The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-01-16
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How,s
were just talking about you. How's
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everything down below?"
'4AI right" replied the newcomer.
''The material is all up, and Birkmore's
visiting for the word to begin"
THAT'S the talk!" exclaimed the
manager. Can you find your way back
to Prattville to-night?''.
"Why, yes, suppose soft / have to.
I'm dog-tired, though"
"Well, times precious; guess you'd
better get fresh horse and go. Tell
Birkmore not to lose a minute. Is he
fixed to work night gang by electric
light?"
| "Yes."
Good enough! Tell him he cant get
locomotive into Al1acoochee any too
quick to please us now. Have drink,
and put some cigars in your pocket to
smoke on the way"
When the messenger left the room
Sharplcss leaned back in his chair, and
put his hands in his pockets. ."The
Jethro deal cleans it all up excepting
! the title to the Gates tract" he said.
II suppose we might as we'll fix that
now as any time. Have you got blank
deed?"
Fench rummaged in his pockets for
the paper. where's Gates deed to
us?' he asked.
''Here it is" Sharpless said, handing
it across the table. Better change the
wording little, so it won't look SUES
picious."
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Fench wrote rapidly for few mo-
ments, pausng when he came to the
date. "Make it about May 20, 1885,"
The lawyer made rapid calculation
in dates. eyes, that'll do. AS nearly
as can locate it, the raid on the moon
sinners was made in June or July of
that year; it'll be safe enough to call it
the Goth of May"
Fench went on writing, and presently
handed the two deeds to Sharpless.
Glow will that do?"
'That's about it," replied the attor-
ney. II wonder if the old moonshiner
would recognize his signature?" 80,
''I'd risk it. What are you going to
do about the notary's acknowledge
mcnt?"
It'll fix that. I've been making my
self solid with an old fellow across the
street who calls himself lawyer. He
doesn't know enough about the law to
hurt him, but he is a notary public.
He'll do it--for northumberland he
won't be too particular about the exact
date"
"Is it safe to trust him?'
SGT don't mean to make the expert
ment; shall simply tell him that Gates
has had this deed kicking about the
house all these years without having it
recorded"
ooh, that's the scheme, is it?" said
! Fench, screwing up one eye until all
the craftiness in both seemed to peer
out Of the other. "Give me that deed a
minute"
He went to the fireplace, and, taking
pinch Of SCOT, rubbed it into his hands
until they were black and grimy. Then
he folded and crumpled the deed until
it had the requisite appearance of age
and i'll usage.
"You're an artist, Fench!" was the
lawyers admiring comment when tho
paper was handed back for inspection.
Nobody will ever suspect now that it
isn't as old as it claims to be. Wonder
if could find old Squire Pragmore to-
night?"
'Perhaps," said the manager, wash
ing the CRIME from his hands. "While
you're hunting him I'll write to New
York;.
Sharpless came back in few min
utes and threw the forged deed on the
table.
'"'That's settled" he said. 'When it's
recorded we'll destroy it," --.
"Did Pragmore object?" inquired
Fencl,, looking up from his letter.
''He baked a little at first, but I've
given him lot of business in the last
two weeks, and a $50 fee was too much
for him" -
A week later Lawyer Sharpless called!
at Judge Wilkinson's Office in the court!