The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-11-10
CHAPTER XIV.

| CHAPTER XIV.
Had l 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-
vid's 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-
vid's 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 II
o'clock in the forenoon. He was receiv-
ed with the cordiality generally extended
to all needy relations. Mr.. Leighan shut
fled his papers as a 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.
"Pve come, uncle" David began very
slowly, spreading himself upon a chair
and producing a small brown paper
packet 'I've come, uncle
| Don't be longer than you can help,
David. Get to the subject at once, if
you can. Say 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 a, job? i hear you bor-
rowed bed yesterday, and chair and
table, and that you have settled In the
cottage-my cottage. Very good. I don't
mind II you have it rent free till you
get into work, when you'll have to pay
your rent like your neighbors If you be-
gin any more nonsense about robbing you
OF your land you GO 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
Ill make the place too hot for you"
| Il didn't come to rail at you, uncle"
said David, more meekly. eff 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, toor
Then make haste about it."
Six years ago, they tell me, YOU
were robbed, that night when you fell
of 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 omen.
but never seeing SO much as the moon In
the sky, did you think of your nephew.
whose farm you'd robbed, and did yon
say, David, tits 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 2"
mo; my watch and chain were not
taken, and only little of the money"
Uncle. are you sure you were robbed I?
Do you think that robbers ever leave
| money
taken In notes. or was it in gold?"
ut 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. Bnt
what does it matter to your"
"You shall see presently. l am going
to surprise you, uncle. What else did
you lose besides the little bag?"
NT LIST how If m pore h,,4 xuLoA
1t matter to your Did you come here
to inquire about my robbery? / suppose
you are glad to hear of it."
"Never mind. uncle. You go on an
swering my questions; I've got my rea-
sons am going to surprise you. Wait
Bit"
"Well, then; but what can you know ?
1t was a tin box secured by lock and
tied round with leather strap; l car
ried 1t In blue bag-a lawyers bag
hanging around my neck for safety"
What was In that box, did you say ?''
"DavidP' the old man changed color,
and became perfectly white and clutch
J ed at the arms of his chair and pulled
himself upright, moved by the thought,
"Davidi have you heard anything? have
you found anything"
"Wait bit; all in good time. What
was In that box, did you say, againT'
} Papers. 1 lost with that box papers
, to the tune of three thousand pounds
all In couponsp'
: at was a judgment! Why, MY mort
; cages were not so very much more Tire.
} thousand poundsl Come, even you would
! feel that, wouldn't you? Were there &C
tually three thousand pounds In that
] boxr
-Fhs man who stole that bOx might