The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-04-14
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Chapter XXVII Continued.

joi lad at the best Of it, and I've nae
to interfere"
We, aye" said Alan, 81 see what ye
be at-pretending We don't care,
AXE the ransom smaller"
.'ae," said my uncle, ''it's the mere
truth. take nae manner of interest in
can make kirk and mill of him for
what care"
''Hoot, sir" says Alan. "Blood's thick
er than water, in the deil's name! Ye can
nae desert your brothers son for the fair
shame of it, and if ye did and it came
to be kent ye wouldnae be very popu-
lar in your countryside or I'm the more
deceived"
sim 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,
Gays he.
''Then it'll have to be David that tells
it," said Alan.
"How's thatT' says my uncle, sharply.
sob, 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. II would
nae be mucl1le made up with that
II was thinking that" said Alan.
Sand what for whyY 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 l 10
ken it, for it should be pretty penny in
my pocket and the pockets of my
friends"
81 dinnae follow We there" said my
uncle.
"Nae?' said Alan. ArVell, see here;
you dinnae want the lad back well,
what do We want done with him and
how much will we pay?'
My uncle made no answer, but shifted
uneasily on his seat.
''Come, SIR" cried Alan, 81 would
have we to ken that l am gentleman.
bear q kings name; am nae rider to
kick my shanks at your hall door.
Either give me an answer in civility and
that out of hand, or by the top of Glen
coe will ram three feet of iron through
your vitals."
"Eh, man." cried my uncle, scrambling
to his feet, "give me meenit! What's
like wrong with We? I'm just plain
man, and nae dancing master; and Pm
trying to be as ceevil as it's morally pos
sible. AS for that wild talk, it's fair
disrepitable. Vitals, says you! And
where would 1 be with my blunder-
bush?" he snarled
"Powder and your auld hands are but
as the snail to the swallow against tho
bright steel in the hands of Alan" said
the other. Before your lettering finger
could find the trigger the hilt would dirl
on your breastbane."
'Eh, man, whae's denying it?" said
my uncle. "Pit as we please, haet your
ain way; I'll do naething to cross ye.
Just tell me what like yell be wanting,
and yell SEQ that we'll can agree fine"
"Troth, sir" said Alan, 81 ask for
nothing but plain dealing. In two
words, do We want the lad killed or
kept?'
"Oh, sirsI" cried Ebenezer. "Oh,
sirs, me! That's no kind of languager'
"Killed or keptp' repeated Alan.
"Oh, keert, keepitr walled my uncle.
Swell have nae bloodshed, if you
please"
SWELL" says Alan, Gas We please,
that'll be the dearer."
''The dearerp cries Ebenezer. "Would
we fyle your hands wi crimeY'
"Hoot!" said Alan, they're bath
crime whatever And the killings
easier and quicker and surer. Keep
ing the lad'l be fashions troublesome
job, a fashions, kittle business"
"I'll have him keepit, though" re-
Z turned my uncle. 81 never had naething
to do with anything morally wrong, and
I'm no gaun to begin to pleasure wild
hielandman."
sYe're unco scrupulous," sneered
Alan.
"I'm man o. principle" said Ebene-
/ ger simply; sand if have to pay for it
I'll have to pay for it. And besides, /"
says he, ''ye forget the lad s my brothers
, son."
"Well, WE'LL" said Alan, "and now
about the price. It's nae very easy for
me to set a name upon it; would first
have to ken some small matters.
would have to ken, for instance, what
ye gave Hosesson at the first offgo"
"HoseasonY' cries my uncle, struck
aback. "What forF
For kidnapping David" says Alan.
"It's lee, it's black lee!" cried my
uncle. "He was never kidnapped. He
Iced in his throat that taule we that.
Kidnapped? He never was!'
"Thats 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. we meanY cried Ebenezer,
"did Hoseason tell yep
"Why, We donnered auld runt, how