with apoplexy; and, indeed, I suffer constantly from asthuij;, for which I find the Datura stramonium most useful." And as Cleg whirled the combination circles in imita- tion of the General, he prayed that he might never again have to enter that ghastly chamber. Yet it was his for- tune to abide with the General four years as his body servant, and to enter the strong-room of Barnbogle nearly every day. ADVENTURE LlII. A STORMY MORNING AT LOCH SPELLANDERIE. It had been a stormy morning at Loch Spellanderie. It was not wholly that the winds howled gustily up the loch, or that the tiny breakers lashed the shore in mimic fury. Mistress McWalter had ofttimes h^en a deceived woman, but never before had she take her bosom so complete a viper as Vara Kavannah. "he had, indeed, been teHi vr her so for well-nigh fo,.; . ^ars. Even Kit Kennedy i^ad become for once al v at an angel of light when compared with her. The reasoa , f the sudden riot A STORMY MORNING AT LOCH SPELIUNOER.E 037 kempt, stravagi;. f„l oZ he^tGulLr^ "^'''' ""- worth your salt, a, ye are not, y" "^I^^lt"'™' ''".''^'0 "a^ryrtt'"^'-'^^-"^^^^ in bd aTKarnT'"*- "■■«•*''=«'«' "as still 'table. uSZlLZfZT"' ""-'"•"Abouf t ' that she ^<^"l^nX:,z.zr;z:t^^^^^ known to sweeo th« nnrf oL/i T J"'^"'^®' " "«« been ™.U o, the ba?„ titUtSbreffer t't t?T '"^ o.c„„rse,when the W .oor onherem^lt: r,' oi^ofHfeiniiirpuoivSL:: i r"X:f below m the sweeps of Vara's brush knd the paX Tf^-^ Kennedy's clogs «pon the stone floor ' "' ^" triv;;7r.:::..^i'iir":-h*a:?rT',rd "^' '"-=»"■ Mil fe llfc ■,™Jr..r.' 328 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. But the jail wad be no surprise to the likes o' you. Na, I'm guessiu' ye hae been weel acquant wi' the poliss a' your days. Tak' up the water-cans and gang your ways to the well for water. Then haste ye fast back and put on the muckle pot and the porridge pot, baith o' them. Or, my certes, I'll come at ye wi' a stick, ye careless, trapesin' slut, ye ! " Vara was not slow in obeying this command. To go to the well meant, at the least, to be for five minutes out of the hearing of the all-compassing tongue of Mistress Mc Walter, and out of the shrill ding-dong of her vocabu- lary. It was not much, but still it was something. The girl took 'the blue cans readily, and went towards the door. " Gang some deal quaiter," cried Mistress Mc Walter, "or, h}^ my faith, I'll thresh ye like a sheaf o' corn when I rise to ye, ye misleared gamester frae the streets! Dinna wauken a' the puir tired bairns, for they were hon- estly gotten and weel brocht up. And shut the door after ye, when ye gang oot. Ye want us a' to get uur deaths o' cauld, nae doot ! " The anger that burned in Vara's breast was healthy and natural, and it would have done her a world of good if she had been able to allow herself the safety valve of intemperate speech. But she only said to herself, « I'll thole awhile yet for Boy Hugh's and wee Gavin' sake, till they can fend for themselves. I need the siller she pays me." Kit Kennedy met Vara as she crossed the yard. Now in order to reach the well it was necessary to go through the gate at the far angle of the yard, and to walk some distance along the grassy road which led to the next farm. The gusts blew off the lake and twirled Vara's hair becom- ingly about her face. She was certainly growing a tall, A STORMV MORNING AT I nrn or> ^G AT LOCH SPELLANDERIE. 339 Shapely, personable kfis a«^ •.nd »id ,0 with his eyes. '° "'°"«'>* ^^ Kennedy, pose ot head of J ylZ I„f '',"1 ""> P™"^ ""d not, indeed, possess th. •? ^ ° °' "'<' l*""- He did Kelly, nor ySTT Zl'l'Z^'f'''', "'''«"''» <" <^'^S good intents, which drove Zl " l^' ^ "■' "l""^. ^o -any adventures. Kit Kenn./ ^ '' "'"'^ ""o»gh so M, more meditative Cle Al^ T """""•' -<»•« "-""ght- moment in meditation," TonTa: 1""' "'"'»" ^-<»^ » do anything. And vJhen he dM » ™ " ""««'« '» miglit again dash the more deLl' i ™ ""'J' '""at "lo the arena of action. ^"'™"«'dlyant." And the „,ost .tmZZfZV ^'^ '^' '"« »"• -ot ajfect hin, one whifZ ' than le . "."~'^' <"•• ««n which dashed at hin, across The iaS "'"'•'"'" "mitten MisrsLvXtS^'T """"^ ^'""P'^ »"" "enient, with a polcer aliri " "*"'«' <"•• » "ore con- Kit Kennedy toZZl and ^a roS"- ''"r"'^"'- «"* t'on- He could dodg^ her blots hf u' """■ f"'"^"' Aud he conid ,0 on calmly rhlLt^t '"I ""'^ '"'°'^- Sir Aylmer de Vallance wMlir ^^ ""^ adventures of vided a ready-„„d blVronnd o7?°'' °' ■"■' """' P"-"" ^ve a delicious relish to a "wo"'"' '■•«'. "hioh Kit's imagination. "otonons single combat in natu'Sly-o^forhl'^rndT as7he '^1 ^ '""'^ ""^ -« tomed to doing it. He h,dt • "^ '"'™ ''''" a™"S- heart he always called h mZTSl! "" ''"■ '° "" nib lady Gloriana, and it was i I 1 1 33U CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. only with difficulty that he could remember to call her Vara. Kit had been ll\^^o\^ h- nier during the years since Vara came. He ha'! iiow a iieroine lor iiis romances us well as a companion for his hours of ease. For Kit went about acting another life all d^' long. He fed the bul- locks to the clutter of cavalry hoofs. He shepherded the sheep towards pastures new, to the blast of trumpet and the beat of drum. Or, as a great general, he stood gloom- ily apart upon a knoll, with his staff around him, and sent a barking aide-de-camp here and another there, to direct the woolly battalions how to make their attack upon the bridge. He always thrust one hand into his breast, in order to represent? the correct attitude of a gr- general on such occasions. He was compelled to unloose the third button of his waistcoat in order to do it. This seemed strange. He had never read that this was neces- sary. He wondered what heroes did in that case. But it struck him afterwards that very likely they had their waistcoats made open on purpose Again, in bis books o chivalry there was always a lady to bet] a:uidi^s? star every li <'e of adventure. Each knight, A he was of any respectability at all, proviued himself at least with one. The great Don Quixote had doii. that lor the Kni/it Dolorous was, m the opinion of Kit Kennedy, as indeed in that of ^V fail min Jed people, a most high-mindn] a,ud ill-used man. Kit had tried in various lirections to find a Jidy of his vows before Vara chi . ' ir lack of beti r, he had even tried to imagine hi au, as a divinity, beautiful and cruel. But something was always happer g to destroy this illusion. Nothing is more hurtful to exai^ed senti- ment than a box on the ear, administered unexpectedly. So, after a fair trial, Kit was compelled definitely to give his aunt up, as a possible queen of love and courtesy. It oould not be done, even with nil kik >"«. So. instead he eld tftheX^-'T"^""^- black hag S^orax, and eaneoi.lL / '° ^"^'"^ ""« I'ubba.for the last „;,„epord"f '"" «f""'''"^ 2=«'^=- ever ehe moeked him wUh her h> f""'^' ^"'^ "hen- himself, saying, - ^ , m„^" ?"""■ '""e™, Kit hugged bubba ! Little k„„, ' 2 .^ ' ""■'' f° "="" her li^L- might, and knigh r/deed, shet '° ^ "'^'"^ "' "'^ to posterity yet unb^^.l X 1 „'""!,'' '" «" '^»''" Beelzebubba ! " ""^ '""e of the Loathly talking briskly all the way ' "^"'« "'™ "^I^'y '"d and erect carriage. "indLf 'iiT'i* ,'"'1 ''■'^ '"^^''y "ays Cleg had been within sLt; 1'",'° '"'"'' *"' « '■een another fight ^ *°'''' "'""''^ "ertai. .y have - h?:^snrr„irsh:'"^'^\ ^--'--^ goodness, and she wished thS h! 7!»embered all his »eeher. But in the mean'to^ °™" "J""'" =<""« '» ant to have some one Tt hand J '] """""btedly pleas- Pathy for herself and abuse of'th. ^^^ *" ' '' "'* '^m- The lad and the g^rl s „ 'd » . .""^ "^ ^'' ^^^ "4. elbows upon the dyk whL v ' "■=' ""' """' '"""'"« morning enormities of ';ttslMc7,?''' '° ^" "" *' her be of good cheer, for tW? „"■• ""* ^" bade 'or them both. And a so d„ ,hT " «"'"' '™« """-i^g Beel.eb„bba. It alwav ^ tof'''^'' V'\»'^ «■»» fof "How splendid," said Kit "i, i' ^'r^.,"""'''- eome for her as he dil for po '■' pIL " tf" -^'^ ^■'"* '" yon may depend Uwlzebnhh.. „ , ,' . ""'" '<""» day, With a stick. Sl,„ w„:'ld ™ ini^i "1™."!!°* ""-=' ">' nearer and «nd. I would show thedeyil ex. 382 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. actly where to wait for her. Then I should put my hat on a stick and she would come, crawling, crawling slowly -^to get a whack at me. By-and-bye she would get to the corner, and then— pouch ! the devil would jump at lier and cutch her, the earth fly open, and nothing be left of Beelzebubba but a smell of sulphur, us there is after a bee-killing," The vision was monstrously comfortable as Kit painted it. But Vara did not laugh. " I think it's wicked to speak that gate," she said. "What?" said Kit, hardly able to believe his ears, yet scenting a new and unsuspected perfection in his lady Gloriana; "it is only my aunt. It is Beelze- bubba." ' ' Vara shook her head. She could not give reasons, but she did not think such talk could be right even to im- agine. " She is no that ill after a', if you consider that she keeps us," she said. Kit did not know that Vara had known intimately a far worse woman than Mistress Mc Walter. At the door Kit gave the cans of water to Vara, brim- ming full as he had carried them, but silently, lest his aunt should hear from her bed above. He touched Vara's hand lightly for reward. For he was a boy as full of senti- ment as his books were primed with it. He had brought a dozen of his father's volumes with him, and though his aunt daily prophesied their destruction by fire. Kit thought that she knew better than to do that. But, while Vara had been gone to the well for the water, momentous things had been happening in the pri- vacy of the chamber shared by Mistress Mc Walter and her husband. The worm had turned. But, alas ! even when worms turn, they do not gain mu i by it. Except that .* A STOHMY MOHNINO AT LOCH SPRLLanDKRIE. 333 brel'St aTim"' """' ''? '''''' ''^^ '' ^^"^^'^ ^own its uiejiKitist a little more easily Mistre™ JloWalter had gone storming along her devi 0U8 way of abuse after Vara's departure ^ in iohrtwaZ' a' T ''"™ "'"'""" '""""'"^ broke m jonn McWal er, awaking out of his deep silence at the t:eet'-''': a recWess h^d tL? J " *"' .""'' "'"■"^ y" '»■• "■'«. "hen ye had the trouble in your inside, and could get rest neither to be hehthed for a lichtflt runtipole limmer that I hae fed ye and elad ye_aye, and tended year bairns, washing them back and front ilka Saturday nicht m' a bit o' ful nel and guid yellow soap, forby drying them after that wi' a rough towel? And n„o, since 1 am to hae a besom like this preferred befo.