Page:Edward Ellis--Alden the Pony Express Rider.djvu/342

 “Are you speaking the truth?” he asked in a husky voice.

“As suah’s as you’s standing dere and me here.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I tried to seberal times but you wouldn’t let me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me at the time?”

Jethro chuckled.

“I wanted to see de fout.”

“Jeth, I ought to beat the life out of you for that.”

“Dat’s what I thinks; here am your gun; take hold of the barrel and break it ober my head; I won’t say a word.”

And the fellow handed the weapon to his master and meekly awaited his pleasure.

“To think,” said Alden, as if talking to himself; “that Ross Brandley acted the gentleman and I the brute. No wonder he resented it when I refused to receive his apology. I thank Heaven we did not meet while I knew not the truth. All, if I could have seen him before this last happened and told him my regrets!”

Shagbark had remained silent until now.