HORT STORY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 406, 18 February 1904, Page 7

HORT STORY

Godxbot was born for the gibbet. He was the choicest scoundrel that ever stood six feet ten ia height For close on sixteen jeara he harried Scotland from north to sooth. Perthshire had the disgrace of hit birth, and in boyhood he could display the strength of a young giant To bend up a horeashoe in the palm of his hand waa a* easy a feat for him to accomplish as it was for him to thrash grown men- _ Hia rather'was a wealthy man for the time-rGUderoy came into the world in the reign of James Sixth of Scotland—and the lad had ample means for pleasure. Bat his father died—Gilderoy became master of hia own fortune, and he rattled through it in rather more than a year's time. His mother kept- him supplied for a while; bat at last she had to refuse farther funds. How now to get money to support M 3 gay life? Gilderoy instantly formed a resolution. With the smug air of the prodigal son he return* d home, begged forgiveness for hia follies, and tesm rolled down his ugly I faco a face that was gashed across with " a horrible sear gained in a fight Bat when his forgiving mother had gone to met in her bed for the night oar pious young penitent arcee from his own, and crept into hia mother's zoom* .So far, so good—she was 'asleep. ' Then he fumbled for file money-chest where all the wealth of the widow waa kept—there were no banks ia those days—and Gilderoy was so clumsy at breaking it open that his mother was startled from her . tbUba sad sat op boltxight Perhaps Gilderoy was anxious that hia mother should have no. more monetary troubles; perhaps he thought she would he better in another world, at all events, he cut her throat in cold blood, brutally ill-treated hia sister, burned the house to the ground, and departed. Thereafter, he plundered and robbed and burned and murdered in a triumphal progress through Scotland. Finally, however, he was netted by a party of soldiers, and taken captive after a furious combat But the prison at Aberdeen could no more hold him than it could have held Samson. He broke oat and escaped to Prance.

Here he passed for a scholar and a gentleman, and Gilderoy could be as graceful and elegant in manner when he chose as any butterfly courtier of them all. On a solemn day at the church of St ... Denya. in Paris, while Cardinal Eichelieu ►'■- waa celebrating high mass, at which the '• *ing waa present, Gilderoy had his hand in the Cardinal's puree, which waa hanging at his aide, as lie waa officiating at the altar. His majesty perceived the trassaction. Gilderoy, seeing himself discovered, held up his finger to the king, Ara*kiig a sign to take no notice, and he should see good sport B waa oa a hot day in August that King Louis attended solemn high maw at the church of St -Denjs in Paris. The celebrant Wiethe great Cardinal Eichelieu, that pompous itateeman whose name la the centre of a hundred rcmancee.

King Louis sat apart in bis chair of state. This morning he was ia a vexed mood; the Cardinal had bean raging at him overnight for employing messengers, with the Cardinal's knowledge, to convey letteiß to Austria in a matter of statecraft; and Louis was severely rated by BicheHen for intexmeddliag in business for which the easy-going monarch had no capacity. ■Dure was a cloud of moodiness on the king's brow. His courtiers refrained from grouping themselTea around him quite so close as they usually did. One man alone ventured to come within the shadow of the royal frown. That men was Gilderoy. Stalking Soudly through church, he advanced as rasachair that happwwd to be close to that of file king himself. Gilderoy bowed to the king with all the majesty of his six feet ten.. Without a.sign ofhesitationbe next dapped himself down upon the chair, as though it had been set here especially for his accommodation - nd no other. ■Who is this fellow?' whispered one courtier to another. ' Ha is tall enough for a church pillar,'. ressarxei sjwtfifcji f And his 7 face' ia ugly enough for a damon en the gargoyles,' added a third. ; tJßat tall or ugly, these demerits did not smb to give the king any umbrage against the stranger. He .wore orders upon his breast. And was evidently a man of

