The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-14

making an inverted n Of his sinewy
length.
''No; to be frank about it, 1 think
l lost my head when that deed turned
up. 1t was foolish thing to go to
Pragmore the way 1 did. might have
known whnt would happen in case l
wasn't able to scare him"
An can ye no sue them yct?"
"Oh. yes; but they know az much as
do, now, and they will be prepared
at all points. We can beat them in the
end, but they can delay a settlement
indefinitely. And I'm more afraid OF
delay than of anything else"
-Aye?"
Yes. They have all the resources OF
the syndicate behind them, while have
nothing. They can give any amount
of bail On the criminal charge, and
when We get our verdict in chancery
there may be nothing to recover FROM
But, man, there's the whole town
built on Johnnie Keelgrow's q land!"
"Yes, it's there to-day, and it may be
there tomorrow; but it has grown up
like Jonah's gourd, and 1t may be quite
MS short-lived."
Duncan nursed his chin reflectiycly.
That's just what Robbie Protheroe's
aye hintin' at. He's sharp lad, is Rob
bic"
"Of course I don't know ANYTHING
nbout It" continued Thorndyke, fol-
lowing his own line Of thought; 'but
other towns have flourished and failed,
and Allacoochee may or may not prove
TO be an exception. Anyway, I'd like
to get the thing settled while the press
ure is high. It will be easier to get
s5o,ooo now than $4,000 after the tide
begins to turn"
Duncan's jaw fell, and he stared at
Philip in speechless astonishment.
l"Feefty thousand dollars" he exclaimed.
when he could find breath to put his
amazement into words ''Eh, man. man.
but ye'll be KILN the goose outright"
NO fear of that" laughed Philip.
rising and taking the path ngain. "And
If they don't call off their desperadoes
it'll cost them more"
He spoke confidently, but he was
troubled with many doubts and misgiv-
ings which poured in thickly upon the
heels of yesterdays overconfdencc.
One insurmountable obstacle the second
thought had brought up to block the
way to legal contest: the court would
require heavy bond from the COM
plainant, and who was to furnish it2
Kilgrow had nothing. and the loss of
his own fortune put it out of Thorn
dykes power to offer security. Clearly,
the thing must be managed in some way
without q suit, and Philips perplexity
kept him silent while they were push
ing through the woods on the plateau
toward the Pocket
When they came out upon the crag
from which Thorndyke had first looked
down into the narrow valley, they saw
Kilgrow working in the field below, and
Duncan summoned him by shrill
whistle. Thirty minutes later, the old
mountaineer joined them on the cliff, and
Duncan laid before him a plan which
Philip had outlined. It was a proposal
that they should try to bring about set
Element of the claim by moral suasion
. "SioAc PoSScuiuS " cAtIcluitleS,
and Kilgrow's presence at the confer
cnce would be necessary. since he would
have to execute o quit-clnim in cnse
Sharpless and Fench came to terms: AS
Duncan had foretold, the old man. re-
fused, positively md definitely: he
could not be persuaded to trust himself
in Allacoochee, and all the assurances
of protection that Philip could give him
went for nothing.
."Then there is only one other thing
to do" said Philip. when he had eN-
hausted his eloquence in the effort TO
convince Kilgrow that no harm should
come to him; you'll have to give me
the power of attorney to sign q deed for
you. Where is the nearest notary out
side of Allacoochee, Mr.. Duncan?"
Duncan caressed his stubbly chin and
considered. There's auld Judge Garry,
down ut Glenco," he suggested
-"How far is that from here?-
ITS mair than a good saxteen miles
round by tho valley pike, but I'm think
In it's no that far across the mountain.
How is that, Johnnie, man?~
~ reckon hit amt more'n ten mile
th'oo the gulch."
Thorndyke looked at his watch. Are
you good for the tramp. Mr.. Duncan? ?
IN need witness"
Duncan signified his willingness TO
go, hut It was with great difficulty that
they persuaded the old mountaineer to
trust himself within sight of the rail-
way. When he finally yielded. they
took up the fine OF march to the south
ward, with Kilgrow leading the way.
After threading the forest Of the
plateau for three hours or more, they
began to descend into deep ravinr,
and Philip heard the murmur of run
ming water long before they came in
sight Of the swift stream gurgling
through leafy tunnel at the bottom Of
thegorge. They stopped at the margin Of
the brook while Thorndyke got drink.
"Your mountain miles are good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow.- he said, talk
ing out his watch again. "How much
farther is tit"
The old man lifted his hat and
scratched his head reheetiveiy with one
finger. 81 reckon hit mought be bout
two sights an horn-blcw f'om yere." !"
Philip laughed and turned to Dun
can: "rm afraid you'll have to trans
late that for me-.
"Ye1l be none the wiser when do.
Twa sights-that's as far as We can see,
an then MS far as ye can see beyon'
that; an horn-blow--that's as far as
We can hear the scrnwin' O. coos horn
frae the far end O. the second sight.