Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-03-18


that he could not observe two men al
tie same instant He was sure that the
manager would try to put the lawyer
on his guard, but Sharpless impassiye
face was blandly inscrutable rs he rose
and held out his hand From the fact
that he was Immediately given a high
backed chair facing the light OF the
window. which made au eNpressionless
silhouette Of the lawyer. Philip argued
that the sign had been passed and un-
derstood; and the suspicion was con-
hrmed by the first question he was
called upon TO answer
What makes you think that our title
isn't perfect, Mr. Thorndyke?"
4 beg your pardon i had raised no
such question. II is merely matter OF
prudence in a TRANSACTION involving 50
much moaey that one should be well
assured of his title
THAT is very true. The lots YOU
picked out are in a tract formerly
known as the Gates farm; You can read
the whole history of the tract in the
records at the courthouse"
quite possibly: but one may have
neither the time nor the INCLINATION.
\ glance at your abstract would be
quite sufficient for my purpose"
Sharpiess swung back in his chair
and slipped his hands into his pockets.
Il wish | could oblige YOU" he said.
hut | infer you've had little to do with
property in Alabama. Such thing as
an abstract Of title is almost unknown
among people who can neither write
their deeds nor read them after they are
written. l began just as you have, and
was glad enough, in the end, TO fal.
back on the records"
Thorndyke knew this was an answer
that Sharpless would never have made
TO another lawyer, since an abstract is
nothing more than a circumstaISial his
tory of any given piece of property
compiled from the records; but he was
top shrewd to betray his profession.
and he made no comment.
4 suppose you were able TO satisfy
yourself that your title were all
right?"
Absolutely; we guarantee to de.
fend our purchasers"
"Will you allow me to look at your
deeds for the tract in question:"
4 should be glad to. but | can't do
that, either, All the original docu-
ments are on file in the company's Office
IN New York"
Philip was beaten for a moment, but
he rallied Immediately. "Will you
authorize my solicitor to examine
them?"
Sharpless lost his head al that. and
Thorndyke gained his point. Ger
tainly not such proceeding would be
, unheard of. Our secretary would
promptly refer the gentleman to me-
Philip rose and bowed courtcously.
I'm sorry we can't arrive at an under
standing; l should like to have those
lots"
But my dear sir"-Sharpless had
quite recovered his self-control and
was industriously cursing himself for
having rade the slip-"can't you see
how unreasonable you are? Don't you
suppose that among our hundreds Of
customers there are men who are quite
Is careful of their rights as you can be
of yours9"
And none Of them have seen these
leeds?''
"Not man Of them, I assure you.
50 TO any of Them, and you'll find chat
they've taken our guarantee in perfect
good faith"
TO whom would you refer me?"
10 anyone; to the president Of the
Chhassee natl nal bank, if you
please
VERY well; I'll think the matter
over ard see YOU again. Good morning"
Whea Thorndylle left the office ne be-
gan to fear thatthe, afforded ,uponthe
discovery Of which the very life Of his
case would depend, had been destroyed,
and there was small comfort in the re-
fection that there was no apparent
reason for the disappearance Of both of
| them. That from Gates to the town
company was undoubtedly genuine,
and he could not understand why it,
too, should be missing. He felt keenly
the need of an adviser, but in a city
where the interests of every other re-
sponsible person might be against him,
he was afraid to trust anyone. To be
sure, there were Protheroe and Dun
can; but the first was in the service of
the town company, and the Scotchman
had already emptied himself of what
ever suggestive material there was in
him. Philip expected nothing further
in the way of information from Fench
or Sharpless, but, none the less, he sent
a message to Col. Van Colt, asking him
to give prompt attention to any inquiry
from Alacoochee, suppressing only
the fact Of the sender's profession.
When that was done, Philip found
himself once more among the uncer-
tainties, but he made another Journey
10 the courthouse for the purpose Of
cop5 ing the missing documents from
the records. For two days he pored
over these copies in his room at the ho-
tel, searching with infinite patience for
some clew that would point the way
cut of the tangle. A COPY Of a COPY