Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-07-21
A CASE IN EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
tCaryrght. IssS. BY J. B. uPplneOu Col
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
A CHANCE AcoUA1NrANCE

tension lurched upeasily round the
curves in the new track of the branch
like, 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. \
cool breeze, fragrant with the breath of
wild honeysucltle and spicy with the
resinous smell of old-field pines, blew in
at the open windows of the car; and
Tkorndyke, 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 Toe slipping
away from him. There were times
when he could not be sure that he had
signed his Will; when he could not re-
member what he had said 20 his mother
at parting. And as for that pathetic
little scene in the dimly-lighted draw
ing-room at 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 10 say good-by TO Helen. 1t
was beyond belief; the miles of distance
had somehow become transmitted into
years of time, and the memory Of that
evening, only two evenings ago. was al
ready beginning 10 fade. Was IL only
because the change of scene and of en-
compassment pushed the things of yes
tHrday aside TO make room for newer
impressions, or did the reason lie in the
grim fact Of irrevocability? Thorn
dNkc 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 to actualities with re
luctant effort. What did YOU sav?"
Il asked if YOU were going up To ALA.
coochec." said the voice
Ii was an unpleasant voice. remind
ing one of the buzzing OF bluchottIea
and other annoying insects Thorn
dyke looked around, and saw wirv
lttlc man with keen eyes "a thin beak-
Ike nose, scanty black side whiskerS.
and struggling mustache dropped i'm
an evident but unsuccessful attempt 10
cover the faulty teeth. Foreseeing
tCdium in the face, he answered vague
ly:
"Yes; believe my ticket reads to that
point"
The human fly was not to be silenced
10y any such mild encouragement. Il
supposed So" he buzzed NV name
is Fench-Jenkins Fench. "-handing
Ihorndyke "A card which ingeniouslv
combined the name with "A somevy hat
ungrammatical advertisement of the
Aliacoochee Land, Manufacturing and
Improvement company. Guaranty
building, i22 Broadway. Drop around
To my Office when YOU get settled. and
III give YOU some pointers thatu
put you right in on the ground floor.
What name did l understand YOU 20
say?"
Il didn't say" contradicted Philip.
meekly. passing his card across to the
man OF business.
"Ah. Thorndyke; glad to know you,
Mr.. Ihorndyke. As | was saying, if
you'll come around"
Il have no idea OF investing in ALA
coochee,' Philip interrupted. hoping to
escape Tin in Alabama for my health.
and | don't expect to stay in town very
long"
"Oho, yes; for your health, eh con
sumption. ] suppose. Well. well; in
, life were in The midst of death. and no
man knowcth the day or hour"
Mr. Fcnch seemed nouplused for the
moment, but he rallied Immediately and
went ON with increasing zeal.
'ln that case, Mr.. Thorndykc. what
better legacy could a man leave his
folks than "a few solid investments In
cur promising young city? Why. my
dear sir as stranger. YOU can have
no idea OF the vast and wonderful re-
sources OF this marvellous rcgion-abso-
lutcly mo- idea at all. And Allacoochcc
is the natural center for thcyyhole cotin-
trN-the point where all the industries
within q radius OF 500 miles are bound
10 cluster just run your eve over this
map; look az that for o location, Thi,
part that's plated Off is rs level as
floor, and here's the railroad running
straight through the middle of it"-he
was leaning over the back Of the seat
now. holding the map spread out before
bis unwilling listener plenty 81 room
for sidotrack- over here. vou SOC. and
for the shops that the roads going 90
build. Then here are the sptir- down
10 fhc rolling mill and the furnace ON
f->c bank Of the river; this one goes up