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 an' that will vouch for ye, seein' that ye're a bit lassie by yer lanes. 'Tis a most decent place entirely, an' A'm tellin' ye that the Sheriff o' Galloway himsel' aye rests there when he comes to the toon."

Joy wrote her message on the piece of paper which he had provided whilst speaking:

"To Col. Ogilvie, Inn of Greeting, Ambleside: Dearest Daddy I have been caught in a heavy fog and lost, but happily found my way here. I shall return by the first train in the morning. Love to mother. I am well and safe. Joy."

Then the signal man gave her explicit directions as to finding the house. As she was going away he said with a diffident anxiety:

"To what figure will yer ladyship gang in this—this meenistration? A'd joost like to ken in case o' neceesity?" She answered quickly:

"Oh anything you like—twenty-five dollars—I mean five pounds—ten pounds—twenty—a hundred, anything, anything so that my father gets the message soon." He looked: amazed for a moment. Then as he held open the door deferentially he said in a voice in which awe blended with respect:

"Dinna fash yerself more ma leddie. Yer message will gang for sure; an' gang quick. Ye may sleep easy the nicht, an' wi'out a thocht o' doobt. An 'll leave wi' ma kinsman Jamie Macpherson o' the Walter Scott ma neem an' address in case yer ladyship wishes me to send to yon the memorandum o' the twenty poons."

Joy found her way without much difficulty to the Walter Scott. The house was all shut up, but she knocked and rang; and presently the door was unchained and opened. The Boots looked for a moment doubtful when he saw a lady alone; but when she said:

"I am lost in the fog, and Mr. Thomas Macpherson of the railway told me I should get lodging here," he opened