The midland journal., 1897-05-21
XIV.
XIV.
DRAWING THE SWORD.

Nnen the nrSt burst OF eXultant eX.
citment had spent itself, Thorndyke sat
dowrf upon a fat-topped stone and
mapped out plan of attack. He would
| begin on Pragmore, terrifying the old
Dortary into submission and confession
by sight of the forgery which he had
made possible. Then he would push
Fench and Sharpless to the wall by in
stituting proceedings against them in
both the civil and the criminal courts.
lie would apply for an injunction re-
straning them from disposing of any
of the property IN dispute. He would
stop the wheels of business and seal up
the fountain of Allacoochee's prosperi-
ty until Kilgrow's rights were recog-
nized. He would show these unscrupu-
lous robbers that though Justice might
be blind, she never sleeps.
This was the outline of the temerari
Gus plan whiah ingeniously combined
| all the elements of defeat and failure.
The impetuous zeal which had carried
| rhornfyke triumphantly over the dis
engagements of the long search for
evidence became at once source of
weakness and tumbling-block in the
way of final success; and he was never
less match for the crafty and con-
scienceless corporation attorney than
at the moment when he believed that
victory was to be had for the taking.
| Not to give sober second thought
chance to counsel better things, he
pocketed the forged deed and went
straight to the dingy little office next
door to Catron's store. The old notary
was sitting at his desk, and the lines of
retcence in his sallow face deepened
into wrinkles when he looked up and
saw who had opened the door. Thorn
dyl.e wasted no time in Introductory
phrases.
Two or three months ago, Mr.. Prag-
more, l asked you some questions about
u deed purporting to have been given by
John Kilgrow to James Gates. Tho
record shows that you attested it, but
you denied any recollection of the cir
cumstances. Will you tell me now that
you did not antedate your certificate six
years or more? that you did not ae-
knowledge the signature of q man
whom you believed to be dead?"
Pragmore stiffened himself in his
chair and made no sign, though he had
to moisten his thin lips to say: "You
cayn't prove anything"
The sullen defiance overdrew what
ever amount of prudence the discovery
of the deed had left Thorndyke. Lean
ing over the desk, he held the paper out
spread before the eyes of the old man.
''Do you pretend to say that this is not
your signature? Will you tell me that
you don't know Fench's handwriting
when you see it? Did the printers make
a mistake of five years when they put
their imprint on this blank?"
The mask of inscrutability slipped
aside for a moment, and Pragmore's
face became gray and furred with
terror. Then he relapsed into sullen-
ness again,but there was an angry snarl
i'll his voice when he spoke.
It don't know nothin' about it, mr.
what-all ye're aimin' at, but I'll tell ye.
first an last, ye cayn't bulldoze me.
This here's my office, an since ye found
the way in, 1 reckon ye can find the way
out"
| NH SIui tCSt OIL III u "IitC hNdO vi
wrath. Halfway to the door he turned
on Pragmore.
II came down here to give you one
more chance to save yourself" he said;
'you don't deserve any more consider
alton than any common criminal, but
you're an old man and you've let these
fellows make tool of you. Once for all,
will you turn states evidence? or shall
send the sheriff after you?"
There was a rasping noise, as of
hastily opened drawer, and the old man
spJ dhg to his feet and leveled revol-
yer at Thcrndyke. His eyes blazed, and
his voice uuavered with excitement.
"By the Mighty! if ye don't get out
o. here"
Philip stood his ground long enough
to show his contempt for the argu.
nent of force; then he turned his back
on the angry man and ran up the street
to catch an electric car for the new
courthouse. AS soon as he could find
a magistrate, he swore out u warrant
for Pragmore's arrest and went him
self with the deputy who was to serve
it. AS matter of course, they found
the Office locked and empty; and, leav-
ing the officer to continue the search
for the notary, Philip went back to the
Johannisberg to prepare the papers i'll
the suit against the town company.
The constable had promised to report
in the course of the afternoon, and
when evening came without any word
from him, Philip resolved to go to the
Jail and see if Pragmore had been
caught. With the heedlessness which
goes hand in hand with triumphant
perseverance, he left the forged deed,
together with the unfinished papers.
! on the writing-table in his room at
the hotel; and, picking his way through
, the obstructed streets, he was soon in
the neighborhood of the courthouse.
, Under the branches of water-oak, at
a point where the light from the cleo
} trio lamps at the crossings made n
garish twilight, he stumbled over the
J body of man lying across the side
J walk. Before he could recover him
) self he was promptly garroted, thrown
down and held by two footpads while
a third rifled his pockets. The assault
was well planned and deftly executed,
end when his assailapts bad LETT him