The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-10-28
CHAPTER XXIV.

grain was ingathered, and the work of
the year completed, George began to
make his arrangements. He had receiv-
cd the formal notice and six months
grace in which to find the money. There
was no longer any doubt possible that
he must leave Sidcote. He had now
made it all out in his own mind. There
would be enough money from the harvest
to pay the half-years' interest; the land
would be foreclosed. And the sale of his
farm implements, furniture and every
thing would leave him with a few hun
dred to begin the world again. He would
20 to Tasmania, where a man might buy
a small farm and live upon the fruit OF
his own labor.
'I.et u.s." said Mary, make one last
appeal to my uncle. We will go togeth-
er, George. Perhaps he may relent even
Mt the last"
They made that appeal at an unfor-
tunate time. To begin with, it was in the
morning, when David was still with his
uncle; and in the second place, it was
4 morning when David had been abusing
his position. The redemption value OF
the coupons, in fact, was at preposter-
the desire to get back his property and
by rage at the terrible ransom imposed
upon it, was rapidly arriving at the con-
dition in which his nephew loved to see
him, when he lost his self-command, and
in turns groveled, wept, protested, i'm
plored, cursed and tried to bride his
nephew.
When they opened the door they found
the old man trembling and shaking with
the passions of impotence and rage. His
face, livid and distorted, with haygard
eyes, was turned upward in an agony of
entreaty, to meet David's. There was
no passion in that fact. nor any emotion
except a calm and sober satisfaction,
which might even have been holy graft
tude, for David's heavy face was hard
to read. He stood over his uncle's chair
dominating him, with a bundle of papers
In his hand. regardless alike Of prayers
or imprecations.
walt a minute, George" he said.
I'VE have just finished our business, and
q most pleasant half hour we have spent,
to be sure. Now, uncle, steady, say, OF
you will have q fit-now, il it 4 deal. or
shall l put this little packet into the fire !
Quick! Take it or leave it. That's my
6gurer'
"I'll take it-oh. I'll take itv'
David hid the paper ON the table In
stantly and made 4 note in a pocketbood,
PITY" he said. that you would not
come to terms sooner. You'd have spared
yourself q great deal Of trouble and time,
But there. you always would have your
way. and you enjoy beating a man down,
don't your His uncle did not look ex.
actly ~ II he had enjoyed the last at.
tempt. Nov, I've done. George"
Although he had finished his businesa
David did not retire, but took a seat
Mary's seat-in the window, prepared ia
listen, and with the appearance Of one
interested In what was coming.
What do you want, George9' Mr.
Leighan asked. impatiently. "Why do
you come here while I am busy. Mary;
I'm not 80 strong as I was, and David
made me angry. Wait q moment. Da.
vld said something that angered me
wait a moment. He doesn't mean to an.
ger s-no-no-but he does, some
times"
He covered his face with his hands
Presently the trembling left him and h,
recovered.
Now" he said, with show Of brisk
ness. am better again. What In II
Georsef IT it 10 business. have yor
come to propose anything? You hav.
Got your legal notice, I believe? W
Anea you kaow the conditions Of tn,