Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-25


Bishop drew himself up TN his chair
and inhaled a deep breath. ut was las
II -he~took into himself in that way the
courage to make his next remark. !.
>''I got it from the Tompkins estate. :"
"You don't say! 4 didn't know they
had that much on hand." ...--.,. -
-"Sence l bought the land I've acct
dentally heerd that you are some kin
o that family" ,<... ..
Perkins started slightly and raised
his brows. 49,
"Oh, yes! On my wife's side, away
OF, some way or other. I believe the
original Tompkins that settled there
from Virginia was my wife's grand
father. I never was much Of q hand
to go into such matters" :: d..
'When I heerd that, Perkins, it was
natural fer me to wonder why you,
you see-why you didn't tell them
about the railroad"
The -sallow features Of the lawyer
seemed to stiffen. He drew himself
up coldly and wicked expression
flashed in his eyes.
Take my advice, old man." he
snarled as he threw down his pen and
stared doggedly into Bishops face.
"Stick to your farming and don't waste
your time asking professional lawyer
questions which have no bearing on
your business whatever. Now, really,
do 1 have to explain to you my per-
sonal reasons for not favoring the
Tompkins people with al may say
any piece of information?"
Bishop was now as white as death.
His worst suspicious were confirmed
he was ruined man; there was no
further doubt about that. Suddenly he
felt unable to bride the contemptuous
fury that ragged within him.
II think know why you didn't tell
'em," was what he hurled at the law
yer.
"You think you do?'
eyes; it was beca' Sc you knowed no
road was goin' to be built. You told
Pete Mosely the same tale you did me,
an Abe TOmpkins unloaded on i'm.
That's way you have O. dom busi-
ness"
Perkins stood up. He took his silk
hat from the top Of his desk and put
it on. "Oh, yes, old man." he sneered;
"I'm terribly dishonest fellow, but
I've got company in this world. Now,
really, the only thing that has wor-
ried me has been your un-Christian act
in buying'an that land from the Temp
kins heirs at such low figure when
the railroad will advance its value so
greatly. Mr.. Bishop, l thought you
were good Methodist" ....
"Oh. you kin laugh an jeer all you
like" cried Bishop, "but can handle
you fer this"
you are not as we'll versed in the
law as you are In fertilizers, Mr.. Bish-
op," sneered the lawyer. I'm order to
make case against me you'd have to
publicly betray matter told to you
In confidence. and then what would
you gain? I doubt If the court would
force me to explain a private matter
like this where the interests of my eli
ents are concerned, and If the court
did could simply show the letters
have regarding the possible construc'
ton of railroad in your section. II
you remember rightly, l did not say
the thing was an absolute certainty
On top Of all this you'd be obliged to
prove collision between me and the
Tompkins heirs over sale made by
their attorney, MIR. Trabue. There is
one thing certain, Mr.. Bishop, and that
Is that you have forfeited your right
to any further confidence in this mat.
ter. If the road is built, you'll find
out about it with the rest of your peo-
pie. You think you acted wisely in at
lacking me this way, but you have
simply cut off your nose to spite your
face. Now, 1 have long car ride be-
fore me, and it's growing late"
Bishop stood up. He was quivering
as with palsy. His voice shook and
rang like that Of mailman.
"You are scoundrel, Perkins," he
saba dirty blacksnake in the grass!
l want to tell yon that!'
"Well, hope you won't make any
charge for it."
mo; it's free" Bishop turned to the
door. There was a droop:. upon his
whole body. He dragged his feet as
he moved out into the unlighted CORR
dor. where he paused irresolutely. So
great was his agony that he almost
obcyed an impulse to go back and, fall
ut the feet of Perkins and implore his
aid to rescue him and his family from
impending ruin. The lawyer was NOV
Ing about the room. closing his desk
and rawing down the window shade.
= Its no USE" sighed Bishop as he
made has'way downstairs s'T'm ruined!
Alan an Adele hain't cent to their
tarnes, an that devil''- Bishop pausetl
on the first handing like an animal ut
bay. He heard the steady step of Per.
5kins onsthes floor: above. and for IL mo
ment Iris fingers tingled with the
thought OF waiting there in the dark
sEess and choking the life out Of the
subtle :scoundrel who had taken .advan-
,tage Of his credulity. 1882. =
b,,k~