A SISTER'S STRANGE PROTECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 1 September 1886, Page 4

A SISTER'S STRANGE PROTECTION.

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By James M'Gov.is

Author of "Brought to liny," "Hinted Down "Strange Clncs," Tracked and Traced,"&e

In leaving Howie's public-houso one night, after a look round in search of someone, I had a small folded paper slipped into my hand by Howie himself, who often did that when he feared watchful oyea or oars. At a safo distance from the place I opened tho scrap of paper and road —" There's a street robbory being planned. Tho plant is a big bag of money taken from the bank to pay the workers at a placo over in tha New Town. I can't lind out who's to bo in it,

but I thinu Corny Javis is one."' This information seemed to carry a lie on the faco of it, for Corny Javi-j waa a weak, cowardly wretch, who could no moro havo executed n daring robboiy of tho kind indicated than he could have flown in tho air. Such a crime called for a strong man, reck loss and swift, and much younger th in Javis. Who was to bo bis companion? It was dillicult to guess, as Corny had quite a host of acquaintances, and so could pick and ohco o There waa no indication of any particular bank cither, and I know that to follow Corny about, without rou.-i.-ir>; his suspicion, woulel be nearly a-i impossible as to walk in the sun without casing n sh-.t10.v. Thero was noshing for it but. to wait and lot thinga develop— which waa tho moro tantalising aa Corny did a great deal of mischief which never came homo to him, and I was particularly anxious to put a stop to hia activity. My strong impression was that ho would nover appear in tho robbery at all, but got two tools to do tlio work, whilo ho stood aloof in all but sharing of Iho plunder. Tho following day I had Corny watched, but ho neither wont no: r any bank nor held close consultation with anyone.

Shortly after dark on tho same overling a girl of fifteen slipped into the office and stood boforo us so suddenly that wo nil wondered if tho thing was real flash and blood She was v»ry tall and slender, with a white, bloodleas faco, and big, earnest groy oyoa, and was so thinly clad that her height was increased. Sho looked almost a woman, and her woo begono, lustrcus eyoa had enough misery in thorn for ono twice her ago. The secret of hor noiseless and sudden appearance before us, I found, waa that sho wore no boots, but went on hor b.iro i-oloa, though tlio time was winter and tho weather severe. "It's that gentleman over there I want to speak to, if you ploaeo," sho, said mak'ng adab with rer skinny finger in thediroction of mo as I stood by tlio fire. I steppod forward, but sho would see mo alono. Now that I waa close to her I could sco that alio was in a high-strung nervous stato, and that tho extraordinary lustre of her eyes waa duo to excitement As I proceded her to tho next room I tried to recall tho thin sharp features of that bloodlo.-S faco, but failed. " I think I have seen you somewhere," I reinuikuJ, gently and piuj.juui.iy, for 1 pitiod tho girl, and wished ,to alackon tho dreadful tension of her nerves. Tho whito faco Hushed rid. "My brother Tom was in trouble, sir, and sont to prison for nino months. 1 asked you to let mo sco him and speak with him boforo ho camo out, but you couldn't lot mc." " Oil -ah —yc-s —I romcnilur — Tom Webster, or Clytio, as ho is callo.l. But he ia out now, is ho nut - weeks ago?" " Yea, ho is out." Thero waa a ring of despair and sorrow in tho tono, and toara crept into lu-r eyes, and I stared at hor curiously. Could sho, who hid appeared so eager to c'nsp her brother in hor arms, bo actually sorry to see him freo ? Sho belonged to a bad nest. Hor falhor was a drunken labourer, who waa always getting into trouble, and who, it was suid, had killod hia wifo with ill usage, and her brother had boon l.w'coin prison lotrobbery, and barely escaped penal soivi tude. Ho was a much moro dangerous churactor than his father, being mj much younger and stronger. Boaide, ho hud dono much and suffered little, and tho wonderful impunity had mado him loekless. Wat tho girl to turn out as bad ? I had always understood that alio waa quite a different being—anxious to do well, aud willing to slave herself to death to koep father and br--.tb.er out of trouble But sho had a dreadful life of it, and was starved and beaten as regularly ai tho sun rose, and ao it was j'i-t po-.sible that at last she had turned. Her next question seemed tj confirm my suspicion. " What would Tom get if he waa ti'ken for a little thing !" She put great ouiphasia on tho word littlr, and I needed some explanation of her meaning. She seemed to have tho idea, by no means uncommon, that a crimo was punished in proportion to tho value of the plunder taken, und it took mo somo timo to ma_e clear to her that puni-htneut waa meted out according to tlio na'.uro of the crime and tho number of previous convictions. Tho explanation seemed to dopreaa her, until I came to tho strange anomaly of a man's previous o mictions not counting against him when he happened to bo taken for a new crimo. " That's it I" sho said, rousing up again and speaking with great energy and excite merit. "If ho just took a Fcarl from a shop door, now, and walked oil' with it, what would ho got for that ?" "Thnt would bo simplo thoft, aud he would probably get thirty days. If he cornea back for street robbery wilh violenco he'll get a smart sontouee - moat likely five or seven years." , "I know it, sir ! I know that, for I've heard him say it I" sho answered, in an anguished tone ; " but he must never do that agiin. It would kill me, and be tho ruin of him; for lie's the only brother I have, and I can't help loving him. Now, sir, if I was to tell on him, and have him taken up, would ho find out that it was me that did it?" She shook in evory limb as sho nskod the question, and I could not help thinking that she deserved to shake in proposing such treachery towards a brother whom eho pro feased to love. "I cannot tell. You would not be cited as a witness either for or against him." "That's all I wanted to know, sir," sho eagerly returned with her face bacoming gradually radiant. "Well, ther, I want to toll on him now. ao that you can ketch him and have him sent ',;•! yao'i for thirty days, He's wearing a seuf just now that be tuck from a shop door in tho Street thia

