A SUIT AT LAW
"Don't give in an inch," Bill said, in conclusion to his remarks
concerning the validity of the title. "Get over there as quick as you
can, and don't let the lawyer weaken."
"It'll take big money to carry on a fight in law."
"We'll try to raise it somehow."
After promising to send him word as to the progress of affairs before
night, in case they were detained more than one day, Joe and Fred went
down stairs, and at that moment Mrs. Byram opened the door to admit Mr.
Wright.
He was particularly pleasant in his greetings, and asked, as he observed
that they were on the point of going out:
"Did you finally conclude to come to the office?"
"We were on our way to Blacktown," Joe replied gruffly.
"But we have plenty of time for a chat, since the train does not leave
for two hours of more."
"We are going to walk," Fred explained.
"Then you can surely spare me half an hour."
"What for?" Joe asked sharply.
"I wish to see if we can't arrive at some amicable settlement of the
suit which I have been forced to bring."
"Wouldn't it been better to have talked first, an' then begun the law
business?"
"In regard to that I had no alternative. The company ordered me to
proceed exactly as I did."
"I'd like to hear what's goin' on down there," Bill shouted from above,
and Fred said:
"It's no more than fair that we should go upstairs. He's got the right
to know what Mr. Wright proposes."
"Yes, I prefer to speak with all the partners, though perhaps there is
no necessity of sending for Thorpe."
"We haven't got the time to do that," Joe replied. "Come on, an' let's
get through with the business as soon as we can, for we're due in
Blacktown mighty soon."
The miner led the way to the invalid's chamber, and Bill greeted his
former superintendent with the curtest of nods.
"I have come in the hope that we can arrange matters without having
recourse to the law," Mr. Wright began. "If, immediately after
discovering the vein, you had advised me, I could have told you that our
company owns the entire mountain, by purchase from the heirs of the
original owner."
"But Mr. Hunter told us the title was perfect," Fred interrupted.
"Lawyers cannot always be depended upon. There is no question as to the
truth of what I say, and here is a true copy of our deed."
He handed Bill a legal looking document; but the miner motioned it away.
"I don't want to see it," he said. "Neither of us could understand it in
a week's study. The only thing for us to do is listen to what you
propose."
"In view of the services you all have rendered in the past, I should be
sorry to see you lose the money already paid on this property, and more
so to have you involved in an expensive lawsuit. Now I am empowered to
make this offer: The company will return the money paid, settle with
your attorney, and allow you a reasonable compensation for the labour
performed. In addition, it may be that we can give you a few shares in
case it is decided to open new works."
As Mr. Wright paused Bill raised his head, and looking fixedly at the
visitor, asked:
"If the property is yours beyond a question, what makes you offer to
give us anything?"
"Because you have acted in such a friendly manner toward us. I am not
one who forgets a friend."
"You came mighty near doin' so when Sam was arrested, an' warrants sworn
out for Fred an' me."
"That was a matter in which it was to your interest that the law should
take its course. A large majority of the people believed you knew
something about the robbery, and the only way to settle it absolutely
was to have the case decided in court."
"Then we ought to thank you, I s'pose," and Bill leaned forward, despite
the pain caused by the movement. "If we conclude to take the offer we'll
let you know to-morrow."
"I am sorry to say that we can agree to no delay. If the terms are
accepted at once, well and good; but they will not be held open for a
lawyer to interfere."
"Then I'll speak for myself, an' say no," Bill cried, angrily. "The
others can act as they please; but if all this is to be done jest on
account of your friendship, then where's the harm of waitin' till next
week, if we want to?"
"I have only repeated the stipulations made by the company."
"Well, we don't want anything to do with 'em," Joe added. "What Bill
says goes with me, an' I reckon Fred'll stick by us."
"I believe as they do, Mr. Wright."
"Then you refuse the generous proposition?"
"We do, but have our own idea as to how generous it is," Bill replied,
grimly.
"Do you think it will be possible to fight successfully a company as
rich as ours?"
"We'll try it for a while, anyhow, an' won't give in till we're
whipped."
