The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-05
CHATTER III.


When Giles Brockie rode away from
Enoch Broadhu:st's door, he was as de-
liberate and solf. possessed as at any time
when his manner warranted observers to
speak of him as q cool, level-headed
man. That was the reputation he had
earned-I use the word earned because it
is the most fitting. At bottom he was
passionate, self-willed. opinionated 10 q
degree. But Giles Brockle d scoyered at
an early age that displays of passion
were urwise. He i1dulged displays OF
this nature rarely. In time he acquired
self command, and when he arrived at
mans estate there were many who re.
garded him as young man Of even tenn.
per. People who did not look below the
surface spoke of Giles Brockle as COOL
headed man.
1t was this that caused Giles Brockla
to curb his wrath 90 he rode away. He
had q reputation to maintain; outwardly
his composure must appear unruf1ed,
while fierce hate famed in his heart,
unless it was the frequent biting of his
neither lip, as he rode up the street toward
house that stood alone.
AS Giles approached this house his at
tention was attractedto o little girl who
was walking On board that bridged O
rivulet in the rear of the house. The
ground at that point was five or six feet
lower than the street the house fronted on.
The child was carrying basket. Her
purpose was plain. He could see the
windlass of O we'll in the rear of the
house. Giles made mental note of the
location of the woll. If his memory
served him, it was opposite the door in
the rear part of the house he was going to.
His next thought was: What q low
living piece of ground. It was not
healthy-lo He wondered why Al
exander Rutledge located himself in that
out of the way place, unless, possibly, he
squeezed the property out of one Of his
clients.
Riding up to the entrance of this house,
an unpretending frame building, Giles
Brockic quickly dismounted, hitched his
horse, advanced TO the door and gave q
sturdy rap. There was no responses; his
knuckle was almost touching the door
second time when tall, slender man,
with pale face marked with deep lines.
opened the door, and, seeing Giles, coolly
turned around and led the way to room,
leaving Giles to close the door.
This is very disagreeable day." said
Mr.. Rutledge, as he waved his hand to
chair which Giles at that moment was
appropriating without waiting to be in
vited.
Yes, il is very disagreeable. Been
frightful now for several days-same day
and night.
Mr.. Rutledge lifted aper-cutter, and
looked at his visitor.
Il have called, Mr.. Rutledge, to see
about purely personal matter"
Mr.. Rutledge balanced the paper cutter
on one finger, eying it and his visitor
alternately as he asked, rs it in legal
sense-within the province of the law?"
1T is, and it is not.
Because" Mr. Rutledge said calmly,
still eying the paper cutter, in case the
matter has any connection with or bear
ing upon your past or present relations
with MIR. Peters, if you require advice,
think it would be as we.l if you called
upon another lawyer"
"Why so2" Giles Brockle demanded
abruptly. You want to make money,
don't your"
"Yes."
II may or may not want to employ
you. I don't see why, because you are
my uncle's lawyer, can't talk to you, or
hire you, for that matter"
The lawyers eyelids dropped little
when the word hire" struck his ear. He
made no sign. He preferred to let Giles
speak. Possibly the lawyer surmiscd his
errand. Perhaps this visit was antici-
pated At all events, the lawyer was very
cool, almost Indifferent.
See. here, Mr.. Rutledge. You are the
only man who knows just how I stand
with my uncle, Tom Peters"
perhaps am"
But know you are.
If you refer to the occasion when you
last quarreled -"
ITO more than one-if We had only had
one fly would not be here to-day. I
wont waste your time. You know the