morning '

I could scarcely believe it, and I suppose my face and tho paculiar silence which followed conveyed tho idea to her mind, for she presently added — " Oh, it's true, sir, I saw him take it, and can give you tho name of the shop." 1 took down the name of tho drapar, whose plnco waa but a etone'a throw from

where wo sat, und a minute description of the stolen scarf. Then I looked fixedly and a litt'o sternly at the flushed and excited faco before me, and said —

" Has he ill-used you lately, that you are seeking this revenge?" 'Til-used me I Tom ill-uso mo I" she excliimed, in tho greatest nm-izeinor', .'.'He loves me too weil. No, no; Tom would never lift a finger to mo."

" Therj why are you doing ibis—why are you putting him in prison ?" " Her agitation inoroased painfully. " Oh, sir, don't ox me that I" she cried, shedding tears freely, "fot I can't tell anything about it now, but that I'm druv to it. Mebbea I'll come back again next week and tell you all about it } and I hope Tom will forgive me, for sure it's all for the best I'm doin'it."

•' Just so," I said, drily, thinking of the '• jealous wife." " However cruol and monstrous the actions may be, you all do these things with the best intentions, only tho plans don't work exactly as you wish, and your {rood intentions pave the way to hell. Well, I suppose that's all. You may

go." She did not go, but stood liko an imago of terror fixed on the door. "

" Mebbes I've dono wrong,'' she fearfully muttered, as much to herself us to me. " Mobbes I've dono wrong "

I thought she had, but did not say so. No one could have looked on that anguished face and quivering ljgure apd (jaded one iota to hor agony. ?'I couldn't help myself, and sure bell forgive mo after," sho said, in tho same fearful tones; and ;hon without another word or look at mo she shook her/elf out of her painful reverie and slowly trailed out ef the room.

J had nothing particularly pressing on hand, and put on my hat and sauntered down to the shop of Farquhar, the draper.

They had just taken in somo goods displayed at tho door preparatory Iv shutting no, and wore looking s.»mo -'•-.'■ ■ ..- ." .>■/, • ! t of of th. :-.' ... '■■■■■'. ii,' ci-n which did not ,v. . ■■•• - lactorily. '• I know what's wrong.' I .-sid »iig!itl>, as tin; draper iiim.-c : l' greeted me with ii friendly nod. "There's me rj-tnlsslnrr, eh?"