"I don't like to make any threats; but feel it my duty to warn you of
the consequences, if we press the charge of theft. The evidence is
strongly against you, and more particularly so since you returned the
money."
"I reckon that about winds up this 'ere interview," and Joe arose to his
feet with a menacing air. "Go ahead with the suit; but there's such a
thing as collectin' damages, an', rich as your company is, I don't
believe they can get out of payin' 'em."
"That is child's talk. If you refuse what is little less than a present,
I will go."
"An' it's pretty nigh time." Joe added, as he opened the door. "Don't
try to make us any more such presents, or we may not keep our temper."
It could be plainly told that the superintendent had already lost his
temper, for he went down stairs rapidly, slamming the street door behind
him with a force which literally caused the cottage to tremble.
"He ain't so sure of his case, as he would have us believe," Bill said,
when they were alone. "It's jest possible he may try to make things
hotter for us by servin' the warrant on Fred, so you'd better not come
back from Blacktown, till the widder sends word. Get over as quick as
you can, an' don't forget to tell the lawyer about the generous
proposition."
The two started without further delay, and the reception met with by
those whom they passed on the street told how rapidly the bad news had
travelled.
On the day previous every person was very cordial, as if trying to
establish his or her position as friend; but now they were greeted even
less pleasantly than before the riot, and Joe said, savagely:
"They're a set of curs. I did believe some of the things we heard
yesterday; but now soft words won't go down with me, no matter how the
property turns out."
"It can't make any difference what is done or said, all I ask is that we
get Sam out of his troubles."
"You an' me are about as deep in the mire as he is if the case goes agin
us. We'll try not to borrer trouble till there's better reason. Where do
you s'pose Skip is keepin' himself all this time?"
"I wish I knew. Nobody can make me believe he went off with Gus."
"He's got a different game than that, an' I'm thinkin' we'll hear from
him mighty soon."
"Why?"
"No partic'lar reason, I only jest think so."
Having changed the topic of conversation, which was the sole cause of
his mentioning Skip's name, Joe relapsed into a silence which was not
broken until the two arrived at the newly-discovered vein.
Here a party of surveyors were running imaginary lines and measuring
distances, as they referred from time to time to several formidable
looking documents, and Joe said, bitterly:
"Wright is gettin' ready for the fight. If we had plenty of money I
wouldn't feel so bad; but unless the lawyer can borrow some for us,
we're likely to come out the little end of the horn."
"We shall soon know all about it," and Fred continued the journey at a
swift pace.
Mr. Hunter was in his office when the partners arrived, and the
expression on his face was not such as to inspire courage.
"I didn't expected you so soon," he said, motioning them to be seated.
"We walked over rather than wait for the cars," Fred replied.
"I was sorry to summon you on such sorry business but Superintendent
Wright has begun a fight for the possession of the land, and some of our
prospective stockholders are alarmed by the attack."
"Has he really got any hold on the property?"
"He claims that the company's deeds give them title to the entire
mountain."
"Then how did it happen that the farmer could sell?"
"It all hinges upon the question of survey. If the lines run twenty
years ago are incorrect, as he claims, then the land you bought is
located in the valley, and in that event not worth half you paid for
it."
"What does the farmer say?" Joe asked.
"I fancy Mr. Wright has bribed him to forget where his property was. Two
days ago he had a very clear idea of the location, but this morning he
thinks Mr. Wright is correct. In fact, he is almost ready to swear he
owned land only in the valley."
"He told me exactly where it was situated, an' we bought with the
positive understandin' that he was sellin' a tract on the mountain," Joe
said.
"That is one of the questions I wanted to decide. If he made those
representations, we may force him to tell the truth rather than stand a
suit for obtaining money under false representations."
Fred thought it was time to tell of Mr. Wright's proposition, and when
he had finished the story the lawyer said with a look of positive
relief:
"I'm glad to hear that. We will force them to show their hands by asking
an immediate trial for Thorpe."
"But suppose he should be convicted?" Fred cried. "Skip is not at home,
and we need his evidence."
"We must take that risk, rather than allow them time to work up a worse
plot."