The Delta independent., 1897-03-17

there may be nothing to recover FROM
"But, man, there's the whole town
built ON Johnnie Keelgrow's land!"
"Yes, it's there to-day, and IL may be
there tomorrow; but II has grown up
like Jonah's gourd. and II may be quite
as short-lived."
Duncan nurned his chin rehectively.
"That's just what Robbie Protheroe's
aye hintin' at. Hes sharp Lad. " Rob
bic"
"Of course I don't know anything
about it," continued Thorndyke, fol-
lowing his own line of thought; "but
other towns have Aourished and failed.
and Allacoochee may or mny not prove
10 be an exception. Anyway. I'd like
to get the thing settled while the press
ure is high. It will be easier to get
$50, 900 now than $4,000 after the tide
begins to turn"
Duncan's jaw fell. and he stared at
Philip in speechless astonishment-
.Feefty thousand dollars" he exclaimed.
when he could find breath to put his
amazement into words. "Eh, man. man.
but yell be KILN the goose outright"
.No fear of that" laughed Philip.
rising and taking the path again. "And
IL they don't call on their desperadoes
it'll cost them more"
He spoke confidently. but he was
troubled with many doubts and mis&iv-
ings which poured in thickly upon the
heels of yesterdays overconhdencc.
One insurmountable obstacle the second
thought had brought up to block the
way to a legal contest: the court would
require n heavy bond from the COM
plninant, and who WAS to furnish IL?
Kilgrow had nothing, and the loss OF
his own fortune put il out Of Thorn
dykes power TO offer security. Clearly.
the thing must be managed in some way
without q suit, and Philips perPiexity
kept him silent while they were push
ing through the woods on the plateau
toward the Pocket
When they came out upon the crag
from which Thorndyke had first looked
down into the narrow valley. they saw
Kilgrow working in the field below. and
Duncan summoned him by . shrill
whistle. Thirty minutes later. the old
mountaineer Joined them on the elf and
Duncan laid before him a plan which
Philip had outlined. It was proposal
that they should try TO bring about n set
tlement Of the claim by moral suasion
before proceeding 70 extremities;
and Kilgrow's presence ut the confer
ence would be necessary. since he would
have to execute n quit-claim in case
Sharple-s and Fench came To terms: As
Duncan had foretold. the old man re-
fused, positively and definitely: he
could not be persuaded to trust himself
in Allacoochee, and all the assurances
of protection that Philip could give him
went for nothing.
Then there il only one other thing
to do" said Philip, when he had ex-
hausted his eloquence In the effort 10
convince Kilgrow that no harm should
come to him; you'll have 70 give me
the power of attorney to sign deed for
you. Where IL the nearest notary out
sIde Of Allacooehee. Mr.. Duncsnr
: Dunean caressed his stubbly chin and
considered. There's suld Judge Gerry.
down At Glenco." he suggested.
"IIow far II that from herer
'It's mair than . good saxteen miles
round by the valley pike. but I'm think
in its no that far across the mountain.
How II that, Johnnie. man7"
II reckon hit amt more'n ten mile
th'oo the gulch."
Thorndyke looked At hh watch. "APe
you good for the tramp. Mr.. Duncan?
I'll need witness"
Duncan signihed his willingness 10
10, but Il was with great difficulty that
they persuaded the old mountAineer TO
trust himself within sight Of the rail-
wy. When he finally yielded, they
took up the line Of march TO the south
ward, with Kilgrow leading the way.
After threading the forest Of the
plateau for three hours or more, they
began TO descend into . deep rsvine.
and Philip heard the murmur OF run
ming water long before they came in
sight of the swift stream gureiinR
through Lefty tunnel 1t the bottom OF
the gorge. They stopped st the margin OF
the brook while Thorndyke got drink.
"Your mountain miles arc good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow." he said, taxi
ing out his watch again. How much
farther IL III"
The old man lifted his hat and
scrstched his head reflectively with one
finger. 81 reckon hit mou9ht he bout
two sights an horn-blow fom yere."
Philip laughed and turned 70 Dun
can: "I'm afraid you'll have 70 trsns-
late that for me-"
"YeTl be none the wiser when I do.
Tvs sights-that's a. far as ye can see.
an then a. far ~ ye cun zee beyon'
that; an . horn-blow-thst's ~ far as
We can hear the scrawin' o. a coos horn
frse the far end o. the second sight.
u ye ken tine noo?"
.Perfectly." ssh Philip. Il hope
we'll get there before dark"
They did, but u wss afternoon when
they came 20 the end Of the third d.
vision OF distance and saw the scattered
houses of the little village on the rail-
way. Judge Garry's house was pointed
,,,e nv n uassjnl teamster, and Philip,