The Irish standard., 1897-01-30
'What's the name OF this county ~

AYE"
"Does this farm of Ki]grow 3 lie who'll
ly within the limits OF the new town."
II Gamma say MS to the preceese leem-
its; I'm thinkin' it'll TAX. in ABBOTT half
the town."
81 suppose no one knows anything
about the exact nature of the transac-
ton between the town company and
Cntes?"
"Naething mair than that Gates got
a thousand dollars on the NALL"
''Was that fair price for the land at
the time?"
INA, 1t wnsna mair than half price"
Thorndyke-, made q. note of this.
That's our starting point. You knew.
Gates: what kind of q man was he?
Would he be likely to sell anything at
half price of his own accord?"
"Na, that he wouldna; he was canny
ehiel, 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
Cates?" +'.s =.
"a 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
i'm it. was he? He's rascal, If ever there
was one out OF Jail. If his face doesn't
belle him he's equal to anything in the
way of fraud. How about his part
ner?'
''The lawyer7 I'm thinkin' he's deal
waur than t'other."
cit isn't very likely that they bought
the land without knowing all about the
flaw in the title, unless there's been
more crookedness than we know about.
Is Kilgrow sure that he never signed
any papers for Gates or anyone else?"
"He's vera within to tax his oath
upo' that; an. it's the mair unlikely,
sim he Gamma read or write"
"And you say Gates got his money
and then disappeared"
aye"
''That adds little to the suspicious
look of the thing; but, then, it's a free
country; I suppose man may go or
stay, as he pleases."
Thorndyke locked his fingers behind
his head and sat back with half-closed
eyes while he went over the facts again,
weighing each point in turn. Duncan
misunderstood his silence and grew I'M
easy.
t.I'm thinkin' yell be countin' the cost
O. the leetigation, Mr.. Tlnorndyke; I'm
M that wool n h1a--0
snake yourself easy on that point,
Mr.. Duncan" interrupted Philip; Il
wasn't thinking of demanding re-
taincr. Well try to make the other side
do the paying when the time comes. In
the meanwhile, il I take hold of the
case it'll be merely out Of friendship
to you and because need something to
do. What was thinking of just now,
was the chance of our being able to-
prove collision between the town COM
pany and Gates. If we can't do that we
may have our labor for our pains"
"Aye?"
eyes. Gates is well out Of the coun-
try. and, anyway, 1 suppose he has Moth
ing. No, we've got to recover from the
town company, and in order to do that
we must be prepared to prove that it's
agent knew Of the fraud when he
bought the land. Then it would be a
plain case in equity and no chancellor
would hesitate about issuing a writ Of
possession"
"Would Keelgrow haze to show him
sell in court?"
"Not necessarily. The evidence in
chancery cases is taken by deposition,
and there is no formal trial as in conn
mon law procedures; the chancellor cxs
amines the evidence and hands down q
decree in accordance with the facts"
That's ane thing in our favor, then;
Keelgrow is that fearsoine O courts an
constables that I'm thinl<in' we'd hae
muclsle trouble persua.7in' him to tes-
tify."
Thorndyke laughed. II suppose he
hasn't got over the apple brandy scare.
That'll never be revived, and if It were
we could easily clear him."
Duncan shook his head doubtfully.
II Wilma be so sure O that: It's ia mair
than a month sim got word that the
revenue men were speerin' round after
arld Johnnie again"
Thorndyke came out of his nonchal-
ence with bound.
"You did! Who told yon that?''
II hatsa bit writing frae some mer-
cifu' body in the town."
''Mr. Duncan, that's the most inn
portant thing you've told Inc yet! Find
me that letter, if you can"
Philip walked the floor excited1y I'M
til Duncan came back with the missiye
in question It was written in type
writing on 81 blank letterbead, and it
was dated at Allacoochce.
Dear Sir: It is known that yo, are
friendly toward an old roUntaineer named
Kilgrow.. who is wanted by the United
States officers for breach of the revenue
laws 1t is rumored here that the officers
have information Of his whereabouts, ard
that If found he will, be arrested and
brought TO trial. 1t would seem, to one who
knows the circumstances, to be merely IN
ac, OF common humanity to warn the old
man. A FRIEND"
'tINhat do yc make out o that, Mr..
Thorndyl<e?" asked Duncan, after
Philip had read and examined the lot
ter.
"Just what expected when you 1nen-
toned it. There's only one man or one
set Of men who could be benefited by
getting Jlilgrow out of the way. When
we trace this letter to it's source well
find that either Sharpless or Fench die
tated it. It's the most important bit OF
evidence I've had, so far, because II I'm