distinction. To rouse curiosity would seem to be the last resourse of a thief. What mysterious scheme had the Scottish robber in.hia fertile brain that required so unusual a method of deception ? To rivet attention upon hjaaaatt' and his movements would hardly prove the easiest and safest way of evading detention. Yet, on this famous occasion, it was Gilderoy»s only hope of success. Ha had determined to make the onlookers his confidante. The king thumbed his rappee repeatedly while he tried in his mind to fix the identity of the stranger. 'Sir, said the monarch presently in an undertone to Gilderoy,' I have not the happiness to recollect you.' 'Your majesty,' replied Gilderoy, 'is ■Jskssd to be merry. A good joke, on my faith, sire—not to recollect' me! With your permission I must repeat it to his fJSUSi "««> CtadSaaV Gilderoy smiled as handsomely as his ugly phis would allow, and the simpleminded king who really imagined that it was a capital joke—though he could not sea where the jokj lay—answered quickly: ,C *No, no; you must not tell Eichelieu. ■F know who you are/ W 'Your majesty has an accommodating memory.' "aid Gilderoy, inwardly aa"toanded at this piece of tergiversation on the part of the king, who most certainly could not recollect him, never having seen him before. 'The fact was—though, of course, it was impossible for Gilderoy to knew it—Louis had an idea that probably this giant was an emissary from Austria who had arrived in Paris aa a bearer of messages in reply to his private commxmieaMonswiththeliißistersßtTienßa. While both king and robber were playing this game of blind man's buff with each, Ctedjanl Bichensu advanced to take part in the mass, , It was then that Gilderoy ntssd his opportunity!

GILDEROY.

As the Cardinal swept past, towards the altar. Gilderoy dipped his hand into the . Cardinal's purse, and tooic therefrom a valuable box encrusted with rubies. It was the celebrated box in which his Eminence kept the sweetmeats that he was in the habit of eating whenever he had a wrangle with the king over affairs of state. Bichelieu observed nothing. -.. To show the box to the king was the deed of a moment. He smiled hugely. 'Bichelieu will be angry at jour prank.' he rem irked drily ' His Eminence, aire, cannot be dig. pleased where your majesty's amusement is concerned,' whispered Gilderoy eagerly. *Ah !* said the king with a deprecating motion of the hand*«when he misses his box re will be mightily wroth, whether it pleases his majesty or not* Bat Louis threw a glance to his'courtiers who had witched this etrasge proceeding with amazement is their looks, and clearly indicated to them not to interpose. -1 Accordingly; two of them who were advancing, retired Jack again, and the entire bevy of gentlemen, though they could not understand the little comedy, smiled and nodded at each other confident that it was some joke at the expense of the domineering Bichelieu, whom most of them would be only too glad to see put out of countenance and nonplussed. ] .-.-

But GUderoy. having captured his booty, had now to get away with it Again he must take the king into his confidence* la a few moments the -Cardinal would return to the king's side. 'To have the laugh out against his Eminence, may I beg leave to retire behind your courtiers, while your majesty asks his Eminence for a sweetmeat from his box?' Louis was highly gratified to think that there was at least one man about him—even though he could not exactly remember who this man was—that was not afraid of playing a trick upon, Eichelieu for amusement. * You are the wickedest fellow is my dominions,' said the king. •For a subject/ replied Gilderoy, 'I believe I am.' Louis stared at the speaker. Who was this roan who neither dreaded the Cardinal's wrath,' nor refrained from a jest even at the expense of the king P :• - But Gilderoy aa he spoke had risen with a bow, and three strides backward from the royal presence took him behind the line of courtiers and. into the shadow of the church pillars. In due course, Eichelieu took up his state alongside the King. When mass had ended, Louis turned to him and said: •Pray, have you got your favourite sweetmeats in your purse ?' Eichelieu hitched round his purse where it swung from his waist. But no box was there. 'I am positive I had it with me,' he muttered to himself. 'Cardinal,' said the King in wellfeigned petulance,' it invariably happens, I find, that when yeu are positive you are in error/ 'I would stake my red hat that I had my ruby box half an hour ago/ replied Eichelieu. Still the King pretended to be annoyed. 'Then,' said he, with a fume, 'loan only suppose that. King Louis is once again under a disobligement at the hands of tne prelate who so often declares himeelf to be his greatest friend.' *lf your majesty is pleased to measure my friendship by nothing more enduring than sweetmeats, I am afraid, in the present instance, that your majesty is right. But I most certainly had my box a few minutes ago.' The Cardinal's face wes a study of wonder. Then he saw that Louis was laughing and had been only drolling him. Still, where was his ruby box? *

