The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-26
A CASE IN EQUITY,
rc.,r,xh.. .ss,. by J. 2. IpSisses ce''
nv FRANCIS LYNDE.

father, and he lives all alone in cave
down there in the Pocket, farming that
little patch of land for living"
"And what became of the heavy VII
lain Gates, I mean" af
That's what makes it so bad. When
he was sure that Mr.. Kilgrow had left
the country he told it around that he
had bought the farm in the valley; and
when the new town company came
along he sold it to them, took the
money and went away"
Thorndyke's studies in the law had
necessarily been the reverse OF prac-
tcal, but as he sat up and reflectively
nursed his knees he was surprised at
the readiness with which the lawyers
point of view suggested itself.
How large was this farm in the
valley?" he inquired, after few mo-
ments of thoughtful silence.
81 don't know that, but father says
if Mr.. Kilgrow had his rights he would
own half of Allacoochee."
Philip went into another revery, COM
ing out Of it to say: II wish were we'll:
should enjoy taking up thing of this
kind. I've half a mind to try it, any
way, and take the chances on living
long enough to see it through. You
didn't know I was lawyer, did your"
mo, indeed; are you?"
81 presume I'm not, in the useful
sense of the word, though I have a
piece of parchment somewhere among
ny belongings that says am. Perhaps,
However, l could scare up enough COM
mon sense to help your old friend out
Of his trouble; it seems to be a very
clear case"
"Oh, Mr.. Thorndyke! If you could
only 90 that"
Her face was alight with the sacred
enthusiasm that makes an Irresistible
special rleader of every good woman
enlisted in the cause of the unfortunate.
and for the second time that day Thorn
dyke felt the subtle inspiration Of her
personality tingling through his veins
like the fire of a strange wine. There
were incendiary things at the tip of his
tongue, but he withheld them, rising
and saying that they had better go
back to the Farmhouse. On the long
walk across the plateau he said but lit
tie, asking an occasional question bear
ing upon Elsie's story and listening at
tentively to her explanations. Just be-
fore they came in sight Of the house he
asked her to wait moment.
"If I am to do anything for your old
n T l. ~
theirs confidence. Have you made up
your mind to tell him that I'm in the
Secret?"
eyes, indeed; I shall tell him to-
night"
"Then You may say that am willing
to do ANYTHING can in the matter"
It'll tell him. It's very good and kind
of you to offer to help; I don't know
how we can ever make it up to you"
Philip hesitated little before saying
that which would push him still farther
into the unexplored regions of duplic-
ity; then he answered her.
"You can pay me with your approval;
you can help me immeasurably-not by
lifting me over the hard places, as you
did awhile ago, but by giving me credit
for the energy and pluck that I ought
to have. Will you do that?'
Indeed l WILL" There was no en-
barrassment in her manner now, and
no shadow of reserve in the honest blue
eyes that were lifted to his. eve will
all help you; and I believe with all my
heart that you will win-I don't mean
for Mr.. Kilgrow alone, but for your
self"
THANK you; that's enough until
have done something" he said, and
they went on down the mountain.