Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-10-28
CHAPTER X

think of my not knowing Mr.. Davidw
CHAPTER X.
1t was exactly II o'clock Sunday morn
Ing when Mr.. Leighan was suddenly
startled by mans step. He knew the
step somehow, but could not at the mo-
ment remember to whom it belonged. The
man, whoever he was, knew his way
about the place, because he came from
the back and walked straight, treading
heavily, to the room where Mr.. Leighan
was sitting and opened the door, 1t was
David coming to call upon his uncle on
MS return. There was some improve
ment In his appearance. Joseph Exon
had lent him certain garments in place
OF those he had worn the day before;
the canvas trousers, for instance, had
gone, and the terrible felt hat with the
hole in the crown. His dress was now
OF nondescript and homogeneous kind,
the sailors jacket i'll asserting with the
rustic corduroy trousers and waistcoat.
He threw open the door and stood con-
fronting the man whom he had last seen
dead, as he thought, killed by his own
hand. He tried to face him brazenly,
but broke down and stood before him
with hanging head and guilty eyes.
80" said Daniel Leighan, ''it is Da-
vfd come back again. We. thought you
were dead"
'You hoped l was dead; say 1t out"
said David, with a ropy voice.
Dead or alive, it makes no difference
to me. Stay; you were in my debt when
you went away. Have you come to set
tie that Notwithstanding account?"
David stepped into tho room and shut
the door behind him.
You have got something TO say to me
first" he said in husky voice. Have
it out now, and get 1t over. Something
you've kept lark, ehT'
What do you msanY'
Outside they knew ncsAkax sbczt Il.
That was we'll done. No occasion to
make a family scandal--and me gone
away and all-was there? Come. let US
have it out, old man. Who robbed me
of my landT'
His words were defiant, but his eyes
were uneasy and suspicious.
Say, rather, who fooled away his in
heritance with drink and neglect?'
Robbed me, l sayv
one else would. If you've come home in
this disposition, David, you had better
go away again as soon as you please.
Don't waste my time with foolish talk"
"'David's gone you said. When he
comes back, We'll have it out We won't
have a family scandal Well, am
back. I thought you were dead"
II am not dead, as you see."
well, go on. Say what you've got
to say. I'll sit and listen. Come; we
owe you so much. Pay it out, then"
David" said his uncle, quietly.
drink has evidently driven you off your
head. Family scandal? What was there
TO hide? Good heavens! do you suppose
that the whole of your family, with its
proaigacy and drunkenness, was not
known to all the countryside? Why, your
history Is one long scandal. Things to
hide? Why, the whole parish was so
ashamed of you that it rejoiced when
you went away. That is all l have to
say to you, David. What arc you staring
like a black pig forT'
"Ohp' cried David. "Is 1t possible {?
What does he mean? Come, old man.
don't bottle up. You can't do anything
W iuc uOWy anu uulBut 10 q great deal
for you; l might, If you didn't bottle up
and bear malice. Come-you and me
know-let's have 1t out"
What do we two know? All know
Is that you have been away for six years,
and you come back in rags, that you had
a ft of some kind last night up at Joseph
Enon's. Have you Dot any account to
give of yourself?"
Don't bottle up" David said, feebly.
There's nobody here but you and me.
I'll own up. And then 1 can help you
as nobody else can-if you don't bottle
up. If you debut why should you?
What's the good2 There's nobody here
but you and me. What Is the good of
pretending that there's nothing? Did
you ever forgive anybody In your life?
Do you think l believe you are going to
forgive ms-you of all men in the
worldT'
Leave off this nonsense about hiding
and pretending and inferring. One would