" But what about the double bottom ? That I can not understand, Mr Bailey." " And to tell yez the truth, Mr Mackay, no more can I," said the pedlar meekly, j "Slnire, shure, the idea is comical enough : and it's ycrself can make it appear so," •• I'll no' believe, however, but that ye've some reason in yer head for it." " Then it's myself won't tell ye, Mr Mac kay," said the pedlar irritably. " But I'l help to carry the coffin home now, if it's all the same to you V Mr Mackay had no objection, but very sensibly proposed that the pedlar should first stand a drink in honour of the occasion. To this Mr Bailey reluctantly consented, and they passed through the open door of the inn, tha pedlar a little in the rear with his hands deep in his pockets. Now, as Mr Mackay drank his glass of whisky, this is what he said to himself : 11 He's a deep body, the pedlar, but Sandy Mackay can see to the bottom o' him ; ay, double bottom and a'. He's going to be buried wi' his money beneath him. Dod 1 If I can only baud my tongue, I'll be a rich man yet." Mr Bailey's thoughts ran in a similar groove, but reached a different conclusion— *' Ugh ! the blood sucking thief. He'll scrape me out av the bowels of the earth ; and it's twice I'll be-buried, and no rest to my bones at all, at all. Blessed be God, there is life in me yet. and sense enough to lead Sandy Mackay the prettiest dance he ever had, the dirty blackguard that he is." So these two drank their whisky, pie iging each other amicably. Some months afterwards Mr Bailey was observed entering the village towards sunset with tottering legs, and the blue, withered look of a man marked for death. He had been away for almost a week, and no one had known anything of his whereabouts. And now speculation became rife as to what his errand had been. But Bailey was beyond caring for these things ; he had shut his door upon the world and was lain down to die. 