The Anstruther Lass

Part One

Scotland

Chapter One

She watched the rat. It darted across the mill yard and disappeared behind some waste bins. It gave her the idea. She shook her blonde curls so that they tumbled round her face framing it. She bit her lips to make them redder, Wullie always said he loved her mouth. He called her mouth a cupids bow and said it had ensnared him. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She had what she called a get away with it face. Her blonde curls and blue eyes made her look sweet and innocent. No one would suspect that she was a killer. Her plans were going well. She had scared all the girls in the tenement block owned by the mill, where she lived by telling them that she had seen rats in the building.

Two of the girls had gone to the pharmacy and bought the arsenic to kill the rats. They had to sign the Poisons Register that had been introduced in 1851. This was important, as even though Isla had planned the murder to look like an accident, she did not want any suspicion to fall on her, which it could do if she had bought the poison and signed the register herself. Her plan had nearly gone wrong as since the 1851 Arsenic Act the arsenic had to be coloured indigo blue but the chemist had some old stock that he wanted to get rid of and offered it to the girls at a cheaper price. As they had all clubbed together to buy the rat poison the girls wanted to save money especially as they did not earn much as mill workers.

The trouble had begun when she thought that her lover, Mr William Campbell, one of the mill managers, had seemed to lose interest in her. A pretty girl called Wilma, had started work at the mill and Isla knew what her Wullie as she called him was up to as soon as he had appeared on the factory floor and approached Wilma. Why, he had done exactly the same thing with her, introduced himself and then come down to see her at every opportunity. She realised cynically that it was probably a pattern and he had had a whole string of lasses before her. She loved Wullie and although he was married, she hoped to persuade him to let her have a baby. Then he might set her up in a house and he could even leave his wife for her. She needed to act quickly. She, Lindsay and Fiona had put the powder around the outside of the building, and she had seen that it was white and looked like sugar. She had searched around the outside of the mill and had collected a couple of dead rats, which she had put outside the tenement building, near the poison to confirm her story. They had put the remainder of the arsenic in an outside storehouse; Isla crept downstairs and put some of it in a small sugar bowl. She carefully added some sugar to the bowl. She knocked on Wilma’s door making sure that no body was about.

"Would you like to have a cup of hot cocoa with me before you go to sleep?

Aye, that would be lovely.

OK, Let’s go down to the kitchen and we can have good gossip over our nightcap."

What do you think of the Production manager Mr Campbell? she asked Wilma expecting her to say something quite innocuous.

Instead, she nearly tripped over her nightdress on the stairs in surprise.

Och, he’s lovely. Do you know what he said to me yesterday? I think we must be destined to be together as our names are so similar, I think Wilma is one of the feminine versions of William. I would like to get to know you better can I take you out for a bite to eat at midday on Saturday?

So what did you say? Isla replied, smiling at Wilma but thinking, ‘Why you treacherous little bitch, I’ve seen you fluttering your eyelashes and flirting outrageously.’

I told him I would meet him in the yard behind the mill, at midday on Saturday but we would have to be careful as I know he’s married, and it would never do for folk to find out.

Isla smiled sweetly and said, Well I hope you have a lovely time, as she poured out the cocoa and heaped two large spoonsful of the sugar and arsenic into Wilma’s cup thinking you won’t have lovely time because you’ll be dead by tomorrow.

Isla could hardly contain herself after hearing Wilma’s confession but managed to sit and chat for five minutes and then she yawned and said,

Well, I’m for bed.

She knew that yawning was contagious and sure enough, Wilma began to yawn,

That sounds like a good idea.

Isla quickly washed the two cups, as she did not want evidence to be found that there had been another person with Wilma when she had drunk the fatal cocoa. She tidied the sugar bowl away into a cupboard. The two girls crept quietly up to their rooms and Isla was pleased that there were no other mill girls about. Isla fell into bed laughing and thinking, ‘Well that’s the end of that romance – William and Wilma, I ask you – what a line! Such a fool to fall for that a load of tripe. Well, she deserved to die a horrible death for believing it’ and she chuckled to herself as she thought, ‘It would be a horrible death, first she would get stomach cramps and then nausea and diarrhoea, dizziness and then she would feel numbness spread over her body as all her vital organs shut down and then death.’ Isla relaxed as she thought that even if the police investigated Wilma’s death, they would not be able to prove that she had anything to do with it. She fell asleep with a satisfied smile on her face.

