News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-07-15

courage to make his next remark.
81 got it from the Tompkins estate"
"YOu don't say! / didn't know they
had that much on hand"
"Sence | bought the land I've acct
dsAtally heerd that goa are some kin
OK that family"
Perkins started slightly and raised
his brows.
"Oh, yes! On my wjfe's side, away
of, some way or other. l believe the
Original Tompkins that settled there
from Virginia was my wife's grand
father never was much of hand
t& 20 into such matters"
"When J hoard thot, Perkins. if was
natural fer ME TO wonder why you,
YOU see-why you didn't tell them
skogt the railroad"
The salow features Of the lawyer
seemed to stih'en He drew himself
up coldly and a wicked expression
flashed in his eyes.
'Take my advice, old man." he
s4arled as he threw down his pen and
stared doggedly into Bishops face.
''Stick to your farming and don't waste
your time asking a professional lawyer
questions which have no bearing on
your business whatever. Now, really,
do | have to explain to you my per-
sonal reasons for not favoring the
TDmpkins people with al may say
ahy piece Of lformatiOn%
Bishop was now as white as death.
His worst suspicious were confirmed
he was a ruined man; there was no
fsrther doubt about that. Suddenly he
felt unable to bride the tontemptuous
fairy that ragged within him.
IL think know why you didn't tell
'eln,' 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,
aA' Abe Tompkins unloaded on i'm.
That's way you have O dom bust
moss"
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'n a 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 all that land from the Temp
ktns ! rs at such a low figure when
the railroad will advarce its value SO
greatly. Mr. Bishol\I thought you
were good Methodist"
ooh, you kin laugh an jeer all you
like" cried Bishop, "but lean handle
you fer this"
"You are not as well versed in the
law as you are in fertilizers, Mr.. Bish
op," sneered the lawyer. in order to
make a case against me you'd have to
publicly betray a matter | told to you
IN confidence, and then what woaid
you gain? l doubt if the courZ would
force me to explain a private matter
like this where die interests of my eli
ents are concerned, and if the court
did | could simply show the letters l
have regarding the possible construc-
tiUn of a railroad in your section. If
you remember rightly, | did not say
the thing was an absolute certainty.
On top OF all this you'd be obliged to
prove collision between nae and the
T0mpIins heirs over a sale made by
their attorney, Mr. 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 il at
tacking me this way, but you have
siMply cut off your nose to spite your
face. Now, have long car ride be-
fore me- and it's growing late"
Bishop stood up. lie was quiyering
as with palsy. His voice shook and
rang like that Of a mailman.
You are a scoundrel, Perkins," he
saAd-"a dirty blacksnake in the grass!
/ want to tell you thatw
well hope you won't make any
change for it,
"No; it's free" Bishop turned to the
door. There was droop upon his
whole body, He dragged his feet as
he moved out into the unllghted corri-
dor, where he paused irresolutely. So
great was his agony that he almost
obeyod an impulse to go back and fall
at tae feet of Perkins and implore his
aid to rescue him and his family from
ruin. The lawyer was NOV
ing about the room, closing his desk |
ana drawing down the window shade.
TITS no use" sighed Bishop as he
made his way downstairs, I'm ruined! |
Alan an Adele hain't cent to their
masses, an that devil'- Bishop paused !
on We first landing like an animal at |
bay. lie heard the steady step of Per
klns on the floor above, and for mo-
meat his fingers tingled with the
theHght of waiting there in the dark
ness and choking the life out of the
suicide scoundrel who had taken advan-
tage of his credulity
But with a groan that was half a
prayer be went on down the steps and |
out into the lighted streets. At the
first sorner he saw car which would |
take hfrn to his brothers, and lac (
hastened to catch it.
William Bishops house was q mod
erR brick structure, standing on a well
clipped lawn which held a Gothic sum
mer house and two or three marble
statRes 1t was in the best portion. of