The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-01-21
XVI.
LOVE VERSUS IDEALS.

LOVE VERSUS IDEALS.
Duncan slept through the forenoon
of the day following the journey to
Glenco, being no longer young man.
and having spent rather more than MALT
the night on the mountain with Kill
grow. He was eating late dinner
when Elsie, from her place at the win
dow, announced the arrival of Il visitor.
''Who is it, them" asked Duncan,
whose mind was burdened with pre-
monitions of legal processes and writs
of surrender all pointing toward the
precious document left in his custody.
Il think he's coming here; it's no one
we know. Yes, he's hitching his horse.
He's big man with a smooth face
Duncan guessed Sharpless, and pro-
ceetled to fortify his caution by greater
deliberation with his dinner. Elsie
answered the visitors knock, and pres
emily came in with a square of card
board. cts Mr.. Sharpless." she said.
"Aye?" said Duncan. do We gang
in an sit wi him the whites I'm fin
ishin' the bit dinner"
Elsie obeyed dutifully, but she stood
in such awe of Kilgrow's arch-enemy
that the suave lawyer had extracted
no more than half-dozen monosyl-
llbles from her when her father came
to relieve her.
''Mr. James Duncan, L presume" sait'
the visitor, affably, rising to greet the
farmer.
"The same" replied Duncan. 'Sit
We doom, Master Sharpless." And in the
exchange of civilities Elsie gladly made
her escape to the kitchen.
81 drove over to see you on 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. 81 come from Mr.. Thorndylke,
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 ap-
pear to be self-evident truths.
Eyes. Mr.. Thorndyke was obliged to
leave for New York this morning, and
before he went we had conference
about the matter in which he has been
representing John Kilgrow. I hardly
need tell you that, as professional men.
we soon came to n satisfactory under
standing, and Mr.. Thorndyke was quite
willing that I 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 fool
ish fear on the part of the old man
touching some ancient difficulty with
the revenue people,"
Ibid Master Thorndyke gle We bit
of letter to me?" asked Duncan,
| warily.
II 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, /
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 ye'll be wantin' O. me.
Master Sharpless?" he finally inquired
Nothing more than that you will
see Kilgrow and arrange a meeting.
I should be glad to entertain him il,
Allacoochee. but if he does not wish
to come to town I can go to him, if he
will appoint time and place.
But I'm ma sure I'll see auld John
ME in the next twarmonth," objected
| Duncan.
| "Why, I 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. 81 under
stand your reluctance. Mr. Duncan, =
he said, with smile that had softened
more than one recalcitrant witness.
'You will pardon my not mentioning
it sooner, but had not thought of ask
ing you TO serve us in this matter with
out compensation. It will be thou
sand dollars in your pocket when you