The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-10

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 un-
easy.
"rm thinkin' ven be countin' the cost
o. the leetigation, Mr.. Thorndyke; Pm
no thatweel able"
snake yourself easy on that point.
Mr.. Duncan" interrupted Philip; II
wasn't thinking of demanding re-
tainer. Wen try to make the other side
do the paying when the time comes. In
the meanwhile, IL / take hold of the
case it'll be merely out of friendship
10 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. II we can't do that we
may have our labor for our pains"
"Aye~
"Yes. Gates is we'll out OF the coun-
try, and, anyway. Isuppose he has moth
ing. No, we've got TO recover from the
town company, and in order to do that
we must be prepared 10 prove that its
agent knew OF the fraud when he
bought the land. Then II would be n
plain case in equity, and no chancellor
would hesitate about issuing a writ Of
possession"
would Keelgrow hae to show him
sell I'm court?"
"Nots necessarily. The evidence in
chancery cases Is taken by deposition,
and there is no formal trial as in COM
mon law procedures; the chancellor ex-
amines the evidence and hands down a
decree in accordance with the facts"
THAT'S ane thing in our favor, then;
Keelgrow Is that fearsome o. courts an
constables that I'm thinkin' we'd hae
muckle trouble persuadin' him to tes-
tlfy."
Thorndyke laughed. IL suppose he
hasn't got over the apple brandy scare.
rThat'll never be revived, and if it were
we could easily clear him."
Duncan shook his head doubtfully.
81 Wilma be so sure o. that. It's ma mair
than O month sim got word that the
revenue men were speerin' round after
auld Johnnie again"
Thorndyke came out of his nonchal-
ance with bound.
"You did, Who told you that?"
II had n bit writing frae some mer-
cifu' body In the town."
"Mr Duncan, that's the most inn
portant thing you've told me yet! Find
me that letter, If you can"
Philip walked the floor excitedly I'M
Ill Duncan came back with the missive
in question. II was written In type
writing on blank letterhead, and it
was dated at Allacoochce.
Dear Sir: II is known that you are
friendly toward an old mountaineer named
Kilgrow, who is wanted by the United
States officers for a breach OF the revenue
laws. IL is rumoned hererhRt the officers
have information OF his whereabouts, and
that H. found he will be arrested and
brought TO trial. 1t would seem, to one who
knows. the circumstances, 10 be merely an
act OF common humanity 10 warn tho old
man. a FRIEND"
"Whatslo yc make out o that, Mr..
ThorndSke?" asked Duncan, after
Philip had read and examined the let
ter.
"Just what expected when you men
toned it. There's only one man or one
set of men who could be benefited by
getting Kilgrow 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, 50 far, because IL I'm
right Improves thatSharpless and Fench
are not innocent. The next thing in
order is for me TO have n talk with Kill
grow; you'll have TO see him and smooth
fhe way for me-"
Duncan promised and babe his guest
goodnight: after which Thorndyke
went 70 bed to dream of endless law
suits and intcrminable weddings, in
which Helen and Kilgrow, James Dun
can and Elsie. were COMPOUNDED in hope
less confusion. And for a grotesque
background, the scenes Of his dreams
had for stage setting the new city of
Allacoochee, rising and spreading like
another flood until the waves OF build
ings rurged up the valley and over the
mountain 10 tumble in a cascade of
bricks and mortar into the quiet depths
of the Devils Pocket.