The Delta independent., 1897-01-20

were just talking about you. How's
everything down below?"
"All right" replied the newcomer.
THE material is all up, and Birkmore's
waiting for the word to begin"
That's the talk!" exclaimed the
manager. Can you find your way back
to Prattvi!!e to-Eight?'
"Why, yes, suppose so-if I have to.
I'm dog-tired, though"
well, times precious; / guess you'd
better get fresh horse and go. Tell
Birkmore not to lose a minute. Is he
fixed TO work q night gang by electric
light?"
"Yes."
'.Good enough! Tell him he can't get
locomotive into Allacoochee any too
quick to please us now. Have a 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.
Il suppose we might as well fix that
now as any time. Have you got blank
deed ?"
Fench rummaged in his pockets for
the paper. where's Gates deed to
us?" he asked.
''IIere 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 n few mo-
ments, pausing when he came to the
date. "Make it about May 90. 1885"
The lawyer made n rarid calculation
in dates. "Ies, thnt'll do. AS nearly
as l can locate it, the raid on the noon
sinners was made in June or July OF
that year; it'll be safe enough to call II
the 2Oth 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. ~ wonder ii the old moonshiner
would recognize his signature2"
"1'd risk il. What are you going to
do about the notary's acknowledge
ment?"
"Ill fix that. I've been making n.y.
self solid with IN old fellow ncross the
street who calls himself lnwyer lie
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"
as II 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"
''Ob, that's the scheme, is n" said
Fench, screwing up one eye until all
the craftiness In both seemed to peer
out of the other. "Give me that deed q
minute"
He went to the fireplace, and. taking
pinch Of SCOT, rubbed IL into his hands
until they were black and grimy. Then
he folded and cruinpled the de,S until
1t had the requisite oppe-rsuetfof ase
md i'll usage.
you're on artist, Fenchi" was the
lawyers admiring comment when the
paper was handed back for inspection.
"Nobody will ever suspect now that it
isn't as old rs IL claims to he. Wonder
IL ! could ind old Squire Pragmore to-
night?"
Perhaps" said the manager. wnsh-
ing the Crime from his hands. while
you're hunting him IN write 70 New
York"
Sbarpless came back In q few min.
utes and threw the forged deed on the
table.
That's settled" he said. "when 81,
recorded wen destroy it,
"Did Pragmore objcct?" inquired
Fcnch, looking up from his letter.
HE balkcd a little at frst, but I've
given him o lot of business in the last
two weeks, and $40 fee was too much
for him."
A week later Lawyer shsrplcss called
at Judge wilkinson's Office in the court