White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-10

10 pidCc ny MS unCCbiOh-
'Just as I expected" said SPUR
Clamp, in a satisfied tone.
can jest as expected" broke in Mr.
Hardwick, upon the astonished pair. %
knew th-that eff Squire Clamp he'd any
thin to do against me. he would sneaE
into the shop sus some time when I'd ger
gone to dinner"
1--WE thought it would be most conye.
nient. so as not to interrupt you about
your work"
VERY ker-kind indeed As eff you
want tryin' to turn me cut of wer- work
altogether But 'tisn't any yer-u
Squire; this is case you can't be ber-
both sides on"
The lawyer turned with placid smile,
to his companion. "Mr. Gunter, 1 be-
lieve we have finished our measurements
The man of chain and compass nodded.
Nothing abashed by the lawyers cool
manner, MIR. Hardwick turned to the sur
veyor, and asked if he undertook to say
that Walter Kinloch's deed called for
land that ras covered by the shop
al suppose So" was the answer.
"An' now. Sus-squire Clamp" said
Mr.. Hardwick. ''you know that it's sus-
seventeen or eighteen years since l pur-
pulled down the old shop and bought this
land"
"Tes, but unfortunately. it takes TWEEN
ty years to give you title" put in the
Squire.
"Nun- never mind that now. Squire
kinloch knew this, at least, that there
was room for der difficulty; for we'd
talked it over sus-s several times afore he
died. An he alters said he'd hev new
deeds made out, SOS to per-per-prevent
Just such wrong as this. He didn't *
pect 10 go so sus- sudden"
"1'm SORRY, Brother Hardwick. to see
You bringing up your talk with the la
mented deceased. whom you represent as
being willing to part with his legal rights
without a consideration. Even if you
had evidence of it. such an agreement
would be mere nudam paetuns, binding
neither upon himself nor his heirs"
Squire Clamp! ger-get ont Of my
shop Fu.t to call me Brother, next to
doubt my word. an last to sus. say that
a mans free an der-deliberet promise
now he's where he can't sh-shame you
into honesty-sha'n't be kept 70
The Squire smiled feebly. "You don't
intend. Mr. Hardwick, assault and battery,
do you ?"
"Yer-yes, eff You don't leave in q-q-q-
quick time" And he strobe up to the
attorney-his blue eyes flashing, his curly
gray hair flying back from his forehead.
like lions.
Squire Clamp retreated to the street,
took sight each way to be sure he was off
his antagonists territory, and then vented
his cautions resentment in such wellc con-
sidered phrases as long course Of expe-
rience had taught him were not actionable
at law, nor ground for discipline in
church.
Prudence came to Uucle Ralph's aid,
and he did not make farther reply, but
locked the Stop door and returned to the
house to finish his dinner. The suit was
commenced few days afterwards. Mr..
Hardwick went to the County Seat. some
dozen miles distant, and secured the aid
Of an able lawyer. who gave him hope Of
prevailing and keeping his shop.
The affair necessarily created a great
stir in the busy little town. As the cheer
hl clatter of the trip hammer echoed
along the stream on still evenings. and
the fiery plume waved over the chimney,
neighbors looked ont from their windows.
and wondered if the good blacksmith
would. after so many years of honest toll,
be stripped of his property. and be redu-
ced to poverty in his old age. The SYM
patty of the villagers was wholly with
him; bat the lawyer held so many threads
Of interest in his hands, that few dared to
give an opinion with much emphasis.
Probably the person most grieved and
indignant was the one, who. next after
the blacksmith, was most interested in the
event of the suit-namely, Mildred Kin
loch. Though no mention was made Of the
matter. at home, in her hearing. she conld
not fail to know what was going on but
she had now sufficient knowledge of her
step-mother and her guardian to be aware
that her influence would not be OF the
least avail in changing their purpose.
Mrs. Kinloch did not repeat the exper-
iment she once made on Mildred's sensi-
hilities by referring to her Partially for
Mark Davenport and his relatives but.
on the contrary, was most gentle in her
treatment. and most assidnous in her en-
deavors to provide amusement. so far As
the resources Of the town allowed. In
company with Hugh. Mildred explored
all the pleasant roads in the vicinity. all
he picturesque hills and brooks. csnght
front. and SHARED game birds, (the last
much against her viii land by these
means her time was fully occupied
Hugh seemed to have totally changed
he NO longer absepted himself from the
family on mysterious errands he went
to church regularly. ard appeared to take
pleasure in the frequent calls of Mr.. Rock.
the minister. The neighbors began to say
there never was more dutiful son, or =
more attentive and sfectionate brother.
Some half suspected the reason Of the
reformation-no one so quick as Squire
Clamp. who had reasons Of bis own, as
the reader knows, for wishing delay. AZ
ter few months had passed, he thought
It would be dangerous to let the schemes