" Yes, and you've got, it, I've no doubt," said Faiquhar, brightening up. "How did you traca it so smartly ?" "I have not got it, nor have I ever scon it, or tho thief of it either," 1 answered ; " but thia one, 1 think, is exactly like tho ono stolen," and I picked out ono in which tbe shawl pattern was printed on a ground of dark blue. I was going ontirely by the description furnished by Emily Webster, and it proved correct. All this seemed wonderful to the drapor, and ho could not be convinced that I had not at least seen the stolen scarf. Strange, I was v little sorry to find that such a soarf had really boon stolen, and that I must go and take Clytio oti tho charge. 1 had no lilting for the man, but the troachory of tho sister struck me as peculiarly . base, and I would willingly havo discovered somo flaw in tho ovidenco by which ho might escape. Then his sister had given no explanation of hor s'rango conduct, and so hail puzzled and irritated mo, which I dislike very much. Whilo I waa on tho move 1 I bought I might go as far as Howie's public-heuso, in which 1 had moro than once scon Clytio enjoying himself Ho wa3 a great, heavy-built follow, noarly s<x foot in height, and would havo boon handsome but for his high cheet-bones and coarse features Hi was a perfect lion in strength, aud I should have been a more child in his grasp had ho ohoson to exort himself in an en counter.

L was evident ly not expected in the placo, for qnito a number of tlio customers sud donly rome in bored important engagements elsewhere, aud hastened to fulfil them. In one of tho boxes, however, 1 found Tom Webster, busy with throo tf.his crouies over a game of cards. Ho glanced up aa 1 iillod the doorway, but allowed neither concern nor alarm, though tho others appeared to bo uneasy aa they resumed their game. Hound Tom's bull noc_ was loosely tied a now scarf, of tho shawl pattern, printed on a ground of dark bluo. Not n word was spoken, and tho four evidently expected mo to simply luok in and go away. I raised a linger and looked at Clytio, but ho was busy with hia cards at ilia moment, and waa unconscious of tho call till one of hia companions kindly kicked him on the shin bono under tin; little tabic

'■ It a you 1 want, Clytio, planation. " Me? What do you want with me Vho exclaimed, in genuine surprise. "1 want you to show mo that fino scarf round your neck." Clytio tugged Iho scurf from his neck, and carolsas'y tossed it to mo and resumed hia game. Tho scarf onsweted perfectly tho description of that stolon. " It's all right, Clytio," I aaid, putting tho scarf into my pocket. " Aro you ready to go, or would you rather finish your

" I said, in c

gamo? ' Tho bin follow dropped his cards in n heap on the table und stared at mo. Ideas did not got inlo his head quickly, but this ono was making way rapitlly. "To j,'o '.' — where ?" "To tho Ollico. This scarf has dono it. I never thought that you would try shoplifting. Yours was ulways a bolder lino " "I never did try shoplifting, nor nrow will," ho answered, with a frightful oath, " and you've made a mistake for onco, Mr McGowan, for that scarf was bought for mo to day as a present by my sister Emily. You won't believe me, I know, but you can trust her, for sho never was iv trouble, and wouldn't toll a l:o to save hor own lifo." " That's enough; you may come with mc, anil leavo tho game Io be ftiitehcd when you ;.;et out 1 havo torn your sister, and sho duos not clear you " Not clear me

Did sho s'.o.d the

scarf ?" " I think not." " Does she say that 1 stole il ?"' 1 remained silent, and ho became fearfully agitated.

" Bring her bsforo me," ho paid, with a thump of his heavy list on tho table which nearly shivered ifc. " Biinc? her boforo mo '.' I can believe her, but I can't believe a word out of ycur ljing mouth. I'll go with ye with an cusy mind, as I kr.o.v I've nothing," " What, no! intho lliijh-atreet today, at a draper's door?" I said, with a smile. " 1 haven't sot my foot in tho High stroot thia bIL-Shcd day," ho quickly answered, •'and I can prove it. Tim Ford thero has boen with mo all day, and ho can swear it." " Yes, I daresay, but unluckily no one would believe Tim l-'ord though ho sworo himself black in the face," I rejoined. ".Just come to theOfiice, und vvo'il send for your sister, .f she can clear you 1 shall be astonished "

He rc.fio promptly, and caroletsly sub mithd to havo one of hia wrisfs fastened to my own.