-e me-Pll rise and be gaun. I'll b de nae mair aboot this hoose. Guid be thanked there's then^ m the warld that thinks mair o' me than John Uo^21 my am marriet man ! " ' "Aye, juistna," said John Mc Walter, rousfid at W Een gang your ways, Mistress, if ye can make "a better m \ 834 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. o't. Ye're braw and welcome to trampit as far as this hoose is concerned. I'm thinkin' that your new freends will be brave and sune tired o' ye ! " Mistress Mc Walter bounced out of bed and began hur- riedly to gather her apparel, as though she meditated leaving the house just as she was. She would have given a considerable sum of money if at that moment she could have wept real wet tears. However, she did her best with a dry towel. " To think," sobbed she, bouncing from chair to chair, " that ye prefer a wandering gypsy's brat o' a hizzie to me ! what for did I ever leave my mither, and the bonny hoose o' Knockshin where I was so muckle thocht on ? Waes me, for 1 am but a puir, heart-broken, deceivit woman ! " At this very moment Vara came in bearing her cans, with a lightened heart after her journey to the well with Kit Kennedy. With a louder voice and more abounding thankfulness. Mistress Mc Walter took up the burden of her tale. "Aye, here comes your base limmer. Ye had better be awa doon to her, John Mc Walter," cried the Mistress of Loch Spellanderie, « or she may tak' the country again, after the thief-like loon wha cam' seekin' her on Monday nicht, nae farther gane." Then Mistress McWalter went down stairs and opened more direct fire. It was certainly a stormy day at Loch f^pellanderie, little doubt was there of that. For the winds roared about the farm on the hill above the water. And within Mistress McWalter's tongue thundered like great guns in a naval engagement. Vara went about her work with the tear on her pale cheek all that day, and a wonder in her heart what she had done to deserve such cruelty. m KIT KENNEDY'S FAREWELL. 335 ADVENTURE LIV. KIT KENNEDY'S FAREWELL. It was about half-past four in the afternoon that V^r. fhln I u ff ""^^ ""d.sguisedly sobbing now For Steflld "I"'-" ''' '^"^^ whie Mistfe elai^^r^oft^^^^^^^^^^^ f "- tTeXlTL Zd'^VT^^^^ her. looKing for a chance of speaking to hp^fir"*' .'^r^S'^^t. "ny "Msie," „e said, "je mannna heed the mistress' tongue. We a' get oor share o't^Crn yo no bide for a day or twa what I hae ta'en to bed m'Z every nioht for thirty year ? » » «n to bed wi me " Whet ir;" '''' ^'"^ ," ^ "^ ^^ "'"'' *» "-ht." ter Icimiir ^''""'' "^ ' ""'''' "'°'"' ''°'^»'- San;".r:s?sttra'r::-4tnrbo'''"''^™ "' there An' if r,^^ •„ . "'"y'^e 111 be some use and^k"f:rl;ttrertin'»' '"' '" ''"' '-''^ »' P.ain,/there ist^ tr^e' l^e^t remand 'it'lll s7mr„rtL ™ ;r hrrn*'^ ~- .'*"' ^^^^^ , . P y^ °" your road wherever vn gang, my lassie, near or far. There's Ti«a h.J J ., ' th'- —rM -^K ' T J , ^ "^® better friend in tn. ..r.d chui, I ken o' than just a pound note." ■, ,. « lii m 1, , f 336 CLEG KELLY. ARAB OP THE CITY. And he slipped Vara a dirty little square of papers folded hard in his hand. "I canna tak' it," said Vara protestingly, with the paper in her fingers. " Hoots," said John Mc Walter, " I'm no needin' it I hae plenty. And I canna let ye gang oot o' my hoose un- plenished and unprovided, ony mair than if ye war mv am dochter. Tak' the pickle siller, lassie, and welcome. And hark ye, mind and crave the mistre s for your full wage forbye. She'll think a heap mair o' ye for doin' that. And forbye, she'll no jalloose* me so readily." And that honest man John Mc Walter slipped like a thief of the night in, at the back door of the barn. Vara promptly announced her intention of going away that evening. «Aye and welcome," said Mistress Mc- Walter; "the like o' you should never hae entered my door." -^ "1 shall want my wages," said Vara, plucking up courage and remembering her master's words, " Wages, ye randy," cried the goodwife of Loch Spel- landerie ; « wages ! Set ye up, indeed, ye crawlin' blastie ! Think ye that honest folk's wages are for the like o' you, that canna bide awa' frae your deboshed paramours, and that lies in wait to entrap decent folk's men, silly craiturs that they are ? " "I am but a young lassie," said Vara, calmly, "and think on nane o' thae things. Neither will ony body be- lieve them but yoursel'. But I'm gaun to hae my wages, or I'll gang to the kirk yett next Sabbath, and tell a' the neebonrs how ye treat your servants, starvin' them on scraps like dogs, making their lives a burden to them to get them no to bide aboot the hoose, and then at * Suspect. KIT KENiNEDY'S FAREWELL. 337 waget"^'' end threatening them to give them nae This threat, which would have feared no one who was conscious of good intent, somewhat stilled Mrs. McWaT t't 7; r ? '^' ^"'^ '^'' "'^^^^'"g «^ the kind would be greedily listened to, and retailed at all the tea drinking L ^'-rf. T'^""'^- ^""^ '^' ^'^'^ «'««' that she had not quite the character in the country-side upon which such accusations would fall harmless. She went to a locked drawer. wi' Z''"' nf ■?' ""T"'" '^' '^^^' "^^^ ^^ i" ^ish gang wi them. Glad am I to be rid of you I » T aofT ff"'/''^ *?'^ ^'' ^^P"^*"^« ^'•^"^ the house of Loch Spellanderie. John Mc Walter covertly watched her '0^:;;';^^'"'""''^, ^"^ ^' *^« ^-^- He' was looking ZM^ ?'' ^^ * "^''^ 't*°^- He dared not come out and bid the girl farewell because of his wife. B^I tHe tear was now in his own eye. " It micht hae been my ain lassie leavin' anither man's hoose. I am wae for her," he said. "But I'm glTi was a ten-pund note that I slippit her And whal. state wad the wife no be in, gin she'kenned - ' And there came a faint pleasure iuto his grieved heart as he watched Vara out of sight. Meanwhile Mistress Mc Walter stood at the door with Tictorv in the very poise of her ungainly figure sLT^ disdained to utter a word as vL J f \ ^e had quietly bade her « Grinight m' Bu '''?'' '"' ;;Kit Kennedy: Kit Kenn^if I Ki. K n dj- '''^itrau' the penetrative power of her voice ' For KirK'" T "'"''• ^'' ""^ "«t to be found, dinf his^d^rr "^ "'T ' ""''''' P^^°«- He was bid- 0,^ t..a. he huu uiscmguished her by that name. M f' ( 338 (^^■EG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. nor, indeed, save by his kindness and help, that he thouffht of her at all. ® But now she was going away for ever. Her little bun- dle was in her hand. Her all was in it, and what Loch Spellanderie would be without her. Kit did not like to think just yet. It was under the orchard apple trees, at the place where ^they overhang the wall, that Kit was waiting. " I'm vexed, Vara, I'm sair vexed that ye are gaun awa' to leave us! "said Kit Kennedy, hanging his head. " I do not ken what we will do without you. It will no be the same place ava ! " " Fare ye weel, lad," Vara said, holding out her hand ; "ye hae been kind to me. Aye, juist past speakin' o' ! " " I'll carry your bundle as far as the march dyke, gin ye'll let me," said Kit, for once, bashfully. "I canna bear to think on ye gangin' like this ! " " Ye had better no," said Vara, « she micht see ye ! " " Her ! " said Kit, with a scornful look over his shoul- der; « I wadna care a buckie gin she was walkin' up the loan ahint us ! " Yet, in spite of this gallant defiance, Vara turned round to make sure that the goodwife of Loch Spellan- derie was not in the place designated. They walked a long while in silence. It was Kit who spoke first. " Vara," he said, « will ye whiles think on me? " "Of course I will that," said Vara readily; «ye hae been verra kind to me here." "I'm but a laddie, I ken," said Kit, "but ye micht no a'thegither forget me. I'll never forget you, lassie ! " There fell another silence between them. "Ye'll be gaun back to be near him?'' said Kit, a little sullenly. KIT KENNEUY'S FAREWELL, ggj !.« in hi8 own pain ^ ^' ^' ""' "''"°« P'«»- walfed o^uir^^^ *^°"f * " ^"°^ *^'»^' *^" ^^deed they had walked quite across a field. Then he spoke I hae IT^ ^"'^T' ""' ^'^ ^^"^ ^^^^^ <^h« bairns for ye i- hae nae hoose to put ve in Vara Rnf n t .^''^ fond of vp if'fl 1,-v^ 4. u , ; "* ^' ^ ^"^ ^^^«^ xuuu or ye, it s like to break my heart." Vara stretched out her hand. II An' I'm fond o' you too, laddie!" she said. a sobtn'iis W. *'' "' ' ""' • " "^' ^'' -^^^' -^b " I'll be aye thinkin' on ye," said Vara. - 1 wish vp war awa' frae this place." ^^ " Dinna gie that a thocht ! " said Kit, bravely • « I'm no mmdin a hair for my auntie-at leas , I wadn'a if y^ had^only bided, so that whiles I could ha; looked at /e^ They h,vd h.cn walking hand in hand for some time. Kit KenneMy .^a, tingling with a great desire. His heart plung^ " ^^^l'^^^ ^ he nerved himself for the infn?J ""'!? l-^' niarch-dyke, just where it plunged i„ ..._^ „, uxi^.ios auu aiaers. The path went down -(■t 'Mi II ^w i I 340 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. close along the lake shore from that point. The trees made a green haze of dusk there, with airs blowing cool from oflf the lake. " Gloriana," said Kit suddenly, « will ye gie me a bit kiss to mind ye by ? " Vara looked at the lad with eyes of shy terror. This was indeed something new. Even Cleg, who would readily have died for her, or given her his coat or his house, if he had one, had never offered tc kiss her. So at the sound of Kit's voice her heart also drummed in her ears emptily, as if her head were deep under water. She stood still, looking away from him, but not turn- ing her head dowi?. Kit bent his head and kissed her fairly. A strange pang ran responsively to Vara's heart— a flash of rapture to Kit's. They parted without a word, the girl walking sedately out of the shadows in one direc- tion, and the lad running with all his might back to the farm in the other. Each had their own several communings. Vara said to herself, "Why does not Cleg think to speak to me like that?" It was a great blunder on Cleg's part, certainly, and, if heart-aches were to be spared, one which he should speed- ily set himself to repair. And as Kit Kennedy went home he said, over and over « I hae kissed her. I hae kissed her. Naething and nae- body can take that from me, at least." But with the stilling of his leaping and rejoicing heart came the thought, " But had I the right? He fed them and clothed them, and never asked as much. He is better than I. I will not trouble them any more. For he is better and worthier than I." So Kit's dreams and imaginings helped him to some- A YOUNG MANS FANCY. 341 thing more knightly in his renunciation than in the brief rapturous flash of possession. ADVENTURE LV. A YOUNG man's FANCY. t.r.^f^^r'^T.^!'^ ^"' ^"^^^"^ ^f*^^ *he General's in- terests when, had he known it, he ought rather to have been looking after his own. He closed the doors of the grea house that afternoon, as he had done for Lny months, and left his master in his strange bed. Jwal not afraid now, any more. For, in spite of his madnlss here was something engaging about the GenerrlTe-' h ng at once childlike and ingenuous, which came outTn the c ose intercourse of two people living altogether alone. .n,^'r .T ''' '''''' '"^^ ^^^^"-^ -t the back behind'ht "^ '^'" ""''' ^°"^' ^^"* mechanically Cleg was making up his mind to ask the General to let him live out of the house. Cleg was thinking, also of speaking to Vara. ButthenVaram^htnotagrec^Hadhe everaskedher? Of course he had not. It wfs " sof t "-so he had held up to this point to speak to a girl about such things. But yet the idea had its pleasures, and some day he would speak to her about it. Had he been hidden hat day m the little copse by the march-dyke, on the road from Loch Spellanderie, he might have heard something very much to his advantage, which might have spurred him on to speak for himself, even at the risk of^being considered exceedingly " soft." But the mere fact that he thought of it at all, argued h I'f i'4mm m I I' 342 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. a mighty change in this Cleg of ours. He was no more only an Arab of the city all these years. He had given Mirren half his wages and saved the rest, so that, with the Christmas presents the General had given him, he had nearly a hundred pounds in the bank. Cleg pushed his Vay through the thickly matted copses of spurge laurel and wet-shot alder. He was go- ing to Sandyknowes. The lush green Solomon's seal was growing all around, with its broad-veined green leaves. A little farther on he came on the pure white blossoms of bog trefoil, with its flossy, delicate petals, lace-edged like feminine frilleries. A thought came into Cleg's mind at the time which bore fruit afterwards. He thought that, if at any time he should lose his position with the General, he knew what he should do. For Cleg was an optimist, and a working scheming optimist as well. The man who succeeds in this world is doubtless the man who, according to the copybook maxim, gives his undivided attention to the matter in hand. But he is also the man who has always a scheme or two in reserve. He is the man who is ready, if need be, to " fight it out on this line all summer," but who has also at the same time other fighting lines in re- serve for the autumn and winter campaigns. So Cleg, with his ready brain, turned the wild flowers into a means of getting the little house in the background for Vara and himself, even if the General's kindness should vanish away as quickly and unexpectedly as it had come. The house of Sandyknowes was very quiet. Mirren Douglas had put away vain regrets even as she had laid away Muckle Alick's things-and that was as neatly as if he was to need them next Sabbath when he made ready for the kirk. She had reviewed her position. Ar.