Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-08-05
BRIDGING A
CHASM .
b STANLEY WARNER
Copyright, 1919. w,stern Newspsp.r un,on. ;,

Sll0S Mant0n has sent me word
that he would like to have 4 talk with
you about that wood lot you have
squabbled about for the last five
years."
Thus Alex brown, local attorney, to
his client, Hugh Briston. The latter,
gruff, beard bristling. wrathy Of voice
and manner was not at all responsive
to the suggestion.
"Does eh?" he snorted. "trhen he
Is either weakening on his grandstand
or has something up his sleeve. In
either case won't run after him. Let
him come to me II he has any propo-
sition to make"
'Manton is quite as stubborn a.
Yourself" explained the attorney
"Here you have litigated. never speak
Ing to one another, since you had your
first quarrel. You've got to give in
some. Briston. It's for your own in.
terests."
II WON'T" asseverated his client
stanchly. II wouldn't step on his
ground for a fortune. He has penned
me In so | couldn't get out my chop.
ping. He has spoiled two good sales"
"Well, Manton wants to tender a
proposition to adjust matters annie.
ably"
"Then he can come and see me, j
won't go and see him. that Is sure"
Lawyer Brown looked nonp:used.
His mission BODIED failure. He did not
wish to lose liberal fee, and besides
that he wished to see two old-time
cronies and later enemies get back to
first principles like rational human
beings.
Again, he had been approached only
the day previous by the manly, stall.
wart son of Hugh Briston. The law.
yer had always liked the bright che ry
lad, Sidney. who had come to early
manhood with everybody his friend
and well wisher, and especially Eunice
Manton.
"We'l take 1t for granted that we
like one another, Mr.. Brown" Sidney
had said in his clear, open way, "and
you may do me great favor. un.
derstand that there is some chance OF
father and Mr.. Manton getting to.
gether on the subject of their law.
suits. 1t means lot to me If they
do, and to Eunice Also" added Sidney.
a slight flush coming to his cheeks.
"You needn't say anything. Sidney"
replied Brown. "How you have kept
your attentions to pretty Eunice from
the knowledge of her father and your
own shall not inquire, but shall now
do double duty in trying to heal the
breach between two fire eaters"
And now, recalling his promise to
Sidney, the lawyer observed to the
father: well, I suppose you won't
object Manton half way7"
"What do you mean by half way"
growled Briston suspiciously. u
wouldn't cross his threshold for for
tune, and I'm sure he hates every stick
and stone about my place"
"Oh, we'll, may be able to think
out some method by which you tive
stubborn old men may meet, without
either Of you feeling that you have
covered your dignity, or given In"
It was two days later when Lawyer
Brown called upon Hugh Briston
"Well," he remarked briskly, "I've set
tied 1t. Manton is agreeable to the
halfway proposition"
"Huh! accommodating amt he?"
shifted Briston derisively.
There's the old foot bridge cross
ing the river that winds in at the rear
Of your respective holdings He'll be
theve at nine o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. Now then, be sensible and hui
man. Your principal source of an1
iety Is the wood-lot thoroughfare. His
Is the new road. Give in If he does !;
shake hands, be friends and bury the
hatchet."
Hell make the first advances" men.
aced Briston. "If he don't, you're
wasting our time"
The old bridge spanned creeh
grown into river volume during recent
spring rains and on account Of new
structure nearer the main traversed
road and especially since the feud be
tween Manton and Briston, 1t had fall
en- into disuse. At precisely nine
O'Clock the next morning Silas Manton
advanced from his own land and care
lessly lounged against the railing at
the center of the decayed structure
Briston approached from his side. As
he stepped upon the planking the
weakened timbers creaked. Both
were heavy men. With crash the
whole rotten structure gave way
Amid swapping timbers the two bulky
enemies went down into mid stream
II can't SWIM" yelled Manton thor
oughly frightened as the eddying cur
rent began to bear him down stream
mo more can l." announced Briston
II guess we're a-goner. Here. grab
the end of the plank I'm holding onto
Hi there. oh Sidney! Get us out"
For Sidney suddenly emerged int
view from near shore thicket with
out his father even suspectlng that he
had purposely stationed himself there
to watch the bridge negotiations.
"You first" spoke the polite Sidney
and sprung into the water and towed
Manton ashore. Nov then, take II
easy" he added to his father. per
forming the same operation for him
"Say, Brlston." spluttered Manto1
II reckon we're pair of fools. Sup
pose we'd drowned! That wood lot
nuisance-have 1t your way"
"And about the road strip" sale
Briston. "I'll sign up for the right-of
way. Hey, Sidneyl"
Rut S,dnav was pone on winps n