rsed the terms of the advertisement with
considerable accuracy and expounded them with various figures of speech,
and then issued his ultimatum.

"Ye have heard the invitation sent oot by a magistrate o' Perth, and a
man whom I've met on public occasions" (Tarn had been prosecuted before
the Bailie under the Game Acts): "we're here in response to a public
advertisement in terms thereof, and my money is on the counter. I call
these persons present to witness that I've fulfilled my side of the
covenant, and I here and now before these witnesses demand the tea and
the whisky as above stated" (howls from the crowd, who were greatly
impressed by this judicial effort, and were getting every minute more
thirsty).

"It's maist extraordinary that the Bailie is no here himsel' to receive
his friends; but what is done by the servant is done by the
master--that's good law" (vehement support from Jess Mitchell, who at
the smell of the shop was getting beyond control); "and I give ye two
meenuts, my dainty young friend, and if the material be not forthcoming
at the end of that time, the law will allow us to help ourselves, and
gin ye offer ony resistance I'll pit ye and yir neebour inside the
sugar-cask." And it was fortunate for every person concerned that the
police, who had been somewhat perplexed by the circumstances, arrived at
the scene, and turned Tinkler Tam and his friends into the street and
themselves stood guard over the shop. It was at this point that the
Bailie arrived and was received with frantic applause and a Babel of
appeal.

[Illustration: "BEFORE HIM STOOD LONDON JOHN BEARING THE SEDUCTIVE
ADVERTISEMENT."]

"Hurrah for the Bailie! Come awa' man, quick, else yir shop will be
wreckit. Where ha' ye been? The folk are cryin' oot for ye. It's time ye
started on the tea and the whisky. Make way for the Bailie. He's coming
to start the auction. Three cheers for Bailie MacConachie!" And the
Bailie, limp and dishevelled, amazed and furious, was hustled through
the crowd to see the Italian warehouse guarded by the police, and the
mob of Muirtown clamouring for tea and whisky at his hand, while face to
face with him stood London John, who had now been produced for the
occasion, bearing on his back and breast the seductive advertisement.

"It's a brazen lie!" And the enraged Bailie lost all self-control as he
read the legend on the board. "A low, mean, dirty trick, a deliberately
planned fraud. It's perfectly iniquitou