CHAPTER XXXV.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 43, 6 May 1875, Page 7

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE NIGHT SEARCH AT BEECHWOOD. The chaise containing the officers' of the law had not long- left Glasgow, when the latter had the satisfaction of finding 1 that they were on the track of the fugitives. At the various points of the road, at the wayside inns, where they had obtained refreshment, at villages through which they had passed their appearance had been noticed, and such a description was given as left no! room to doubt that the persons referred to were the man and the woman who had donned the old clothes, and these persons there was as little doubt were Menzies and his wife. The pursuers came across the herd boy, who had been so mightily astonished at seeing the old man remove his wig\ By the description of the red hair and pockpitted face which had thereby been disclosed to his view, the identity of Menzies was established to the satisfaction of the boy's . questioners, and, in the wildness, of his elation, old Sol performed an unparellaled act of generosity by bestowing on the boy a penny for his important intelligence. The trail thus found they were able to keep till they came to the neighbor^ hood of the village of Denburn, and there they lost it. No suck persons had been seen passing through that village, a fact which discouraged them only for a moment, since it immediately occurred to them that, for obvious reasons, the fugitives would avoid that village and make their way to Beechwood by some obscure by-path — the very course which, as we know, they actually did take. It was therefore under full conviction that Menzies was at Beech wood, and that they would capture him there, that they passed within the lodge gates after dusk, and began to drive slowly up the avenue* amid the deepening of the evening's shadows. At a short distance from the house, and while their presences could not be observed from any of the windows, the chaise was stopped and all four got out. The messenger who had charge of the expedition then directed the driver to draw up under the shadow of a huge beech tree and there await their return. So soon as this direction was obeyed, and the vehic]e, placed almost out of sight under the deep overhanging foilage, the four men proceeded cautiously forward keeping well within the shadows cast by the trees. " Yesh, yesh ; dat is de vay to do," whispered Sol. "We musht not let dem see us, or he may make his escape. Nothing- like taking dem by surprise.' 7 • "Of course not," assented the messenger. "He got the better of me once, but I don't mean tliat he shall do so again. Have you eot the handcuffs, Bob?" " Ay, ay," was the husky response of the concurrent so addressed. " I have them here, sure enough." And to show that he was not speaking without warrant, lie shook his side pocket till a jingling metallic sound issued forth. " Hush — curse it, don't do that, man," said his principal, angrily. " The rattle of the darbies has warned off many a jail-bird ere now. Keep them ready to clap on the moment we pounce on him, for he is strong, and will fight desperate. Ha ! there's a light shining among the trees." The light, whose, gleam the sharp eye of the messenger had caught, proceeded from one of the windows of the mansion, near to which they had now come, and presently they stood on the edge of the lawn, where its dark, square mass rose within. view, with the halfruined tower standing at its western side. ■ Every window was dark, except that whence the light came, and which : proved to be a large window in the ;second story." The white , blind was. closely drawn, but occasionally shadows crossed it, showing that it was a sitting room then in use. , - : Outside a perfect quietness reigned interrupted only by the stamping of a horse in the' stables. No one/ was stirr ing abroad.; there was no-danger,'there-fore, that their coming had been noticed jor the alarm given to those within. This seemed ; to- promise well: for the success of their enterprise, and promptness of motion and action. was now demanded ; of them; During the few 'moments they' stood within the' obscurity! ! of the trees, before J crossing the" open lawn, the chief, object of interest to ;them was the old tower, for they doubted not that within' r orid of its 1 disused cham•beri Menzies My bid. .And WHen at a : wMs'pei i e(i>iggal from,, their chief , ,t% 'little party issued forth to cross the intervening" space, -they > glided sl straight ! towards it Jr and darted intQ, fhe enclojsure J)y 'yiriiicj^itj ''-^w^surrpuniiW^ '..'-^s. Ithe wooden 1 gate which- gave; admission i thereto; was not locTce'd^" they-' had no ■difficulty in : o^taiHing*:#tr^^ : T^e; i massive door in tUelbaie'oF'^tn'e "tower jitself was. howeverQ securely jTaste,fle"di !#i>e^^aflilsaite eMfeololeMii | Pr ? ss i? i .W A <9?P^*rktfW singly, and lunitedly, 1 -*!; Vbttß nW pM-yS&dt x they jsoon saw that unless*, they could disjcover some p^herriwayTOf > access they I would r.ejjjdreate gQi'MtQ ■Jk&zuma.nsion and demand admission in the name of

