Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-07-14

door, Sharpless entered by another and
sat down in the chair lately occupied
by the last visitor.
shut of that hungry crowd for q
few minutes, Fench. and I'll 20 over
these papers with YOU" he said.
Fench touched the electric button on
his desk. and when the clerk answered
the bell he gave the order TO admit no
one till further notice. Now. then. I'm
ready for you
We'll, about this Woosienware COM
pany; they're all right, They'll bring
their own operatives. and they agree TO
build tenements on the block next To
their factory, selling them TO their men
on the iustallment plan. The sawmill
people YOU know about. They'll take
Town company's stock and pay for il
half cash and half lumber. This fire
brick fellow wants to know il we own
the furnace and rolling mill plants; and
il We'll agree to give him monopoly
on the brick needed 10y US. told him
we would. il he would take Block at
our figures. paying half cash; brick To
he taken ON same basis and TO be
furnished when ordered"
That's good. carehl provision"
Feuch broke in, especially n the NOR
tar isn't dry on the first set of Innings
yet. Go on"
Then here's Edgcley, the cutlery
man. I've been having the DEVILS own
time with him. lie sent a man down
here 20 look over the situation. and I've
had dozen interviews with him. First
he made me go 10 the courthouse and
overhaul the records. Then lac wanted
TO see the deeds. tried to switch him oil
Of the Gates tract 10 a location farther
down the river. but ne wouldn't have
that l wouldn't fool with him a minute
if wasn't sure that Edgeley has plenty
OF money"
Wanted 10 see the deeds, did he?"
said Fench, thouEhtfully. ~ YOU
know, SharplcSs. I've been sorry "a dozen
times YOU burned that deed. 1t would
have been AZ good as any TO show; and
I've wanted il 20 times il have once"
But you've got Gates deed to us
Il thought had, but haven't"
wv hat have YOU done with it?"
Il don't think I've ever had IL. The
last | remember OF it was that night
when YOU put ii in your pocket and said
you'd have II recorded with the other"
Look in your safe" said Sharpless,
''and IN 20 through my papers"
He was back in ten minutes without
the missing document. Did you find
it, he asked.
NO"
Then it's gone"
'Ncll, IT don't matter much. except,
as | say, they'd be handy To show.
They re both recorded"
Yes. they're recorded all right. but"
-Sharpless paused and knitted his
brows at the small bisque figure hold
lug the matches on Fench's desk
but what?'
Have YOU heard the tall, about XII
grow"
Who the dead man? No; what
about him?"
They say he isn't dead that he's
been seen on the mountain; comes and
perches himself up on that crag they
call Eagle Cliff TO watch the improve
ments we're making on his farm"
The devil YOU euy." Mr.. Fcnch came
out of his chair with jerk and began
20 walk the floor uervously. The cooler
headed lawyer smiled and waited.
Fench trampcd himself into pcrspra-
ton, and then sat down again with "A
groan.
We're done up, Sharpless-donc up
slick and clean. That man can send us
both over the road whenever he gets
good and ready"
The attorney seemed TO be enjoying
the discontinue OF the manager The
incident threw sidclight on Fench's
character that was instructive; it cN-
posed the shoddv warp that was usually
hidden under the wool of impudcncc.
Sharplcss knew then that if there were
any fighting 20 be done lac would have
to do it himself, and there was a con-
temptuous emphasis in his reply:
That's as you Ike. He'll fight for
what he gets. can tell you that; only
] wish we had that deed"
Fench swore a quavering oath. which
| was, nevertheless, brond enough 20
cover the whole transaction and every
one connected with il. ~ don't see how
that could make any difference. tell
you. were done up. Sharpiess."
at viii make just this difference n
we had that deed with Gates signature
we mightstand some chance Of pleading
as innocent purchasers. and Gates would
make first-class scapcFoat As il Is.
there are some people who might ~
mean enough 20 hint that we made our
title ont Of hole cloth. However.
that's an beside the mark This old
fellow must be at least 80 or 10: hos
"n outlaw. and he's only one ignorant
man against the vs. hole syndicate. ~
wc can't hold our own wc deserve 20 go
10 the wall"
What arc you going "a DO about IL -
"Eun him out Of the country again.
+ can; get eomoDodv 20 give him o
hint that Uncle Sans mon would like
to interview him"
"Who know. h'm?"
"Plcuty OF people among the Ultivo~.
but think lee can be reached quicllcet
through the old Scotchman mp on tl"
Little thiwa-soc what's his uamcG
Duncan Jami" Duncan"
SharpIcss rose 20 rp back 20 bis own
room. and Fonch called o. him as he
reached the door:
"Say. Sharp'css. YOU irow 7 never
would have touched This damned thig.,
With tru-foot pole r you hadn't made
,y. I.a1f,gr Ella. ...... Ill