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

For some time Alan volleyed upon the
door and his knocking only reused the
echoes of the house and neighborhood.
At last, however, could hear the noise
of window gently thrust up and knew
that my uncle had come to his obserya-
tory. By what light there was he would
see Alan standing like dark shadow on
the steps, the three witnesses were hid
den quite out of his view. so that in
what he saw there was nothing to alarm
an honest man in his own house. For
all that he studied his visitor awhile in
silence, and when ne spoke his voice had
a quaver of misgiving.
whats thisY' says he. This is nae
kind of time of night for decent folk,
and hae nae trokings dealings wi
uighthawks. What brings ye here? /
have blunderbush."
as that yourser, Mr.. ,Balfour?' re-
turned Alan stepping back and looking
up into the darkness. Have a care of
that blunderbuss; they're nasty things
to burst"
What brings ye here, and whae are
ye?" says my uncle arErily.
Il have no manner of inclination to
rowt out my name to the countryside" p"
said Alan, bat what brings me here is
another story. being more of your affairs
than mine, and if ye're sure it's what ye
would like I'll set it to tune and sing
it to you"
And what is't?" asked my uncle.
David" says Alan.
"What was that?" cried my uncle in a
mighty changed roice.
shall give ye the rest Of the name
them said Alan.
There was a pause, and then, 'I'm
thinking iii better let ye in" says my
uncle doubtfully.
Il dare say that" said Alan, "but the
point is, would | go? Now | will tell
you what ! am thinking. am thinking
that it is here upon this doorstep that
we must confer upon this business, and
ii shall be here or nowhere at all what
ever, for l would have you to under
stand that am as stiff necked as your
sell and a gentleman of better family"
This change of note disconnected
Ebenezer. He was littlewhilc digesting
it, and then says he, "Weel, weel, what
must be must, and shut the window. Bat
it took him long time to get down stairs
and a still longer to undo the fastenings,
repenting, dare say, and taken with
fresh clap5 of fear at every second step
and every bolt and bar. AT last, how
ever, we heard the creall of the hinges,
and it seems my uncle slipped gingerly
out, and seeing that Alan had stepped
back pace or two sat him down on the
top doorstep, with the blunderbuss ready
in his hands.
"And now" Gays he, mind, have
my blunderbush, and if ye take step
nearer ye're as good as deid."
And very civil speech" says Alan,
ITO be sure"
Mae" says my uncle, "but this is no
very clancy kind of n proceeding, and
I'm bound to be prepared. And now
that we understand each other ven can
name your business
why" says Alan, you that are a
man of so much understanding will
doubtless have perceived that / am Il
hieland gentleman. My name has nae
| business IN my story; DuJ uhe country
Of my friends il no very far from the
| isle Of Null, Of which ye will have
heard, 1t seems there was ship lost in
those parts, and the next day gentle
man of my family was seeking wreck
wood for his fire along the sands
when he came upon lad that was
half drowned. Well he brought him
10. and he and some other gentlemen
ook and clapped him in an auld, ruined
castle, where from that day to this he
as been a great expense to my friends,
dy friends are II wee wildlike, and not
O particular about the law IT'S some that
could name, and finding that the lad
wned some decent folk, and was your
orn nephew, Mn. Balfour, they asked
le to give ye bit Of a call ana to con-
Ter upon the matter, And NAV tell We