The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-01-13

NO; to be frank about IL, I think
I lost my head when that deed turned
up. IL was a foolish thing 90 go to
rragmore the way | did. | might have
known what would happen in case |
wasn't able to scare him."
AN can We no sue them yet?"
"Oh, yes; but they know as much as
l 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 Tn more afraid OF
delay than of anything else"
"Aye?"
"Yes. They nave all the 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 he nothing to FROM
"But. man, there's the whole town
built on Johnnie Keelgrow's landl"
"Yes. it's there to-day, and ii may be
there tomorrow; but it has grown up
like Jonah's gourd, and il may be quite
as short-lived."
Duncan nursed his chin refectively.
That's Just what Robbie Protheroe's
ave hintin' at. He's a sharp lad, is Rob
bic"
"Of course | don't know anything
about it, continued ~Thorndyke. fol-
lowing his own line of thought; but
other towns have flourished and failed.
and A~llacoochee 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
$50. 900 now thar $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 yen 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 walls
troubled with many doubts and misgiv-
ings which poured in thickly upon the
heels of yesterdays overconfidencc.
One insurmountable obstacle the second
thought had brought up to block the
way to a legal contest: the court would
require a heavy bond from the com
%plainant, and who was to furnish it?
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 a suit, and Philips P~erplexity
bat l;n, Ctlont xyh:1a thau t.aro mich.
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 a shrill
whistle. Thirty minutes later, the old
mountaineer joined theme on the cliff and
Duncan laid before him a plan which
Philip had outlined. 1t was a proposal
that they should try to bring about q set
Element of the claim by moral suasion
before proceeding to extremities;
and Kilgrow's presence at the confer
enc would be necessary, since he would
have to execute a quit-claim in case
S~harpless and Fench came to terms: AS
Duncan had foretold, the old man re-
fused, positively and 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 eX-
hausted his e~loquence 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 a deed for
You. Where is the nearest notary out
side of Allacoochee, Mr.. DuDcan?"
Duncan caressed his stubbly chin and
considered. There's auld Judge Garry,
down at Glenco," he suggested.
"How far is that from here"
ITS mair than a good saxteen miles
round by the valley pike, but I'm think
in it's 40 that far across the mountain.
How is that, Johnnie, man?"
81 reckon hit amt more'n ten mile
th'oo the gulch."
Thorndyke looked at his watch. Are
you good for the tramp, Mr.. Duncan?
I'll need n Witness"
Duncan signified his willingness TO
go, but it was with great difficulty that
they persuaded the old mountaineer 10
trust himself within sight of the rail-
way. When he finally yielded, they
took up the line 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 a deep ravine,
and Philip heard the murmur of run-
ming water long before they came in
sight of the swift stream gurgling
through a leafy tunnel at the bottom of
the gorge. They stopped at the margin of
the brook while Thorndyke got q drink.
"Your mountain miles are good
measure, Mr.. Kilgrow," he said, talk
ing out his watch again. How much
farther is it,"
The old man lifted his hat and
scratched his head reflectively with one
finger. ~ reckon hit mought be bout
two sights an a horn-blow f'om yere."
Philip laughed and turned to Dun
can: I'm afraid you'n have to traEs-
late that for me-"
"Ye'll be none the wiser when I do.
Twa sights-that's as far as We can see,
IN then as far as We can see beyon'
that; an a horn-blow-that's as far as
We can hear the scrawin' o. a coos horn