Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-04-09
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
1VAT1ITH Thorpe there could be no
M halfway measure. He saw that
V the rupture with his sister was
wv final. and the thrust attacked
him in one Of his few unprotected
points. AT. first the spring of his life
seemed broken. He did not care for
money, and at present disappointment
had numbed his interest in the game.
1t seemed hardly worth the candle.
Then in a few days he began to look
about him mentally. Lnconsciously the
combative instinct was aroused. In
lack of other object on which to expend
itself Thorpes fighting spirit turned
with energy to the subject Of the law
suit.
After his sister left the Renwicks
Thorpe himself went to Detroit, where
he interviewed at once Northrop, the
brilliant young lawyer whom the firm
had engaged to defend its case.
I'm afraid we have no show" he re-
piled to Thorpes question. "You see.
you fellows were on the wrong side of
the fence in trying to enforce the law
yourselves. Of course you may well
say that justice was all on your side.
That does not count. The only recourse
recognized for injustice lies in the law
courts. I'm afraid you are due to lose
your case.'
"Well," said Thorpe, "they can't
prove much damage"
II don't expect that they will be able
to procure very heavy judgment" re-
/, piled Northrop. "The facts shall be
able to adduce will cut down damages.
But the costs will be very heavy"
"Yes," agreed Thorpe.
"And," then pursued Northrop, with
| dry smile, "they practically own
Sherman. You may be in for contempt
of court-at their instigation. AS 1 un-
derstand it, they are trying rather to
injure you than to get anything out of
it themselves"
''That's it," nodded Thorpe.
"In other words, it's case for COM
promise
Gust what wanted to get at" said
! Thorpe, with satisfaction. "Now an
swer me a question. Suppose a man
! Injuries government or state land by
trespass. The land is afterward bought
by another party. Has the latter any
claim for damage against the trespass.
er? Understand me, the purchaser
bought after the trespass was commit.
ted"
Certainly" answered Northrop with
out hesitation, provided suit is brought
within six years of the time the tres.
pass was committed"
"Good! Now, see here. These M. &
D. people stole about section of gov.
ernment pine up on that river. and
don't believe they've ever bought in
the land it stood on. In fact. don't
believe they suspect that any one
knows they've been stealing How
would 1t do if were to buy that sec
ton at the land Office and threaten tc
sue them for the value Of the pine that
originally stood on it?'
The lawyers eyes glimmered behind
the lenses Of his pince-nez.
"It would do very well indeed" he
replied, "but you'd have to prove they
did the cutting, and you'll have to pay
experts to estimate the probable
amount Of the timber How much, or
broad guess. would you estimate the
timber to come to-"
"There ought to be eight or ten mil
Ions" guessed Thorpe after an in
stants silence. worth in the stumr
anywhere from sixteen to twenty thou
sand dollars. 1t would cost me onl!
eight hundred to buy it,
"Do so by all means. Get your doc
uments and evidence all in shape ant
let me have them. I'll see that the sui
is discontinued then"
The next day Thorpe took the trail
north. By the time he had bought tn
sixteen forties constituting the section
searched out dozen witnesses to til
theft and spent week with the Mar
quette expert in looking over til
ground he had fallen into the swing o
work again. His experience still ached
but duly.
Only now he possessed no interest
outside of those in the new country
no affections save the half protecting
good natured comradeship with Wal
lace. the mutual self restraint respec
that subsisted between Tim Sheare
and himself and the dumb, unreason
ing dog liking he shared with Iniu
Charley. His eye became clearer an,
steadier, his methods more simple ant
direct. The taciturnity of his mood re
doubled in thickness. He was les
charitable to failure on the part of sub
ordinates. And the new firm on tn
Ossawinamakee prospered.