the law- and by virtue of the warrant which they possessed. « ■ "With stealthy steps they passed round the foursides of the tower, making- careful search for any opening High above their heads they could ; observe here and there a dark, windowhole, but none of these were low enough to be scaled, so the messenger saw there was nothing for it but to take the other course, and be resolved to do so at once. As it was evident that- no one could quit the tower but by the massive door, one of the concurrents was stationed there, with instructions given to seize any one who attempted to escape, which precaution having been taken, the messenger, along with the other concurrent and old Sol, departed to make a bold and open entrance into the mansion. . Before we relate what further transpired, let us briefly indicate what was the state of matters within the household. Victor Moredant was the only one who knew that Menzies and Julia were concealed within the secret chamber. He still kept the secret to himself. He had been more than once on the point of confiding it to , Olive — knowing that with her it would be perfectly safe, and being greatly tempted to do so by the relief which he would thereby obtain through the assistance she would render him in his difficult task. But on reflection he could not bring, himself to compromise Olive in the matter. Now that a reward had been offered for the capture of Menzies, the law would heavely punish any one who was found to be concealing him, and he was of too generous a nature to bring another into such a dangerous position, least of all the darling of his heart. - So he went on enduring the misery of the situation, overcoming the difficultie as best as he could, his ingunity being daily racked to keep the concealed ones supplied with provisions without discovery and without suspicion. His patience, small at the first, was now thoroagly exhausted. Why, he had asked himself a thousand times, should he endure such discomfort and run such risk for a man whom he depised and detested % . Why should he be made a screen for the safety of one whose character he abhorred ? He' resolved to end the ordeal, and firmly insited on their immidate departure. Both Menzies and Julia were loath to go, but Victor sternly resisted their importunities to be allowed to remain. By this time he had acquainted Julia, with the wonderful decovery which had been eveloped between Olive and himself, to the increase of Julia's bitter mortification, for now she learned that while all her plotcings and deceptions had ended in the most miserable selfdefeat, those who hadpersued a straight course of honour and integrity had been guided by Providence to a heaven of sweetest happiness. This was gall and wormwood to her guilty, bafHed spirit, and in the darkeness of night, when her companion was asleep, she gnashed her teeth with rage, and cursed the fate which had come upon her. That very nig-ht it was arranged that they should depart, and the necessary preparations made, Menzies had relations in a remote and secluded part of Fife, and they had the hope that if he arid Julia could reach their abode he would be safe from all pursuit. To further the project, "Victor had procured for them new , disguises. Mehzies, with black patches over his eyes was to personate an old blind man— a wandering begger and Julia, dressed. in rages, was to play the part of his wife — the poor, faithful companion of the wanderings, who guided him in is sightless helplessness. Once free of Beech wood and its neighbourhood, they though they could travel unsuspected by the way of Sterling,- and so to their place of destination. The arrangement was that at midnight^ when the inmates of the mansion had retired to rest, , Victor should come and conduct them oh ' the road, to Stirling. By walking as fast as they could through the ; night they expected to:be far from Glasgow, and free from im-, minent danger*- . - - - - r Victor was thus rejoicing in the hope of soon being free from his annoyance, and delivered, from an -anxiety which . had prevented him from fully enjoying the . delicious society of Olive. That, afternoon Jack had come: from Glas- ; gow r bringing- Molly with him,- and; in one or the sitting-rooms up-stairs 4 ! they were .altogether,' talking over, the I strange and ; wondrous - experiences \ through which they - had passed from i the; tinie,of 1 _ Olive's, wreck, of the.GvnI thia till the. day when -she and Victor ; met face to face, and 'found that a will i higher than human had destined: them 1 Übfeacn; other, and had, by uniin'o^ri | ways, brought them together and united I them by the tenclerest yet strongest of Sail bonds.i— a deep and pure affection. j rsLosi. delightful it .was for all of thSffi; j to*re6aira i rid'rehearse J the many sayings; ! and; idoings: ;of thosej past m.onths4-,to ! describe their thoughts and fe'elings, ! and? | to narrate. their 'sevefar.\adyenturesl/Mr I Mofedant-was thW o'nly^bne who could ! take .no: pairt in theuammated' con versa-. j tiqnsi,"but~he= listened-;- tp-it w*s7 an I mtprestand "eniotipQ ' wfcK sieemecl{toj I fftfr* l^withlf 'Up l r riew-'anof better nafiirk 1 :^hat- extreW nr wMdlinirss ;: which had-hitheiito f^dveraed^HimJiwa§r being; '-.br&k^E itflulPMib^cdiepr and Y^fe? vfeWPfulife . a pt" duty as he jlearnecl •what generosity and self- | sacrifice' htifefteeti exerelsddsiSy^lSose to whose reminiscences he was listening.

He saw how- m.eanly : His conduct iwas when contrasted with theirs; how much nobler was their character. Ay; he was forced to confess to himself that even Jack Blossom was his superior in all that constituted true manhood,: and was far more worthy of respect and admiration. The tide of their enjoyment was in full flow, when the door of the room was opened, and Thomas made his appearance with three strange men behind him. A sort of indignant excitement was on the butler's face as he made way for the group to pass, and stood on the threshold awaiting the issue. The entrance of the men produced utter silence, while wonder and astonishment came on every face. Olive was more than astonished when in one of the intruders she recognised the old Jew to whom she had tried to dispose of her diamond ring. Victor was thrown into a state of consternation, for instantly he divined their errand.

(To be continued.')