The midland journal., 1897-05-21

"Yes, it's there to-day, and it may be
there tomorrow; but it has grown up
like Jonah's gourd, and it may be quite
as short-lived."
Duncan nursed his chin refectively.
"That's just what Robbie Protheroe's
aye hintin' at. He's sharp lad, is Rob-
bie."
"Of course I don't know anything
about it," continued Thorndyke, fol-
lowing his own line of thought; "but
other towns have flourished and failed,
and Allacoochee may or may not prove
to be an exception. Anyway, I'd like
to get the thing settled while the press
ure is high. It will be easier to get
$4,000 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 ye'll be killin' the goose outright"
"No fear of that" laughed Philip,
rising and taking the path again. "And
if they don't call off their desperadoes
it'll cost them more"
He spoke confidently, but he was
troubled with many doubts and misgiv-
ings which poured in thickly upon the
heels of yesterdays overconfidencc.
One insurmountable obstacle the second
thought had brought up to block the
way to legal contest: the court would
require a heavy bond from the COM
plainant, and who was to furnish it ?
Kilgrow had nothing, and the loss of
his own fortune put it out of Thorn
| dykes power to offer security. Clearly,
the thing must be managed in some way
without suit, and Philips perplexity
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 a shrill
whistle. Thirty minutes later, the old
mountaineer joined them on the cliff, and
Duncan laid before him a plan which
Philip had outlined. It was proposal
that they should try to bring about a set
element of the claim by moral suasion
before proceeding to extremities;
md Kilgrow's presence at the confer
cnce would be necessary, since he would
have to execute a quit-claim in case
Sharpless and Fench came to terms: AS
Duncan had foretold, the old man re-
fused, positively and definitely: he
rcnlld not be persuaded to trust himself
!" Allacoochee. and ali the assurances
of protection that Philip could give him
went for nothing.
"Then there is only one other thing
to do," said Philip, when he had en-
hausted his eloquence in the effort to
convince Kilgrow that no harm should
come to him; you'll have to give me
the power of attorney to sign deed for
you. Where is the nearest notary out
side of Allacoochee, Mr.. Duncan?"
Duncan caressed his stubbly chin and
considered. "There's auld Judge Garry,
down at Glenco," he suggested.
GLOW far is that from here?"
Its mair than a good saxteen miles
round by the valley pike, but I'm think
in it's no that far across the mountain.
How is that, johnnie, man?"
81 reckon hit amt more'n ten mile
th'oo the gulch."
Thorndyke looked at his watch. care
you good for the tramp, Mr.. Duncan ?
I'll need a witness"
Duncan signified his willingness to
rrn ht1f IL with txyf hot
they persuaded the old mountaineer to
trust himself within sight of the rail-
way. 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 ravine,
and Philip heard the murmur of run
ming water long before they came in
sight Of the swift stream gurgling
through leafy tunnel at the bottom of
thegorge. They stopped at the margin of
the brook while Thorndyke got a drink.
"Your mountain miles are good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow," he said, talk
ing out his watch again. "How much
| farther is it?"
The old man lifted his hat and
scratched his head refectively with one
finger. 81 reckon hit mought be bout
two sights an q horn-blow f'om yere"
Philip laughed and turned to Dun
can: I'm afraid you'll have to trans
late that for me-"
"Ye'll be none the wiser when I do.
Twa sights-that's as far as We can see,
an then as far as We can see beyon'
that; nm horn-blow-that's as far as
We can hear the scrawin' O. coos horn
frae the far end o. the second sight.
D. We ken the noo?"
Perfectly" said Philip. "I hope
we'll get there before dark"
They did, but it was afternoon when
they came to the end of the third di-
vision of distance and saw the scattered
houses of the little village on the rail-
way. Judge Garry's house was pointed
out by passing teamster, and Philip,
| going in for information, found that
the judge was in Allacoochee, but was
expected home at five o'clock. They
waited, Duncan with Scotch resigna-
ton, the mountaineer with an indiffer-
ence born of long practice in the art of
doing nothing, and Philip with true
Anglo-Saxon impatience. When the
/ judge made his appearance, the bust
ness was quickly dispatched, and Dun
can and Kilgrow started on their re-
turn over the mountain, leaving Thorn
dyke to go to Allacoochee by the even
ing train.