Chapter Two

T he jute mills, Lana you can’t go and work there, I’ve heard there’s trouble enough there, dust and steam and it’s dangerous too. I seem to remember when we were young that that there was a terrible accident about ten or fifteen years ago at the Verdant Works Mill. I think a young lass was mangled in a carding machine and was killed instantly. Everyone was talking about it. Why you could end up dead or mutilated. Moira pleaded with Lana.

I’ve decided. Anyway, since my darling, Robbie was killed I don’t really care. I would be with him again. No, I’ve decided I’m going to Dundee.

I thought you were going to work at the Fish Quay.

That was before I knew Billy O’Neil was the foreman. He’s been pestering me since my Robert died and my life wouldn’t be worth living with him making passes at me all day, not to mention all the suggestive comments.

The two sisters were sitting in the kitchen of Moira’s house at the large well-worn oak kitchen table that Moira had inherited from her mother, relaxing with a well-earned cup of tea. Moira had sent her husband off to work and her two sons to school with sandwiches for lunch. Then the two sisters had swept the house, washed the breakfast dishes and put them away, hung out the washed tea towels, which were now flapping in the breeze outside on the washing line. Moira studied her younger sister’s face, her high cheek bones, lovely bone structure and tip-tilted eyes. She was not jealous, as she knew that she was attractive in a different way, with light blue eyes, blonde hair, a rounder face and a pert nose. She had had her fair share of admirers, but she wondered if being as beautiful as Lana was not a curse rather than a blessing. It had certainly been a blessing for Moira and Andrea when they were young; her mother had always picked Lana to run errands and be the family’s ambassadress. Her mother used to say, ‘Lana always looks so neat and tidy and beautiful but you two are scruffy urchins,’ They always giggled and sighed with relief.’

Well, that’s your fault.

What do you mean?

Moira thought for a long time before answering. Lana was so used to being the most attractive of the three sisters that she smiled and flirted with everyone naturally, she didn’t understand that men could misconstrue it.

You encouraged him.

Lana’s eyes widened, No, you’re wrong. I didn’t encourage him or at least I didn’t realise it. But what has that got to do with the jute mills in Dundee?

Andrea arrived slamming the back door with a bang and thumping her basket down on the kitchen table. She had heard the conversation and joined in,

The trouble with you, Lana is that you always think everybody is good, but you should realise that there is bad in most people and some folks are downright evil.

Why are you both getting at me?

We’re not having a go; we’re just trying to protect you.

Moira gave Lana a hug to confirm that their words showed their concern for her and were not intended to be hurtful, Lana felt comforted by the familiar smell of Moira’s bergamot and lemon perfume.

Well, the accident was a long time ago, it is safer now, besides, I’m to work in a different mill. Yes, I know it is gruelling work but Robbie’s cousin, Jessie, works in the finishing section there and will introduce me. She says the work is easier in this area; all they do is cut off all the surplus fibres and load the jute into a high-pressure roller to give it a smooth pressed finish. Jessie said all the women there are friendly good sorts and all help each other out, so it might not be so bad. Also, I need something to take my mind off Robbie’s death. I won’t have time for grieving when I’m doing hard work. Anyway, I thought you would be glad to get rid of me for a while. You must be fed up with me either mooning around or going out at night for midnight walks on the beach and screaming Robert’s name at the sea.

Let her go and work at the mill, it could be the making of her, having to deal with all the scoundrels and rats who work there," Andrea countered.

But where will you stay in Dundee? You can’t travel back and forth every day.

I can stay with Auntie Jeanie. You know, her husband was a doctor, that’s how she met him as she was a midwife. They were comfortably off and were able to buy their house so when he died, he left her the house and an annuity. She lives in Broughty Ferry Road, and I’ll come back to you on weekends, or you can bring the boys to visit Auntie Jeanie in Dundee. She’d love to see them.

Moira and Andrea looked at Lana and saw her stubborn expression that they knew so well. Moira smiled gloomily,

Well, you seemed to have made up your mind and I know that even if a school of whales swam up the Forth of Tay and blocked the ferry that wouldn’t stop you. You would find a way but how are you getting to Dundee?

Old Jock said he’d take me to Dundee in his horse and cart.