^ #«« A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY. 843 four years with Vara's and Cleg's help, she had owed no mn anything, and had brought up Hugh and Grfn as as AiicK s widow. She was his wife still Alick and she had been saving people. Also he had been as was said, "a weel-likit man aboot the station '' ban?^ B^'t tf M^ ''''V'''' hundred founds ttie bank But this Mirren, like a prudent woman, had re years to run of the nineteen years' lease of Sandyknowes- its grass parks and its gardens, its beeskeps and little office houses. But she was often a little weaLd t n ^1 rdedtr' ™"^' ''''''- ''' '-'' ''-' ^" Her thoughts fell on Vara. Should she not bring her home ? But yet how could she take her away till the Irm from Mistress McWalter of Loch SpellanderL and walked ir "'""' """^ '^"^" ^^^^^ '^^ ' position in the household of Vi, ? concerning his Tlu,ophilus Ruff. '^ *^' redoubtable General " Fine," said Cleg. « Him anrl m. » nae faut to the General." ^'""^ ^°^- ^ ^^a^ "Preserve us," said Mirrpn «t « The auld wizard hadna had a lin' soTah Ti"- '""t "'^• you came, since his InH,-„n . T ^^°°* ^'™ before And that's ten year sine T'T ^!^PP«^-Blackie died, faut to him ! " ^ '' ^""^ *° '^^^^^ ^^at ye hae nae Sh- looked at Cleg again wh::.f "o^^idnhUt:.";"'' "'' '"°'' ^-^ *»» - •' '"cot But CJeg remained uninterestingly discreet H. = -j nothing about the General's bedroom bTf; ™ ? '' tl>e tale with the most minute detaiu ■ "^ "P vaulted passages, the iron-bartd ZtZi:Z\'': <^''n:x^ "^KcattiSt/T "«»"■ »- trying to go 'to sleep on he hearthrug o' "^ " thorgS^tla^r; tltrth^a"^ B^h''""''^*' "' fearsome creature to leeve w C the Gene«l ^^rb*" ' nane so ill a neebour to me." ^™eral- Yet he is n:. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4 // / V A € K A^* (^ & 1.0 I.I tim ■ 2.8 Ih Warn LA 1^ tii Vi 116 m lit tim u 1.25 ii.4 1.6 150mm /APPLIED J IIVUGE . Inc ^B 1653 East Main Street J^g -- Rochester. NY 14609 USA .^Zg*^ Phone: 716/482-0300 .^sr.^^ Fax: 716/288-5989 1993. Applied Image. Inc., All Rights Reserved |\ kv J>^ ^\ A \ ^ A ;\ ■^:;^tj^ '^ 5^^ fm CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. Cleg uncrossed his legs and became instantly at ease. Mirreu looked affectionately at Vara. " Heard ye," she said, " that I hae gotten a new serv- ant lass ? I am able to do withoot her wage. And it is worth far mair for the company," she added. " I wish I could bide and help ye too, for Alick's sake," said Cleg, shyly. Mirren rose and ran to the boy. Hastily Cleg held out his hand, and Mirren Douglas clasped it. He was afraid that she was going to kiss him, and though he ad- mitted the thing as an abstract possibility of the future, it had not quite come to that with him yet. " Cleg," she said, " ye are a kind, good lad." "Aye, that he is,*' chimed in Vara ; " and ye wad say so if ye kenned him as I do." Cleg began to expand in this atmosphere of appre- ciation. He decided to wait for tea. The hours sped all too swiftly, and the appointed time arrived before he knew it, when he must return to the great barred prison with the little brick martin's nest attached to the back of it. But before Cleg went away he brought in the water for the night, filling all the cans. He scoured the milk pails ready for the milking of Mirren Douglas's three cows. He split abundance of kindling wood. He brought in the peats off the stack— enough to do for all the following day. He swept the yard clean as a hearth, with a worn stable brush. He promised to come back on the morrow and sweep the chimney, when Mirren pufiFed her cheeks at the smoke which blew down it occasionally. Then he brought home the cows, assisted by Hugh, Vara watching meanwhile a little wistfully from the gate. She felt sure that if it had been Kit Kennedy, he would not have chosen Hugh to help him. Mirren watched the girl with sharp, kindly eyes, but she said nothing. A TOPNH MAMS PAXCT. 3^. Gavin-s driving stick ^ Id H, t" " ""^ """P '•«'' »» Jeparted. ' ''''*-''l Hngli op to the ceiling, and atteI;Ttrik?;;a„t 'oftle"-; ^'^^^^-^-tevon tiously a^ay Ie„ Vara Inld !ffL ^f T-^' *■* '"S"'! <"">- saf t aye shakin- hand, •• wl h ^ ''° "• " ^ <=''»? '"oks to himself. So whenVaZ^J "P'*'"^ '''« «»'"'=' «tep, .ith he,. handswXed tlltr"'."' "' "" ''°- and her eyes upon the be" Wvt Clt^ 'I'T "''"' "P™" .me. It ™ eweedingly S t? 1°°''"' " '"^'- " '<»■« had a little heartache a^l^^hT u "'"'" '""•' "'«' ''« Theophilu, Rutt in hia terriu ?!f" *" *■" ''«»'8''t of all sunshine and pkala„r n^'*™""'- ■^"^ ^^-ed of nothing to sav t7r ?"' »'"" he oould think -Ik. Th'en'ttTi^t he splkT "''™' '^^ ^""^ "-■> "■' J Ye are takkin' your meat weel to a' appearance." he «.o:tr7rr^4TiT»-- ''- irnn:^"-»'--'»'.htii;sLS.""SCw'o':^ »ot so Wistfully. ThtTrprrdJut^*^"'' "" """ W face. She looked almost Z^^lfZ'^^^ »h. to^^hS """' "' """•' "»"' »• ■»« to «.y that.- When , he went back into the house Mirren Douglas B 348 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITV. was just putting on her milking apron. She pretended to busy herself with the strings. "Cleg doesua improve muckle in looks," she said; "he's no great beauty, is ho noo?" She spoke with intent to see what Vara would reply. For, after her sorrow, the old Mirrea was springing up again like roses in an Indian summer. " I never think muckle aboot his looks when I see him," said Vara quickly. "If he had looked like an angel, he couldna hae been kinder to me." " Hoots, lassie," said Mirren hastily, " I was only jokin' ye. He is growin' a fine, personable lad, and when he has some flesh on his baqes and a wee tait o' mair growth aboot his face, he'll do verra weel." " He does very weel as he is, I think," said the loyal Vara, who was not yet appeased. " He has chappit the firewood, fetched the water, brocht in the peats and stalled the kye, soopit the yaird— and he is coming back the morn to clean the lum." " And to see you. Vara," said Mirren Douglas, w^ wicked meaning in her tone. " What said ye at the door when he cannily bade ye guidnicht. Vara? " " He said I was lookin' like takkiu' my meat weel,'* said Vara, demurely pulling at the corner of her apron, where a knot of the lace was coming loose. At least Vara was rapidly loosening it. " Let your apron be, lassie ; what ill-will hae ye at it ?" cried Mirren from the doorstep. Vara dropped the loop as if it laid been a white-hot iron. And as Mirren Douglas carried her milking stool to the byre, she dropped a few tears. " I mind sae weel," she said to herself, " the time when Alick was a lad and coming aboot the place, I used to like naethii j better than for folk to be aye botherin' me aboot him !" THE VOICES IX THE MARSH. g^j. And if "bothering "be a provocative to love Mirren ADVENTURE LVI. THE VOICES IN THE MARSH. ner Hgure filled out. She seemed to shooL up all at nun. :;".: ':dt:" t '"^ -""t. '^^ ^>- '-""'■" '""^ ingiitened look. Her Brms and shoulders hid their anirle» and became eurved aud dimpled. But Cleg iTed ^i„ mora shy „„d awkward. Butfnevertheless, fe ^me every 0-1 the'lV^" "■" ™^*"« '» l-^ <■»"-= "bout the ho^J It w»= n, ; ^•'"' •'*'•'''• "^"^ ^""y ™ there to do k U was Cleg, for mstanee, who started the wouderW wM juH pro^r at..„ti„„, gr„:t::;itrr r^: preset 'ttt'aZTtl, "•i;^"'" "''»'■-- »' might not have oh" : I Z^ I'TU' ^ «"" "« thing were snddenlv *„ l, """^ *e foundations, if any- again upon the worM *" '"""'^'' '""°" ""«" «-' "im So Cleg advertised in the Scottish city 7 |:| -1';;! M# papers that he S-:* 860 CLEG K£ LY, ARAB OP THE CITY. was prepared to supply both blooms and entire plants of such ferns and wild flowers as grew in the neighbourhood of Netherby. He got Vara also to send similar advertise- ments to the Exchange and Mart and other papers. And in a little time he had developed as large a trade as could be carried on directly by parcel and limited orders. He found, for instance, a hill not far off which was entirely overgrown with the parsley-fern. And with this he made great deals in the fern market. For he was able to sup- ply a dozen or a hundred plants for a very modest remit- tance, and that with merely the trouble of walking to the hill for them. But he saw that jthe undertaking must have a surer basis than this haphazard ingathering of chance growths. And so Cleg set himself to plant out and cultivate the wild flowers in ground naturally suited for their growth. He had the wet morass at hand for the water-plants, the burnside for those which loved to be near, but not in, run- ning water. There were shy nooks about the linn for ferns, and for the rest the fine light soil of Sandyknowes. He utilised ground which was not in use for any other purposes, fencing it round with wire, and setting Vara and Hugh to do the watering and caring for the plants, as they had done long ago around the old construction hut in Callendar's yard. Hugh Boy went to school during the day at ISTetherby Academy, and was proving a great success. Cleg Kelly taught him how to box, and warned him at the same time not to fight. But Cleg added thai if he needed to do it, it was better to do it once for all and be done with it. So these advantages assured Hugh an easy life of it at school. Cleg had also been thinkin°» « busineM man them^ Sometime:; iXd, L", ^ ^,t CwZ?"«' "' crefn, to„h;Sgfhtctthe7"' '"" """ "" "^ -■" Life at Barnbogle went on uneventfnllv n 1 .^ tirae locks clicked. Dailv tlip pJ , ^•. "'^"''^ '^° strange bedroom cominffn.f ''*^ """'"^ *^ ^'^ his e/es dilated; Tilce^t^^^^^^^ t ^"^"^ '^^ he had inhaled and s.allo:ed c,eg co kid thf h"'"^ brewed the tea, and made a couple of dX nfl '*""' the room of the three coffins Then t ^ P^^«"™*««« '<> and shut the doors carefnHv hoi, /u-^ °'*'"® °"* "««''» 1. at nights, ci^rrdts^pttrsi^^^^^^^^^^ n Tail^oM ?