" It's a poor hold that v d keep on mo if 1 wanted to get away," ho said, scornfully, looking down on tho stool Units, ami I could not hen mentally endorsing tho statement. Ono wrench of hi-i powerful arm would either havo snnpp.d tho links like rotten thread, or taken my hand off by tho w net. I had intended to send for Emily Webster nad tli-3 draper aa soon aa wo leached the Office, but in passing tho old Fishmai kel. Closo I chanced to look back on the crowd following us, and there noticed ihu tearful and white faco of tho gill. Sho had followed mo every step of the way-to tho draper's, and thence to tho public-house, and had doubtless seen and hoird moat that I havo recorded. Her slender figure and white faco stood out sharply in tho crowd a strange contrast to the buily form aud heavy features of her bro-her. "Thero is jour sister," I said to my prisoner. "Call hor now." Ho looked round and raised hia free hand to motion her toward- her. "Como hero—after mo, Em, for you'll bo noodod," ho grullly said, and then strode on and up Ihe stair into tho charge-rcom Emily, with a i.ice of marble, followed slowly, and kept well back from hor brother. Tho charge was made, and then Clytio turned to the shrinking girl. " I got that scaif from her to-day as a present, and sho bought it for mo did'nt you, Em ?" Thero was no answer. The girl cowered lower and lower, as if withering before that terriblo glance. " Snca'r, girl I" ho thundered at last. "Speak, for it's only your word—the true word—that can savo me from gaol." A stifled sob, and then a wild cry— " Oh, Tom ! don't ax mo to say the word, for I've an oath on me sowl, and 1 can't -I dur-n t break it I" Tho answer scomo 3 fi-st to astonish Ciytie, and then to increase Ida fury and suspicion. Ho advanced a stop, and •.••rmW have clinched or;o of hia powerful hands into her thin shoulder i;ad J not quietly stepped between. " Did you steal it yourssif, then ?" he hotly pursued. " Surely whatever you did jou can clear me?" " I can't, deir, I em't I" Tho words seemed wrung out of his very soul. Clytie got quite calm, bue it sv.-.-s well for hie sister that she still cowered before him and did not sco tho lonk which ho flashed upon hor as hia fury to suddenly vanished. " Very well: you're sending me to gaol, bet it's the last time—the la-t time ' You 11 never do it again." " Never, deir Tom, never !"' she cried, with all her soul in her eyea. He did not speak to her or look at her again, and mado not the slightest objection to being led off to the colls. The girl crept out and disappeared—a greater puzzle to me than ever. Next morning I took the scarf down to Farquhar, tbe draper, and he identified it as being of the same patfgrn as ono he had missed, but he could not Bwe&r to it being that article. Hundred of scarfs of that colour and pattern were made and sold all over the city. The ono I had recovored might have bton bought in some other fhop or even his own. Tho position was a perfectly reasonable one, and I began to suspect that the caso would break clown. The night betoro I had wished that; it waa different now, for I had seen that deadly look of Clytio nt his cowering sister, and I thrught only of his ungovernable fury an i lion-liko air nglh pitted against such a slender slip of a girl. In tho course of fhe afternoon'Clytio wa3 set at liberty, and tho scarf returned to him. I had sent a message to Emily warning her that he might attack her, and tho girl had the srjnse to got out of the little den olio called n homo and winder about till lata ab night,' when the intense cold and hor bare feet and mi.'O'oblo clothjng fore;d'her up iho stairs for shelter. Under the impression that her brothor and father wore in tho house asleep, she cowered clr.se to iho door and fell asleep. In an hour sho was i waked by a heavy foot stumbling upon j her, and her Btifled cry revealed her | identity to Clytie. He had been drinking,

