Y.)

Sandy (waking slowly--and incoherently). Hush, Silky! hush! Eh? Oh, hush
yourself! (Sings.)

Oh, yer's yer Sandy Morton,
Drink him down!

Eh! Oh! (Half sits up on couch.) Eh! (Looking around him.) Where the
devil am I?

Oakhurst (advancing and leaning over SANDY'S couch). In the house of
your father, Alexander Morton.

Sandy (recoiling in astonishment). His voice, John Oakhurst! What--ah!
(Rises, and rushes towards OAKHURST with uplifted hand.)

Starbottle (gesticulating in whisper). A blow! a single blow would be
sufficient.

Sandy (looking at OAKHURST, who regards him calmly). I--eh! I--eh! Ha,
ha! I'm glad to see--old pard! I'm glad to see ye! (COL. STARBOTTLE
lifts his hand in amazement.)

Oakhurst (declining his hand). Do you understand me, Sandy Morton?
Listen. I am John Oakhurst,--the man who has deceived your father, who
has deceived you.

Sandy (without heeding his words, but regarding him affectionately).
To think of it--Jack Oakhurst! It's like him, like Jack. He was allers
onsartain, the darned little cuss! Jack! Look at him, will ye, boys?
look at him! Growed too, and dressed to kill, and sittin' in this yer
house as natril as a jaybird! (Looking around.) Nasty, ain't it, Jack?
and this yer's your house--the old man's house--eh? Why, this is--this
is where she came. Jack, Jack! (Eagerly.) Tell me, pard, where is she?

Starbottle (aside, rubbing his hands). We shall have it now!

Oakhurst. She has gone,--gone! But hear me. She had deceived you as she
has me. She has gone,--gone with her first husband, Henry Pritchard.

Sandy (stupefied). Gone! Her first husband! Pritchard!

Oakhurst. Ay, your wife!

Sandy. Oh, damn my wife! I'm talking of Mary,--Miss Mary,--the little
schoolma'am, Jack; the little rose of Poker Flat. Oh! I see--ye didn't
know her, Jack,--the pertiest, sweetest little--

Oakhurst (turning away coldly). Ay, ay! She is here!

Sandy (looking after him affectionately). Look at him, boys! Allers
the same,--high-toned, cold, even to his pardner! That's him,--Jack
Oakhurst! But Jack, Jack, you're goin' to shake hands, ain't ye?
(Extends his hand, after a pause. OAKHURST takes it gloomily.)

Col. Starbottle (who has been regarding interview with visible scorn
and disgust, advancing to OAKHURST). You will--er--pardon me if,
under the--er--circumstances, I withdraw from this--er--disgraceful
proceeding. The condonation, by that man, of two of the most trem