^:r^^' -r^eTtltC; subiect iW . ""T ""'"'' '"PP"^^ «<> favourite a subject for gossip to the good folk of the town as the madness and the miserliness of Genei.1 Theophls" ff' Opnt 1 J ™'° T"^^ *'" over again those kles of the General driving his coach and six with the lady by his 8^ who was arrayed like the Queen of Sheba. Netherby had never had any doubt as to the fascinating moral cha'- his personage. And Theophilus Ruff still carried *} di ill ^1^ actor i if'i 1: 352 CLEQ KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. the glory of his former sins about with him, oven though he hid dwelt for twenty years a hermit and a madman in his house of Burnbogle. His fabulous wealth was everywhere a common topic. He received his rents in person, but none of it, so far as was known, was placed in the banks of the neighbour- hood. The builders, the engineers, and the locksmiths from the city had, as we have seen, all told tales of the strong-rooms they had been erecting, and of the secret arrangements which had been made with a great firm in London for yet more complete safety. " It's a perfect Quid's wonder that ye are no a' mur- dered in your beds, wi' thae millions of siller lyin' in the hoose,"said one of Cleg's most persistent inquisitors, after vainly trying to extract from Cleg whether he had ever seen the treasure with his own eyes. " I wadna be in your shoon for a hundred pounds a week— na, no for a' the gowd in Barnbogle Hoose," the respectable shopkeeper told him each time ho came in. "The General's servants never leave him. Na, they a' dee— and generally michty suddenly at the tail o' the day. And naebody kens in what mainnor they come by their ends. I'm thinking that when he gets tired o' them, he juist locks them up in yin o' his iron rooms and then- lets them bide there ! " But Cleg was not frightened, as the good grocer had hoped. He bought his red herrings, his bacon, and his eggs ; and he carried them peacefully back to the brick building in the rear of the vast blind wall of Barnbogle House, to be ready when the General should come again from his room. " A pound a week was never easier earned," said prac- tical and unimaginative Cleg. Vara felt that this time of bliss was too sweet to last. THE VOICES I.V THE MAIiSir. jj, ot the warmth Td deli^lft „f ! , " " '"f '"''''■« "» «" of blusterous wiuter 3s\l"rr ""i"'""' « ""ought ping skies. "'' ""^ '''"'«' P'ooh of nip. But one night, when the year was «l™.j j • ■ s end, and November was elZin^ifl^^ "'?'""« '» nme of frost, Vara was lookiZp'he outh "^ "'T«"'^ knowes in the rioamin^ "'"« "P '"« outhouses at Sandy. b.re, and had gitrZtwf h^Xm'o'f T,", " "^" " P»t eaoh on the flank as she mZl . /''''''' "'"' from the sentient and operative iT^f M, *"" '" """"« seemed almost as ridiculon, I! ' "'"""''• *'"" " ebu.h in order to ptoTo ^ar^r'-^ '"^ ^"'^ »' » oonsMjStM:^^ ITf "' '"^ "^^-»^ - »"y she was fodderilj't fXt^^hlff f *" "™ seionsness that sh^ heard vol.. , ""'"«^'' "='"'• the marsh. The crisrifrlf '."""^''^^ over towards hearing, and ^"Ks nrtk Jttm 1"''"'^ ''' --night rang like a bell-^rnnrwrTd ^k^; ieJ^rL^nraratdttriheifett^^^^^ retttlmtlr^f^tl *" f ?- X"nT£ of those with wh oh ^m hadl " "»,'™»emble any Some awful dread, irCtedf™? T""^ """""""'«'• <»rrible OKistenee, r;t"rnXoXr'' '"™" '"•' " »- and th:nSa'::Th:s:,td''''''r''; '"» «-" «-"•»* She was neare tthe vdces tCe' rt '^™-'"' "• "'""'• -- - instant an/S^' frl^ the" rCt™ ■If 354 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. which Sandyknowes sat on its hill. Vara stole on tiptoe nearer and nearer. The old hut in the hollow was a de- serted cot-house of the General's— a mere but-and-ben— which Muckle Alick had been accustomed to use for stor- ing old railway sleepers in. For these are the winter fuel of men who work upon the railway. Presently Vara saw its white gable-end staring out at her through the bare branches of the underbrush. The angry voices became louder and more threatening. A ray of light stole through a chink in the boarded-up win- dow. Stealthily Vara went on tiptoe round the gable till she could put her eye to the chink. A clotli had been hung up over the window, past one corner of which Vara could just see a fire flickering in the grateless fireplace of the deserted cottage. But her heart sank within her at the words she heard, which rang like the very trump of doom in her ears: " Timothy Kelly," cried a voice which Vara well knew— even that of her mother — " I tell ye I will have no murder done ! And on your own son ! Shame on ye ! It is enough to bring a judgment on us all just to talk about it. I tell ye we can get the stuff out of the house o' the loony General without the like of that." Then the piping voice of the weasel-faced Tim Kelly answered, " 'Tis little that ye know, Sal Kavannah, you that never were at the taking of a farthing's worth in your life, except off boosy softies in the street. I tell ye, woman, that if Clig Kelly were to come in my road when I am getting out the cargo I'd spit him like a rat ! " "But, maybes," said the other voice, which thrilled Vara the most, " maybes, if ye was to speak peaceable-like to the lad ye might get him to stand in with us." "Sorra a fear of him," replied Tim; "Clig Kelly might have been like a lump of paving-stone, for all the THE VOICES IN THE MABSI,. „. kindness he ever showed to his kin A v. . . tliHt I have done for the boy-" ^ ' ""'' »"»'■ "" littte yo"t;e trt„"'T ' " ",""' '»■ K-annah, " 'tis wait till wo tove th st>,ff Hft J''" r": "' "•>■ '"«"• ""' tea-kettle. Then W I h " '"'" "' *'''"•'"'« ""y'' that's the proud "onrtLs'a^'..'^^''^^ "'™" "» "■<"» it ab '.UheTr'el " H'id T°"'V'^,'' '"^^ "'«"'• »"" ""m clear away with fhn .u n ' „ "^^'^^ ^"ce we get Vara U«f.«T ^^ ^^^"^ *° *^^®'^ senses." Sa^drh-ttrir-?"-"--'^^^^^^^ eneW had o»d V r„: „. '""'' '"^ "">"«'" "■"* "er other thoughts ""^ """•'^ overwhelming all But presently the knowledge , ri., ir i. > • and terrible danger came to hef ri.„ !? '^""■'f "'^'»'" of the great house of Barnbo^le wi b 7 -^ '°''' "'""•«'' treasures. The master of » * '" ''" ''onderful But, so atrangeanT-t: uurwrrc*" '" ""■''^- goings, ihat no one knew whpfT. T '''"'"^' ^^"'^ K..ff vas «,,„ i„ .,, -;: Jj;;*er Oe^ral Theophilus tWre w« liXdVbrthTcf"' ''''"' "■""^'" ""O"' '^ h» life. For if he ref^^ ^'^f "•« ■" '"'minent peril of General, „is father :olu ctZuVV''^''''' °' ""' were frightened or tortnredht tei .^"'- ^"^ " ''» -eiieve anything else that Z^t^^^TZ^t^ ill !!! £( I 350 CLEO KELLY, ARAM OF THE riTV, father to worm liiniself into the confidenco of tlio nmd General und so open the house to the robber. Vuru meditated what she should do. Could she got to the house of Barnboglo beforo Tim Kelly, she mijlit bo able to put Cleg on his guard. IJut a curious something, more disabling than fear, kept her chained to the spot. " The thing is easy as throat-slitting," said Tim em- phatically. " I tell you the lad has the keys; for I know he can let himself out and in at his pleasure. Now, ho shall give up the keys willingly, or I know u way to make him. If the mad ould General conus in the road, I have that in my pocket which will settle him dead for life. But I hear he's oif again on his thundering rounds, rest- less devil that he is ! " " But how," said Sal Kavannah, " is the like o' me to hold the boy? He will be as strong as a young bullock by now." "He'll be wake— wake as pump-water— when I get him in them hands," whispered Timothy Kelly, so that the listener b&rely heard him. But Vara could see his narrow, weasel face thrust for- ward and hear the hateful jar in his voice. " God's truth ! " he said, "do I not owe him wan? See them holes?" he cried more loudly, his hate mastering him, "pockmarks ye could lose sixpence in. 'Twns the whelp that did that to me ! Ah ! a fine man was Tim Kelly before that sorra came into the world." "Vara! Vara!" cried suddenly a shrill voice behind the listening girl, as she stood with her brow down on the window-sill. Her heart leaped with wild terror ; for it was the voice of little Gavin, come out to seek her, and she feared that he would suddenly appear at the door of the house on the bog. He had a curious faculty for fol- lowing hia sister and finding her. Ever since she came V. of the mud <1 she got to 10 miglit bo some thing, tho 8])0t. id Tim em- for I know !. Mow, ho ay to niuko 'oud, I have *d for life. Duuds, rest- ko o' me to ing bullock k'hen I get lly, so that thrust for- I's truth ! " loles?" he pockmarks at did that that sorra ice behind >wn on the or ; -for it k her, and he door of ty for fol- i she came THE VOICES IX THE MARSH. 357 o"rsigR '^^""»''°™ '"' "^ --" -e" to ,et her through the Zkt7c:;rZd''"Th/"'''",? '"' "^^ veryhiilseavebartTl.. I i ^ ""arsh, so that the thought that he foufd ' Z '"'*'"' ''''"'«" ""h the n>eaos of ,t The " W ^^T "7"" "'""'^ "'"> V""* "j frozen ditches, ?„dtLdT„!°r "j""; 'T'"*^ "" *e ofhowshemighrhurthesflf Th! " ''"r' '"^'''^" Ward th^ei/^Ll^d^rhr '" "^ "^ '■- ^tn;t:nrto-hrh:x^.\r^^^^^ footsteps running through the wood, and Vara dmLd Gavm back mto the shelter of the alders which grewlhik and rank „, the n,a,.h at the end of the fe„ rZe cov :.« ^r ""' """ "'' ^'■»"' - «'^ "^'"s 'oo'^t;; with^rr'V"; ^°'''' "«"■•' "' "r™ Kellv ran past them with h,. head set very far forward, scenting from side To' ft It I "1 'I ! 358 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. side like a beast of prey hunting upon a hot trail. He held a knife point downwards in his hand. Vara stood still while the terrifying vision passed. Tim Kelly was running towards the house of Barnbogle. She could hear another— and heavier— foot following. And before she had time to move, lo ! Sal Kavannah moved into the grey-litten space, and stood still within ten yards of her children. " The Awfu' Woman ! " came from Gavin's lips, even through the folds of the shawl. All terrifying things were summed up for him in that phrase he had learned from his brother Hugh. Something seemed to tell Sal Kavannah that she^ was near her children. She stood for what seemed an eternity, stark and staring, rooted to the spot, only turning her head slowly from side to side and straining her ears to hear the crack of a twig or the rustle of a leaf. Vara prayed as she had never done before. Gavin's eyes were fixed in his head with terror. The end of the world had indeed come. « The Awfu' Woman " was back again, and in a moment the quiet and safety of Sandy- knowes had ended for them. But Vara stood the test. And Gavin hfed no words which were not shut within him by the souLterrifying proximity of Boy Hugh's « Awfu' Woman." So silently did they stand that Sal Kavannah heard nothing; and with her ears still on the stretch she moved slowly away following Tihi Kelly in the direction of Barnbogle. Then was Vara's heart fairly torn in twain. Should she go first to Mirren Douglas and Boy Hugh? Or should she strike across through the dark woods towards Barnbogle ? Then, like sweet music, there fell on her ears the loud, hearty accents of the voice of Mistress Fraser. " Weel, Mirren, an' hoo's a' wi' ye the nicht ? Hearty, PtGHTING TriE BEASTS. 359 thank ye ! I hae brocht my guidman an' Oihhv n est callant ower hv ir. i, "^ «"'""*"»» ^ibby, oor auld- Wn. even if he was wilnr I^ tw ".".'"' ^""^ a decent woman', ropZfon - ' " «""* ""»« '<" ble lad, always spoke^r? it^ralltLtt't: «"' ne.uw„^pa.a^ ,,„„„ ,,,^ „ ^,_ P-tanMha. the her bit trysts, ;„" .' "'o 'iti ^^X^' «'-''>•« keepin' lang bygane. Co^e your wavTin Oihh * n "^^ """'' hingin- a leg there ! " ^ ' ^^- ^"""^ '^nd remaS'-m Jl^f!!- f %r '™S - *e Prasers the woods to warrcw TjZJ''"'r.'