Part 23 (2/2)
”I 'low it's all right”
”Is Peakslow up to any trick?”
”Nary, as I kin diskiver; and I puht smart, a-comin'
over the perairie”
”Did he have oned sight Truckhty dollars for your hoss; thinks he had him of the thief himself; and 'lows he knows the rascal He stuck out a little at fust, and you should 'a' heard Peakslow talk tew hiwine to preachin'”
”What did he say?”
”Said none but a fool or a scoundrel would ca'c'late he could hang ontew a piece o' prop'ty that had been stole, or traded for what had been stole Talked, of course, just t' other way from what he did when he talked to you Truckab, but when he was satisfied the hoss he put away had been stole, he guv up Peakslow's, and the fifteen dollars to boot No in the nawine to turn it about tomore, beats all my understandin'!”
Jack thanked the old man warmly for the interest he had taken in the affair, and asked how he could pay him for his trouble
”I haven't looked for no pay,” replied the oldI should like to have ye dew for uv ittin' it when ye was thar before She wants a noon-ht,” said Jack ”She shall have it”
The old man went on with his bundles, while Jack entered Peakslow's yard
Peaksloas unharnessing his team, with the help of two stout boys, looked up and said, in a tone which he meant should be friendly,----
”How are ye? On hand, I see,” with a grim smile at the bridle
”I was on hand a little before you were,” replied Jack ”Your as up an hour ago Though I don't care about that You've got your horse, I see”
”That's the ot him Here's a paper, with the truckman's nao to town, pervided he don't co about a bridle and a blanket that were on the horse when he was stolen?”
”He's got 'em,” Peakslow coolly replied; ”but as no reas offered for anything but the hoss, I didn't take 'eic of this relory enough for one while, to get ain I've a bridle here for him; I'll slip it on, Zeph, if you'll slip yours off”
”You can slip your bridle on that hoss, and take him ahen you've fulfilled the conditions; not before,” said Peakslow
”What conditions? You don't pretend to claiot a claim on him,” Peakslow replied ”Here's your own handbill for it Twenty Dollars Reward! I've got back your hoss for ye, and I demand the reward”