The young attorney, in an
encouraging tone, helped him find it with a question:
"When did you next see Mr. Fillmore and Luke Shanders?"
"When the trial come off," answered the old man, raising his head again.
"Course we couldn't lose the land. 'Twarn't worth much till the new
railroad come through; then the oak come handy for cross-ties. That's
what set Fillmore and Luke Shanders onto it.
"When the case was tried, the Judge seed they couldn't bring no 'riginal
deed 'cept one showin' that Luke Shanders and Fillmore was partners in
the steal, and the Judge 'lowed they'd have to pay for the timber they
cut and hauled away.
"They went round then a-sayin' they'd get even, though wife and I 'lowed
we'd take anything reasonable for what hurt they done us. And that went
on till one day 'bout a year ago Luke come into my place and said he and
Lawyer Fillmore would he over the next day; that they was tired o'
fightin', and that if I was willin' to settle they was.
"One o' the new Gov'ment dep'ties was sittin' in my room at the time.
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