Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-08-17

promise to pit myself on guard on the
doorstane!" -. # s% J
| Duncan's dissatisfaction with any ar
rangement that excluded him from q
share in the conference was very evil
dent, but Thorndyke judged wisely that
his client would be less embarrassed If
the inquisitive Scot were out of the
way, and he commended the precau-
ton.
cts we'll enough to be careful, Mr..
Duncan; we're not likely to spoil our
chances of success by being over-pru-
dent.''
! 'That's guide seasonable Scotch
sense, d. We ken that. Johnnie, man ?"
said Duncan, forgetting for the moment
that he had been arguing on the other
side of the question. Eye maun just
open yer min freely to Master Thorn
dyke; he's an auld held, if he does gang
ABBOTT on young shoulders"
| Kilgrow nodded, and Thorndyke's
heart warmed toward the old man when
he was at leisure to read the story of
privation and distress written so plain
ly on the thin face and in the restless
eyes. It was some sense of the need
for encouragement that prompted him
to speak first in terms of assurance.
duncan has told me all about your
case, Mr.. Kilgrow, and 1 want you to
believe me when say that you're in
no danger whatever of prosecution on
the old charge of brandy making. If
you were arrested to-day could clear
you tomorrow. You shouldn't have
run away in the beginning."
! The old man resented the imputation
upon his courage. Il reckon yo'-uns
d run, too, 18th thee r four of 'em a.
poppin' at We 18th Their rifes.''
| perhaps I should, after it got that
far along; but should have gone quiet
| ~ with the officers at first and fought it
out in court
| Kilgrow shook his head obviously.
''The law hain't fer pore man like me-"
''That's just where you're mistaken;
do anything in the present case without
it. But that's neither here nor there
What want to impress On your mind
is this: You are in no danger whatever
from the United States authorities, but
you are in danger from these fellows
who have taken your land, and they
| will leave no stone unturmed to make
Alabama too hot to hold you"
"D'ye reckon not?"
II know it; and before take hold of
your case want to know if you are
willing to trust me fully in everything,
doing exactly what I tell you, whether
you understand the reason for it or
not"
II reckon I cayn't do no dif'rent, 18th
them fellers a-huntin me all the time"
Eyes, you could; they'll give you
| plenty of chances to upset the whole
thing before I'm through with them,
and want to be sure that you'll do
nothing without first consulting me.
Will you promise that?"
The old man held up thin trembling
hand. "You-uns is a lawyer; you-uns
kin sw'ar me, eff so be we likes"
'"rhat's all right; only want to be
certain that you understand that point.
Now, about the damages. How much
do you think you ought to have?"
Kilgrow wrestled with the question
and then looked up inquiringly. II
done tol Jim Gates, oncet, that he
mought TEX that thar patch O. layn' an
welcome fer $4,000. I hain't a-keerin'
so ve'y much now eff them fellers'd only
| quit pesterin' me, but eff so be We
mought git that much out'n hit
| "That's about what I expected" inter-
rupted Thorndyke, >"and it's precisely
what wanted to guard against Why,
man, you could walk down to ALA
coochee this minute and get twice that
for a quit-claim for the mere asking!
Set your figure at what you think you
ought to have when 1 tell you that
they're selling your land at five hun
dred dollars for strip foot wide and
4 hundred feet long,
The problem was too abstruse for the
old mountaineer, and he shook his head
helplessly.
VERY well, then; are you willing to
leave the amount to me?"
| II reckon cayn't do no better"
'"Then we'll consider that settled.
Now, one more question. Have you
ever signed any papers for Gates or any
one else?"
| II reckon not"
| Thorndyke was unfamiliar with the
mountain idiom. and he pressed the
| question again. II want you to think
and be sure"
| Once more the tremulous hand went
up. II low you-uns kin sw'ar me-"
| Philip smiled and said: "That isn't
necessary. I suppose you'd be sure to
remember it if you had?" -
II reckon so, longs cayn't write
none." r'
'"That's all, then; and for the pres
ent, merely want you to keep out of
their way. Have nothing to say: to
strangers and don't pay any attention
to any messages from me or from any
one else unless Duncan or Elsie brings
them to you. Does anybody besides
! the Duncans know about your place up
here in the Pocket ~ .}'
II reckon they's mighty few
$50 much the better. Go back there
l =.