Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-02

u run, too, 18th thee r four of 'em a.
poppin' at We 18th Their rifles"
Perhaps l should, after it got that
far along; but should have gone quiet
~ with the officers at first and fought it
out in court"
Kilgrow shook his head obviously.
1.-THE law hain't fer pore man like me"
THAT'S just where you're mistaken /;
the law is for everyone, and we couldn't
do anything in the present case without
it. But that's neither here nor there.
What 1 want to impress on your mind
is this: You are in no danger whatever
from the United States authorities, but
you are in danger from these fellows
who have taken your land, and they
will leave no stone unturned to make
| Alabama too hot to hold YOU"
Dye reckon not?"
| 81 know it; and before take hold of
your case l want to know if you are
willing to trust me fully in everything,
doing exactly what 1 tell you, whether
you understand the reason for it or
not"
II reckon cayn't do no dif'rent, 18th
them fellers a-huntin me all the time"
Eyes, you could; they'll give you
plenty of chances to upset the whole
thing before I'm through with them,
and l want to be sure that you'll do
nothing without first consulting me.
Will you promise that?"
The old man held up a thin trembling
hand. "You-uns is a lawyer; you-uns
| l. 80 +
THAT'S all right; l only want to be
certain that you understand that point.
Now, about the damages. How much
do you think you ought to have"
Kilgrow wrestled with the question
and then looked up inquiringly. II
done tol' Jim Gates, oncet, that he
mought TEX that thar patch O. layn' an
welcome fer $4,000. I hain't a-keerin'
so ve'y much now eff them fellers'd on'y
quit pesterin' me, but eff so be ye
mought git that much out'n hit"
'That's about what expected" inter-
rupted Thorndyke, land it's precisely
what l wanted to guard against. Why,
man, you could walk down to ALA
coochee this minute and get twice that
for a quit-claim for the mere asking!
Set your figure at what you think you
ought to have when tell you that
they're selling your land at five hun
dred dollars for a strip a foot wide and
| hundred feet long"
The problem was too abstruse for the
old mountaineer, and he shook his head
helplessly.
Every well, then; are you willing to
leave the amount to me?"
st reckon cayn't do no better"
"Then we'll consider that settled.
Now, one more question. Have you
ever signed any papers for Gates or any
one else?"
81 reckon not"
Thorndyke was unfamiliar with the
mountain idiom, and he pressed the
question again. 81 want you to think
and be sure"
Once more the tremulous hand went
up. 81 low you-uns kin sw'ar me-"
Philip smiled and said: "That isn't
necessary. I suppose you'd be sure 10
remember it if you had?"
81 reckon so, longs I cayn't write
| none"
"That's all, then; and for the pres
emit, I merely want you to keep out of
| their way. Have nothing to say to
strangers and don't pay any attention
/ to any messages from me or from any
one else unless Duncan or Elsie brings
them to you. Does anybody besides
| the Duncans know about your place up
here in the Pocket?"
81 reckon they's mighty few"
$50 much the better. Go back there
| and stay quietly until you hear from
| me. 1t may take me a month, or even
| longer, to find out what want to know
| in Allacoochee."
Kilgrow understood that he was dis
missed, but he hesitated, laboring with
statement that he did not know how
to make. Thorndyke tried to help him.
WAS there anything else?" he asked.
| Seem like thar ort to be; bout you
uns' pay-I hain't got nothin on the
face O. the yeth-"
| Never mind about that; if we win
| thereu be money enough for both of
| u.s."
| Kilgrow went dumb again, trying to
| find words to measure his gratitude
| Before they came there was Gathering
of hoofs in the road, and then crunch
| ing footsteps on the graveled walk
leading up to the house. There was a
| dormer window in Thorndyke's room,
and its gable projected above the front
| door of the farmhouse. The sash was
up and the sounds from below came
sharply to the two men in the upper
| room.
| tive got a warrant for John Kill
grow"-Philip recognized the voice as
| that of the man who had asked the way
| of Mrs. Duncan-"and I'll have to
| trouble We, Mr.. Duncan"
AT the mention of his name the old
| mountaineer started and would have
| thrown himself out of the other win
dow IL Thorndylle had not promptly
seized him. Don't be afraid-they
J can't touch you. Sit down and listen"