Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-10-16

haps. ruined: that the attempt to re
cover the money by force had failed !;
that further deception ana intrigue
would likewise equally fail This ath-
lstic young man, muscled like a black.
smith. his hands clenched, his shout
ders thrown loosely forward, 1t were
folly to assail with blows. It were
equally folly to assail with w.les that
other there. calmly tearing the deed
TO ribbons. running the strips OF pa.
per backward and forward through his
fingers.
The plan mad crashed withou. 9
ming. and yet the attorneys pres
encs of mind was not a whit shaken.
His face held its set like plaster, not
nerve quivered, not muscle sprung
he had been schooled to meet the
unforeseen. He had gone through a
thousand staggering crises where the
life. the reputation, the fortune of his
client were in fash periled He I'M
deTstood instantly, judged the situa-
ton. and acted at once He thrust
the pack OF one thousand dollars, left
lying on the table, into his pocket
and helped his dazed client to his feet
and to the door Then he turned
ba TX to Randolph Mason.
Your destruction of this deed VIII
not do any good" he said. The con.
tract for the sale of this tract of land
was definitely made and concluded,
here, in the presence of this notary as
witness; the signing of the deed is
mere physical act in no way affect.
ing this sale. shall at once institute
suit for the specific performance of
this contract of sale and have court
commissioner make the deed, II this
man refuses. The testimony of the
notary, as the only disinterested per
son present. will insure the success of
that suit
Mason did not at once answer. He
stood looking closely at the man as
one might at some unusual phenome-
non IN nature. Finally he spoke, as
though seeking to induce a comment.
You. win hardly institute such a
suit, think
why will I not institute .t?' re-
piled the attorney, his voice rising to
a stronger volume.
Mason advanced slowly with his
verbal prodding.
Well" he said. 'let us say that
such a suit would be founded on a
moral wrong. This tract of land is
fbo,,ob& ~ ,so,,r oIiopt - he FaH .1OY1c,
ly rich It lies, believe, above a
synclinal in the oil-bearing strata.
That is, it contains the oil reservoir OF
the whole region around it. It is
worth. your client tells me, a half
million dollars. To take it from the
owner for a mere thousand would be a
striking injustice. If the law per
miCted this wrong, would your con-
science permit it?"
The attorney standing at the door
laughed without disturbing the mus
cles of his face.
I'VE will take exactly what the
law gives us" he said.
Il thought that" replied Randolph
Mason, his prodd' ended, his voice
now lashing like a whip, "and. there
fore. have taken care to see that the
law does not permit this wrong to be
come effective. If you look at chapter
ninety Of the Code of the state
In which this oil territory lies, you
will discover that no contract for the
sale of real estate can be enforced in
its courts unless that contract, or
some agreement or memorandum OF
it, be in writing and signed by the
party to be charged thereby or his
agents. A contract for the sale OF
land in that state may be made in
the presence of q hundred witnesses,
every detail agreed 1t, the bargain
struck. or assented ito. ended, and yet
il cannot be enforced in its courts
without some signed writing. This
act is called the Statute of Frauds.
commend it, likewise, to you for the
value of its name"
The hope rising in Roger Shelton's
eyes, called up by the words Of his
counsel, died there. His mouth, bleed
ing from the impact of his enemy S
knuckles on the bone, fell into bag
ygy gaping. He turned painfully
through the door. The attorney
remained moment, looking al
Randolph Mason. He bad been out
witted. baked, juggled with, then
grilled on the fire, and yet he came
forth unmoved, a Narraganset from
the stake. He followed his client
slowly out, his face placid as though
every nerve in it were cut.
The two bank directors, realizing
now the full import of Mason's re-