The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-09-30

tomorrow, and give Daniel the chance
Of claiming it."
CHAPTER XIV. z
Had taken that canvas bag to Graf
nor early in the morning instead OF the
evening, many things might have turned
out differently; among other things, Da-
vids extraordinary scheme of revenge
might never have been possible. If [
had told Daniel Leighan the strange
thing had witnessed from Hooknor Tor.
he must certainly have connected the
box taken from Grimspound with the
box of his own papers.
The scheme was almost worthy of Da-
vids American pals-the gentlemen who
had all "done something" The box,
when David had carried it home, proved
to be quite full of papers. His own
knowledge Of their value was slight, but
he knew very well that signed papers
had been his own destruction, and that
the possession of signed papers made his
uncle rich.
David called upon his uncle about IL
o'clock In the forenoon. He was receiv-
ed with the cordially generally extended
to all needy relations. Mr.. Leighan shut
fled his papers as sign that he was
busy and wished the call to be short,
nodded his head with scant courtesy, and
| asked his nephew what he came for.
i've come, uncle" David began very
slowly, spreading himself upon chair
and producing a small brown paper
packet. "Iye come, uncle"
Don't be longer than you can help,
David. Get to the subject at once, If
you can. ssay what you came to say,
and then 60 away and leave me with my
own business. It's high time you were
looking after your own. Will George
Sidcote give you job? hear you Dor
rowed bed yesterday, and chair and
table, and that you have settled in the
cottage-my cottage. Very good. I don't
mind If you have it rent free till you
get into work, when you'll have to pay
your rent like your neighbors II you be-
gin any more nonsense about robbing you
of your land you 60 out at once"
David, at the risk Of seeming monot-
onous, uttered a forceful wish for the
destruction Of his uncle's cottage.
IF that is all you came to say,
| nephew. the sooner you go the better.
| And the sooner you clear out Of my cot
tage and leave the parish, the better, or
I'll make the place too hot for you
Il didn't come to rail at you, uncle"
said David, more meekly. 'If you
wouldn't keep on-there, I've done; now
hold your tongue and listen. I've got
| something very serious to say, and it's
about your business, toov'
Then make haste about it."
six years ago, they tell me, you
were robbed, that night when you fell
| off your pony, after I'd gone away"
1T was the evening of that very day."
"Ah!'-Davids eyes smiled, though
his lips did Motive little thought when
l used those words with which we part
| ed how quick they'd come true. When
you lay there on the broad of your back.
| now, your face white and your eyes open,
but never seeing SO much as the moon in
| the sky. did you think of your nephew.
whose farm you'd robbed, and did you
say, David, it's judgmentY"
mo, didn't, David"
| You felt it all the more, then. Very
| well. While you lay there, as they tell
ME, some one comes along and robs you.
| What did you lose, uncle? Was it your
watch and chain and all your money p
| mo; my watch and chain were not
taken, and only little Of the money"
Uncle. are you sure you were robbed
Do you think that robbers ever leave
money behind them? Was the monev
taken in notes, or was it in gold7''
1T was all in gold. Fifty pounds in
one bag, twenty pounds In the other, and
both bags in one pocket. The small bag
was taken and the big bag left. But
what does it matter to you?'
"You shall see presently. I am going
to surprise you, uncle. What else did
you lose besides the little bag?'
Il lost box Of papers-but what does
it matter to you? Did you come here
to inquire about my robbery? suppose
you are glad to hear Of It."
Never mind, uncle. You 60 on an
swering my questions; I've got my rea-
sons. am going to surprise you. Wait
a Bit"
''Wel. then; but what can you know
It was a tin box secured by lock and
tied round with q leather strap; / car
ried It In blue bag-a lawyers bag
! hanging around my neck for safety
What was In that box, did you say r
"Davidv' the old man changed color
and became perfectly white, and clutch.
ed at the arms Of his chair and pulled
himself. upright, moved by the thought
David! have ron. heard anything7 HAYS
you found any thing r
i Wait bit: ill in good time. What
was In that box, did you say. againr'
"PAp@A lost with that box paper
to tho tune d three thousand pounds
an ln couponS!'' isF
Il vas I judgment! Why, my mort
Igagss were not % very much moro Thre.
thousand poundsI Come. evsn ron wouli
fsN that wouldn't youf Weru there ac
ta1ll thFee thousand pounds q thai
boxf -
The man who stole that hox migh1