I but only enough to sharpen his usually dull j faculties. ~ . . : : j>: ! „'";.i !/.;'..>■ v 1.1..'.;-,,.y.:-: n,. <, x,,. j p lice und died mi iiai-e umetnit m gaol |.-r years with your lies about tho scarf. Yon can't douy it. for Jr. vie saw you como out of tho oilico, aud you wouldn't clear mo by speaking the tiiio word whon I axed you." Scream upon scream rang through that land, rousiutr even tho most hardened and brutalisod. Clytie's terrible feet and lists were at work, and when they had done, the slight form was hurled down tho steep atone stair with all hia strength. Tho exortion had sobered him, and his fury being exhausted, he stood for a momont irresolute ; thon, aa ho heard his father stir within, and othor sounds of awakening sleepers, he dashed down the stair, past his seiisaiess victim, and vanished. Emily was carried into her miserable homo bruised, blooding, and with somo of her ribs staved in. But for tho lightness of her thin frame, that pitch down ' tho stairs would havo killod hor. Her father baa been drinking, and but lazily understood tho case : but somo of the neighbours distinctly averred that thoy had heard Clytie's voice, and believed him to bo tho author of the outrage. "Ha wouldn't do it; he's too fond of h"i3 s'ster," mumbled khe father ; but the assertion did not prevent somo ono from bridging news of the crime ti tho Otlico. Tho medical ill'poctor saw Emily, and do cided ihat sh« might live, but she was too muoh*injuri dto boar removal. My first ordersrin the morning were to spare no effort

io trace aud capture Clytie. tmily so far recovered us to bo able to speak, but sl.o made no chargo against Clytie. She had been sleeping at tho door, alio said, when somo ono stumbled over her, and then began to kick hor, onding by throwing her down stairs. She did uot see tho man's face, for it waa pitch dark, and she waa a little stupid through cold and sleep. At that point tho father chimed in with a protest that Clytie would not harm a hair of hia sister's head, ho lovod her so, to which Emily added with grateful tears — " Yes, Tom lovoe mo heart and soul."

When presssd to say if he had not been her assailant, Emily only assumed tho piteous look which I had before seen nt the office, and said imploringly— " Don't ax mo, sir, for I could never do anything to harm my own brother, Tom. Tho curse of tho I ord must rest on them that turns agan' their own flosh and blood." Theso answers wore not what I expected. Of Clytio'a guilt I had not a moment's doubt, but what could be more contradictory than Emily's words and her conduct iv bo; raying her brother only two days bofero ? I did not attempt to account for it. She was a woman - that waa enough.

I hunted hard for Clytio nevertho'o'B, but ho was too well hidden Howie could give mo not tho slightest hint o f his whereabouts, end every one of hia lato companions cmphutira'ly declared their boliol that the place waa fur too hot for Clytio, and that consequently he had loft tho city. Those declarations convinced mo that ho was still in Edinburgh, but I thought he would only remain till the first boat of tho Into and cry was over, and then get away as swiftly aa pissiblo. I was altogether wrung, for I heard of Clytio the very next day.

A clerk in the employ of a firm in tho New Town went to the bank and drew- a sum of money, mostly in silver, which was intended for paying the wages of tho two hundred persons employed in tho place.

Tii-j day was Saturday, and the time shortly before noon. It waa a clear, bright day,

and tha mound waa crowded with pas

sengera. Tho money wua carried in a black glfizod leather bag, and the man had not gom three hundred yards from tho bank whon Clytie appeared before him. Ho throw himself with all Mb weight on tho bag, whilo at the same momont another ruffian dealt the astonished clerk a terrilie blow between tho eyes.

Tho result was what all the robbers had expected—aud a little more. Tho clerk dropped like a tolled ox, and tho bag was free in Clytio-hand. But there chanced at the moment to bo closo to tho thioeayoung li! of ab .ut eoventecn, employed as a g.oeer'a UGH-tant, canying on hia arm an empty basket, iio w.ia a slightly built youth, but with an astonishing quickness he took in the situation, and pluckily dashed tho square corner of hi) empty basket right into Olytio's ejts. With a yell of agony Clytie swung round tho bag of money in the diroction of tbo lad's head, but the littlo youth divod right under tho powerful arm, and the full weight of all tho silver iloscendtd on tho shoulder of Clytio- pal, effectually laying him prostrate besido tho clerk. Tho boy meanwhile had dropped hia basket, and now thro.v himself like a bull dog on tho bug of money, fastening hia feoth in Clytie's hand, getting tho bag free, and sticking to it in s.pito of the showers of kicks and blows rainod upon him by tho powerful rutlian. Other passers by now crowded round, and many of tho.-o woio severely mauled by those terrible tirt- 1 , but in spito of evory effort Clytie was hold fast by legs, aud arms, and hair, and finally marched oil' to tho Head Olllco. Corny Jarvis was soon near tlio spot, but ho discreetly abstained from putting forth a hand, to only Clytio and his companion wero taken.