He’s one of the smugglers. Isn’t he? I know him. He supplies my husband at the Ship Inn.

Yes, and he takes the contraband brandy, rum and tobacco to Dundee to sell. There’s a good market there as so many folks have come to work in the jute mills. He goes every Monday. His buyer sends a boy to meet the Tay ferry to collect the goods and pay him. Jock says that the boy comes with a horse to harness up to the cart and he will take me to Campertown Mill.

Too risky. Suppose customs lay in wait for him and catch him? They’ll think you are a smuggler too and throw you in jail. Think of another way to travel to Dundee.

"Whsst, he’s been doing it now for five years, so I don’t think that there’s much chance of that. Anyway, most of the customs men are corrupt. They know fine well what is going on and that the smugglers in Anstruther are small fry, so they take bribes to look away."

Andrea agreed with Lana, She’ll be alright with Jock. He knows his way around.

Moira sighed looking at her younger sister, thinking that she had always been a little childlike and naïve. Her mother had named her Lana, meaning child in Gaelic and sometimes she thought of her younger sister as one of her own children. She had to look after her, together with her own two sons, Ronald and James. Lana didn’t seem to realise that people could be vindictive and could inform the customs bringing the whole smuggling trade tumbling down like a house of cards. She did not feel the same way about their younger sister Andrea, because Andrea was the hard-headed one. She had turned down all the young lads who tried to court her and instead she had chosen to marry the older widower who owned the Ship Inn just down the road in Elie. Her heart certainly did not rule her head; in fact, it was the opposite. At least Andrea was not mean-spirited and being better off than her two older sisters, she would always lend a hand if they were short of food or money. She turned back to Lana, sighed and said resignedly,

Well, I’ll make you up some bread and cheese to take with you for the journey. What time are you leaving and when will you be back?

It’s only twenty miles and we are going to set off early at seven o’clock in the morning. We’ll get to Dundee by eleven and I’ve said in my letter to Jessie that I’ll meet her at twelve noon outside the mill. She is going to take me to meet her foreman and I hope I can start next week. Oh yes, I’ve written to Auntie Jeanie and she wrote back and said she’d love to have me. I am meeting her at the ferry before I go back at two o’clock.

Well Lana, you certainly have been busy and organised everything. Are you staying for supper Andrea?

"No, I just popped in for a cup of tea and to see you two. Ben has some business in town, and I arranged to meet him at the at five o’ clock by the Dreel and we’ll go back to Elie in the brougham in time to open the Ship for the evening.

Little did any of the sisters know that Lana’s arrival at the mill would stir up a hornet’s nest.

Chapter Three

Lana jumped out of bed just after six, poured water from the jug into the bowl and washed her face. She had trouble sleeping these days since she had become a widow and always woke up early. She dressed quickly, ran down the stairs to the kitchen and grabbed the packed lunch her sister had prepared for her. She was carrying her purse containing money she had taken from the jar that she and Robbie had been saving to buy a house. She donned her favourite black cloak with the hood and marched determinedly down the road to meet Jock.

He was waiting in his cart as he had promised and he told her they would go across the country rather than along the coast, as it would be quicker. He looked very smart in a clean white shirt. People sometimes thought that because the smugglers were rogues that they were dirty and unkempt, a false assumption. Another belief that because they were scoundrels, they must also be bad was quite untrue for, as Lana knew, Jock had helped various villagers when they were short of money. His face was lined but when Lana looked at his eyes, she noticed that the lines around them were caused by smiling and gave him a kind expression. The steady clip-clop of the horses’ hooves, the gentle rocking motion of the cart, Jocks comforting smell of salt and the sea all had a soporific effect on Lana and she was so tired that she fell into a deep sleep. In spite of Moira’s misgivings, she knew she was safe with Jock.

She cried out as she woke with a start when they reached the ferry. Jock had told her that they couldn’t take the horses on the ferry and he uncoupled the cart and tethered the horses to a post by the dockside. Lana watched in fascination as a couple of the ferrymen jumped down and helped Jock to push the cart on the ferry. She saw Jock pass a couple of bottles to the men and realised that they must have done this many times, because the operation took place so smoothly. The weather was fine, the water across the river Tay was calm and they reached Craigie Pier in Dundee without any trouble. The ferrymen appeared again and with great alacrity pushed the cart up the ramp to the dock. There was a young lad about fifteen years old, on the quayside, holding the reins of a horse. He and Jock harnessed the horse to the cart.

