Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-30

4
courts"
The lawyers face frightened at the
implied alternative. "You mean q
compromise"
4 mean payment in full for whatyou
have stolen"
dyke"
Possibly, but it has the merit of
truth"
ARE you prepared to act for your
cient in this matter?''
am his attorney in fact"
what is your propositiou?"
VIII execute quit-claim on the
part Of my client, and l will surrender
the forged deed, upon the payment of
SloO'000 in cash or in bankable funds. y
Sharpiess sprang to his feet with an
oath, and Fench had almost reached
the door when Philip stopped him.
Don't go just yet, Mr.. Fench; there's
an officer in the corridor, and heehas
his instructions.'
Inc manager crept back to his chair
again, and Sharpless sat down. 'That
was good joke of yours, Mr.. Thorn
dyke he said, with an unpleasant
smile "Of course you know that the
original value of the land was next to
nothing"
Il don't care to argue that point or
any other. The question between us is
simply this: viii you pay me 100000,
or shall give you in charge for forg-
ery?"
While Thorndyke was speaking,
Sharpless was swaying gently back and
forth in the pivot-chair, with his right
arm lying upon the desk. In the little
interval of silence that followed, the
fingers of the idle hand sought the knob
of a small drawer under the pigeon
holes When he began to speak the
lawyers voice was smooth and passion
less. Let us assume, for the sake of
example, that what you say of us is
true; that we are the INSCRIPTIONS vii
lains that your Indictment presup-
poses" The hand on the desk was me-
chanically opening and closing the
drawer, and Philip saw a CLINT OF
nickel-plating among the papers. 'As
Stunning this, doesn't it strike you that
you are little rash in coming here to
threaten us?" The idling hand dropped
carelessly into the open drawer and lay
quiescent.
Philip ignored the hypothetical
menace, and kept his eyes fixed upon
the lsttionless hand.
evidence is always dangerous
weapon, Mr.. Sharpless,' he said, quiet
ly, "and you will agree with me that
when it becomes necessary to employ
it, hesitation is not to be too strongly
deprecated. I'll trouble you to close
that drawer"
In the duel of words Sharpless had
been refectively measuring the dis
tance between himself and the coat
pocket into which Philip had slipped
his hand at the beginning of the inter
view. The deductions were evidently
upon the side of prudence, for he shut
the drawer with a snapand turned away
from the desk.
Going back to the original question
your demand is unreasonable; and if
it were not, there is not such an
amount as you name in all the banks
in the city"
Probably not; and, in any event. |
should prefer your draft on New York,
secured by a mortgage on all the prop
erty of the company in Chilmath
county"
"0h, you would?" Sharpless was los
ing his self-control perhaps you
think | own the property in fee simple.
You ought to know, if you know any
thing at all, that I should have to sub
nit the matter to our New York Of
ficers."
Knowing that he had the sword in,
Philip could not refrain from twisting
it a little in the wound. From my
point of view, that would seem to be
the last thing you'd care to do. You
could scarcely afford to give the facts
IN the case, you know, and | don't see
how anything else would answer. How
ever, that is all beside the mark. know
that you have the authority to sign
papers and to transfer property
looked at his watch-"my time is lin
TIED, gentlemen; which is it to be, an
amcable settlement or-let us not
mince matters-the chain gang"
For the first time during the inter-
view Fench reused himself to speak.
For Gods sake, Sharpless, don't trifie
With him; give him what he wants!"
None the less, Sharpless fought des-
perately, contesting every inch OF
ground. It would take time to draw
up the papers; he must at least be al
lowed to telegraph New York; he had
no idea that his draft would be honored
without explanations. To all of which
l,hlhp turned a deaf ear and pointed
lneXorably to the alternative. He must
nave the draft and the security, or the
law should be allowed to take It's
course. When it finally came down to
mere question of the time required
Tor the preparation of the papers
Ihliip produced draft and mortgage
ready for signature, together with d
qult-claim deed signed by himself as
attorney in fact for John Kilgrow.
You have notary within CALL be
said; have him come in and witness
your signatures"
The managers clerk was summoned