The Delta independent., 1897-04-07

yet, in spite of the warning and CT the
removal of their chief opponent, they
We're still as far as ever from a haven
of safety; the forged deed was still in
existence, and bribery and search-par-
ties had alike failed to reveal the hid
| ing-place of the old mountaineer. The
threatened danger cast its shadow upon
the two men each after his kind.
Sharpless sat erect. scowling ard in
Gomitable, while Fench covered in his
chair, clasping and unclasping his lean
| fingers in the nervelessness of aismey.
II tell you, Sharpless, it's no Use talk
ing-it never was any use talking; it's
time to run. We might have been in
Mexico by this time If you'd had any
sense"
Fench's voice was querulous with
fear, and the last sentence ended in a
snarl, but the recrimination served
only to deepen the frown on the brow
OF the lawyer. In the silence that sue
ceeded, they heard n curious humping
in the corridor, which was explained
when the door opened to admit an un-
announced visitor. 1t was Thorndykc.
| on crutches, and he stopped TO close the
door carefully before limping to n chair
from which he could see both of the
1 conspirators. In the twinkling of an
| eye the scowl on Sharpless' face melted
into n suave smile Of welcome. and his
| greeting was cheerful and genial.
Good morning, Mr.. Thorndyke.
| You're quite stranger"
Philip ignored the proffered civility
and went brusquely to the point. Il
| didn't come here to measure polite
| phrases with either of you, as you prob
ably know. am here as the legal rep
| resentative of John Kilgrow, upon
| whose farm you have taken the liberty
| to build city"
The smile of welcome on the lawyers
face disappeared as quickly as it had
| como, and the thin figure of the man-
| ager seemed to shrink into q still
smaller compass.
You'll have to be more explicit, Mr..
Thorndyke," said Sharpless, fitting cas-
lily in his chair.
"And l will be. simply to show you
what am prepared to prove. On the
9th of February in the present year
| you purchased Of james Gates n tract
| of land which you had good reason to
suspect was stolen from John kiigrow.
| To quiet the title, you forged a decd
| from Kilgrow to Gates and had it re-
| corded. For some reason which Idon't
pre%e1d- TO understand you omitted to
| destroy this deed, and, as you know.
| II has lately fallen into my hands. The
,ac.s IN .ne .n Gus. na'e oee. =. ey u. -
you to say whether my client shall be
compened 10 seeA sa'iSiae''o" :" 'Ao
courts
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n'sT .Ts.. s..'en n ., -, n. r,,
10 H" "oi"' 1'
"y y.,. -, . ..
s'''y' "u' !" ""S '"o "
u,h.
arc you prepared 70 @e' iol 1"1f
cnent IN inns matter
Ia, ani ms attorney IN isct
a.. VIVA, ,, your ProPos.'ion
win execute qu,'-c,ain IA On .ne
Vi my ehen'' anu ! WIN .
.ne ioIgeu oeeu' upon 'ne puy y
siOo'oVV III Cash OF IN oahA ion"'
sharpiess sprang to his feet win an
| oath, and Fench had almost reacnei
the door when Philip stopped MIN.
Don't go Just yet, Mr. Fench; tnefes
an officer in the CORRIDOR ana ne mas
his instructions"
| The manager crept back TO his chair
again, and sharplees sat down. THAT
was q good joke OF yours, Mr.. Thorn
DYKE, he said, with an unpleasant
smile. "Of course you know that the
original value OF the land was next 10
nothing.