're foighten, that's got
the Ring?"

"Ah, my dear sir, it's the United States," said the lawyer with gravity.

"The States! the Government is it? And is't that ye're afeared of?
Sure it's the Government that I fought in me own counthree, it was the
Government that druv me to Ameriky, and is it now that I'm going back on
me principles?"

"Your political sentiments do you great credit," began Mr. Wood.

"But fwhot's the Government to do wid the appale?"

"The Government," said Mr. Wood significantly, "will be represented by
the District Attorney."

"And who's the spalpeen?"

"It is rumored," said Mr. Wood, slowly, "that a new one is to be
appointed. I, myself, have had some ambition that way."

His client bent a pair of cunning but not over-wise grey eyes on his
American lawyer. But he only said, "Ye have, eh?"

"Yes," said Wood, answering the look boldly; "and if I had the support
of a number of your prominent countrymen, who are so powerful with ALL
parties,--men like YOU, my dear sir,--why, I think you might in time
become a conservative, at least more resigned to the Government."

Then the lesser and the greater scamp looked at each other, and for a
moment or two felt a warm, sympathetic, friendly emotion for each other,
and quietly shook hands.

Depend upon it there is a great deal more kindly human sympathy between
two openly-confessed scamps than there is in that calm, respectable
recognition that you and I, dear reader, exhibit when we happen to
oppose each other with our respective virtues.

"And ye'll get the appale?"

"I will."

And he DID! And by a singular coincidence got the District Attorneyship
also. And with a deed for one half of the "Red-Rock Rancho" in his
pocket, sent a brother lawyer in court to appear for his client, the
United States, as against HIMSELF, Roscommon, Garcia, et al. Wild
horses could not have torn him from this noble resolution. There is an
indescribable delicacy in the legal profession which we literary folk
ought to imitate.

The United States lost! Which meant ruin and destruction to the "Blue
Mass Company," who had bought from a paternal and beneficent Government
lands which didn't belong to it. The Mexican grant, of course, antedated
the occupation of the mine by Concho, Wiles, Pedro, et al., as well
as by the "Blue Mass Company," and the solitary partners, Biggs and
Thatcher. More than that, it swallowed up their improvements. It made
Biggs and Thatcher respo