Strapper.  I dont believe you started not for two hours after you say you did.

Blanco.  Who cares what you believe or dont believe?  Is a man worth six of you to be hanged because youve lost your big brother’s horse, and youll want to kill somebody to relieve your rotten feelings when he licks you for it?  Not likely.  Till you can find a witness that saw me with that horse you cant touch me; and you know it.

Strapper.  Is that the law, Elder?

Elder Daniels.  The Sheriff knows the law.  I wouldnt say for sure; but I think it would be more seemly to have a witness.  Go and round one up, Strapper; and leave me here alone to wrestle with his poor blinded soul.

Strapper.  I’ll get a witness all right enough.  I know the road he took; and I’ll ask at every house within sight of it for a mile out.  Come boys.

[Strapper goes out with the others, leaving Blanco and Elder Daniels together.  Blanco rises and strolls over to the Elder, surveying him with extreme disparagement.]

Blanco.  Well, brother?  Well, Boozy Posnet, alias Elder Daniels?  Well, thief?  Well, drunkard?

Elder Daniels.  It’s no good, Blanco.  Theyll never believe we’re brothers.

Blanco.  Never fear.  Do you suppose I want to claim you?  Do you suppose I’m proud of you?  Youre a rotten brother, Boozy Posnet.  All you ever did when I owned you was to borrow money from me to get drunk with.  Now you lend money and sell drink to other people.  I was ashamed of you before; and I’m worse ashamed of you now, I wont have you for a brother.  Heaven gave you to me; but I return the blessing without thanks.  So be easy:  I shant blab. [He turns his back on him and sits down].

Elder Daniels.  I tell you they wouldn’t believe you; so what does it matter to me whether you blab or not?  Talk sense, Blanco:  theres no time for your foolery now; for youll be a dead man an hour after the Sheriff comes back.  What possessed you to steal that horse?

Blanco.  I didnt steal it.  I distrained on it for what you owed me.  I thought it was yours.  I was a fool to think that you owned anything but other people’s property.  You laid your hands on everything father and mother had when they died.  I never asked you for a fair share.  I never asked you for all the money I’d lent you from time to time.  I asked you for mother’s old necklace with the hair locket in it.  You wouldn’t give me that:  you wouldn’t give me anything.  So as you refused me my due I took it, just to give you a lesson.

Elder Daniels.  Why didnt you take the necklace if you must steal something?  They wouldnt have hanged you for that.

Blanco.  Perhaps I’d rather be hanged for stealing a horse than let off for a damned piece of sentimentality.

Elder Daniels.  Oh, Blanco, Blanco:  spiritual pride has been your ruin.  If youd only done like me, youd be a free and respectable man this day instead of laying there with a rope round your neck.