The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-14
Y V
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

he level rays Ol Tue HuoiAihS sun
were shooting across the eastern
spur of Johns mountain, pour
ing noiseless volley of radi-
ance against the opposite cliffs
of the Bul. and bridging the valley of
the Little Chwassee with bands of yell
low light that made the shadows blue
and cool by comparison. Up among tie
topmOst twigs of the tree the breeze
whispered steadily. with the sound like
the patter of gentle rain; but in the
depths of the forest. where the path
from Duncan's to the plateau wound
upward through the tangled under
growth. the air was still and resonant
giving back sharply the snarl of the
gravel and the rustic of dry leaves
under the feet of the two men who
climbed slowly toward the mountain
| top. Notwithstanding the approach OF
| autumn and the youth of the day, the
heat was great enough to make the
steep ascent laborious and exhausting:
and Thorndyke stopped at the base of
| the upper tier of cliffs while Duncan
| went down on his hands and knees
| to drink from a spring bubbling clear
ard cold from the shelf of sandstone.
I'm no disputin' yer courage. ye
understand that" he said, after he had
slal,ed his thirst. ''Ye're bonny fight
err. Master Thorndyke-Im aun say that
for ye-but yell no win wi such a man
| as Sharpless at that gait"
NO, I'm pretty we'll satisfied of that,
now; though 1 still think there will be
more fighting than parleying in the
case, from the way they have begun on
me-
Philip had been giving his compan-
ion succinct account of the event.;
of the previous day as they climbed
the mountain, anil Duncan had con-
Sc rted to take charge of the deed until
it should be needed.
"Hae ye made up yer mind what yen
do neXt?"
Not definitely. AS told you awhile
ago, it depends very much upon what
Kilgrow says. Yesterday intended to
prosecute Immediately in both the civil
and criminal courts, but I'm not so sure
now that that would be the proper thing
to do"
"Aye?" said Duncan. seating him
self with his back against the cliff and
making an inverted N of his sinewy
length.
NO; to be frank about it, I think
lost my head when that deed turned
up. 1t was a foolish thing to go to
Pragmore the way did. might have
known what would happen in case
wasn't able to scare him"
can can We no sue them yet?"
ooh. yes; but they know as much as
| I do, now, and they will be prepared
at all points. We can beat them in the
| end, but they can delay settlement
| Indefinitely. And I'm more afraid of
delay than of anything else"
"Aye?"
eyes. 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 land!"
'Yes. it's there to-day, and it may be
there tomorrow; but it has grown up
like Jonah's gourd, and it may be quite
as short-lived."
Duncan nursed his chin refectively.
That's just what Robbie Protheroe's
aye hintin' at. He's sharp lad, is Rob-
bic"
"Of course I don't know anything
about 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. 1t will be easier to get
$4,000 now than $4,000 after the tide
begins to turn"
Duncan's jaw fell, and he stared at
Philip in speechless establishment.
'Feefty thousand dollars!" he exclaimed,
when he could find breath to put his
| amazement into words. "Eh, man, man.
but yell be KILN the goose outright"
NO fear of that" laughed Philip,
rising and taking the path again. "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-
'ngs which poured in thickly upon the
heels of yesterdays overconfidencc.
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 it ?
kilgrow had nothing, and the loss of
his own fortune mt II ont ~ Thorr