^ .''" '"""■g" Woman" 1,0^ 1 / ^ ^®*^^ ^^^ the «Awfu' woman had a long start of her. ADVENTURE LVII. FIGHTING THE BEASTS. in w''^''^'' Theophilus Ruep was at home. He had brick add^^^^^^^^ ^°^\^^ «*r' «»" ^«y in the lit'tle kitchen behind Tv V '^ ^^' '^"'''^^ ^^*^^° ««» i" th« Kitchen behmd, wntmg and witnessing deeds. The Gen^ ft t 360 CLEO KELLY, ARAB OP TOe'cITY. eral sent Cleg into Netherby in the forenoon upon half-a- dozen errands, and in the afternoon he told him that ho was free to do what he wished with his time. Whereupon Cleg went and got a pail of whitewash to brighten up the byre and stables of Sandyknowes, a job which he had been promising himself as a treat for a long time. Aftei the General had dismissed the solicitor and his two clerks to go back to the town of Drumnith, he withdrew into his room and occupied himself with the arrangement and docketing of multitudinous papers. When Cleg came back he made his supper by himself in the brick addition, and was just sitting down with the paper-covered threepei^ny novel which represented litera- ture to him, when the door opened and the General came in with a roll of papers iu his hand. His hair stood nearly straight up, and his eyes were bloodshot and starting from his head. A great change had come over him since the morning. " Cleg," he said abruptly, "you are going to lose your place." Cleg stood on his feet respectfully. He was not much astonished. He had been waiting for an announcement like this ever since he found what manner of man his im- pulsive master was. His first thought was that he would be able largely to increase the flower business. « Verra weel, sir," said Cleg, glancing straight at the Geheral, who stood commandingly in the doorway, look- ing, in spite of his disarray, imposing enough in his un- dress uniform; "verra weel, sir. Ye hae been kind to me." " Ah," said the General, " I mean that ye are going to lose your master, not that he wishes you to leave your place. I have a long journey to depart upon. I am go- ing upon active service in another world. Three times FIGHTING THE BEASTS. 361 heard the black dog summon me below the yestreen window. " That maun hae oeen Tam Fraser'« nnii,-« » -^ ^ promptly, "nesty brute that he ^1']]"?' ?^ ^^'^ number five in his tail the next ti2 . ^ "" "^^''^^ "' stravagin' aboot here ' » ^'' '''"''' >'«^"»' ""^ tio^^';^^;::^^^^^^^^^^^^ one of my raee is about to d f M lo^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^- bered, or at least I believG thpv „ ^ ," , ^^^ *''^ ""'»- same thing. You win fi'!d W "'' ''^"''^ ^' ^^^^"^ ^^^^ " empty han\ CleT, my m ' " g /!? T "'' ^^'^ "^'^ *^« as ye have used^'ny ^oney Forju '' "'' '' ^^ "^^'^'^ WuUs;„ the pSrn hlTjo",^ t^! J™' «'° «"•• oot a leesence for him » ' ^^' ^^ »' "» *» «»''' The General held out hia hand. ,'or/„rr ats :iir r far n "- '-'""^ aides, and I have coZZ!mT.T''V'''''^''' passage." ^ ^ ^ ^^^ drachmas to pay my i,. l! r 362 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " Nae fears, sir," he said, encouragingly ; " you tak' your comfortable sleep; the black collie will never trouble ye. I'll leave the outer door on the jar, an' faith ! I'll hae a shot at him if he comes youchin' aboot this hoose." " Come up. Cleg," said Theophilus RuflF, as he stood by the door, " come up in a quarter of an hour, and I'll take my pipe as usual." " Aye, General," said Cleg, « I'll be up. Did ve say herrin'?" The General went out without answering, and Cleg turned unconcernedly to his immediate business of scour- ing the pans and setting the kitchen to rights. He was naturally neat-handed, and by this time no work, indoors or out, came wrong to him. He was whistling cheerily and burnishing a tin sTcillet when a slight noise at the outer door startled him. He dropped the can, and it rolled with a clatter under the dresser. "That dowg o' Fraser!" he said to himself. "I'll ♦Black Dog' him!" But before he could -Jse he felt his arms pinioned from behind, and ere he could make any effective resist- ance he was thrown upon his back on the floor. Cleg struggled gallantly, and it might have proved successful- ly ; but the face which looked hatefully into his took from him in a moment all power of resistance. It was his father's face, li\id with hate and vile deter- mination. Tim Kelly coolly directed Sal Kavannah to sit upon the lad's feet, while he himself trussed up his hands and arms as if he had been a fowl ready for the market. Cleg suffered all this without showing the least concern. He had no hope of pity. But he steeled himself to be silent, and faithful to his benefactor. His father shut the kitchen door. Then he looked id Cleg if scour- He was %• indoors "I'll FIGHTING THE BEASTS, carefully round th u • ^^^ General had left it „hon he we ' „ "7 r'"'^'"'^- "^ "'» .i:r^-"---r^rf:dt^ert-, to. tell me where the olTlll°\T T' ^°" '""•^g°t "■ghtyrtarp-oriwin letlL r ''" ''"'«''"'' 'hat '-.jejf hi^;rrhrSt"™- ^'■-po-u 'hoy threw C,eg act SstrSd'wi'thV l^'"- '"^ down on the other side. '"' *'* ''ead hanging "Don'tyebethinkin£r"saH I,; . .u h™, "that because I had Ih^ n .'"V.""'"' ''^■'^'°« ""er proud, masterful heart ^ ff?' ''"^'"^ 'P''°^ ^^^n with a killed him, his fath:?;ho JdTotT^^' ^'^*' ^-^ ^^ he of him. ''^"^^ «ot dra;r a single word out •^t that moment a Jn /i i "rchwa, which led into the 1™f t"'"'"^ 'hrongh the Cleg's eyes went in spite Z\T \ """^ "' Barobogle. k°e-that in a mom rmtfl r™'"', '""^ """• »« -n the doorway; and he Cd ^.1"^' T"'" "PP^" k-Il h.m with the revolver whll, ,, ' '"*»'• """M -•' ^"^o^^fl- eiuthX:: hizi!"' '" '""^ »" 364 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. " General," he cried, " run back to the strong-room — back as fast as you can to the strong-room ! " Then Cleg heard with gratitude the sound of retreat- ing footsteps outside in the passage. Timothy Kelly rose from his knees with an oath. He felt that he had been tricked. His revolver was in his hand, and he pointed it at his son's forehead. His fore- finger hooked itself on the trigger. Cleg Kelly instinc- tively shut his eyes not to see the flash. But Sal Kavan- nah jerked up her companion's arm. " You waste time, man," she said ; " through the door after the old fellow ! " Tim Kelly lifted the slant-headed bar of iron which he had brought with him to be inserted, if need were, under the sashes of the windows ; and as he ran out of the kitchen he struck his son heavily over the head with this, leaving him lying in his blood upon the bed. Through the long, vaulted passages the villain ran, with his accomplice in crime close upon his heels. The door which divided the little brick building from the main house of Barnbogle closed after them. Something like a tall, flitting white-robed figure seemed to keep a little way before them. They followed till it vanished through the open door of the strong-room. In a moment both Tim Keily and Sal Kavannah darted in after it, and immediately, with a clang which 1-esounded through the whole house, the door closed upon pursuers and pursued. Then, through the silence which ensued, piercing even the thick walls of the old mansion, ringing all over the country-side, came three loud screams of heart-sickening terror. And after that for a space again there fell silence upon the strange house of Barnbogle, with its mad master and its devilish visitants like wild, predatory beasts of the night. But Cleg Kelly heard nothing ; for the blow from FIGHTING THE beasTS. 3^ dared not leave Oavnb/wUt' °"'"' P"™"'- S"* load all theway-„„rst„mWh, ''"' ^' '"""d ""der hia falling headlong. The Id f I" "" ''"■'''"'''^ ""d "o- vored, for .he had he lio„T p','""^^; ■>"' ^'"'^ P'"- in U.e handa of the rue™rmt 1^ °'' ''''' ^"'P^"^ When she came to the r, ° °""'' "'» '«■•»• bogle she fourdTt t'rlTrd ,°°?'.''''''""'^ »' B"™- front loomed above ^khZif"^' 7^"'" "'" S^oo-^y gashes on its fr°rt Ho„^ ,'^"" '"'» ='"' "acker description, and,™ ing^rvr'hf LT'^'r ^'»«'^ swiftly as she could throuT L ^ '"'' ''"' ''''■' ^ the little brick addition "''" '=°PP'<"' "■"'"'d to shriel;: o?'tf rlrdtres^j'ir """ ""» '-" "'™ silences. ^'' P™''='^ »»' "Pon the night t>.ol:iLl:n™d™r''Jh""''' ''■'""^" "'^ '»*"'■• p-''«' three feet of her Zok J .^""' ""> ^ed, within We. Vara set d^T Gavl; ''' '"''""^' "-"^ '"^™='- took him „p i„ her a™"' E",^ T"'' '"'^' •"•" from his bonds, and Ihed 5f ^ ''"' ""'°™"'J W™ his head fell heivilv an^lol T^' "P™ ^'' f"™' B"t » terrible sinking „,thV°f/r"'""''' ""* '* ™> "i'h "Pon her that hfr fri nj t, , """, ""^ 'hought flashed continued to resound wRh "'T ''■'"''''"'• "P'"- ho^^e *>r. so^ams of :>Z2\';:Z°' '^^''/^'^^n^^o U„,,. fiends who made them mii^rL . ■" '""""'"' 'he oonld not leave Clog t Zt 1 T" ^•"'- ^"^ she With eager hands! * •' °' """"^'•'="^''- «»■■ hands she tore the sheet from the bed, J i >|) i'l I i 366 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. and, wrapping l,im in it, she lifted him in her arms and staggered into the night. Gavin came after her, speech- less with fear, clutciiing tightly the skirts of her dress. So, fainting and staggering. Vara bore Cleg across the marsh and up to the little house of Sandyknowes. She was JHst able to put Cleg Kelly into the arms of Mirreu Douglas and sink fainting on the floor. When she came to herself Tarn Fraser and the doctor from Netherby were bending over her. " What was the maitter— wha hurt the laddie?" asked Tarn Fraser. " The House ! The terrible House ! " was all that Vara could say. Cleg Kelly was not dead. The doctor reported him to be suffering from a severe concussion of the brain, which might probably prevent a return to consciousness for some days. A band of men hastily equipped themselves and set out for the house of Barnbogle. They stole up to the door of the kitchen. It stood open, as Vara had left it. The light streamed out upon the green foliage and the trampled grass. But inside there was only silence, and all around a wild scene of confusion. The skillet which Cleg had been burnishing lay upon the hearthstone. There was blood upon the stones of the floor where he had been thrown down, and again on the bed from which Vara had lifted him. But about all the house there was only silence. The blacksmith of the nearest village brought a fore- hammer, and with great difiiculty he and his' apprentice broke a way into the house itself through one of the barred upper windows. But the whole mansion within was en- tirely in order. The iron fronts of the safes in the hall had not been tampered with. The red iron door of the WITHIN THE RED DOOR. gg^ 'ii i ADVENTURE LVIII. WITHIN THE RED DOOR. Vara and Mirren Douglas waiW ,,L "^, ""^ '®=*- It seemed so strange f ttZ f "" T"^'^ "P"" ■>'"■• some, alert Cles thus >l i ^, '^"" '" »^ "'«'• "ght- head only a mUe from l;; ?' 