. 'I suspect, sire, that you are making a mock of your humble servant, 1 he resumed, half in a tone of annoyance, though his eye had an undergleam of satisfaction, indicating that he had a shrewd notion that the King knew perfectly well where the box was. • - «Ho, by St Paul, I do sot,» answered Louie, merrily. ' But I think that a certain tall gentleman over there can reassure you on the point.' Eichelieu looked. He could see no tall gentltmau among the courtiers. No one of that butterfly coterie dared'risk his' displeasure* he knew,' evea to amuse the | Wk\ see noleU gentleman,' said BicheUeu. '■or do V admitted Louw, with his eyebrows; at an elevation. And neither could anybody else. For Gilderoy had glided in the Bhadow of the aide-pillars out of the church and had vanished. It was the Cardinal's turn to laugh at the King. To lose the ruby box was certainly a vexation; but to find that Louis had been made an accomplice in a daring feat of theft was more than balm to the feelings of the prelate, and he laughed long at the amazement and discomfiture of his royal master. ' I swear by the faith of a gentleman, I'll have the'rascal hung,' vowed the King. ' But he could claim equal j uetice, sire, upon his accomplice,' put in Eichelieu, who was now quite merry over his loss. Let the box go, and the devil go with it!' 'ln truth,' responded Louis, 'it must have been the devil himself j I never saw such an ugly cozening face.' Gilderoy went from France into Spain. Being one day at Madrid, he went into the Duke of Medina-Celi's house, when that grandee had made a great entertainment for several foreign ministers Several pieces of plate were locked in a trunk, and stood in a little room next to a hall where the feast was, in which room many servants were waiting for their masters. Gilderoy went in a Spanish dress, accoutred in all respects like the steward of the house, and going to those who sat on the trunk, desired them to risa, because he was going to use it. They rose and Gilderoy caused it to be taken up by some porters that followed him in, and he got clear off with it. _ Gilderoy, having now been about three -years out of his country, and thinking the villainies which he had perpetrated there were forgotten, returned to Scotland again. Soon he became a most notable highwayman. The first person on whom he exercised his calling, was the Earl of Linlithgow, whom he robbed of a gold watch, a diamond ring, and eighty pieces of gold. In a little time Gilderoy'e name became so dreaded through the whole country, that travellers were afraid to pass the roads without a great many in company.

When money was short with him he would drive away the people's cattle, unless they paid him contribution, which they did quarterly, and had bis protection, from receiving damage by any of his gang of cavaliera.

w »*w* viviunou outUaUkcU ekv Donaghadee, in the north of Ireland, and ■ landed at Port Patriok in Scotland; the news came to Gilderoj, who was then larking in Galloway. Ho met the Protector on the road towards Glasgow. Cromwell 'had only two servants with him. Gilderoj commanded him to stand and deliver. Cromwell, thinking three to one was odds, refused to obey. They then came to an _ engagement, and several, pistols were discharged on both sides for nearly a quarter of an hour ; when the bold robber pretended to yield his antagonists the day, by running as fast as he could from them. They punned bin? very closely for near half an hour. Then suddenly turning upon them, the first mischief he did was to shoot Olivet’s horse, It fell on its side as soon as wonnded, and broke the Protector’s leg. As for the servants, Gilderoj shot one of them through the head, and the other, begging quarter, it was granted) but Oliver being disabled, says the old chronicler, he had the civility to put him on an ass, and, tying his legs under his belly, sent them both to seek their fortunes. Three of his roguish companions being apprehended and sent to the To’booth, a prison in Edinburgh, they broke out, but were soon retaken, and committed to Glasgow gaol; and soon after they were executed without the gates of the city, and left hanging on the gallows, until their carcases should rot and fall away by piece-meal Gilderoj, highly resenting the indignity thus offered to Ms comrades in iniquity, vowed revenge; and it not being long before he met the judge who passed the sentence upon them, in the road going to Aberdeen, he attacked his coach, first stripping his coachman and two footmen, and tying their hands and feet, threw them into a deep pond; ha then rbhbed the judge of all he had valuable about him, cut the coach to pieces, and shot the four horses that were in it dead. Bat not being satisfied with this barbarity, he drove the judge into a wood, and bound him to a tree; at night he went with 'some of his accomplices, and putting him on a horse behind one of them, brought him to the gallows where his three comrades were still hanging; which gallows was made like a turnstile, only the beam, on each end of which is nailed a strong iron hook, to.which the rope is fastened, has no motion. -

