Part 20 (1/2)
”Because, you insolent young snip,” retorted old Dorsett, ”I wanted to pay you off for some of your fine airs.”
”Well, Mr. Dorsett,” said Mrs. Ismond, ”I shall contest this unjust claim.”
”All right,” jeered Dorsett, retreating down the steps, and beckoning to his companion, ”then within thirty minutes I'll put an embargo on your leaving the county until I have my money, according to law.”
Mrs. Ismond sunk to a chair quite pale and distressed.
”Frank,” she gasped in a frightened way, ”what is he going to do?”
”Some mean trick, be sure of that,” said Frank. ”Mother, I'll stay here ten years but I will never pay that outrageous claim.”
”Be a.s.sured I would never let you,” replied his mother, firmly.
”I wish I knew what he was up to?” murmured Frank in a troubled way.
”Leave that for me to find out for you,” said Markham briskly, bolting from the house like a shot.
CHAPTER XV
A PIECE OF CHALK
Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-cla.s.s peddler. If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion. He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town. He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pa.s.s him by and quietly followed on their trail.
When they went up into a building occupied as offices for a justice of the peace and lawyers, Markham in a few moments trailed after them.
Loitering about the hall, he could watch them conversing with a village magistrate at his desk. The latter consulted a copy of the statutes, expounded some point under discussion, and finally filled out several legal blanks.
Markham was industriously reading the notices tacked to the justice's bulletin board outside of his office door, as Dorsett came out of the room.
”Hold on, Sherry,” he said to his companion. ”I'll settle with you now.”
”All right, governor,” bobbed the man.
”You are deputized to serve these papers. Don't get them mixed. Got any tacks?”
”I'll get some all right.”
”Very well. When you have disposed of the first two doc.u.ments, serve the last one on Mrs. Ismond, see?”
”Sure, I see, governor--ah, and glad to see this five-dollar bill. First one I've seen, in fact, for an age.”
”When you're all through, report to me.”
”I will, governor.”
They kept together till they reached the street. Arrived there, Dorsett went one way, his hireling another.