'P^'"'"'""'' ""°'"g >■« in. Ms e^s « J rdrCXMS^^^' ""- ^-''• cons* nUytr TJt t '"""L'"" ^''p''''-"'^ -"i *o s^a.Jr so r^lrrnl^^ * -"- day the doctor rn,'dl%7''T'r' """• ^"'^ a well-marked stage ofl'e t^ble «,' T'^ ™' '= in this ease some4at unduirp 'ug a"? ''° *""" " '^ Iff ¥; Is • i CLEG KELLV, ARAB OP THK CITV. ?' Auri *o it proved, for CAv.fr did , >t come to himself until twelve days after the night when Vara found him lying in the brick addition, with the lamp lighted and signs of hideous outrage all about him on the Hoor. A watch had been kept all the time by the county authori- ties upon Barnbogle House, and every possible attempt had been made to communicate with the owner. All places which ho was known to visit had been watched. The steamers on the Caledonian Canal, the ferries to the Island of Arran, the passenger boats to Orkney and Shetland had oeen carefully examined ; but so far it was all in vain. No one answering to the description of Gen- eral Theophilus RuiT could anywhere be found. Yet there was nothing remarkable in this. For the mad General had been in the habit of going off suddenly on tours by himself, by rail and steamboat, without consulting any one. Upon his travels by sea he had been distinguished by his habit of taking the officers under his protection, and offering them advice upon the subject of their profes- sion, especially as to the proper way to handle a ship- advice which, strangely enough, was not always received in good part. But the mad soldier could nowhere be found. His lawyer-; continued the search in other directions. They came to Netherby, and made very particular inquiries as to the doings of Cleg during the day which had ended so disastrously. Now it chanced that, even while Cleg him- self lay unconscious upon the bed at Sandyknowes, every hour of his day could be accounted for ; that is, up to the moment when he had gone home to prepare supper for his master. ■" ... General had ordered a new fence of barbed wire to be e;- f^J hy the side of the railway, and Cleg had been out aJi ■ Is 'oivnr ...i superintending its erection, after having becL, i^r,: ^ to .ietherby jy the General. He had WITHIN TIIK RED DOOR. ggg been engaged in whitewushing the ottice-housos at .Sandy- knowos in tho afternoon. '^unu>. So rlcso was the inquiry, that the chief of the Kether. by prhoe ,vJ..d more than once of the detective emplou^ b.y ueneral linff's lawyers if he had any cause for s^u pioion against the young man Kelly "None whatever." said the detective, » so far as I know yll affect he young man-that is, if he gets better and the General does not turn up " Ono morning, when tho doctor came from Nctherbv Cleg of h. own aeeord twitched an cjelid up and glS" "Doctor Sidey!" he said feebly, "have I been ill?" over hta! ""'""""'*'' ""• ""'=""• '"<"' '"^ ""'"' ""J ''«"t coptii;i;s:rgirr' "' "^^ ■""' '™^"'--'»" »"»por. " Ile'll do ! " 8,>id Doctor Sidey of Netherby to Mirren Dougta, "but mind you, he ia to be asked no qnfsrns till I can ask them myself." So for nearly a week more Cleg lay in the dusky room, with the bees humming drowsily outside the wall on sunny days, uud the sounds of the little farmyard of Sandy, knowes coming to him softened by distance. Vara looked in many times a day, as she passed the window to brin^ home the cows, or going with a can to the well • and always at sight of her Cleg smiled happily. Or Mirren came in from the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron and Cleg smiled again. Then Vara brough him his low diet of milk and cornflour. But she did not speak to him. He looked at. h^r ;« „ ^„„^ .,, . " °°^ ... ,1 ...annur so pathetic 370 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. in its weakness that Mirren Douglas had often, perforce, to go into a corner and dry her eyes with her apron. " He used to be so strong and cheery ! " she said, as if explaining the matter to the world in general. Then Vara would briskly leave the room to bid Boy Hugh hush his noisy calls to the chickens outside. Where- at Cleg Kelly would shake his head ; but whether because Vara had left the room, or because he liked the simple, cheerful sounds of the yard coming into his chamber, Mirren Douglas did not know. It was a clear morning, about seven o'clock, when Cleg came fully to himself. The trees upon the slope opposite stood black and hard against a pale green midwinter sky. Cleg watched the light* grow clearer behind them as a chill wind from the south swayed the branches away from him. He had a delicious sense of reposefulness and phys- ical well-being. But this was suddenly crossed and oblit- erated by the thought which came to him that he had lost his place. How long had he been lying here ? He could not remember. His master — where was he ? That hide- ous vision of his old life which swept over him like a very eruption of devildom— was it a dream, or a reality ? " The doctor ! the doctor ! " cried Cleg ; " send for him quickly. I have something I must tell him." And Vara sped obediently away, putting forth all the strength in her lithe young limbs to bring Doctor Sidey to Cleg Kelly as quickly as possible. When he came in I e looked at Cleg quickly. "Worse?" he queried, half to the patient and half to Mirren Douglas, who stood by with folded hands. "No," said Cleg, "not worse, doctor. But I have something to tell you which cannot wait." The doctor motioned Vara and Mirren out of the room. And then, in hurried, breathless sentences, Cleg WITHIK THE BED DOOR 3.J o'j'thltfT""'?/"" "'"' ^ '»''^" P'^oo »■> the night of "10 attack. He still thought that it had been iust fhe ^" Antth;:!"' "^' "'^ »<" undeceive hi,i '"' And the robbers are still in the house wi' mv maister " iZ Z " ' "-'"^ ho is shut up in the JongZm If he doesna come oot soon the room must be forced But he never stays in it more than a night at a time .„' h • sure to come oot in the mornin' " ' ° '" " robber. With hSr the tu'^.* VhrTr""pi;;iir and shut the door." «" """ "■' '"""g-room The doctor went into Netherby and teleffranhe,! t„ .1. Generars lawyers , ho lived in th'e largt'S'S'D^m mth. The two heads of the firm arrived by the nert tram, and, as a result of a conference with the doetorrd Cleg, an urgent message was sent to the great firm of sTfe and strong-room makers who had engineered tteVafetv apphances,tocomeand open the room in which lay the most hidden treasures of General Theophilus Ruff ^ In response to this urgent application three skilled mechamcans came down that same night, and by five ta the morning they stood ready to break in the d™r The foreman of Messrs. Cox & Boskell's declared th»tl power existed by which, in the absence of the keys and oc^ c"o:rd b? "' T -t^ '"^ ""<• "o-hbatLnr; lock could be opened Without violence the!or:::rrrSf%r^:^ :!;»'»' f 'rt Wan proceeded to demolishrrk'-^fZtnh^i 372 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITT. and brain-the preparation and fitting of which had cost nim so many weeks. He inserted two dynamite cartridges on either side of the red iron door, boring holes for tlieir reception in the rock Itself, so that the frame might be started bodily from Its bed. Then he placed other two under the step which led to the room. There were present only the three arti- sans, the two lawyers from Drumnith of the firm of Hewitson & Graham, together with Doctor Sidey, who had constituted himself Cleg's representative, and had insisted either on haying the regular police called in or upon being present himself. These six men stood far back from the house while the dynamite was explodef The foreman timed the fuse with his watch. Presently there came a little jar of the earth, as if a railway train were passing underneath. But the great bulk of the building stood firm. The lawyers and the doctor were eager to run forward. But the fore- man held them back till the fumes had had time to clear out of the stone narrow passages and to dissipate them- selves through the glassless windows. Then they went below, each carrying a lantern. The doctor had in his pocket also a case of surgical instru- ments and the strongest restoratives known to his art. When they arrived in the passage they found* the mighty iron door fallen outward, frame and all. It lay with the time lock and the letter attachment still in their places, leaving a black, cavernous opening, into which the light of the bull's-eye lanterns refused to penetrate. The foreman stooped as he came up. " It's not a pennypiece the worse," he said, examining the fallen door with professional solicitude. But the doctor pushed him aside and entered. As he shed the light of his lantern around he gasped like a man WITHIN THE RED DOOR. g^^g in extremity, for surely a stranger or a more terrible sight the eyes of man had never looked upon. Two dark forms, those of a man and a woman, were upon the floor, the man prone on his face with his hands stretched out before him, the woman crouched far back in the corner with her mouth wide open and her eyes start- ing from her head with absolute and ghastly terror Yet both eyes and mouth were obviously those of a corpse. In the centre of the room were three coffins laid upon narrow tables, the same that Cleg had so often seen. But now they were all three open, and in each reclined a figure coffiflid'' ''^'*'' ^'^^ *^' ^^^ '^'''^ ^"^ * ^'^"^ ""'^^^^^ In the coffin in the centre lay General Theophilus Kuff, with an expression of absolute triumph on his face He appeared to lean forward a little towards the woman in the corner, and his dead wide-open eyes were fixed upon her. An empty opium box lay by his side. A re- But the other two coffins contained the strangest Dart of the contents of this roon, of horrors. To the rilHt the Genera lay the perfectly preserved body of a wfman whose regnlar features and delicate skin had only S hghtly marred at the nostrils by the process of Z.Z ■ng. She was dressed in white, and her hands were Sml-rieft '°""°'' " '"' "'"'' »«- "P°» *« both^tL"" °'"''7°»'J«rf"' thing was that the necks of red cord . """ *' "°'"™ "■»"•" "■"""' "hout with a red cord drawn very tight midway between the chin and 374 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. the shoulder. Upon the breast of the man on the left were written in red the words : " False Feiend." And on the breast of the fair woman upon the right the words : " False Love." A row of tall candlesticks stood round the coffins, six on either side. The great ceremonial candles which they had once contained had burned down to the sockets and guttered over the tops. The floor was strewn with the contents of drawers and papers, and with dainty articles of female attire. A small glove of French make lay at the doctor's feet. He lifted it and put it into his pocket mechanically, before turning his attention to the bodies in this iron charnel-house. They were, of course, all long since dead. The weasel-faced man on the floor had a bullet through the centre of his forehead. The woman in the corner, on the other hand, was wholly untouched by any wound ; but from the expression on her face she must have died in the most instant and mortal terror. When the first wild astonishment of the searchers had abated a little, the lawyers ordered the men from Messrs. Cox & Koskell's to open the various receptacles in the strong-room. Strangely enough, nothing whatever was found m them, excepting some articles of jewelry and a packet of letters in a woman's hand, which the lawyers took possession of. The three confidential artificers from London remained in charge till measures should be taken to clear out the strong-room. The doctor examined Cleg with care and tact, for it was to him that the lawyers looked for the explanation of WITHIN THE RED DOOR. g^g the mystery But first they provided th. mechanicians with very substantial reasons for secrecy, if they would mlr^ br/T" '^ P---*— dal In these'ery r^ markable family circumstances. The men, accustompd Vn secrecy and recognising the future and persoTrrpHc! tion of the lawyers' logic, readily promised. ^^ " . feo far as tie doctor could make out, this was wli«f had happened Cleg told the truth fully, iut heTadl t discovery of the relationship in which he stood to ^e man who had so murderously attacked him. Nor ye did he rL7a m^fsu'd^ ""T"'''' ^^ ''' Kavannah'^ idet ity After a little study and piecing of evidence, however the process of events seemed fairly clear ' hn. ^\? n^'^ ^''* ''"* ^'' ^^'-"ing crv through the house, the General had doubtless been engaged in an-ant bliht ZTT' '^^"^"^^ ^"^ ^' '^' life whi h hfd brought so htlle happiness to him. For, like an Oriental his death-though, as we now know, his first impression had proved erroneous. ""pression For some unknown purpose he had left the