The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-09-23
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued.)


David sat doggedly. He had always
been 'dogged and obstinate. His uncle
looked at him curiously, as If studying
his character.
David" he said presently, "you were
q bad boy at school, where they ought
to have logged it out Of you. You were
a bad son to your father, who ought TO
have cut you off with a shilling You
were a bad farmer when you got your
farm. If l hadn't taken your land, a
stranger would have had it. Now it's
kept in the family. Years ago l thought
to give you lesson, and if you reform
ed, saAxive it back to you in my will.
now Eceive that you are one OF those
who ever reform. l have left it-else-
where"
go on" said David, Il like to hear
you talk"
1.-THE old house at Berry-your old
house-is turned into two cottages. One
of those cottages is empty. Ii you mean
to stay in the parish, you can live in it
If you like, rent free, for time-that is,
until you get into work again or l find
a tenant If you choose to earn money,
you can; there are always jobs to be
done by handy man. If you will not
work, you must starve. Now that is all
I will do for you. When you are tired
of Challacombe, you can 60 away again.
That is my last word, nephew" He turn
cd away, and began to busy himself
again among his papers.
"After the accident and the loss OF
those papers you were senseless for three
days. And after that you got paralysis.
Why, what was all that, but judg-
ment on you for your conduct to your
own flesh and blood?"
Rubbish
David said no more. Those best &C
quainted with him would have under
stood from the expression Of his face that
his mind was laboriously graphing with
q subject not yet clear to him. He was,
in fact, just beginning to be aware OF a
very foxy game which he might play
with his uncle, though as yet he only
dimly saw the rules Of that game. 1t
was a new game, too, quite one Of his
own invention, and one which would at
the same time greatly please and stimu-
late his uncle, whom he meant to be his
adversary. He said nothing more, but
he sat doggedly and tried to work out
the rules of that game.
Presently Mary came home from
church, and with her George Sidcote and
Will. They found David sitting with
his uncle, but the old man was reading
the paper, and David was silent, think
ing slowly.
Mary" said David, you don't re-
member me, I supposeT'
You are my cousin David. OF course
I remember you, David, though you are
altered a good DEAL" She gave him her
hand. "All the people are talking about
your return"
Then George and William shook hands
with him cheerfully and brotherly.
why, David" said George. 1--WE must
rig you out little better than this. Come
home with Will and me-"
David turned sullenly to his uncle
''Ive one more thing to say. All of
you may hear what that is. He offers
me a laborer's cottage to live in, and a
iaborer's work to do, and laborer's wage
to pay, ON my own lands-my own that
ne stole, this old man here sitting struck
by a judgment in his chair. The next
time 1 come here-you may all take no.
tice and bear witness-the question may
not be how little l may be offered, but
how much I shall take"
So far had he got in his understand
ing of the game that was to be played.
How much" he repeated, with a
chuckle-''how much shall l take"
Dear mev said his uncle. This is
Will? When did you come down? And
how is your writing business? Take Da-
vid away, George; 1 am afraid you'll
find him very tedious-very tedious in
deed"