The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-17
A CASE IN EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LyNDE.
lcsrdsAt ,sss b, }. q upp.aeou Col
TX.
cRoss-ExAMINAr1oN

lX,
cRoss-ExAMrNArIoN.
As a result Of Elsie's promise to tell
her father, James Duncan tapped at the
door of his guests room that night just
as Thorndyke had begun letter to his
mother.
Come in" said Philip. pushing aside
his writing materials.
Duncan entered, and, after beating
cautiously about among Indifferent
topics for few moments, came warily
to the object OF his visit.
"Elsie's been tellin' me ye're bit of
lawyer, Mr.. Thorndyke," he said. by
way of beginning.
"Yes. have read law in the schools"
moo, that's varra singular" re-
marked Duncan, thoughtfully, much as
il Philip had asserted that he was
high caste Brahmin-.verra singular;
but then, it may be no SO inopportune,
after a. Would ye min teIlin' me, moo,
what for ye cam TO study the law?"
Chiefly because my father wished it.
1t was his profession"
"Ow, aye" said Duncan. rubbing his
chin and relapsing into a silence which
seemed to indicate that he had come to
the end of his Introductory resources.
Philip thought to help him along by
asking If there were need for legal ad
vice in the affairs of the family.
ana, ma, it's no just that; but there's,
as one may say, frien' o. the family
wha wouldna be the waur for u wee bit
o. that same. I'm thinkin' Elsie's been
claverin' aboot it when ye was over
yon."
'.She told me about the troubles of
your old friend Kilgrow, and l offered
to help him il could. Was that what
you meant?"
"Aye," said Duncan, and. as he showed
no disposition to be more explicit,
Philip continued:
''If am to act as attorney for your
friend. it is needful that 1 should know
all the facts. Are you prepared to give
them?"
Duncan was evidently making con-
scientious effort toward frankness, but
with such meager results that Thorn
dyke was finally compelled to exact the
desired information piecemeal, as from
an unwilling witness. After getting the
outline of Elsie's story verified, he pro-
ceeded to particulars.
''How long had Kilgrow owned the
lind when he took Gates as tenant?"
"Tm no vera clear upo' that point.
but it's matter o 90 year or more, as
ken myself"
''Was his title clear?"
II think there's ma doubt aboot that" !"
whats the name of this countyT'
'-Chiimath."
"And Allacoochee is the county seat ?"
AYE"
"Does this farm of Kilgrow's lie who'll
~ within the limits of the new town.
II Gamma say as to the preceese leem-
its; I'm thinkin' it'll tax in aboot half
the town."
II suppose no one knows anything
about the exact nature of the transac-
ton between the town company and
Cntes?"
~Naething mair than thnt Gates got
. thousand dollars on the nail"
WAS that a fair price for the land at
the timer"
~Na, it wasna mair than half price
Thorndyke made a note of this.
That's our starting point. You knew
Gates: what kind of man was he?
Would he be likely to sell anything at
half price Of his own accord?"
ma, that he wouldna; he was q canny
chiel, an over fond o. the main chance" +"
"Then there was probably some pres
sure brought to bear upon him. Now,
what do you know about the town COM
pany people? Who made the deal with
Cates?"
"A lawyer by the name of Sharpless,
an the agent, Master Jenkins Fench."
-Oho!" said Philip. recalling his mar
tyrdom on the train. THAT fellow wns
in it, was he? He's rascal. if ever there
was one out of Jail. If his face doesn't
belle him he's equaft to anything in the
way of fraud. How about his part
ner?"
1.-THE lawyer? Tn thinkin' he'sa deal
waur than t'other."
at isn't very likely that they bought
the land without knowing all about the
flaw in the title. unless there's been
more crookedness than we know about.
Is Kilgrow sure that he never signed
any papers for Gates or anyone else?"
"He's vera willin' to tax his oath
upo' that: an it's the mair unlikely,
sin he Gamma read or write
"And you say Gates got his money
and then disnppeared?"
AYE"
..That adds little to the suspicious
look of the thing; but. then. it's free
country; suppose man may so or
stay. as be pleases.
Thorndyke locked his fingers behind
his head and sat back with half-closed
eyes while he went over the facts again.
weighing each point in turn. Duncan
misunderstood his silence and grew un-
easy.
"l'm thinkin' yen be countin' the cos.
o. the leetigntion. Mr.. Thorndyke; I'm
no that weel able"
"Make yourself easy on that point,
Mr.. Duncan" interrupted Philip; Il
wasn't thinking OF demanding a re-
tainer. Well try to make the other side
do the paying when the time comes. In
the meanwhile, If take hold of the
case it'll be merely out of friendship
larcrea ruoJ bt,, <<,