strong- room and hastened through the passages till he had heafd the hideous uproar in the kitchen, whereupon he had promptly retreated to the strong-room, in all probabi^y to get his revolver. While there a mad idea had cro sed his mmd to receive his visitors in his coffin. At anv rate upon entering he left the red door open behind him A few moments later Tim Kelly came rushing in hot unon the trail, followed by the woman Kavannah^ His hands were wet and red with his son's blood. His heart was ripe for murder. Ard this was the sight which met him-a room with open coffins in a row and three dead folk laid upon them, six great candles burning upon either side-all the horrors of a tomb in the placf 376 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. where he had counted to lay his hand upon uncounted treasure. Then, while Timothy Kelly and Sal Kavannah stood a moment looking with fearful eyes on the tall ceremonial candles, which must have been specially ghastly to them on account of their race, the strong door swung noiselessly to upon its hinges; for the water balance had filled up, and they found themselves trapped. What happened after this was not so clear. Probably the robber was proceeding in his desperation to rifle the open depositories of the letters and gear, which the searchers found strewed up and down the floor, when Theophilus Ruff sat up suddenly in the centre coffin, with his revolver in his hand, just as Cleg had seen him the first time he entered the. chamber of death. Whether the ruffian had first attacked' the madman, or whether he had simply been shot down where he stood, will never be known. But certain it is that he died instantly, and that the horror of the sight killed Sal Kavannah where she sat crouched low in the corner, as if trying to get as far as possible from the grisly horrors of the three coffins. Then, having done his work, Theophilus Ruff calmly swallowed all that remained of his drugs, and slept him- self into the land where vengeance is not, with the mouth- piece of his pipe in his mouth and his revolver upon his knees. The heads of the embalmed bodies were turned so that they looked towards Theophilus Ruff as he sat in his coffin. For twenty years it is probable that he had gone to sleep every night with those dead faces looking at him. The coffins were buried as privately as possible, the two embalmed bodies being laid within the private mauso- leum at the foot of the garden ; for in noble families THE BEEOil HEDGE. gj^ a private burying.plaoe is a great convenience in .„„h emergences Here also Tin. Kelly and SafKavannat took their places w.th nobler sinners, and no donbt thev andeTil ""' """ ""^ '''"^ ™°"-'=«» <" good Gen!ri ThS T»"' '™'"""^ *"* '""^ '^oath of • AnT™ .r ? ^°" ™ '^"^ '» «■' '"'^■•'3»»e of opium convenieteT '1"h """"'' "^""' '" «"°"'"«' C-o "^e mtor S' T!^ ""■^ ""'"^ """"e^i »"!> the Proc- nrator-Fisca of the county-who was, in fact, a friend of afDrutrh':'"' *'" '"""' "^ »' =-"-" * «™'- ADVENTURE LIX. THE BEECH HEDGE. "And the queer thing o' it a' is," said Cleff <'that ^:i.ZroZ^''' "^ ' -"^^ 'arthinW„rth^;.l^:5 ponnd and then coald find nane o't, I „ad bffarr ro' Z:X^i;Z:^:' '''^- «-nsa-,n,an. Ye hao Donrias'^.'twfM •?''t"'"'' '""« ^ "•" =«'1 ^irren uouglas, that Maister Iveraoh, the young lad frae Edin- iX:^^ ' '"" ""' "»* *"» looses, but no rpenny placeiTnThrH^fT" ''"'«° ■'"■"•^"^ '"■• »« »■»»» « ?o^T«in 1 J^ "^r"" "" Sandyknowes, with the roses again looking in the window. For another spring i'sj 378 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. had come, and a new year was already stretching itself awake from its winter swaddling bands. " What was it that the lawyer man wrote aboot your bequest ? " asked Mistress Fraser. " But a' my lying money in the house o' Barnbogle and about the precincts thereof, to be the property of Cleg Kelly, my present body servant, in regard of his faithful tendance and unselfishness during the past four years," quoted Cleg, leaning his head back with the air of a languid prince. He was sitting on the great chest in which Mirren kept all the best of her napery and house- hold linen. " My certes, ye tak' it braw and canny," repeated Mis- tress Fraser. " What says Vara to a' this ? " Vara came out from the little inner room where she had been dressing for the afternoon. "What says Vara?" said Mistress Fraser, looking a little curiously at the girl as she entered. Half-a-year of absolute freedom from care and anxiety in the clear air of Sandyknowes had brought the fire to her eye and the rose to her cheek. " I think," ahe said, soberly, " that Cleg will find the siller yet. Or, if he doesn't, he will be able to do with- oot it ! " " It will make an awfu' difference to his plenishing when he comes to set up a hoose," said the mother of eleven ; " there's naebody in the world kens what it tak's to furnish a hoose, but them that has begun wi' naething and leeved through it ! " " Mr. Iverach is comin' frae Edinburgh the day," said Cleg, " to see aboot knockin' doon the auld hoose o' Barn- bogle." " He's no willing to bide in it," said Mirren Douglas. "Lod, I dinna wonder. Wha could bide in a place wi' THE BEECPl HEDGE. ^^^ «coan a chamber „• horrors doon the celhr slaira as thlt ^^ Jhich sho«d that some one must have been telling ™ ." ''■" '° sang and meet him," said Cleg. " Vara will ye come? Ye may chance to forgather J' a friend' til" widJ; Di^gTr""* "''""' '"^'"•^' ^-' «'--* "t '"c "If Mirren will gie a look to the bairns," she said At that moment there was a noisv rush mJ tTl • dow and certain ferocious ,ells camrL at thTdo f ""■ Preserve me," said Mistress Fraser, « thae bairns are never hame trae the schule alreadv ' Faith iZ , han.e, or my evil loons and Hm.lJs'wiS noVavTa bite^ doorX"" *' '"^ '° ^° '" ''"*"""''^ '°™ '»"''»»«1 th« " Tam Fraser," she cried, " what are ye doins ther, 9 ■ for rritSrr:;r " ""■""' "^"""-^ '» ■"» """^ cam' in fi.of ^ ^ ^®"' ^ ^^s Juist th nkin' as I M binnV'^ d!;:. '°""^^' '"'^ ^^'''- ^^ - "A "Faith," said his wife sharply, "i ^m vexed I canna 380 CLEG KF^LLY, ARAB OP THE CITF. return the compliment. Ye are lookin' juist like a craw- bogle, and that's a Guid's truth." "Aweel, guidvvifo," said Tarn, seeing a chance now to get in his counter, " if ye had only been ceevil eneuch, ye niicht e'en hae telled a lee as weel as mysel' ! " And with this he betook himself over the dyke, leav- ing his wife for once without a shot in her locker. Vara had gone quietly at Cleg's bidding and put on her hat. This demurely sober lass had quite enough of beauty to make the country lads hang a foot, and look after her with a desire to speak as she passed by on her way to kirk and market. Vara and Cleg walked quietly along down the avenue by the shortest road to the house of Barnbogle. " Vara," said Cleg, " I think we will do very well this year with the flooers and the bees — forbye the milk." " I am glad to hear it, for Mirren's sake," answered Vara, without, however, letting her eyes rest on the kd. " I selled baith my barrels o' milk and the ten pund o' butter forbye this morning, a' in the inside o' an hour," said Cleg. For during the last half year Cleg had been farming the produce of Mirren's little holding with notable suc- cess. " Vara," said Cleg, in a shy, hesitating manner, " in a year or twa I micht be able to tak' in the Springfield as weel. Do ye think that ye could "—Cleg paused for a word dry enough to express his meaning — "come ower by and help me to tak' care o't ? I hae aye likit ye, Vara, ye ken." "I dinna ken, I'm sure. Cleg," said Vara soberly; " there's the bairns, ye ken, Hugh and Gavin." "Bring them too, of course," said Cleg. "I never thocht o' onything else." THE BEECH HEDGE. 881 "But then there's Mirren, and she wad fair break her heart," protested Vara. " Bring her too ! " said Cleg practically. He had thought the whole subject over. Thev were now cominor near the old house of Barubogle, which its new owner had doomed to destruction. Cleg glanced up at the tall grey mass of it. sillecITr '^^""' '''' ^^ ^^" "^^^^ ^-^'^ "-t "Then," said Vara firmly, « we can work for mair. If we dinna get it, it's a sign that we are better wantin' it " She glance.1 at the youth by her side as she spoke. wh.nV''' Tv.^\^ ^"^'^^^' "^« ^'' ^^^^^'"^ bonny when ye speak like that." Perhaps he remembered Tam Fraser, for he said no moie. Vara walked on with her eyes still demurely on the ground. They were just where the high path looks down on the corner of the ancient orchard. " Vara,'' said Cleg, « what's your hurry for a minute? Ihere s-there's a terrible bonny view frae hereaboots." Cleg, the uninstructed, was plunging into deep waters \ ara turned towards the garden beneath at his word. There Were three people to be seen in it. First there was a young woman in a bright summer dress, with a young man who walked very close beside her. Over a thick wall of beech, which went half across the orchard, an older man was standing meditatively with his hands clasped behind his back. He was apparently engaged in trying how much tobacco smoke he could put upon the market m a given time, for he was almost completely lost from sight in a blue haze. ■ ^ The young people walked up and down, now in view of tneir meditative elder and now hidden from him by the 882 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. hedge. And as Cleg and Vara watched, they noticed a wonderful circumstance. As often as tiie young man and his companion were behind the young beech hedge, his arm stole round the waist of the summer dress ; but so soon as they emerged upon the gravel path, lo ! they were again walking demurely at least a yard apart. The strangest thing about it all was, that the young woman appeared to be entirely unconscious of the cir- iiimstance. " That's an awesome nice view," said Cleg, when the pair beneath had done this four or five times. And such is the fatal force of example that he put his own arm about Vara's waist each time the young man in the or- chard below showed him how. And yet, stranger than all. Vara also appeared to be entirely unconscious of the fact. This went on till the pair beneath were at their tenth promenade— the elderly man over the beech hedge was still studying intently an overgrown bed of rhubarb— when, at the innermost corner, the young lady in the summer dress paused to pluck a spray of honeysuckle. The youth's arm was about her waist at the moment. Perhaps it was that she had become conscious of it for the first time, or perhaps because it cinctured the summer dress a little more tightly than the circumstances abso- lutely demanded. However this may be, certain it is that the girl turned her head a little back over her shoulder, perhaps to reproach the young man, to request him to re- move his property, and in the future to keep it from tres- passing on his neighbour's premises. Cleg and Vara could not tell from the distance. But, at any rate, the young man and the young woman stood thus a long mo- ment, she looking up with her head turned a little back and he looking intently down into her eyes. Then their CLEG'S TRRASURE-TROVE COMES TO HIM. 333 lips drew together, and softly, as if they sighed, rested a moment upon each other. " It's an awesome nice view," said Cleg, with conviction and emphasis. And forthwith did likewise. r'^^\ !;^i y ^^^^ bis hands behind his back had a ittle while before ceased his meditations upon the rhubarb leaves, and had walked quietly all unperceived to the corner of the beech hedge. Here he stood