Perhaps he wished to defeat a possible rival, or merely to keep out
principles and ideals which would conflict with his own methods and
injure his prestige. But if Fetters wanted a fight, Fetters should
have a fight.
Colonel French spent much of his time at young Caxton's office,
instructing the new lawyer in the details of the mill affair. Caxton
proved intelligent, zealous, and singularly sympathetic with his
client's views and plans. They had not been together a week before the
colonel realised that he had gained immensely by the change.
The colonel took a personal part in the effort to procure signatures,
among others that of old Malcolm Dudley and on the morning following
the drive with Graciella, he drove out to Mink Run to see the old
gentleman in person and discover whether or not he was in a condition
to transact business.
Before setting out, he went to his desk--his father's desk, which Miss
Laura had sent to him--to get certain papers for old Mr. Dudley's
signature, if the latter should prove capable of a legal act. He had
laid the papers on top of some others which had nearly filled one of
the numerous small drawers in the desk. Upon opening the drawer he
found that one of the papers was missing.
The colonel knew quite well that he had placed the paper in the drawer
the night before; he remembered the circumstance very distinctly, for
the event was so near that it scarcely required an exercise, not to
say an effort, of memory.
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