This is Rory; he’s from Ireland, come over with his sister to find work. He works for one of my punters who owns a public house in Dundee. He’ll take ye to Campertown works. Ah’ll hold my horses for ye in the Tay Arms over there. Ye’ll see the cart outdoors and then we’ll load it on the ferry and go back home.

He helped Lana up on the cart, That’s me, I’ll see ye at two o’clock. Lana looked at the boy. His large frame was muscled. His face was marred with teenage spots, but Lana thought when he grew out of them, he would be a handsome man. Almost as if he knew this, his acne did not seem to worry him and he wasn’t shy like some of the teenage boys she knew in Anstruther,

Right, we’re heading for Campertown Works, can ye see that tall chimney over there, that’s called Cox’s stack, so it is, part of the mill. They’ve just built it, so they have and it’s a useful landmark. We will just head towards that, and we can’t go wrong. Is it work ye’re lookin’ for? I don’t know what a pretty girl like ye wants to work in the mills. They’ll work ye to death there if ye dinna die first from breathing in all the dust and steam. Can ye not find some work on the fish quays in Anstruther?

I’ve recently been widowed, and I wanted to move from Anstruther as it holds too many memories for me.

Rory blushed, Sorry, I didn’t mean to be cheeky and I’m sorry for your loss.

Lana felt sorry for him as he was so embarrassed and said, No, you’re all right No offence taken. It’s kind of you to take me to the mill.

When they arrived outside the mill, Lana could not help giving a gasp. It was much larger than she had expected and there was a maze of sprawling buildings. She could hear a loud noise of machinery running and the hum of voices and the air around the building was misty with clouds of dust. Smoke belched from the tall chimney they called Cox’s stack.

It’s awesome, isn’t it? Did ye know that there are 5,000 folk that work there?

That’s a lot of people, Lana said as she got down from the cart, starting to feel a growing sense of panic. How was she going to find Jessie?

Jessie and her friend Maisie came out of the main entrance arm in arm.

Why on earth does she want to work in the mills?

Well, my cousin Robbie was swept overboard from a whaling trawler in a storm. T’was tragic, they never found the body although apparently, they searched for him for a good half an hour, even though he would’nae have lasted five minutes in the freezing sea. Anyway, she thought it would be better if she moved from Anstruther. The place is steeped in memories for her so she thought she would start a fresh life in Dundee. Och, look and there she is. Jessie waved to Lana.

Ye didnae’ tell me she was a looker. Mr Wullie Campbell had better not clap his eyes on her otherwise yer fair cousin might find she has a fresh life growing in her belly! Maisie gave a laugh.

Och he’s nae as bad as all that. I think it’s just rumours.

Well, ye said he tried tae kiss you behind the carding machines.

Oh, that was just a joke

Jessie was always joking. She was a card, always playing practical jokes and messing around. She was popular with all the other girls, and they were forever saying, Jessie, You’re a caution. That was why the girls had all agreed to cover for them so that they had been able to sneak out early for their midday break to meet Lana.

Just then, the bell on the clock tower started to ring, girls started to pour out of the doors on their lunch break and Jessie pulled Maisie by the arm over the cobblestones towards Lana.

Come on, we’d better be quick otherwise Lana is likely to get swamped and we’ll never find her.

Lana was relieved when she saw Jessie waving to her especially when she heard the bell clanging and it seemed like hundreds of girls, all covered in a layer of what looked like flour, came tumbling out of the doors. She saw they were all wearing plain dresses with no crinolines or petticoats, and some were wearing aprons. Jessie flung her arms around Lana. Lana noticed her green bombazine dress, which suited her auburn curls but felt a little coarse and stiff as she hugged her,

It’s good to see ye, hen but you’re skinny-malinky. Never mind I expect yer Auntie Jeanie will feed ye up in nae time. This is my best friend, Maisie.

Hello, pleased to meet you, Maisie, Lana said as she noted that Maisie was as attractive as Jessie but had a more delicate beauty with strawberry blonde hair and freckles across her nose.

Please tae catch up with ye too, Lana, don’t worry about anything. We’ll look out for ye.

Lana was relieved that she had reassured her as she noticed that some of the girls were staring at