The Holly chieftain., 1897-11-26
A CASE In EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.
lcspyriehi. ,sss. by }. 3. uprIneos Col
~ FRANCIS LYNDE.
'ss. by }. B. uprIneosi Col


".
A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE
The train on the Chiwassee Valley ex-
tension lurched uneasily round the
>urves in the new track of the branch
IKE, leaving trnil of sooty smoke
hanging in the foliage on the mountain
side and stippling the pools in the river
with showers of cinders from the en-
yine where the railway embankment
,kirted the stream. The afternoon sun
lad dropped behind the summit OF
Johns mountain, but his oblique rays
still poured into the valley through oc-
,asional gaps in the ridge, projecting
grotesquely heightened shadows Of the
moving train half way across to the
western slope of Jubal mountain. A
>col breeze, fragrant with the breath Of
wild honeysuckle and spicy with the
sesinous smell Of old-field pines, blew in
at the open windows of the car; and
rhorndyke, lying bock in his seat with
,alf-closed eyes, tried once more to set
II their proper order the events Of the
last few days in New York. There was
no particular reason why they should
De assorted and labeled, save one; the
memory of them seemed to be slipping
away from him. There were times
when he could not be sure that he had
signed his will; when he could not re-
member what he had said to his mother
at parting. And as for that pathetic
little scene in the dimly-lighted draw
ing-room at the Morrissons', it might
have happened ten years before. He
asked himself if it were possible that it
was only two days since he had choked
in trying to say good-by to Helen. It
was beyond belief; the miles of distance
had somehow become transmitted into
years of time, and the memory of that
evening, only two evenings ago, was al
ready beginning to fade. Was it only
because the change of scene and of en-
compassment pushed the things of yes
tcrday aside to make room for newer
impressions, or did the reason lie in the
grim fact of irrevocability? Thorn
dyke pursued these reflections SO far
into the field of distractions that the
man in the next seat spoke twice before
he got an answer.
~ beg your pardon" Philip said,
coming back to actualities with re-
l,,ctant effort. What did you say?"
81 asked if you were going up to ALA.
coochee," said the voice.
1t was an unpleasant voice, remind
ing one of the buzzing of bluebottles
and other annoying insects. Thorn
dyke looked around, an6 saw a wiry
little man with keen eyes, thin benk-
like nose, scanty black side whiskers,
and a struggling mustache dropped in
an evident but unsuccessful attempt to
cover the faulty teeth. Foreseeing
tedium in the face, he answered vague
~:
"Yes; believe my ticket reads to that
point"
The human fly was not to be silenced
by any such mild discouragement. II
supposed so," he buzzed. MY name
is Fench--Jenkins Fench, handing
Thorndyke card which ingcniousiy
combined the name with q somewhat
ungrnmmntical advertisement Of the
Allacoochee Land, Manufacturing and
improvement company, Guaranty
building, 422 Broadway. Drop around
TO my Office when you get settled, and
I'll give you some pointers that'll
put you right in on the ground floor.
What name did I understand you to
Say?"
II didn't say" contradicted Philip,
meekly, passing his card across to the
man of business.
"Ab. Thorndyke; glad to know you,
Mr.. Thorndyke. As was saying. II
you'll come around"
~ have no idea Of investing in ALA
coochee," Philip interrupted, hoping to
escape. I'm in Alabama for my health.
and don't expect to stay in town very
long"
''Oho, yes; for your health, eh ?-con-
sumption, suppose. Well, we'll; in
life we're in the midst of death, and no
man knoweth the day or hour"
Mr.. Fench seemed nonplused for the
moment, but he rallied Immediately and
went on with increasing zeal.
''In that case, Mr.. Thorndyke. what
cetter legacy could man leave his
folks than q few solid investments in
sur promising young city? Why, my
lear cir, as a stranger, you can have
80 idea Of the vast and wonderful re-
sources Of this marvellous region-abso-
iutcly no idea at all. And Ailacoochee
,s the natural center for the whole coun-
try-the point where all the industries
within radius of 500 miles are bound
10 cluster. Just run your eye over this
nap; look at that for a location! This
,art that's plated off is as level Us q
loor, and here's the rnilroad running
straight through the middle of it"-he
was leaning over the back Of the seat
now, holding the map spread out before
his unwilling listener plenty Of room
for sidctracks over here, you see, and
for the shops that the roads going to
build. Then here are the spurs down
to the rolling mill and the furnace on
the bnnk of the river; this one goes up
to the coal mines and that to the iron
mines across the Little Chiwnssee. This
piece Of grounds reserved for woolen
mill, and that strip down there by the
river h taken for swing factory
baby swings. yon know o sawmill.
planning mill, sash and door factory,
Philip made two or three wild passes
at his human bluebottle, succeeding
finally in .interrupting with promise
to call upon Mr.. Fcnch at his Office and
pleading weariness as on excuse for not
investigating the. subject on the spot.