The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-21

farmer.
THE snme," replied Dun}an. -sit
We doom. Master Sharpless." And in the |
exchange of civilities Elsie gadly mad, |
her escape to the kitchen.
i drove over to see you pn little
matter of business" said tie lawyer,
rightly judging that he wbuld lose
ground in any attempt y measure
circumlocutory swords with{he Scotch.
man. II come from Mr.. rhorndyke,
and he refers me to you for some in.
formation in regard to John Kilgrow."
"Aye?" queried Duncan, xho 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 conference
about the matter in which he has been
representing John Kilgrow.i hardly
need tell you that, as professional men,
we soon came to n satisfactory under
standing. and Mr.. Thorndyke was quite
willing that should settle the claim
with his client direct. He referred me
to you for the particulars. saying that
it would be necessary to approach Kill
grow through you on account of a 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 2" asked Duncan.
warily.
Il spoke Of 1t, but he said it wouldn't
be necessary. He was very much hur-
ried, and there was little time to spare.
He was called home by telegraph,
understood"
Duncan ruminated thoughtfully for
some minutes, considering not SO
much what he should say as how he
could say the least and learn the most.
"An' what is 1t yen be wantin' o. me.
Master Sharpless?' he finally inquired
Nothing more than that you will
see Kilgrow and arrange meeting.
l should be glad to entertain him il,
Allacoochee, but il he does not wish
to come to town can go tn him, il he
will appoint time and place."
But I'm na sure I'll see auld John.
ME in the next twalmonth," objected
Duncan
"why, understood from Mr.. Thorn
dyke that he lived here near you some
where"
Duncan shook his head. HE has mn
house in these parts that ken"
Sharpless tilted his chair and slipped
his hands into his pockets. II under
stand your reluctance, Mr.. Duncan, =
he said, with smile that had softened
more than one recalcitrant witness
"You will pardon my not mentioning
it sooner, but had not thought Of ask
ing you to serve us in this matter with
out compensation. It will be q thou
sand dollars in your pocket when yo,
bring Kilgrow to my Office in Allacoo
} chee."
: Duncan's solemn face gave no intima
: ton of the strife stirred up within hin
by the lawyers shameless proposal
q furious struggle between caution
r shrewdness and righteous Indignation
For the first. and perhaps the last, tim
} in HRS life, wrath got the better Of pru
) dence, and he burst out in a storm Q
: broad Scotch invective that put 3 shar
} conclusion to the interview.
, "Ye'll bribe auld Jamie Duncan, wi
, ye? Yell tilt yersel' back IN yer chai
; in a mans min hoose an pit price o
} the held O. his frien'f Lat me tell "
: ance for a., Master Attorney, ye didn
, bid high eneuch = there's na gov
eneuch amamg the hale scram'lin o Y
, to buy ane hair O. Johnnie Keelgrow'
: hcid. d. We ken that, ye auld smooth
faced dell? TAX yer dour face DOT {
t the boose. before I'm foEyettin' I'm
! man O. peace an Chreestian1'
: Sharpless was shrewd enough to se
that he had hopelessly ruined his cas-
c with the irate Scot, and he was wis
enough to know that he would prot
: ably make matters worse by attempt
e ing to explain. He got away a. 500
n Ms he could, followed. to the threshol
3 by Tho angry farmer. who continued I
: break the Walls Of his wrath over th
= lawyers head as long as the latter wa
9 within hearing. After Sharpless ha
c driven away, Duncan found that an cs
y plosion Of anger does not always clea
| inc llf5iltaii dtnoepnSACs ~ - = ''--
e when he felt the pressing need of coz
0 head ami deliberate judgment, he coul
). do nothing but walk the floor and ca
e down apnthemas upon the head OF tn
offender. Believing no word OF sharI
less story, he yet. hadss vague fear thu
something wns amiss with Thorndyke
and he was glad enough when, hate
m the afternoon, Protheroe rode mp
10 the farmhouse. Duncan's first que
N. tion was of Philip.
II 81 supposed he was here; he hasn
been in town for two days. came
the hotel and brought these letter
thinking that he might want them"
A great fear seized upon Duncal
Robbie, man, are ye sure he didna 9
to New York this mornw
'I don't think he did. They said
A the hotel that he hadn't been In sine
day before yesterday. and they'd kno'
ltt IL he started ON . journey this morr
ing. Let me see thosc letters; no. .
hasn't been there; most Of these mr.
postmarked yesterday."
Duucan's fear was dispelIed, put
3 new ono came quickly to take its place
land he began smother battle with HI
inviucible caution. Meanwhile Protb
eroe Improved the silent interval b.
k,tryiue 70 learn from Elsic's fnce wha
4 she thought or carednbout Thorndyke'
IL (E,.- Hc..n1, xvov HI