Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-04-22

what ! care"
"Eftot, sir, says Alan. "Bloods thick
er than water, in the deil's name! Ye can
nae desert your brothers son for the fair
shame of it, and if We did and it came
to be kent ye wouldnae be very popu-
lar in your countryside or I'm the more
deceived"
''Im nae just very popular the way it
is" returned Ebenezer, land dinnae see
how it would come to be kent No by
me ony way, nor yet by you or your
friends So that's idle talk, my buckle" !"
says he.
"Then it'll have to be David that tells
it," said Alan.
Flows that? says my uncle, sharply.
ooh, just this way says Alan. my
friends would doubtless keep your neph-
ew as long as there was any likelihood
of siller to be made of it, but if there
was name, am clearly of opinion they
would let him gang where he pleased,
and be damned to him?'
Aye, but I'm no very caring about
that either" said my uncle. Il would
nae be muckle made up with that"
81 was thinking that" said Alan.
"And what for whyT'' asked Ebenezer.
"Why, Mr.. Balfour," replied Alan,
"by all that ] could hear, there were
two ways of it-either we liked David
and would pay to get him back, or else
ye had very good reasons for not want
ing him, and would pay for us to keep
him. 1t seems it's not the first; well
then it's the second, and blithe am 10
ken it, for it should be a pretty penny in
my pocket and the pockets of my
friends"
Il dinnae follow ye there" said my
uncle.
'Naey' said Alan. "Wcll, see here;
you dinnae want the lad back; well,
what do ye want done with him and
how much viii We pay?"
My uncle made no answer, but shifted
uneasily on his seat.
Come. sir" cried Alan. 81 would
have ye to ken that l am a gentleman.
bear kings name; | am nae rider to
kick my shanks at your hall door.
Either give me an answer in ciyility and
that OUT of hand or by the top of Glen
L
your vitals."
"Eh, man" cried my uncle, scrambling
TO his feet, 'giSe me meenit! What's
like wrong with ye? I'm just plain
man, and nae Gancing master; and I'M
trying to be as ceeyil rs it's mora 'ly pos
sible. As for that wild talk, it, fair
disrepitable. Yitals, says you! And
where would | be with my blunder-
bush?" he snarlsd.
Powder and your auld hands are but
as the snail to the swallow against the
bright steel in The hands of Alan" said
the other. Before your tottering finger
could find the trigger the hilt would dirl
on your breasthane."
"Eh, man, ryhae's denying it?" said
my uncle. PIT as ye please, hae't your
ain way; I'll DO naething to cross ye.
just tell me what like yell be wanting,
and yen see that Wen can agree fine" "
"Troth sir" said Alan, II ask for
nothing but plain dealing. In two
words, do ye want the lad killed or
kept
"Oh, sirsr cried Ebenezer. "Oh,
sirs, me! That's no kind of language"
"Izilled or kept!' repeated Alan.
"Oh, lleepit, keepitr' walled my uncle
"We1l have nae bloodshed, if you
please"
"Well," says Alan, "as ye please,
that'll be the dearer."
The dearer?" cries Ebenezer. "Would
ye fyle your hands wi crime?'
"Hootr' said Alan, they're bath
crime whatever! And the killing
easier and quicker and surer. Keep
ing the lad1l be a fashions [troublesomel
| job, fashions, kittle business"
"Ill have him keepit, though" re-
turned my uncle. Il never had naething
/ to do with anything morally wrong, and
/ I'm no gaun to Begin to pleasure wild
/ hielandman."
"Ye're unco scrupulous," sneered
Alan.
I'm man o principle" said Ebene-
ger simply: 'and if | have to pay for it
! III have to pay for it. And besides" p"
says he, "ye forget the lads my brothers
/ SON"
We'll, WE'LL" said Alan, land now
1 about the price. It's nae very easy for
me to set name upon it; would first
/ have to ken some small matters,
would have to ken, for instance, what
ye gave Hoseason at the first oifgo?'
"Hoseasou?' cries my uncle, struck
aback "What for|'
"For kidnapping David" says Alan.
"It's a lee, it's black lee!' cried my
uncle. HE was never kidnapped. He
Iced in his throat that taule ye that.
Kidnapped? He never was!"
That's no fault of mine nor yet Of
yours" said Alan; NOR yet of Hosea
sons, if he's man that can be trusted" "
"What do ye mean" cried Ebenezer,
"did Hoseason tell yep
"Why, ye donncred amid rant, how
else would ken?" cried Alan. "Ho-