The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-05-08


stand your reluctance, Mr.. Duncan, -
he said, with smile that had softened
more than one recalcitrant witness.
You will pardon my not mentioning
1T sooner but had not thought of ask
ing you to serve us in this matter with
out compensate 1t will be thou
sand dollars in your pocket when you
bring Kilgrow to my office in Allacoo-
chez"
Duncan's solemn face gave no intima-
tion of the strife stirred up within him
by the lawyers shameless proposal
a furious struggle between cautious
shrewdness and righteous Indignation.
For the first, and perhaps the last, time
in his life, wrath got the better of pru-
dence, and he burst out in a storm of
broad Scotch invective that put sharp
conclusion to the interview.
Yell bride aud Jamie Duncan, will
ye? Yell tilt yerser back in yer chair
in mans ain hoose an pit price OIL
the held O his frien'? Lat me tell We.
ance for a, Master Attorney, We didna
bid high cneuch - there's ma gowd
eneGch amang the hale scram'ln o. We
to buy ane hair o Johnnie Keelgrow s
beid, d we ken that, We auid smooth
faced dell? TAX yer dolr face oct o.
the hoose, before I'm forgettin, I'm Il
man o peace an Chreestan!'
Sharplass was shrewa enough to see
that he had hopelessly ruined his case
with the irate Scot, and he was WISE
enough to know that he would prob
ably make matters worse by attempt
ing to explain. He got away as soon
as he could, followed to the threshold
by the angry farmer, who continued to
break the walls of his wrath over the
lawyers head as long as the latter was
within hearing. After Sharpless had
driven away, Duncan found that an ex-
plosion of anger does not always clear
,sthe mental atmosphere; and at time
when he felt the pressing need of a cool
- head and deliberate Judgment, he could
do nothing but walk the floor and call
down anathemas upon the head of the
offender, Believing no word of Sharp
less story, he yet, had'a vague fear that
something was amiss with Thorndyke;
and he was glad enough when, late in
the afternoon, Protheroe rode up to
the farmhouse Duncan's first ques-
lion was of Philip.
81 supposed he was here; he hasn't
been in town for two days. / came by
the hotel and brought these letters,
thinking that he might want them"
A great fear seized upon Duncan.
Robbie man, are We sure he didna go
TO New York this morn?"
81 don't think he did. They said at
the hotel that he hadn't been in since
day before yesterday, and they'd know
t if he started on a journey this morn
ing. Let me see those letters; no, he
hasn't been there; most of these are
postmarked yesterday"
Duncan's fear was dispelled, but a
new one came quickly to take its place,
and he began another battle with his
invincible caution. Meanwhile Proth-
eroe improved the silent interval by
trying to learn from Elsie's face what
she thought or cared about Thorndyke' s
disappearance. Much, every way, he
concluded, when Duncan spoke again.
"Robbe, lad, the times come
when I'm in sair need O. good counsel
Ye Wilma lat yer place max We boggle
over a bit O adviee?"
with the town company, you
mean? I discharged myself this morn
ing; but if | hadn't it would make no
difference where l could be of service
TO you"
"The GUIDE Lord be Thankful" ex-
claimed Duncan, fervently; and then he
proceeded to relate in their proper or
der the incidents in the history of XII
grows wrong and Thorndyke's quest
ending with an account of the attor-
ney's visit to the farmhouse. Protheroe
listened attentively, and he was ready
with his answer when Duncan finished
"Sharpless lied" he said. Thorn
dyke wouldn't turn the case over to the
ilOl NOulu uDulluOIl ~ Jus
as he had got the whip hand of his op
ponents. They've spirited him out Of
the way so they can scare Kilgrow into
scheap settlement; and Sharpless came
to you because he didn't know where
10 find the old mountaineer."
Protheroe spoke to Duncan, but he
kept his eyes fixed upon the face of the
young girl, who sat eagerly listening
He was trying another experiment in
physiognomy, and the result was not
altogether comforting.
eye dinna think they'd harm the lad
do YEP"
Il imagine it would depend upon cir
cumstances. The object would be 10
get rid Of him until they could treat
with Kilgrow. You know Thorndykc
better than do; would he be likely tc
go peaceobly?"
Duncan shook his head gravely. ''Na
Tn thinEin' he wouldna DO that; he'd
Ne mair than likely TO sic EN- 4 deal o
r-ouble.'