Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume XXI Part 27

"He is sae ill that I hae very little hope o' him," said Mrs. Skirving.

"Good G.o.d!" replied the man, "is it possible? I have murdered him." And he groaned in distress.

"What do ye mean, James?"

"Six o' us wagered, three against three, and twa to ane," he proceeded, "that our side wadna put your husband to his bed. We met him in Fife at different places o' the road, and terrified him, by describing his looks, into an opinion that he was unwell. I'm come to make amends. What is the 10 to me when the life o' a fellow-creature is at jeopardy?"

It was too late. We need say no more. The communication was made to the sick man; but he was too far gone to recover, and died in a few days afterwards. This is a true tale, and requires little more explanation.

It may have been gathered from our narrative, that Cowie, Willison, and Paterson were the only persons who were in the plot. John Sharpe, Widow M'Murdo, Andrew Gemmel, and the others who merely noticed his dejection, were entirely ignorant of the cruel purpose.

[Footnote A: One version of the story says that Mr. M---- picked up the tramp at Cammerton, in Fife; but I adhere to my authority.]

[Footnote B: Places for melting plate.]

[Footnote C: This strange tale is given from materials supplied by the Surgeon with whom I was brought up.]