looking down towards the corner of the orchard, where the summer dress was plainly in view. Then he raisea his eyes to the rond above, where stood Vara and Cleg Kelly. His pipe fell from his mouth with astonishment, but he did not stop U toe '^ "^* "^ ^'"'''''^ ^""^ '^""^^ ^'"''"^ ^""^y ^^ Then he too sighed, and that more than once, as soon as he had got out of the orchard into the garden. " It's just thirty years since— last July," he said And Mr. Robert Greg Teunant remained longer in meditation than ever, this time upon a spindling rose which was drooping for want of water. ADVENTURE LX. cleg's treasure-trove comes to him. Presently Cleg and Vara walked down, and when they came into the garden they found Miss Celie Tennant in animated conversation with her father. She was cling- ing very close to his arm, as though she never could be induced upon any pretext to leave it for a moment. The old man was smiling somewhat grimly. And Vara thought what a httle hypocrite Celie was. The Junior Partner H i 384 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. was much interested in a curious pattern of coloured stones, which the General had arranged with his own hand about a toy fountain. Five more innocent and un- concerned people it would have been impossible to meet with in broad Scotland. But when Cleg Kelly was introduced to Mr. Robert Greg Tennant, he was astonished to notice an unmistak- able air of knowledge in that gentleman's face. Indeed, something that was not far from a wink wrinkled his cheek! The original Cleg rose triumphant— and he winked back. Then Mr. Greg Tennant put his hands into his pock- ets, and strolled off whistling a refrain which was popular at that remote date — " I saw i^au kissing Kate, And he saw I saw Esau I " Cleg went away with the Junior Partner to take another look at the whole house, which was now wholly dismantled and about to be pulled down to the founda- tions. The Junior Partner, who was henceforward to be a sleeping partner only, intended to build a mansion on another part of the property, so that all memory of the horrors which had been contained within the Bed Door was to be blotted out. "And the sooner the better, sir," said Mr. Tennant, grimly. He had just joined them. " When I have money enough ! " stammered the Junior Partner, not sure of his meaning. , He looked about him. Cleg was still exploring far ahead in the ruined tower, from the windows of which the frames and bars had been already removed. " I was going to speak to you, sir," said the Junior Partner, " but the fact is, sir, till to-day I have had no permission and no right." CLEG'S TREASURE-TROVE COMES TO HIM. 355 '^An'rthf;'^ '^'Tt *^^y«"«g^r upon the back, h. 1, [ J^ ' ^' '^'^ ^^^'^^y* "I h^ve been behind beech hedges myself in my time. But I must say "he went^on, « that I generally kept a better watch on tt oU ■ ^Jhe Junior Partner blushed red as a rose-a peony .0 ''A^'V^ *^^' '' y*'"'" W^eaning/* continued Mr. Ten- ■ nant, « why, get the house built. I daresay there's ocher -ough to go with my little lass to pay J the stLe and At this moment a whirlwind of primrose-coloured summer lawn, twinkling black stockings, and X,^ Inanify ^"'''''' '' ' «^*« ^^ «-'»i-g. vacuous . "Come, come quick!" Celie Tennant cried, with the mos. charmmg impetuosity, seizing them each by a hand ■ and dragging them forward towards the brick kftchen We have found it-at least Vara has » Th.. J ,, . of gold-all new sovereigns and th Ws An, V I'T bridesmaid ! » ^^' ^°^ ^^ *« be What the Junior Partner madp onf «* ^u- . Httte to'Slg!' ^"''" ''"^ "'»« "''" "- '-to the f..J' ''^* '°/f"' ^^ '■""" P'^ket hurricane ! " cried her father, breathless y. " At mv tim» nf i.fc r ., rush along like a/America"iXr ' " '""'' '^'""" They entered the Ititohen. Var» w», sta^din-r ,- -i table at which Cleg used to cut the bi=on for the gIu! 38C CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. eral s breakfast and his- owu. She was calmly opening tin after tin of Chicago corned beef, cans of which stood in rows round the walls. Each was full to the brim of bright newly minted sovereigns. " It is Cleg's money," cried Celie wildly, « and I found It all myself-or, at least. Vara did, which is the same thing. There were just two tins, one at each end, full of real, common, nasty beef for eating, and the rest are all sovereigns. And I'm to be bridesmaid." And, though a Sunday school teacher of long standing and infinite gravity, the little lady danced a certain reck- less breakdown which she had learned in the Knuckle Dusters' Club from Cleaver's boy. ' "Well, Miss. Quicksilver, you had better go and tell him ! said her father ; '^ he is in the tower yonder." Mr. Donald Iverach was starting out of the door to do It himself ; but Celie seized him tragically. " Father— Donald-how can you ?" she cried more in sorrow than in anger at their stupidity and ignorance. " Of course, let her go ! " And Vara went out of the door to seek for Cleg. " Oh, I wish it was me ! " Celie said wistfully and ungrammatically, stamping her foot. « It's so splendidly romantic ! Donald, why didn't you make it turn out so that I could have come and said to you, ' I have a secret. Hush ! You are heir to a hidden treasure ! ' You never (10 anything really nice for mo ! " "Why, because the old man didn't leave it to me," oiiid the Junior Partner. " And a good job for you, too, you great goose," cried Celie, daringly, "for if he had I should certainly have made love to Cleg, and we would have set up a market garden together. I am sure I should have liked that very much." ^ CLEG'S TREASURE-TROVE COMES TO HIM. 337 And at that time Vara was telling Cleff in tho f that h,s treasure had come to him at fast ^ " ''^'^ And Cleg was sure of it. LETTER INCLOSED. J^'i^9 CI fragment from the postscript Of a note dnUrt some years later, from Mrs. Donald iLlhtoLfi over the Wall~who has been her deareZfrL^ ''^ her engagement was announced ) ^'""'"'^ ^'''^'^ '^^' ^^nce in the loveltst litti hi a *° ''' *'''™' ^"^ ^^ey live tut. loveliest little house down near the spa Ar,/ni ' FrnU„ • XI . ^, J^earj a market ffardener Fruits m their Seasons,' and that kind of \\Z7lZ know. And I think it's so sensible of thl /o/!? course, they could never have gone into soc" ty, dioU he IS certainly most charmingly behaved. But C e^ £ to go barefoot about the garden still, and you know h.f IS not i,e „ , ^^^.^ .^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^jo. know that of his class. He is what is called a ' gyte,' Chich fs ^ title of honour there. "^ '^ * "And what do you think ? Cleaver's boy is married and they have got a baby also-not so lovely as itTfathe; was but the sweetest thing! He is forein .^o^lnd Janet never thinks of telling a fib, even to afterno:; call- ers. Don t you think that's rather much? Oh, I forgot' Her uncle came in while I was there, and said to Sn Douglas-that's the little widow, yo^ know ^10 C with Cleg and Vara-' I saw Hugh Kavannah walking to day on Princes Street with little Miss Briggs»' But I don't think there can be anything in it-df ;«» ? For 388 CLEG KELLY, ARAB OP THE CITY. after all, she's a lady, and he is only a student. Of course, when we were girls— but then this is so different. "Kit Kennedy has just been matriculated or rusticated or something. Everybody is very pleased. He is going in for agriculture, and tells Cleg when to sow his straw- berry seed. " And the man who used to be Netherby carrier has come to take their stuff to market — so nice for him. And the baby is the prettiest you ever saw. But you should see mine. He is a darling, if you like. He has four teeth, and I am quite sure he tries to say Papa !— though Don- ald laughs, and says it is only wind in his little . That was Donald who came and joggled my elbow. He ifi a HORROR ! " And just think, Cleg Kelly has built, and Donald has famished, the most wdnderful Club in the South Back of the Cauongate. It was opened last week. Bailie Hol- den -who is now Lord Provost, and a very good one- opened it. But Cleg made the best speech. ' Mind, you chaps,' he said— and they were all as quiet as mice when he was speaking—' mind, you chaps, if I hear o' ony yin o' ye making a disturbance, or as muckle as spittin' on the floor— weel, ye ken me ! '" THE END. CANADIAN COPYRIGHT EDITION nw THE POPULAR STORIES Or ANNIE §. SWAN. • 1.25 1.25 1.00 1.00 1.00 A VICTORY WON A BITTER DEBT. A Tale of the Black Country ' . " . " THE 0ATE3 OF EDEN. A Story of Endeavor . BT. VEDA'S; or. THE PEARL OF ORR'S HAVEN . * ' SHEILA «Av««. . . AYRES OF STUDLEIOH. .... ****® WHO SHALL SERVE? ... **<*® THE GUINEA STAMP. A Tale of Mode'm Glasgow. ' . * . * ' J*®? A LOST IDEAL **®® ELIZABETH OLEN, M.B. . . ****** 1.00 75 Centia. 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Chapter HEADmG8.-MoonHprht and May Mischief- John Heron of R&than Dawn on Rathan Sands-The Cave of Adullara-Auld Wives Clavera-The s wi Hunter-The Red Co^ Crows at Craigdarroch-Night on the Moor-In iSun^v !fe'7S»?li^'i5:sL^K«R^'sro"ss'»^^^ the Cave-'lhe Defence of the Cave-The HiU Gypsles-The Dry Cave-TlVe rSSe '^'#®*'^®ii^i'*^-^S?"°A' °' y^^n'^'' Introduce Mistress Crammle - O^ th| Tra(A of the Raidera-The Great Fijght at the Bridge Head- SammleTamson Jlf ^'^fi^^S °t^?.*«'-±?^'^l'.? «'?»»'' ^»de of Epple Tamsoi The Fomln- Wn?ra^^ir4"5?"".8 "^h Billy MarehaU-The*^6ungeon of Buchan-The Wolira Slock-By the Blessing of Providence I Lie Bravely-The Black Sei Chest-TheMuraerHole-A Wooing not Long A-doing-May Mischllf ProvM her Mettle-I Salute the Lady Orizel- Jen olddes' SamplerK-Xeot Cake §?ivi'w?:?2;^«?"^«''r^"S'« ^H« Magic-The Barrfnl^^i^ffi-Thl J^l^f 2J^U® Blows-The Second Crowing of the Red Cock-The Earl^ Great Chalr-The Breaking of the Barrier-A Race for Life upon the Ice-TheWt- ness of Utmost KnocTi-The Auch^r on the Star HUl-The Sixteen Drifty Days -^J^n and Outlaw-The Brownie-The Last of the Outlaws-The Earl's Great WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, 29-33 Richmond St. West, Toronto. 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Ruth Burnha^%«^r»T£.&ei[i5 ^^Z^^^^'.^ll^l ^i^^:'^^'^ EIOHTY-SEVEN : A Chautauqua Story bitt«'»^e'iSSS'r"tSnX*^M,1.^^,:S^^ ^ •«' one up to make — William Briggs, Publisher, Toronto. CHEAP CANADIAN EDITION OF THE STORIES OF EMMA JANE WORBOISE Thobntobott Haix MiLLIOKNT KknDRIOK St. Bbbtha's Violet Vauoham Maboarbt Tobrinoton The Fortunbs of Ctbil Dbn- HAM SiNOLBHVRST MaNOB Otrbdalb Gbbt and Gold Mb. Montmorbnot's Mokbt* noblt bobm OHBTSTABBIi Oanonbubt Hour. HCSBANDS AND WiVBS Thb Housb or Bondaob Emilia's Inhbbitanoe Fathbb Fabiait Olitbb Wbstwood Lady GLABisaA ROBBBT WbbVORD's DaCOHTRB The Bbudbnells or Bbudb The Heirs of EBBiNoroN Joan CARisBRtiKE A Woman's Patibnob The Stob" of Pfnblofb Sissib The Abbey Mnx Wableioh's Tbost Esthbb Wynne Fobtunb's Favovbitb His Next of Kin Mabbied Life ; or, Th« Story OF Philup and Edith. O0R New House ; or, Keepino UP Afpeabanobs. Heabtsease in the Family Maude Bolinobbokb. Amy Wilton Helen Buby Sib Jclian's Wife. Gbby House at Enolestone IN UNIFORM BINOINQ, SI.OO EACH. .l''^»®",?'?^®°.^.^4 stories have hitherto, owing to the high prices of the Enghrfi edition, had but a limited sale in Canada. Fortunate ^^r?"**!^^® *** Pi**'® °° *^^ Canadian market this cheap edition of MBS. WoMoisb's books in our own strong, durable bindinc. we look for » wide constituency of admiring readers. WILLIAM BRINGS, Publisher, 29-S3 Kichmond 8t West, Toronto. MoinnaAi.t Q W. OOATES. Halifax i a F. HUESTIg, 1 IV \ ^^H "''■^•''"'"''^'^^"Ml