"And what thousand dollars wi' that be, my mannie?" I asked him.

"The thousand I wrote and told you I must have!" he exclaimed, as brash asyou please.

"Noo, laddie, there's something wrang," I exclaimed. "I've had nae letterfrom you aboot that thousand dollars!"

"It's the mails!" he exclaimed, and cursed. "I'm a fule to trust to them.They're always missending letters and delaying them. Still, there's noharm done. I'm telling you now I need a thousand dollars. Have youthat much with you?"

"I dinna carrie sae muckle siller wi' me, laddie," I exclaimed. I could seehe was but a salt yin, and none to be fearing. "I'll gie you a dollaron account."

And, d'ye ken, he was pleased as Punch? It was a siller dollar I gie'dhim, for it was awa' oot west this happened, where they dinna have thepaper money so much as in the east.