The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-10-08

Out and sell them for what could get
| sold the bonds on the curb for sew
erty-five cents OH the dollar and got
the cash in largo bills. Randolph
Mason handed tiis money to Jean
baIduc and told him 20 so back to the
jacques Cartier river. The man was
puzzled and angry. Was this all that
Mason could do cause him to collect
the taxes of Huron county ut loss
OF some ninc thousand dollars, en-
bezz.e the money ard hide out for the
rest OF has .ife? 10 could 90 better
than thai. Tho open way OF tho great
north was better enc. He would
send the money 10 Huron county;
then he would so 10 Darnshc.ds little
informal dinner and square the &c.
count with him.
came forward then, and begged
Mason to explain what he meant by
his plan. As the matter stood, Bal
due could not DO even as he himself
suggested. Ho could not send the
money TO Huron county. and leave
New York clear. The sum he had
lacked nine thousand dollars OF pay
Ing the taxes. He had surrendered
twenty-eight thousand dollars. II he
sent back nineteen thousand. he
would be instantly charged with theft
of the other nine. Explanations would
hardly avail him. He would certainly
be extradited and imprisoned
Randolph Mason went over to n
bookcase, got down volume OF Re
ports OF the state OF Michigan. and
sat down with II between the two OF
us as n tutor might do with puzzled
little boys. He read the case. mark
ing with his finger In the book. very
carefully to us. l saw instantly the
Intent OF his plan. but he went on, ex.
planning In lucid detail the effect Of 1t
on Balduc, on Barnsield, on Huron
county, the equities which It adjusted.
the necessity OF government which 1t
imposed. tho penalties which 1t evad-
cd. and the ancient. correct. accurate
doctrine of law nnon which this de-
cision OF the Michigan courts is
founded.
The tension in Jean Balduc's big
body relaxed, the pressure In his face
ebbed. He understood the whole
scheme to the end now. | do not
know OF any emasculated language
which could give the force and direct
ness OF Balduc's own words. He got
slowly to his feet, stretched out his
arms. filled his big lungs by God"
he said, you have got the fat thief
on the cross!"
Then he turned to me. Mr. Parks"
he went on. Il suppose you despIsed
me down TO the ground when | agreed
TO eat with that puffy-throated viuer:
but only wanted to get last chance
at him, to tell him what | thought OF
MIN, and then to jam his head on the
table among his pots. We will go up
there tonight. you and l. We will
show him how he has caught his own
legs In his man-trap. | will tell him
some things which he needs to hear:
but we viii not eat with him. II l
were starving in the snow-drifts of
hudson bay, and he came to find me
with a load from the company store, I
would not eat with him. would eat;
but would kill him first"
Barnsfield, like every paryenu.
wished to point out for our admira-
ton all the treasures In his hideous.
snowy palace before we went in to
dinner. The place might have been
the sto:ehouse OF Kidd In the golden
days Of the Spanish Main. A carved
wood ceiling rom some chateau IN
Normandy, marble vase frol.. Sar
dlnia, new italian bronzes, old Dutch
chalrs mingled with Chippendale. Hep.
peIwhite, and atrocious things in Gilt.
tables OF the empire beside colonial
consoles, Moorish corners with old
arms, rugs. bGnners-all the indiscrim-
mate loot of a barbarian with money
sacks.
admired with discrete and eyasive
generalities. Balduc said nothing and
hhalIy we want In to dinner. | had
not seen It's like, except at Thanksgiv.
ing In New England farmhouse. A
turkey on his golden back in a huge
platter. a saddle OF mutton. trussed
fowls, food enough for a ships crew
piled not and steaming on the biggest
table in New York.
we sat down. and Barnsfield put
MS hands on the tablecloth. closed his
puHy eyes, and made ready to invoke
blessing on his house.
Jean Balduc spoke then. "Mr.
Barnsfeld." he said, II am sick"
Barnsfield sprang up. got a ocean.
ter OF brandy from a sideboard and
set 1t down by Balduc. There" he
said, "that'll fix you"
No" said Balduc, nothing will do
me any good but to get outside I'm the
air"
Barnsfield started toward a door.
Come right here" he eaid, "on this
balcony"
Balduc got up then. NO" he said.
L VIII go out into the street with Mr.
Parks; but, before go. / want to hand
you this six hundred dollars that I
owe YOU" and he took a roll OF bills
from his waistcoat pocket and laid
them on the tablecloth.
Barnsfeld saw instantly that soma
climax had arrived, but what he did
not know. He came back and sat down
In his chair.
What do you mean?" he said.
L mean," replied Balduc, that
got only nineteen tracts OF land for
you In Huron county. so you owe me |
Just nineteen thousand dollars. You
paid me today. nineteen thousand, six |
hundred, which was six hundred too .