The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-06-08

set foot in the house till he makes me
promise to pit myself on guard on the
doorstane!"
Duncan's dissatisfaction with any ar
rangement that excluded him from a
share in the conference was very evil
dent, but Thorndyke judged wisely that
his client would be less embarrassed il
the inquisitive Scot were out of the
way, and he commended the precau-
ton.
Its we'll enough to be careful, Mr..
Duncan; we're not Kkely to spoil our
chances of success by being over-pru-
dent"
That's guide seasonable Scotch
sense, d. We ken that, Johnnie, man ?"
said Duncan, forgetting for the moment
that he had been arguing on the other
side of the question. "Ye maun just
open yer min freely to Master Thorn
dyke; he's an auld held, if he does gang
ABBOTT on young shoulders"
kilgrow nodded, and Thorndyke's
heart warmed toward the old man when
he was at leisure to read the story of
privation and distress written so plain
ly on the thin face and in the restless
eyes. 1t was some sense of the need
for encouragement that prompted him
TO speak first in terms of assurance.
Duncan has told me all about your
case, Mr.. Kilgrow, and l want you to
believe me when l say that you're in
no danger whatever of prosecution on
the old charge of brandy making. If
you were arrested to-day l could clear
you tomorrow. You shouldn't have
run away in the beginning"
The old man resented the imputation
upon his courage. II reckon yo'-uns
d 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
ly with the officers at first and fought it
out in court"
Kilgrow shook his head obviously.
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 l 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 tell you, whether
you understand the reason for it or
not"
II reckon l cayn't do no dif'rent, 18th
them fellers a-huntin me oil the time"
Ives, 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 thin trembling
hand. "You-uns is q lawyer; you-uns
kin sw'ar me. eff so be ye likes"
That's all right; 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 inquirngly. II
done toll Jim Gates, oncet, that he
mought TEX that thar patch O. layn' an
welcome fer $4,000. l hain't a-keerin'
so ve'y much now eff them fellers'd on
quit pesterin' me, but eff so be We
mought git that much out'n hit"
That's about what l expected" inter
| r,,DtaI Tbnrp1,yLa UonI it,e ,orecical u
what 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 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?"
81 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"
ThorndylSe 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. suppose you'd be sure 10
remember it II you had?"
81 reckon so, longs cayn't write
none."
That's all, then; and for the pres
ent, l 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 uT
here in the Pocket?"
81 reckon they's mighty few"