" You'ru in for livoyears thiatime,Clytie," I remarked as ho was removed to tho cells, und ho titidded a sullen assent. Tho scarf which hia sistor had accused him cf stealing was still round his neck.

Tho same afternoon I went to sco Emily to try to induca hor to charge him also with the injuries sho had sustained. Sho was terribly agitated with tho news ef tho rob tery and hia arrest, and, feebly clasping her hands, she exclaimed —

"Oh, it waa what I wanted to save him from. 1 thought if I'got him into prison he'd be out t.f the way of J_rvie,and thon I

meant to toll you and havo taken, lie has boen the ruiu of Tom, I woke up ono Tii^lio and heard them arranging it for thia Saturday. Thoy thought I was asloep, and Tom said if it failed he'd got seven years. I know he would not listen to mo if I begged him to have nothing to do with it, and i hat nothing but aprison wall would

keep him from Jarvis. 1 took the scarf from the draper's door. My heart was in my mouth, and I just mado a pull at it and ran. I waa homo before I knew anything about, it, and then I gavo it to Tom, and camo and told you ho tuck it. It was a lie, und I'm feard I'll never bo forgiven, and it hasn't saved him after all. Oh, sir !is there no way of keeping him from tho bad road, even if I was to die to do it ?"

I th jok my hoad, and gontly tried to got her to admit that Clytio bail boon her assistant, to which alio sadly replied—■

" Haven't I done him enough wrong already ? Mebbea I'll die, aud then, if he was to ba called the ono that struck mo, he'd bo hanged, I couldn't do it, sir : it's unnatural and wicked. Take mo to prison, for I am wickeder than Tom ; and, sure, I'd bo happy knowing I wae inside the

amc walla.

There waa no reasoning against such determined devo'ion, and I gav-o up the attempt It was impossible to arrest Emily, oven after hor confession-of theft. She y/aa tog ill to bo moved, and the medical opinion was that she would lie for many a month, if sho ever got voll at ell.

Boforo Clytio was brought up far trial I gavo him a simplo account of hia tislor's Btramro plan of protection He opened hia eyes very wide and iistoned with breathless interest, but hardened up again immediately after, and made no remark whatover, Emily lay for some months, with no one to look ufter her but some Siaters of Mercy, and then was removed to tho Infirmary. Whon next I heard from her the had been removed to a home for insurables. Tho broken ribs had not mended well, and hor lungs had given way. She wanted to see me, and 1 wont to the place, but quite failed to recognifo her. She was not in bed, and she had grown taller and thinner; Her face was more bloodless, and her eyes bigger and brighter. She could scarcely take a stop across the room without sore panting and exhaustion, yet she insisted that clip was always stronger and better when moving i,bout tjjua instead of lying in bed.

When I appeared before her she took both ray hands in her own, and tho quick welling of the tears into her pyes had to speak all she meant to say, for not a word would come forth,

"I'm not to get well again, air," she said, with strange calmness " il-.oy tell mo I'll be forgiven for what I did to Tom, as it was the love that was in mo that druv me to it, and tho blessed Lord won't be hard on them that has big love in their heart. But five years is a long time, and I'm ateared I'll not bo here when Tom gets out again, and I'll never sco him to ax if ho forgives mo. Could you soo him, or write to him, and ax him for me ? Sure, you've the gentle ways of putting things, and he couldn't how'ld out agin' ir, and I'd slip away easier lite if I knew he forgave me." What answer I made I know not ; but I did write to Clytie, ond got back an answer, dictatod by him, stating tljat. freely for-f-ave her, and hoped that she would keep nothing in her heart against him. I knew what that meant, and so did Emily, as her

last letter to Clytio showed. Two months T'V-.ily r'ied And did her death prr> ,(„ ■ „... if.. •n•■l -• '' ' : i of

iron with which it, encases the heart