The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-06-04
Copyright. 1895. by }. B Lippineott Company

D. LiPPiHCoU Sompany.J
dyke" he said, with an unpleasant
smile. "Of course you know that the
original value of the land was next to
nothing"
81 don't care to argue that point CT
any other. The question between us is
simply this: will you pay me 100000,
or shall | give you in charge for forg-
ery?"
While Thorndyke was speaking,
Sharpicss was swaying gently back and
forth in the pivot-chair, with his right
arm lying upon the desk. In the little
interval of silence that followed, the
fingers of the idle hand sought the knob
of small drawer under the pigeon
holes. When he began to speak the
lawyers voice was smooth and passion
less. Let us assume, for the sake of
example, that what you say of us is
true; that we are the unscrupulous vii
lains that your Indictment presup-
poses" The hand on the desk was me-
chanically opening and closing the
drawer, and Philip saw a CLINT OF
nickel-plating among the papers. "As
suming this, doesn't it strike you that
you are a little rash in coming here to
threaten us?" The idling hand dropped
carelessly into the open drawer and lay
quiescent.
Philip ignored the hypothetical
menace, and kept his eyes fixed upon
the motionless hand.
"Violence is always dangerous
weapon, Mr.. Sharpless," he said, quiet
ly, ''and you will agree with me that
when it becomes necessary to employ
it, hesitation is not to be too strongly
deprecated. I'll trouble you to close
that drawer"
In the duel of words Sharpless had
been reflectively measuring the dis
tance between himself and the coat
pocket into which Philip had slipped
his hand at the beginning of the inter-
view. The deductions were evidently
upon the side of prudence, for he shut
the drawer with snapand turned away
from the desk.
"Going back to the original question
your demand is unreasonable; and If
it were not, there is not such an
amount as you name in all the banks
in the CITY,"
''Probably not; and, in any event, |
should prefer your draft on New York,
secured by mortgage on all the prop
erty of the company in Chilmath
county"
''Oh, you would?" Sharpless was los
ing his selfcontrol. perhaps you
think I own the property in fee simple.
You ought to know, if you know any
thing at all, that 1 should have to SUBJ
nit the matter to our New York Of
ficers."
Knowing that he had the sword in,
Philip could not refrain from twisting
it little in the wound. From my
point of view, that would seem to be
the last thing you'd care to do. You
could scarcely afford to give the facts
in the case, you know, and I don't see
how anything else would answer. How
ever, that is all beside the mark. I know
that you have the authority to sign
papers and to transfer property"-he
looked at his watch-''my time is lin
1ted, gentlemen; which is it to be, an
hiiiNeiplS oOlllCIllCHl OT-leU us not
mince matters-the chain gang?"
For the first time during the inter-
view Fench reused himself to speak.
For Gods sake, Sharpless, don't trife
with him; give him what he wants!"
None the less, Sharpless fought des-
perately, contesting every inch of
ground. 1t would take time to draw
tho ha ,4 L.
lowed to telegraph New York; he had
no idea that his draft would be honorcd
without explanations. To all of which
Philip turned deaf ear and pointed
ineXorably to the alternative. He must
have the draft and the security, or the
law should be allowed to take it's
course. When it finally came down to
mere question of the time required
for the preparation of the papers,
I'hilip produced a draft and mortgage
ready for signature, together with Il
quit-claim deed signed by himself as
attorney in fact for John Kilgrow.
''You have notary within call" he
said; have him come in and witness
your signatures"
The managers clerk was summoned,
and when Fench had written his name
with trembling fingers under the
scrawling signature of the attorney,
the clerk filed out the attestation, and
the mortgage and the draft were hand
ed to Thorndyke. Sharpless dismissed
the young man curtly when his duty
was performed and turned irascibly
upon his successful opponent.
''You will remember that this was
your own proposition" he said, angri-
ly; Il give you fair warming that you'll
have trouble with the matter yet be-
fore you're through with 1t. Now give
me that paper that you've made so
much Of"
1t was u rash speech, and if Lawyer
Sharpless had not parted with all his
have uttered it. Philip calmly ignored
the demand and answered the threat.
81 shall look to you to smooth away
all difficulties" he said, rising and TAX
ing up his crutches. "On the day your
draft is honored I will release the mort
rage and mail you the forged deed
and not moment sooner"
Five minutes afterward he was maxi
ing his gay across the crowded street
to where Protheroe stood with two
saddled horses.
Its done,' he said, briefly. while the