Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-27

len.
The major shook his head
mo. He was weak, good natured,
obstinate man, who needed always to
have his mind made up for him, though
once it was made up heaven nor earth
could change it I"
do you think he was deceived into
claiming land to which he had no title?"
"No, but that he was cheated into
paying for land that belonged to another
man"
Then, in your Judgment, both sides
were victims. Have You any idea how
it came about?'
ideas! Plenty, but no proofs. -
'Then perhaps this may be of value"
Allen said, holding out packet of yell
low papers covered with faded script.
Here are some letters betwixt my great
grandfather and his Tennessee lawyer,
detailing the purchase of the land and
giving the original locator's name.
Let me see it. Quick, quickr' Major
Overton almost shouted. Allen laid a
finger upon one blurred line, saying:
"There it is-Bruce Stirling!"
"Whatv' Major Overton fell back,
gasping.
Bruce Stirling" Allen repeated.
''Do you know him? Did you ever hear
of him?"
Bruce Stirling! Isee it all now. Yes,
I have heard of him. Nothing to his
credit. Why, he was said to have been
one Of the Murell gang. He was known
to be gambler, blackguard, spendthrift,
wholly without principle. No wonder
he entered the land in Mr.. Fauntleroy's
name. If this had appeared, the fraud
would have been patent to everybody
that knew him. Plainly he conspired
to sell what he did not own, got tho
Fauntlcroy money, then forged and stole
to put them in possession Of another
mans property"
But howl" asked Allen. ~'It seems
to me the most foolhardy villain would
not take such risks of instant and GER
tain detection"
You do not know him." Major Over
ton said. HE would have risked hell
the next hour for money that he wanted
to spend in this one. And old Isaac,
Jincey's husband, had belonged to him.
Yes, and / remember now it was said
that every week Of his life the negro
tramped over to see his worthless ex-
master Apart from his knavish tend
encics, Stirling hated my father, who,
as q county magistrate, had once sent
him to Jail. This was his revenge, a bit
ter one indeed. Tell me, is there more
than one reference to him in these let
ters?'
Several, think. 1t is, know, men,
toned that he has gono to Texas, so
cannot testify. He is mentioned only
in the deeds under the disguise of
an agent and attorney My great grand
father refers, too, to his 'disinterested
services as reason for sparing him all
annoyance in the matter. So fancy
Stirling had been at some pains to cover
his track :"
"Most likely it was this way" said
Major Overton. "This was wild coun-
try then. Travellers to it took back to
the scaboard states marvellous tales of
it, its richness and beauty Every man
back there who had few thousands to
spare felt that he owed it to his children
to buy plantations for them in the will
derness. To do it they intrustcd their
money often to total strangers. The
journey here then was no joke-six hun
bred miles across the mountains and
through canebrakes, with settlements
90 miles apart Many who made it
willingly took commissions from friends
and neighbors, which they discharged
even more scrupulously than they looked
after their own affairs. But sometimes
passing traveller was asked to locate
land. Oftener still the request was mado
of somebody living in Tennessee Of
whom the easterly folk had casually
heard In such fashion no doubt your
great grandfather heard of Stirling, Or
stop-maybe through Ike and Jincey he
heard of the Fauntleroys and put HIM