Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-01-06


about the place, because he came from
the back and walked straight, treading
heavily, to the room whsrs Mr.. Leighan
was sitting and opened the door. Ii was
David coming to call upon his uncle on
his return. There Was some improve
mont Ia 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 a nondescript and lncongruous kind,
the sailors jacket III asserting with the
rustic corduroy trousers and waiatcoat.
He threw open the door and stood SON
fronting the man whom he had last ssou
dead, az he thought, killed by his own
hand. He tried TO face him braEenly,
but broke down aud stood before him
with hanging head and guilty eyes.
80" said Daniel LsiEhan, 'it Is Da-
vid come back again. We thought you
we're dead"
You hoped l was dead; say It out"
said David, with ropy voice.
Dead or alive, It makes no differences
to me- Stay; you were in my debt when
you went away. Have you come 10 set
tie that long-outstanding accountT
David stepped into the room and shut
the door behind him.
you have got something to say to me
nrst," he said In husky voice Have
1t out now. and get It over Something
you've kept dark, chr"
What do you meant"
Outside they knew nothins about It.
That was well done. No occasion TO
make family scapdal-and me gone
away and all-wss thers7 Come, let us
have 1t out, old man. Who robbed me
Of my landr'
His words were defiant, but his eyes
were uneasy and suspicious.
Say, rather, who fooled away his In
heritsncs with drink aud neglsctY'
Robbed me. I say"
"If l had not bought your land some
one else would. II 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"
Davld's gone, you said. When he
comes back, wen have II out. We won't
have a family scandal Well. l am
back. thought you were dead"
Il am not dead, a. you see"
well, 90 on. Say what you've got
to say. I'll ait and listen Come; We
owe you so much. Pay It out then"
David" said his uncle, quietly,
drink has evidently driven you on your
head. Family scandal What was there
to hidsi Good hsavsnsl do you suppose
that the whole Of your family, with its
pronigncy and drunkenness, was not
known to all the countrywide Why, your
/ htafnrv l. Innw - =.
hidef Why, tho whole parish was 90
ashamed OF you that II rejoiced when
you went away. That Is all have to
say to you, David What are you staring
like a black pig for7'
"Ohw cried David. as II possible
What does he mean7 Come, old man
don't bottle up. You can't do snythins
to me now, and l might de a great deal
for you | might. II you didn't bottle uT
and bear malice Coms-you and ma
know-let's have II out"
what DO we two know7 All l know
is that you have been away for ak years
and you come back In rags, that you had
at Of some kind last Night up at Joseph
Exon's. Have you got any account &c
give Of yourselfr'
Don't bottle up" David said, fesbly
There's nobody here but you and me
I'll own up. And then l can help yor
ms nobody else csn-if you don't bottl,
up II you Debut why should YOU
What's tho Eoodf There's nobody here
but you and me. What Is tho good Of
pretending that there's nothingf Die
you ever forgive anybody In your life
Do you think believe you are going I,
forgive me-you Of all men In tn,
world7'
Leave Of this nonsense about hidln,
and pretending and inferrins. One woulC
think you had been numbering some
body"
David sat down. staring with III,
blankest establishment. He had BY thi
time succeeded In lmpresslnE upon hi
brain the Fixed conviction that his uncl
kept his murderous assault a secret gu
Of regard for the family name and h,
came prepared to be submissive, to ex
press contrition, and to offer In return
for the secret being still kept. TO Civ
back to his uncle the long-lost box ful
Of papere. Aud now, this conviction de
stroyed, he knew not what 70 think o
what to say.
at can't ber be said, at can't be
Uncle, you are playing some deep gam
with me. You are like a cat with
mouse You are old. but you are foxy
you've got n game Of your own to play
and you think you'll play that game Low
down. Come" be made one more efor
to ascertain II the impossible really hai
happened-"come. It's like a game o
bluff, amt III But let's drop Il, an,
play with the cards on the tabla See
now, here's my hand-I heard last nigh
that you were alive and hearty. thouSl
l had every reason to think you wer
dead. was quite sure you were dead
l knew you were dead. You know VII.
| knew. Every night l was assured b.
yourself that you were dead. Come now
Well, when ! heard that you wers sliv
and hearty, l said TO myself. Tomorrow
I'll so and have 1t out with him whei
all the people are At church and there
nobody to listen because they told m
you could not remsmber-you know
what"
Couldn't remember I'd have yoi
to know, sir. that my memory is as goo
a. ever 1t was"
"ohF' said David. then you do re-
member everythinxr
"Of course l do"
Then. uncle. have Il out. Let US tai
open. I've never forgotten it. I hsv
said to myself over and over again. TT
sorry | done It. l wished hadn't don
II. especially at night whom your ghos
came; who svsr heard Of a live man
Ehostr'
CHAPTER VI