Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-04-01
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAFIERs AK
Rob was destined to demonstrate that
even tho unrighteous arc sometimes not
forsaken. She was distinctly Of the un-
! righteous, according to those whose
standard was Miss Winfold, yet at the
first word Of her trouble friends came
hurrying to her aid Mr.. Payne and
Colonel Talbot, Of course, were fore
most, and each looked to find limp,
white, fearful creature, hunted, driven,
! not knowing whittier to turn. Instead
they found collected young woman,
, family smiling, with eyes that grew wet
, for all her bravery when they let her
know upon what errand they had come.
Yet she was not ice or marble, this
wicked Rob. II wns only that she had
been stirred to heat of wrath go white
it burned away apprehension. The steal.
ing Of her stock. the midnight outrage
upon Aunt Pheny, last Of all Ben Top.
marks pursuit of herself, had nerved
her to set her teeth and say:
eight Yes; I will fight this mon.
strons claim, fight as would never do
in mere matter Of money. There is 60
much moro ut stake-the honor OF my
name. No McGregor ever took advan-
tage OF ignorance or helplessness. owe
it doubly TO my father to prove that he
speaks truth in saying we are lawfully
seized of what we possess.
"You are better than gold, the most.
the finest. gold, you good, dear friendsl"
she said to the two old men. "But
please to lot mo work out our salvation
ii it can be done, l mean. III it can
not, then, because you have been SO
kind, will put my pride in my pocket
and take all the help shall need"
After that there was nothing for it
but to let her have her way, or at least
tho very next day Mr.. Payne rode to
Oldbridge, intending to bid his own
lawyer. Judge Graball, take the case
and spare no pains, looking TO him for
fees. The judge heard him half through,
tho while fdgeting in his chair. then
broke in upon the old gentleman, who,
between haste and wrath, was short Of
breath:
"See here, Payne, man may be
lawyer without heing also an unoon-
scionable scoundrel. Take that easel
You couldn't keep me ont Of it with .
log chain. Rob McGregor is my old col
lege chum. Do you think his daughter
needs any surety with me1 Besides all
that. I'm aching for chance to get at
Lawyer Howell. He's the very sharpest
scoundrcl Mt our bar, and that's saying
heap for him. don't mind admitting
to you that Oh the surface he has far the
better case. Still, law is like poker in
this-a pair Of bowie knives have been
known to beat four aces, especially
when there is reason to think the deal
was not strictly fair I'd fight the thing
through with pleasure if the girl were
mere oozy lump Instead Of the best
grit I've seen this 30 years. l shall not
forget-it's worth embe1inR. tell
you-the way she came here, whito and
dry eyed. telling me, in the straightest,
cool fashion, all she had to fe0r-facts,
not feelings, too, mind you, not word
of surmise or maundering from begin.
ming to end. If courage were Il ponder
able quality. swear she'd weigh all Of
n ton. She's Ill inspiration. II can't
win her suit outright, III keep the thing
hanging 20 years or rs long rs the other
side chooses to stand up to the rack.
Judge Graball had the name Of being
mighty hard man, one who, it was
said, cared for nothing beyond law and
tho emoluMents thereof. Naturally MI.
Payne left him in state Of jubilant
amazement As he went out OF the Office
he encountered Colonel Talbot, with
Jack at his elbow, bent, he had no
doubt, upon al errand like his own.
''No use to 60 there, " he said, nod
ding to the door behind him. ~ tried,
but Graball snapped me up so haven't
quite got back my breath. -"
$50 he is retained for the other side,"
Jack said, his facc falling. "Well. there
arc more lawyers in town il none quite
80 good"
"Oh, you won't need to hunt them"
Mr.. Payne said, with chuckle. Grab
all has fallen in love with the case, he
says-I believe it's the client-so much
in lovo he might fling you out of the
window if you went talking money, rs
I did"
Rob smiled demurely when she came
to know the result of these embassies.
Then she said, with dim eyes, looking
away to where her father sat in the sun:
"Only help me to keep him happy until
until we know the end. That is, moro
than anything, the very best help you
can give"
They had agreed with her and gladly
done her bidding. No hint, NO whisper.
Of coming trouble reached the blind
man. He knew only that somehow he
was happier, had more company and
more of friendly sympathy than for sono
years back He was glad Of it too. He
felt himself weakening daily, and as life
slipped from him he came to prize more
and more the kindly human contact that
gilded his darkness
Rob was unutterably tender Of him.
She marked his falling away, but let no
trace Of grief and dread creep into her
voice. Instead she was gay and high
with him, full Of Quips and cranky jests.
making prstense Of filching the gold
pieces from his pocket to console nersc11
for tho loss OF Mr.. Topmark, who, as
she reported, had shamclessly deserted
her for the mature charms OF Miss Man
dy Allen. Much as she rccoiled from
the man, even from mention Of him,
she knew her father would need some
other than the true explanation Of why