Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-08-11
A CASE IN EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
ICopyright. Isss. ey }. 3. Lirpineott Col
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
CRoss-ExAMINATIoN.
/. 1895. BY }. 3. lippineOtt Col

as Thorndyke had begun letter TO his
mother.
Come in" said Philip, pushing aside
his writing materials.
Duncan entered, and, after beating
cautiously about among Indifferent
topics for n few moments, came warily
to the object of his visit.
'Elsie's been tellin' me we're bit of
lawyer. Mr.. Thorndyke," he said, by
way of beginning
Yes, l have read law in the schools"
moo, that's varra singular" r.
marked Duncan, thoughtfully, much as
If Philip had asserted that he was "A
high caste Brahmin-"verra singular;
but then, IT may be no so inopportunc,
after "A. Would We min teIlin' me. moo,
what for We cam 20 study the law?"
Chiefly because my father wished il.
1t was his profession"
COW, aye" said Duncan, rubbing his
chin and relapsing into a silence which
seemed to Indicate that he had come to
the end of his Introductory resources.
Philip thought 10 help him along 10y
asking if there were need for legal adj
vice in the affairs of the family.
Ma ma, it's no just that; but there's
as one may say, frien' o. the family
wha wouldna be the waur for IA wee bit
% that same. I'm thinl<in' Elsies been
claverin' ABBOTT it when We was over
yon."
she told me about the troubles of
your old friend Kilgrow. and l offered
to help him if / could. Was that wha.
YOU meant?"
Aye" said Duncan, and, as he showed
al g. l..
Philip continued:
III am to act as attorney for your
friend, il is needful that / should know
all the facts. Are you prepared TO give
thcm?"
Duncan was evidently making a con
scientious effort toward frankness, but
with such meager results that Thorn
dyke was finally compelled to exact the
desired information pieccmeal, as from
an unwilling witness. After getting the
outline of Elsie's story verified, he pro-
cceded to particulars.
How long had Kilgrow owned the
land when he took Gates as a tenant?"
I'm no vera clear upo' that point,
but it's a matter o. 20 year or more, as
1 ken myself"
WAS his title clear?"
Il think there's ma doubt ABBOTT that"
What's the name of this county?"
"Chilmath."
And Allacoochee is the county seat p"
AYE"
Docs this farm of kilgrow' S lie Who'll
Iy within the limits of the new town -
Il Gamma say as TO the prececse leem-
its, I'm thinkin' it'll tax in ABBOTT half
the town"
Il suppose no one knows anything
about the exact nature of the transac-
tion between the town company and
Cntes?"
''Naething mair than that Gates got
thousand dollars on the nail
Was that fair price for the land at
the time?'
Ma, it wasna mair than half price
Thorndyke made a note of this
That's our starting point. You knew
Gates: what kind OF man was he?
Would he he likely to sell anything AT
half price of his own accord?"
''Na. that he wouldna; he was a canny
chici, an over fond o. the main chance"
Then there was probably some pres
sure brought to bear upon him. Now,
what do you know about the town com
pany people? Who made the deal with
Catcs?"
~ lawyer by the name Of SharpleSs
an the agent, Master Jenkins Fench"
"Oho!" said Philip, recalling his mar
tyrdom on the train. THAT fellow was
IN it, was he? Hes rascal. il ever there
was one out of Jail. If his face doesn't
belle him he's equal 10 anything in the
way Of fraud. How about his part
ncr?"
The lawyer? I'm thinkin he's a deal
waur than t'otber."
1T isn't very likely that they bought
the land without knowing all about She
flaw in the title, unless there's been
more crookedness than we know about
Is Kilgrow sure that hc never signed
any papers for Gates or anyone clse?"
Hes vera willin' to tax his oath
upo' that; an it's the mair unlikely,
sin he Gamma read or write"
and YOU say Gates got his money
and then disappearcd?'
AYE"
THAT adds little 10 the suspicious
look Of the thing; but, then. it's free
country; / suppose a man may 20 or
stay. as he plcases.'
Thorndyke locked his fingers behind
his head and sat back with half-closcd
eyes while he went over the facts again.
weighing each point i'm turn Duncan
misunderstood his silence and grew uu-
easy.
I'm thiukin' yen be countin' the cost
- the delegation, Mr.. Thorndykc; I'm
othat wecl able"
make yourself easy on that point.
Mr.. Duncan" interrupted Philip; ~
wasn't thinking Of demanding % re-
iaincr Wen try TO make the other side
do the paying when the time comes IN
the meanwhile. il ! take hold Of the
case it'll boz merely out Of friendship
10 you and because need something 10
do What ] was thinking Of just now
was the chance Of our being able to
prove collision between the town com
pauy and Gates. II We can't do that IS,
may have our labor for our pains"
"Aye?"
Eyes Gates is well out Of the coun-
Try. and, anyway. + suppose be has moth
ing. 80, we've got 10 recover from the
town company. and in order 20 do that
81. q. ,,,t.f Ia. ,.rcr,a rod Il, r,rCv. ft,t tt.