The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-01-20

We doom, Master Sharpiess." And in the
exchange of civilities Elsie gladly made
her escape to the kitchen.
II drove over TO see you on a little
matter of business" said the lawyer,
rightly judging that he would Lose
ground in any attempt to measure
circumlocutory swords with the Scotch
man. II come from Mr.. Thorrdyke.
and he refers me to you for some in
formation in regard to John Kilgrow.'
"Aye?" queried Duncan, who 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 APP
pear to be self-evident truths.
"Yes. Mr.. Thorndyke was obliged -
leave for New York this morning, and
before he went we had a conference
about the matter in which he has been
representing John Kilgrow. | hardly
need tell you that, as professional men.
we Don anne to a 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 Xii
grow through you on account Of II fool
ish fear or the part of the old man
touching some ancient difficulty with
the revenue people"
ibid Master Thorndyke gle ye n hit
of a letter to meP" asked Duncan.
warily.
81 spoke of it, 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, 7
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 it yen be wantin' o. me.
Master Sharpless?" he finally inquired.
Nothing more than that you will
see Kilgrow aud arrange a meeting.
l should be glad to entertain him III
Allacoochee, but il he does not wish
to come to town | can go 10 him, If he
will appoint a time and place"
But I'm ma sure I'll see auld John
nie in the next twal'month," objected
Duncan
"Why, / understood from Mr.. Thorn
dyke that he lived here near you some-
where"
Duncan shook his head. "He has ma
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 a smile that had softened
more than IL recalcitrant witness.
You will pardon my not mentioning
: ii sooner, but | had not thought of ask.
: ing you to serve us in this matter with
out compensation. 1t will be n thou
sand dollars in your pocket when you
g bring kilgrow to my office in Allacoo
Chez"
: Duncan's solemn face gave no intima
. ton o. The strife stirred up within hin
t by tn lawyers shameless proposal
a fuI Ious struggle between caution.
r shrewdness and righteous Indignation
For the first, and perhaps the last, time
a in his life, wrath got the better Of pru
dence, and he burst out in a storm o
: broad Scotch invective that put n sharl
o conclusion to the interview.
C yen bride auld Jamie Duncan, will
e We? Yen tilt yersel' back in yer chat
c in n mans ain hoose an pit a price OF
o the held o his frien'? Lat me tell We
S ance for a, Master Attorney, we didn;
s bid high eneuch - there's ma gov;
eneuch amang the hale scramlin o v
b to buy ane hair o. Johnnie Keelgrow'
heid, d ye ken that, ye auld smooth
faced dell? TAX yer dour face oJt c
the hoose. before I'm forgettin' I'm
man o peace an a Chreestian!'
& : Sharpless was shrewd enough to sc
y that he had hopelessly ruined his cas-
with the irate Scot, and he was wis
enough to know that he would prob
ably make matters worse by attempt
ing to explain. He got away as 500
II as he could, followed to the threshold
& by the angry farmer, who continued t
break the Walls of his wrath over tn
lawyers head as long as the latter wa
e within hearing. After Sharpless ha'
e driven away, Duncan found that an eS
: plosion of anger does not always clea
% the mental atmosphere; and at a tim
lie when he felt the pressing need of n COZ
20 head and deliberate Judgment, he coul
do nothing but walk the floor and ca
e down anathemas upon the head of tn
offender. Believing no word of SharI
less story, he yet hadgs vague fear tha
something was amiss with Thorndyke
and he was glad enough when, late i
m the afternoon, Protheroe rode up I
the farmhouse. Duncan's first que.
n ton vas of Philip.
If az supposed he was here; he hash
been in town for two days. l came b
the hotel and brought these letter
thinking that he might want them"
a great fear seized upon Duncan
Robbie, man, are ye sure he didna g
to New York this morn?"
81 don't think he did. They said
the hotel that he hadn't been in sine
day before yesterday, and they'd kno'
e If he started on a journey this morl
ing. Let me see those letters; no, |
hasn't been there; most of these al
~rostmarked yesterday"
Duncan's fear was dispelled, but
new one came quickly TO take it's plac
and he began another battle with h
invincible caution. Meanwhile Prot
eroe improved the silent interval /
trying to learn from Elsie's face whit
she thought or cared aboutThorndyke
d-isaBpearance. Much. every way. /