* Now,' said Grilderoy to the judge, .' by my soul, man, sis this unlucky structure, erected to break people's necks, is not uniform without a fourth person taking his lodging here too, I must e'en hang you upon the vacant beam!' Accordingly he was as good as his word, and for fear the Government should not know who was the hangman, he Bent a letter to the ministers of state, to acquaint them with his proceedings. This insolence caused the legislature to contrive ways and means to suppress the audaciousness of Gilderoy and his companions, who were dreaded far and near. Jennet, a lawyer, promoted the law for hanging a highwayman first, and judging him afterwards; which law being approved of, it received the sanction of the Government, without any contradiction, and was often put in force against many gentlemen of the road. Gilderoy being thus successful in his villainies, grew so. intolorably wicked, that it was his delight, not only to rob on the highway, but also to murder those who refused to give him what they had, and burn houses and barns where the least affront was offered him. Bat at last a second proclamation being issued for his apprehension, with a reward of one thousand marks for any one that should take him, dead or alive, one Margaret Cunningham, with whom he kept company, betrayed him when he came next to her house. About fifty soldiers surrounded the house. The traitress left him for a moment to give a signal from a window in an adjoining room. Gilderoy happened to rise from his wine, and he saw in the reflestion of a mirror the soldiers outside, while the girl was showing, a white handkerchief. In an instant Gilderoy plucked his sword from the scabbard, rushed into the other room with a horrible oath: and ere she could escape, he ripped her open. ' Die! you—l' he exclaimed, and she fell in a huddle of blood. Then he returned to the room from whence he came, and defended himself with such undaunted bravery, that before they could take him, he killed eight of them; but then he was overpowered and put into a dismal dungeon, in the castle of Edinburgh, where he had heavy shackles put on his legs, strong chains about his middle, and his hands fastened behind him; in that state he was kept three days and nights, without any allowance of victuals or drink; when, without any trial; he was conveyed by a strong guard to the market-cross in Edinburgh, and was there hanged on a gibbet, thirty feet high, in April, 1658, aged 34 years. He:was afterwards hung in chains on another gibbet, erected ten feet higher, between that city and Leith.—J. Stavbb,

'I want a lawn-mower,' said Mr, Suburb; 'one that is a misfit in every way. One that couldn't be pushed by an electric power-house, and that won't cut grass.' ' May I ask,' said the amazed shopman, ' why you wish such a machine ?' 1 Certainly. I want to break some of my neighbours off the borrowing habit.' « My husband has a great advantage over most men.' ' Indeed ?' 'Yes. He walks in his sleep.' * I don't see what advantage that can be to a person.' • Why, he can carry the baby all night long and still get his natural rest.'

A crofter, meeting a friend whom he had not seen for some time, said, ' Halloa, Archie, whaur hae ye been this while baekP' 'Man,' replied Archie, 'did ye no ken I was laid doon wi' that trouble they ca' influenza?' 'No, Ididnahear you were ill,' said the crofter. 'An' what kind o' trouble is that V ' Weel, I can hardly explain,' replied Archie, ' but efter yer gettin' better ye feel very lazy —in fact, ye dinna feel inclined to dae anything a' day lafig. 'Man, man,' said the crofter, 'dae ye tell me thai? I've been troubled that way this last twenty years, and couldna find a name for it!' Visiting Clergyman: 'And how is your daughter getting on with her mnsic ?' Mrs Joggins: «Well, it isn't proper for me to compliment my own girl, but some of the neighbours have told me they have stayed awake at night for hours listening to her playing I' Solomoß Isaacs: 'Veil, doctor, if I've got to die, I die gontsndent. My life was insured for three touaand pounds.' Doctor:«I think, with the aid of tonics, I can keep you alive for a week longer.' Solomon Isaacs: * Dond't do it, doctor, Der bremium comes due der day after to-morrow,'