The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-19
A CASE IN EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
copyright. ,ss,. BY }. B. LIppIneoa Cal
A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE.

a CltANCE ACQU AlNIANCE.
The train on the Chiwassee Valley ex-
tension lurched uneasily round the
curves in the new track of the branch
line, leaving a trail OF sooty smoke
hanging in the foliage on the mountain
side and stippling the pools in the river
with showers of cinders from the en-
CINE where the railway embankment
skirted the stream. The afternoon sun
had dropped behind the summit of
Johns mountain, but his oblique rays
still poured into the valley through oc-
casional gaps in the ridge, projecting
grotesquely heightened shadows of the
moving train half way across to the
western slope of Jubal mountain. A
cool breeze, fragrant with the breath of
wild honeysuckle and spicy with the
resinous smell OF old-field pines, blew in
at the open windows of the car; and
Thorndyke, lying back in his seat with
half-closed eyes, tried once more TO set
in their proper order the events of the
last few days in New York. There was
no particular reason why they should
be assorted and labeled, save one; the
memory of them seemed 10 be slipping
away from him. There were times
when he could not be sure that he had
.,igned his will; when he could not re-
member what he had said TO his mother
at parting. And as for that pathetic
little ,tcene in the dimly-lighted draw
ing-rd6m ut the Morrissons', IL might
have happened ten years before. He
asked himself IL IL were possible that il
was only two days since he had choked
In trying TO say good-by to Helen. II
was beyond belief; the miles Of distance
bad somehow become transmitted into
years of time, and the memory of that
evening. only two evenings ago, was al
ready beginning TO fade. Was IL only
because the change of scene and Of en-
compassment pushed the things ofyes-
tcrday aside TO make room for newer
impressions, or did the reason lie in the
grim fact of irrevocability? Thorn
dyke pursued these reflections so far
into the field OF distractions that the
man In the next seat spoke twice before
he got an answer.
81 beg your pardon" Philip said,
coming back 20 actualitles with re-
iuCthnb tiOIb. w nut NAh gOh oal
al asked IL you were going up TO ALA
coochee," said the voice.
IL was an unpleasant voice, remind
ing one of the buzzing of bluebottles
and other annoying insects. Thorn
dyke looked around. and saw why
little man with keen eyes, n thin beak-
like nose, scanty black side whiskers,
and struggling mustache dropped in
an evident but unsuccessful attempt 10
cover the faulty teeth. Foreseeing
tcdium in the face, he answered vague
ly;
Eyes; believe my ticket reads TO that
point"
The human fly was not TO be silenced
by any such mild encouragement. II
supposed So" he buzzed. "My name
Is Fench--Jenkins Fench,
Thorndyke card which ingeniously
combined the name with somewhat
unrrammatical advertisement Of the
Aliacoochee Land. Manufacturing and
Improvement company, Guaranty
building, 422 Broadway. Drop around
TO my Office when you get settled. and
I'll give you some pointers thatll
put you right in on the ground floor.
What name did / understand you 10
say?"
II didn't say" contradicted Philip.
meelSly. passing his card across 70 the
mnn OF business