The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-01-22
were just talking about you. How's
avervthiur down below 2"

were JuSt dOOuc yOus 34OW
everything down below?"
"All right" replied the newcomer.
s'The material is all up, and Birkmore's
waiting for the word to begin"
s'That's the talk!' exclaimed the
manager. aCan you find your way back
to Prattvifle to-night?"
"Why, yes, suppose soft I have to.
I'm dog-tired, though"
swell, times precious; , I guess you'd
better get a fresh horse and go. Tell
Birkmore not. lose minute. Is he
fixed to work night gang by electric
light?,''
eyes"
'sGood enough! Tell him he can't get
locomotive into Allacoochee 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
Sharpless 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
81 suppose we might as well fix that
now as any time. Have you got a blank
aeed?"
Fench rummaged in his pockets for
the paper. "Where's Gates deed to
us?" he asked.
'sHere it is" Sharpless said, handing
it across the table. Better change the
wording little, so it won't look sus-
picious."
''You let me alone for that"
Fench wrote rapidly for few mo-
ments, pausing 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 1 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.
"How will that do?"
That's about it," replied the attor.
ney. 81 wonder if the old moonshine1
would recognize his signature?''
I'D risk it. What are you going tc
do about the notary's acknowledge
ment?"
'Tll fix that. I've been making my
self solid with an old fellow across the
street who calls himself a lawyer. He
doesn't know enough about the law to
hurt him, but he is notary public.
He'll do it-for a consideration-and he
won't be too particular about the exact
date
SIS it safe to trust him?'
81 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 ito" 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 o
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 the
paper was handed back for inspection.
Nobody will ever suspect now that it
isn't as old as it claims to be. Wonder
if I 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
Fench, looking up from his letter.
HE baked little at first. but I've
given him lot of business in the last
two weeks, and a $40 fee was too much
for him."
A week later Lawyer Sharpless called
at Judge Wilkinson's Office in the court