The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-05

a girl of about twenty came in, whose
blue eyes and dark eyebrows bore
witness to the strain of Irish blood in
her veins, while her bright radiant
beauty was out of keeping with the
story that had just been told.
What lot of business you must
have talked over" she said, with
blush, as she remembered what the
business would be. Tea is ready,
and, dear, there Is a man waiting at
the gate who wants to see you"
What is he like?" asked Lane
Il have never seen him before on
this island. He is a tallsh man, with
a red beard"
He is the man / talked to you
about" Lane said to his nephew "I
Will see him here. ] would like you to
be present. Don't wait for us, Nelly,
but go and have yours"
walking to the window, which
opened to the ground, he went out, and
soon came back followed by Il tall man
whose shaved face was set off by a red
chin beard He had rather a colored
nose, and pair of little eyes that
wandered restessly about the room,
though after some time they fixed
themselves on the picture of Nelly'S
mother.
well, what do you want?" said
Daniel Lane. 1 suppose you have
come to see me about something?"
Yer right, but think It would be
best for me to say what I've got to
say atone meaning no offense to this
young gentleman, only we knew each
other out yonder where they find dia-
monds."
Il have no secrets from this gentle
man. If you have anything to say,
you can say it before him. Who are
you and what do you wantY
You know who / am, mister-Sam
Bredge, who was run in along with
Dick johnson. and who has done his
seven years, and amt ashamed to talk
OF 1t. Now, l say, hadn't you better
listen to what 1 have to say without
any gent being present.?
"Yo can talk before this gentleman
or you can hold your tongue" an
swared Lane. What have you come
about?"
Il have come to have little talk
about my mate, poor Dick Johnson,
which amt a very pleasant subject
and what l have to say relates to
that"
II
the picture on the wall.
Say what you have to say, or clear
out without saying it," said Daniel
Lane, as, he faced round at the other,
looking-for all his sixty years-very
big and powerful
You're going to carry it off with a
bounce, but 1 say now it's ard. I
comes out of doing my seven year,
and what do | hear? Why, that a
month or two after Dick Johnson was
run in, you goes to the river and finds
Gl5O00 worth of stuff in the bed of
the river Amt that n treat? Other
poor beggars down the river live on
mealy meal and don't find nothing, but
you get 'em all. Amt / a right to
something? Don't you think that if I
was to open my mouth thered be a
deal of talk over these blessed hilands
where you go in for being such a toff /?
Come, you know what | know, and if
hold my tongue | want it made up
to me-"
Now, listen to me, Sam Dredge, /
know what you know, and if you think
you can do any good by talking and
letting Dick JOhnson's daughter know
make a great mistake / won't pay
of the shameful end of her father YOU
you blackmail. and this gentleman,
who is going to marry her, never will.
But if you ever do talk, / shall most
likely hear of it before you have left
the islands. If so, / will hammer YOU
till YOU wish / would kill you outright
and if you have left these islands, we
will find you out, wherever you are,
= and thrash you. Ay! won't we, George,
my lad"
| Our friend here can depend on a
thrashing from me-" said George. I'm
fact, perhaps it would be as we'll if /
gave him something on account"
There was no doubt that these
speeches had considerable effect on
the respectable Mr.. Sam Dredge, but
they seemed rather to puzzle than to
frighten him.
He stared into Daniel Lanes face
as if he were trying to read it's express
sion.
Il want to tell Dick Johnson's
daughter about her fathers shameful
end? Well, I never Yes, of course;
perhaps it would 'ardly be the thing
Well, yes, I will say good evening.
The days lengthen out wonderful for
the time of year in these hilands, don't
they, Mr.. Daniel Lane? Oh, am quite
your way of thinking, only have been
misunderstood" And Sam Dredge
with his wandering eye again and
again coming to an anchor on the pic
ture, bowed himself out of the room
TO the window.
When he got outside he walked very
slowly, and kept taking furtive glances
at the open window.
The steamer left that evening fol
; KirlSwall, but Dredge did not leave by
| her He was in comfortable quarters
) he said, as he drank his whisky and
> water and talked to the landlord Of the
= little inn.
7 YES" said the latter, in answer to
; something Dredge had said, IT think
: one might say that the people here are
as we'll behavedas on any Of the islands
| am an old man, but never heard OF
anyone from here being sent to prison
On the mainland of Orkney sometimes
the fishermen will take a drop of grog
and then they will fight; and I once
heard q man on the mainland whC
got into a house at night and stole
; whisky Here If people lock up theil
doors at night ii is all they think OF
? doing. There are no thieves on the is
land"
, mo bolting or barring up of houses
= ay," said Dredge. IT'S to your creAit
, that is what / say"
In the mean time the Lanes had no
! wasted many thoughts about their Visi.
) tor. From the way he behaved when he
| left thew hapan 10 douht w bt