The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-04-02

J ~ V i.
LOVE VERSUS IDEALS.
ny FRANCIS LYNDR

LOVG GAIl0O0 1o4IAAc'
Duncan slept through the forenoon
of the day following the journey to
Glenco, being no longer young ma
and having spent rather more than la
the night on the mountain WITT h
grow. He was eating a late dinneI
when Elsie, from her place at the win
dow, announced the arrival of a visitor
"Who is it, then?" asked Duncan,
whose mind was burdened with pre-
monitions of legal processes and wr'
of surrender all pointing toward I
precious document left in his custo :.
Il think he's coming here; it's no o.
we know. Yes, he's hitching his hols'
He's a big man with a smooth face.
Duncan guessed Sharpless, AID pr
ceeded to for,ify his caution " or at
elaboration with his dinner. L:,-
answered the visitors knock, and pres
emily came in with a square of card
board. ITS Mr.. Sharpless," she said.
"Aye?" said Duncan. do We gang
in an sit WI him the whites I'm fin
ishin' the bit dinner"
Elsie obeyed dutifully, but she stood
in such awe of Kilgrow's arch-enemv
that the suave lawyer had extra tc
no more than a half-dozen mcnosy;
lables from her when her father cane
to relieve her.
"Mr. James Duncan, I presume" said
the visitor, affably, rising to greet the
farmer.
"The same" replied Duncan. "Sit
We doom, Master Sharpless." And in the
exchange of civilities Elsie gladly made
her escape to the kitchen.
81 drove over to see you on little
matter Of business" said the lawyer,
rightly judging that he would lose
ground in any attempt to measure
circumlocutory swords with the Scotch
man. II come from Mr.. Thorndyke,
and he refers me to you for some in
formation in regard to John Kilgrow."
"Aye?" queried Duncan, who thought
hardest when he said the least, and
who was prepared in advance to dis
credit the statements of the town COM
pany's attorney even if they should ap
pear to be self-evident truths.
"Yes. Mr.. Thorndyke was obliged to
leave for New York this morning, and
before he went we had a conference
about the matter in which he has been
representing John Kilgrow. 1 hardly
need tell you that, as professional men.
we soon came to satisfactory under
standing, and Mr.. Thorndyke was quite
willing that l should settle the claim
with his client direct. He referred me
to you for the particulars, saying that
1t would be necessary to approach Kill
grow through you on account of fool
ish fear on the part of the old man
touching some ancient difficulty with
the revenue people,
did Master Thorndyke gle We bit
Of letter to me?" asked Duncan.
warily.
Il spoke of it, but he said it wouldn't
be necessary. He was very much hur-
ried, and there was little time to spare.
lie was called home by telegraph, |
understood
Duncan Illuminated thoughtfully for
some minutes, considering not so
much what he should say as how he
could say the least and learn the mosf.
An what is it yen be wantin' O. nc.
Master Sharpless?" he finally inquired
Nothing more than that you wi
see Kilgrow and arrange a meetin
1 should be glad to entertain him j..
Allacoochee, but if he does not wis
to come to town 1 can go to him, if he
will appoint time and place."
But I'm ma sure I'll see auld John
nie in the next twal'month," objected
Duncan.
why, understood from Mr.. Thorn
dyke that he lived here near you some
where"
Duncan shook his head. HE has ma
house in these parts that KEN
Sharpless tilted his chair and slipped
his hands into his pockets. Il under