The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-07
XIV.
DRAWING THE SWORD

When the first burst of exultant ex
citment had spent itself, Thorndyke sat
down upon a flat-topped stone and
mapped out a plan of attack. He would
begin on Pragmore, terrifying the old
Dortary into submission and confession
by sight of the forgery which he had
made possible. Then he would push
Fench and Sharpless to the wall by in
shutting proceedings against them in
both the civil and the criminal courts.
lie would apply for an injunction re-
straining them from disposing of any
of the property in dispute. He would
stop the wheels of business and seal up
the fountain of Allacoochee's prosperi-
ty until Kilgrow's rights were recog-
nized. He would show these unscrupu-
lous robbers that though Justice might
be blind, she never sleeps.
This was the outline of the temerari-
GUS plan which ingeniously combined
all the elements of defeat and failure.
The impetuous zeal which had carried
Thorndyke triumphantly over the dis
oouragements of the long search for
evidence became at once a source of
weakness and stumbling-block in the
way of final success; and he was never
less match for the crafty and con-
scienceless corporation attorney than
at the moment when he believed that
victory was to be had for the taking.
Not to give sober second thought
chance to counsel better things, he
pocketed the forged deed and went
straight to the dingy little office next
door to Catron's store. The old notary
was sitting at his desk, and the lines OF
reticencc in his sallow face deepened
into wrinkles when he looked up and
saw who had opened the door. Thorn
phrases.
Il wo or three months ago, Mr.. Prag-
more, asked you some questions about
deed purporting to have been given by
John Kilgrow to James Gates. The
record shows that you attested it, but
you denied any recollection of the cir
cumstances. Will you tell me now that
you did not antedate your certificate six
years or more? that you did not ac-
knowledge the signature of a man
whom you believed to be dead?"
Pragmore stiffened himself in his
chair and made no sign, though he had
to moisten his thin lips to say: 'You
cayn't prove anything"
The sullen defiance overdrew what
ever amount of prudence the discovery
of the deed had left Thorndyke. Lean
ing over the desk, he held the paper out
spread before the eyes of the old man.
do you pretend to say that this is not
your signature? Will you tell me that
you don't know Fench's handwriting
when you see it? Did the printers make
mistake of five years when they put
their imprint on this blank?"
The mask of inscrutability slipped
aside for a moment, and Pragmore's
face became gray and furred with
terror. Then he relapsed into sullen-
ness again, but there was an angry snarl
il; his voice when he spoke.
''I don't know nothin' about it, mr.
what-all ye're amin at, but I'll tell We
first an last, We cayn't bulldoze me
the way in, 1 reckon We can find the'way
out"
Philip started off in white heat OF
wrath. Halfway to the door he turned
on Pragmore.
81 came down here to give you one
more chance to save yourself" he said:
''you don't deserve any more consider
alton than any common criminal, but
you're an old man and you've let these
fellows make tool of you. Once for all
will you turn states evidence? or shall
send the sheriff after you?"
ITO BE CONTINUED