Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-12-24

was pusy turning something secretly
over in his mind, and the longer we sat
and the more l looked at him the more
certain became that the something was
unfriendly to myself
When he had cleared the platter he
got out single pipeful of tobacco, just
as in the morning, turned round stool
into the chimney corner and sat awhile
smoking with his back to me.
"Davie," he said at length, "Ive been
thinking;" then he paused and said it
again. "Theres a wee bit siller that l
half promised ye before ye were born
he continued; promised it to your
father Oh, naething legal, We under
stand; just gentlemen dating at their
wine. Well. | keepit that bit money
separate-it was a great expense, but a
promise is a promise-and it has grown
by now to be a matter of just precisely
just exactly"-and here he paused
and stumbled-"of just exactly forty
pounds!' This last he raped out with
a silelong glance over his shoulder, and
the next moment added, almost With
scream, "Scots!"
The pound Scots being the same thing
as an English shilling, the difference
made by this second thought was con
siderable. could see besides that the
whole story was a lie, invented with
some end which it puzzled me to guess.
and made no attempt to conceal the
tone of raillery in which answered:
"Oh, think again, sir! Pounds ster-
ling, believer
That's what | said" returned my
uncle; pounds sterling! And if you'll
step out by to the door Il minute, just to
see what kind of night it is, I'll get it
out to ye and call ye in again"
did his will, smiling TO myself in my
contempt that he should think was SO
easily to be deceived. II was a dark
| night, with n few stars low down, and
as stood just outside the door heard
a hollow moaning of wind far off among
the hills said to myself there was
something thundery and changeful in
the weather. and little knew of what
vast importance that should prove to
me before the evening passed
counted out into my hand seven and
thirty golden guinea pieces; the rest was
in his hand in small gold and silver;
but his heart failed him there, and he
crammed the change into his pocket.
There" said he, 'that'll show you!
I'm queer man, and strange wi stran-
gers; but my word is my bond, and
there's the proof of it,"
Now my uncle seemed SO miserly that
| was struck dumb by this sudden gen.
erosity, and could find no words in which
to thank him.
mo word!" said he. Nae thanks;
| want nae thanks. do my duty; I'm
no saying that everybody would have
done it; but for my part Though I'm
careful body, tool it's pleasure to me
to do the right by my brothers son, and
it's pleasure to me to think that now
we'll can agree as such near friends
should"
spoke to him in return as handsome
ly as was able, but all the while was
wondering what would come next and
why he had parted with his precious
guineas, for as to the reason he had
given a baby would have refused it.
Presently he looked toward me side
ways.
And see here" says he, "tit for tat"
l told him / was ready to prove my
gratitude in any reasonable degree, and
then waited, looking for some monstrous
demand. And yet, when at last he
plucked up courage to speak, it was only
to tell me (very properly, as l thought
that he was growing old and a little
broken, and that he would expect me to
help him with the house and the bit gar
den.
answered and expressed my readiness
to serve.
"Well," he said, "let's begin" He
pulled out of his pocket a rusty key.
There" says he, there's the key of
the stair tower at the far end of the
house. Ye can only win into it from
the outside, for that part of the house is
no finished. Gang ye in there, and up
the stairs, and bring me down the chest
that's at the top. There's papers int"
he added.
Can | have light, sir?' said l.
;. nae said he very cunningly. Mae
lights in my house."
Very we'll. sir" said l. "Are the
stairs good?'
They're grand" said he; and then as
was going, keep to the WALL" he
added there's nae banisters. But the,
stairs are grand underfoot." = n
Out went into the night/ The wind
was still moaning in the dist tknce, though
never breath of it came ulkr,t the house
OF shaws. 1t had fallen tScker than
ever, and Twas glad to feeE Along the
wall till came the length o6$he stair
tower at the far end of the ufsAnished